The gate control theory was proposed by Melzack & Wall in 1965. This theory implies that selective stimulation of cutaneous afferent fibers of large diameter inhibits pain. Transcutaneous electrical stimulation(TNS) is a practical employment of this concept. TNS was used on 14 herpes zoster patients to relieve associated pain. Good effeet was obtained in 13 patients. They experienced relief of their pain for 1-4 hours after 20 minutes of application. TNS has many advantages over analgesic drugs in the control of pain in herpes zoster.
Analgesics ; Employment ; Herpes Zoster* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Amniotic Fluid* ; beta-Endorphin* ; Female

No abstract available.
Pregnancy* ; Purpura*

The authors conducted a clinical observation of 55 cases of solitary pulmonary nodules at Yeungnam University Hospital from June 1986 to October 1990, and the following results were obtained: 1. The age distribution was ranged from 18 to 77 years, and the male-to female ratio was 1.8:1. 2. Among 55 cases of nodules, 28 cases were benign and 27 cases were malignant nodules, and of malignant nodules, the primary lung cancer was 23 cases and of benign nodules, 18 cases were tuberculoma. 3. 23 cases (41.8%) was asymptomatic and the other 32 cases were symptomatic; chest pain 12 cases, hemoptysis; 8 cases, cough; 8 cases and dyspnea; 4 cases. 4. The non-smoker-to-smoker ratio was 1:1.04, but among 23 smoker over 20 pack years, 14 cases were malignant nodules. 5. According to nodular size, there is no striking differences between benign and malignant nodules except 3-4 cm sized nodules. 6. The lobar distribution of nodules, 35 cases were in the right lung (upper lobe; 14 cases, middle lobe; 11 cases, and lower lobe; 10 cases) and 23 cases were in the left lung (upper lobe; 9 cases, lower lobe; 11 cases), and the malignant nodules were most commonly observed in the right upper lung.
Age Distribution ; Chest Pain ; Cough ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule* ; Strikes, Employee ; Tuberculoma

A 77-year old woman was referred to hospital with dyspnea and chest dull pain for 5 months. The chest radiograph showed a mass located in the mediastinum. Trachea was deviated to right side. Chest computed tomography showed an enhancing large mass at the middle mediastinum. Endobronchial ultrasonography showed hyperechoic mediastinal mass. We performed endobronchial ultrasound guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). Histologic finding was thyroid tissue with a benign looking papilla. Ectopic thyroid is an uncommon embryological aberration characterized by the presence of thyroid tissue in a site other than in its usual pretracheal region. It occurs along the path of descent of the developing thyroid primodium from the foramen cecum. It is extremely rare for mediastinal ectopic thyroid tissue diagnosised by EBUS-TBNA, so we report here on a case of mediastinal ectopic thyroid and we review the relevant medical literature.
Biopsy, Needle ; Bronchoscopy ; Cecum ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Humans ; Mediastinal Neoplasms ; Mediastinum ; Needles ; Thorax ; Thyroid Dysgenesis ; Thyroid Gland ; Trachea

A clinical review of 34 cases of aortic dissection which were admitted to Yeungnam University hospital between March 1983 and April 1992. The results are as follows: 1. The peak incidence was in 5th, 6th decade and male to female ratio was 1.83:1. 2. The most common cause of aortic dissection was atherosclerosis and hypertension (79%). 3. The most common presenting symptom was pain (73%). but dyspnea, palpable mass, murmur, shock were also observed. 4. Abnormal electrocardiographic finding was myocardial ischemia in 6 cases, arrhythmia in 5 cases, LVH in 5 cases. 5. The X-ray findings showed abnormal aortic contour in 10 cases but normal X-ray finding was observed in 63% of DeBaKey Type III. 6. The most common diagnostic procedure was echocardiogram and abdominal Ultrasonography. 7. The mortality of all cases was 20%, operation mortality was 18% but no death of medically treatment in medical indication.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Atherosclerosis ; Dyspnea ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Male ; Mortality ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Shock ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: We examined the factors influencing subjective memory complaints among community dwelling elderly in urban area. METHODS: The subjects of this research were 160 community-dwelling elderly people without dementia and major depressive disorder. The questionnaires regarding the socio-demographic characteristics were conducted by each person. They include Korean version of Subjective Memory Complaints Questionnaires (SMCQ), Korean version of Short Geriatric Depression Scale (SGDS-K) and Korean version of Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE). Subjective memory complaints were defined as above 4 points of SMCQ. RESULTS: 39.38% of the subjects had subjective memory complaints. There were significant associations between subjective memory complaints and SGDS-K (p < 0.001), physical illness (p=0.001), but there was no association with K-MMSE (p=0.383). CONCLUSION: There is a discrepancy between subjective memory complaints and actual cognitive impairments. This discrepancy suggests that the depressive disorders including minor depressive disorder and subsyndromal depression, might play a role in the subjective memory complaints rather than actual cognitive impairments in community-dwelling elderly people. Therefore, the treatments for the depressive disorders should be considered in dealing with the subjective memory complaints.
Aged* ; Cognition Disorders ; Dementia ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; Humans ; Independent Living* ; Memory*

OBJECTIVES: This study investigates the relationships between soldiers' social relations, stress, and depressive symptoms. We also investigated the effect of previous suicide-related behaviors on their correlations. METHODS: This study was conducted on a total of 1000 soldiers. Study subjects were tested using clinical scales including the Korean Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview, the Center for Epidemiological Studies for Depression Scale, the Worker's Stress Response Inventory and the Lubbens Social Network Scale-6. Sociodemographic characteristics and history of suicide-related behaviors were also examined. In order to investigate the relationships between stress, depression, and social relations in groups with and without a history of suicide-related behavior, one-way correlation analysis was performed. RESULTS: Depressive symptoms and stress were positively correlated when sociodemographic factors are controlled, regardless of past history of suicide-related behaviors. Depressive symptoms and social relations showed a weak negative correlation. Furthermore, stress and social relations showed a weak negative correlation. When the stress response was additionally controlled, there was no significant correlation between depressive symptoms and social relations. There was a stronger correlation between the group with a history of suicide-related behavior and the group without suicide - related behavior. CONCLUSION: There was a significant positive correlation between depressive symptoms and stress, and this correlation was greater in patients with a history of suicidal behavior than in those without prior suicidal behavior. In addition, social relations did not directly affect depressive symptoms but was found to mediate stress indirectly.
Depression* ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Humans ; Military Personnel* ; Suicide ; Weights and Measures

Background: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between exercise and depression based on responses to 2016 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) and the Patient Health Questionairre-9 (PHQ-9). Specifically, this study examined which physical activities have the greatest effects in combating depression. Methods: This study was based on data from 2016 KNHANES and responses to the PHQ-9 questionnaire on physical activity. We selected 2,245 people of age >19 years, who completed the surveys. Physical activity variables included number of days of walking, duration of walking, days of strength training, and aerobic physical activity. These variables subdivided into aerobic and muscle strengthening activities and their effects on depression were examined. Results: All the variables, except duration of walking, were negatively correlated with the PHQ-9 scale scores. However, of the physical activity variables included in the hierarchical regression analysis, only the number of days of walking over 1 week had a statistically significant negative effect on the PHQ-9 scores. Conclusion For adults, aerobic activity (walking) had a greater effect on reducing depression than muscle strengthening activity. The frequency and consistency of walking had a greater impact than the duration of walks. These results suggest that regular walking is a better form of physical activity than strength training for its effect on mood and it assists in overcoming depression.

Objectives: ：Sexual dysfunction is common in both untreated and treated patients with schizophrenia and known as affecting the quality of life and drug compliance. The primary objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in Korean patients with schizophrenia treated with antipsychotic medications compared with healthy controls. Methods: ：Subjects were 75 patients who were recruited from outpatients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder according to DSM-IV-TR criteria, who had been stabilized on antipsychotic medications for more than three consecutive months. Control group consisted of 76 volunteers without history of any psychiatric disorder were excluded. We assessed for sexual dysfunction by the ASEX. Results: ：The prevalence of sexual dysfunction in the patient group was 57.33%, while that of the control group was 23.37%. Female gender and the use of antidepressants were best predictors of sexual dysfunction in patient group. Sexual difference at sexual drive observed in the control group diminished in the patient group. Conclusion ：The present study demonstrated a higher prevalence of sexual dysfunction in patient group than control. Clinicians should consider the differential sexual dysfunction effects of antipsychotics when prescribing medications.