This review-article is aimed at shedding a light upon the nature of age-associated changes in the human skeletal system. When the anatomical, physiological and biochemical consequences of bone aging are considered together with the hardening, drying and the diminished repair capabilities of the elderly, it can be seen that fractures assume greater importance as a clinical problem in the geriatric population. Older people start out with a deficit of cortical bone, making them more fracture prone and once fractures occur, the necessary treatments (immobilization, use of casts, etc.) accelerate the rate of bone loss. In addition, aged individuals stand a higher risk for complications of the hospital and enforced bed rest that may ensue. The problems resulting from bone loss in the elderly may be partially alleviated by providing adequate health service support which should include consideration of the following points : 1. Age, sex and general health status ; 2. Habits and inclinations towards physical activities ; 3. Nutritional and endocrine background ; 4. Presence of any specific bone diseases, including osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, osteomalacia and ankylosis ; 5. Psychosocial adaptability and other behavioral elements.
Aged ; Aging ; Ankylosis ; Bed Rest ; Biology* ; Bone Diseases ; Health Services ; Humans* ; Motor Activity ; Osteoarthritis ; Osteomalacia ; Osteoporosis

This study was carried out to investigate pathogenesis of E. coli-induced cystitis by light and electron microscopy with immunocytochemistry. A group of ICR mice was intravesically given 0.3ml of E. coli DIE 174 lysate( 1000000000/ml). Another group was given E. coli lysate after acid solution(pH 4.5) washing for 30 minutes. The urinary bladders were observed at 2 hours and 24 hours after E.coli lysate irrigation. On light microscopy, submucosal edema, congestion, and perivascular neutrophilic infiltration occurred 2 hours after E. coli lysate irrigation. The congestion and acute inflammation were more pronounced 24 hours after. In cases of acid washing and E. coli lysate irrigation, mucosal acute inflammatory infiltration with edema and congestion was marked at early stage. Necrosis of transitional cells developed with time. On immunostain for E. coli, surface of transitional cells was stained 2 hours after E. coli lysate irrigation. At 24 hours after irrigation, intercellular spaces of transitional cells were stained. In cases of acid washing and E. coli lysate irrigation, entire mucosa was stained at early stage. Electron microscopically, transitional cells revealed increase of cytoplasmic processes, enlargement of cytoplasmic vesicles, and widening of intercellular spaces. There were large amounts of various shapes of lysosomes in neutrophils and monocytes infiltrated in the mucosa in acid washing groups. According to the above results, it is concluded that E. coli lysate may easily penetrate into the bladder mucosa and that the mucosal mucopolysaccharide plays as a barrier against bacterial invasion.
Animals ; Cystitis ; Cytoplasm ; Cytoplasmic Vesicles ; Edema ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Extracellular Space ; Immunohistochemistry ; Inflammation ; Lysosomes ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Microscopy ; Microscopy, Electron ; Monocytes ; Mucous Membrane* ; Necrosis ; Neutrophils ; Urinary Bladder*

No abstract available.

We applied arthroscopy in the diagnosis of thirty four patients with internal derangement of the knee from March to August, 1982. Its results were compared with clinical diagnosis and arthrographic findings. We also performed arthrofomy in twenty nine patients and the final diagnosis enabled us to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of each method. The accuracy of clinical diagnosis was 63.4%. Arthrographic findings were correct in 77.8%. The diagnostic accuracy of arthroscopy was 92.3% with one false negative case. Unnecessary operations were avoided in five patients with the assistance of negative findings of arthroscopy. Arthrography and arthroscopy were complementary in the diagnosis of internal derangement of the knee.
Arthrography ; Arthroscopy ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Knee ; Methods

No abstract available.
Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms*

Severe burns cause pathophysiological processes that result in mortality. A laboratory biomarker, red cell distribution width (RDW), is known as a predictor of mortality in critically-ill patients. We examined the association between RDW and postoperative mortality in severe burn patients. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed medical data of 731 severely burned patients who underwent surgery under general anesthesia. We evaluated whether preoperative RDW value can predict 3-month mortality after burn surgery using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, logistic regression, and Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis. Mortality was also analyzed according to preoperative RDW values and incidence of postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI). Results: The 3-month mortality rate after burn surgery was 27.1% (198/731). The area under the ROC curve of preoperative RDW to predict mortality after burn surgery was 0.701 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.667–0.734; P < 0.001) with a cut-off point of 12.9. The adjusted hazard ratio in patients with RDW > 12.9 was 1.238 (95% CI, 1.138–1.347; P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that the survival rate was 88.8% for the non-AKI group with RDW ≤ 12.9 and 17.6% for the AKI group with RDW > 12.9. Preoperative RDW was considered an independent risk factor for mortality (odds ratio, 1.679; 95% CI, 1.378– 2.046; P < 0.001). Conclusions: Preoperative RDW may predict 3-month postoperative mortality in patients with severe burns, while preoperative RDW > 12.9 and postoperative AKI may further increase mortality after burn surgery.

Sparganosis usually means the plerocercoid larval infection of Spirometra species. It is endemic mainly in countries where the habit of eating raw snake or frog, or the habit of poulticing with snake skin exists. The most common endemic area is Korea, Japan and China, and the most common localizations are subcutaneous connective tissue and superficial muscles. We experienced a case of scrotal sparganosis in a 32-year-old man presenting with painless hard masses in left scrotum. He underwent by serum Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and was treated by surgical excision.
Adult ; China ; Connective Tissue ; Eating ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay* ; Humans ; Japan ; Korea ; Muscles ; Scrotum ; Skin ; Snakes ; Sparganosis* ; Spirometra

PURPOSE: Reports of clinical findings and treatment for pediatric urinary stone have been published relatively infrequently. Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (SWL) is a minimally invasive method of treating urinary stone and has been shown to be effective in the pediatric population. We evaluated the clinical characteristics of patients with pediatric urinary stone and compared the therapeutic results of two SWLs, LT-01+ and Modulith SLX lithotriptors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of 57 children treated by SWL were analyzed retrospectively. Twenty-five patients were treated by LT-01+ (group I) and 32 by Modulith SLX (group II) lithotriptor. The outcomes, including the number of treatment sessions, stone free rate and complications, were assessed. RESULTS: The average age of all 57 children, 36 male and 21 female, was 14.3 years. Chief complaints were flank pain (71.9%), gross hematuria (10.5%) and urinary tract infection (12.3%). The average stone size was 8.2mm (2-15mm). The success rates of each SWL were similar in both groups (group I: 88.0%, group II: 90.6%). However the average number of treatment sessions/patient in Group I was significantly smaller than that of Group II (group I: 2.92, group II: 1.35, p<0.05). Flank pain and gross hematuria were developed similarly after treatment in both groups, and needed only conservative therapy and was resolved within three days. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical characteristics of urinary stone in children were similar to those of adults. There was no significant difference in treatment success rate between the two types of lithotriptors but the number of treatment sessions was smaller in patients treated by Modulith SLX lithotriptor.
Adult ; Child ; Female ; Flank Pain ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Lithotripsy* ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Shock* ; Urinary Calculi* ; Urinary Tract Infections

PURPOSE: Sling procedures have been used successfully for the treatment of all type of female stress urinary incontinence. Polypropylene mesh has more biocompatibility with less erosion rate over other synthetic sling materials. We investigated the objective, subjective success rate, satisfaction on pubovaginal sling operation using polypropylene mesh in stress urinary incontinence women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between November 2001 and July 2002, thirty three women with stress urinary incontinence underwent polypropylene mesh sling procedure were analyzed. Preoperative evaluations included the patient's history, a physical examination, urinalysis, a urodynamic test, incontinence staging with Stamey grade, Balivas type, and so forth. A 1.5x20cm polypropylene mesh was placed under the bladder neck to proximal urethra. Postoperatively, the patients were evaluated with a symptom questionnaire, physical examination, uroflowmetry, and postvoid residual volume at 3 day, 3 months. RESULTS: The average follow-up period was 164.6 days (minimum; 2 months). The average operation time was 83.6 minutes (including the anesthesia). No major intra-operative, post-operative complication occurred. No patient has permanent retention, erosion, or repeated surgery. The 22 patients (66.7%) were completely continent, 11 (33.3%) had an improvement, subjectively. The 27 patients (81.8%) were completely continent, 6 (18.2%) had an improvement, objectively. The treatment result was showed satisfactory by all patients (very satisfaction; 20 (60.6%), satisfaction; 13 (30.4%)). The follow-up period, valsalva leak point pressure, Pdetmax, opened bladder neck at rest, preop. urgency, preop. and postop. urge incontinence, total score of preop. and postop. Urge syndrome were related to subjective success rate, satisfaction statistically (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Placement of a polypropylene mesh under the bladder neck to proximal urethra provides a simple, safe, inexpensive and effective method to correct stress urinary incontinence.
Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neck ; Physical Examination ; Polypropylenes* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Residual Volume ; Risk Factors* ; Urethra ; Urinalysis ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Incontinence* ; Urinary Incontinence, Urge ; Urodynamics

Corticobasal degeneration (CBD) is characterized by asymmetric clinical manifestations including asymmetrical apraxia, alien limb movement and Parkinsonian symptoms. Cognitive function is relatively normal in the early course of illness. We report a 59 years old right-handed male with CBD. He showed asymmetrical ideomotor apraxia, alien limb movement and extrapyramidal symptom, such as cogwheel rigidity and bradykinesia, that were more severe in the right hand. These symptoms have deteriorated progressively for 2 years, but the cognitive function was relatively pre-served. Brain MRI revealed atrophic changes in both parietal lobes. FDG-PET showed an asymmetrical hypometabo-lism in supplementary motor area, parietal lobe, thalamus and basal ganglia, which was more severe in the left than the right hemisphere.
Apraxia, Ideomotor ; Apraxias* ; Basal Ganglia ; Brain ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Extremities ; Hand ; Humans ; Hypokinesia ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscle Rigidity ; Parietal Lobe ; Thalamus