A 26-year-old man presented with a bluish speckled patch on the dorsum of the left hand. It had apperaed at birth as a bluish spot. Since adolescence the lesion extended and at the time of visiting hospital it covered the most part of the dorsum of the left hand and even some palmar aspect. The histopathological and ultrastructural examination revealed numerous dermal melanocytes, mainly in the upper dermis. Clinically and pathologically, the patient was diagnosed as having dermal melanocyte hamartoma, a distinct type of dermal melanocytosis.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Dermis ; Hamartoma* ; Hand ; Humans ; Melanocytes* ; Parturition

No abstract available.
Lymphadenitis*

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to discriminate the clinical differences, to measure the estrogen and homovanillic acid levels. to evaluate a correlation between estrogen and homovanillic acid. and to identify an association of cognitive deficit with estrogen and homovanilli acid among male and female schizophrenics. METHODS: In addition to the structured interviews, the plasma estrogen levels by radioimmunoassay and the homovanillic acid levels by HPLC were measured in 20 male and 21 female schizophrenics as well as 10 healthy male and 9 female controls. RESULTS: 1) The plasma estrogen levels were higher in females than males, and significantly higher in female schizophenics than female controls. The homovanillic acid levels were higher in female schizophrenics than female controls, and were lower in male schizophrenics than male controls. 2) The onset age seemed to be earlier in male schizophrenics, and the frequency of admission, duration of antipsychotic drug administration. dosage of antipsychotics and duration of illnesses were more in males. The estrogen and homovanillic acid levels were significantly higher in female schizophrenics. 3) The estrogen levels had a significant positive correlation with sex, age and onset age, while the homovanillic acid levels did with sex. However, estrogen wee not correlated with homovanillic acid levels. 4) The estrogen and homovanillic acid levels were not significantly different between male and female schizophrenics with cognitive deficits. In the schizophrenic patients without cognitive deficits, the estrogen levels were significantly higher in females, while here were no significant sex differences in homovanillic acid. 5) In the male and female schizophrenics predominantly with negative symptoms, there were no significant differences in estrogen and homocanillic acid levels. In those predominantly with positive symptoms, the estrogen levels wee significantly higher in females, while there were no sex differences in homovanillic acid levels. 6) In schizophrenics with undifferentiated subtype, the estrogen and homovanillic acid levels were significantly higher in females. In those with paranoid or disorganized subtypes. the estrogen levels were significantly higher females, while there were no sex differences in the homovanillic acid levels. 7) The mean values of PANSS-negative. PANSS-total, PANSS-CF, MMSE-K and estrogen levels were significantly higher in male schizophrenics with cognitive deficits. The mean values of illness duration, CGI PANSS-positive, PANSS-negative, PANSS-total, PANSS-CF and MMSE-K were significantly higher in female schizophrenics with cognitive deficits. 8) The variables which showed significant correlation with cognitive deficits were PANSS-nagative, PANSS-total, PANSS-CF, MMSE-K and estrogen levels in male schizophrenics. The variables which showed significant correlation with cognitive deficits were subtypes, onset age, illness duration, CGI, PANSS-positive, PANSS-negative, PANSS-total, PANMSS-CF and MMSE-K in female schizophrenics. The estrogen levels were significantly correlated with admission frequencies, history of antipsychotic administration, duration of antipsychotic administration and cognitive deficits in male schizophrenics. while age were not correlated with in females. The homovanillic acid levels had a significant correlation with subtypes and onset age in male schizophrenics, while there were no correlation among variables in females. CONCLUSIONS: Although the plasma concentrations of estrogen and homovaillic acid in female schizophrenics were significantly higher than males, we could not find an association between them. Furthermore, the various factors affecting on the cognitive deficits, estrogen and homovanillic acid levels seemed to be somewhat different according to sex.
Age of Onset ; Antipsychotic Agents ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Dopamine* ; Estrogens* ; Female ; Homovanillic Acid ; Humans ; Male ; Plasma ; Radioimmunoassay ; Schizophrenia* ; Sex Characteristics

No abstract available.
Nasal Bone*

OBJECTIVES: Sleep problems has been consistently reported as a suicidal risk factor in adults and, recently, also in adolescents. In this study, dividing study subjects by the previous suicidal behaviors (suicidal vs non-suicidal), we compared the group differences of suicidal risk factors, and examined the possibility of sleep as a suicidal risk factor. METHODS: Study subjects were 561 (271 boys and 290 girls) from a community sample of high school students. Suicidal Risk Behavior Checklist, Center for Epidemiological Study-Depression (CES-D), Symptom Checklist-90-Revision (SCL-90-R) Anxiety and Aggression subscale, Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were done. RESULTS: Forty six students (8.1%) reported previous actual self-harm behavior as a suicidal attempt, 181 students (32.4%) reported having suicidal thought only. Three hundred thirty four students (59.5%) reported no previous suicidal behavior (thought and attempt, both). Suicidal behavior group showed higher score on risk behaviors such as school violence, substance use and internet addiction. CES-D, SCL-90-R, PSQI showed significant group difference. Logistic regression analysis showed suicidal risk were significantly associated with depression, stress in suicidal risk factors and sleep latency, daytime dysfunction in PSQI. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) shows the most prolonged sleep latency and increased index of all PSQI components except sleep efficiency in suicidal attempt group. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep Problems had a strong association with the suicidal risk behavior in adolescents. Sleep problems, especially, prolonged sleep latency, daytime dysfunction might be important markers for suicidal behavior. Screening for sleep problems in adolescents are encouraged for the parents, school teachers, and related medical physicians.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aggression ; Anxiety ; Checklist ; Depression ; Humans ; Internet ; Logistic Models ; Mass Screening ; Parents ; Risk Factors ; Risk-Taking ; Suicide ; Violence

No abstract available.
Muscles*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Spinal Stenosis*

Background: The absence of effective antiviral medications and vaccines increased the focus on non-pharmaceutical preventive behaviors for mitigating against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. To examine the current status of non-pharmaceutical preventive behaviors practiced during the COVID-19 outbreak and factors affecting behavioral activities, we compared to the 2015 Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) outbreak in Korea. Methods: This was a serial cross-sectional population-based study in Korea with four surveys conducted on June 2 and 25, 2015 (MERS-CoV surveys), and February 4, and April 2, 2020 (COVID-19 surveys). Of 25,711 participants selected using random digit dialing numbers, 4,011 participants (aged ≥ 18 years) were successfully interviewed, for the 2020 COVID-19 (n = 2,002) and 2015 MERS-CoV (n = 2,009) epidemics were included. Participants were selected post-stratification by sex, age, and province. The total number of weighted cases in this survey equaled the total number of unweighted cases at the national level. We measured the levels of preventive behaviors (social distancing [avoiding physical contact with others]), and practicing transmission-reducing behaviors such as wearing face mask and handwashing. Results: Between the surveys, respondents who reported practicing social distancing increased from 41.9%–58.2% (MERS-CoV) to 83.4%–92.3% (COVID-19). The response rate for the four surveys ranged between 13.7% and 17.7%. Practicing transmission-reducing behaviors (wearing face masks and handwashing) at least once during COVID-19 (78.8%, 80.2%) also increased compared to that during MERS-CoV (15.5%, 60.3%). The higher affective risk perception groups were more likely to practice transmission-reducing measures (adjusted odds ratio, 3.24–4.81; 95 confidence interval, 1.76–6.96) during both COVID-19 and MERS-CoV. Conclusion The study findings suggest markedly increased proportions of non-pharmaceutical behavioral practices evenly across all subgroups during the two different novel virus outbreaks in Korea. Strategic interventions are needed to attempt based on preventive behavior works.

PURPOSE:Recent studies proposed that polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) of the omega6 series (linoleic acid, LA) compared to the omega 3 series (linolenic acid, LNA) may be a potent promoters of adipogenesis during the gestation/lactation period. Increased ratio of LA/LNA may stimulate adipose tissue development during gestation/lactation period and may subsequently lead to chilhood obesity. The purpose of this study is to evaluate fatty acids composition of the breast milk in Korean lactating women and to analyze the relationship between LA/LNA and the body weight gain of the infants. METHODS:Fifty eight healthy postpartum lactating women and their healthy 58 breast feeding infants were studied. At 11.3+/-3.9 days of postpartum, breast milk were taken and analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography with one-step methylation method. RESULTS:The total fat contents in breast milk were 3.2+/-1.3%. The total fat contents in breast milk were not related to maternal BMI or Kaup index of infants. The percentage of PUFA was 24.9+/-6.0%. Among these PUFA, the percentage of LA and LNA was 20.3+/-5.8% and 2.2+/-0.8%, respectively. LA/ LNA ratio was 10.2+/-2.5. There were no significant correlations between LA/LNA ratio and infant weight gain during the first 2 months of life. CONCLUSION: Short term weight gain of infant was not related to the LA/LNA ratio in the breast milk. Further studies on the long term effects on fat percent and body weight of infants would be needed.
Adipogenesis ; Adipose Tissue ; alpha-Linolenic Acid ; Body Weight* ; Breast Feeding ; Breast* ; Chromatography, Gas ; Fatty Acids* ; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated ; Female ; Humans ; Infant* ; Linoleic Acid ; Methylation ; Milk, Human* ; Obesity ; Postpartum Period ; Weight Gain

No abstract available.
Ectromelia*