OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to assess the change of heart rate variability (HRV) at resting, upright, and psychological stress in anxiety disorder patients. METHODS: HRV was measured at resting, upright, and psychological stress states in 60 anxiety disorder patients. We used visual analogue scale (VAS) score to assess tension and stress severity. Beck depression inventory (BDI) and state trait anxiety inventories I and II (STAI-I and II) were used to assess depression and anxiety severity. Differences between HRV indices were evaluated using paired t-tests. Gender difference analysis was accomplished with ANCOVA. RESULTS: SDNN (Standard deviation of normal RR intervals) and low frequency/high frequency (LF/HF) were significantly increased, while NN50, pNN50, and normalized HF (nHF) were significantly decreased in the upright position compared to resting state (p < 0.01). SDNN, root mean square of the differences of successive normal to normal intervals, and LF/HF were significantly increased, while nHF was significantly decreased in the psychological stress state compared to resting state (p < 0.01). SDNN, NN50, pNN50 were significantly lower in upright position compared to psychological stress and nVLF, nLF, nHF, and LF/HF showed no significant differences between them. CONCLUSION: The LF/HF ratio was significantly increased after both physical and psychological stress in anxiety disorder, but did not show a significant difference between these two stresses. Significant differences of SDNN, NN50, and pNN50 without any differences of nVLF, nLF, nHF, and LF/HF between two stresses might suggest that frequency domain analysis is more specific than time domain analysis.
Anxiety ; Anxiety Disorders* ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Depression ; Equipment and Supplies ; Heart Rate* ; Humans ; Stress, Psychological*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Humans ; Hypertension* ; Perindopril*

No abstract available.
Hernia, Diaphragmatic*

Adult onset Stills Disease (AOSD) is a systemic inflammatory disease characterized by spiking high fevers, arthritis, and an evanescent rash. Although many patients respond to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroid, some patients fail to do so or are found to be resistant and require high doses of corticosteroid which induce severe side effects. Recently, treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) has been reported to be effective in patients with AOSD who were refractory to NSAIDs. Here, we report a case of AOSD treated with IVIG with a review of the literature.
Adult* ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; Arthritis ; Exanthema ; Fever ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins* ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; Still's Disease, Adult-Onset*

Ambient air monitoring(environmental monitoring) and biological monitoring of mixed organic solvents exposure have been used in exposure assessment of these compounds in the work environment. Environmental monitoring is more useful when assessing low level exposure to these compounds. The specific objectives of this study were to measure air organic solvent levels in the work environment, to test the agreement of items measured in this study with items which have been reported to the administrative agency, and finally to evaluate the appropriateness of environmental monitoring items. The study subjects were 13 small companies in which less than 300 employees were working and presumably exposed to mixed organic solvents(e.g. automotive repair and painting, 6; textile dyeing, 2; printing, 2; electronics, etc, 3). Personal air samplings were performed by the flow-lite sampling pump(MSA) and the 600mg charcoal tube with air velocity of 100ml/min for qualitative analysis and 2l/min for quantitative analysis. Samples were analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry(Hewlett-Packard 5890/5970). High levels of toluene, n-hexane, and MIBK were detected in most study companies and low levels of ethylbenzene, xylene, n-butylacetate were also detected. When these measured items were compared with those of reported items, only 6 of 13 companies showed relatively good agreement between them. Two companies failed to report items exceeding the limit value. In conclusion, qualitative analysis of ambient air organic solvents seemed to be as important as quantitative analysis of these compounds and a periodic evaluation of monitoring items reported to the administrative agency should be required.
Charcoal ; Environmental Monitoring* ; Humans ; Mass Spectrometry ; Paint ; Paintings ; Solvents* ; Textiles ; Toluene ; Workplace* ; Xylenes

No abstract available.
Adult ; Biopsy ; *Brunner Glands/pathology/surgery ; Duodenal Diseases/*complications/diagnosis/surgery ; Duodenal Obstruction/diagnosis/*etiology/surgery ; Duodenoscopy ; Gastric Outlet Obstruction/diagnosis/*etiology/surgery ; Hamartoma/*complications/diagnosis/surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: A scoring system could be clinically useful in determining cases in which a throat culture may be omitted or in cases whether antibiotics may be initiated or not. We propose to make a clinical guideline of antibiotics administration in patients with pharyngitis. METHODS: From Apr. 1996. to Mar. 1997, throat cultures were taken from 321 cases (72 cases from Kyung-Hee Medical Center, 249 cases from 3 local pediatric clinics). On the first day of visit, 9 clinical items on a score-card were checked and a tentative diagnosis for streptococcal or non-streptococcal infection was made. These clinical scores were compared with the results of the throat swab cultures. RESULTS: Of 321 cases with pharyngitis, 55 cases (17%) proved to have group A streptococci by throat culture. The positive culture rate of group A streptococci was 18.5% from 3 local pediatric clinics, and 12.5% from Kyung-Hee Medical Center. The positive culture rate of group A streptococci were 40% in above 31 points of score, 31.5% in 29 to 30 points, 20.5% in 27 to 28 points. The sensitivity and specificity of the scoring system using a score at least 28 above points were 71% and 67%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The clinical diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngitis indicates that patients age 5 to 10 years, findings of abnormal pharynx, high fever and no past history of antibiotics use. Further modification of the scoring system for diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngitis should be made to prevent antibiotics abuse and correct diagnosis of pharyngitis.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Diagnosis* ; Fever ; Humans ; Pharyngitis* ; Pharynx ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Urinary hippuric acid was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry method. A simple and economical derivatization procedure using excessive methanol in acidic condition was adopted to esterify hippuric acid. Quantitative analysis was performed with two internal standards, heptadecanoic acid and hydrocinnamic acid, to evaluate the derivatization procedure as an analytical method. Using the standard addition method, linear and reproducible calibration curves were obtained for both internal standards. Calibration experiment showed that good quantitative result could also be obtained with the calibration curve obtained without urine matrix. Recovery rates for the urine samples were in the range of 95.6~111.4%. Using hydrocinnamic acid as internal standard, analysis time could be reduced.
Calibration ; Chromatography, Gas* ; Methanol ; Spectrum Analysis

BACKGROUND: The genotypes of human papillomavirus (HPV) are important in carcinogenesis in uterine cervical cancer and may be different in geographic distribution. METHODS: In 2,086 women, we analyzed the prevalence of HPV and HPV genotypes in uterine cervix by HPV-DNA chip test (n = 2,086), cytology (PAP smear, n = 1997) and biopsy (n = 546). RESULTS: Of the 2,086 cases, 1,019 cases (48.8%) were HPV-positive and 1,067 cases (51.2%) were negative for HPV. Single infection occurred most commonly (72.1% of women). HPV genotypes in the high-risk and low-risk groups, respectively were HPV-16/-58/-18/-52/-53 and HPV-70/-6/-11. The detection rates of HPV-70 in subjects older than 50 years increased significantly (p < 0.05). Infection in high risk subjects was detected in high grade lesions compared with infection in low risk subjects (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: HPV-16/-58/-18/-52/-53/-70/-6/-11 genotypes were common in the patient group similar to findings in East Asia. HPV-70 infection is predominant in those older than 40 years.
Biopsy ; Cervix Uteri ; DNA ; Far East ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Prevalence ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms