BACKGROUND: Cardiopulmonary exercise test is a useful test for the evaluation of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Obese subjects have an increased resting metabolic rate (VO2) compared to non-obese subjects and the increase is more marked during dynamic exercise, which results in the limitation of maximal exercise in obese subjects. In this study, the influence of the obesity and fat distribution on the maximal exercise capacity were evaluated. METHODS: Maximal exercise capacity was represented by maximam maximum oxygen uptake and VO2 max in the cardiopulmonary test. Obesity, total fat content and abdominal obesity(waist to hip ratio, WHR) were measured by bioelectrical impedence method. Total of 42 volunteers(male 22, female 20) were evaluated. RESULTS: 1) Weight to height ratio(mean±SD) was 110%±14.9% in men and 100±11.1% in women. 2) Fat ratio(mean±SD) was 23.3±5.2% in men and 27.55±3.9% in woman. 3) Waist to hip ratio(mean±SD) was 0.85±0.04 in men and 0.8±0.03 in woman. 4) In men, VO2max/min/Kg was negatively correlate with obesity, fat ratio, and abdominal fat distribution. 5) In woman, VO2max/Kg was negatively correlated with obesity and fat ratio, but did not show significant relationship with abdominal fat distribution. CONCLUSION: Obesity was a limiting factor for maximal exercise in both men and women. Abdominal obesity was a limiting factor for maximal exercise in men but its implication to women needs further evaluation.
Abdominal Fat ; Exercise Test* ; Female ; Hip ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Oxygen ; Respiratory System

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to determine the correlation between the amount of pain reduction after local anesthetic injection into the subacromial space preoperatively and clinical outcome after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. METHODS: A total of 127 patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and followed up at least 1 year were analyzed retrospectively. Preoperatively, a visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain was measured in all patients before and after the ultrasound guided impingement test. The participants were divied into four groups according to pain reduntion ater impingement test (Group A: >75%, Group B: 50%–75%, Group C: 25%–50%, Group D: <25%). VAS for pain, shoulder range of motion, shoulder isometric strength, ASES score were evaluated preoperatively and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months postoperatively. RESULTS: After surgery, the amount of pain reduction shows significantly at 3, 6 months in Groups A, B as compared to Groups C, D (p<0.05). Among the range of motion of shoulder joint, forward flexion was significantly improved in Group A at 3 months (p<0.05). The ASES score significantly improved at 3, 6 months in Groups A, B as compared to Group C, D (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative degree of pain reduction after impingement test correlates with the improvement of pain after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, especially in the early phase. Therefore, the impingement test could be effectively used.
Humans ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Retrospective Studies ; Rotator Cuff* ; Shoulder ; Shoulder Joint ; Shoulder Pain ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.

The purpose of this study was to examine the frequency of eutaneous disorders in patients with chronie renal failure presently on hemodialysis(HD). The results were as follows. 1. Cutaneous lesions were present in all 78(100% ) patients with chronic renal failure. 2. The frequency of msjor cutaneous problems associated with chronic renal failure was as follows: xerosis(82.1%), pruritus(74.4%), nail changes(74.4%), hyperpigmentation(70.5 % ), xerostomia(42.3'Yo), poor wound healing(37.2%), easy bruisability(30,8%), hypotrichosis(21.896), and purpura(14.1 % ). 3. Cutaneous problems which appeared after the initiation of HD were. appearance of new pigmented nevi or lentigines(9 patients), appearance or aggravation of acne(6), contact dermatitis at AV fistula site(2), gynecomastia(1), extensive flat warts(1), extensive tinea versicolor(1), and extensive vitiligo(1). 4. Among 55 patients with hyperpigmentation, 11 patients reported decreased pigmentation following HD. In 15 patients, hyperpigmentation worsened following HD, and in 9 patients hyperpigmentation first appeared after HD was initiated. 5. Cutaneous disorders favorably affected by HD were as follows: easy bruisability(3/ 24), xerostomia(3/33), gingival friability(2/7), and hypotrichosis(5/17). 6. Poor wound healing and xerosis were not improved by HD. 7. Among 58 pruritic patients, 7 patients were improved after HD, 7 patients became worse during each HD, and 3 patients were not pruritic only for 2 to 3 days after each HD. Four patients experinced pruritus only during each HD. 8. There was no significant statistical difference between the frequency of pruritus and xerosis and the levels of blood urea nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus, and parathyroid hormone.
Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Calcium ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Fistula ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Nevus, Pigmented ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Phosphorus ; Pigmentation ; Pruritus ; Renal Dialysis* ; Renal Insufficiency ; Tinea ; Wound Healing ; Wounds and Injuries

Background & Objective: The MAPT H1 haplotype and SNCA single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs356219 have been reported to have a synergistic effect on the risk of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Because the H1/H1 genotype has been reported to predominate in Korean population, we investigated the polymorphism of rs356219 in 878 PD patients and 559 controls. Methods: The SNCA SNP rs356219 was analyzed in 878 PD patients and in 559 healthy Korean subjects. Results: The G allele of SNCA SNP rs356219 was found to contribute to PD susceptibility with odds ratios (ORs) similar to those reported previously. However, the ORs were not as large as that of the SNCA rs356219 plus MAPT H1/H1 combination reported in the literature, which cast doubt on the existence of a synergistic effect between the two genotypes in our population. Conclusions: This study supports that the G allele of the SNCA SNP rs356219 contributes to PD susceptibility as reported previously, but it does not support the presence of a synergistic interaction between SNCA and MAPT.

BACKGROUND: The clinical efficacy of oral isotretinoin in the treatment of severe acne is well established but there is no published data about the recurrence rate and the optimum dose for lowest recurrence in Korean patients. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the recurrence rate after one course of isotretinoin in oriental cases. METHODS: Sixty eight cases were available which fulfilled the inclusion criteria ; clearing af- l ter one course more than 10 weeks and at least two year follow-up thereafter. Isotretinoin was used with oral dosage 0.3-1 mg/kg/day (0.6±0.1) with duration from 10 to 46 weeks (19.7±6.2). RESULTS: Overall, 78% of patients had relapsed with most requiring topical antibiotic therapy only. In patients receiving more than 120 mg/kg, the percentage without recurrence was 75 % which was significantly higher (p<0.001) in comparison with only 15 % among patients receiving less than 120 mg/kg. Doses between 100 and 120 mg/kg were not as effective as those ones with more than 120 mg/kg for preventing recurrence. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that moderate doses of isotretinoin are well tolerated and pro-duce excellent clearing. However, in order to minimize recurrence rate, the optimum dose may be at least over 120 mg/kg of the cumulative dose which means more than 6 months of treatment in most of the Korean patients with acne.
Acne Vulgaris* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Isotretinoin* ; Recurrence*

A 57-year-old Korean man with malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) on the leg is presented. Histopathologic examination was consistent with a pleomorphic -storiform subtype of MFH with highly pleomorphic cellular features and frequent mitosis. According to recent evidences, MFH might be a heterogenous group of poorly differentiated tumors rather than a distinct entity. Our case was only positive to CD68 and vimentin immunohistochemically.
Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous* ; Humans ; Leg ; Middle Aged ; Mitosis ; Vimentin

Wiscott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is an X-linked recessive disorder affecting males and is characterized by recurrent systemic bacterial and viral infections, purpura due to thrombocytopenia, and an atopic dermatitis-like skin eruption. WAS usually manifests itself early during the first few weeks or months of life with bleeding. A case of WAS with the classical symptoms(eczema, thrombocytopenia and susceptibility to infections) is described in a 12-year-old Korean boy. He had a relatively good outcome.
Child ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Male ; Purpura ; Skin ; Thrombocytopenia

Acute aortic dissection is the most common catastrophic illness of the aorta. Left untreated, about 75% of patients with dissections involving the ascending aorta die within 2 weeks of an acute episode, but survival may be significantly improved by the timely institution of diagnostic modalities and appropriate medical and surgical therapy. But, approximately 10-20% of patients with acute aortic dissection present with a clinical picture of acute myocardial infarction. This sometimes can not only delay the diagnosis and adequate treatment of acute aortic dissection but also inappropriately treat with thrombolytic agents and anticoagulants which result in rapid deterioration of clinical condition of patient. We report a case of acute aortic dissection with dynamic ST changes in electrocardiogram which resulted in delay of accurate diagnosis and adequate treatment of acute aortic dissection.
Anticoagulants ; Aorta ; Catastrophic Illness ; Diagnosis ; Electrocardiography* ; Fibrinolytic Agents ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction

The symptoms and signs of acute pulmonary arteries thrombosis are nonspecific. So clinical suspicion is the most important in the diagnosis. Treatment of pulmonary thromboembolism include anticoagulant, thrombolytic agent, or surgical intervention. We experienced a case of recurrent pulmonary thromboembolism without coagulation defect and any risk factor except old age and obese. Initially we treated with heparin, but clinical symptoms were aggravated. After we changed to urokinase (total 330 million IU/2 days), the pulmonary arteries obstruction were resolved and clinical symptoms were improved without any complications. So we report this clinical experience with review of articles.
Diagnosis ; Heparin ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Embolism* ; Risk Factors ; Thrombosis ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator*