Comparison of functional results with navigation-assisted minimally invasive and conventional techniques in bilateral total knee arthroplasty.

This study was undertaken to compare the clinical and radiological results achieved using navigation-assisted minimally invasive surgery (NA-MIS) and conventional (CON) techniques in 42 bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients with a minimum follow-up of one year. Clinical evaluations were performed using range of motion (ROM), Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) scores, and Western Ontario and McMaster University (WOMAC) scores (pain, functional, and total) at 3, 6 and 9 months and one year postoperatively. Patients' subjective preferences and radiological indices, including mechanical axis and coronal inclinations of the prostheses, were compared at one year postoperatively. NA-MIS TKA yielded better HSS and WOMAC total scores than CON TKA up to six months, and a better WOMAC pain score up to 9 months. However, these differences were not significant at one year postoperatively. ROM was comparable in both groups at all times, but more patients preferred the NA-MIS side to the CON side. Radiological results showed no differences in mean values between the two surgical groups, although the NA-MIS group contained fewer outliers than the CON group. In conclusion, NA-MIS TKA was associated with better clinical results up to 6 or 9 months after surgery, giving more accurate leg alignment than CON TKA.

Use of hydrocyclone and flotation column for reducing the volume of contaminated dredged material.

As sediment contamination problems have recently been raised in Korea, the need for technologies to clean contaminants in sediments has increased. Although the recalcitrant organic matters and heavy metals in the contaminated sediments are of primary concern, large amounts of sediment makes the removal of the contaminants in them more difficult. In this study, the performance of hydrocyclone and flotation column was tested to reduce the volume of contaminated dredged materials (CDMs) prior to treating recalcitrant matters, such as various organic chemicals and heavy metals, in an integrated treatment system. When hydrocyclone was operated with 10% (w/v) solids concentration of the feed slurry, the total solids of upflow products were 4 to 7% (w/v) when the inlet pressure was changed from 1.0 to 2.0 kg/cm2. The volume reduction ratio of CDMs by hydrocyclone was approximately 90% (v/v). When the upflow products in hydrocyclone was then spiked with automobile transmission oil and fed to the flotation colum to see the performance of the column flotation on the volume reduction and the TPH removal, 44% of the TPHs in feed were removed at the tails and the volume reduction ratio of CDMs by column flotation was 18% at 200 L/min of wash water. The flotation column could be proposed as a potential preliminary treatment process of CDMs prior to subsequent biological treatments.

A modified two-incision minimally invasive total hip arthroplasty: technique and short-term results.

Between 2003 and 2005, a total of 425 consecutive cases with a modified two-incision minimally invasive total hip arthroplasty (THA) were performed at our hospital. We analysed 225 cas-es with greater than 12 months follow-up clinically and radiographically. The mean operative time was 70 minutes. Patients could walk on crutches at 1.5 days and discontinued crutch use at an average of 3 weeks. Patients were able to walk upstairs without support at 4 weeks. Radiographic analysis showed the mean lateral opening angle and anteversion of the acetabular components were 43.0 and 17.3, and 97% of the femoral stems were in neutral alignment. There was no radiographic evidence of component migration or subsidence at the most recent follow-up. Therefore, from these early results, a modified two-incision THA was found to be an excellent surgical modality, which allows early rehabilitation and does not increase complications when compared to other MIS two-incision THA techniques.

The incidence of Perthes' disease in Korea: a focus on differences among races.

The purpose of this study was to determine the annual incidence of Perthes' disease in Korea and compare this with other populations. A survey identified all newly diagnosed children with Perthes' disease aged 14 years or younger in South Honam, Korea, between January 1999 and December 2001. A total of 84 children were included: 29 in 1999, 28 in 2000 and 27 in 2001. The mean annual incidence was 3.8 per 100 000. This is similar to that reported in other Asian countries, but higher than in black populations and lower than in Caucasians.

New cytotoxic sesterterpenes from the sponge Sarcotragus species.

Five new (1-3, 5, and 7) and two known (4, 6) furanosesterterpene tetronic acids were isolated from the marine sponge Sarcotragus sp. by bioactivity-guided fractionation. These compounds showed cytotoxicity against a panel of five human tumor cell lines. The gross structures were established on the basis of NMR and MS analyses. The compounds showed interesting variations of geometry and absolute configuration.

Cytotoxic diacetylenes from the stony coral Montipora species.

Ten new (1, 4-6, 9-14) and four known (2, 3, 7, 8) diacetylenes have been isolated from a brine shrimp active fraction of the methanolic extract of the stony coral Montipora sp. The structures were determined by combined spectroscopic methods. The compounds exhibited significant cytotoxicity against a small panel of human solid tumor cell lines. Montiporyne A (15), a previously reported congener, was also found to induce apoptosis in human colon tumor cell.

Additional bioactive Lyso-PAF congeners from the sponge Spirastrella abata.

A known (1) and four new (2--5) lyso-PAF (platelet activating factor) derivatives were isolated from the sponge Spirastrella abata. Two of them are unprecedented in having a methoxy group at C-2'. The structures have been determined by combined spectroscopic methods. Their inhibitory effect on the biosynthesis of cholesterol and cytotoxicity against human solid tumor cell lines are reported.

New acetylenic compounds from the stony coral Montipora sp.

Six new acetylenic compounds (1-6) with cytotoxic activities against human solid tumor cell lines (SK-OV-3, SK-MEL-2, XF498, and HCT15) have been isolated from the stony coral Montipora sp. Structures of the compounds 1-6 were elucidated based on analysis of the NMR and MS data.

Changes in alpha wave and state anxiety during ChunDoSunBup Qi-training in trainees with open eyes.

We investigated the effects of ChunDoSunBup (CDSB) Qi-training, one of the Korean popular Qi-training systems, on EEG patterns, activation coefficients and state anxiety in 13 trainees with open eyes. CDSB Qi-training procedure consists of 3 stages: sound exercise, reciting Chunmoon, which is similar to a mantra; haeng-gong, a kind of body motion; and mediation. Compared to the control state (resting state before Qi-training), subjects reported less state anxiety, their activation coefficients decreased significantly during sound exercise and meditation in the occipital regions. Mean relative power and changes of mean absolute power of alpha wave increased significantly during sound exercise and meditation in the occipital regions. These results suggest that sound exercise and meditation in ChunDoSunBup Qi-training may reduce activation of the visual cortex and influence the thalamus and other functions of the brain. These could reduce anxiety levels and modulate the psychological, neurological, and physiological functions in man.

Detection of L-forms of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in pure and mixed culture suspensions by an enzyme immunoassay.

An enzyme immunoassay (EIA) (Gonozyme, Abbott Laboratories, Chicago, IL) was evaluated for its ability to detect L-forms of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in pure and mixed culture suspensions. A total of 15 L-form strains that were induced from fresh clinical isolates of N. gonorrhoeae on an L-form medium were tested by EIA at antigen levels equivalent to those found in 2 X 10(5), 3 X 10(4), and 2 X 10(3) parental cells per milliliter. The results showed the sensitivity of the EIA for L-forms and parental cells to be the same, exhibiting positive results in all pure culture suspensions of parental cells at 2 X 10(5) and 3 X 10(4) cells per milliliter and their corresponding L-form preparations. At 2 X 10(3) cells per milliliter, three parental and two of their respective L-form preparations yielded positive EIA results. Incorporation of a mixture of heterologous organisms that can be found in the normal human genital flora, each at a concentration of 1 X 10(7) cells per milliliter into the L-form preparations, did not affect the sensitivity of the EIA for detection of L-forms. The results of the present study indicate that the EIA is an equally sensitive method for detecting gonococcal L-forms and parental cells. A further study, however, is needed to ascertain its usefulness under actual clinical conditions.

Cedecea davisae isolated from scrotal abscess.

A strain of Cedecea davisae was isolated as the predominant organism from a patient with a scrotal abscess as well as chronic heart and liver diseases.

Analysis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae for in situ beta-lactamase production by reagent-impregnated filter paper replica methods.

Reagent-impregnated filter paper replica methods are described which can be used to detect all penicillinase (beta-lactamase)-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG) colonies in an entire population of Neisseria gonorrhoeae growing on primary isolation plates.

Enteric group 15 (Enterobacteriaceae) associated with pneumonia.

A gram-negative, oxidase-negative, fermentative rod belonging to enteric group 15 of Enterobacteriaceae was isolated in mixed culture from two patients with pneumonia. Both were elderly patients with chronic heart disease.

Modified Christie-Atkins-Munch-Petersen (CAMP) test for direct identification of hemolytic and nonhemolytic group B streptococci on primary plating.

A primary plating medium, using sheep blood agar with preformed zones of cell-free staphylococcal beta-hemolysin, was used for direct identification of both hemolytic and nonhemolytic group B streptococci by the direct elicitation of the Christie-Atkins-Munch-Petersen (CAMP) reaction. A positive CAMP reaction consisted of a semilunar-shaped area or circle of complete hemolysis of sheep erythrocytes and occurred only when colonies of group B streptococci developed along the periphery of the preformed zone of staphylococcal beta-hemolysin. Of 104 simulated specimens containing group B streptococci in combination with a variety of microbial species and of 85 vaginal specimens examined, direct recognition of group B streptococci was possible in 64 (61.5%) simulated specimens and in 12 (100%) vaginal cultures. Group B streptococcal colonies not developing along the active edge of staphylococcal beta-hemolysin were still identified by subculture. Of particular value was the facilitated recognition of colonies of nonhemolytic group B streptococcal strains and of hemolytic group B streptococci few in number or overgrown by other microbial species.