Background: and Purpose: The effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) interventions on functional brain changes in older adults remain unclear. This preliminary study aimed to explore the effect of physical exercise intervention (PEI), including HIIT, on cognitive function, physical performance, and electroencephalogram patterns in Korean elderly people. Methods: We enrolled six non-dementia participants aged >65 years from a community health center. PEI was conducted at the community health center for 4 weeks, three times/week, and 50 min/day. PEI, including HIIT, involved aerobic exercise, resistance training (muscle strength), flexibility, and balance. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used for data analysis. Results: After the PEI, there was improvement in the 30-second sit-to-stand test result (16.2±7.0 times vs. 24.8±5.5 times, p=0.027), 2-minute stationary march result (98.3±27.2 times vs. 143.7±36.9 times, p=0.027), T-wall response time (104.2±55.8 seconds vs.71.0±19.4 seconds, p=0.028), memory score (89.6±21.6 vs. 111.0±19.1, p=0.028), executive function score (33.3±5.3 vs. 37.0±5.1, p=0.046), and total Literacy Independent Cognitive Assessment score (214.6±30.6 vs. 241.6±22.8, p=0.028). Electroencephalography demonstrated that the beta power in the frontal region was increased, while the theta power in the temporal region was decreased (all p<0.05). Conclusions Our HIIT PEI program effectively improved cognitive function, physical fitness, and electroencephalographic markers in elderly individuals; thus, it could be beneficial for improving functional brain activity in this population.

Purpose: In patients with locally advanced breast cancer, neoadjuvant chemotherapy is widely used. It has a distinct advantage in the downstaging of the primary tumor and provides important information about treatment response. With its increasing usage, concerns over the appropriate management of the axilla have emerged. In this study, we compared oncological outcomes of conventional axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) over axillary sampling (AS) with radiotherapy (RT) in patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Methods: In this retrospective study, we included female patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and HER2 type breast cancer who underwent breast and axillary surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy between May 2011 to December 2016. A total of 89 patients’ medical records were eligible for analysis. We defined AS as removal of at least four axillary lymph nodes located near the sentinel lymph nodes without full exposure of the axillary vein, long thoracic nerve, and thoracodorsal nerve. Results: The median follow-up period was 47.00 months. The disease-free survival was 69.66 months in the AS with RT group and 69.02 months in the ALND group (p=0.280). The invasive disease-free survival was 75.16 months in the AS with RT group and 78.44 months in the ALND group (p=0.218). Conclusion AS with radiotherapy might be a feasible surgical option in patients with TNBC and HER2 type breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Purpose: Meckel diverticulum (MD), caused by an obliteration defect of the omphalomesenteric duct, is one of the most common congenital anomalies of small intestines. The objective of this study was to review surgical outcomes of MD and evaluate the feasibility of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) in MD. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of the medical records of patients who underwent diverticulectomy for MD at 6 Hallym University-affiliated hospitals between January 2008 and December 2017. All patients underwent either open surgery or MIS. Patients who underwent MIS were subdivided into laparoscopic only diverticulectomy (LOD) or laparoscopic-assisted diverticulectomy (LAD). Results: Of 64 patients, 21 underwent open surgery and 43 underwent MIS. Time to flatus, time to soft food intake, and length of hospital stay were shorter in the MIS group than in the open surgery group (P = 0.047, P = 0.005, and P = 0.015, respectively). Among patients who underwent MIS, the time to flatus and time to soft food intake were longer in the LAD group than in the LOD group (0.3 and 0.9 days, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that old age and preoperative ileus were independent predictors of complications (P = 0.030 and P = 0.013, respectively). Operation type (open surgery, LOD, or LAD) was not associated with complications. Conclusion The present study showed that MIS is associated with quicker recovery without increasing complications.Therefore, MIS may be a safe alternative to open surgery for MD. An old age and preoperative ileus were associated with a risk of postoperative complications.

PURPOSE: Most surviving pediatric osteosarcoma patients experience osteoporosis, bone pain, and pathologic fracture during and after therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and side effects of pamidronate therapy in these patients. METHODS: Nine osteosarcoma patients (12.8±1.6 years of age; 5 boys and 4 girls) who had a history of nontraumatic fracture or severe pain after completing chemotherapy were included. Intravenous pamidronate (1.5 mg/kg) was given every 6 weeks for 4 to 6 cycles. Bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Clinical outcomes including acute side effects were also evaluated. RESULTS: After pamidronate treatments, all patients experienced decreased pain. Seven of 9 patients could walk without a crutch. The BMD of lumbar spine was increased by 0.108±0.062 mg/cm2 after 8.4±1.0 months (n=8, P=0.017) and the mean z-score improved from -2.14±0.94 to -1.76±0.95 (P=0.161). Six patients (67%) had an acute-phase reaction, and 2 patients had symptomatic hypocalcemia. CONCLUSION: Pamidronate appears to be safe and effective for the treatment of osteosarcoma in children with low BMD and bone pain.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Acute-Phase Reaction ; Bone Density* ; Child ; Drug Therapy ; Fractures, Spontaneous ; Humans ; Hypocalcemia ; Osteoporosis ; Osteosarcoma* ; Spine

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem inflammatory disease of unknown etiology characterized by noncaseating epithelioid granuloma formation. Although the relationship between sarcoidosis and malignancy has been noted in recent decades, there are few case reports describing the concurrent diagnosis of sarcoidosis and malignancy. Herein, we describe a case of biopsy-proven splenic sarcoidosis mimicking metastasis at the time of ovarian adenocarcinoma. Imaging studies including positron-emission tomography-computed tomography were not useful for differentiating sarcoidosis from malignancy. Thus, our case highlights the importance of histopathological examination to rule out nonmalignant conditions before the diagnosis of metastatic disease is made.
Adenocarcinoma ; Diagnosis* ; Granuloma ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Ovarian Neoplasms* ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Sarcoidosis*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the objective amplitude of accommodation in various age groups using an autorefractometer and to compare the results with subjective assessments on accommodation. Objective accommodative amplitude of artificial lenses in post-operative cataract patients was also measured. METHODS: In this study, 41 patients who visited Korea University Guro Hospital from July through August 2014 were categorized into 6 different age groups. Accommodative amplitude was measured using long-distance refraction at 5 m and short-distance refraction at 20 cm. In 20 patients, subjective amplitude of accommodation was measured using the minus lens technique and was compared with the measured objective accommodative amplitude. Accommodative amplitude was also measured in 8 patients who received cataract surgery. RESULTS: The mean accommodative ability in normal people was 2.38 D. The age groups of 10-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, and over 60 years showed accommodative amplitudes of 3.31 +/- 0.99 D, 3.25 +/- 0.34 D, 3.78 +/- 0.68 D, 1.00 +/- 0.60 D, 0.22 +/- 0.23 D, 0.00 +/- 0.00 D, respectively. The results showed a rapid decrease in accommodative ability of patients older than 40 years and demonstrated a correlation between objective and subjective amplitude of accommodation (Pearson's correlation coefficient 0.838). There was a significant difference between objective and subjective accommodative amplitudes in artificial lenses (p = 0.015), with average objective and subjective measures of 0.10 +/- 0.23 D and 0.59 +/- 0.35 D, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Measuring amplitude of accommodation using an autorefractometer can be useful in assessing results of presbyopia treatment.
Cataract ; Humans ; Korea ; Presbyopia

PURPOSE: Warm compression using a commercial heat pad was used to evaluate the effects of temperature on the eyelids and tear film lipid layer thickness. METHODS: Targeting 13 patients (26 eyes) with non-specific eye disease such as dry eye syndrome or Meibomian gland dysfunction, we measured the average thickness of the tear film lipid layer in both eyes with the LipiView 2® System (Tearscience®, Morrisville, NY, USA). We performed warm compression on the right eye only in order to evaluate the effectiveness of massage and measured the temperature of the right eye lid immediately, 3 minutes, and 5 minutes after compression in order to compare with the untreated left eye. After warm compression for 5 minutes, we measured tear film lipid layer thickness of both eyes and analyzed the effectiveness of warm compression. RESULTS: The average tear film lipid layer thickness was 55.1 ± 21.0 nm in the right eyes and 53.9 ± 13.9 nm in the left eyes (p = 0.474). Before performing the warm compression, the temperature of the right eye lid was 53.9 ± 13.9 nm, and that of the left was 35.9 ± 0.2℃. The eye lid temperature of the right eye immediately, 3 minutes, and 5 minutes after warm compression was 40.3 ± 1.3℃, 40.3 ± 1.3℃, and 40.3 ± 1.9℃, respectively, and these temperatures were relatively constant during the massage. Tear film lipid layer thickness after warm compression in the right eye was 83.5 ± 18.8 nm, which was increased compared to the original temperature (p = 0.001) and showed significant difference compared with the 65.5 ± 27.1 nm in the left eye (p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Warm compression increased the tear film lipid layer thickness and showed a relatively constant increased temperature of 40.3℃ over 5 minutes. This technique will be helpful for maintaining tear film lipid layer thickness in patients with Meibomian gland dysfunction.
Dry Eye Syndromes ; Eye Diseases ; Eyelids* ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Massage ; Meibomian Glands ; Tears*

PURPOSE: Warm compression using a commercial heat pad was used to evaluate the effects of temperature on the eyelids and tear film lipid layer thickness. METHODS: Targeting 13 patients (26 eyes) with non-specific eye disease such as dry eye syndrome or Meibomian gland dysfunction, we measured the average thickness of the tear film lipid layer in both eyes with the LipiView 2® System (Tearscience®, Morrisville, NY, USA). We performed warm compression on the right eye only in order to evaluate the effectiveness of massage and measured the temperature of the right eye lid immediately, 3 minutes, and 5 minutes after compression in order to compare with the untreated left eye. After warm compression for 5 minutes, we measured tear film lipid layer thickness of both eyes and analyzed the effectiveness of warm compression. RESULTS: The average tear film lipid layer thickness was 55.1 ± 21.0 nm in the right eyes and 53.9 ± 13.9 nm in the left eyes (p = 0.474). Before performing the warm compression, the temperature of the right eye lid was 53.9 ± 13.9 nm, and that of the left was 35.9 ± 0.2℃. The eye lid temperature of the right eye immediately, 3 minutes, and 5 minutes after warm compression was 40.3 ± 1.3℃, 40.3 ± 1.3℃, and 40.3 ± 1.9℃, respectively, and these temperatures were relatively constant during the massage. Tear film lipid layer thickness after warm compression in the right eye was 83.5 ± 18.8 nm, which was increased compared to the original temperature (p = 0.001) and showed significant difference compared with the 65.5 ± 27.1 nm in the left eye (p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Warm compression increased the tear film lipid layer thickness and showed a relatively constant increased temperature of 40.3℃ over 5 minutes. This technique will be helpful for maintaining tear film lipid layer thickness in patients with Meibomian gland dysfunction.
Dry Eye Syndromes ; Eye Diseases ; Eyelids* ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Massage ; Meibomian Glands ; Tears*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiological results after meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From October, 2010 to August, 2013, 45 patients, 47 cases who underwent MAT were reviewed. The mean age was 39.9 years and the mean follow-up period was 24.9 months. The clinical results were evaluated using Lysholm score and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score. All cases were evaluated by serial postoperative radiograph. And 18 cases were performed postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Eighteen cases including the 13 cases that had graft dislocation or subluxation and signal changes in MRI underwent second-look arthroscopy. RESULTS: Lysholm score was elevated from mean 58.4 at preoperative to 92.4 at last follow-up. IKDC score was elevated from mean 50.3 at preoperative to 90.1 at last follow-up. Among the 18 cases who underwent postoperative MRI, subluxation was found in 10 cases (55.6%) and graft dislocation with grade III signal change was found in 3 cases (16.7%). However, the 13 cases showed a well healed state of the graft capsule in second-look arthroscopy. There was no joint space narrowing on radiograph during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: After MAT, 93.6% of cases showed improved the clinical results above good. Thus, it is effective in relatively young and active patients with meniscus functional deficit and minor meniscal degeneration.
Allografts* ; Arthroscopy ; Dislocations ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Transplants