In so-called primary osteoarthritic knees, there may be secondary osteoarthritis due to the instability from chronic cruciate ligament and/or meniscal tear. The purpose of this study is to compare the findings of bone single-photon emission computed tomography(SPECT) and those of simple radiography in osteoarthritic knees which we consider as primary on the status of anterior cruciate ligament(ACL). We reviewed the preoperative bone SPECT and simple radiography of forty-three osteoarthritic knees in 23 patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty between 1995 and l996. We divided the cases into two groups on the status of ACL: thirty intact ACLs(Group I), thirteen insufficient ACLs(Group II). Meniscal tear and/or ACL insufficiency were found in 38 of 43 knees, As regards with presence of osteophytes and sclerotic changes on simple radiograph, there was no significant differences between group I and II. Joint space narrowing was more prominent and diffuse in group I(medial 29, lateral 24) than group II(medial 7, lateral 6). Bone SPECT showed diffuse uptake in group I(medial 30, lateral 23), but less uptake on the lateral compartment(medial 13, lateral 3) in group II. In ACL-intact osteoarthritic knees, joint space narrowing on simple radiograph and hot uptake on bone SPECT were more prominent and diffuse than in ACL-insufficient knees. Clinical relevance is still uncertain and further investigation is needed.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Arthroplasty ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee* ; Ligaments ; Osteoarthritis ; Osteophyte ; Radiography* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

PURPOSE: To evaluate a scoring system based on ultrasonographic findings as a means of distinguishing between benign and malignant solid breast masses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Histopathologically confirmed benign (n=102) and malignant (n=73) breast masses which ultrasonographic findings of histopathologic masses were reviewed for shape, border, internal echo, boundary echo, posterior echo, lateral echo, and ratio of transverse to anteroposterior diameter. There were statistically significant (p < 0.001 ; chi-square test) differences in each feature for benign and malignant lesions. The findings suggesting benignancy, equivocality, and malignancy of the masses were scored as 0, 1, and 2 respectively. The scores for all features were summed for each lesion. An ROC curve was obtained. RESULTS: When the score was 6, five benign and seven malignant cases were found. Scores of 0 and 1 indicated benign masses and a score above 11, malignancy. The turning point was a score of 6, so a score above 7 suggests malignancy. CONCLUSION: A ultrasonographic scoring system can be used to characterise breast masses. A score of a mass above 7 suggests probable malignancy and a score below 5 suggests benignancy.
Breast* ; ROC Curve ; Ultrasonography*

We evaluated the need for prophylactic postoperative oral antibiotic medication in extraction of asymptomatic impacted mandibular third molars. All patient didn't show sign of pain, inflammation, swelling and trismus at the time of extraction. In the experimental group, oral antibiotic medication(Amoxicillin) was carried out for 5 days postoperatively. In the control group, the patients received no antibiotic medication. All groups didn't use antibiotic irrigation solution. Rule of group composition randomized. The surgical technique was the same in all cases. Parameters that were evaluated were infection, pain, facial swelling, trismus. We could not find any significant difference between the experimental and control groups.(P<0.05) The results of our study show that post operative oral prophylactic antibiotic medication after the extraction of impacted mandibular third molars does not contribute to less infection, pain, facial swelling and increased mouth opening after surgery. Therefore we suggest that prophylactic postoperative oral antibiotic medication is not needed in extraction of asymptomatic impacted mandibular third molars.
Facial Pain ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Molar, Third* ; Mouth ; Trismus

OBJECTIVE: This study is designed to evaluate the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and life-style factors such as physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption and to offer the information for the modification of life-style. METHOD: Eight hundred and sixty nine inhabitants (354 males and 515 females whose age was 55.0+/-13.9 years- old) were participated in this study. BMD was measured in the right calcaneus by quantitative ultrasound (Mark 6000(R), Medison). Amount of physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption were got through the closely designed interview. Independent sample T-test and simple regression were used for data analysis. RESULTS: Amount of physical activities were 2656.8+/-732.3 cal/day, smokers were 329 persons (37.9% of inhabitants), and amount of alcohol consumption were 26.2+/-53.3 g/day. Increasing the amount of physical activity, BMD showed significantly higher T-score (p<0.01). Increasing the amount of alcohol consumption, BMD showed significantly lower T-score (p<0.01). BMD in smokers appeared significantly lower T-score than non-smokers (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Life-style factors significantly effect on bone mineral density. Therefore prevention of osteoporosis through maintenance or augmentation of BMD needs proper physical activity, cessation of smoking, and no heavy drinking.
Alcohol Drinking ; Bone Density* ; Calcaneus ; Drinking ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Motor Activity ; Osteoporosis ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Statistics as Topic ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: The improving techniques of therapeutic bronchoscopy have been replacing conventional surgery for resecting endobronchial benign tumor. However, there could be some limitation for performing bronchoscopic intervention for the patients with complete bronchial obstruction. To evaluate the role of endoscopic surgery for completely obstructive endobronchial benign tumor, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 7 patients who underwent bronchoscopic resection due to completely obstructive benign tumor. METHODS: Rigid bronchoscopy was performed under general anesthesia. After the stalk of tumor was identified with using a 1 mm biopsy forceps as a probe, a Nd-YAG laser was used to coagulate the stalk of tumor. The tumor was then removed. RESULTS: Bronchoscopic resection was successful in 6 out of 7 patients. The histological diagnoses were 3 leiomyomas, 3 harmatomas and 1 lipoma. There was no mortality in our study. Pneumomediastinum developed in 1 patient, and this patient was treated with 3 days of oxygen therapy. In 5 out of the 6 successful patients, there was no recurrence for a median of 35 months. In 1 patient, leiomyoma recurred after 17 months, and this was treated by pneumonectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic surgery could be applied to the patients with completely obstructive endobronchial benign tumor.
Retrospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Humans ; *Endoscopy ; Bronchoscopy ; Bronchial Neoplasms/diagnosis/*surgery ; Adult ; Adolescent

OBJECTIVE: There has been no data on health related quality of life (HRQOL) in general Korean population. Assessing factors affecting HRQOL in Koreans is fundamental in HRQOL research. The objective of this study is to assess HRQOL in Korean using Korean version of EQ-5D (KEQ-5D). METHODS: HRQOL was assessed using KEQ-5D from 1,044 randomly selected population representing general Korean population with telephone interview RESULT: The mean KEQ-5D utility score in Korean was 0.88 (range: -0.59~1.00). Sociodemographic data showed relatively higher score in male, younger, well educated, higher income, and white color people. Among a variety of diseases, gastric ulcer/gastritis, arthritis, hypertension diabetes, low back pain were common in Korea. The most significant chronic diseases influencing Koreans were gastrointestinal disorder and arthritis. CONCLUSION: This paper suggests basic information on HRQOL in Korean and can be a useful parameter in comparison in the future research.
Arthritis ; Chronic Disease ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Interviews as Topic ; Korea ; Low Back Pain ; Male ; Quality of Life* ; Stomach Diseases

PURPOSE: The anticancer property and cytoprotective role of selenium in chemotherapy have been reported. However, the combination effects of selenium on chemotherapy for advanced breast cancer have not yet been clearly defined. The purpose of this study was to investigate the combined effects of selenium on chemotherapy using docetaxel on breast cancer cell lines. METHODS: Under adherent culture conditions, two breast cancer cell lines, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7, were treated with docetaxel at 500pM and selenium at 100nM, 1microM, or 10microM. Changes in cell growth, cell cycle duration, and degree of apoptosis after 72 hours in each treated group were evaluated. RESULTS: In the MDA-MB-231 cells, the combination therapy group (docetaxel at 500pM plus selenium at 10microM) showed a significantly decreased percentage of cell growth (15% vs. 28%; P = 0.004), a significantly increased percentage of late apoptosis (63% vs. 26%; P = 0.001), and an increased cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase (P = 0.001) compared with the solitary docetaxel therapy group. Isobologram analysis demonstrated the synergistic effect of the combination therapy in the MDA-MB-231 cells. However, in the MCF-7 cells, no significant differences in the percentage of cell growth apoptosis, the percentage of apoptosis, and the pattern of cell cycle arrest were noted between the combination therapy groups and the solitary docetaxel therapy group. CONCLUSION: Our in vitro study indicated that the combination of selenium with docetaxel inhibits cell proliferation through apoptosis and cell arrest in the G2/M phase in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.
Apoptosis ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Line* ; Cell Proliferation ; Drug Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Humans ; MCF-7 Cells ; Selenium*

BACKGROUND: Underweight refers to the weight range in which health risk can increase, since the weight is lower than a healthy weight. Negative attitudes towards obesity and socio-cultural preference for thinness could induce even underweight persons to attempt weight control. This study was conducted to investigate factors related to weight control attempts in underweight Korean adults. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study on 690 underweight adults aged 25 to 69 years using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007-2010. Body image perception, weight control attempts during the past one year, various health behaviors, history of chronic diseases, and socioeconomic status were surveyed. RESULTS: Underweight women had a higher rate of weight control attempts than underweight men (25.4% vs. 8.1%, P < 0.001). Among underweight men, subjects with the highest physical activity level (odds ratio [OR], 7.75), subjects with physician-diagnosed history of chronic diseases (OR, 7.70), and subjects with non-manual jobs or other jobs (OR, 6.22; 12.39 with reference to manual workers) had a higher likelihood of weight control attempts. Among underweight women, subjects who did not perceive themselves as thin (OR, 4.71), subjects with the highest household income level (OR, 2.61), and unmarried subjects (OR, 2.08) had a higher likelihood of weight control attempts. CONCLUSION: This study shows that numbers of underweight Korean adults have tried to control weight, especially women. Seeing that there are gender differences in factors related to weight control attempts in underweight adults, gender should be considered in helping underweight adults to maintain a healthy weight.
Adult* ; Body Image ; Body Weight ; Chronic Disease ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male ; Motor Activity ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Obesity ; Single Person ; Social Class ; Thinness* ; Weight Loss ; Weight Perception

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a life-sustaining salvage therapy applied to the patient with acute heart failure or respiratory failure which is considered curable, but uncorrectable by conventional means. Recently, accumulating data has shown the survival benefit of ECMO in patients with acute fatal cardiopulmonary decompensation. Here, we report a series of cases of successful ECMO treatment in patients with acute cardiopulmonary insufficiency. Case 1: A patient with progressive respiratory failure on mechanical ventilation after pneumonectomy was managed satisfactorily using a veno-venous ECMO. Case 2: A veno-arterial ECMO was used to support a patient with vasopressor refractory septic shock. After 5 days of treatment, the patient was successfully weaned from ECMO. Case 3: A patient in cardiac arrest after the orthopedic surgery was resuscitated using a veno-arterial ECMO. Pulmonary angiography on ECMO revealed massive pulmonary thromboembolism and embolectomy was thoroughly performed under the support of ECMO.
Angiography ; Embolectomy ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation* ; Heart Arrest ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units* ; Critical Care* ; Orthopedics ; Pneumonectomy ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Salvage Therapy ; Shock, Septic

Background: and PurposeThe prevalence of dementia is increasing in South Korea. Multidomain interventions may be useful for preventing dementia. Such programs need to be disseminated to elderly Koreans throughout the country. We have developed programs of the SoUth Korean study to PrEvent cognitive impaiRment and protect BRAIN health through lifestyle intervention in at-risk elderly people (SUPERBRAIN), which consists of a facility-based multidomain intervention (FMI) program and a home-based multidomain intervention (HMI) program suitable for elderly Koreans. We aim to determine the feasibility of the SUPERBRAIN programs before a large-scale randomized controlled trial. Methods: We will recruit 150 participants among those without dementia aged 60–79 years with at least 1 modifiable dementia risk factor. They will be randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to the FMI, HMI, and the waiting-list control arm. The 6-month multidomain intervention consists of management of metabolic and vascular risk factors, cognitive training and social activity, physical exercise, nutritional guidance, and motivational enhancement programs. The primary outcomes are adherence and retention rates and changes in the total scale index score of the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status from baseline to the study end. The main secondary outcomes are disability, depressive symptoms, quality of life, vascular risk factors, physical performance, nutritional assessment, and motivation questionnaire. There will be an exploratory evaluation of neurotrophic, neurodegeneration, and neuroinflammation factors, microbiome, telomere length, electroencephalography, and neuroimaging measures. Conclusions The results obtained will provide information on the applicability of these multidomain intervention programs to at-risk elderly people.