Objectives : The purpose of this study was to develop the Korean version of the Social Functioning Scale (KSFS) in the patients with schizophrenia. METHODS : KSFS was administered to 90 schizophrenic patients and 80 their parents and 90 normal controls for examining the reliability and validity. RESULTS : Data analysis showed statistically significant reliabilities and validities of KSFS. The test-retest reliability, rater vs. self-report reliability, and internal consistency for total scores of KSFS were 0.93, 0.44 and 0.94 respectively. Evidence for discriminant validity of KSFS comes from the results that the mean scores of schizophrenic patients were significantly higher than those of normal controls. Construct validity was assessed by calculating the 7 inter-areas correlations of the KSFS, and all areas were statistically significant. Significant correlations between the total scores of KSFS and those of SOFAS lend support for the concurrent validity of this instrument. Factor analyses were performed and two factors were extracted accounting for 63.7% of the variance. Sensitivity was assessed indirectly via the distribution and range of scores on the SFS. The normal control group showed a distribution around a higher mean with a moderate positive skew. CONCLUSION : KSFS was found to be a valid, reliable, and sensitive instrument which can be used to evaluate the degree of social functioning in the patients with schizophrenia.
Accounting ; Humans ; Parents ; Reproducibility of Results ; Schizophrenia ; Statistics as Topic

PURPOSE: To evaluate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings to improve the diagnostic accuracy for transverse process fractures and sacral fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The lumbosacral MRI scans of 214 patients (mean age, 60 years; male-to-female ratio, 85:129), who had spine trauma between January and November 2015 were included. Two radiologists evaluated the presence, number, level, and anatomic site of the fractures on MRI with computed tomography as reference standard. Imaging findings were described as cortical disruption, marrow edema, or soft tissue edema on T1-, T2-, and fat-suppressed T2-weighted images. A statistical analysis was performed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of the MRI pulse sequences for the transverse process and sacral fractures. RESULTS: Of 168 fractures, 26 (15.5%) and 13 (4.9%) were in the transverse processes and sacra, respectively. A paravertebral soft tissue edema occurred in the transverse process fractures (80.8%) and presacral soft tissue and marrow edemas occurred in the sacral fractures (46.1%). The sensitivity for the transverse process fractures was 88% on the T2-weighted image. It was 92% on fat-suppressed T2- and T1-weighted images for sacral fractures. CONCLUSION Bone marrow and soft tissue edemas on the MRI could potentially improve the diagnostic accuracy of an MRI for fractures in the transverse process and sacrum.

OBJECTIVE: Sperm must be properly prepared in in vitro fertilization (IVF)-embryo transfer (ET) programs in order to control the fertilization rate and ensure that embryos are of high quality and have appropriate developmental abilities. The objective of this study was to determine the most optimal sperm preparation method for IVF. METHODS: Patients less than 40 years of age who participated in a fresh IVF-ET cycle from November 2012 to March 2013 were included in this study. Poor responders with less than three mature oocytes were excluded. Ham's F-10 medium or sperm-washing medium (SWM) was used in combination with the density-gradient centrifugation/swim-up (DGC-SUP) or SUP methods for sperm preparation. A total of 429 fresh IVF-ET cycles were grouped according to the media and methods used for sperm preparation and retrospectively analyzed (DGC-SUP/Ham's F-10, n=82; DGC-SUP/SWM, n=43; SUP/Ham's F-10, n=181; SUP/SWM, n=123). RESULTS: There were no significant differences among these four groups with respect to the mean age of the female partners, duration of infertility, number of previous IVF cycles, and retrieved oocytes. We determined that both the DGC-SUP and SUP methods for sperm preparation from whole semen, using either Ham's F-10 or SWM media, result in comparable clinical outcomes, including fertilization and pregnancy rates. CONCLUSION: We suggest that both media and both methods for sperm preparation can be used for selecting high-quality sperm for assistive reproductive technology programs.
Centrifugation, Density Gradient ; Embryonic Structures ; Female ; Fertilization ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Infertility ; Oocytes ; Pregnancy Rate ; Reproductive Techniques ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; Retrospective Studies ; Semen ; Spermatozoa

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with pseudophakic negative dysphotopsia after cataract surgery and to analyze the risk factors of pseudophakic negative dysphotopsia as well as the postoperative effects on patient's satisfaction. METHODS: This study included 1,020 eyes of 690 patients who underwent phacoemulsification and posterior chamber lens insertion between January 2010 and March 2012. Retrospective chart review was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of negative dysphotopsia according to the site of clear corneal incision during cataract surgery and the type of implanted intraocular lens (IOL). The clinical outcome of Neodymium:yttrium-aluminium-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser anterior capsulotomy in negative dysphotopsia patients was evaluated. Using a telephone survey, patients were asked to subjectively answer 18 questions regarding satisfaction after cataract surgery, the severity of visual symptoms and the effect of negative dysphotopsia in their daily life. RESULTS: Negative dysphotopsia developed in patients who underwent uneventful cataract surgery and successful implantation of IOL in the bag. The patients' vision was corrected up to 20/20 (0.00 log MAR) and HVF P60-4 showed no abnormality in their visual field. There were significantly more patients with the SN60WF IOL who reported negative dysphotopsia but no other factors associated with the prevalence of negative dysphotopsia. During the telephone survey, patients complained of difficulties in their daily life related to the negative dysphotopsia symptoms and reported decreased satisfaction after cataract surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Although negative dysphotopsia can decrease the patient's satisfaction after cataract surgery, the genesis of negative dysphotopsia and an objective method to test for negative dysphotopsia is necessary. Therefore, a prospective large study should be conducted to evaluate the cause and treatment of negative dysphotopsia.
Cataract ; Humans ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Phacoemulsification ; Prevalence ; Pseudophakia ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Telephone ; Visual Fields

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with pseudophakic negative dysphotopsia after cataract surgery and to analyze the risk factors of pseudophakic negative dysphotopsia as well as the postoperative effects on patient's satisfaction. METHODS: This study included 1,020 eyes of 690 patients who underwent phacoemulsification and posterior chamber lens insertion between January 2010 and March 2012. Retrospective chart review was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of negative dysphotopsia according to the site of clear corneal incision during cataract surgery and the type of implanted intraocular lens (IOL). The clinical outcome of Neodymium:yttrium-aluminium-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser anterior capsulotomy in negative dysphotopsia patients was evaluated. Using a telephone survey, patients were asked to subjectively answer 18 questions regarding satisfaction after cataract surgery, the severity of visual symptoms and the effect of negative dysphotopsia in their daily life. RESULTS: Negative dysphotopsia developed in patients who underwent uneventful cataract surgery and successful implantation of IOL in the bag. The patients' vision was corrected up to 20/20 (0.00 log MAR) and HVF P60-4 showed no abnormality in their visual field. There were significantly more patients with the SN60WF IOL who reported negative dysphotopsia but no other factors associated with the prevalence of negative dysphotopsia. During the telephone survey, patients complained of difficulties in their daily life related to the negative dysphotopsia symptoms and reported decreased satisfaction after cataract surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Although negative dysphotopsia can decrease the patient's satisfaction after cataract surgery, the genesis of negative dysphotopsia and an objective method to test for negative dysphotopsia is necessary. Therefore, a prospective large study should be conducted to evaluate the cause and treatment of negative dysphotopsia.
Cataract ; Humans ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Phacoemulsification ; Prevalence ; Pseudophakia ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Telephone ; Visual Fields

In 1940, Kasabach and Merritt first described the association of a large vascular tumor and thrombocytopenia and termed this Kasabach-Merritt syndrome. This is characterized by a rapidly enlarging hemangioma with thrombocytopenia and coagulopathy. We describe an infant with a large complex vascular lesion of the face that was diagnosed in utero and successfully treated interferon and pentoxyfylline. In a fetus at 36+0 weeks gestation, ultrasound demonstrated abnormality of the face and neck. she was delivered at 38+5 weeks gestation with a large facial hemangioma. She had severe thrombocytopenia in the first 24hr of life (platelets 22,000/microliter) and she was commenced on oral steroids(prednisolone 2 mg/kg/day). The hemangioma continued to grow and the baby required frequent platelet transfusions. When the infant was 17 days old, treatment with pentoxyfylline and subcutaneous alpha interferon(initially 60,000 units/m2/day) was started. From 1 month of age, the hemangioma gradually reduced in volume and the platelet count stared to rise. Recent, the hemangioma progressively diminished in size without any serious complication.
Fetus ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Infant ; Interferon-alpha ; Interferons ; Kasabach-Merritt Syndrome* ; Neck ; Platelet Count ; Platelet Transfusion ; Pregnancy ; Thrombocytopenia ; Ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal*

OBJECTIVE: Extensive neuronal death occurring in the Alzheimer's disease (AD) may be related with the apoptosis. Recent studies have suggested that regulatory failure of cell cycle appeared to be very early event of AD pathogenesis in neuronal cells as well as in peripheral lymphocytes. We compared the change of cyclin dependent kinases (Cdks), which is related with G1/S phase transition in the cell cycle, between AD patients and normal controls using peripheral lymphocytes. METHODS: We obtained Cdks from peripheral lymphocytes of 37 AD patients and 18 age-matched normal subjects. Cells in first culture were considered to be G-zero (G0) cells. We measured Cdk2, Cdk4, and Cdk6 at baseline (T0). Thereafter, we observed Cdks 24 hours later after using PHA (phytohemaglutinin) (N24). Meanwhile, we observed Cdks 24 hours later again with rapamycin treatment (T24). RESULTS: At baseline (T0), Cdk2 and Cdk6 were increased in AD patients compared to the control group (p< 0.001, p=0.038, respectively). Cdk2 was increased in AD patients more than control group after using PHA (T24, p=0.007). After rapamycin treatment for 24 hours (N24), Cdk2, Cdk4, and Cdk6 were increased in the patients compared to the controls (p=0.002, p=0.022, p=0.011, respectively). CONCLUSION: This results showed that the cell cycle regulating proteins in AD patients, which are related with G1/S phase transition, were increased in peripheral lymphocytes compared to those in normal controls. We provide the clue which demonstrate the cell cycle dysregulation in the patients with Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer Disease* ; Apoptosis ; Cell Cycle* ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinases ; Humans ; Lymphocytes* ; Neurons ; Phase Transition ; Sirolimus

PURPOSE: During the last few decades, very low birth weight (VLBW) infants had been treated with time-cycled pressure-limited ventilation. According to a recent study, however, lung damage is much more likely following volutrauma rather than barotrauma. Therefore, other researchers have started to study volume-guaranteed (VG) ventilation as a new method for infant respiratory distress syndrome. The aims of this study are to compare the effects and safety of VG ventilation with conventional intermittent mandatory ventilation (IMV) on mechanical ventilation in VLBW infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). METHODS: A prospective study was performed from Jan, 2005 to Jun, 2006 in Dong-A University Medical Center NICU on 28 VLBW infants who were diagnosed with respiratory distress syndrome. The infants were randomly assigned to IMV or VG ventilation. The IMV and VG groups consisted of sixteen and twelve patients, respectively. We compared arterial blood gas analysis (ABGA), fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2), peak inspiratory pressure (PIP), mean airway pressure (MAP) and ventilation index (VI) between the two groups during the four days after their birth. RESULTS: The mean gestational age of our infant patients was 27.8 (+/-2.2) weeks in the VG group and 27.7 (+/-2.3) weeks in the IMV group; the mean birth weight was 1103 (+/-239.1) g and 1061.2 (+/-322.4) g, respectively (P>0.05). Although the two groups had a similar FiO2 and VI, PIP and MAP were significantly lower in VG than IMV during the study pediod (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the complications between the two groups. CONCLUSION: In this study, PIP and MAP are significantly lower in VG group than IMV group. These findings suggest that the new VG ventilation could reduce lung damage in VLBW infants with RDS. To achieve more effective results, this study needs to continue a long term study with a greater number of subjects.
Academic Medical Centers ; Barotrauma ; Birth Weight ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant* ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight* ; Lung ; Oxygen ; Parturition ; Prospective Studies ; Respiration, Artificial ; Ventilation*

PURPOSE: T cells play a central role in cell-mediated immunity, atopic disease, and asthma. The balance of CD28/cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4)-derived signal transduction plays an important role in the activation of T cells and an increased immunoglobulin E (IgE) response. The aim of the current study was to investigate the association between polymorphisms in the genes encoding both CTLA4 and the high-affinity IgE receptor 1B (FCER1B) and serum IgE levels in Korean children with asthma. METHODS: We enrolled 238 controls and 742 children with asthma. The CTLA4 +49A/G and FCER1B -654C/T polymorphisms were genotyped by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. RESULTS: We observed no difference in the distribution of CTLA4 +49A/G among controls, children with asthma, and those with atopic asthma. In contrast, the GA genotype of CTLA4 +49A/G in children with atopic asthma was significantly higher compared to that in those with non-atopic asthma. Moreover, significantly higher log Dp/Df-specific IgE levels were found in children with asthma and those with atopic asthma carrying one or two copies of the CTLA4 +49A versus those homozygous for +49G. Gene-gene interactions between CTLA4 and FCER1B with the heterozygote and homozygote of variant genotypes were associated with the log Dp/Df-specific IgE levels, but not asthma development. In addition, children with Dp/Df (+) asthma carried an elevated combined genotype of risk allele compared to those with Dp/Df (-) asthma. CONCLUSIONS: The CTLA4 +49A/G polymorphism may contribute to the production of IgE in Korean children with asthma, especially in Dp/Df-specific IgE levels, but not in the direct development of asthma. In addition, Dp/Df-specific IgE levels with a FCER1B -654C/T polymorphism may involve additive effects.
Alleles ; Asthma ; Child ; Coat Protein Complex I ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ; Genotype ; Heterozygote ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulins ; Lifting ; Signal Transduction ; T-Lymphocytes

PURPOSE: T cells play a central role in cell-mediated immunity, atopic disease, and asthma. The balance of CD28/cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4)-derived signal transduction plays an important role in the activation of T cells and an increased immunoglobulin E (IgE) response. The aim of the current study was to investigate the association between polymorphisms in the genes encoding both CTLA4 and the high-affinity IgE receptor 1B (FCER1B) and serum IgE levels in Korean children with asthma. METHODS: We enrolled 238 controls and 742 children with asthma. The CTLA4 +49A/G and FCER1B -654C/T polymorphisms were genotyped by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. RESULTS: We observed no difference in the distribution of CTLA4 +49A/G among controls, children with asthma, and those with atopic asthma. In contrast, the GA genotype of CTLA4 +49A/G in children with atopic asthma was significantly higher compared to that in those with non-atopic asthma. Moreover, significantly higher log Dp/Df-specific IgE levels were found in children with asthma and those with atopic asthma carrying one or two copies of the CTLA4 +49A versus those homozygous for +49G. Gene-gene interactions between CTLA4 and FCER1B with the heterozygote and homozygote of variant genotypes were associated with the log Dp/Df-specific IgE levels, but not asthma development. In addition, children with Dp/Df (+) asthma carried an elevated combined genotype of risk allele compared to those with Dp/Df (-) asthma. CONCLUSIONS: The CTLA4 +49A/G polymorphism may contribute to the production of IgE in Korean children with asthma, especially in Dp/Df-specific IgE levels, but not in the direct development of asthma. In addition, Dp/Df-specific IgE levels with a FCER1B -654C/T polymorphism may involve additive effects.
Alleles ; Asthma ; Child ; Coat Protein Complex I ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ; Genotype ; Heterozygote ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulins ; Lifting ; Signal Transduction ; T-Lymphocytes