Pathological laughing and crying(PLC) is a condition that is characterized by episodic, brief, contextually inappropriate, uncontrollable outbursts of laughing and/or crying. It can be observed in patients with various neurological disorders. PLC often causes distress in interpersonal functioning and activities for patients and their families. PLC can be recognized easily with proper understanding of the condition and its nature. Also it generally shows good response to various pharmacological treatments. This review aims to encourage the diagnosis and treatment of PLC by providing definition and clinical presentation of PLC, analysis of its pathophysiology and various current treatment options.
Crying* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Nervous System Diseases

No abstract available.
Trophoblastic Neoplasms* ; Trophoblasts*

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is well recognized as a disability category with high incidence and prevalence as well as considerable impact on survivors and their families. Neuropsychiatric symptoms such as cognitive deficit, psychosis, depression, mania, anxiety are common after TBI. Treatment of the neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with TBI should result in decreased handicap, improved quality of life, and decreased societal impact. This article discusses the clinical approach to treating patients with neuropsychiatric complications following TBI.
Anxiety ; Bipolar Disorder ; Brain ; Brain Injuries ; Depression ; Humans ; Incidence ; Prevalence ; Psychotic Disorders ; Quality of Life ; Survivors

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the degree of performance of TB control manpower in Korea and to identify the affecting factors associated with it. METHODS: This study employed a quantitative observational with cross-sectional design and the subjects were consisted of 189 TB (Tuberculosis) control manpower who were working in both community health centers and private hospitals. Variables included in this study were demographic, social, work-related characteristics, aqhnd self-efficacy. A reliability of the instrument for the performance was Cronbach's alpha=.91. Data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA and multiple regression using SPSS (19th version). RESULTS: The mean value of the degree of work-related performance of TB control manpower was 4.4+/-0.49 and it was higher than those of general nurses working in any other health care departments. The mean differences in the degree of work-related performance were in self-efficacy, workplace, the number of full charge manpower in TB, the number of participation in in-depth education, and the willingness to job maintenance. In multiple regression analysis, factors associated with TB control manpower' work-related performance were self-efficacy (beta =.164, p=.025), workplace (beta=-.186, p=.023), the number of participation in in-depth education(beta=.339, p<.002), and the willingness to job maintenance (beta=-.157, p=.036). CONCLUSION: Results of this study showed that work-related performances of manpower working in private hospital were higher than those of manpower in public health centers. So, it is necessary to enhance nation's active intervention to improve effectiveness and reduction of risk factors in TB policy.
Community Health Centers ; Delivery of Health Care ; Education ; Hospitals, Private ; Korea ; Public Health ; Risk Factors ; Self Efficacy ; Tuberculosis

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the degree of performance of TB control manpower in Korea and to identify the affecting factors associated with it. METHODS: This study employed a quantitative observational with cross-sectional design and the subjects were consisted of 189 TB (Tuberculosis) control manpower who were working in both community health centers and private hospitals. Variables included in this study were demographic, social, work-related characteristics, aqhnd self-efficacy. A reliability of the instrument for the performance was Cronbach's alpha=.91. Data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA and multiple regression using SPSS (19th version). RESULTS: The mean value of the degree of work-related performance of TB control manpower was 4.4+/-0.49 and it was higher than those of general nurses working in any other health care departments. The mean differences in the degree of work-related performance were in self-efficacy, workplace, the number of full charge manpower in TB, the number of participation in in-depth education, and the willingness to job maintenance. In multiple regression analysis, factors associated with TB control manpower' work-related performance were self-efficacy (beta =.164, p=.025), workplace (beta=-.186, p=.023), the number of participation in in-depth education(beta=.339, p<.002), and the willingness to job maintenance (beta=-.157, p=.036). CONCLUSION: Results of this study showed that work-related performances of manpower working in private hospital were higher than those of manpower in public health centers. So, it is necessary to enhance nation's active intervention to improve effectiveness and reduction of risk factors in TB policy.
Community Health Centers ; Delivery of Health Care ; Education ; Hospitals, Private ; Korea ; Public Health ; Risk Factors ; Self Efficacy ; Tuberculosis

PURPOSE: Interleukin-17-producing T cell (Th17 cell) is a newly discovered subtype of helper T cell. Its function and importance in the pathogenesis of a broad range of immune diseases are under active investigation. However, little is currently known about the role of Th17 cells in ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury of the kidney, a common pathophysiologic occurrence in various renal disease processes. METHODS: We measured the number of infiltrated T lymphocytes and Th17 cells in C57Bl/6 mouse kidneys in sham-operated controls and following varying degrees of renal IR injury induced by renal pedicle clamping and reperfusion. The cell count results were compared to accompanying histologic damage and serum creatinine levels after 35 min and 45 min of ischemia, and following reperfusion of 48, 72, 96, and 168 hrs. RESULTS: The number of T lymphocytes increased as ischemia time increased. However, the number of Th17 cells was not significantly affected by prolonged ischemia and reperfusion. Furthermore, the degree of histologic damage and serum creatinine levels did not correlate with the T lymphocyte and Th17 cell count numbers. CONCLUSION: We did not observe any evidence that Th17 cells are directly linked to renal tissue damage caused by IR injury. The role and importance of helper T cells in renal IR injury need to be evaluated further in the light of the interaction with Th1, Th2, and regulatory T cells rather than Th17 alone.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Animals ; Cell Count ; Constriction ; Creatinine ; Immune System Diseases ; Ischemia ; Kidney ; Light ; Lymphocytes ; Mice ; Reperfusion ; Reperfusion Injury ; T-Lymphocytes ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; Th17 Cells

Torsion of the gallbladder is a rare condition that is difficult to diagnose preoperatively, but prompt surgical intervention is necessary to avoid possible sepsis and death. A 36-year-old pregnant woman presented to Emergency Department with a constant epigastric pain at 17 weeks of gestation. Abdominal ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a distended gallbladder that contained no stones but had mild wall thickening. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy using three ports was performed under the impression of an acalculous cholecystitis. The gallbladder was found to be rotated 180 degrees clockwise on gallbladder mesentery and to be gangrenous. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged on the 4th day after surgery. It is important to keep in mind gallbladder torsion in the differential diagnosis from acute cholecystitis when the patient has an acute onset of abdominal pain and a severely distended gallbldder. Prompt cholecystectomy via a laparoscopic approach should be performed.
Abdominal Pain ; Acalculous Cholecystitis ; Adult ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic ; Cholecystitis, Acute ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Emergencies ; Female ; Gallbladder* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mesentery ; Morphinans ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Sepsis ; Torsion Abnormality ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: Epidural fibrosis and adhesion are the main reasons for post-laminectomy sustained pain and functional disability. In this study, the authors investigate the effect of irradiated freeze-dried human amniotic membrane on reducing epidural adhesion after laminectomy on a rat model. METHODS: A total of 20 rats were divided into two groups. The group A did not receive human amniotic membrane implantation after laminectomy and group B underwent human amniotic membrane implantation after laminectomy. Gross and microscopic findings were evaluated and compared at postoperative 1, 3 and 8 weeks. RESULTS: The amount of scar tissue and tenacity were reduced grossly in group of rats with human amniotic membrane implantation (group B). On a microscopic evaluation, there were less inflammatory cell infiltration and fibroblast proliferation in group B. CONCLUSION: This experimental study shows that implantation of irradiated freeze-dried human amniotic membrane reduce epidural fibrosis and adhesion after spinal laminectomy in a rat model.
Amnion ; Animals ; Cicatrix ; Failed Back Surgery Syndrome ; Fibroblasts ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Rats

Beals-Hecht syndrome, also known as congenital contractural arachnodactyly, is a rare autosomal dominant, connective tissue disorder characterized by congenital joint contractures, arachnodactyly, dolichostenomelia, crumpled ear, and kyphoscoliosis. We report a case of Beals-Hecht syndrome in a 4 days old female newborn baby, associated with congenital knee and elbow joint contractures, arachnodactyly, dolichostenomelia, crumpled ear, and 4 umbilical arteries, with brief review of the related literatures.
Arachnodactyly ; Connective Tissue ; Contracture ; Ear ; Elbow Joint ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Joints ; Knee ; Umbilical Arteries

PURPOSE: The cornea of the keratoconus patient that is one of the contraindications in refractive surgery shows severe topographic asymmetry and the lower curvature is much steeper than the upper one. In this study, we evaluated whether the mild to moderate topographic asymmetry which does not fall under the Rabinowitz-McDonnell's keratoconus criteria(I-S value>3.0 D) would affect the LASIK results. METHODS: The maximal diopter difference in central 3 mm-zone(MDD-3) of the pre-LASIK topography, the postoperative best uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA) and the postoperative best corrected visual acuity(BCVA) were analyzed in 248 eyes of 124 patients retrospectively. We divided the patients into 2 groups according to the magnitude of MDD-3(MDD-3<1.0 D in group 1 and MDD-3> OR =1.0 D in group 2). In the same manner, the patients were divided into 2 groups according to the magnitude of MDD-5(MDD-5<1.0 D in group A and MDD-5> OR =1.0 D in group B) using 5 mm-zone. RESULTS: Between group 1 and 2, statistically significant difference was not observed in postoperative UCVA and BCVA(p>0.05). Between group A and B, statistically significant difference was not observed in postoperative UCVA and BCVA(p>0.05), either. CONCLUSIONS: This suggests that the mild pre-LASIK topographic asymmetry would not affect the visual acuity after LASIK.
Cornea ; Humans ; Keratoconus ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ* ; Refractive Surgical Procedures ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Acuity