PURPOSE: The purpose of this research was to test the effects of ST35 & Sulan moxibustion on knee joint pain, range of motion, and discomfort during Activies of Daily Living (ADL) in elderly with knee joint pain. METHOD: A nonequivalent control group pre-post test research design was used. Thirty four elderly who had knee joint pain were studied. Of them, sixteen were in the experimental group and eighteen the control group. The instruments used for this study were NRS, goniometer, and a modified ADL questionnaire developed by Lee. RESULT: The pain scores of right & left knee joint after moxibustion were significantly different between the experimental group and the control group (Right: F=26.27, p=0.000, Left: F=20.77, p=0.000). Right and left knee ROM scores were significantly different between the experimental group and the control group after moxibustion (Right: F=10.74, p=0.003, Left: F=9.239, p=0.005). Discomfort during ADL scores were significantly different between the experimental group and the control group after moxibustion (F= 32.31, p=0.000). CONCLUSION: It is necessary that nurses provide the elderly with knee joint pain with moxibustion to reduce joint pain and to increase knee ROM as an alternative therapy.
*Range of Motion, Articular ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/*nursing ; *Moxibustion ; Middle Aged ; Male ; *Knee Joint/physiopathology ; Humans ; Female ; Arthralgia/etiology/*nursing ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aged ; *Activities of Daily Living

No abstract available.
Extracorporeal Circulation* ; Heart* ; Potassium* ; Thoracic Surgery*

Proliferative scarring in the form of keloids and hypertrophic scars continues to be a clinical problem for some patients. The lack of an animal model for such scarring has been an obstacle to studying the biology and effective therapy of these entities. Consequently we created an accurate reproductive animal model to systematically study them. Human proliferative scars were explanted into flaps based on isolated vascular pedicles in congenitally rats. We compared the procollagen type III peptide levels of proliferative scar tissue before and after explanting. The procollagen type III peptide levels of explanted proliferative scar tissue remained increased as before explanting. Histological analysis of the explanted proliferative scar tissue revealed that all explants retained their original histotypic character even after 1 year. We could also retain the volume of implanted proliferative scar for 1 year and studied in vitro cellular proliferation. Fibroblast cultures from explanted scars demonstrated less aggressive growth characteristic than those from original surgical specimens. The advantages of this animal model are as follows: 1. The explants retain their histotypical character for a long period. 2. Placement of the explants outside the dorsum of a nude rat makes serial observation and measurement easier. 3. Agents under test can be injected into the explants through a catheter inserted into a single pedicle of island flap without the possibility of spreading systematically.
Animals* ; Biology ; Catheters ; Cell Proliferation ; Cicatrix* ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; Collagen Type III ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Keloid ; Models, Animal* ; Rats ; Rats, Nude

Although sacrococcygeal mass is rare and usually found in infants or children, adolescent or adult patients with protruding mass in sacrococcygeal region occasionally come to us simply for a cosmetic problem. In this situation, even though there is no definite neurological deficit, it should be evaluated whether or not the underlying bony pathology or dural defect exists. Few cases about the sacrococcygeal mass have been reported in adults. We reviewed our cases including preoperative evaluation methods and postoperative diagnosis. From March, 1993 to February, 1997, we experienced 6 adult patients with sacrococcygeal mass and no neurological abnormality. Preoperative evaluation were made by plain X-ray, myelogram, computed tomography(CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as needed. Postoperative diagnoses were 2 meningoceles, 2 lipomyelomeningoceles, 1 desmoid tumor, and 1 teratoma. From our experiences, CT or MRI is essential to evaluate the sacrococcygeal mass preoperatively. These methods can visualize the precise anatomic location and extent of the mass, its relation to the spinal cord, and associated bony abnormalities. MRI is superior to CT, especially in defining the nature of the mass and involvement of the spinal cord. Conclusively, even a simple mass in the sacrococcygeal region in adults needs MRI or CT evaluation, and MRI is the most valuable method of evaluating the mass preoperatively and provides important information to establish a treatment plan.
Adolescent ; Adult* ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Fibromatosis, Aggressive ; Humans ; Infant ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meningocele ; Pathology ; Sacrococcygeal Region* ; Spinal Cord ; Teratoma

To investigate the effects of prostaglandin E1(PGX1) in prevention of proliferative scar formation, we cultured fibroblasts of normal skin (NS), hypertrophic scar (HS) and keloid (KL) tissues obtained from patients. We have compared type I collagenase production of cultured fibroblasts from normal skin, hypertrophic scar, and keloid tissues under various concentrations of PGE1. Our results demonstrate that type I collagenase production was significantly increased after addition of PGE1 in HS and KL, but not NS. Type I collagenase production of HS and KL fibroblasts were increased similarly in 10M and 10M of PGE1 and maximally increased in the concentration of 10M. This promotive effects of PGE1 on the production of type I collagenase was larger in KL than in HS. These results also suggest that PGE1 may play the promotive effects on type I collagenase production in dose-dependent manner. PGE1 may have a role in the prevention of hypertrophic scar and keloid by enhancing the production of type I collagenase of HS and KL fibroblasts. The promotive effects of PGE1 on type I collagenase production was variable depending on its concentration, and its effects was maximum in certain optimal condition. The maximally effective concentration of PGE1 in the prevention of proliferative scar formation should be searched in further investigations for clinical use.
Alprostadil ; Cicatrix ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic* ; Collagenases* ; Fibroblasts* ; Humans ; Keloid* ; RNA, Messenger* ; Skin

No abstract available.
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome*

No abstract available.

Background & Objectives: To determine the prevalence and characteristics of radiculopathy in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients through electrodiagnostic tests, to assess associated radicular pain characteristics,and to investigate the relationship between pain and other clinical manifestations of PD. Methods: Electrodiagnostic testing including nerve conduction studies and needle electromyographywas performed to investigate comorbid peripheral neuropathy or radiculopathy. All patients were asked to complete aquality of life (QOL) measurement related to pain. Results: Thirty-two (39%) of 82 PD patients had radiculopathy based on electrodiagnostic testing. 46.9% with radiculopathy patients had involvement of multiple roots level. The most commonly involved root was L5 (83.3%). Patients with radiculopathy had longer PD durations (p=0.011) and higher posture-related axial scores on the UPDRS scale (p=0.017).There was a trend for pain in the leg and low back to occur more frequently in PD patients with radiculopathy. QOL is not significantly different according to the presence of radiculopathy in PD. Conclusions: This study demonstrates a high prevalence of radiculopathy, particularly multiple root involvement, and is correlated with pain complaints and with axial motor scores on UPDRS. These findings might be related to increased shear force at the intervertebral disc by axial rigidity and flexed posture in PD along with the duration and severity of PD disease course.
Parkinson Disease ; Radiculopathy

It is well established that the CT is an essential part not only in screening primary brain tumors, but alsoin staging known malignancy. This paper reports various CT findings demonstrated in 12 cases of choriocarciomawith brain metastasis. The CT findings such as the number, location and density of the metastatic lesions, thedegree of brain edema, mass effect and effect of contrast enhancement are reviewed as well as the episode ofstroke syndrome and survival duration after neurologic symptoms attacks. The results were as follows; 1. Ten ofthese cases showed solitary metastatic lesion and remaining 2 cases were multiple lesions. 2. One was isodensedensity and the others were hemorrhagic increased denstiy by CT. 3. All of these showed mass effect to thesurrounding structures along with moderate to marked brain edema. 4. The position of the metastatic lesion werelocated at the supratentorially in all cases. Most of them were at the unilateral frontal or parietal area of bothof them. One which noted multiple metastatic foci showed at the bilateral occipital regions. 5. Nine cases showedring enhancement after contrast infusion. One which noted isodense density on the noninfusion scan showed alsoring enhancement after contrast infusion. 6. Nine cases showed positive stroke syndrom. One of them was perforemdemergency craniotomy. The remainging 3 cases noted progressive neurologic symptoms. 7. Two cases were noted onlybrain metastasis but the others also had various degree of pulmonary metastasis and 2 of latter had hepaticmetastasis, too. 8. Most of the cases were treated with CHAMOCA regimen, and one of them was taken whole brainirradiation (3000 rads/2 weeks). Another one case revealed marked regression of not only metastatic brain lesionbut the pulmonary lesion after the 8th course of CHAMOCA regimen and still alive for over 460 days.
Brain Edema ; Brain Neoplasms ; Brain ; Choriocarcinoma ; Craniotomy ; Female ; Mass Screening ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Occipital Lobe ; Pregnancy ; Rabeprazole ; Stroke

No abstract available.
Bowen's Disease ; Foot