OBJECTIVES: Recently, the outpatient group psychotherapy has been changed from traditional long-term therapy to short-term or time-limited therapy. The termination time and session numbers are given from start line in the time-limited therapy while 10 to 40 sessions are needed in the short-term therapy. And therapist and patients come to an agreement of the accomplishable therapeutic goal and work together actively. The time-limited group psychotherapy is being accepted newly as an efficient therapeutic modality because effective therapeutic outcomes within given time have been reported. The objectives of this study are as follows; firstly, we examine the therapeutic outcomes and the therapeutic factors after performing the time-limited group psychotherapy for outpatients in the psychiatric clinic; secondly, we analyze the characteristics showed in the process of study; lastly, we verify the feasibility and the validity of this group psychotherapy and then establish the basis of the effective outpatient therapy that would be settled down as an applicable treatment modality economically and efficiently in the current medical environment of Korea. METHODS: This study was performed weekly in total 12 sessions from July 1999, April 2000 to and each session took 70-80 minutes. The experimental group were composed of the highly-functioning psychotic patients among outpatients in the psychiatric clinic. The control group were composed of the similar patients through one-to-one matching of age, sex, diagnosis, and duration of illness. The participants were 8 patients each. BDI(Beck Depression Inventory), STAI(Spielbergs State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), MMPI(Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory), and EDMT(Ewha Defence Mechanism Test) as the evaluation scales were performed before and after treatment. And 13-therapeutic factors scale was performed just after each session and the self-report total assessment questionnaire was performed only in experimental group at the end of this study. RESULTS: The mean score of BDI was decreased significantly in experimental group in comparison with control group. The mean score of STAI-S was not changed significantly in both group, and the mean score of STAI-T was decreased in experimental group in comparison with control group. The mean score of MMPI was decreased significantly in experimental group in comparison with control group, but the comparison of difference scores(post-treatment score - pre-treatment score) between the experimental and control group was not decreased significantly. This result may come from psychopharmacotherapy and individual supportive psychotherapy given equally to both group. The mean scores of immature defence and neurotic defence in EDMT were decreased significantly in experimental group compared with control group. Comparing the therapeutic factors to divide into the first, middle, and the last stage, existential factor was ranked first, and catharsis, identification with therapist, universality, and group cohesiveness were ranked high in all stages. Interpersonal learning was ranked first in the last stage although being ranked low in the first and middle stage. The total assessment questionnaires about group psychotherapy were reported that 100% of participants were helped, 75% of participants were changed in their lives, and 75% of participants had minds to join this kind of program again if given for them. CONCLUSIONS: This result shows that not only symptom relief but also personality change was achieved when the time-limited group psychotherapy was practiced in addition to simple psychophamarcotherapy and individual supportive psychotherapy for outpatients. The degree of satisfaction for group psychotherapy of participants were evaluated highly. Group psychotherapy has been accepted in public as a therapeutic modality that must be as equally effective as psychotherapy although group psychotherapy derives from individual psychotherapy. In our current medical environment that has been changed suddenly by the separation of medical practice and pharmaceutical dispensing and the decrease of medical fee, group psychotherapy or time-limited therapy would be settled down as low-expense and high-efficiency therapeutic modalities that were as equally effective as individual psychotherapy or long-term therapy.
Anxiety ; Catharsis ; Depression ; Diagnosis ; Fees, Medical ; Humans ; Korea ; Learning ; MMPI ; Outpatients* ; Psychotherapy ; Psychotherapy, Group* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Weights and Measures

No abstract available.
Fascia* ; Nasolabial Fold*

No abstract available.
Hemangioma, Cavernous*

OBJECTIVES: Group psychotherapy is known to be an effective treatment program for adolescents who attach importance to peer relationship, but it is not activated in Korea. Therefore, researchers performed weekly the closed, homogeneous, time-limited (10 sessions), outpatient group psychotherapy for adolescents with conduct disorder. Objectives of this study were as follows: first, we practiced the group psychotherapy for adolescents with conduct disorder and evaluated its effectiveness: second, we examined the therapeutic factors which were used by participants: third, we intended to settlee down the group psychotherapy for adolescents with CD as an effective and efficient treatment modality. METHODS: This study was performed two times from October to December in 1998 and from April to June in 1999. It was sponsored by Youth Counselling Center in H city. The case group were composed of 15 female students who were second grade in H high school, and 4 students were dropped out. The control group were composed of 18 female students who were same grade in H high school and 3 students were dropped out. Before and after this program, self-report delinquency scale, aggression scale and impulsivity scale were asked to them. And just after each session, Yalom 13 therapeutic factors scale and satisfaction questionnaire for group psychotherapy were asked to them. And at last meeting, total assessment questionnaire was asked to them. RESULTS: We compared the change of therapeutic factors between the former half sessions(1-5) and the later half sessions (6-10), and the results were as follows: in the former half, the upper ranks of therapeutic factors were existential factor, universality, catharsis, identification with leader, and identification with members in order. And in the later half, the upper ranks of therapeutic factors were catharsis, existential factor, identification with leader, identification with members, and guidance of members in order. The rank of catharsis and guidance of members went upward and the rank of universality went downward when we compared the ranks in the former half to those in the later half. Altruism and family enactment were the lowest ranked in both half. The satisfaction questionnaire for group psychotherapy showed to be helped by participants at the rate of 45.7% in former half, 83.3% in later half. The total assessment questionnaire showed the willingness of re-participation at the rate of 85.7% if future opportunity of group psychotherapy is given for them. CONCLUSIONS: The time-limited group psychotherapy for adolescents diagnosed by conduct disorder was very effectively practiced and the participants reported high level of the satisfaction. The outpatient group psychotherapy for adolescents would be expanded and practiced though there are several accompanied problems including the difficulty of structuring, the deficit of motivation, and financial problem.
Adolescent* ; Aggression ; Altruism ; Catharsis ; Conduct Disorder* ; Female ; Humans ; Impulsive Behavior ; Korea ; Motivation ; Outpatients* ; Psychotherapy, Group* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Exercise is one of the most ubiquitous triggers of acute bouts of asthma. Late asthmatic responses(LARs) have been described following strenuous exercise, as in allergen-induced asthma. However, most studies have reported that airway responsiveness is not increased after exercise, even in subjects with LAR to exercise. This suggests that LAR after exercise may not be associated with inflammatory changes in the airways. We have frequently seen asthmatic children whose complaint is that symptoms are exacerbated at night after strenuous daytime exercise. Furthermore, airway responsiveness to allergen was reported to increase after LAR to exercise. Therefore, it is crucial to know whether exercise can induce airway inflammation, as in allergen-induced asthma. As an indirect measure to investigate it, we measured the activation status of eosinophil granulocyte in the peripheral blood during the early and late phase of exercise- or allergen-induced asthma. Eight subjects who showed early asthmatic response(EAR) and LAR(group 1), or EAR only (group 2) to allergen (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) challenge were selected. Similarly eight subjects who showed EAR and LAR(group 3), or EAR only (group 4) to exercise were selected. Blood samples were drawn at baseline, the early phase, the late phase, and 24 hours after each stimuli. Eosinofphil cationic protein (ECP) was measured in the serum. Eosinophil granulocytes were separated and the production of leukotriene C4 (LTC4) from purified eosinophfis was measured after stimulation with the calciumionophore. Serum levels of ECP were unchanged at EAR after allergen or exercise challenge. In the dual responder to allergen (group 1), serum ECP level was elevated at LAR and 24 hours after allergen challenge, as compared with the baseline level. On the other hand, in the dual responder to exercise (group 3), it remained unaltered up to 24 hours after exercise challenge. Eosinophils at EAR after allergen or exercise challenge in each group generated the similar amounts of LTC4 as baseline values. In group 1, the production of LTC4 was slightly increased though not significantly at LAR, and significantly increased 24 hours after allergen challenge. In group 3, it was increased significantly at LAR, but restored to the baseline values at 24 hours after exercise challenge. These results indicate that not only allergen but also exercise can activate eosinophils in accordance with LAR. The present findings suggest that LAR to exercise may also have the potential to induce airway eosinophilic inflammation although its duration may be shorter than that of LAR to allergen. Therefore exercise should be understood not only as a triggering factor of bronchoconstriction but also as one that incites or deteriorates airway inflammation.
Asthma* ; Bronchoconstriction ; Child ; Ear ; Eosinophils* ; Granulocytes ; Hand ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Leukotriene C4

We have recently experienced a case of intramedullary ependymoma in the upper thoracic spinal cord. A 46 years old man was admitted to our Department of Neurosurgery because of spastic paraplegia and disturbance of urination since 6 years ago when the disability developed rather abruptly. Myelogram showed a subtotal block of the dye column at the level of T-3 intervertebral space about where a fusiform enlargement of the cord was shadowed. Opening the duramater after total laminectomy performd through C7 to T3, a markedly swallen and enlarged spinal cord was under a great pressure. Spinal cord was paper thin and fully filled with a massive tumor inside of it. The intrameduallary tumor was mushroomed out on dorsal myelotomy. Histological study was verified to be ependymoma. The patient has not shown any improvement of neurological deficits in postoperative period.
Agaricales ; Ependymoma* ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Middle Aged ; Neurosurgery ; Paraplegia ; Postoperative Period ; Spinal Cord* ; Urination

BACKGROUND: Perfusion scintigraphy with dipyridamole have been reported to be useful for diagnosis of coronary artery disease and the assessment of the presence and extent of myocardium at ischemic risk, especially in patients who can not undergo dynamic exercise testing. Dipyridamole, pharmacologic coronary vasodilator, also induces fall in blood pressure and rise in heart rate. The purpose of this study was to answer the question if dipyridamole induced peripheral hemodynamic responses were related to chest pain, ST changes on EKG, scintigraphic defect or extent of coronary stenosis. METHODS: Dipyridamole 99mTc-MIBI myocardial scintigraphy and coronary angiography on 43 subjects who were suspected to have coronary artery disease. The peripheral hemodynamic response was graded as absent(group 0) if there was a < or =10mm fall in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and/or < or =10 beats/min rise in geart rate(HR) ; moderate(group 1) if there was >10 but < or =20mm fall in SBP and/or >10 but < or =20 beats/min rise in HR ; and marked (group 2) if there was >20mm fall in SBP and/or >20 beats/min rise in HR. RESULTS: The overall diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for coronary artery disease of dipyridamole perfusion scintigraphy were 68%, 83% while per vessel sensitivity and specificity for coronary artery disease were 66%, 97%. The numbers of induced chest pain and ischemic ST changes among hemodynamic subgroups, were 40%, 40% in group 0, 33%, 27% in group 1 and 50%, 40% in group 2 without significant difference in each hemodynamic subgroups. Either the numbers of diseased coronary arteries or the numbers of patients demonstrationg reversible scintigraphic defects were not statically different among each subgroups. CONCLUSION: Although the peripheral hemodynamic response dose not always correlate with its central coronary effect but dipyridamlole 99mTc-MIBI myocardial perfusion scintigraphy is an useful test for diagnosis of coronary artery disease.
Blood Pressure ; Chest Pain ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Stenosis ; Coronary Vessels* ; Diagnosis ; Dipyridamole* ; Electrocardiography ; Exercise Test ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Myocardial Perfusion Imaging ; Myocardium ; Perfusion Imaging ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: Many studies from the past have indicated that women tend to have lower self- esteem than men. This cross-sectional study looks for this tendency in a medical school in Korea, where men are still thought to comprise much of a dominating force despite the current growth in number of female students in student body. Along with the cross-examination of possible gender difference in self-esteem, the significant and relevant factors will also be sought and discussed. METHODS: Questionnaires were obtained from 202 junior and senior students (125 male and 77 female students) in a medical school in Korea. Self-esteem was determined using the Rosenberg self-esteem scale (reliability = 86% in our study). Multiple regression analysis was used to determine gender difference in self-esteem and statistical relevance in each covariate. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in self-esteem between male and female medical students. Significant factors related to self-esteem include school rank, physical attractiveness, and depression, among which of them, depression was the strongest. CONCLUSION: Innate limitation of cross-sectional studies and evaluation of selected junior and senior students of a single medical school could possibly explain for the absence of gender difference in self-esteem in this study. Academic achievement and physical attractiveness are shown to be positive factors for self-esteem, while depression puts negative force in one's self-esteem.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Depression ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Schools, Medical ; Students, Medical* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Axin is a negative regulator of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway and is involved in the regulation of axis formation and proliferation. Involvement of Axin in the regulation of other signaling pathways is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the involvement of Akt in growth regulation by Axin in L929 fibroblasts stimulated by EGF. Akt activity was increased by EGF treatment and Ras activation, respectively. Both the EGF- and Ras-induced Akt activations were abolished by Axin induction, as revealed by both Western blot and immunocytochemical analyses. The proliferation and Akt activation induced by EGF were decreased by Axin induction, and the effects of EGF were abolished by treatment of an Akt-specific inhibitor. Therefore, Axin inhibits EGF-induced proliferation of L929 fibroblasts by blocking Akt activation.
Animals ; Cell Line ; Cell Nucleus/metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; Epidermal Growth Factor/*pharmacology ; Fibroblasts/drug effects/physiology ; Mice ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/antagonists & inhibitors/*metabolism ; Repressor Proteins/genetics/*physiology ; Signal Transduction ; ras Proteins/biosynthesis/genetics

The variable clinical responses seen with rnost cancer immunotherapy suggests that there is a large interindividual variation in immunoiogic response to tumors. One of the key functional parameter.s of an immune response is the loca1 production of cytokines. These multifunctional cytokines have been implicated in growth stimulation and cytotoxicity of ovarian tumor celle. To determine the presence and quantities of cytokines in ovarian cancer tissue, the cons-titutive expression of cytokine mRNA in biopsies from epithelial ovarian carcinomas was determined by using a PCR-assisted mRNA amplification asssy(RT-PCR). Using a set of cytokine-specific primers for 14 different cytokines, distinctive patterns of cytokine gene expression between normal and malignant ovarian tissues could be found. Several cytokines were detected even in the norma1 ovarian tissue including IL-1A, IL-8, TGF-A, TGF-B, GM-CSF, and IL,-2R. In case of the ovarian cancer, the signals were more intense than normal and we could detect the expression of some other cytokines, such as IL-1B, IL- 4, IL-6, IL-l0, TNF, and INF-T, which could not be detected in normal tissue. The presence of eytokines in ovarian cancer tissue could be impartant in the growth and development of cancer, more specifically, in relation to host immune responsiveness.
Biopsy ; Cytokines ; Gene Expression* ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Growth and Development ; Immunotherapy ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukin-8 ; Ovarian Neoplasms* ; RNA, Messenger