Treatment of Proximal Humeral Fractures using Modified Steinmann Pins and Tension Band Wiring / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evalulate the usefulness of internal fixation with two modified Steinmann pins and tension band wiring in displaced proximal humeral fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen cases of displaced proximal humeral fracture were surgically treated with modified Steinmann pins and tension band wiring and followed for an average 24.9 (6-39) months. Male to female ratio was 6 to 7. Average age was 58.1 (39-81) years. Results were assessed using Neer's evaluation criteria. RESULTS: Excellent results were noted in 9 cases and satisfactory results in 4 cases. All cases obtained radiological union. There was no complication such as avascular necrosis of humeral head or metal failure. Two cases showed impingement syndrome of the proximal portions of Steinmann pins, which were managed by early removal of the metal after union. CONCLUSIONS: Internal fixation using modified Steinmann pins and tension band wiring for proximal humeral fracture minimizes perioperative soft tissue damage, has a low risk of complications, and enables early rehabilitation by rendering relatively rigid fixation.

Comparison of MMPI Characteristics in Ulcerative Colitis, Hemodialysis patients & Normal Control Group / 대한내과학회지

OBJECTIVES: For many years, inflammatory bowel disease has been thought to have a strong psychosomatic component, but recent prospective studies show no evidence of correlation between various psychologic factors and the disease activity. However, chronic renal disease still places unique stresses on the hemodialysis patients, with consequent emotional reactions. The aims of this study are to investigate the psychologic factors of ulcerative colitis and hemodialysis patients using MMPI scales, which are objective psychological test, thus give aid to psychological understanding of these patients. MOTHODS: We investigated 23 ulcerative colitis patients in remission followed at outpatient department of Hanyang University Hospital and 25 patients receiving hemodialysis between June, 1994 and August, 1995. Twenty students were selected for normal control group. We utilized T-score of each MMPI scale for analyzing characteristics of each group and regard T-score over 70 or below 40 as abnormal. RESULTS: The average T-scores of each MMPI scale in ulcerative colitis, hemodialysis patients & normal control group were within normal range between 40 and 70, except for T-score of Es scale in hemodialysis patient group(34.5). The results of comparison between each MMPI scale of two patients & normal control group were as follows. 1) L scale was significantly elevated in ulcerative colitis & hemodialysis patients group compared with that of normal control group. F scale was significantly elevated in hemodialysis patients compared with that of ulcerative colitis patients & normal control group (p<0.01). 2) Hs(p<0.01), D, Pt(p<0.05) and Sc(p<0.01) scales were significantly elevated in hemodialysis patients compared with those of ulcerative colitis patients & normal control group. 3) Es scale was significantly lower in hemodialysis patients compared with that of ulcerative colitis patients & normal control group(p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The result presented in this study reflects emotional disturbances, functional impairment, stressful life condition, excessive hypochondriacal thinking, depressed mood and egocentric tendency of hemodialysis patients compared with ulcerative colitis patients & normal control group. This result also reflects the projective tendency, hostility, difficulty in rapport formation, psychologic disturbance, obssesive and rigid personality, anxiety and retiredness of hemodialysis patients compared with ulcerative colitis patients & normal control group. On the other hand, we can't find any statistically significant differences between ulcerative colitis and normal control group.

Antioxidative Effect of Melatonin in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats / 대한내분비학회지

BACKGROUND: An increase in oxidative stress has been suggested to play major roles in the complications of diabetes. The bulk of the experimental data favors enhanced free radicals in diabetes and antioxidant defense mechanisms may be reduced in diabetes. Melatonin, the major secretory product of the pineal gland has been shown to be a potent and specific hydroxyl radical scavenger. The purpose of our study was to determine the antioxidative effeet of melatonin in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200-240 g were divided into 3 groups: normal controls(n-7), diabetic contmls(n-9), melatonin-treated diabetic animals(n-9). Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotoein(55 mg/kg body weight) and melatonin(6 mg/kg body weight) was orally administered for 20 days. At day 20 after streptozotocin administration, blood was collected for the assay of glucose, albumin and cholesterol. Erythrocyte membrane lipid peroxidation was determined by malonyldialdehyde(MDA) reactivity. RESULTS: 1) The MDA resctivity of erytbrocyte membrane in melatonin-treated diabetic animals (meanstandard deviation: 5.52+-1.52nmol/ml packed cells) were lower(p<0.05) than that in diabetic controls(7.68+-1.16nmol/mL packed cells). But, there was no significant difference between melatonin-treated diabetic animals and normal contls(4.93+-1.19 nmol/mL packed cells). 2) There were no significant differences of blood glucose and body weight between diabetic controls and melatonin-treated diabetic animals. CONCLUSION: These results show the antioxidative effect of melatonin in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Further clinical and long-term experimental studies are needed to assess the effect of melatonin on development and progression of diabetic complications.