OBJECTIVES: To explore the role of apolipoprotein E in schizophrenia, we investigated apoli-poprotein E polymorphism in groups of patients with schizophrenia and normal controls. We also examined the relationship of clinical characteristics of schizophrenia to apolipoprotein E genotypes. METHODS: Samples were obtained from 101 schizophrenic patients and 96 controls in Korea and apolipoprotein E polymorphisms were analysed using polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The genotype and allele frequencies did not differ from those of controls. The clinical variables of schizophrenia, such as positive and negative groups by PANSS, subtypes by DSM-IV, family history were not associated with each genotypes. CONCLUSION: We could not find the association of apolipoprotein E in Korean schizophrenic patients and it could be suggested that apolipoprotein E isoforms might not play a main role in expression of schizophrenia.
Apolipoproteins* ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Korea ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Protein Isoforms ; Schizophrenia

PURPOSES: A cross-sectional study on serum lipids in school children and adolescents was carried out in two different areas in 2002. We studied to determine of the difference in lipids level of children between urban and rural areas and changes of cholesterol levels compared to those of early- 1990 studies. METHODS: A cross-sectional study on serum lipids in school children and adolescents was carried out in two different areas, Ansan and Paju. The number of children in Ansan was 835, that in Paju was 233. After fasting for 12 hours, serum total choleterol, high density lipoprotein(HDL) cholesterol, low density lipoprotein(LDL) cholsterol, triglyceride were measured. RESULTS: The mean of total serum cholesterol level was 176.48+/-27.70 mg/dL. The mean of HDL cholesterol was 61.42+/-12.38 mg/dL, LDL cholesterol was 94.14+/-24.45 mg/dL, and triglyceride was 93.09+/-45.96 mg/dL. The means of total serum total cholesterol and lipoproteins of children and adolescents were not different significantly in Ansan and Paju. The prevalences of children and adolescence with abnormal high cholesterol level(> or =200 mg/dL) and abnormal LDL cholesterol level(> or =130 mg/dL) were also not different in two areas. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that there were no significant differences in serum lipid level and the prevalence of school children and adolescence with hyperlipidemia between urban and rural area and mean lipid levels of school children and adolescence were increased during the past decade.
Adolescent* ; Child* ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Fasting ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Lipoproteins ; Prevalence ; Triglycerides

Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) play a key role in the regulation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), which in turn mediates various cellular functions including learning and memory. We previously cloned and characterized three PDE4 isoforms (ApPDE4) from Aplysia kurodai. Using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), we found that ApPDE4 isoforms are primarily expressed in the central nervous system. However, the detailed distribution of ApPDE4 mRNA in Aplysia individual ganglions was not evident. In this study, to determine the distribution of ApPDE4 mRNAs in Aplysia ganglions, we performed in situ hybridization (ISH) using a probe targeting ApPDE4, including the PDE catalytic domain. Interestingly, we found the strongest ISH-positive signals in the symmetrical bag cell clusters of the abdominal ganglion. The R2, R14, L7, L2 and L11 neurons in the abdominal ganglion, LP1 neuron in pleural ganglion, and metacerebral (MCC) neurons were ISH-positive. Mechanosensory neurons of the sensory cluster were also stained on the ventral aspect of the right and left pleural ganglia. Taken together, we found the detailed distribution of ApPDE4 mRNA in Aplysia ganglion and support their roles in serotonin (5-HT)-induced synaptic facilitation of Aplysia mechanosensory neurons.
Adenosine Monophosphate ; Aplysia* ; Catalytic Domain ; Central Nervous System ; Clone Cells ; Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 4* ; Ganglia ; Ganglion Cysts ; In Situ Hybridization* ; Learning ; Memory ; Neurons ; Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Protein Isoforms ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA, Messenger ; Serotonin

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The sense of smell plays an important role in the quality of life. Loss of smell is common in the elderly and it results from respiratory diseases, certain disease states (Alzheimer disease, chronic renal failure (CRF), multiple sclerosis), medications, and surgical interventions. Many studies have shown a declining odor perception in the CRF patients. The objectives of the present study were to test odor identification ability in patients with CRF and the effect of hemodialysis on olfactory recognition, and to examine the possible correlations between smell identification test score and various clinical parameters. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We performed a case-control study comparing the Cross- Cultural Smell Identification Test (CC-SIT) scores of CRF patients with hemodialysis, and those without hemodialysis, and age-sex matched healthy controls. RESULTS: Healthy controls had significantly high CC-SIT scores compared to those of CRF patients without hemodialysis. No significant differences were observed in the CC-SIT scores between CRF patients with hemodialysis and healthy controls and in CRF patients before and after the hemodialysis session. No significant positive correlation was found between CC-SIT score and creatinine clearance in the dialysis group. CONCLUSION: Acute removal of uremic toxins by hemodialysis does not correct olfactory disturbances. Odor perception is severly impaired in patients with CRF and is related to the degree of renal impairment.
Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Creatinine ; Dialysis ; Humans ; Identification (Psychology) ; Kidney ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Odors ; Quality of Life ; Renal Dialysis* ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Smell

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Plastic surgeons have generally avoided performing rhinoplasty in the presence of rhinosinusitis due to potential infection. For the otolaryngologist, concurrent rhinoplasty can produce increased periorbital swelling and ecchymosis, which can obscure the parameters used to monitor complications of the sinus procedure. But recent advances of endoscopic sinus surgery have made the simultaneous procedures safe in appropriately selected patient. The purpose of this report is to identify the indications and limitations of the simultaneous procedures. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Seven patients were treated by this combined modality and all were available for follow-up. There were 3 women and 4 men with a mean age of 35 years who underwent the combined procedure by the otolaryngologist. RESULTS: Recurrence of sinusitis occurred in one patient, and another patient wanted revision rhinoplasty for cosmetic dissatisfaction. There were no other complications. CONCLUSION: Combined rhinoplasty and endoscopic sinus surgery can be performed safely and with good results in selected patients.
Ecchymosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Pilot Projects* ; Recurrence ; Rhinoplasty* ; Sinusitis

OBJECTIVE: The act on decisions on life-sustaining treatment, the well-dying law (WDL), has been implemented in Korea since February of 2018 so that a patient may die with dignity in his or her death bed. On the other hand, there has been an increase in in-hospital cardiac arrest patients, resulting in poor outcomes due to strict regulations of withdrawal of life support. This study examined the survival of in-hospital cardiac arrest patients before and after implementation of the WDL. METHODS: The in-hospital cardiac arrest data registry from the authors' in-hospital cardiac arrest committee and electronic medical records were reviewed retrospectively. The baseline characteristics, cardiac arrest variables, and cardiac arrest outcomes were compared before and after implementation of the WDL. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to analyze the association of the implementation of the WDL and return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) of in-hospital cardiac arrest patients. RESULTS: This study analyzed 183 patients before and 346 patients after the implementation of the WDL. The ROSC (115 [62.8%] vs. 158 [45.7%]), 24-hour survival (53 [29.0%] vs. 60 [17.3%]), and survival discharge (25 [13.7%] vs. 29 [8.4%]) were higher in the before period than in the after period. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the WDL was associated with a lower ROSC (odds ratio [OR], 0.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.37–0.85; P<0.01) and lower survival at 24 hours (OR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.31–0.93; P=0.03), but not a lower survival discharge (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.39–1.83; P=0.67). CONCLUSION: The implementation of the WDL has been associated with a lower ROSC and lower survival at 24 hours in in-hospital cardiac arrest patients.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Electronic Health Records ; Hand ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Jurisprudence ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Resuscitation ; Retrospective Studies ; Social Control, Formal

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The acute unilateral vestibular neuritis is fairly a common disease and the precise diagnostic tool is needed for the selection of effective treatments. Therefore, we studied the clinical usefulness of the rotatory chair test and caloric test which have been commonly used in patient of acute unilateral vestibular neuritis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and sixty four patients who were diagnosed with acute unilateral vestibular neuritis from August of 2004 to June of 2007 were included. Their medical records of the rotating chair test and caloric test were reviewed retrospectively to study the correlation of the two tests. RESULTS: Of 164 patients, 101 patients (61.6%) and 88 patients (53.7%) showed significant canal paresis (CP) and directional preponderance (DP) on the caloric tests that corresponded with the physical exam. 130 patients (79.3%) and 84 patients (51.2%) showed significant asymmetry and time constant (Tc) on the rotating chair test that corresponded with the predictive direction with spontaneous nystagmus. CONCLUSIONS: For acute unilateral vestibular neuritis patients, the asymmetry of the rotatory chair test showed the highest correlation with clinical findings. But physical exam should be preceded because neither rotator chair test nor caloric test yields a specific correlation with the physical exam. Especially, single test only may too many false negative results. For these tests can reduce false positive cases of the physical exam and raise the specificity of the diagnosis, the planning of proper treatments should be followed thereafter.
Caloric Tests ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Paresis ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Vestibular Neuronitis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Nasal airflow is asymmetrical and is subjected to spontaneous reciprocal changes which are referred to as the nasal cycle. Limited information is available about how they are affected by allergens. The purpose of this study was to evaluate effects of allergen provocation on the nasal cycle. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: This study was performed in 11 patients with allergic rhinitis and 6 healthy controls. Acoustic rhinometry was used to test subjects before and after the allergen provocation. The subjects underwent acoustic rhinometry in 15 minutes interval for evaluation of nasal cycle and 3 minutes interval for immediate response. RESULTS: With the allergic subjects, 10 of the 11 subjects (90.9%) showed nasal cycle and they still had nasal cycle after the allergen provocation. In the study on the changes of the immediate responses, recovery time was on the average of 33.0 minutes and reduction rate of non-patent side was higher than that of patient side. And the period of nasal cycle was on the average of 173 minutes before the allergen provocation and the average 159 minutes after the allergen provocation; there were no statistical differences. The amplitude of each nasal cycle increased after allergen provocation and the difference had statistical meaning. CONCLUSION: Overall duration and reciprocity of nasal cycle were not changed after the allergen provocation and the amplitude of nasal cycle was increased significantly after the allergen provocation.
Allergens ; Humans ; Nasal Provocation Tests ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; Rhinometry, Acoustic

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Several studies have utilized physical models or casts of the nasal cavity in an effort to understand the relationship between nasal anatomy and the distribution of inspired or expired airflow. This paper deals with the evaluation of nasal airflow characteristics during physiologic breathing in normal conditions. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The choana of a nasal model casting by a combination of rapid prototyping and solidification of clear silicone was connected to a pump that simulated physiological pressure in the upper airway system. Glycerin-water mixture was used as medium. The airstream was marked with polyvinyl spherical particles, and was observed through an solidificated clear silicone and analyzed with particle image velocimetry. RESULTS: Turbulence is clearly visible at the level of the head of the middle turbinate. The maximal velocity was recorded at the superior meatus. The flow rate was highest at the middle meatus. CONCLUSION: This model allows the investigation of airflow distribution and velocity under physiologic conditions. The main flow stream passes through the middle meatus.
Head ; Nasal Cavity ; Polyvinyls ; Respiration ; Rheology* ; Rivers ; Silicones ; Turbinates

Objective: This study examined the difference in procalcitonin between sepsis and septic shock. Methods: The single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted from July 2017 to June 2018 at an emergency department (ED) of a university hospital. The inclusion criteria were patients over 18 years old who visited the ED with an infection. The exclusion criteria were the patients without organ failure by sepsis-3 definition, those with missing serum lactate data, and those discharged without workup. The sepsis patients were divided into those with and without septic shock, and the two groups were compared with biomarkers, including procalcitonin. Results: Of the 406 patients who visited the ED with an infection, 36 were excluded because they did not have sepsis or an unknown infection. Finally, 369 patients were enrolled, and 61.5% fitted the septic shock definition. A comparison of the septic shock and non-shock sepsis groups showed that a history of chronic liver disease, malignancy, pulse rate, prothrombin time, blood urea nitrogen, aspartate and alanine transaminase, troponin-I, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score and procalcitonin levels were significantly higher in the septic shock group. In multivariate analysis, however, procalcitonin was an independent predictor for septic shock (adjusted odd ratio, 1.05; 95% confidential interval, 1.01-1.09). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.729, and the cutoff value was 4.0 ng/mL. Conclusion The procalcitonin levels were higher in the septic shock group than in the non-shock sepsis group. This could help predict septic shock independently. Further prospective multicenter research is needed to determine if procalcitonin can predict the severity of sepsis.