OBJECTIVE. To examine whether cerebellum participates in motor learning and expresses immediate early gene during motor learning. BACKGROUND. There are increasing evidences that cerebellum plays a role in motor learning. Motor learning such as skill is one of long term memory that produces structural changes associated with immediate early gene expression. METHODS. We destructed mouse cerebellum surgically and compared the motor performance with normal control by using Rota-Rods test. Motor performance was tested on repeated trials to measure learning. We also measured the c-fos mRNA level in the cerebellum at 0, 30, 60 and 120 minutes of motor learning experiment. RESULTS. Motor learning is impaired in the mice with cerebellar lesion. C-fos mRNA level increased in the cerebellum at 30 and 60 minutes during motor learning.
Animals ; Cerebellum* ; Gene Expression ; Learning* ; Memory ; Mice* ; RNA, Messenger

Total elbow arthroplasty is a common surgical procedure used in the management of advanced rheumatoid arthritis, posttraumatic arthritis, osteoarthritis, and unfixable fracture in elderly patients. Total elbow prostheses have evolved over the years and now include the linked, unlinked, and convertible types. However, long-term complications, including infection, aseptic loosening, instability, and periprosthetic fracture, remain a challenge. Here, we introduce each type of implant and evaluate clinical outcomes and complications by reviewing the previous literature.
Aged ; Arthritis ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Arthroplasty ; Elbow Prosthesis ; Elbow ; Humans ; Osteoarthritis ; Periprosthetic Fractures ; Reoperation ; Treatment Outcome

Background: Arm swing plays a role in gait by accommodating forward movement through trunk balance. This study evaluates the biomechanical characteristics of arm swing during gait. Methods: The study performed computational musculoskeletal modeling based on motion tracking in 15 participants without musculoskeletal or gait disorder. A three-dimensional (3D) motion tracking system using three Azure Kinect (Microsoft) modules was used to obtain information in the 3D location of shoulder and elbow joints. Computational modeling using AnyBody Modeling System was performed to calculate the joint moment and range of motion (ROM) during arm swing. Results: The mean ROM of the dominant elbow was 29.7°±10.2° and 14.2°±3.2° in flexion–extension and pronation–supination, respectively. The mean joint moment of the dominant elbow was 56.4±12.7 Nm, 25.6±5.2 Nm, and 19.8±4.6 Nm in flexion–extension, rotation, and abduction–adduction, respectively. Conclusions The elbow bears the load created by gravity and muscle contracture in dynamic arm swing movement.

The review article explores recent advances in the surgical treatment of elbow pain, a common ailment that can significantly impair daily functioning. With a surge in elbow-related conditions such as tennis elbow, osteoarthritis, and nerve compression disorders, the necessity for surgical approaches has become paramount. This article provides an overview of the cutting-edge procedures now available, including minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery. These modern methods have been shown to significantly reduce recovery times and improve overall patient outcomes. The combination of surgical management and targeted rehabilitation ensures a comprehensive and personalized treatment plan for patients with various elbow pathologies. This article aims to shed light on these recent surgical interventions and their potential for advancing the management of elbow pain, emphasizing the ongoing trend toward precision, efficiency, and patient-centered care.

There were many studies to investigate the pathogenesis and prevention of infection in artificial joint replacement due to the difficulty in management of infected arthroplasty in spite of using large amounts of antibiotics. Biomaterials play a major role in the development of infection because of the way the body responds to their chemical and physical characteristics. Exopolysaccharide glycocalyx or biofilm(slime) which is produced by organisms adhered to the biomaterials has been detected and regarded as an important factor in pathogenesis. The production of slime on the biomaterials in turn makes the pathogens resistant to the antibiotics and therefore they survive. The objects of this study are to evaluate which materials are more susceptible to the adherence by Staphylococcus epidermidis, to evaluate the amount of antibiotics needed to kill the S. epidermidis adhered to the biomaterials(Polymethymethacrylate, Titanium-6Aluminum-4Vanadium alloy, Ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene), and to evaluate the timing of administration of the antibiotics(cephradine, gentamicin) and potadine for prevention of postoperative infection. The results are as follows. 1. The materials in order of greatest adherence due to the number of organisms colonized are poly- methylmethacrylate(PMMA), ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene(UHMWPE), and titanium alloy(Ti-6A1-4V alloy) being the least adherent. 2. With the production of biofilm the S. epidermidis becomes resistant to even that of 4 times the minimum bactericidal concentration(MBC) of antibiotics. 3. For prevention of postoperative infection, the prophylactic administration of cephradine if effective when used within 4 hours after contamination and the gentamicin and potadine are effective when used within 8 hours after the contamination with S. epidermidis.
Alloys ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Arthroplasty ; Biocompatible Materials ; Biofilms ; Cephradine ; Colon ; Gentamicins ; Glycocalyx ; Joints ; Molecular Weight ; Staphylococcus epidermidis ; Titanium

BACKGROUND: Clopidogrel has been widely used in the treatment of acute atherothrombosis. However, until now, there has been little information about its resistance during the acute stage of ischemic stroke. In this study, we investigated platelet responsiveness after using clopidogrel in acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: ADP (10 uM) induced platelet aggregation was serially measured in 81 acute ischemic stroke patients at initial, after 24 hrs and 5 days since using clopidogrel. We defined Clopidogrel resistance as less than 30% decrease in platelet aggregation by clopidogrel and investigated the differences of clinical and laboratory findings between the Clopidogrel response and resistance groups. RESULTS: The baseline ADP induced platelet aggregation was 10.2+/-5.5 ohm and was significantly (p<0.05) reduced to 4.0+/-4.5 ohm after the use of Clopidogrel. After 5 days of treatment, the clopidogrel resistance was observed in 18.5% of patients. Of the 15 patients with clopidogrel resistance, 12 patients (80%) had large artery atherosclerotic infarctions, 2 others had an unknown type of stroke, and 1 patient had small vessel disease. The patients with clopidogrel resistance showed significantly higher initial clinical severity (p=0.015), C-reactive protein levels (p=0.001) and WBC counts (p<0.001) than those with good responsiveness. In multiple logistic regression analysis, the WBC count was significantly correlated with the clopidogrel resistance (p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the clopidogrel resistance was observed in up to 18.5% of patients with acute ischemic stroke and might be affected by enhanced inflammatory reactions.
Adenosine Diphosphate ; Arteries ; Blood Platelets ; C-Reactive Protein ; Humans ; Infarction ; Inflammation ; Logistic Models ; Platelet Aggregation ; Stroke*

Although CNS involvement of paragonimiasis is not frequently encountered, it has been reported in 10-25% of clinical cases of all paragonimiasis. It causes various symptoms and signs including epilepsy, headache, hemiparesis, visual field defect or other neurologic deficits. Infestation usually occurs by ingestion of freshwater crabs or crayfish infected with Paragonimus metacercariae. We report three patients with chronic cerebral paragonimiasis, which were diagnosed by history, neurologic examination, radiological and serological evaluations, Two of them had history of ingestion of freshwater crabs or crayfish in childhood. Only one patient showed a positive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay reaction for Paragonimus specific antibody in serum and CSF. Their clinical manifestations were seizure, headache, and visual field defect. In their plain skull X-rays, congregated round oval calcifications were recognized. Brain computed tomography of patients revealed pathognomonic findings of multiple, variable sized, round, calcified lesions surrounded by low density areas together with cortical atrophy in occipital, parietal, and temporal lobes.
Astacoidea ; Atrophy ; Brain ; Eating ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epilepsy ; Fresh Water ; Headache ; Humans ; Metacercariae ; Neurologic Examination ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Paragonimiasis* ; Paragonimus ; Paresis ; Rabeprazole ; Seizures ; Skull ; Temporal Lobe ; Visual Fields

Collagenous colitis was first deacribed by Lindstrom(1976). This disorder is now a recognized disease of colon associated with chronic watery diarrhea which shows the typical histologic findings of a thickened subepithelial collagenous band. A few cases with such disease has been reported in this country. We have recently observed a 52-year-old businessman with chronic watery diarrhea without abdominal and intermittent mucobloody stool for several years. He has lost about 4 kg of his body weight for these 6 months period. Physical examination, laboratory and radiological studis were unremarkable. Colonoscopy disclosed no gross abnormalities through the entire colon including the terminal ileum but found the pronounced thiekening(about 10um) of intercryptal subepithelial collagen and chronic inflammation in the lamina propria in the histologic examination.
Body Weight ; Colitis, Collagenous* ; Collagen* ; Colon ; Colonoscopy ; Diarrhea ; Humans ; Ileum ; Inflammation ; Middle Aged ; Mucous Membrane ; Physical Examination

This study was conducted to investigate the association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and the lipid profile among elderly Koreans. A total of 462 subjects (mean age 66.2 +/- 7.6 yr, 84% males) who underwent health check-up were investigated. Each subject underwent gastroduodenoscopy with gastric mucosal biopsy, and H. pylori infection was determined by histopathological examination using the updated Sydney System score. The presence of H. pylori infection was significantly associated with the elevated serum levels of total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (P < 0.05 for each) in univariate analysis. H. pylori infection was not associated with triglyceride and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels (P > 0.05 for each). After controlling confounders, multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the odds ratio of H. pylori infection for high LDL cholesterol level (> 140 mg/dL) was 3.113 (95% confidence interval, 1.364-7.018; P = 0.007). There were no significant associations between the presence of H. pylori infection and elevated total cholesterol levels (> 200 mg/dL) in this model (P = 0.586). The results of this study demonstrate that H. pylori infection is associated with the elevated serum LDL cholesterol levels in elderly Koreans, supporting the hypothesis that H. pylori plays a role in promoting atherosclerosis by modifying lipid metabolism.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Atherosclerosis/microbiology ; Cholesterol, LDL/*blood ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Gastric Mucosa/anatomy & histology/microbiology ; Gastritis ; Helicobacter Infections/*blood/*epidemiology ; *Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Inflammation/microbiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peptic Ulcer ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology

Sparganosis is a parasitic infestation caused by the larval stage of Spirometra erinacei. Human infection results from ingestion of raw or undercooked flesh of any of the numerous intermediate hosts and from application of such flesh as poultices. Sparganosis have been reported from orbit and bulbar conjunctiva. But, urogenital infestation of Sparganum is rarely observed. We report an additional case of the sparganum infestation in the right scrotum.
Conjunctiva ; Eating ; Humans ; Orbit ; Scrotum* ; Sparganosis* ; Sparganum ; Spirometra