BACKGROUND: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the functional and radiologic outcomes of additive augmentation sutures through rotator cuff for proximal humeral fractures stabilized locking plate in elderly patients. METHODS: We enrolled 74 patients over the age of 60 years who received internal fixation using locking plates for proximal humeral fractures. Of these, 50 patients had additive augmentation sutures through rotator cuff. The mean age at the time of surgery was 72.1 years (range, 60-89 years), and the mean follow-up period was 17.5 months (range, 12-62 months). The humeral neck-shaft angle and humeral head height were used as radiological markers to assess the effect of additive augmentation sutures through rotator cuff. We allocated the patients who received additive augmentation sutures into group A and those who did not into group B. RESULTS: At the final follow-up, the mean Korean Showlder Society score and Constant scores were 88.96 +/- 12.1 and 86.6 +/- 11.9, respectively, in group A and 86.21 +/- 11.8 and 85.3 +/- 11.7, respectively, in group B (p=0.368, 0.271). At the final follow-up, the mean loss in humeral neck-shaft angle from the time of immediate postoperative measurement was 1.6degrees in group A and 4.8degrees in group B, whereas the mean loss in humeral head height was 0.82 mm in group A and 0.52 mm in group B (p=0.029, 0.178). CONCLUSIONS: The surgical outcomes of internal fixation using locking plates for proximal humeral fractures were clinically and radiologically good in elderly patients over the age of 60 years without any observable complications. Further, the loss of humeral head shaft angle at the final follow-up from its initial postoperative measurement was significantly smaller in patients who received an additive augmentation suture than in those who did not. Thus, we conclude that augmentation sutures are a beneficial option for elderly patients that clinicians can consider at the time of surgical decision making.
Aged* ; Decision Making ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Humeral Head ; Rotator Cuff ; Shoulder Fractures* ; Sutures*

PURPOSE: Infantile atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most important risk factors for development of childhood asthma. Those with persistent wheezing with atopy had a great risk of declining lung function. Our study was designed to find out the risk factors for wheezing in infants who has AD, therefore early detection of risk factors for developing wheezing. METHODS: Three hundreds forty seven infants with AD who visited on our Pediatric Allergy Respiratory Center in Soonchunhyang University Hospital from January 2002 to December 2005 were enrolled and they were followed up till July 2006. We obtained familial allergy history and laboratory data such as serum total IgE, specific IgE and blood eosinophil count. We analyzed the factors affecting recurrent wheezing and persistent wheezing after 3 years old in children who had AD during infancy. RESULTS: One-hundred ninety-four children (55.9%) developed wheezing. Male sex (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.7) and asthma history of parents or siblings (aOR 4.7, 95% CI 1.7-12.5) were the significant risk factors for development of wheezing. Serum total IgE (aOR 5.1 95% CI 1.1-22.5) and house dust mite sensitization (aOR 9.0, 95% CI 0.9-89.4) were significant risk factors for persistent wheezing after first three years of life. CONCLUSION: We should be alert for asthma in cases of infantile AD especially in male sex or with familial asthma history. And we propose early identification and intervention for asthma in infantile AD with increased total IgE and with house dust mite sensitization.
Asthma ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Infant* ; Lung ; Male ; Odds Ratio ; Parents ; Pyroglyphidae ; Respiratory Center ; Respiratory Sounds* ; Risk Factors* ; Siblings

PURPOSE: It is known that 50% to 68% of women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) have sexual function impairment and avoid sexual intercourse. Reports of sexual function after SUI surgery vary, with reports of both improved function and deteriorated function. The goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of midurethral sling procedures on the sexual function of women suffering from SUI preoperatively and 36 months postoperatively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among 75 patients who were diagnosed with SUI and underwent the midurethral procedure, 47 patients who answered the Korean version of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) Questionnaire were analyzed prospectively. The retropubic route (RPR) was used in 26 patients, whereas the transobturator route (TOR) was used in 21 patients. Fifteen patients underwent concomitant posterior colporrhaphy. The FSFI was completed before surgery and 36 months after surgery. RESULTS: The patients' mean age was 44.9 years (range, 30-59 years) and their mean parity was 2.8 (range, 0-6). There were no significant differences in the individual FSFI domain scores between before surgery and 36 months (36.8+/-4.57) after surgery. There were no significant differences in sexual satisfaction between the patients with concomitant posterior colporrhaphy and patients with the midurethral sling procedure only. There were no significant differences in domain score between the TOR and the RPR, but patients experienced less pain after the RPR than after the TOR. CONCLUSION: There was no significant change in overall sexual function in women undergoing the midurethral sling procedure. Attention must be paid when performing the TOR procedure because it can cause pain during intercourse.
Coitus ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Parity ; Prospective Studies ; Sexuality ; Stress, Psychological ; Suburethral Slings ; Urinary Incontinence ; Urologic Surgical Procedures

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the propriety of making use of the light-cured resin base in indirect bracket bonding technique by study of shear bond strength and failure patterns according to the material of resin base. Metal brackets were bonded to the stone models of specimens involving bovine lower incisor with chemical-cured(Excel), light-cured(Light-Bond) and thermal-cured(Therma-Cure) resin. They were transferred to the specimens and bonded using sealant. The shear bond strength was tested on Instron. After bracket removal, the bracket base was examined and assessed with the adhesive remnant index(ARI). The results were as follows: 1. No significant differences in shear bond strength were found among the three groups (P>0.05). 2. No significant differences in Alts score were found among the three groups (P>0.05). The above results suggest that light-cured resin base in addition to chemical-cured and thermal-cured resin bases is useful in the indirect bonding technique.
Adhesives ; Incisor

BACKGROUND: Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) causes not only severe symptoms and hemodynamic changes, but may progress to chronic atrial fibrillation. Autonomic nervous system or atrial premature beat (APB) has been suggested to contribute to the spontaneous initiation of PAF, but the exact mechanism has been largely unknown. METHODS: One hundred and twenty nine episodes of PAF lasting longer than 5 sec were analyzed in 18 patients (M:F=11:?). Two minutes of normal sinus rhythm before the onset of PAF, and the initial one minute of PAF were printed and analyzed. RESULTS: Most of PAFs were initiated by APBs (38%) or rapid atrial tachycardias (AT, 59%). The frequency of APBs tended to increase immediately before PAF onset (p=0.08). The coupling intervals and coupling indices were not significantly different between PAF-producing APBs and benign APBs. More than half of PAF episodes were initiated by rapid ATs (rate, 357+/-50 bpm). After the onset, they accelerated over several seconds and then degenerated into AF. In some cases, transition from AF to atrial flutter and vice versa were observed. Heart rate, measured at 60-second intervals during 2 minutes before PAF onset, did not change significantly (p=0.44). CONCLUSION: Most of PAFs were initiated by APBs or rapid ATs. Heart rate did not change significantly but the frequency of APBs tended to increase immediately before PAF onset. Rapid ATs frequently accelerated and degenerated into AF. In this regard, Holter monitoring could be useful in identifying patients with PAF triggered by rapid ATs.
Atrial Fibrillation* ; Atrial Flutter ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Cardiac Complexes, Premature ; Electrocardiography, Ambulatory* ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Tachycardia

PURPOSE: Recently, an increase in the number of patients sensitized to rice allergen with or without clinical symptoms has been reported. This study was designed to determine the major allergens in rice and their clinical significance. METHODS: Twenty-four children (15 boys and 9 girls; mean age, 16.3 months) with allergic disease, who were sensitized to rice antigen (by UniCAP) in the Pediatric Allergy Respiratory Center at Soonchunhyang University Hospital, were enrolled in this study. The allergenicity of various types of rice (raw, cooked, and heat-treated, simulated gastric fluid [SGF], and simulated intestinal fluid [SIF]) was investigated using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and immunoglobulin E (IgE) immunoblots. The patients' medical records, including laboratory data and allergy symptoms after ingestion of rice were reviewed. RESULTS: Patients were sensitized to an average of 13.5 food antigens and their mean total IgE was 6,888.7 kU/L. In SDS-PAGE, more than 16 protein bands were observed in the raw rice, whereas only 14-16 kDa and 31-35 kDa protein bands were observed in cooked rice. The common SDS-PAGE protein bands observed in SGF-, SIF-, and heat-treated rice were 9, 14, and 31 kDa. In a heated-rice IgE immunoblot, protein bands of 9, 14, and 31-33 kDa were found in 27.8%, 38.9%, and 38.9% of all sera, respectively, and in 50%, 50%, and 75%, of ser a from the 4 symptomatic patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: The 9-, 14-, and 31-kDa protein bands appeared to be the major allergens responsible for rice allergy symptoms.
Allergens ; Child ; Eating ; Electrophoresis ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulins ; Medical Records ; Respiratory Center ; Sodium

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to investigate the association between hypercholesterolemia and the time required for progression to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) in patients who have undergone androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from 154 patients with prostate cancer between 2005 and 2012 were reviewed retrospectively. ADT was employed as a treatment modality for these patients either due to multiple bone metastases at the time of diagnosis or due to old age in combination with other morbidities. Serum cholesterol levels and statin use were reviewed. We analyzed the factors associated with the development of CRPC after ADT treatment. The mean follow-up period was 34.8 months. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 71.3 years old and their mean prostate-specific antigen level was 141.8±212.6 ng/mL. Their mean cholesterol level was 175.9±37.7 mg/dL, and 14 patients (9.1%) were statin users. CRPC developed in 44 patients (28.6%), and the mean duration from ADT treatment to CRPC was 24.1 months. In a multivariate analysis, hypercholesterolemia was associated with the development of CRPC (hazard ratio [HR]=1.017, p<0.001), depending on clinical T stage (p=0.005) and the presence of bone metastasis (p<0.001). A subanalysis showed that hypercholesterolemia was associated with the development of CRPC in patients with bone metastasis (HR=1.032, p<0.001), but not in patients without bone metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Hypercholesterolemia may be associated with the development of CRPC after ADT in patients with bone metastasis. Further studies with longer follow-up periods and larger samples are needed to validate this finding.
Cholesterol ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; Hypercholesterolemia* ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Prostate* ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: We aim to compare clinical severity of atopic and non-atopic eczema in children and examine the relationship between total-IgE, eosinophil counts, Eosinophil, Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and clinical severity of atopic dermatitis (AD). METHODS: A total of 271 children diagnosed with AD at the Pediatric Allergy Respiratory Center in Soonchunhyang University Hospital from October 2005 to March 2008 were enrolled for this study and divided into 2 groups: atopic and non-atopic eczema. Serum concentrations of total- and specific-IgE, eosinophil counts and ECP were measured. Allergy skin tests were also performed and the SCORAD index was used to evaluate clinical severity. Comparisons the SCORAD index and serum total-IgE, eosinophil count and ECP between the 2 groups were made. RESULTS: Of the 271 patients, 162 (59.8%) were included in the atopic eczema group, while 109 (40.2%) were included in the non-atopic group according to the laboratory results. Serum total- IgE, eosinophil counts, ECP, the SCORAD index and the frequency of a family history of eczema were relatively higher in the atopic group. In the atopic group, serum total-IgE, eosinophil counts and ECP each had a statistically significant correlation with the SCORAD index with eosinophil counts showing the highest correlation. However, only eosinophil counts had a statistically significant correlation with the SCORAD index in the non-atopic group. CONCLUSION: Serum total-IgE, eosinophil counts, and ECP can be used as markers for clinical severity in patients with atopic eczema, while eosinophil counts be used as marker for clinical severity in those with non-atopic eczema.
Child ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Eczema ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Respiratory Center ; Skin Tests

Gender differences in asthma have been observed with a preponderance of boys affected before puberty and girls during and after puberty. The known influences of the menstrual cycle on asthma support a role for female sex hormones on the changing expression of asthma during adolescence. The purpose of this study was to investigate obesity, the menstrual cycle and lung function in adolescent girls. One hundred and three female high school girls (mean age: 15.9+/-0.8 yr) were enrolled. The investigation was performed using a questionnaire that included history of asthma, the menstrual cycle, other combined allergic disease and obesity. The skin prick and pulmonary function test during menstruation period and non-menstruation period. Analyses of these factors were compared. The forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1))/forced vital capacity (FVC) was significantly lower in the obese group compared to the non-obese group (99.8+/-13.8 vs. 107.1+/-10.2, p=0.03). The FEV(1) was significantly lower in the girls during menstruation period than in the girls who were not on menstruation (77.5+/-10.2 vs. 80.4+/-8.6, p=0.03). Our results showed that changes of pulmonary function were related to menstrual cycle and obesity in Korean adolescent girls.
Adolescent ; Asthma/diagnosis/*etiology ; Body Mass Index ; Female ; *Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Korea ; Menstrual Cycle/*physiology ; Obesity/*complications ; Puberty ; Questionnaires ; *Vital Capacity

PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate the frequency and characteristics of minor clinical manifestations of atopic dermatitis (AD) in Korean children to aid the diagnosis and treatment of AD. METHODS: From April 2007 to December 2007, we enrolled 106 children (aged 1 month [infants] to 15 years) diagnosed with AD at the Pediatric Allergy Respiratory Center in Soonchunhyang University Hospital. Clinical manifestations were examined and laboratory findings (total and specific immunoglobulin E [IgE] levels and peripheral blood eosinophil count) were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: Minor symptoms, in order of frequency, included xerosis (78.3%), aggravation due to environmental or emotional stress (43.4%), lichenification (35.8%), orbital darkening (34.0%), periauricular eczema (33.0%), and cutaneous infection (31.1%). Older children (> or =2 years) showed more orbital darkening (P=0.01), horizontal crease (P=0.01), and lichenification (P=0.001) than infants. Patients with severe AD (scoring atopic dermatitis [SCORAD] score, > or =40) showed higher frequencies of xerosis (P=0.04), cutaneous infection (P=0.03), ichthyosis (P=0.18), keratosis pilaris (P=0.02), pityriasis alba (P=0.07), recurrent conjunctivitis (P=0.02), orbital darkening (P=0.001), aggravation due to environmental or emotional stress (P=0.05), facial eczema (P=0.001), lichenification (P=0.001), and hand/foot eczema (P=0.04) than those with mild-to-moderate AD. Children with atopic eczema showed more facial eczema (P=0.01) and lichenification (P=0.04) than those with non-atopic eczema. CONCLUSION: The clinical manifestations of AD were similar to those established by Hanifin and Rajka. However, we need to develop our own diagnostic criteria for AD, because the frequencies shown by our subjects differed from those observed in other countries.
Abnormalities, Multiple ; Child ; Conjunctivitis ; Darier Disease ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Eczema ; Eosinophils ; Eyebrows ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Ichthyosis ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulins ; Infant ; Keratosis ; Orbit ; Pityriasis ; Respiratory Center ; Stress, Psychological