No abstract available.
Animals ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide* ; Calcitonin* ; Rats* ; RNA, Messenger*

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to compare the magnitude and phase between the RR interval and QT interval variability in the frequency domain. METHODS: Twenty four, 12-13 year old healthy males were randomly selected. At resting state and for 5 minutes, ECGs were obtained, and they were digitized to 1000Hz. After measurement of RR interval, QT interval variability was measured using template matching strategy. After normalization of the RR and QT interval time series, power spectral and cross spectral analysis were performed. From each of the time series, low- (0.04-0.15 hertz) and high- (0.15-0.4 hertz) frequency power were measured. From the phase spectrum, the phases and time lags between the two time series at each of the two frequency range were calculated. RESULTS: The average of RR interval and QT interval was 616.0+/-71.0, 364.0+/-47.0 msec, respectively. Their normalized low- and high- frequency power was 4.4+/-7.9 NU(normalized unit), 0.1+/-0.1 NU(p<0.005), and 11.0+/-30.0 NU, 0.3+/-0.3(NU, p<0.005), respectively. The phase differences and resulting time lags between the two interval were -0.5+/-0.4 pi radian(-0.9 seconds) and -0.2+/-0.3 pi radian(-0.4 seconds) in the low- and high-frequency range, respectively. CONCLUSION: During resting state, when compared to RR interval, QT interval oscillates in significantly lower amplitude in both low- and high- frequency ranges. However, the oscillations precede those of the RR interval 0.9 seconds and 0.4 seconds, respectively.
Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Male

We investigated the occurrence of color vision loss in 70 organic solvent mixtures exposed workers and in 47 controls. Color Vision was assessed with a color arrangement test designed to identify the defective color sense, the Han Double 15-Hue Test. The results of the test were no significant difference between exposed workers and controls in the proportion of subjects who committed one or two errors. Quantitative analysis, using color confusion index(CCI), showed no signifiant difference between exposed workers and controls. A significant linear correlation was present between age and CCI in both exposed workers(CCi=0.0056age + 0.94; r=0.23; p<0.05) and controls(CCI=0.0066age + 0.86; r=0.33; p<0.05). Qualitative analysis of the patterns on the hue circle showed that the prevalence of acquired dyschromatopsia was 21% in both and no significant difference. Multiple regression analyses showed that age was significantly related to color vision loss. These results did not provide evidence of a relationship between organic solvents exposure and incidence of color vision loss. In field studies for monitor the people at risk of the acquired color vision loss involving low-dose organic solvents exposed workers, both quantitative and qualitative information should be considered.
Color Vision ; Incidence ; Prevalence ; Solvents

PURPOSE: Recently, vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) have become one of the major nosocomial pathogens in Korea. However, there have been few studies on the epidemiology of VRE colonization among neonates. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of VRE colonization, risk factors for VRE, and how to control the spread of VRE infection in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Pusan National University Hospital (PNUH). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 192 neonates who were admitted to the NICU of PNUH from March 2006 to March 2007. Surveillance cultures from rectal swabs for detecting VRE were obtained weekly during the study period. We analyzed the prevalence of VRE and various risk factors. RESULTS: The rate of VRE colonization among NICU patients was 25% (48/192). Thirty five of these VRE colonized patients were transferred to the NICU from other local hospitals. Compared with the non-VRE group, the risk factors associated with VRE colonization were lower birth weight, congenital heart disease, applied mechanical ventilation, use of a central venous catheter, chest tubing, a history of surgery, and use of antibiotics. CONCLUSION: VRE colonization among patients admitted to the NICU is rapidly increasing. Monitoring and managing premature neonates from the beginning of the birth process, avoiding many invasive procedures, avoiding antibiotics such as vancomycin and third generation cephalosporin are important for preventing the emergence and spread of VRE colonization in the NICU.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Birth Weight ; Central Venous Catheters ; Colon ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Parturition ; Prevalence ; Respiration, Artificial ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Thorax ; Vancomycin ; Vancomycin Resistance

No abstract available.
Digoxigenin* ; DNA* ; Hepatitis B virus* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis*

An 18-Year-old male hemophiliac with high titer of factorVIII inhibitor, stage V hemophilic arthropathy in right knee joint and a history of hematuria and retroperitoneal hemorrhage was admitted because of acute and massive bleeding of epistaxis, pulmonary hemorrhage and intestinal bleeding. The bleeing was not controolled by massive infusion of factorVIII concentrates but by prothrombin complex concentrates and high dose of factorVIII concentrates. He showned symptoms of sustained fever and diffuse pulmonary infiltration which was diagnosed as pulmonary hemosiderosis by MRI. We suppressed his immune reaction by prednisolne to prevent the formation of factorVIII inhibitor. He has been followed up for 3 years and shown no massive bleeding there-after.
Adolescent ; Epistaxis ; Fever ; Hematuria ; Hemophilia A* ; Hemorrhage ; Hemosiderosis* ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Prothrombin

A 65-year-old female patient visited our clinic complaining of multiple skin lesions since one year ago. There were yellowish to brownish colored, bean to walnut-sized nodules on both lower extremities. Dylon stain with polarizing microscopy, immunohistochemical stain to amyloid P and immunoglobuhn-kappa chain showed positive reactivities but keratin stain was negative. According to histopathologic and immunohistochemical findings, she was diagnosed as nodular amyloidosis.
Aged ; Amyloid ; Amyloidosis* ; Female ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Microscopy ; Skin

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to define and clarify the concept of 'resilience' in patients with cardiovascular diseases. METHODS: A hybrid model was used to develop the concept of resilience. The model included a field study carried out in Cheonan, Korea. The participants in this study were 9 patients with cardiovascular diseases who underwent a percutaneous coronary intervention. RESULTS: The concept of resilience was found to be a complex phenomenon having meanings in two dimensions: the personal-dispositional and interpersonal dimensions. Four attributes and seven indicators were defined. CONCLUSION: A resilient person was defined as one who has a positive attitude toward restoration, the power to reconstruct and control his/her disease (personal dimension), and support from a supportive system with supportive persons (interpersonal dimension). In the clinical setting, resilience plays an important role in managing the care plans of cardiovascular patients. Therefore, nurses who work closely with patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases should be aware of the attributes and indicators of resilience to enhance the resilience of their patients.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Adult ; Attitude to Health ; Cardiovascular Diseases/*psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Resilience, Psychological

The elbow is the most frequent area of complaint in children and adolescent baseball players. The physical stresses associated with repetitive throwing create extra-ordinary forces, which may affect the normal osteochondral and soft tissue developmental process and are the important factors causing the decrease of competitive power and shortening of life as a baseball player in adolescents. We surveyed the 114 baseball players of middle & high school in Taegu in order to evaluate the prevalance of symptoms and radiologic findings of the elbow and correlation of these findings to career & position of the baseball game. The results were as follows. 1. Of 114 players, 83 were non-pitchers and 31 were pitchers. The mean career was 3.8 years (7 months to 6 years). 2. The 77 players (67.7%) had the pain on their elbow during or after daily exercise. Other clinical symptoms were locking (30.7%), limitation of motion (18.4%), swelling (16.6%) and clicks on motion (10.5%). 3. On the radiogram of the elbow, hypertrophy or separation of medial epicondyle were seen in 34% of players, loose bodies in 17%, hypertrophy of the humerus in 12% and cystic change of the capitellum in 11%. 4. The mean career of symptomatic players was 4.4 years but non-symptomatics was 2.7 years. The mean career of players who had abnormal radiologic findings was 5.1 years but 3.1 years in players who had no abnormal radiologic fingings. 5. Symptoms and pathologic changes were more common in the elbow of pitcher' s group due to throwing frequency & pitching style. 6. Among the 77 players who had any kinds of problem of the elbow, 49 players of them had no experience of visiting hospital. 7. To prevent these injuries of the elbow, the following recommendations were made. First, restrict the number of innings pitched per game. Second, avoid throwing the curve ball in this age group. Third, ensue an adequate warm up period before exercise or rest after games. Fourth, inform parents and coaches of possible harmful nature of excessive throwing.
Adolescent* ; Baseball* ; Child ; Daegu ; Elbow* ; Humans ; Humerus ; Hypertrophy ; Parents

PURPOSE: We evaluated the impact of three automatic optimization of parameters (AOP) modes of digital mammography on the dose and image quality. METHODS: Computerized Imaging Reference Systems phantoms were used. A total of 12 phantoms with different thickness and glandularity were imaged. We analyzed the average glandular dose (AGD) and entrance surface exposure (ESE) of 12 phantoms imaged by digital mammography in three modes of AOP; namely standard mode (STD), contrast mode (CNT), and dose mode (DOSE). Moreover, exposure factors including kVp, mAs, and target/filter combination were evaluated. To evaluate the quality of the obtained digital image, two radiologists independently counted the objects of the phantoms. RESULTS: According to the AOP modes, the score of masses and specks was sorted as CNT>STD=DOSE. There was no difference in the score of fiber among the three modes. The score of image preference was sorted as CNT>STD>DOSE. The AGD, ESE, and mAs were sorted as CNT>STD>DOSE. The kVp was sorted as CNT=STD>DOSE. The score of all test objects in the phantom image was on a downtrend with increasing breast thickness. The score of masses was different among the three groups; 20-21%>30%>50% glandularity. The score of specks was sorted as 20-21%=30%>50% glandularity. The score of fibers was sorted as 30%>20-21%=50% glandularity. The score of image preference was not different among the three glandularity groups. The AGD, ESE, kVp, and mAs were correlated with breast thickness, but not correlated with glandularity. CONCLUSION: The DOSE mode offers significant improvement (19.1-50%) in dose over the other two modes over a range of breast thickness and breast glandularity with acceptable image quality. Owning knowledge of the three AOP modes may reduce unnecessary radiation exposure by utilizing the proper mode according to its purpose.
Breast ; Mammography ; Phantoms, Imaging ; Radiation Dosage