One of the most important prognostic factors in LCP disease is the extent of epiphyseal involvement. Magnetic resonance imaging is considered to be the technique of choice for early diagnosis of Legg-Calve-Perthes disease. Gadolinium-enhanced spin-echo MR images were obtained after nonenhanced Tl-weighted(spin-echo) and T2-weighted(gradient-echo) images. Four different areas were identified in the femoral epiphysis(necrosis, regenerative, cartilaginous and normal fatty bone tissue). The histological evolution of LCP is well described by Catterall and others. Comparing their description with our MRI finding, we suggest classification of LCP into three phases: (I) necrosis, (II) regeneration(IIa-early and IIb-late) and (III) reossification and sequale. T2 weighted image was useful in the early stage and Tl weighted image was useful in the later stage for evaluation of involved extent of the disease. With MRI, we think that we can find out the stage of LCP more early and rationally, pathological factors more easily and appropriate time for operation exactly. we believe that MRI is more adequate method to decide the stage of LCP disease.
Classification ; Early Diagnosis ; Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Necrosis

Cognitive deficits due to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affect patients’ social and occupational functioning and lead to social costs. Thus, it is important to understand the nature and extent of PTSD-related neurocognitive deficits to clarify the mechanisms underlying cognitive changes, identify factors that interfere with treatment, and help interpret clinical profiles. This study reviewed recent studies on the relationships between PTSD and neurocognitive domains. The magnitude of the influence of PTSD differs across cognitive function domains. Also, the extent of the effect on any given domain may also differ according to the type of trauma experienced by the subject. In addition to its negative effects on cognitive functioning, PTSD was associated with increased response to threats or trauma-related stimuli, which compromised task performance. Although each PTSD symptom may have a different effect on each cognitive function, it was difficult to generalize the results. This study is significant in that our conclusions, which emerged through a review of studies regarding the relationship between PTSD and cognitive functioning, provide a theoretical basis for further research.

Intraneural ganglia in the upper extremity are rare, and the involvement of the digital nerve of hand has not been reported. The following case report demonstrates a 57-year-old woman with a symptomatic nodular mass on the thenar area of the left hand. Magnetic resonance images showed a lobulated, homogeneous mass of high signal intensity on T2-weighted images and low signal intensity with peripheral enhancement on T1-weighted images. Excisional biopsy and histopathologic examination revealed an intraneural ganglion of the digital nerve of the thumb. Her symptom disappeared immediately after the surgery, and has remained free of abnormal sensation and parestheia for the 3-year follow-up period.
Biopsy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Ganglia ; Ganglion Cysts ; Hand ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Middle Aged ; Sensation ; Thumb ; Upper Extremity

Background/Aims: Overwhelming evidence suggests that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is caused by a complicated interplay between the multiple genes and abnormal epigenetic regulation in response to environmental factors. It is becoming apparent that epigenetic factors are significantly associated with the development of the disease. DNA methylation remains the most studied epigenetic modification, and hypermethylation of gene promoters is associated with gene silencing. Methods: DNA methylation alterations may contribute to the many complex diseases development by regulating the interplay between external and internal environmental factors and gene transcriptional expression. In this study, we used 15 tumor suppressor genes (TSGs), originally identified in colon cancer, to detect promoter methylation in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD). Methylation specific polymerase chain reaction and bisulfite sequencing analyses were performed to assess methylation level of TSGs in CD patients. Results: We found 6 TSGs (sFRP1, sFRP2, sFRP5, TFPI2, Sox17, and GATA4) are robustly hypermethylated in CD patient samples. Bisulfite sequencing analysis confirmed the methylation levels of the sFRP1, sFRP2, sFRP5, TFPI2, Sox17, and GATA4 promoters in the representative CD patient samples. Conclusions In this study, the promoter hypermethylation of the TSGs observed indicates that CD exhibits specific DNA methylation signatures with potential clinical applications for the noninvasive diagnosis of IBD and the prognosis for patients with IBD.

Gitelman's syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis, hypomagnesemia, and hypocalciuria that has recently been reported to be linked to thiazide-sensitive Na-Cl cotransporter gene mutation. We have experienced one patient whose initial complaint was paresthesia of hand and feet, who had hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis, hypomagnesemia, and hypocalciuria. We report the case of Gitelman's syndrome with a brief review of related literature.
Alkalosis ; Foot ; Gitelman Syndrome ; Hand ; Humans ; Hypokalemia ; Paresthesia ; Receptors, Drug ; Sodium Chloride Symporters

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Transient global amnesia (TGA) is characterized by sudden anterograde and retrograde amnesia lasting for up to 24 hours. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) in cases of TGA and ischemia demonstrates a high frequency of high signal intensities restricted to the hippocampus, and this has been proposed as an etiology of TGA. The aims of this study were to characterize the DWI and single-photon-emission computed tomography (SPECT) findings during the acute and recovered phases of TGA and to correlate the findings with oculomotor abnormalities. METHODS: Five consecutive patients with a clinical diagnosis of TGA underwent DWI and SPECT of the brain within 24 hours after symptom onset and again 3 days later. Eye movements were also recorded using three-dimensional video-oculography. RESULTS: In all patients, DWI disclosed small punctuate (1-3 mm), high-signal lesions in the lateral portion of the hippocampus. The initial SPECT also revealed hypoperfusion in the cerebellar vermis, which had recovered by the follow-up examination. Three patients showed saccadic hypermetria or impaired smooth pursuit only during the acute phase. CONCLUSIONS: Our patients with TGA showed cerebellar vermian hypoperfusion in addition to ischemic insults to the lateral hippocampus. The oculomotor abnormalities observed in our patients support the occurrence of cerebellar dysfunction during the TGA attack.
Amnesia, Retrograde ; Amnesia, Transient Global ; Brain ; Cerebellar Ataxia ; Cerebellar Diseases ; Cerebellum ; Eye Movements ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hippocampus ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pursuit, Smooth ; Saccades ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

The purpose of this study was to provide preliminary data for competitive dominance in an institutional foodservice environment. Data were collected from 85 experts and practitioners on customer-oriented service contact elements and contact fields in the foodservice industry. PASW Statistics ver.18 and MS Excel were used for data analysis. From the pilot study, 67 service contact-elements were derived. Contribution rate analysis and frequency analysis in each contact field were performed in order to categorize four factors, including environment-oriented contact, product-oriented contact, service-oriented contact, and image-oriented contact fields. Thirty three contact elements were derived, and environment-oriented contact consisted of eight contact-elements (cleanliness of restaurant/kitchen, etc.), product-oriented contact consisted of twelve contact-elements (food taste, etc.), service-oriented contact consisted of seven contact-elements (service quality, etc.), and image-oriented contact consisted of six contact-elements (image/reputation, etc.). The results of study will be useful to develop an effective marketing program for competitive dominance in an competitive foodservice industry environment.
Marketing ; Pilot Projects ; Statistics as Topic

Background: The positive effects of technology-lipid-colloid (TLC) dressings impregnated with nano-oligosaccharide factors (NOSF) have been well documented. However, there is insufficient study on the specific impact of TLC-NOSF dressings on epithelization in patients with diabetes who have partial-thickness wounds. This article presents the results of a pilot clinical trial conducted to address the aforementioned issue. Methods: Twenty patients with diabetes who underwent split-thickness skin grafting were enrolled in this study. Half of the donor site was covered with a TLC-NOSF dressing, whereas the other half was covered with a TLC dressing. The ratio of complete epithelialization within 14 days postoperatively was compared between the two groups. Furthermore, progress of epithelialization was assessed to determine whether the TLC or TLC-NOSF dressing promoted more rapid epithelialization. Results: Seventeen patients completed the study. The percentages of complete epithelialization in the TLC and TLC-NOSF dressing groups were 41% (7/17) and 53% (9/17), respectively (P = 0.49). Regarding the degree of epithelialization, the differences between the TLC-NOSF and TLC dressing were not statistically significant. The TLC-NOSF dressing was superior in nine patients, while the TLC dressing was superior in two patients. Six patients demonstrated “no significant difference” (P = 0.11). Conclusion Based on the current results alone, it is difficult to definitively conclude that TLC-NOSF dressings are superior to TLC dressings. However, these findings suggest a potential positive effect of TLC-NOSF dressings. Further large-scale studies are required to validate these results.

Background: The positive effects of technology-lipid-colloid (TLC) dressings impregnated with nano-oligosaccharide factors (NOSF) have been well documented. However, there is insufficient study on the specific impact of TLC-NOSF dressings on epithelization in patients with diabetes who have partial-thickness wounds. This article presents the results of a pilot clinical trial conducted to address the aforementioned issue. Methods: Twenty patients with diabetes who underwent split-thickness skin grafting were enrolled in this study. Half of the donor site was covered with a TLC-NOSF dressing, whereas the other half was covered with a TLC dressing. The ratio of complete epithelialization within 14 days postoperatively was compared between the two groups. Furthermore, progress of epithelialization was assessed to determine whether the TLC or TLC-NOSF dressing promoted more rapid epithelialization. Results: Seventeen patients completed the study. The percentages of complete epithelialization in the TLC and TLC-NOSF dressing groups were 41% (7/17) and 53% (9/17), respectively (P = 0.49). Regarding the degree of epithelialization, the differences between the TLC-NOSF and TLC dressing were not statistically significant. The TLC-NOSF dressing was superior in nine patients, while the TLC dressing was superior in two patients. Six patients demonstrated “no significant difference” (P = 0.11). Conclusion Based on the current results alone, it is difficult to definitively conclude that TLC-NOSF dressings are superior to TLC dressings. However, these findings suggest a potential positive effect of TLC-NOSF dressings. Further large-scale studies are required to validate these results.

Background: The positive effects of technology-lipid-colloid (TLC) dressings impregnated with nano-oligosaccharide factors (NOSF) have been well documented. However, there is insufficient study on the specific impact of TLC-NOSF dressings on epithelization in patients with diabetes who have partial-thickness wounds. This article presents the results of a pilot clinical trial conducted to address the aforementioned issue. Methods: Twenty patients with diabetes who underwent split-thickness skin grafting were enrolled in this study. Half of the donor site was covered with a TLC-NOSF dressing, whereas the other half was covered with a TLC dressing. The ratio of complete epithelialization within 14 days postoperatively was compared between the two groups. Furthermore, progress of epithelialization was assessed to determine whether the TLC or TLC-NOSF dressing promoted more rapid epithelialization. Results: Seventeen patients completed the study. The percentages of complete epithelialization in the TLC and TLC-NOSF dressing groups were 41% (7/17) and 53% (9/17), respectively (P = 0.49). Regarding the degree of epithelialization, the differences between the TLC-NOSF and TLC dressing were not statistically significant. The TLC-NOSF dressing was superior in nine patients, while the TLC dressing was superior in two patients. Six patients demonstrated “no significant difference” (P = 0.11). Conclusion Based on the current results alone, it is difficult to definitively conclude that TLC-NOSF dressings are superior to TLC dressings. However, these findings suggest a potential positive effect of TLC-NOSF dressings. Further large-scale studies are required to validate these results.