The anxiety disorders make up one of the most common groups of psychiatric disorders. Anxiety is an alerting signal ; it warns of impending danger and enables a person to take measures to deal with a threat. Three major schools of psychological theory-psychoanalytic, behavioral, and existential-have contributed theories about the causes of anxiety. Many drugs are effective in managing distressing signs and symptoms associated with anxiety disorders. As the symptoms are controlled by medication, patients are reassured and develop confidence that they will not be incapacitated by the disorder. Benzodiazepines are useful in panic disorder, phobias, and agitation. In general, benzodiazepines act as hypnotics at high doses and as anxiolytics or sedatives at low doses. The benzodiazepines have become the sedative-hypnotic drugs of first choice because they have a higher therapeutic index and significantly less abuse potential than do many of other sedative-hypnotics. The most common adverse effect of benzodiazepines is drowsiness. Some patients also experience dizziness and ataxia. The most serious adverse effects of benzodiazepines occur when other sedative substances are taken concurrently. When benzodiazepines are used for long periods, they usually cause significant tolerance, dependence, or withdrawal effects. Overdoses with benzodiazepines alone have a predictably favorable outcome. The benzodiazepines should be started at a low dosage, and the patient should be informed about the drug’s sedative properties and abuse potential. Serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have a much more favorable profile of adverse effects and have significantly broadened the horizon for pharmacological treatment of anxiety disorder. Three fourths of patients experience no adverse effects at low starting doses, and doses may be increased relatively rapidly in these patients. In the remaining one fourth of patients, most of the SSRIs’ adverse effects appear within the first 1 to 2 weeks, and they generally subside or resolve spontaneously if the drugs are continued at the same dose.
Anti-Anxiety Agents ; Anxiety ; Anxiety Disorders ; Ataxia ; Benzodiazepines ; Dihydroergotamine ; Dizziness ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Panic Disorder ; Phobic Disorders ; Sleep Stages

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Thumb*

No abstract available.
Head*

Mach bands, a visual phenomenon resulting from lateral inhibitory impulsess in the retina, are recognized aslucent or dense lines at the borders of different radiographic densities. A number of clinical situations have been described in which Mach bands may cause difficulty in radiographic diagnosis. Photodensitometric measurement of the film can differentiate the true change in film density from the Mach band which is an optical illusion. Authors present several examples of photodensitometric tracings of Mach bands, with the brief review of themechanism of their production.
Diagnosis ; Optical Illusions ; Retina

No abstract available.
Leiomyoma*

No abstract available.
Stroke*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate clinical features and causative organisms in febrile infants younger than three months, to help identification of high risk patients for serious bacterial infection (SBI). METHODS: A total of 313 febrile infants younger than three months, who had visited Seoul National University Children's Hospital from January 2008 to December 2010 were included. Clinical features, laboratory findings, causative organisms, and risk factors of SBI were analyzed by retrospective chart review. Causative bacterial or viral pathogens were identified by gram stain and cultures, rapid antigen tests, or the polymerase chain reaction from clinically reliable sources. RESULTS: Among 313 infants, etiologic organisms were identified in 127 cases (40.6%). Among 39 cases of bacterial infections, Escherichia coli (66.7%) and Streptococcus agalactiae (12.8%) were common. Enterovirus (33.7%), respiratory syncytial virus (19.8%), and rhinovirus (18.8%) were frequently detected in 88 cases of viral infection. Patients with SBI (39 cases) showed significantly higher values of the white blood cell count (14,473+/-6,824/mm3 vs. 11,254+/-5,775/mm3, P=0.002) and the C-reactive protein (6.32+/-8.51 mg/L vs. 1.28+/-2.35 mg/L, P<0.001) than those without SBI (274 cases). The clinical risk factors for SBI were the male (OR 3.7, 95% CI 1.5-8.9), the presence of neurologic symptoms (OR 4.8, 95% CI 1.4-16.8), and the absence of family members with respiratory symptoms (OR 3.6, 95% CI 1.2-11.3). CONCLUSION: This study identified common pathogens and risk factors for SBI in febrile infants younger than three months. These findings may be useful to guide management of febrile young infants.
Bacterial Infections ; C-Reactive Protein ; Enterovirus ; Escherichia coli ; Fever ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses ; Retrospective Studies ; Rhinovirus ; Risk Factors ; Sepsis ; Streptococcus agalactiae

OBJECTIVES: Major depression is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality. One possible explanation for this association is that major depression influences autonomic neurocardiac regulation. However, previous studies on the relationship between heart rate variability (HRV) and major depression have revealed conflicting results. The purpose of this study is to clarify that major depressive patients compared to healthy controls show a reduction in HRV as an expression of reduced modulation of vagal activity to the heart. METHODS: According to DSM-IV, the time and frequency domain HRV indices (5-min resting study) of 30 patients with major de-pressive disorder were compared with those of 30 healthy controls. Standardized HRV tests enable quantitative estimation of auto-nomic nervous system function. RESULTS: After controlling for age and gender, subjects with major depression showed a higher heart rate and significantly lower modulation of cardiovagal activity compared to controls. The total power (TP) band, very low frequency (VLF: 0.003-0.04 Hz) band, low frequency (LF: 0.04-0.15 Hz) band, and high frequency (HF: 0.15-0.4 Hz) band were significantly reduced in subjects with major depression compared to control subjects. CONCLUSION: Patients with major depression may suffer from functional disturbances in the interaction between the sympathetic and parasympathetic autonomic systems.
Autonomic Nervous System ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder, Major* ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Mortality ; Nervous System

No abstract available.
Humans ; Peptic Ulcer*