Purpose: This descriptive study aimed to investigate heart rate variability (HRV) according to sex and to elucidate the influence of negative emotion such as levels of stress, anxiety and depression on HRV among Korean college students based on a neurovisceral integration model. Methods: A descriptive study design was used. Eighty-six healthy college students participated in the study. Resting HRV and standing HRV on orthostatic stimulation were measured for 5 minutes during 4-6 p.m. in the afternoon. Levels of stress, anxiety and depression were assessed using the Global assessment of recent stress, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Beck Depression Index, respectively. Results: Out of the 86 students, 47 (54.7%) were men and 39 (45.3%) were women. Root mean square of the differences between adjacent RR intervals (RMSSD) and normalized high frequency (nHF) on standing HRV were significantly lower in men than in women (p= .005, p= .019, respectively). Male gender (β= 0.30, p= .013), higher level of stress (β= -0.36, p= .009) and lower level of depression (β = 0.30, p = .044) exerted a significant influence on decreased nHF in the multiple regression analysis. Conclusion We suggest that men are more vulnerable to having reduced vagal activity on HRV than women. Since male gender, higher level of stress and lower level of depression level influenced decreased vagal activity, strategies are needed to improve stress and depression rather than anxiety especially for men, which contribute to promoting HRV to prevent cardiac health diseases.

Malignant rhabdoid tumor (MRT) is a rare and highly aggressive neoplasm of infancy and childhood. Although it was originally described and most frequently reported in the kidney, it may occur in various extra-renal sites such as the liver, thymus, and soft tissue. In the last decade primary central nervous system (CNS) MRTs have been reported in both the supra- and infratentorial compartments. Patients with CNS MRT were generally below the age of two and reports in adults are extremely rare. This is a case of primary cerebellar MRT in a 24-year-old woman, who had presented with intermittent headache, vocal cord palsy, and cerebellar dysfunctions such as abnormal finger to nose test and tandem gait. By magnetic resonance imaging scan, a well-enhancing solid mass was demonstrated at the posterior fossa filling the 4th ventricle, which extended into the medulla and cervical cord via the foramen of Magendie. Histologically, the monotonous polygonal tumor cells were arranged in diffuse sheet with occasional hemorrhagic necrosis. The nuclei were vesicular and eccentrically located due to eosinophilic, PAS-positive, intracytoplasmic inclusions with prominent nucleoli. They were diffusely or focally immunoreactive for vimentin, neurofilament, cytokeratin, GFAP, synaptophysin, and smooth muscle actin, while epithelial membrane antigen and desmin were negative. Ultrastructurally, the polyhedral tumor cells were densely packed with primitive intercellular junctions. Scanty fibrillar intermediate filaments were intermingled with cellular organelles. Postoperatively, craniospinal irradiation and systemic chemotherapy have been done and she has been free of tumor recurrence during the 13 months' follow-up periods.
Actins ; Adult* ; Central Nervous System ; Cerebellar Diseases ; Cerebellum* ; Craniospinal Irradiation ; Desmin ; Drug Therapy ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Fingers ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gait ; Headache ; Humans ; Intercellular Junctions ; Intermediate Filaments ; Keratins ; Kidney ; Liver ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mucin-1 ; Muscle, Smooth ; Necrosis ; Nose ; Organelles ; Recurrence ; Rhabdoid Tumor* ; Synaptophysin ; Thymus Gland ; Vimentin ; Vocal Cord Paralysis ; Young Adult

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

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

PURPOSE: To characterize strain-specific differences in radiation response in murine tissues with different radiosensitivity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six-week old male mice of 2 strains, C57Bl/6J and C3H/HeJ, were given whole body gamma-radiation with a single dose of 10 or 25 Gy. At different times after irradiation, mice were killed and tissues with different radiosensitivity, thymus and liver, were collected. Each tissue sample was stained with hematoxylin and eosin and apoptotic cells were scored. Expression of p53, Bcl-2, Bcl-x, and Bax was analysed by western blotting and densitometry. RESULTS: Radiation induced massive apoptosis in thymus with a peak level at 8 h after radiation. With 10 Gy irradiation, apoptotic indices in C57Bl/6J and C3H/HeJ were 81.0 2.5% and 59.4 4.0%, respectively (p<0.05). Radiation upregulated the expression of p53, Bcl-x, and Bax, but not Bcl-2; p53 with a peak level of 2.5 fold (C57Bl/6J) and 1.4 fold (C3H/HeJ) at 4 h, Bax with a peak level of 2.6 fold (C57Bl/6J) and 1.3 fold (C3H/HeJ) at 8 h, and Bcl-x with a peak level of 11.1 fold (C57Bl/6J) and 8.2 fold (C3H/HeJ) at 8 h after radiation. In liver, however, radiation-induced apoptosis was minimal (peak apoptotic index of 2.1% in C57Bl/6J and 1.7% in C3H/HeJ). None of p53, Bcl-2, Bcl-x, and Bax was significantly increased. CONCLUSIONS: Induction of apoptosis and regulation of related genes by radiation were tissue specific. Strain difference of radiation-induced apoptosis was well coupled with theinduction of related genes in thymus, a radiosensitive tissue. This study shows that quantitative difference of radiation induced apoptosis by strain is regulated at the gene level with the involvement of multiple genes.
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Blotting, Western ; Densitometry ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Hematoxylin ; Humans ; Liver ; Male ; Mice ; Radiation Tolerance ; Thymus Gland

The nm23 gene was originally identified from murine melanoma cell lines of varying metastatic potential. A strong association has been observed between reduced expression of nm23 gene and acquisition of metastatic behavior in some tumor cells including breast cancer and melanoma, but not in others such as colon cancer, neuroblastoma, and cervical cancer. It was proposed that nm23 may function as a suppressor gene for tumor metastasis. It has recently been found that the sequence of nm23 and NDP-kinase(NDP-K) was identical. Mortality associated with human breast carcinoma is almost entirely due to subsequent metastasis, but the molecular basis of this metastasis is not understood. Elucidation of the genetic control of metastatic propensity of a tumor is important in determining prognosis and choice of therapy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of nm23 protein expression with axillary lymph node metastasis and other prognostic factors. Using an immunohistochemical technique and employing a polyclonal antibody to nm23 protein, we have determined nm23 expression in a series of 72 infiltrating ductal carcinomas of the breast. Immunostaining for the nm23 gene product have heterogenous cytoplasmic and nuclear staining in 61 patients(84.7%). Sections were scored according to relative abundance(1 = less than 25% of the cells, 2 = 26-75%, 3 = 76-100%). In 61 patients with positive immunostaining, the staining was scored as 1 in 41.6%, 2 in 18.0%, and 3 in 40.2%. The staining of tumor cells was greater than that in normal epithelial cells and stromal cells. No relationship was found between nm23 expression and lymph node metastasis, histologic grade, tumor size, estrogen receptors or progesterone receptors. Therefore, nm23 protein is increased in neoplastic tissues but no correlation with metastatic potential could be demonstrated. The biological mechanism of over-expression of nm23 in malignant cells and its role in tumor progression remain to be determined.
Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Carcinoma, Ductal* ; Cell Line ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Cytoplasm ; Epithelial Cells ; Genes, Suppressor ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Melanoma ; Mortality ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neuroblastoma ; Prognosis ; Receptors, Estrogen ; Receptors, Progesterone ; Stromal Cells ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

The nm23 gene was originally identified from murine melanoma cell lines of varying metastatic potential. A strong association has been observed between reduced expression of nm23 gene and acquisition of metastatic behavior in some tumor cells including breast cancer and melanoma, but not in others such as colon cancer, neuroblastoma, and cervical cancer. It was proposed that nm23 may function as a suppressor gene for tumor metastasis. It has recently been found that the sequence of nm23 and NDP-kinase(NDP-K) was identical. Mortality associated with human breast carcinoma is almost entirely due to subsequent metastasis, but the molecular basis of this metastasis is not understood. Elucidation of the genetic control of metastatic propensity of a tumor is important in determining prognosis and choice of therapy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of nm23 protein expression with axillary lymph node metastasis and other prognostic factors. Using an immunohistochemical technique and employing a polyclonal antibody to nm23 protein, we have determined nm23 expression in a series of 72 infiltrating ductal carcinomas of the breast. Immunostaining for the nm23 gene product have heterogenous cytoplasmic and nuclear staining in 61 patients(84.7%). Sections were scored according to relative abundance(1 = less than 25% of the cells, 2 = 26-75%, 3 = 76-100%). In 61 patients with positive immunostaining, the staining was scored as 1 in 41.6%, 2 in 18.0%, and 3 in 40.2%. The staining of tumor cells was greater than that in normal epithelial cells and stromal cells. No relationship was found between nm23 expression and lymph node metastasis, histologic grade, tumor size, estrogen receptors or progesterone receptors. Therefore, nm23 protein is increased in neoplastic tissues but no correlation with metastatic potential could be demonstrated. The biological mechanism of over-expression of nm23 in malignant cells and its role in tumor progression remain to be determined.
Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Carcinoma, Ductal* ; Cell Line ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Cytoplasm ; Epithelial Cells ; Genes, Suppressor ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Melanoma ; Mortality ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neuroblastoma ; Prognosis ; Receptors, Estrogen ; Receptors, Progesterone ; Stromal Cells ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

OBJECTIVES: Changes in plasma homovanillic acid(HVA) were investigated in neuroleptic responsive and non-responsive schizophrenics in order to delineate parameters of dopamine regulation, which may underlie differences in neuroleptic responsivity. METHOD: Twenty newly admitted acute schizophrenic patients were treated with haloperidol for 6 weeks. HVA was sampled at baseline, 3 days after initial neuroleptic dose, and after 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 weeks of treatment. Nine patients were classified as responders in this prospective haloperidol treatment trial. They had a score of change in the BPRS total scores of 25% or greater. Eleven patients were classified as nonresponders, based on a score of changes in the BPRS total scores of less than 25%. RESULTS: 1) The age of onset in respnder was older than nonresponder. 2) There were no significant changes in plasma HVA levels in total patients during 6 weeks haloperidol treatment period, but the nonreponders had a robust decrease in HVA level from baseline to 3 days and one week after haloperidol treatment in successive comparison. 3) There were no significant correlations between plasma HVA level and total scores of BPRS. CONCLUSIONS:This study suggested that neuroleptic non-responsive schizophrenics had a different plasma HVA concentration during haloperidol treatment but could not provide support to the idea that change in plasma HVA in response to neuroleptics can predict eventual clinical response to treatment. Further study is required in order to better characterize the changes in dopamine turnover in subgroups of schizophrenics.
Age of Onset ; Antipsychotic Agents ; Dopamine ; Haloperidol ; Homovanillic Acid* ; Humans ; Plasma* ; Prospective Studies ; Schizophrenia

No abstract available.
Digoxigenin* ; DNA* ; Hepatitis B virus* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis*

OBJECTIVE: Angiogenesis is a critical factor in the progression of solid tumors. The mechanisms responsible for angiogenesis in cervical neoplasia, however, are not well defined. Our study was aimed to determine the expression of VEGF(Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor), its receptor(KDR), and TGF-beta1(Transforming Growth Factor-beta1) in cervical neoplasia, to determine the role of these angiogenic factors in preinvasive(dysplastic) process and the progression of cervical cancer and to investigate the progression of angiogenesis in the transition from normal cervix to invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. METHODS: The cervical lesions of 76 patients were punch biopsied and paraffin embedded. Among these, 5 were normal cervix, 36 were cervical intraepithelial lesion I-III, and the other 35 were invasive squamous cell carcinomas. The tissues were immunostained with antiVEGF, antiKDR, and antiTGF-beta1 polyclonal antibody. RESULTS: The expression of VEGF, KDR, and TGF-beta1 in CIN III was stronger than those of CIN I(p<0.01). Their expression were not significantly different among the each staged cervical cancers(p>0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggest that VEGF, KDR, and TGF-beta1 are important angiogenic factors in cervical neoplasia, especially in an early event to neoplastic transformation of cervical tissues, but these angiogenic factors are not associated with the progression of cervical cancer.
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cervix Uteri ; Female ; Humans ; Paraffin ; Phosphotransferases* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*