OBJECTIVES & METHODS: The authors applied Beck's Depression Inventory(BDI) Self-rating Anxiety Scale(SAS)and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale(BIS)to 548 enlisted men to evaluate the differences of anxious, depressive and impulsive trends according to the duration of the military service. The enlisted men were divided into 3 groups as follows: Group 1: those who had served under 8 months. Group 2: those who had served from 9 to 16 months. Group 3: those who had served over 17 months. RESULTS: 1)The scores of BDI (F=3.60, p<.05)and negative self image and psychomotor retardation subscale (F=5.82, p<.01)of group 1 were significantly higher than those of group 2, respectively. 2)The SAS score of group 1 was significantly higher than that of others (F=5.80, p<.05) 3)The scores of total BIS(F=3.42, p<.05)and impulsiveness-motor subscale (F=3.29, p<.05)of group 1 were significantly higher than those of group 3, respectively. CONCLUSION: In spite of their scores were in normal range, these results suggest that the enlisted men of group 1 are more anxious, depressive and impulsive than those of the others. So we should give more attention to them and offer more concerns for them to protect the military accident.
Anxiety* ; Depression* ; Humans ; Male* ; Military Personnel* ; Reference Values

Bcl-2 oncoprotein is being localized to mitochondria and interfering with programmed cell death (apoptosis) independent of promoting cell division in the lymphoid and nonlymphoid cells. The bcl-2 oncoprotein expression has been reported in follicular lymphomas as well as in diffuse non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, leukemia and a variable propotion of Hodgkin's lymphoma cases. Recent evidence suggests that some lymphomas protected from apoptosis is conferred through expression of Epstein-Barr virus(EBV) latent membrane protein which turn to cause upregulation of bcl-2. To define the role of the bcl-2 oncoprotein and EBV in lymphoid malignancy, we tried immunohistochemical studies with anti-bcl-2 antibody and In situ hybridization (ISH) with EBV-encoded small nuclear RNAs(EBER) in the paraffin embedded sections of 46 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) cases and 20 Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) cases. Bcl-2 oncoprotein expression was found in 37 of 46 cases (80%) of NHL with relatively strong cytoplasmic staining, and in 14 of 20 cases (70%) of HL with weak cytoplasmic staining in limited small numbers of RS, Hodgkin and lacunar cells. The widespread presence of bcl-2 oncogene in many different types of both NHL and HL supports that the extended cell survival through overexpression of bcl-2 gene protein may be a growth advantage of neoplastic lymphoid cells. In the ISH analysis for EBV, the presence of EBV was detected in 17 of 20 cases (85%) of HL, compared to 6 of 44 cases(13.6%) of NHL. It appears to be no direct correlation between overexpression of bcl-2 oncoprotein by neoplastic lymphoid cells and the presence of EBV in NHL but it seems to be a definite association between EBV and HL.

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Rheumatic Heart Disease*

BACKGROUND: In order to delineate the involvement of apoptotic death in post-ischemic cerebral infarction, the temporal expressions of some apoptosis-regulating genes (BCL-2, BAX and ICE) were studied in the parietofrontal cortex of a rat following focal cerebral ischemia using a Northern blot analysis and RT-PCR. METHODS: Animals were decapitated at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 24 hours following a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). RESULTS: With the use of Northern blotting, the expression of proto-oncogene BCL-2, the apoptosis-repressor gene, increased up to 4 hours after a MCAO and then recovered to the control level. In a RT-PCR analysis, the expression of BCL-2 increased up to 8 hours after the MCAO and then recovered to the control level at 24 hours. The expression of BAX, the apoptosis-effec-tor gene, was not altered by a MCAO in a Northern blot analysis. The expression of ICE, an cysteine protease gene, markedly decreased at 1 and 2 hours after the MCAO and then recovered to the control level. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that ischemic insults by a MCAO alter the expression of the apoptosis-regulating genes and support the notion that the apoptosis may have occurred in the post-ischemic cerebral infarction.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Blotting, Northern ; Brain Ischemia ; Cerebral Infarction ; Cysteine Proteases ; Ice* ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery* ; Middle Cerebral Artery* ; Proto-Oncogenes ; Rats ; RNA, Messenger*

BACKGROUND: Although the first coronary Wallstent implantation ushered in a new era in interventional cordiology with the purpose of circumventing the two major limitations of coronary balloon angioplasty, early acute occlusion and late restenosis, the previous investigators have reported a high rate of subacute occlusion after Wallstent implantation. However, recent studies have reported a low incidence rate of subacute closure and restenosis using the newly modified coronary Less Shortening in aortocoronary vein grafts. The present study reports the immediate results of the Less Shortening Wallstent Implantation for 21 diffuse native coronary lesions in 20 patients. METHODS: Twenty patients were enrolled at the Yonsei Univ. Cardiovasular Center of medical College, Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea from March 1996 through May 1996. The specific angiographic criteria for enrollment included at least 75% diameter stenosis, according to the estimate of two investigatior ; a lesion that was 20mm or more in lenght and a vessel diameter of at least 2.5mm. Bail-out procedure was performed in the case of abrupt closure or threatened closure, defined as a dissection and over 50% residual stenosis of the artery. RESULTS: The coronary Less Shortening Wallstents were successfully implanted in the 21 diffuse coronary lesions(more than 20mm in length) of the 20 patients(pts), including 7 pts of acute myocardial infarction, 11 pts of unstable angina, and 2 pts of stable angina. Angiographic results after Less Shortening Wallstent were 3.0+/-0.3mm in minimal luminal diameter(MLD), 6.7+/-10.8% diameter stenosis(DS) comparing with pre-stent implantation MLD and DS, respectively, 0.3+/-0.4mm and 89.9+/-8.4%. During the in-hospital phase, no major cardiac event occurred except 2 cases of transmural myocardial infarction, including one of stent thrombosis and one of side branch occlusion, despite of inclusion of 7 cases of threatened occlusion in the long lesion. The peristent spasms were observed in 11 among 21 lesions, although long term significance of peristent spasm is not defined. The relative risk for peristent spasm were 10 times higher when larger stents(expanded stent diameter/reference artery diameter>1.7) were implanted. There was no peristent spasm when stents of which expanded stent diameter 1.4 times smaller than reference artery size ware used. CONCLUSION: The results of this introductory study suggest that new Less Shortening Wallstent may reduce the requirement of multiple stent in the long lesion and a lower rate of thrombotic occusion in comparison to its prototype. Further large scale long term follow-up study is needed to evaluate the role of new Less Shortening Wallstent.
Angina, Stable ; Angina, Unstable ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Arteries ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Disease* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Myocardial Infarction ; Phenobarbital ; Research Personnel ; Seoul ; Spasm ; Stents ; Thrombosis ; Transplants ; Veins

BACKGROUND: Leptin, produced in the adipose tissue, is involved in the regulation of body weight. The release of the leptin is increased in obese adults even in children. This study investigated whether the serum leptin in cord blood was related to babys birth weight and metabolic parameters. METHODS: 71 pairs of singleton pregnancy babies and their mother were studied. Babies are classified in LGA (large for gestational age), AGA (appropriate for gestational age), SGA (small for gestational age) three groups. After delivery, cord blood and maternal venous blood samples were drawn. We measured the plasma leptin, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, insulin and proinsulin in cord and maternal serum. RESULTS: The concentration of leptin from cord blood was increased in LGA babies and decreased in SGA babies compued with the level in AGA babies. There was positive correlatian (r=0.55, p<0.01) between the plasma leptin level in cord and birth weight. There were positive correlatian between both the plasma proinsulin (r=0.37, p<0.01) and IGF-1 (r=0.32, p<0.01) and birth weight, too. But there was no difference between female and male baby's cord blood leptin level. In multiple regression analysis, cord blood leptin level was found independent factor related to birth weight ( p=0.001) CONCLUDION : The plasma leptin, proinsulin and IGF-1 is correlates to the birth weight. These data provide evidence that leptin and proinsulin are highly related to the nutritional status already during the fetal periods, and effect on the intrauterine fetal growth.
Adipose Tissue ; Adult ; Birth Weight* ; Body Weight ; Child ; Female ; Fetal Blood* ; Fetal Development ; Humans ; Insulin ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Leptin* ; Male ; Mothers ; Nutritional Status ; Parturition* ; Plasma ; Pregnancy ; Proinsulin

BACKGROUND: Emergence agitation is one of the major problems in pediatric anesthesia. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of remifentanil and fentanyl on the incidence of emergence agitation, postoperative pain and postoperative vomiting after administering anesthesia with sevoflurane. METHODS: Thirty ASA physical status 1-2 children, aged 12-60 months undergoing a unilateral inguinal herniorrhaphy were randomized to receive either remifentanil (group R, bolus 0.5microgram/kg; infusion 0.2microgram/kg/min) or fentanyl (group F, 1microgram/kg) after thiopental sodium induction. All patients received sevoflurane for maintenance of anesthesia. Heart rate and blood pressure were measured at baseline (T0), preintubation (T1), postintubation (T2) and 5 minutes after intubation (T3). The agitation score, pain score and incidence of postoperative vomiting were assessed upon arrival at the recovery room (P0), 30 minutes thereafter (P1) and 3 hours after discharge from the recovery room (P2). RESULTS: The agitation score were higher in group R at P0 (P < 0.05). The pain score was higher in group R at P0, P1 and P2 (P < 0.05). Postoperative vomiting was present only in one patient in group F. CONCLUSIONS: Adjuvant use of fentanyl during sevoflurane anesthesia revealed advantages over the use of remifentanil concerning the incidence of postoperative agitation and pain without any prolongation of recovery time.
Anesthesia* ; Blood Pressure ; Child* ; Dihydroergotamine ; Fentanyl* ; Heart Rate ; Herniorrhaphy* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intubation ; Pain, Postoperative ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting ; Recovery Room ; Thiopental

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to test the possible association between Cholecystokinin B receptor (CCKBR) promoter gene and panic disorder. METHODS: 262 patients with panic disorder and 76 healthy controls participated in this study. Genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction-based method. RESULTS: Allele distribution of CT repeat polymorphism in patients with panic disorder was not different from those of the controls. However, after excluding the patients with panic disorder comorbid with major depressive disorder and other anxiety disorder, we found out the significant association of CCKBR (CT)n repeat with the panic disorder without comorbidities. And we analysed the data as a di-allelic polymorphism with a short (140-162 bp) and a long (164-180 bp) allele. In the di-allelic analysis, there was an excess of the shorter allele in patients with panic disorder. CONCLUSION: The present study suggested that the CCKBR promoter dinucleotide polymorphism may have a potential role for susceptibility to panic disorder in the Korean population and thus calls for consecutive studies in order to pile up the data with larger different ethnic background.
Alleles ; Anxiety Disorders ; Cholecystokinin* ; Comorbidity ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; Diagnosis* ; Drug Therapy* ; Humans ; Panic Disorder* ; Panic* ; Receptor, Cholecystokinin B*

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to develop and validate a scale for measuring the negative effects of job stress on an individual, its family, and its community. METHODS: Based on open-ended questions, interviews, and expert comments, 73 preliminary scale items consisting of 12 factors were assembled. The initial survey was administered to 344 employees in order to conduct item analyses, reliability tests, and factor analyses of the stress assessment scale. The results of the factor analyses indicated that an 8 factor model comprising 43 items was most meaningful. For the final survey, data were obtained from 2732 employees. RESULTS: Factor analysis of the final survey data showed that the developed 8 factor model was appropriate for its intended use. Results of correlation analyses showed that the assessment scale was significantly related to stress response, thereby confirming convergent validity, and was related to various criteria including life satisfaction, hope, optimism, and subjective happiness, thereby confirming criterion-related validity. CONCLUSION: A scale useful in the assessment of negative effects on job stress on workers and on their community members including their families was developed and validated.
Happiness ; Hope ; Humans ; Optimism

MELAS syndrome is a rare but distinct clinical entity belonging to a group of mitochondrial encephalomyopathies characterized by the tetrad of mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes. We experienced a case of MELAS syndrome in an 8 year-old boy who showed headache, pain of the eyeball, vomiting, stroke-like episodes such as visual disturbance and dysarthria, myoclonic seizure, confusion, and walking disturbance. His serum lactate level was elevated up to 48 mg/dl. MRI findings showed high signal intensities T2-weighted image and low signal intensities in T1-weighted image in the right thalamus and parietooccipital lobe and bilateral symmetric high signal intensity in T1-dweighted image in the basal ganglia. We have seen the dispersed ragged-red fibers with modified Gomori trichrome staining on light microscope, and abundant and dysmorphic mitochondria on electon microscope in the specimen of muscle biopsy. esis of SLE.
Basal Ganglia ; Biopsy ; Child ; Dysarthria ; Headache ; Humans ; Lactic Acid ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; MELAS Syndrome* ; Mitochondria ; Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathies ; Seizures ; Thalamus ; Vomiting ; Walking