Objective: To determine the factors affecting the amount of weight-bearing during gait training in the elderly patients who underwent internal fixation after femur or pelvic fractures and how well they performed the weight-bearing restriction as directed by the physiatrist. Methods: In this retrospective chart review study, we measured the amount of weight-bearing on the affected side in 50 patients undergoing internal fixation surgery and rehabilitation after femur or pelvic fracture using a force plate. Patients receiving non-weight-bearing or partial weight-bearing education were considered to perform weight-bearing restriction well when the amount of weight-bearing was <50 lb. Furthermore, regression analysis was performed to determine the effects of postoperative complications, age, cognitive function, and pain on weightbearing restriction. Results: Variables affecting the amount of weight-bearing were age (r=0.581, p<0.001), weight-bearing education type (r=0.671, p<0.001), manual muscle strength of hip flexion on the non-affected side (r=-0.296, p=0.037), hip abduction (r=-0.326, p=0.021), knee extension (r=-0.374, p=0.007), ankle plantar flexion (r=-0.374, p=0.008), right hand grip strength (r=-0.535, p<0.001), Korean version of Mini-Mental State Examination (r=-0.496, p<0.001), Clinical Dementia Rating (r=0.308, p=0.03), and pain visual analog scale scores (r=0.318, p=0.024). The significant predictor of the amount of weight-bearing among these variables was age (β=0.448, p=0.001). The weight-bearing restriction adherence rate was significantly lower, at 22%, for patients aged ≥65 years as compared to 73% for those <65 years. Conclusion Age was a major variable affecting the amount of weight-bearing. Compliance with weight-bearing restriction was significantly lower in patients aged ≥65 years than in patients <65 years.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this ex vivo study was to compare the antifungal activity of a synthetic peptide consisting of 15 amino acids at the C-terminus of human β-defensin 3 (HBD3-C15) with calcium hydroxide (CH) and Nystatin (Nys) against Candida albicans (C. albicans) biofilm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: C. albicans were grown on cover glass bottom dishes or human dentin disks for 48 hr, and then treated with HBD3-C15 (0, 12.5, 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 300 µg/mL), CH (100 µg/mL), and Nys (20 µg/mL) for 7 days at 37℃. On cover glass, live and dead cells in the biomass were measured by the FilmTracer Biofilm viability assay, and observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). On dentin, normal, diminished and ruptured cells were observed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The results were subjected to a two-tailed t-test, a one way analysis variance and a post hoc test at a significance level of p = 0.05. RESULTS: C. albicans survival on dentin was inhibited by HBD3-C15 in a dose-dependent manner. There were fewer aggregations of C. albicans in the groups of Nys and HBD3-C15 (≥ 100 µg/mL). CLSM showed C. albicans survival was reduced by HBD3-C15 in a dose dependent manner. Nys and HBD3-C15 (≥ 100 µg/mL) showed significant fungicidal activity compared to CH group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Synthetic HBD3-C15 peptide (≥ 100 µg/mL) and Nys exhibited significantly higher antifungal activity than CH against C. albicans by inhibiting cell survival and biofilm.
Amino Acids ; Biofilms ; Biomass ; Calcium Hydroxide ; Candida albicans ; Cell Survival ; Dentin ; Glass ; Humans* ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Nystatin

The purpose of this study was to verify the validity of Mealworms as a hospital meal with increased nutrition density. We provided a meal for postoperative patients and conducted analysis of dietary intake and nutritional status of patients and assessment of acceptability of the meal. This study was carried out as a randomized control trial. Patients were supplied either a hospital meal using Mealworms (Experimental group) or a regular hospital meal (Control group). We investigated the administration amounts of parenteral nutrition (PN) and food intake of patients after surgery and measured anthropometry, body composition, and blood tests before surgery and at hospital discharge. We included 34 postoperative patients who were admitted to Gangnam Severance Hospital from March to September. In the groups of patients not supplied with PN, the experimental group (964.68±284.6 kcal, 38.82±12.9 g) had significantly higher dietary calorie and protein intake than the control group (666.62±153.7 kcal, 24.47±4.9 g)(P<0.05). Additionally in the group of patients not supplied with PN, the experimental group (1.37%) showed a significantly higher increase in fat free mass index than the control group (−3.46%)(P<0.05). In all subjects, calorie density and protein density were significantly higher in the experimental group (P<0.001), and acceptability of calorie (P=0.036) and protein (P=0.001) was also significantly higher in the experimental group. Therefore, the results of this study support the validity of the introduction of hospital meals using Mealworms.
Anthropometry ; Body Composition ; Eating ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Meals* ; Nutritional Status* ; Parenteral Nutrition ; Tenebrio*

STUDY DESIGN: A case report. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: The symptoms of psoas abscess are fever, low back pain, and spasm of the psoas muscle. OBJECTIVES: To report a case of psoas and thigh abscess caused by ruptured appendicitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 53- year old male patient visited the complaining of fever, low back pain and thigh pain. Imaging studies revealed psoas abscess and thigh abscess, accompanied by ruptured appendicitis. Therefore, surgical treatment with percutaneous drainage was performed. RESULTS: The patient recovered and returned to his normal life after 2 months. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to identify the cause of the infection using physical examination as well as abdominal and pelvis computed tomography when a patient has fever, psoas abscess and thigh abscess. It is also important to be aware that the cause of psoas abscess may also be gastrointestinal tract disease with non specific symptoms.
Abscess* ; Appendicitis* ; Drainage ; Fever ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; Male ; Pelvis ; Physical Examination ; Psoas Abscess ; Psoas Muscles ; Spasm ; Thigh*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study compared the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the Republic of Korea and estimated the high-risk regions and towns. METHODS: National Health Insurance Service data for 8 years from 2005 to 2012 were used. The subjects of the study had visited medical facilities and been diagnosed with or received treatment for acute or chronic HCV as a primary or secondary disease according to ICD-10 codes of B17.1 or B18.2, respectively. Any patient who received treatment for the same disease multiple times during 1 year was counted as one patient in that year. To correct for the effect of the age structure of the population by year and region, the age-adjusted prevalence was calculated using the direct method based on the registered population in 2010. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of HCV infection among Korean adults (>20 years old) increased from 0.14% in 2005 to 0.18% in 2012. The sex-, age-, and region-adjusted prevalence in 2012 was 0.18%. The prevalence was highest in Busan, Jeonnam, and Gyeongnam, and there were towns with noticeably higher prevalences within these regions: Jindo (0.97%) in Jeonnam, Namhae (0.90%) in Gyeongnam, and Seo-gu (0.86%) in Busan. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of HCV infection differs by regions as well as towns in the Republic of Korea, and is highest in Busan, Jeonnam, and Gyeongnam. The reasons for the high prevalence in these specific regions should be identified, since this could help prevent HCV infections in the future. In addition, active surveillance and treatment policies should be introduced to stop any further spread of infection in these high-prevalence regions.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Databases, Factual ; Female ; Hepatitis C/*diagnosis/*epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Factors ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: The underlying cause of myasthenia gravis (MG) is unknown, although it likely involves a genetic component. However, no common genetic variants have been unequivocally linked to autoimmune MG. We sought to identify the genetic variants associated with an increased or decreased risk of developing MG in samples from a Korean Multicenter MG Cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To determine new genetic targets related to autoimmune MG, a whole genome-based single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) analysis was conducted using an Axiom(TM) Genome-Wide ASI 1 Array, comprising 598375 SNPs and samples from 109 MG patients and 150 neurologically normal controls. RESULTS: In total, 641 SNPs from five case-control associations showed p-values of less than 10(-5). From regional analysis, we selected seven candidate genes (RYR3, CACNA1S, SLAMF1, SOX5, FHOD3, GABRB1, and SACS) for further analysis. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that a few genetic polymorphisms, such as in RYR3, CACNA1S, and SLAMF1, might be related to autoimmune MG. Our findings also encourage further studies, particularly confirmatory studies with larger samples, to validate and analyze the association between these SNPs and autoimmune MG.
Antigens, CD/genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/genetics ; Calcium Channels/genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease/genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Myasthenia Gravis/*etiology ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics ; Receptors, Cell Surface/genetics ; Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel/genetics

Subcutaneous emphysema of lower extremity is a rare disease entity. Crepitation and swelling on physical examination and gas on radiographs raise the concern of infection due to the presence of gas gangrene forming organisms. Therefore, delay of diagnosis and appropriate management can be a major predisposing factor for sepsis and further associated high mortality. We experienced a rare case of subcutaneous emphysema of the right lower extremity after knee arthroscopy; life-threatening infection was ruled out by physical examination and laboratory testing. The patient recovered uneventfully with conservative management. Therefore, we report on this case with a review of current literature.
Arthroscopy* ; Causality ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Gas Gangrene ; Humans ; Knee* ; Lower Extremity* ; Mortality ; Physical Examination ; Rare Diseases ; Sepsis ; Subcutaneous Emphysema*

The isolated spleen involvement is a rare presentation of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) and can lead to a misdiagnosis. We report a case of LCH in an infant presentated isolated splenomegaly and prolonged fever. A 1-month-old girl admitted due to petechiae, presented with fever for a week and splenomegaly, and showed marginal improvement on empirical treatment. The fever and progressive spleen enlargement persisted over 4 weeks and the cause remained unclear, even after thorough evaluation including bone marrow aspiration and biopsy. LCH was confirmed by splenectomy, and involvement of other organs was excluded. Splenectomy is valuable in the diagnosis of LCH presented with isolated splenomegaly without other organ involvement which may show more aggressive clinical course, but it should be limited to absolutely necessary indications.
Biopsy ; Bone Marrow ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Errors ; Female ; Fever of Unknown Origin ; Fever ; Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Purpura ; Spleen ; Splenectomy ; Splenomegaly

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of operative treatment using porous hydroxyapatite for intraarticular calcaneal fracture of joint depression type. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients with intraarticular calcaneal fracture were followed up for more than 1 year. The period to union was calculated to evaluate the osteoconductivity of porous hydroxyapatite used as bone graft substitute. The measurement of Bohler angle, Gissane angle and the degree of articular surface depression was performed through preoperative and postoperative radiographs. The clinical evaluation was performed according to hindfoot score of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) and scale of the Creighton-Nebraska health foundation (CNHF). RESULTS: Bohler angle and Gissane angle had improved significantly from preoperative average 10.4degrees, 117.8degrees to average 22.6degrees, 113.5degrees immediate postoperatively, and had maintained to average 21.2degrees and 114.4degrees at the last follow-up. The degree of articular surface depression had improved significantly from preoperative average 4.8 mm to 1.5 mm at the last follow-up. All cases achieved bone union, and the interval to union was average 12.8 weeks. AOFAS score was average 85.2 points at last follow-up. There were 7 excellent, 10 good, and 3 fair results according to the CNHF scale. Therefore, 17 cases (85%) achieved satisfactory results. CONCLUSION: Plate fixation using porous hydroxyapatite seems to be one of effective treatment methods for intraarticular calcaneal fracture of joint depression type, because of supporting the reduction of subtalar articulation by augmenting bony defect and facilitating bone formation. Further evaluation about long-term radiological changes and histological analysis on hydroxyapatite implantation site should be required.
Animals ; Ankle ; Depression ; Durapatite ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot ; Humans ; Joints ; Osteogenesis ; Transplants

Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty is one of the methods of surgical treatment for cuff tear arthropathy. Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty is increasingly being performed, but various complications have been reported. We experienced a case of acromion fracture after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty, which is quite a rare complication. So we report on this case along with reviewing the relevant literature.
Acromion ; Arthroplasty ; Fractures, Stress ; Shoulder