Reliability and Validity of a New Method for Isometric Back Extensor Strength Evaluation Using A Hand-Held Dynamometer

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the reliability and validity of a new method for isometric back extensor strength measurement using a portable dynamometer. METHODS: A chair equipped with a small portable dynamometer was designed (Power Track II Commander Muscle Tester). A total of 15 men (mean age, 34.8±7.5 years) and 15 women (mean age, 33.1±5.5 years) with no current back problems or previous history of back surgery were recruited. Subjects were asked to push the back of the chair while seated, and their isometric back extensor strength was measured by the portable dynamometer. Test-retest reliability was assessed with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). For the validity assessment, isometric back extensor strength of all subjects was measured by a widely used physical performance evaluation instrument, BTE PrimusRS system. The limit of agreement (LoA) from the Bland-Altman plot was evaluated between two methods. RESULTS: The test-retest reliability was excellent (ICC=0.82; 95% confidence interval, 0.65–0.91). The Bland-Altman plots demonstrated acceptable agreement between the two methods: the lower 95% LoA was −63.1 N and the upper 95% LoA was 61.1 N. CONCLUSION: This study shows that isometric back extensor strength measurement using a portable dynamometer has good reliability and validity.

Ki 67 Expression and Its Correlation with the Proliferative Index Measured by Flow Cytometry in Breast Carcinoma

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical utility of Ki 67 labelling index and proliferative indices measured by flow cytometry in breast carcinomas. METHODS: We conducted immunohistochemical assay for Ki 67 and analyzed the DNA content and S-phase fraction by flow cytometry in 113 cases of primary breast carcinomas. Relationship between proliferative indices measured by two method and clinical biological parameters was also analyzed. RESULTS: Ki 67 labelling index than average was increased in 53 tumors (46.9%) and demonstrated a significant correlation with S-phase fraction. Higher Ki 67 labelling index was found in 28 (59.6%) of 47 tumors with high S-phase fraction whereas it was found in only 8 tumors (30.8%) with low S-phase fraction. Concordance between Ki 67 labelling index and S-phase fraction was 63.1% (p=0.017). Tumor with high S-phase fraction had a tendency to have an aneuploid. Ki 67 labelling index correlated significantly with histologic grade (p=0.001) and nuclear grade (p=0.001). An inverse correlation was found between Ki 67 and estrogen receptor expression (p=0.004). CONCLUSION: Ki 67 labelling index significantly correlated with S-phase fraction measured by flow cytometry. Ki 67 labelling index seems to be a clinically useful method because it is rapid, practical and easily performed by immunohistchemical assay.

Trichophyton tonsurans Infection in Wrestlers and a Child / 대한피부과학회지

Trichophyton tonsurans has been the main agent of tinea capitis in the United States since 1950s. In Korea, dermatophytosis due to Trichophyton tonsurans has begun to be reported since 1995. These Korean cases were all confined to wrestlers. We report eight patients with dermatophytosis due to Trichophyton tonsurans, Seven of them were middle-school wrestlers and the other, a six-year-old boy, was a non-wrestler. The infection of the wrestler patients was known to have originated from contact with infected persons during wrestling competitions. The source of Trichophyton tonsurans in the boy patient was obscure. To our knowledge, tinea capitis caused by Trichophyton tonsurans in a non-wrestler Korean has not been reported previously.

Pyloric Stenosis in Premature Infants: Report of two cases / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

The incidence of Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS) in premature infants is rare, the presentation is not typical, and the diagnosis delayed due to uncertain diagnostic criteria in abdominal ultrasonography (US). We report two premature infants with HPS diagnosed by US and upper gastrointestinal (UGI) contrast study. Patient 1. A premature female infant (birth weight 1950 gm at 34 week's gestation) with the onset of intermittent vomiting at 9 days of age was evaluated. US was normal at 13 days of life, however, abnormal at 41 days of life (pyloric muscle length 16.5 mm). Patient 2. A premature male infant (birth weight 1470 gm at 29 week's gestation) with the onset of intermittent vomiting at 10 days of age was evaluated. US showed pylorospasm at 11 days of life, however, findings compatible with HPS at 57 days of life (pyloric muscle thickness 11 mm).UGI contrast study at 48 days of life showed similar findings in both cases. Both patients had undergone pyloromyotomy. In conclusion, the diagnosis of HPS in premature infants requires careful follow-up by US and UGI contrast study.