OBJECTIVE: The results for finding the deficit in the anterior cingulate (ACC) in schizophrenic patients (SZ) have been inconsistent according to the studies that used different Stroop tasks, which is unlike the deficit in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). In order to explore for the core region that's responsible for the selective attention deficit in SZ, we examined the results of a functional neuroimaging study, which involved the performance of the Stroop task using high or low prefrontal cortex related loads in SZ. METHODS: Ten schizophrenic patients and healthy controls (HC) received functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during a Short/Long-term latency Stroop task. The changes in the neural activity were determined in well-known Stroop related regions of interest (ROIs) that consisted of the DLPFC, ACC, the parietal lobule and in the whole brain regions for both the main and interaction effects of latency, and the results of the short-term and long-term latency Stroop conditions were compared. RESULTS: The response times for both the congruency and latency effects were more prolonged in the schizophrenics than in the HC. For the congruency effect, the schizophrenics showed significantly less activation in the same site of the left DLPFC in both the short-term and long-term latency conditions, as compared with the HC. For the latency effect, the regions of the left-side language network were over- or under-activated in the schizophrenics, as compared with the HC. Any interaction effect was not found for both the behavioral and fMRI results. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the deficit in the left DLPFC is the core impairment of attentional processing in schizophrenics, regardless of other possible interactions such as the latency effect.
Brain ; Functional Neuroimaging ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Prefrontal Cortex* ; Rabeprazole ; Reaction Time ; Schizophrenia*

OBJECTIVE: In order to investigate more accurate patterns of intrauterine growth in twin fetuses, we constructed the twin-specific growth curve based on gestational age in live-born non-anomalous infants. METHODS: 563 twin pairs, 1,126 infants delivered between January 1994 and October 1999 were comprised our study population. The newborns were grouped according to gestational age and the median, 10th, 50th, and 90th percentile birth weight for each gestational week were calculated. Curves were plotted for the general population and for each gender and parity and compared with previously reported singleton's growth curve. RESULTS: After 32 weeks gestation, birth weight of twins falls below that of singleton, so that by 38 weeks the 50th percentile for twins falls below the singleton 10th percentile. This difference was also present among all subgroups of twins, such as gender and parity. And the mean birth weight in male twin infant was heavier than in female twin infant throughout all gestational week. CONCLUSION: The pattern of growth in twin infants differed from those of singleton. We recommend twin-specific growth curve for clinical use in the management of twin gestations.
Birth Weight ; Female ; Fetus ; Gestational Age* ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Parity ; Pregnancy ; Twins*

BACKGROUND: Although several risk factors associated with reduced age at natural menopause (ANM) have been investigated, the results are inconsistent. Excessive stress, which leads to elevation of stress hormones, can also negatively affect reproductive ability, including by accelerating menopause. However, a direct association between stress level and ANM has not yet been demonstrated. Therefore, the object of this study was to investigate the association between stress level and ANM in Korean women. METHODS: Study participants were Korean women between 40 and 70 years old who were in natural menopause during the 5th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (n=3,176). The level of stress in daily life was estimated based on data from the mental health topics of the survey. We used the t-test and one-way analysis of variance to analyze the correlation between stress level and ANM. Regression (beta) coefficients calculated by multiple regression analysis were used to estimate various factors affecting ANM. RESULTS: Women who experienced a high level of stress in daily life had a lower mean ANM than women with a low stress level (50.17+/-3.7 and 50.58+/-3.5 years, respectively), with a statistically significant correlation (P<0.05). This correlation was still observed after adjusting for age, body mass index, menstrual regularity, and personal income (P<0.05 for variables). CONCLUSION: In Korean women between 40 and 70 years of age who are in natural menopause, there is a statistically significant correlation between stress level and ANM. In particular, women who experience a high level of stress in daily life have reduced ANM.
Body Mass Index ; Female ; Humans ; Menopause* ; Mental Health ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Risk Factors

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical usefulness of binocular multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) by comparing results with conventional monocular mfERG in patients with monocular macular disease. METHODS: mfERG testing was conducted on 32 patients with monocular macular disease and 30 normal subjects. An initial mfERG was simultaneously recorded from both eyes with two recording electrodes under binocular stimulation. A second mfERG was subsequently recorded with conventional monocular stimulation. Amplitudes and implicit times of each ring response of the binocular and monocular recordings were compared. Ring ratios of the binocular and monocular recording were also compared. RESULTS: In the macular disease group, there were no statistical differences in amplitude or implicit time for each of the five concentric rings between the monocular and binocular recordings. However, with binocular simulation, the ring ratios (ring 1 / ring 4, ring 1 / ring 5) were significantly reduced in the affected eye. In the normal control group, there were no statistical differences in any parameters between the monocular and binocular recordings. CONCLUSIONS: Binocular mfERG could be a good alternative to the conventional monocular test. In addition, given that the test needs stable fixation of the affected eye during the binocular test, the reliability of the test results could be improved, especially for patients with monocular macular disease.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Electroretinography/*methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Vision, Binocular/physiology ; Vision, Monocular/physiology ; Visual Acuity/*physiology ; Wet Macular Degeneration/*diagnosis/*physiopathology

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although colonoscopy is not indicated in patients with hematochezia, many surgeons, internists, and physicians are recommending colonoscopy for these patients in Korea. The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic value of colonoscopy for patients with hematochezia. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the data of colonoscopy between January 2010 and December 2010. A total of 321 patients among 3,038 colonoscopies (10.6%) underwent colonoscopy to evaluate the cause of hematochezia. The patients with previous colorectal surgery (2) or polypectomy (5) were excluded. We analyzed endoscopic diagnoses. Advanced neoplastic polyps were defined as adenomas with villous histology or high grade dysplasia, or adenomas more than 10 mm in diameter. RESULTS: Hemorrhoid was the most common diagnosis (217 cases, 67.6%). Polyps were detected in 93 patients (29.0%), but advanced neoplastic polyps were found in only 14 cases (4.4%). Colorectal cancers were diagnosed in 18 patients (5.6%) including 14 rectal cancers. There was no cancer located above sigmoid-descending junction. Diverticuli were detected in 41 patients (12.8%) but there was only one case of suspected diverticular bleeding. Colitis was diagnosed in 24 patients (7.5%). Other lesions included acute anal fissure, rectal tumor, stercoral ulcer, and radiation proctitis. CONCLUSIONS: The colonoscopy had little value in patients with hematochezia because the most pathologic lesions were located below sigmoid colon. The first choice of diagnosis in patients with hematochezia is sigmoidoscopy.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Colitis/complications/diagnosis ; Colonic Neoplasms/complications/diagnosis ; Colonic Polyps ; *Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms/complications/diagnosis ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/diagnosis/*etiology ; Hemorrhoids/complications/diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Milk Hypersensitivity* ; Milk*

Solid pseudopapillary tumor (SPT) of the pancreas is a rare tumor that typically affects young women without causing significant clinical symptoms. No case of SPT in an old man has been reported in South Korea, and such cases are very rare worldwide. We report a 70-year-old man with SPT of the pancreas with multiple organ metastasis. Although surgical resection is the treatment of choice for SPT, we decided not to treat, considering his age and the disease severity.
Aged ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pancreas*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Intracranial Hemorrhages* ; Plasminogen Activators* ; Plasminogen* ; Rivaroxaban* ; Thrombolytic Therapy

Alcoholism is becoming one of the most serious issues in Korea. The purpose of this review article was to understand the present status of the treatment system for alcoholism in Korea compared to the United States and to suggest its developmental direction in Korea. Current modalities of alcoholism treatment in Korea including withdrawal treatment, pharmacotherapy, and psychosocial treatment are available according to Korean evidence-based treatment guidelines. Benzodiazepines and supportive care including vitamin and nutritional support are mainly used to treat alcohol withdrawal in Korea. Naltrexone and acamprosate are the drugs of first choice to treat chronic alcoholism. Psychosocial treatment methods such as individual psychotherapy, group psychotherapy, family therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, cue exposure therapy, 12-step facilitation therapy, self-help group therapy, and community-based treatment have been carried out to treat chronic alcoholism in Korea. However, current alcohol treatment system in Korea is not integrative compared to that in the United States. To establish the treatment system, it is important to set up an independent governmental administration on alcohol abuse, to secure experts on alcoholism, and to conduct outpatient alcoholism treatment programs and facilities in an open system including some form of continuing care.
Alcohol Deterrents/*therapeutic use ; Alcoholism/economics/prevention & control/*therapy ; Benzodiazepines/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Naltrexone/therapeutic use ; *Psychotherapy ; Republic of Korea ; Taurine/analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of intravitreal bevacizumab injection on visual function and vision-related quality of life (VR-QOL) in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) using the Korean version of the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire 25 (K-NEI-VFQ-25). METHODS: This study included 32 normal control subjects and 32 patients with BRVO. The Korean version of NEI-VFQ-25 was answered by the patients with BRVO before and 3 months after intravitreal bevacizumab injection, as well as by normal control subjects. Clinical data were collected, including central macular thickness (CMT), total macular volume (TMV) (using time-domain optical coherence tomography [OCT]), and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA). RESULTS: Visual acuity, CMT, and TMV significantly improved 3 months after intravitreal bevacizumab injections. No bevacizumab-related systemic or ocular adverse effects following intravitreal drug injections were observed. Significant improvement in the VFQ-25 composite score was observed in patients with BRVO. Subscale scores, including general vision, near activities, distance activities, social functioning, mental health, role difficulties, dependency, and peripheral vision, improved after injection. However, subscale scores regarding general health, ocular pain, driving, and color vision did not improve significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal bevacizumab injection appears to be an effective treatment for visual function, as well as VR-QOL in macular edema secondary to BRVO. However, improvement of driving function and color vision appears to require a longer recovery time than visual function.
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; Color Vision ; Dependency (Psychology) ; Humans ; Macular Edema ; Mental Health ; National Eye Institute (U.S.) ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Retinal Vein ; Retinal Vein Occlusion ; Retinaldehyde ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Vision, Ocular ; Visual Acuity ; Bevacizumab