No abstract available

No abstract available.
Staphylococcus aureus* ; Staphylococcus*

BACKGROUND: Recently, cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) has become a popular diagnostic method for differentiating the main cause of exertional dyspnea or exercise limitation. We evaluated the difference in the CPX results according to interpretative algorithms and the methods of exercise in Korea. METHOD: Sixty-six patients with chronic lung disease and 48 adults with dyspneic symptoms, but with no abnormalities in a spirometry performed symptom limited CPX, were included in this study. The results were interpreted using both Wasserman's(WA) and Eschenbacher's algorithm (EA), and a comparison between both algorithms was made. Thirty-three healthy medical students performed the CPX with a cycle ergometer and treadmill. The results were interpreted with EA and the concurrenec in interpretations was evaluated according to the methods of exercise. RESULTS: 1. In patients with chronic lung disease, the overall concordance rate between the two algorithms was 63.6%. The concordance rates were 69.8% in patients with obstructive, 25.0% in those with restrictive, and 66.7% in those with mixed pulmonary insufficiency. In patients with dyspneic symptoms but normal findings in resting spirometry, the concordance rate was 60.4%. 2. In healthy medical students, in results interpreted with EA, the concordance rate between the cycle ergometer and treadmill exercise was 25.0%. CONCLUSION: Both interpretative algorithms and methods of exercise may affect the CPX results. In using CPX as a diagnostic test for the causes of dyspnea in the Korean population, the interpretative algorithms and method of exercise need to be standardized, and a predictive VO2max equation needs to be established.
Adult ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Dyspnea ; Exercise Test* ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung Diseases ; Methods* ; Spirometry ; Students, Medical

No abstract available.
Joints* ; Range of Motion, Articular* ; Spine*

No abstract available.
Benzalkonium Compounds* ; Dermatitis, Contact*

No abstract available.
Dental Arch* ; Humans

STUDY DESIGN: The treatment of a stable fracture around thoracolumbarjunction is a controversial subject. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the result from long term follow-up of the stable spinal fracture around thoracolumbar junction according to the operation, osteoporosis and in situ extension bar, respectively. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The thoracolumbar junction is a transitional zone in which the kyphotic angle of thoracic spine is continued to the lordotic angle of lumbar splne. So it is prone to be injured biomechanically, and the stability of the spine around thoracolumbar junction is not determined yet. METHODS: We studied retrospectively 105 cases of the stable fracture around thoracolumbar junction from January 1985 to December 1995. The criteria of the stability were a compression fracture by Denis F., a bursting fracture without involvement of posterior column, a neural enchroachment of bony fragment below 30%, fracture without subluxation or dislocation in spinal junction. RESULTS: The most common cause was traffic accident and, the first lumbar vertebrate was common site. Below 30% of initial compression, the progression was not exceded 5% in operative group. But in nonoperative group, anterior compression was more progressed than initial compression over 5%. The degree of anterior compression was affected by osteoporosis and in situ extension bar just after injury. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest an anterior compression abode 30% in spinal body of thoracolumbar junction for an additional operative indication. The prognosis may be affected by osteoporosis and in situ extension bar.
Accidents, Traffic ; Dislocations ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Fractures, Compression ; Osteoporosis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fractures ; Spine ; Vertebrates

No abstract available.

The epidural injection of corticosteroid reduces the inflammatory process of the neural structure and its neighbor structures. Morphine, also injected epidurally, has been reported to alleviate severe pain with the short-acting property. In attempt to prolong the effectiveness of pain relief, we have studied the effect of the epidural injection of the morphine and steroid frorg May 1987 to Oct. 1987, and compared with the effect of the epidural injection of the steroid and local anesthetics from Jan. 1986 to Oct. 1987. In this study, we obtained following results; 1. The major causative diseases were herniated necleus pulposus in 34 cases(48.5%), spinal stenosis in 16 cases(22.9%) and spondylolisthesis in 9 cases(12.9%). 2. In morphine-injected group, 100% of acute group and 92.3% of chronic group was improved. In non-morphine injected group, there was no significant difference between the acute and chroinc groups. 3. The effect of epidural morphine and steroid was as follows; Complete relief 14 cases (63.6%), marked improvement 5 cases(22.7%), moderate improvement 2 cases(9.2%) and no relief 1 case(4.6%). The overall improvement was resulted in 21 cases(95.4%). 4. The effect of epidural steroid and local anesthetics was as follows; Complete relief 10 cases(20.8%), marked improvement 14 cases(29.2%), moderate improvement 12 cases(25%~ and no relief 12 cases(25%). The overall improvement was resulted in 36 cases(75%). 5. The average duration of pain relief was 2.5 months in morphine injected group and 1.3 months in non-morphine injected group. 6. The side effects associated with opiate, such as generalized pruritus, nausea, vomiting and urinary retention were reported in 16 cases(72.7%), but responded readily to Naloxone injection and subsided within 24 hours. It is considered that epidural injection of morphine and steroid prolong the effect and duration of pain relief for low back pain and sciatica when compared with the epidural injection of steroid and local anesthetics.
Anesthetics, Local ; Injections, Epidural ; Low Back Pain ; Morphine ; Naloxone ; Nausea ; Pruritus ; Sciatica ; Spinal Stenosis ; Spondylolisthesis ; Urinary Retention ; Vomiting

STUDY DESIGN: The purpose of this study was to determine whether facet joint orientation and/or tropism influences the prevalence of disc degeneration in MRI in young patients. OBJECTIVE: 41 patients with disc degeneration disease including HNP in MRI were assesed on facet joint angles and tropism between 18 and 30 years old. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUD DATA: The patients who had back pain had association between disc degeneration and facet tropism in adults. But some authors have suggested that facet tropism has no clinical relevance. Physiologic aging and premature disc degeneration induce a gradual loss of water and proteoglycan from nucleus pulposus. METHODS: We reviewed the 41 MRI of lumbar spine with disc degeneration and measured facet joint angles on the mid-disc cut, which was parallel to inferior vertebral end-plate of superior vertebra. In simple X-ray, we reviewed relation between the transitional vertebrae and disc degeneration. It was analyzed statistically the facet joint angles and facet tropism in each levels. RESULTS: The mean facet angles was more increased in upper vertebral facet joints but statistically nonspecific. The facet tropism was not significant in all lumbar levels and the effects of transitional vertebrae on disc degeneration were ignorable and unclear. CONCLUSIONS: No statistical relationship was found among the magnitude of the angle and facet tropism and the presence of disc degeneration at any levels in young patients.
Adult ; Aging ; Back Pain ; Equidae ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Prevalence ; Proteoglycans ; Spine ; Tropism* ; Young Adult* ; Zygapophyseal Joint