Circadian rhythms have been observed to be disturbed in mood disorders, especially seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Clock related gene variants also have been suggested to be associated with seasonality (seasonal variations in mood and behavior). This study tested the potential association between a length polymorphism of Period3 gene and seasonal variations in mood and behavior. 297 Korean college students were genotyped for the Period3 polymorphism and were for evaluated the seasonal variation by Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ). The genotype frequencies were 0.76 for 4R/4R, 0.22 for 4R/5R and 0.013 for 5R/5R. The global seasonality score was not different among Period3 gene variants (4R/4R, 4R/5R and 5R/5R) except for 'sleep length' subscore. The 5R/5R genotype showed the higher 'sleep length' subscore than others (p=0.024). The comparison between seasonals (syndromal plus subsyndromal SAD determined by SPAQ) and non-seasonals did not show any significant difference in frequencies of genotypes. These findings suggest that there is a possibility that the investigated Period3 polymorphism may play a partial role in the susceptibility of seasonal variations in a Korean population.
Circadian Rhythm ; Genotype ; Humans ; Mood Disorders ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seasonal Affective Disorder ; Seasons*

No abstract available.
Dislocations* ; Hip*

A reproducible noninvasive technique for measuring right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) was developed using first pass quantitative radionuclide angiocardiography. Tests were carried out in the right anterior oblique position with a computerized multicrystal scintillation camera with high count rate capabilities. RVEF was calculated on beat to beat basis from the high frequency components of the background-corrected right ventricular time-activity curve. The following results were obtained; 1) In 10 normal adults, RVEF averaged 50.9+/-8.2. In 20 patients with chronic obstructive lung diseases (COPD), RVEF was 37.9+/-6.1% and significantly lower than that of normal persons(P<0.005). 2) There was meaningful correlation between RVEF and forced expiratory volume (FEVI) in patients with COPD (r=0.51). And there was significant difference of RVEF between 13 patients with FEVI less than IL/min (6 patients with right ventricular failure, 7 patients with patients without that) and 7 patients with FEVI IL/min or more (35.7+/-6.0%, 42.1+/-3.2% respectively. P<0.005). 3) All 6 patients with clinical manifestation of right heart failure had abnormal RVEF and had FEVI less than IL/min, which was significantly lower than that of 14 patients without clinical manifestation of right heart failure (33.6+/-4.8%, 39.8+/-5.6%, respectively. P<0.005). 4) In 14 patients without clinical manifestation of right heart failure, 11 patients among whom 7 patients had FEVI less than IL/min, had abnormal RVEF.
Adult ; Angiocardiography ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Gamma Cameras ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Lung Diseases, Obstructive* ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Radionuclide Ventriculography* ; Stroke Volume ; Ventricular Function, Right*

OBJECTIVE: It has been reported that the sleep apnea syndrome in the asthmatic patients is prevalent, however, the systematic study in this field using polysomnography has rarely been performed. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and the pulmonary function in asthmatic children. METHODS: This study enrolled 19 male and 12 female asthmatic children aged 6-13 years (average 8.2+/-1.7 years old). Complete overnight polysomnography and pulmonary function test were performed for the participants. RESULTS: Of the 31 asthmatic children, 21 (67.7%) met the diagnostic criteria of the pediatric sleep apnea and the average AHI was 1.7+/-1.5/h. The children with higher AHI showed poorer pulmonary function (FEV1/FVC ratio : p=0.002, FEV1%pred : p=0.047). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the prevalence of the pediatric sleep apnea could be very high among the asthmatic children and the severity of the sleep apnea correlates with the pulmonary function. However, the case-control study to compare the AHI between the asthma and control groups is absolutely necessary because few normative data are available for the children.
Aged ; Asthma ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Polysomnography ; Prevalence ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes

No abstract available.
Colposcopy*

The present study has been undertaken to pursue the cytotoxic effects of cis-Platin on the osteoid formation in metaphysis of rat tibia. By using the immunohistological staining method for type I collagen in rat tibial osteoid, the author detected the deposition of type I collagen, which is the collagenous constituent of endochondral osteoid, after administration of cis-Platin in experimental animals. For the immunological reactions of type I collagen, we used the rabbit anti-rat collagen type I polyclonal antibody as primary antibody and biotinylated goat anti-rabbit IgG as secondary antibody. The distributions of immunohistological reactions in the each of metaphyseal osteoids were analyzed with an image analyzer, and we studied the variances of type I collagens by statistical probabilities. In 12 hours after cis-Platin injection, immunoreactive area in the osteoid of metaphysis was distinctly decreased. Immunoreactive area of type I collagen in osteoids of 1 day and 3 days group metaphysis was increased more than that of 12 hours group and the type I collagen in the metaphysis showed weak immunoreactions of type I collagens with an image analyzer. In the osteoids of 7 days group after cis-Platin injection, the immunoreactive area was similar to that of control group. It is consequently suggested that cis-Platin would induce the decrease of type I collagen in the osteoid. But the type I collagen in tibial osteoid shows the increase from a few days after cis-Platin injection.
Animals ; Collagen ; Collagen Type I* ; Goats ; Immunoglobulin G ; Rats* ; Tibia*

BACKGROUND: Cervical dystonia is a focal dystonia characterized by painful spasmodic contractions of the neck muscles, that result in an abnormal posture of the head. Usually the pathogenesis of the disorder is unknown. Secondary cervical dystonia caused by intracranial lesions, involving the basal ganglia, thalamus or brainstem, is very rare. This is the first report of a focal cervical dystonia following cerebellar hemorrhage in Korea. CASE: We describe a 77 year-old woman presented with vertigo and vomiting followed by mild ataxia in the right extremities and cervical dystonia. She had a 25-year history of right hemiparesis due to a stroke. On physical examination, her neck turned to the right and tilted to the left shoulder. Polygraphic study revealed continuous muscular contraction of the left sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles without EEG changes. A brain CT scan showed right cerebellar hemorrhage and low density lesions in the left putamen. CONCLUSION: We reported a rare case of cervical dystonia associated with cerebellar hemorrhage. Because she had an old left putaminal lesion, it is suggested that cervical dystonia seen in our patient may be caused by additional dysfunction of dentatorubrothalamocortical pathway to the pre-existing damage to the striatopallidothalamocortical pathway.
Aged ; Ataxia ; Basal Ganglia ; Brain ; Brain Stem ; Dystonic Disorders ; Electroencephalography ; Extremities ; Female ; Head ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Korea ; Muscle Contraction ; Neck ; Neck Muscles ; Paresis ; Physical Examination ; Posture ; Putamen ; Shoulder ; Stroke ; Superficial Back Muscles ; Thalamus ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Torticollis* ; Vertigo ; Vomiting

Laser assisted in situ keratomileusis(LASIK) is a widely used technique for correcting high myopia. Its technical methods and excellent clinical results are well known, but its potential risk on the corneal endothelium are poorly known. We used specular microscope to underwent LASIK for the correction of myopia. The mean preoperative refraction was ?4.5 diopters (range, -10.00 to -23.50 diopters.). The average endothelial cell densities were 2,817+/-205 cells/mm2 (mean +/-SD) preoperatively and 2,789+/-211 cells/mm2 3 months postoperatvely, corresponding to fall of 28 cells/mm2. This fall in endothelial cell density was not statistically significant (P>0.05). But significant correlation between the change in cell density and the residual corneal thickness was found(P>0.05). These results suggest that LASIK is a predictable and safe method for correcting high myopia, but care is recommended when doing deep corneal ablation. Long term follow-up may be needed to confirm its safety.
Cell Count ; Endothelial Cells ; Endothelium, Corneal ; Follow-Up Studies ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ ; Myopia

No abstract available.
Gallbladder* ; Neoplasm Metastasis*

No abstract available.
Giant Cell Arteritis*