No abstract available.
Heart Diseases* ; Humans ; Knee* ; Sciatic Nerve*

BACKGROUND: The concept of the effect-site concentration of anesthetic agents is important. The effect compartment model can be explained using the concepts of effect-site concentration and effect-site equilibration rate constant (k e0). This study confirms that the time-to-peak effect (tpe ) can be measured easily in clinical practice by applying a priming dose and train-of-four (TOF) during general anesthesia induction, and k e0 can be calculated from the tpe of the four muscle relaxants that are commonly used in general anesthesia. METHODS: Eighty patients who received general anesthesia were divided into the succinylcholine, rocuronium, atracurium, or vecuronium groups. Priming doses of muscle relaxants were administered. The effects of muscle relaxants were quantified by recording the twitch response of the adductor pollicis muscle after stimulating the ulnar nerve. The tpe was measured at the lowest TOF value. k e0 was calculated from the measured tpe . RESULTS: The k e0 values of the succinylcholine, rocuronium, atracurium, and vecuronium groups were 0.076 (0.030)/min, 0.228 (0.122)/min, 0.062 (0.011)/min, and 0.077 (0.019)/min, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to estimate k e0 from the tpe of muscle relaxants using a priming dose and TOF during general anesthesia induction.
Anesthesia, General* ; Anesthetics ; Atracurium ; Humans ; Succinylcholine ; Ulnar Nerve ; Vecuronium Bromide

BACKGROUND: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is associated with severe pain postoperatively. Femoral nerve block is commonly used for pain control after TKA. This study investigated whether continuous femoral nerve block (CFNB) can improve postoperative analgesia and functional outcome as compared to intravenous patient controlled analgesia (PCA) in patients with TKA. METHODS: We reviewed the electronic medical records of patients who underwent TKA with spinal anesthesia between March 2014 and February 2015. In Group IV, postoperative pain was managed by IV-PCA. Group CFNB received CFNB-PCA via a device. Thirty patients were enrolled per group. Patient outcomes were assessed by analgesia, functional outcomes, and health-related quality of life factors. RESULTS: Additional analgesics and additional nerve block for adequate pain control were significantly more frequent in the IV than CFNB group (P = 0.015 and P = 0.012, respectively). Range of motion up to 105 degrees was prolonged in the IV group than CFNB group (P = 0.013). EuroQol five dimensions score was improved in the CFNB group than IV group postoperative 3 weeks (P = 0.003). The incidence of transfusion due to postoperative bleeding was significantly frequent in the IV group than CFNB group (P = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative low concentration continuous femoral nerve block for analgesia after TKA improves analgesia, functional outcomes, and incidence of transfusion without falling risk.
Accidental Falls ; Analgesia* ; Analgesia, Patient-Controlled ; Analgesics ; Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee* ; Blood Transfusion ; Electronic Health Records ; Femoral Nerve* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Nerve Block ; Pain, Postoperative ; Patient Outcome Assessment ; Quality of Life ; Range of Motion, Articular

Wolf's isotopic response is defined as the occurrence of a new skin disorder at the site of another unrelated skin disease that has already healed. In most cases of isotopic response, the initial dermatosis is herpes infection, and the most frequent second dermatoses are granulomatous reactions. Various interpretations of this phenomenon have been attempted. However, the exact mechanism has not been identified yet. Herein, we report a case in which the secondary disease was segmental vitiligo that appeared over the same dermatomes of herpes zoster. A 71-year-old woman presented with well-defined, depigmented patches on the left chest and back. She had been diagnosed with herpes zoster on the same dermatomes and treated with an antiviral agent 3 years ago. Histological examination showed decreased basal melanin pigments and melanocytes. Consequently, the patient was diagnosed with segmental vitiligo based on the clinical and histological findings.
Aged ; Female ; Herpes Zoster* ; Humans ; Melanins ; Melanocytes ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Thorax ; Vitiligo*

Salmonella spondylitis is a rare illness, and it generally occurs in patients who have already had sickle cell anemia, and it is even rarer in patients who are without sickle cell anemia. A 61-year-old male patient was hospitalized for the evaluation of his renal function and then treatment was started for his back pain. His back pain had developed about 2 months previously without any specific trauma. Only a bulging disc was detected on the initial lumbar MRI. Regarding his fever, it was diagnosed as possible atypical pneumonia, scrub typhus, etc., and multiple antibiotic therapy was administered. At the time of transfer, the leucocytes and hs-CRP were normal and the ESR was elevated. A diagnostic epidural block was performed for his back pain, but his symptoms were not improved. Lumbar MRI was performed again and it showed findings of infective spondylitis. Salmonella D was identified on the abscess culture and so he was diagnosed as suffering from Salmonella spondylitis. After antibiotic treatment, his back pain was improved and the patient was able to walk.
Abscess ; Anemia, Sickle Cell ; Back Pain ; Fever ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia ; Salmonella ; Scrub Typhus ; Spondylitis ; Stress, Psychological

PURPOSE: Population-based studies have shown positive associations between migraine and irritable bowel syndrome, colitis and peptic ulcer and migraine prevalence was higher among patients with dysmotility-like dyspepsia or nausea/vomiting. The aim of this study was to investigate clinical manifestation between primary headache with epigastric pain or tenderness(EPT) and primary headache without EPT. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 58 patients who were diagnosed primary headache[by ICHD-II(2004)] at Incheon St. Mary Hospital from January, 2006 to December, 2007. Their clinical characteristics such as age, sex, frequency & severity of headache and associated symptoms & signs were analysed. RESULTS: The rate of headache associated with EPT were 36% of migraine cases, 50% of tension-type headache cases, and 100% of unclassified headache cases. Headache with EPT were at a high rate in female. Headache with EPT were more severe than one without EPT. Regulation of behavior, diet and sleep pattern had improved severity of headache in 71% of migraine without EPT and 94% of tension-type headache without EPT, but in 12% of migraine with EPT and 18% of tension-type headache with EPT. Headache disappeared in 64% of migraine with EPT and 53% of tension-type headache by additional regular antiacid medication. CONCLUSION: Our study supports any specific correlation between headache and EPT, but further studies are needed.
Abdominal Pain ; Child ; Colitis ; Diet ; Dyspepsia ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Headache ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; Medical Records ; Migraine Disorders ; Nausea ; Peptic Ulcer ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Tension-Type Headache ; Vomiting

Production of high affinity antibodies for antigens is a critical component for the immune system to fight off infectious pathogens. However, it could be detrimental to our body when the antigens that B cells recognize are of self-origin. Follicular helper T, or Tfh, cells are required for the generation of germinal center reactions, where high affinity antibody-producing B cells and memory B cells predominantly develop. As such, Tfh cells are considered as targets to prevent B cells from producing high affinity antibodies against self-antigens, when high affinity autoantibodies are responsible for immunopathologies in autoimmune disorders. This review article provides an overview of current understanding of Tfh cells and discusses it in the context of animal models of autoimmune diseases and allograft rejections for generation of novel therapeutic interventions.
Allografts* ; Antibodies ; Autoantibodies ; Autoantigens ; Autoimmune Diseases* ; Autoimmunity ; B-Lymphocytes ; Germinal Center ; Immune System ; Memory ; Models, Animal

No abstract available.
Dermatofibrosarcoma* ; Nose*

Background: Depression and anxiety are prevalent and can cause suffering in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). The Korean version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (K-HADS) has been widely used to assess depression and anxiety symptoms in Korean patient with PD. The present study aimed to assess the reliability and validity of the K-HADS using Rasch measurement analysis. Methods: A total of 106 PD patients (54 males, 52 females) who met the diagnostic criteria of the United Kingdom Brain Bank were recruited. Unidimensionality, the Rasch model fit, response category functioning, patient-item distribution, and the separation reliability of the K-HADS depression (K-HADS-D) and anxiety (K-HADS-A) subscales were statistically evaluated. Results: The mean K-HADS-D and K-HADS-A scores were 8.08±4.69 (mean±standard deviation) and 5.44±4.18, respectively. Cronbach’s α coefficients of the K-HADS-D and K-HADS-A were 0.82 and 0.83. The Rasch analysis revealed that the K-HADS-D and K-HADS-A showed unidimensionality and no disordered functioning was observed in the 4-point polytomous scale. However, both K-HADS-D and K-HADS-A exhibited suboptimal separation reliability, while the K-HADS-A showed inadequate scale targeting with floor effect. Conclusions The present study comprises the first validation of the K-HADS using the Rasch measurement model, suggesting that the K-HADS-D and K-HADS-A are clinimetrically acceptable and reliable scales for use in Korean patients with PD. However, the moderate person separation indices implicate the relatively low discriminatory ability of the K-HADS in our study patients.

Anti-inflammatory effects of Houttuynia cordata supercritical extract (HSE) were investigated in rat carrageenan-air pouch model. Oral administration of HSE (50-200 mg/kg) suppressed carrageenan-induced exudation and albumin leakage, as well as inflammatory cell infiltration at a high dose (200 mg/kg). Intraperitoneal injection of dexamethasone (2 mg/kg) only decreased exudation and cell infiltration, while indomethacin (2 mg/kg, i.p.) reduced exudate volume and albumin content without influence on the cell number. HSE lowered tumor-necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and nitric oxide (NO), as well as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Dexamethasone only reduced TNF-alpha and NO, while indomethacin decreased PGE2. The results indicate that HSE exhibits anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting both TNF-alpha-NO and cyclooxygenase-2-PGE2 pathways.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Carrageenan ; Cell Count ; Dexamethasone ; Dinoprostone ; Exudates and Transudates ; Houttuynia ; Indomethacin ; Inflammation ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Nitric Oxide ; Rats ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha