BACKGROUND: Many studies about the skin elastic properties have been performed until now using diverse methods. Suction methods using Dermaflex and Cutometer are most prevalently used. OBJECTIVE: We performed this study to obtain the normal range of skin elastic properties using Cutometer and to know the correlation between the data of Cutometer and those of Dermaflex. METHODS: Eleven different anatomical sites were measured in 46 healthy young volunteers (M:=23:3) by Cutometer. The same anatomical sites were also measured by Dermaflex in sixteen volunteers(M:=8:). RESULTS: When measured by Cutometer, skin elasticity and distensibility were generally higher in the central part of the body than the distal portion, showing the distal gradient. There were differences according to sexes and a part of them were significant. When we compared Cutometer with Dermaflex, they were closely related to each other in the data about distensibility, there was a weak correlation in the data of elasticity. No correlation was detected between Cutometer and Dermaflex in the data about hysteresis. CONCLUSION: This study suggests the Korean standard values of elastic properties in their twenties by Cutometer. The values measured by Cutometer and Dermaflex were not interchangeable although they were the same in the aspect of theoretical concept. These features should be considered in the future study measuring skin elastic properties.
Elasticity ; Reference Values ; Skin* ; Suction ; Volunteers

We report a case of 15-year-old man with beneficial effects of short term growth hormone treatment presenting with cardiomyopathy combined with neuromuscular dystrophy. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed that LV chamber was markedly dilated and global LV systolic function was severely reduced. The findings of electromyography were compatible with neuromuscular dystrophy. Under the impression of cardiomyopathy combined with neuromuscular disease, maximal medical treatments such as inotropic agents, diuretics and ACE inhibitor were tried but we could not attain remarkable clinical improvement. Finally, we started growth hormone injection and after treatment for 3 months, we could attain remarkable clinical and hemodynamic improvement without any side effect.
Adolescent ; Cardiomyopathies* ; Diuretics ; Echocardiography ; Electromyography ; Growth Hormone* ; Heart Failure* ; Heart* ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Neuromuscular Diseases

PURPOSE: A new method has been devised to determine contact pressures in prosthetic components. A real time analysis of the contact pressure distribution could help fine tuned implant positioning and ligament balancing during Total Knee Arthroplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Posterior cruciate reserving type procedures were done with externally rotated femoral cut. Femorotibial contact pressure was measured in four compartments in both flexion and extension position. A LOAD CELL located beneath the tibial plate changes the contact pressure into electric signal and DP-41S transformed the electric sign into the pressure unit. Adjunctive fine-tuning operation was done to approximate the equilibrium among the four compartments of the tibial plate. RESULTS: Femorotibial contact pressure were distributed between 17.1 N (Newton) to 33.4 N (average 23.6 N). A peak contact pressure was exhibited in the anteromedial compartment in extended knee and in the posterolateral compartment in flexed knee. CONCLUSION: A LOAD CELL electronic transducer technique was introduced. This method was tried to get the balanced equilibrium of contact pressure between Femorotibial components during TKA.
Arthroplasty* ; Knee* ; Ligaments ; Transducers

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the radiological and clinical results of reduction using a dynamic hip screw according to the grade of medial cortical support in patients with AO Foundation and Orthopaedic Trauma Association (AO/OTA) classification type 31-A2 pertrochanteric fractures. METHODS: We enrolled 100 patients with AO/OTA type 31-A2 fractures with displaced lesser trochanter fragments (length of the cortical area longer than 20 mm on the pelvis anteroposterior view). Patients with positive medial cortical support were assigned to group 1 (n = 28); neutral medial cortical support, group 2 (n = 42); and negative medial cortical support, group 3 (n = 30). Radiological evaluation was done by measuring the change in the femoral neck-shaft angle and sliding distance of the lag screw. Clinical outcomes of each group were compared by means of the walking ability score proposed by Ceder. RESULTS: Group 1 showed significantly less changes in the femoral neck-shaft angle and shorter sliding distance than groups 2 and 3. Group 2 showed significantly less changes in the femoral neck-shaft angle and shorter sliding distance than group 3. Group 1 showed significantly higher walking ability scores than group 3 (p = 0.00). The use of trochanter stabilizing plates or fixation using wires for posteromedial wall defect resulted in no significant changes in terms of the femoral neck-shaft angle or sliding distance. CONCLUSIONS: In the treatment of pertrochanteric fractures accompanied by posteromedial wall defect using a dynamic hip screw, reduction with negative cortical support should be avoided.
Classification ; Femur ; Hip* ; Humans ; Pelvis ; Walking

Since a decade ago, apolipoprotein (apo) E polymorphism has been focussed as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. ApoE plays a central role as a receptor ligand for the uptake of lipoproteins from the circulation. There was an agreement on apoE polymorphism being one of the major risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD) by its effects on lipid profiles. However, the effects of apoE have not been noted in all populations and conflicting results in the risk of CAD have been noted. Recently, in situ expression of apoE on the atherosclerotic plaque has been studied. We, therefore, investigated the effects of apoE genotype on patients with acute coronary syndrome, including unstable angina and acute myocardial infarction, in non-diabetic patients. While we could not find significant risk effects of apoE on coronary artery disease and lipid profiles on simple comparison with the normal control group, we could find significantly decreased frequencies of apo epsilon 3 allele in patients with acute coronary syndrome compared with stable angina patients (77.8% vs 88.8%). We suggest that the apoE genotype could be associated with acute coronary events in CAD and further study with in situ biochemical methods will be needed on the effects of apoE polymorphism on plaque stability.
Apolipoproteins E/genetics* ; Coronary Disease/genetics* ; Genotype ; Human ; Polymorphism (Genetics)/genetics* ; Syndrome

Neovascularization of the adventitial vasa vasorum with extension into the intima of atherosclerotic lesions is frequently observed, but its pathophysiological significance is still subject to debate. Recently, leptin, the product of the Ob gene, was identified. Leptin, via activation of the endothelial receptor (Ob-R), generates a growth signal involving a tyrosine kinase-dependent intracellular pathway and promotes angiogenic processes. We hypothesized that a high concentration of leptin within vasa vasorum and plaque itself, may influence inflammatory and vascular neovascularization coupling with functional upregulation of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Microscopic computerized tomography was utilized for the spatial distribution of vasa vasorum and intimal neovascularization from atherosclerotic human coronary arteries. Atherosclerotic coronary arteries showed a dense plexus of microvessels in the adventitia and plaque itself. Microscopic analysis from human atherosclerotic aortas revealed an increase in the intimal thickness with neovascularization. The immunoreactivity for Ob-R, VEGF and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) increased in atherosclerotic plaque, predominantly in the endothelial lining of the intimal neovessel and macrophages/foam cells. Our observation of a prominent colocalization between Ob-R, VEGF and MMP supports this hypothesis and these factors participate in the neovascularization of atherosclerotic lesions. The present study is the first report on vascular tissue and it opens a promising perspective concerning future investigations of leptin-dependent modulation of atherogenesis and vascular neovascularization under pathophysiolgical conditions.
Adult ; Arteriosclerosis/physiopathology ; Arteriosclerosis/pathology ; Arteriosclerosis/metabolism* ; Blood Vessels/pathology ; Blood Vessels/metabolism ; Carrier Proteins/physiology ; Carrier Proteins/metabolism* ; Human ; Middle Age ; Neovascularization, Pathologic/physiopathology

Dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome (DHF/DSS) is an acute febrile illness characterized by hemorrhagic phenomenon and hypovolemic shock due to increased vascular permeability and plasma leakage in patients infected with any one of four serotypes of dengue virus. The disease is one of the principal causes of hospitalization and death among children in several south-east Asian, central and south American, and African countries. With increasing use of air or ship transport, more travelers and sailors to the tropics are returning within the incubation period of acute febrile infection. Herein we reported the first Korean case of dengue hemorrhagic fever imported from Africa. We experienced a Korean sailor who complains of fever, chill, nausea, and epistaxis after the return from Mombasa, Kenya. His fellows also showed the similar complains. His illness improved spontaneously and the indirect immunofluorescent antibody testing revealed antibody titer of 1:1024 or more.
Africa* ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Capillary Permeability ; Child ; Dengue Virus ; Dengue* ; Epistaxis ; Fever ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Kenya ; Military Personnel ; Nausea ; Plasma ; Severe Dengue* ; Ships ; Shock

Atherosclerosis is the most severe problem in the high-pressure systemic circulation and similar changes also occur in the high-pressure loading valve. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that early atherosclerosis, induced by a high cholesterol diet in rabbits, is characterized by significant ultrastructural change in the elastic laminae of the aortic valve. However, it is not known whether this process is also taking place in the cardiac valve at the early stage of atherosclerosis. Animals were fed either a high cholesterol diet (n = 5) or a control diet (n = 5) for 10-12 weeks. Histologic analysis demonstrated that subendothelial thickening and foam-cell infiltration were evident in the arterialis of aortic valves. Confocal microscopy revealed an altered pattern characterized by fragmentation and disorganization of the arterialis elastic laminae of hypercholesterolemic valves. Computerized digital analysis of the images obtained by confocal scanning microscopy demonstrated that compared to normal valves, the arterialis elastic laminae of hypercholesterolemic valves decreased in percentage of their elastin content (29.03 +/- 1.10% vs. 42.94 +/- 1.35%, p = 0.023). Immunohistochemical staining for matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) revealed MMP-3 immunoreactivity was increased in hypercholesterolemic valves, predominantly in the arterialis. This study demonstrated that early atherosclerosis, induced by a high cholesterol diet in rabbits, is characterized by significant ultrastructural change in the elastic laminae of the aortic valve. The arterialis endothelium of the aortic valve may be a more atherosclerosis-prone area compared with the ventricularis. The presence of ultrastructural defect in the elastic laminae may play a role in chronic degenerative change and a resultant valvular dysfunction.
Animal ; Aortic Valve/ultrastructure* ; Elastic Tissue/ultrastructure* ; Hypercholesterolemia/pathology* ; Male ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Rabbits ; Stromelysin 1/metabolism

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the early results of total hip arthroplasty (THA) performed using large diameter femoral head against with highly cross-linked polyethylene as a bearing surface in patients less than sixty years of age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy patients were enrolled and retrospectively reviewed. The mean age of patients at index surgery was 49 years and the mean follow-up period was 61 months. Clinical follow-up involved implementing the Harris hip score (HHS) and a radiographic evaluation that included linear radiolucency, osteolysis, and loosening. An annual wear rate was performed at 6 weeks; at 3, 6, and 12 months; and on a yearly basis thereafter. RESULTS: The average HHS at last follow-up was 94 (range: 82-98). Radiographically, no osteolysis in the pelvis or proximal femur was observed in any patient. No acetabular cup or femoral stem failed due to aseptic loosening. No eccentric wear was observed on any liner, and no liner fracture occurred. However, one patient experienced hip dislocation. The average femoral head penetration rate during the first postoperative year was 0.077+/-0.026 mm/year, and the average steady-state wear rate was 0.033+/-0.023 mm/year. CONCLUSION: THA with a large diameter femoral head of highly cross-linked polyethylene in patients younger than 60 years of age was found to produce results comparable to previous in vitro laboratory hip simulation studies. In particular, patient satisfaction was high due to no limitation in range of motion or hip posture during the early post-operative period. Longer-term follow-up is required to demonstrate the clinical benefits of this new material more comprehensively.
Arthroplasty ; Femur ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head ; Hip ; Hip Dislocation ; Humans ; Osteolysis ; Patient Satisfaction ; Pelvis ; Polyethylene ; Posture ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Retrospective Studies ; Tacrine ; Ursidae

PURPOSE: Liver regeneration is crucial following major liver resection or partial liver transplantation. The inhibition mechanism of regeneration is portal hypertension caused by excessive portal flow to the small liver. Portal hypertension can be controlled with terlipressin, an effective splanchnic vasoconstrictor. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of terlipressin on the portal pressure and liver regeneration in 90% hepatectomized rats. METHODS: Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley (250 gm) rats were divided into three groups; Group N (n=16) underwent Sham operation, Group C (n=16) was injected with 0.1 mL saline after 90% hepatectomy, and Group T (n=16) was injected with 50microgram/kg terlipressin after 90% hepatectomy. To assess the liver regeneration response, the changes in proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) were monitored for 48 hours. RESULTS: The baseline portal pressures in Groups N, C, and T were 4.9, 12.4, and 14.1 mmHg (P<0.05). In Group T, the injection of terlipressin induced a significant reduction of the portal pressure (-30.2%, P<0.05). There was no difference in PCNA between Groups C and T. However, serum TNFalpha levels were significantly higher in Group T (248.4 pg/ mL) than Group C (52.3 pg/mL) 48 hours postoperatively (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The control of portal pressure with the use of terlipressin was correlated with serum TNFalpha. These data provide evidence that the administration of terlipressin during the early postoperative period following major liver resection may have an attenuating effect on portal hypertension, which may also stimulate the initiation of the regenerative process.
Animals ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; Liver Regeneration* ; Liver Transplantation ; Liver* ; Male ; Portal Pressure* ; Postoperative Period ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Regeneration ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha