Twenty-six patients with chief complaint of shoulder pain who underwent both ultrasonographic examination and arthrography of the shoulder were analyzed. Ten out of 12 cases with clinical impression of frozen shoulder, showed normal findings on the ultrasonographic examination of the shoulder. Among these ten cases, nine cases showed abhesive capsulitis and one case showed rotator cuff tear on arthrography. Among six cases with the clinical impression of rotator cuff tear, five cases showed rotator cuff tear and one case showed combined calcific tendinitis and adhesive capsulitis on ultrasonographic examination. In arthrography, four cases of rotator cuff tear, one case of calcific tendinitis and biceps tendinitis and one case of normal findings were diagnosed. For the remaining eight cases in the ultrasonographic examination, normal finding or biceps tendinitis were found and for the remaning of the cases in arthrography adhesive capsulitis were found. With the above results, we recommend that the shoulder ultrasonography as the first line diagnostic modality for a patients with chief complaint of shoulder pain.
Arthrography* ; Bursitis ; Humans ; Rotator Cuff* ; Shoulder ; Shoulder Pain ; Tears ; Tendinopathy ; Ultrasonography*

BACKGROUND:The present study was performed to further improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the activation of NFkB, a major transcriptional factor involved in the inflammatory response in the inflammatory response in the lung, by particulate matter in lung epithelial cells wit an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 micro meter(PM2.5). METHODS: Immediate production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitrogen species (RNS), with the PM2.5 induced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), IkB degradatio and NFkB-dependent transcrptional activity, in A 549 cells, were monitored. Addition, we also examined the effect of the iNOS inhibitor, L-N6-(1-iminoethyl) lysine hydrochloride (L-NIL), on the PM 2.5-induced NFkB activation in A 549 cells. RESULTS:The rapid degradation of IkB and the increase of transcriptional activity of the NFkB-dependent promotor were observed in A 549 cells exposed to PM2.5. The immediate production of ROS in response to PM2.5 in A 549 cells was not clearly detected, although immediate responses were observed in RAW 264.7 cells. A549 cells, cultured in the presence of PM2.5, produced an increase in NO, which was noticeably significant after 15 min of exposure with the expression of iNOS mRNA. The addition of L-NIL, an iNOS inhibitor, significantly inhibited the PM2.5-induced IkB degradation and the increase of the NFkB-dependent transcriptional activity. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that PM2.5 stimulates the immediate production of RNS, leading to the activation of NFkB in the pulmonary epithelium.
Cells, Cultured ; Epithelial Cells* ; Epithelium ; Lung* ; Lysine ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; Nitrogen ; Particulate Matter ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; RNA, Messenger

BACKGROUND:The present study was performed to further improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the activation of NFkB, a major transcriptional factor involved in the inflammatory response in the inflammatory response in the lung, by particulate matter in lung epithelial cells wit an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 micro meter(PM2.5). METHODS: Immediate production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitrogen species (RNS), with the PM2.5 induced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), IkB degradatio and NFkB-dependent transcrptional activity, in A 549 cells, were monitored. Addition, we also examined the effect of the iNOS inhibitor, L-N6-(1-iminoethyl) lysine hydrochloride (L-NIL), on the PM 2.5-induced NFkB activation in A 549 cells. RESULTS:The rapid degradation of IkB and the increase of transcriptional activity of the NFkB-dependent promotor were observed in A 549 cells exposed to PM2.5. The immediate production of ROS in response to PM2.5 in A 549 cells was not clearly detected, although immediate responses were observed in RAW 264.7 cells. A549 cells, cultured in the presence of PM2.5, produced an increase in NO, which was noticeably significant after 15 min of exposure with the expression of iNOS mRNA. The addition of L-NIL, an iNOS inhibitor, significantly inhibited the PM2.5-induced IkB degradation and the increase of the NFkB-dependent transcriptional activity. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that PM2.5 stimulates the immediate production of RNS, leading to the activation of NFkB in the pulmonary epithelium.
Cells, Cultured ; Epithelial Cells* ; Epithelium ; Lung* ; Lysine ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; Nitrogen ; Particulate Matter ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; RNA, Messenger

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed in order to investigate the molecular mechanism regulating nitric oxide synthase(NOS) induced by alpha-quartz in Rat2 fibroblast. METHODS: alpha-quartz-induced nitric oxide(NO) and H2O2 formation and alpha- quartz-induced iNOS protein expression in Rat2 fibroblast were monitored. With iNOS inhibitor(L-N6- (1-iminoethyl)lysine hydrochloride, L-NIL) or antioxidant(catalase), we observed NO and H2O2 formation and iNOS protein expression in Rat2 fibroblast stimulated with alpha-quartz. RESULTS: alpha-quartz stimulated iNOS-induced NO and H2O2 formation in Rat2 fibroblast. L-NIL inhibited H2O2 formation and iNOS protein expression by alpha-quartz in Rat2 fibroblast. Pretreatment with catalase blocked the autoinhibitory pathway of iNOS by iNOSinduced H2O2, therefore H2O2 and NO production and iNOS protein expression were increased in Rat2 fibrobalst stimulated with alpha-quartz CONCLUSIONS: alpha-quartz-induced iNOS stimulated H2O2 formation in Rat2 fibroblast. INOS-induced H2O2 by alpha-quartz plays an important role in the autoinhibition pathway for regulating the iNOS function in Rat2 fibroblast
Catalase ; Fibroblasts* ; Homeostasis* ; Hydrogen Peroxide* ; Hydrogen* ; Nitric Oxide ; Quartz

OBJECTIVES: It is well known that pneumoconiotic patients experience impairments of macrophage function, as well as poor penetration of drugs into the fibrotic nodules and the immune system. Resultantly, pneumonia is frequently involved in pneumoconiotic patients and its treatment is not easy. Therefore, we conducted a clinical evaluation of immunoglobulin G which is known to be effective in severe infectious diseases. METHODS: We randomly selected 45 pneumoconiotic patients with pneumonia and classified them into 2 groups. The experimental group (IgG group) was scheduled to receive antibiotics and IgG (5 g I.V./day for 7 days). The control group was treated with antibiotics alone. Sputum gram stain (counts of WBCs and microorganisms), body temperature, arterial oxygen tension, and counts of peripheral venous blood leukocytes and band neutrophils were used as markers to assess the response effect therapy at time periods of 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 days after completion of therapy. We compared the clinical scores between the two groups. RESULTS: The experimental IgG treated group was composed of 27 patients, and the control group comprised 18 patients. There was no statistical differences between two groups in terms of age, pneumoconiotic profusion, impairment degree of pulmonary function, or frequency of pathogen isolation in the sputum before medication. The experimental IgG treated group showed lower clinical scores as compared with the control group (p=0.083). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that IgG infusion with antibiotics will have an effect on pneumonia therapy in pneumoconiosis patients that are under 60 years and exhibit simple pneumoconiosis.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Body Temperature ; Communicable Diseases ; Humans* ; Immune System ; Immunoglobulin G* ; Immunoglobulins* ; Leukocytes ; Macrophages ; Neutrophils ; Oxygen ; Pneumoconiosis ; Pneumonia* ; Sputum

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed in order to investigate the frequency of the TNF2 allele in patients with coal workers pneumoconiosis (CWP). METHODS: We compared the genotype distribution of TNFalpha gene promoter polymorphism between 80 CWP patients and 54 healthy controls. RESULTS: The results were as follows : 1. The rare allele TNF2 was significantly more frequent in CWP patients (20.6 %) than in controls (10.2 %). 2. The spontaneous or LPS-induced release of TNFalpha from the peripheral monocytes was slightly increased in the TNF2 group, but these values were not significantly different between groups. 3. In the CWP TNF2 group, the increase of LPS-induced TNFalpha release was significant in comparison with that of the controls. CONCLUSIONS: From the above results, we suggest that the TNF2 allele is strongly associated with susceptibility to CWP development.
Alleles ; Anthracosis ; Coal* ; Genotype ; Humans ; Monocytes ; Pneumoconiosis* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

BACKGROUND: As of July 2015, per diem payment was changed from fee for service Therefore, this study aims to analyse changes in medical charges and medical services before and after enforcement of the palliative care, targeting palliative care wards in a general hospital, and provide basic data needed for development of per diem payment. METHODS: The subjects of the study were a total of 610 cases consisting of 351 patients of service fee who left hospital (died) from July 2014 to June 2016 and 259 ones of per diem payment at Chosun University Hospital in Gwangju Metropolitan City. RESULTS: The results are summarized as follows. First, after the palliative care system was applied, benefit medical service charges and insurance increased significantly (p<0.001). As benefit medical service charges increased, benefit private insurance payment increased significantly (p<0.001). Second, after the per diem payment was applied, total private insurance payment to medical institutes decreased significantly (p=0.050) and non-benefit also decreased significantly (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: It is suggested that additional rewards in the obligatory palliative care items should be continuously remedied and monitored to provide good quality hospice palliative care.
Academies and Institutes ; Fee-for-Service Plans ; Fees and Charges ; Gwangju ; Hospices ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Insurance ; Palliative Care ; Reward

BACKGROUNDS: To investigate the physical functioning state of the rural aged people and its related factors. METHODS: 458 older people aged 65 years or older living in a rural area were interviewed fromAug. 6 to Aug. 9, 2003. Socioeconomic characteristics, structural and functional social supports, chronic disease, stress, and obesity(using body mass index) were included to explore their influencing physical functioning. Physical functioning was measured by Physical Functioning(PF) scale constructed by 2-factor(mobility and self-care). Cronbach's alpha of social support and PF scales were 0.91, 0.89 respectively. After univariate analysis, multiple regression analysis was conducted to identify major contributing factors to physical functioning. RESULTS: 1) Person of younger age, higher education level, having job, higher economic status were more likely to show a higher degree of physical functioning in both male and female. 2) In those who having spouse, the physical functioning scores were significantly higher. And the aged people with high social support got higher physical functioning score. 3) In male with diabetes, physical functioning score were significantly lower. In female with arthritis, physical functioning score were significantly lower. 4) For the aged people which having higher stress, the physical function wasn't good. 5) In multiple regression analysis, for both male and female, physical functioning of those who have no job, lower social support, higher stress was bad. In male with chronic disease and female with arthritis, the physical functional score was lower. CONCLUSION: The physical functioning of some rural aged people were affected by various factors such as social, psychological, economic and physical factors. So diverse policy and programwill be necessary for improve physical functioning of rural older people.
Arthritis ; Chronic Disease ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Spouses ; Weights and Measures

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we investigated the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection and evaluated its risk factors in early pregnancy. METHODS: From April, 2004 to July, 2004, in antenatal care center, endocervial swabs were obtained in the 100 pregnant women during first trimester. After then, Chlamydia trachomatis infection was screened by DNA hybridization test which detects Chlamyidal r-RNA. All data were collected from review of each patient's medical record, including age and obstetric history. Associations between variables were studied using chi-square test. RESULTS: The prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection was 9.0% (9/100) in early pregnancy. There were no significant differences in mean age between Chlamydial infection group and non-infection group (29.9 vs 30.2). In Chlamydial infection group, there was a high peak prevalence among the late thirties (21.4%) and the early twenties (16.7%) was the next. We couldn't find any statistical significances in age, parity and gravida among Chlamydial infection groups. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of Chlamydial infection is high in early pregnancy and Chlamydial infection has a deleterious effect on pregnancy outcome. Therefore, the screening test for Chlamydia trachomatis may be recommended at first antenatal visit. And early diagnosis and treatment may offer the benefit to prevention of obstetrical complication and neonatal infection.
Chlamydia trachomatis* ; Chlamydia* ; DNA ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Medical Records ; Parity ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Prevalence* ; Risk Factors

We analyzed the genetic diversity of Cylindrocarpon destructans isolates obtained from Korean ginseng (i.e., Panax ginseng) roots by performing virulence tests and nuclear ribosomal gene internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and mitochondrial small subunit (mt SSU) rDNA sequence analysis. The phylogenetic relationship analysis performed using ITS DNA sequences and isolates from other hosts helped confirm that all the Korean C. destructans isolates belonged to Nectria/Neonectria radicicola complex. The results of in vivo and ex vivo virulence tests showed that the C. destructans isolates could be divided into two groups according to their distinctive difference in virulence and the genetic diversity. The highly virulent Korean isolates in pathogenicity group II (PG II), together with foreign isolates from P. ginseng and P. quinquefolius, formed a single group. The weakly virulent isolates in pathogenicity group I, together with the foreign isolates from other host plants, formed another group and exhibited a greater genetic diversity than the isolates of PG II, as confirmed by the mt SSU rDNA sequence analysis. In addition, as the weakly virulent Korean isolates were genetically very similar to the foreign isolates from other hosts, they were likely to originate from hosts other than the ginseng plants.
Base Sequence ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Genetic Variation* ; Panax* ; Sequence Analysis ; Virulence*