INTRODUCTION: There has been an increasing interest in the relationship between sleep and suicidality. In addition, suicidal patients habitually report their sleep problems. Although sleep-related complaints and electroencephalographic changes are generally encountered in psychiatric disorders, sleep complaints such as insomnia, hypersomnia and nightmares are more common in suicidal patients. In current study, we aimed at investigating the relationship between self-reported sleep duration and suicidality in general population. METHODS: One thousand general population (male : female=500 : 500, mean age=39.6+/-11.6 years, ranged age=20-77 years) completed Center for Epidemiologic Study-Depression (CES-D), Beck Suicide Intent scale (BSI), Spielberger State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS), Morningness-Eveningness Scale (MES) and brief questionnaire of sleep habits. RESULTS: After controlling for age and sex, score of BSI was correlated positively with the score of CES-D, STAXI and BIS on partial correlation analysis (r(p)=0.251 ; p<0.001, r(p)=0.352 ; p<0.001, and r(p)=0.175 ; p<0.001, respectively). In addition, score of BSI was inversely correlated with the score of MES (r(p)=-0.066; p=0.037). However, score of BSI showed no significant correlation with sleep duration. However, regression analysis revealed that short (<6 hrs) or long (>10 hrs) sleep duration, the family history of psychiatric illness, the score of CES-D, and the score of STAXI predicted higher score of BSI significantly in total subjects (F=17.837, adjusted R2 =0.166 ; p=0.003, p=0.003, p<0.001, and p=0.003, respectively). This model was explained better in depressed subjects with 16 or higher score of CES-D (F=9.920, adjusted R2=0.298). CONCLUSION: Current result suggested that not only short sleep duration (<6 hrs) but also long sleep duration (>10 hrs) might be related to suicidality.
Anger ; Depression ; Disorders of Excessive Somnolence ; Dreams ; Humans ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Suicide

OBJECTIVES: Working at other times than the regular day shift has been reported to be a stressor associated with health consequences and mental disorders as well as disturbance of sleep. In current study, we aimed at investigating the relationship between work schedule, sleep quality and depression among police officers. METHODS: Eleven hundreds and forty five police officers (male:1040, female:105) completed questionnaires of basic socio-demographic data, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Korean Scale of Occupational Stress (KOSS), Impact of Event Scale - Revised (IES-R) and Center for Epidemiologic Study-Depression (CES-D). RESULTS: After controlling for age, sex and educational level, score of CES-D was correlated positively with the score of KOSS, PSQI and IES-R on partial correlation analysis (r=-0.077;p=0.009, r=0.262;p<0.000 and r=0.421, p<0.000, respectively). Logistic regression analysis revealed that female sex, age, the score of KOSS and IES-R and schedule of rotating shift work predicted higher score than 16 score of CES-D significantly in total subjects (p=0.023, p=0.015, p=0.000, p=0.000 and p=0.022, respectively). CONCLUSION: Current result suggested that not only female sex, age, higher occupational stress and impact of event scale but also rotating shift work schedule might be related to depression among police officers.
Appointments and Schedules ; Depression ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Mental Disorders ; Police ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Risk Factors

PURPOSE: Scrotal discomfort is a recognized complication of vasectomy, but the natural history and incidence of this problem are uncertain. The typical ultrasonographic changes after a vasectomy primarily include epididymal thickening and epididymal tubular ectasia with diminished blood flow in the epididymis. We prospectively studied the differences in the ultrasonographic features of the testis and epididymis between patients with and those without scrotal discomfort after vasectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively assessed pain scores in 178 men who underwent outpatient bilateral no-scalpel vasectomy at our institution between January 2009 and December 2010. At 2 months after vasectomy, we evaluated the postoperative scrotal pain questionnaire and scrotal ultrasonographic features for patients who returned for semen analysis. On the basis of the scrotal information, we investigated the potential relationships between scrotal pain or discomfort and scrotal ultrasonographic features of both testes and epididymides. RESULTS: The average age of the 114 men was 36.3 years (range, 29 to 53 years). group 1 (n=23), which reported scrotal pain or discomfort, showed no significant mean differences in the maximal diameter of the head of the epididymis when compared with group 2 (n=91), who had no scrotal pain or discomfort. Also, the width of the body of the epididymis between the two groups showed no significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant differences in ultrasonographic features according to the presence of chronic scrotal discomfort after vasectomy. Therefore, causes of scrotal pain other than obstruction may need to be considered after vasectomy.
Dilatation, Pathologic ; Epididymis ; Head ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Natural History ; Outpatients ; Prospective Studies ; Semen Analysis ; Testis ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color ; Vasectomy

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Pneumonia*

We investigated the overall survival rate after pulmonary metastasectomy in the bone and soft tissue sarcoma and the available prognostic factors related with the survival rate after pulmonary metastasectomy. Between 1986 and 1995, 9 patients (median age 32) with bone and soft tissue sarcoma with pulmonary metastasis were managed in the Catholic University of Korea. Until the final follow-up in May 1996, 6 patients have died of disease and their mean survival period was 28 months (9- 58months). The actual 5-year survival rate by Kaplan-Meier method was 33%. Prognostic factors such as tumor free interval, number of metastatic lesion, postoperative chemotherapy and histologic grade were analyzed. Three patients who had the tumor free interval over 3 years were alive (mean survival period: 52.6 months), whereas six patients who had the tumor free interval less than 3 years were dead (mean survival period: 19 months). Out of four patients with low grade tumor, three patients were alive with average 39.2 months survival period, whereas five patients with high grade tumor were all dead with average 19.2 months survival period. These results suggested that pulmonary metastasectomy in bone and soft tissue sarcoma may prolong the survival rate. The long tumor free interval, histological low grade and soft tissue sarcoma may influenced on prolonged survival rate. However, number of metastatic lesion or postoperative chemotherapy has not influenced on the survival rate.
Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Metastasectomy* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Sarcoma* ; Survival Rate*

BACKGROUND: Conventional echocardiography provides fundamental information about mitral valve morphology and function but is often subjective and has a relatively low specificity in evaluating valve calcific deposit, which is critical information for the preoperative decision. We hypothesized that mitral valvular calcification could be detected in standard two-dimensional echocardiograms of mitral valve in vivo by evaluating regional gray level(echo amplitude) using computerized image analysis so that we could overcome the subjectivity and low specificity of conventional echocardiography. METHODS: We tested this hypothesis by performing standard 2.5MHz two-dimensional echoes on mitral valve and myocardium in 30 patients with mitral stenosis, scheduled to undergo mitral valve replacement. We compared gray level of each region of interest in mitral valve and myocardium in stop-frame images with the degree of calcifications identified by pathologic and radiographic examinations. RESULTS: Ratio of mean gray level of mitral valve to mean gray level of myocardium was the most reliable value in evaluating degree of calcification. Quantitatively, region of calcification displayed the ratio of significantly higher value than that of no calcification. In case of anterior mitral valve, the ratio of the evident calcified region was greater than 3.11, that of the region without calcification was less than 2.42 and that of microcalcification was betwwn 2.42 and 3.11. For posterior mitral valve, the ratio of the evident calcified region was greater than 3.50, that of the region without calcification was less than 2.19 and that of microcalcification was between 2.19 and 3.50. The sensitivity and specificity of this method for assessment of degree of calcification was 75% and 100% for anterior mitral valve and 9% and 87.5% for posterior mitral valve. CONCLUSION: Mitral valvular calcification could be detected quantitatively in standard two dimensional echocardiograms of mitral valve in vivo by evaluating regional gray level(echo amplitude) using computerized image analysis.
Echocardiography ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Stenosis* ; Myocardium ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUND: Total obstruction of the left main coronary artery is a common cause of sudden death but is rarely seen in patients who survive to undergo diagnostic evaluation or treatment. METHODS: During twenty six-year period, we encountered 5 patients with chronic total obstruction of the left main coronary artery out of about 4,000 patients who underwent coronary angiography. RESULTS: All patients have undergone coronary bypass surgery. These patients present with increasingly severe angina. A right dominat coronary anatomy is always found, usually with well-developed right-to-left collaterals. Left ventricular function was severely impaired in two patients out of five patients. CONCLUSIONS: The results of surgical revascularization in our patients and others described in the literature can support the safety and efficacy of this approach.
Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels* ; Death, Sudden ; Humans ; Ventricular Function, Left

BACKGROUND: renal artery stenosis (RAS) is a major cause of renovascular hypertension and renal function due to ischemic atrophy of kidney. There are several methods to treat the RAS, including are surgery, percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty, and medical treatment. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the usefulness, safety, and efficacy of percutaneous transluminal stent deployment in RAS. METHOD: From January 1995 to July 1996, 17 patients underwent renal stent implantation due to renal artery stenosis (11 male, 6 female). the mean age was 49 years old, one patient had both renal artery stenosis and total lesions were 18. The causes of renal artery stenosis were atherosclerosis in 12, fibromuscular dysplasia in 2, Takayasu's disease in 2, and autoimmune disease (Bechet's) in one case. Renal artery stenting was performed via femoral artery in 12 lesions and brachial artery in 6 lesions. Follow up was performed by renogram, renal angiogram, and clinical examination. RESULT: the degree of renal artery stenosis was 83% (70-95%). the lesion sites were 12 ostial and 6 non-ostial lesions. The used renal stents were Palmaz-biliary stent in 17 lesions and Micro-2 stent in one lesions. All stents were implanted successfully and there was no residual stenosis in all patients except one case showed 20% residual stenosis due to huge renal artery size. The transstenotic pressure gradients after renal artery stenting was decreased markedly from 74mmHg to 2mmHg. There no serious complications such as a death, emergency surgery, or nephrectomy. There were two minor complications which were one case of pyelonephritis and one case of inguinal hematoma. After stenting, blood pressure was decreased partially in 13 patients and completely in 2 cases. CONCLUSION: Renal artery stenting appears to be safe and feasible and the alternative treatment modality to surgery for renal artery stenosis.
Angioplasty ; Atherosclerosis ; Atrophy ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Blood Pressure ; Brachial Artery ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Emergencies ; Femoral Artery ; Fibromuscular Dysplasia ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Hypertension, Renovascular ; Kidney ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nephrectomy ; Pyelonephritis ; Renal Artery Obstruction* ; Renal Artery* ; Stents*

BACKGROUND: Chronic actinic dermatitis comprises a spectrum of chronic photosensitivity disorders. Treatment includes avoidance of UV light, application of broad-spectrum topical sunscreens, PUVA therapy, corticosteroid, azathioprine and cyclosporine. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine the efficacy of cyclosporine in the treatment of chronic actinic dermatitis. METHODS: Six patients with chronic actinic dermatitis refractory to conventional treatment were treated with cyclosporine 100-200mg a day for four to eighteen weeks. RESULTS: In all six patients improvement of the skin lesions and itching were dramatic, but in three of them hyperterision developed during the cyclosporine treatment. After stopping the cyclosporine therapy, their blood pressures normalized within two to five weeks. Other side effects of cyclosporine were not found. Although the skin lesions of all of the six patients were aggravated more or less after stopping the cyclosporine therapy, we could maintain their improved states with topical corticosteroids and oral antihistamines. CONCLUSION: 1. Cyclosporine is a good alternative in treating chronic actinic dermatitis patients who are suffering from severe symptoms refractory to conventional therapy. 2. Hypertension is the frequent side effect of cyclosporine.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Azathioprine ; Cyclosporine* ; Histamine Antagonists ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Photosensitivity Disorders* ; Pruritus ; PUVA Therapy ; Skin ; Sunscreening Agents ; Ultraviolet Rays

Some sexual differentiation disorders are associated with gonadal neoplasia and increased incidence of testicular tumors has been discribed in the patients with, XY gonadal dysgenesis. The incidence of testicular tumors in infants and children are rare, representing only 1% of all pediatric solid tumors. In general, gonadal stromal tumors are one of the most characteristic endocrine tumors of the testis, endocrine activity occurs in at least 10-20%, among them Leydig cell tumors and Sertoli cell tumors are clinically important. Although the exact pathogenesis is unknown, endocrine activity due to estrogen secretion can be manifested clinically with gynecomastia or precocious puberty. We experienced and reported a child who visited for sexual precocity and had XY gonadal dysgenesis with Sertoli cell tumor.
Child ; Disorders of Sex Development ; Estrogens ; Gonadal Dysgenesis ; Gonads ; Gynecomastia ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Leydig Cell Tumor ; Male ; Puberty, Precocious ; Sertoli Cell Tumor* ; Testicular Neoplasms ; Testis