Comparison of the Effects between Growth Hormone and Hyaluronic Acid on Degenerative Cartilage of Knee in Rabbit

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether the growth hormone is effective in the treatment of degenerative cartilage of knee in rabbits. METHOD: Thirty New Zealand white rabbits were administered intra-articular injection with monosodium iodoacetate (Sigma, St. Louis, USA) 2.5 mg and divided into 3 groups. Each group was administered with hyaluronic acid (Hyruan plus(R), LG life science, Seoul, Korea)(group A) 0.6 ml, growth hormone (Declage(R), LG life science, Seoul, Korea) (group B) or saline (group C) 0.6 ml intra-articulary once a week for 4 weeks, beginning 4 weeks after the degeneration induction. All rabbits were killed 9 weeks after degeneration induction. The histologic morphology was observed by optical microscope with knee cartilage. RESULTS: Mankin score was 2.4+/-1.3 in group A, 3.9+/-1.7 in group B, 7.4+/-0.8 in group C. Yoshimi score was 1.5+/-0.7 in group A, 2.2+/-0.9 in group B, 4.4+/-0.6 in group C. Gross and microscopic morphologic findings showed that group C represented the more severe than group A & B (p<0.01), also group A was better than group B (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Growth hormone is effective on degenerative knee cartilage in rabbit model, but less than the hyaluronic acid.

Survey on the Prevalence of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Simple Repetitive Workers Who Use Upper Extremities / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study was carried out to survey on the prevalence of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome(CTS) in high risk jobs(meat and fish processing plant and wood plant), by application of Nerve Conduction Study(NCS), a confirmatory diagnostic method. METHODS: Experimental group was 69 workers sampled from meat and fish processing plants and 17 workers sampled from wood plants, who were simple, repetitive workers using upper extremities and control group was 28 workers sampled from managers, secretaries and keepers. All employees were examined through work history, physical examination and NCS. RESULTS: 18 workers(26.09%) in meat and fish processing plants, and 5 workers(29.41%) in wood plants had compatible findings to NIOSH diagnostic criteria for CTS. The experimental group had more symptoms(complaint of upper extremities, Visual Analogue Scale >or= 4(VAS: total 10 point)), signs(Tinel and Phalen test) and prevalence of CTS than control group ( por=7 years). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of CTS in meat and fish processing plant and wood plant were 26.09% and 29.41% respectively. Authors propose that meat and fish processing and wood plants should be managed as a risk job category which were designated by OSHA in 1996

The Effect of Intra-articular Hyaluronic Acid and Steroid Injection in Osteoarthritis of the Knee

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of intra-articular hyaluronic acid and steroid injection in osteoarthritis of the knee. METHOD: Among 653 patients with osteoarthritis, 531 patients were participated in this study. They were divided to three groups; A, treated with hyaluronic acid 2.5 ml intra-articular injection once a week for 5 times; B, hyaluronic acid 2.5 ml once a week for 5 times with triamcinolone 20 mg once at the first time; C, only triamcinolone 20 mg at the first time. Before injection, X-ray with standing view were checked and divided according to Kellgren's grade of osteoarthritis. The amount of pain relief was assessed by pain rating score (PRS) and visual analogue scale (VAS) 1 week before and 1 month after the treatment. RESULTS: The degree of pain relief by PRS and VAS were all improved at 1 month after injection compared with pre-injection status (p<0.001). Intra-articular hyaluronic acid injection was more effective in Kellgren's grade I, II than in III, IV in pain relief and hyaluronic acid with steroid injection was more effective in III, IV. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that intra-articular hyaluronic acid injection would be effective for the treatment of patients with osteoarthritis.

Radiologic Measurement of Flatfoot

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to demonstrate definite diagnostic radiologic criteria between normal and flatfoot. METHOD: Sixty healthy subjects and fifty two flatfoot cases were evaluated by radiologic measurements. We evaluated criteria for longitudinal arch curve by measuring of calcaneal pitch, talocalcaneal angle, talometatarsal angle, metatarsal angle and navicular height I and II. RESULTS: Over 10 years old, there was significant correlation between normal group and flatfoot in calcaneal pitch, talocacaneal angle, difference angle, metatarsal angle, navicular height I and II. But below 10 years old, there was difference in only talometatarsal angle and metatarsal angle. Therefore talometatarsal angle and metartarsal angle are valuable in diagnosis of flatfoot in all age group. CONCLUSION: In diagnosis of flatfoot, variable radiologic measurement are clinically significant.

Ultrasonography in the Shoulder Impingement Syndrome

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ultrasonographic (US) findings in the shoulder impingement syndrome and to correlate them with the Hawkins and Kennedy's clinical stages. METHOD: 41 patients with suspected shoulder impingement syndrome were evaluated. All patients were divided into 3 clinical groups according to Hawkins and Kennedy and US examination was done in each group. RESULTS: US findings were as follows. In stage I, there were 3 normal findings, 5 tendinitis of the rotator cuff (RC), 2 partial thickness tear of RC, and 0 full thickness tear of RC. In stage II, 6 normal findings, 13 tendinitis of RC, 3 partial thickness tear of RC and 2 full thickness tear of RC. In stage III, 0 normal findings, 1 tendinitids of RC, 1 partial thickness tear of RC, and 5 full thickness tear of RC. The most common findings in the tendinits of RC were tendon thickness, focal hypoechogenicity and calcification. In partial thickness tear of RC, focal hypoechogenicity and impingement in abduction were most common findings. In full thickness tear of RC, the irregular humeral head surface and the biceps tendon effusion were most common findings CONCLUSION: The ultrasonography is a valuable means of evaluating the shoulder impingement syndrome and its findings have good correlation with clinical stages

Effects of Low and High Frequency Needle Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Pain Threshold in Normal Adults

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to compare the effects of low frequency needle transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and high frequency needle TENS on experimental pain threshold. METHOD: Twenty two healthy adult subjects were assigned randomly to a low-TENS group or to a high-TENS group. Experimental pain threshold at forearm was determined with pain threshold of electrical simulation using surface electrode and needle electrode. RESULTS: Low-TENS group showed that pain relief was developed after 10 minutes and persisted 3 hours after treatment cessation. Low-TENS group showed a significant increase in experimental pain threshold opposing to high TENS group. CONCLUSION: This results suggest that effect of low frequency needle TENS therapy is better and longer than high frequency needle TENS therapy.

Pudendal Somatosensory Evoked Potential in Korean Women: Reference Values

OBJECTIVE: To obtain reference values of early potential latency and amplitude of pudendal SEP in Korean normal women and to correlate those values with height and age. METHOD: Twenty-three normal female with mean age of 45.27 years were evaluated for pudendal SEP. Stimulation was applied on the dorsal aspect of the clitoris with a bar electrode. Onset, P1, N1, P2 latencies and P0-P1, P1-N1, N1-P2 amplitudes were measured and those of both sides were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean latency of P0, P1, N1, P2 were 29.0+/-2.83 msec, 35.5+/-2.91 msec, 45.1+/-4.10 msec, 56.3+/-5.20 msec by the right pudendal nerve, and 28.6+/-3.11 msec, 35.2+/-2.93 msec, 45.0+/-3.83 msec, 56.5+/-5.33 msec by the left pudendal nerve. The amplitude ranges of P0-P1, P1-N1, N1-P2 were 0.31~2.45 uV, 0.11~2.24 uV, 0.21~2.62 uV by the right pudendal nerve, and 0.29~2.46 uV, 0.25~2.21 uV, 0.12~5.07 uV by the left pudendal nerve. There was tendency of prolongation of the latency with increasing the height. There is no difference of amplitude according to the height and the age. There was no significant difference between right and left sides in mean latency and range of amplitude of pudendal nerve SEPs, and between premenopause and postmenopause. CONCLUSION: Normal reference of female pudendal SEP were established. We suggest that pudendal SEP can be used as one of useful diagnostic tools for female urogenital and neurologic disease.