OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluated the difference of depressive symptoms and attention between estrogen user and non-user in postmenopausal women. METHODS: 30 Estrogen users and 30 non-users were participated in this study. They were all menopausal for at least 1 year and have 12 or more education years. We used BDI(Beck Depression Inventory), digit span and digit symbol to evaluate depressive symptoms and attention in both groups. We also measured the plasma estradiol level and identified the correlation between estradiol level and BDI, digit span and digit symbol. RESULTS: The demographic data was not different between both groups. Estrogen users scored higher than non-users in digit span(forward) and lower than non-users in BDI. The correlation between estradiol level BDI, digit span and digit symbol was not significant. CONCLUSION: Estrogen replacement therapy was effective in alleviation depressive symptoms but ineffective in improving attention in postmenopausal women.
Depression* ; Education ; Estradiol ; Estrogen Replacement Therapy* ; Estrogens* ; Female ; Humans ; Plasma

PURPOSE: To compare T2 relaxation times (T2) in the cingulate cortex, amygdaloid body, hippocampal body, and insular cortex between 1.5T and 3.0T MR imagers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve healthy volunteers underwent FLAIR and CPMG imaging perpendicular to the hippocampal body at both 3.0T and 1.5T. T2 was measured in the cingulate cortex, amygdaloid body, hippocampal body, and insular cortex. The T2 relaxation time ratios of the cingulate cortex, insular cortex, and amygdaloid body to the hippocampal body were compared between 1.5T and 3.0T. RESULTS: The mean T2 of the cingulate cortex, amygdaloid body, hippocampal body, and insular cortex at 1.5T were 109.5+/-3.1, 117.0+/-7.1, 114.7+/-2.4, and 111.3+/-2.4, respectively; 99.7+/-3.8, 100.7+/-4.3, 97.9+/-3.4, and 96.2+/-2.0, respectively, at 3.0T. Percentage changes of T2 in the cingulate cortex, insular cortex, amygdaloid body, and hippocampal body at 3.0T with respect to those at 1.5T were -8.9%, -13.5%, -14.6%, and -13.5%, respectively. The mean T2 ratios of the cingulate gyrus, insular cortex, and amygdaloid body to the hippocampal body at 1.5T and 3.0T were 0.96 and 1.02 (p=0.003); 1.02 and 1.03 (p>0.05); 0.97 and 0.98 (p>0.05), respectively. CONCLUSION: T2 decrease in the cingulate cortex was less than the amygdaloid body, insular cortex, and hippocampal body at 3.0T. The mean T2 ratio of the cingulate gyrus to the hippocampal body was significantly different between 1.5T and 3.0T.
Amygdala ; Brain ; Gyrus Cinguli ; Hippocampus ; Relaxation

Perforation of the pharynx due to external blunt trauma is an uncommon type of pharyngeal injury. It can lead to serious complications such as deep neck infection, sepsis, mediastinitis, and even mortality if not promptly recognized and treated. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent severe consequences and long-term complications. If the size of the injury is less than 2 cm and there is no invasion of the esophagus or mediastinum, conservative, nonsurgical treatment may be appropriate. In this case report, we present a case of retropharyngeal wall perforation following external blunt neck trauma with literature review.

Purpose: To understand the effects of datasets with various parameters on pretrained network performance, the generalization capacity of the artificial neural network for myelin water imaging (ANN-MWI) is explored by testing datasets with various scan protocols (i.e., resolution and refocusing RF pulse shape) and types of disorders (i.e., neuromyelitis optica and edema). Materials and Methods: ANN-MWI was trained to generate a T2 distribution, from which the myelin water fraction value was measured. The training and test datasets were acquired from healthy controls and multiple sclerosis patients using a multiecho gradient and spin-echo sequence with the same scan protocols. To test the generalization capacity of ANN-MWI, datasets with different settings were utilized.The datasets were acquired or generated with different resolutions, refocusing pulse shape, and types of disorders. For all datasets, the evaluation was performed in a white matter mask by calculating the normalized root-mean-squared error (NRMSE) between the results from the conventional method and ANN-MWI. Additionally, for the patient datasets, the NRMSE was calculated in each lesion mask. Results: The results of ANN-MWI showed high reliability in generating myelin water fraction maps from the datasets with different resolutions. However, the increased errors were reported for the datasets with different refocusing pulse shapes and disorder types. Specifically, the region of lesions in edema patients reported high NRMSEs. These increased errors indicate the dependency of ANN-MWI on refocusing pulse flip angles and T 2 characteristics. Conclusion This study proposes information about the generalization accuracy of a trained network when applying deep learning to processing myelin water imaging.

PURPOSE: Peritoneal dialysis related peritonitis remains one of the most common causes of hospitalization and discontinuation of peritoneal dialysis. Patient education and the individual environment play a significant role in improving the clinical outcomes. Therefore, this study focused on the preventive effects of practical training on the spot for peritoneal dialysis related peritonitis in continous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. METHODS: Fifty-eight patients who were started on CAPD were as the primary intended treatment modality. The patients were given to a questionnaire regarding their gender, age, place of residence, level of education, economic status, sterile technique, knowledge of personal hygiene, placing a correct region for exchanging a fluid bag, and their duration of CAPD. During a home visit, the patients were instructed in how to sterilize the region of dialysis and maintain sterility in dialysis. RESULTS: Seventy four cases of peritonitis from 35 patients were identified over the 2 year's period. In the rural residences where there is a lower socio-economic status, the rates of peritonitis decreased in those patients who had received training on the spot within 6 months from the start of peritoneal dialysis compared with the patients after the 6 month period. Lower rates of peritonitis were noted in the patients who received training earlier (r=0.19, p=0.03). CONCLUSION: Ongoing and repetitive individualized education is needed to prevent peritoneal dialysis related peritonitis. The incidence of peritoneal dialysis related peritonitis can be reduced by educating these patients individually.
Dialysis ; Education ; Hospitalization ; House Calls ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Incidence ; Infertility ; Patient Education as Topic ; Peritoneal Dialysis* ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Peritonitis* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Ganglion cyst of the lumbar facet joint is a rare elsion. We have experienced a patient who had right leg radiating pain and he was diagnosed with ganglion cyst in the lumbar facet joint. On the MRI images, an 0.8cm sized round mass was located on the anterior aspect of the right side facet joint between the 4th and 5th lumbar vertebra. It was compressing the right 4th spinal root. After surgical excision, his symptoms were disappeared. Ganglion cyst of the spine occurs most commonly in the facet joint between the 4th and 5th lumbar vertebra, which is the most mobile back joint. It must be considered as part of the differential diagnosis of herniated lumbar intervertebral disc.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Ganglion Cysts* ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Joints ; Leg ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Spinal Nerve Roots ; Spine* ; Zygapophyseal Joint*

PURPOSE: To investigate the effectiveness of cyanoacrylate glue application in cases of corneal perforation or impending perforation due to refractory keratitis. METHODS: Cyanoacrylate glue was applied on 6 cases of fungal keratitis, 3 cases of herpetic keratitis, and 3 cases of bacterial keratitis from July 1998 to June 2002. 2 cases were corneal perforations and 10 were impending perforations. Cyanoacrylate glue was applied on stromal melting area including normal epithelium. When fibrovascular tissue grew beneath the glue sufficiently, glue was removed. When glue was sloughed off spontaneously or fibrovascular tissue was found to be insufficient, glue was reapplied. RESULTS: After average follow up of 25 weeks, the corneal surface was stabilized in 11 eyes except 1 case of fungal keratitis that had broad area of stromal melting(5.4mm). After use of glue, process of stromal melting was found to be discontinued. As fibrovascular tissue grew up beneath the glue, corneal surface became stable. Average diameter of stromal melting area and of glue application area was 4.0mm and 4.4mm respectively. Average duration of glue application was 17 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Cyanoacrylate glue application appears to be an effective and convenient method in cases of corneal perforations and impending perforations associated with advanced and extensive fungal, bacterial, and herpetic keratitis with active keratolysis.
Adhesives* ; Corneal Perforation* ; Cyanoacrylates* ; Epithelium ; Follow-Up Studies ; Freezing ; Keratitis ; Keratitis, Herpetic

Epidermal inclusion cyst is the one of the common benign tumors of vulvar area. It can result from vulvar skin trauma such as vaginal wall sling operation and female mutilation etc. causing an invagination of squamous epithelium, which then desquamates into a closed space to form a cystic mass. We have experienced one case of huge epidermal inclusion cyst at rectovaginal and posterior coccygeal area considered of huge retroperitoneal mass, which is presented with a brief review of the literatures.
Epithelium ; Female ; Humans ; Skin

OBJECTIVE: Bupropion is an antidepressant with proven efficacy for smoking cessation, however the response rate is some limited. With this background, the authors investigated the difference of early bupropion response in smoking cessation according to individual genetic polymorphism and temperamental characteristics. METHOD: Subjects were 113 Korean male volunteers who were nicotine dependent and wanted to quit smoking. Authors compared 6 candidate genes (DRD2, DRD4, dopamine transporter, norepinephrine transporter, serotonin transporter, COMT), and Temperament Character Inventory (TCI) between response group and non-response group after 3 weeks bupropion treatment. RESULT: Among 6 candidate genes, DRD2 homozygotes (A2/A2+A1/A1), COMT H/H genotype and H allele carriers showed high rate of smoking cessation by bupropion. NET-8 GG genotype and G allele carriers showed low rate of smoking cessation by bupropion. Persistence score in TCI was significant between two groups. CONCLUSION: DRD2, COMT, NET-8 genetic polymorphisms and some temperamental characteristics could predict success of smoking cessation by early treatment response of bupropion.
Alleles ; Bupropion* ; Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; Genotype ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Male ; Nicotine ; Norepinephrine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; Polymorphism, Genetic* ; Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; Smoke* ; Smoking Cessation* ; Smoking* ; Temperament* ; Volunteers

PURPOSE: To determine if sparing the interspinous and supraspinous ligaments during posterior decompression for lumbar spinal stenosis is significant in preventing postoperative spinal instability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 83 patients who underwent posterior decompression for lumbar spinal stenosis between March 2014 and March 2017 with a minimum one-year follow-up period, were studied retrospectively. The subjects were divided into two groups according to the type of surgery. Fifty-six patients who underwent posterior decompression by the port-hole technique were grouped as A, while 27 patients who underwent posterior decompression by a subtotal laminectomy grouped as B. To evaluate the clinical results, the Oswestry disability index (ODI), visual analogue scale (VAS) for both back pain (VAS-B) and radiating pain (VAS-R), and the walking distance of neurogenic intermittent claudication (NIC) were checked pre- and postoperatively, while simple radiographs of the lateral and flexion-extension view in the standing position were taken preoperatively and then every six months after to measure anteroposterior slippage (slip percentage), the difference in anteroposterior slippage between flexion and extension (dynamic slip percentage), angular displacement, and the difference in angular displacement between flexion and extension (dynamic angular displacement) to evaluate the radiological results. RESULTS: The ODI (from 28.1 to 12.8 in group A, from 27.3 to 12.3 in group B), VAS-B (from 7.0 to 2.6 in group A, from 7.7 to 3.2 in group B), VAS-R (from 8.5 to 2.8 in group A, from 8.7 to 2.9 in group B), and walking distance of NIC (from 118.4 m to 1,496.2 m in group A, from 127.6 m to 1,481.6 m in group B) were improved in both groups. On the other hand, while the other radiologic results showed no differences, the dynamic angular displacement between both groups showed a significant difference postoperatively (group A from 6.2° to 6.7°, group B from 6.5° to 8.4°, p-value=0.019). CONCLUSION Removal of the posterior ligaments, including the interspinous and supraspinous ligaments, during posterior decompression of lumbar spinal stenosis can cause a postoperative increase in dynamic angular displacement, which can be prevented by the port-hole technique, which spares these posterior ligaments.