OBJECTIVES: This study examined the selective deficits of executive function in patients with mild traumatic brain injury that in normal range of general intelligence level and aimed to analysis of the correlation between K-WAIS result and executive function. METHODS: 59 subjects were included in this study, who were diagnosed as mild traumatic brain injury(MTBI) and they have visited in neuropsychiatric department of Wonkwang University Hospital during from March, 2005 to September, 2010. For measurement of general intelligence quotient, the Korean-Wechsler Adults Intelligence Scale(K-WAIS) was administered and for measurement of executive intelligence quotient(EIQ), Executive Intelligence Test(EXIT) was administered. RESULTS: Of patients, 50.8% included at abnormal EIQ group. The patients of abnormal EIQ showed poorer full scale IQ(FIQ), performance IQ(PIQ) and in subscale that picture arrangement, digit symbol, digit span, block design, object assembly and comprehension were significantly different. In terms of relationships between K-WAIS and EIQ, FIQ and PIQ have positive correlation with EIQ. And in subscale, picture arrangement, digit symbol, digit span, block design, object assembly and comprehension show positive correlation with EIQ. CONCLUSION: This study suggest that MTBI patients with have normal range of general intelligence level may have deficit of executive function is common. The decline of FIQ, PIQ and some subscales of K-WAIS may suggest executive dysfunction in MTBI patients.
Adult ; Brain ; Brain Injuries ; Comprehension ; Executive Function ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Reference Values ; Wechsler Scales

No abstract available.

Cardiovascular diseases have been the most serious threat to life and health. The socioeconomic ramifications of heart disease have long been a source of vexing legal as well as medical problems with no easy resolution as yet in hand. Heart weight, one of the important factors for the diagnosis of cardiomegaly and various heart diseases, shows extreme variability according to the height, weight, age, sex, nutritional status of individuals as well as other various factors. The purpose of this investigation was to find a practical method for calculating expected normal range of heart weight in a given individual. The study was performed on 259 autopsy cases of normal Korean men and women, consisting of 123 men and 136 women in age from newborn to 77 years old. Height, body weight, and heart weight were measured and the body surface area was calculated by height (cm)0.725 x weight (kg)0.425 x 71.84 and height (cm)0.7763 x weight (kg)0.4081 x 71.84 in men and women, respectively. The results showed that the mean heart weight of men and women older than 20 years old were 316.20 +/- 51.15 g (n=96) and 275.87 +/- 44.69 g (n=108), respectively. Heart weight was gradually increased according to the age. The body weight (men: r=0.81, women: r=0.84) and body surface area (men: r=0.83, women: r=0.83) were better univariate predictors of normal heart weight than body height (men: r=0.78, women: r=0.75) and age (men: r=0.42, women: r=0.57). No significant difference was found in predictive precision between body weight and body surface area. Since the body surface area was calculated from body weight and height, measuring the body weight was essential for calculating expected normal range of heart weight in a given individual, and calculation of expected normal range of heart weight using body weight was simpler method than using body surface area.
Aged ; Autopsy ; Body Height ; Body Surface Area* ; Body Weight* ; Cardiomegaly ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Hand ; Heart Diseases ; Heart* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Nutritional Status ; Reference Values ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVES: This study compared attitudes toward antipsychotic treatment according to awareness of the name of their illness in patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: Information on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, including awareness of the importance of antipsychotic treatment, was obtained through a self-report questionnaire. The Drug Attitude Inventory (DAI) was administered. The data were compared according to awareness of the name of their illness. RESULTS: The study analyzed data for 199 patients with schizophrenia. Of these, 115 patients (57.8%) were aware that their illness was called schizophrenia, while 84 patients (42.2%) knew it by their psychotic symptoms or as another mental illness, such as depression. The patients aware of the name of their illness had significantly longer durations of illness and higher scores on the DAI. They were significantly more likely to have stopped taking medication on their own accord and to agree with the importance of antipsychotic treatment. Statistical significance was sustained in a logistic regression analysis after adjusting for the duration of illness and study site, except for the DAI score, which had borderline significance (p=0.055). In subjects with duration of illness > or =5 years, patients aware of the name of their illness had significantly higher scores on the DAI. CONCLUSION: Awareness of the name of their illness was associated with awareness of the importance of, and a positive attitude toward, antipsychotic treatments in patients. Psycho-education, including telling the patient the correct name of his or her illness, might be needed for maintaining antipsychotic treatment in patients with chronic schizophrenia.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Depression ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Schizophrenia

BACKGROUND: Though its cause has not been well established, premature ejaculation is the most prevalent form of male sexual dysfunction. Some recent studies suggest that penile hypersensitivity and hyperexcitability, earlier excitation of the sacral reflex arc, and abnormality with peripheral and central afferent nerve conduction pathways, are related to premature ejaculation. METHODS: The bulbocavernous reflex latency (BCRL) test and dorsal nerve somatosensory evoked potential (DNSEP) test were done in 15 normal subjects (mean age: 38.2 years) and 30 premature ejaculation patients (mean age: 40.2 years) without history of neurological disorders nor history of medication which influences the nervous system. RESULTS: The mean latency of BCR was shortened significantly in patients with premature ejaculation (33.1+/-3.08 msec) than in the control group (37.2+/-3.95 msec)(P<0.01). However, there were no significant differences in latency and amplitude of DNSEP tests between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our results, the earlier excitation of the sacral reflex arc might be related to premature ejaculation. (J Korean Neurol Assoc 19(5):494~497, 2001)
Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory* ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Male ; Nervous System ; Nervous System Diseases ; Neural Conduction ; Premature Ejaculation* ; Reflex*

BACKGROUND: Cortical hyperexcitability is proposed to be the putative basis for the physiological disturbances in migraine. Recent studies have demonstrated that divalproex sodium effectively prevents migraine. The cortical silent period (CSP) elicited by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) reflects the cortical inhibition of the central motor pathway. METHODS: We studied the CSP of both first dorsal interossei muscles evoked by TMS in 15 migraine patients and 15 normal subjects. As a prophylactic therapy, 15 migraine patients were treated with divalproex sodium 500~750 mg/day. After 3 months, we studied the CSP in migraine patients for the purpose of comparing with results before medication. RESULTS: The CSP was shorter in migraine patients than in controls (135.8+/-27.8 msec vs 203.7+/-32.2 msec, p<0.001). After treatment with divalproex sodium, the CSP was significantly prolonged in migraine patients (196.9+/-31.0msec, p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The shortened CSP in migraine patients suggests increased excitability of the cortical neuron in migraine. The prolonged CSP after medication in migraine patients suggests that the divalproex sodium may play a role in the prophylaxis of migraine by decreasing cortical neuronal hyperexcitability. (J Korean Neurol Assoc 19(5):489~493, 2001)
Humans ; Migraine Disorders* ; Muscles ; Neurons ; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ; Valproic Acid*

In the metastatic CNS lymphoma, parenchymal involvement, especially in both temporal lobes, is rare. A 54-year-old man complained of memory impairment and personality changes that began two weeks prior. He had ulcerated skin lesions and multiple subcutaneous nodules. Brain MRI revealed a diffuse low in T1WI, high in T2WI, and contrast-enhancement in both temporal lobes. Treatment was done with acyclovir and dexamethasone, and symptoms were improved. One week later, symptoms were aggravated and a brain biopsy was performed. The result was a peripheral T-cell lymphoma. (J Korean Neurol Assoc 19(4):417~422, 2001)
Acyclovir ; Biopsy ; Brain ; Dexamethasone ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, T-Cell* ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Memory ; Middle Aged ; Skin ; T-Lymphocytes* ; Temporal Lobe* ; Ulcer

PURPOSE: To evaluate the classification of punctal stenosis based on the shape of the external punctum, clinical characteristics and histopathologic features. METHODS: Patients who experienced tearing and were diagnosed with punctal stenosis were evaluated in this study. Punctal stenosis was classified according to the shape of the lower external punctum, which included membranous type, slit type, horseshoe type, and pinpoint type. Tear meniscus height, 2% fluorescein dye disappearance test and lacrimal pathway irrigation were measured or performed. For treatment, a punctal snip operation and silicone tube placement were performed, and the peripunctal histopathological findings were evaluated. RESULTS: Punctal stenosis was classified into four types: membranous type (17 eyes, 21.5%), slit type (11 eyes, 13.9%), horseshoe type (25 eyes, 31.6%), and pinpoint type (26 eyes, 32.9%). The tear meniscus was significantly higher, and the 2% fluorescein dye disappeared significantly more slowly in the punctal stenosis group. However, correlation of the tear meniscus height and 2% fluorescein dye disappearance test with the punctum shape was not statistically significant. A history of previous chemotherapy was significantly associated with the occurrence of punctal stenosis, especially the membranous type (p < 0.05). Histopathologic evaluation of the punctum showed differences between the punctum types. Pinpoint puncta exhibited a high density of muscle fibers, while they were faintly visible in the membranous type. CONCLUSIONS: Acquired punctal stenosis has various shapes, and the major types of stenotic puncta exhibited unique histopathologic features. Punctal stenosis and its pathophysiology may be related to multiple factors, such as age and systemic 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy history.
Classification* ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Drug Therapy ; Fluorescein ; Fluorouracil ; Humans ; Lacrimal Apparatus ; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases* ; Silicon ; Silicones ; Tears

Most intracranial meningiomas present on the C-T as typical features with homogeneous, occasionally lobulated mass of density equal or greater than of surrounding brain tissue. After contrast injection, there is uniform and homogeneous enhancement in the density. Infrequently a significant number present as atypical features which are regional inhomogenecity of tumor mass on C-T and common source of error in the diagnosis of meningioma. The authors reviewed 25 consecutive meningiomas, all confirmed pathologically. 7 cases have been encountered as atypical features on the C-T. Among them, 2 cases of peritumoral low density were diagnosed as meningioma with C-T only. 5 cases(2 cases of peritumoral cyst, 2 cases of intratumoral cyst, 1 case of peritumoral bleeding) were misdiagnosed initially as malignant lesion based on C-T findings. Those C-T patterns have been found to correlate with certain histologic and morphologic alternation in tumor anatomy. Close correlation with pathological findings of tumor necrosis, cystic changes and hemorrhage was noted.
Brain ; Diagnosis ; Hemorrhage ; Meningioma* ; Necrosis

PURPOSE: We evaluated the effect of tamsulosin for the short-term treatment of urinary stones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred forty-seven patients who were diagnosed with urinary stones were enrolled in this prospective, randomized multicenter study. The treatment and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) group (Group 1, n=115) was given diclofenac sodium 100 mg plus tamsulosin 0.2 mg for 1 week. The control and SWL group (Group 2, n=92) was given diclofenac sodium for 1 week. The treatment and no SWL group (Group 3, n=19) was treated the same as Group 1. The control and no SWL group (Group 4, n=21) was given diclofenac sodium only. Patients in Groups 3 and 4 did not want to take SWL treatment. The size of the stone, expulsion rate according to stone location and ESWL machines, changes in pain score, and distance of stone migration when expulsion of the stone failed were compared among the groups. RESULTS: There were no differences in the 4 groups in sex or stone size. The stone expulsion rate of lower ureter stones in group 1 (59.6%) was significantly higher than in group 2 (30.8%) (p=0.01). The distance of stone migration in group 3 was longer than that in group 4 (5.63+/-5.48 cm compared with 0.33+/-0.68 cm; p=0.002). Although the difference was not significant in the SWL groups, the distance of stone migration in group 1 was longer than that in group 2 (7.08+/-6.9 cm compared with 5.46+/-7.4 cm; p>0.05). There were no significant differences in changes on the pain scale among the groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that adjunctive medical therapy for 1 week with tamsulosin after SWL increases the stone expulsion rate of lower ureteral stones and increases the distance of stone migration in case of failure of stone expulsion.
Diclofenac ; Humans ; Lithotripsy ; Prospective Studies ; Shock ; Sulfonamides ; Ureter ; Urinary Calculi