No abstract available.
Chickens* ; Yolk Sac*

OBJECTIVES: The definite cause of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is still unknown. Evidences from familial, twin and segregation studies support the role of a genetic factor. There also are growing evidences indicating that OCD has specific neurochemical and neuroanatomical basis. Derived from the effectiveness of serotonin reuptake inhibitors in OCD treatment, several candidate genes related to serotonin regulation have been hypothesized to play on important role in the development of OCD. One of them is the serotonin transporter gene. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between serotonin transporter gene and OCD. METHODS: 124 OCD patients and 119 normal controls participated in this study. Genomic DNA was extracted from their blood. The genotypes and allele frequencies of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism between OCD group and control group were compared. And we investigated the association between 4 factors derived from YBOCS checklists and 5-HTTLPR polymorphism. RESULTS: In this case-control study, we could not find any association between 5-HTRLPR polymorphism and development of OCD. In OCD group, patients with L (l/s+s/s) genotype had higher scores for the religious/somatic factor than those with S genotype. CONCLUSION: In this study, there was no difference in genotype distributions of 5-HTTLPR between OCD and control groups. But, L genotype of 5-HTTLPR polymorphism had negative effects on some factors of the obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
Case-Control Studies ; Checklist ; DNA ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder* ; Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins* ; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors ; Serotonin*

OBJECTIVES: The definite cause of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is still unknown. Evidences from familial, twin and segregation studies support the role of a genetic factor. There also are growing evidences indicating that OCD has specific neurochemical and neuroanatomical basis. Derived from the effectiveness of serotonin reuptake inhibitors in OCD treatment, several candidate genes related to serotonin regulation have been hypothesized to play on important role in the development of OCD. One of them is the serotonin transporter gene. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between serotonin transporter gene and OCD. METHODS: 124 OCD patients and 119 normal controls participated in this study. Genomic DNA was extracted from their blood. The genotypes and allele frequencies of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism between OCD group and control group were compared. And we investigated the association between 4 factors derived from YBOCS checklists and 5-HTTLPR polymorphism. RESULTS: In this case-control study, we could not find any association between 5-HTRLPR polymorphism and development of OCD. In OCD group, patients with L (l/s+s/s) genotype had higher scores for the religious/somatic factor than those with S genotype. CONCLUSION: In this study, there was no difference in genotype distributions of 5-HTTLPR between OCD and control groups. But, L genotype of 5-HTTLPR polymorphism had negative effects on some factors of the obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
Case-Control Studies ; Checklist ; DNA ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder* ; Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins* ; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors ; Serotonin*

PURPOSE: Because of recent global and domestic issues regarding the safety of food, there is growing concern over food safety and interest in the country-of-origin for food ingredients from restaurants. This study was conducted to reveal the influence of consumer level of knowledge and awareness regarding restaurants and the country-of-origin labeling. METHODS: To accomplish this, a primary survey of adults aged over 20 years old was conducted to measure customers' knowledge regarding country-of-origin labeling for restaurants. Respondents were then divided into a lower group and an upper group based on their level of knowledge to evaluate significant differences between groups. A total of 437 of 460 questionnaires were analyzed. RESULTS: The average knowledge score regarding country-of-origin labeling for restaurants was 6.3 out of 10. Additionally, there were significant differences between the lower and upper group in terms of the final education level and occupation. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to develop guidelines and public relations for country-of-origin labeling of restaurants.
Adult ; Education ; Food Safety ; Humans ; Occupations ; Public Relations ; Restaurants* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVES: Significant progress has been made in understanding psychosocial, psychological, and environmental factors associated with suicide. However it is only recently that attention has been paid to the understanding of the neurobiology of suicide. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between platelet serotonin level and suicidal behavior and psychological features of the suicidal attempters. METHODS: After a suicidal attempt platelet serotonin level was measured from 21 patients and compared it with those from depression patients and normal controls. Also MMPI, HAM-D, Barratt impulsiveness scale(BIS) were done to evaluate their psychological features. RESULTS: 1) There was no significant difference in sex ratio of the suicidal attempters. 2) There was no significant difference in platelet serotonin levels among three groups. 3) The analysis of MMPI revealed that the scores of D, Hs, Pt in clinical scales were significantly higher in suicide patients and scores of D, Pa, Si were in depression patients. 4)The HAM-D score was significantly higher in depression and suicide patients, especially in depression patients. 5) The analysis of Barratt impulsiveness scale revealed that the scores of nonplanning, motor and cognitive impulsiveness scale were significantly higher in suicide patients. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in platelet serotonin levels among three groups. However the analysis of psychological features revealed significant differences. Therefore we concluded that psychological examinations are benefit to evaluate the suicidal tendency.
Blood Platelets* ; Depression ; Humans ; MMPI ; Neurobiology ; Serotonin* ; Sex Ratio ; Suicide ; Weights and Measures

OBJECTIVE: To report an efficacy of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist administration after freezing of all embryos for treatment of early type ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). METHODS: In 10 women who developed fulminant early type OHSS after freezing of all embryos, GnRH antagonist (cetrorelix 0.25 mg per day) was started at the time of hospitalization and continued for 2 to 4 days. Fluid therapy and drainage of ascites was performed as usual. RESULTS: Early type OHSS was successfully treated without any complication. At hospitalization, the median (95% confidence interval [CI]) of the right and the left ovarian diameter was 10.0 cm (7.6 to 12.9 cm) and 8.5 cm (7.5 to 12.6 cm). After completion of GnRH antagonist administration, it was decreased to 7.4 cm (6.2 to 10.7 cm) (P=0.028) and 7.8 cm (5.7 to 12.2 cm) (P=0.116), respectively. The median duration of hospital stay was 6 days (3 to 11 days). Trans-abdominal drainage of ascites was performed in 2 women and drainage of ascites by percutaneous indwelling catheter was performed in 4 women. No side effect of GnRH antagonist was noted. CONCLUSION: GnRH antagonist administration appears to be safe and effective for women with fulminant early type OHSS after freezing all embryos. Optimal dose or duration of GnRH antagonist should be further determined.
Ascites ; Catheters, Indwelling ; Drainage ; Embryonic Structures ; Female ; Fluid Therapy ; Freezing ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone* ; Gonadotropins* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome*

No abstract available.
Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome* ; Herpesvirus 4, Human* ; Humans

BACKGROUND: Intravascular ultrasound(IVUS) provides high resolution cross-sectional images of the vessels and permits the quantiative and qualitative assessment of coronary artery disease. Stent is a figid endovascular lattice that effectively prevents elastic recoil at treated sites, but in-stent restenois is a major limitation. The purpose of thecurrent study is to assess the contribution of neointimal hyperplasia for in-stent restenosis and the distribution and morphological characteristics of neointimal hyperplasia in deployed stents. METHODS: Thirty patients(male 25 & female 5;31 leions) deployed with intracoronary stents underwent intravascular ultrasound imaging at follow-up at least 4 months after stenting ([mean+/-SD] 8.3+/-2.9 months). RESULTS: 1) In-stent restenosis occurered in 15 lesions out of 31 lesions at follow-up coronary angiography. There was no difference in clinical characteristics between the restenotic and the non-restenotic groups. 2) There was no difference in angiographic profiles between two groups. Deployed stents were as follows ; 16 Palmaz-Schatz(P-S) stents, 12 Gianturco-Roubin(G-R) stents, 2 Cordis stents, and I Microstent II. Average diameter of stents in the restenotic and the non-restenotic groups were 3.07+/-0.26mm and 3.16+/-0.30mm, respectively(p=0.38). 3) There was no difference of stent cross-sectional areas(CSA) between the non-restenotic and the restenotic groups(p=0.476), but luminal CSA of the restenotic group was significantly smaller than that of the non-restenotic group(p=0.006). 4) In the restenotic group, there were no differences of the maximal and the minimal diameters of stents, and the mean CSAs of stents smong proxiaml, mid and distal segments. But the mean CSA of neointimal hyperplasia at the mid segment was larger than that at the distal segment(p<0.05). There was a tendency thatthe mean CSA of neointimal hyperplasia at the mid segment was larger than that at the proximal segment(p=0.187). These findings were the same in the non-restenotic group. 5) In the restenotic group deployed with P-S stents, there were no differences of the maximal and the minimal diameters of stents, and the mean cross-sectional areas(CSA) of stents between each segment. But, the mean CSA of neointimal hyperplasia at the mid segment was larger than that at the distal segment(p<0.005) and there was a tendency that the mean CSA of neointimal hyperplasia at the mid segment was larger than that at the proximal segment(p=0.354). 6) In the morphology of neointimal hyperplasia of the restenotic group, eccentric form(77%) was more common than concentric form(22%). Neointimal hyperplasia occurred in focal or diffuse patterns(7 versus 8 cases). CONCLUSIONS: In-stent restenosis resulted from neointimal hyperplasia which almost mainly occurred eccentrically at the mid segment of stents and in focal or diffuse patterns. Intravascular ultrasound imaging was a useful method for recognition of distribution and morphological characteristics of neointimal hyperplasia at follow-up of deployed stents.
Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperplasia* ; Phenobarbital ; Stents* ; Ultrasonography*

PURPOSE: Status epilepticus(SE) is a pediatric and neurologic emergency associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Prompt recognition and management are needed for successful outcomes. We evaluated, clinical manifestations, treatment and prognosis of the patients whose first seizure attacks were presented as SE. METHODS: According to the department of pediatrics and the emergency room in Inha University Medical Center, there were a total of 25 children between 1 month and 5 years old who were diagnosed as status epilepticus from July 1996 to June 2002. Also, their medical records were reviewed and analyzed interms of age distribution, accompaning diseases, the types and duration of convulsion, medications, EEG and MRI findings and prognosis. RESULTS: Twenty-five cases were studied. The mean age at the time of the diagnosis was 20+/-1.6 months and 80% of the patients were less than 3 years old. The most common type of the status epilepticus was generalized tonic clonic seizure comprising 15 cases(60%). 64% of the patients were symptomatic:fever(40%), CNS infection(20%), ischemic injury(4%) while 36% were idiopathic. Seizure attacks were terminated within an hour in seventeen patients(68%) and they controlled by one antiepileptic drug in thirteen patients(52%). Of the 20 EEGs, abnormal findings were shown in 13 cases(65%); namely, electrical seizure(30%), abnormal background(30%), and focal epileptiform discharge(5%). Of the 19 brain MRIs, abnormal findings were shown in 9 cases(47%). CONCLUSION: The children whose first seizure attack were presented as SE were less than 3 years old. The prognosis is good in that most of the seizure attacks were terminated within an hour and controlled by one epileptic drug. However those seizure attacks with longer duration, multiple antiepileptic druge and underlying causeare had poor prognosis.
Academic Medical Centers ; Age Distribution ; Brain ; Child* ; Child, Preschool ; Diagnosis ; Electroencephalography ; Emergencies ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Pediatrics ; Prognosis ; Seizures* ; Status Epilepticus*

Gitelman syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive hereditary salt-losing tubulopathy, that manifests as hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis, hypomagnesemia, and hypocalciuria. It is caused by mutations in the solute carrier family 12(sodium/chloride transporters), member 3 (SLC12A3) gene encoding the thiazide-sensitive sodium chloride cotransporter channel (NCCT) in the distal convoluted tubule of the kidney. It is associated with muscle weakness, cramps, tetany, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and growth retardation. The incidence of growth retardation, the exact cause of which is unknown, is lower than that of Bartter syndrome. Herein, we discuss the case of an overweight 12.9-year-old girl of short stature presenting with hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis. The patient, on the basis of detection of a heterozygous mutation in the SLC12A3 gene and poor growth hormone (GH) responses in two provocative tests, was diagnosed with Gitelman syndrome combined with complete GH deficiency. GH treatment accompanied by magnesium oxide and potassium replacement was associated with a good clinical response.
Abdominal Pain ; Alkalosis ; Bartter Syndrome ; Diarrhea ; Gitelman Syndrome ; Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kidney ; Magnesium Oxide ; Muscle Cramp ; Muscle Weakness ; Overweight ; Potassium ; Sodium Chloride Symporters ; Tetany ; Vomiting