The aim of this study was to compare widely used quantitative sensory tests to evaluate the diabetic neuropathy(DN). We tested plantar sensation of 40 patients with diabetes mellitus(Group I: 20 with neuropathic symtom, Group II: 20 without symptom) using Semmes-Weinstein monofilament(touch sensation), Biothesiometer(vibration sensation) and EMG. This result was also compared with that of the control group. Eighty percent of Group I and thirty percent of Group II had abnormal EMG findings. Group I had decreased vibration and touch sensation. Comparison of vibration perception threshold(Biothesiometer) with touch pressure sensation(Semmes-Weinstein monofilament) showed that the test with Biothesiometer was relatively accurate, however it was complicated, time consuming and that the test with monofilament was simple and easily performed in the field even though it was relatively crude. 5.07 monofilament could be very effective in the eearly detection of diabetic neumpathy. In conclusion, we recommend 5.07 monofilament as a screening method of diabetic neuropathy and biothesiometer as its follow-up method.
Diabetic Neuropathies ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Methods ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Sensation ; Vibration

No abstract available.
Ameloblastoma* ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle*

BACKGROUND: Single pass lead VDD pacing preserves atrioventricular synchrony with a single lead system which incorporates floating atrial electrodes. The objectives of this study were to measure whether different body postures and physical activities cause significant changes of the atrial electrogram amplitudes and to evaluate the effectiveness of its atrial sensing, ventricular sensing and pacing. METHOD: Prospective study was done in 7 patients with high degree AV block and normal sinus node function in whom a single lead VDD pacing system was implanted. The P wave amplitude was been measured in different condition during follow-up period. RESULTS: 1) During follow-up period, the P wave amplitude showed variation with changes in posture and respiration, but there was no consistent increase or decrease in amplitude. The lowest P wave amplitude was above the minimal atrial sensing value of 0.2 mV. 2) The percentage of atrial synchronous ventricular pacing recorded in Holter ECG and during Treadmill exercise test was more than 99%. 3) Atrial oversensing or VA cross sensing were not observed in any of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Despite floating atrial electrode, the single pass lead VDD pacing maintains reliable atrial sensing and ventricular pacing in different body position and physical activity, so it may offer an excellent alternative in patients with high grade AV block and intact sinus node function.
Atrioventricular Block ; Electrocardiography ; Electrodes ; Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac ; Exercise Test ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Motor Activity* ; Posture ; Prospective Studies ; Respiration ; Sinoatrial Node

BACKGROUND: Single pass lead VDD pacing preserves atrioventricular synchrony with a single lead system which incorporates floating atrial electrodes. The objectives of this study were to measure whether different body postures and physical activities cause significant changes of the atrial electrogram amplitudes and to evaluate the effectiveness of its atrial sensing, ventricular sensing and pacing. METHOD: Prospective study was done in 7 patients with high degree AV block and normal sinus node function in whom a single lead VDD pacing system was implanted. The P wave amplitude was been measured in different condition during follow-up period. RESULTS: 1) During follow-up period, the P wave amplitude showed variation with changes in posture and respiration, but there was no consistent increase or decrease in amplitude. The lowest P wave amplitude was above the minimal atrial sensing value of 0.2 mV. 2) The percentage of atrial synchronous ventricular pacing recorded in Holter ECG and during Treadmill exercise test was more than 99%. 3) Atrial oversensing or VA cross sensing were not observed in any of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Despite floating atrial electrode, the single pass lead VDD pacing maintains reliable atrial sensing and ventricular pacing in different body position and physical activity, so it may offer an excellent alternative in patients with high grade AV block and intact sinus node function.
Atrioventricular Block ; Electrocardiography ; Electrodes ; Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac ; Exercise Test ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Motor Activity* ; Posture ; Prospective Studies ; Respiration ; Sinoatrial Node

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship among body image, depression and sexual function in Korean postmenopausal women. METHODS: Subjects were 96 postmenopausal women who have lived in Korea. Data was collected using Semantic Differential scale, CES-D, and FSFI. RESULTS: The level of body image was positive, depression was mild, and sexual function was moderate. There were no significant correlation between depression and sexual function. The subjects who had more positive body image experienced higher sexual function and less depressed mood. CONCLUSION: These findings showed the need for a knowledge development program for nurses regarding women's sexual function. Also, nurses must do counseling with sexual partner's and consider patients' body image when counseling those who complain of sexual dysfunction
Body Image* ; Counseling ; Depression* ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Postmenopause ; Semantic Differential ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship among body image, depression and sexual function in Korean postmenopausal women. METHODS: Subjects were 96 postmenopausal women who have lived in Korea. Data was collected using Semantic Differential scale, CES-D, and FSFI. RESULTS: The level of body image was positive, depression was mild, and sexual function was moderate. There were no significant correlation between depression and sexual function. The subjects who had more positive body image experienced higher sexual function and less depressed mood. CONCLUSION: These findings showed the need for a knowledge development program for nurses regarding women's sexual function. Also, nurses must do counseling with sexual partner's and consider patients' body image when counseling those who complain of sexual dysfunction
Body Image* ; Counseling ; Depression* ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Postmenopause ; Semantic Differential ; Surveys and Questionnaires

For the previous century, the humans have created an unintended and unwanted problem of endocrine disruptors as a potential threat to our public health. By the name of industrialization, endocrine disruptors are smuggling in the everyday life of people today. Although there are much debate on the reality of their emerging health threat, it is no doubt that there are certain classes of compounds that have the potential to affect hormonal status adversely, leading to abnormal development, reproductive dysfunction, and some cancers. The classes of endocrine disruptors are extensively diverse and even more increasing, such as, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins, dieldrin, bisphenol A and toxaphene. Although these endocrine disruptors have been prohibited or tightly regulated, many of them are still unrecognized and still used without knowing their potential threat to the biological world. Once they are released into the environment, they usually persist without degradation and even undergo bioaccumulation and bioconcentration in food chain. Comparing with the great concern over the public health, we do not have enough information for these issues. It is now clear that we need further extensive studies for the risk assessment and the protection of human and ecological health from the potential hazards of endocrine disruptors. This article introduces a breif overview of the current status of our knowledge and research on endocrine disruptors.
Dieldrin ; Dioxins ; Endocrine Disruptors* ; Food Chain ; Humans ; Polychlorinated Biphenyls ; Public Health ; Risk Assessment ; Toxaphene

We report two cases of hepatic metastases from choriocarcinoma in women of childbearing age in whom imaging studies performed at presentation revealed the presence of liver masses, and who had clinically progressive anemia or intraabdominal hemorrhage. CT demonstrated heterogeneously enhanced liver masses. Characteristic angiographic findings included hypervascular hepatic masses with aneurysmal dilatations of the peripheral hepatic arteries at the arterial phase and persistent vascular lakes at the venous phase.
Adult ; Angiography ; Case Report ; Choriocarcinoma/*radiography/*secondary ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/etiology ; Human ; Liver Neoplasms/radiography/*secondary ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVE: Appropriate evaluation of hypertension is important in the patients with a stroke because hypertension is a major cause of a stroke. Blood pressure may be falsely elevated or depressed immediately after a stroke, depending on the severity of neurological deficit, mobility, and physical activity, and the level of consciousness. To overcome this problem, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) has been proposed as a method of obtaining a more accurate clinical assessment. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The present study was performed in an acute stage of stroke patients to assess the manifestation of 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure, to observe the nocturnal blood pressure fall and to evaluate the relationship of blood pressure degree on admission and nocturnal blood pressure dip. Thirty four patients admitted within 24 hours after onset of acute stroke were involved in this study. 24 Hour blood pressure monitoring device was installed on an independent arm by oscillometric method as soon as brain imaging study was performed. ABPM readings were obtained each 30 minutes during daytime and each 1 hour during nighttime with electrocardiography. Each patients were classified as the presence or absence of hypertension. We examined nocturnal blood pressure dip and mean pressure of 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure. RESULTS: 1)This study demonstrated that comparing daytime with nighttime 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure, 20 of 24 patients (83%) with acute stroke with hypertension, did not show nocturnal blood pressure dip, and there was sustained high nocturnal blood pressure in patients with acute stroke with hypertension. 2)There were significant differences between 24 hour ambulatory mean daytime blood pressure and mean nighttime blood pressure in patients with acute stroke without hypertension, so was lower in nighttime (p<0.05). 3)It is likely that in acute stroke patients with hypertension, patients with higher blood pressure on admission had more abnormality of nocturnal blood pressure dip. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that in patients with acute stroke, 24 hour ABPM is useful method to assess diurnal variation and evaluate hypertension in acute stage of stroke patients, and suggest that patients with acute stroke with hypertension trend to loss of nocturnal blood pressure dip.
Arm ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory* ; Blood Pressure Monitors ; Consciousness ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Motor Activity ; Neuroimaging ; Reading ; Stroke*

Aspergilloma of the paranasal sinus is a non-invasive form of aspergillosis, most often in the maxillary sinus. This case presents an 86-year-old female with aspergilloma of the left maxillary sinus. The patient's chief complaint was intermittent pain on the left maxillary first premolar area. A radiopacification of the left maxillary sinus was observed on the panoramic radiograph. Cone-beam computed tomography revealed complete radiopacification of the left maxillary sinus and scattered multiple radiopaque mass inside the lesion. Biopsy was performed under local anesthesia. On microscopic examination, numerous fungal hyphae, which branch at acute angle, were observed. The diagnosis was made as an aspergilloma based on the histopatholgic examination.
Aged, 80 and over ; Anesthesia, Local ; Aspergillosis ; Bicuspid ; Biopsy ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Female ; Humans ; Hyphae ; Maxillary Sinus ; Paranasal Sinus Diseases