No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant* ; Streptococcal Infections*

Backgrounds: Evaluating quality of life (QoL) in people with dementia has become increasingly valued, especially in assessing the effectiveness of interventions or making treatment decisions. However, limited information exists regarding dementia patients' QoL in Korea. The aim of our investigation was to determine if the severity of dementia could affect the QoL of patients with dementia and the relationship between QoL score and the scores of other cognitive domains, especially, the attention. METHODS: Two hundred and sixty eight subjects with varying degree of cognitive dysfunction underwent assessment of Korean-Mini Mental Status Examination (K-MMSE), digit span, trail making test (TMT), Korean-Instrumental Activity Daily Living (K-IADL), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDR), attention and their QoL using standardized neuropsychological tests and questionnaires. We administered the QoL in Alzheimer's disease (QoL-AD) scale and attention questionnaire to the subjects. RESULTS: QoL-AD score had a positive correlation with K-MMSE score (r=0.38, p<0.0001) while it showed a negative correlation with GDS (r=-0.62 p<0.0001). QoL-AD score also showed a significant correlation with attention status of the patients with dementia (r=0.48, p<0.0001). QoL-AD score for patient appeared to be affected by educational factors. CONCLUSIONS: QoL-AD may be used as an effective tool to assess QoL as well as cognitive functions of patients with varying degree of dementia.
Alzheimer Disease ; Dementia ; Depression ; Humans ; Korea ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Trail Making Test

No abstract available.
Acupuncture ; Sarcoidosis

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to evaluate the possibility of prolonged culture of human embryonic stem cells (hESC; SNUhES2) on human amniotic fluid cells (hAFC), which had been storaged after karyotyping. METHOD: The hAFC was prepared for feeder layer in the presence of Chang's medium and STO medium (90% DMEM, 10% FBS) at 37degrees C in a 5% CO2 in air atmosphere. Prior to use as a feeder layer, hAFC was mitotically inactivated by mitomycin C. The hESCs on hAFC were passaged mechanically every seven days with ES culture medium (80% DMEM/F12, 20% SR, bFGF). RESULTS: The hAFC feeder layer support the growth of undifferentiated state of SNUhES2 for at least 59 passages thus far. SNUhES2 colonies on hAFC feeder appeared slightly angular and flatter shape as compared with circular and thicker colonies observed with STO feeder layer and showed higher level with complete undifferentiation in seven days. Like hESC cultured on STO feeders, SNUhES2 grown on hAFC expressed normal karyotype, positive for alkaline phosphatase activity, high telomerase activity, Oct-4, SSEA-3, SSEA-4, Tra-1-60 and Tra-1-81 and formed embryoid bodies (EBs). CONCLUSION: The hAFC supports undifferentiated growth of hESC. Therefore, these results may help to provide a clinically practicable method for expansion of hESC for cell therapies.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Amniotic Fluid* ; Atmosphere ; Embryoid Bodies ; Embryonic Stem Cells* ; Feeder Cells ; Female ; Humans* ; Karyotype ; Karyotyping ; Mitomycin ; Telomerase

Cysts of the adrenal glands are uncommon and present difficult problems in differential diagnosis. In autopsy studies, the incidence of adrenal cysts is ranges from 0.064% to 0.18%. Recently, we have experienced a 22-year-old female patient with spontaneous hemorrhagic pseudocyst of adrenal gland without known cause, presenting symptoms of nausea, epigastric discomfort and intermittent pain of right upper abdomen. In clinical presentation, abdominal ultrasonogram and computerized tomogram suggest cystic degeneration of malignant pheochromocytoma, but screening hormonal evaluation was normal. Selective adrenal venous sampling, adrenal scintigram and pathologic examination were not compatible with the functioning adrenal cortical or medullary adenoma/carcinoma, the mass results in spantaneous hemorrhagic necrosis and cystic degeneratio#n of adrenal gland. The authors reported a case of spontaneous hemorrhagic pseudocyst of adrenal gland, which was successfully resected by laparoscopic excision with reviews of the literatures.
Abdomen ; Adrenal Glands* ; Autopsy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mass Screening ; Nausea ; Necrosis ; Pheochromocytoma* ; Ultrasonography ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: Although Bednar's aphthae are common and regress spontaneously, these lesions may lead to feeding intolerance and are often misdiagnosed, rendering examinations useless. This study sheds new light on the clinical features of Bednar's aphthae. METHODS: Sixteen neonates and infants were newly diagnosed with Bednar's aphthae via routine health check-ups in an outpatient clinic. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed, and the following parameters were analyzed; sex, gestational age, birth weight, mode of delivery, and perinatal problems. A physical examination was carried out during the next outpatient visit to examine the healing process and check for the existence of scars or complications. RESULTS: Initial presentation included changes in feeding habits (n=10), longer feeding time, reduced intake, and increased irritability. In 6 patients, Bednar's aphthae were discovered incidentally, without prior symptoms. Feeding posture and method of feeding are important causes of Bednar's aphthae. Eleven patients were fed in a horizontal position, whereas 5 patients were fed in a semiseated position. Fifteen patients were bottle-fed, whereas 1 patient was exclusively breastfed. After correcting the feeding position, the ulcerative lesions disappeared within 1 month of diagnosis. During the follow-up period, lesions did not recur in any of the patients. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that Bednar's aphthae are caused by mechanical pressure. A diagnosis of Bednar's aphthae should be considered when lesions are found on the palate of infants and when symptoms seem to be feeding related. Proper education of parents can both treat Bednar's aphthae and easily prevent its recurrence.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Birth Weight ; Cicatrix ; Diagnosis ; Education ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn ; Medical Records ; Mouth Mucosa ; Outpatients ; Palate ; Parents ; Physical Examination ; Posture ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomatitis, Aphthous* ; Ulcer

Anticipatory dementia is related to anxiety, which is a clinical predictor of early conversion to Alzheimer's disease. The Fear of Alzheimer's Disease Scale (FADS) is a reliable and valid instrument to address anticipatory dementia. The aim of the present investigation was to develop the Korean version of the Fear of Alzheimer's Disease Scale (K-FADS) and to verify its reliability and validity. We developed the K-FADS to consist of 30 items with total scores ranging from 0 to 120, as in the original FADS. One hundred eight healthy volunteer participants, drawn from 3 different university hospitals, were evaluated. The K-FADS revealed good reliability (Cronbach alpha=0.96) and good validity as compared to the Korean version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form (r=0.242, P=0.013). Test-retest reliability was excellent, as the intra-class correlation coefficient comparing the retest to test was 0.98 (95% confidence interval, 0.96-0.99). Our results show that the K-FADS is a suitable and valuable scale to assess anticipatory dementia in elderly Koreans.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alzheimer Disease/*diagnosis ; *Anticipation, Psychological ; Anxiety ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Dementia/*diagnosis ; Demography ; Fear ; Female ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Internal-External Control ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea ; Translations

Authors have studied photopic and scotopic flash EPGs for 19 control subjects and 20 patients with Parkinson's disease before and after various anti-Parkinsonian therapy. The following fingings were observed 1. There was no significant difference in implicit time of photopic and scotopic a and b waves between the control and the Parkinsonian groups(P(t)>0.05). 2 Amplitudes of photopic and scotopic a and b-waves were smaller in Parkinsonian group during the pre-medication therapy than in control group(P(t)<0.05) however those of photopic a-and b- waves and scotopic b-wave were normalized with anti-Parkinsonian therapy(P(t)<0.01). 3 Parkinsonian patients treated with dopa preparations showed the significant increases of amplitde of scotopic b wave(P(t)<0.001) but those treated with anticholinergics, Amantadine or Bromocryptine did not(P(t1>0.05). 4. Compared with that of tremor predominant Parkinsonism the amplitudes of photopic and scotopic a-and b-waves were small in patients with akineto-rigidity(P(t)<0.01). Therefore it is concluded that the dopaminergic changes in retinal cells are responsible for producing b wave as well as a wave. So clinically flash EFGs can. Be used beneficially in treating Parkinsonian patients in view of choosing the anti-Parkinsonian drugs and monitoring the effectiveness of therapy.
Amantadine ; Bromocriptine ; Cholinergic Antagonists ; Dihydroxyphenylalanine ; Humans ; Parkinson Disease* ; Parkinsonian Disorders ; Retinaldehyde ; Tremor

Purpose: This descriptive study compared the perceived parental stress levels between parents with very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs) and nurses in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods: In total, 83 parents of VLBWIs and 78 NICU nurses were enrolled. Data were collected with the Parental Stress Scale (PSS) and analyzed using the t-test and analysis of variance in SAS version 9.4. Results: The average PSS score was 3.31 among parents and 3.45 among nurses. The stress score was significantly higher among nurses with children (t=2.46, p=.016) and senior nurses (t=2.12, p=.037). There was a significant difference in the stress score according to parents' education (t=3.29, p=.002) and occupation (F=3.14, p=.049) in the sights and sounds subscale. Mothers had significantly higher stress scores than fathers in the parental role alterations subscale (t=2.32, p=.023). Parental stress scores were higher than those perceived by nurses in the infant's appearance and behaviors subscale for breathing patterns (t=2.95, p=.004), followed by jerky/ restless behavior (t=2.70, p=.008). Conclusion Nurses should provide explanations to parents of VLBWIs in order to reduce parental stress about the appearances and behavior of VLBWIs. This is more important than aspect of the NICU environment and education about parental roles.

Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) is one of the most commonly used medications in global market, with a risk of intoxication in certain patients. However, monitoring blood drug concentration often requires frequent hospital visits; hence there is an unmet need to increase patientcentricity by conducting blood sampling at home. Volumetric absorptive microsampling (VAMS) is a device that allows collection of homogenous and accurate volume of blood without venipuncture, and can be utilized by patients who are not in hospital settings; but because ASA is prone to hydrolysis and stabilizing reagents cannot be added to VAMS samples, a way to improve sample stability must be developed. The objective of this study was to identify the cause of instability with ASA samples collected by VAMS, and to evaluate ways to improve sample stability. A liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used for analysis of ASA concentration in whole blood. Samples collected with VAMS were kept under different drying conditions (desiccator, pressurized, nitrogen gas and household vacuum sealer) and were compared to the control samples collected by conventional venous sampling. The recovery of ASA was about 31% of the control when VAMS sample was dried at room temperature, whereas VAMS samples under humidity controlled conditions showed more than 85% of recovery. Our results suggest that adequate level of humidity control was critical to ensure sample stability of ASA, and this humidity control could also be achieved at home using household vacuum sealer, thus enabling patient-centric clinical trials to be conducted.