OBJECTIVE: To investigate the bone mineral density(BMD) in Korean postmenopausal women. METHODS: We performed the retrospective study for 1,508 postmenopausal women who had menopause after 40 years of age and didn't take any hormonal agent before measuring bone mineral density. Spinal and femur neck BMD were measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry(DXA, Lunar Co.). RESULTS: The mean age of the study subjects was 53.7+/-5.7 years and the average BMD of the lumbar spine(L2-L4; L24) and femur neck(FN) were 0.996+/-0.173 g/cm(2) and 0.821+/-0.133 g/cm(2), respectively. Of all subjects, 44.1%(665/1,508) had osteopenia and 14.7%(222/1,508) were already osteoporotic. The prevalence of osteoporosis increased with age; 5.2% in 41-50 years of age, 15.6% in fifties, 32.5% in sixties, and 45.5% in over 70 years of age. There was no significant difference in the age-adjusted BMD between naturally menopausal women(n=828) and surgically menopausal women(n=78). The mean age at menopause of surgically menopausal women was significantly younger than that of naturally menopausal women(47.6+/-3.6 vs 49.2+/-3.5). Duration of menopause, body weight, and height were revealed to be the significant risk factors for osteoporosis. The annual bone loss rates in lumbar spine and femur neck were 1.2% and 1.1% respectively in naturally menopausal women, and 1.5% and 1.2% in surgically menopausal women. CONCLUSIONS: This study established the BMD curve and regression equation in Korean postmenopausal women according to the causes of menopause. There was no significant difference in the mean BMD and the prevalence of osteoporosis between naturally and surgically menopausal women. Duration of menopause, body weight, and height were found to be the risk factors which influence the development of the osteoporosis. So the postmenopausal women who are at increased risks of developing osteoporosis need more active interventions for preventing the osteoporotic fracture.
Body Weight ; Bone Density* ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; Female ; Femur ; Femur Neck ; Humans ; Menopause* ; Osteoporosis ; Osteoporotic Fractures ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Spine

To elucidate some DNA adducts as a biological marker for workers of chromate pigment, the effects of chromium exposure on the formation of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine(8-OH-dG) and sister chromatid exchanges(SCEs) frequency in 38 workers of a pigment plant in Bucheon which utilized lead chromates, were examined. The chromium contents of venous blood and urine were measured as working environmental exposure level. The concentrations of 8-OH-dG in DNA isolated from lymphocytes were determined with high performance liquid chromatography and electrochemical detector and denoted as a molar ratio of 8-OH-dG to deoxyguanosine(dG). The SCEs frequency were analyzed in DNA isolated from lymphocytes. A significant correlation was found between creatinine adjusted urine chromium concentration and the molar ratio of 8-OH-dG to dG(r=0.47, p<0.01). After adjusting the current smoking habit, the correlation coefficient was increased(r=0.62, p<0.05). However, there was no significant correlation between the SCE frequency and chromium exposure. This significant results between molar ratio of 8-OH-dG to dG and chromium exposure are in good agreement with in vitro studies that support the importance of DNA adduct formation for the carcinogenic effect of chromium.
Biomarkers ; Chromates ; Chromatids ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Chromium* ; Creatinine ; DNA ; DNA Adducts ; Environmental Exposure ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Molar ; Plants ; Siblings* ; Sister Chromatid Exchange* ; Smoke ; Smoking

PURPOSE: Generally, the constipation is a medical disease, but recently, there are many reports showing the good results after correction of rectocele in constipated patients. The authors try to show the effect of surgery in rectocele cases and also analyse the relationship between the anatomical distortion and clinical symptoms by using anorectal physiologic study before and after operation. METHODS: 31 cases of rectocele are surgically corrected from June 1998 to August 2001. 31 cases of them could be followed up and with them, pre- and post-operative anal ultrasonography, anorectal manommetry and defecography were tried. Personal interview was also done to each patient. RESULTS: After trasanal rectocele repair, the rectocele size decreased and clinical symptoms improved remarkably. In defecography, anorectal angle (pre-op; 105.9+/-6.0 degrees vs. post-op; 109.5+/-3.7 degees) and perineal descent (1.6+/-0.7 cm vs. 2.4+/-1.2 cm) increase in pushing state after operation. In anorectal manometry, mean resting anal pressure (29.2+/- 3.4 mmHg vs. 17.9+/-4.6 mmHg) and maximal squeeze pressure (84.5+/-20.8 mmHg vs. 47.6+/-12.1 mmHg) decreased and rectal sensation improved after operation. CONCLUSIONS: Current results suggest that the surgical correction aims not only the decrement of the rectocele size but changing the vector power on pushing more physiologically and also improving the rectal sensibility.
Constipation ; Defecography ; Humans ; Manometry ; Prospective Studies* ; Rectocele* ; Sensation ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Zygoma*

A relationship between preceding acute paralytic poliomyelitis and the later development of motor neuron disease has only occasionally been suggested since it was first postulated by Charcot in 1875. The authors recently experienced a 20-year-old male who was considered to have postpoliomyelitis muscular atrophy. We report this case in view of its rarity and necessity of differential diagnosis from other neuromuscular disorders. Clinical presentation included slowly progressive muscle wasting of left thigh for 4 years, mild weakness of left arm and both thigh, intermittent fasciculation, and previous history of acute paralytic poliomyelitis. Electromyographic findings showed fibrillation potentials, positive sharp waves, fasciculations, giant motor unit potentials and reduced interference patterns. Muscle biopsy revealed scattered small angulated fibers, individual myofiber degeneration and mild inflammatory cell infiltration.
Arm ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fasciculation ; Humans ; Male ; Motor Neuron Disease ; Poliomyelitis ; Postpoliomyelitis Syndrome* ; Thigh ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Bone Density* ; Estrogens* ; Female ; Humans

PURPOSE: Rectoceles are often associated with anorectal symptoms. Various surgical techniques have been described to repair rectoceles, but the surgical results vary. The aim of this study was to compare transanal repair (TAR) and transanal repair with posterior colporrhaphy (TAR+PC). METHODS: The records of 58 patients operated on during a 56-month period were reviewed. Of those 26 patients had a TAR, and 32 patients had a TAR+PC. Interviews and anorectal physiologic studies were performed preoperatively and postoperatively. RESULTS: The recurrence rate after a TAR+PC was lower than the recurrence rate after a TAR (TAR 19.2% vs. TAR+PC 3.1%). The rectal sensation (sensory threshold: TAR 64.8+/-18.9 ml vs. TAR+PC 56.1+/-23.67 ml; earliest defecation urge: TAR 116.4+/-29.5 ml vs. TAR+PC 104.8+/-31.2 ml) was more improved after a TAR+PC. CONCLUSIONS: A TAR+PC for treatment of a rectocele is safe and effectively corrects obstructed defecation. The improvement probably relates, at least in part, to rectal sensational factors other than the dimensions of the rectocele.
Defecation ; Humans ; Rectocele* ; Recurrence ; Sensation

No abstract available.
Acne Vulgaris* ; Hair Removal* ; Pigmentation Disorders*

BACKGROUND: It has been well known that absolute and interpeak latencies of brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) are usually prolonged in diabetics. However, Its etiology is still controversial. We tried to identify whether the cause is structural or metabolic in origin by performing BAEP and brain MRI in the diabetic patients. METHODS: BAEP were performed in both the diabetic patients (DM) group (16 males and 15 females) and the normal control group (25 males and 33 female). A brain MRI was performed in the DM group on those who showed abnormal BAEP and com-pared the results of BAEP of the DM group with those of the control group. RESULTS: 7 patients (22.6%) showed abnor-mal BAEP (male; 6, female; 1, unilateral; 4, bilateral; 3) when abnormal BAEP was defined as being larger than two and a half standard deviations of the control group BAEP results. Two males of the DM group who showed abnormal structural lesions of the pons in their brain MRI were not included in the statistical analysis. The remaining 14 diabetic male patients (mean age: 58.7 +/-9.1 years, mean disease duration: 6.1 +/-4.7 years, mean hemoglobin (Hb) A1C: 7.7 +/- 2.0%) and 15 diabetic female patients (mean age: 60.6 +/-10.8 years, mean disease duration: 5.4 +/-5.1 years, mean HgA1C: 7.8 +/-2.1%) were stastistically analyzed. Interpeak latencies of I-III, III-V, and I-V were found to be signifi-cantly prolonged in the DM group. The prolongation of interpeak latencies of I-III and I-V were found to be signifi-cantly correlated with the disease duration only in the diabetic female patients, but not with age and HbA1c. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that both metabolic derangement and structural lesion contribute to prolonging the central conduction time on BAEP pathway in diabetics.
Brain ; Brain Stem* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem* ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Pons

Effort to improve balance ability in the field of rehabilitation has been constantly issued and developed up to now. A variety of subcomponent of postural control including function and cognition should be needed in many body systems and be complicatedly linked to each system. In South Korea, although decreased postural dysfunction due to neurological or musculoskeletal disorders has been well documented, we do not have many experience and knowledge of vestibular rehabilitation for maintain and improve balance function. In the United States, vestibular physical therapy is already acknowledged as clinical subspecialty by American Physical Therapy Association. However, there is no curriculum subject related to vestibular rehabilitation in standard education of physical therapy and no specialist who has clinical experience and knowledge of this realm. Therefore, we reviewed general information and basic knowledge of vestibular rehabilitation such as current state of vestibular disorder in South Korea, pathology, major causes of vestibular dysfunction including peripheral vestibular disorders, vestibular neuritis, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, and central disorder, evaluation of vestibular dysfunction, and treatment for vestibular dysfunction new approaches. We expect that physical therapist in South Korea recognize clinical significance of vestibular exercise and that clinical concern and research will be begun in near future.
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo ; Cognition ; Curriculum ; Dizziness ; Education ; Humans ; Korea ; Pathology ; Physical Therapists ; Rehabilitation ; Specialization ; United States ; Vestibular Neuronitis