OBJECTIVES: Sleep disorders cause changes of autonomic nervous system (ANS) which affect cardiovascular system. Primary insomnia (PI) makes acceleration of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) tone by sleep deficiency and arousal. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) sets off SNS by frequent arousals and hypoxemias during sleep. We aimed to compare the changes of heart rate variability (HRV) indices induced by insomnia or sleep apnea to analyze for ANS how much to be affected by PI or OSAS. METHODS: Total 315 subjects carried out nocturnal polysomnography (NPSG) were categorized into 4 groups - PI, mild, moderate and severe OSAS. Severity of OSAS was determined by apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). Then we selected 110 subjects considering age, sex and valance of each group's size [Group 1 : PI (mean age=41.50+/-13.16 yrs, AHI <5, n=20), Group 2 : mild OSAS (mean age=43.67+/-12.11 yrs, AHI 5-15, n=30), Group 3 : moderate OSAS (mean age 44.93+/-12.38 yrs, AHI 16-30, n=30), Group 4 : severe OSAS (mean age=45.87+/-12.44 yrs, AHI >30, n=30)]. Comparison of HRV indices among the four groups was performed with ANCOVA (adjusted for age and body mass index) and Sidak post-hoc test. RESULTS: We found statistically significant differences in HRV indices between severe OSAS group and the other groups (PI, mild OSAS and moderate OSAS). And there were no significant differences in HRV indices among PI, mild and moderate OSAS group. In HRV indices of PI and severe OSAS group showing the most prominent difference in the group comparisons, average RR interval were 991.1+/-27.1 and 875.8+/-22.0 ms (p=0.016), standard deviation of NN interval (SDNN) was 85.4+/-6.6 and 112.8+/-5.4 ms (p=0.022), SDNN index was 57.5+/-5.2 and 87.6+/-4.2 (p<0.001), total power was 11,893.5+/-1,359.9 and 18,097.0+/-1,107.2 ms2 (p=0.008), very low frequency (VLF) was 7,534.8+/-1,120.1 and 11,883.8+/-912.0 ms2 (p=0.035), low frequency (LF) was 2,724.2+/-327.8 and 4,351.6+/-266.9 ms2 (p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: VLF and LF which were correlated with SNS tone showed more increased differences between severe OSAS group and PI group than other group comparisons. We could suggest that severe OSAS group was more influential to increased SNS activity than PI group.
Acceleration ; Anoxia ; Arousal ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Cardiovascular System ; Heart ; Heart Rate ; Polysomnography ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; Sleep Wake Disorders ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Sympathetic Nervous System

No abstract available.
Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections* ; Teicoplanin*

In the recently published paper, there was a typo in the affiliation of the author. The word Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea was incorrectly spelled as Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. We hereby publish the correct affiliation as follows: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

In the recently published paper, there was a typo in the affiliation of the author. The word Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea was incorrectly spelled as Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. We hereby publish the correct affiliation as follows: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

BACKGROUND: Since dysthymia begins in late childhood or adolescence and has a chronic course, long-term pharmacotherapy may be required. New generation antidepressant, moclobemide, with more acceptable side effect profiles, is effective in the treatment of dysthymia. The main objective of this study was to determine whether they exhibit comparable efficacy and tolerability in dysthymia to amitriptyline. METHOD AND MATERIALS: The efficacy and tolerability of the moclobemide and amitriptyline, were compared in a eight-week single-centre double-blind study in patients(n=37) with dysthymia using he HAMD-17, the Clinical Global Impression Scale(CGI), the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale(MADRS), Efficacy Index-Therapeutic Index(EITE), 4-point Index Side Effect Scale(4-PISES), and Efficacy Index-Side Effect Scale(EISE). RESULTS: A total of 37 patients entered the study, 19 were randomly assigned to the moclobemide group and 18 to be amitriptyline group. Demographic and illness characteristics were similar in both groups. There were no significant difference between two groups at the total 17-HDRS score, the HAMD-17% improvement, the total MADRS score, CGI response, and the EITE. In the comparison of EISE between two groups, the scores of the moclobemide group were relatively lower than the amitriptylinen group in full treatment. And the differences were significant(moclobemide group 1.39+/-0.61 ; amitriptyline group 2.00+/-0.85, p<.001). At the 4-PISE. There was no serious or treatment threatening side effects. And there was no specific difference in side effects between two groups. The moclobemide group reported higher EIR scores than the amitriptyline group at every follow up day, but the differences were not significant. And there was no significant differences in the scores of five HRQOL subcategories which is compared between two groups at every follow up days. CONCLUSIONS: In terms of 17-HDRS and MADRS, moclobemide and amitriptyline are equally effective at least in allevating dysthymic symptoms. But moclobemide tended to be less troubling and better tolerated than amitriptyline. Therefore, moclobemide treatment can be used as a safe, and higher satisfactory treatment strategy for the dysthymia.
Adolescent ; Amitriptyline* ; Depression ; Double-Blind Method ; Drug Therapy ; Dysthymic Disorder* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Moclobemide*

This article provides an update on tinnitus for audiologists and other clinicians who provide tinnitus-specific services. Tinnitus can be attributable to hearing loss, somatosensory system dysfunction, or auditory cortex dysfunction, with hearing loss being the most common cause and serious underlying pathologies being rare. Hearing loss does not always lead to tinnitus, and patients with tinnitus do not always suffer from hearing loss. The first scenario is explained by a so-called inhibitory gating mechanism, whereas the second assumes that all tinnitus sufferers have some degree of hearing impairment, which might not be detected in standard audiological examinations. The treatments should aim at symptomatic relief and management of associated distress. Current treatment options include pharmacotherapy, education, counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, and sound therapy.

No abstract available.
Urinary Tract*

PURPOSE: To compare the effects of the lateral tarsal strip procedure alone and the lateral tarsal strip procedure combined with silicone tube intubation in the treatment of functional lacrimal duct obstruction. METHODS: The present study investigated 27 eyes of 20 patients underwent lateral tarsal strip procedure (LTS) alone and 29 eyes of 18 patients underwent combined lateral tarsal strip procedure and silicone tube intubation and who were diagnosed with functional lacrimal duct obstruction. The authors retrospectively reviewed patients' medical records for information including age, gender, history, follow-up period, tear meniscus height (TMH), and symptoms. RESULTS: The average age of the LTS alone group was 60.3 years, and that of the combined groups was 65.9 years. The TMHs in the LTS only and combined operation groups were 0.62 +/- 0.23 mm and 0.62 +/- 0.19 mm before the operation and 0.43 +/- 0.20 mm and 0.26 +/- 0.09 mm after the operation, respectively. The postoperative improvement in epiphora was 74.1% after the LTS alone and 86.2% after combined LTS with silicone tube intubation. The postoperative improvement in epiphora and the operative technique of the lateral tarsal strip-canthus sparing or cantholysis were not relevant. CONCLUSIONS: Lateral tarsal strip combined with silicone tube intubation appeared useful in the treatment of epiphora patients without anatomic lacrimal duct obstruction. Determining which operative technique of lateral tarsal strip procedure should be chosen is difficult, and the preoperative syringing and snap back test may be helpful.
Eye ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intubation ; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases ; Lacrimal Duct Obstruction ; Medical Records ; Nasolacrimal Duct ; Retrospective Studies ; Silicones

To examine the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on central nociceptive modulation, expressional changes of spinal neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) were investigated in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-injected rats. Inflammation was induced by an intraplantar injection of CFA into the hindpaw of male Sprague-Dawley rats. Bilateral EA stimulation at 2 Hz, 15 Hz and 120 Hz was applied at those acupoints corresponding to Zusanli and Sanyinjiao in man with 3-day intervals for 30 days. At 30 days after CFA-injection, effects of EA on nNOS expression were observed in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord using immunohistochemical methods. The mean integrated optical density of nNOS immunoreaction was significantly increased in the dorsal horn throughout L1 to L5 lumbar segments in CFA-injected rats. The nNOS expression was attenuated in all regions of the dorsal horn by all types of EA. Especially, these reaction was markedly decreased in the superficial laminae and nucleus proprius of L1 and L3 lumbar segments by three types of EA, but a marked decrease in the neck of the dorsal horn was observed only in 2 Hz stimulation. The marked decrease of nNOS also showed in nucleus proprius and the neck of L5 lumbar segments in 2 Hz and 15 Hz EA stimulated rats. It is concluded that EA treatment can attenuate chronic inflammatory process in CFA-injected rats through modulating expression of nNOS in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord.
Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Electroacupuncture* ; Freund's Adjuvant ; Horns ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Male ; Models, Animal* ; Neck ; Neurons* ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical features and surgical outcomes for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RDs) in patients with pseudophakia after phacoemulsification. METHODS: The medical records of patients with pseudophakia after phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation who had undergone surgery for primary rhegmatogenous RDs with a minimum duration of follow-up of 12 months were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: A total of 104 patients were enrolled in this study and 106 eyes were analyzed. Post-operative retinal attachment was achieved in 87 of the eyes (82.1%) and the final visual acuities (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution) were improved to 0.65 +/- 0.49 from the baseline measurement of 1.51 +/- 1.14 (p < 0.001). Re-operations were performed in 24 of the eyes (22.6%) and there were no visible retinal breaks in 30 of the eyes (28.3%). The failure to identify a retinal break during surgery was associated with a lower rate of retinal reattachment, worse final visual acuity, and a higher rate of re-operation (p = 0.002, p = 0.02, and p = 0.002, respectively). The location of the identified retinal break was more common in the superotemporal quadrant than in the other quadrants. CONCLUSIONS: The inability to identify a retinal break during surgery was associated with a poor final outcome. Other factors were less important for the functional and anatomic success in patients with pseudophakic RDs.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cataract/*etiology/physiopathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; *Lens Implantation, Intraocular ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Phacoemulsification ; Retinal Detachment/physiopathology/*surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult