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

Lymphangioma of the esophagus is a rare submucosal benign tumor. A 49-year-old man was referred because of a foreign body sensation in the esophagus. In endoscopy, a 10.0×1.0-cm longitudinal, translucent, whitish yellow mass covered with normal esophageal mucosa was found in the lower esophagus. Endoscopic ultrasonography revealed a heterogeneous, mainly hypoechoic, well-circumscribed lesion located in the third layer. Incisional biopsy was performed, and histologic findings showed multiple dilated lymphatic vessels, consistent with lymphangioma. After 3 months of proton pump inhibitor treatment, the symptom was relieved and the patient is currently asymptomatic and under surveillance.
Biopsy ; Endoscopy ; Endosonography ; Esophagus ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Lymphangioma ; Lymphatic Vessels ; Middle Aged ; Mucous Membrane ; Proton Pumps ; Sensation

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

OBJECTIVE: The dorsomedial cutaneous nerve (DMCN) to the great toe is a branch of the medial dorsal cutaneous nerve, which originates from the superficial peroneal nerve. The objective of this study is to standardize the electrodiagnostic technique, and to investigate the usefulness of dorsomedial cutaneous nerve (DMCN) conduction study in patients with peripheral neuropathy. METHOD: Sixty two legs in 31 normal adults and 56 legs in 28 patients with the clinical signs and symptoms as well as electrodiagnostic evidences of peripheral neuropathy were evaluated with the DMCN conduction study. The stimulating electrode was placed over the lateral 1/3 between medial and lateral malleoli and the active electrode was placed over 12 mm medial and 10 mm proximal to the extensor hallucis longus tendon over the 1st metatarsophalangeal joint. RESULTS: The mean values of DMCN conduction study in normal adults were 2.95+/-0.47 msec for onset latency, 3.58+/-0.43 msec for peak latency, 6.67+/-2.87microvolt in amplitude, and 12.96+/-1.17 cm for distance from active electrode to stimulation point. There were statistically significant differences between normal and patients groups in all parameters except the distance. CONCLUSION: A method for DMCN conduction study was introduced which could be used as a valuable technique for the early evaluation of peripheral neuropathy.
Adult ; Electrodes ; Humans ; Leg ; Metatarsophalangeal Joint ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Peroneal Nerve ; Tendons ; Toes*

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*