PURPOSE: To determine the effects of music therapy on pain, discomfort, and depression for patients with leg fractures. METHODS: Data were collected from 40 patients admitted in an orthopedic surgery care unit. The subjects included 20 intervention group members and 20 control group members. Music therapy was offered to intervention group members once a day for 3 days for 30-60 minutes per day. Pain was measured with a numeric rating scale and by measuring vital signs. Discomfort and depression were measured with self-administered questionnaires. RESULTS: Patients who received music therapy had a lower degree of pain than patients who did not receive music therapy as measured by the numeric pain score (p<0.001), systolic blood pressure (p<0.01), diastolic blood pressure (p<0.001), pulse rate (p<0.001) and respiration (p<0.001). Patients who were provided with music therapy also had a lower degree of discomfort than patients who were not provided with this therapy (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that music therapy is an effective method for decreasing pain and dis-comfort for patients with leg fractures.
Adult ; Analysis of Variance ; Depressive Disorder/etiology/*prevention & control ; Female ; Fractures, Bone/*complications/psychology ; Humans ; *Leg ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Music Therapy ; Pain/etiology/*prevention & control

Transposable elements are one of major sources to cause genomic instability through various mechanisms including de novo insertion, insertion-mediated genomic deletion, and recombination-associated genomic deletion. Among them is Alu element which is the most abundant element, composing ~10% of the human genome. The element emerged in the primate genome 65 million years ago and has since propagated successfully in the human and non-human primate genomes. Alu element is a non-autonomous retrotransposon and therefore retrotransposed using L1-enzyme machinery. The 'master gene' model has been generally accepted to explain Alu element amplification in primate genomes. According to the model, different subfamilies of Alu elements are created by mutations on the master gene and most Alu elements are amplified from the hyperactive master genes. Alu element is frequently involved in genomic rearrangements in the human genome due to its abundance and sequence identity between them. The genomic rearrangements caused by Alu elements could lead to genetic disorders such as hereditary disease, blood disorder, and neurological disorder. In fact, Alu elements are associated with approximately 0.1% of human genetic disorders. The first part of this review discusses mechanisms of Alu amplification and diversity among different Alu subfamilies. The second part discusses the particular role of Alu elements in generating genomic rearrangements as well as human genetic disorders.
Alu Elements* ; DNA Transposable Elements ; Genetic Diseases, Inborn ; Genome ; Genome, Human ; Genomic Instability ; Humans* ; Nervous System Diseases ; Primates ; Recombination, Genetic ; Retroelements

BACKGROUND: The dissemination of metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL) producing gram-negative bacilli is of great concern because MBL can hydrolyze carbapenem. We report herein the infection by VIM-2 type MBL producing Achromobacter xylosoxidans subsp. xylosoxidans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For seven A. xylosoxidans subsp. xylosoxidans with reduced imipenem susceptibility, the detection for MBL was performed using EDTA double disk synergy test (EDTA- DDS) and the PCR for IMP-1, VIM-1 and VIM-2 genes. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of MBL producers were determined by microbroth dilution methods. The DNA fingerprinting analysis was performed by random amplified polymorphic DNA. RESULTS: All seven isolates were MBL producers when tested with EDTA-DDS test and these isolates were VIM-2 type confirmed by the PCR and DNA sequencing analysis. The MIC against imipenem ranged from 16 to 32 microgram/mL in these isolates. The DNA fingerprints of these isolates were identical. CONCLUSION: A. xylosoxidans subsp. xylosoxidans manifest resistance against imipenem by acquisition of VIM-2 type MBL. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the VIM-2 type MBL producing A. xylosoxidans subsp. xylosoxidans.
Achromobacter denitrificans* ; Achromobacter* ; DNA ; DNA Fingerprinting ; Edetic Acid ; Imipenem ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

BACKGROUND: The dissemination of metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL) producing gram-negative bacilli is of great concern because MBL can hydrolyze carbapenem. We report herein the infection by VIM-2 type MBL producing Achromobacter xylosoxidans subsp. xylosoxidans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For seven A. xylosoxidans subsp. xylosoxidans with reduced imipenem susceptibility, the detection for MBL was performed using EDTA double disk synergy test (EDTA- DDS) and the PCR for IMP-1, VIM-1 and VIM-2 genes. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of MBL producers were determined by microbroth dilution methods. The DNA fingerprinting analysis was performed by random amplified polymorphic DNA. RESULTS: All seven isolates were MBL producers when tested with EDTA-DDS test and these isolates were VIM-2 type confirmed by the PCR and DNA sequencing analysis. The MIC against imipenem ranged from 16 to 32 microgram/mL in these isolates. The DNA fingerprints of these isolates were identical. CONCLUSION: A. xylosoxidans subsp. xylosoxidans manifest resistance against imipenem by acquisition of VIM-2 type MBL. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the VIM-2 type MBL producing A. xylosoxidans subsp. xylosoxidans.
Achromobacter denitrificans* ; Achromobacter* ; DNA ; DNA Fingerprinting ; Edetic Acid ; Imipenem ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

The small intestinal microbiota plays a crucial role in maintaining the health and pathogenesis of various gastrointestinal disorders. Despite extensive research on gut microbiota, studies focusing on the small intestine are limited owing to methodological challenges. This review discusses the taxonomic composition, microbial load, and diversity of normal small intestinal microbiota. Additionally, it highlights the role of small intestinal microbiota in gastrointestinal disorders, such as functional dyspepsia, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced enteropathy. The impact of proton pump inhibitors on small intestinal microbiota dysbiosis underscores the importance of the appropriate use of strong acid suppressants in clinical practice. Future research should focus on both the luminal and mucosal microbiota of the small intestine to explore the taxonomic changes and functional differences.

The small intestinal microbiota plays a crucial role in maintaining the health and pathogenesis of various gastrointestinal disorders. Despite extensive research on gut microbiota, studies focusing on the small intestine are limited owing to methodological challenges. This review discusses the taxonomic composition, microbial load, and diversity of normal small intestinal microbiota. Additionally, it highlights the role of small intestinal microbiota in gastrointestinal disorders, such as functional dyspepsia, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced enteropathy. The impact of proton pump inhibitors on small intestinal microbiota dysbiosis underscores the importance of the appropriate use of strong acid suppressants in clinical practice. Future research should focus on both the luminal and mucosal microbiota of the small intestine to explore the taxonomic changes and functional differences.

The small intestinal microbiota plays a crucial role in maintaining the health and pathogenesis of various gastrointestinal disorders. Despite extensive research on gut microbiota, studies focusing on the small intestine are limited owing to methodological challenges. This review discusses the taxonomic composition, microbial load, and diversity of normal small intestinal microbiota. Additionally, it highlights the role of small intestinal microbiota in gastrointestinal disorders, such as functional dyspepsia, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced enteropathy. The impact of proton pump inhibitors on small intestinal microbiota dysbiosis underscores the importance of the appropriate use of strong acid suppressants in clinical practice. Future research should focus on both the luminal and mucosal microbiota of the small intestine to explore the taxonomic changes and functional differences.

The small intestinal microbiota plays a crucial role in maintaining the health and pathogenesis of various gastrointestinal disorders. Despite extensive research on gut microbiota, studies focusing on the small intestine are limited owing to methodological challenges. This review discusses the taxonomic composition, microbial load, and diversity of normal small intestinal microbiota. Additionally, it highlights the role of small intestinal microbiota in gastrointestinal disorders, such as functional dyspepsia, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced enteropathy. The impact of proton pump inhibitors on small intestinal microbiota dysbiosis underscores the importance of the appropriate use of strong acid suppressants in clinical practice. Future research should focus on both the luminal and mucosal microbiota of the small intestine to explore the taxonomic changes and functional differences.

The small intestinal microbiota plays a crucial role in maintaining the health and pathogenesis of various gastrointestinal disorders. Despite extensive research on gut microbiota, studies focusing on the small intestine are limited owing to methodological challenges. This review discusses the taxonomic composition, microbial load, and diversity of normal small intestinal microbiota. Additionally, it highlights the role of small intestinal microbiota in gastrointestinal disorders, such as functional dyspepsia, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced enteropathy. The impact of proton pump inhibitors on small intestinal microbiota dysbiosis underscores the importance of the appropriate use of strong acid suppressants in clinical practice. Future research should focus on both the luminal and mucosal microbiota of the small intestine to explore the taxonomic changes and functional differences.

OBJECTIVE: Elevated cell counts and protein levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) result from disease activity in patients with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LMC). Previous studies evaluated the use of CSF profiles to monitor a treatment response or predict prognosis. CSF profiles vary, however, according to the sampling site and the patient's systemic condition. We compared lumbar and ventricular CSF profiles collected before intraventricular chemotherapy for LMC and evaluated the association of these profiles with patients' systemic factors and LMC disease activity. METHODS: CSF profiles were retrospectively collected from 228 patients who underwent Ommaya reservoir insertion for intraventricular chemotherapy after a diagnosis of LMC. Lumbar samples taken via lumbar puncture were used for the diagnosis, and ventricular samples were obtained later at the time of Ommaya reservoir insertion. LMC disease activity was defined as the presence of LMC-related symptoms such as increased intracranial pressure, hydrocephalus, cranial neuropathy, and cauda equina syndrome. RESULTS: Cell counts (median : 8 vs. 1 cells/mL) and protein levels (median : 68 vs. 17 mg/dL) significantly higher in lumbar CSF than in ventricular CSF (p<0.001). Among the evaluated systemic factors, concomitant brain metastasis and previous radiation were significantly correlated with higher protein levels in the lumbar CSF (p=0.01 and <0.001, respectively). Among the LMC disease activity, patients presenting with hydrocephalus or cauda equina syndrome showed higher lumbar CSF protein level compared with that in patients without those symptoms (p=0.049 and p<0.001, respectively). The lumbar CSF cell count was significantly lower in patients with cranial neuropathy (p=0.046). The ventricular CSF cell counts and protein levels showed no correlation with LMC symptoms. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), which was measured from ventricular CSF after the diagnosis in 109 patients, showed a significant association with the presence of hydrocephalus (p=0.01). CONCLUSION: The protein level in lumbar CSF indicated the localized disease activity of hydrocephalus and cauda equina syndrome. In the ventricular CSF, only the CEA level reflected the presence of hydrocephalus. We suggest using more specific biomarkers for the evaluation of ventricular CSF to monitor disease activity and treatment response.
Biomarkers ; Brain ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; Cell Count ; Cerebrospinal Fluid* ; Cranial Nerve Diseases ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Intracranial Pressure ; Meningeal Carcinomatosis* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Polyradiculopathy ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies* ; Spinal Puncture