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.
Staphylococcus aureus* ; Staphylococcus*

No abstract available

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

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

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.

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

Variation in the facial pattern and effect of the rotational jaw growth on the facial proportion were studied in serial cephalometric radiographs of 40 Korean children (35 boys, 15 girls) ranging in age from 6 to 13 years. According to Y-axis (N-S-Gn) growth change during the 7 years of period, the subject who had exhibited "wave-like" manner of Y-axis growth change within +/- 2degrees was classified to the Parallelwise group and the subject who had exhibited Y-axis increase more than +/- 2degrees was classified to the Clockwise rotation group and the subject who had exhibited Y-axis decrease more than -2degrees was classified to the Counterlockwise rotation group. For the comparison of each group, a total of 22 morphologic variables were employed and the data were analyzed by means of computer morphometrics and statistical methods. On the basis of the finding of this study, the following trends were eatablished: 1. The Parallelwise group was 75%, the Clockwise rotation group was 12.5% and the Counterclockwise rotation group was 12.5%. 2. The growth pattern of cranial base was related to the rotation of mandible. 3. Maxillary prognathism was occured in the Counterclockwise rotation group and the rotation of palatal plane was occured in the Clockwise rotation group. 4. Mandibular prognathism was occured in the Parallelwise and the Counterclockwise rotation groups, especially in the Counterclockwise rotation group. 5. The degree of maxillo-mandibular divergency was constant in the Clockwise rotation group but decreased in the Counterclockwise rotation and the Parallelwise groups, especially in the Counterclockwise group. 6. There were no differences in the size of the anterior upper facial height (N-ANS) and the posterior lower facial height ((Go-Me)-PNS) but there were differences in the size of the anterior lower facial height (ANS-Me) and the posterior upper facial height ((S-N)-PNS) between each group. 7. The growth increment and the size of the facial gepth was not relater to the growth pattern of the face but the growth increment and the size of the facial height was related to the growth pattern of the face. 8. Proportional change due to the facial growth rotation was concentrated in the anterior lower face. 9. The most apparent difference between each group was happened in the size of the posterior cranial base (S-Ba) and the facial length (S-Gn).
Child ; Humans ; Jaw ; Mandible ; Prognathism ; Skull Base