No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Ovotesticular Disorders of Sex Development*

BACKGROUND: The government staffs studied in this research has been easily exposed to excessive job stress, which can lead to a variety of psychosocial problems and poor quality of life. In this study, we examined the effect of the self reflection meditation program on the psychosocial health and stress responses of government staffs, to suggest the intervention program improving psychosocial health and quality of life in government staffs.METHODS: In this study, we measured the conditions of 36 local government staffs based on self reflection scale, psychosocial health and stress score before and after implementing the short-term intensive meditation program.RESULTS: The results showed that there were significant increase in social role performance and self confidence(p=.003), general health and vitality(p=.019) and significant decrease in stress(p=.010). This change was prominently showed in administrative officer and depression and anxiety(p=.034) also significantly decreased after program.CONCLUSION: Self reflection meditation program was effective in improving the psychosocial health and physical health of government staffs. Therefore, self reflection meditation program could be proposed as program for stress management and promotion of quality of life in government staff.
Depression ; Local Government ; Meditation ; Quality of Life

No abstract available.
Diagnosis*

Many ocular findings have been shown in patients with chronic renal failure. There has been no systematic study on ocular manifestations in patients with chronic renal failure. The medical records of 349 patients with chronic renal failure, who were referred to ohthalmologic department, were reviewed. Of 349 patients, 109 were renal transplanted patients, 118 were hemodialysis, and 122 were CAPD. Sixty-five % were male, 35% were female, and their mean age was 42 years old. For renal transplanted patients, 47% had a visual acuity of 1.0 or better, while 6% had worse than finger counting. Nineteen % and 15% of hemodialysis, and 19% and 24% of CAPD patients had a visual acuity of 1.0 or better and worse than finger counting, respectively. Hypertension was the most common associated systemic disease. Primary causes of renal failure were chronic glomerulonephritis(44.4%), diabetic nephropathy(17.2%), hypertensive nephropathy(4.6%), and CRF NOS(29.5%). Hypertensive retinopathy(45.6%) was the most common ocular manifestation of all patients with renal failure. Others were cataract, diabetic retinopathy, ischemic optic neuropathy and retinal detachment. These results suggest that ocular complications are common in patients with chronic renal failure and therefore, close follow up has to be performed after renal transplantation and during dialysis.
Adult ; Cataract ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Dialysis ; Female ; Fingers ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertensive Retinopathy ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Kidney Transplantation ; Male ; Medical Records ; Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory ; Renal Dialysis ; Renal Insufficiency ; Retinal Detachment ; Visual Acuity

Hepatoblastoma is a primary embryonic liver tumor usually found in children. It extremely rarely occurs in adults. We report a case of hepatoblastoma in a 56 year old man with chronic hepatitis B of 10years duration. Laboratory investigation of the patient on admission showed a marked elevation of alpha-fetoprotein in serum. Ultrasonography and Computerized tomography scan revealed a primary tumor, 6x7cm in size, in the right lobe. The tumor removed by a right lobectomy. Complete removal of the tumor is the treatment which is potentially curative provided that lesion is confined within the liver capsule. The literature revealed and a case of this tumor reviewed.
Adult* ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; Child ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Hepatoblastoma* ; Humans ; Liver ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography

Preservation of peritoneal membrane function is important in the success of long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD). During PD, human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMC) are continuously exposed to unphysiological peritoneal dialysis solution(PDS) charaterized by high glucose and lactate concentrations, low pH, and hyperosmolality. Since few studies have examined the effects of lactate and pH on HPMC biology, the present study investigated the effects of lactate and pH on the viability and proliferation of cultured HPMC and on the production of TGF-beta1, a fibrogenic cytokine, and fibronectin by cultured HPMC. HPMC were obtained from the omental tissue of pregnant women who were undergoing Cesarean section. Cells at confluence were utilized to determine the viability(LDH release), proliferation([3H]-thymidine incorporation), and the production of fibronectin and TGF-beta1(ELISA) after synchronizing the cell growth by incubating with serum free media for 24 hours. After exposure to the media containing lactate and pH, LDH release increased in dose- and time-dependent manner. Both 1.5% and 4.25% commercial PD solutions were cytotoxic and induced more than 80% LDH release within 24 hours. LDH release decreased with increasing dilution of commercial peritoneal dialysate, but there was no significant difference in LDH release between 1.5% and 4.25% PDS. LDH release increased in response to pH 5.5. Thymidine incorporation assay revealed that lactate and low pH significantly inhibited proliferation of HPMC. ELISA revealed that exposure of HPMC to lactate and low pH decreased fibronectin protein synthesis, when compared to cell exposed to bicarbonate containing M199 media. Our results clearly show that lactate and low pH lead to dose- and time-dependent cell death and reduce proliferation of cultured HPMC. Lactate and low pH per se appear to decrease fibronectin production by HPMC but may set a stage for other factors to promote progressive fibrosis during the healing stage in long-term PD.
Biology ; Cell Death ; Cesarean Section ; Culture Media, Serum-Free ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Fibronectins ; Fibrosis ; Glucose ; Humans* ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration* ; Lactic Acid* ; Membranes ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Thymidine ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

BACKGROUND: The peritoneal catheter of the continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis(CAPD) is patients' lifeline. A significant number of complications and catheter failures in CAPD are due to mechanical problems. We describe our retrospective experience with CAPD focusing on the rate of catheter displacement and survival according to the site of catheter tip placement in 70 cases of CAPD in Kyunghee University Hospital between November 1994 and February 2000. METHODS: We describe our retrospective experience with CAPD focusing on the rate of catheter displacement and survival according to the site of catheter tip placement in 70 cases of CAPD in Kyunghee University Hospital between November 1994 and February 2000. RESULTS: Among 70 cases of CAPD, 46 cases were right pelvic cavity tip placement and 24 cases were left. Causes of chronic renal failure(CRF) were diabetes mellitus in 29 cases(63%), hypertension in 13 cases (28%), glomerulonephritis in 4 cases(9%) in right pelvic cavity catheter tip placement and diabetes mellitus in 13(54%), hypertension in 10(42%), renal tuberculosis in 1 case(4%) left pelvic cavity catheter tip. There were no difference in causative diseases of CRF between both groups. Incidence of CAPD catheter tip displacement were 17.4%(8/46) at right and 4.2%(1/24) at left catheter(p=0.01). Methods for treatment of displacement were fluoroscopic brushing, laparoscopic manipulation and operation. Of the 9 cases, 5 case were received fluoroscopic brushing, 3 case were laparoscopic manipulation and 1 case was received operation. Other complication were peritonitis, catheter obstruction, hernia, death. Overall survival of catheter were 65%(30/46) at right and 71 %(17/24) at left catheter(p=NS). CONCLUSION: The incidence of CAPD catheter tip displacement was higher with catheter tip at the right pelvis than left(p=0.01). But there is no difference in the catheter survival.
Catheter Obstruction ; Catheters* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Glomerulonephritis ; Hernia ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Pelvis ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory ; Peritonitis ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis, Renal

BACKGROUND: The peritoneal catheter of the continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis(CAPD) is patients' lifeline. A significant number of complications and catheter failures in CAPD are due to mechanical problems. We describe our retrospective experience with CAPD focusing on the rate of catheter displacement and survival according to the site of catheter tip placement in 70 cases of CAPD in Kyunghee University Hospital between November 1994 and February 2000. METHODS: We describe our retrospective experience with CAPD focusing on the rate of catheter displacement and survival according to the site of catheter tip placement in 70 cases of CAPD in Kyunghee University Hospital between November 1994 and February 2000. RESULTS: Among 70 cases of CAPD, 46 cases were right pelvic cavity tip placement and 24 cases were left. Causes of chronic renal failure(CRF) were diabetes mellitus in 29 cases(63%), hypertension in 13 cases (28%), glomerulonephritis in 4 cases(9%) in right pelvic cavity catheter tip placement and diabetes mellitus in 13(54%), hypertension in 10(42%), renal tuberculosis in 1 case(4%) left pelvic cavity catheter tip. There were no difference in causative diseases of CRF between both groups. Incidence of CAPD catheter tip displacement were 17.4%(8/46) at right and 4.2%(1/24) at left catheter(p=0.01). Methods for treatment of displacement were fluoroscopic brushing, laparoscopic manipulation and operation. Of the 9 cases, 5 case were received fluoroscopic brushing, 3 case were laparoscopic manipulation and 1 case was received operation. Other complication were peritonitis, catheter obstruction, hernia, death. Overall survival of catheter were 65%(30/46) at right and 71 %(17/24) at left catheter(p=NS). CONCLUSION: The incidence of CAPD catheter tip displacement was higher with catheter tip at the right pelvis than left(p=0.01). But there is no difference in the catheter survival.
Catheter Obstruction ; Catheters* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Glomerulonephritis ; Hernia ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Pelvis ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory ; Peritonitis ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis, Renal

Despite epidemiological studies reporting no negative effects of mild to moderate alcohol drinking on cognitive functioning, a recent well-controlled study showed that chronic mild drinking diminished the volume of the brain and was associated with cognitive decline that worsened as a function of the amount of alcohol consumed. Animal studies have demonstrated that neural cell damage follows chronic alcohol intake and withdrawal. In addition, acute excessive alcohol intake has been shown to result in temporary impairment of memory, and chronic alcohol drinking is often related to neuronal damage and cognitive disorders. Even though a diverse spectrum of cognitive disorders can develop after sustained alcohol drinking, no definite diagnostic criteria existed before those proposed by Oslin; the availability of these criteria will provide more structured clinical and academic approaches to alcohol-related cognitive decline, including dementia. In general, diminished cognitive functioning has been related to excessive alcohol consumption, with cognitive functioning gradually recovering over time. With the exception of the administration of thiamine in Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, only supportive pharmacotherapies have been provided for patients with alcohol-related cognitive disorders. However, experimental trials with rivastigmine or donepezil have been conducted for special populations with persistent cognitive impairments, and these studies reported favorable outcomes. We administered memantine for alcohol-related dementia and observed improvements in verbal memory and scores on the mini-mental status exam. We anticipate that novel and appropriate therapeutic agents for various conditions in this domain will be developed based on systematic diagnostic criteria and the accumulation of neurobiological evidence about alcohol-related cognitive decline.
Alcohol Drinking ; Alcoholism ; Animals ; Brain ; Dementia ; Drinking ; Humans ; Indans ; Korsakoff Syndrome ; Memantine ; Memory ; Neurons ; Phenylcarbamates ; Piperidines ; Thiamine ; Rivastigmine