OBJECTIVES: To examine emotional and psychological characteristics associated with suicide attempts in depressed patients. METHODS: A sample of 37 inpatients diagnosed with major depressive disorder or depressive disorder NOS was divided into two groups : lifetime suicide attempters(N=15 ; 40.54%), non-attempters(N=22 ; 59.46%). Beck Depression Scale(BDI), Beck Anxiety Scale(BAI), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale(HDRS), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale(HARS), and MMPI-2 were used to evaluate symptoms severity and psychological characteristics. RESULTS: Suicide attempters scored higher on the BDI though there were no group differences on the HDRS and on the both anxiety scales. Also they showed higher scores on the F, Fb, Pa, RC1, DEP, HEA, PK, AAS among MMPI-2 subscales. Our findings suggest that suicide attempters among depressed patients undergo more severe subjective distress and difficulties in adjustment than non-attempters. Also they were more hostile to others and showed lower trust. Lastly, they showed more somatic complaints and substance related problems. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that suicide attempters among depressed patients have distinct emotional and psychological characteristics. MMPI-2 would be helpful to assess suicidal risk of depressed patients.
Anxiety ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Pyrrolidines ; Suicide ; Weights and Measures

Although causative factors are not completely defined, carcinogenesis of colorectal cancer is attributed to multiple genetic alterations. The abnormal expressions of oncogenes are regarded to be responsible for the production of malignant phenotype, subsequent invasion and metastasis. From 63 surgically resectable colorectal adenocarcinoma patients, expression of oncogenes in colorectal cancer tissue was evaluated with immunohistochemical staining methods using monoclonal antibodies to products of the oncogenes. To evaluate the possibility of oncogenes as a prognostic factor, we studied the relationship between the expression of oncogenes and the clinicopathologic findings which are well known prognostic factors. Rates of expression in colorectal cancer tissue were 27% for c-myc, 74.6% for c-Ha-ras and 77.8% for c-erbB-2 oncogenes. The positive rate of c-erbB-2 oncogene was higher in the well differentiated group than in the poorly differentiated group. The rates of expression of c-myc and c-Ha-ras oncogenes were significantly correlated each other. Expression of these oncogenes in colorectal cancer were not correlated with the pathologic stage, location of cancer, DNA ploidy pattern and histologic differentiation except between c-erbB-2 and histologic differentiation. In conclusion, there seems to be a possibility that c-erbB-2 could be used as a prognostic factor of colorectal cancer. However, further and more intensive study seems to be required.
Adenocarcinoma ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Carcinogenesis ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; DNA ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Oncogenes* ; Phenotype ; Ploidies

Dieulafoy's vascular malformation is a rare cause of massive gastrointestinal bleeding. Most often it occurs in stomach within 6 cm from the gastroesophageal junction. Only a few cases have been reported to occur in the small intestine and colon. Occasionally, Dieulafoy's lesion of small intestine is difficult to recognize because of rarity, a paucity of symptoms and negative findings on barium studies. Therefore, this lesion needs to be considered in a patient with massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding. We report a case of Dieulafoy's vascular malformation in ileum 2 m proximal to ileocecal value in a 41-year-old woman who visited emergency clinic because of hematemesis, dizziness and vomiting. Small intestine revealed a wide-caliber artery within the submucosa showing intimal thickening, medial muscular hypertrophy and thrombosis.
Adult ; Arteries ; Barium ; Colon ; Dizziness ; Emergencies ; Esophagogastric Junction ; Female ; Hematemesis ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Ileum* ; Intestine, Small ; Stomach ; Thrombosis ; Vascular Malformations* ; Vomiting

No abstract available.
Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive*

A new technical method using bone plugs with oblique posterior interbody fusion(OPIF) was designed to increase the fusion rate. One hundred-seventy-five patients were operated for lumbar instability between November 1990 and December 2000. The L5/S1 segment was affected in 129 cases(74%) of the patients. Oblique posteior interbody fusion with bone plugs by unilateral approach was performed in all patients. Eight-nine percent of these patients showed good surgical results. This stable transplant interbody fusion has the several advantages. Foreign substance is not used and this method increases fusion rate and cost-effective. OPIF using bone plugs along with Oh's screw could provide sufficient stability for segmental instability of the lumbar spine including spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine, with or without concurrent herniated intervertebral disc or spondylotic narrowing.
Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Spine ; Spondylolisthesis

Purpura fulminans is one of rare consumptive coagulopathy in children. The most common predisposing conditions of purpura fulminans are infectious disease like streptococcal infection and chickenpox. This disease is characterized by ecchymotic lesions that are usually distributed symmetrically on the lower extremities and buttocks. These ecchymotic lesions undergo necrosis, unless there is effective treatment. We experienced 3 cases of purpura fulminans which improved almost completely after early heparin administration. In the case 1, a 12 month old girl, purpura fulminans developed during sepsis and gastroenteritis. In the case 2, a 4 month old boy, purpura fulminans developed during acute sepsis. We reported 3 cases with a brief review of related literature.
Buttocks ; Chickenpox ; Child ; Communicable Diseases ; Dacarbazine ; Female ; Gastroenteritis ; Heparin ; Humans ; Infant ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Necrosis ; Purpura Fulminans* ; Purpura* ; Sepsis ; Streptococcal Infections

A total of 36 typical Krukenberg tumors of the ovary was obtained from the pathology file of the Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University during a period of 17 years from January 1968 to December 1984. By definition, all were characterized by the presence of mucin containg signet ring cells within the cellular, nonneoplastic ovarian stroma. The clinico-pathologic characteristics of 36 Krukenberg tumors were as follow: The Krukenberg tumors accounted for 16.3% of all ovarian malignancies. The age of the patient at the time of diagnosis of the Krukenberg tumor ranged from 28 to 69 years with an average of 43 years. A primary carcinoma of stomach (31 cases) of colon (1 case) was found in 32 (88.9%) of 36 patients. The primary carcinomas was not detected in four cases, and autopsy was not performed in any case. In 22 cases the primary carcinomas had been diagnosed before ovarian tumors were found. The ovarian and the primary carcinomas were identified synchronously in 6 cases, while in 8 cases the primary carcinomas were not discovered until after the ovarian tumors had been treated. The gross diameter of the ovarian tumor ranged from 1.5cm to 28cm with an average of 10.3cm. The largest weighed 4,550gm. The Krukenberg tumors typically formed rounded or reniform, solid mass that were coarsely lobulated or bosselated. The cut surface was yellow white and associated frequently with nodular, myxoid or gelatinous area and cystic changes of various size. Both ovaries were involved in 29(80.6%) of the cases and one ovary in 7(19.4%). Krukenberg tumors classified into the three major types on the basis of the characteristic morphologic patterns of signet ring cells. The first type was classic Krukenberg tumor(28 cases) represented by predominent components of typical signet ring cells. The second type was tubular Krukenberg tumor(5 cases) characterized by tubular structures resembling a Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor. The third type was re tiform Krukenberg tumor (3 cases) characterized by an irregular network of elongated, often slitlike tubules and cysts, which resembled the rete testis.

BACKGROUNDS: Percutaneous radiofrequency neurotomy of posterior primary ramus has been in use as a treatment for persistent, mechanical low back pain for two decades. However, there has been limited studies regarding to prognostic factors related to outcome. We report our experience with at least 2-year follow up with special aftention on prognostic factors. METHODS: Of total 228 patients who underwent percutaneous radiofrequency neurotomy (PRN) of posterior primary ramus for refractory low back pain during last 3 years, 128 patients whose pain was considered to be originated from facets joints or their surrounding soft tissue and responded to temporary blocks were assigned to a group II. All patients had more than 6 months of pain. These patients were compared with 100 patients to whom PRN were provided for chronic nonspecific low back pain without all inclusion criteria (Group I). RF procedures were done under local anesthesia with C-arm intensifier guidance. Pain reliefs were estimated at 1week, 1month, 6months and 2 years using visual analog scale(VAS). For patients with more that 50% reduction of previous pain was regarded as positive responder. Various clinical variables such as age, sex, symptom duration, types of pain, bilaterality, and previous surgery were studied for prognostic factors. RESULTS: Positive responders were 56% at 1week, 46% at lmonth, 18% at 6months, and 13% at 2years after PRN in group I, and 78.9% at lweek, 75.4% at lmonth, 62.5% at 6months, and 54.7% at 2years in group II. Some variables were found to be significantly related to outcome including prominent local tenderness, percussion tenderness, combination of symptoms with pain on gefting up, extension, transitional movement, pain radiating to buttock and/or posterior thigh, and good immediate response. Age, sex, symptom duration, bilaterality, imaging study results, previous lumbar surgery, and degrees of pain relief from diagnostic block were not related to outcome. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that PRN of posterior primary ramus has a moderate overall long-term beneficial effect, with no morbidity in our series. But, the long-term good results will be anticipated only in properly selected patients with low back pain originating from facet joints and surrounding structures.
Anesthesia, Local ; Buttocks ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joints ; Low Back Pain* ; Percussion ; Thigh ; Zygapophyseal Joint

The resuIts of cryotherapy of the ciliary ganglion in absolute glaucoma are presented. The air cases had been suffered from severe ocular pain, headache without vision. The tip of the cryoapplicator (2.5mm in diameter, retinal probe, Amoils Cryo Unit) at a temperature between -60 degrees C to -70 degrees C was applied to the ciliary ganglion site for 30 seconds four to five times at one time. Edema of lids and conjunctiva occurred in all three cases except a case without lid edema and subsided in 5 days. All cases could spend life without pills for pain even though the tension was not decreased to normal leveI. The observation course was between 14 and 90 days.
Conjunctiva ; Cryotherapy ; Edema ; Freezing* ; Ganglion Cysts* ; Glaucoma* ; Headache ; Retinaldehyde

Desmoplastic fibroma(DF) is a rare neoplasm of the bone, and is histologically benign but locally aggressive disease. A total of nine cases of DF involving skull have been reported in the literature, and among these eight are females. In this report, the clinical findings and histopathology of a case with DF of the skull in a male patient is presented with a review of the literature with an emphasis on treatment modalities. A 21-year-old man presented with headache. CT scan revealed a solitary and lytic skull lesion without brain invasion. DF was confirmed by histological evaluation. On immunohistochemical staining of the tumor was negative for estrogen or progesterone receptors. After total resection of tumor with wide surgical margin, there was no recurrence during the 35 months of follow-up period. Although longer follow up period maybe needed, treatment of this type of tumor with complete resection of tumor tissue along with a wide margin may provide long disease-free state compare to the high recurrence rates in DF of other sites.
Brain ; Estrogens ; Female ; Fibroma, Desmoplastic* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Headache ; Humans ; Male ; Parietal Bone ; Receptors, Progesterone ; Recurrence ; Skull ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult