OBJECTIVE: This study investigated error-monitoring deficits in female college students with binge drinking (BD) using event-related potentials (ERPs) and the modified Flanker task. METHODS: Participants were categorized into BD (n=25) and non-BD (n=25) groups based on the scores of the Korean-version of the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT-K) and the Alcohol Use Questionnaire (AUQ). The modified Flanker task, consisting of congruent (target and flanker stimuli are the same) and incongruent (target and flanker stimuli are different) conditions, was used to evaluate error-monitoring abilities. RESULTS: The BD group exhibited significantly shorter response times and more error rates on the Flanker task, as well as reduced error-related negativity (ERN) amplitudes compared with the non-BD group. Additionally, ERN amplitudes measured at FCz and Cz were significantly correlated with scores on the AUDIT-K and AUQ in the whole participants. The BD and non-BD groups did not show any significant differences in error positivity amplitudes. CONCLUSION: The present results indicate that college students with BD have deficits in error-monitoring, and that reduced ERN amplitudes may serve as a biological marker or risk factor of alcohol use disorder.
Alcohol Drinking ; Binge Drinking ; Biomarkers ; Evoked Potentials ; Female ; Humans ; Reaction Time ; Risk Factors ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: We evaluated 1H MR spectroscopy improves the preoperative diagnosis of diffuse infiltrative type of primary central nervous system lymphomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After review of conventional MR images and medical records, we retrospectively reviewed proton MR spectra in seven patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma diagnosed by means of biopsy. Relative ratio of choline (Cho), N-acetylaspartate (NAA), and lipid-lactate (Lip- Lac) to creatine (Cr) were measured for quantitative analysis. RESULTS: The average ratio of Cho/Cr was 1.80+/-0.95, NAA/Cr was 1.34+/-0.41, and Lip-Lac/Cr was 1.12+/-0.16. All cases of lymphomas showed increased Lip-Lac peak. Two case of mass forming lymphoma showed decreased NAA/Cr significantly, whereas five cases of lymphoma without mass formation showed preserved NAA/Cr. CONCLUSION: We thought the presence of Lip-Lac peak without significant reduction of NAA on the MR spectroscopy was helpful for diagnosis of diffuse infiltrative type of central nervous system lymphoma.
Biopsy ; Central Nervous System* ; Choline ; Creatine ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Lymphoma* ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy* ; Medical Records ; Protons ; Retrospective Studies

The purpose of this study was to determine the attributes and factors of brand personality for contract foodservice management companies. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to five students at universities operating under the top five companies in contract foodservice management. The following statistical analyses were conducted for the data assessment: descriptive analysis, t-test, ANOVA, reliability analysis, and factor analysis, using the SPSS Win(12.0) package program. From these analyses we divided a company's brand personality into the following five functional and emotional elements: sensibility, sincerity, confidence, competence, and excitement. Based on these five elements a total of 26 scales were developed to measure brand attributes of the companies. The variance was explained by 19.29% of sensibility, 17.65% of sincerity, 15.71% of confidence, 14.06% of competence, and 13.62% of excitement. The calculated Cronbach's alpha was more than .90 for all the scales measuring the five attributes, indicating good internal consistency. There were significant differences in sensibility(p<.01), sincerity(p<.001), creditability(p<.01), competence (p<.001), and excitement(p<.001) among the companies. In regards to overall brand personality, company a had a higher mean score for sincerity, while the other companies had higher mean scores for competence. Among the brand personalities, 'confidence' had the highest mean score with 3.36, followed by 'cooperation' (3.17), 'successful'(3.12), 'leadership'(3.11), and 'down-to-earth'(3.02).
Analysis of Variance ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Humans ; Mental Competency ; Questionnaires ; Weights and Measures

Ilizarov technique has been successfully applied to limb lengthening for several decade, one of its main drawback is, however, long application of external fixator over 6 months. To lessen this time, simultaneous intramedullary fixation which convert later to static fixation by insertion of interlocking screws has been proposed. The indication for surgical limb lengthening includes familial short stature below the 3rd percentile. We compared the results of thirteen tibial lengthening with Ilizarov method to that of eleven hybrid methods. The hybrid system is composed of an unreamed AO intramedullary nail (IM) and ring fixator. Once the lengthening is completed, distal interlocking screws were inserted. In the group who were treated by hybrid system, the mean lengthening of tibia was 7.1cm (range, 6.3-9.5), the mean of external fixation period 7 months (range, 5-9), the mean healing index 1.2 month/cm (range, 1.1-1.4). On the other hand, the mean lengthening of tibia was 7.5cm (range, 5-10.3), the mean of external fixation period 9.8 months (range, 6-15), the mean healing index 1.4 month/cm (range, 1.1-1.8) in the group treated by Ilizarov method. Mean follow-up period was 23 months (range 14-47). There was no rotational or angular deformities and no loss of lengthening in the hybrid group. However we experienced three cases of angular deformity at the distraction site during lengthening in Ilizarov group. There was no deep infection in both groups. In the hybrid group we found several advantages such as no deformity, no loss of lengthening, and less scar by early removal of fixator, but some disadvantages such as need of subsequent procedures and limitation in intramedullary nailing.
Cicatrix ; Congenital Abnormalities ; External Fixators ; Extremities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary* ; Hand ; Ilizarov Technique* ; Tibia

Pheochromocytoma is derived from the chromaffin cells and patients with pheochromocytoma present with several signs and symptoms by producing, storing and secreting catecholamine. Spontaneous rupture or necrosis of pheochromocytoma is extremely rare, but it can be lethal because of the dramatic change in the circulation such as an acute abdominal emergency or shock. Spontaneous remission of the clinical symptoms due to necrosis of the pheochromocytoma is rare. We describe such a case that presented with cardiogenic shock due to extensive necrosis of the pheochromocytoma and this was followed by spontaneous remission of the clinical symptoms without removal of the pheochromocytoma.
Chromaffin Cells ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Pheochromocytoma ; Remission, Spontaneous ; Rupture, Spontaneous ; Shock ; Shock, Cardiogenic

In most cases, subdural hematoma (SDH) is regarded as a complication of head injury and nontraumatic causes are rare. Moreover, spontaneous chronic SDH in child or adolescent is very unusual. Here, we present the case of a healthy 14-year-old girl who was diagnosed as a spontaneous chronic SDH. The patient presented with severe headache following blurring of vision two weeks ago without any history of trivial head injury. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging depicted a chronic SDH. The cause of the hematoma was not established. After performing burr hole drainage of the hematoma, the patient made an uneventful recovery. We explore the potential risk factors and pathophysiology implicated in this condition. Possible pathogenic mechanisms of this unique case are discussed and a review of the pertinent literature is included.
Adolescent ; Child ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Drainage ; Headache ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Subdural ; Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Risk Factors ; Vision, Ocular

PURPOSE: This paper examined the relationship between knowledge differences of maternal oral health and of relevant demographic variables. METHODS: Participants included 239 pregnant women who were recruited from Women's Hospital located in B city who agreed to participate in this study. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis using the SPSS 21.0 program. RESULTS: Maternal knowledge of oral health was moderate level (10.22±2.36). Scores of maternal knowledge of oral health were different according to age, education, occupation, parity, and dental care experience in pregnancy. Level of oral healthcare knowledge was weakly related to age and education. CONCLUSION: Consequently, it is necessary to encourage pregnant women to take part in oral health education program during antenatal care.
Delivery of Health Care ; Dental Care ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Occupations ; Oral Health* ; Parity ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women*

PURPOSE: Epilepsy surgery has become increasingly available in children with medically intractable epilepsy including temporal lobe epilepsy(TLE). TLE in children, however, has many different clinical and electrophysiologic characteristics which make presurgical evaluation difficult. The aim of this study is to evaluate the electroencephalographic(EEG) features which might be one of the predictors of postsurgical seizure outcomes in TLE. METHODS: Standard EEG, video-EEG, subdural or depth EEG were investigated in 12 children who underwent anterior temporal lobectomy, and their seizure semiology, MRI, and pathologic findings were also reviewed. Postsurgical seizure outcomes were divided into favorable(class I, II) and unfavorable(class III, IV) groups by using the Engel's classification. RESULTS: Half of the patients showed favorable outcomes, whose pathologic findings revealed hippocampal sclerosis or gliosis. Such pathologic findings were not demonstrated in MRI. Interictal epileptiform discharges were concordant with the location of the ictal onset in only 2 cases of the favorable outcomes. For the other 4 cases in the favorable group, focal ictal onset patterns were clearly evident in video-EEG monitorings or invasive EEG studies. Six cases in the unfavorable group showed unlocalized or multifocal interictal or ictal discharges -extratemporal, bitemporal or generalized epileptic activities- even in the invasive EEG studies. Five of them revealed cortical dysplasia in the pathology. CONCLUSION: The postsurgical seizure outcomes of hippocampal sclerosis or gliosis were more favorable than those of cortical dysplasia. Invasive EEG recordings should be considered for the localization of epileptic foci in the presurgical evaluation of children with intractable TLE.
Anterior Temporal Lobectomy ; Child* ; Classification ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy ; Gliosis ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Malformations of Cortical Development ; Pathology ; Sclerosis ; Seizures ; Temporal Lobe*

OBJECTIVE: Most patients wear cervical braces regardless of any anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) technique for cervical disc herniation, even in the plating. We compared clinical and radiological results in patients with cervical disc herniations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of plate insertion during ACDF and determine if this could eliminate the need for external cervical braces after ACDF. METHODS: In this study, we evaluated 67 patients treated for single level cervical disc herniation with radiculopathy. The patients were divided into two groups: 30 patients treated with ACDF using a Solis(R) cage with plating who did not wear a cervical brace after the operation (Group I: Plated group), and 37 patients treated with ACDF using a Solis(R) cage without plating who wore a cervical brace for 3 months (Group II: Non-plated group). Clinical outcomes were assessed using the neck disability index (NDI), and visual analogue scale (VAS) for neck and arm pain at different times after the surgery. In addition, modified MacNab's grading criteria were used to assess the subjective patients' outcome at the last follow-up. Fusion was assessed at 6, 12, and 18 months after the surgery using upright AP, lateral, and flexion-extension views. RESULTS: Excellent or good results were achieved in the most patients from both groups. Patients in both groups showed marked pain relief in terms of neck and arm pain scores over all time intervals. The NDI scores in both groups significantly improved when compared to preoperative scores; however, at 1 and 2 months after the surgery, patients in Group I (Plated group) had significantly better NDI scores compared to Group II (Non-plated group). Higher rates of fusion were reported in Group I over all time intervals although none of these were statistically significant. There were two patients who required second surgery for cage subsidence in Group II. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that anterior cervical fusion with plating for cervical radiculopathy is a safe and effective treatment which can eliminate unnecessary need for an external cervical brace.
Arm ; Braces ; Diskectomy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neck ; Radiculopathy

To examine among patients with vertebral compression fracture the extent to which signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) values at the lumbar vertebral compression fracture site vary on diffusion-weighted MR images according to varying b values on the 1.5T MR device. Diffusion-weighted MR images of 30 patients with compression fracture due to chronic osteoporosis who underwent vertebral MRI from Jan. 2008 to Nov. 2009 were respectively obtained using a 1.5-T MR scanner with the b values increased from 400, 600, 800, 1,000 to 1,200 s/mm2. For diffusion-weighted MR images with different b values, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was assessed at three sites: the site of compression fracture of the lumbar vertebral body at L1 to L5, and both the upper and lower discs of the said fracture site, while for ADC map images with different b values, the SNR and ADC were respectively assessed at those three sites. As a quantitative analysis, diffusion-weighted MR images and ADC map images with b value of 400 s/mm2 (the base b values) were respectively compared with the corresponding images with each different b value. As far as qualitative analysis is concerned, for both diffusion-weighted MR and ADC map images with b value of 400 s/mm2, the extent to which signal intensity values obtained at the site of compression fracture of the lumbar vertebral body at L1 to L5 vary according to the increasing b values were examined. The quantitative analysis found that for both diffusion-weighted MR and ADC map images, as the b values increased, the SNR were relatively lowered at all the three sites, compared to the base b value. Also, it was found that as the b values increased, ADC values were relatively lowered at all the three sites on ADC map images. On the other hand, the qualitative analysis found that as the b values increased to more than 400 s/mm2, the signal intensity gradually decreased at all the sites, while at the levels of more than 1,000 s/mm2, severe image noises appeared at all of the three sites. In addition, higher signal intensity was found at the site of compression fracture of the lumbar vertebral body than at the discs. Findings showed that with the b value being increased, both the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) values gradually decreased at all the sites of the lumbar vertebral compression fracture and both the upper and lower discs of the fracture site, suggesting that there is a possibility of a wider range of applications to assessment of various vertebral pathologies by utilizing multi b values in the diffusion-weighted MRI examination.
Diffusion ; Fractures, Compression ; Hand ; Humans ; Noise ; Osteoporosis ; Signal-To-Noise Ratio