OBJECTIVES: The individual's ability to recognize and describe emotion in self and others is an important concept of many psychiatric disorders. The purpose of this study was to investigate emotional awareness deficits in patients with alcohol dependence. METHODS: 55 male inpatients with alcohol dependence and 28 male normal controls were evaluated by the Korean version of the Levels of Emotional Awareness Scale (LEAS-K), the Korean version of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20K), the Openness Experience Inventory (OEI) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The LEAS-K is an objective measure to assess the ability to be aware of one's own or another's emotions and the TAS-20 is the most widely used subjective measure of alexithymia. Scores of these scales were compared between two groups using ANCOVA controlling age and BDI scores. RESULTS: The LEAS-K scores were significantly lower in alcohol-dependent patients than normal controls. The TAS-20K total scores, factor 1 (Difficulty to Identifying Feeling, DIF) and factor 3 (Externally Oriented Thinking, EOT) were significantly higher in alcohol-dependent patients than normal controls. In contrast to the LEAS-K, the TAS-20K scores correlated significantly with the BDI scores. CONCLUSION: Emotional awareness is impaired in alcohol-dependent patients and it may not be related with depressive mood. Additional studies are needed to explore the significance of alexithymia, especially impaired emotional awareness, and its relationship to depressive mood in patients with alcohol dependence.
Affective Symptoms ; Alcoholism ; Depression ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Male ; Thinking ; Weights and Measures

PURPOSE: To clarify the relationship between the level of neurologic deficit and deformity of the lower extremity and also the ambulatory status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed retrograde analysis on 79 patients older than 30months with lipomeningocele. All of the patients were classified according to the level of neurologic functional motor deficit. There were 52 males and 27 females patients. Average age was 6 years and 8 months. RESULTS: There was only one patient in the upper lumbar (L1-L2) motor level deficit. He was a non ambulator. Among the 26 with lower lumbar (L3-L5) deficit, 6 were household ambulators, 20 were community ambulators; 2 had hip deformities and 22 had foot deformities. Among the 48 patients with sacral (S1-S3) deficit, all were community ambulators; 3 had hip deformities and 27 had foot deformities. In 4 patients who showed normal motor function, all were community ambulators without any deformity. CONCLUSION: In lipomeningocele, patients who had a functional motor deficit above L4 level showed poor ambulatory status. However, those below L4 level showed good ambulation, and in cases with the L4-5 motor level deficit, we were able to improve the ambulatory status after correction of the deformities of the lower extremity.
Congenital Abnormalities* ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Foot Deformities ; Hip ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Neurologic Manifestations* ; Walking

STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: We wanted to investigate the rate of pseudarthrosis at L5-S1 after posterolateral fusion only for degenerative lumbar spinal disease, and to determine the radiological findings that help diagnose pseudarthrosis. SUMMARY OF THE LITERATURE REVIEW: The pseudarthrosis rate at L5-S1 is much higher than that at the other lumbar segments. However, there have been few studies for the rate and risk factors of pseudarthrosis at L5-S1. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 88 patients who underwent pedicle screw instrumentation and posterolateral lumbar fusion were evaluated with a minimum of 1-year follow up. Bony union was evaluated by the bony fusion mass, the angulation on the flexion-extension radiographs and the radiolucent zone around the pedicle screws. The patients' age, bony mineral density, the number of fused segments and lumbar lordosis were evaluated for their association with pseudarthrosis at L5-S1. RESULTS: Pseudarthrosis developed in 22 patients at L5-S1 and in 8 patients at other levels. The change of angulation on the flexion-extension radiographs at the last follow-up was 5.2degrees in the pseudarthrosis group and 1.7degrees in the fusion group (P=0.3). A radiolucent zone of the sacral screws was noted in 10 patients; in 7 of the 22 patients in the pseudarthrosis group and in 3 of the 66 patients in the fusion group. The average age, the mean number of levels fused and the bone mineral density were similar in both groups. Lumbar lordosis was not associated with the development of pseudarthrosis at L5-S1. CONCLUSION: The pseudarthrosis rate was significantly higher at L5-S1 than that at the other lumbar segments following instrumented posterolateral fusion. Pseudarthrosis was closely related to hypermobile angulation (> or =5degrees) on the flexion-extension radiographs and a radiolucent zone around the sacral screws.
Animals ; Bone Density ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lordosis ; Pseudarthrosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Spinal Diseases

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The vestibuloautonomic reflex controls respiration and blood pressure during locomotion. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of the peripheral vestibular receptor in the control of blood pressure in sinoaortic denervated (SAD) rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The baroreceptor reflex was removed by SAD in labyrinthectomized rats. The expression of c-Fos protein in the vestibular nuclear complex, and other nuclei related to control of blood pressure, was measured following the induction of acute hypotension using sodium nitroprusside (SNP). RESULTS: The SNP induced acute hypotension, in intact labyrinthine rats, increased the expression of c-Fos protein in the supraoptic nucleus, paraventricular nucleus, rostral ventrolateral medulla, solitary nucleus, and vestibular nuclear complex. The expression of c-Fos protein, following the SNP induced acute hypotension in the SAD rats, increased the expression of c-Fos protein in the paraventricular nucleus, rostral ventrolateral medulla, and medial and inferior vestibular nuclei. The acute hypotension induced by SNP in a unilateral labyrinthectomy, with SAD, increased the expression of c-Fos protein in the contralesional vestibular nuclear complex, but decreased its expression in the ipsilesional vestibular nuclear complex. The acute hypotension induced by SNP in a bilateral labyrinthectomy, with SAD, showed only slight expression of c-Fos protein in the bilateral vestibular nuclear complex. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the acute hypotension induced by SNP activates the vestibular nuclear neurons by decreasing the blood flow in the peripheral vestibular receptors, and that these in turn modulate blood pressure through activation of the catecholaminergic nervous system and neuroendocrine reflex.
Animals ; Baroreflex ; Blood Pressure* ; Hypotension ; Locomotion ; Nervous System ; Neurons ; Nitroprusside ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus ; Pressoreceptors ; Rats* ; Reflex ; Respiration ; Solitary Nucleus ; Supraoptic Nucleus ; Vestibular Nuclei

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study was to determine if the number of missing teeth could be predicted by oral disease pathogens, and the secondary objective was to assess whether deep learning is a better way of predicting the number of missing teeth than multivariable linear regression (MLR).METHODS: Data were collected through review of patient’s initial medical records. A total of 960 participants were cross-sectionally surveyed. MLR analysis was performed to assess the relationship between the number of missing teeth and the results of real-time PCR assay (done for quantification of 11 oral disease pathogens). A convolutional neural network (CNN) was used as the deep learning model and compared with MLR models. Each model was performed five times to generate an average accuracy rate and mean square error (MSE). The accuracy of predicting the number of missing teeth was evaluated and compared between the CNN and MLR methods.RESULTS: Model 1 had the demographic information necessary for the prediction of periodontal diseases in addition to the red and the orange complex bacteria that are highly predominant in oral diseases. The accuracy of the convolutional neural network in this model was 65.0%. However, applying Model 4, which added yellow complex bacteria to the total bacterial load, increased the expected extractions of dental caries to 70.2%.On the other hand, the accuracy of the MLR was about 50.0% in all models. The mean square error of the CNN was considerably smaller than that of the MLR, resulting in better predictability.CONCLUSIONS: Oral disease pathogens can be used as a predictor of missing teeth and deep learning can be a more accurate analysis method to predict the number of missing teeth as compared to MLR.
Bacteria ; Bacterial Load ; Citrus sinensis ; Dental Caries ; Hand ; Learning ; Linear Models ; Medical Records ; Methods ; Periodontal Diseases ; Periodontitis ; Pilot Projects ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tooth

PURPOSE: To determine the factors influencing clinical results of revision surgery for spinal stenosis developed at the adjacent segment after spinal fusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nineteen patients underwent revision surgery by adjacent segment disease after decompression and posterolateral fusion with pedicle screw instrumentation for spinal stenosis. The control group was matched in terms of age, sex, and number of fused segment, posterior interbody fusion. RESULTS: Oswestry disability index (ODI) was changed from 32.1 before surgery to 28.0 at the final follow up in the revision group. Compared to the improvement from 27.6 to 15.2 in the control group, there was a significant difference between both groups (p=0.002). Revision group had 1 nonunion and 2 proximal screw loosening. There was no late complication in the control group. In the revision group, 12 of 19 patients had disc degeneration before surgery at the upper lumbar segments which was not included in the fusion. They had an average 2.0 ODI improvement after revision surgery. On the other hand, 7 patients who had no degeneration at the unfused segment showed 7.4 ODI improvement. CONCLUSION: The clinical result of revision surgery for spinal stenosis at the adjacent segment after spinal fusion was less satisfactory than the primary surgery. The contributing factors were late complications and preoperative disc degeneration at the segments which was not included in the fusion.
Decompression ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; Spinal Fusion ; Spinal Stenosis

Objectives: This study investigated the effects of mouthwashes containing cetylpyridinium chloride and zinc acetate on oral health. Methods: A total of 60 participants were included in the study. Fifty-three participants (27 and 26 participants in the experimental and control groups, respectively) were retained, excluding seven candidates who dropped out. The mouthwash used for the study was spat out after 10-15 ml of mouth-washing for 3 s in the oral cavity after breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Oral examination indices included the gingival (gingival index, PMA index), the patient hygiene performance (PHP index, Turesky plaque index), and the bad breath (BB checker, Oral chroma) indices. Five measurements were taken after 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 weeks and compared. Results: Measurements of the gingival index showed a statistically significant difference between the experimental and the control groups after 4 weeks, and the PMA index from eight weeks (P<0.05). Measurements of the PHP and Turesky plaque indices showed a significant difference in the experimental and control groups after 4 weeks (P<0.05). Compared to the PHP index before the experiment, that of the experimental group showed a significant index decrease after 2 weeks (P<0.05). Results of measuring bad breath through a BB checker showed a statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups after 4 weeks (P<0.05). Conclusions Oral mouthwash products containing cetylpyridinium chloride and zinc acetate relieves gingivitis, removes bacterial plaque, and reduces bad breath.

Primary cardiac lymphomas diagnosed antemortem are extremely rare. We present a case of primary cardiac lymphma diagnosed antemortem by transvenous biopsy under transesophageal echocardiographic guidance. The patient who was a 62 years old male presented with facial edema, dyspnea on exertion and syncope. The chest X-ray film showed double contour at right cardiac border and the ECG showed marked sinus bradycardia. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), chest computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed intracardiac tumor of right atrium, invasing interatrial septum and inlets of superior and inferior vena cava and lateral wall of right atrium. Abdominopelvic CT and bone scan failed to show any extracardiac location. Transvenous biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of malignant lymphoma (diffuse large cell, B cell type). After chemotherapy was begun, the tumor makedly shrunk and symptoms resolved. Primary cardiac lymphoma is extremely rare and almost uniformly fatal, but this case showed that early diagnosis and intensive che-motherapy might contribute to a better prognosis for patients with malignant lymphoma of the heart.
Bays ; Biopsy* ; Bradycardia ; Diagnosis* ; Drug Therapy ; Dyspnea ; Early Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Edema ; Electrocardiography ; Heart ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Lymphoma* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Syncope ; Thorax ; Vena Cava, Inferior ; X-Ray Film

PURPOSE: The authors studied the effect of the 3-AB, an inhibitor of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP), on the changes of primary afferents and spinal cord after spinal nerve injury. METHOD: The L5 and L6 spinal nerve of the rats were cut, and 3-AB (10 mg/Kg) was injected intraperitoneally once per day. The animals were sacrificed 3 days, 7 days, 14 days and 28 days after nerve injury. Binding of isolectin B4 (IB4) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) of CGRP for the changes in primary afferents, IHC of NK1 for sensory neurons, and of cleaved caspase 3 and NeuN for the apoptotic changes in spinal neurons were performed. RESULT: Decreased binding of IB4 and immunoreactivity (IR) for CGRP, increase of IR for NK1, and cleaved caspase 3 in both neurons and glia in ipsilateral dorsal horn were observed after spinal nerve injury. These changes were attenuated, especially at between 3 days and 14 days, by administration of 3-AB. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that inhibition of PARP by 3-AB may attenuate alterations of primary afferents and spinal neurons, at least in early stage, after spinal nerve injury.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Caspase 3 ; Horns ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lectins ; Neuroglia ; Neurons* ; Rats* ; Sensory Receptor Cells ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Nerves*

PURPOSE: The authors studied the effect of the 3-AB, an inhibitor of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP), on the changes of primary afferents and spinal cord after spinal nerve injury. METHOD: The L5 and L6 spinal nerve of the rats were cut, and 3-AB (10 mg/Kg) was injected intraperitoneally once per day. The animals were sacrificed 3 days, 7 days, 14 days and 28 days after nerve injury. Binding of isolectin B4 (IB4) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) of CGRP for the changes in primary afferents, IHC of NK1 for sensory neurons, and of cleaved caspase 3 and NeuN for the apoptotic changes in spinal neurons were performed. RESULT: Decreased binding of IB4 and immunoreactivity (IR) for CGRP, increase of IR for NK1, and cleaved caspase 3 in both neurons and glia in ipsilateral dorsal horn were observed after spinal nerve injury. These changes were attenuated, especially at between 3 days and 14 days, by administration of 3-AB. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that inhibition of PARP by 3-AB may attenuate alterations of primary afferents and spinal neurons, at least in early stage, after spinal nerve injury.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Caspase 3 ; Horns ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lectins ; Neuroglia ; Neurons* ; Rats* ; Sensory Receptor Cells ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Nerves*