Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze the brain waves and develop various exercise programs to improve the physical and mental aspects of stroke patients when neurological physical therapy and sitting table tennis exercise are applied to stroke patients. Methods: In this study, an experiment was conducted on 15 patients diagnosed with stroke, and training was performed after changing the ping-pong table to a sitting position to apply ping-pong exercise to stroke patients. After training was conducted for 40 minutes twice a week for 4 weeks, brain waves were measured before and after. EEG was measured using Laxtha’s DSI-24 equipment as a measurement tool, and data values were extracted through the Telescan program. Results: Most of the relative beta waves showed a significant difference before and after the intervention. As for the characteristics of beta waves, this result can be seen as being highly activated during exercise or other activities. Conclusion Ping-pong exercise in a sitting position is a good intervention method for stroke patients, and it can help to use it as basic data in clinical practice by showing brain activity.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of the preventive abduction brace in dementia patients after bipolar hemiarthroplasty of the hip. Materials and Method: A review of 30 patients who had dementia prior to bipolar hemiarthroplasty of the hip. 20 females and 10 males were evaluated and their mean age was 80.4 years old (range, 68 to -92 years old). The average MMSE-K in dementia patients was 14.2 (range, 8 to 20). The reasons for the bipolar hemiarthroplasties were femoral neck fractures in all the cases. We analyzed the dislocation rates of those who had preventive abduction braces applied prospectively. Results: The average follow-up period after hemiarthroplasty was 2.2 years. All 30 patients had preventive abduction braces and no dislocations occurred after the bipolar hemiarthroplasties. Conclusion: Hip dislocations were not detected in those patients who preventive abduction braces applied. The present findings suggest that having a preventive abduction brace will definitely reduce the dislocation rate in dementia patients who have difficulties with rehabilitation after their operations.
Braces* ; Dementia* ; Dislocations ; Female ; Femoral Neck Fractures ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemiarthroplasty* ; Hip Dislocation ; Hip* ; Humans ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Rehabilitation

PURPOSE: Bone is the most common site of metastasis from breast cancer. An abnormal bone scan finding, however, is not specific in differentiation of bone metastasis from traumatic or inflammatory bone diseases. The purpose of this study was to identify clinical findings that could help evaluate the etiology of solitary costal hot spots on a bone scan. METHODS: The study included 32 patients (all women, mean age 51+/-1 years) showing solitary costal hot spots on postoperative bone scans performed between January 1998 and December 2002. In order to classify the etiology of solitary costal hot spots as non-malignant or malignant, all available clinical, scintigraphic, laboratory and other radiographic examinations were taken into consideration. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 42.5 months. Among 32 hot spots, 7 (21.8%) were metastatic, and the remaining 25 (78.2%) non-malignant. The mean period of first detection after operation was 17.0+/-16.3 months in the metastatic and 26.0+/-21.3 months in the non-malignant groups. The metastatic group was significantly associated with advanced breast cancer. In the localization of rib lesion, 20 (62.5%) of the solitary costal hot spots were in the anterior arc, 5 (15.6%) in the lateral arc and 7 (21.9%) in the posterior arc. In the group with a location at the anterior arc, 16 (80%) were non-malignant, whereas 4 (20%) were malignant. In those localized at the anterior arc, 12 (60%) were on ipsilateral and 8 (28%) were on contralateral. The difference between the hot spots in the ipsilateral and contralateral locations was not significant. The carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and CA15-3 were elevated: in 5 (51%) and 3 (43%) patients with metastatic spots, and in 4 (16%) and 1 (4%) patient with non-malignant lesions, which were significantly different. CONCLUSION: It was found that an advanced state of primary breast cancer and the increase of tumor markers (CEA and CA15-3) were the significant factors for the direction of the nature of solitary costal hot spots on postoperative bone scans in patients with breast cancer.
Bone Diseases ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Ribs ; Biomarkers, Tumor

Pleomorphic dermal sarcoma (PDS) is a rare mesenchymal neoplasm sharing histopathological features with atypical fibroxanthoma (AFX), but has additional features of deep invasion of the superficial subcutis, tumor necrosis and vascular/perineural invasion. It is not well documented in the literature because of its rarity, and its clinical course has been debated due to the lack of homogenous criteria. We describe here the case of a 91-year-old female with a 6-month history of a solitary, asymptomatic, well-defined, 3.4-cm-sized, reddish, hard, protruding mass on the lateral aspect of the right upper eyelid. On the basis of initial punch biopsy results, storiform cellular infiltrate of pleomorphic spindle and polygonal cells with frequent atypical mitoses, the lesion was identified as AFX. Following the initial biopsy, micrographic surgery was performed and a tumor-free margin was confirmed. Considering the conservation of the periocular function and the advanced age of the patient, we planned secondary intention healing rather than primary suturing. After surgery, skeletal muscle infiltration was found and the diagnosis was revised to PDS by a pathologist based on the currently accepted criteria for PDS. There has been no evidence of recurrence or periocular functional defects during a 2-year follow-up without adjuvant therapy. Although the PDS is highly malignant, complete excision under micrographic surgery can prevent recurrence without adjuvant therapy. Also, the secondary intention healing is an effective method for closure of large defects on the face.
Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Eyelids* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Histiocytic Sarcoma ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous ; Humans ; Intention* ; Methods ; Mitosis ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Necrosis ; Recurrence ; Sarcoma*

Pleomorphic dermal sarcoma (PDS) is a rare mesenchymal neoplasm sharing histopathological features with atypical fibroxanthoma (AFX), but has additional features of deep invasion of the superficial subcutis, tumor necrosis and vascular/perineural invasion. It is not well documented in the literature because of its rarity, and its clinical course has been debated due to the lack of homogenous criteria. We describe here the case of a 91-year-old female with a 6-month history of a solitary, asymptomatic, well-defined, 3.4-cm-sized, reddish, hard, protruding mass on the lateral aspect of the right upper eyelid. On the basis of initial punch biopsy results, storiform cellular infiltrate of pleomorphic spindle and polygonal cells with frequent atypical mitoses, the lesion was identified as AFX. Following the initial biopsy, micrographic surgery was performed and a tumor-free margin was confirmed. Considering the conservation of the periocular function and the advanced age of the patient, we planned secondary intention healing rather than primary suturing. After surgery, skeletal muscle infiltration was found and the diagnosis was revised to PDS by a pathologist based on the currently accepted criteria for PDS. There has been no evidence of recurrence or periocular functional defects during a 2-year follow-up without adjuvant therapy. Although the PDS is highly malignant, complete excision under micrographic surgery can prevent recurrence without adjuvant therapy. Also, the secondary intention healing is an effective method for closure of large defects on the face.
Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Eyelids* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Histiocytic Sarcoma ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous ; Humans ; Intention* ; Methods ; Mitosis ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Necrosis ; Recurrence ; Sarcoma*

Antiphospholipid antibodies may be produced in cases involving autoimmune diseases and can sometimes be caused by infections, such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. However, antiphospholipid antibodies causing thrombosis associated with M. pneumoniae pneumonia in children have rarely been reported. We report a case of an 8-year-old boy with M. pneumoniae pneumonia with antiphospholipid antibodies, complicated by brachial artery thrombosis. He was found to have antiphospholipid antibodies and low protein S levels. The brachial artery thrombus was removed via thrombectomy. The titers of antiphospholipid antibodies turned normal within 5 months. This is a rare case of M. pneumoniae infection with brachial artery thrombosis associated with transient antiphospholipid antibodies.
Antibodies, Antiphospholipid ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Brachial Artery ; Child ; Humans ; Male ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae ; Mycoplasma ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma ; Protein S ; Thrombectomy ; Thrombosis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the differences of mid-trimester triple marker levels in patients with mild versus severe and early versus late onset preeclampsia. METHODS: From January 2000 to December 2004, a retrospective study of 65 women with preeclampsia for whom mid-trimester triple test data were available was made. None of these patients had diabetes, other medical disorders, multiple pregnancy, abnormal karyotype and malformations. Preeclampsia patients were grouped to "early onset" [<32 weeks of gestation (wks), n=17] and "late onset" (n=48), and also "mild" (who had delivered with no symptoms and lab findings of severe preeclampsia at term spontaneous labor or elective cesarean delivery, n=31) and "severe" (n=34). The levels of mid-trimester maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and unconjugate estriol (MSuE3) in patients with early and late onset, mild and severe were compared. RESULTS: The each groups of comparison did not differ significantly with regard to age, weight, parity. The mean MSuE3 [0.92+/-0.09 (MoM+/-SE)] in patients with early onset was significantly lower than in patients with late onset preeclampsia (1.24 MoM, SE 0.07). In the comparison according to severity, the mean MSuE3 was significantly lower (0.98 MoM, SE 0.06 vs 1.28 MoM, SE 0.10, p=0.016) and the mean hCG was significantly higher (1.46 MoM, SE 0.12 vs 1.12 MoM, SE 0.07, p=0.015) in patients with severe preeclampsia than in those had mild preeclampsia symptoms at term delivery. CONCLUSION: Lower levels of mid-trimester MSuE3 and higher levels of hCG were associated with the severe preeclampsia rather than mild. Especially, lower levels of mid-trimester MSuE3 was also associated with early onset preeclampsia.
Abnormal Karyotype ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; Estriol ; Female ; Humans ; Parity ; Pre-Eclampsia* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Multiple ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the differences of mid-trimester triple marker levels in patients with mild versus severe and early versus late onset preeclampsia. METHODS: From January 2000 to December 2004, a retrospective study of 65 women with preeclampsia for whom mid-trimester triple test data were available was made. None of these patients had diabetes, other medical disorders, multiple pregnancy, abnormal karyotype and malformations. Preeclampsia patients were grouped to "early onset" [<32 weeks of gestation (wks), n=17] and "late onset" (n=48), and also "mild" (who had delivered with no symptoms and lab findings of severe preeclampsia at term spontaneous labor or elective cesarean delivery, n=31) and "severe" (n=34). The levels of mid-trimester maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and unconjugate estriol (MSuE3) in patients with early and late onset, mild and severe were compared. RESULTS: The each groups of comparison did not differ significantly with regard to age, weight, parity. The mean MSuE3 [0.92+/-0.09 (MoM+/-SE)] in patients with early onset was significantly lower than in patients with late onset preeclampsia (1.24 MoM, SE 0.07). In the comparison according to severity, the mean MSuE3 was significantly lower (0.98 MoM, SE 0.06 vs 1.28 MoM, SE 0.10, p=0.016) and the mean hCG was significantly higher (1.46 MoM, SE 0.12 vs 1.12 MoM, SE 0.07, p=0.015) in patients with severe preeclampsia than in those had mild preeclampsia symptoms at term delivery. CONCLUSION: Lower levels of mid-trimester MSuE3 and higher levels of hCG were associated with the severe preeclampsia rather than mild. Especially, lower levels of mid-trimester MSuE3 was also associated with early onset preeclampsia.
Abnormal Karyotype ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; Estriol ; Female ; Humans ; Parity ; Pre-Eclampsia* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Multiple ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVES: The Korean College of Neuropsychopharmacology and the Korean Academy of Schizophrenia developed the Korean medication algorithm project for schizophrenia (KMAP) to aid clinical decisions. The purpose of this study was to investigate problems and revision of Korean Medication Algorithm for Schizophrenia after feasibility test. METHODS: A total of 108 schizophrenia patients were enrolled at 19 centers and treated according to the algorithm. Prescribing investigators were able to change the recommended treatment strategies of the algorithm if necessary. All subjects were assessed over a 4-month period. Appropriateness of choice, dosage, duration and switch of antipsychotics and definition of treatment response were examined. RESULTS: Compliance of 1(st) choice antipsychotics in KMAP was favorable. Atypical antipsychotics which is a 1(st) stage drug selected first was above 84%, especially in case of no previous medical history was nearly all. In case that shift of stage was needed, there is a trend that combination treatment stage (6(th) stage) and clozapine treatment stage (5(th) stage) were preferred to rather than 3(rd) stage and 4(th) stage (typical antipsychotics and atypical antipsychotics treatment stage). The rates of switching antipsychotics at the time points other than CDP (critical decision points) was low and the reason was almost the side effects. So the compliance of CDPs in KMAP was good in case of insufficiency of treatment response. Also the reasons why many investigators continued using current antipsychotics without switching despite insufficiency of treatment response were definition of treatment response, discrepancy between brief symptom rating scale for negative symptom and decision of clinicians. In addition, compliance of co-existence symptoms and side effect of medication in KMAP was favorable. CONCLUSION: It is some difference from clinical practice such as stage of antipsychotics, definition of treatment response and usefulness of brief symptom rating scale for negative symptom. But the majority apart from points of preceding paragraph is feasible in clinical practice. These results are essential to revise the next version of KMAP.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Clozapine ; Compliance ; Cytidine Diphosphate ; Humans ; Research Personnel ; Schizophrenia

BACKGROUND: Solid and papillary neoplasms of the pancreas are very rare tumors that occur predominantly in young women. Most of them are diagnosed because of their large sizes and because they are present with an asymptomatic abdominal mass. Most reports indicate that these large palpable, abdominal masses occur in females in their second and third decades of life. Only a few cases of solid and papillary epithelial neoplasms of the pancreas have been reported. METHOD: Here in, eight cases were reviewed which were treated at the Department of Surgery, Catholic University Medical College affiliated hospital from 1988 to 1996. RESULT: The diagnosis is often implied by radiologic examination with ultrasonography, UGI, ERCP, and computed tomography. Most cases showed well-encapsulated, round, or lobulated masses consisting of both cystic and solid areas. The hallmark histologic pattern of this tumor is a solid and papillary epithelial pattern in a pancreatic neoplasm. There is no specific marker for this neoplasm which could elucidate the obscure histogenetic origin and the phenotypic differentiation. Concluion: Therefore, surgical excision is the primary form of treatment and has favorable results.
Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial* ; Pancreas* ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Ultrasonography