OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to investigate the reliability and validity of the Korean version of Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ). METHODS: 20 participants with high-functioning autism (HFA) and 99 normal participants were recruited. All participants were completed the AQ and Empathy Quotient (EQ), and parents of the HFA group completed the parent-report AQ. For testing the reliability, we examined Cronbach’s alpha, performed item analysis, and compared self versus parent report score of HFA participants. For testing the validity, we compared the difference of the score of AQ among HFA and control group using independent t-tests, and performed correlation analysis between AQ and EQ. The receiver operation characteristic curve analysis was performed to determine a cut-off. RESULTS: The Korean version of the AQ exhibited adequate internal consistency, and in most items, the HFA group scored higher in comparison to the control group. It was demonstrated that AQ has good discriminant validity through the confirmation of the significant difference in the AQ score between two groups. The concurrent validity was established through the significant correlation between AQ and EQ in the HFA group. The best estimate cut-off score of AQ for screening was 23. CONCLUSION: The Korean version of the AQ was determined as a reliable and valid instrument to assess HFA in Korean population.
Autism Spectrum Disorder ; Autistic Disorder ; Empathy ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Parents ; Reproducibility of Results*

There are many methods for achieving one-lung ventilation (OLV) during thoracic surgery in neonates and the accuracy of OLV may affect postoperative outcome. The authors have performed OLV using a 5 Fr Arndt endobronchial blocker (AEB, Cook Inc., Bloomington, IN, USA) on a neonate diagnosed with congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation and respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) associated with marked mediastinal shift. In spite of sufficient preoxygenation, sudden and severe fall in oxygen saturation had occurred. Since neonates with RDS may develop sudden and severe desaturation, rapid intubation with anticipation of potential difficulty is necessary as well as sufficient preoxygenation.
Anoxia ; Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation of Lung, Congenital ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intubation ; One-Lung Ventilation ; Oxygen ; Thoracic Surgery

Ginsenosides from Panax ginseng are well known for their diverse pharmacological effects including antithrombotic activity. Since adventitious roots of mountain ginseng (ARMG) also contain various ginsenosides, blood flow-improving effects of the dried powder and extract of ARMG were investigated. Rats were orally administered with dried powder (PARMG) or ethanol extract (EARMG) of ARMG (125, 250 or 500 mg/kg) or aspirin (30 mg/kg, a reference control) for 3 weeks. Forty min after the final administration, carotid arterial thrombosis was induced by applying a 70% FeCl₃-soaked filter paper outside the arterial wall for 5 min, and the blood flow was monitored with a laser Doppler probe. Both PARMG and EARMG delayed the FeCl₃-induced arterial occlusion in a dose-dependent manner, doubling the occlusion time at high doses. In mechanism studies, a high concentration of EARMG inhibited platelet aggregation induced by collagen in vitro. In addition, EARMG improved the blood lipid profiles, decreasing triglyceride and cholesterol levels. Although additional action mechanisms remain to be clarified, it is suggested that ARMG containing high amount of ginsenosides such as Rg₃ improves blood flow not only by inhibiting oxidative thrombosis, but also by modifying blood lipid profiles.
Animals ; Aspirin ; Cholesterol ; Collagen ; Ethanol ; Ginsenosides ; In Vitro Techniques ; Panax* ; Platelet Aggregation ; Rats ; Thrombosis ; Triglycerides

In this article, So-Young Park is inadvertently omitted from the listed author names. In the Acknowledgement section, funding source is incorrectly cited and has been changed upon request of authors.

OBJECTIVES: In Korea, the term for schizophrenia has been changed from 'split-mind disorder' to 'attunement disorder'. This study compared the stigma of, and prejudice against, people with schizophrenia, according to use of the term 'split-mind disorder' or 'attunement disorder'. METHODS: We conducted a survey of 360 college students majoring in nursing science in order to assess their prejudice regarding the danger posed by schizophrenia and discrimination regarding relationships and privileges for patients with schizophrenia using the social stigma scale and the discrimination scale for patients with mental illness, respectively. Study subjects were randomly divided into two groups, and the same scales were assigned to each group using different instructions, beginning with either 'split-mind disorder' or 'attunement disorder'. RESULTS: In multivariate analysis, scores for prejudice with regard to the danger posed by, and discrimination against, patients with schizophrenia were significantly higher in the group assigned the term split-mind disorder, compared with the term attunement disorder. Scores for discrimination with regard to relationships and privileges were significantly lower for subjects with experience to contact the mentally ill, compared to those without such experience. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that renaming split-mind disorder as attunement disorder can result in reduced prejudice and discrimination against people with schizophrenia. In addition to renaming schizophrenia, implementation of anti-stigma campaigns, including contact with schizophrenia patients, may help to reduce discrimination against them.
Discrimination (Psychology) ; Humans ; Korea ; Mentally Ill Persons ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prejudice ; Schizophrenia ; Social Stigma ; Weights and Measures