OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to compare Global field Power Measurement and conventional method in P300 determination. METHOD: The subjects were composed of patients(N=20) with schizophrenia by DSM-IV and normal controls(N=20). The auditory event related potential P300 was measured by "oddball paradigm". P300 components were determined by Global Field Power Measurement and conventional method at 5 electrodes(Fz, Cz, Pz, T3, T4). RESULTS: P300 amplitudes of patients were smaller than those of controls across all electrodes and in both methods, but there was no differential power in P300 determination between two methods. Asymmetry of auditory event-related potential P300 was not shown between patients with schizophrenia and normal controls. CONCLUSION: It is implicated that it depends on clinical situations and research purposes what method of P300 determination will be more appropriate for patients with schizophernia.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Electrodes ; Event-Related Potentials, P300 ; Evoked Potentials ; Humans ; Schizophrenia

OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to investigate whether asymmetry of auditory event-related potential P300 was shown in patients with schizophrenia or not. METHOD: The subjects were composed of patients(N=20) with schizophrenia by DSM-IV and normal controls(N=20). The auditory event related potential P300 was measured by "oddball paradigm". P300 component was determined by classic method at 5 electrodes(Fz, Cz, Pz, T3, T4). RESULTS: P300 amplitudes of patients were smaller than those of controls across all electrodes. Asymmetry of auditory event-related potential P300 was not shown between patients with schizophrenia and normal controls. CONCLUSION: It is implicated that auditory event-related potential P300 and its information processing should not be elicited asymmetrically in schizophrenia.
Automatic Data Processing ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Electrodes ; Event-Related Potentials, P300 ; Evoked Potentials* ; Humans ; Schizophrenia*

OBJECTS: This study was designed to investigate the characteristics of components of topographic auditory event-related potential P300 in the patients with schizophrenia and to evaluate the correlation between the findings of components of P300 and psychopathology. METHODS: The subjects consisted of 28 patients with schizophrenia and 28 normal controls who were matched by age and sex. The topographic auditory event-related P300 was recorded in oddball paradigm and analyzed by computerized brain mapping system. The latency of P300 was determined by global field power measurement. The psychopathology of the patients with chizophrenia were rated by PANSS. RESULTS: There were significant differences in both latency(schizophrenia 369.5+/-40.6msec, normal controls 332.6+/-34.8msec) and amplitude(schizophrenia: 4.1+/-3.1micro V, normal controls 6.7+/-3.2micro V). However, there was no difference in the electrode location of maximum area of P300 between the patients with schizophrenia and normal controls. The latency of P300 showed positive correlation and the amplitude showed negative correlation with PANSS scores of the patients with schizophrenia. CONCLUSION: The results implicate that the patients with schizoprenia might have mental dysfunction in the aspects of cognise process affected by both positive and negative symptoms.
Brain Mapping ; Electrodes ; Evoked Potentials* ; Humans ; Psychopathology* ; Schizophrenia*

This study was designed to investigate the clinical availability of topographic auditory event related potential P300 as a biological marker in patients with schizophrenia. The subjects were composed of normal controls(N=30) and patients(N=30) with schizophrenia by DSM-IV. Topographic auditory event related potential P300 and N100 were measured by "oddball paradigm", which was known as a standard method. Schizophrenics were evaluated twice, initial and follow-up, by 4 week interval. P300 latency and N100 latency were deter-mined by Global Field Power. At this time point the maximum amplitude and its location, according to X-Y coordinates, were determined in brain topography. Clinical symptoms were evaluated by Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS). P300 latencies of normal controls, initial group of schizophrenics, and follow-up group of schizophrenics were 315.8+/-24.2msec, 403.8+/-42.3msec, and 364.7+/-43.2msec, respectively. P300 amplitudes of normal controls, initial group of schizophrenics, and follow-up group of schizophrenics were 8.8+/-2.7microV, 4.4+/-1.9microV, and 4.4+/-2.5microV, respectively. They had significantly different P300 latencies one another by measuring ANCOVA, of which covariables were N100 latency, age, and CCP(correct counted percent)(p<0.01). X-Y coordinates was not significant. In P300, there were some different characters between normal controls and schizophrenics even though excluding N100, which was supposed to be exogeneous component by external stimuli. When clinical symptoms were improved, P300 latency was decreased. However, P300 amplitude was not changed. These results suggest that P300 woald be available clinically as a biological marker, P300 latency be a state marker, and P300 amplitude be a trait marker in schizophrenia.
Biomarkers* ; Brain ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Schizophrenia*

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to determine whether patients with alcohol dependence do have brain dysfunction by auditory event related potential P300, EEG, and neuro-cognitive function test or not. METHODS: Subjects were composed of patients with alcohol dependence (N=33) and normal controls (N=67). P300 was determined by conventional method, Global Field Power method, and modified method. Also Korea Wechsler Intelligence Scale, Wechsler Memory Scale, and Trail Making B were tested. Spectral EEG was analyzed by the ranges of Hz, delta (delta, 1-3.5Hz), theta (theta, 4-7.5Hz), alpha(alpha, 8-13Hz), and beta(beta, 13.5-18Hz), and compared by relative power. RESULTS: In patients with alcohol dependence, P300 was smaller and later, and there was no difference between the measurement methods of P300. Lower IQ score was shown in patients with alcohol dependence, but it did not affect the P300 results. It took more time to perform Trail Making B test in patients with alcohol dependence, but there was no difference between groups in Wechsler Memory Scale. Spectrum EEG was shown as similar patterns. CONCLUSION: It suggests that patients with alcohol dependence have brain dysfunction in some neurophysiological aspects, regardless of intelligence. And frontal lobe dysfunction might be more severe than temporal one in patients with alcohol dependence.
Alcoholism* ; Brain ; Electroencephalography* ; Frontal Lobe ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Korea ; Memory

OBJECTS: This study was designed to make a comparison between methods to determine the components of topographic auditory event related potential P300. METHODS: The subjects were consisted of 44 normal controls and 44 patients with schizophrenia diagnosed by DSM-IV. The topographic auditory event related P300 was recorded in oddball paradigm. The components of P300, including latency, amplitude, and location of maximum amplitude in X-Y coordinates, were analized by computerized EP mapping system. The latency of P300 was determined by both global field power measurement and classic method. RESULTS: There was difference between two groups in latency(DF=1, F=35.28, P= 0.0001) and amplitude(DF=1, F=36.62, P=0.0001), but not in X coordinate(DF=1, F=0.37, P=0.55) and Y coordinate(DF=1, F=2.00, P=0.16). There was no difference between two mothods in latency(DF=1, F=0.04, P=0.85), in amplitude(DF=1, F=0.07, P=0.79), in X coordinate(DF=1, F=0.07, P=0.79), and in Y coordinate(DF=1, F=0.03, P=0.86). CONCLUSION: The results suggested that two methods to determine the components of topographic auditory event related potential P300 should be available for both research and clinical application to date.
Brain* ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Event-Related Potentials, P300* ; Humans ; Schizophrenia

OBJECTS: This study was to examine the changes of components of topographic auditory event related potential P300 in normal aging process. METHODS: The subjects were consisted of 85(range of age ; 18-68), who were right handed and had education level at least over 12 years. They had no history of medico-surgical and psychiatric illness which could cause brain dysfunction, and had not any physical and mental illness on examination. The topographic auditory event related P300 was recorded in oddball paradigm and the components of P300 including latency, amplitude, and location of maximum amplitude in X-Y cordinates were analized by computerized EP mapping system. The latency of P300 was determined by both Global Field Power Measurement and classic method. RESULTS: In global field power measurement, the latency has been increased about by 1m sec per year(latency=299.9+1 X AGE). The location of maximum amplitude in X coordinate was moved by 0.018 per year toward left side(X=3.6-0.018 X AGE) and in Y coordinate by 0.017 toward frontal direction(Y=2.15+0.017 X AGE). In classic method the latency has been increased about by 0.82m sec per year(latency=304.76+0.82 X AGE). The location of maximum amplitude in X coordinate was moved by 0.011 per year toward left side(X=3.35-0.011 X AGE) and in Y coordinate by 0.025 toward frontal direction(Y=1.86+0.025 X AGE). The amplitudes were not changed in both methods. CONCLUSION: The results showed strong positive correlation between latency of P300 and aging process, and slight left frontal displacement of the location of maximum amplitude. These finding implicate that psychophysiological function expressed by P300 was declined in aging process and database of formal controls should be necessary for both research and clinical application.
Aging* ; Brain ; Education ; Hand

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate an association between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and altered immunity in North Korean defectors who were more likely to develop medical conditions and other stress-related psychiatric disorders. METHODS: Twenty-four North Korean defectors with PTSD and twenty-two controls without PTSD were recruited from the resettlement and training center for North Korean defectors in South Korea. Peripheral T lymphocyte subsets, natural killer (NK) cells, NK cell activity and plasma hormones (ACTH and cortisol) were obtained from all subjects. We also applied the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) and Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A) for all subjects. RESULTS: We found NK cell activity was relatively lower than number of NK cells in North Korean defectors with PTSD. Subjects with PTSD had higher HAM-D and HAM-A scores than controls. However, there were no statistical differences in ACTH, cortisol, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8 ratio, CD19 and CD56 between the two groups. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest North Korean defectors with PTSD show higher levels of depression, anxiety and impaired or weak immune function in NK cells.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Anxiety ; Depression ; Hydrocortisone ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Plasma ; Republic of Korea ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets

PURPOSE: This study was designed to explore quality of life (QOL) in patients with stomach cancer by using the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) Instrument-Korean version. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-one (31) patients with stomach cancer after curative resection were recruited with informed consent. Age- and gender-matched hospital staff served as controls. The 100-item WHOQOL Instrument, including physical domain, psychological domain, social domain, independence domain, environment domain, and spiritual domain, was employed for the all subjects. RESULTS: In patients with stomach cancer after operation, only two domains, physical and independence, were associated with worse quality of life. In those domains, patients with advanced stage, with total gastrectomy, with adjuvant chemotherapy, and early or late postoperative period (< or =2 years or >5 years after operation), could be perceived of having a worse quality of life. CONCLUSION: Not only scientific objective success but also individual subjective perception of condition could be important for managing patients with stomach carcinomas after curative resection. In this context, the WHOQOL reflecting multi-dimensional state of well being could be a useful tool across a variety of cultural and value systems in the world.
Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Drug Therapy ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Informed Consent ; Postoperative Period ; Quality of Life* ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Stomach* ; World Health Organization

OBJECTIVES: Using two stimuli, this study was designed to evaluate variations of P300 in relations to reaction time of pressing the button for target tones in patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: The auditory oddball paradigm was used for the patients (N=22) and normal controls (N=23). The two stimuli were composed of target (20%, 2000 Hz, 75 dB) tone and standard (80%, 1000 Hz, 75 dB) tone, with 2 sec inter-stimulus interval, 50 msec duration and 10 msec rise or fall time. In each subject, P300s were acquired for both fast reaction time (FRT) and slow reaction time (SRT) to target response. RESULTS: P300 amplitude in patients with schizophrenia was lower than controls across FRT and SRT (p<0.001), but P300 latency was not delayed (p>0.8). In this study, even though the reaction time for the button pressing task might be faster in patients with schizophrenia (p<0.1), the P300 to FRT in patients with schizophrenia was lower than the P300 to SRT in controls (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the lower P300 in patients with schizophrenia might be due to cognitive dysfunction and the patient's performance in reaction time for pressing buttons, both independently. Thus, P300 as well as reaction time may be used to further explore a variety of domains of cognitive function.
Evoked Potentials* ; Humans ; Reaction Time* ; Schizophrenia*