BACKGROUND: Assessment of left ventricular function with conventional 2-dimensional echocardiography (2D echo) remains largely qualitative and subjective because the manual tracing of endocardial borders is laborious and tedious. An automatic border detection (ABD) echo has been recently developed that permits real-time measurements of chamber areas and cardiac function. METHODS: To determine usefulness of ABD echo, left ventricular cross-sectional areas were automatically measured from the parasternal short-axis image in 25 cases including 9 cardiac patients, and compared with those by off-line analysis of the conventional 2D echo image. RESULTS: In on-line ABD analysis, short axis end-diastolic area averaged 13.1+/-2.2cm2, end-systolic area 5.3+/-1.3cm2 and fractional area change 59.4+/-9.0% and off-line manual analysis yielded corresponding values of 14.7+/-2.5cm2, 6.2+/-1.3cm2, and 57.1+/-7.1%. The end-diastolic and end-systolic areas by both methods were significantly different, respectively. Left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic area and fractional area change obtained from ABD echo correlated significantly with those of off-line measurements(r=0.897, p<0.001 ; r=0.505, p<0.01 ; r=0.427, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Thus, these facts suggest that ABD echo is useful for on-line continuous measurement of chamber areas and cardiac function.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Echocardiography* ; Humans ; Ventricular Function, Left

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) have been implicated in human diarrhea in several countries. Central to EPEC-mediated disease is its ability to cause intestinal lesions, known as attaching and effacing (A/E) lesion. We investigated 92 EPEC strains isolated from patients with diarrhea in Gwangju for their genotypic and phenotypic characteristics. Sixteen (17.4%) of all strains were found to be typical EPEC because they were bfpA gene positive by PCR. The most of typical EPEC isolates (87.5%) showed a localized adhesion (LA) pattern in Hep-2 cell adherence assay, whereas, only 11 atypical EPEC isolates (14.5%) were adhered to Hep-2 cells in a localized manner. Thirteen of the EPEC strains studied belonged to classical O-serogroups of EPEC and 7 isolates were classified as nonclassical EPEC serogroup and the other isolates could not be serotyped with our antisera. The subtypes of eae, tir, espA and espB genes which are major virulence genes concerned of A/E lesion on chromosome were analyzed by multiplex PCR for finding the original resource. The results showed that the composition of these genes subtypes was homogenous and heterogenous in 12 and 26 isolates, respectively. The others were non-determined type in terms of the gene subtype because of genetic diversity of intimin-coding eae genes. Our findings indicated that EPEC isolates from patients with diarrhea were diverse genetically and phenotypically, which require further study in regard to their virulence and epidemiological significance.
Diarrhea ; Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli* ; Genetic Variation ; Gwangju* ; Humans ; Immune Sera ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Virulence

While anomalies of the pancreaticobiliary system are not uncommon, drainage of the common bile duct into the bulb of the duodenum has rarely been reported. The awareness of ectopic drainage of the CBD is stressed to prevent surgical damage and improve medical management in this area. We reported one case of anomalous drainage of the CBD and pancreatic duct associated with nonvisible gallbladder or agenesis of gallbladder and cystic duct diagnosed by ERCP, ultrasonography and upper abdominal CT.
Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Common Bile Duct* ; Cystic Duct ; Drainage* ; Duodenum ; Gallbladder ; Pancreatic Ducts* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

While anomalies of the pancreaticobiliary system are not uncommon, drainage of the common bile duct into the bulb of the duodenum has rarely been reported. The awareness of ectopic drainage of the CBD is stressed to prevent surgical damage and improve medical management in this area. We reported one case of anomalous drainage of the CBD and pancreatic duct associated with nonvisible gallbladder or agenesis of gallbladder and cystic duct diagnosed by ERCP, ultrasonography and upper abdominal CT.
Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Common Bile Duct* ; Cystic Duct ; Drainage* ; Duodenum ; Gallbladder ; Pancreatic Ducts* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to assess the change of heart rate variability (HRV) at resting, upright, and psychological stress states in depressive disorder patients. METHODS: HRV was measured at resting, upright, and psychological stress states in 62 depressive disorder patients. We used visual analogue scale (VAS) score to assess tension and stress severity. Beck depression inventory (BDI) and state trait anxiety inventories I and II (STAI-I and II) were used to assess depression and anxiety severity, respectively. Differences between HRV indices and VAS score were evaluated using paired t-tests. Gender difference analysis was conducted with ANCOVA. RESULTS: SDNN (standard deviation of normal to normal intervals), LF/HF (low frequency/high frequency), and VLF (very low frequency) were significantly increased, while NN50 and pNN50 were significantly decreased in the upright position compared to resting state. SDNN, RMSSD (root mean square of the differences of successive normal to normal intervals), and VLF were significantly increased, while pNN50 was significantly decreased in the psychological stress state compared to resting state. SDNN, NN50, and pNN50 were significantly lower in an upright position compared to a state of psychological stress, and LF, HF, and LF/HF showed no significant differences CONCLUSION: The LF/HF ratio was significantly increased after physical stress in depressive disorder. However, the LF/HF ratio was not significantly increased after psychological stress, and the change in LF/HF ratio after physical stress and psychological stress did not significantly differ from each other. Significant increase in SDNN, NN50, and pNN50 in an upright posture compared to psychological stress suggests that depressive patients react more sensitively to physical stress than psychological stress.
Anxiety ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; Equipment and Supplies ; Heart Rate ; Heart ; Humans ; Posture ; Stress, Psychological

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to identify associations between the practice of health behaviors and awareness of metabolic syndrome (MetS) among adults aged 19 to 64 years in the Gwangju-Jeonnam area. METHODS: This study utilized data from the 2010 Community Health Survey (CHS). Health behaviors considered in this study were smoking, alcohol drinking, physical activity, low-salt diet, and perception of stress. The index for the health behaviors was calculated as the sum of the practice of each health behavior (range: 0-5). The analysis was weighted with a complex sampling design, and the chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to identify the association between the practice of health behaviors and awareness of MetS. RESULTS: A total of 19.8% of the population were aware of MetS. The perception of MetS was statistically significantly associated with healthy behaviors, including nonsmoking (aOR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.14-1.56), non-high-risk drinking (aOR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.27-1.88), engagement in physical activity (aOR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.28-1.72), and a low-salt diet (aOR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.13-1.51). The ORs of the perception of MetS were significantly higher in patients with a health behavior index of 2 to 3 (aOR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.01-2.66) and in those with an index of > or =4 (aOR = 2.47, 95% CI = 1.51-4.04) than in those with an index of 0. Among all health behaviors, physical activity had the highest OR for the perception of MetS (aOR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.29-1.74). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed associations between health behaviors, especially physical activity, and awareness of MetS. Therefore, integrated health promotion programs may be needed to enhance awareness of MetS and to effectively prevent MetS and non-communicable diseases.
Adult* ; Alcohol Drinking ; Diet, Sodium-Restricted ; Drinking ; Health Behavior* ; Health Promotion ; Health Surveys* ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Motor Activity ; Smoke ; Smoking

A survey was performed to investigate the infection status of zoonotic helminth larvae in fish from a local market of North Dagon District in Yangon City, Myanmar. A total of 486 fish in 13 species were collected 8 times from December 2015 to December 2019. All fish were transported under ice to a laboratory in Korea and examined for helminth larvae using artificial digestion method. Larval gnathostomes and metacercariae of more than 8 zoonotic trematode species, i.e., Opisthorchis viverrini, Haplorchis taichui, H. pumilio, H. yokogawai, Centrocestus spp., Stellantchasmus falcatus, Pygidiopsis cambodiensis, and Procerovum sp., were detected. Larval gnathostomes were found in 58 (16.0%) out of 362 fish of 6 species, with mean intensity of 2.8 per fish infected. Metacercariae of O. viverrini were detected in 10 (2.9%) out of 349 fish of 5 species, with mean intensity of 16.9 per fish infected. Metacercarial prevalences of 4 intestinal flukes, H. taichui, H. pumilio, H. yokogawai, and Centrocestus spp., were 16.8%, 26.0%, 12.5%, and 15.0% in the positive fish species, respectively, and mean metacercarial intensity was 63.3, 26.8, 86.2, and 8.7 per fish infected. Metacercariae of S. falcatus and P. cambodiensis were detected only from the mullet, Chelon macrolepis. Metacercariae of Procerovum sp. were found in Channa striata and Anabas testudineus. Collectively, it was confirmed that the fish were infected with gnathostome larvae and metacercariae of O. viverrini and intestinal flukes in Yangon City, Myanmar.

A survey was performed to investigate the infection status of zoonotic helminth larvae in fish from a local market of North Dagon District in Yangon City, Myanmar. A total of 486 fish in 13 species were collected 8 times from December 2015 to December 2019. All fish were transported under ice to a laboratory in Korea and examined for helminth larvae using artificial digestion method. Larval gnathostomes and metacercariae of more than 8 zoonotic trematode species, i.e., Opisthorchis viverrini, Haplorchis taichui, H. pumilio, H. yokogawai, Centrocestus spp., Stellantchasmus falcatus, Pygidiopsis cambodiensis, and Procerovum sp., were detected. Larval gnathostomes were found in 58 (16.0%) out of 362 fish of 6 species, with mean intensity of 2.8 per fish infected. Metacercariae of O. viverrini were detected in 10 (2.9%) out of 349 fish of 5 species, with mean intensity of 16.9 per fish infected. Metacercarial prevalences of 4 intestinal flukes, H. taichui, H. pumilio, H. yokogawai, and Centrocestus spp., were 16.8%, 26.0%, 12.5%, and 15.0% in the positive fish species, respectively, and mean metacercarial intensity was 63.3, 26.8, 86.2, and 8.7 per fish infected. Metacercariae of S. falcatus and P. cambodiensis were detected only from the mullet, Chelon macrolepis. Metacercariae of Procerovum sp. were found in Channa striata and Anabas testudineus. Collectively, it was confirmed that the fish were infected with gnathostome larvae and metacercariae of O. viverrini and intestinal flukes in Yangon City, Myanmar.

BACKGROUND: While tonic pupils have been attributed to various diseases, including syphilis, herpes zoster, orbital trauma, temporal arteritis, endometriosis, and paraneoplastic syndromes, obstructive hydrocephalus has not been implicated. CASE REPORT: A 36-year-old woman visited a neurology department with a 7-day history of throbbing headache and blurred vision in both eyes. She had early dorsal midbrain syndrome mimicking an Adie's tonic pupil, and cholinergic supersensitivity was demonstrated using topical 0.125% pilocarpine. Brain MRI revealed obstructive hydrocephalus at the level of the aqueduct of Sylvius, and her symptoms resolved 4 days after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: We report a patient with early dorsal midbrain syndrome that was initially believed to represent a tonic pupil on the basis of pharmacologic testing. The findings in our patient suggested that early dorsal midbrain syndrome mimicking an Adie's tonic pupil can be caused by obstructive hydrocephalus compressing the Edinger-Westphal nucleus.
Adult ; Brain ; Cerebral Aqueduct ; Endometriosis ; Eye ; Female ; Giant Cell Arteritis ; Headache ; Herpes Zoster ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Mesencephalon ; Neurology ; Orbit ; Paraneoplastic Syndromes ; Pilocarpine ; Syphilis ; Tonic Pupil ; Vision, Ocular