INTRODUCTION: There has been an increasing interest in the relationship between sleep and suicidality. In addition, suicidal patients habitually report their sleep problems. Although sleep-related complaints and electroencephalographic changes are generally encountered in psychiatric disorders, sleep complaints such as insomnia, hypersomnia and nightmares are more common in suicidal patients. In current study, we aimed at investigating the relationship between self-reported sleep duration and suicidality in general population. METHODS: One thousand general population (male : female=500 : 500, mean age=39.6+/-11.6 years, ranged age=20-77 years) completed Center for Epidemiologic Study-Depression (CES-D), Beck Suicide Intent scale (BSI), Spielberger State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS), Morningness-Eveningness Scale (MES) and brief questionnaire of sleep habits. RESULTS: After controlling for age and sex, score of BSI was correlated positively with the score of CES-D, STAXI and BIS on partial correlation analysis (r(p)=0.251 ; p<0.001, r(p)=0.352 ; p<0.001, and r(p)=0.175 ; p<0.001, respectively). In addition, score of BSI was inversely correlated with the score of MES (r(p)=-0.066; p=0.037). However, score of BSI showed no significant correlation with sleep duration. However, regression analysis revealed that short (<6 hrs) or long (>10 hrs) sleep duration, the family history of psychiatric illness, the score of CES-D, and the score of STAXI predicted higher score of BSI significantly in total subjects (F=17.837, adjusted R2 =0.166 ; p=0.003, p=0.003, p<0.001, and p=0.003, respectively). This model was explained better in depressed subjects with 16 or higher score of CES-D (F=9.920, adjusted R2=0.298). CONCLUSION: Current result suggested that not only short sleep duration (<6 hrs) but also long sleep duration (>10 hrs) might be related to suicidality.
Anger ; Depression ; Disorders of Excessive Somnolence ; Dreams ; Humans ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Suicide

OBJECTIVES: Working at other times than the regular day shift has been reported to be a stressor associated with health consequences and mental disorders as well as disturbance of sleep. In current study, we aimed at investigating the relationship between work schedule, sleep quality and depression among police officers. METHODS: Eleven hundreds and forty five police officers (male:1040, female:105) completed questionnaires of basic socio-demographic data, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Korean Scale of Occupational Stress (KOSS), Impact of Event Scale - Revised (IES-R) and Center for Epidemiologic Study-Depression (CES-D). RESULTS: After controlling for age, sex and educational level, score of CES-D was correlated positively with the score of KOSS, PSQI and IES-R on partial correlation analysis (r=-0.077;p=0.009, r=0.262;p<0.000 and r=0.421, p<0.000, respectively). Logistic regression analysis revealed that female sex, age, the score of KOSS and IES-R and schedule of rotating shift work predicted higher score than 16 score of CES-D significantly in total subjects (p=0.023, p=0.015, p=0.000, p=0.000 and p=0.022, respectively). CONCLUSION: Current result suggested that not only female sex, age, higher occupational stress and impact of event scale but also rotating shift work schedule might be related to depression among police officers.
Appointments and Schedules ; Depression ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Mental Disorders ; Police ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Risk Factors

Vascular cannulation is an invasive procedure that carries the risk of complications such as pseudoaneurysms. Hemophilia, the most common severe bleeding disorder of inheritance, increases the risk of such complications through underlying hypocoagulability. Although surgical ligation has been considered the gold standard treatment, less invasive options are currently available. Here we present 2 hemophiliac neonates for whom clotting factor replacement and ultrasound (US)-guided compression were successfully used. A 3-week-old male infant and a 4-week-old male infant presented with masses in the left antecubital area and the radial aspects of both wrists, respectively, after arterial punctures. The US confirmed the presence of pseudoaneurysms located at the left brachial artery and right radial artery. US-guided compressions with clotting factor administration initially attempted while confirming a thrombus inside the pseudoaneurysm sac indicated successful management. Arterial cannulation and other procedures in hemophiliac neonates must be attempted with caution because pseudoaneurysms or uncontrolled bleeding may occur. If laboratory analyses or invasive procedures are needed for neonates with a bleeding tendency or a suspected hemophiliac disorder, arterial or venous cannulation requires more caution or should be avoided if possible. This case report suggests that US-guided compression and clotting factor administration are suitable modalities for the treatment of small pseudoaneurysms in hemophilia patients.
Aneurysm, False* ; Blood Coagulation Factors ; Brachial Artery ; Catheterization ; Hemophilia A* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn* ; Ligation ; Male ; Punctures ; Radial Artery ; Thrombosis ; Ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Interventional ; Wills ; Wrist

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of endovascular therapy as a primary treatment for spinal dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF). METHODS: The authors reviewed 18 patients with spinal DAVFs for whom endovascular therapy was considered as an initial treatment at a single institute between 1993 and 2006. NBCA embolization was considered the primary treatment of choice, with surgery reserved for patients in whom endovascular treatment failed. RESULTS: Surgery was performed as the primary treatment in one patient because the anterior spinal artery originated from the same arterial pedicle as the artery feeding the fistula. Embolization was used as the primary treatment modality in 17 patients, with an initial success rate of 82.4%. Two patients with incomplete embolization had to undergo surgery. One patient underwent multiple embolizations, which failed to completely occlude the fistula but relieved the patient's symptoms. Spinal DAVF recurred in two patients (one collateral development and one recanalization) during the follow-up period. The collateral development was obliterated by repeated embolization, but the patient with recanalization refused further treatment. The overall clinical status improved in 15 patients (83.3%) during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Endovascular therapy can be successfully used as a primary treatment for the majority of patients with spinal DAVFs. Although it is difficult to perform in some patients, endovascular embolization should be the primary treatment of choice for spinal DAVF.
Arteries ; Central Nervous System Vascular Malformations ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Fistula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Spine

Turnip yellow mosaic virus (TYMV) is a spherical plant virus that has a single 6.3 kb positive strand RNA as a genome. Previously, we have made the recombinant TYMV construct containing a 0.7 kb eGFP gene or a 1.8 kb GUS gene. The genomic RNAs from these constructs were efficiently encapsidated. To examine in more detail whether size constraint exists for replication and packaging of TYMV, we have inserted into the TY-GUS an extra sequence derived from either eGFP or GUS. We also made a recombinant containing RNA1 sequence of Flock house virus. These TYMV recombinants were introduced into Nicotiana benthamiana leaves by agroinfiltration. Northern blot analysis of the viral RNAs in the agroinfiltrated leaves showed that the genomic RNA band from the recombinant TYMV became weaker as longer sequence was inserted. The result also showed that the efficiency of genomic RNA encapsidation decreased sharply when an extra sequence of 2.2 kb or more was inserted. In contrast, the recombinant subgenomic RNA containing an extra sequence of up to 3.2 kb was efficiently encapsidated. Overall, these results show that size constraint exists for replication and encapsidation of TYMV RNA.
Blotting, Northern ; Genome ; Genome Size* ; Plant Viruses ; Product Packaging* ; RNA ; RNA, Viral ; Tobacco ; Tymovirus*

No abstract available.
Chronic Disease* ; Risk Factors*

Down syndrome is associated with a large number of abnormal skin features including syringoma. Milia-like idiopathic calcinosis cutis is one of the rare dermatoses associated with Down syndrome. It has been reported in children with Down syndrome and clinically suggested as milia. The histological features show small nodular foci of calcium within the papillary dermis and transepidermal elimination of calcium deposits occasionally. We describe a 14-year-old female affected by Down syndrome, who had whitish papules on both the dorsal hands and feet and periorbital syringomas. Histopathological findings of the papule on the dorsal hand showed calcium deposits as amorphous, basophilic masses in the upper dermis and focal discharge of calcium by means of transepidermal elimination.
Adolescent ; Basophils ; Calcinosis* ; Calcium ; Child ; Dermis ; Down Syndrome* ; Female ; Foot ; Hand ; Humans ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Syringoma*

Dermatomyositis is a rare inflammatory myopathy with characteristic skin manifestations and muscular weakness. Vesicle or bulla formation in the dermatomyositis is rare and probably related to the presence of an internal malignant process. We report a case of dermatomyositis associated with esophageal cancer in a 72-year old man who had vesicles and bullae on his arms. He had erythema and edema on the face, chest, abdomen, back and legs for 20 days. Tense vesicles and bullae were found on his forearms and hands. Diagnosis of dermatomyositis was established by clinical manifestations, muscle enzyme study, electromyogram and histopathological findings of the skin. Adenocarcinoma of esophagus was found by gastroendoscopy. He was treated with total esophagectomy and topical steroid, but died of pneumonia and septicemia.
Abdomen ; Adenocarcinoma ; Aged ; Arm ; Blister* ; Dermatomyositis* ; Diagnosis ; Edema ; Erythema ; Esophageal Neoplasms* ; Esophagectomy ; Esophagus ; Forearm ; Hand ; Humans ; Leg ; Muscle Weakness ; Myositis ; Pneumonia ; Sepsis ; Skin ; Skin Manifestations ; Thorax ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation

Calcinosis cutis is the deposition of insoluble calcium salts in the skin. Dystrophic calcinosis cutis is diagnosed when calcium is deposited in the previous damaged tissue and the values of calcium and phosphorus levels are normal. We report a case of dystrophic calcinosis cutis in a 32-year-old man. He had experienced a burn accidentally on the left anterior thigh at 2 years old. About 1 year ago, an ulcer developed on the burn scar. He found the chalky material in an ulcer and removed it, then the ulcer healed. But, new ulcers developed in a linear pattern. Histopathologically, amorphous eosinophilic materials that were black with Von Kossa stain were deposited in the dermis.
Adult ; Burns* ; Calcinosis* ; Calcium ; Child, Preschool ; Cicatrix* ; Dermis ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Phosphorus ; Salts ; Skin ; Thigh ; Ulcer

We have recently experienced with 3 cases of bilateral lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) in patients with severe emphysematous disease in an effort to improve pulmonary mechanics. We compared intraoperative total dynamic lung compliance (CT) and % of breath exhaled in one second (V1.0%) obtained immediately pre-lung reduction and immediate post-lung reduction. In addition we also compared preoperative pulmonary function test (PFT) [FEV1, TLC, TG (trapped gas) and FRC] with 3 month postoperative values. Two of the three patients demonstrated post-reduction improvement in dynamic CT while only one patient demonstrated post-reduction improvement in V1.0%. All three patients demonstrated an increase in FEV1 and a decrease in TLC, TG and FRC with the greatest change in one patient who also had a significant reduction in CT and an improvement in V1.0% intraoperatively, and post-lung reduction. Although our results of the 3 cases are preliminary, it appears that side stream spirometry with immediate intraoperative measurement of dynamic CT and V1.0% could play a role in predicting expected follow-up objective pulmonary function tests; improvement in both CT and V1.0% may predict significant improvements in PFT.
Emphysema* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung Compliance ; Lung* ; Mechanics ; Pneumonectomy* ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Rivers ; Spirometry