BACKGROUND: Our study was to determine the effect on shoulder isokinetic muscle strength and muscle endurance in isolated full-thickness supraspinatus tendon tear and combined other rotator cuff tear. METHODS: Total of 81 male patients (mean age 57.8 +/- 7.4 years) who were diagnosed as a full-thickness supraspinatus tendon tear were included. They were classified into isolated or combined tear. The isokinetic muscle strength and muscle endurance were measured using the Biodex multi-joint system PRO(R) (Biodex Medical Systems, Shirley, NY, USA) in following movements: shoulder abduction, adduction, flexion, extension, external rotation, and internal rotation. Then, the difference in muscle function according to the type of tears were assessed. Fifty-seven patients had isolated supraspinatus tendon (mean age 56.9 +/- 7.3 years). They were classified into either anteroposterior tear or modified mediolateral tear. The size were measured using T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging scans in sagittal plane. RESULTS: Between subjects categorized into the type of tear, we found significant inter-categorical differences in isokinetic muscle strength during abduction, adduction, flexion, extension, and internal rotation, and in muscle endurance during flexion, extension, and internal rotation. Anteroposterior diameter tear, we did not show significant differences in either isokinetic muscle strength or muscle endurance during any movements. However, with modified mediolateral diameter, we found significant differences with isokinetic muscle strength during adduction, and in muscle endurance the external rotation and internal rotation. CONCLUSIONS: We found that a supraspinatus tendon tear associated with more numbers of rotator cuff tears has lower isokinetic muscle strength and muscle endurance than a tear found alone.
Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Muscle Strength* ; Rotator Cuff* ; Shoulder ; Tendons

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical effect and reproductive outcome of pelviscopic ovarian drilling in infertile patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome resistant to clomiphene citrate. METHODS: Twenty two patients involved in this study were taken pelviscopic ovarian drilling with needle electrocautery. Change of characteristic LH/FSH ratio before and after operative treatment, ovulation and pregnancy success were followed up. Paired t-test was applied for hormonal change (p<0.05). RESULTS: Thirteen of 14 patients (93%) treated only with pelviscopic ovarian drilling showed successful ovulation with or without clomiphene citrate and among these 10 patients (71%) were success in pregnancy and 9 patients delivered full term babies. When including patients who needed other assisted reproductive technique and specific medication of endometriosis 17 of 22 patients (77%) were successfully pregnant and 15 patients (68%) delivered healthy babies. The mean LH/FSH ratio 2.0+/-0.5 before treatment were decreased to 1.26+/-0.37 after treatment (p<0.05). Interestingly, among 22 patients, various degree endometriosis were found during pelviscopy and specific medication with GnRH analogue were followed. CONCLUSION: Pelviscopic ovarian drilling showed successful ovulation rate and effective reproductive outcome in clomiphene-resistant infertile patients with PCO. This surgical technique seems to be an alternative step for the management of clomiphene-resistant infertile patients with PCO and also for the diagnosis of possible high rate of endometriosis in these patents.
Clomiphene* ; Diagnosis ; Electrocoagulation ; Endometriosis ; Female ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Humans ; Needles ; Ovulation ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome* ; Pregnancy ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted

No Abstract Available.
Melatonin* ; Pineal Gland*

BACKGROUND: The precore mutant hepatits B virus (HBV) cannot produce HBeAg due to the formation of transnational stop codon at nucleotide 1896 of the HBV-DNA precore region. This mutant has been detected worldwide in acute fulminant hepatitis, carrier and chronic HBV infections. It has been controversial whether the emergence of precore mutant HBV is related to the severity of the chronic hepatitis B or not. METHODS: To determine the prevalence and clinical implication of precore mutant infection, 137 HBsAg (+) patients including 12 acute hepatitis, 59 carriers, 41 chronic hepatitis, 15 liver cirrhosis, and 10 hepatomas were examined with mutation site specific assay-polymerase chain reaction (MSSA-PCR). The specificity for the detection of mutant by MSSA-PCR method was confirmed by direct sequencing of PCR products. RESULTS: The precore mutant HBV was detected in 67 of 137 (49%) subjects : none of 12 (0%) acute hepatitis patients, 17 of 59 (29%) carriers, 31 of 41 (76%) chronic hepatitis patients, 12 of IS (80%) liver cirrhosis patients, and 6 of 10 (60%) hepatoma patients. According to the status of serum HBeAg, the emergence rate of precore mutant HBV in HBeAg(-) cases was relatively higher than in HBeAg(+) cases with blood donor and chronic hepatitis. In anti-HBe (+) patients with chronic hepatitis, the precore mutant HBV was found regardless of ALT level in all patients. Emergence rate of precore mutant HBV was abruptly increased after 30 years of age. Among HBV-DNA (-) sera by DNA probe method, the core region of HBV was amplified in 94% of sera by MSSA-PCR method. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of precore mutant HBV may be related to the duration of HBV infections and there seems to be no causal relationship between the presence of precore mutant HBV and the severity of chronic hepatitis.
Blood Donors ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Codon, Terminator ; DNA ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; Herpesvirus 1, Cercopithecine ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; Sensitivity and Specificity

No abstract available.
Hepacivirus* ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis*

No abstract available.
Estradiol ; Growth Hormone* ; Testosterone

BACKGROUND: This study investigated and evaluated the clinical outcomes of intra-articular lesions of traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation (TASD) associated with greater tuberosity (GT) fracture of the humerus. METHODS: Subjects included 20 patients who were surgically or non-surgically treated for GT fracture of the humeurs with TASD, and followed-up for at least 2 years. The mean follow-up period was 54.1 months (range, 24–105 months). Of the 20 patients, 12 were treated surgically. Intra-articular lesions were identified randomly on magnetic resonance imaging scans (repeated thrice) by experienced radiologists and orthopedic surgeons. The accompanying intra-articular lesions were left untreated. Clinical outcomes were evaluated by Simple Shoulder Test (SST) and Western Ontario Shoulder Instability index (WOSI) at the last follow-up. RESULTS: Intra-articular lesions were identified in 19 patients: 7 Bankart lesions, 15 humeral avulsion of the glenohumeral ligament lesions, 3 glenoid avulsion of the glenohumeral ligament lesion, and 6 inferior capsular tears. Two or more intra-articular lesions were identified in 6 patients. The mean SST score was 10.9 and the mean WOSI score was 449.3 at the last follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: For GT fracture of the humerus with TASD, a high frequency of diverse intra-articular lesions was identified. There were no incidence of recurrent shoulder dislocations, and good clinical outcomes were obtained without treatment of the intra-articular lesions. We thereby comprehend that although intra-articular lesions may occur in TASD associated with GT fracture of the humeurs, merely treating the GT fracture of the humerus is sufficient.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Humerus* ; Incidence ; Ligaments ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Ontario ; Orthopedics ; Shoulder Dislocation* ; Shoulder* ; Surgeons ; Tears

No abstract available.

OBJECTIVE: Acute inflammatory lesions in the placenta is one of the most common histopathologic lesions of women with preterm premature rupture of membrane. But there is a few scientific evidence to support the association between amniotic fluid white blood cell count and the presence and severity of acute placental inflammation in preterm premature rupture of membrane. To evaluate the relationship between amniotic fluid white blood cell count and the presence and severity of acute placental inflammatory lesions in preterm premature rupture of membrane. METHODS: The relationship between amniotic fluid white blood cell count and placental histologic finding was examined in 89 consecutive patients who were admitted with the diagnosis of preterm premature rupture of membrane and who delivered singleton gestation within 3 days. RESULTS: The prevalence of acute histologic chorioamnionitis was 68.5%(61/89) and that of positive amniotic fluid culture was 32.6%(29/89). The prevalence of positive amniotic fluid culture increased according to the higher severity of inflammation in each type of placental section(p<0.05 for each). The median amniotic fluid white blood cell count increased significantly according to the presence and higher severity of inflammation in each type of placental section(p<0.01 for each). The median amniotic fluid white blood cell count increased significantly according to the higher total grade of inflammation in placental histologic examination(p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Both the presence and higher severity of acute histologic chorioamnionitis are associated with an elevated amniotic fluid white blood cell count. The total grade of acute histologic chorioamnionitis is associated with an elevated amniotic fluid white blood cell count. Amniotic fluid white blood cell count is a reliable prenatal marker of histologic chorioamnionitis."
Amniotic Fluid* ; Chorioamnionitis ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation* ; Leukocyte Count* ; Leukocytes* ; Membranes* ; Placenta ; Pregnancy ; Prevalence ; Rupture*