The effectiveness of alternate flexion and extension splint(splint group) in restoring the range of motion(ROM) following total knee arthroplasty(TKA) was evaluated, comparing with the continuous passive motion(CPM) group. One hundred and twenty knees of 87 patients(21–80 years old:12 males & 75 females) who were followed for 2.7 years(ranging from 1.2 to 5.3 years) were involved in this study. The ROM of following groups were compared each other and the results were analyzed statistically with Wilcoxon rank sum test and the differences between each prosthesis were compared with Kruskal-Wallis test. 1) Splint(51 knees, 42.5%) v.s CPM group(69 knees, 57.5%) 2) RA(43 knees, 35.8%) v.s. OA(77 knees, 64.2%) 3) Various types of prosthesis(PSCK, PCA, Tricon-M, M/G, Oxford Knee, PFC) The results were as follws:1. The ROM of splint group(average 132.2°, ranging from 85–145°) was significantly greater than that of CPM group(average 110.5°, ranging from 50–140°)(p<0.01). 2. The ROM of osteoarthritic knees(average 122.2°) was slightly greater than that of rheumatoid knees(average 115.8°) without statistical significance(p) 0.05). 3. There was statistically significant difference between ROM of the various types of implant(p < 0.01). However this difference seemed due to different methods of rehabilitation rather than different types of prosthesis. From this result it is suggested that the alternate flexion and extension splint following TKA is a useful method in restoring ROM, comparing to gradual ROM exercise with CPM.
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Humans ; Knee ; Male ; Methods ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Prostheses and Implants ; Rehabilitation ; Splints

Lymphedema is a common complication associated with cancer itself or with cancer treatment. Lymphedema infrequently occurs after drug therapy. Bee venom is one of the materials used in acupuncture, and it has been used in the treatment of a variety of inflammatory diseases including arthritis. We report a 74-year-old male patient with late-onset post-radiation lymphedema provoked by bee venom therapy. He was free of lymphedema for 5 years after the complete remission of prostate cancer which had been treated with transurethral resection and radiation therapy. The patient developed left leg swelling after undergoing bee venom therapy for left hip pain. Computed tomography and lymphoscintigraphy showed lymphedema without tumor recurrence or infection. The lymphatic system was suspected to be injured by bee venom therapy and lymphedema was provoked. Bee venom therapy should be used cautiously in patients prone to lymphedema.
Acupuncture ; Aged ; Arthritis ; Bee Venoms* ; Bees* ; Drug Therapy ; Hip ; Humans ; Leg ; Lymphatic System ; Lymphedema* ; Lymphoscintigraphy ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Recurrence

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Lamivudine is an antiviral nucleoside analogue effective for the treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection via the inhibition of DNA polymerase activity. The mutations, however, in YMDD motif, such as YVDD and YIDD, have been found to interfere with the therapeutic efficacy of lamivudine. This study was performed to identify the role of such mutant-type HBV among Korean hepatitis B patients with chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis receiving lamivudine treatment. METHODS: Serum samples were collected from four groups of patients; patients with breakthrough (group I, n = 8); patients who showed no response after the treatment (group II, n = 6); patients who showed good response (group III, n = 6); patients with chronic hepatitis B without any treatment (group IV, n = 4). Mutations were detected by PCR-cloning and automated sequencing. RESULTS: Mutations in YMDD were found in only 4 (50%) in group I and were negative in group II. No mutations could be identified in the serum samples collected before treatment and from groups III and IV. YVDD mutation was found to be associated with two additional mutations, 'L-to-M' in 528th amino acid and 'L-to-V' in 577th amino acid. CONCLUSIONS: Lamivudine resistance appeared in three different patterns: (1) breakthrough related to the mutations in YMDD motif; (2) breakthrough not related to the YMDD mutations; and (3) primary non-responder not related to the YMDD mutations.
DNA ; Fibrosis* ; Hepatitis B virus* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis B, Chronic* ; Hepatitis* ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Humans ; Lamivudine