Ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) has been recognised as a definite clinical entity as an ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. It has been known that the incidence of OLF is high in Japan and OLF usually occurs in the thoracic and lumbar region. Recently OLF has received considerable attention as a cause of myelopathy. OLF is quite distinct from “hypertrophy” of the ligamentum flvum. We experienced 2 cases of OLF with neurological symptom, which were treated by decompressive laminectomy and removal of the ossified ligamentum flavum. So remarkable symptomatic improvement was obtained.
Incidence ; Japan ; Laminectomy ; Ligamentum Flavum ; Longitudinal Ligaments ; Lumbosacral Region ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; Spine

To evaluate the degree of competitive exclusion against Salmonella gallinarum(S. gallinarum) of Salmonella enteritidis(S. enteritidis) infected chickens, fifty-six, 4-week old Hyline layer suspected of S. enteritidis infection were challenged with S. gallinarum. All chickens were tested for S. enteritidis isolation using cloacal swabs and serum plate agglutination test using S. enteritidis Ag. before challenge and classified into four groups(SE isolated, SE nonisolated, SE seropositive and SE seronegative). None of the SE isolated and the SE seropositive groups died after challenge and the average weight gains were 245.5g and 254.6g, respectively. But in the SE nonisolated and the SE seronegative groups, mortality was 18.2% and 20.6% and the average weight gains were 150.1g and 111.2g. The incidence of reisolation of S. gallinarum of the SE isolated and the SE seropositive groups were 41.7% and 47.6% from liver, 33.3% and 47.6% from spleen and 8.3% and 14.3% from cecum, respectively, and the SE nonisolated and the SE seronegative group were 63.6% and 64.7% from liver, 84.1% and 88.2% from spleen and 47.7% and 52.9% from cecum. The serological response of the SE isolated and the SE seropositive groups hardly changed from 75.0 and 81.8% before challenge to 75.0 and 85.7% after. But, the other two groups were found to be significantly higher after challenge and increased from 0 and 18.2% to 100%. Consequently, S. enteritidis preinfected chickens were found to be significant different in terms of mortality, weight gain, reisolation of S. gallinarum and serological response compared to noninfected chickens. Moreover, our study shows that S. enteritidis infected chickens appear strong competitive exclusion against the colonization of S. gallinarum.
Animals ; Chickens ; Disease Outbreaks/veterinary ; Korea/epidemiology ; Oviposition ; Poultry Diseases/*microbiology ; Salmonella/*classification/*isolation & purification ; Salmonella Infections, Animal/*microbiology ; Salmonella enteritidis/*classification/*isolation & purification ; Serotyping ; Weight Gain

The muscle glycogen is an important energy source for muscle contraction especially in prolonged exercise. One of the important factors for improvement of physical performance in athletes is the storage of extra-amount of glycogen (supercompensation) in liver and muscles. During 120 minutes treadmill exercise (intensity of exercise was approximatly 80% VO2max), the glycogen concentration was significantly decreased to 36% in liver and 46% in muscles after 60 minutes exercise. At 90 and 120 minutes of exercise, the level of glycogen concentration of liver and muscles statistically were not different from the levels of the 60 minutes exercise. The repletions of glycogen in the liver and muscles in overnight fasted control(C) and 120 minutes treadmill exercise(E) groups during l80minutes after glucose ingestion were investigatect. ln the liver, the concentration of glycogen in C and E groups were markdly increased till 120 minutes after zlucose ingestion, hut the levels of concentration at 180 minutes were decreased comparing to the levels of 120 minutes in both groups. In the muscles, the repletion of glycogen at 60, 120 and 180 minutes of C and E groups were significantly increased comparing to 0 minute of respective groups in the soleus and plantaris muscles. In soleus(SOL), the repletion of glycogen in all of the E groups was significantly higher than that of the respective C groups. However, the repletion of glycogen in all of the E groups of plantaris was revealed higher tendency comparing to respective C groups. Mean repletion rates of glycogen in liver and muscles after glucose ingestion were highest during the first 60 minutes in all groups and the rates of E groups were 2-3 times than those of respective C groups. These results suggest that the glycogen supercompensation in the muscle be provided with decrement of glycogen concentration by exercise, increment of glucose uptake by muscuiar contraction itself and increased insuJin level, and the activation of glycogen synthetase by insulin.
Animals ; Athletes ; Eating* ; Glucose* ; Glycogen Synthase ; Glycogen* ; Humans ; Insulin ; Liver* ; Muscle Contraction ; Muscles ; Rats*

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) affects 10-15% of women worldwide, and screening is recommended by clinical guidelines. In Malaysia, nurses in maternal and child health (MCH) clinics provide postpartum care. Aim: To determine nurses’ level of knowledge, beliefs and practices regarding PPD and factors associated with screening practices. Methods: A cross-sectional study using universal sampling was conducted on nurses from seven government MCH clinics in Malaysia. Data was collected from March until April 2016 through a self-reported questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors associated with having ever performed PPD screening. Results: Of the 108 nurses, 55.6% scored above the median total knowledge score (17 out of 24 points). Despite a high proportion of nurses believing that they were responsible for PPD screening (72.2%), counselling depressed mothers (72.2%) and referring mothers for further treatment (87.0%), only 64.8% and 51.9% were confident in recognizing PPD and counselling depressed mothers, respectively. Only 25.9% had ever practiced PPD screening, which was associated with beliefs concerning screening taking too much time (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=0.13, 95% confidence interval [CI]= 0.02–0.74, P=0.022) and that screening is their responsibility (AOR=14.12, 95%CI=1.65-120.75, P=0.016). Conclusion: More than half of the nurses scored above the median total knowledge score and had positive beliefs towards PPD screening. However, PPD screening practices were poor, and this outcome was associated with their beliefs regarding time and responsibility.

To investigate the factors which affecting the cognitive impairment of the 60 or more age group, the authors surveyed for the subjects in some area of Kyungnam Province. 201 studied subjects were tested for cognitive function with mini-mental state examination(MMSE). Information on demographic characteristics and life style has been collected through direct interview. The concentration of Al and Ca of subject's drinking water, which might be related with cognition, was measured by Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma Spectrometer. The main results were summarized as follows. 1. The prevalence rate of cognitive impairment was 18.4% in male and 45.2% in female and this sexual difference was statistically significant(p=0.03). And the uneducated or illiterated showed significantly high prevalence rate of cognitive impairment(p=0.02). 2. In stratified analysis by sex and education year, we can not see significant trend indicating the neurotoxic effects of aluminum and protective effects of calcium to the cognitive function(p>0.05). 3. The correlation between the concentration of aluminum in drinking water and the MMSE score in whole subjects showed weak negative relationship(r=-0.066). But there was no statistical significance(p=0.434).
Aged* ; Aluminum ; Argon ; Calcium ; Cognition ; Drinking Water ; Education ; Female ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Humans ; Life Style ; Male ; Plasma ; Prevalence

OBJECTIVE: We analyzed 200 cases of prenatal amniocentesis and compared them with other reported studies. Thus we propose the necessity of metanalysis for prenatal amniocentesis. METHOD: We analyzed 200 cases that have undergone amniocentesis at Masan Samsung hospital from January 1996 to December 1997. The results of our study was compared with other reported studies of amniocentesis by indication and maternal age. The proportion of age-class and indication are compared between previous study subjects and our 200 cases. RESULTS: Triple marker abnormality was the most common indication of amniocentesis(51%) and the most common age distribution was 25-29 years (43.5%). Chromosomal aberration was diagnosed in 20 cases (10%) of which the numerical aberration was 9 cases (4.5%) and the structural aberration was 11 cases (5.5%). 5 cases (2.5%) out of ll cases of the structural aberration were normal variant. There were 7 cases (trisomy 21) of autosomal aberration and 2 cases (Turner syndrome) of sex chromosome aberration. Arnong the structural aberration, there was only one reported case of 46, t(7:10) reciprocal translocation. There were no cases of fetal death except for a little self limited preterm labor. There were no neonatal complications. In the comparison of indication and maternal age with other studies, abnormal triple test was the most common indication of amniocentesis. The number of young pregnant women under 35 years old who underwent genetic amniocentesis was increased year by year. CONCLUSION: Triple maker screening test and genetic amniocentesis become popular method of antenatal diagnosis in Korea. Now, it is the proper time to establish standard indication of prenatal amniocentesis in this country by systemic and objective statistic examination. So we address the need for metanalysis in our country as comparing with other studies.
Adult ; Age Distribution ; Amniocentesis* ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Female ; Fetal Death ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Maternal Age ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second* ; Pregnant Women ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Sex Chromosome Aberrations

BACKGROUND: Total knee replacement is often accompanied by severe post-operative pain. Oxycodone has sufficient analgesic effects and somewhat greater, but tolerable side effects compared to fentanyl. However, most studies on the topic evaluate visceral pain relief. In this study, we determine the effectiveness of oxycodone for somatic pain and evaluate the incidence of side effects. METHODS: Sixty-nine patients were involved in a randomized control trial. Analgesic agents were administered to two experimental groups at a post anesthetic care unit (PACU) 15 min after PACU admission: a 50 µg fentanyl group (n = 40) and a 4 mg oxycodone group (n = 29), both with severe pain (numeric rating scale, NRS > 5). Changes in NRS at the PACU were measured. Additional analgesic agents were administered at 0–6, 6–12, 12–24, and 24–48 h after surgery. RESULTS: Total fentanyl consumption and the number of patients who required additional opioids were significantly lower in the oxycodone group than in the fentanyl group. Incidence of side effects was not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Oxycodone shows a better analgesic effect than fentanyl in somatic pain in the acute phase of post-operative pain. The side effects of oxycodone are not significantly different from those of fentanyl.
Analgesics ; Analgesics, Opioid ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee* ; Fentanyl* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Nociceptive Pain ; Oxycodone* ; Visceral Pain

Intrathecal morphine can provide goad analgesia for the first stage of labor. However, a long latency, high incidence of side effects, and lack of perineal anesthesia limit its usefulness. We wished to make a short the latency and reduce the dose of morphine, administered morphine 0.2 mg, 0.3 mg, combined with fentanyl 25 micrograms intrathecally. Forty-five laboring patients were studied and randomly divided into two groups' group I (n=24) received intrathecal morphine 0.2 mg with fentanyl 25 ug; group II (n=21) received intrathecal morphine 0.3 mg with fentanyl 25 ug; We compared the analgesia and side effects of group I to those of group II. Analgesia was assessed using the 100 mm visual linear analog(VLA) as the time elapsed from the drug administration to the delivery. The onset of analgesia was rapid(within 5 minutes) in both groups and VLA scores did not differ at any observation point between the groups. The effect of analgesia was lasted until the perineum was distended by the fetus. The incidence of nausea or vomiting was 41.7%(10/24) in group I, and 33.3%(7/21) in group II. Pruritus occured 87.5%(21/24)) in group I and 90.5%(19/21) in group II. The majority of pruritus occured soon after administration of study drug. There were more instances of urinary retention in group II (61.9%) than in group I(37.5%). No patient developed postdural puncture headache, vital sign alteration or respiratory depression. Most of all the patients in this study said that they were satisfied with this analgesic technique and would like to receive intrathecal narcotic analgesia for future labor. With the above results we conclude that intrathecal morphine 0.2 mg with fentanyl 25 ug for labor pain provides rapid and effective analgesia as 0.3 mg intrathecal morphine with fentanyl 25 ug.
Analgesia ; Anesthesia ; Female ; Fentanyl* ; Fetus ; Humans ; Incidence ; Injections, Spinal* ; Labor Pain ; Morphine* ; Nausea ; Perineum ; Post-Dural Puncture Headache ; Pregnancy ; Pruritus ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Urinary Retention ; Vital Signs ; Vomiting

A case of neurogenic pulmonary edema (NPE) occured during operation of brain tumor in the sit- ting position is reported. NPE is a common complication of brain insults. It is characterized clinically by an acute fulminant course, marked pulmonary vascular congestion, protein rich edema fluid, and intra alveolar hemorrhage. The mechanisms involved in the development of NPE are briefly discussed.
Brain Neoplasms* ; Brain* ; Edema ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Hemorrhage ; Neurosurgery ; Pulmonary Edema* ; Tolnaftate

Objective To investigate the expression of regulators of G protein signaling(RGS), including RGS2, RGS3 and RGS4 in OLETF rats, as well as the effects of metformin on these expressions. Methods LETO rats were used as control group. Eight-week-old male OLETF rats were assigned to two guoups randomly:model and trial(metfomin dose during 8~(th) to 22~(nd) weeks:300mg kg~(-1)·d~(-1);during 23rd to 28th weeks:400 mg·kg~(-1) ·d~(-1))groups. Expressions of RGS mRNA in aorta and heart werequantified by real-time PCR. Results RGS2, RGS3 and RGS4 mRNA of the thoracic aorta and left ventricle were significantly higher in model group than in control group (P<0.01). Compared with model group, metformin significantly reduced their mRNA in trial group (P<0.01). Conclusions Upregulation of RGS2, RGS3 and RGS4 mRNA expression in the thoracic aorta and left ventricle of OLETF rats is in correlation with cardiovascular lesions; while downregulation of their expression is in correlation with the action of metformin.