BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between yoga and autonomic nervous system in women with metabolic syndrome. METHODS: A randomized controlled study was performed in participants recruited from a public center for managing chronic diseases located in Gyeong-gi Province. The 39 women participants diagnosed with metabolic syndrome were randomly assigned to the 12-week yoga exercise group (n=22) or the wait-listed control group (n=17). Biochemical laboratory tests and heart rate variability were measured before and after the 12-week program. RESULTS: In post-menopausal women, the low frequency power of frequency domain significantly decreased in the yoga exercise group compared to the control group (P=0.07). On the time domain of heart rate variability and metabolic syndrome components, there were no significant differences between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Sympathetic activity was decreased in post-menopausal women with metabolic syndrome who practiced yoga. Our results suggest that yoga might be beneficial in improving the autonomic nervous system in post-menopausal women with metabolic syndrome.
Autonomic Nervous System ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Heart Rate* ; Humans ; Yoga*

In this study, analysis was made upon 60 rapes that had been referred to Forensic Mental Hospital for forensic evaluation during three years between 1. January. 1995 and 31. December.1997 (1) In sex offender's age, 30-39 years old were the most, 48.3% and, in victim's age, 10-19 years old were the most, 36.7%, and 50% of sex offenders were unemployed, and 30% were high school graduates and 68.3% were single. (2) 48.3% of offenders had no history of inpatient hospitalization. In case of inpatient hospitalization, inpatient duration of between 6 months and 1 year was the most, 16.7%. 43.3% of sex offenders had history of previous offenses and 53.4% had no history of previous offenses. Thirty percent of sex offenders were found out as victim's neighbor, and 28.3% were stranger to victims. (3) In offense time, 12:00-18:00 was the most, 36.7% and in offense season, spring was the most, 36.7% and 35% occurred at victim's residence. (4) 98.3% of sex offenses were done by one offender and 96.7% of victims were raped alone. 36.7% of victims were students. (5) 56.7% of sex offenses were rapes only, but 31.7% of sexual offenses were accompanied with violence and injury. 21.7% of sex offenders were diagnosed in alcohol-related disorders, and forensic evaluations showed that 58.3% of sex offenders were feeble-minded.
Alcohol-Related Disorders ; Criminals ; Hospitalization ; Hospitals, Psychiatric ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Rape* ; Seasons ; Sex Offenses ; Violence

No abstract available.
Mesenteric Artery, Superior*

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: To compare the outcome of percutaneous vertebroplasty (VP), with kyphoplasty, in the treatment of osteoporotic painful vertebral compression fractures (VCF). SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: There is much controversy relating to the treatment of painful osteoporotic VCF. Recent analytical data exists on VP and kyphoplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A consecutive group of patients, undergoing VP and kyphoplasty at our institution, between July 2000 and November 2002, were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 23 patients underwent 25 VP procedures under local anesthesia, and 8 underwent 8 kyphoplasty procedures, 3 under general and 5 under local anesthesia. A radiological assessment was achieved by the percentage of height restored, using both the preoperative and postoperative radiographs. The Visual analog scale (VAS) scores, obtained pre and postoperatively were used for the clinical assessment. The activity levels were assessed preoperatively, after discharge and at the last follow up period, by the ambulatory stati. RESULTS: The VP restored 27.62% (anterior*) and 30.26% (middle**) of the lost height. The kyphoplasty restored 35.52% (anterior*) and 53.43% (middle**) of the lost height (P=0.3334*, P=0.0264**). The postoperative pain was improved in all patients after both procedures. The postoperative VAS score was 3.826 after the VP and 2.875 after the kyphoplasty (P=0.5647). The activity levels were improved in all patients after both procedures. CONCLUSIONS: The kyphoplasty was more efficient in restoring the middle vertebral body height than the VP in the treatment of osteoporotic painful VCF. However, both procedures showed similar clinical improvements in the pain and restoration of the anterior vertebral body height in the treatment of painful osteoporotic VCF. Both kyphoplasty and VP safely increased the vertebral body height, decreased the acute back pain and quickly returned geriatric patients to higher activity levels, resulting in an increased independence and quality of life.
Anesthesia, Local ; Back Pain ; Body Height ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fractures, Compression* ; Humans ; Kyphoplasty* ; Osteoporosis ; Pain, Postoperative ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Vertebroplasty* ; Visual Analog Scale

Pericardial defect is a rare congenital cardiac disorder. Most patients were asymptomatic but some patients with partial pericardial defect occasionally complain acute symptoms such as angina, syncope, rarely sudden cardiac death. So, differential diagnosis with other ischemic or structural heart disease is crucial in the management of such patients. But there is no consistently successful diagnostic method. In the past, artificial diagnostic pneumothorax was used to document the absence of pericardium. However, it is not easily accepted due to excess morbidity and failure rate. Recently, echocardiography and more often, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging are used to confirm the diagnosis. We experienced a 52 years old male patient with atypical chest pain, who was diagnosed as complete left pericardial defect with computed tomography.
Chest Pain ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Echocardiography ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pericardium ; Pneumothorax ; Syncope

Coronary arteriovenous fistulas (CAVF) are rare malformations of the coronary circulation. They are seen in approximately 0.1% to 0.2% of all patients undergoing selective coronary angiography. We experienced a 58-years old male patient with bilateral coronary AV fistulas whoes diagnosis was confirmed by selective coronary angiography.
Arteriovenous Fistula* ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Circulation ; Diagnosis ; Fistula ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

This study covers comparison and examination of the clinical results of visual acuity recovery, astigmatic change and comparison of patients who underwented extracapsular cataract extraction(ECCE) with insertion of posterior chamber lens(PCL) or phacoemulsification(PE) with insertion of posterior chamber lens. Among 1446 patients who underwented ECCE with PCL or PE with PCL from April. 1983 to December, 1987. 623 patients being followed up their conditions during 6 months were selected. Visual acuity, astigmatism and keratometry were followed up at preoperative and postoperative period of 1 week, 1 month, 2 months, and 6 months. The results were as follows. 1. In PE with PCL, the recovery of visual acuity is earlier than in ECCE with PCL. 2. In PE with PCL, the post operative change of astigmatic axis to the against the rule is more rapid than in ECCE with PCL. 3. In PE with PCL, recovery of astigmatism is earlier than in ECCE with PCL and the amount of astigmatism is lower than in ECCE with PCL.
Astigmatism ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Cataract Extraction* ; Cataract* ; Humans ; Phacoemulsification ; Postoperative Period ; Visual Acuity

Objective: Various patient placement criteria (PPC) have been developed to address alcohol use disorder (AUD), which has a high relapse rate and imposes substantial socioeconomic costs. Although research has shown PPC to be an effective tool, evidence supporting the Korean-PPC (K-PPC) is insufficient. This paper investigated whether treatment matching with the K-PPC was effective, based on variables related to AUD. Methods: In total, 524 participants were evaluated using the 6 dimensions of the K-PPC and levels of care (LoC) were recommended based on the results. Participants whose treatment matched with the recommended LoC were classified into the matched group, and those whose treatment did not match were classified into the mismatched group. Subsequently, treatment was planned according to the determined LoC, and a total of 3 follow-up evaluations were conducted at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. Results: There was no significant difference in the follow-up rate between the K-PPC matched group and the mismatched group. Of the variables measured by the 6 dimensions of the K-PPC, alcohol-related variables, depression, insight, and biomedical outcomes showed the most significant results (especially alcohol-related variables) from the baseline evaluation to the 6-month follow-up. In addition, the average adherence to the treatment program in the 6-month period was found to be higher in the matched group than in the mismatched group. Conclusion The K-PPC could be effective for placing patients and providing treatment by matching patient characteristics. Enhancing treatment program retention can also have a positive effect on clinical outcomes.

PURPOSE: To explore the effect of recombinant human EGF on the proliferation and survival of human fibroblast cell lines following irradiation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fibroblast was originated human skin and primary cultured. The trypan blue stain assay and MTT assay were used to study the proliferative effects of EGF on human fibroblast cell lines in vitro. An incubation of fibroblasts with rhEGF for 24 hours immediately after irradiation was counted everyday. Cell cycle distributions were analyzed by FACS analysis. RESULTS: Number of fibroblast was significantly more increased rhEGF (1.0 nM, 10 nM, 100 nM, 1,000 nM) treated cell than control after 8 Gy irradiation. Most effective dose of rhEGF was at 160 nM. These survival differences were maintained at 1 week later. Proportion of S phase was significantly increased on rhEGF treated cells. CONCLUSION: rhEGF cause increased fibroblast proliferation following irradiation. We expect that rhEGF was effective for radiation induced wound healing.
Cell Cycle ; Cell Line* ; Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Fibroblasts* ; Humans* ; S Phase ; Skin ; Trypan Blue ; Wound Healing

Keratoacanthoma is a rapidly growing tumor that histologically resembles squamous cell carcinoma. Surgical excision is a desirable therapeutic option, but several other treatment modalities are available. We report on two cases of keratoacanthoma that were treated with imiquimod 5% cream. Imiquimod was applied daily for the first 6 or 7 days, and then reduced to alternate days according to the tolerance and erythema severity of the patient. In both patients, the tumors fully regressed after five weeks of treatment.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Erythema ; Humans ; Keratoacanthoma*