No abstract available.

OBJECTIVES: To examine emotional and psychological characteristics associated with suicide attempts in depressed patients. METHODS: A sample of 37 inpatients diagnosed with major depressive disorder or depressive disorder NOS was divided into two groups : lifetime suicide attempters(N=15 ; 40.54%), non-attempters(N=22 ; 59.46%). Beck Depression Scale(BDI), Beck Anxiety Scale(BAI), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale(HDRS), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale(HARS), and MMPI-2 were used to evaluate symptoms severity and psychological characteristics. RESULTS: Suicide attempters scored higher on the BDI though there were no group differences on the HDRS and on the both anxiety scales. Also they showed higher scores on the F, Fb, Pa, RC1, DEP, HEA, PK, AAS among MMPI-2 subscales. Our findings suggest that suicide attempters among depressed patients undergo more severe subjective distress and difficulties in adjustment than non-attempters. Also they were more hostile to others and showed lower trust. Lastly, they showed more somatic complaints and substance related problems. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that suicide attempters among depressed patients have distinct emotional and psychological characteristics. MMPI-2 would be helpful to assess suicidal risk of depressed patients.
Anxiety ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Pyrrolidines ; Suicide ; Weights and Measures

A case of disseminated superficial actinic poroLeratosis affecting 47 years old, house wife, who has been suffering from multiple dark-brownish keratotic papules on the sun-light exposed parts especially face, forearm and dorsa of the both hands with mild itching sensation, is presented. The skin lesions developed about two years ago insidiously and increased size and numberes of the lesion. Her family background suggests autosomal dominant inheritance.
Actins ; Forearm ; Hand ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Porokeratosis* ; Pruritus ; Sensation ; Skin ; Spouses ; Wills

Although causative factors are not completely defined, carcinogenesis of colorectal cancer is attributed to multiple genetic alterations. The abnormal expressions of oncogenes are regarded to be responsible for the production of malignant phenotype, subsequent invasion and metastasis. From 63 surgically resectable colorectal adenocarcinoma patients, expression of oncogenes in colorectal cancer tissue was evaluated with immunohistochemical staining methods using monoclonal antibodies to products of the oncogenes. To evaluate the possibility of oncogenes as a prognostic factor, we studied the relationship between the expression of oncogenes and the clinicopathologic findings which are well known prognostic factors. Rates of expression in colorectal cancer tissue were 27% for c-myc, 74.6% for c-Ha-ras and 77.8% for c-erbB-2 oncogenes. The positive rate of c-erbB-2 oncogene was higher in the well differentiated group than in the poorly differentiated group. The rates of expression of c-myc and c-Ha-ras oncogenes were significantly correlated each other. Expression of these oncogenes in colorectal cancer were not correlated with the pathologic stage, location of cancer, DNA ploidy pattern and histologic differentiation except between c-erbB-2 and histologic differentiation. In conclusion, there seems to be a possibility that c-erbB-2 could be used as a prognostic factor of colorectal cancer. However, further and more intensive study seems to be required.
Adenocarcinoma ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Carcinogenesis ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; DNA ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Oncogenes* ; Phenotype ; Ploidies

No abstract available.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of cognitive impairment in the elderly has been increasing in recent years with the growing of the aged population. Clinical assessment of cognitive function and mood is very important because cognitive impairment and depression commonly coexist in the elderly. The elderly interacts with the other family members, so cognitive impairment of the elderly influence family function. The objectives of this study were to delineate the factors correlated with cognitive function and to explore the relationship of depression and family function with cognitive function. METHODS: This study was done during 20 day period from July to August, 1996. The subjects were home residents aged 60 years or more living in a subcounty of Kyungpook Province, Korea. The final analysis included 195 subjects(male 95, female 100). The questionnaire included sociodemographic data, MMSE-K(Korean version of Mini Mental State Examination) for evaluation of cognitive function, BDI for evaluation of depression and family APGAR score for evaluation of family function. The results were analyzed by descriptive, comparative and correlative analysis. RESULTS: Mean MMSE-K score was 25.3+/-4.3 with female subjects(23.9+/-4.8) having significantly higher cognitive impairment when compaired to male subjects(26.6+/-3.2)(P<0.001). MMSE-K score was associated with gender, age, year of education(P<0.001), BDI and APGAR score(P<0.05). Religion, smoking and alcohol use were not associated with MMSE-K score. The prevalence of dementia by MMSE-K was 9.7% in definite dementia (MMSE-K<_19) and 23.1% with questionable dementia(20<_MMSE-K<_23). In male, the prevalence was 1.1% and 20.0% respectively. In female, the prevalence was 18.0% and 26% respectively, indicating difference between male and female subjects(P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In the elderly, female gender, older age and lower educational level were associated with cognitive function impairment. There was a positive correlation between cognitive function and family function. The group with impaired cognitive function had more depression than the normal group.
Aged* ; Apgar Score ; Dementia ; Depression* ; Female ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Prevalence ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The train of four (TOF) stimulation is commonly used in animal research and clinical practice to determine the degree of neuromuscular blockade. It has been suggested that relationship existed between the degree of single, or initial twitch depression and the amount of TOF fade responses within train. Although block produced by all non-depolarising muscle relaxants is associated with fade in response to tetanic or TOF stimulation, recent studies have shown quantitative difference in degree of these fade between various agent. However, more recently, the variability of this relationship with the same neuromuscular blocker during onset and spontaneous recovery of neuromuscular blockade has been demonstrated. And so, the degree of fade may be affect the reliability in assessment of degree of block and recovery of block in comparison to single twitch stimulation. In present study, we has assessed the effect of pancuronium 0.04 mg/kg on the pattern of TOF (T(4) ratio) and first twitch response in the train compared with control twitch (T(1) ratio) and, thereafter, the twitch responses of vecuronium 0.02 mg/kg on recovery period from pancuronium induced neuromuscular blockade in 14 rabbits. The changes in neuromuscular transmission were measured by recording the isometric contraction of the left gastrocnemius muscle evoked by supramaximal stimulation of the tibial nerve. The results were as follows: 1) The effect of pancuronium 0.04 mg/kg was variable, ranging from incomplete (64.3%) to complete (35.7%) neuromuscular block. 2) During the onset of action, there was greater reduction associated with T(1) than T(4), ratio in all cases. The changes of T(1) ratio decreased steadily in all cases, but the changes of T(4) ratio in cases of incomplete neuromuscular blockade was biphasic, showing initial decrease to 77.2+/-8.1% followed by increase to 100% of T(4) rato when T(1) ratio was 4.6+/-3.2%. 3) During the recovery period, T(4) ratio was increased linearly with T(1) ratio which reached 25% when T(4) ratio was approximately 22.5+/-18.8% in cases of complete neuromuscular blockade. In cases of incomplete neuromuscular blockade, T(1) ratio was increased linearly depending on time course, but the change of T(4) ratio was biphasic, showing initial decrease to 28.2+/-16.6% when T(1) ratio was 25%, followed by increased linearly with T(1) ratio. 4) The twitch response during the onset of the action and recovery after vecuronium 0.02 mg/kg on 75% recovery period of pancuronium induced neuromscular blokade was similar to that of pancuronium. The results of this study suggest that the TOF ratio and the depression of the single twitch bear no fixed relationship. The clinical use of TOF using the T(4) ratio only, as a monitor of the degree of block and recovery from non-depolarising block has been useful, but we would recommended that T, ratio of TOF should be considered to evaluated the incomplete neuromuscular block of pancuronium and vecuronium in rabbit.
Animal Experimentation ; Depression ; Isometric Contraction ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Neuromuscular Blockade* ; Pancuronium* ; Rabbits ; Tibial Nerve ; Vecuronium Bromide

Twelve eyeys of retinal detachment with full thickness macular hole without(Group 1:6 eyes) and with(Group II:6 eyes) peripheral retinal tears were treated by pars plana vitrectomy and partial or full fluid gas exchange at our hospital from 1987 to 1990. Five showed high myopia, four had trauma histories and in the remammg three were of unknown cause. Other procedures included were; internal drainage of subretinal fluid through macular hole(6 eyes), transscleral drainage(one eye), membrane peeling(one eye), encirclement(7 eyes) and segmental buckle(6 eyes) for peripheral retinal tears and silicone oil injection(one eye). No direct attempts to seal macular hole using photocoagulation or posterior pole buckles were made. During the follow-up period ranging from 6 to 25 months, retinal reattachments were achieved in eleven eyes(92%) and visual acuities improved in seven eyes(58%), were unchanged in three(25%), worsened in two(17%). The causes of worse vision included a redetachment and a macular slantng by high buckle for the tears elsewhere posterior to equator. Among several causative factors, a method releaving the vitreal traction component and a temporary internal tamponade with gas is thought to be the best way to treat this disease.
Drainage ; Follow-Up Studies ; Light Coagulation ; Membranes ; Myopia ; Retinal Detachment* ; Retinal Perforations* ; Retinaldehyde* ; Silicone Oils ; Subretinal Fluid ; Traction ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy*

We investigated the occurrence of color vision loss in 70 organic solvent mixtures exposed workers and in 47 controls. Color Vision was assessed with a color arrangement test designed to identify the defective color sense, the Han Double 15-Hue Test. The results of the test were no significant difference between exposed workers and controls in the proportion of subjects who committed one or two errors. Quantitative analysis, using color confusion index(CCI), showed no signifiant difference between exposed workers and controls. A significant linear correlation was present between age and CCI in both exposed workers(CCi=0.0056age + 0.94; r=0.23; p<0.05) and controls(CCI=0.0066age + 0.86; r=0.33; p<0.05). Qualitative analysis of the patterns on the hue circle showed that the prevalence of acquired dyschromatopsia was 21% in both and no significant difference. Multiple regression analyses showed that age was significantly related to color vision loss. These results did not provide evidence of a relationship between organic solvents exposure and incidence of color vision loss. In field studies for monitor the people at risk of the acquired color vision loss involving low-dose organic solvents exposed workers, both quantitative and qualitative information should be considered.
Color Vision ; Incidence ; Prevalence ; Solvents

No abstract available.