Objective: Religious behaviors are considered as complex brain-based phenomena that may be associated with structural brain change. To identify the pattern of regional brain volume change in nuns, we investigated structural alterations in the brains of nuns using a fast processing automated segmentation method based on deep learning algorithms. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of the catholic sisters between the ages of 31 and 80 who are members of the charity of St. Vincent de Paul of Korea. A total of 193 asymptomatic subjects (86 nuns and 107 control subjects) received comprehensive health screening and underwent brain MRI scans. We compared cortical and sub-cortical volume between groups across multiple locations using our in-house U-Net++ deep learning-based automatic segmentation tool. Results: Compared to the control group, the nun group displayed increased gray matter volume in the right lingual cortex, left isthmus-cingulate, posterior-cingulate, rostral-middle-frontal, superior-frontal, supramarginal, temporal-pole cortices, and bilateral pars-triangularis cortices after correction for multiple comparisons. On the other hand, the nun group showed reduced gray matter volume in the temporal and parietal regions relative to healthy controls. Conclusion Our study suggests that spiritual practice may affect brain structure, especially in several frontal regions involved in a higher level of insight function.

Hypersensitivity to mosquito bites is defined as the appearance of intense skin reactive lesions and systemic symptoms subsequent to mosquito bites. Most cases of hypersensitivity to mosquito bites reported thus far have been associated with chronic Epstein-Barr virus infection or natural killer cell leukemia/lymphoma. In this study, we describe the case of an 18-year-old Korean boy who had hypersensitivity to mosquito bites associated with primary systemic anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma. After a mosquito bite, the patient developed a progressive cutaneous nodule on his left lower leg and regional lymphadenopathy in the left inguinal area. The histopathological and immunohistochemical findings suggested anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography revealed increased fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in the left T4 vertebrae, left external iliac lymph nodes, left inguinal lymph nodes, and lateral subcutaneous region of the left lower leg. According to the clinical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical findings, as well as the imaging data, the patient was diagnosed with primary systemic anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma. Consequently, the patient received a total of 6 cycles of cyclophosphamide + doxorubicin + vincristine + prednisolone chemotherapy at 3-week intervals, after which the lesions regressed.
Adolescent ; Culicidae* ; Cyclophosphamide ; Doxorubicin ; Drug Therapy ; Electrons ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Leg ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Lymphoma* ; Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic* ; Male ; Prednisolone ; Skin ; Spine ; Vincristine

BACKGROUND: There have been a few reported cases of congenital great toenail dystrophy (GTND), described as a congenital malalignment of the great toenails. However, acquired GTDN is rare, and has not been documented extensively. This study aimed to describe the clinical features of 21 patients with acquired GTND. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with acquired GTND who visited Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital between June 2005 and August 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 43.1 years (range, 17 to 88 years), and the cohort predominantly comprised women (18/21). In our experience, all acquired GTND patients presented with yellow or yellow-brownish chromonychia, onychotrophy, and onycholysis. Conservative treatment with tape methods and grinding, as well as nail extraction, was provided and yielded little improvement in any case. CONCLUSION: This study provides initial data on the nail changes affecting the great toenail, such as yellowish chromonychia, onychomadesis, and onycholysis. These data may help physicians to distinguish various nail disorders, including onychomycosis, congenital malalignment of the great toenails, and yellow nail syndrome.
Cohort Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Nails* ; Onycholysis ; Onychomycosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Yellow Nail Syndrome

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the association of exposures to heavy metals with positive diagnosis for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Tourette's syndrome (TS). METHODS: Study participants included 27 children diagnosed with ADHD (9.9+/-2.9 years of age), 21 diagnosed with Tourette's disorder (10.7+/-2.2 years of age), and 45 normal control children (9.6+/-0.5 years of age). A Perkin-Elmer mass spectrometer was used to measure the concentrations of 5 heavy metals (Pb, Cd, U, Be, Hg) in hair samples obtained from each participant. Each heavy metal concentration was compared among the groups by use of a Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: The levels of lead (p=.006) and cadmium (p=.037) observed in the hair of children diagnosed with ADHD were significantly higher than those found in the control subjects. There were no significant differences observed for heavy metal levels when comparing TS and control subjects. CONCLUSION: We confirmed that lead exposure is a risk factor for ADHD. We also identified that cadmium may be a new candidate risk factor for manifestation of ADHD. We did not find an association between heavy metals and manifestation of TS.
Cadmium ; Child ; Hair ; Humans ; Metals, Heavy ; Risk Factors ; Tourette Syndrome

There has been little data on the prevalence of supplement use and the characteristics of the dietary supplement users in the Republic of Korea. This study presents the prevalence and the details of any dietary supplement use and the characteristics of the adults who use dietary supplements in the Republic of Korea. Between May 18 and June 16, 2006, nationwide and population-weighted personal interviews with 6,201 adult aged from 30 to 69 years were conducted and the final sample consisted of 3,000 people with a 49.8% response rate. We examined the prevalence and details of the use of dietary supplements and the characteristics of those who use the dietary supplement among adults. About sixty two percent of adults had taken any dietary supplement during the previous 12-month period in 2006. The most commonly reported dietary supplement was ginseng, followed by multivitamins, glucosamine, probiotics, and vitamin C. Female (versus male), an older age group, a higher family income, those living in metropolitan cities, those with marital experience, those with a higher level of education, and those having medical problems had a greater likelihood of reporting the use of any dietary supplements. The particular relationships differed depending on the type of supplement. The most Korean adults took one more dietary supplement and the dietary supplement users had different demographic and health characteristics compared to those of the nonusers. Research on diet supplements by the medical community is needed in the future.
Adult ; Aged ; Ascorbic Acid ; Complementary Therapies ; Demography ; Diet ; Dietary Supplements ; Female ; Glucosamine ; Humans ; Morinda ; Panax ; Prevalence ; Probiotics ; Republic of Korea

OBJECTIVES: Exercise and physical activity may increase bone mineral density (BMD), especially in premenopausal women. However, previous studies have concentrated on postmenopausal women. This study was conducted to evaluate the independent associations of exercise and physical activity with BMD in premenopauseal women. MATERIAL & METHODS: One hundred premenopausal women were recruited from outpatient clinics and a health promotion center in a university hospital located in Seoul. We measured the BMD of lumbar spine and hip using dual energy X-ray absoptiometry. Data on sociodemographic characteristics and exercise status were obtained from self-reported questionnaires. The Stanford questionnaire was used to assess physical activity. RESULTS: Age and body mass index-adjusted ANCOVA revealed that the mean BMD at the spine and hip was not significantly associated with exercise time. The mean BMD at the spine was significantly higher in women who exercised regularly > or =3 a week than in women who exercised <3 times a week. (P=0.026) Higher BMD at the spine and femur neck was significantly associated with an increase in physical activity (P<0.05). After additional adjustment for exercise frequency, BMD at the femur neck was still significantly associated with total physical activity (P=0.007). CONCLUSION: Premenopausal women who exercised > or =3 times every week had significantly higher spine BMDs. The increase in physical activity was significantly associated with higher BMD at the spine and femur neck.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Bone Density ; Female ; Femur Neck ; Health Promotion ; Hip ; Humans ; Motor Activity ; Premenopause ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Spine

Hallervorden-Spatz disease (HSD) is a rare autosomal-recessive hereditary disorder characterized by the early onset of progressive movement alterations, including dystonia, rigidity, choreoathetosis, and mental deterioration. HSD is also associated with a variety of psychiatric symptoms, primarily depression and mental deterioration. However, psychosis has rarely been reported as a major symptom of HSD. We report two siblings who presented psychiatric symptoms as major clinical presentations, accompanied by ataxic and spastic gait, dysarthria, and typical neuroimaging findings of HSD. A 14-year-old girl presented complex motor tics, stereotypic behavior and anxiety symptoms. Her older brother, a 16-year-old boy, presented prominent auditory hallucinations, persecutory delusions and social withdrawal symptoms. Psychiatric symptoms were improved after atypical antipsychotic treatment. HSD is a rare disease but should be carefully considered in the diagnosis of patients with both motor disorder and various psychiatric symptoms.
Adolescent ; Anxiety ; Delusions ; Depression ; Dysarthria ; Dystonia ; Gait Disorders, Neurologic ; Hallucinations ; Humans ; Neuroimaging ; Pantothenate Kinase-Associated Neurodegeneration ; Psychotic Disorders ; Rare Diseases ; Siblings ; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome ; Tics

The purpose of this survey was to obtain information on the prevalence, costs, and patterns of use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in a general population in the Republic of Korea. In 2006, we conducted nationwide and population- weighted personal interviews with 6,021 adults ranging from 30 to 69 yr of age; the final sample consisted of 3,000 people with a 49.8% response rate. In addition to their general socio-demographics, the respondents were asked about their use of CAM during the previous 12-month period, costs, sources of information, and reasons for use. The prevalence of use overall was 74.8%, while biologically based CAM therapies were the most likely type of use (65.4%). The median annual out-of-pocket expenditures for CAM therapies was about US$203. The primary reason for using CAM was for disease prevention and health promotion (78.8%). The main source of advice about CAM therapies use was most likely to be from family and friends (66.9%). Our study suggests that CAM use has been and continues to be very popular in South Korea. Conventional western medical doctors and governments should obtain more evidence and become more interested in CAM therapies.
Adult ; Aged ; *Complementary Therapies/economics/statistics & numerical data ; Demography ; Family ; Female ; Friends ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Population Groups

BACKGROUND: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is popular and current trend suggests a demand for CAM education during residency training. Our objective was to assess perception, the need and experience of CAM education for family practice residents by training faculty. METHODS: A questionnaire was administered to family physicians (n=262) who were registered in the Korean Academy of Family Medicine as residency training faculty between February and May 2006. RESULTS: One hundred and seven (40.8%) of 262 faculty completed the questionnaires. Eighty three (77.6%) respondents recognized the need of CAM education during residency training and fifty two (46.8%) respondents have already educated some kind of CAM. Thirty nine (36.4%) respondents replied that partial CAM educational contents were given out at conferences. Seventy eight (72.9%) respondents recognized the need for educating residents on the general outlines of CAM along with education on verified CAM. Sixty six (61.7%) respondents replied that the Korean Academy of Family Medicine should host such education. CONCLUSION: Most family practice training faculty recognized the need for providing CAM education for family practice residents during residency training, but about an half of family practice training faculty did not have experiences of CAM education.
Complementary Therapies ; Congresses as Topic ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Education, Medical ; Family Practice ; Humans ; Internship and Residency ; Physicians, Family ; Republic of Korea

No abstract available.
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity