OBJECT: This study was devised to examine the demographic characteristics, psychopathology and associated psychiatric disorder of the Kleptomania offenders. METHODS: Kleptomania offenders who was referred to the National Forensic Psychiatric Hospital was concerned. RESULTS: Most of the Kleptomania offenders were women(92.6%, N=25) and lived alone(71.4%, N=20). In their first stealing, 25(92.6%) reported stressful situation just before stealing behavior but at admission 14(51.9%) is reported. Kleptomania experienced physical and sexual abuse during childhood; 9(33.3%) in case of physical abuse and 12(44.4%) in case of sexual abuse. At admission, Most of them complains of depressive mood(88.9%, N=24) and anxiety(88.9%, M=24), and any disorders like delusion was rare(7.4%, M=2). Most of Kleptomania offenders were comorbid psychiatric disorder; mood disorder(48.1%, N=13), personality disorder(40.7%, N=11), psychotic disorder(25.9%, N=7), anxiety disorder(14.8%, N=4) and alcohol dependence(14.8%, N=4). 24(88.9%) responded to the psychiatric treatment and 16(59.2%) of them had good prognosis. CONCLUSION: Most of Kleptomania offenders were single women and were abused physically or sexually during childhood. They had comorbid psychiatric disorder that responded to the psychiatric treatment and had good prognosis.
Anxiety ; Criminals* ; Delusions ; Female ; Hospitals, Psychiatric ; Humans ; Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders* ; Prognosis ; Psychopathology* ; Sex Offenses ; Theft

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the histolopathogical effects among the biolimus, zotarolimus, and everolimus eluting stent (EES) in the porcine coronary restenosis model. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Pigs were randomized into three groups in which the coronary arteries (15 pigs, 10 coronaries in each group) had either a biolimus A9 eluting stent (BES, n=10), zotarolimus eluting stent (ZES, n=10) or an EES (n=10). Histopathologic analysis was performed at 28 days after stenting. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the injury score among the three groups. There was a significant difference in the internal elastic lamina, lumen area, neointima area, percent area stenosis, and the fibrin and inflammation score among the three groups (4.3+/-0.53 mm2, 2.5+/-0.93 mm2, 1.8+/-1.03 mm2, 40.7+/-20.80%, 1.7+/-0.41, 1.4+/-0.72 in the BES group vs. 5.1+/-0.55 mm2, 2.3+/-1.14 mm2, 2.8+/-1.00 mm2, 55.4+/-21.23%, 2.0+/-0.39, 1.6+/-0.76 in the ZES group vs. 4.4+/-0.53 mm2, 1.7+/-1.22 mm2, 2.8+/-1.23 mm2, 64.0+/-26.00%, 1.8+/-0.76, 2.1+/-0.90 in the EES group, respectively). BES is more effective in inhibiting neointimal hyperplasia compared to ZES and EES (p<0.0001). According to the fibrin and inflammation score, BES and EES are more effective in decreasing the fibrin deposition compared to ZES (p<0.001). Moreover, BES and ZES are more effective in reducing the inflammatory reaction compared to EES (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The result demonstrates that BES shows better histopathological characteristics than ZES and EES at one month after stenting in the porcine coronary restenosis model.
Alkanesulfonic Acids ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Restenosis* ; Coronary Vessels ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Fibrin ; Hyperplasia ; Inflammation ; Neointima ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Sirolimus ; Stents* ; Swine ; Everolimus

OBJECTIVES: Children are one of the most vulnerable populations to the impact of disasters. We aimed to examine children's mental health in the area affected by the Hebei Spirit oil spill accident on December 7, 2007. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted using the Korean versions of the Children's Depression Inventory and State Anxiety Inventory for Children on 1,362 children attending elementary schools in the affected area. The information on distances between the nearest contaminated coastline to the child's residential house or attending school were obtained using a web-based map by inputting two address points. The symptom risks of depression and state anxiety were estimated by multiple logistic regression analyses adjusted for age, gender, and other covariates. RESULTS: Children with the closest distance (in the fourth quartile) to the school from the contaminated coastline showed a significantly higher symptom risk of depression compared to those with the farthest distance (first quartile)(odds ratio, 2.73; 95% confidence interval, 1.40-5.33), while there was no significant association between anxiety symptoms and distance. CONCLUSIONS: Children, a vulnerable population for mental health impact by the oil spill accident, should be included in mental health programs in the community along with their family as victims of the disaster.
Anxiety ; Child ; Depression ; Disasters ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Mental Health* ; Petroleum Pollution* ; Vulnerable Populations ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Severe, occlusive spiral dissection during diagnostic coronary angiogram is very rare. A 41-year old female patient was admitted because of chest pain at night. Her left coronary angiogram revealed no significant stenosis with diffuse luminal narrowing. Immediately after right coronary artery (RCA) injection, sudden occlusion of middle RCA was noted, which was not improved despite multiple injections of intracoronary nitrate. The patient complained of severe chest pain and ST segment elevation was observed on electrocardiogram monitoring. After wiring into true lumen of RCA, distal flow was improved and intravascular ultrasound revealed spiral dissection flap extending from proximal to middle RCA. Final coronary angioram showed patent RCA with spiral dissection and good distal flow into the distal RCA. The patient had no clinical events during 2-month clinical follow-up.
Adult ; Catheters ; Chest Pain ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography* ; Coronary Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Phenobarbital ; Ultrasonography

Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation is a relevant environment factor to induce cellular senescence and photoaging. Both autophagy- and silent information regulator T1 (SIRT1)-dependent pathways are critical cellular processes of not only maintaining normal cellular functions, but also protecting cellular senescence in skin exposed to UV irradiation. In the present studies, we investigated whether modulation of autophagy induction using a novel synthetic SIRT1 activator, heptasodium hexacarboxymethyl dipeptide-12 (named as Aquatide), suppresses the UVB irradiation-induced skin aging. Treatment with Aquatide directly activates SIRT1 and stimulates autophagy induction in cultured human dermal fibroblasts. Next, we found that Aquatide-mediated activation of SIRT1 increases autophagy induction via deacetylation of forkhead box class O (FOXO) 1. Finally, UVB irradiation-induced cellular senescence measured by SA-β-gal staining was significantly decreased in cells treated with Aquatide in parallel to occurring SIRT1 activation-dependent autophagy. Together, Aquatide modulates autophagy through SIRT1 activation, contributing to suppression of skin aging caused by UV irradiation.
Autophagy ; Cell Aging* ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Skin ; Skin Aging

BACKGROUN: Platelet activation and aggregation with resultant arterial thrombus formation play pivotal roles in the pathophysiology of acute coronary syndrome. We prospectively evaluated the long-term clinical effect of tirofiban, a specific inhibitor of the platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor, with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) in the treatment of non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). METHODS: We divided consecutive 90 patients with NSTEMI who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) between August 2001 and April 2002 at Chonnam National University Hospital into 2 groups: Group I (n=45: LMWH alone, 62.3 +/- 9.8 years, 32 male) and II (n=45: tirofiban with LMWH, 59.2 +/- 10.2 years, 36 male). Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were analyzed between two groups at 7 days after admission, and during 3-month and 6-month clinical follow-up. RESULTS: Mean age, sex and risk factors were not different between two groups. Minor bleeding developed in 1 patient (2.2%) of each group (p=NS). Cardiac death occurred in 4 (8.9%) of group I and 3 patients (6.7%) of group II, and revascularization was required in one patient (2.2%) of each group until 7 days after admission (p=NS). During 3-month follow-up period, revascularization was required in 7 (15.6%) of group I and 5 patients (11.1%) of group II (p=NS). MACE during 6-month follow-up occurred in 11 patients (24.4%) of group I and 4 patients (8.9%) of group II (p=0.012): revascularization was required in 4 (8.9%), myocardial infarction occurred in 2 (4.4%), and cardiac death in 5 patients (11.1%) of group I, and revascularization in 1 (2.2%) and cardiac death in 3 patients (6.7%) of group II. CONCLUSION: Tirofiban with LMWH is safe without significant bleeding complications and improve long-term prognosis in patients with NSTEMI underwent PCI.
Acute Coronary Syndrome ; Angioplasty ; Blood Platelets ; Death ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glycoproteins ; Hemorrhage ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight* ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Platelet Activation ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Thrombosis

BACKGROUND: Cardiogenic shock (CS) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) develops in 5~10% of patients and it is associated with high mortality. The aim of this study is to assess the predictive factors of mortality for patients with AMI and CS. METHODS: Two hundred fifty five AMI patients with CS (the mean age was 66.0 +/- 11.0 years, M: F=156: 99) out of 1, 268 AMI patients who admitted at Chonnam National University Hospital between July 2000 and June 2002 were analyzed according to the clinical characteristics, coronary angiographic findings and MACE during admission and for the 1-year clinical follow-up. RESULTS: Among the enrolled patients, 129 patients survived without MACE (Group I, mean age 64.2 +/- 10.6 years, M: F=76: 53), and 126 patients had MACE (Group II, mean age 68.1 +/- 10.0 years, M: F=80: 46) during admission or during the 1-year follow-up period. There were significant differences in age between the Groups I and II (64.2 +/- 10.6 vs. 68.1 +/- 11.0 years, respectively, p=0.004) and the previous MI history (0 vs. 17.4%, respectively, p< 0.001). The left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) was lower in Group II (Group I vs. II: 49.1 +/- 13.0 vs. 39.1 +/- 12.9%, p< 0.001). The levels of troponin (Tn) I and C-reactive protein (CRP) were higher in Group II (Group I vs. II: 29.2 +/- 7.72 vs. 50.8 +/- 5.17 ng/dL, p=0.017, 3.8 +/- 0.48 vs. 9.9 +/- 1.21 mg/dL, p< 0.001 respectively). Left main stem lesion (LMSL) was more common in Group II than in Group I (0.7% vs. 22.0%, respectively, p=0.004). In-hospital death was associated with low Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow after coronary revascularization. CONCLUSION: Old age, a previous MI history, high Tn and CRP, low EF and LMSL are associated with higher MACE for patients with AMI and CS. Coronary revascularization with TIMI 3 flow lowers the in-hospital mortality.
Aged ; Female ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction/complications/*mortality ; Prognosis ; Shock, Cardiogenic/etiology/*mortality

BACKGROUND: Epicardial infarct-related artery patency is reliably assessed by the Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction flow grade (TFG), and this index is associated with clinical outcomes after fibrinolytics or primary angioplasty in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The aim of this study was to examine long-term clinical outcomes according to the pre-procedural TFG in AMI after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: A total of 132 patients with AMI who underwent PCI between July 2001 and December 2001 at Chonnam National University Hospital were divided into two groups according to the pre-procedural TFG: Group I (n=60, 62.7+/-9.2 years, male 66.7%) with TFG 0-1 and Group II (n=72, 61.6+/-11.1 years, male 68.1%) with TFG 2-3. RESULTS: Hypertension was more prevalent in Group I than that in Group II (56.7% vs. 27.8%, p=0.001) and cardiogenic shock on admission was more frequently observed in Group I than that in Group II (20.0% vs. 5.6%, p=0.011). The left ventricular ejection fraction was lower in Group I than that in Group II (42.6+/-10.5% vs. 50.5+/-12.1%, p=0.022). The levels of inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate, fibrinogen, white blood cell and monocyte counts were higher in Group I than in Group II. On diagnostic coronary angiogram, complex lesion was more frequently observed in Group I than that in Group II (53.4% vs. 36.2%, p<0.001). During 1-year clinical follow-up, the mortality was higher in Group I than that in Group II (10.0% vs. 1.4%, p=0.028), however, there were no significant differences in the incidences of restenosis and target lesion revascluarization between the two groups. The event-free survival rate was lower in Group I than that in Group II (60.0% vs. 79.2%, p=0.016). The independent predictors for major adverse cardiac events were cardiogenic shock, CRP >or=0.5 mg/dL, age >or=70 years, triple vessel disease, low pre-interventional TFG (0-1) and post-interventional TFG (0-2). CONCLUSION: Low pre-procedural TFG is associated with hypertension, cardiogenic shock, left ventricular dysfunction, and high mortality, and low event-free survival during one-year clinical follow-up after PCI in AMI.
Angioplasty ; Arteries ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; Disease-Free Survival ; Fibrinogen ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Jeollanam-do ; Leukocytes ; Male ; Monocytes ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Prognosis ; Reperfusion* ; Shock, Cardiogenic ; Stroke Volume ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Overt and subclinical hypothyroidism is known to be associated with developing atherosclerosis and adverse changes in blood lipid. There has been no data regarding the effects of a normal range of thyroid hormone on the presence of coronary atherosclerosis. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We studied 1 25 consecutive patients (age: 60.0 +/-11.1 years, male: female=84:41) who underwent diagnostic coronary angiography. The clinical diagnoses on admission were stable angina (32.0%), unstable angina (53.6%), and acute myocardial infarction (14.4%). The thyroid hormones [thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine and free 3 -iodothyronine], serum lipid levels, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) level, homocysteine and fibrinogen levels were measured. The coronary angiographic results were compared with laboratory findings. RESULTS: The angiographic diagnoses of coronary artery disease were no significant stenosis in 4 1 patients (32.8%), single vessel disease in 47 patients (37.6%) and multivessel disease in 37 patients (29.6%). The serum TSH levels showed a trend toward higher levels in the patients with multivessel disease compared to the patients with no significant stenosis (1.22+/-0.96 uIU/mL vs. 0.73+/-0.53 uIU/mL, respectively, p=0.053). According to the levels of TSH (<1.0 uIU/mL and > or =1.0 IU/mL), the incidence of multivessel disease was significantly higher in the patients with high serum TSH levels (23.1 % vs. 40.0%, respectively, p=0.038). A significant correlation was observed between the levels of TSH and the monocyte count (r=0.251, p=0.005), hsCRP level (r=0.208, p=0.023) and homocysteine level (r=0.279, p=0.002). CONCLUSION: The high level of serum TSH is associated with multivessel disease, abnormal inflammatory markers and high homocysteine levels.
Angina, Stable ; Angina, Unstable ; Arteriosclerosis ; Atherosclerosis ; C-Reactive Protein ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Disease ; Diagnosis ; Fibrinogen ; Homocysteine ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Incidence ; Male ; Monocytes ; Myocardial Infarction ; Reference Values ; Risk Factors* ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Hormones ; Thyroxine

BACKGROUND: Beyond lowering lipids, statins have favorable effects on platelet adhesion, thrombosis, endothelial function, plaque stability and inflammation. The vascular injury from percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) induces platelet activation, thrombosis and inflammation within the vessel wall. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of statin therapy in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients who underwent PCI. METHODS: A total of 254 patients with AMI who underwent PCI between June 2001 and June 2002 at Chonnam National University Hospital were divided into two groups: Group I (n=134, 60.1+/-12.7 years, male 85.1%) who were treated with simvastatin and Group II (n=120, 58.9+/-9.4 years, male 83.3) who were not treated with simvastatin after PCI. RESULTS: The levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol were more decreased and the level of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol was more increased in Group I than in Group II. The levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell, monocyte and fibrinogen were more decreased in Group I than in Group II. There was no significant difference in major adverse cardiac event during hospitalization, but statin therapy was associated with a significant reduction in restenosis rate (19.1% vs 32.6%, p=0.036) and repeat revascularization rate (17.0% vs 30.4%, p=0.031) during one-year clinical follow-up after PCI. The MACE-free survival rate was higher in Group I than in Group II (81.7% vs 62.3%, p=0.001). The independent predictors for MACE one year after PCI were CRP above 0.5 mg/dL, left ventricular ejection fraction less than 40%, old age above 75 years, lesion type B2/C according to the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association classification and statin use (p<0.001, =0.001, 0.002, 0.023, 0.040, respectively). CONCLUSION: Statin therapy after PCI is associated with a reduction in the incidence of restenosis, repeat revascularization and high MACE-free survival during one-year clinical follow-up after PCI in AMI.
Angioplasty ; Blood Platelets ; C-Reactive Protein ; Cholesterol ; Classification ; Fibrinogen ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors* ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Jeollanam-do ; Leukocytes ; Male ; Monocytes ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention* ; Platelet Activation ; Prognosis ; Simvastatin ; Stroke Volume ; Survival Rate ; Thrombosis ; Triglycerides ; Vascular System Injuries