No abstract available.
Peripheral Nervous System Diseases* ; Scleroderma, Systemic*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes of intraarticular temperature in the knee according to the application methods of cold jet-stream and to find the more effective method which reduces the intraarticular temperature. METHOD: Fifteen healthy subjects were examined. We recorded both skin and intraarticular temperature of the knee for 120 minutes. We compared two different cooling methods using -30 degrees C cold jet-stream by CRAis(R) (Century, Korea). The first was the intermittent cold jet-stream application method (ICA) which applied cold jet-stream to the knee joint every other minute for 5 minutes and the second was the continuous cold jet-stream application method with infrared (CCAI) for 5 minutes. RESULTS: In ICA, the intraarticular temperature maximally dropped as 1.7+/-0.6 degrees C (p<0.01) and it took 28.7+/-18.9 minutes. Intraarticular temperature dropped 0.6+/-0.5 degrees C after 2 hour (p<0.05). In CCAI, the intraarticular temperature maximally dropped as 2.8+/-0.7 degrees C (p<0.01) and it took 38.0+/-24.6 minutes, intraarticular temperature after 2 hour dropped as 1.36+/-0.75 degrees C (p<0.05). According to the two methods, CCAI showed more reduction in the lowest and after 2 hour intraarticular temperature compared with ICA in the knee joint (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: CCAI is better for reducing the intraarticular temperature than ICA.
Knee Joint* ; Knee* ; Skin ; Skin Temperature

There has been a number of reports recently describing the pathogen potential of irregular asporogenous gram positive rods (IGPR), also referred as coryneforms or diphtheroids. This may be due to a greater number of opportunistic infections occurring in patients who are immunosuppressed or implanted with prostheses. The documentation of endocarditis caused by IGPR is difficult. Because all the result of culture is not always positive and these cultures need long-period incubation, and there are sometimes pseudo-positive cases due to the contamination in blood sampling. An early diagnosis and adequate treatment are important for the better result. We describe the case of bio prosthetic valve endocarditis in a 61-year-old woman who enduring chronic hemodialysis. This is the first case reported of bioprosthetic valve endocarditis by Corynebacterium in Korea.
Corynebacterium* ; Early Diagnosis ; Endocarditis* ; Female ; Gram-Positive Rods ; Humans ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Opportunistic Infections ; Prostheses and Implants ; Renal Dialysis

Most cases of eosinophilic pneumonia reported previously have followed a chronic course. The case presented here was acute in onset, suggesting a acute eosinophilic pneumonia. A model of criteria for acute and chronic eosinophilic pneumonia was made by Umeki in 1992. A previously healthy young man presented with cough, sputum, fever, and multiple small nodules on the chest radiograph. We confirmed eosinophilic pneumonia with bronchoalveolar lavage analysis and transbronchial lung biopsy. This case examplifies the recently descrived acute eosinophilic pneumonia.
Biopsy ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Cough ; Eosinophils* ; Fever ; Lung ; Pulmonary Eosinophilia* ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Sputum

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to identify how the isotonic and isometric mixed excercise training for 12 weeks take influence on the muscular strength, muscle size and foot pressure (by EMED ) in patients with degenerative knee joint disease. METHOD: Seven patients with degenerative knee joint disease were chosen for the experimental objects and were trained isotonic exercise program for twelve weeks. Before and after exercise, Cybex, Computed Tomography and EMED were examined. RESULTS: After exercise program, peak torque, peak torque %Bwt and average power were significantly increased at 60o/sec and 180o/sec in both knee flexors and extensors. But peak torque ratio flexor/extensor were not significantly increased. Cross-sectional area of quadriceps and hamstrings were significantly increased. But there were no significant difference in the peak pressure at the heel and time (from initiation of initial contact to peak pressure at the heel). CONCLUSION: We knew that isotonic and isometric mixed exercise training to the patients with degenerative knee joint disease for 12 weeks improved the muscular strength and muscle size, but this is not influenced on heel pressure. So, there may be needed to study with kinetic and kinematic analysis to more experimental patients.
Foot ; Heel ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; Knee* ; Muscle Strength ; Osteoarthritis* ; Torque

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the short-term effects and advantages of sono-guided capsular distension, compared with fluoroscopically guided capsular distension in adhesive capsulitis of shoulder. METHOD: In this prospective, randomized, and controlled trial, 23 patients (group A) were given an intra-articular injection of a mixture of 0.5% lidocaine (9 ml), contrast dye (10 ml), and triamcinolone (20 mg); they received the injection once every 2 weeks, for a total of 6 weeks, under sono-guidance. Twenty-five patients (group B) were treated similarly, under fluoroscopic guidance. Instructions for the self-exercise program were given to all subjects, without physiotherapy and medication. Effects were then assessed using a visual numeric scale (VNS), and the shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI), as well as a range of shoulder motion examinations which took place at the beginning of the study and 2 and 6 weeks after the last injection. Incremental cost-effective ratio (ICER), effectiveness, preference, and procedure duration were evaluated 6 weeks post-injection. RESULTS: The VNS, SPADI, and shoulder motion range improved 2 weeks after the last injection and continued to improve until 6 weeks, in both groups. However, no statistical differences in changes of VNS, SPADI, ROM, and effectiveness were found between these groups. Patients preferred sono-guided capsular distension to fluoroscopically guided capsular distension due to differences in radiation hazards and positional convenience. Procedure time was shorter for sono-guided capsular distension than for fluoroscopically guided capsular distension. CONCLUSION: Sono-guided capsular distension has comparable effects with fluoroscopically guided capsular distension for treatment of adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder. Sono-guided capsular distension can be substituted for fluoroscopic capsular distension and can be advantageous from the viewpoint of radiation hazard mitigation, time, cost-effectiveness and convenience.
Adhesives ; Bursitis ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Injections, Intra-Articular ; Lidocaine ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Prospective Studies ; Shoulder ; Shoulder Pain ; Triamcinolone

Heart failure is the most common cause of death of infective endocarditis. The contributing factors of heart failure include valve destruction, myocarditis, coronary artery emboli with myocardial infarction and abscess. Recently, we experienced a thiry nine year-old man who was hospitalized at Inha University Hospital because of fever, chill and dyspnea (NYHA functional class I-II). The grade IV/Vi systolic murmur was heard at the right upper sternal border and the apex and the grade III/VI diastolic murmur was heard at Erb's area. No crackles were heard. Blook cultures grew Streptococcus viridans. Chest X-ray showed mild cardiomegaly without pulmonary congestion sign. Echocardiogram showed aortic valve vegetations, abscess and grade II/IV aortic regurgitation. Aortic valve replacement and abscess removal were performed. Findings included henegg sized abscess which reduced 70% of cross sectional area of left ventricular outflow tract and located between posterior wall of left ventricle and right and left coronary rings.
Abscess ; Aortic Valve ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Cardiomegaly ; Cause of Death ; Coronary Vessels ; Dyspnea ; Endocarditis ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Fever ; Heart Failure ; Heart Murmurs ; Heart Ventricles ; Heart ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocarditis ; Respiratory Sounds ; Systolic Murmurs ; Thorax ; Viridans Streptococci

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of an intracavernous injection of lyophilized papaverine/phentolamine/alprostadil (Standro(R)) for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in Koreans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 249 men (>20 years old), with ED (>6 month duration), were enrolled from 14 clinical centers. The intracavernous 'TMs' were titrated in a stepwise fashion at the clinic, from 0.05-0.25ml (17.64mg papaverine, 0.6mg phentolamine, and 6mug alprostadil per ml), with increment of 0.02-0.05ml, according to the etiology and severity of the ED and the patients' ages. RESULTS: Of the 249 men, 238 completed the dose titration, and progressed to home treatment of 3 months duration. Of these 238, 193 (psychogenic 13.0%, organic 75.5%, mixed 11.5%) completed the home treatment (4 or more self-injections), with the other 45 dropping out (lost to follow-up in 24, patient refusal in 9, no chance to have intercourse in 7 and omitted recording of patient diary in 2). The success rate per trial (a total number of sufficient erection for vaginal intromission/a total number of injections) and per patient (number of patients who had one or more sufficient erections for vaginal intromission/the enrolled patients at beginning or 193 patients), and the satisfaction rate per patient (number of patients who had both patient and partner satisfaction with erection/193 patients) were 74.1, or 91.2 and 75.1%, respectively. The adverse reactions were prolonged erections in 3, urethral pain in 1 and penile skin edema in 2. Three patients complained of penile pain during an erection, but there was no dropout due to the pain. No significant changes in laboratory tests were found after the home treatment. CONCLUSIONS: A 'TM' seems to be effective and safe for an intracavernous injection for the treatment of men with erectile dysfunction.
Alprostadil ; Disulfiram ; Edema ; Erectile Dysfunction* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Papaverine ; Patient Dropouts ; Phentolamine ; Skin

PURPOSE: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) accounts for approximately 75% of all cases of childhood leukemia. We investigated epidemiology, clinical and laboratory features and treatment outcome of the children with ALL in Korea during recent 5 years. METHODS: One thousand forty nine patients were enrolled between January 1994 and December 1998 from 37 major hospitals in Korea. The data regarding the clinical and laboratory features including age, WBC counts at diagnosis, immunophenotype, morphology, cytogenetics and treatment outcome of patients were analyzed retrospectively by review of patient's medical records. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were constructed. The differences between groups analyzed by log-rank test. RESULTS: There were 597 males and 452 females. The distribution between the age 2 and 5 years is most common in 46.1%. The annual incidence rate per 100,000 population varied from 1.6 to 2.2. The 5 year event free survival (EFS) rates according to good prognostic factors were as follows: 67% bet ween 1-9 year of age at diagnosis, 69% in under 10,000/mm3of initial WBC count, 74% in early pre-B cell CALLA ( ) immunophenotype, 65% in L3 morphology, 68% in no CNS invasion. Most of patients were treated by CCG treatment protocol. The 5 year EFS was 63%. Main complications were sepsis (21.8%) and hemorrhage (12.5%). The relapse rate was 15.6%. The common causes of death were sepsis, DIC, pneumonia, relapse. CONCLUSION: Our results could provide the most recent and important information about acute lymphoblastic leukemia of children in Korea.
Cause of Death ; Child ; Clinical Protocols ; Cytogenetics ; Dacarbazine ; Diagnosis ; Disease-Free Survival ; Epidemiology* ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Korea* ; Leukemia ; Male ; Medical Records ; Pneumonia ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* ; Precursor Cells, B-Lymphoid ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis ; Treatment Outcome