Objective: To determine the effects of an integrated training device for strength and balance on extremity muscle strength, postural balance, and cognition in older adults using a combination with various rehabilitation training games, in which balance, strength, and cognitive training were configured in a single device. Methods: This prospective study included 20 healthy participants aged 65–85 years. Participants trained for 30 minutes daily, 3 days weekly, for 6 weeks with an integrated training device for strength and balance (SBT-120; Man&Tel Inc., Gumi, Korea). Main outcomes were measured using the Korean Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE), Korean version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (K-MoCA), Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), Functional Reach Test (FRT), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Manual Muscle Test. Measurements were taken at three time points: T0 (pretreatment), T1 (immediately after treatment), and T2 (4 weeks after treatment). Results: All 20 patients completed the training, and TUG, FRT, and BBS scores significantly improved at T1 and T2 compared to T0. Mean TUG scores decreased by 0.99±2.00 at T1 and 1.05±1.55 at T2 compared to T0. Mean FRT scores increased by 6.13±4.26 at T1 and 6.75±4.79 at T2 compared to T0. BBS scores increased by 0.60±0.94 at T1 and 0.45±1.15 at T2 compared to T0. Moreover, muscle strength and cognition (K-MMSE and K-MoCA scores) increased after training. Conclusion Our findings suggest that an integrated training device for strength and balance can be a safe and useful tool for older adults.

Objective: To determine the effects of an integrated training device for strength and balance on extremity muscle strength, postural balance, and cognition in older adults using a combination with various rehabilitation training games, in which balance, strength, and cognitive training were configured in a single device. Methods: This prospective study included 20 healthy participants aged 65–85 years. Participants trained for 30 minutes daily, 3 days weekly, for 6 weeks with an integrated training device for strength and balance (SBT-120; Man&Tel Inc., Gumi, Korea). Main outcomes were measured using the Korean Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE), Korean version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (K-MoCA), Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), Functional Reach Test (FRT), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Manual Muscle Test. Measurements were taken at three time points: T0 (pretreatment), T1 (immediately after treatment), and T2 (4 weeks after treatment). Results: All 20 patients completed the training, and TUG, FRT, and BBS scores significantly improved at T1 and T2 compared to T0. Mean TUG scores decreased by 0.99±2.00 at T1 and 1.05±1.55 at T2 compared to T0. Mean FRT scores increased by 6.13±4.26 at T1 and 6.75±4.79 at T2 compared to T0. BBS scores increased by 0.60±0.94 at T1 and 0.45±1.15 at T2 compared to T0. Moreover, muscle strength and cognition (K-MMSE and K-MoCA scores) increased after training. Conclusion Our findings suggest that an integrated training device for strength and balance can be a safe and useful tool for older adults.

BACKGROUND: Iodine is an intrinsic element of thyroid hormone, which is essential for childhood growth and development. The Ideal Breast Milk (IBM) cohort study aims to evaluate the effects of maternal iodine status during pregnancy and lactation on maternal thyroid function, offspring growth and development, and offspring thyroid function. METHODS: The IBM cohort study recruited pregnant women from Seoul National University Hospital between June 2016 and August 2017, followed by enrollment of their offspring after delivery. For the maternal participants, iodine status is evaluated by urinary iodine concentration (UIC) and dietary records in the third trimester and at 3 to 4 weeks and 12 to 15 months postpartum. For the child participants, cord blood sampling and UIC measurements are performed at birth. At 3 to 4 weeks of age, UIC and breastmilk iodine concentrations are measured. At 12 to 15 months of age, growth and development are assessed and measurements of UIC, a thyroid function test, and ultrasonography are performed. RESULTS: A total of 198 pregnant women in their third trimester were recruited. Their mean age was 35.1±3.5 years, and 78 (39.4%) of them were pregnant with twins. Thirty-three (16.7%) of them had a previous history of thyroid disease. CONCLUSION: Korea is an iodine-replete area. In particular, lactating women in Korea are commonly exposed to excess iodine due to the traditional practice of consuming brown seaweed soup postpartum. The study of the IBM cohort is expected to contribute to developing guidelines for optimal iodine nutrition in pregnant or lactating women.
Breast* ; Child ; Cohort Studies* ; Cordocentesis ; Diet Records ; Female ; Growth and Development* ; Humans ; Infant ; Iodine* ; Korea ; Lactation* ; Milk, Human* ; Parturition ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Prospective Studies* ; Seaweed ; Seoul ; Thyroid Diseases ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyroid Gland* ; Twins ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor and nonmotor symptoms such as cognitive impairment and neuropsychiatric symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate the spectrum of neuropsychiatric symptoms in PD according to cognitive function. METHODS: One hundred twenty seven patients with PD were consecutively recruited. They had undergone an intensive interview with a neurologist and the Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery-dementia version, and were divided into three groups: 27 patients in PD with normal cognition (PDNC), 57 in PD with mild cognitive impairment (PDMCI), and 43 in PD with Dementia (PDD). Forty five healthy controls without memory complaints were also recruited. The caregivers of all participants administered the Caregiver-Administered Neuropsychiatric Inventory (CGA-NPI). RESULTS: There were significant differences in the CGA-NPI score (22.8+/-20.9 vs. 6.4+/-10.1 vs. 1.7+/-3.9 vs. 1.0+/-1.6, p<0.001), and the prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms (100% vs. 64.9% vs. 37.0% vs. 44.4%, p<0.001) among PDD, PDMCI, PDNC and control groups. Depression was the most common symptom (43.3%), followed by anxiety (31.5%), apathy (26.8%), and night-time behavior (26.8%) in all PD patients. Delusion, hallucination, and aberrant motor behavior were observed frequently in PDD, but were rare in PDMCI. CONCLUSIONS: Depression was the most common neuropsychiatric symptom in PD. The presence of delusion, hallucination, or aberrant motor behavior may suggest PDD. The neuropsychiatric symptoms were not prevalent in PD with normal cognition.
Anxiety ; Apathy ; Caregivers ; Cognition ; Delusions ; Dementia ; Depression ; Hallucinations ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Memory ; Mild Cognitive Impairment ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Parkinson Disease ; Prevalence

Mast cells are involved in allergic responses, protection against pathogens and autoimmune diseases. Dexamethasone (Dex) and other glucocorticoids suppress FcepsilonRI-mediated release of inflammatory mediators from mast cells. The inhibition mechanisms were mainly investigated on the downstream signaling of Fc receptor activations. Here, we addressed the effects of Dex on Fc receptor expressions in rat mast cell line RBL-2H3. We measured mRNA levels of Fc receptors by real-time PCR. As expected, Dex decreased the mRNA levels of activating Fc receptor for IgE (FcepsilonR) I and increased the mRNA levels of the inhibitory Fc receptor for IgG FcgammaRIIb. Interestingly, Dex stimulated transcriptions of other activating receptors such as Fc receptors for IgG (FcgammaR) I and FcgammaRIII. To investigate the mechanisms underlying transcriptional regulation, we employed a transcription inhibitor actinomycin D and a translation inhibitor cycloheximide. The inhibition of protein synthesis without Dex treatment enhanced FcgammaRI and FcgammaRIII mRNA levels potently, while FcepsilonRI and FcgammaRIIb were minimally affected. Next, we examined expressions of the Fc receptors on cell surfaces by the flow cytometric method. Only FcgammaRIIb protein expression was significantly enhanced by Dex treatment, while FcgammaRI, FcgammaRIII and FcepsilonRI expression levels were marginally changed. Our data showed, for the first time, that Dex regulates Fc receptor expressions resulting in augmentation of the inhibitory receptor FcgammaRIIb.
Animals ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Cycloheximide ; Dactinomycin ; Dexamethasone ; Glucocorticoids ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulin G ; Mast Cells ; Rats ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptors, Fc ; RNA, Messenger

No abstract available.
Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Venous Thrombosis

High flow priapism is a prolonged, non-painful penile erection unrelated to sexual stimulation after penile or perineal trauma. We report a case of high-flow priapism treated successfully with superselective embolization. An 8-year-old boy presented to our hospital 9 days after having been struck in the perineum during a bicycle accident. After the injury, the patient suffered a painless prolonged erection. High flow priapism was diagnosed by cavernosal blood gas analysis and penile duplex doppler ultrasonography. We identified the position of the fistula and pseudoaneurysm with angiography and embolized the lesions super-selectively with an autologous blood clot, gel foam, and a microcoil, bilaterally. After 2 superselective embolizations, the patient had detumescence. This case shows that bilateral arterio-cavernosal fistulas can be successfully treated with superselective arterial embolization.
Aneurysm, False ; Angiography ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Child ; Fistula ; Humans ; Male ; Penile Erection ; Perineum ; Priapism ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex

High flow priapism is a prolonged, non-painful penile erection unrelated to sexual stimulation after penile or perineal trauma. We report a case of high-flow priapism treated successfully with superselective embolization. An 8-year-old boy presented to our hospital 9 days after having been struck in the perineum during a bicycle accident. After the injury, the patient suffered a painless prolonged erection. High flow priapism was diagnosed by cavernosal blood gas analysis and penile duplex doppler ultrasonography. We identified the position of the fistula and pseudoaneurysm with angiography and embolized the lesions super-selectively with an autologous blood clot, gel foam, and a microcoil, bilaterally. After 2 superselective embolizations, the patient had detumescence. This case shows that bilateral arterio-cavernosal fistulas can be successfully treated with superselective arterial embolization.
Aneurysm, False ; Angiography ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Child ; Fistula ; Humans ; Male ; Penile Erection ; Perineum ; Priapism ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex

We report here on a case of a 34-year-old man with unruptured aneurysm of the left sinus of Valsalva, and he presented with acute coronary syndrome due to the putative dynamic compression of both the left main coronary artery and the left circumflex coronary artery. The cardiac multislice computed tomography scanning and coronary angiogram revealed the compression of the two coronary arteries by the aneurysm of the left sinus of Valsalva. Aneurysmectomy was performed for surgical repair. After the surgery, the patient stayed asymptomatic during the 6-months of follow-up.
Acute Coronary Syndrome* ; Adult ; Aneurysm* ; Coronary Vessels ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Multidetector Computed Tomography ; Sinus of Valsalva*

Hemangioma is the most common soft tissue tumor in the body. Though it may occur anywhere in the body, hemangioma of the uterus is a very rare tumor. Hemangioma is almost asymptomatic, but it is sometimes clinically important because it can cause massive hemorrhage and this is a life-threatening condition. We report here on the magnetic resonance imaging and pathologic findings of cavernous hemangioma of the uterus in a 32-year-woman with menorrhagia.
Female ; Hemangioma ; Hemangioma, Cavernous* ; Hemorrhage ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Menorrhagia ; Uterine Neoplasms ; Uterus*