PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine how a manual therapy (joint mobilization and flexion-distraction technique) would affect pain and function with the chronic low back pain. METHODS: Thirty patients were assigned to either the experimental group (n=15) or the control group (n=15). Patients in the experimental group performed joint mobilization and flexion-distraction technique. Patients in the control group performed spinal decompression therapy. Both exercises were performed for three days per week, for a period of six weeks. Pain was measured by the visual analogue scale (VAS) and functional disability was measured using the Oswestry disability index (ODI). A paired t-test was used for identify differences before and after treatment, and an independent t-test was used to identify differences between treatment groups. RESULTS: In the within group comparison, the experimental group and control group differed significantly for all variables (p<0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in any variables between groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The above results confirmed that it is necessary to confirm the various benefits of therapy with the joint mobilization and the flexion-distraction technique. The findings of the concerned study will be useful to doctors applying therapy to treat patients with the chronic low back pain.
Decompression ; Exercise ; Humans ; Joints ; Low Back Pain* ; Musculoskeletal Manipulations*

No abstract available.
Intussusception* ; Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome*

PURPOSE: The in vitro dissolution of intrahepatic stones was evaluated using the various solvent mixtures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty four intrahepatic stones from 16 patients were used. Four kinds of solvent mixtures(No. 1 = basic buffer + EDTA, No. 2=1 + Sulfobetain-12, No. 3=2 + N-acetylcysteine, No. 4=3 + urea) were used. Dissolution rates were determined by measuring the weight loss of stones after 6, 12, 24, 48 hours incubation periods, respectively. RESULTS: The highest dissolution rates in dissolving intrahepatic stones were achieved with No. 4 solvent mixture(1% W/V EDTA/80mM, Sulfobetain-12/1 M, urea, pH 9.5). CONCLUSION: lntrahepatic stones could be largely dissolved up to about 70% of their initial weight after 48 hours incubation period in vitro.
Acetylcysteine ; Edetic Acid ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Urea ; Weight Loss

BACKGROUND: Right ventricular apical (RVA) pacing induces left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony, increases the risk of persistent atrial fibrillation in the long term. The aim was to investigate the effects of RVA pacing on left atrial (LA) function, which are unknown. METHODS: Echocardiographic evaluation including LV dyssynchrony based on conventional Doppler, tissue Doppler imaging and speckle tracking strain echocardiography was done before and after (12 months) single-chamber ventricular pacemaker implantation in 40 patients with sick sinus syndrome. Patients were divided to 2 groups, according to the RVA pacing frequency (group I had higher pacing rate of more than 50% and group II, less than 50%). RESULTS: There was no significant difference in LV ejection fraction, however, mean global LV strain, myocardial performance index, and parameters of LV dyssynchrony had shown significant changes after 12 months of RVA pacing. There were also significant increase in the LA volume index and the reduction of peak systolic LA strain and strain rate (SR), peak early and late diastolic SR after RVA pacing. Moreover, there was significant deterioration of LV dyssynchrony and both LA and LV longitudinal function in even group II. LA functional deterioration and LA volume was significantly correlated with the frequency of RVA pacing. CONCLUSION: LV dyssynchrony, induced by RVA pacing, significantly impaired active LA contraction and passive stretching, and these findings were shown in the patients with even less than 50% of RVA pacing. Impairment of LA strain/SR was significantly correlated with the frequency of RVA pacing.
Atrial Fibrillation ; Atrial Function ; Atrial Function, Left ; Contracts ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Muscle Stretching Exercises ; Sick Sinus Syndrome ; Sprains and Strains ; Track and Field

BACKGROUND: Right ventricular apical (RVA) pacing induces left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony, increases the risk of persistent atrial fibrillation in the long term. The aim was to investigate the effects of RVA pacing on left atrial (LA) function, which are unknown. METHODS: Echocardiographic evaluation including LV dyssynchrony based on conventional Doppler, tissue Doppler imaging and speckle tracking strain echocardiography was done before and after (12 months) single-chamber ventricular pacemaker implantation in 40 patients with sick sinus syndrome. Patients were divided to 2 groups, according to the RVA pacing frequency (group I had higher pacing rate of more than 50% and group II, less than 50%). RESULTS: There was no significant difference in LV ejection fraction, however, mean global LV strain, myocardial performance index, and parameters of LV dyssynchrony had shown significant changes after 12 months of RVA pacing. There were also significant increase in the LA volume index and the reduction of peak systolic LA strain and strain rate (SR), peak early and late diastolic SR after RVA pacing. Moreover, there was significant deterioration of LV dyssynchrony and both LA and LV longitudinal function in even group II. LA functional deterioration and LA volume was significantly correlated with the frequency of RVA pacing. CONCLUSION: LV dyssynchrony, induced by RVA pacing, significantly impaired active LA contraction and passive stretching, and these findings were shown in the patients with even less than 50% of RVA pacing. Impairment of LA strain/SR was significantly correlated with the frequency of RVA pacing.
Atrial Fibrillation ; Atrial Function ; Atrial Function, Left ; Contracts ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Muscle Stretching Exercises ; Sick Sinus Syndrome ; Sprains and Strains ; Track and Field

Percutaneous transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects as a therapeutic alternative in appropriate patients provides superior cosmetic results, is less invasive, and allows for shorter hospital stays. Unfortunately, however, such percutaneous procedures can be associated with catastrophic procedure complications that may require immediate surgical intervention. We report a case of aorta-to-right atrial fistula two months after transcatheter occlusion of an atrial septal defect by an Amplatzer septal occluder. Revealed by dyspnea, palpitation and hemolysis, this complication needed an emergency surgical operation. The fistula between the noncoronary Valsalva sinus of the aorta and the right atrium was repaired. The atrial septal defect was closed by patch. The cause of this serious complication appears to be erosion into the aorta by the right atrial disk.
Aorta* ; Dyspnea ; Emergencies ; Fistula* ; Heart Atria* ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial* ; Hemolysis ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Prostheses and Implants ; Septal Occluder Device ; Sinus of Valsalva

BACKGROUND: Mitral and pulmonary venous(PV) flow velocity variables are being used for the indirect evaluation of left ventricular(LV) diastolic function. However, these flow velocities are influenced by age, loading conditions and other factors. This study was designed to evaluate usefulness of left atrial size and function in addition to the relation of mitral and PV flow velocity variables in the estimation of LV filling pressures. METHODS: Mitral and PV flow velocity variables. left artial size and function were assessed just before a cardiac catherization in 31 patients. According to the LV filling pressures, patients were divided into two subgroups and echocardiographic variables were compared. RESULTS: 1) LV end-diastolic pressure was related to the duration of reverse flow in the PV at atrial contraction(r=0.58) and difference in mitral and PV flow velocity duration at atrial contraction(r=0.54), and the similar findings were observed in other left ventricular filling pressures. 2) Left atrial size and volumes were greater in the subgroup of abnormal LV filling pressures(P < 0.05), but left atrial ejection fraction was not different between subgroups. CONCLUSION: In addition to variables of the mitral and PV flow velocities, left atrial size and volume may provide an additive value in the estimation of left ventricular filling pressures.
Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Humans

It is very rare that the bone scan after 72 hours from the trauma doesn't exhibit the increased radio-nuclide uptake in the patient with fracture. The purpose of this study is to report the case that indicate the false negative finding in the bone scan performed after 78 hours from the trauma in the 56-year-old man with L2 compression fracture, including a review of the relevant literatures.
Fractures, Compression ; Humans ; Middle Aged

Human carboxylesterase 1 (CES1) is a serine esterase that hydrolyzes various exogenous compounds. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of CES1 may lead to inter-individual metabolic variability of its substrates. The allele and haplotype frequencies of known SNPs have been demonstrated to vary among ethnic groups. We analyzed genetic variations of CES1 in a Korean population. Direct sequencing of all exons and flanking regions of the CES1 gene was performed on samples obtained from 200 Koreans. We identified 41 SNPs. The most frequent SNPs was -914G>C (frequency: 99.5%), followed by 4256G>A (frequency: 65.8%), -75T>G (frequency: 59.3%). Haplotype analysis using the identified SNPs revealed fifteen haplotypes (> or =1% haplotype frequency) in our samples. The most frequent haplotype was Hap1 (frequency: 15.4%). Among the identified 41 SNPs, nine of which are novel variants and 14 SNPs were nonsynonymous variants. Using the functional predictive software PolyPhen-2, the G19V, E221G, and A270S variants were predicted to be most likely damaging to the function and structure of CES1. In-vitro analyses for two of these variants have been previously performed; however, functional evaluation of E221G (11657A>G, rs200707504) still needs to be conducted. Therefore, further studies are warranted to characterize the functional impact of E221G on CES1 activity.
Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Carboxylesterase* ; Ethnic Groups ; Exons ; Genetic Variation ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Genetic* ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Serine

DA-8159, a selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase type 5, was developed as a new drug for erectile dysfunction. The effect of DA-8159 on the electroretinogram (ERG) and the retinal histopathology were evaluated in rabbits. The ERG was performed prior to, and 1 and 5 hr after DA-8159 (5 to 30 mg/kg) administration. The plasma concentration of DA-8159 was determined at each time point, and retinal microscopic examination was also performed. There was no statistically significant ERG change at any dose or at any time. Though the 30 Hz flicker showed a prolongation of the implicit time at 5 hr after the administration of either DA-8159 15 mg or 30 mg/kg (p<0.05), but concurrent amplitude decreases were not statistically significant. At a dose of 5 mg/kg, no test drug was detected in the blood after either 1 or 5 hr. At either 15 mg/kg or 30 mg/kg, there was a dose-dependent increase in the blood concentration after 1 hr of drug administration, which decreased with time. In light and electron microscopic examinations of the retina, there was no remarkable change at any dose. These results suggest DA-8159 has a low risk potential to the retina, but further evaluation on the visual functions in human is needed.
3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterase/*antagonists & inhibitors ; Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Electroretinography/*drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors/blood/*pharmacology ; Pyrimidines/blood/*pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Retina/*cytology/*drug effects