As a new concept of resistive exercise, isokinetic exercise was developed during the early 1950's. In isokinetic exercise, the subject works at a fixed speed against variable and totally accommodating resistance. The isokinetic equipment has been used widely as a therapeutic modality in clinical setting, as a training and testing device for sports practicians, and as a method for scientific examination of postoperative status of muscles and joint function for orthopedists. In order to acquire the isokinetic normative data of the knee for clinical use, we examined the flexor and extensor muscle force of the knee joint in 160 subjects with Cybex II. The results were as follows; 1. Mean values of extensor strength were 76.04 ft.-1bs in right knee 75.45 ft.-lbs in left knee, 78.42 ft.-1bs in dominent hand side leg 73.84 ft.-1bs in non-dominent hand side leg, and 82.52 ft.-1bs in dominent leg 71.93 ft.-lbs in non-dominent leg. 2. Sex difference of extensor strength were 95.13 ft.-lbs in male 55.98 ft.-1bs in female, and that of flexor strength were 54.90 ft.-1bs in male 33.68 ft.-1bs in female. 3. Mean of position angle of maximal torque were between 58° and 65° for extensors, 35° and 45° for flexors. 4. Mean of total range of motion at working isokinetically with 60°/sec speed was 99°. 5. Mean values of extensor power were 54.43 ft.-1bs in male 30.63 ft.-lbs in female, and that of flexor power were 35.99 ft.-1bs in male 22.42 ft.-1bs in female. 6. Strength and power decreased as ages getting old, and there was significant diminish between 4th decade and 5th decade. 7. Power endurance had more difference when it was compared with occupation. Mean value of power endurance was between 12 times and 18 times.
Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee Joint ; Knee ; Leg ; Male ; Methods ; Muscles ; Occupations ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Sex Characteristics ; Sports ; Torque

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Chronic idiopathic urticaria refers to recurrent hives of more than six weeks duration and in approximately 80% of cases, the etiology is unknown. Recently, involvement of an autoimmune mechanism in the pathogenesis of chronic idiopathic urticaria has been suggested. Thyroid autoimmunity has been reported in patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria and treatment with thyroxine in selected cases induced clinical remission. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 99 patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria to evaluate the clinical significance of anti-thyroid auto-antibodies including anti-thyroglobulin and antimicrosomal antibodies. Thirty-four normal volunteers were selected as controls. The prevalence of these two auto-antibodies as well as laboratory findings and clinical features between these two groups were compared. RESULTS: Thyroid auto-antibodies were positive in 24% of patients compared to 8.7% of control patients and the duration of the disease was significantly longer in the patients with thyroid auto-antibodies than in those without thyroid auto-antibodies, respectively (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in age, positive rate of ANA and total eosinophil count. Administration of thyroxine to five patients with refractory urticaria resulted in improvement in three patients. CONCLUSION: Thyroid autoimmunity is associated with chronic idiopathic urticaria in some patients. Administration of thyroxine resulted in improvement of symptoms in some of these patients. Therefore, we recommend routine testing of thyroid auto-antibodies in patients with retractable chronic idiopathic urticaria.
Antibodies ; Autoimmunity ; Eosinophils ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroxine ; Urticaria*

Diffuse pulmonary nodular lesions have many causes. When they are caused by infection, the likely organisms are M. tuberculosis and various fungi. Silicosis, eosinophilic granuloma and pulmonary metastasis should be considered for differential diagnosis. Differential diagnosis needs detailed clinical history, physical examination and various laboratory tests. A case of persistent diffuse pulmonary nodular lesions which had persisted 5 years is reported. The patient was a 25 years old man with minimal pulmonary symptoms. Detailed past history and physical examination suggested thyroid tumor. Chest radiography showed numerous evenly sized well-defined nodules scattered in entire lung fields. Previous chest X-rays showed similar nodular lesions, which had lasted for 5 years. The number of nodules was slightly increased. Neck CT showed heterogenous mass in left lobe of thyroid gland and multiple lymphadenopathies along both internal jugular chains. Total thyroidectomy was performed. A case of lung metastasis which progressed slowly in papillary thyroid cancer is reported.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Eosinophilic Granuloma ; Fungi ; Humans ; Lung ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Physical Examination ; Radiography ; Silicosis ; Thorax ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroidectomy ; Tuberculosis

PURPOSE: Nuclear Factor-kappaB p65 (NF-kappaB p65) and nuclear Factor-kappaB1 p50 (NF-kappaB p65) have been shown to play roles in cell proliferation, apoptosis, cytokine production and oncogenesis. This study was designed to investigate the expressions of NF-kappaB p65 and NF-kappaB p50 proteins in premalignant lesions and colorectal adenocarcinoma. METHODS: Paraffin sections of 20 normal mucosa specimens, 20 low grade tubular adenoma specimens, 20 high grade tubular adenoma specimens and 64 adenocarcinoma specimens were analyzed immunohistochemically for the expressions of NF-kappaB p65 and NF-kappaB p50 proteins. RESULTS: The expressions of NF-kappaB p65 and NF-kappaB p50 proteins were significantly higher in the adenocarcinoma tissue compared with that in the normal mucosa, the low grade tubular adenoma and the high grade tubular adenoma tissues. The frequency of a NF-kappaB p50 expression was higher in the poorly differentiated histologic grade specimens, in the presence of nodal metastasis and in the high stage specimens. There were significant correlations between the NF-kappaB p65 and NF-kappaB p50 proteins. CONCLUSION: The expressions of NF-kappaB p65 and NF-kappaB p50 proteins may play a role in the pathogenesis of colorectal carcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenoma ; Apoptosis ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Mucous Membrane ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; NF-kappa B ; Paraffin ; Proteins

Spinal epidural emphysema is rare, and only a few cases have ever been reported. A 18 year-old man was admitted for neck and chest pain for 3 days. Before admission he experienced rhinorrhea and severe cough. Physical examination revealed wheezing on whole lung field and subcutaneous emphysema over the upper portion of the chest and neck. Chest radiograph showed pneumomediastinum ajdn subcutaneous emphysema in the neck and chest CT images demonstrate a free air in the prevertebral fascia. With coservative management, the patient's condition and the pneumomediastinum improved. The patient was discharged to home on the fourteenth day.
Asthma* ; Chest Pain ; Cough ; Emphysema* ; Fascia ; Humans ; Lung ; Mediastinal Emphysema ; Neck ; Physical Examination ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Respiratory Sounds ; Subcutaneous Emphysema ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: There is a need for investigating the analgesic method as part of early recovery after surgery tailored for laparoscopic colorectal cancer (LCRC) surgery. In this randomized trial, we aimed to investigate the analgesic efficacy of an inverse ‘v’ shaped bilateral, subfascial ropivacaine continuous infusion in LCRC surgery. METHODS: Forty two patients undergoing elective LCRC surgery were randomly allocated to one of two groups to receive either 0.5% ropivacaine continuous infusion at the subfascial plane (n = 20, R group) or fentanyl intravenous patient controlled analgesia (IV PCA) (n = 22, F group) for postoperative 72 hours. The primary endpoint was the visual analogue scores (VAS) when coughing at postoperative 24 hours. Secondary end points were the VAS at 1, 6, 48, and 72 hours, time to first flatus, time to first rescue meperidine requirement, rescue meperidine consumption, length of hospital stay, postoperative nausea and vomiting, sedation, hypotension, dizziness, headache, and wound complications. RESULTS: The VAS at rest and when coughing were similar between the groups throughout the study. The time to first gas passage and time to first rescue meperidine at ward were significantly shorter in the R group compared to the F group (P = 0.010). Rescue meperidine was administered less in the R group; however, without statistical significance. Other study parameters were not different between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Ropivacaine continuous infusion with an inverse ‘v ’ shaped bilateral, subfascial catheter placement showed significantly enhanced bowel recovery and analgesic efficacy was not different from IV PCA in LCRC surgery.
Analgesia ; Analgesia, Patient-Controlled ; Anesthetics, Local ; Catheters ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Colorectal Surgery ; Cough ; Dizziness ; Fentanyl ; Flatulence ; Headache ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Meperidine ; Methods ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting ; Wounds and Injuries