An association study with Korean alcoholic patients(n=50) and normal controls(n=53) was performed to find the relationship between catechol-O-methyltransferase(COMT) gene polymorphism and alcoholism using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. When we compared the allele and genotype frequencies of Nla III COMT gene polymorphism in alcoholism and normal controls, there was no significant difference between two groups. Our results do not support an association between the Nla III polymorphism of COMT gene and alcoholism.
Alcoholics ; Alcoholism* ; Alleles ; Genotype ; Humans

The measurement of blood pressure in neonates is an important diagnostic procedure. But the measurement of blood pressure has not been performed routinely because of difficulty in measuring blood pressure and variable normal range according to measuring apparatus. Recently some accurate and convenient apparatus of measuring blood pressure have been introduced in neonatal care, so the reference values of neonatal blood pressure may be obtainable. The authors measured systolic and diastolic blood pressure using a noninvasive oscillometric monitor instrument on 1,3,6,12,24,48,72 hours of life in 200 neonates born at Eulji General Hospital, Taejon. And we analysed the results according to birth weight, gestational age, delivery type, sex, meconium stain, preeclampsia and hypocalcemia. The following results were obtained: 1) On the 1st day of life, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were 65.611.7 mmHg and 36.7+/-5.8 mmHg in the normal birth weight neonates, and 56.2+/-6.7 mmHg and 34.14.2 mmHg in the low birth weight neonates, respectively. So the blood pressure of normal birth weight neonates were higher than that of low birth weight neonates. 2) On the 1st day of life, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were 65.5+/-11.8 mmHg and 36.6+/-5.8 mmHg in the fullterm neonates, and 57.6+/-5.2 mmHg and 35.6+/-3.8 mmHg in the preterm neonates, respectively. So the blood pressure of full term neonates were higher than that of preterm neonates. 3) The difference of blood pressure in analysis according to birth weight were wider than that according to gestational age. 4) The blood pressure of neonates were lowest on the 3 hours of life and increased gradually during 72 hours of life. 5) The blood pressure of neonates did not show any significant difference in analysis according to sex. delivery type, Meconium stain, preeclampsia, and hypocalcemia.
Birth Weight ; Blood Pressure* ; Daejeon ; Gestational Age ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Hypocalcemia ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn* ; Meconium ; Oscillometry ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Reference Values

BACKGROUND: This study used MDS-HC 2.0 (Minimum Data Set-Home Care) to analyze the health and the state of function of the traveling health objects. This study was intended to make use of it with the basic materials for providing them with traveling health service suited for the requirement on the health of the traveling health objects. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 1160 people (over 65 years) living under management control of local Health Center from September 7th to October 3th, 2006. This study was analyzed with inter RAI program & SPSS/WIN 10.0, chi-square -test, t-test, and ANOVA. RESULTS: The result showed that 8.97 CAPs per an elderly person was identified and the subjects over 60% had an injury problem from a fall, health prevention service, vision, IADL, pain, and cognition. The number of CAPs in general was high in higher age and the less educated, and those without a job. But, in subjects that had a life partner and a spouse, the number of CAPs was low. In CAPs by the distinction of sex, CAPs which was much more in man than women in statistics were the improvement of health, the abuse of alcohol and drinking wine, bedsore, and the weak supply system. CAPs which women had much more were the function of the heart and the lungs, pain, the performance of the doctor's advice, health prevention service, and incontinence of urine and insertion of catheter. According to the results comparing CAPs by the level of the ADL, the number of CAPs was shown that the group of ADL 2 was higher than group ADL 1. The matter in which the traveling health service had to be applied in all both ADL1 and ADL2 was injury from a fall, health prevention service, and vision. Conculsion: MDS-HC is applicable to decide the care needs for health and social service supplies. The results can be further applicable for careplan, and referral criteria in continuum of care service over long-term care spectrums.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aged ; Catheters ; Cognition ; Continuity of Patient Care ; Drinking ; Equipment and Supplies ; Female ; Health Services ; Heart ; Humans ; Long-Term Care ; Lung ; Pressure Ulcer ; Referral and Consultation ; Social Work ; Spouses ; Vision, Ocular ; Wine

PURPOSE: To determine the plain film findings of acute neuropathic joint in diabetic foot. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Acute neuropathic joint in diabetic foot was considered when fragmentation of the articular ends of bone and subluxation of the affected joint developed within eight weeks after clinical onset of diabetic gangrene. Eight toes of six diabetics were satisfactory to our criteria. We analyzed plain radiographic findings of the affected joint and soft tissue, interval changes in follow-up radiographs, and deformities after healing. RESULTS: The time interval between clinical onset of gangrene and bone destruction ranged from 2 weeks to 4 weeks(mean 2.6 weeks). Plain radiographs showed fragmentation of the articular ends, subluxation, and soft tissue swelling of the metatarsophalangeal joint or interphalangeal joint. The significant feature of these patients was rapid progression of the lesions. Clinically, all patients had diabetic gangrene in affected toes, however, there was no evidence of osteomyelitis in our series. Amputation was done in 2 cases, and lesions in 3 of the remaining 4 cases were repaired spontaneously with regression of gangrene, leaving radiological residua such as pointed-end, tapered-end, and ball and socket deformity. CONCLUSION: Rapid disorganization of the joint with associated evidence of soft tissue gangrene in plain radiograph is believed to be valuable for the diagnosis of diabetic osteoarthropathy.
Amputation ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Diabetic Foot* ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gangrene ; Humans ; Joints* ; Metatarsophalangeal Joint ; Osteomyelitis ; Toes

PURPOSE: To assess the role of MRI in the diagnosis of uterine anomaly. MATERIAL AND METHODS: MRI(n:15), hysterosalpingography(n:7) and ultrasonography(n:7) were performed in 15 patients with suspected MullerJan duct anomaly. Nine cases were proved by operation and six cases were diagnoed with imaging and clinical findings. According to Buttram and Gibbons modified classification, the anomalies were 4 cases of class I, 2 cases of class III, one case of class IV, and 8 cases of class V. RESULTS: MRI enabled accurate diagnoses of anomalies in all cases, but HSG and USG showed wrong diagnoses in 3 of 7 cases and in 1 of 7 cases. CONCLUSION: MRI, especially T2-weighted images parallel to long axis of uterine corpus, was very useful in diagnosis of the Mullerian duct anomaly, because it could depict exactly the external fundal contour, intercornual distance, septum, transverse vaginal septum, and associated abnormalities such as hematocolpos and hematometra.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Hematocolpos ; Hematometra ; Humans ; Hylobates ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging*

No abstract available.
Endodermal Sinus Tumor* ; Lung* ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Yolk Sac*

Eight strains of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Salmonella typhi were isolated from Kyonggi area during January-February,1997. They were resistant to ampiciUin, amoxicillin, carbeniciillin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim. Eight strains had one plasmid respectively which size was approximately M.W 220 kb and showed same restriction pattern by endonuclease HindIII. The plasmid was similar to the plasmid in size that was related to multidrug resistant S. typhi isolated from southeast Asia. It were transferred by conjugation to recipient E, coli K-12 in frequency of 2.43 x10-4 - 1.73 x 10-2 and transconjugant showed same drug-resistant pattem with donor cells. All of 8 strains produced B-lactamase that was assummed to TEM-1 type by isoelectric focusing and PCR.
Amoxicillin ; Asia, Southeastern ; Chloramphenicol ; Deoxyribonuclease HindIII ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Isoelectric Focusing ; Korea* ; Plasmids* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Salmonella typhi* ; Salmonella* ; Tetracycline ; Tissue Donors ; Trimethoprim

No abstract available.
Aorta, Thoracic* ; Rupture*

OBJECTIVE: Cartoons have been known to motivate learners and make learning process easier by combining verbal and visual effects. But they are mostly applied to motivate the less able learners, and have limits in delivering comprehensive information. Thus, more careful and scientific validation for the pros and cons of using cartoons for everyday use in various subjects is in need. METHODS: In this research, we used Electroencephalography(EEG) to compare cartoon learning and text learning by measuring four characteristic brainwaves including theta, alpha, sensory motor rhythms(SMR), and beta, from the left and right brain. The EEG signals acquired from 24 subjects are analyzed using the mean difference of the left and right brain and canonical correlation analysis. RESULTS: The theta brainwave of the left brain and right brain shows significant differences (p<0.05) from cartoon learning versus text learning in the theta brainwave while the other brain waves show similar patterns. CONCLUSION: Cartoon learning produced significantly stronger theta brainwaves than text learning implicating that cartoon learning reduces more focused attention, SMR brainwaves and beta brainwaves from the left brain explained cartoon learning and text learning process while alpha brainwaves explained those processes in the right brain.
Brain ; Brain Waves ; Electroencephalography ; Learning

A case of sacrococcygeal cystic teratoma in a 16 month-old female infant having suffered from urinary retention and severe constipation for 3 days was herein reported. Confirmative diagnosis was possible by barium enema and contrast media injection into cystic mass located in the presacrococcygeal region. Successful removal of the cystic teratoma with the patient in a prone position was performed. Uneventful postoperative course followed.
Barium ; Constipation ; Contrast Media ; Diagnosis ; Enema ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Prone Position ; Teratoma* ; Urinary Retention