Purpose: This study aimed to compare a dynamic neuromuscular training program with a static neuromuscular training program for taekwondo players. Methods: This study design was a randomized control trial. Three high school taekwondo teams (taekwondo neuromuscular training [TNT] group, 22; Get Set group, 17; and control group, 24) participated in the study. Get Set group performed a program focused on the static movement, and TNT group performed a program which was modified Get Set to dynamic movement. Control group maintained the existing taekwondo training without any intervention. The intervention group performed 15-minute training three times a week for 6 weeks. Dynamic Postural Stability Index (DPSI) and time-to-boundary test (TTB) tests were performed before and after 6 weeks of training. Results: As a result of DPSI, an interaction effect was observed only in the anterior/posterior stability index of the dominant leg of the TNT and Get Set groups (p＜0.05). However, there was no difference between the TNT and the Get Set groups.As a result of TTB analysis, no statistical effect was observed in all variables of the dominant and non-dominant legs. Conclusion As a result of conducting 6-week dynamic and static neuromuscular training for taekwondo athletes, the effect of training was found in both the intervention group. However, differences in training effects between groups could not be proved. Therefore, it is necessary to clearly confirm the difference between the two training through long-term follow-up studies.

OBJECTIVES: Chronic pain is one of the most common experiences of humans and a typical psychophysiological disorder. The aim of this study was to measure the psychophysiological responses in chronic pain patients using a biofeedback system, and to compare them with the results from normal healthy subjects. METHODS: Forty two patients with chronic pain (17 males and 25 females, average age 44.67+/-11.10 years) and 42 normal healthy controls (17 males and 25 females, average age 45.17+/-10.46 years) participated in this study. Electromyography (EMG), skin conductance (SC), and skin temperature (ST) were recorded using biofeedback system during the 3 phases (baseline, stress, and recovery) of stress reactivity test, and average values of them were calculated. Difference of values between two groups in each corresponding phase was analyzed with independent t-test, and change of values across phases of stress reactivity test was analyzed with paired t-test (all two-tailed, p<0.05). RESULTS: Compared to normal controls, chronic pain patients had higher value of EMG (baseline : 8.10+/-5.97 micronV vs 4.72+/-1.52 micronV, t=-3.56, p<0.01 ; stress : 11.25+/-6.89 micronV vs 8.49+/-4.78 micronV, t=-2.13, p<0.05 ; recovery : 7.12+/-3.77 micronV vs 4.78+/-1.59 micronV, t= -3.70, p<0.01) and SC (baseline : 1.06+/-1.0 micronS vs 0.42+/-0.29 micronS, t=-4.0. p<0.01 ; stress : 1.87+/-2.05 micronS vs 1.03+/-0.86 micronS, t=-2.47, p<0.05 ; recovery : 1.74+/-1.77 micronS vs 0.64+/-0.59 micronS, t=-3.8, p<0.01) in all the 3 phases. But, skin temperature comparison did not reveal significant differences in all the 3 phases between two groups. CONCLUSION: Psychophysiological responses of chronic pain patients in stress reactivity test were different from those of normal healthy controls. These results suggest that sympathetic nervous system is more activated in chronic pain patients.
Biofeedback, Psychology ; Chronic Pain ; Electromyography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Psychophysiologic Disorders ; Psychophysiology ; Skin ; Skin Temperature ; Sympathetic Nervous System

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine an increase in the number of younger and middle-aged people who have a stroke and the differences in their recovery experience compared with older people. METHODS: The research question for this study was "What is the recovery experience of young adults and middle-aged people who suffer a stroke?". In order to answer the question, the grounded theory method was utilized. The data was collected through individual in-depth interviews of six participants, their age ranged from 36 to 45 years old. RESULTS: After comparative analysis, the core category was "standing up for oneself with limit". The experience process were categorized into four stages: 'Facing Reality stage', 'Motivation stage', 'Desire Recovery stage', 'Self-Overcoming stage'. CONCLUSION: Most of the research for the recovery process was prognostic in nature and the results. This study was demonstrated certain indicators which can be useful in further research.
Humans ; Middle Aged ; Recovery of Function ; Stroke ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: To introduce a new convenient and accurate method to measure the angle kappa using ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) and corneal topography. METHODS: Data from 42 eyes (13 males and 29 females) were analyzed in this study. The angle kappa was measured using Orbscan II and calculated with UBM and corneal topography. The angle kappa of the dominant eye was compared with measurements by Orbscan II. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 36.4 ± 13.8 years. The average angle kappa measured by Orbscan II was 3.98°± 1.12°, while the average angle kappa calculated with UBM and corneal topography was 3.19°± 1.15°. The difference in angle kappa measured by the two methods was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The two methods showed good reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.671; p < 0.001). Bland-Altman plots were used to demonstrate the agreement between the two methods. CONCLUSIONS: We designed a new method using UBM and corneal topography to calculate the angle kappa. This method is convenient to use and allows for measurement of the angle kappa without an expensive device.
Corneal Topography* ; Humans ; Male ; Methods ; Microscopy, Acoustic* ; Ultrasonography*

The guidelines for the treatment of massive bone defects caused by bone resection due to tumors have changed from amputation to limb salvaging surgery. Limb salvaging surgery using endoprotheses is a well-established procedure. However, Aseptic loosening, infection, and mechanical defect remain significant problems. Among them, we experienced the case with a breakage of polyethylene lock of MUTARS(R) distal femur tumor Endoprostheses.
Amputation ; Extremities ; Femur* ; Polyethylene*

In a variety of animal species, the perinatal exposure of experimental animals to the 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) leads to the immune dysfunction, which is more severe and persistent than that caused by adult exposure. We report here the changes of gene expression and the identification of the marker-genes representing the dioxin exposure. The expressions of the transcripts were analyzed using the 11K oligonucleotide- microarray from the bone marrow cells of male C57BL/6J mice after an intraperitoneal injection of 1 microgram TCDD/kg body weight at various time intervals: gestational 6.5 day(G6.5), 13.5 day(G13.5), 18.5 day(G18.5), and postnatal 3 (P3W)and 6 week (P6W). The type of self-organizing maps(SOM) representing the specific exposure dioxin could be identified as follows; G6.5D(C14), G13.5D(C0, C5, C10, C18), G18.5D(7), P3W(C2, C21), and P6W(C4, C15, C20). The candidate marker-genes were restricted to the transcripts, which could be consistently expressed greater than +/-2-fold in three experiments. The resulting candidates were 85 genes, the characteristics of that were involved in cell physiology and cell functions such as cell proliferation and immune function. We identified the biomarker-genes for dioxin exposure: smc -like 2 from SOM C14 for the dioxin exposure at G6.5D, focal adhesion kinase and 6 other genes from C0, and protein tyrosine phosphatase 4a2 and 3 other genes from C5 for G13.5D, platelet factor 4 from C7 for G18.5D, fos from C2 for P3W.
Adult ; Animals ; Body Weight ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Cell Physiological Phenomena ; Cell Proliferation ; Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Male ; Mice ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis* ; Platelet Factor 4 ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases ; Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin

BACKGROUND: The inflammation is an important feature of atherosclerotic lesions, and high level of C-reactive protein (CRP) is known to be associated with increased coronary events and poor prognosis in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We examined the clinical and angiographic outcomes, success rate of the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and long-term survival rate after PCI according to the level of CRP on admission. METHODS: Two hundred and eight patients with AMI who underwent primary or rescue PCI between 1997 and 1999 at Chonnam National University Hospital were divided into two groups: Group I (n=86, 59.9+/-9.3 years, male 74.4%) with normal CRP (<1.0 mg/dL, mean value=0.43+/-0.14 mg/dL) on admission and Group II (n=122, 59.1+/-10.4 years, male 83.6%) with elevated CRP (> or = 1.0 mg/dL, mean value=3.50+/-0.93 mg/dL) on admission. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between two groups. The incidence of cardiogenic shock was higher in Group II than in Group I (Group I; 3/86, 3.5% vs Group II; 15/122, 12.3%, p=0.026). The coronary angiographic findings were not different between two groups. The ejection fraction and Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction flow were improved after PCI in both groups (Group I; 49.4+/-10.5 to 52.0+/-9.0%, 1.52+/-1.13 to 2.77+/-0.55, p<0.001 vs Group II; 50.1+/-11.2 to 52.7+/-9.7, 1.55+/-1.11 to 2.76+/-0.53, p<0.001). Primary success rate of PCI was 94.2% (81/86) in Group I and 95.1% (116/122) in Group II (p=0.776). The survival rates of Group I was 97.7%, 97.7% and 96.5%, and those of Group II was 91.8%, 91.0% and 86.9% at 1, 6 and 12 months, respectively (p=0.043 at 1 month, p=0.040 at 6 months, p=0.018 at 12 months). CONCLUSION: Higher incidence of cardiogenic shock and worse long-term survival after PCI are observed in AMI patients with elevated CRP.
C-Reactive Protein* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Jeollanam-do ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Prognosis ; Shock, Cardiogenic ; Survival Rate

No abstract available.

Background and Objectives: The serum galactomannan test (GM test) and the (1,3)-β-D-glucan test (G test) are utilized in diagnosing invasive fungal sinusitis. However, their effectiveness in detecting paranasal sinus fungus balls (FBs) has not been established. This study aimed to explore their diagnostic value in patients with FBs. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 105 patients (42 with FBs and 63 with chronic rhinosinusitis [CRS]) who underwent serum GM and G tests between June 2020 and May 2021. Olfactory test results and demographics were also analyzed. Results: There were 42 FB patients (10 men, 32 women) and 63 CRS patients (27 men, 36 women). The positivity rates for serum GM (7.1% in the FB group vs. 3.2% in the CRS group, p=0.640) and G test (9.5% in the FB group vs. 11.1% in the CRS group, p=0.482) did not differ significantly between groups. The sensitivities of the GM and G tests were 7.1% and 9.5%, respectively, and their specificities were 96.8% and 88.9%, respectively. The positive predictive values were 60.0% for the GM test and 36.3% for the G test, and the negative predictive values were 61.0% for the GM test and 59.6% for the G test. Conclusion Serum GM and G tests demonstrated low sensitivity and high specificity, indicating limited effectiveness in differentiating between patients with FBs and those with CRS. Histological examination remains the gold standard for the definitive diagnosis of FBs.

No abstract available.
Electrocardiography* ; Inferior Wall Myocardial Infarction*