The Relation of High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein with Hyperuricemia: Using Health Examination Data at One Medical Institution’s Health Examination Center (2016–2017)

Background@#Several studies have shown that elevated serum uric acid levels are associated with cardiovascular disease. High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) has been shown to be a measure of the severity and prognosis of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of hs-CRP with hyperuricemia. @*Methods@#From March 2016 to November 2017, a total of 26,987 patients who received a health check-up at a Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Korea, were enrolled. Foreigners, patients who had hs-CRP score greater than 10 or white blood cell score greater than 10,000, those who did not respond sincerely, those who had previously been diagnosed with gout and cerebrovascular disease, and females were excluded. Data were collected from 2,808 patients. @*Results@#The subjects were divided into four sections by 25th percentile, 50th percentile, 75th percentile, and 100th percentile based on the distribution of hs-CRP. Serum hs-CRP levels were 1.85 (1.34–2.56), 2.59 (1.90–3.54), and 3.64 (2.70–4.93) respectively in the second, third, and fourth quartiles based on the first quartile. The odds ratios were 1.46 (1.05–2.03), 1.76 (1.27–2.45), and 2.27 (1.64–3.14) after adjusting the disturbance variables of age, body mass index, smoking status, and regular exercise. @*Conclusion@#In this study, we evaluated the relationship between serum hs-CRP and hyperuricemia, which are the risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and found statistically significant correlations. These results were still significant after adjusting for age, smoking, exercise, and body mass index.

The Change of Metabolic Syndrome Prevalence and Its Risk Factors in Korean Adults for Decade: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 2008–2017

Background@#Metabolic syndrome is a nationwide health problem, which is associated with the development of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and chronic renal failure. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Korea significantly increased from 1998 to 2007. After that, the prevalence was stable in female but still increasing in male. The objective of this study was to evaluate how the prevalence and risk factors for metabolic syndrome changed in Korean adults through the last decade. @*Methods@#Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008 to 2017 was used. National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III were used to define metabolic syndrome. We compared how each metabolic syndrome component and the risk factors changed through the years. @*Results@#A total of 51,177 (30,092 female and 21,085 male) people were included in this study. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in male increased from 24.5% in 2008 to 28.1% in 2017, whereas that in female was stable at 20.5% in 2008 from 18.7% in 2017. Waist circumference measurements and fasting glucose levels increased through the decade in male, whereas only fasting glucose levels increased in female. @*Conclusion@#Since the last decade, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Korean adults has increased in male but remained stable in female. Lifestyle intervention in male, namely ceasing smoking and drinking could prevent increasing metabolic syndrome prevalence in Korean adults.

Association between Glycated Hemoglobin A1c and Intraocular Pressure in Nondiabetic Subjects

BACKGROUND: Diabetic patients are known to have unusually high mean intraocular pressure (IOP); attributable to autonomic dysfunction and genetic factors. A recent study reported that diabetic complications occur in not only diabetes but also prediabetes. We performed this study to analyze the relationship between glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and IOP in non-diabetics using electronic medical records at the health screening center of Soon Chun Hyang University Seoul Hospital.METHODS: We considered 16,643 individuals who visited the health screening center of Soon Chun Hyang University Seoul Hospital between November 2015 and September 2017. In total, 3,029 subjects were included in the study. Exclusion criteria included a history of hypertension, diabetes, stroke, cardiovascular disease, hepatitis (A-C), cancer, other disease, fasting blood glucose of 126 mg/dL or higher, HbA1c of 6.5% or higher, and individuals whose binocular IOP could not be measured. We categorized subjects into two groups; those with HbA1c less than or equal to 5.6%, and those with HbA1c greater than 5.6% and less than 6.5%. The mean IOP of each group was compared by gender.RESULTS: After adjusting for factors affecting IOP, analysis of variance was performed to analyze the relationship between HbA1c and IOP. There was no statistically significant difference between the HbA1c groups in males. However, there was a significant difference in IOP between females in the the higher and lower HbA1c groups.CONCLUSION: There was a statistically significant relationship between mean IOP and HbA1c in females without diabetes. Further research is needed with prospective and extensive data collection.

Relationship between heavy drinking, binge drinking, and metabolic syndrome in obese and non-obese Korean male adults

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Obesity and alcohol drinking are associated with metabolic syndrome. However, few studies show the relationship between alcohol drinking and metabolic syndrome according to varying degrees of obesity. This study aimed to determine the association between alcohol drinking and metabolic syndrome in obese and non-obese Korean male adults. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 5,867 males aged ≥ 20 years who were examined at the Soonchunhyang University health promotion center during June 2008–December 2010. The subjects were divided into non-obese (body mass index [BMI] 14 drinks/week) groups. The subjects were also categorized into binge drinking and non-binge drinking groups. To obtain odds ratios (ORs) for metabolic syndrome, binary logistic regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: The overall metabolic syndrome prevalence was 27.3% (12.8%, non-obese group; 50.4%, obese group). After adjusting for age, physical activity, and smoking, in the non-obese group, the OR for heavy drinking with binge drinking (reference: nondrinking) was 1.56 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.12–2.18), with a significant increase in metabolic syndrome prevalence. In the obese group, the OR for heavy drinking with binge drinking was 1.42 (95% CI = 1.07–1.88), showing a significant increase in metabolic syndrome prevalence (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In both non-obese and obese Korean males, heavy drinking with binge drinking was associated with increased risk of metabolic syndrome. Thus, both non-obese and obese males should restrict their alcohol intake and not indulge in binge drinking.

The factors associated with Vitamin D deficiency in community dwelling elderly in Korea

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Recent studies showed vitamin D deficiency is linked to chronic diseases in addition to skeletal metabolism which could threaten the elderly. We analyzed health conditions and socio-demographic factors associated with vitamin D deficiency in community dwelling people aged 65 years and older. SUBJECTS/METHOD: Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2010 to 2012 were obtained. A total of 2,687 subjects aged 65 years and older were participated. The cutoff value of the Vitamin D deficiency was considered as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] ≤ 20 ng/mL (50 nmol/L). RESULTS: The overall prevalence rate of vitamin D deficiency in the elderly was 62.1%. The factors such as female, obesity, metabolic syndrome, current smoker, and skipping breakfast were positively associated with vitamin D deficiency, but high intensity of physical activity and more than 9 hours of sleep duration were negatively associated with vitamin D deficiency (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It is important that health professions know that the factors proved in this study are connected to vitamin D deficiency thus provide information and intervention strategies of vitamin D deficiency to old aged people.

Accuracy of Capillary Blood Glucose Test When Fasting in Diabetes Patients or General Population: Performance Evaluation of G300 Based on ISO 15197:2013 Standards

BACKGROUND: Self-monitoring of blood glucose plays an important role in management of diabetes mellitus. Blood glucose measurement is based on using plasma glucose separated from whole blood, but many people with diabetes and health care providers use a portable glucose meter for convenience. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and agreement of G300 portable glucose monitoring system against standard venous glucose testing methods, based on ISO 15197:2013 standards. METHODS: This study was the evaluation of G300 system accuracy following ISO 15197:2013 standards. We estimated precision, system accuracy, hematocrit interference, interfering substances, and user performance. RESULTS: In repeatability precision evaluation of those glucometers, standard deviation was 2.9–3.7 mg/dL at glucose levels under 100 mg/dL and coefficient of variation was 1.7–3.2% at glucose levels over 100 mg/dL, respectively. In accuracy evaluation, 99.5% of difference values between results of G300 portable glucose monitoring system and clinical laboratory were within 95%. Consensus Error grid analysis showed that all values (100%) are within zone A. Hematocrit range between 20% and 60% did not cause interference. These results were acceptable for the ISO15197:2013 criteria in all glucose concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that G300 can provide reliable blood glucose results for patients and health care providers to manage diabetes mellitus, satisfying the ISO 15197:2013 criteria.

Stroke Impact Scale 3.0: Reliability and Validity Evaluation of the Korean Version

OBJECTIVE: To establish the reliability and validity the Korean version of the Stroke Impact Scale (K-SIS) 3.0. METHODS: A total of 70 post-stroke patients were enrolled. All subjects were evaluated for general characteristics, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Modified Barthel Index, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The SF-36 and K-SIS 3.0 assessed their health-related quality of life. Statistical analysis after evaluation, determined the reliability and validity of the K-SIS 3.0. RESULTS: A total of 70 patients (mean age, 54.97 years) participated in this study. Internal consistency of the SIS 3.0 (Cronbach's alpha) was obtained, and all domains had good co-efficiency, with threshold above 0.70. Test-retest reliability of SIS 3.0 required correlation (Spearman's rho) of the same domain scores obtained on the first and second assessments. Results were above 0.5, with the exception of social participation and mobility. Concurrent validity of K-SIS 3.0 was assessed using the SF-36, and other scales with the same or similar domains. Each domain of K-SIS 3.0 had a positive correlation with corresponding similar domain of SF-36 and other scales (HADS, MMSE, and NIHSS). CONCLUSION: The newly developed K-SIS 3.0 showed high inter-intra reliability and test-retest reliabilities, together with high concurrent validity with the original and various other scales, for patients with stroke. K-SIS 3.0 can therefore be used for stroke patients, to assess their health-related quality of life and treatment efficacy.

Relationship between Weekly Physical Activity Frequency and Metabolic Syndrome

BACKGROUND: It is hard to find data concerning the relationship between weekly physical activity frequency and metabolic syndrome. Therefore, the object of this study is to evaluate the relationship between weekly physical activity frequency and prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Korean adults. METHODS: Subjects of this cross-sectional study were 8,854 men and women aged 20 years or older, who visited the health promotion center of one university hospital in Chungcheongnam-do for a general health check-up from July 2008 to December 2010. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the revised NCEP-ATP III criteria. Study participants were divided into three groups according to weekly physical activity frequency. The risk of metabolic syndrome according to physical activity frequency was estimated using multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 27.3% in men and 13.9% in women. After adjustments for age, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and body mass index, the risk of metabolic syndrome among men participating in 2-3 and 4-7 days per week of leisure-time physical activity was significantly lower than that among men with 0-1 day per week physical activity; the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 0.68 (0.57-0.80) and 0.76 (0.63-0.90), respectively. No significant difference was seen among women. CONCLUSION: For men, at least 30 minutes of leisure-time physical activity on 2 or more days a week decreases the risk of metabolic syndrome.

The Association Between Colon Polyp and the Metabolic Syndrome in Asymptomatic Korean Adults

BACKGROUND: Recently, the prevalence of colorectal cancer related with metabolic syndrome is increasing in Korea. The aim of this study was to reveal a relationship between components of metabolic syndrome and the development of colon polyp. METHODS: Among the subjects who visited a health promotion center of one university hospital and underwent colonoscopic examination from February 2010 to February 2011, a total of 1,630 (males 1,156, females 474) asymptomatic adults were included for the study. Sex, age, body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol levels and the presence of colorectal polyps were measured. Alcohol consumption, smoking and exercise were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire. Metabolic syndrome was defined by criteria of 2004 American Heart Association/Updated NCEP Adult Treatment Panel III. RESULTS: The prevalence of colon polyps and metabolic syndrome was 21.7% and 16.0% respectively among study subjects. After adjustment for sex and age, metabolic syndrome (odds ratio [OR]=1.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-2.82, P=0.031) and waist circumference (OR=1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.06, P=0.009) were associated with increased risk of colorectal polyps. CONCLUSION: Metabolic syndrome and waist circumference were associated with increased risk of colon polyps in asymptomatic Korean adults.

The Analysis of Risk Factors of Gall Stone Associated with Metabolic Syndrome

OBJECTIVE: Recently, the prevalence of gall stone related with metabolic syndrome is increasing in Korea. The aim of this study was to reveal a relationship between components of metabolic syndrome and the development of gall bladder stones. METHODS: Among the subjects who visited a health promotion center of Soonchunhyang University Hospital from March 2009 to March 2010, a total of 5,201 adults were examined. Among them, the final 5,052 (male 3,403, female 1,649) adults were included. Sex, age, body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels, and the presence of gall stones were measured. Metabolic syndrome was defined by criteria of 2004 American Heart Association/Updated National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III. Analyses were adjusted by age and sex. RESULTS: This study showed that the prevalence of gall stone was 1.6% and metabolic syndrome was 19.3%. The results didn't show an association between gall stone risk and components of metabolic syndrome. But gall stone risk was increased according to aging, high total cholesterol in the abnormal body mass index group. In normal body mass index group, waist circumference was related with the development of gall stone. Total cholesterol level was related with the development of gall stone in overweight group. CONCLUSION: This study showed total cholesterol levels and waist circumference related with prevalence of gall stone in specific body mass index group.

Factors Associated with Habitual Snoring

BACKGROUND: There has been little research done on the factors associated with snoring among adults in Korea. METHODS: Subjects for this cross-sectional study were 1940 adults aged 20 to 80 years who had visited the health promotion center at one university hospital in Chungcheongnam-do for general health check-ups. Standard interviews, anthropometrics, and biochemical studies were conducted. Habitual snoring was defined as snoring more than 4 days per week. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the associations between habitual snoring and age, sex, smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia. RESULTS: The prevalence of habitual snoring was 13.9%. The proportion of problem drinkers, current smokers, BMI equal to or greater than 25 kg/m2, abdominal obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL-cholesterolemia increased significantly with increasing frequency in snoring (P<0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that habitual snoring was independently associated with the 50-59 years age group, male, current smokers, abdominal obesity, hypertension and low HDL-cholesterolemia (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings show that habitual snorers are at increased risk for individual risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases. Prospective studies are needed to further examine the causal relationship between habitual snoring and cardiovascular diseases.

FOXP3+T Cells and TGF-beta1 in Colonic Mucosa of Children with Crohn's Disease / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

PURPOSE: Forkhead box protein 3 (FOXP3)+T cells are the major regulatory T cells controlling all aspects of the immune response. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a suppressive cytokine which mediates the suppressive action of FOXP3+T cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of FOXP3+T cells, TGF-beta in colonic mucosa of children with Crohn's disease (CD). METHODS: Colonic mucosal biopsies were obtained from 10 children with CD (12~15 years of age) and 11 control (8~15 years of age). Frequencies of FOXP3+T, CD4+T cells and TGF-beta1 expression were examined in the lamina propria (LP) and lymphoid aggregates or follicles (LA/F) by immunohistochemistry, and later evaluated by association with disease activity. RESULTS: In the LP of CD group, frequencies of FOXP3+T, CD4+T cells, proportion of FOXP3/CD4+T cells and TGF-beta1 expression significantly increased compared to the control. In the LA/F of CD group, frequency of FOXP3+T cells, proportion of FOXP3/CD4+T cells and TGF-beta1 expression significantly increased compared to the control (p<0.05). CD4+T cells also increased compared to the control, but this finding was not significant. In the LP and LA/F of CD group, frequency of FOXP3+T cells exhibited positive correlation with CD4+T cells (p<0.05). In the LP and LA/F of CD group, TGF-beta1 expression had positive correlation with CRP, Pediatric Crohn's Disease Activity Index, and negative correlation with hematocrit and albumin (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Increased frequency of FOXP3+T cells and TGF-beta1 expression in colonic mucosa of CD can be interpreted as a compensatory increase towards achieving down-regulation of immune responses.

Clinical characteristics of obese boys and girls in a high school: focused on abdominal fat indices, fatty liver and carotid intima-media thickness / 소아과

PURPOSE: Our study aimed to evaluated sex differences in clinical features of obese high school students. METHODS: One hundred three obese high school students (body mass index [BMI]> or =85th percentile) and 51 control students (BMI<85th percentile) were enrolled in this study. Anthropometric measurements were performed. Fasting serum glucose, insulin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and high-sensitive C-reactive protein were measured. Abdominal fat thickness, degree of fatty liver, and carotid intima-media thickness were measured by ultrasound. RESULTS: In control and obese groups, waist circumference was significantly longer in boys but body fat mass was significantly higher in girls. In the control group, total cholesterol and LDL-C were higher in girls. In the obese group, however, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and triglyceride were higher and HDL-C was lower in boys. Preperitoneal fat thickness was significantly higher in obese girls. In obese group, the degree of fatty liver was significantly higher in boys. Carotid intima-media thickness was not significantly different between boys and girls. CONCLUSION: Obese adolescents had distinguishable sex differences in body measurements, metabolic abnormalities, abdominal fat thickness and fatty liver. We can infer that these characteristics may extend into adult obesity.

The Relationships among Hostility, Perceived Social Support and Health Behavior Compliance of Patients with Coronary Artery Disease / 기본간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was done to measure the degree of the hostility, perceived social support and health behavior compliance among patients with coronary artery disease and to identify the relationship among those variables. METHODS: The participants were 145 hospitalized patients with coronary artery disease. Data were collected from December 15, 2007 to March 15, 2008 using a questionnaire and medical record. RESULTS: Mean scores for hostility, perceived social support and health behavior compliance were 54.80, 53.03 and 59.38 respectively. Differences in the degree of hostility were significant for marital status and serum total cholesterol. There were significant differences in the degree of health behavior compliance according to body mass index, serum total cholesterol, smoking, drinking, exercise and regular diet. Health behavior compliance was correlated with hostility and perceived social support, and hostility was correlated with perceived social support. CONCLUSION: Intensive programs to enhance perceived social support but to reduce hostility are warranted to improve health behavior in patients with coronary artery disease.

Acoustic variations associated with congenital heart disease / 소아과

PURPOSE: To investigate the nature of deviant voice physiology in preoperative children with congenital heart disease. METHODS: Ninety-four children with congenital heart disease were enrolled. Their cries and related acoustic variables (fundamental frequency, duration, noise to harmonic ratio, jitter, and shimmer) were analyzed using a multi-dimensional voice program. RESULTS: The average fundamental frequency showed a significant decrease in patent ductus arteriosus, ventricular septal defect, and tetralogy of Fallot, except in atrial septal defect and pulmonary stenosis. The length of the analyzed sample (duration) did not show a significant difference when compared with the control group. There was a significant increase in jitter percent in ventricular septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus, and atrial septal defect. There was an increase in shimmer in ventricular septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus, and atrial septal defect. The noise-to-harmonic ratio increased in ventricular septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus, and atrial septal defect but there was no significant difference in pulmonary stenosis and tetralogy of Fallot. While analyzing acoustic variables, the voice change was significantly higher, especially in patent ductus arteriosus followed by ventricular septal defect and atrial septal defect. Most of these acoustic variables were deviant in left-to-right shunt lesions in congenital heart disease, especially in patent ductus artriosus. CONCLUSION: The results of the voice change analysis of preoperative children with congenital heart disease revealed that the acoustic variables differed by each congenital heart disease. Moreover, the acoustic variables were prominently deviant in congenital heart disease with left-to-right shunts.

Clinical efficacy and safety of lamotrigine monotherapy in newly diagnosed pediatric patients with epilepsy / 소아과

PURPOSE: To verify the efficacy and safety of lamotrigine (LTG) monotherapy in newly diagnosed children with epilepsy. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 148 children who had undergone LTG monotherapy at our institution between September 2002 and June 2009. Twenty-nine patients were excluded: 19 due to incomplete data and 10 were lost to follow up. The data of the remaining 119 patients was analyzed. RESULTS: We enrolled 119 pediatric epilepsy patients (aged 2.8-19.3 years; 66 males and 53 females) in this study. Out of 119 patients, 29 (25.2%) had generalized epilepsy and 90 (74.8%) had partial epilepsy. The responses of seizure reduction were as follows: Seizure freedom (no seizure attack for at least 6 months) in 87/111 (78.4%, n=111) patients; partial response (reduced seizure frequency compared to baseline) in 13 (11.7%) patients; and persistent seizure in 11 (9.9%) patients. The seizure freedom rate was in 81.6% in patients with partial seizure (75.9% for complex partial seizure and 90.9% for benign rolandic epilepsy) and 44.8% in patients with generalized epilepsy (30.0% for absence seizure, 35.7% for juvenile myoclonic epilepsy patients, and 100.0% for idiopathic generalized epilepsy patients). Adverse reactions were reported in 17 (14.3%) patients, and 8 patients (6.7%) discontinued LTG because of rash and tic. No patient experienced severe adverse reaction such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome. CONCLUSION: LTG showed excellent therapeutic response and had few significant adverse effects. Our findings report may contribute in promoting the use of LTG monotherapy in epileptic children.

Validity of 38 mg Low Dose 13C-Urea Breath Test for the Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori Infection

BACKGROUND: To assess the diagnostic value of 13C-UBT using capsulated 38 mg low dose for H. pylori infection, we investigated the sensitivity and specificity of 13C-UBT and to suggest the optimal positive cut-off value of DOB20 in 13C-UBT using ROC analysis. METHODS: The study subjects were 76 healthy individuals (males; 52, females; 24) who visited a health promotion center at a university hospital between July 2005 and June 2007. We tested for H. pylori infection by 38 mg low dose 13C-UBT and histology. We measured the expiratory 13C-urea concentration of basal and 20 minutes value after oral ingestion of 38 mg 13C- labelled urea with capsulated. The breath samples were analysed by gas chromatograph isotope ratio mass spectrometer and expressed as units of delta. RESULTS: Fifty subjects (65.8%) were H. pylori positive as judged from histology. ROC analysis showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.943 (95% confidence interval: 0.891~0.995), indicating an excellent classification performance of the model. The sensitivity of 96%, specificity of 85% were achieved at the optimal cut-off value of DOB20 which was 1.39. The 38 mg low dose 13C-UBT was a non-invasive, simple, short-time required and highly accurate method. CONCLUSION: The results suggested that capsulated 38 mg low dose 13C-UBT is considered more in term of accuracy, costeffectiveness and convenient method for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection. Further long-term research and meta analysis based on large-scale investigations is needed to establish a standardized testing method in creating protocol of 13C-UBT.

The Effect of Social Cognition Deficit in Schizophrenia on Social Dysfunction / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: Both story and cartoon task are sensitive to evaluate social cognition deficit in schizophrenia. However it is unclear whether social cognition deficits indexed by these tasks of schizophrenia reflect social functioning in their real life. To this purpose, we investigated the effect of social cognitive deficits detected in schizophrenic patients on social functioning. METHODS: Our investigation involved twenty-two schizophrenic patients and normal subjects. The story and cartoon tasks as mental state reasoning tasks and the 'Social Functioning Scale (SFS)' as a social functioning measure were administered for all subjects. RESULTS: The schizophrenic patients with average level of intelligence and mild psychotic symptoms, regarded as almost remitted, showed significantly poor performance on all of story task, cartoon task, and SFS. However, after controlling IQ's effects, only the performances on the story task were significantly contributed to the performances on the SFS, especially on subscales of 'Withdrawal', 'Independence performance' and 'Independence competence'. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that performance of the story task is considered as a good predictor of social functioning for the schizophrenic patients in remission.

Social Cognition Deficits of Schizophrenia in Cartoon Task / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: This study is to investigate the hypothesis that schizophrenic patients have difficulty in inferring mental state of others. METHODS: Twenty schizophrenic patients and twenty normal subjects were administered to the Cartoon Task required inferring the character's intention in a given context. RESULTS: The schizophrenic patients showed a statistically significant impairment in the Cartoon Task. Both groups chose the card depicting a frequent everyday action significantly more rather than the similar card to the last picture in each story for wrong answers. CONCLUSION: These preliminary results suggest that schizophrenia is associated with a specific deficit of the cognitive ability referred to as social cognition, and this deficit can be detected not only in the acute phase as found in previous research studies, but also in remission. Also when subjects fail to appreciate what is going on in the minds of other people, they seem to rely on a socially familiar experience.

The Contemplation of Neuropathological Abnormalities of the Corpus Callosum in Schizophrenia: A Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a new technique that can be used to visualize and measure the diffusion of water in brain tissue. It is particularly useful for evaluating white matter abnormalities. In this paper, we investigated the neuropathology of the corpus callosum in patients with schizophrenia through the new methods, diffusion tensor imaging. METHODS: Diffuse tensor imaging was performed in 19 schizophrenic patients and 26 healthy controls. One complementary measure, fractional anisotropy (FA), which is considered to be sensitive indices of axonal integrity, was obtained from regions of interest in the five areas of the corpus callosum. Neuropsychological measurement also underwent for measurement of frontal lobe function in two groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences of FA in the DTI measures for either the schizophrenic patients compared with controls. FA was significantly decreased in women compared with men. Neuropsychological measurements such as Wisconsin card sorting test were correlated with FA of patients with schizophrenia. CONCLUSION: FA measures revealed no differences between schizophrenia and controls. The findings suggest that the structural integrity of white matter in patient with schizophrenia was not disrupted. The results are discussed in relation to previous studies reporting positive and negative findings. It is concluded that further studies using DTI in larger samples, improved and standardized methods of data acquisition and analysis are needed.