Many investigators are trying to elucidate the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders on the basis of neuroendocrine responses to stimulation or perturbation. Dexamethasone(DEX) suppression has been the most widely utilized as the prototypical challenge test. Dexamethasone suppression test(DST) has proven to be valuable in diagnosing the depressive spectrum disorder. Reported specificity of diagnosis of depression is relatively high, but sensitivity is limited. Some researchers used the combination of dexamethasone and corticotropin releasing hormone(CRH) in order to improve the sensitivity. They reported that combined DEX/CRH test, i.e., we administered the insulin instead of CRH. Total subjects were 28(7 normal controls, 10 manic patients, 11 schizophrenic, patients). Subject were token DEX(1.5mg p.o.) at 11 p.m., insulin 16 hours later(0.1 unit/kg i.v.). Five blood samples for the determination of cortisol and ACTH were serially drawn at 15 minute interval. The results are as following : 1) The cortisol an ACTH levels of manic subjects increased following insulin administration. Manic subjects showed higher levels of cortisol and ACTH than schizophrenic and normal control subjects. The cortisol and ACTH levels of schizophrenic and normal control subjects did not show gross changes. 2) The sensitivity of the test was lower than that of reported DEX/CRH test.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Depression ; Dexamethasone ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Insulin ; Research Personnel ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objective: This study identified the incidence and risk factors for headache attributed to acute pyelonephritis. Methods: The inclusion criteria were patients who were admitted with acute pyelonephritis at our hospital and ≥ 18 years of age. The following exclusion criteria were used: 1) patients who could not express their headache because of mental deterioration, 2) the presence of meningitis or meningoencephalitis, or 3) structural lesions on brain computed tomography or magnetic resonance images that could cause headache. The primary outcome was headache attributed to acute pyelonephritis as a dependent variable. The differences were analyzed using demographic and laboratory profiles as independent variables. Additionally, correlation analysis was performedbetweenseverity of headache using VAS score and demographic and laboratory profiles including age, WBC, and CRP. Results: A total of 479 patients met the inclusion criteria for this study, and 97 patients developed headache attributed to acute pyelonephritis. Patients with headache were younger and more likely to be female, and had a lower incidence of diabetes than those without headache. However, laboratory profiles that reflected the severity of acute pyelonephritis were not predictive factors for headache. Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that young age and non-diabetes were independently significant variables for the prediction of headache attributed to acute pyelonephritis. In addition, the VAS score was found to be negative correlated with age, whereas it was not correlated with WBC and CRP. Conclusions: We determined that headache attributed to acute pyelonephritis was relatively common, and it was related to demographic characteristics but not acute pyelonephritis severity.
Pyelonephritis ; Headache

Blue Rubber Bleb Nevus syndrome, or Bean's syndrome is a very rare disease characterized by an association of 1) hemangioma cutis in which the nevi feel like rubber blebs; 2) hemangiomas of the digestive organs; 3) iron-deficiency anemia due to hemorrhage from the digestive tract. Sometimes, the bleeding is so severe and massive that the patient needs blood transfusions and/or emergency operations. We present a 29-year-old man with Blue Rubber Bleb Nevus syndrome. This patient was admitted to out hospital due to recently aggrevated dizziness and intermittent rectal bleeding. Multiple bluish tumors were noted on the palm, sole and glans penis. Laboratory examination revealed severe iron-deficiency anemia. Barium studies revealed multiple polypoid masses in the stomach, small bowel and colorectum. On esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy, three or four dozens of hemangiomas with variable size and shape were noted in the stomach, duodenum at or around the ampulla of Vater and colorectum. This patient was of particular interest because rectal bleeding occurred from rectal lesion which protruded out of anus and caused bleeding during defecation, and which showed as a 2.0 cm Yamada type III polypoid lesion. Endoscopic ultrasonography confirmed us that this lesion was confined to the mucosa and submucosa without extension into muscle layer. Endoscopic polypectomy of this lesion was performed because which considered as the main focus of current rectal bleeding. He was discharged without any complication and 4 months later, he was well without rectal bleeding and his hemoglobin level increased upto 13.5 g/dl. To our knowledge, this is the first case of Blue Rubber Bleb Nevus syndrome in Korea.
Adult ; Ampulla of Vater ; Anal Canal ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; Barium ; Blister* ; Blood Transfusion ; Colonoscopy ; Defecation ; Dizziness ; Duodenum ; Emergencies ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Endosonography ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Hemangioma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Mucous Membrane ; Nevus* ; Penis ; Rare Diseases ; Rubber* ; Stomach

To date several agents have been used to achieve hemostasis in patients with bleeding peptic ulcers using endoscopic sclerotherapy techniques. In this study, the efficacy of endoscopic local injections of hypertonie saline-epinephrine(HS-E) solution, consisting of 9 volume of 3% sodium chloride and 1 volume of 1: 1000 epinephrine, on the base of the ulcer around bleeding vessel was assessed. During the period between April 1989 and July l992, 127 patients were admitted to the study. Ninety-six of these patients underwent endoscopic treatmeat(endoscopic treatment group), while the other 31 cases received conservative treatment only(conservative treatment group). (continue...)
Epinephrine* ; Hemorrhage* ; Hemostasis ; Humans ; Peptic Ulcer* ; Sclerotherapy ; Sodium Chloride ; Ulcer

Gastritis cystica polyposa(GCP) is a polypoid cystic lesion showing all the histological features of the hyperplastic polyps and the cysts penetrating through the mucularis mucosae. Most reported GCP lesions were developed at gastraenterostomy stomas. It is rare that GCP develops without history of previous gastroenterostomy. In 1990, however, Kim et al reported a GCP presenting as a submucosal tume-like lesion in a 69-year-old man. Recently, we had experienced two consecutive cases of GCP diagnosed by endoscopic polypectomy. The first case was 49-year-old housewife without history of previous gastric surgery. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy(EGD) showed a 2.0x1.5x1.5cm sized lobulated polypoid lesion with a broad stalk on the anterior wall of the distal antrum. The second case was 45-year-old woman without history of previous gastric surgery. EGD revealed a 1.0 x 1.0 x l.0 cm sized polypoid lesion with a pedicle on the greater curvature aspect of the upper body and two duodenal ulcers with pseudodiverticulum formation. These lesions were endoscopically polypectomized and diagnosed as GCP by the histologic examination.
Aged ; Duodenal Ulcer ; Female ; Gastritis* ; Gastroenterostomy ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mucous Membrane ; Polyps

No abstract available.
Ectodermal Dysplasia*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Twins*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Insulin resistance is associated with hyperlipidemia. Recently, visceral fat adiposity is reported to be associated with insulin resistance and hyperlipidemia. We investigated insulin resistance and visceral fat adiposity in hyperlipidemic patients. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Hyperlipidemic group included 14 hyperlipidemic patients (total cholesterol > or = 220 mg/dl and triglyceride < or = 400 mg/dl) without hypertension, angina, impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes mellitus (DM). Control group included age, sex and body mass index (BMI) matched 25 healthy volunteers. We measured plasma lipid profiles and the insulin and glucose during the oral glucose tolerance test. We measured visceral fat area and abdominal subcutaneous fat area with computed tomography (CT). RESULTS: There were no differences of age, sex and BMI in both group. Total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride increased significantly in hyperlipidemic group. Fasting plasma glucose, insulin, area under curve (AUC) of the glucose and insulin and the Insulin / Glucose (IG) ratio increased significantly in hyperlipidemic group. Significant positive correlations were demonstrated between visceral fat area and the fasting plasma glucose, AUC of glucose and insulin at 120 minutes after glucose load. However, there was no difference in visceral fat area between both groups. After adjustment of visceral fat area, fasting plasma glucose, insulin, area under curve (AUC) of the glucose and insulin and the Insulin / Glucose (IG) ratio still remained increased significantly in hyperlipidemic group. CONCLUSION: We observed significantly increased insulin resistance in hyperlipidemic group. There was partial relationship between visceral fat area and the glucose and insulin profile. However, we did not find increased visceral fat area in hyperlipidemic group.
Adiposity ; Area Under Curve ; Blood Glucose ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias* ; Hypertension ; Insulin Resistance* ; Insulin* ; Intra-Abdominal Fat* ; Obesity* ; Plasma ; Subcutaneous Fat, Abdominal ; Triglycerides

Erythromelalgia(Erythermalgia) is a syndrome of red, warm, congested, and burning painful extremities. Presently, there are three distinct clinicopathological entities: erythromelalgia, primary erythermalgia, and secondary erythermalgia. Secondary erythermalgia usually arises at an adult age either in association with a detectable underlying disorder or with the use of vasoactive drugs. Typically, it responds to proper treatment of the underlying disorder or discontinuation of the causative drugs. A seven-year-old boy presented with persisting burning pain, erythema, and warmth on both of his feet and lower legs, along with hypertension. He had had this condition for 20 months. Laboratory studies of the patient revealed increased urinary catecholamines and plasma renin activity. Various treatment modalities including aspirin, captopril, sodium nitroprusside, labetalol, epidural block, and stellate ganglion block yielded unfavorable results. Herein, we report an intractable case of secondary erythermalgia associated with hypertension in a child.
Adult ; Aspirin ; Burns ; Captopril ; Catecholamines ; Child ; Erythema ; Erythromelalgia* ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Extremities ; Foot ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Labetalol ; Leg ; Male ; Nitroprusside ; Plasma ; Renin ; Stellate Ganglion

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of snoring frequency in the diagnosis and severity of obstructive sleep apnea. METHODS: Patients who underwent polysomnography with one or more of the following characteristics were included: 1) sleepiness, non-restorative sleep, fatigue, or insomnia symptoms; 2) arousal due to cessation of breathing or the occurrence of gasping or choking when waking up; and 3) habitual snoring, breathing interruptions, or both, noted by a bed partner or other observer. We analyzed the differences in clinical and polysomnographic variables between patients with and without obstructive sleep apnea and investigated the associations of those variables with obstructive sleep apnea severity. RESULTS: One hundred ninety-three patients met the inclusion criteria, and 145 of the 193 patients were diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that large neck circumference (p = 0.0054) and high snoring index (p = 0.0119) were independent predictors for obstructive sleep apnea. Moreover, between the obstructive sleep apnea severity groups, there was a strong tendency of difference in body mass index (p = 0.0441) and neck circumference (p = 0.0846). However, there was no significant difference in snoring frequency according to obstructive sleep apnea severity (p = 0.4914). CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed that snoring frequency is a predictor of obstructive sleep apnea. In addition, we showed for the first time that snoring frequency is not associated with obstructive sleep apnea severity, thus it is not a valuable marker for predicting obstructive sleep apnea severity.
Airway Obstruction ; Arousal ; Body Mass Index ; Diagnosis ; Fatigue ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Neck ; Polysomnography ; Respiration ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive* ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Snoring*