OBJECTIVES: Alzheimer's disease(AD) and mild cognitive impairment(MCI) affect several nervous structures involved with the autonomic nervous system. Association between neuropsychiatric deficits and heart rate variability has been observed. But cardiac autonomic function in AD has been scarcely studied and the results reported are conflicting. We investigated autonomic function in normal control, MCI, AD using heart rate variabil-ity(HRV) technique. METHODS: Time and frequency-domain variability of 5-min R-R interval series was comparatively evaluated in 26 normal control subjects, 22 MCI subjects and 34 AD subjects. Analysis of variance(ANOVA) was used to compare the differences across groups. Correlations between MMSE-KC and HRV components were performed using Pearson's correlation coefficient. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed among the groups in time, frequency-domain analysis of HRV (p>0.05). HRV were not found to be significantly correlated with the degree of cognitive impairment. CONCLUSIONS: There were no differences in HRV with MCI, AD subjects when compared with normal controls. Further investigation is required to use HRV technique as noninvasive parameters of MCI and AD.
Alzheimer Disease ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Heart ; Heart Rate ; Mild Cognitive Impairment

As South Korea becomes a super-aged society by 2025, the number of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) is increasing rapidly. PD is characterized by motor symptoms, such as bradykinesia, tremor, and rigidity, and non-motor symptoms, such as depression, cognitive impairment, and autonomic nervous system disorders. The pathophysiology of dysphagia in PD is a complex interplay of motor disorders caused by dopamine deficiency in the basal ganglia and the involvement of the brainstem swallowing center and the peripheral nerve system affected by the PD pathology. Dysphagia in PD presents difficulties in taking medications, contributes to malnutrition and dehydration, and reduces the overall quality of life. Despite dysphagia being a prevalent problem in PD, a significant number of patients remain unaware of the swallowing difficulties. Therefore, healthcare practitioners need to understand dysphagia in PD, consider early screening and objective evaluations, and proactively implement swallowing treatment and compensatory therapy as needed. This review examines the pathophysiology, clinical characteristics, screening and diagnosis, and severity assessment of dysphagia in PD.

As South Korea becomes a super-aged society by 2025, the number of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) is increasing rapidly. PD is characterized by motor symptoms, such as bradykinesia, tremor, and rigidity, and non-motor symptoms, such as depression, cognitive impairment, and autonomic nervous system disorders. The pathophysiology of dysphagia in PD is a complex interplay of motor disorders caused by dopamine deficiency in the basal ganglia and the involvement of the brainstem swallowing center and the peripheral nerve system affected by the PD pathology. Dysphagia in PD presents difficulties in taking medications, contributes to malnutrition and dehydration, and reduces the overall quality of life. Despite dysphagia being a prevalent problem in PD, a significant number of patients remain unaware of the swallowing difficulties. Therefore, healthcare practitioners need to understand dysphagia in PD, consider early screening and objective evaluations, and proactively implement swallowing treatment and compensatory therapy as needed. This review examines the pathophysiology, clinical characteristics, screening and diagnosis, and severity assessment of dysphagia in PD.

As South Korea becomes a super-aged society by 2025, the number of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) is increasing rapidly. PD is characterized by motor symptoms, such as bradykinesia, tremor, and rigidity, and non-motor symptoms, such as depression, cognitive impairment, and autonomic nervous system disorders. The pathophysiology of dysphagia in PD is a complex interplay of motor disorders caused by dopamine deficiency in the basal ganglia and the involvement of the brainstem swallowing center and the peripheral nerve system affected by the PD pathology. Dysphagia in PD presents difficulties in taking medications, contributes to malnutrition and dehydration, and reduces the overall quality of life. Despite dysphagia being a prevalent problem in PD, a significant number of patients remain unaware of the swallowing difficulties. Therefore, healthcare practitioners need to understand dysphagia in PD, consider early screening and objective evaluations, and proactively implement swallowing treatment and compensatory therapy as needed. This review examines the pathophysiology, clinical characteristics, screening and diagnosis, and severity assessment of dysphagia in PD.

As South Korea becomes a super-aged society by 2025, the number of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) is increasing rapidly. PD is characterized by motor symptoms, such as bradykinesia, tremor, and rigidity, and non-motor symptoms, such as depression, cognitive impairment, and autonomic nervous system disorders. The pathophysiology of dysphagia in PD is a complex interplay of motor disorders caused by dopamine deficiency in the basal ganglia and the involvement of the brainstem swallowing center and the peripheral nerve system affected by the PD pathology. Dysphagia in PD presents difficulties in taking medications, contributes to malnutrition and dehydration, and reduces the overall quality of life. Despite dysphagia being a prevalent problem in PD, a significant number of patients remain unaware of the swallowing difficulties. Therefore, healthcare practitioners need to understand dysphagia in PD, consider early screening and objective evaluations, and proactively implement swallowing treatment and compensatory therapy as needed. This review examines the pathophysiology, clinical characteristics, screening and diagnosis, and severity assessment of dysphagia in PD.

Decubitus ulcer is often seen in the skin and underlying tissue of debilitated or immobilized patients as the result of prolonged pressure and impaired circulation. It manifests chiefly as an ulcer over bony prominences, but tumefaction is an extremely unusual presentation. A 53-year old male, a paralytic of the lower extremity for 18 years, developed a recurrent decubital ulcer despite repeated surgical repair, from which a rapidly growing, large fungating mass grew within a month. The last resected mass was bosselated and measured 15x9x3 cm with a major area of cicatrix-like induration, interdigitated with skeletal muscle bundles at the central area. Microscopically, the mass was composed of an upper half of active granulation tissue layer and a deeper half of dense, poorly cellular, fibrocollagenous bundles admixed with florid proliferation of atypical fibroblasts, but the absence of mitosis and the multifocal admixture of active inflammatory process-granulation tissue formation seemed to help exclude genuine fibromatosis, nodular fasciitis or proliferative myositis. We assume that this rapidly growing pseudofibromatosis is an additional manifestation of a prolonged decubitus ulcer, possibly related to the modified reparative process of decubitus ulcer following repeated excisions, for which we propose a term of decubitoma.

BACKGROUND: In recent studies, tacrolimus ointment has been shown to be effective for the treatment of atopic dermatitis with an excellent safety profile. OBJECTIVE: This study was done to assess the efficacy and side-effects of tacrolimus ointment for the facial atopic dermatitis(AD) in Korean. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Open-label, non-comparative study with 2 months' follow-up was done to assess the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus ointment (Protopic0ointment 0.1%, Fujisawa, Japan) in moderate to severe facial AD. Patients were instructed to apply it two times daily for 8 weeks. Facial lesions were evaluated at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks of treatment with in-tensity score by investigator. RESULTS: In comparing of intensity scores and each clinical score at baseline with those of 4 and 8 weeks of treatment, a significant decrease was noticed at all follow-up periods. Burning sense(54.5%) and pruritus(18.2%) were detected. CONCLUSION: Tacrolimus ointment is effective in treatment of severe facial AD and has tolerable mild adverse effects at the site of application in Korean.
Burns ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Research Personnel ; Tacrolimus*

BACKGROUND: To assess the clinical utility of new DNA extraction method, the authors attempted PCR using mycobacterial DNA extracted by Chelex 100 ion exchange resin method for 63 clinical samples in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and compared with proteinase K method, simultaneously. METHODS: We used Chelex 100 ion exchange resin for preparation of DNA. Decontaminated sputums were mixed with resin and incubated at 56degrees C and 100degrees C without opening tube. After centrifugation, supernatants were used directly as template for PCR. 245 bps in primary PCR and 188 bps in nested PCR were amplified and analysed by agarose gel electrophoresis EtBr staining. RESULTS: Chelex 100 ion exchange resin method is more simple, rapid and reliable than proteinase K method, and during sample preparation, carry-over contamination loss of amplificated DNA, influence of organic solvents and cross-contamination are diminished. The results of PCR products are interpreted more distinctively in Chelex 100 ion exchange resin method than proteinase K method. CONCLUSIONS: In the basis of the results, it could be suggested that extraction of mycobacterial DNA by Chelex 100 ion exchange resin is more simple, rapid reliable method than that of conventional method for detection of mycobacterial DNA in patients with tuberculosis by polymerase chain reaction.
Centrifugation ; Diagnosis* ; DNA* ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; Endopeptidase K ; Humans ; Ion Exchange ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Solvents ; Sputum ; Tuberculosis* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to analyse the content of health-textbooks in elementary school in order to offer the basic data required for development or revision of health-textbook for elementary school. METHODS: This study was methodological study of the content of health-textbooks. The study sample consisted of 10 health-textbooks of elementary school which were edited in 2009~2010. The components of contents divides into holistic analysis and specific areas. RESULTS: One textbook was no introductory remarks and 2 textbooks were no preface. The health-textbooks consisted of 7 areas and were comprehensive for school education. The proportion of each was different in 10 textbooks. Sexuality and health was accounted for the largest portion of the seven areas in both the fifth and sixth grade. However, given that the mortality rate for the child's safety accidents is higher than in developed countries, the proportion of accident prevention and first aid can be relatively weak area. CONCLUSION: It is essential that health-textbooks empower schoolers to make healthy decisions through the promotion of useful life skills that provide a more integrated concept of health. Therefore, there is a need for approaches to health textbook to integrate more values of health.
Accident Prevention ; Developed Countries ; Education ; First Aid ; Humans ; Methods ; Mortality ; Sexuality

We performed a histopathologic and immunohistochemical study of 23 cases of surgically resected large cell undifferentiated carcinoma(LCUC) of the lung. The relative incidence of LCUC was 7.6% among the total resected cases of primary lung cancer over 7 years(1987-1993). The mean age of the patients was 56 years and 21 cases were male. The mean size of the mass was 5 cm and 11 cases were located peripherally. According to the histologic features, LCUC could be divided into three groups: squamous cell carcinoma-like(6 cases), adenocarcinoma-like(13 cases), and small cell carcinoma-like(4 cases) groups. The histologic differences were related to the variations of the immunohistochemical properties, but there were no differences in prognosis among these groups. Immunoreactivity to cytokeratin(CAM 5.2) was demonstrated in 22/23(96%). Carcinoembryonic antigen was positive in 13/23(57%). Neuron specific enolase and chromogranin were positive in 11/23(48%) and 5/23(22%), respectively. Vimentin was seen in 11/23(48%). From these observations, we could subclassify them by their immunologic phenotypes; exocrine features in 6/23(26%), neuroendocrine(NE) features in 4/23(17%), both exocrine and NE phenotypes in 7/23(30%), and 6 cases(26%) showed neither phenotype. The group with NE features showed a worse prognosis(P<0.05) and immunoreactivity for vimentin was also related to a worse prognosis(P<0.05). These findings imply that the immunohistochemical properties of LCUC are closely related to the histopathologic features. The groups, subdivided by histology and immunoreactivity, showed no prognostic difference except for the NE differentiation and reaction for vimentin.
Incidence ; Lung Neoplasms