Blastocystis is a genus of unicellular heterokont parasites belonging to a group of organisms known as Stramenopiles, which includes algae, diatoms, and water molds. Blastocystis includes several species that habitat in the gastrointestinal tracts of organisms as diverse as humans, farm animals, birds, rodents, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and cockroaches. It is important to public health and distributed globally, but its prevalence in dogs in Korea has not been reported to date. Here, we collected 787 canine fecal samples and assessed Blastocystis infection by age, sex, region, season, and diarrhea symptoms. We determined Blastocystis subtypes using phylogenetic analyses based on 18S rRNA gene sequences. We identified, 10 Blastocystis positive samples (1.3%). A higher proportion of infected dogs was asymptomatic; however, infection rates did not significantly differ according to region, age, sex, and season. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the Blastocystis sp. identified belonged to 4 subtypes (STs), ST1, ST5, ST10, and ST14, thus revealed the genetic diversity of Blastocystis sp. in dogs Korean. This is first report on the presence of Blastocystis sp. in dogs Korean. This study revealed a lower infection rate than expected and differed from previous studies in STs. Further studies are warranted to observe the national infection status of Blastocystis in dogs and the genetic characteristics of this genus.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The hearing loss of workers can occur when they are affected by age, otologic disease, and work-related risks such as noise and chemicals. Based on the Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS) in 2010, this research aimed to estimate the prevalence rate of hearing loss and to identify the risk factors affecting its occurrence. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The subjects were 10019 employees who completed an interview conducted as part of KWCS in 2010. The prevalence rate of hearing loss according to sex, age, education, income, smoking, drinking, hypertension, industrial type, occupations, employment status, working period, and hazards at the workplace were assessed. The factors that could affect the occurrence of hearing loss were investigated based on a logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence rate of hearing loss was 2.7%. In a logistic multivariate analysis, sex, age, occupations, working period, noise, and exposure to chemicals showed statistically significant correlations to the occurrence of hearing loss. The adjusted odd ratios were as follows: 1.74 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.03-2.96] for males, 2.11 (95% CI, 1.14-3.89) for those in their 40s, 2.24 (95% CI, 1.19-4.20) for those in their 50s, 2.21 (95% CI, 1.18-4.15) for manage/professional works, 2.73 (95% CI, 1.69-4.41) for manufacturing, 2.07 (95% CI, 1.36-3.15) for those who have worked for more than 20 years, 1.72 (95% CI, 1.14-2.58) for noise exposure, 1.53 (95% CI, 1.02-2.30) for vibration exposure and 1.58 (95% CI, 1.11-2.24) for chemical exposure. CONCLUSIONS: The overall occupational and non-occupational risk factors related to employees' hearing loss were reviewed. In addition to the exposure to noise, occupational risks of hearing loss, such as isolated exposure to vibration and chemicals, and combined exposure to noise and these hazards, were identified. Multiple exposure to hazards, along with prolonged noise exposure increased the risk of hearing loss.
Drinking ; Ear Diseases ; Employment ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Noise ; Noise, Occupational ; Occupations ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Vibration

This study compared two-stent strategies for treatment of bifurcation lesions by stenting order, 'main across side first (A-family)' vs 'side branch first (S-family). The study population was patients from 16 centers in Korea who underwent drug eluting stent implantation with two-stent strategy (A-family:109, S-family:140 patients). The endpoints were cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI), stent thrombosis (ST), and target lesion revascularization (TLR) during 3 years. During 440.8 person-years (median 20.2 months), there was 1 cardiac death, 4 MIs (including 2 STs), and 12 TLRs. Cumulative incidence of cardiac death, MI and ST was lower in A-family (0% in A-family vs 4.9% in S-family, P = 0.045). However, TLR rates were not different between the two groups (7.1% vs 6.2%, P = 0.682). Final kissing inflation (FKI) was a predictor of the hard-endpoint (hazard ratio 0.061; 95% CI 0.007-0.547, P = 0.013), but was not a predictor of TLR. The incidence of hard-endpoint of S-family with FKI was comparable to A-family, whereas S-family without FKI showed the poorest prognosis (1.1% vs 15.9%, retrospectively; P = 0.011). In conclusion, 'A-family' seems preferable to 'S-family' if both approaches are feasible. When two-stent strategy is used, every effort should be made to perform FKI, especially in 'S-family'.
Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary/*methods ; Coronary Stenosis/surgery/*therapy ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac/etiology ; *Drug-Eluting Stents ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction/etiology ; Myocardial Revascularization ; Thrombosis/etiology

PURPOSE: To assess the accuracy of estimating postoperative deviation in large-angle exotropia over 40 prism diopters (PD). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on 61 exotropia patients with over 40 PD exotropia who had undergone 2-muscle surgery by two surgeons and with at least 6 months follow-up. The accuracy was assessed by analyzing the discrepancy between preoperatively predicted residual deviation and deviation at postoperative 6weeks. Successful surgery was defined as deviation within +/- 10 PD at the last postoperative visit. RESULTS: More accurate residual deviation was predicted in exotropia with prism diopters between 40 and 59 (97.8%) than in exotropia with 60 PD or more (62.5%). And there was no significant difference between two surgeons. Surgical success rates at six months and one year after surgery were 96.8%, 94.7% in exotropia with 40 to 49 PD, 71.4%, 60.0%, 50 to 59 PD, 50.0%, 45.5%, 60 PD or more, respectively. There were four patients of whom the postoperative deviation angle exceeded more than 10 PD of the estimated deviation. CONCLUSIONS: The accuracy of estimating residual deviation prior to surgery was higher and more successful surgery was achieved in exotropia ranging in 40 to 59 PD than in exotropia with 60 PD or more. Therefore, 2- muscle surgery will be suitable for large-angle exotropia with less than 60 PD.
Exotropia ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Muscles ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: To compare the clinical features of partial thickness rotator cuff tears according to location of the tear and to classify the partial thickness rotator cuff tears based on arthroscopic findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study evaluated 138 patients who were arthroscpically proven to be partial thickness rotator cuff tears. Three groups were identified; 56 in the articular side tear, 58 in the bursal side tear, 24 in the both sides tear. The comparison included preoperative clinical features such as pain, range of motion and impingement sign. The partial thickness rotator cuff tears were classified according to the arthroscopic findings. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the clinical features between articular, bursal and both sides tears. Partial thickness rotator cuff tear can be divided into 5 groups. Type I (n=41): fraying or fibrillation on surface of the cuff. Type II (n=35): fiber disruptions with or without displacement. Type III (n=38): flap tear or fragmentation. Type IV (n=16): both articular and bursal side tears without communications. Type V (n=8): impending a full thickness tear. CONCLUSION: It is difficult to differentiate the clinical features based on the physical examinations according to the locations of tears. Newly designed classification may help in deternmining the appropriate arthroscopic treatment of a partial thickness rotator cuff tear.

Four Years Reports of "Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association" during 2001 to 2005 were evaluated by 18 Editorial Board of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association. We investigated the articles to specific fields and rejection rate etc. by different section chiefs. Although several problems concerning review time duration and rejection guideline issues indicated but generally all reviewer processes proved relatively clear and concise criteria. Through these objective and systematic evaluation processes, "Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association" will develop a good journal.
Evaluation Studies as Topic*

Four Years Reports of "Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association" during 2001 to 2005 were evaluated by 18 Editorial Board of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association. We investigated the articles to specific fields and rejection rate etc. by different section chiefs. Although several problems concerning review time duration and rejection guideline issues indicated but generally all reviewer processes proved relatively clear and concise criteria. Through these objective and systematic evaluation processes, "Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association" will develop a good journal.
Evaluation Studies as Topic*

BACKGROUND: In lung cancer patients, the presence of metastatic neck nodes is a crucial indicator of inoperabilty. So thorough physical examination of neck is always mandatory, but sometimes those are hardly palpable even by the skillful hand. Ultrasonography is a useful diagnostic method in detection of small impalpable lymph nodes and in guidance of fine needle aspiration biopsy. In this study we evaluated the clinical usefulness of ultrasonography(USG) and ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology(US-FNA) in lung cancer patients without palpable neck nodes. METHODS AND MATERIALS: From Sep 2002 to Sep 2003, 36 non-small cell lung cancer patients (20 adenocarcinoma, 16 squamous cell cancer) and 10 small cell lung cancer patients without palpable neck nodes on physical examiation were enrolled. patients who had contralateral mediastinal nodal enlargement(>1cm) on chest CT were excluded. After the routine check of USG on the neck, US-FNA was done in cases with enlarged neck nodes (> or =5 mm in the short axis). The presence of enlarged lymph node on USG, and of malignant cells on cytology were evaluated by the histological type and the patients' clinical stage of lung cancer. RESULTS: Among 36 non-small lung cell cancer patients, 14 (38.8%) had enlarged neck nodes on USG, and 5 of 10 small cell lung carcinoma patients. The mean diameter of the neck nodes was 9.8 mm (range, 7-12 mm). US-FNA of 14 non-small cell lung cancer patients revealed tumor cells in eight patients (57.1%). In 5 small cell lung cancer pateints, tumor cells were found in all cases. By the result of US-FNA, the clinical stage of 8 out of 36 (22.2%) non-small cell lung cancer patients had changed, including two cases of shift from the operable IIIa to the inoperable IIIb. In small cell lung cancer patients their clinical stage was not changed after US-FNA, but their pathological diagnosis was easily done in two cases, in whom endobronchial lesions were not found on bronchoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: USG and US-FNA of neck node seem to be safe, sensitive and cost-effective diagnostic tools in the evaluation of lung cancer patients without palpable neck nodes.
Adenocarcinoma ; Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Bronchoscopy ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Diagnosis ; Hand ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Lymph Nodes ; Neck* ; Physical Examination ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

Two Years Reports of "Journal of Korean Neuropychiatric Association" during 2001 to 2003 were evaluated by 17 Editorial Board of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association. We investigated the articles to specific fields and rejection rate etc. by different section chiefs. Although several problems concerning review time duration and rejection guideline issues indicated but generally all reviewer processes proved relatively clear and concise criteria. Through these objective and systematic evaluation processes, "Journal of Korean Neuropychiatric Association" will develope a good journal.
Evaluation Studies as Topic*

To investigate whether BF-7, extracted from Bombyx mori, improved learning and memory of ordinary people, Rey-Kim Memory Test was performed with placebo group (32 persons), 200 mg BF-7 treated group (33 persons) and 400 mg BF-7 treated group (34 persons). BF-7 enhanced significantly learning and memory function in a dose-dependent manner. To know how BF-7 plays such a positive role, we measured the concentration of acetylcholine in the brain from memory impairment animal model. Treatment of BF-7 significantly increased the concentration of acetylcholine. So, it is supposed that the protection of cholinergic neuron and/or keeping proper concentration of acetylcholine might be one of the mechanisms by which BF-7 improve brain function. So, our results suggest that the BF-7 is effective material for improving learning and memory ability.
Acetylcholine ; Bombyx ; Brain ; Cholinergic Neurons ; Humans ; Learning* ; Memory* ; Models, Animal