OBJECTIVES: This study is designed to develop a large group phychodrama for light delin-quent adolescents (hereinafter called as "Psychodrama") thereby determining therapeutic factors for dealing with them. METHODS: The study was conducted in the program of Seoul Metropolitan Youth Centre called "the class of love" during the period of July through December, 1998. The subjects consisted of a total of 827 young delinquents (759 boys and 68 girls, with the average age of 15.9 years old). To develop "this psychodrama", after we composed of therapeutic team centered by psychiatrists, we prepared from January to June, 1998 by practicing psychodrama with delinquent adolescents and by analyzing the results. "This psychodrama" has three basic steps: (1) warming-up (small group me-eting), (2) action (situation drama and main drama), (3) sharing. A survey of treatments, from a pool of participating adolescents, based on evaluation sheets and 13 therapeutic factors scale followed every session of this psychodrama. RESULTS: "This psychodrama" was helpful for 47.4%, interesting for 49.2%, not helpful for 12.1% and not interesting for 16%. In the whole group of subjects, the important therapeutic factors were existential factor, universality, identification with the therapist and the instillation of hope in the order of rank. When categorized in four different groups (audience, participants in situation drama, auxiliary egos, participants in sharing) the 4 groups displayed different results to one another. First, the therapeutic factors of audience were similar to that of the whole group. Second, participants in situation drama showed a higher catharsis than others. Third, auxiliary egos were leading in the guidance of members and therapists. Fourth, participants in sharing displayed higher group cohesiveness. CONCLUSION: As it is getting harder to find program's suitable for the treatment of increasing number of delinquents due to limited budget and experts, this psychodrama could be more cost-effective than any other measures.
Adolescent* ; Budgets ; Catharsis ; Drama ; Ego ; Female ; Hope ; Humans ; Psychiatry ; Psychodrama* ; Seoul

BACKGROUND: Echocardiographically detected left ventricular(LV) hypertrophy is a risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. A better understanding of the determinants of LV mass may aid in strategies directed toward the promary and secondary prevention of LV hypertrophy and its consequences. Previous studies have reported that male gender, arterial blood pressure(BP), obesity, age, aortic valvular stenosis, dietary sodium, endocrine factors, and physical activity are positively correlated with LV mass. Of these determinants male gender, hypertension, and obesity are well known but age and blood pressure in healthy adults are controversial. To assess the determinants of LV mass, the relation of 2-dimensional(2D) echocardiographically determined LV mass to body mass inedx(BMI), age, sex, casual BP, and 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure(ABP : systolic, diastolic, and mean BP of 24 hour, day-time, and night-time) was examined in healthy adults. METHODS: The study population consisted of 200 healthy adults who were normotensive, nonobese, and had no evidence of cardiovascular disease(range in age from 20 to 69 years, five decades, 20 men and 20 women per each decade). LV mass was derived from area length method measurements obtained by 2D echocardiography and corrected for height. ABP monitoring was performend over 24 hour(divided into day-time(6am-10pm) and night-time(10pm-6am)periods) with 30 minute inervals. RESULTS: 1) BMI was significantly and independently related to LV mass corrected for height (p<0.001, partial R2=0.31 in men and 0.43 in women). An increase of BMI by 1 kg/m2increased LV mass corrected for height by 1.9g/m in men and 2.0g/m in women. 2) Age was significantly and independently related to LV mass corrected for height(p<0.001, partial R2=0.15 in men and 0.17 in women). The increments of Lv mass corrected for height per decade were 2.1 g/m in men and 3.4 g/m in women. 3) Gender was significantly and independently related to LV mass corrected for height(p<0.001, partial R2=0.12), which was greater in men than in women by 6.34g/m. 4) Casual Bp and 24 hour ABP were not significantly associated with LV mass corrected for height in total population and women, and 24 hour systolic BP was significantly related to LV mass corrected for height only in men(p<0.001) with weak partial R2(0.05). CONCLUSION: BMI, age, and male gender were statistically significant and independent correlates of LV mass corrected for height(p<0.001). Maintenance of ideal body weight and normal BP, weight reduction in obese persons and BP control inhypertensive patients may contribute to the primary and secondary prevention of LV hypertrophy and its sequalae.
Adult* ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Echocardiography* ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertrophy ; Ideal Body Weight ; Male ; Mortality ; Motor Activity ; Obesity ; Risk Factors ; Secondary Prevention ; Sodium, Dietary ; Weight Loss

Purpose: This study investigates the relationship between sleep duration, sleep quality, time use, and dietary quality of adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, enrolling 423 high school students (112 male and 311 female students) in Chungnam using a questionnaire comprising general characteristics, sleep status, use of time, and Nutrition Quotient for Korean Adolescents (NQ-A). Results: On weekdays, male students reported getting 6.6 hours of sleep, which was significantly higher than the 5.8 hours reported by female students. The sleep quality score between male and female students was not significantly different on weekdays and weekends.Comparing the students categorized as getting 6 hours of sleep duration on weekdays and 8 hours on weekends, a significantly higher total NQ-A score was obtained for the long sleep duration group of female students on weekdays. In male students who reported increased screen time on weekdays and study time on weekends, there was a greater frequency of short sleep duration. Our data also revealed that the longer the sleep duration higher the NQ-A score. In addition, higher NQ-A scores were determined with shorter screen time and more prolonged exercise time. Conclusion Our results suggest that intense study time and excessive use of smartphones have a negative effect on sleep in high school students. In addition, poor sleep quality and lack of sleep are likely to affect eating habits and nutritional status. Therefore, there is a need to provide nutritional education to adolescents imparting knowledge that associates desirable sleep habits and the correct use of time.

OBJECTIVE: The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) is designed to measure the current level of depressive symptomatology in the general population. However, no review has examined whether the scale is reliable and valid among children and adolescents in Korea. The purpose of this study was to test whether the Korean form of the CES-D is valid in adolescents. METHODS: Data were obtained from 1,884 adolescents attending grades 1–3 in Korean middle schools. Reliability was evaluated by internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha). Concurrent validity was evaluated by a correlation analysis between the CES-D and other scales. Construct validity was evaluated by exploratory factor and confirmatory factor analyses. RESULTS: The internal consistency coefficient for the entire group was 0.88. The CES-D was positively correlated with scales that measure negative psychological constructs, such as the State Anxiety Inventory for Children, the Korean Social Anxiety Scale for Children and Adolescents, and the Reynold Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire, but it was negatively correlated with scales that measure positive psychological constructs, such as the Korean version of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale-2. The CES-D was examined by three-dimensional exploratory factor analysis, and the three-factor structure of the scale explained 53.165% of the total variance. The variance explained by factor I was 24.836%, that explained by factor II was 15.988%, and that explained by factor III was 12.341%. The construct validity of the CES-D was tested by confirmatory factor analysis, and we applied the entire group’s data using a three-factor hierarchical model. The fit index showed a level similar to those of other countries’ adolescent samples. CONCLUSION: The CES-D has high internal consistency and addresses psychological constructs similar to those addressed by other scales. The CES-D showed a three-factor structure in an exploratory factor analysis. The present findings suggest that the CES-D is a useful and reliable tool for measuring depression in Korean adolescents.
Adolescent Psychiatry ; Adolescent ; Anxiety ; Child ; Depression ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Fibrinogen ; Humans ; Korea ; Prothrombin ; Psychometrics ; Suicidal Ideation ; Thromboplastin ; Weights and Measures

The case of a 33-day-old boy with Pierre Robin syndrome using a Cook(R) airway exchange catheter in laryngeal mask airway-guided fiberoptic intubation is presented. After induction with sevoflurane, classical reusable laryngeal mask airway (LMA) #1 was inserted and ultrathin fiberoptic bronchoscope (FOB) was passed through. A Cook(R) airway exchange catheter (1.6 mm ID, 2.7 mm OD) was passed through the LMA under the guidance of the FOB but failed to enter the trachea despite many trials. Then, an endotracheal tube (3.0 mm ID) was mounted on the FOB and railroaded over the FOB. After successful intubation, the Cook(R) airway exchange catheter was placed in the midtrachea through the lumen of the endotracheal tube. Even though the tracheal tube was accidentally displaced out of the trachea during LMA removal, the endotracheal tube could be easily railroaded over the airway exchange catheter.
Bronchoscopes ; Catheters ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intubation ; Laryngeal Masks ; Methyl Ethers ; Pierre Robin Syndrome ; Railroads ; Songbirds ; Trachea

PURPOSE: To compare histopathological and apoptotic changes of ophthalmoscopically similar subthreshold laser burns made by a low power-long duration (LD) and a high power-short duration (SD) subthreshold laser treatment. METHODS: Ophthalmoscopically invisible subthreshold laser burns with a 3.0 mm spot size were made using an 810 nm diode laser on the rabbit retina. Lasers were applied for 60 seconds in the LD group, and 1 second in the SD group. Laser power was adjusted to achieve ophthalmoscopically invisible burns just below the threshold. The rabbits were sacrificed at 6, 12, 24, and 72 hours, 1, 2, and 4 weeks after laser treatment. The eyes were processed for light microscopic examination using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), toluidine blue, and TdT-dUTP terminal nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining. Eyes were also processed for electron microscopic examination. RESULTS: The changes in the retina were different between the two groups. The LD group showed abundant TUNEL positive cells in all the retinal layers at 6 hours after laser treatment, and distinct histological changes in the outer nuclear layer. Conversely, in the SD group, apoptosis did not occur and histological alteration in the outer nuclear layer was minimal. CONCLUSIONS: Subthreshold laser treatment for 1 second reduced damage of the inner retinal layer and did not result in apoptosis in the neurosensory retina while maintaining a similar effect on the RPE and its adjacent region.
Apoptosis ; Burns ; Electrons ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Eye ; Hematoxylin ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Lasers, Semiconductor ; Light ; Macular Degeneration ; Rabbits ; Retina ; Retinaldehyde ; Tolonium Chloride

Sporadic spastic paraplegia (SSP) and hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) belong to a clinical and genetically heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by progressive spasticity and weakness in the lower extremities. The symptoms are associated with pyramidal tract dysfunction and degeneration of the corticospinal tracts. Parkinsonism is uncommon in SSP/HSP patients. However, both disorders are associated with damage to the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system. In the present study, the clinical features of patients with SSP/HSP were investigated, and nigrostriatal dopaminergic binding potential was assessed using dopamine transporter (DAT) single-photon emission computer tomography (SPECT). Nine patients with spastic paraplegia participated in the present study. The subjects underwent DAT SPECT using the agent [2-[[2-[[[3-(4-chlorophenyl)-8-methyl-8-azabicyclo[3,2,1]oct-2-yl]methyl](2-mercaptoethyl)amino]ethyl]amino]ethanethiolato (3-)-N2,N20,S2,S20]oxo-[IR-(exo-exo)])-[99mTc]technetium ([99mTc]TRODAT-1). The [99mTc]TRODAT-1 SPECT images of five patients appeared normal, whereas the images of four patients revealed reduced striatal ligand uptake. Among the four patients with reduced uptake, two had parkinsonism, and one exhibited periodic limb movements and restless leg syndrome. Our DAT SPECT imaging study shows that reduced DAT density may be observed in patients with parkinsonism. The results of the present study offer an explanation for the spectrum of spastic paraplegia symptoms and the progression of the disorder.
Adult ; Aged ; Brain/*radionuclide imaging ; Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins/metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organotechnetium Compounds/diagnostic use ; Paraplegia/diagnosis/genetics/*radionuclide imaging ; Parkinsonian Disorders/complications/genetics/*radionuclide imaging ; Pyramidal Tracts ; Radiopharmaceuticals/diagnostic use ; Spastic Paraplegia, Hereditary/diagnosis/genetics/*radionuclide imaging ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

Peptides are short chain of amino acids linked by peptide bonds. They are widely used as effective and biocompatible active ingredients in cosmetic industry. In this study, we developed novel peptide mixture and identified its anti-pigmentation effect on melanocytes and keratinocytes. Our results revealed that peptide mixture inhibited melanosome biogenesis through the regulation of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, a key factor of melanogenesis in melanocytes. And we observed that peptide mixture inhibited melanosome uptake through the reduction of protease-activated receptor 2, a phagocytosis-related receptor in keratinocytes. Furthermore, peptide mixture activated autophagy system resulting in degradation of transferred melanosomes in keratinocytes. The anti-pigmentation effect of multi-targeting peptide mixture was assessed in a human skin equivalent model (MelanoDerm). Melanin contents in epidermal layer were significantly decreased by topical treatment of peptide mixture, suggesting that it can be applied as a novel cosmetics material having a whitening function.

Peptides are short chain of amino acids linked by peptide bonds. They are widely used as effective and biocompatible active ingredients in cosmetic industry. In this study, we developed novel peptide mixture and identified its anti-pigmentation effect on melanocytes and keratinocytes. Our results revealed that peptide mixture inhibited melanosome biogenesis through the regulation of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, a key factor of melanogenesis in melanocytes. And we observed that peptide mixture inhibited melanosome uptake through the reduction of protease-activated receptor 2, a phagocytosis-related receptor in keratinocytes. Furthermore, peptide mixture activated autophagy system resulting in degradation of transferred melanosomes in keratinocytes. The anti-pigmentation effect of multi-targeting peptide mixture was assessed in a human skin equivalent model (MelanoDerm). Melanin contents in epidermal layer were significantly decreased by topical treatment of peptide mixture, suggesting that it can be applied as a novel cosmetics material having a whitening function.

Diarrhea-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome is rarely accompanied by complications requiring surgical intervention. We report a case of the diarrhea-associated hemolytic uremic sydrome which developed simultaneously with an acute appendicitis.
Appendicitis* ; Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome*