Purpose: This study compared the subjective and objective sleep quality between subjects with and without thoracic hyper-kyphosis. Methods: Forty participants were divided into a hyper-kyphosis (n = 17) and normal group (n = 17) by thoracic spinal angle measurement. The subjective sleep quality was measured using PSQI, a self-report, and objective sleep quality was measured using an actigraphy that measures time according to sleep patterns. Results: The PSQI scores of subjects with thoracic hyper-kyphosis were significantly higher than those with normal thoracic curvature (p = 0.013). The total sleep time and real sleep time were less in subjects with hyper-kyphosis than in normal subjects (p = 0.006;p = 0.029). The light sleep time was less in subjects with excessive spondylolisthesis than in normal subjects (p = 0.010). Light sleep time was less in those with hyper-kyphosis, but deep sleep time was similar to the subjects with a normal thoracic curvature (p = 0.003;p = 0.140). Conclusion Subjects with thoracic hyper-kyphosis had a decrease in subjective sleep quality, such as sleep discomfort, and objective sleep quality, such as a decrease in sleep time compared to normal subjects.

Objective: Vaginal morphology and pelvic floor muscle (PFM) strength may influence sexual stimulation, sensation, and orgasmic response. This study aimed to determine the relationship between female sexual function and PFM strength and vaginal morphology (represented by vaginal resting tone and vaginal volume) in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Methods: Forty-two subjects with SUI were recruited for the study. Female sexual function was measured using the female sexual function index (FSFI) questionnaire. PFM strength was measured by digital palpation. Vaginal resting tone (mmHg) and vaginal volume (mL) were measured using a perineometer. The significance of the correlations between female sexual function and PFM function and hip muscle strength was assessed using Pearson’s correlation coefficients. If a significant correlation between vaginal morphology and FSFI score was confirmed using Pearson’s correlation, the cutoff value was confirmed through a decision tree. Results: PFM strength was significantly correlated with desire (r=0.397), arousal (r=0.388), satisfaction (r=0.326), and total (r=0.315) FSFI scores. Vaginal resting tone (r=-0.432) and vaginal volume (r=0.332) were significantly correlated with the FSFI pain score. The cutoff point of vaginal resting tone for the presence of pain-related sexual dysfunction was >15.2 mmHg. Conclusion PFM strength training should be the first strategy to improve female sexual function. Additionally, because of the relationship between vaginal morphology and pain-related sexual dysfunction, surgical procedures to achieve vaginal rejuvenation should be carefully considered.

BACKGROUND: We analyzed our experience of arrhythmia surgery in patients with congenital heart disease. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective review was performed on 43 consecutive patients with congenital heart disease, who underwent arrhythmia surgery between June 1998 and June 2006. RESULT: The median age at surgery was 52 years (4~75 years). The most frequent cardiac anomaly was an atrial septal defect (23/43, 53.5%). The types of arrhythmias were atrial flutter-fibrillation, intermittent non-sustainable ventricular tachycardia and others in 37, 2 and 4, respectively. Arrhythmia surgery consisted of a bi-atrial maze operation in 18 patients (modified cox maze III procedure in 5 patients, and a right side maze plus pulmonary vein cryo-isolation in 13), right side maze operation in 18 patients, cavo-tricuspid isthmus cryoablation for benign atrial flutter in 4 patients, right ventricular endocardial cryoablation in 2 patients and extranodal cryoablation for atrioventricular node re-entry tachycardia in 1 patient. The median follow-up was 23.8 months (1~95.2 months). There was no early mortality, and one late non-cardiac related death. The overall rates of restored sinus rhythm before discharge and 3~6 months after surgery were 79% and 81%, respectively (bi-atrial maze group: 72% and 83%, right-side maze group: 77%, 77%). CONCLUSION: Arrhythmias associated with congenital heart disease can be safely treated surgically with an excellent intermediate-term outcome.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac* ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Atrial Flutter ; Atrioventricular Node ; Cryosurgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Defects, Congenital* ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Humans ; Mortality ; Pulmonary Veins ; Retrospective Studies ; Tachycardia ; Tachycardia, Ventricular

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to elucidate the effect of a bovine hydroxyapatite/collagen (BHC) block in one-wall intrabony periodontal defects in dogs. METHODS: A one-wall intrabony periodontal defect (4 mm wide and 5 mm deep) was prepared bilaterally at the mesial side of the mandibular fourth premolar in five beagle dogs. After thorough root planing, block-type BHC (4x5x5 mm) was placed on one side. The contralateral defect area did not receive any material as a sham-surgery control. Histological analysis of the sites was performed after an 8-week healing period. RESULTS: Two of five samples in the experimental group healed well without dissipation of the graft materials, and histological analysis revealed excellent regeneration of the periodontal tissues. However, most of the grafted materials had been displaced in the other three samples, leaving only a small portion of the graft. The measured parameters exhibited large standard deviations, and the mean values did not differ significantly between the experimental and sham-surgery control sides. CONCLUSIONS: The application of BHC alone-without a barrier membrane-to wide, one-wall intrabony periodontal defects yielded inconsistent results regarding both periodontal regeneration and substantivity of the graft materials. Thus, the use of a barrier membrane for noncontained-type defects is recommended to improve the stability of the grafted material, and to condense it.
Animals ; Bicuspid ; Collagen ; Dogs ; Guided Tissue Regeneration ; Membranes ; Regeneration ; Root Planing ; Transplants