PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of change of polyethylene resin type and manufacturing method on the wear of polyethylene tibial component. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen MG I and 10 MG II components were retrieved at revision surgery. Each polyethylene tibial component was graded for surface wear damage. Density profiles of the polyethylene were measured to examine the extent of oxidative degradation of the polyethylene. RESULTS: The primary damage mode of the MG I retrievals was scratching and metallic debris, but the primary damage mode of the MG II was delamination (P<0.05). For the implants with implantation time of 5 years or more, the MG II polyethylene had a higher density value (0.959+/-0.002 g/cc, n=7) compared with the MG I (0.948+/-0.004 g/cc, n=11). Both delamination and polyethylene degradation increased with length of implantation time for the MG II components (P<0.01). Even after gamma sterilization, the directly molded 1900 MG I components experienced significantly less delamination and degradation than the machined GUR 415 MG II tibial components. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that delamination of polyethylene tibial components is influenced by resin type and/or manufacturing method
Fungi ; Polyethylene* ; Sterilization

No abstract available.
Peripheral Nerves* ; Regeneration*

We studied 600 normal lower extremities of Korean students of elementary school in order to establish normal values for the rotational profile and to define any differences between ethnic groups. Rotational profile examined at this study included medial and lateral rotation of the hip and thighfoot angle. The mean value of medial rotation of the hip was 48 degrees with a range of 35 to 64 degrees in male subjects, and 50 degrees with a range of 35 to 60 degrees in female subjects. The mean value of lateral rotation of the hip was 57 degrees with a range of 43 to 75 degrees, and 53 degrees with a range of 40 to 72 degrees in female subjects. Unlike medial rotation, lateral rotation of the hip was greater in male than in female subjects by a mean difference of 4 degrees(T-test, p<0.05). The mean value of thigh-foot angle was 10 degrees with a range of -2 to 23 degrees in male subjects, and 12 degrees with a range of 0 to 21 degrees in female subjects. The total range of hip rotation was slightly greater in Korean than in Caucasians or in Chinese, but, to conclude this, more large study by the same methods will be needed in other areas of Korea.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Ethnic Groups ; Female ; Hip ; Humans ; Korea ; Lower Extremity* ; Male ; Reference Values

No abstract available.
Dyspnea* ; Hypothyroidism*

No abstract available.
Connective Tissue Diseases* ; Connective Tissue* ; Diagnosis*

Malposition of the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) venous cannula in the azygos vein is not frequently reported. We hereby present such a case, which occurred in a neonate with right-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Despite ECMO application, neither adequate flow nor sufficient oxygenation was achieved. On the cross-table lateral chest radiograph, the cannula tip was identified posterior to the heart silhouette, which implied malposition of the cannula in the azygos vein. After repositioning the cannula, the target flow and oxygenation were successfully achieved. When sufficient venous flow is not achieved, as in our case, clinicians should be alerted so they can identify the cannula tip location on lateral chest radiograph and confirm whether malposition in the azygos vein is the cause of the ineffective ECMO.
Azygos Vein* ; Catheters* ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation* ; Heart ; Hernias, Diaphragmatic, Congenital* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Oxygen ; Radiography, Thoracic

Purulent pericarditis is an infrequent but fulminant and frequently lethal disease. Purulent pericarditis tends to occur as direct extension of bacterial pneumonia or empyema in past. In recently, purulent pericarditis tends to occur in adult via contiguous spread from an early postoperative infection after thoracic surgery or trauma, infection related to infective endocarditis, extension from a subdiaphragmatic suppurative source, and hematogenous spread during bacteremia. Endogenous causes of purulent pericarditis are frequently characterized as esophageal perforations. Common causes of esophageal perforations related to purulent pericaditis which usually develop in association with mediastinitis, pneumonia and empyema include corrosive esophagitis, complication after esophageal and tracheal instrumentation and Boerhaave's syndrome. There is very little reference to the development of pericarditis in associated with esophageal perforation which does not directly communicate with the pericardium. while, although most uncommon, it is well documented that the esophagus can perforate directly into the pericardium and produce pericarditis. We experienced a case of acute purulent pericarditis after esophageal and pericardial perforation by a small fish bone in a previously healthy man. The patient was treated successfully with systemic antibiotics and pericardiotomy.
Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteremia ; Empyema ; Endocarditis ; Esophageal Perforation ; Esophagitis ; Esophagus ; Foreign Bodies* ; Humans ; Mediastinitis ; Pericardiectomy ; Pericarditis* ; Pericardium ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Bacterial ; Thoracic Surgery

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of palonosetron in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), as well as chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, has already been demonstrated in multiple clinical studies. The purpose of this study was to determine whether continuous infusion of palonosetron following single injection could reduce PONV to a greater extent than single injection only of palonosetron. METHODS: In total, 132 women were enrolled in the study. All subjects were over the age of 20 years and were scheduled to undergo gynecologic laparoscopic surgery. Patients were randomly allocated into two groups. In both groups, patients received 0.075 mg of palonosetron intravenously, immediately before induction of anesthesia. In the continuous palonosetron infusion group, 0.075 mg (1.5 ml) of palonosetron was added to the patient-controlled analgesia device. In the single-injection palonosetron group, 1.5 ml of normal saline was added. RESULTS: The incidence of PONV 24 hours postoperatively was significantly lower in the continuous palonosetron infusion group than the single-injection palonosetron group (31.8 vs. 56.1%, P = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Continuous palonosetron infusion, following single injection, reduces the incidence of PONV compared with single injection only.
Analgesia, Patient-Controlled* ; Anesthesia ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Laparoscopy ; Nausea ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting* ; Vomiting

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the serum levels of IL-10 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis are different from those of normal controls and SLE patients and to find out any correlation with disease activity parameters of rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: Sera from 20 healthy normal persons, 16 rheumatoid arthritis patients and 16 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus were collected and measured for IL-10 and IL-6. Various disease activity parameters were measured in RA patients. RESULTS: The serum level of IL-10 in RA patients was significantly elevated compared to normal controls but lower than those of SLE patients. In RA patients there was no definite correlation between the disease activity parameters and serum IL-10 levels. Despite significant improvements in terms of various disease activity parameters, there was no significant change of serum IL-10 levels after treatment in RA patients. In seropositive RA patients, positive correlation was found between serun IL-10 and rheumatoid factor levels. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that the serum IL-10 levels in patietns with RA are elevated compared to normal controls but lower than those of SLE patients. There was no correlation between serum IL-10 levels and disease acivity parameters of RA.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Humans ; Interleukin-10* ; Interleukin-6 ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Rheumatoid Factor

The short-term changes in corneal astigmatism and visual acuity after phacoemulsification with foldable intraocular lens implantation through a 3.2mm temporal clear corneal incision (group 1) and these through a 3.2mm superior scleral incision(group 2) were compared.Corneal topographic measurement were obtained preoperatively and at poeroperative 1 day, 2 months. Scalar and vector astigmatism in group 1 and group 2 were compared by simple subtraction method, Cravy method and Holladay method.The surgically induced astigmatism in both groups showed no difference in with-the-rule change(0.57D-0.10D) and uncorrected visual acuity also showed no different results in both groups. In the group 1, preoperative with-the-rule astigmatism were changed 0.18D toward with-the rule and preoperative against-the -rule astigmatism were shifted 0.64D toward with-the-rule direction.Conclusively. both incisions offered satisfactory short-term astigmatic results and rapid visual rehabilitation and change of astigmatism in the wyws with preoperative against-the-rule astigmatism was greater than those with peroperative with-the-rule astigmatism in temporal clear corneal incision group.
Astigmatism ; Cataract* ; Lens Implantation, Intraocular ; Phacoemulsification ; Rehabilitation ; Visual Acuity