PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate how college students' perceived stress, cognitive stress, and somatization affect their heart rate variability (HRV). METHODS: This study is a cross-sectional survey research on 191 university students, registered at the G University. The perceived stress scale (PSS) and cognitive stress response scale, were used to assess level of stress. The somatization symptom scale of the Symptom Check List 90 (SCL-90), was used to assess level of somatization caused by stress. To assess heart rate variability (HRV), we conducted a five-minute test using a pulse wave analyzer, to analyze short-term HRV. RESULTS: The SCL-90 somatization score had relatively high positive correlation (p<.001) with cognitive stress, but low positive correlation (p<.001) with perceived stress. Cognitive stress response had low negative correlation (p<.001) with 1nSDNN and 1nRMSSD among HRV parameters. Perceived stress was not correlated with HRV. Multiple regression analysis showed that variables of perceived stress, cognitive stress, and somatization symptoms, could not explain HRV. By contrast, one of the HRV indicators, 1nSDNN, was affected by age, gender, and aggressive-hostile thought, the latter being a subscale of the cognitive stress response scale. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that stress evaluation for people in early adulthood will be more effective, if the evaluation examines cognitive stress and heart rate variability.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Heart Rate ; Heart ; Humans ; Mental Fatigue ; Somatoform Disorders

BACKGROUND: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae are main pathogens of bloodstream infection. We compared the epidemiology of ESBL-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae. METHODS: From January 2003 through March 2007, we retrospectively investigated the clinical characteristics and comorbidities of patients with bloodstream infection by ESBL-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae. RESULTS: During the study period, 79 patients (54 with E. coli and 25 with K. pneumoniae) with blood cultures positive for ESBL-producing E. coli or K. pneumoniae were studied. When comparing the source of bloodstream infections, urinary tract infections (UTIs) were more commonly caused by E. coli (24% vs. 0; P=0.007), and respiratory tract and soft tissue infection (36% vs. 15%; P=0.04, 12% vs. 0; P=0.03, respectively) were more commonly associated with K. pneumoniae. Among hospital-acquired bloodstream infection, third-generation cephalosporin was more commonly used in patients with E. coli than patients with K. pneumoniae (81% vs. 24%, P<0.001). Medical devices (central venous catheter and urinary catheter) were more commonly used in patients with K. pneumoniae. CONCLUSION: ESBL-producing E. coli bloodstream infection is more common in urinary tract infections. ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae is more common in respiratory tract infections and in skin and soft tissue infections. In hospital-acquired infections, ESBL-producing E. coli bloodstream infection is more common in biliary tract infection. ESBL-producing E. coli was more commonly associated with prior frequent antibiotics use and K. pneumoniae was more commonly associated with use of medical devices.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; beta-Lactamases ; Biliary Tract ; Catheters ; Comorbidity ; Epidemiology* ; Escherichia coli* ; Humans ; Klebsiella pneumoniae* ; Pneumonia ; Respiratory System ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Soft Tissue Infections ; Urinary Tract Infections

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the predictive value of the sympathetic skin response (SSR) in diagnosing complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) by comparing three diagnostic modalities-SSR, three-phasic bone scans (TPBS), and thermography. METHODS: Thirteen patients with severe limb pain were recruited. Among them, 6 were diagnosed with CRPS according to the proposed revised CRPS clinical diagnostic criteria described by the International Association for the Study of Pain. SSR was measured in either the hands or feet bilaterally and was considered abnormal when the latency was prolonged. A positive TPBS finding was defined as diffuse increased tracer uptake on the delayed image. Thermographic findings were considered positive if a temperature asymmetry greater than 1.00degrees C was detected between the extremities. RESULTS: Five of 6 CRPS patients showed prolonged latency on SSR (83% sensitivity). TPBS was positive in the 5 CRPS patients who underwent TPBS (100% sensitivity). Thermography was positive in 4 of 5 CRPS patients who underwent the procedure (80% sensitivity). The remaining 7 non-CRPS patients differed on examination. SSR latencies within normal limit were noted in 4 of 7 non-CRPS patients (57% specificity). Results were negative in 4 of 5 non-CRPS patients who underwent TPBS (80% specificity), and negative in 3 of 5 non-CRPS patients who underwent thermography (60% specificity). CONCLUSION: SSR may be helpful in detecting CRPS.
Case-Control Studies* ; Complex Regional Pain Syndromes ; Extremities ; Foot ; Galvanic Skin Response ; Hand ; Humans ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Skin* ; Thermography

Cardiovascular diseases have been the most serious threat to life and health. The socioeconomic ramifications of heart disease have long been a source of vexing legal as well as medical problems with no easy resolution as yet in hand. Heart weight, one of the important factors for the diagnosis of cardiomegaly and various heart diseases, shows extreme variability according to the height, weight, age, sex, nutritional status of individuals as well as other various factors. The purpose of this investigation was to find a practical method for calculating expected normal range of heart weight in a given individual. The study was performed on 259 autopsy cases of normal Korean men and women, consisting of 123 men and 136 women in age from newborn to 77 years old. Height, body weight, and heart weight were measured and the body surface area was calculated by height (cm)0.725 x weight (kg)0.425 x 71.84 and height (cm)0.7763 x weight (kg)0.4081 x 71.84 in men and women, respectively. The results showed that the mean heart weight of men and women older than 20 years old were 316.20 +/- 51.15 g (n=96) and 275.87 +/- 44.69 g (n=108), respectively. Heart weight was gradually increased according to the age. The body weight (men: r=0.81, women: r=0.84) and body surface area (men: r=0.83, women: r=0.83) were better univariate predictors of normal heart weight than body height (men: r=0.78, women: r=0.75) and age (men: r=0.42, women: r=0.57). No significant difference was found in predictive precision between body weight and body surface area. Since the body surface area was calculated from body weight and height, measuring the body weight was essential for calculating expected normal range of heart weight in a given individual, and calculation of expected normal range of heart weight using body weight was simpler method than using body surface area.
Aged ; Autopsy ; Body Height ; Body Surface Area* ; Body Weight* ; Cardiomegaly ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Hand ; Heart Diseases ; Heart* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Nutritional Status ; Reference Values ; Young Adult

Crohn's disease was originally described as a small bowel disorder and has been known to involve the large bowel in approximately 40% of all cases with or without concomitant ileal component. We describe two cases of Crohn's diseas of small intestine and colon with a summary of differential diagnosis with ulcerative colitis. Both cases were originally diagnosed and treated as ileal tuberculosis. Grossly, there were skip lesions in both cases with prominent pseudopolyps and ulcerations in colon. Also noted were typical serpentine lesions in ileum as well as in colon. Microscopically, transmural inflammation was confirmed and one case showed scattered noncaseating granulomas in the wall. Submucosal edema and fibrosis with thickening of the wall was not prominent in colon. Polymerase chain reaction performed on paraffin block for the demonstration of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in one case showed negative reaction.
Colitis, Ulcerative ; Colon* ; Crohn Disease* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Edema ; Fibrosis ; Granuloma ; Ileum ; Inflammation ; Intestine, Small* ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Paraffin ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tuberculosis ; Ulcer

In order to explore the existence and distribution of phospholipase (PLC) isozymes in the rat retina, immunohistochemical staining was applied using monoclonal antibodies against PLC isozymes (PLC beta; K92, PLC gamma; D7, F7, PLC delta; R32, S11). For immunohistochemical detection, avidin-biotin peroxidase complex (ABC) method was performed on frozed tissue sections of rat retina. Our study showed that PLC isozymes have particular distributional patterns in the retina. Namely, PLC beta is broadly distributed in the outer and inner segments of photoreceptor cell layer, nuclear layer and ganglion cell layer. PLC gamma is mainly appeared in the nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell layer and inner nuclear layer. PLC delta is confined only in the ganglion cell layer. These results clearly demonstrate the PLC isozymes may have their own role in the transduction of light pathway in the retina. However, further studies will be required to verify theirs precise role in the photoreception.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Ganglion Cysts ; Immunohistochemistry ; Isoenzymes* ; Nerve Fibers ; Peroxidase ; Phospholipase C beta ; Phospholipases* ; Photoreceptor Cells ; Rats* ; Retina* ; Type C Phospholipases*

In order to explore the existence and distribution of phospholipase (PLC) isozymes in the rat retina, immunohistochemical staining was applied using monoclonal antibodies against PLC isozymes (PLC beta; K92, PLC gamma; D7, F7, PLC delta; R32, S11). For immunohistochemical detection, avidin-biotin peroxidase complex (ABC) method was performed on frozed tissue sections of rat retina. Our study showed that PLC isozymes have particular distributional patterns in the retina. Namely, PLC beta is broadly distributed in the outer and inner segments of photoreceptor cell layer, nuclear layer and ganglion cell layer. PLC gamma is mainly appeared in the nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell layer and inner nuclear layer. PLC delta is confined only in the ganglion cell layer. These results clearly demonstrate the PLC isozymes may have their own role in the transduction of light pathway in the retina. However, further studies will be required to verify theirs precise role in the photoreception.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Ganglion Cysts ; Immunohistochemistry ; Isoenzymes* ; Nerve Fibers ; Peroxidase ; Phospholipase C beta ; Phospholipases* ; Photoreceptor Cells ; Rats* ; Retina* ; Type C Phospholipases*

BACKGROUND: Patients anesthetized by extension of epidural analgesia during labor frequently experience intraoperative visceral pain during cesarean section. Visceral pain is known to be related to anxiety. We evaluated pain and preoperative anxiety using the numeric rating scale (NRS-11), and examined the relationship of anxiety with failure of extension of epidural analgesia due to intraoperative pain. METHODS: Patients received continuous epidural infusion at a rate of 10 ml/h for labor pain. Two percent lidocaine mixed with 100 microg fentanyl, 1:200,000 epinephrine, and 2 mEq bicarbonate was injected through the epidural catheter for cesarean section. Failure of epidural anesthesia was defined as the need for conversion to general anesthesia or supplementation with opioids, sedatives, or inhalants after epidural anesthesia for cesarean section. We investigated the relationship of preoperative factors including preoperative anxiety with failure of epidural anesthesia. RESULTS: Heavier weight of parturients, more cervical dilatation at the time of epidural analgesia administration, higher pain NRS score after epidural analgesia, higher pain NRS score before epidural analgesia for cesarean section, and lower rate of iv pethidine due to shivering were associated with a higher failure rate of epidural anesthesia. The failure rate of epidural anesthesia was comparable between the high anxiety group (NRS > 4) and the low anxiety group (NRS < or = 4). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative anxiety evaluated by NRS may not be associated with failure of extension of epidural analgesia due to visceral pain during intrapartum cesarean section.
Analgesia, Epidural* ; Analgesics, Opioid ; Anesthesia, Epidural ; Anesthesia, General ; Anxiety* ; Catheters ; Cesarean Section* ; Epinephrine ; Female ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Labor Pain ; Labor Stage, First ; Lidocaine ; Meperidine ; Pregnancy ; Shivering ; Visceral Pain

Pheochromacytoma, although occasionally present with adrenal cortical hyperfunction, is rarely associated with nonfunctioning adrenal cortical tumor. To our knowledge, eight cases of phemchromocytoma associated with adrenocortical adenoma have been reported in the literature, including a case in a Korean adult female. An adrenal mass is considered an incidentaloma when there is no history or physical findings suggesting an adrenal functional disorder or tumor. The majority of adrenal masses are nonfunctioning adrenocortical adenomas. In our case, left adrenal mass was found incidentally by ultrasonography after birth, done because of mother's oligohydroamnios. Abdomial CT study revealed an adrenal tumor, and a surgical resection was performed. The specimen showed a coincident pheochromocytoma and adrenocortical adenoma. The patient seems to be the first case of coexistence of nonfunctioning pheochromocytoma and adrenocortical adenoma in one adrenal tumor. We report this case with the review of literatures.
Adrenocortical Adenoma* ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Infant* ; Parturition ; Pheochromocytoma* ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: This prospective randomized double-blinded study was designed to compare the efficacy of a combination of high dose metoclopramide and dexamethasone with that of haloperidol, midazolam and dexamethasone, for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in patients scheduled for laparoscopic gynecologic surgery who are receiving fentanyl intravenous-patient controlled analgesia. METHODS: The subjects were randomly allocated to either group M (20 mg metoclopramide and 10 mg dexamethasone was administered at induction, n = 35) or group H (1 mg haloperidol, 3 mg midazolam and 10 mg dexamethasone were administered at induction, n = 35). The incidence of PONV and the severity (measured by numeric rating scale) of the patients' nausea and pain were evaluated at 6 hours, 24 hours, and 48 hours, postoperatively. RESULTS: The overall incidence of the PONV was not significantly different between the two groups during the 48 hours period (group M: 21% vs. group H: 12%). The severity of the nausea and pain were similar between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The prophylactic use of a combination of 1 mg haloperidol, 3 mg midazolam and 10 mg dexamethasone is as effective and inexpensive as 20 mg metoclopramide and 10 mg dexamethasone to prevent PONV.
Analgesia ; Dexamethasone* ; Female ; Fentanyl ; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures* ; Haloperidol* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Metoclopramide* ; Midazolam* ; Nausea ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting* ; Prospective Studies