OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate attention, memory and executive function in patients with narcolepsy. METHODS: This study included 23 narcoleptic patients whose diagnosis were confirmed by the International Classification of Sleep Disorders(ICSD) at Chonnam National University Hospital Sleep Disorders Clinic or an other hospital in Korea, from 2005 to 2008, as well as 23 normal controls. All participants were given an IQ test for Korean-Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale and several neuropsychological function tests (the d2 test for attention function, the Rey Complex Figure Test for nonverbal memory, the Korean-California Verbal Learning Test [K-CVLT] for verbal memory, and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test for executive function). Clinical features of narcoleptic patients, including the frequency of excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, sleep paralysis and hypnagogic hallucination, were investigated by a structured clinical interview administered by a neuropsychiatist. Excessive daytime sleepiness was evaluated by the Epworth sleepiness scale. RESULTS: Characteristic symptoms of narcolepsy observed in this study included excessive daytime sleepiness (n=23, 100.0%), cataplexy (n=19, 82.6%), hypnagogic hallucination (n=5, 21.7%) and sleep paralysis (n=12, 52.2%). In nocturnal polysomnographic findings, stage 2 sleep and REM latency were found to be significantly decreased in narcoleptic patients compared with the control group, and were accompanied by significant increases in stage 1 sleep. Narcoleptic patients had lower scores than the control group on total number, Total Number-Total Error, Concentration Performance and Fluctuation Rate on the d2 test, which measures attention. Also, there were significant differences between the performance of patient and control groups on the B list of the K-CVLT, which measures verbal memory. CONCLUSION: Narcoleptic patients showed decreased attention and verbal memory performance compared to the control group; however, in many areas, narcoleptic patients still demonstrated normal cognitive function.
Adult ; Cataplexy ; Executive Function ; Hallucinations ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Korea ; Memory ; Narcolepsy ; Sleep Paralysis ; Sleep Wake Disorders ; Verbal Learning ; Wisconsin

BACKGROUND: Chronic pain is often associated with changes in the immune responses, which highlights the need for the aggressive pain control to obtain a better prognosis. This study examined splenic NK cell cytotoxicity in an attempt to assess the possible changes in the immune function under chronic neuropathic pain after a partial transsection of the sciatic nerve. METHODS: After confirming tactile allodynia in response to the von Frey filament, a modified lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay was used to determine the cytotoxic activity of splenic NK cells on the YAC-1 cell line in C3H/HeN (H-2k) mice (n = 6). NK cells as effector cells were mixed with YAC-1 cells as target cells (1 x 10(4)/100microliter), resulting in an effector-target ratio of 1 : 25, 1 : 50, 1 : 100 in the culture medium. RESULTS: At 1 and 2 weeks after the nerve injury, all the subjects showed significant mechanical sensitivity compared with those observed before surgery. The percentage of NK cell cytotoxicity of the neuropathic mice increased significantly 1 week after the nerve injury but decreased within 2 weeks compared with the normal mice. CONCLUSIONS: In terms of the altered NK cell cytotoxicity, neuropathic pain can cause changes in the normal performance of the immune function.
Animals ; Cell Line ; Chronic Pain ; Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic ; Hyperalgesia ; Immune System ; Killer Cells, Natural* ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Mice* ; Neuralgia ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries* ; Peripheral Nerves* ; Prognosis ; Sciatic Nerve

The ultimate goal of periodontal treatment is the regeneration of periodontal tissues which have been lost due to periodontal disease. Recently, many natural medicines have been studied for their potential of anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and regenerative effects in periodontal tissues. Safflower seeds have been traditionally used as a drug for treatment of fracture and blood stasis in oriental medicine. The objective of the present study is to examine the biologic effects of safflower seeds extract on bone formation and regeneration of rat calvarial defects. The calvarial defects were made with 8mm trephine bur and extract of safflower seeds were placed directly at these defects. 24 rats were divided into control and experimental groups, and each group was sacrificed at 1 week, 4 weeks and 8 weeks. To study a histopathology related to bone regeneration, Goldner's Masson Trichrome stain and histomorphologic measuring was done at each weeks. In the early phase of bone healing, less inflammatory infiltration and capillary proliferation was found in experimental group compared to control. Dense bony tissues and matured bone structures in defect areas were found in experimental groups. And area of new bone formation was significantly increased at 8 weeks in experimental group. These results indicate that direct local application of safflower seeds extract reduces the early inflammatory response and promotes the regeneration of new bone in calvarial defects of rats.
Animals ; Bone Regeneration* ; Capillaries ; Carthamus tinctorius* ; Medicine, East Asian Traditional ; Osteogenesis ; Periodontal Diseases ; Rats* ; Regeneration

Nephrolithiasis is one of the most common disease seen in the Emergency Department. Among the patients who visited in the Emergency Department with acute abdominal pain, many people were suspected urolithiasis. Because of limitation of diagnostic method on Emergency Department we planned this study in order to confirm the our accuracy of diagnosis and the possibility of misdiagnosis. During 5 months from April 1996 to August 1996, the 189 patients was suspected the urolithiasis. Among this patient, 51 cases was excluded due to incomplete study. After performing P/ex, U/A KUB in the Emergency Department, they were followed out patients department of Urology and performed Intravenous Pyelogram. The sensitivity and specificity for KUB were 84.5% and 94.0%, respectively. The positive predictive value was 93.8%, the negative predictive value was 93.8%. Diagnostic accuracy of urolithiasis in our Emergency Department is 89.1%. There was no relationship between urinary occult blood and KUB or IVP. There was no relationship between degree of occult blood and diagnosis of urolithiasis. For differential diagnosis of urolithisis, emergency ultrasound and IVP will be available. So combination of this diagnostic methods will improve accuracy and safety of diagnosis and treatment of urolithiasis.
Abdominal Pain ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diagnostic Errors ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Humans ; Nephrolithiasis ; Occult Blood ; Outpatients ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography ; Urolithiasis* ; Urology

BACKGROUND: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) nasal colonization has been known as a predictor of intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired MRSA infections. We performed this study to survey the nasal colonization of MRSA among the patients admitted to an ICU and analyze risk factors associated with the colonization. METHODS: A retrospective 1:1 matched case-control study was conducted with patients admitted to the ICU from March to December 2010 at Samsung Changwon Hospital. RESULTS: A total of 602 patients among 846 patients admitted to the ICU during the study period were evaluated. The prevalence of nasal MRSA colonization was 67 (11.1%) of 602. Other factors, including underlying renal disease (odds ratio [OR]=12.37, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.60-42.54; P<0.001), MRSA infection within the previous 3 months (OR=7.43, 95% CI 1.31-42.05; P=0.023), nursing home resident within the previous 1 month (OR=6.25, 95% CI 1.82-21.53; P=0.004), surgical procedure within the previous 1 month (OR=5.93, 95% CI 1.86-18.85; P=0.003), and current use of nasogastric tube (OR=4.98, 95% CI 1.84-13.45; P=0.002) were independently associated with nasal MRSA colonization in patients admitted to ICU. CONCLUSION: A significant number of patients admitted to the ICU in a secondary hospital were colonized with MRSA. The present study showed the possible impact of the presence of a nasogastric tube on the nasal colonization by MRSA. More effective infection control procedures must be developed for patients with nasogastric tube use.
Case-Control Studies ; Colon* ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Intensive Care Units* ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus* ; Nursing Homes ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND: Recently, the incidence of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection has been increasing in Korea, and an outbreak among healthcare workers (HCWs) has also been reported. This study aims to evaluate the seroepidemiology of hepatitis A among HCWs at an 820-bed teaching hospital in Korea, thereby facilitating HAV vaccination for these HCWs. METHODS: In June 2009, we assessed the total immunoglobulins against the HAV in the serum samples of 907 HCWs by using VIDAS Anti-HAV Total (bioMerieux, France). RESULTS: Seropositivity for HAV significantly increased with age (P<0.001): 0% for < or =25 years, 9.4% for 26-30 years, 39.5% for 31-35 years, 66.7% for 36-40 years, 85.7% for 41-45 years, 96.0% for 46-50 years, 98.3% for 51-55 years, 95.8% for 56-60 years, and 100% for > or =61 years. CONCLUSION: Since HCWs aged 20-40 years show low seropositivity for HAV vaccination against hepatitis A should be considered in all these HCWs.
Aged ; Delivery of Health Care ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis A ; Hepatitis A Antibodies ; Hepatitis A virus ; Hospitals, Teaching ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Incidence ; Korea ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Vaccination

To report a novel mutation within the CHST6 gene, as well as describe light and electron microscopic features of a case of macular corneal dystrophy. A 59-year old woman with macular corneal dystrophy in both eyes who had decreased visual acuity underwent penetrating keratoplasty. Further studies including light and electron microscopy, as well as DNA analysis were performed. Light microscopy of the cornea revealed glycosaminoglycan deposits in the keratocytes and endothelial cells, as well as extracellularly within the stroma. All samples stained positively with alcian blue, colloidal iron, and periodic acid-Schiff. Electron microscopy showed keratocytes distended by membrane-bound intracytoplasmic vacuoles containing electron-dense fibrillogranular material. These vacuoles were present in the endothelial cells and between stromal lamellae. Some of the vacuoles contained dense osmophilic whorls. A novel homozygous mutation (c.613 C>T [p.Arg205Trp]) was identified within the whole coding region of CHST6. A novel CHST6 mutation was detected in a Korean macular corneal dystrophy patient.
Corneal Dystrophies, Hereditary/diagnosis/*genetics/metabolism ; Corneal Keratocytes/ultrastructure ; DNA/*genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Microscopy, Electron ; Middle Aged ; *Mutation, Missense ; Pedigree ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Republic of Korea ; Sulfotransferases/*genetics/metabolism