PURPOSE: The present study investigated the validity of personality classification using four pillars theory, a tradition in China and northeastern Asia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four pillars analyses were performed for 148 adults on the basis of their birth year, month, day, and hour. Participants completed two personality tests, the Korean version of Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised-Short Version (TCI) and the Korean Inventory of Interpersonal Problems; scores were correlated with four pillars classification elements. Mean difference tests (e.g., t-test, ANOVA) were compared with groups classified by four pillars index. RESULTS: There were no significant correlations between personality scale scores and total yin/yang number (i.e., the 8 heavenly or earthly stems), and no significant between-groups results for classifications by yin/yang day stem and the five elements. There were significant but weak (r=0.18-0.29) correlations between the five elements and personality scale scores. For the six gods and personality scales, there were significant but weak (r=0.18-0.25) correlations. Features predicted by four pillars theory were most consistent when participants were grouped according to the yin/yang of the day stem and dominance of yin/yang numbers in the eight heavenly or earthly stems. CONCLUSION: Although the major criteria of four pillars theory were not independently correlated with personality scale scores, correlations emerged when participants were grouped according to the composite yin/yang variable. Our results suggest the utility of four pillars theory (beyond fortune telling or astrology) for classifying personality traits and making behavioral predictions.
Adolescent ; Adult ; *Character ; China ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Personality/*classification ; Personality Inventory/*statistics & numerical data ; Reproducibility of Results ; Republic of Korea ; *Temperament ; Young Adult

Indomethacin is used widely in clinics nowadays and the side effect of ulceration is well known. This experiment was performed to Study the morphological and histochemical changes on gastric mucosa after indomethacin treatment. The microscopic finding of the mucosa was observed following oral administration of 10 mg/kg indomethacin in alcohol as solvent. The histological changes were observed from 6 hours after administration of indomethacin and the maxima1 injury was found at 24 hours. Structural changes of injury included hemorrhage, epithelial desquamation and inflammatory cell infiltration. From the 3 day specimens, regeneration signs had started and in the 6 day specimens almost complete recovery of the mucosal epithelium was noted. The histochemical changes of the mucus were also observed from the 6 hr specimens. As far as neutral glycoprotein was concerned, the decrease was most significant in the 3 day o1d group, and besides, they showed minimal reaction to PAS stain. For acidic mucus, the decrease was significant in the 24 hr group and the 3 day group showed minimal reaction to Alcian blue stain. It was noted that these changes of the mucus had recovered 6 days after the administration of indomethacin.
Animal ; Gastric Mucosa/drug effects* ; Gastric Mucosa/pathology ; Indomethacin/adverse effects* ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred Strains ; Stomach Ulcer/chemically induced ; Time Factors

A 50-yr-old man presented with intermittent hemoptysis and was diagnosed small cell lung cancer. 18F-FDG PET/CT for staging demonstrated extensive hypermetabolic lesions throughout the skeleton and liver. Interestingly, skeletal muscles of limbs, mediastinum, bowel, and especially brain showed very low FDG uptake. Because of some characteristics in common with super scan on skeletal scintigraphy, this case could be considered as 'metabolic super scan'.
Carcinoma, Small Cell/complications/radionuclide imaging ; Fluorine Radioisotopes/diagnostic use ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18/*diagnostic use ; Hemoptysis/complications/radionuclide imaging ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/diagnosis/secondary ; Lung Neoplasms/complications/radionuclide imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Positron-Emission Tomography ; Radiopharmaceuticals/*diagnostic use

Hyperphosphatemia develops when there is impaired renal phosphate excretion or massive extracellular fluid phosphate load. For example, renal insufficiency, hypoparathyroidism, exogenous phosphate administration, and extensive cellular injury induce a hyperphosphatemic state. In patients with multiple myeloma, renal insufficiency occurs as a result of hypercalcemia, light chain tubulopathy, urate nephropathy or infection, and hyperphosphatemia usually results from renal failure. We report here a case of a patient with multiple myeloma who had an elevated serum phosphate level measured by the phosphomolybdate UV method without significant renal insufficiency and was finally diagnosed with pseudohyperphosphatemia.
Extracellular Fluid ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia ; Hyperphosphatemia ; Hypoparathyroidism ; Light ; Molybdenum ; Multiple Myeloma ; Phosphoric Acids ; Renal Insufficiency ; Uric Acid

OBJECTIVE: Preterm labor and delivery is probably the largest problem in modern perinatology. The early diagnosis of preterm labor is crucial for prevention of preterm birth. To predict the onset of preterm labor, we examined the diagnostic performance of serial cervical assessment by transvaginal sonography. METHODS: In this prospective study, we performed transvaginal sonography at approximately 30 and 34 weeks of gestation in women with singleton pregnancies. Cervical parameters evaluated included endocervical length, the presence of funneling, funnel length and funnel width. We then assessed the relation between cervical parameters and the risk of spontaneous preterm labor. RESULTS: We examined 258 women at approximately 30 weeks of gestation and 247 of these women again at approximately 34 weeks. Spontaneous preterm labor occurred in 9 of women examined at 30 weeks(Group 1) and in 13 at 34 weeks(Group 2). The endocervical length was normally distributed at 30 and 34 weeks(mean +/-SD, 38.26+/-6.82mm and 35.63+/-7.35mm, respectively). The endocervical length decreased significantly from 30weeks to 34 weeks(p=0.0001). Both groups showed significantly shorter endocervical length(p <0.05) and groupl more presence of funneling than group of term pregnancy(p<0.05). Receiver-operator characteristic curve and multiple logistic regression analyses indicated that endocervical length <-30mm at 30 weeks and <-25mm at 34 showed highest diagnostic index in predicting the onset of preterm labor(p=0.0001). Conclusions: Serial transvaginal ultrasound assessment of endocervical length during early third trimester is a useful predictor of preterm labor and delivery in low-risk patients.
Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Obstetric Labor, Premature* ; Perinatology ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Premature Birth ; Prospective Studies ; Ultrasonography

The Korean Agricultural Culture Collection (KACC) has developed a web-based system to provide an integrated database with information updates about microbial resources. This integrated database consists of 5 major functions and contains general information, which includes identification numbers, culture media composition, image information, DNA sequences, patent information, and general forms for ordering and depositing microorganisms. In 2008, KACC started providing characterization information. KACC maintains 9,801 cultures of microorganisms, including 3,296 strains of bacteria, 4,734 fungi, 784 actinomycetes, 64 yeasts, and 923 others.
Actinobacteria ; Bacteria ; Base Sequence ; Culture Media ; Fungi ; Yeasts

No abstract available.
Aldosterone* ; Humans* ; Prolactin*

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) for detecting the recurrence of gastric cancer. We performed a retrospective review of 139 consecutive patients who underwent PET/CT and contrast-enhanced abdominal CT (CECT) for surveillance of gastric cancer after curative resection. Recurrence of gastric cancer was validated by histopathologic examination for local recurrence or serial imaging study follow-up with at least 1 yr interval for recurrence of distant metastasis form. Twenty-eight patients (20.1%) were confirmed as recurrence. On the patient based analysis, there was no statistically significant difference in the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of PET/CT (53.6%, 84.7%, and 78.4%, respectively) and those of CECT (64.3%, 86.5%, and 82.0%, respectively) for detecting tumor recurrence except in detection of peritoneal carcinomatosis. Among 36 recurrent lesions, 8 lesions (22.2%) were detected only on PET/CT, and 10 lesions (27.8%) only on CECT. PET/CT had detected secondary malignancy in 8 patients. PET/CT is as accurate as CECT in detection of gastric cancer recurrence after curative resection, excepting detection of peritoneal carcinomatosis. Moreover, additional PET/CT on CECT could improve detection rate of tumor recurrence and provide other critical information such as unexpected secondary malignancy.
Aged ; Female ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18/*diagnostic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/*diagnosis/radiography/radionuclide imaging ; Positron-Emission Tomography/*methods ; Radiopharmaceuticals/*diagnostic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stomach Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*methods

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Endothelin (ET)-1, a potent endothelium-derived vasoconstrictor peptide, has a potential pathophysiologic role in pulmonary hypertension. Bosentan, a dual ET receptor (ET(A)/ET(B)) antagonist, is efficacious in treatment of pulmonary hypertension. The objectives of this study were to investigate the expression of ET-1 and ET receptor A (ERA) genes and to evaluate the effect of bosentan in monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary hypertension. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated as follows: control (n=36), subcutaneous (sc) injection of saline; MCT (n=36), sc injection of MCT (60 mg/kg); and bosentan (n=36), sc injection of MCT (60 mg/kg) plus 25 mg/kg/day bosentan orally. RESULTS: Serum ET-1 concentrations in the MCT group were higher than the control group on day 28 and 42. Quantitative analysis of peripheral pulmonary arteries revealed that the increase in medial wall thickness after MCT injection was significantly attenuated in the bosentan group on day 28 and 42. In addition, the increase in the number of intra-acinar muscular arteries after MCT injection was reduced by bosentan on day 14, 28 and 42. The levels of ET-1 and ERA gene expression were significantly increased in the MCT group compared with control group on day 5, and bosentan decreased the expression of ET-1 on day 5. CONCLUSION: ET-1 contributes to the progression of cardiopulmonary pathology in rats with MCT-induced pulmonary hypertension. Administration of bosentan reduced ET-1 gene expression in MCT-induced pulmonary hypertension in rats.
Animals ; Arteries ; Endothelin-1 ; Endothelins ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Male ; Monocrotaline ; Pulmonary Artery ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Endothelin ; Sulfonamides

Soft tissue uptake of Tc-99m labeled bone seeking agents, such as Tc-99m 3,3-diphosphono-1,2-propanedicarboxylic acid (DPD), is commonly seen in clinical practice, even though bone scintigraphy is mainly used to detect bone disease. However, gastric uptake of bone agents in patients with gastric cancer is very rare. And it has been reported that calcified gastric adenocarcinoma appears in only about 5% of all gastric cancer. We report a rare case of bone scintigraphy, single photon emission computed tomography and computed tomography fusion images that demonstrated diffuse gastric uptake of Tc-99m DPD in a patient with advanced gastric cancer.
Stomach Neoplasms/*metabolism ; Stomach/*metabolism ; Radiopharmaceuticals/*pharmacokinetics ; Organotechnetium Compounds/diagnostic use/*pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Humans ; Diphosphonates/diagnostic use/*pharmacokinetics ; Bone and Bones/*radionuclide imaging ; Aged