PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical and radiological results of patients that underwent total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with a NexGen LPS-Flex implant using a Navigation system (Brain Lab). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2001 and December 2005, 55 knees in 46 patients which used the NexGen LPS-Flex implant with a Navigation system (Brain Lab) for primary TKA were clinically and radiologically evaluated after a minimum follow-up of 5 years. Evaluation included preoperative and postoperative range of motion (ROM), Knee Society Score (KSS), tibio-femoral angle and postoperative complications. RESULTS: Knee ROM was increased from 118.9degrees preoperatively to 126.9degrees at the last follow up. In addition, the preoperative flexion contracture improved from 6.5degrees to 1.8degrees postoperatively. The mean KSS and functional score were improved from 59.8 and 51.2 to postoperative scores of 86.4 and 85.2 respectively. The rate of appearance of radiolucency in X-ray was 21.8%. One case of superficial skin infection and one case of aseptic loosening were noted as complications but, did not require a revision surgery. CONCLUSIONS: TKA with NexGen LPS-Flex implant using Navigation system (Brain Lab) showed satisfactory improvement in pain and function, but more long term follow up will be needed to complete verification.
Arthroplasty ; Contracture ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Skin

PURPOSE: The final goal of regenerative periodontal therapy is to restore the structure and function of the periodontium destroyed or lost due to periodontitis. However, the role of periosteum in periodontal regeneration was relatively neglected while bone repair in the skeleton occurs as a result of a significant contribution from the periosteum. The aim of this study is to understand the histological characteristics of periosteum and compare the native periosteum with the repaired periosteum after elevating flap or after surgical intervention with flap elevation. METHODS: Buccal and lingual mucoperiosteal flaps were reflected to surgically create critical-size, "box-type" (4 mm width, 5 mm depth), one-wall, intrabony defects at the distal aspect of the 2nd and the mesial aspect of the 4th mandibular premolars in the right and left jaw quadrants. Animals were sacrificed after 24 weeks. RESULTS: The results from this study are as follows: 1) thickness of periosteum showed difference as follows (P<0.05): control group (0.45+/-0.22 mm)>flap-elevation group (0.36+/-0.07 mm)>defect formation group (0.26+/-0.03 mm), 2) thickness of gingival tissue showed difference as follows (P<0.05): defect formation group (3.15+/-0.40 mm)>flap-elevation group (2.02+/-0.25 mm)>control group (1.88+/-0.27 mm), 3) higher cellular activity was observed in defect formation group and flap-elevation groups than control group, 4) the number of blood vessles was higher in defect formation group than control group. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, prolonged operation with increased surgical trauma seems to decrease the thickness of repaired periosteum and increase the thickness of gingiva. More blood vessles and high cellular activity were observed in defect formation group.
Animals ; Bicuspid ; Gingiva ; Guided Tissue Regeneration, Periodontal ; Jaw ; Models, Animal ; Periodontitis ; Periodontium ; Periosteum ; Regeneration ; Skeleton

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence and clinical features of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Korea. METHODS: Web-based (www.armd-nova.or.kr) registration was conducted for AMD patients aged 50 or more who were newly diagnosed by retinal specialists in Korea from August 20, 2005 to August 20, 2006. Patient data including ophthalmologic examination, fundus photography, fluorescein angiogram and/or indocyanin green angiogram (ICG), past medical history, behavioral habit, combined systemic diseases were up-loaded. RESULTS: Among finally enrolled 1,141 newly diagnosed AMD patients, 690 patients (60.5%) were male and 451 patients (39.5%) were female. The average age of AMD patients was 69.7+/-8.0. Early AMD was observed in 190 patients and 951 patients had late AMD. Classic choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM) was observed in 18.6% of exudative AMD patients and 63.4 % had occult CNVM. Subfoveal CNVM was observed in 80.4% of the patients with CNVM. Among the 580 exudative AMD eyes that performed indocyanin green angiography (ICG), 184 eyes (31.7%) had polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) and 36 eyes (6.2%) showed retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP). Age, male gender, smoking, diabetes and hypertension significantly increased the risk of the AMD among Koreans. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the low rate of participation by retinal specialists, definite incidence of AMD was not obtainable. However, the estimated 1-year AMD incidence in the Pusan area of Korea is at least 0.4%. In contrast to Western people, 31.7% of exudative AMD cases were revealed to be PCV and 6.2% were revealed to be RAP. This discrepancy between ethnic groups should be considered in the diagnosis and treatment modality selection of Korean AMD patients.
Aged ; Angiography ; Choroid ; Ethnic Groups ; Eye ; Female ; Fluorescein ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Korea ; Macular Degeneration ; Male ; Membranes ; Photography ; Retinaldehyde ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Specialization

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Transient elastography (Fibroscan, Echosens, France) is a new, simple, and non-invasive method to assess the degree of hepatic fibrosis by measuring liver stiffness. Recent reports have shown that liver stiffness measurement using Fibroscan allowed accurate prediction of hepatic fibrosis in patient with chronic hepatitis C. The aim of this study was to evaluate accuracy of Fibroscan for the detection of hepatic fibrosis in Korea with various etiologies of chronic liver disease by comparison with fibrosis assessed by histologic examination. METHODS: Fifty-four patients with chronic liver diseases, which were histologically confirmed within recent 6 months were enrolled. Etiologies were HBV, HCV infection, autoimmune hepatitis, and non alcoholic steatohepatitis. Hepatic fibrosis was graded on the basis of standard guideline proposed by the Korean Study Group for the Pathology of Digestive Diseases. RESULTS: Fibroscan values were significantly higher in F3 (16.96 kPa) and F4 (19.86 kPa) than others (p=0.003). Liver stiffness measurement was significantly correlated to the fibrosis stage (r=0.614, p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Liver stiffness measurement by Fibroscan is a promising method for the assessment of hepatic fibrosis in chronic liver disease because it accompanies no complication.
Adult ; Aged ; Biological Markers/blood ; Chronic Disease ; Elasticity ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques/*methods ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis/diagnosis/etiology/*ultrasonography ; Liver Diseases/complications/pathology/*ultrasonography ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Predictive Value of Tests ; ROC Curve ; Regression Analysis ; Sensitivity and Specificity

According to improved radiation therapy technology such as IMRT and proton therapy, the accuracy of patient alignment system is more emphasized and IGRT is dominated research field in radiation oncology. We proposed to study the feasibility of cone-beam CT system using simple x-ray imaging systems for image guided proton therapy at National Cancer Center. 180 projection views (2,304x3,200, 14 bit with 127 micrometer pixel pitch) for the geometrical calibration phantom and humanoid phantoms (skull, abdomen) were acquired with 2degrees step angle using x-ray imaging system of proton therapy gantry room (360degrees for 1 rotation). The geometrical calibration was performed for misalignments between the x-ray source and the flat-panel detector, such as distances and slanted angle using available algorithm. With the geometrically calibrated projection view, Feldkamp cone-beam algorithm using Ram-Lak filter was implemented for CBCT reconstruction images for skull and abdomen phantom. The distance from x-ray source to the gantry isocenter, the distance from the flat panel to the isocenter were calculated as 1,517.5 mm, 591.12 mm and the rotated angle of flat panel detector around x-ray beam axis was considered as 0.25degrees. It was observed that the blurring artifacts, originated from the rotation of the detector, in the reconstructed toomographs were significantly reduced after the geometrical calibration. The demonstrated CBCT images for the skull and abdomen phantoms are very promising. We performed the geometrical calibration of the large gantry rotation system with simple x-ray imaging devices for CBCT reconstruction. The CBCT system for proton therapy will be used as a main patient alignment system for image guided proton therapy.
Abdomen ; Artifacts ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Calibration ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Humans ; Isothiocyanates ; Proton Therapy ; Protons ; Radiation Oncology ; Skull

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of benign, hyperplastic, and malignant endometrial polyps and whether particular clinical parameters are associated with malignancy in the polyps. METHODS: Four hundred and forty nine patients who were suspected as endometrial polyps by hysteroscopy underwent hysteroscopic guided removal over 12 months period were retrieved. The medical records and histopathological findings were reviewed. Statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: Histologically, among 360 (80.1%) polypoid lesions, 353 polyps (75.1%) were benign; 16 polyps (3.5%) had simple or complex hyperplasia, only 1 polyp (0.2%) had hyperplasia with atypia (considered as premalignant lesions), and 6 polyps (1.3%) were cancerous. Non polypoid lesions were found in 89 (19.9%) cases. Older age, postmenopausal status were associated with pre-malignant or malignant changes significantly, but presence of abnormal uterine bleeding, multiplicity, larger sizes (>1.5cm) were not a predictor of malignancy in the polyp. CONCLUSIONS: Age and menopausal status may increase the risk of premalignant and malignant polyps. Although the risk of malignancy is low, we should pay attention to postmenopausal women with endometrial polyps regardless of the symptoms, and we prefer hysteroscopic resection for the exact diagnosis.
Diagnosis ; Endometrial Hyperplasia ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Hysteroscopy ; Incidence ; Medical Records ; Polyps* ; Uterine Hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE: This study is aimed to compare the efficacy of GnRH agonist and intravenous iron therapy in women who need correction of anemia prior to hysterectomy for uterine myoma and adenomyosis. METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively the data of 105 patients with initial hemoglobin level under 10g/dl, who had undergone total abdominal hysterectomy after correction of anemia with GnRH agonist (Group 1) or intravenous iron therapy (Group 2) from January 2004 to April 2006. RESULTS: Initial hemogloblin level was not different between the two groups. After administration, hemoglobin level increased by 3.9+/-2.3 g/dl and 2.6+/-1.7 g/dl, respectively. Therefore, group 1 was superior in anemia correction (p<0.01). On postoperative 1st day, hemoglobin level was 10.3+/-1.6 g/dl and 9.0+/-1.0 g/dl. Correction duration was 7.8+/-4.7weeks (1-18weeks) in group 1 and 4.0+/-4.8weeks (1-30 weeks) in group 2. Shorter duration was needed for correction in group 2 (p<0.01). Surgically removed uterine weight was 391.4+/-195.1 gm and 630.6+/-648.9 gm, respectively. Uterine weight was heavier in Group 2 (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: In comparison of efficacy of GnRH agonist with intravenous iron therapy for the correction of preoperative anemia, corrected hemoglobin level was higher and removed uterine weight was smaller in group 1. But duration of therapy for the correction of anemia was shorter and cost-effectiveness was superior in group 2. Clinicians should consider the patients' condition prior to the selection of drug for preoperative anemia correction.
Adenomyosis ; Anemia* ; Female ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone* ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Iron* ; Leiomyoma ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of vaginal hysterectomy on total vaginal length (TVL). METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 155 medical records of patients underwent vaginal hysterectomy by one surgeon with benign uterine pathology in the absence of prolapse between January 2004 and February 2007. After hysterectomy, uterosacral vaginal vault resuspension (anchoring to vaginal vault about 1.0~1.5 cm proximal at the ligament) was performed for prevention of vault prolapse. Patients' characteristics and TVL before and after surgery were evaluated. RESULTS: Preoperative mean TVL was 7.32+/-0.84cm. At two months after the surgery, mean TVL was 7.42+/-0.77 cm. The change of vaginal length was statistical significance (P=0.045). Eighty-one patients were reevaluated at five to twelve months after surgery, mean TVL was longer than the preoperative results (7.3+/-0.82 cm vs 7.48+/-0.78 cm, P=0.011). We evaluated 30 patients who were followed at least 12 months after the surgery, the length was longer than the preoperative results, also (7.17+/-0.81 cm vs 7.46+/-0.66 cm, P=0.006). CONCLUSION: Although that appears to be statistically significant elongation of the total vaginal length after vaginal hysterectomy, the impact is unlikely to be clinically significant.
Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Hysterectomy, Vaginal* ; Medical Records ; Pathology ; Prolapse ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Gallstone is the most common disease of the biliary system. Most cases of gallstone are asymptomatic and we incidentally found gallstones during a community health survey. Our study was designed to determine the prevalence and risk factors for gallstone in a population who underwent health screening. METHODS: We enrolled a total of 36,314 persons who visited the health promotion center in Kyungpook National University Hospital in Korea from 1998 to 2004. They had their gallbladder or biliary system examined with using ultrasonography. The body mass index and biochemical parameters from liver function tests, the lipid profiles and the fasting blood sugar were all measured. All the subjects were divided into several groups and the particular prevalence for gallstone disease for each group was calculated. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analysis assessed the risk factors for gallstone disease. RESULTS: Among 36,314 persons, (19,345 males (53.3%) and 16,969 females (46.7%)), gallstone was found in 735 persons (2.0%). On univariate analysis, the risk factors for gallstone disease were age, body mass index, fasting blood sugar, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride and serum aspartate aminotransferase. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, the the risk factors were high body mass index, older age and high fasting blood sugar. CONCLUSIONS: The risk factors seem to show a common pathogenesis for gallstone disease. Although the relation between gallstone disease and metabolic syndrome has not been established, it appears to be associated with metabolic syndrome, but further study on a general population is required.
Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Biliary Tract ; Blood Glucose ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol ; Fasting ; Female ; Gallbladder ; Gallstones* ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Health Promotion ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver Function Tests ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Prevalence* ; Risk Factors* ; Triglycerides ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: To compare functional MR imaging of the motor cortex during active and passive movement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven healthy, right-handed volunteers (M:F=6:1; age:25-30 years) were included in this study. A 1.5-T whole body scanner and the multislice EPI BOLD method were used. The motor paradigm was flexion-extension of a thumb against rest. In the active motion task, the thumb was flexed voluntarily once a second, while in the passive task, it was tied with a thread and pulled to flex and extend passively at the same interval and with the same intensity as in the active task. For image postprocessing, an SPM 96 program was used. The sites, numbers, and signal intensity of the activated pixels were determined, and the threshold for significance was set at p<0.001 to p<0.01. RESULTS: In the active motion task, strong activation at the contralateral side of the primary sensorimotor cortex and supplementary motor cortex occurred in all 14 examples in all seven volunteers. Additionally, the ipsilateral primary sensorimotor cortex and supplementary motor area were activated in 12/14 and 11/14 such tasks, respectively. During passive motion tasks, on the other hand, weak activation occurred at the contralateral side of the primary sensorimotor cortex in all cases, but in the contralateral supplementary motor cortex in only three. In the ipsilateral primary sensorimotor cortex and supplementary motor area, there was no activation. CONCLUSION: Compared with the active motion task, activation occurring in the contralateral primary sensorimotor cortex and supplementary cortex was weaker and less frequent during the passive task, and during this latter, the ipsilateral motor cortex remained inactive. These results may be useful for the clinical application of functional MR imaging in unconscious patients or in animal studies.
Animals ; Hand ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Motor Cortex* ; Thumb ; Volunteers