• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.36 no.11
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• pp.1105-1110
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• 2012

The spine is one of the most important skeletal joints, and it strongly affects the health of the musculoskeletal system. A normal spine has an S-shape, and it is very important to maintain this shape. Recently, spinal diseases such as low back pain have increased rapidly, especially among the elderly. Some of these diseases are caused by congenital spinal disorders and sporting and accident injuries as well as by bad postures. Improper spinal postures could generate excessive disc pressure, which is related to degeneration and pain. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the three-dimensional kinematic parameters of the thoraco-lumbar joint in several bad postures using a motion capture analysis technique. Different bad postures created a significant amount of flexion/extension, side bending, and axial rotation angle compared with neutral postures. Further study is necessary to investigate the disc pressure and ligament force due to the increase in joint rotation from the bad postures.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.627-632
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• 2002

Intramedullary spinal cord metastasis (ISCM) has rarely been reported in patients with carcinomas. In about half the ISCM reported the primary origins are lung cancer, with small cell lung cancer responsible for almost all reported cases. Thus, ISCM from small cell lung cancer is relatively well documented, but ISCM from non-small cell lung cancer is rarely diagnosed prior to the patients' demise, so very little data about such patients is available. Spine MRI is the most sensitive technique for diagnosing ISCM. ISCM are now being encountered with increasing frequency due to the increasing survival rates of lung cancer patients, and the development of new imaging technique. We reported a case of an ISCM from non-small cell lung cancer with a brief review of the literature.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.372-375
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• 2000

Spinal epidural emphysema is rare, and only a few cases have ever been reported. A 18 year-old man was admitted for neck and chest pain for 3 days. Before admission he experienced rhinorrhea and severe cough. Physical examination revealed wheezing on whole lung field and subcutaneous emphysema over the upper portion of the chest and neck. Chest radiograph showed pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema in the neck and chest CT images demonstrate a free air in the prevertebral fascia. With conservative management, the patient's condition and the pneumomediastinum improved. The patient was discharged to home on the fourteenth day.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.307-314
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• 2021

This study was to analyze the satisfaction and intention to recommend a hospital for spinal and joint patients. Using a structured questionnaire at a spinal and joint hospital in Seoul in 2019, and the relationship between demographic and social characteristics and patient satisfaction, factors influencing hospital satisfaction, and recommendation intention were analyzed. In outpatients, hospital satisfaction was higher in neatness and cleanliness of staff, kindness and facility environment comfort, and hospital satisfaction was low in questions related to waiting time. In inpatients, women's satisfaction was higher in the nursing and hospital environment areas. The correlation analysis between the satisfaction and the willing to recommend, there was a positive correlation. In the sub-analysis, hospital satisfaction was higher in the group that responded with respect and courtesy, listening, satisfaction of the nurse, hospital cleanliness and safety. This study is can be used to improve the quality of hospital care services in related hospitals.

• Hip & pelvis
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.238-245
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• 2023

Purpose: Elderly patients with degenerative diseases undergo treatment for the hip and spine; these patients present with various symptoms. This study focused on patients with residual symptoms, predominantly pain, even after receiving treatment for their spinal lesions. Materials and Methods: Patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty (THA) between 2016 and 2022 at a single tertiary hospital were included in the study. Of the 417 patients who underwent primary THA, a retrospective review of 40 patients with previous lesions of the spine was conducted. Patients were stratified to two cohorts: Patients with symptoms related to the spine (Group A), and those with hip-related symptoms (Group B). Preand postoperative comparisons of groups A and B were performed. Results: Improvements in patients' symptoms were observed in groups A and B after THA. In Group A, the mean preoperative visual analog scale (VAS) score was 5.10±0.876, which showed a postoperative decrease to 2.70±1.767. In Group B, the mean preoperative VAS score was 5.10±1.539, which showed a postoperative decrease to 2.67±1.493. Conclusion: According to the findings, promising results were achieved with THA in treatment of debilitating diseases of the hip for both the prognosis of the disease, as well as the patients' symptoms. In addition, in some cases elderly patients with dual pathologies underwent treatment for spinal lesions without performance of any evaluation related to the hip. Thus, evaluation of a patient's hip must be performed and performance of THA in patients with symptoms even after treatment of spinal lesions is recommended.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.318-325
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• 2020

Background: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a major side effect of anti-cancer drugs. Neurotensin receptors (NTSRs) are widely distributed within the pain circuits in the central nervous system. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of NTSR1 by examining the effects of an NTSR1 agonist in rats with CIPN and investigate the contribution of spinal serotonin receptors to the antinociceptive effect. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats (weight 150-180 g) were used in this study. CIPN was induced by injecting cisplatin (2 mg/kg) once a day for 4 days. Intrathecal catheters were placed into the subarachnoid space of the CIPN rats. The antiallodynic effects of intrathecally or intraperitoneally administered PD 149163, an NTSR1 agonist, were evaluated. Furthermore, the levels of serotonin in the spinal cord were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: Intrathecal or intraperitoneal PD 149163 increased the paw withdrawal threshold in CIPN rats. Intrathecal administration of the NTSR1 antagonist SR 48692 suppressed the antinociceptive effect of PD 149163 given via the intrathecal route, but not the antinociceptive effect of intraperitoneally administered PD 149163. Intrathecal administration of dihydroergocristine, a serotonin receptor antagonist, suppressed the antinociceptive effect of intrathecally administered, but not intraperitoneally administered, PD 149163. Injecting cisplatin diminished the serotonin level in the spinal cord, but intrathecal or intraperitoneal administration of PD 149163 did not affect this reduction. Conclusions: NTSR1 played a critical role in modulating CIPN-related pain. Therefore, NTSR1 agonists may be useful therapeutic agents to treat CIPN. In addition, spinal serotonin receptors may be indirectly involved in the effect of NTSR1 agonist.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.371-384
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• 2023

Purpose: With an increase in the aging population, the number of patients with degenerative spinal diseases undergoing surgery has risen, as has the incidence of postoperative delirium. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors affecting postoperative delirium in older adults who had undergone spine surgery and to identify the associated biomarkers. Methods: This study is a prospective study. Data of 100 patients aged ≥ 70 years who underwent spinal surgery were analyzed. Demographic data, medical history, clinical characteristics, cognitive function, depression symptoms, functional status, frailty, and nutritional status were investigated to identify the risk factors for delirium. The Confusion Assessment Method, Delirium Rating Scale-R-98, and Nursing Delirium Scale were also used for diagnosing delirium. To discover the biomarkers, urine extracellular vesicles (EVs) were analyzed for tau, ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1), neurofilament light, and glial fibrillary acidic protein using digital immunoassay technology. Results: Nine patients were excluded, and data obtained from the remaining 91 were analyzed. Among them, 18 (19.8%) developed delirium. Differences were observed between participants with and without delirium in the contexts of a history of mental disorder and use of benzodiazepines (p = .005 and p = .026, respectively). Tau and UCH-L1-concentrations of urine EVs-were comparatively higher in participants with severe delirium than that in participants without delirium (p = .002 and p = .001, respectively). Conclusion: These findings can assist clinicians in accurately identifying the risk factors before surgery, classifying high-risk patients, and predicting and detecting delirium in older patients. Moreover, urine EV analysis revealed that postoperative delirium following spinal surgery is most likely associated with brain damage.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.82 no.6
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• pp.1413-1440
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• 2021

On MRI, abnormal signals of the intervertebral disc, destruction of the upper and lower vertebral body endplate around the disc, and bone marrow edema around the endplate are considered typical findings of infectious spondylitis. These findings can also appear in various non-infectious spinal diseases, such as degenerative changes, acute Schmorl's node, spondyloarthropathy, synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, and osteitis (SAPHO), chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis, and calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease. The imaging findings of infectious spondylitis that can be differentiated from these non-infectious spinal diseases on MRI are high signal intensity and abscess of the disc space, an abscess in the paraspinal soft tissue, and the loss of the linear low signal intensity on T1-weighted images of the bony endplate. However, these differentiation points do not always apply since there are many similarities in the imaging findings of infectious and non-infectious diseases. Therefore, for an accurate diagnosis, it is important to know the imaging characteristics related to the pathophysiology of not only infectious spondylitis but also non-infectious spinal diseases, which requires differentiation from infection.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.153-160
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• 2007

The superficial dorsal horn, particularly substantia gelatinosa (SG) in the spinal cord, receives inputs from small-diameter primary afferents that predominantly convey noxious sensation. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are toxic agents that may be involved in various neurodegenerative diseases. Recent studies indicate that ROS are also involved in persistent pain through a spinal mechanism. In the present study, whole cell patch clamp recordings were carried out on SG neurons in spinal cord slice of young rats to investigate the effects of hydrogen peroxide on neuronal excitability and excitatory synaptic transmission. In current clamp condition, tert-buthyl hydroperoxide (t-BuOOH), an ROS donor, depolarized membrane potential of SG neurons and increased the neuronal firing frequencies evoked by depolarizing current pulses. When slices were pretreated with phenyl-N-tert-buthylnitrone (PBN) or ascorbate, ROS scavengers, t-BuOOH did not induce hyperexcitability. In voltage clamp condition, t-BuOOH increased the frequency and amplitude of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs), and monosynaptically evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents (eEPSCs) by electrical stimulation of the ipsilateral dorsal root. These data suggest that ROS generated by peripheral nerve injury can modulate the excitability of the SG neurons via pre- and postsynaptic actions.

• Journal of Electrodiagnosis and Neuromuscular Diseases
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.130-134
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• 2018

A 36-year-old male patient developed diffuse low back pain. His past medical history was unremarkable and had no family history of neuromuscular disease. He had no bladder and bowel problems. Creatine kinase was 172 U/L (normal < 170). Other fluid and blood chemistry tests were normal. Manual muscle test grades of extremities and sensory examination were normal. Muscle stretch reflexes were normal. Fasciculations and myotonia were not detected. Straight leg raising test was negative. There was no spinal root compression, spinal stenosis, or signal intensity change of spinal cord on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Fatty change and atrophy of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar paraspinal muscles were noted on MRI. Nerve conduction studies were normal. Electromyography showed 1+ positive sharp waves in the lumbar paraspinal muscles. Electromyography of upper and lower extremity muscles revealed no abnormal spontaneous activity. We report a rare case of severe paraspinal muscle atrophy with fatty degeneration in a Young Adult.