PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical and radiologic outcomes of supramalleolar tibial osteotomy for medial compartment ankle osteoarthritis (OA) and to verify the efficacy of the supramalleolar osteotomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study is based on 9 ankles of the medial compartment ankle OA treated with supramalleolar tibial osteotomy from August 2007 to June 2011 with at least 1 year follow-up. As for the functional evaluation, visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scores were evaluated. On radiographs, tibial anterior surface (TAS) angles, tibial lateral surface angles were measured. The severity of ankle OA was classified by the Takaura staging system. RESULTS: The mean VAS pain scores improved to 0.6 and AOFAS scores improved to 89.3. Radiographically, TAS angle increased to 93.5degrees postoperatively. Seven ankles showed improvement of the ankle arthritis grading from IIIa to II according to Takakura's staging. CONCLUSION: Supramalleolar tibial osteotomy for patients with medial compartment varus ankle OA showed satisfactory clinical and radiological outcome. We confirmed that the procedure is recommendable for medial compartment varus ankle OA especially for Takakura stage IIIa.
Animals ; Ankle ; Arthritis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot ; Humans ; Osteoarthritis ; Osteotomy

PURPOSE: Recently, minimally constrained 3-component total ankle systems have been often performed to address painful ankle arthritis. We report early clinical and radiographic outcome of the total ankle arthroplasty with Mobility system for end-stage ankle arthritis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total ankle arthroplasty was performed with Mobility total ankle system in 40 ankles (39 patients) from November 2008 to January 2013. The mean age at surgery was 63.7 years (range, 50-78 years). The mean follow-up duration was 20.8 months (range, 12-56 months). The primary etiology for ankle arthritis was post-traumatic arthritis (26 ankles, 65%). The outcome was assessed based on visual analogue scale (VAS), American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot function score, patient satisfaction and radiographic measurements. RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in VAS pain score from an initial average of 7.7 points (range, 5-10 points) to 2.8 points at the final follow-up (range, 0-7) (p<0.05). The mean AOFAS score improved significantly from 46.8 (range, 15-68) preoperatively to postoperatively 82.4 (range, 63-100) (p<0.05). Eighty-one percent of patients were satisfied with the result. Combined surgeries, such as Achilles tendon percutaneous lengthening, were performed in twenty-one cases of 40 ankles. CONCLUSION: The current short term results of Mobility total ankle arthroplasty showed a quite favorable functional and radiographical outcome with few major complications. However, the long term follow-up study with larger number of cases is needed in the future.
Achilles Tendon ; Ankle* ; Arthritis ; Arthroplasty* ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Ankle ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot ; Humans ; Patient Satisfaction

During 8 april 1983 to 9 April 1985, a total of 181 domestic cats (Felis catus domestica Linnaeus) of unknown localities in Korea were purchased at Seoul Chung-ang market, and the internal organs were dissected for helminth infections. In the results, three kinds of trematodes of family Heterophyidae (Ohdner, 1914) were obtained from small intesine of domestic cats and identified as follows: five adult worms of Heterophyopsis continua (Onji et Nishio, 1916) from three hosts, two hundreds and twenty three adult worms of Pygidiopsis summa Onji et Nishio, 1916 from seven hosts and twenty six adult worms of Heterophyes heterophyes nocens (Onji et Nishio, 1916) from three hosts. Among them, Heterophyopsis continua and Pygidiopsis summa had not been proved as natural infectios of cats in Korea.
parasitology-helminth-trematoda ; Heterophyidae ; Heterophyopsis continua ; Pygidiopsis summa ; Heterophyes heterophyes nocens ; cat ; animal

PURPOSE: Reconstructive surgeries for equinocavovarus foot deformities are quite variable, including hind-midfoot osteotomy or arthrodesis, soft tissue procedure, tendon transfers, etc. Comprehensive evaluation of the deformity and its etiology is mandatory for achievement of successful deformity correction. Few studies in this field have been reported. We report on the clinical and radiographic outcome of reconstruction for cavovarus foot deformities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study is based on 16 feet with cavovarus foot deformities that underwent bony and soft tissue reconstructive surgery from 2004 to 2008. We evaluated the etiologies, varieties of surgical procedures performed, pain score, functional scores, and patient satisfaction and measured the radiographic parameters. RESULTS: The average age at the time of surgery was 39.4 years old, with a male/female ratio of 9/4 and an average follow-up period of 23.9 months (range, 12~49 months). The etiologies of the cavovarus deformity were idiopathic 7 feet, residual poliomyelitis 5 feet, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease 2 feet, and Guillain-Barre syndrome and hemiplegia due to cerebrovascular accident sequela 1 foot each. Lateral sliding calcaneal osteotomies were performed in 12 feet (75%), followed by Achilles tendon lengthening and plantar fascia release in 11 feet (69%), and first metatarsal dorsiflexion osteotomy/arthrodesis and tendon transfer in 10 feet (63%). Visual analogue scale pain score showed improvement, from an average of 4.2 to 0.5 points. American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot score showed significant improvement, from 47.8 to 90.0 points (p<0.05). All patients were satisfied. Ankle range of motion improved from 27.5degrees to 46.7degrees. In radiographic measurements, calcaneal pitch angle improved from 19.1degrees to 15.8degrees, Meary angle from 13.0degrees to 9.3degrees, Hibb's angle from 44.3degrees to 37.0degrees, and tibio-calcaneal axis angle from varus 17.5degrees to varus 1.5degrees. CONCLUSION: We achieved successful correction of cavovarus foot deformities by performing appropriate comprehensive reconstructive procedures with improved functional, radiographic measures and high patient satisfaction.
Achilles Tendon ; Ankle ; Arthrodesis ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Fascia ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot ; Foot Deformities* ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome ; Hemiplegia ; Humans ; Metatarsal Bones ; Osteotomy ; Patient Satisfaction ; Poliomyelitis ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Stroke ; Tendon Transfer

We investigated the effects on various crops of inoculation with species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in soils from different sources and selected AMF species suitable for domestic environment-friendly farming. Effects on plants varied with the AMF species used. In carrot, Scutellospora heterogama, Acaulospora longula, and Funneliformis mosseae had a positive effect on growth of the host, whereas AMF had only weak effects on the growth of red pepper and leek. AMF inoculation had positive effects on the growth of carrot and sorghum. The results of this study indicate the nature of the relationship between soil, plants, and AMF; this study therefore has important implications for the future use of AMF in environment-friendly agriculture.
Agriculture ; Capsicum ; Daucus carota ; Fungi* ; Onions ; Organic Agriculture ; Plants* ; Soil* ; Sorghum