OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences between potential neuroanatomical sites of action of(1) a typical antipsychotic drug (haloperidol), (2) an atypical antipsychotic drug (clozapine), and (3) three combinations of both haloperidol and serotonergic agents (haloperidol+buspirone, haloperidol+cyproheptadine, haloperidol+fluoxetine) by comparing their effects on c-fos expression in the rat brain. METHODS: Twenty-four Wistar rats of male sex, weighing 300-450 g, were divided into 6 groups according to the type of the agents tested [vehicle (0.14 M acetic acid 1 ml/kg), haloperidol (1.0 mg/kg), clozapine (20 mg/kg), haloperidol+buspirone (1.0 mg/kg+1.0 mg/kg), haloperidol+cyproheptadine (1.0 mg/kg+1.0 mg/kg), haloperidol+fluoxetine (1.0 mg/kg+0.25 mg/kg)]. The brain of variously treated rat was examined 2 hours after subcutaneousely injection in the neck. The brain was removed immediately after perfusion with 4% paraformaldehyde and placed in a fresh fixative of the same solution. After 12-hr fixation, brain sections (30 mum) of the areas including the medial prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, and lateral striatum were stained by Fos immunohistochemistry, and subjected to light microscopic analytical observations. RESULTS: 1) The number of Fos-positive neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex was significantly increased in the clozapine, haloperidol+buspirone, haloperidol+cyproheptadine, and haloperidol+fluoxetine treated groups than in the control group (p<0.05). But, the haloperidol treated group shows no significant difference. 2) The number of Fos-positive neurons in the nucleus accumbens was significantly increased in the haloperidol clozapine, haloperidol+buspirone, haloperidol+cyproheptadine, haloperidol+fluoxetine treated groups than in the control group (p<0.05). 3) The number of Fos-positive neurons in the lateral striatum was significantly increased in the haloperidol, haloperidol+buspirone, haloperidol+cyproheptadine, haloperidol+fluoxetine treated groups than in the control group (p<0.05). But, the clozapine treated group shows no significant difference. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that differential expression of c-fos in rat brain induced by haloperidol, clozapine, and haloperidol combined serotonergic agents is associated with their clinical and pharmacological differences.
Acetic Acid ; Animals ; Brain* ; Clozapine* ; Haloperidol* ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Neck ; Neurons ; Nucleus Accumbens ; Perfusion ; Prefrontal Cortex ; Rats* ; Rats, Wistar ; Serotonin Agents*

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate the roughness and surface alternations of three differently blasted titanium discs treated by Nd: YVO4 Laser irradiation in different conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty commercially pure titanium discs were prepared and divided into three groups. Each group was consisted of 10 samples and blasted by ZrO2 (zirconium dioxide), Al2O3 (aluminum oxide), and RBM (resorbable blasted media). All the samples were degreased by ultrasonic cleaner afterward. Nine different conditions were established by changing scanning speed (100, 300, 500 mm/s) and repetition rate (5, 15, 35 kHz) of Nd: YVO4 Laser (Laser Pro D-20, Laserval Korea(R) Seoul, South Korea). After laser irradiation, a scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction analysis, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopic analysis, and surface roughness analysis were used to assess the roughness and surface alternations of the samples. RESULTS: According to a scanning electron microscope (SEM), titanium discs treated with laser irradiation showed characteristic patterns in contrast to the control which showed irregular patterns. According to the X-ray diffraction analysis, only Al2O3 group showed its own peak. The oxidation tendency and surface roughness of titanium were similar to the control in the energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopic analysis. The surface roughness was inversely proportional to the scanning speed, whereas proportional to the repetition rate of Nd: YVO4. CONCLUSION: The surface microstructures and roughness of the test discs were modified by the radiation of Nd: YVO4 laser. Therefore, laser irradiation could be considered one of the methods to modify implant surfaces for the enhancement of osseointegration.
Electrons ; Osseointegration ; Pilot Projects ; Surface Properties ; Titanium ; Ultrasonics ; X-Ray Diffraction

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma(EH) is a rare vascular tumor of low-grade malignancy. It was previously described as intravascular bronchioloalveolar tumor (IVBAT). But electron microscopic study and immunohistochemical staining results have proved endothelial origin. Patients are usually asymptomatic and the tumors are found incidentally on routine chest X-rays. Most patients show a slowly progressive clinical course, even though some patients occasionally die as results of respiratory failure or extrathoracic complications. Confirmative diagnosis is made through thoracoscopic or open-lung biopsy. There is still no effective therapeutic modality for pulmonary EH. We have experienced a 55-year-old woman whose simple chest x-ray film revealed bilateral multiple small nodules. The nodules were histopathologically and immunohistochemically diagnosed as primary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the lung. The possibility of metastatic disease was excluded thorough clinical, laboratory and radiological studies. Comparison of radiographic chest film taken 3 years ago showed no significant progression of the pulmonary nodular lesions. Conservative management was instituted and careful 4 months follow-up showed no significant changes.
Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemangioendothelioma, Epithelioid* ; Humans ; Lung ; Middle Aged ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Thorax ; X-Ray Film

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to learn the usefulness, cost-effectiveness and safety of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography(ITEE) during open heart surgery for congenital heart diseases. METHODS: The usefulness and safety of ITEE were assessed in 254 patients who underwent open heart surgery for congenital heart diseases from January 1, 2001 to June 30, 2003, with retrospective chart reviews and a simple relative cost analysis. RESULTS: Among 254 open heart surgery patients, ITEE was not performed in 47 cases. The majority of cases were atrial septal defect(15 cases, 32%), ventricular septal defect(16 cases, 34%), ASD and VSD(three cases, 6.4%). In the other five smaller babies(weight range 2.7-3.1 kg), the ITEE probes couldn't pass the patient's esophagus. In 207 cases, ITEE were performed without any major complications. Residual abnormalities were identified by ITEE in six cases(2.9%), requiring surgical revisions : four cases with right ventricular outflow tract pressure gradient, one case of residual mitral regurgitation and one case of residual aortic stenosis and supravalvular pulmonary stenosis. If these six cases had not directly returned to bypass for surgical revision of the initial repair at the same operation, the additional fee of reoperation after leaving operation room were estimated to be won47,496,346(won7,916.057 per patient). In contrast, the costs of performing ITEE in all open heart surgical patients(207 patients) stood to total won82,800,000(won400,000 per patient). CONCLUSION: ITEE was not considered to be a beneficial diagnostic modality in terms of cost effectiveness in this study. But, the routine use of ITEE during most open heart surgery for congenial heart defects may be warranted as it produces no major complication, improves postoperative care, and comforts surgeon's feelings.
Aortic Valve Stenosis ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Costs and Cost Analysis ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal* ; Esophagus ; Fees and Charges ; Heart ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Postoperative Care ; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Surgery

The purpose of this study is to review the validity of quantitative indices on the Evaluation of Korean Medical Schools in 1996. The data required for the indices were obtained from the 1996's edition of the Directory of Korea Medical Education and compared to the results of the evaluation. Among the quantitative indices of the evaluation the number of professors and assistants of basic medical science was the most valuable index to differentiate the better group from lesser groups of medical schools in Korea.
Education, Medical ; Korea ; Schools, Medical*

We evaluated the effects of previous pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) on the risk of obstructive lung disease. We analyzed population-based, the Second Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001. Participants underwent chest X-rays (CXR) and spirometry, and qualified radiologists interpreted the presence of TB lesion independently. A total of 3,687 underwent acceptable spirometry and CXR. Two hundreds and ninty four subjects had evidence of previous TB on CXR with no subjects having evidence of active disease. Evidence of previous TB on CXR were independently associated with airflow obstruction (adjusted odds ratios [OR] = 2.56 [95% CI 1.84-3.56]) after adjustment for sex, age and smoking history. Previous TB was still a risk factor (adjusted OR = 3.13 [95% CI 1.86-5.29]) with exclusion of ever smokers or subjects with advanced lesion on CXR. Among never-smokers, the proportion of subjects with previous TB on CXR increased as obstructive lung disease became more severe. Previous TB is an independent risk factor for obstructive lung disease, even if the lesion is minimal and TB can be an important cause of obstructive lung disease in never-smokers. Effort on prevention and control of TB is crucial in reduction of obstructive lung disease, especially in countries with more than intermediate burden of TB.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Diseases, Obstructive/*etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Questionnaires ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Risk Factors ; Spirometry ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/*complications/*epidemiology/pathology ; Young Adult

The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis, as well as the risk factors of wheezing among young adults in the Korean military. Young military conscripts in five areas completed a modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire. For subjects with current wheeze in one sample area, baseline spirometry and bronchodilator response were measured. For subjects without a significant response to bronchodilator (improvement in FEV1 of more than 200 mL and 12%), methacholine challenge tests (MCT) were also performed. Of 3,359 subjects that completed the questionnaire, 354 (10.5%) had current wheeze, 471 (14.0%) had current allergic rhinitis, and 326 (9.7%) had current eczema. Current wheeze was associated with family history of allergic disease, overweight, current smoking, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis. Of 36 subjects with current wheeze who underwent PFT with or without MCT in the Anyang area, 24 (66.7%) were confirmed to have current asthma. In conclusion, the prevalence of allergic disease in young adults of Korean military is not low, and the risk factors of wheezing include family history of allergic disease, overweight, current smoking, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis.
Adult ; Asthma/*complications/epidemiology/*immunology ; Bronchial Provocation Tests ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity/*epidemiology/*immunology ; *Military Personnel ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Respiratory Sounds/*etiology ; Risk Factors ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Hysterectomy*

In order to identify students who needs more intensive guide, we analysed the association between the results of Korean medical licensing examination(KMLE) and two different types of scholastic achievement; 4th grade score and graduation examination score. The scholastic achievement between passed and failed the KMLE at Konkuk University College of Medicine from 1995 to 1998 was investigated. First, we grouped the students into four groups according to the year they graduated. Second, we regrouped the group into two subgroups according to whether passed or failed in the KMLE. In the 4th grade score, the passed KMLE is higher than the failed from 0.49 to 0.71 and which is statistically significant. In the graduation examination score, the passed KMLE is higher than the failed from 4.9 to 9.9 and which is also statistically significant. We analyzed the degree of agreements between the results of the KMLE and the two different types of scholastic achievement. In 4th grade score, the highest degree of agreement shows 2.2 and its kappa index is 0.49. In graduation examination score, the highest degree of agreement shows 71 and its kappa index is 0.64. In conclusion, students who have lower than 2.2 in 4th grade score or lower than 71 in graduation examination score are tend to be failed the KMLE. So they need more intensive guide for the KMLE.
Humans ; Licensure*

Primary retroperitoneal mucinous cystadenocarinoma is extremely rare with only five case reported in the literature.Primary mucinous adenocarcinoma is apparent that a primary retroperitoneal process in development results in tissue susceptible to malignants degeneration. It is impossible to clarify the precise defect in embryologic growth that allows these tumors to develop. The theory of coelomic metaplasia has gained increasing support in recent years for origin of the epithelial neoplasms of the ovary, and an invagination of the same coelomic or pertioneal epithelial layer with concurrent or subsqeunt metaplasia account for retroperitoneal mucinous neoplasmsThe preoperative course of these cysts appears indolent, yet the eoveall prognosis is poor. The role of chemotherapy in the treatment of these tumors remains undrfined. colse follow-up and aggressive management based on histologic appearance are indicated to improve the outcome of the patients with retroperitoneal mucinous cystadenocarinoam.Recently, We repoorted one case of primary retroperitoneal nucinous cytadeno -carcioma. The patient was a 32 year-old female complaing a palpable mass and discomfort in the left flank. Laparotomy revealed a huge retroperitoneal mass in the presence of bilateral normal ovaries. Histologically, it was a mucinous cystic neoplasm with flankly malignat area. No ovarian issue was found din the mass.
Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; Adult ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Mucinous* ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Metaplasia ; Mucins* ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial ; Ovary ; Prognosis