No abstract available.
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic* ; Thyroid Gland*

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to verify the status and the clinical significance of BRAF and NRAS mutations in patients of one of the university hospitals in Korea. METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and direct sequencing were performed for the analysis of melanoma samples (n=22) for the detection of mutations in exon 15 of the BRAF gene, and exons 2 and 3 of the NRAS gene in genomic DNA. Mutations of the BRAF gene were correlated with the clinicopathologic features of patients and the BRAF mutation status was compared in 18 paired primary and metastatic tumors. RESULTS: Incidence of somatic mutations within the BRAF and NRAS genes was 27.3% (6/22) and 0% (0/22), respectively. Age, gender, Breslow thickness, and ulceration did not show correlation with BRAF mutations. Among 18 patients with metastasis, BRAF mutation was detected in 22.2% of cases (4/18), and all four cases with BRAF mutations were identified in metastatic lymph node tissues. BRAF mutations were only found in lymph node metastases, which was statistically significant (28.6% vs 0%, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The incidence of BRAF mutation is as low as in other Asian reports and the NRAS mutation was not found in patients of our institute.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; DNA ; Exons ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Lymph Nodes ; Melanoma* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence* ; Ulcer

No abstract available.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we examined the relationship between attachment style, alexithymia, marital satisfaction, and depressive symptoms in married couples. METHODS: We administered the Korean version of Experiences in Close Relationships questionnaire-Revised (K-ECR-R), Korean version of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20K), Revised-Dyadic Adjustment Scale (R-DAS), Korean version of the Beck Depression Inventory (K-BDI), and to 105 men and 115 women in the community. The data was analyzed with correlation analysis between related variables, and the regression analysis method of Baron and Kenny (1986) was used. RESULTS: The current study assumes that alexithymia mediates between attachment style and marital satisfaction, and these factors influence depressive symptoms. The results were as follows : 1) alexithymia mediated perfectly between attachment anxiety style and marital satisfaction and 2) alexithymia, and marital satisfaction had significant influences on depressive symptoms. Attachment avoidance style was excluded for dissatisfaction with the assumption of the regression analysis method of Baron and Kenny (1986). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that attachment style, alexithymia, and marital satisfaction seem to be important factors in depressive symptoms among married people. These results suggest that different interventions according to attachment style may helpful for the enhancement of marital satisfaction and the reduction of the depressive symptoms of married couples.
Affective Symptoms ; Anxiety ; Depression ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Humans ; Male

Celiac plexus block with neurolytic agents is widely recommended for the management of intraabdominal pain due to malignant disease as a simple, asafe and effective method. We performed neurolytic celia: plexus block with 60% ethanol in lidocaine in 8 patients: with gastric cancer(4), hepatoma(2), pancreatic cancer(1), and chronic pancreatitis(1). Good to excellent pain relief was obtained in the 2 hepatoma cases, 1 pancreatic cancer, and a gastric cancer patient. In one patient with gastirc cancer, analgesia lasted for about 3 months but the second block was entirely unsatisfactory. The result was uncertain in one patient with chronic pancreatitis because the pain was non-specific and responded even to saline solution(placebo). In the remaing 2 patients, the result was entirely negative and eventually, epidural morphine was given periodically through an indwelling catheter.
Analgesia ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Catheters, Indwelling ; Celiac Plexus* ; Ethanol ; Humans ; Lidocaine ; Morphine ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Pancreatitis, Chronic ; Stomach Neoplasms

PURPOSE: To classify the cavernous sinus lesions, to describe their radiological findings, and to assess the usefulness of MR compared to CT. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Fourty-five patients with lesions involving the cavernous sinus proved by histological and/or clinical and imaging methods were studied retrospectively and classified into neoplastic, vascular, and inflammatory lesions. CT and MR findings were compared in 21 patients evaluated by both modalities simultaneously according to these 4 categories. RESULTS: Pitiutary macroadenoma was the most common cavernous sinus lesion(42%). Diffuse convex bulging of the lateral wall of cavernous sinus was the most frequent radiological finding(84%), and the others were encasement of the cavernous carotid artery(49%), remodelling of the surrounding bones(44%), and complete obliteration of Meckel's cave(38%), in descending order of frequency. Bulging of the lateral wall of cavernous sinus was equally well demonstrated on both modalities, but encasement or displacement of the cavernous carotid artery and complete or partial obliteration of Meckel's cave were much better delineated on MR than on CT with the ratio of 3.8:1 and 4.6: 1, respectively. Only bone changes were much better demonstrated on CTthan on MR with the ratio of 3.8: 1. CONCLUSION: MR issuperior to CTin demonstrating thecavernouscarotid artery encasement and obliteration of Meckel's cave, but CT is much better than MR in demonstrating bone changes.
Arteries ; Carotid Arteries ; Cavernous Sinus* ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies

For seven years from 1962 to 1968, fecal specimens of the patients were examined not only for the discovery of intestinal protozoa and helminths, but also to provie data on the incidence of intestinal parasites among the residents of Kyungpook Province, Korea. The Formalin-ether sedimentation, Lugol solution, and Heidenhain's iron-hematoxylin stained films were prepared for the recovery of intestinal parasites. Of 2,414 samples of feces examined, 35.7 percent were found to be infected with one or more species of protozoa. Among six species of protozoa detected, Entamoeba coli was observed most frequently(15.3%) followed by Entamoeba histolytica (11.9%), and then the Enteromonas hominis least often(1 case). For the survey of helminth, of a total of 5,288 fecal specimens examined, 86.7 percent were positive for one or more species of helminths. Trichocephalus trichiurus revealed the highest infection rate (83.6%), while Trichostrongylus orientalis was next (61.6%), and Ascaris lumbricoides was unexpectedly low(40.9%). The incidence for hookworm and Clonorchis sinensis was 22.4 percent and 29.8 percent respectively. Triple infections were found more frequently than double infections, and mixed infections of six or more species of helminths were observed in 3.8 percent of specimens.
parasitology-helminth-protozoa-nematoda-cestoda-trematoda ; Entamoeba coli ; Entamoeba histolytica ; Enteromonas hominis ; Endolimax nana ; Iodamoeba butschlii ; Giardia lamblia ; Trichocephalus trichiurus ; Trichostrongylus orientalis ; Ascaris lumbricoides ; hookworm ; Clonorchis sinensis ; Enterobius vermicularis ; Paragonimus westermani ; Metagonimus yokogawai ; Taenia species ; epidemiology ; stool examination ; Formalin-ether ; sedimentation ; Lugol solution ; Heidenhain's iron-hematoxylin

The os calcis is fractured more frequently than any other tarsal bone. Fractures involving subtalar joint can, be associated with prolonged and severe disability. So there is no universal agreement in the treatment of these fractures. Calcaneal fractures of 64 feet in 56 patients who were treated at Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine from Jan. 1971 to Dec. 1980 were analyzed in clinical and radiological aspects. The results obtained from this study were as follows; 1. Of 56 patients, 46 patients were male and 10 female. 2. The main cause of fractures of calcaneus was a fall from a height in 71.4 percents of cases, and spine injury was associated in 15 patients (26.8%) with calcaneal fractures. 3. The fractures were almostly closed (89.1%). 4. Fractures involving subtalar joint were in 52 feet (81.3%) and Rowe's type 5 were 38 fractures (39.4%). Of these type 5 fractures, 31 fractures were treated by closed reduction and axial pin fixation and then favourable results were obtained. 5. The most common complication after treatment was persistant foot pain. Pain beneath the lateral malleolus was the most common (8 feet), and correlated with the decrease of Bohler's angle.
Calcaneus ; Clinical Study ; Female ; Foot ; Humans ; Male ; Spine ; Subtalar Joint ; Tarsal Bones

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Apolipoprotein E (apoE), a 34-kD plasma glycoapolipoprotein, plays a key role in lipoprotein metabolism by facilitating cellular uptake of remnants of triglyceride-rich chylomicrons and VLDL and may have other important biological functions. Various studies using apoE-knockout mice have elucidated the role of apoE in lipolysis, remnant clearance, and atherogenesis. Despite the growing evidence of the protective role exerted by apoE against atherosclerosis, the direct in vivo effects of the apoE overexpression on lipoprotein metabolism in the presence of endogenous mouse apoE are not yet fully understood. In this study, the technique of adenovirus-mediated gene transfer was employed to investigate the in vivo effect of apoE overexpression on lipid level and lipoprotein profile in mice fed on normal chow or high cholesterol diet. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Recombinant adenovirus (rAd.mApoE) containing mouse apoE cDNA driven by a cytomegalovirus promoter was generated and infused via tail vein in mice fed on normal chow or high cholesterol diet. Recombinant adenoviruses have emerged as the most efficient vectors for transient delivery of functional genes to the mammalian liver. RESULTS: rAd.mApoE in the various mouse tissues one week after injection was expressed mainly in the liver. ApoE overexpression decreased the cholesterol and triglyceride concentration in mice fed on normal chow. In mice fed on high cholesterol diet, apoE overexpression resulted in decrease in triglyceride concentration and increase in cholesterol. VLDL and LDL fraction were decreased, HDL was increased by apoE overexpression in both mice fed on normal chow and high cholesterol diet. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that overexpression of mouse apoE in mice with endogenous apoE may exert antiatherogenic effect by inducing favorable change in the lipoprotein profile, regardless of diet and consequent plasma lipid level. In the future, the studies regarding the effect of human apoE overexpression on the lipid and lipoprotein profile in mice fed on normal chow and high cholesterol diet will be helpful to understand the species differences or similarities in apoE activity.
Adenoviridae ; Animals ; Apolipoproteins E ; Apolipoproteins* ; Atherosclerosis ; Cholesterol* ; Chylomicrons ; Cytomegalovirus ; Diet* ; DNA, Complementary ; Humans ; Lipolysis ; Lipoproteins* ; Liver ; Metabolism ; Mice* ; Plasma* ; Triglycerides ; Veins

BACKGROUND: Exposure to hyperoxia causes extensive injury to lung tissue, which resembles the pathologic changes of the adult respiratory distress syndrome. To observe the relationship between the pulmonary oxygen toxicity and duration of exposure to oxygen, 100% oxygen was exposed to Wistar rats. METHODS: 35 rats were partitioned into 5 groups (n=7 in each group). Gr. I breathed room air. Gr. II, III, IV and V were exposed to 99~100% oxygen for 24 hrs, 48 hrs, 60 hrs and 72 hrs. Wet lung/body weight (WW/BW), dry lung/body weight (DW/BW), wet/dry lung weight (WW/DW) and I-albumin flux ratio were measured in each group. RESULTS: After exposure for 72 hrs in Gr. V, 3 rats were dead. WW/BW in Gr. I was 0.69+/-0.04 and increased to 1.10+/-0.28 in Gr.II (P<0.05), which was maintaind until 60 hrs. It showed marked increase in Gr. V; 2.16+/-0.60. DW/BW, WW/DW and I-albumin flux ratio increased after 48 hrs of hyperoxia. WW/BW and DW/BW in Gr. V and I-flux ratio in Gr. IV showed significant increase compared with Gr. I, II and III. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that pulmonary capillary permeability begins to change after 24 hrs of hyperoxia and that definite permeability change to albumin and fluid accumulation in the lung are demonstrable from 48 hrs-exposure to 99~100% oxygen and aggravated by duration of oxygen exposure.
Animals ; Capillaries* ; Capillary Permeability* ; Hyperoxia ; Lung ; Oxygen* ; Permeability ; Rats* ; Rats, Wistar ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult