Many factors including social rejection, family problems, loss of educational opportunity, fear, prejudice and ignorance of leprosy compound the inherent psychologicaI stress of leprosy. In light of these problems we have undertaken a study to evaluate the psychological status of several selected groups of leprasy patients. We first studied 340 leprosy patients living in resettlement villages and 304 healthy people living in similar isolated areas. We used a self report symptom inventory, SCL-90 (symptom check list-90), and compared the two-groups. (countinued..)
Humans ; Leprosy* ; Prejudice ; Self Report ; Social Distance

PURPOSE: Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common heritable cause of cognitive impairment. FXS is caused by hyperexpansion and hypermethylation of a polymorphic CGG trinucleotide repeat in the 5' untranslated region of the fragile X mental retadation-1(FMR1) gene. Combination of Southern blotting and simple polymerase chain reaction(PCR) amplification of the FMR1 repeat region is commonly used for diagnosis in females. To give a definite diagnosis in a female child suspected of having FXS, we carried out the molecular diagnostic test for FXS using the recently developed Abbott Molecular Fragile X PCR Kit. METHODS: The PCR amplification of the FMR1 repeat region was performed using the Abbott Mdecular Fragile X PCR Kit. The amplified products were analyzed by size-separate analysis on 1.5% agarose gels and by DNA fragment analysis using Gene scan. RESULTS: Agarose gel and Gene scan analyses of PCR products of the FMR1 repeat region showed that the patient had two heterozygous alleles with a normal 30 repeats and full mutation of >200 repeats whereas her mother had two heterozygous alleles with the normal 30 repeats and premutation of 108 repeats, suggesting that the premutation of 108 repeats in her mother may have led to the full mutation of >200 repeats in the patient. CONCLUSION: We diagnosed FXS in a female patient using a simplified molecular diagnostic test. This commercially available diagnostic test for FXS, based on PCR, may be a suitable alternative or complement method to Southern blot analysis and PCR analysis and/or methylation specific(MS)-PCR analysis for the molecular diagnosis of FXS in both males and females.
5' Untranslated Regions ; Alleles ; Blotting, Southern ; Child ; Complement System Proteins ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; DNA ; Female ; Fragile X Syndrome ; Gels ; Humans ; Male ; Methylation ; Mothers ; Pathology, Molecular ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sepharose ; Trinucleotide Repeats

urpose: Misonidazole is a radiosensitizer that binds in hypoxic cells. The purpose of this study was to find out the feasibility of I-131-Iodomisonidazole (IMISO) for imaging of tumor hypoxia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tosyl precursor was dissolved in acetonitrile and I-131-NaI was added to synthesize IMISO. Balb/c mice inoculated with CT-26 adenocarcinoma were injected with IMISO. Mice were sacrificed at 1,2,4,24 hr and % of injected dose per gram of tissue (%ID/g) was determined. For scintigraphy and MRI, mouse bearing CT-26 adenocarcinoma was administered with IMISO and imaging was performed 4 hr after. Then, mouse body was fixed and microtomized slice was placed on radiographic film for autoradiography. RESULTS: %ID/g of tumor was 1.64 (1h), 0.98 (2h), 0.85 (4h) and 0.20 (24h), respectively. At 24h, %ID/g of tumor was higher than that of all other tissues except thyroid. Tumor to muscle ratio increased with time and tumor to blood ratio also increased with time and reached 1.53 at 24 hr. On autoradiogram, tumor was well visualized as an increased activity in central hypoxic area of the tumor which corresponds to the area of high signal intensity on T2-weighted MR image. On scintigraphy, tumor uptake was visualized. CONCLUSION:: This RESULTS suggest that IMISO may have a potential for tumor hypoxia imaging in mouse model. However, further study is needed to improve it's localization in tumor tissue and to achieve acceptable images of tumor hypoxia.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Animals ; Anoxia* ; Autoradiography ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mice* ; Misonidazole ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Thyroid Gland ; X-Ray Film

The Teller acuity card procedure, which is a form of the preferential looking test, is a way of assessing visual acuity in preverbal patients. It has been shown to be rapid and easy test to perform. Teller acuity cards were used to detect amblyopia in 100 patients(from 2 months to 9 years) and the result was compared to the clinical judgement of amblyopia. The sensitivity, specificity and efficiency of Teller acuity card procedure compared to the clinical judgement of amblyopia were 71.43%, 94.94% and 90.00%, respectively. The authors found that the acuity cards could be used to detect amblyopia. However, the clinical judgement of amblyopia of the ophthalmologist was more sensitive in diagnosing amblyopia than the Teller acuity cards in the presence of various ocular disorders.
Amblyopia* ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity* ; Visual Acuity

The Teller acuity card procedure, which is a form of the preferential looking test, is a way of assessing visual acuity in preverbal patients. It has been shown to be rapid and easy test to perform. Teller acuity cards were used to detect amblyopia in 100 patients(from 2 months to 9 years) and the result was compared to the clinical judgement of amblyopia. The sensitivity, specificity and efficiency of Teller acuity card procedure compared to the clinical judgement of amblyopia were 71.43%, 94.94% and 90.00%, respectively. The authors found that the acuity cards could be used to detect amblyopia. However, the clinical judgement of amblyopia of the ophthalmologist was more sensitive in diagnosing amblyopia than the Teller acuity cards in the presence of various ocular disorders.
Amblyopia* ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity* ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate the role of chronic endothelin receptor antagonism to preserve erectile function in diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (250-350 gm) were divided into 4 groups: Group 1, non-diabetic control rats (n=5); Group 2, non-diabetic rats fed 10 mg/kg of RO-485695, a combined endothelin receptor antagonist (n=5); Group 3, diabetic control (n=15); Group 4, diabetic rats fed 10 mg/kg of RO-485695 (n=15). Streptozotocin, 65 mg/kg, was used for development of diabetes mellitus. Body weight and blood glucose levels were measured every 2 weeks and drug feeding was done by oral gavage. Twelve weeks after induction of diabetes and RO-485695 treatment, erectile function was determined by measurement of intracavernosal pressure (ICP) and maximal arterial pressure (MAP) after electrical stimulation of the cavernosal nerve. RT-PCR analysis for detection of mRNA of endothelin-1, endothelin receptor A (ET-A), and endothelin receptor B (ET-B), and Western blot analysis and immunohistochemical evaluation of the eNOS protein were performed. RESULTS: Body weight and blood glucose levels were not influenced by 10 mg/kg of RO-485695. Erectile function after 5 volts stimulation was significantly decreased in the diabetic rat (group 3 & 4) compared with the non-diabetic rat (group 1 & 2) (64.3+/-9.6 vs 41.9+/-14.8 mmHg), but increased in group 4 compared with group 3 (44.3+/-16.9 vs 36.6+/-10.1 mmHg). The mRNA expression of endothelin-1 was up-regulated significantly in group 3 & 4 when compared with group 1 & 2. However this endothelin expression was down-regulated in group 4 compared with group 3. The mRNA expression of ET-A among 4 groups was not significantly different. ET-B band in rat cavernosal tissue could not be observed in any group under these conditions. eNOS protein expression was increased in group 4 compared with group 3. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic endothelin receptor antagonism in the experimental diabetic rat model has been demonstrated to preserve cavernosal erectile function, suggesting a possible therapeutic role for endothelin receptor antagonists in diabetic erectile dysfunction.
Adult ; Animals ; Arterial Pressure ; Blood Glucose ; Blotting, Western ; Body Weight ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Electric Stimulation ; Endothelin-1 ; Endothelins* ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Humans ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Endothelin ; RNA, Messenger ; Streptozocin

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective comparative study. PURPOSE: To describe the changes in the spinopelvic parameters on normal Koreans more than 50 years of age. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: There are differing opinions regarding the changes in the thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, C7 plumb with age in the elderly population. METHODS: Sagittal standing radiographs of the whole spine including the pelvis in 132 Korean adult male volunteers more than 50 years of age were evaluated prospectively. Volunteers with a history of spine operation, spinal disease, pain in their back or legs, scoliosis, spondylolisthesis, monosegment disc space narrowing, or compression fracture in radiographs were excluded. The following parameters were included: thoracic kyphosis (T5 upper end plate [UEP]-T12 lower end plate [LEP]), thoracolumbar kyphosis (T10 UEP-L2 LEP), lumbar lordosis (T12 LEP-S1 UEP), lower lumbar lordosis (L4 UEP-S1 UEP), sacral slope, pelvic incidence, and the distances from the C7 plumb to the posterosuperior endplate of S1. These parameters in the 6th, 7th and 8th decade groups were compared and the changes in these parameters according to age were examined. RESULTS: The thoracic kyphosis demonstrated significant differences in the in the three age groups (p = 0.019), and increased with age (r = 0.239, p < 0.006). The other parameters did not show any significant difference or correlation. CONCLUSIONS: Similar global sagittal balances and spinopelvic parameters may be observed in Korean males older than 50 years, with a trend towards increasing thoracic kyphosis with age.
Adult ; Aged ; Animals ; Fractures, Compression ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kyphosis ; Leg ; Lordosis ; Male ; Pelvis ; Prospective Studies ; Scoliosis ; Spinal Diseases ; Spine ; Spondylolisthesis

The temporalis muscle is usually described as a single layer originating at the temporal line, converging to a tendon, and inserting onto a narrow site of the coronoid process. However, recent studies have shown that the temporalis muscle can be divided into two or three separate segments and the distal attachment continues inferiorly beyond the coronoid process. Therefore, the aims of this study were to analyze the morphology of the temporalis muscle focusing on the tendinous attachment onto the coronoid process and to provide educational values. The temporalis muscle was carefully dissected in 26 cadavers and classified based on the muscle fascicle direction. Each divided part was sketched and measured based on bony landmarks to elucidate its tendinous insertion site onto the coronoid process, and the results obtained were reviewed through the literature. The temporalis muscle ends at two distinct terminal tendons with wider insertion sites than usually presented in textbooks and atlases and separates into two parts that combine to act as a single structural unit. The superficial part is a large fan-shaped muscle commonly recognized as the temporalis muscle. This converges infero-medially to form the superficial tendon and the lateral boundary of the retromolar triangle. Meanwhile, the deep part is a narrow vertically oriented rectangular muscle that converges postero-laterally to form the deep tendon and the medial boundary of the retromolar triangle. These results indicate that understanding the temporalis muscle’s insertion site onto the coronoid process will be useful clinically with educational values during surgical procedures.

The temporalis muscle is usually described as a single layer originating at the temporal line, converging to a tendon, and inserting onto a narrow site of the coronoid process. However, recent studies have shown that the temporalis muscle can be divided into two or three separate segments and the distal attachment continues inferiorly beyond the coronoid process. Therefore, the aims of this study were to analyze the morphology of the temporalis muscle focusing on the tendinous attachment onto the coronoid process and to provide educational values. The temporalis muscle was carefully dissected in 26 cadavers and classified based on the muscle fascicle direction. Each divided part was sketched and measured based on bony landmarks to elucidate its tendinous insertion site onto the coronoid process, and the results obtained were reviewed through the literature. The temporalis muscle ends at two distinct terminal tendons with wider insertion sites than usually presented in textbooks and atlases and separates into two parts that combine to act as a single structural unit. The superficial part is a large fan-shaped muscle commonly recognized as the temporalis muscle. This converges infero-medially to form the superficial tendon and the lateral boundary of the retromolar triangle. Meanwhile, the deep part is a narrow vertically oriented rectangular muscle that converges postero-laterally to form the deep tendon and the medial boundary of the retromolar triangle. These results indicate that understanding the temporalis muscle’s insertion site onto the coronoid process will be useful clinically with educational values during surgical procedures.

The purposes of this study were to present DNA analysis findings of our case series of fragile X syndrome (FXS) based on methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MS-PCR), PCR, and Southern blotting alongside developmental characteristics including psychological profiles and to review the literature on FXS in Korea. The reports of 65 children (male:female, 52:13; age, 6.12+/-4.00 yrs) referred for the diagnosis of FXS over a 26-months period were retrospectively reviewed for the identification of full mutation or premutation of fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1). Among the 65 children, there were 4 boys with full mutation, and one boy showed premutation of FMR1, yielding a 6.15% positive rate of FXS. All 4 children with full mutation showed significant developmental delay, cognitive dysfunction, and varying degrees of autistic behaviors. The boys with premutation showed also moderate mental retardation, severe drooling, and behavioral problems as severe as the boys with full mutation. Thirteen articles on FXS in Korea have been published since 1993, and they were reviewed. The positive rate of FXS was in the range of 0.77-8.51%, depending on the study groups and the method of diagnosis. Finally, the population-based prevalence study on FXS in Korea is required in the near future.
Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein/*genetics ; Fragile X Syndrome/diagnosis/*epidemiology/*genetics ; Humans ; Infant ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Mutation ; Prevalence