No abstract available.
Electroencephalography* ; Humans ; Neurologic Manifestations* ; Seizures*

Peritrochanteric fractures are common in the elderly, and the mortaliy and morbidity rates after conservative treatment of the fractures are usually high. In these fractures the internal fixation now allows the patient more rapid functional gain. It has been known that for stabilization of fracture the sliding hip screw is superior to other fixation devices. To investigate the biomechanical difference between two different materials of dynamic hip screw, eight intertrochateric and eight subtrochanteric femur fractures were artificially induced in human cadavers. Two femurs were used as the control. In eight cadaver intertrochanteric fractures (Group I), four of them were treated with stainless steel compression hip screw and four were treated with titanium compression hip screw. Eight cadaver subtrochanteric fractures (Group II) were divided by two groups as equal number. One group was treated with stainless steel compression hip screw and the other was treated with titanium compression hip screw with plate. Each femur was secured in a fixation device of the Instron and loaded in a vertical compression. Collapse or fixation failure during vertical compression were observed and recorded continuously in slow speed with deformation rate of 3mm/min. Biomechanical analysis of maximal loading force in the control and experimental two groups were performed. The results were as follows; 1. The mean maximal loading force was 625 kp in control group. 2. The mean maximal loading force in each 4 intertrochanteric fractures fixed with stainless steel DHS (dynamic hip screw) and plate was 92.59 kp, and with titanium DHS and plate was 71.57 kp. There was no statistical significance between stainless steel DHS and plate fixation and titanium DHS and plate fixation. (p>0.05) 3. The mean maximal loading force in each 4 subtrochanteric fractures fixed with stainless DHS and plate was 140.12 kp, and with titanium DHS with plate was 169.4 kp. There was no statistical significance between stainless steel DHS and plate fixation and titanium DHS and plate fixation. (p>0.05) 4. The breakage of metal implant was not occurred at the maximal loading force 600 kp in both group. There was no difference of fixability and stability according to the metal quality, as the results of the experiment of compression loading force to the stainless steel DHS and titanium DHS fixation on intertrochanteric and subtrochanteric fractures in cadaverous femurs.
Aged ; Cadaver ; Femur* ; Hip Fractures ; Hip* ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Stainless Steel* ; Titanium*

Reliable and valid evaluation of hand strength is of paramount importance in determining the effectiveness of various normative data area needed to interpret evaluation data, to set realistic treatment goals and to assess a patient's ability to return to employment. The primary purpose of this study was to establish normal value of grip and pinch strength for men women in normal Korean adult. A Jamar dynamometer(Hydraulic Hand Dynamometer. PC 5030, USA) was used to measure grip strength and Jamar pinch gauge(Hydraulic Pinch Gauge, PC 5030HPG, USA)was used to measure tip, key and palmar pinch. Two hundreds forty eight male and two hundreds thiry one female adults, aged 20 to 74 years were tested for using standardized positioning with their shoulder adducted and neutrally rotated, elbow flexed at 90。 and the forearm and wrist in neutral position. Right and left hand data were stratified into age groups for both sexes. This stratification provides a means of comparing the scores of individuals to that of normal subjects of the same aged and sex. The following results were obtained; 1. The average grip strength of the dominant hand was highest(43.9±7.3kg)in 3rd decade male group. 2. The average tip pinch strength of the dominant hand was highest in 4th decade(7.3±3.5kg)and 5th decade (7.3±2.4kg) male group. 3. The average key pinch strength of the dominant hand was highest in 5th decade(8.3±2.3 kg)male group. 4. The average palmar pinch strength of the dominant hand was highest in 4th decade(9.6±3.3 kg)male group. 5. A high correlation was seen between grip strength and age, but a low correlation between pinch strength and age. 6. The average grip strength of dominant hand was 5.6% higher than that of nondominant hand in men, and 6.5% higher in women. 7. In pinch strength, palmer pinch strength was highest among the three groups of pinch strength, then key pinch and tip pinch strength in order. 8. The mean scores of the dominant hand were larger than that of the nondominant hand on all hand strength.
Adult ; Clinical Study ; Elbow ; Employment ; Female ; Forearm ; Hand ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Male ; Pinch Strength ; Reference Values ; Shoulder ; Wrist

Successful repair of lacerated tendons must restore continuity of the tendon and should yield a strong tenorrhaphy. Mechanical strength of repair should be adequate to early postoperative motion and mobility, The optimal repair technique must be able to withstand the rigors of early motion and also must not interfere with tendon healing. The relative strength of three suture methods of lacerated tendon were measured by mechanical disruption in effort to determine the strength of suture technique. Fifty-four Calcaneal tendons of 27 the New Zealand white rabbit were transected at mid portion and repaired with the three suture technique: group 1, Kessler suture, group 2, Pennington’s modified-Kessler suture and group 3, augmented- Becker suture technique. Each group was composed of 18 calcaneal tendons. Nine rabbits were sacrified immediately after suture, nine in postoperative 2 weeks and nine in postoperative 4 weeks Six calcaneal tendons in each three experimental group were obtained immediately after suture, at postoperative 2 and 4 weeks respectively. Tensile strength, maximum strength and modulus of elasticity of all experimental specimens were measured with Instron-UTM-4-100(Toyo-Baldiwin, Japan). The results were evaluated statistically to compare the strength of the three suture technique at three different periods. The tensile strength was predominantly strongest in augmented-Becker method among three suture technique at immediate suture, postoperative 2 weeks and 4 weeks respectively. The augmented Becker repair was strongest in maximum stress among Kessler and modified Kessler repair at immediate operation, postoperative 2 weeks and 4 weeks respectively. The augmented Becker repair was highest in modulus of elasticity than Kessler method and modified-Kessler method at immediate operation, postoperative 2 weeks and postoperative 4 weeks respectively. Tensile strength, maximum stress and modulus of elasticity were gradually increased from immediate operation to postoperative 4 weeks, but there were not statistically significance between experimental three suture methods at postoperative 4 weeks.
Elastic Modulus ; Methods ; New Zealand ; Rabbits ; Suture Techniques ; Sutures ; Tendons ; Tensile Strength

Metastatic infections were rare complications of Klebsiella p neumoniae liver abscess and bacteremia. However, over the past 15 years, they have become prevalent infectious complications in diabetic patients in Taiwan. A 72-year old man was admitted to Kyung-Hee University Hospital with fever, chill, dysuria, and frequency. On rectal examination the prostate gland was tender. Abdominal sonogram showed liver abscess. On hospital day 3, orbital pain, eyelid edema, conjunctival chemosis, hypopyon, and absence of light perception were noted in the right eye. K. pneumoniae was isolated from blood culture. The antimicrobial susceptibility test showed susceptibility to all antibiotics, except ampicillin. He was treated with ceftriaxone and astromicin intravenously for 3 weeks and follow up-transrectal sonogram revealed formation of prostatic abcess. We report a case of K. p neumoniae liver abscess complicated with bacteremia, endophthalmitis, and prostatic abscess.
Abscess* ; Aged ; Ampicillin ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteremia* ; Ceftriaxone ; Dysuria ; Edema ; Endophthalmitis* ; Eyelids ; Fever ; Humans ; Klebsiella pneumoniae* ; Klebsiella* ; Liver Abscess* ; Liver* ; Orbit ; Pneumonia ; Prostate ; Taiwan

No abstract available.
Seizures* ; Sparganosis*

PURPOSE: To present outcomes of transurethral removal (TUR) of intravesical or intraurethral mesh after midurethral slings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective chart review of 23 consecutive women: 20 with intravesical mesh and 3 with intraurethral mesh. RESULTS: To remove the mesh, transurethral resection with an electrode loop (TUR-E) was used in 16 women and transurethral resection with a holmium laser (TUR-H) was used in 7. The median follow-up was 2.1 months. Twenty-six percent of the women (6/23) had a mesh remnant: 6.2% (1/16) of the women treated with TUR-E and 71.4% (5/7) of the women treated with TUR-H. Of the 5 women treated with TUR-H, 3 underwent concomitant transvaginal removal. On the follow-up cystoscopic exam, a mesh remnant was observed in 3 women (1 treated with TUR-E and 2 treated with TUR-H). Vesico-vaginal fistulas were found in 2 women during and after TUR-E, respectively. Stress urinary incontinence recurred in 1 woman. CONCLUSIONS: TUR-E has a high success rate but carries a risk of bladder perforation. Complete resection using TUR-H depends on the location of the mesh and the range of motion of the instrument.
Electrodes ; Female ; Fistula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lasers, Solid-State ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Retrospective Studies ; Suburethral Slings ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Incontinence

OBJETIVE: To investigate the efficacy of high infusion frequency of liquid nitrogen on pregnancy in human embryo after freezing and thawing. MATERIALS AND METHODS:: 150 infertile patients underwent 162 consecutive thawing-ET cycles. In the high infusion frequency group (Group A), 47 patients (50 cycles) underwent cryopreservation with high infusion frequency of liquid nitrogen. In the low infusion frequency group (Group B), 103 patients (112 cycles) underwent cryopreservation with low infusion frequency of liquid nitrogen. We analyzed the clinical characteristics, fertilization rates, development of embryo, good quality embryo ratio, implantation rates, and pregnancy rates between these two groups. RESULTS: There was no difference between the groups with regard to clinical characteristics (mean age, infertility duration, infertility factors, hormone profile), mean number of oocyte retrieval, fertilization rates, and mean embryo number of transfers. The survival rates in group A was 64.9% (228 of 350 embryos), and among the 228 embryos 190 embryos (83.3%) which progressed to the two- to eight-cell stage. After thawing, the embryo numbers were 65 (34.2%), 29 (15.3%), 35 (18.4%), and 37 (19.5%) of grades 1, 2, 3, and above 4, respectively. The survival rates in group B was 63.8% (482 of 755 embryos), and among the 482 embryos 465 embryos (96.5%) which progressed to the two- to eight-cell stage. After thawing, the embryo numbers were 106 (22.8%), 94 (20.2%), 89 (19.1%), and 112 (24.1%) of grades 1, 2, 3, and above 4, respectively. There was no difference in embryo quality change after the freezing-thawing procedure between the groups. Implantation rates (31.1% vs. 34.3%) were not significant. However hCG positive rates in group A (40%) were higher than group B, but not statistically significant. Clinical pregnancy rate (26% vs. 25.9%), on going pregnancy rates (>20 weeks) were not significant (26% vs. 25%). CONCLUSION: We compared embryo quality change, survival rates, and pregnancy rates between high infusion frequency group and low infusion frequency group and the results were similar between the two groups. Therefore, high infusion frequency of liquid nitrogen for cryopreservation is a worthy method to preserve in human embryos.
Cryopreservation ; Embryonic Development* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Female ; Fertilization ; Freezing* ; Humans* ; Infertility ; Nitrogen* ; Oocyte Retrieval ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate* ; Pregnancy* ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: To compare the clinical results of BRTO in the gastric varices with those of TIPS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2004 to March 2006, eight patients who had been followed up for more than 1 month after BRTO were enrolled in this study. This study compared the clinical efficacy of BRTO with that of TIPS in 13 patients who had undergone TIPS from January 2000 to March 2006. The change in laboratory parameters before and after each procedure and the incidence of rebleeding, encephalopathy, asictes and varices were analyzed after each procedure. Results:In the BRTO group, the level of albumin increased, and the levels of ammonia and the Child-Pugh score decreased. The TIPS group showed no improvement in the liver function. In the BRTO group, the gastric varices were eradicated in 7 patients. Gastric variceal rebleeding and encephalopathy did not occur. However, the esophageal varices worsened in 6 patients. In the TIPS group, rebleeding (n=4), encephalopathy (n=7) and a worsening of the gastric (n=5) or esophageal varices (n=2) occurred. CONCLUSION: BRTO improves the metabolic activity of the liver and has a lower incidence of encephalopathy. Hence, BRTO is a good alternative to TIPS in the gastric varices accompanied by a gastrorenal shunt although a treatment for a worsening of the esophageal varices may be needed after BRTO.
Ammonia ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver ; Portasystemic Shunt, Surgical* ; Varicose Veins

OBJECTIVE: Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) has a strong genetic component. Specific gene polymorphisms may be associated with OPLL in several genes which regulate calcification in chondrocytes, change of extracellular collagen matrix and secretions of many growth factors and cytokines controlling bone morphogenesis. Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) may play a role in the pathogenesis of OPLL by intermediate nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB). The current study focused on coding single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of TLR5 for a case-control study investigating the relationship between TLR5 and OPLL in a Korean population. METHODS: A total of 166 patients with OPLL and 231 controls were recruited for a case-control association study investigating the relationship between SNPs of TLR5 gene and OPLL. Four SNPs were genotyped by direct sequencing (rs5744168, rs5744169, rs2072493, and rs5744174). SNP data were analyzed using the SNPStats, SNPAnalyzer, Haploview, and Helixtree programs. Multiple logistic regression analysis with adjustment for age and gender was performed to calculate an odds ratio (OR). RESULTS: None of SNPs were associated with OPLL in three alternative models (codominant, dominant, and recessive models; p > 0.05). A strong linkage disequilibrium block, including all 4 SNPs, was constructed using the Gabriel method. No haplotype was significantly associated with OPLL in three alternative models. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that Toll-like receptor 5 gene may not be associated with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament risk in Korean population.
Case-Control Studies ; Chondrocytes ; Clinical Coding ; Collagen ; Cytokines ; Genetic Association Studies ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Logistic Models ; Longitudinal Ligaments ; Morphogenesis ; Odds Ratio ; Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Spine ; Toll-Like Receptor 5 ; Toll-Like Receptors