This review-article is aimed at shedding a light upon the nature of age-associated changes in the human skeletal system. When the anatomical, physiological and biochemical consequences of bone aging are considered together with the hardening, drying and the diminished repair capabilities of the elderly, it can be seen that fractures assume greater importance as a clinical problem in the geriatric population. Older people start out with a deficit of cortical bone, making them more fracture prone and once fractures occur, the necessary treatments (immobilization, use of casts, etc.) accelerate the rate of bone loss. In addition, aged individuals stand a higher risk for complications of the hospital and enforced bed rest that may ensue. The problems resulting from bone loss in the elderly may be partially alleviated by providing adequate health service support which should include consideration of the following points : 1. Age, sex and general health status ; 2. Habits and inclinations towards physical activities ; 3. Nutritional and endocrine background ; 4. Presence of any specific bone diseases, including osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, osteomalacia and ankylosis ; 5. Psychosocial adaptability and other behavioral elements.
Aged ; Aging ; Ankylosis ; Bed Rest ; Biology* ; Bone Diseases ; Health Services ; Humans* ; Motor Activity ; Osteoarthritis ; Osteomalacia ; Osteoporosis

To histologically compare benign prostatic hyperplasia with proslalic adenocarcinoma, a morphometric study was conducted on 20 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia and 16 cases of prostatic adenocarcinoma. Adenocarcinoma group was divided into two subgroups. well differentiated (9 cases) and poorly differentiated (7 cases), based on the Gleason grading system. By means of computerized image analyzer, about 30 to 40 cells for each case were examined to evaluate mean nuclear area and perimeter, mean standard deviations and mean form factor. Mean form factor, the most prominent parameter in our study, was significantly different among BPH (1.063+/-0.008), well differentiated adenocarcinoma (1.089+/-0.018) and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma (1.135 +/-0.057 ). Mean standard deviations of mean nuclear area and perimeter were significantly different between benign prostatic hyperplasia and well differentiated prostatic adenocarcinoma. .Morphometry. may provide the pathologists with a helpful technique, allowing them to analyze pathological material accurately. and in a more quantitative and reproducible fashion.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Neoplasm Grading ; Prostatic Hyperplasia*

OBJECTIVES: This study examined how ethanolamines (EAs) with the same functional alcohol group (HOCH2CH2), such as mono-EA (MEA), di-EA (DEA), and tri-EA (TEA), in water-based metalworking fluids (wbMWFs) are vaporized, condensed, and transformed by heat generated during metalworking. METHODS: Two types of experimental apparatus were manufactured to achieve these objectives. RESULTS: Vaporization tests using a water bath showed that the vaporization rate increased markedly from 0.19 mg/m2.min at 23.5degrees C to 8.04 mg/m2.min at 60degrees C. Chamber tests with a heat bulb revealed that "spiked" MEA was fully recovered, while only 13.32% of DEA and no TEA were recovered. Interestingly, non-spiked types of EAs were detected, indicating that heat could convert EAs with more alcohol groups (TEA or DEA) into other EAs with fewer group(s) (DEA or MEA). The EA composition in fresh fluid was 4% DEA, 66% TEA, and 30% MEA, and in used fluids (n = 5) was 12.4% DEA, 68% TEA, and 23% MEA. Conversion from TEA into DEA may therefore contribute to the DEA increment. Airborne TEA was not detected in 13 samples taken from the central coolant system and near a conveyor belt where no machining work was performed. The DEA concentration was 0.45 mg/m3 in the only two samples from those locations. In contrast, airborne MEA was found in all samples (n = 53) regardless of the operation type. CONCLUSION: MEAs easily evaporated even when MWFs were applied, cleaned, refilled, and when they were in fluid storage tanks without any metalworking being performed. The conversion of TEA to DEA and MEA was found in the machining operations.
Baths ; Ethanolamines ; Hot Temperature ; Tea ; Volatilization ; Water

BACKGROUND: Since percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty(PMV) using balloon was introduced by Inoue in 1984, this procedure has been accepted as a new non-surgical therapeutic modality for the treatment of selected patients with mitral stenosis. Pregnant women with mitral stenosis has suffered from life threatening complication due to altered hemodynamic changes and heart failure. Surgical valvotomy has been performed after failure of medical therapy with high risk of fetal mortality and teratogenicity. PMV can be an adequate alternative to surgical valvotomy in pregnant women. METHODS: After precise echocardiographic examination of mitral valve and its surrounding structures including thrombi in left artrium was performed, antegrade transseptal procedure was done in all 3 cases with abdominal shield using Inoue balloon technique. RESULTS: Mitral valve area increased over 1.5cm2 and hemodynamic variables improved immediately after PMV. Symptoms subsided soon after PMV in all 3 cases. Healthy normal babies were delivered transvaginally without difficulties in all 3 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty is a safe and effective therapeuteic alternative to surgical valvotomy in a pregnant women with mitral stenosis who failed medical therapy, in a high risk or symptomatic pregnant women.
Echocardiography ; Female ; Fetal Mortality ; Heart Failure ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women

The eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome associated with ingestion of L-tryptophan in man is defined by the CDC(1989) as follows: 1) eosinophil count more than 1,000 cells per microliter; 2) generalized myaligia(at some point during the course of illness) of severity sufficient to affect a patient's ability to pursue his or her usual daily activities; 3) no evidence of any infection(e.g., trichinosis) or neoplasm that would explain either the eosinophila or the myalgia. The pathologic findings of the eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome varies according to the degree of severity and types of inflammatory cells in the skeletal muscle. In order to simulate this syndrome in animals and further determine its histopathogenesis, L-tryptophan was administered to rats in the laboratory at various doses(25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg) over a set period of time. In this study, positive histopathologic findings were designated according to the inflammatory cell infiltration of the epimysium and epineurium. Most of the pathologic findings in the positive group were that of inflammatory cell infiltration composed mainly of eosinophils in the epimysial, epineurial connective and surrounding adipose tissues. Only a few necrotic muscle fibers were seen, and there was absence of any evidence of inflammatory cell inflitration in endoneurium or axonal degenerations. Of 59 rats which were given L-tryptophan, 27 rats(45.8%) met the criteria and were designated as belongintg to the positive group. Only 2 rats ingested with L-tryptophan(150 mg/kg) for 2 months and 4 months showed an eosinophil count more than 1,000 cells/microliter. The eosinophil count in the positive group showed significantly different levels when compared to the the negative group and control group. On the other hand, there were no significant differences in the electrodiagnostic study and serum CK, SGOT, SGPT level between the positive, negative and control groups. In summary, histopathologic findings similar to the eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome were inducible in rats followign the administration of L-tryptophan.
Male ; Humans ; Rats ; Animals

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the response of hyperplastic endometrium to Medroxyprogesterone acetate according to the histologic types such as simple typical, complex typical and atypical hyperplasia. METHODS: A total of 79 patients with histologically proved endometrial hyperplasia were enrolled into this prospective study between March 1996 and May 1998. Patients without atypia were placed on a regimen of cyclic therapy with 10mg MPA orally, each day for 14days per month for 3 months. In the cases in which hyperplasia did not regress , MPA was increased to 20mg. Patients with atypical hyperplasia received continuous MPA therapy, 20mg orally each day for 3 month. All patients were followed up for a minimum of 3 months and a maximum of 1 year(mean 7 months). RESULTS: In patients with simple typical hyperplasia, 45 patients(80.4%) had regression, 11 patients(19.6%) had persistence and none had progression. In patients with complex typical hyperplasia, 10 patients(83.3%) had regression, 2 patients(16.7%) had persistence and none had progression. But, in patients with atypical hyperplasia 5 patients(45.4%) had regression, 4 patients(36.4%) had persistence and 2(18.2%) patients had well differentiated endometrial adenocarcinoma. There was no recurrence during the follow up. CONCLUSION: This data suggest that most women with typical hyperplasia respond to progestin therapy, but there is high failure rate of response to progestin therapy and risk of endometrial cancer in patients with atypical hyperplasia. If the young patient desires to preserve her fertility, then progestin therapy may be considered as primary treatment in patients with atypical hyperplasia. But older patients in whom fertility is not an issue, hysterectomy should be selected as treatment of choice for atypical lesion.
Adenocarcinoma ; Endometrial Hyperplasia* ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; Endometrium ; Female ; Fertility ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Hysterectomy ; Medroxyprogesterone Acetate ; Medroxyprogesterone* ; Prospective Studies ; Recurrence

No abstract available.
Gangwon-do* ; Humans

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Knee Joint* ; Knee* ; Torque*

Hyperextension injury in the thoracic spine is uncommon with only a few cases documented in the literature. The mechanism of these injuries is hyperextension combined with axial or shearing force. These types of injuries are associated with a high risk of dural tears and paraplegia. A 91-year-old female presented with acute back pain from a hyperextension injury in thoracic spine with no neurological deficit. Lumbar magnetic resonance imaging showed a intervertebral disc rupture. On day 20 of hospitalization, the herniated intervertebral disc compressed the spinal cord with incomplete paraplegia. Hyperextension injuries involving the three columns are very unstable and we recommend surgical treatment as soon as possible, not only because of the initial trauma, but a ruptured disc herniation can damage the spinal cord.
Back Pain ; Female ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Paraplegia ; Rupture ; Spinal Cord ; Spine ; Thoracic Vertebrae