PURPOSE: The role of vitamin D in traditional atopic disorders (i.e., asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis) is still uncertain. We have analyzed the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)-D3) levels and asthma in children. METHODS: A total of 133 children were enrolled between April 2008 and December of 2008. Children were divided into 3 groups: the asthma group (n=80), bronchiolitis group (n=50), and normal group (n=35). Serum samples were collected and checked for 25(OH)-D3 levels. From the blood samples, we measured eosinophil counts, total IgE, specific IgE (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, milk, egg, cat, dog, cockroach) (Uni-CAP FEIA system). RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 4.6 years. The mean 25(OH)-D3 levels of the asthma, bronchiolitis, and normal groups were 17.2+/-8.9, 22.5+/-9.3, and 27.8+/-10.2 ng/mL, respectively (P<0.01). There was no association between allergens and vitamin D levels. Mean 25(OH)-D3 levels were lower at acute state of asthma than at stable state. CONCLUSION: The mean level of 25(OH)-D3 was associated with asthma and acute state of asthma. Further experimental and clinical studies are needed to establish a definite link between vitamin D levels and asthma.
Allergens ; Animals ; Asthma* ; Bronchiolitis ; Calcifediol ; Cats ; Child* ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ; Dogs ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Milk ; Ovum ; Rhinitis ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*

BACKGROUND: Dopamine receptors have been regarded as a strong candidate involved in etiology of schizophrenia and a target for various antipsychotic drugs. The purpose of our study was to investigate whether dopamine D1 receptor(DRD1) gene polymorphisms would predict the treatment response to antipsychotics in schizophrenia. METHOD: One hundred thirty-four schizophrenic patients, who met DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia were entered into a 48-week study. The psychopathology of the patients was assessed at baseline, 12th, 24th, 48th weeks of treatment by PANSS. Responders were defined by a 20% of the reduction in total PAnSS score at end point. The genomic DNA fragment corresponding to nucleotides of dopamine D1 receptor gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR). RESULT: Neither allelic frequencies nor genotypes for dopamine D1 receptor differed significantly between responders and non-responders. Also, there was no difference of changes of PANSS scores among three genotype groups of the dopamine D1 receptor. CONCLUSION: Allelic variation in the dopamine D1 gene is not associated with individual differences in antipsychotic response.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; DNA ; Dopamine* ; Genotype* ; Humans ; Individuality ; Nucleotides ; Psychopathology ; Receptors, Dopamine ; Receptors, Dopamine D1* ; Schizophrenia

Recently, the Korean Neuropsychiatric Association began trying to revise the name "Department of Psychiatry" to a more user-friendly name, from possibilities including "Department of Mental Health Medicine" and "Department of Mental Health Promotion," in the hope of increasing its public accessibility and providing more comprehensive public services. There is an ever-increasing need to extend mental health services, via a more active promotion of positive mental health, and to move toward preventive strategies rather than confining mental health service efforts to the traditional treatment of mental illnesses. However, much work is needed to define the construct of "mental health" and to detail ways of promoting it. Defining how psychiatrists can, from an organizational or an individual perspective, practice medicine that promotes mental health, is an urgent issue. In this study, we review the determinants of mental health and the historical development of mental health promotion paradigms. We also attempt to provide the current evidence-based approaches, including the cost-effectiveness of interventions, as they apply to mental health promotion concepts and principles.
Health Promotion ; Mental Health ; Mental Health Services ; Psychiatry ; Social Work

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of out-door activities in the forest environment, the so-called "forest therapy program," among children with atopic dermatitis (AD).METHODS: A total of 40 children with moderate-severity AD were enrolled in this study. All subjects were divided into either the "forest group" participating in the forest therapy program or the control group. The vitamin D level and quality of life (QOL) were measured at the initial visit and 8-week final visit.RESULTS: The SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index was reduced significantly more in the forest group than in the control group (39.17±4.48 vs. 27.00±4.87); however, it did not reach statistical significance. The vitamin D (25(OH)-D₃) level was increased significantly more in the forest group than in the control group (p>0.001). The mean QOL score was not significantly decreased in the forest group.CONCLUSION: The forest therapy program was proven to be associated with the reduction of the SCORAD index and the increase of vitamin D level. However, QOL measures did not show statistically significant improvement. Thus, the forest therapy program may have a positive trend of biological and psychosocial effects in children with AD.
Child ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Forests ; Humans ; Quality of Life ; Vitamin D

Meningioma is generally regarded as benign and extracranial metastasis of intracranial meningioma is rare. About 60 cases of distant metastasis of meningioma have now been reported. Angioblastic meningioma, although a rare type, shows rapid growth and sarcomatous change frequently, and has higher incidence of metastasis than other types of meningioma. The authors report a case of malignant angioblastic meningioma arisen in left olfactory groove with multiple metastasis to skeletal system. The available literature regarding these tumors is reviewed.
Incidence ; Meningioma* ; Neoplasm Metastasis*

Zolpidem-induced sleep-related complex behaviors (SRCB) with anterograde amnesia have been reported. We describe herein a case in which the development of zolpidem-induced sleep-related eating disorder (SRED) and SRCB was strongly suspected. A 71-year-old Korean male was admitted to the Department of Psychiatry due to his repetitive SRED and SRCB with anterograde amnesia, which he reported as having occurred since taking zolpidem. The patient also had restless legs syndrome (RLS) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). His baseline serum iron level was low at admission. Zolpidem discontinuation resulted in the immediate disappearance of his SRED, but did not affect his RLS symptoms. These symptoms rapidly improved after adding a single i.v. iron injection once daily, and so he was discharged to day-clinic treatment. These findings indicate that zolpidem can induce SRCB. Although the pathophysiology of zolpidem-induced SRED and other SRCB remains unclear, clinicians should carefully monitor for the potential induction of complex behaviors associated with zolpidem in patients with comorbid RLS or OSA.
Aged ; Amnesia, Anterograde ; Eating* ; Humans ; Iron ; Male ; Restless Legs Syndrome* ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive*

OBJECTIVE:Ultrasound estimation of amniotic fluid volume (AFI) is a critical component of antenatal surveillance. Alterations in AFI have classically been considered an indication of fetal compromise. Thus, this study was undertaken to determine whether there is any association between idiopathic polyhydramnios or oligohydramnios and adverse perinatal outcome. METHODS:Women delivered between December 1999 and November 2005, and who underwent ultrasonography from 26 to 41 weeks gestation were analyzed. Twenty-seven consecutive women with singleton pregnancies complicated by idiopathic polyhydramnios (amniotic fluid index>25) and 31 women complicated by oligohydraminos (amniotic fluid index<5) were included in this study. We reviewed the perinatal outcomes including preterm delivery, birth weight, primary cesarean section rate and indication, Apgar score (1-min and 5-min), and admission to NICU (neonatal intensive care unit). These findings were compared with those of 50 matched control patients with normal amniotic fluid volume. RESULTS:We observed that idiopathic oligohydramnios was significantly associated with primary perinatal outcome (Cesarean delivery for fetal distress) as well as secondary outcome variables such as birthweight, SGA (small for gestational age), Apgar score<7 at 1-min, 5-min, and NICU admission rates. On the other hand, idiopathic polyhydramnios did not correlate with any other perinatal outcome, except for rates of LGA (large for gestational age). CONCLUSION:The present study suggests that AFI is a weak predictor of perinatal outcome than has been classically suggested. But we demonstrated that the AFI identification of polyhydramnios was helpful in identifying LGA, and idiopathic oligohydramnios was a significant predictor of poor perinatal outcome.
Amniotic Fluid ; Apgar Score ; Birth Weight ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Critical Care ; Oligohydramnios* ; Polyhydramnios* ; Pregnancy ; Ultrasonography

This study examined the normal ranges and the determinants for various parameters of the short-term heart rate variability (HRV) measurements in a large Korean sample of healthy people. HRV measurements were obtained in 2,748 healthy men and 735 healthy women 18-65 yr of age. The mean total power (TP), low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), and LF/HF ratio were 1,358.9 +/- 1,840.8 ms2, 417.3 +/- 807.6 ms2, 254.1 +/- 414.1 ms2, and 2.4 +/- 20.9 ms2 in the frequency-domain spectral analysis. The mean standard deviation of the normal-to-normal (NN) interval (SDNN) and the square root of the mean squared differences of successive NN intervals (RMSSD) were 39.6 +/- 22.1 ms and 29.7 +/- 18.1 ms in the time-domain analysis. The female subjects had significantly higher SDNN, RMSSD, and HF values than the male subjects. After controlling for age, there was no statistically significant difference in the SDNN. Quantile regression analysis showed that age and mean heart rate had a significant impact on short-term HRV measurement. Given that both clinicians and researchers are increasingly relying on short-term HRV assessment in measuring stress, our work suggests that age and gender should be considered as independent determinants for HRV.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Alcohol Drinking ; Autonomic Nervous System/*physiology ; Body Weights and Measures ; Caffeine ; Exercise ; Female ; Heart/*physiology ; Heart Rate/*physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Republic of Korea ; Smoking

PURPOSE: To evaluate of the mesopic vision and glare in normal subjects and post-LASIK patients by using mesoptometer. METHODS: One hundred sixty eyes of eighty subjects with normal vision and no ocular disease were divided into four groups. Each twenty subjects were followed up for more than 3 months and the authors tested the mesopic vision and glare disability with Mesotest II. The authors also measured eighty eyes of forty patients by same means depending on pupil size and high order root mean square (RMS) values before LASIK surgery in 1st and 3rd months postoperatively and compared with data of normal subjects. RESULTS: The mesopic vision and glare disability at 1: 5 contrast level were extremly reduced in the group over 60 age old but there was no statistical significance. In post-LASIK patients, mesopic vision and glare disability were significantly reduced in 1st month after surgery. However the values returned nearly to preoperative figures in 3rd month. Patients with large pupil and high order RMS values reduced more in mesopic vision and glare disability but there was not statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: The mesopic vision and glare disability were reduced in older age group and they were reduced in the patients with large pupils and high order RMS values in the early postoperative period after LASIK.
Glare* ; Humans ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ ; Mesopic Vision* ; Postoperative Period ; Pupil

Even though suicide ranks as the fourth cause of death and is causing a significant loss in Korea, it seems that the conventional notion regarding suicide as a feasible way of solving a troublesome life situation hinders early recognition and proper management of suicide. This article reviews suicide prevention strategies recommended based on robust experience and scientific understanding of the characteristics of the suicide problem. In the UK, a suicide prevention strategy was formed at the national level suggesting significant goals to reduce the rate of suicide. In the US, the Institute of Medicine study committee examined the state of the science base, gaps in knowledge, strategies for prevention, and research designs for the study of suicide. This recommendation includes more science-based, coherent and well-coordinated multidisciplinary approaches, and thus suggests important practical recommendations for a suicide prevention strategy of Korea. The author concludes that suicide should be defined as a treatable and even preventable medical condition. Constructing a national network of suicide research, data surveillance, developing tools for suicide prevention including early detection and safety planning, and comprehensive insurance coverage are recommended.
Cause of Death ; Depression ; Institute of Medicine (U.S.) ; Insurance Coverage ; Korea ; Research Design ; Suicide