No abstract available.
Autoradiography* ; Brain* ; Rats, Wistar* ; Receptors, Muscarinic*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Religion*

Many investigators are trying to elucidate the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders on the basis of neuroendocrine responses to stimulation or perturbation. Dexamethasone(DEX) suppression has been the most widely utilized as the prototypical challenge test. Dexamethasone suppression test(DST) has proven to be valuable in diagnosing the depressive spectrum disorder. Reported specificity of diagnosis of depression is relatively high, but sensitivity is limited. Some researchers used the combination of dexamethasone and corticotropin releasing hormone(CRH) in order to improve the sensitivity. They reported that combined DEX/CRH test, i.e., we administered the insulin instead of CRH. Total subjects were 28(7 normal controls, 10 manic patients, 11 schizophrenic, patients). Subject were token DEX(1.5mg p.o.) at 11 p.m., insulin 16 hours later(0.1 unit/kg i.v.). Five blood samples for the determination of cortisol and ACTH were serially drawn at 15 minute interval. The results are as following : 1) The cortisol an ACTH levels of manic subjects increased following insulin administration. Manic subjects showed higher levels of cortisol and ACTH than schizophrenic and normal control subjects. The cortisol and ACTH levels of schizophrenic and normal control subjects did not show gross changes. 2) The sensitivity of the test was lower than that of reported DEX/CRH test.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Depression ; Dexamethasone ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Insulin ; Research Personnel ; Sensitivity and Specificity

The authors experienced a case of anterior uneitis associated with secondary glaucoma caused by a cycitsercosis cellulosae in the anterior chamber of the left eye of a 39-year-old Korean male. The cyst appeared from the posterior surface of the iris through the pupillary margin of 10-o'clock position and grew larger and larger with automatic active movements, filling finally the nasal upper one third of the anterior chamber, but the cyst did not change the position to the 6-o'clock chamber angle. The cysticercus grown for almost four months was extracted successfully with a teethless, serrated, curved forceps with some resistance after opening the anterior chamber from 7~11-o'clock position without iris prolapse and any damage to the anterior lens capsule. The extracted cyst with the size of 8 mm X 6 mm X 3 mm was confirmed as a cysticercus cellulosae by parasitological examinations (Fig. 2,3). After the extraction of the cysticercus the uveitis and the increased intraocular tension subsided completely, remaining some brownish fine keratic precipitates, pigment masses on the anterior surface of the lens and irregularly somewhat dilated pupil due to partial posterior synechia. The naked vision O.S., however, was 20/25 using pin hole, and the eye has been still quiet during last 3 and half years following surgical extraction. In addition the authors have recently seen three cases of subconjunctival cystiticercosis cellulosae. In the first case the cysticercus with the size of 8 mm X 7 mm X 4 mm appeared at the nasal superior part of the bulbar conjunctiva O.D. of a three-year-old Korean male. In the second case the cyst with the size of 7 mm X 5 mm X 3 mm was seen at the nasal inferior part of the bulbar conjunctiva O.S. of a 12-year old Korean female. In the last case the cyst with the size of 10 mm X 8 mm X 5 mm was located beneath the plica semilunaris of 3-o'clock position O.D. of a 58-year-old Korean female. All the cysts were extracted successfully without any rupture, and they were confirmed as the cysticercus cellulosae histologically.
Adult ; Anterior Chamber* ; Child ; Conjunctiva ; Cysticercosis* ; Cysticercus* ; Female ; Glaucoma ; Humans ; Iris ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prolapse ; Pupil ; Rupture ; Surgical Instruments ; Uveitis

OBJECTIVES: The present study was performed to evaluate the change in releasing action of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis after alcohol abstinence in patients with alcohol dependence, and to identify the etiologic mechanism of alcohol dependence indirectly. METHODS: Plasma beta-endorphin, cortisol and ACTH level was measured in 14 alcohol dependent patients and in 14 healthy persons after 7 days and 28 days of alcohol abstinence at 08: 00h and 12: 00h, twice a day. RESULTS: 1) There was no significant difference in plasma beta-endorphin, cortisol and ACTH level measured at 08: 00h and 12: 00h between patients and control group after 7days of alcohol withdrawal. 2) Plasma beta-endorphin level measured at 08: 00h in patients was significantly elevated comparing with control group after 28days of alcohol withdrawal. But, there was no significant difference in plasma beta-endorphin level measured at 12: 00h and in plasma cortisol and ACTH level measured at both 08: 00h and 12: 00h between two groups after 28days of alcohol withdrawal. 3) In the patient group, there was no significant difference between patients after 7days and 28 days of alcohol withdrawal in plasma beta-endorphin, cortisol and ACTH level measured at 08: 00h and ACTH level measured at 12: 00h. But, beta-endorphin and cortisol level measured at 12: 00h were significantly lowered in patients after 28days of alcohol withdrawal than after 7days of withdrawal. 4) In decreasing rate of beta-endorphin production from 08: 00h to 12: 00h, there was significant difference between patients and controlled group after 28days of alcohol withdrawal. CONCLUSION: In alcohol dependent patients, lower level of beta-endorphin and increased reducing rate in diurnal variation of beta-endorphin after alcohol withdrawal are evident, which in turn may elevate craving for alcohol intake, and there findings support the opioid compensation theory in the development of alcohol dependence.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone* ; Alcohol Abstinence ; Alcoholism ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; beta-Endorphin* ; Compensation and Redress ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone* ; Plasma*

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the clinical and radiological outcomes of unstable distal clavicular fractures treated with an AO Hook plate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From March 2009 to October 2010, sixteen patients with distal clavicular fractures underwent open plating using an AO Hook plate. The clinical outcomes were assessed by measuring the UCLA scores and KSS sores, and the radiological outcomes were evaluated using simple radiographs at the final follow-up. RESULTS: Fracture union was obtained in all patients at an average of 13.9 weeks (range, 9~20 weeks). The UCLA scoring system showed excellent results in 9 cases and good results in 7. The average KSS scores of distal clavicular fractures were 95.5. At the final follow-up, subacromial osteolysis developed in 11 cases (68.7%) of whom 3 suffered from pain around the acromion. Other complications occurred in 4 patients: one had a fracture adjacent to the plate proximally, two had a stiff shoulder with subacromial impingement, and one had hypoesthesia around the surgical wound. CONCLUSION: Unstable distal clavicular fractures treated with a Hook plate provided rigid fixation and satisfactory outcomes considering the high union rate. Nevertheless, potential postoperative complications related to morphometric properties of the plate should be considered.
Acromion ; Clavicle ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Osteolysis ; Postoperative Complications ; Shoulder

This study included fifty two premature babies in whom EEG was performed at National Medical Center, from Jan. 1990 to Jun. 1991. clinical and EEG records of all subjects were analyzed and the following results were obtained. 1) The day of first EEG performed were;11 cases within 10 days, 20 cases from 11 days to days, 13 cases from 21 days to 30 days and 8 cases beyond 31 days. 2) The results of first EEG were; within normal limit in 34 cases, mild abnormality in 3 cases, moderate abnormality in 11 cases and marked abnormality in 4 cases. 3) The abnormal EEG ratio according to the sex was higher in female than in male (43.5% vs 27.6%). 4) The abnormal EEG ratio according to the gestational age was higher in shorter gestational age group than in longer gestational age group (40.9% under 32 weeks of G.A. vs 30.0% beyond 33 weeks of G.A.). 5) The abnormal EEG ratio according to the birth weight was not significant. 6) The abnormal EEG ratio according to the ventilator use was higher in used group than in not used group (38.5% vs 30.8%). 7) Combined diseases in 18 cases of abnormal EEG group were jaundice (14 cases), hyaline membrane disease (7 cases), asphyxia (4 cases), anemia (4 cases), hydrocephalus, sepsis, PDA, hypocalcemia, UTI and IVH. 8) The mean apgar score in abnormal EEG group was lower than normal EEG group both in one minute and five minute. 9) Two cases among 18 cases of abnormal EEG group showed abnormal brain sonographic findings, but one case among 34 cases of normal EEG group showed abnormal brain sonographic finding. 10) Ten cases were followed up with serial EEG, six cases of which were treated with anticonvulsant. We observed normalization of the EEG in 5 cases of anticonvulsant treated group.
Anemia ; Apgar Score ; Asphyxia ; Birth Weight ; Brain ; Electroencephalography* ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Hyaline Membrane Disease ; Hydrocephalus ; Hypocalcemia ; Infant, Newborn ; Jaundice ; Male ; Sepsis ; Ultrasonography ; Ventilators, Mechanical

BACKGROUND: Hospital-wide surveillance showed an up to 9% increase in the incidence rate of the nasal transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among health care workers (HCWs) in a tertiary care hospital where MRSA is endemic. The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge of and attitude towards nasal transmission of MRSA and hand-washing practice among HCWs and determine the behavioral factors associated with the nasal transmission of MRSA. METHODS: In a 750-bed tertiary care hospital, nasal swabs from HCWs were obtained, and questionnaires with 25 questions were distributed to HCWs who were divided into 2 different groups: MRSA carriers and non-carriers. The questionnaires focused on the HCWs' knowledge about the mode of MRSA transmission and precautions against MRSA infection and their self-reported compliance for hand hygiene. RESULTS: The total number of respondents for the surveillance culture and survey were 253 (51 MRSA carriers and 202 non-carriers). There was significant difference between the 2 groups on the knowledge of precautionary measures used for the MRSA patients in the hospital (P=0.026). Compared to the MRSA carriers, the non-carriers washed their hands significantly more frequently after ventilator care (P=0.004) and used more alcohol sanitizers (P=0.023). However, no significant difference was observed in hand-washing practices of both the groups before the medical procedures, their knowledge about the mode of transmission of MRSA, and the duration of hand washing. CONCLUSION: Non-carriers replied more accurately to the questions on knowledge about the management and treatment of MRSA, and they considered interventions such as surveillance cultures and questionnaires to be an effective method in lowering the incidence of nosocomial infections. Compared to the MRSA carriers, the non-carriers showed higher hand-washing compliance.
Compliance ; Cross Infection ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Delivery of Health Care ; Drug Resistance ; Hand ; Hand Disinfection ; Humans ; Incidence ; Methicillin Resistance ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Tertiary Healthcare ; Ventilators, Mechanical

This study was carried out to determine the effect of long term administration of vitamin A on the changes of lipids in liver tissue and serum in rat. The animals were fed with control diet(200 ug/day) and high vitimin A diet(2, 000 ug/day) for 24 weeks. Vitamin A contents of liver in high vitamin A fed rats were increased linearly accordance with duration of the vitamin A administration, but levels of serum vitamin A showed unremarkable changes during the experimental period. Contents of cholesterol and triglycerides of vitarnin A fed rats were significantly higher than those of controls. Levels of HDL-triglycerides in v:itamin A fed rats were significantly higher than those of control rats during experimental period, while levels of HDL-cholesterol and HDL-phospholipids showed unremarkable changes during experimental period. Levels of individual cholesteryl esters showed undremarkable changes during experimental period in both animal groups.
Animals ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol Esters ; Liver* ; Rats* ; Triglycerides ; Vitamin A* ; Vitamins*

This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of premedicants, diazepam and atropine sulfate in twenty surgical patients by measuring the Human Plasma Renin Acitivty. RENIN. RIA(Radioimmunoassay K for Angiotensin I) was utilized and the renin activity was expressed as the release of angiotenain I, ng. per ml. of plasma per hour. The sex ratio between male and female patients was 11:9, mean age 38,95+/-13.16 and average body weight 55.5+/-8.20kg. The value of the human plasma renin activity before administration of premedicants was 2.05+/-0.95ng/ml/hr. and at 60 minutes after administration of premedicante it was 2.21+/-0.82ng/ml/hr., and it's result was within normal limits. Consequently there was no significant change statistically in human plasma renin activity after one hour of premedications.
Angiotensins ; Atropine* ; Body Weight ; Diazepam ; Female ; Humans* ; Male ; Plasma* ; Premedication ; Renin* ; Sex Ratio