OBJECTIVE: Panic disorder has been suggested to be divided into the respiratory and non-respiratory subtypes in terms of its clinical presentations. The present study aimed to investigate whether there are any differences in treatment response and clinical characteristics between the respiratory and non-respiratory subtypes of panic disorder patients. METHODS: Among the 48 patients those who completed the study, 25 panic disorder patients were classified as the respiratory subtype, whereas 23 panic disorder patients were classified as the non-respiratory subtype. All patients were treated with escitalopram or paroxetine for 12 weeks. We measured clinical and psychological characteristics before and after pharmacotherapy using the Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS), Albany Panic and Phobic Questionnaire (APPQ), Anxiety Sensitivity Index-Revised (ASI-R), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T, STAI-S), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D). RESULTS: The prevalence of the agoraphobia was significantly higher in the respiratory group than the non-respiratory group although there were no differences in gender and medication between the two groups. The respiratory group showed higher scores on the fear of respiratory symptoms of the ASI-R. In addition, after pharmacotherapy, the respiratory group showed more improvement in panic symptoms than the non-respiratory group. CONCLUSION: Panic disorder patients with the respiratory subtype showed more severe clinical presentations, but a greater treatment response to SSRIs than those with non-respiratory subtype. Thus, classification of panic disorder patients as respiratory and non-respiratory subtypes may be useful to predict clinical course and treatment response to SSRIs.
Agoraphobia ; Anxiety ; Citalopram ; Classification ; Depression ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Panic ; Panic Disorder* ; Paroxetine ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors ; Treatment Outcome

The present study was undertaken to investigate the infection status of Cryptosporidium parvum in the villagers and the reservoir hosts in several rural areas in Korea. A total 5, 262 fecal samples were collected from the inhabitants residing at Gangwon-do, Chungcheongbuk-do, Jeollanam-do, and Gyeongsangnam-do between the dates of September, 2001 to June, 2002. In addition, 1, 453 fecal samples were collected from livestock reared in Gokseong-gun, Jeollanam-do and Chungju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do. All the fecal smears were prepared by formalin-ether sedimentation, and examined by light microscopy after modified acid-fast staining. The overall positive rate of human cryptosporidiosis was 3.3%. Gokseong-gun, Jeollanam-do showed a 8.2% positive rate and appeared as the highest endemic area among the surveyed areas. Haman-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do showed a 0.4% positive rate and was the lowest endemic area. The positive rate of livestock infection in Gokseong-gun, Jeollanam-do was 94%, which was more than ten times higher than that of Chungju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do (9.3%). From these results, it was revealed that cryptosporidiosis was an endemic disease in some rural areas of Korea, and the livestock could be an important source of human infection.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Animals ; Animals, Domestic/*parasitology ; Cattle ; Cattle Diseases/*epidemiology/parasitology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cryptosporidiosis/*epidemiology/parasitology/veterinary ; Cryptosporidium parvum/*isolation & purification ; Feces/parasitology ; Female ; Human ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parasite Egg Count ; Prevalence ; *Rural Population ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Swine ; Swine Diseases/*epidemiology/parasitology

No abstract available.
Ficusin ; Follow-Up Studies ; Isotretinoin ; Methotrexate ; Mycosis Fungoides

Transposition of the island pedicle flap is a versatile method of mobilizing tissue from a relatively distant reservoir and moving it across intervening tissue. Advantages are the similar color and texture to those of the affected area, the minimal donor scar, the increased viability with local blood supply, and the potential to camouflage scars into natural skin lines or cosmetic units. In a 73-year-old woman, the lesion of a basal cell carcinoma on her left nasal ala was removed by Mohs micrographic surgery and the resultant defect was reconstructed by transposition of the island pedicle flap. In our case, there were no significant complications and the final result was satisfactory in both functional and cosmetic aspects. Through our experience, we can confirm that transposition of the island pedicle flap is another alternative for the reconstruction of nasal alar defects.
Aged ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Cicatrix ; Female ; Humans ; Mohs Surgery ; Skin ; Tissue Donors

We evaluated the role of endoscopic laser therapy and strip biopsy in the treatment of gastric flat adenoma. Over a period of three years, l6 adenomas in 13 patients were ablated with laser irradiation, while 10 adenomas in 7 patients were removed with strip biopsy. The size of adenomas, which ranged from 0.5 cm to 3.5 cm in diameter(mean 1.7 cm) showed no significant difference between the two treatment groups. All of the adenomas were successfully treated with either method and no complications occurred such as bleeding or perforation. The overall one-year recurrence rate was 6.2%. The recurrent adenoma was retreated successfully. We conclude that both endoscopic laser therapy and strip biopsy are safe and effective modalities in the treatment of gastric flat adenoma, but strip biopay may be preferred over laser therapy because the former enables us to examine the resected specimen.
Adenoma* ; Biopsy ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; Recurrence ; Stomach

We evaluated the role of endoscopic laser therapy and strip biopsy in the treatment of gastric flat adenoma. Over a period of three years, l6 adenomas in 13 patients were ablated with laser irradiation, while 10 adenomas in 7 patients were removed with strip biopsy. The size of adenomas, which ranged from 0.5 cm to 3.5 cm in diameter(mean 1.7 cm) showed no significant difference between the two treatment groups. All of the adenomas were successfully treated with either method and no complications occurred such as bleeding or perforation. The overall one-year recurrence rate was 6.2%. The recurrent adenoma was retreated successfully. We conclude that both endoscopic laser therapy and strip biopsy are safe and effective modalities in the treatment of gastric flat adenoma, but strip biopay may be preferred over laser therapy because the former enables us to examine the resected specimen.
Adenoma* ; Biopsy ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; Recurrence ; Stomach

No abstract available.
Herpes Simplex* ; Humans ; Lasers, Excimer* ; Simplexvirus* ; Vitiligo*

Few recent reports have indicated that Mycobacterium massiliense causes various infections including respiratory infection. However, there is scarce information on the clinical significance, natural history of the infection, and therapeutic strategy. This report describes a case of an immunocompetent old man infected by M. massiliense that causes acute respiratory failure. In light of the general courses of non-tuberculous mycobacterium infections, rapid progression and fatality are very rare and odd. In addition, we discuss the biological and pathological properties of M. massiliense with the review of cases reported previously including our fatal one.
Light ; Mycobacterium ; Mycobacterium Infections ; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous ; Natural History ; Respiratory Insufficiency

BACKGROUND: Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are toxic materials that cannot be broken down naturally and that easily accumulate in the body. Although several studies have attempted to uncover the effects of POPs on the endocrine and nervous systems and on cancer, few focus on the relationship between low-dose POPs and public health. Here, we attempt to determine the relationship between the level of POPs and common gastrointestinal symptoms, including abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, and constipation. METHODS: We recruited 121 subjects who visited Kyungpook National University Medical Center for health screening. Plasma concentrations were evaluated for 40 kinds of POPs including 17 types of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 23 types of organochlorine pesticides (OCP). Furthermore, the Korean version of the Rome III criteria was used to identify gastrointestinal symptoms. RESULTS: Based on our results, abdominal discomfort showed an inverse relationship with several PCBs and an inverted U-shaped relationship with several other OCPs including pp-DDD and pp-DDT. The effects of pp-DDD and pp-DDT on abdominal discomfort were similar to those of OCPs on obesity and metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that mild and unspecified gastrointestinal symptoms with no clear causes could be related to POP levels.
Academic Medical Centers ; Constipation ; Diarrhea ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Mass Screening ; Nervous System ; Obesity ; Pesticides ; Plasma ; Polychlorinated Biphenyls ; Public Health

BACKGROUND: Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are toxic materials that cannot be broken down naturally and that easily accumulate in the body. Although several studies have attempted to uncover the effects of POPs on the endocrine and nervous systems and on cancer, few focus on the relationship between low-dose POPs and public health. Here, we attempt to determine the relationship between the level of POPs and common gastrointestinal symptoms, including abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, and constipation. METHODS: We recruited 121 subjects who visited Kyungpook National University Medical Center for health screening. Plasma concentrations were evaluated for 40 kinds of POPs including 17 types of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 23 types of organochlorine pesticides (OCP). Furthermore, the Korean version of the Rome III criteria was used to identify gastrointestinal symptoms. RESULTS: Based on our results, abdominal discomfort showed an inverse relationship with several PCBs and an inverted U-shaped relationship with several other OCPs including pp-DDD and pp-DDT. The effects of pp-DDD and pp-DDT on abdominal discomfort were similar to those of OCPs on obesity and metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that mild and unspecified gastrointestinal symptoms with no clear causes could be related to POP levels.
Academic Medical Centers ; Constipation ; Diarrhea ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Mass Screening ; Nervous System ; Obesity ; Pesticides ; Plasma ; Polychlorinated Biphenyls ; Public Health