No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Low Back Pain*

As degenerative changes of lumbar spine and surrounding structures progress with aging, the strength of not only the bony tissues but also the supporting structures become weak and dysfunctional with pain. This phenomenon is increasingly evident as elderly population increases rather progressively in contemporary era. Therefore, the chronic back pain in this subpopulation group is relatively common and comprise of various pain syndromes originating from vertebral bodies, joints, muscles, and other soft tissues. The causes of chronic low back pain in elders also differ patient to patient. but common presentations seen in clinical setting are disorders related to intervertebral disc, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, compression fracture related to osteoporosis, and pain originating from zygapophysial joints and other surrounding structures. Less common but other important causes include metastatic lesions, infection, and myofacical pain syndromes. Here, evidence-based literature review on common disorders affecting elderly patients causing chronic low hack pain is presented with special attention focused on diagnostic and therapeutic approaches based on etiologic processes and clinical presentations Every effort should be made to contemplate all possible factors that might have played roles in generating the chronic pain in these patients. Also, whatever management chosen it should have been decided based upon the clinical presentation that closely correlated with definitive findings from studies best available whenever possible.
Aged ; Aging ; Back Pain ; Chronic Pain ; Diagnosis ; Fractures, Compression ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Joints ; Low Back Pain* ; Muscles ; Osteoporosis ; Spinal Stenosis ; Spine ; Spondylolisthesis

Radiofrequcy(RF) treatment has a long history, more than hundred years, for the management of chronic intractable pain of various causes. With better understanding of pain mechanism and advancement of technology, along with previous valuable experience, a simpler and safer method of delivering RF thermo coagulation to ideal sites are now available that can be expected to provide more beneficial effects to these patients with chronic disabling pain. This type of treatment will be especially helpful in aged in whom surgery is often contraindicated or highly risky due to medical problems. Here, using up-to-dated, evidence based knowledge and personal experience, authors have tried to introduce briefly the history and basic mechanism of RF technique and various clinical situations where this type of therapy is currently known to be indicated or effective in providing substantial pain relief. In summary, the RF thermocoagulation is proven to be effective way of providing significant pain relief in many chronic refractory pain states with numerous advantages such as minimal invasive, quantitative lesioning with temperature-controlled, well-circumscription of lesions, simplicity and feasibility of procedure, and most of all safety and cost-effectiveness. When it is selected based on careful investigation on type and cause of pain it can be expected to provide relatively long duration of pain relief and also to help to recover functional disabilities from such pain. However, judicious use is warranted because some painful conditions are known to be ineffective or contraindicated from this type of therapy and because there are possible serious complications, although very few. Use of latest technique of pulsed, high-frequency, low-temperatured thermocoagulation will possibly bring hope and new insights in the management of chronic intractable pain of neuropathic in nature. Further research and experience will be required before justifying this type of therapy in appling broader and more challenging situations.
Electrocoagulation ; Hope ; Humans ; Neuralgia ; Pain, Intractable*

No abstract available.

A study was made of the respiratory effects of acute carbon monoxide poisoning in mongrel dogs. In this study the dogs were divided into two groups, namely the control and the experimental. In the experimental group, carbon monoxide poisoning was induced by the rebreathing of about 2% carbon monoxide gas mixture for 15 minutes, and the respiratory functions in this group were compared to those in the control group. A significant increase in the minute ventilation was noted in both the control and the experimental groups, and in the latter there was an increase in the respiratory rate and a decrease in the tidal volume compared to those in the control group. In both groups, oxygen consumption showed no significant change and there was a fall in the arterial carbon dioxide tension, but the carbon dioxide elimination was slightly lower in the experimental group.
Animals ; Carbon Dioxide ; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning* ; Carbon Monoxide* ; Carbon* ; Dogs ; Oxygen Consumption ; Respiratory Rate ; Tidal Volume ; Ventilation

BACKGROUND: Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) are known to diminish corneocyte cohesion at the innermost levels of the stratum corneum and have been used in the treatment of various disorders of keratinization. However, their effect on skin barrier function and their irritant potential is not fully understood. OBJECTIVE: Our study was done to evaluate the skin irritancy of AHAs in normal human skin. METHODS: Patches with 1%, 5% and 10% solutions of lactic acid (LA) and glycolic acid (GA) were applied to the volar forearm of 20 healthy volunteers for 24 hours using large Finn chambers with filter paper. Visual scores, erythema (E-) index and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were measured at 30 min, 24 h and 48 h after removal of the patches. RESULTS: The results are summarized as follows. 1. Visual scores were 0.1+/-0.3 (1%), 0.5+/-0.6 (5%) and 1.1+/-0.8 (10%) at 24 h after removal of LA, and were 0.2+/-0.4 (1%), 0.6+/-0.6 (5%) and 1.0+/-0.7 (10%) at 24 h after removal of GA. They were increased in proportion to the concentrations and there were significant differences in skin responses between the control and each concentration of the solutions. 2. E-indices were 9.1+/-2.1 (control), 8.8+/-1.8 (1%), 9.0+/-2.6 (5%) and 10.5+/-3.9 (10%) at 24 h after removal of LA, and were 9.4+/-1.8 (control), 9.3+/-2.3 (1%), 10.0+/-3.0 (5%) and 11.1+/-3.5 (10%) at 24 h after removal of GA. They were not increased in the patch areas of 1% and 5% solutions in both the LA and GA group, but were significantly increased in the patch areas of 10% solutions in both the LA and GA group. 3. TEWL values were 7.3+/-2.3 (control), 8.3+/-4.0 (1%), 9.8+/-4.5 (5%) and 16.7+/-9.1 (10%) at 24 h after removal of LA, and were 8.1+/-3.2 (control), 7.8+/-3.8 (1%), 8.6+/-3.0 (5%) and 10.9+/-4.1 (10%) at 24 h after removal of GA. They were not increased in the patch areas of 1% LA, 1% GA and 5% LA, but there were high significant differences between the controls and 10% solutions of both LA and GA. CONCLUSION: Visual scores were increased in all concentrations of AHAs tested, but the increase in E-index and TEWL values were not significant or minimal in 1% and 5% solutions of AHAs. These findings suggest that AHAs could be classified as non-corrosive irritants.
Erythema ; Forearm ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans* ; Hydroxy Acids* ; Irritants ; Lactic Acid ; Skin*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Animals ; Corrosion Casting* ; Corrosion* ; Head* ; Rats*

No abstract available.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure* ; Ventilation*

The present study was intended to examine the spectrum of radiographic patterns of the stomach associated withacute and chronic pancreatitis and their complications. Subjects served for the study consisted of 70 cases ofpancreatitis (36 cases in acute stage and 34 cases in chronic stage). Intramural and perigastic permeation ofextravasated pancreatic enzymes and secondary inflammatory reacation that follows are responsible for theardiographic change observed. 1. Generalized rugal thickening and particularly selective mucosal prominences ingreater curvature of body and antrum are characteristically seen in acute(14 of 36 cases
Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Errors ; Pancreatitis, Chronic ; Stomach