Immediate Clinical and Biomechanical Effects of Low-dye Taping in Patients with Plantar Heel Pain / 대한스포츠의학회지

Plantar heel pain is common musculoskeletal disorder of the foot related to sports activity. Treatment of the plantar heel pain is usually conservative including low-dye (LD) taping. We evaluated the immediate clinical and biomechanical effect of LD taping. 19 patients who had plantar heel pain with fat pad tenderness or tenderness on plantar fascia insertion area participated in this study. We assessed plantar pressure change with foot pressure analysis system, fat pad depth changes with ultrasonography, pain improvement with visual analogue scale before and after LD taping. Patient treated with LD taping showed the decrease in maximum peak pressure and pressure time integral, and there was not a significant difference between pre and post maximal velocity, average velocity, distance of center of pressure. Fat pad depth increase (mean 1.67 mm, p<0.05) and pain improvement (mean 1.91 on visual analog scale, p<0.05). LD taping restrict midtarsal joint, correct hindfoot pronation, and provide fat pad depth increase and pain improvement, immediately.

Antibiotic Resistance Mechanisms of Escherichia coli Isolates from Urinary Specimens / 대한진단검사의학회지

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to characterize urinary isolates of Escherichia coli that produce extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) and to determine the prevalence of other antimicrobial resistance genes. METHODS: A total of 264 non-duplicate clinical isolates of E. coli were recovered from urine specimens in a tertiary-care hospital in Busan in 2005. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by disk diffusion and agar dilution methods, ESBL production was confirmed using the double-disk synergy (DDS) test, and antimicrobial resistance genes were detected by direct sequencing of PCR amplification products. E. coli isolates were classified into four phylogenetic biotypes according to the presence of chuA, yjaA, and TSPE4. RESULTS: DDS testing detected ESBLs in 27 (10.2%) of the 264 isolates. The most common type of ESBL was CTX-M-15 (N=14), followed by CTX-M-3 (N=8) and CTX-M-14 (N=6). All of the ESBL-producing isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin. PCR experiments detected genes encoding DHA-1 and CMY-10 AmpC beta-lactamases in one and two isolates, respectively. Also isolated were 5 isolates harboring 16S rRNA methylases, 2 isolates harboring Qnr, and 19 isolates harboring AAC(6')-Ib-cr. Most ESBL-producing isolates clustered within phylogenetic groups B2 (N=14) and D (N=7). CONCLUSION: CTX-M enzymes were the dominant type of ESBLs in urinary isolates of E. coli, and ESBL-producing isolates frequently contained other antimicrobial resistance genes. More than half of the urinary E. coli isolates harboring CTX-M enzymes were within the phylogenetic group B2.

Comparison of Activity Patterns between Rehabilitation Stroke Unit and Mixed Rehabilitation Ward for Stroke Patients

OBJECTIVE: To determine if the physical design and organizational structure of rehabilitation stroke unit (RSU) is related to the amount of patients' activity pattern. METHOD: An observational study was conducted using behavioral mapping method. Time samples of the motor activity of patients following stroke were taken at 10-minute interval, between 7 AM and 7 PM both on weekdays and weekends. At each observation, physical activity patterns, location in which the patients spent their time, and other person present were recorded. RESULTS: RSU patient spent less time in non-therapeutic activity and more time in therapeutic activity (p<0.05). There were significant differences in the locations of patient's position between the two types of ward (p<0.05). RSU patients had significantly more interaction with formal carerand less time disengaged (p<0.05). The proportion of time in therapeutic activity was low in all location, with patients spending many hours in bed and doing nothing. There was no significant differences in total Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores at admission and on discharge, FIM gain, and FIM efficiency between RSU and mixed rehabilitation ward (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In spite of quantitative difference, the two wards had similar patterns of treatment activity and deployment of staff. These maybe resulted in similar treatment experiences for patient and no functional differences between two wards. It appears that strategies are required so that patients can be practicing at an more appropriate level.

Therapeutic Effect according to Estrogen Dosage on Combined Therapy with Estrogen and Alendronate in Postmenopausal Osteoporosis

OBJECTIVE: To compare the difference of bone mineral density (BMD), biochemical markers, and lipid profiles according to dosage of estrogen on combined therapy with estrogen and alendronate in postmenopausal osteoporosis. METHOD: We studied 81 women with postmenopausal osteoporosis (T-score<2.5) from March 2002 to February 2005. Subjects were divided in two groups; Group I (n=36), treated with low dose hormone therapy (HT) (0.3 mg estrogen/1.25 mg MPA (Medroxyprogesterone acetate)) and alendronate, and Group II (n=45), treated with standard dose HT (0.625 mg estrogen/2.5 mg MPA) and alendronate. BMD at the L-spine and femur, osteocalcin, deoxypyridinoline, and lipid profiles were measured at baseline and 1 year after treatment. RESULTS: BMD at the L-spine increased significantly in two groups and BMD at the femur increased but showed no statistical differences. Deoxypyridinoline and osteocalcin decreased significantly in two group. Total cholesterol and LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol decreased significantly in two groups, no significant difference was observed between two groups in BMD, osteocalcin, deoxypyridinoline, and lipid profiles. CONCLUSION: We concluded that combined therapy with low dose estrogen and alendronate in postmenopausal osteoporosis showed similar therapeutic effect provied by combined therapy of standard dose estrogen and alendronate.