PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate alterations of regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebrovascular reserve (CVR), and correlation between these alternations and cognitive dysfunction in patients with chronic traumatic brain injury (TRI) and normal brain MRI findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty TBI patients and 19 healthy volunteers underwen1 rest/acerazolamide brain SPECT using Tc-99m HMPAO. Korean-Wechsler Adult Intelligence scale test was also performed in the patient group. Statistical analysis was performed with statistical parametric mapping software (SPM97), RESULTS: CBF was diminished in the left hemisphere including Wernicke's area in all patients with lower verbal scale scores. In addition, a reduction in CBF in the right frontal, temporal and parietal cortices was related with depressed scores in information, digital span, arithmetic and similarities, In patients with lower performance scale scores. CBF was mainly diminished in the right hemisphere including superior temporal and supramarginal gyri, premotor, primary somatomotor and a port of prefrontal cortices, left frontal lobe and supramarginal gyrus. CVR was diminished in sixty-four Brodmann's areas compared to control. A reduction in CVR was demonstrated bilaterally in the frontal and temporal Iobes in patients with lower scores in both verbal and performance tests, and in addition, both inferior parietal and occipital lobes in information subset. CONCLUSION: Alterations of CBF and CVR were demonstrated in the symptomatic TBI patients with normal MRI finding. These alterations were correlated with the change of intelligence, of which the complex functions are subserved by multiple interconnected cortical structures.
Adult ; Brain ; Brain Injuries* ; Frontal Lobe ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Intelligence* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Occipital Lobe ; Rabeprazole ; Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of sensory stimulation on premature infants. METHOD: Thirty three premature infants admitted to NICU of D University Hospital in C city were randomly assigned in two groups (Experimental group: 16, Control group:17). For the experimental group, tactile and kinesthetic stimulation developed by Dr. Field was applied 2 times a day for 10 days. Behavioral state was measured using the Anderson Behavioral State Scale (ABSS). Heart rate, respiration, and oxygen saturation were obtained for each infant before and after sensory stimulation. Hypothesis testing was done using the X2- test, student t-test, and repeated measures of ANOVA. Result: Hypothesis 1: There was a significant difference in the daily body weight gain between experimental and control group (F= 40.77, p= .0001). Hypothesis 2: There was a significant difference in the frequency of 'inactive awake state' between two groups (X2= 39.778, p= .001). Hypothesis 3: There were significant differences in the mean of heart rate and O2 saturation between two groups (t= -2.174, p= .037; t= 3.080, p= .005). However, there was no significant difference in the mean of respiration rate between two groups (t= -1.966, p= .581). CONCLUSION: The effectiveness of a sensory stimulation on weight gain and behavioral state in premature infants was supported. Further study is recommended to develop a sensory stimulation method as an independent nursing intervention for premature infant.
Body Weight ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Nursing ; Oxygen ; Respiration ; Respiratory Rate ; Weight Gain*

PURPOSE: The purposes of the study were to develop and test a model which explains the relationship among factors affecting behavioral problems in elementary school children. METHODS: The participants for the study were 368 elementary school children and their mothers at 3 elementary schools in one city. Data analysis was done using the SPSS 17.0 program for t-test, -test, and ANOVA and the AMOS 17.0 program for theoretical model testing. RESULTS: The theoretical model showed a significant goodness of fit to the empirical data (Goodness of Fit Index: .96, Adjusted Goodness of Fit Index: .93 Comparative Fit Index: .95, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation: .06, Standardized Root Mean Square Residual: .02). Six paths were found to be statistically significant including from child rearing attitude to self-esteem, stress, stress coping and behavioral problems, and from self-esteem to stress and behavioral problems. Child rearing attitude showed a significant effect to behavioral problems by total effect. Self-esteem affected behavioral problems by total and direct effects. CONCLUSION: Child rearing attitude and self-esteem of children are important factors affecting behavioral problems in elementary school children.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Child Behavior ; Child Rearing ; Child* ; Humans ; Models, Theoretical ; Mothers ; Parenting ; Self Concept ; Statistics as Topic

With the aim of establishing bio-indices for the development of multistep hepatotumorigenesis, rats were fed water containing 0.01% diethylnitrosamine (DEN) ad libitum for 13 weeks. This treatment with DEN only made it possible to induce hepatic tumors in 100%. After the DEN administration, several clinical symptoms were observed including minor behavioral changes, brittleness of hair and a decrease in water and food intake. The concentration of total serum protein and albumin in all treated groups was significantly lower than in non-treated controls (p<0.05). Increase of specific enzyme (AST, ALT and GGT) activity (p<0.05), variable tumor size and hepatomegaly of the liver was observed in all rats treated with DEN for 10 weeks. Both hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma were found in the same livers at the same time, and were prominently developed after 12 weeks. In case of carcinoma, some of the livers showed more or less advanced states over the 12-15 weeks period. In the present study, hepatocellular carcinoma was developed by treating DEN in only the drinking water, without any other carcinogens or without partial hepatectomy. These results indicate that DEN is a new carcinogen that acts directly on it the liver, moreover, it might be very useful for investigating hepatotumorigenesis.
Alanine Transaminase/blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood ; Biological Markers/blood ; Carcinogens ; *Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Diethylnitrosamine/toxicity ; Liver/drug effects/*pathology ; Liver Neoplasms/blood/chemically induced/*pathology ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental/blood/*pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase/blood

The aims of this study were to investigate the present status of skeletal maturation and to compare body composition parameters on the basis of the levels of skeletal maturity in boys aged 9 ~12 years. The subjects participated consisted of 258 elementary school boys. Anthropometric characteristics included body weight, height, sitting height, bone widths, circumferences, and skinfold thicknesses. Skeletal maturation was assessed by the Tanner -Whitehouse II method. Skeletal age was determined by RUS scores (radius, ulna, and short bones). Body composition variables were evaluated by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA Model 310). Means and standard deviations were calculated by descriptive statistics. To compare body composition variables among skeletal maturity groups one -way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied and Duncan's a posteriori tests. The results showed that RUS scores varied from 298.2 for 9 years to 482.6 for 12 years. TW2 -20 scores were 569.2 for 9 years, 628.8 for 10 years, 701.8 for 11 years, and 814.5 for 12 years. Skeletal ages were 9.7 for 9 years, 10.5 for 10 years, 11.7 for 11 years, and 13.6 for 12 years. It indicates that chronological age was lower than skeletal age in all age groups. Although no significant difference was found in 12 years for body composition according to the levels of skeletal maturity, in general advanced boys had higher body composition variables than retarded boys. In 9 years there were significant differences (p 0.05) among skeletal maturity groups for body mass index, WHR, and WTR. Also, differences were found in 10 years for percent body fat, fat -free mass, and body mass index. In 11 years advanced children (40.4 kg) have statistically significant (p 0.05) higher fat -free mass than retarded children (32.2 kg).
Adipose Tissue ; Body Composition* ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Child ; Electric Impedance ; Humans ; Skinfold Thickness ; Ulna

We report a false positive case of I-131 scan due to a sialolithiasis in right submandibular gland. I-131 images showed not only remnant thyroid tissues and functional metastases in the anterior neck but also a hot uptake near right submandibular gland. We confirmed the sialolithiasis by radiologic studies. Sialolithiasis should be regarded as a false positive cause when I-131 scan shows a hot spot near salivary bed.
Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Salivary Gland Calculi* ; Submandibular Gland ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms*

No abstract available.
Ligaments* ; Polytetrafluoroethylene*

PURPOSE: Tc-99m-tetrofosmin(TF) is a recently proposed myocardial imaging agent which has similar biokinetic characteristics to Tc-99m-sestamibi(MIBI). The aim of this study was to compare TF and MIBI myocardial perfusion SPECTs in detecting coronary artery disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and sixty patients(l0l males, 59 females, mean age 57+/-9 yr) who had undergone both myocardial perfusion SPECT (M- SPECT) and coronary angiography within 1 month were studied. M-SPECT was performed using TF in 115 patients and MIBI in 45 patients. Stress-rest one day protocol was used in all patients A coronary stenosis was considered significant when the luminal diameter > or =50% was compromised. The chi square test was used to compare, differences in sensitivity and specificity between the two groups. RESULTS: There was no difference in age and diseased coronary artery branches between the two groups. There were more male patients in TF group: Male-to-female ratios of TF and MIBI groups were 78:37 and 23:22, respectively (p<0.05). The overall sensitivity of TF study was 92% and specificity 36%. The overall, sensitivity and specificity of MIBI study were 93% and 30% respectively. There was no difference between TF and MIBI groups in identifying individual diseased coronary artery branches. CONCLUSION: One day stress-rest myocardial SPECT using either TF or MIBI was comparable and was a very sensitive test in detecting coronary artery disease.
Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Stenosis ; Coronary Vessels* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Perfusion* ; Phenobarbital ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

PURPOSE: Myocardial SPECT is an effective test for detecting coronary artery disease in the general population. But the diagnostic accuracy between sexes is not defined. The purpose of this study is to compare the diagnostic accuracy between males and females. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and seventy seven male and 98 female patients who underwent myocardial SPECT within 1 month of coronary angiography were studied. Myocardial SPECTs were considered abnormal if fixed or reversible perfusion defects were detected. Stenosis severity of > or = 50% luminal diameter reduction of any artery defined coronary artery disease (CAD). RESULTS: Overall sensitivity for detection of CAD was 98% in men and 97% in women (p=not significant). However, specificities, accuracies, and positive predictive values (PPV) in men and women were 49% vs 31% (p<0.05), 81% vs 57% (p<0.01), 78% vs 48% (P<0.01), respectively Diagnostic accuracies for detection of right coronary artery disease were not different in both sexes, however, accuracies for detection of left anterior descending artery disease and left circumflex artery disease were significantly lower in female (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: A significant difference of diagnostic accuracy between sexes, especially in LAD and LCx disease, was noted. Artifacts from breast attenuation might be a cause for the lower diagnostic accuracy in female.
Arteries ; Artifacts ; Breast ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Perfusion* ; Phenobarbital ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

Larval nematodes belonging to genera Ancylostoma, Strongyloides, Rhabditis, Gnathostoma or microfilariae (Onchocerca volvulus)/adult filaria (Loa loa) can invade human skin, each making different lesion. In a 71-year old immunocompetent Koreanman with 23% eosinophilia and elevated serum IgG (2530 mg/dl), a skin biopsy was undertaken for a nodular lesion at abdominal wall. A longitudinal section of a larval nematode was recognized in mid-dermal tunnel surrounded by pseudolymphomatous diffuse lymphoreticular cell infiltration. The larval nematode, 15 um in maximum diameter, had outermost cuticular layer and pale intestinal cells. The nematode section was identified as a filariform larva of Strongyloides stercoralis mainly based on its maximum diameter. In Korea, this is the first description of a cutaneous larval nematode infection. This case did not show quick migration of lesion which is a typical manifestation of classical cutaneous larva migrans.
Adult ; Male ; Female ; Humans ; Biopsy