BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Several studies have validated the clinical efficacy of computerized cognitive training applications. However, few studies have investigated the neural substrates of these training applications using simultaneous multimodal neuroimaging modalities. We aimed to determine the effectiveness of computerized cognitive training and corresponding neural substrates through a multimodal approach. METHODS: Ten patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), six patients with subjective memory impairment (SMI), and 10 normal controls received custom-developed computerized cognitive training in the memory clinic of a university hospital. All of the participants completed 24 sessions of computerized cognitive training, each lasting 40 minutes and performed twice weekly. They were assessed using neuropsychological tests (both computerized and conventional), electroencephalography, fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography (FDG-PET), volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) at pre- and posttraining. RESULTS: The patients with MCI exhibited significant improvements in the trail-making test–black & white-B, and memory domain of the computerized cognitive assessment. Subjects with normal cognition exhibited significant improvements in scores in the language and attention-/psychomotor-speed domains. There were no significant changes in subjects with SMI. In the pre- and posttraining evaluations of the MCI group, FDG-PET showed focal activation in the left anterior insula and anterior cingulate after training. Volumetric MRI showed a focal increase in the cortical thickness in the rostral anterior cingulate. DTI revealed increased fractional anisotropy in several regions, including the anterior cingulate. CONCLUSIONS: The anterior cingulate and anterior insula, which are parts of the salience network, may be substrates for the improvements in cognitive function induced by computerized cognitive training.
Anisotropy ; Cognition ; Electroencephalography ; Gyrus Cinguli ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Memory ; Mild Cognitive Impairment ; Neuroimaging ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Treatment Outcome

We developed an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for the determination of acetaminophen concentration in human plasma. Following protein precipitated extraction, the analytes were separated and analyzed using an UPLC-MS/MS in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode with the respective [M+H]+ ions, m/z 152.06 → 110.16 for acetaminophen and m/z 180.18 → 138.12 for phenacetin (internal standard, IS). The method showed a linear response from 1 to 100 µg/mL (r > 0.9982). The limit of quantitation for acetaminophen in plasma was 1 µg/mL. The intra- and inter-day accuracy ranged in the ranges of 94.40–99.56% and 90.00–99.20%, respectively. The intra- and inter-day precision ranged in the ranges of 2.64–10.76% and 6.84–15.83%, respectively. This method was simple, reliable, precise and accurate and can be used to determine the concentration of acetaminophen in human plasma. Finally, this fully validated method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of acetaminophen in healthy volunteers following oral administration.
Acetaminophen* ; Administration, Oral ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans* ; Ions ; Mass Spectrometry ; Phenacetin ; Plasma*

OBJECTIVES: Self perceived body image among women is drawing a lot of attention in Korea due to their unhealthy weight control behaviors. To determine the relationship between self-perceived body image and dietary behaviors among Korean women, the discrepancy between actual body size and body image perception, weight control behaviors were assessed based on age groups using the 2010 KNHANES data. METHODS: A total of 1,747 subjects were selected after eliminating those of likely changing their diet recently using the 2010 KNHANES data. The subjects were divided into 3 groups, self-underweight, self-normal, and self-obese according to their perception of body image. The BMI and weight control behaviors were assessed based on age groups according to the body image perception. RESULTS: The younger, the higher ratio of underweight, women perceived their body size as normal or overweight. Exercise and reduced food intakes were dominant among various weight control methods but unhealthy methods were dominant among self perceived overweight group. CONCLUSIONS: Incorrect body image perception and unhealthy weight control behaviors can cause nutritional problems. Nutritional education should emphasize the importance of healthy weight and proper body image perception for Korean women.
Body Image* ; Body Size ; Diet ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Overweight ; Thinness ; Weight Perception

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the pharmacokinetic properties of daily oral doses of tamsulosin administered to fasted healthy Korean male volunteers for 5 days. METHODS: In a randomized, open-label, multiple-dose, two-period, crossover study, all 44 subjects were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive a newly developed generic capsule formulation (test) or a branded capsule formulation (reference) of tamsulosin 0.2 mg, followed by a 10-day washout period and administration of the other formulation. Plasma concentrations of tamsulosin were assessed after administration of five-day multiple doses, using HPLC-MS/MS. Clinical and laboratory adverse events (AE) were assessed. RESULTS: The mean (SD) pharmacokinetic properties with the test and reference formulations were as follows: Css,max, 9.0 (2.9) and 8.4 (2.6) ng/mL, respectively; median (range) tmax, 4 (2-6) and 5 (2-7) hours; AUCtau, 93.7 (31.5) and 88.2 (29.3) ng x h/mL; and t(1/2), 9.5 (2.6) and 10.0 (2.7) hours. The volume of distribution and clearance after oral administration of tamsulosin were 0.5 L/kg, and 0.04 L/h/kg, respectively. The accumulation ratios for 0.2 mg once-daily dosing regimen were 1.2. The 90% CIs of the geometric mean ratios for the log-transformed AUCtau (1.005-1.131) and Css,max (1.000-1.136) values were within the acceptable range for bioequivalence. No serious AE was reported during the study. Both formulations were well tolerated. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate that the Css,max and AUCtau values in the fasted subjects were higher than those in the fed from other study, with a shorter tmax values.
Administration, Oral ; Cross-Over Studies ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Male* ; Pharmacokinetics ; Plasma ; Therapeutic Equivalency

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Ecabet sodium is used for treating gastric ulcers and gastritis. It exhibits a bactericidal effect against Helicobacter pylori by inhibiting bacterial urease activity. Thus, ecabet sodium has been suggested to improve the efficacy of the H. pylori eradication in patients with peptic ulcers. The aim of this study was to compare the H. pylori eradication rate of lansoprazole-based triple therapy versus lansoprazole-based triple therapy plus ecabet sodium. METHODS: The subjects consisted of 363 H. pylori-positive patients who had undergone eradication therapy from February 2007 to February 2010. In total, 363 patients with H. pylori-positive peptic ulcer disease or symptomatic erosive gastritis received LAC (lansprazole 30 mg b.i.d., amoxicillin 1.0 g b.i.d., clarithromycin 500 mg b.i.d.) or LACE (lansoprazole 30 mg b.i.d., amoxicillin 1.0 g b.i.d., clarithromycin 500 mg b.i.d., ecabet sodium 1 g b.i.d.) for 1 week. Successful eradication was defined as a negative 13Curea breath test 4-5 weeks after treatment completion. RESULTS: H. pylori eradication rates were 81.4% (166/204) in the LAC group and 86.2% (137/159) in the LACE group (p = 0.159). No significant difference in eradication was observed. No significant difference was observed in the side effects experienced by the patients in the two treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that adding ecabet sodium did not improve the H. pylori eradication rate significantly in standard lansoprazole-based triple therapy for H. pylori.
Amoxicillin ; Breath Tests ; Clarithromycin ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; Gastritis ; Helicobacter ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Peptic Ulcer ; Prospective Studies ; Sodium ; Stomach Ulcer ; Urease

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to establish the serum IGF-1 level in newborn infants, and investigate its association with growth and diseases. METHODS: In a retrospective study, serum IGF-1 levels were measured for newborn infants admitted to NICU at Kyungpook University Hospital from March 2007 to July 2007. Birth data, disease history, and hospital course were obtained from medical records. RESULTS: Of 52 blood samples obtained at birth, serum IGF-l levels in 30 preterm infants (31.6+/-27.3 ng/mL) were lower than in 22 full-term infants (53.4+/-40.0 ng/mL; P<0.05). In sick full-term infants, serum IGF-1 levels (46.0+/-40.2 ng/mL) were lower than in healthy full-term infants (64.1+/-39.5 ng/mL; P<0.05). In preterm infants, there were no differences in IGF-1 levels between healthy (33.2+/-23.3 ng/mL) and sick infants (30.6+/-30.4 ng/mL); however, IGF-1 levels in both sick and healthy preterm infants were lower than in healthy full-term infants. Among infants admitted after 8 days of life, serum IGF-1 levels were higher in infants who gained weight (70.8+/-36.2 ng/mL) than in infants who lost weight (13.3+/-19.9 ng/mL; P<0.01); however IGF-1 levels showed no difference between gender or method of delivery. CONCLUSION: The study showed lower IGF-l levels in preterm infants than in full-term infants. Additionally, the IGF-l level in infants with weight loss was lower than in infants with weight gain. These results indicate that serum IGF-1 is associated with gestational age and postnatal growth.
Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Medical Records ; Parturition ; Retrospective Studies ; Weight Gain ; Weight Loss

PURPOSE: Perinatal asphyxia is an important cause of neonatal mortality and subsequent lifelong neurodevelopmental handicaps. Although many treatment strategies have been tested, there is currently no clinically effective treatment to prevent or reduce the harmful effects of hypoxia and ischemia in humans. In the clinical setting, maternal hyperthermia induces adverse effects on the neonatal brain, but recent studies have shown that hyperthermic pretreatment (PT) plays some role in hypoxic-ischemic (HI) injuries of the developing brain. The present study investigated the effect of hyperthermic PT on HI brain injuries in newborn rats. METHODS: HI was produced in 7-day-old neonatal rats by unilateral common carotid artery ligation, followed by hypoxia with 8% oxygen at 38degrees C for 2 hours. Twenty-four hours before HI, one-half of the pups were exposed to a 40degrees C environment for 2 hours. The severity of the brain injury was assessed 7 days after the HI. RESULTS: Hyperthermic PT reduced the gross and histopathologic findings of brain injury from 64.7 to 31.2% (P<0.05). There were no differences in location and severity of injury between the pretreated and control brains. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that hyperthermic PT provides neuroprotective benefits on HI in the developing brain. Also, these findings suggest maternal hyperthermia may have protective effect on perinatal HI brain injuries.
Animals ; Anoxia ; Asphyxia ; Brain ; Brain Injuries ; Carotid Artery, Common ; Fever ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Mortality ; Infant, Newborn ; Ischemia ; Ligation ; Oxygen ; Rats

clinical and radiologic findings that mainly involve the white/gray matter of the parieto-occipital lobes. The purpose of this study was to determine its clinical and radiological characteristics. METHODS: A total of 15 pateints were involved in the study. Their medical records and radiological features of brain MRI were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. RESULTS: Fifteen pateints were involved. (9 males and 5 females). The patients' ages ranged from 2-20 years (mean age:10 years). The brain MRI revealed fairly symmetric areas of increased T2 signal involving both white and gray matter of parieto-occipital regions. The condition seemed to be associated with cyclosporin A and steroid therapy or a variety of other conditions in which blood pressure rises acutely. CONCLUSION: Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome is a complicated neurological condition, but a better understanding of this complex syndrome may obviate unnecessary investigations and lead to prompt and appropriate management of the associated problems.
Blood Pressure ; Brain ; Child* ; Cyclosporine ; Humans ; Leukoencephalopathies ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Medical Records ; Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome* ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the changes of the late potential of Signal- averaged electrocardiography (SAECG) and Electrocardiography (ECG) parameters during follow up of those who had taken surgical repair of Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). METHODS: Nine patients who had taken surgical repair of TOF since 1985 checked SAECG and standard 12 leads ECG twice in 1999 and 2005 in Kyungpook national university hospital. We evaluated changes of QRS duration, QT interval and JT interval, QRS dispersion, QT dispersion and JT dispersion of standard 12 leads ECG and Filtered QRS (f-QRS), High frequency low amplitude potential (HFLA), Root mean square in terminal 40 ms (RMS) and Mean voltage in terminal 40 ms (MV) of SAECG between in 1999 and 2005. RESULTS: There were significant decrease of JT dispersion (101.11+/-50.11 vs 71.11+/-22.61 ms, P< 0.05) and significant increase of HFLA (24.67+/-13.19 vs 32.89+/-14.21 ms, P<0.05). But there were no significant changes in other parameters. CONCLUSION: In repaired TOF patients, we evaluated ECG and SAECG to detect possible late complications such as tricuspid regurgitation, right ventricular enlargement, ventricualar arrythmia and sudden death. And there were significant changes of ECG and SAECG in some parameters (JT dispersion, HFLA). But to see the relationships between the changes of these parameters and the long term prognosis, we need to check more patients and longer follow-up.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Death, Sudden ; Electrocardiography* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Tetralogy of Fallot* ; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency

PURPOSE: Any battery impacted in the esophagus must be removed urgently because of the possibility of serious complications such as perforation, fistula, and mediastinitis. The use of endoscopic procedures was compared to find the most rapid, effective, and safe method to remove disk batteries. METHODS: The cases of 24 children (9 males, mean age, 1.5 years) that had accidentally ingested disk batteries were reviewed. The patients had visited the Department of Pediatrics, Kyungpook National University Hospital from July 1997 to June 2007 for the removal of disk batteries. Endoscopic removal was attempted using a retrieval net or a magnetic extractor with a balloon (condom). The procedure times for removing the ingested battery were compared. RESULTS: Children that ingested batteries with a larger diameter (20 mm) had a greater chance to have esophageal impaction with serious injury, such as esophageal mucosal necrosis or ulcers, as compared to the ingestion of smaller diameter batteries (10 mm) (p<0.01). Endoscopic removal of disk batteries was attempted either using a retrieval net in 10 children or by using a magnetic extractor with a balloon in 6 children. Endoscopic removal using a retrieval net was more effective (mean procedure time: 1.5 min) as compared to using a magnetic extractor with a balloon (mean procedure time: 3.3 min) (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Both procedures, either using a retrieval net or a magnetic extractor with a balloon were effective in removing ingested disk batteries. Based on our experience, an endoscopic procedure using a retrieval net was a more effective method for foreign body removal.
Child* ; Eating ; Endoscopy ; Esophagus ; Fistula ; Foreign Bodies ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Male ; Mediastinitis ; Necrosis ; Pediatrics ; Ulcer