BACKGROUND : DHEAS, the major circulating adrenal hormone, has been suggested to have a role in many aging related diseases and perhaps in aging itself. But, there is no epidemiologic data of DHEAS in normal adults in Korea. We studied age changes and sex differences in serum DHEAS & its related factors throughout adulthood. METHODS : We administ structured questionnaires to the study subjects. We measured serum DHEAS levels and several biochemical markers (total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, glucose etc) in 1.710 healthy men(857) and women (853), aged 17-76 years. We also measured their height, weight, waist & hip circumference and body fat contents with bioimpedance method. We analyzed various variables relating to serum DHEAS levels by using SPSS. Reference data of serum DHEAS level in normal adults were also suggested. RESULTS : The DHEAS concentration peaked at age group blow age of 30 years in man(260.9 microgram/dL). Then mean values declined steadily in both sexes (r=-0.38, p<0.001 in men and r=-0.46, p<0.001 in women). At age group above 70 years, only 30.9% in men & 30.4% in women, when compared with age group below 30 years, was remained. DHEAS concentration were significantly higher in men than women at all age group except age group above 70 years. Average 1.5 times higher concentration in men than in women (at least 1.28 times at age<30 and max 2.00 times at age 60-64). In men, DHEAS had higher mean value in smokers (218.1 vs 199.1 microgram/dL, p<0.05), drinkers (>or=2 times/week, 219.1 vs 185.3 microgram/dL, p<0.01), android type fat distribution group (waist/hip>0.85, 227.1 vs 197.4 microgram/dL) after adjusting age. DHEAS was positively correlated with body mass index (r=0.12, p<0.01). But in women, drinkers (154.3 vs 131.7 microgram/dL, p<0.05) and regular exercise group (146.1 vs 131.6 microgram/dL, p=0.05) had higher mean DHEAS value. There were no significant association between DHEAS and lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol) & fasting glucose level in both sex. CONCLUSION : Our data suggest that DHEAS levels may influenced by several sociodemographic factors (e.g. smoking, alcohol, exercise etc) and body mass index. DHEAS level was inversely correlated by age in both sex and men had 1.5 times higher DHEAS values than women. We could not find any association between DHEAS level and lipid profile & fasting blood sugar.
Adipose Tissue ; Adult ; Aging ; Biomarkers ; Blood Glucose ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol ; Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate* ; Dehydroepiandrosterone* ; Fasting ; Female ; Glucose ; Hip ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sex Characteristics* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Triglycerides ; Waist-Hip Ratio

The clinical significance of myocardial bridges (MBs) is variable, and most patients are asymptomatic. However, angina, myocardial infarction and sudden death, associated with MBs, have been reported. Intracoronary stents offer a novel, and potentially definitive, treatment for myocardial ischemia associated with clinically significant MBs. We describe the use of intracoronary stenting for primary angioplasty in a patient with an anterior myocardial infarction associated with MBs.
Angioplasty ; Death, Sudden ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Stents*

OBJECTICES AND METHODS: The purpose of this study was to examine availabilities of stop-signal task as a screening test for ADHD and as a research tool. Stop-signal task was applied to 40 ADHD patients and 18 normal children. Followings are the results of this study. RESULTS: There were significant differences between ADHD group and control group in ZRFT, mean delay x block and primary-RT of stop-signal task performance(p<0.05). There was no significant difference in results of continuous performance test. SSRT of stop-signal task had significant correlation with hit reaction time of continuous performance test, and primary-RT and primary-SD with attentiveness and hit reaction time of continuous performance test. There was no significant correlation between scores of ADDES-HV and stop-signal task performance. In change of primary-SD according to intelligence, primary-SD decreased as intelligence increased but made plateau after IQ 110, and in change of SSRT according to age, SSRT decreased as intelligence increased but made plateau after 10 year-old. In discriminant ability, mean delay x block and primary-RT showed highest discriminant ability (each 75%). In addition P-inhibit showed 63.89%, SSRT showed 58%, ZRFT showed 67%, and primary-SD showed 58% in discriminant ability. There was no significant difference in stop-signal task performance between ADHD with hyperactivity and ADHD without hyperactivity. CONCLUSION: In this point of view, stop-signal task was proved to be a useful research tool for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder as well as useful screening test tool.
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity* ; Child* ; Executive Function ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Mass Screening ; Reaction Time ; Task Performance and Analysis

PURPOSE: It has been reported that varicocele is found less frequently in obese men. Accordingly, we evaluated varicocele patients and statistically analyzed the correlation between varicocele and somatometric parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 211 patients underwent surgery for varicoceles. All patients underwent history taking, physical examination, and scrotal ultrasound to determine the presence and severity of varicocele. An age-matched control group consisted of 102 patients who were found not to have varicocele according to physical examinations and scrotal ultrasound. The age, weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) of the two groups were compared. The statistical analyses were performed by use of PASW Statistics ver. 18.0. A p-value of less than 0.05 was used for statistical significance. RESULTS: In the varicocele group, the mean age, height, weight, and BMI were 29.42+/-14.01 years, 168.53+/-9.97 cm, 62.14+/-13.17 kg, and 21.66+/-3.21 kg/m2, respectively. The distribution of varicocele grade was as follows: 103 (48.8%) grade III, 72 (34.1%) grade II, and 36 (17.1%) grade I. In the control group, the mean age, height, weight, and BMI were 30.83+/-17.31 years, 161.93+/-19.83 cm, 64.69+/-17.86 kg, and 24.04+/-3.64 kg/m2, respectively. Analyzing these data specifically in adolescents, they showed significant differences in age, height, and BMI (p=0.000, p=0.000, and p=0.004, respectively) between two groups. There were no significant differences in somatometric parameters between patients with different grades of varicocele. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that patients with varicoceles were significantly taller and had a lower BMI than did patients without varicoceles, especially among adolescents. Carefully designed future studies may be needed.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Anthropometry/methods ; Body Height/physiology ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight/physiology ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Scrotum/ultrasonography ; Varicocele/*etiology/physiopathology/ultrasonography ; Young Adult

The present study was aimed to evaluate the influence of glutaraldehyde (GA) concentration on multiple electron microscopic (EM) immunostaining using pre-embedding peroxidase and post-embedding immunogold method. Influence of various concentrations of GA included in the fixative on immuoreactivity was assessed in the multiple immunostaining using antisera against anti-transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) for peroxidase staining and anti-GABA for immunogold labeling in the rat trigeminal caudal nucleus. Anti-TRPV1 antiserum had specificity in pre-embedding peroxidase staining when tissues were fixed with fixative containing paraformaldehyde (PFA) alone. Immunoreactivity for TRPV1 was specific in tissues fixed with fixative containing 0.5% GA at both perfusion and postfixation steps, though the immunoreactivity was weaker than in tissues fixed with fixative containing PFA alone. Tissues fixed with fixative containing 0.5% GA at the perfusion and postfixation steps showed specific immunogold staining for GABA. The results of the present study indicate that GA concentration is critical for immunoreactivity to antigens such as TRPV1 and GABA. This study also suggests that the appropriate GA concentration is 0.5% for multiple immunostaining with peroxidase labeling for TRPV1 and immunogold labeling for GABA.
Animals ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; Glutaral* ; Immune Sera ; Microscopy, Electron ; Perfusion ; Peroxidase ; Rats ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Trigeminal Caudal Nucleus

Osteogenesis imperfecta is a relatively rare genetic condition of breakable bones with an incidence of 1 per 20,000~60,000. The clinical, genetic, and biochemical heterogeneity in osteogenesis imperfecta allows to least four subtypes to be distinguished. Prenatal diagnosis of osteogenesis imperfecta type II have been reported several times with ultrasonography. We recently experienced a case of osteogenesis imperfecta diagnosed in uterus by ultrasonogram and confirmed after termination and autopsy. We report here with a brief review of the literature.
Autopsy ; Incidence ; Osteogenesis Imperfecta* ; Osteogenesis* ; Population Characteristics ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Ultrasonography* ; Uterus*

BACKGROUND: The contingent negative variation (CNV) reflects neuronal activities related to sensorimotor integration and motor planning or execution and is probably originated from the frontal-subcortical circuit. The aim of this study is to investigate the neurophysiologic changes in uremia and the effect of hemodialysis to them by utilizing the CNV test. METHODS: Fifteen right-handed healthy subjects and 12 patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) were studied. CNV was recorded from Fz, Cz, and Pz referenced to linked ear lobes by using an S1 (click)-S2 (flashes)-key press paradigm. The amplitude of initial CNV (iCNV) was calculated as the average amplitude of 550~750 msec after S1. The amplitude of late CNV (lCNV) was calculated as the average amplitude between 200 msec before S1 and S2. The test was repeated for the patients group at the time of pre- and post-hemodialysis. Neuropsychological measurements, the trail making test (TMT) and mini-mental state score (MMSE), were conducted at the time of each test. RESULTS: Both the mean amplitudes of iCNV and lCNV at the vertex (Cz) were significantly lower in the patient group than those in the control group (p<0.05). The MMSE score and TMT were also significantly different between the patient and control group (p<0.05). There was no significant correlation between the values of neuropsychological tests and the parameters of CNV. Both iCNV and lCNV were not significantly different between the pre- and post-dialysis test. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that CNV negativity in uremia reflects dysfunctions in the frontal-subcortical circuit. In addition, hemodialysis seems to have no significant effect on it in patients with ESRD.
Contingent Negative Variation* ; Ear ; Evoked Potentials ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Neurons ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Renal Dialysis ; Trail Making Test ; Uremia

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess effectiveness and outcomes of endovascular versus microsurgical treatment for intracranial aneurysms in single hospital. METHODS: This was a retrospective study, using data collected during 4 year (between 2008 and 2011) from single hospital(Kosin University Gospel Hospital). A total of 274 treated, intracranial aneurysm cases were evaluated. The measurements used were effectiveness as measured by hospital discharge outcomes: 1) mortality (in-hospital death), 2) clinical outcomes(modified Ranking Scale: mRS). RESULTS: Among total of 274 cases, unruptured intracranial aneurysm cases were 132 cases and ruptured cases were 142 cases. Among unruptured 132 cases, 65 cases were treated by microsurgical treatment and 67 cases were treated by endovascular treatment. Among ruptured 142 cases, 61 cases were treated by microsurgical treatment and 81 cases were treated by endovascular treatment. In unruptured cases, there was not any fatal complication and same adverse outcomes (3% versus 3%). In ruptured case, in regards of treatment modality (i.e., endovascular versus microsurgical treatment), each clinical outcomes were as followings; good clinical outcome was 53.1% (43/81) versus 41.0% (25/61), moderate clinical outcome was 13.6% (1/81) versus 9.8% (6/61), severe clinical outcome was 18.5% (15/81) versus 22.9% (29/142) and fatal outcome was 14.8 (12/81) versus 26.2% (16/61). CONCLUSIONS: This analysis of single hospital data indicates that endovascular therapy is associated with significantly less morbidity, less mortality, compared with conventional microsurgical treatment for all intracranial aneurysms. Endovascular therapy, as a treatment alternative to microsurgical clipping, should be offered as a viable therapeutic option for all patients considering treatment of an intracranial aneurysm.
Fatal Outcome ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to establish the incidence, predictive factors, characteristics, and clinical outcomes of acute symptomatic seizures (ASS) after acute ischemic stroke (AIS). METHODS: In total, 2,528 consecutive patients with first-ever AIS were included. Patients with a history of epilepsy or provoked seizures due to tumor, head trauma, brain surgery, or high fever were excluded. Onset seizure (OS) and ASS were defined as seizures occurring within 24 hours and 7 days after AIS, respectively. The incidence of ASS, type of seizures, presence of late unprovoked seizure (LUS), MRI, and electroencephalogram were analyzed. RESULTS: ASS and OS occurred in 23 patients (0.9%) and 15 patients (0.6%), respectively; 20 of the patients with ASS (87.0%) had partial seizures and 4 (17.4%) developed status epilepticus. The incidence rates of ASS were 1.3%, 0.3%, and 0.2% in AIS caused by large-artery atherosclerosis, small-vessel occlusion, and cardioembolism, respectively. Of the 23 patients with ASS, the cortex was involved in 19 (82.6%), 16 patients (69.6%) had medium-sized to large lesions, the anterior circulation territory was involved in 21 patients (91.3%), and 4 patients (17.4%) developed MRI-confirmed hemorrhagic transformation of the lesions. Epileptiform discharges were observed in 9 (45%) of the 20 patients with ASS. Three of the 23 patients with ASS (13.0%) developed LUS. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of ASS was 0.9% and was highest in the large-artery atherosclerosis group. The development of ASS was significantly associated with cortical involvement, medium-sized to large lesions, and lesions in the anterior circulation territory. Three of 23 patients (13%) developed LUS.
Atherosclerosis ; Brain ; Cerebral Infarction ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy ; Equidae ; Fever ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Seizures* ; Status Epilepticus ; Stroke*

Osteogenesis imperfecta is a very rare heterogeneous disorder and its overall incidence is estimated at 1/25,000 births. It is characterized by bone fragility, loss of bone mass, blue sclera, impaired hearing, poor dentition and hypermobile joints. It is categorized into 4 types and we should distinguish it from other skeletal disorder such as the Camptomelic syndrome. We recently experienced a case of osteogenesis imperfecta type II, misdiagnosed as the Camptomelic syndrome in uterus by ultrasonogram and delivered by Cesarean section near term. We report this case with a brief review of the literature.
Cesarean Section ; Dentition ; Female ; Hearing ; Incidence ; Joints ; Osteogenesis Imperfecta* ; Osteogenesis* ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Sclera ; Ultrasonography ; Uterus*