The dysfunction of either or both noradrenaline and serotonin system are important in the pathophysiology of depression. Previous reports have suggested that there may be an important interaction between these two systems. Recently, some investigators have suggested that the combination of tricyclic antidepressants(TCAs and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs would produce a rapid synergistic effect on down-regulation of either or both of these two systems and that this combination may produce a more rapid and absolute antidepressant effect. We compared the treatment efficacy, treatment associated side effects, treatment satisfaction, and the quality of life between the combination therapy of dothiepin-sertraline as well as the therapy of dothiepin alone in the treatment of major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder. In our study, the combination therapy of dothiepin and sertraline produced a more rapid and absolute antidepressant effect than dothiepin alone. And the patients with combination therapy experienced relatively high treatment satisfaction than the patients with dothiepin therapy. The patients quality of life improved more rapidly in the combination therapy, especially, in the health perception, social behavior, and life satisfaction, that dothiepin alone. These results support the hypothesis that the combination of TCA an SSRI may produce a rapid synergistic effect on either or both norepinephrine and serotonin system, and more rapid antidepressant effect and high treatment satisfaction.
Depression ; Depressive Disorder* ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; Dothiepin* ; Down-Regulation ; Dysthymic Disorder ; Humans ; Norepinephrine ; Quality of Life ; Research Personnel ; Serotonin ; Sertraline ; Social Perception ; Treatment Outcome

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

A total of 100 Vibrio spp. strains were examined for production of various extracellular enzyme and for plasmid content plasmid were subjected to digestion with restriction enzymes. Most of them produced extracellular enzyme more than one, especially V. parahaemolyticus and V. cholerae non-01 strains were showed production of various extracellular enzymes. About the 55% Vibrio spp. have the plasmid more than one, but a lot of Vibrio spp. (about 45%) did not possess any plasmid. Most of these plasmid various derivatives ranged from 2.4 kb-23 kb, especially two strains of V. mimicus and one strain of V. furnissii carried one high-molecular weight plasmid (molecular weight ranging between 70 kb-100 kb). Results of restriction analysis for plasmid of this three strains were by no means the rule. For detection of tdh and ctx gene, the virulence factor involved in the pathogenesis, we carried out the TDH, CT assay, PCR amplification, and hybridization. A total 11 strains were produced TDH, involved in 4 strains of V. parahaemolyticus and 1 strain of V. cholerae non-01 from clinical isolates and 6 strains of environmental isolates. Nine strains of 11 strains, involved in 4 strains of V. parahaemolyticus and 1 strain of V. cholerae non-01 from clinical isolates and 4 strains of V. parahaemolyticus from environmental isolates, could be successfully amplified in 400 bp by PCR, no amplification products were obtained from TDH-negative strains. The PCR results were consistent with DNA hybridization. In the experiments of ctx gene detection, in all, 3 strains of V. cholerae non-01 from clinical isolate and 1 strains of V. cholerae non-01 from environmental isolate were observed CT- positive. These CT-producing strains amplified in 302 bp by PCR for the detection of ctx gene. All CT-producing strains hybridized with digoxigenin-labeled DNA probe, while CT-negative strains did not hybridize. Also hybridization tests results for detection of ctx gene consistent with PCR.
Cholera ; Digestion ; DNA ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Vibrio* ; Virulence Factors* ; Virulence*

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze of the risk factors for surgical procedure on ileo-colic intussusception without leading point in children. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patient treated for ileo-colic intussusception between January 2003 and December 2014. We exclude the patients who had leading point. Because of the large difference on patient's numbers between non-operative group (cases of ileo-colic intussusceptions successfully reduced by air reduction) and operative group (cases underwent operation due to failed air reduction), we compared the data of operative group of patients without leading point between 2003 and 2014 with the data of non-operative group as control group from 2013 to 2014. Clinical features such as gender, age, body temperature, body weight in diagnosis, growth curves for age-gender-body weight, and laboratory data of blood test were compared. RESULTS: In non-operative group, total 94 patients who were treated successfully by the non-operative air reduction. In operative group, total 21 patients treated by surgical procedure. The age under 12 months, weight over upper 75 percentile group, increased segment neutrophil count, decreased hemoglobin level and lymphocyte count were significantly associated with a requirement for surgical procedure. CONCLUSION: We conclude that younger age, higher weight percentile group, increased segment neutrophil, decreased hemoglobin and lymphocyte are the independent risk factors related to operative treatment for ileo-colic intussusception in children. If primary air reduction is failed in patients with such risk factors, operative treatment over ultrasonography or secondary reduction can prevent unnecessary effort and complications, thus emphasizing the consideration of operative treatment when selecting treatment methods.
Body Temperature ; Body Weight ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Intussusception* ; Lymphocyte Count ; Lymphocytes ; Medical Records ; Neutrophils ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Ultrasonography

The cytolytic activity of CD4' T cells, both human and murine, has been clearly demonstrated in the immune response to mycobacterial infection and suggested to play a significant role in the protection and immunopathology. However, Uttle is known about the differentiation of CD4' CTL. In order to address this issue, we examined the influences of some factors on the generation of CD4' CTL specific to mycobacterial antigens. After 7 days' stimulation of PBMCs from healthy tuberculin reactors with mycobacterial antigens, the cytolytic activity of purised CD4' T cells toward autologous macrophages infected with mycobacteria was measured by Cr release assay. First, we found that both of live M. tubeiculosis and soluble antigens (ST-CF) induced the cytolytic activity of CD4' T cells, although the inducibility of the former was slightly greater than the latter. Second, the cytolytic activity was maximally induced at the relatively low antigen concentration (0.2:1 bacteria:monocyte ratio or 0.5 mg/ml of ST-CF). Finally, in the presence of increasing amounts of neutralizing anti-IL-12 or anti-IFN-r MoAb, the cytolytic activity of CD4+ T cells was decreased in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that low dose of antigen, its particulate type give mycobacteria), IL-12, and IFN-r give some positive signals for the generation of CD4+ CTL.
Humans ; Interleukin-12 ; Macrophages ; T-Lymphocytes* ; Tuberculin

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to analyze the primary and secondary stability characteristics of orthodontic mini-screws of tapered design when compared with the cylinder mini-screw. METHODS: A total of 48 mini-screws were placed into the buccal alveolar bone of the mandible in 6 male beagle dogs. Comparison was made between tapered and cylinder type mini-screws (Biomaterials Korea, Seoul, Korea). Maximum insertion torque (MIT) was measured using a torque sensor (Mark-10, MGT 50, USA) during installation, and maximum removal torque (MRT) was recorded after 3 and 12 weeks of loading. RESULTS: Taper mini-screws showed a higher MIT value of 22.3 Ncm compared with cylinder mini-screw showing 13.6 Ncm (p < 0.001). The MRT of the taper mini-screw showed a significantly higher value of 9.1 Ncm than those of cylinder mini-screw of 5.7 Ncm at 3-weeks after installation (p < 0.05). However, there was no difference in the MRT value between the taper and cylinder mini-screws at 12 weeks of loading. CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that the high insertion torque of the taper mini-screw design increases initial stability until 3 weeks of loading, but does not have any effect on the secondary stability at 12 weeks of loading.
Animals ; Dogs ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Mandible ; Torque

The purpose of this study was to find the difference of stress distribution on canine altered by the application point of preangulated T-loop spring T-loop spring. For this study, the finite element models of upper left canine, upper left second premolar and upper left first molar were made. Also, the finite element models of 0.017X0.025 inch preangulated, preactivated T-loop spring and 0.018X0.025 inch stainless steel wire were made. Three types of T-loop spring were made : the middle of activated T-loop is positioned in accordance with the middle position of distance of bracket position of both the canine and first molar, 2mm anterior, 2mm posterior. We compared the forces and the distribution of stress that were generated by the difference of position of T-loop spring. The results were as follows. 1. All of the 3 types of T-loop spring showed the similar retraction forces. 2. All showed the similar amount & pattern of stress distribution. 3. The centers of rotation of canine in 3 types of T-loop spring were same and were positioned between C and D plane. 4. The canine showed the intrusive force by 2mm anterior positioned T-loop spring, but the extrusive force by 2mm posterior positioned T-loop spring. Neverthless, because of the small amount of the forces, the effect of vertical force was not significant.
Bicuspid ; Molar ; Stainless Steel

No abstract available.
Bronchiectasis* ; Bronchography*

Paget's disease of bone (osteitis deformans), a chronic osseous disease of unknown etiology, is extremely rarein Asia although well known in western countries. This disease is characterized by the simultaneous absorption ofbone and the new bone formation of abnormal character affecting middle and later age groups. The authorsexperienced a case of monostotic Paget's disease involving left pelvic bone in 56-years old female. To ourknowledge, this is the first cas report of monostotic Paget's in Korea.
Absorption ; Asia ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Osteitis Deformans ; Osteogenesis ; Pelvic Bones