In the previous review, the physical aspect of heavy particles, with a focus on the carbon beam was introduced. Particle beam therapy has many potential advantages for cancer treatment without increasing severe side effects in normal tissue, these kinds of radiation have different biologic characteristics and have advantages over using conventional photon beam radiation during treatment. The relative biological effectiveness (RBE) is used for many biological, clinical endpoints among different radiation types and is the only convenient way to transfer the clinical experience in radiotherapy with photons to another type of radiation therapy. However, the RBE varies dependent on the energy of the beam, the fractionation, cell types, oxygenation status, and the biological endpoint studied. Thus this review describes the concerns about RBE related to particle beam to increase interests of the Korean radiation oncologists' society.
Carbon ; Cell Fractionation ; Oxygen ; Photons ; Population Characteristics ; Protons ; Relative Biological Effectiveness

BACKGROUND: According to the 1992 version of ACLS guideline, adenosine is recommended as the first line drug far the treatment of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia(PSYT). But adenosine is not used frequently in our country, despite currency proven effect and safety. Therefore we tried to compare the efficacy and safety of adenosine with verapamil for the treatment far PSVT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively reviewed charles of PSVT patients admitted to YongDong Severance Hospital from Jan. 1995 to Dec. 1996. These patients were randomly divided into two groups. The flat group was given 6mg of adenosine initially, and another 12mg was given within 5 minutes if fast dose failed. The other group was given 5mg of verapamil initially, and if failed, 10mg was given within 10 minutes. The results were analyzed by Chi-square test and student-t method. RESULTS: In converting PSVT to normal rhythm, adenosine and verapamil showed similar results and there was no difference between the two Groups in frequency of side elects, but serious arrhythmia such as ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia was not seen in the adenosine group. CONCLUSION: Adenosine not only showed comparable effect and safety, but also had shorter action time than verapamil. Therefore we recommand adenosine, as a safe and effective fort line drug for PSVT.
Adenosine* ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular* ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; Ventricular Fibrillation ; Verapamil*

No abstract available.
Arm* ; Blood Component Transfusion* ; Hospitals, General*

OBJECTIVE: There are four possible explanations for the sexual dysfunction of schizophrenics. The first is the possibility or a real structural aspect. The second possibility is that sexual function changes secondary to the illness. The third possibility is that there are medical and sociocultural barriers to sexual expression for chronic schizophrenics. The fourth possibility is that sexual dysfunction due to antipsychotic medication. However, we didn't know the precise cause of sexual dysfunction in schizophrenics. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the mechanism of illness itself and antipsychotics on sexual dysfunction in male schizophrenics. METHODS: The serum prolactin(PRL), testosterone(TST), and the plasma serotonin(5-HT) concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay and high performance liquid chromatography method for 100 healthy male schizophrenics according to the DSM-IV. Concomitantly, the severity of psychotic symptoms using Clinical Global Impression(CGI), Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale(BPRS), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS), and the severity of side effects for antipsychotics using Extrapyramidal Side Effects Scale(EPSE), Anticholinergic Side Effects Scale(ACSE), the cognitive function using PANSS-Cognitive Function(PANSS-CF), Mini Mental State Exam-Korean(MMSE-K), and sexual dysfunction using Sexual Functioning Questionnaire(SFQ), Questionnaire for Sexual Dysfunction in Men were assessed. The PRL, TST and 5-HT levels of 50 healthy male controls who had no medical, neurological, and psychiatric illnesses were evaluated The sexual function using SFQ(items FGa, FNa) were also assessed. Furthermore, the correlation with age, education, religion economic status, age at onset, duration of illnesses, duration of admission. levels of PRL, TST, 5-HT, antipsychotic dosages, potency, benztropine total duration of medication, EPSE, ACSE, CGI BPRS, PANSS, PANSS-CF MMSE-K and sexual dysfunctions were identified in male schizophrenics. RESULTS: 1) The frequencies of sexual dysfunctions for schizophrenics(80%) were significantly(p<0.001) higher than those for controls(42%). The sexual dysfunctions according to sexual response cycle were low sexual desire '76% 'impairment of achieving erection '75%, 'impairment of maintaining erection'75%, 'impairment of obtaining orgasm'32%, 'impairment in the quality of orgasm'61%, 'impairment of quantity of ejaculate'44%, premature ejaculation'15%, and 'delayed ejaculation'50%. 2) The PRL, 5-HT levels of schizophrenics(28.5+/-20.6ng/ml, 298.5+/-89.1ng/ml) were significantly(p<0.001) higher than those of controls(10+/-5.6ng/ml, 169.2+/-37.8ng/ml), while the TST levels of schizophrenics(4.3+/-1.5ng/ml) and controls(4.5+/-1.2ng/ml) were not significantly different. The sexual dysfunctions of schizophrenics who had abnormal 5-HT levels(4.7+/-1.3 scores) were significantly(p<0.05) higher than those of who had normal 5-HT levels(3.8+/-1.6 scores) on item D7. 3) The sexual dysfunctions of unmarried schizophrenics were significantly(p<0.01 : p<0.05) higher than those of married schizophrenics(6.1+/-2.8 scores, 4.7+/-1.3 scores on item FGa : beta=-0.211 on item FNa). The sexual dysfunctions we positively correlated with the rise of 5-HT levels (r=0.209, p<0.05 on item D4 and r=0.241, p<0.05 on item D7), the higher age at onset(r=0.275, p<0.01 on item FNa : r=-0.202, p<0.05 on item FDa), the longer duration of illesses(r=0.237, p<0.05 on item D6), the longer duration of admission(r=0.234, p<0.05 on item D4 : r=0.328, p<0.05 on item D6), the longer total duration of medication(r=0.237, p<0.05 in item D6). However, age, education, religion, economic status, PRL, TST levels, antipsychotics dosage, potency, benztropine, ACSE, CGI, BPRS, PANSS, PANSS-CF, MMSE-K scores were not correlated with increased sexual dysfunctions. CONCLUSIONS: Male schizophrenics have significantly more sexual dysfunction to compare with controls. The high frequencies of sexual dysfunctions were low sexual desire and erectile disorder. The unmarried, higher age at onset, are longer duration of diseases were positively correlated with increased sexual dysfunctions. Also high 5-HT levels were positively correlated with increased sexual dysfunctions. This means that studies of plasma 5-HT levels, albeit questionable indicators of central 5-HT function, offer some additional support for the association of sexual dysfunction with excess 5-HT activity as primary pathology of schizophrenia. Our findings suggest that excess 5-HT activity seems to affect the patient's sexual function.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Benztropine ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Education ; Humans ; Male* ; Pathology ; Plasma ; Prolactin ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Radioimmunoassay ; Schizophrenia ; Serotonin ; Single Person ; Testosterone

OBJECTIVES: The alcohol dependence in elderly people has been prevalent because of increase in geriatric population. However, it is difficult to find out alcohol dependence in the aged, because they have less specific clinical features as compared with adult alcoholics. The aims of this study were to screen alcohol dependence among elderly Koreans and to know the clinical characteristics of Korean delerly alcoholics. METHODS: The questionnaires translated into Korean such as Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test(MAST-K), the Brief MAST and the MAST-Geriatirc Version(MAST-KG) were used to screen alcohol dependence in the elderly alcoholic inpatients aged over 60(N=43), adult alcoholic inpatients within 20-59 Yrs of age(N=60), which were compared with age matched normal healthy aged(N=18) or adult controls(N=45). The demographic data such as sex, age, education, occupation, socioeconomic status, marital status, numbers of children, dwelling and religion as well as alcohol history such as duration of alcohol drinking, onset age, family history, impulsivity, somatic illness and motivation were also obtained to identify characteristic features of Korean aged alcoholics by structured interviews. RESULTS: 1) The aged alcoholics had the charateristic features of more in males, lower age, low education levels, more in blue-collar workers, lower socioeconomic class, more in single few babies, more living alone, having no religion without statistical significance. 2) The onset age of alcohol dependence was significantly higher in the aged alcoholics(45.3+/-13.6Yrs) than in the adult alcoholics(27.7+/-8.7Yrs)(p<0.0001). The duration of problematic alcohol drinking was significantly longer in the aged alcoholics(22.0+/-15.1Yrs) than in adult alcoholics(14.2+/-8.4Yrs)(p<0.01). Otherwise, there were no significant difference between aged and adult alcoholics in the family history, imulsivity, somatic illness and motivation. 3) The mean score of the MAST-K was significantly higher in the aged alcoholics(20.6 +/-5.4) than in the normal aged(6.7+/-4.4)(p<0.0001), which was significantly lower than in the adult alcoholics(26.2+/-8.0)and in normal adult controls(9.5+/-3.2)(p<0.05). The mean score of the Brief MAST was significantly lower in the aged alcoholics(9.3+/-3.5) than in the adult alcoholics(14.5+/-6.6)(p<0.0001). The mean score of the MAST-KG was significantly higher in the aged alcoholics(10.6+/-3.5) than in the normal aged(4.8+/-4.3)(9<0.0001). The former was significantly lower than in adult alcoholics(12.9+/-4.3)(p<0.005), and the mean score was 4.5+/-2.8 in normal adult controls. 4) The items which showed statistically significant differences between aged alcoholics and normal aged controls could be found in 10 items of the MAST-K(item 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 14, 17, 21, 22 and 23). 2 items of the Brief MAST(items 2 and 9), and 7 items of the MAST-KG(items 6, 13, 18, 19, 22, 23 and 24)(p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The scores of the MAST-K, the Brief MAST and the MAST-KG were significantly lower in the aged alcoholics than those in the adult alcoholics(p<0.05). The statistically significant differences between aged alcoholics and normal aged controls could be found in 10 items of the MAST-K, 2 items of the Brief MAST and 7 items of the MAST-KG. Therefore, a briefer rating scales around 10 items are needed to screen alcohol dependence among Korean elderly people.
Adult ; Age of Onset ; Aged ; Alcohol Drinking ; Alcoholics ; Alcoholism* ; Child ; Education ; Humans ; Impulsive Behavior ; Inpatients ; Korea* ; Male ; Marital Status ; Mass Screening* ; Michigan* ; Motivation ; Occupations ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Social Class ; Weights and Measures

The potential for sebaceous nevi to evolve into secondary benign or malignant EuIror is well recognized. In general, malignant transformation does not occur until postpubertal life. We experienced a case of basal cell epithelioma arising in a nevus sebaceous on a 12-year-old boy´s parietal scalp. We recommended that surgical excision should be undertaken as early as possible to detect the malignant transformation of nevus sebaceous.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell* ; Child ; Humans ; Nevus* ; Rabeprazole ; Scalp

The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey is a nationwide health survey in Korea. This survey is composed of three parts: the Health Interview Survey, the Health Examination Survey, and the Nutrition Survey. The aim of this study was to refine the nutrition survey system in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Based on the literature review, we summarized international survey systems and the limitations of the current system in Korea and proposed an improved system. We suggested the following: 1) A government agency which will be exclusively responsible for KNHANES overall is needed. 2) The current short-term nutrition survey should be a year-round survey. 3) The objectives of this survey should be written with more clarity and detail. 4) Biochemical measures in relation to nutritional status should be added. 5) The budget to set up various databases in the nutrition survey should be increased. 6) Various other issues should be addressed, including the definition of raw data (i.e., whether nutrient intake data per day is raw data), ethical issues in survey techniques, and strategies to produce evidence for the public using this survey data. Not all suggestions could be adopted in the short-term, but should be integrated into long-term goals for survey system improvement.
Budgets ; Ethics ; Government Agencies ; Health Surveys ; Korea ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Nutritional Status

Esthetics ; Humans ; Mandibular Condyle ; Mandibular Reconstruction ; Mouth ; Temporomandibular Joint ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic* ; Incidence*

The present study was performed to compare maternal and perinatal outcomes in triplet and twin pregnancies with the result of ART(Assisted Reproductive Technology). Each pregnancy of 18 triplet pregnancies with 18 weeks or more was matched for maternal age, EDC(estimated date of confinement), parity, history of preterm delivery, indication of ART with two sets of twin pregnancies. Triplet pregnancies had a significantly shorter gestational age at delivery than twin pregnancies(30.4 versus 34.6 weeks), and a significantly lower mean birth weight(1,514 versus 2,286g). The mean hospital stay was significantly longer in triplets(22.3 versus 10.1 days). The incidences of 5 min Apgar score less than 7, neonatal deaths were significantly more often in triplets than twins; 18(33.3%) vs 6(8.3%), 15(27.8%) vs 7(9.72%), respectively. There were significant differences in the incidence of neonatal complications such as respiratory distress syndrome; 14(25.9%) vs 7(9.72%), ventilatory support; 18(33.3%) vs 5(6.9%), neonatal seizure; 9(16.7%) vs 0, btween the two groups. However, there were no significant differences between the groups in maternal complications or neonatal morbidity such as congenital malformations or hyperbilirubinemia, intraventricular hemorrhage, or bronchopulmonary dysplasia. We suggest that counseling patient regarding the anticipated perinatal outcomes of triplet pregnancies with the result of ART should be conducted with our data.
Apgar Score ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; Counseling ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hyperbilirubinemia ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Length of Stay ; Maternal Age ; Parity ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Triplet ; Pregnancy, Twin* ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted* ; Seizures ; Triplets*