and Relevance: We found that the duration and behavior of musth in captive male elephants were affected by the introduction of other growing male elephants.

and Relevance: We found that the duration and behavior of musth in captive male elephants were affected by the introduction of other growing male elephants.

and Relevance: We found that the duration and behavior of musth in captive male elephants were affected by the introduction of other growing male elephants.

and Relevance: We found that the duration and behavior of musth in captive male elephants were affected by the introduction of other growing male elephants.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the utility of symmetric dimethylarginine as a biomarker for kidney disease in captive striped skunks in Korea. Methods: This retrospective study analysed 11 striped skunks housed at the Everland Zoo between 2017 and 2021. Blood samples were collected during health checks. Kidney function was assessed through blood analysis and diagnostic ultrasound, with necropsies conducted on deceased animals. Symmetric dimethylarginine levels were measured in 27 plasma samples collected from 11 skunks. Results: Over the study period, seven skunks were diagnosed with kidney disease. Analysis of 27 blood samples revealed a concurrent increase in SDMA levels with concentrations of blood urea nitrogen and blood creatinine. In 3 of the 7 skunks with kidney disease, symmetric dimethylarginine exceeded 14 µg/dL prior to the elevation of blood urea nitrogen and blood creatinine above the upper reference limit. Conclusions and Relevance: To our knowledge, this is the first study investigating symmetric dimethylarginine in captive striped skunks in Korea. Our findings suggest that symmetric dimethylarginine may serve as an early and consistent biomarker for renal dysfunction in striped skunks. Further studies with larger clinical sample size from striped skunks are needed to validate the clinical utility of blood symmetric dimethylarginine concentration.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate medical comorbidities and needs for medical and rehabilitation services of adults with cerebral palsy (CP) in Korea. METHODS: This was a prospective cross-sectional study. One hundred fifty-four adults with CP were enrolled in the study between February 2014 and December 2014. Information was obtained from participants regarding functional status, demographic and socioeconomic data, medical problems, and requirements for and utilization of medical and rehabilitation services. RESULTS: The participants included 93 males and 61 females with a mean age of 40.18±9.15 years. The medical check-up rate of adults with CP was lower than that of healthy adults and the total population with disabilities (53.2% vs. 58.6% vs. 70.4%). A quarter of the subjects failed to visit the hospital during the past year, and the main reason was the financial burden. Due to a cost burden and lack of knowledge, more than one-third of the subjects had unmet needs for rehabilitation services; the majority reported needs for rehabilitation services, such as physical therapy for pain management. CONCLUSION: The medical check-up rate was lower in the adults with CP, even though their medical comorbidities were not less than those of healthy people. Several non-medical reasons hindered them from receiving proper medical and rehabilitation services. Such barriers should be managed effectively.
Adult* ; Cerebral Palsy* ; Comorbidity ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male ; Pain Management ; Prospective Studies ; Rehabilitation*

Two Whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus) died after suffering from pododermatitis, lethargy, and ataxia; necropsy was performed. Grossly, the liver was swollen and firm. The kidney and spleen were also enlarged and a pale tan color. On histopathologic examination with Congo red staining, amyloidosis was noted in liver, spleen, and kidney. In addition, marked osseous metaplasia was present in the liver. Based on these results, systemic amyloidosis involving liver, spleen, and kidney with osseous metaplasia in the liver was diagnosed. Study results indicate that an inflammatory reaction associated with pododermatitis had a role in the amyloidosis in this particular case.
Amyloidosis* ; Ataxia ; Congo Red ; Kidney ; Lethargy ; Liver ; Metaplasia ; Spleen ; Triacetoneamine-N-Oxyl

Falls and fall-related injuries are important issue among polio survivors. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of, and consequences and factors associated with falls among Korean polio survivors. A total of 317 polio survivors participated in this study. All participants completed a questionnaire including fall history, symptoms related to post-polio syndrome and other information through a telephone interview. Among them, 80 participants visited our clinic for additional physical measurements and tests. Of the 317 respondents, 68.5% reported at least one fall in the past year. Of the fallers, 42.5% experienced at least one fall during one month. Most falls occurred during ambulation (76.6%), outside (75.2%) and by slipping down (29.7%). Of fallers, 45% reported any injuries caused by falls, and 23.3% reported fractures specifically. Female sex, old age, low bone mineral density, the presence of symptoms related to post-polio syndrome (PPS), poor balance confidence, short physical performance battery and weak muscle strength of knee extensor were not significantly associated with falls. Only leg-length discrepancy using spine-malleolar distance (SMD) was a significant factor associated with falls among Korean polio survivors. Our findings suggest that malalignment between the paralytic and non-paralytic limb length should be addressed in polio survivors for preventing falls.
Accidental Falls/*statistics & numerical data ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Female ; Fractures, Bone/etiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Interviews as Topic ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postpoliomyelitis Syndrome/*pathology ; Postural Balance ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Telephone ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: Atypical femoral fracture (AFF), periprosthetic femoral fracture (PPFF) and femoral nonunion (FNU) are recalcitrant challenges for orthopedic surgeons. Teriparatide (TPTD) had been demonstrated to have anabolic effects on bone in various studies. We postulated that adjuvant TPTD after operation would enhance biologic stimulation for bone formation. We investigated (1) whether the adjuvant TPTD could achieve satisfactory union rate of surgically challenging cases such as displaced AFF, PPFF and FNU; (2) whether the adjuvant TPTD could promote development of abundant callus after surgical fixation; (3) whether the adjuvant TPTD had medically serious adverse effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen patients who agreed to off label use of TPTD in combination of operation were included in this retrospective case series. Median patients' age was 68.7 years, and there were three male and ten female patients. Their diagnoses were nonunion in six patients and acute fracture in seven. Medical records and radiographic images were reviewed. RESULTS: Twelve of thirteen fractures were united both clinically and radiologically within a year after adjuvant TPTD. Union completed radiologically median 5.4 months and clinically 5.7 months after the medication, respectively. Callus appeared abundantly showing median 1.4 of fracture healing response postoperatively. There was no serious adverse reaction of medication other than itching, muscle cramp, or nausea. CONCLUSION: Even appropriate surgical treatment is a mainstay of treatment for AFF, PPFF, and FNU, the current report suggested that adjuvant TPTD combined with stable fixation results in satisfactory outcome for the challenging fractures of femur.
Anabolic Agents ; Bony Callus ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Femoral Fractures* ; Femur ; Fracture Healing ; Humans ; Male ; Medical Records ; Muscle Cramp ; Nausea ; Off-Label Use ; Orthopedics ; Osteogenesis ; Periprosthetic Fractures ; Pruritus ; Retrospective Studies ; Surgeons ; Teriparatide*

OBJECTIVE: To obtain information on the socioeconomic, medical, and functional status of polio survivors, and to use these results as the preliminary data for establishing the middle-aged cohort of polio survivors. METHODS: The subjects were recruited based on the medical records of multiple hospitals and centers. They were assessed through a structured questionnaire over the phone. Post-poliomyelitis syndrome (PPS) was identified according to the specified diagnostic criteria. Differences between polio survivors with or without PPS were evaluated, and the risk factors for PPS were analyzed by the odds ratio (OR). RESULTS: Majority of polio survivors were middle-aged and mean age was 51.2+/-8.3 years. A total of 188 out of 313 polio survivors met the adopted criteria for PPS based on the symptoms, yielding a prevalence of 61.6%. Mean interval between acute poliomyelitis and the development of PPS was 38.5+/-11.6 years. Female gender (OR 1.82; confidence interval [CI] 1.09-3.06), the age at onset of poliomyelitis (OR 1.75; CI 1.05-2.94), the use of orthoses or walking aids (OR 2.46; CI 1.44-4.20), and the history of medical treatment for paralysis, pain or gait disturbance (OR 2.62; CI 1.52-4.51) represented independent risk factors for PPS. CONCLUSION: We found that the majority of Korean polio survivors entered middle age with many medical, functional, and social problems. Female gender, early age of onset of poliomyelitis, the use of orthoses or walking aids, and the history of medical treatment for paralysis, pain or gait disturbance were identified as the significant risk factors for PPS. A comprehensive and multidisciplinary plan should be prepared to manage polio survivors considering their need for health care services and the risk factors for late effects, such as PPS.
Age of Onset ; Cohort Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires* ; Delivery of Health Care ; Female ; Gait ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic* ; Medical Records ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Orthotic Devices ; Paralysis ; Poliomyelitis* ; Postpoliomyelitis Syndrome* ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors* ; Social Problems ; Survivors* ; Walking ; Surveys and Questionnaires