BACKGROUND: The aortic knob width (AKW) and the heart rate variability (HRV) were suggested to be related to development of cardiovascular diseases. However, the relationship between them has not been investigated; thus, this study aimed to determine this relationship. METHODS: This study included 587 Koreans aged 18–79 years. Their physical measurements, medical and social histories, blood test findings, and chest radiographs were obtained. The HRV parameters included the standard deviation of the N-N interval (SDNN), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), approximate entropy (ApEn), total power (TP), very low frequency (VLF), low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), and LF/HF ratio, which were measured for 5 minutes. The AKW was measured on chest radiographs by a single reviewer. RESULTS: The AKW was significantly correlated with the HRV parameters, except for the LF/HF ratio. However, RMSSD and ApEn were not significantly related to the AKW in women. After dividing the participants into quartile groups, the AKW was significantly related to the SDNN, RMSSD, TP, VLF, LF, and HF. The HRV parameter values decreased in the higher AKW quartile groups, the HRV parameter values decreased. After adjusting for sex, drinking status, exercise habits, smoking status, waist circumference, and triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting blood sugar, and glycated hemoglobin levels, the AKW showed significant negative associations with the HRV parameters, except for the LF/HF ratio. CONCLUSION: The AKW is significantly associated with the HRV parameters of SDNN, RMSSD, ApEn, TP, VLF, LF, and HF.
Aorta, Thoracic ; Blood Glucose ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Drinking ; Entropy ; Fasting ; Female ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Hematologic Tests ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Triglycerides ; Waist Circumference

BACKGROUND: Both aortic knob width and metabolic syndrome are suggested to be related to atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. However, the association between aortic knob width and metabolic syndrome is unknown. This study aimed to explore this relationship. METHODS: Participants were 3,705 Korean adults aged 18–79 years who visited the health promotion center of a general hospital. Data on chest radiography, physical measurements, medical and social history, and blood tests were collected. We defined metabolic syndrome according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. A single reviewer measured aortic knob width on chest radiography. RESULTS: Aortic knob width was significantly correlated with age; body mass index; waist circumference; systolic and diastolic blood pressures; total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting glucose, glycated hemoglobin, insulin, and uric acid levels; and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance values. Aortic knob width significantly increased as the number of metabolic syndrome components increased. Moreover, metabolic syndrome component values tended to increase across the quartile groups of aortic knob width after adjusting for age, exercise, smoking status, and alcohol use. Through receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, we determined the clinically useful cutoff value for aortic knob width to be 30.47 mm in premenopausal women. CONCLUSION: Aortic knob width was found to be significantly related to metabolic syndrome and its individual components.
Adult ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Atherosclerosis ; Body Mass Index ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Education ; Fasting ; Female ; Glucose ; Health Promotion ; Hematologic Tests ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Lipoproteins ; Radiography ; ROC Curve ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Thorax ; Triglycerides ; Uric Acid ; Waist Circumference

PURPOSE: To evaluate the availability of cable fixation of the lesser trochanter in the treatment of unstable intertrochanter fractures using a sliding compressive hip screw (CHS) on the clinical and radiological results related to osteoporosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-four cases of Kyle-Gustilo type III unstable intertrochanter fractures between January 1999 to January 2005 were classified into 2 groups: groups 1(30 cases CHS) and 2(24 cases additional cable). The sliding distance of the lag screw, bony union, weight bearing time, and the loss of fixations related to osteoporosis in the two groups were compared retrospectively after a follow up of at least 1 year. RESULTS: The average sliding distances of the lag screw in groups 1 and 2 was 15.27 and 12.13 mm (p=0.0453), respectively. The time to bony union in groups 1 and 2 was 14.63 and 13.71 weeks (p=0.4623), respectively. The average weight bearing time in groups 1 and 2 was 3.03 and 2.83 weeks (p=0.1697), respectively. Early weight bearing was allowed in patients in group 2 with a Singh index greater than grade IV (p=0.0291), and a loss of fixation was encountered 5 cases in each group (p=0.9688), which increased significantly with increasing severity of osteoporosis (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Additional cable fixation of the lesser trochanter for mild osteoporotic patients in unstable intertrochanter fractures is recommended for preventing the excessive sliding of lag screws and for allowing early ambulation. However, this procedure is not effective in patients with severe osteoporotic.
Early Ambulation ; Femur* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip ; Humans ; Osteoporosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Weight-Bearing

The efficacy nd tolerance of topical administration of levocabastine(0.5mg/ml)were evaluated in patients with allergic conjunctivitis. A total of 166 patients who had a typical history of atopy and a positive skin test were recruited in this study. Five clinicl symptoms(itch, tearing, chemosis, lid edema and conjunctival injection) were assessed according to a four point scale before the treatment and at 1 and 2 weeks post-therapy. Total symptom severity score before the therapy, 6.68, was remarkably decreased to 2.86 at 1 week and 2.08 at 2 weeks after the treatment. The investigators rated the treatment as globally good or excellent in 68.1% of patients checked at 1 week and 72.5% at 2 weejs after treatment. And the patients evaluated that the therapy ws good to excellent in 66.9% at 1 week and 73.1% at 2 weeks after treatment. Levocabastine eye drops has a fast onet of action with 55.4% of the patients feeling symptom relief within 15 minutes after the first administration. The adverse effect was experienced in 44 patients. Ocular irritation sign, such as foreign body sensation or soreness, was the most frequently reported complaint. These results suggest that levocabastine eye drops is an effective and safe topical alternative for treatment of allergic conjunctivitis.
Administration, Topical ; Conjunctivitis, Allergic* ; Edema ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Ophthalmic Solutions* ; Research Personnel ; Sensation ; Skin Tests