No abstract available.
Thioacetamide*

OBJECTIVES: The pathophysiology of restless legs syndrome (RLS) is not obvious, but many promising theories involve dopaminergic deficiency and genetic causes. The RLS is presumed to occur more frequently among schizophrenic patients who take antipsychotics, most of which blocks the dopamine receptors. This study aimed to investigate whether dopamine transporter gene (DAT1) 40 base pair (bp) variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism is associated with the antipsychotic-induced RLS in schizophrenia. METHODS: We determined the diagnosis of RLS among the 190 Korean schizophrenic patients by the diagnostic criteria of the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG). Genotyping was performed for the 40bp VNTR in DAT1 gene using polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: We separated the schizophrenic patients into 44 patients with RLS and 146 patients without RLS. The genotype and allele frequencies did not differ significantly between two groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that DAT1 gene 40bp VNTR is not associated with the antipsychotic-induced RLS in schizophrenia. To confirm these results, larger-scale association study is needed in the future.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Base Pairing ; Dopamine ; Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Receptors, Dopamine ; Restless Legs Syndrome ; Schizophrenia ; Tandem Repeat Sequences

OBJECTIVE: Diurnal preference is an attribute reflecting whether people are alert and preferring to be active either early or late in the day. It also referred to as chronotype or morningness-eveningness trait. The PER3 genes have been known to influence diurnal preference. In this study, we have investigated the associations between the PER3 gene polymorphisms and diurnal preference in a healthy young population, controlling for the social and environmental confounding factors. METHODS: The participants in this experiment included 299 unrelated medical college students (M=191, F=108), with a mean age of 22.9 years. Diurnal preference was measured by a single administration of the 13-item Composite Scale for Morningness (CSM). Genotyping of the PER3 VNTR (rs57875989) was performed using polymerase chain reaction. A two-tailed alpha of 0.05 was chosen. RESULTS: The mean+/-SD score on the CSM scale for all subjects was 31.90+/-6.39. There was no significant difference in total CSM score between gender groups, although females showed a trend towards higher morningness score. Although PER3 5R/5R showed the tendency towards high CSM scores, there were no significant differences on CSM scores among genotypes and allele status of PER3 VNTR (rs57875989). CONCLUSIONS: We could not confirm that the PER3 VNTR is associated with diurnal preference in a Korean healthy young population. The future studies need to investigate the association between diurnal preference and other polymorphisms of PER3 gene in larger sample of Korean young healthy population.
Alleles ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

Our experience of surgical management of 20 adrenal tumors was present during the period from June, 1988 to May, 1993. The results of clinical study were as follows ; 1. Average age of patients was 40.9 years with the highest incidence in sixth decade occupying 40% and male to female ratio was 1:1 and right to left ratio was equal also. 2. The adrenal tumors consist of 8 adrenocortical adenoma( including 3 primary aldosteronisms and 1 Cushing syndrome), 4 adrenocortical carcinoma(including 1 Cushing syndrome), 7 pheochromocytomas and l neuroblastoma. 3. The 11 functioning adrenal tumors( including 4 adrenocortical adenomas, 1 adrenocortica1 carcinoma and 6 pheochromocytomas) showed specific symptoms and signs and the majority symptom and sign of the 9 non-functioning adrenal tumors( including 4 adrenocortical adenomas, 3 adrenocortical carcinomas, 1 neuroblastoma and 1 pheochromocytoma) showed abdominal discomfort and pain. 4. For initial diagnosis of the adrenal tumors, USG, CT, MRI and angiography are reliable but IVP was reliable in large adrenal tumor 5. The surgical approaches were transperitoneal in 18 patients and retroperitoneal in 2 patients and postoperative surgical complication occurred in 3 patients of transperitoneal approaches that were prolonged ileus, spleen injury and pancreatic injury with pleural effusion.6. The tumor masses were 12gm to 4,000gm in weight (mean: 616gm). The adrenal benign and malignant tumor were significantly different in weight ( 120gm : 1817gm).
Adrenocortical Adenoma ; Adrenocortical Carcinoma ; Angiography ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Ileus ; Incidence ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Neuroblastoma ; Pheochromocytoma ; Spleen

No abstract available.
Female ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic*

An association of low total cholesterol in blood with psychiatric diseases and suicidal behavior has been suggested. As part of an attempt to further explore this relationship, we examine first, whether serum cholesterol levels in psychiatric patients with suicidal attempt would be lower than in non-suicidal psychiatric inpatients or normal controls, second, whether such significant difference of cholesterol levels would be present when the diagnostic groups are analyzed separately, third whether low cholesterol level would be associated with a history of serious suicidal attempts, and finally, whether low cholesterol level in suicide attempters is as state or a trait marker. We determined the serum cholesterol levels in 231 patients admitted to an emergency room following an suicidal attempt, in the same numbers of age-, sex- and diagnosis-matched non-suicidal psychiatric controls, and in the same numbers of age-, sex matched normal controls. The seriousness of an attempt was divided into 5 grades according to the degree of the resulting medical injury. Total cholesterol levels in suicide attempters were significantly lower compared with both psychiatric and normal controls, when sex, age, and nutritional status(i.e., body mass index) were controlled for. This significant relationship was observed in major depressive disorders and personality disorders, but not in schizophrenia and bipolar type I disorders. The severity of suicide by a lowering of blood cholesterol was related to the magnitude of the cholesterol reduction. After treatment of their psychiatric ailments, the cholesterol levels in suicide attempters were significantly increased. This result suggests that low cholesterol level in psychiatric patients might be a potential biological marker of suicide risk. It is hypothesized that low cholesterol levels is associated with the suicide by modifying the serotonin metabolism, the production of interleukin-2 and melatonin metabolism in psychiatric patients.
Biomarkers ; Cholesterol* ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Interleukin-2 ; Melatonin ; Metabolism ; Personality Disorders ; Schizophrenia ; Serotonin ; Suicide*

PURPOSE: To evaluate therapeutic effect of biofeedback therapy according to methods of diagnosis in patients with norelaxing puborectalis syndrome. METHODS: From September, 1, 1998 to February, 30, 1999, the patients who were diagnosed with norelaxing puborectalis syndrome on anal electromyography (EMG) and/or cinedefecography (CD) underwent biofeedback therapy. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to the diagnostic method; CD group - only diagnosed on cinedefecography, EMG group - only diagnosed on anal electromyography, CD EMG group - diagnosed on both tests. RESULTS: Nineteen patients were diagnosed nonrelaxing puborectalis syndrome on CD and/or EMG. There were 14 females and 5 males with a mean age of 40.8+/-18.4 years. The patients were classified into CD group; five patients (26.3%); EMG group, eight patients (42.1%); CD EMG group, six patients (31.6%). The patients had 5.4 3.7 sessions of outpatient EMG-based biofeedback sessions. Subjective symptoms after biofeedback therapy improved in 4 (80.0%), 6 (75%), 5 (83%) patients in CD, EMG, CD EMG groups, respectively. There was a statistically significant increase in spontaneous bowel movements, and a reduction in assisted bowel movements after biofeedback therapy in patients in all three groups (p<0.05). However, no significant difference was found among the three groups. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that biofeedback therapy had a high therapeutic effect regardless to the diagnostic method. Therefore, biofeedbck therapy can be performed if one test results in the diagnosis of norelaxing puborectalis syndrome in patients with constipation.
Biofeedback, Psychology* ; Constipation ; Diagnosis* ; Electromyography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Outpatients

A case of congenital absence of right atriovntricular (A-V) connection of heart is reported. Patient was 81 day old male infant with chief complaints of dyspnea and irritability. Clinical evaluation revealed increased pulmonary vascularity on chest x-ray, absence of right A-V connection, regurgitation of left A-V valve, right-sided ventricular hypoplasia and L-TGA. Clinical assessment of the case was tricupsid atresia with LTGA and mitral regurgitation. Pulmonary artery banlding and artial septectomy was performed. Parenteral alimentation through the femoral veins resulted in obstruction of IVC and subsequent multiorgan failure. The autopsy findings of the heart were corrected transposition of great arteries with associated anomallies of right-sided mitral atresia, Ebstein's malformation of left-sided tricuspid valve, ventricular septal defect, muscular hypertrophy of right-sided left ventricle with luminal obliteration. Long segment of IVC was completely occluded due to occlusive thrombi with fungal infection. Bilateral kidneys were infarcted and azygos vein was markedly engorged. Microscopic examination revealed candidal colonization in the inferior vena cava and septic embolzation in brain.
Infant ; Male ; Female ; Humans

A case of congenital absence of right atriovntricular (A-V) connection of heart is reported. Patient was 81 day old male infant with chief complaints of dyspnea and irritability. Clinical evaluation revealed increased pulmonary vascularity on chest x-ray, absence of right A-V connection, regurgitation of left A-V valve, right-sided ventricular hypoplasia and L-TGA. Clinical assessment of the case was tricupsid atresia with LTGA and mitral regurgitation. Pulmonary artery banlding and artial septectomy was performed. Parenteral alimentation through the femoral veins resulted in obstruction of IVC and subsequent multiorgan failure. The autopsy findings of the heart were corrected transposition of great arteries with associated anomallies of right-sided mitral atresia, Ebstein's malformation of left-sided tricuspid valve, ventricular septal defect, muscular hypertrophy of right-sided left ventricle with luminal obliteration. Long segment of IVC was completely occluded due to occlusive thrombi with fungal infection. Bilateral kidneys were infarcted and azygos vein was markedly engorged. Microscopic examination revealed candidal colonization in the inferior vena cava and septic embolzation in brain.
Infant ; Male ; Female ; Humans

A 2-year-old girl had 2-month history of both secretory otitis media . Nine weeks after the first visit, physical examination revealed a whitish mass behind the intact right tympanic membrane. A CT study showed absence of the right foramen spinosum. The right ICA had an aberrant course running laterally in the middle ear cavity with ossesous canal. The soft tissue density in the normal location of the tympanic segment of facial nerve was markedly enlarged. A diagnosis of aberrant ICA and persistent stapedial artery was made. Vascular mass in the middle ear space are very uncommon. They continue to present a diagnostic problem, as the clinical symptoms and signs are often nonspecific and require radiological investigation to distinguish between glomus tumors, other vascular tumors, a dehiscent jugular bulb and an aberrant internal carotid artery. In approximately one per cent of the population, a dehiscent ICA canal is present and can result in the passing of an aberrant ICA through the middle ear space. The persistent stapedial artery is a rare congenital vascular anomaly that may present as a pulsatile middle ear mass or that may appear as an incidental finding. It is important for the otologist to be aware of this anomaly, as a misdiagnosis can have catastrophic consequences.
Arteries* ; Carotid Artery, Internal* ; Child, Preschool ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Errors ; Ear, Middle ; Facial Nerve ; Female ; Glomus Tumor ; Humans ; Incidental Findings ; Otitis Media with Effusion ; Physical Examination ; Running ; Tympanic Membrane