All-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and incidence of cardiovascular disease according to a screening program of cardiovascular risk in South Korea among young adults: a nationwide cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine whether there are any differences in all-cause and cause-specific mortality with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk between health screening attenders and non-attenders among young adults. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a retrospective cohort study using claim data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. METHODS: Individuals aged 20-39 years who had received health screening at least once between 2002 and 2005 were classified as attenders, and the others were classified as non-attenders. After propensity score matching according to attendance of health screening, 2,060,409 attenders and 2,060,409 non-attenders were included. We estimated adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for all-cause mortality, cause-specific mortality, and hospitalization of CVD from 2006 to 2015. RESULTS: Survival from all-cause mortality was greater among attenders than among non-attenders (log rank P < 0.001). Similarly, death from CVD (log rank P = 0.007) and CVD events (log rank P < 0.001) were less likely among attenders. The risk for all-cause mortality in attenders was significantly lower than that in non-attenders (HR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.81 to 0.84). The risk for CVD mortality (HR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.73 to 0.87) and hospitalization of CVD (HR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.91 to 0.94) were lower in attenders. In stratified analyses, the risk for all-cause and cause-specific mortalities was lower among attenders regardless of insurance type. CONCLUSIONS: Among young adults, the risk for all-cause mortality, CVD mortality, and hospitalization of CVD were lower for those who underwent health screenings. Future studies that evaluate the cost-effectiveness of health screening with additional consideration of psychosocial aspects are needed.

Pooled cohort risk equation and subclinical cerebrovascular diseases.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In 2013, the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) introduced a novel pooled cohort risk (PCR) model for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between the PCR score and cerebral large- and small-vessel diseases (cLVD and cSVD) in a healthy population, METHODS: We assessed consecutive health check-up volunteers from 2006 to 2013. We calculated the estimated 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk as the PCR score based on the 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines. We evaluated both cSVD/cLVD, including the prevalence of cLVD, lacunes and cerebral microbleed (CMB), and the volume of white matter hyperintensity (WMH). In addition to PCR score, the risk factors that were associated with outcome variables at P < 0.10 in univariate analysis were included for further multivariable linear or regression analyses. RESULTS: A total of 2720 participants were evaluated (mean age, 57 years, male sex, 54%). In multivariable analysis, PCR score was associated with WMH volume [ß = 0.361; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.320-0.402, P < 0.001], cLVD [adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 1.66; 95% CI, 1.29-2.16, P < 0.001], lacunes (aOR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.52-2.14, P < 0.001) and CMBs (aOR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.40-2.19, P < 0.001). Furthermore, PCR score also showed dose-response tendencies according to the burden of cLVD, WMH, lacunes and CMB. CONCLUSIONS: A higher PCR score based on the ACC/AHA guidelines is closely associated with a higher prevalence and burden of cLVD and cSVD.

Favorable impact of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease on the cerebral white matter hyperintensity in a neurologically healthy population.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) shares common cardiovascular risk factors with cerebral white matter hyperintensity (WMH), few studies have reported the association between NAFLD and WMH. The association between the presence of NAFLD with its severity and the volume of WMH was investigated. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted for 2460 subjects who voluntarily participated in health screening check-ups including brain magnetic resonance imaging and liver ultrasonography at the Health Promotion Center at Seoul National University Hospital from 2009 to 2013. Ultrasonography was used to detect the presence and severity of NAFLD combined with the NAFLD fibrosis score and the FIB-4 index. The volume of WMH was measured using a semi-automated quantification method by a trained neurologist. RESULTS: The prevalence of NAFLD was 36.5%, and the median volume of WMH in all the subjects was 1.1 ml (interquartile range 0.2-2.7 ml). The presence of NAFLD was associated with a smaller volume of WMH [ß (standard error, SE) -0.051 (0.046); P = 0.012]. Moderate to severe NAFLD was associated with a smaller volume of WMH than was non-NAFLD [ß (SE) -0.067 (0.061); P = 0.002]. The negative correlation observed between NAFLD severity and WMH volume was persistent only in those with low FIB-4 index and low NAFLD fibrosis scores, whereas there was a positive association in those with high FIB-4 index and NAFLD fibrosis scores. CONCLUSIONS: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and its severity, showed a favorable association with WMH volume. However, its causality and mechanism should be evaluated in further relevantly designed studies.

Sex-dependent effects of uric acid on cerebral microbleed: a cross-sectional study in the general population.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Elevated serum uric acid (UA) is known to be associated with stroke. However, there is little information on the association between serum UA levels and cerebral microbleed (CMB), a precursor of stroke. Therefore, we investigated the association between UA and CMB in a general population taking into consideration sex-related differences. METHODS: The subjects in this cross-sectional study consisted of 2686 individuals of 40-79 years of age (1403 men and 1283 women) who underwent regular health screenings, including brain magnetic resonance imaging, at Seoul National University Hospital Health Promotion Center. Subjects were categorized into three groups according to tertiles of UA levels by sex. The presence and location of CMB were assessed by gradient-recalled echo magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: The prevalence of CMB was 3.8%. In multivariate logistic regression analysis by sex, the highest tertile of UA in male subjects was independently associated with the presence of CMB compared with the lowest tertile of UA (adjusted odds ratio, 2.46; P = 0.013). Meanwhile, the highest tertile of UA in female subjects was inversely associated with CMB compared with the lowest tertile of UA (adjusted odds ratio, 0.39; P = 0.040). CONCLUSIONS: High serum UA value was associated with higher prevalence of CMB in male, but lower prevalence of CMB in female subjects.

The association between muscle mass deficits and arterial stiffness in middle-aged men.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Early diagnosis of arteriosclerosis is fundamental for the prevention of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The current study was performed to identify major predictors of arteriosclerosis and to assess the association between arterial stiffness as measured by cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and muscle mass deficit (MMD) estimated by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) in middle-aged men. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data were gathered from 3356 middle-aged men who visited a health promotion center. CAVI was measured as an index of arterial stiffness. Body composition analysis was performed using BIA. MMD was positively associated with CAVI in the regression model. The odds ratios for high-CAVI (≥9.0) rose with MMD grade in a dose-dependent manner after adjusting for age, lifestyle factors and current medication use. The estimated mean CAVI rose as MMD grade increased (P for trend >0.001). CONCLUSIONS: MMD estimated from BIA was positively associated with arterial stiffness in middle-aged men. These findings show a close interaction between low muscle mass and cardiovascular risk.

[Identification of a Novel Calcium (Ca

Calcium (Ca^(2+))-activated chloride channel accessories (CLCAs) are putative anion channel-related proteins with diverse physiological functions. Exploring CLCA diversity is important for prediction of gene structure and function. In an effort to identify novel CLCA genes in Xenopus laevis, we successfully cloned and characterized a Xenopus laevis cDNA predicted to encode the xCLCA3 gene. Cloning of xCLCA3 was achieved by computational analysis, rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE), and a tissue distribution analysis by semi-quantitative reverse transcription (RT) PCR or real-time PCR. We obtained a 2958 bp xCLCA3 cDNA sequence with an open reading frame encoding 943 amino acids. According to the primary structure analysis, xCLCA3 contains a predicted signal sequence, multiple sites of N-linked (N-) glycosylation, N-myristoylation, PKA, PKC, and casein kinase II phosphorylation sites, five putative hydrophobic segments, and the HExxH metalloprotease motif. Additionally, the transmembrane prediction server yielded a preserved N-terminal CLCA domain and a von Willebrand factor type A domain with one transmembrane domain in the C-terminal region. Expression analysis showed that xCLCA3 is expressed in a number of tissues, with strong expression in the brain, colon, small intestine, lung, kidney, and spleen, and poor expression in the heart and liver. These results suggest that xCLCA3 may be a candidate CLCA family member as well as a metalloprotease, rather than just an ion channel accessory protein.

Five-minute parameter of thromboelastometry is sufficient to detect thrombocytopenia and hypofibrinogenaemia in patients undergoing liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Early detection of coagulopathy is important to prevent bleeding during liver transplantation (LT). Rotation thromboelastometry (ROTEM(®)) provides the earliest parameter of clot amplitudes at 5 min (A5). We evaluated whether A5 correlates with platelet count (PLT) and fibrinogen concentration (Fib) and can predict thrombocytopenia and hypofibrinogenaemia in hypocoagulable patients undergoing living-donor LT (LDLT). METHODS: A total of 3446 retrospective ROTEM(®) measurements, including 1139 EXTEM, 1182 INTEM, and 1125 FIBTEM, with simultaneously measured PLT and Fib, were analysed during LDLT in 239 patients. The correlations between A5 and maximum clot firmness (MCF) index, PLT, and Fib were calculated. Receiver operating characteristic analysis with area under the curve (AUC) was used to assess A5 thresholds predictive of PLT and Fib. RESULTS: The median PLT was 47 000 mm(-3) and the median Fib was 100 mg dl(-1) during LDLT. The A5 parameters of EXTEM (A5EXTEM) and INTEM (A5INTEM) were highly correlated with MCF (r=0.96 and r=0.95, respectively), PLT (r=0.76 and r=0.77, respectively), and Fib (r=0.63 and r=0.64, respectively). A5 of FIBTEM (A5FIBTEM) was also correlated with MCF (r=0.91) and Fib (r=0.75). A5EXTEM thresholds of 15 and 19 mm predicted PLT<30 000 mm(-3) (AUC=0.90) and <50 000 mm(-3) (AUC=0.87), respectively, whereas A5FIBTEM 4 mm predicted Fib<100 mg dl(-1) (AUC=0.86). Biases from A5EXTEM and A5FIBTEM to their MCFs were 16.4 and 1.3 mm, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A5 as an early variable of clot firmness is effective in detecting critically low PLT and Fib. A5 can therefore be a reliable fast index guiding transfusion therapy in hypocoagulable patients undergoing LDLT.

Laparoscopic excision of a renal subcapsular abscess presenting as a subcapsular haematoma.

Renal subcapsular abscess is a very rare entity that is defined by a suppurative process localized to a space between the renal capsule and the renal parenchyma. The pathogenesis and aetiology of this entity remain speculative. To our knowledge, only five cases have been reported in the English literature. We describe a 74-year old woman with renal subcapsular abscess treated with laparoscopic removal and do a review of the literature.

Seasonal nutrient uptake of plant biomass in a constructed wetland treating piggery wastewater effluent.

The surface-flow constructed wetland (CW) located in Nonsan City, South Korea, and constructed as the final stage of a piggery wastewater treatment plant that aims to treat high nutrient content effluent during dry days and stormwater runoff during wet days was monitored from October 2008 to November 2011. This research investigated the seasonal nutrient uptake of plant biomass in the CW and nutrient concentration changes in each treatment region under monsoon and temperate climate conditions. Results showed that the mean total nitrogen removal during summer (June to August) was higher by 13% than in spring (March to May), while total phosphorus removal was higher by 22% in fall (September to November) than in winter (December to February). All plants in the CW reached their maximum biomass coverage and weight in summer and minimum growth in winter. The highest N and P content in plants occurred in September with 583.2 g/m(2) and August with 62.0 g/m(2), respectively. Based on the results, it is recommended that the harvesting of plants should be conducted during the time of the peak nutrient uptake and before the plants release the nutrient content back to the CW. The dependence of nutrient removal efficiency on plants is not so significant. In order to increase the nutrient removal rate by plant uptake, it is suggested that the treatment regions in the CW be covered by plants.

Treatment performance of a constructed wetland during storm and non-storm events in Korea.

The efficiency of a free water surface flow constructed wetland (CW) in treating agricultural discharges from stream was investigated during storm and non-storm events between April and December, 2009. Physico-chemical and water quality constituents were monitored at five sampling locations along the flow path of the CW. The greatest reduction in pollutant concentration was observed after passing the sedimentation zone at approximately 4% fractional distance from the inflow. The inflow hydraulic loading, flow rates and pollutant concentrations were significantly higher and variable during storm events than non-storm (baseflow) condition (p <0.001) that resulted to an increase in the average pollutant removal efficiencies by 10 to 35%. The highest removal percentages were attained for phosphate (51 ± 22%), ammonium (44 ± 21%) and phosphorus (38 ± 19%) while nitrate was least effectively retained by the system with only 25 ± 17% removal during non-storm events. The efficiency of the system was most favorable when the temperature was above 15 °C (i.e., almost year-round except the winter months) and during storm events. Overall, the outflow water quality was better than the inflow water quality signifying the potential of the constructed wetland as a treatment system and capability of improving the stream water quality.

Association between central venous pressure and blood loss during hepatic resection in 984 living donors.

BACKGROUND: Although low central venous pressure (CVP) anesthesia has been used to minimize blood loss during hepatectomy, the efficacy of this technique remains controversial. We therefore assessed the association between blood loss and CVP during hepatic resection, and examined significant determinants associated with intraoperative hemorrhage during hepatectomy in living donors. METHODS: Between April 2004 and April 2008, 984 living donors who underwent a hepatic resection were assessed retrospectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to explore the relationships between intraoperative blood loss and several variables including CVP. RESULTS: The mean intraoperative blood loss was 691.3 +/- 365.5 ml. Only four donors required packed red blood cell transfusions (mean, 1.5 U). The mean duration of hepatic resection was 92.1 +/- 26.3 min. The mean, maximum, and minimum values of CVP measured during hepatectomy were 4.6 +/- 1.7, 5.3 +/- 1.8, and 4.0 +/- 1.8 mmHg, respectively, and were not significantly correlated with intraoperative blood loss. On multivariate analysis, predictors of hemorrhage were liver fatty change, gender, and body weight, but none of the mean CVP, surgeons, anesthesiologists, anesthesia duration, resected liver volume, hepatectomy type, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, or body temperature were significant. CONCLUSIONS: CVP during hepatic resection was not associated with intraoperative blood loss in living liver donors, suggesting that CVP may not be an important factor in predicting blood loss during hepatectomy in healthy subjects.

Determination of first flush criteria using dynamic EMCs (event mean concentrations) on highway stormwater runoff.

Recently the Ministry of Environment in Korea has developed the total maximum daily load program in accordance with the target pollutant and its concentration goal on four major large rivers. Since the program is largely related to regional development, nonpoint source control is both important and topical. Of the various nonpoint sources, highways are stormwater intensive land uses since they are impervious and have high pollutant mass emissions from vehicular activity. The event mean concentration (EMC) is useful in estimating the loadings to receiving water bodies. However, the EMC does not provide information on the time varying changes in pollutant concentration or mass emissions, which are often important for best management practice development, or understanding shock loads. Therefore, in this study a new concept, the dynamic EMC determination method, will be introduced to clearly verify the relationship between EMC and the first flush effect. Three monitoring sites in Daejeon metropolitan city areas were equipped with an automatic rainfall gauge and a flow meter for accumulating the data such as rainfall and runoff flow. The dynamic EMC method was applied to more than 17 events, and the improved first flush criteria were determined on the ranges of storm duration and accumulated rainfall.

The role of the width of the forefoot in the development of Morton's neuroma.

AIMS: Morton's neuroma is common condition of the forefoot, but its aetiology remains unclear. Our aim was to evaluate the relationship between the width of the forefoot and the development of a Morton's neuroma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 2013 and May 2016, a total of 84 consecutive patients (17 men, 67 women) with a unilateral Morton's neuroma were enrolled into the study. The involved and uninvolved feet of each patient were compared. A control group of patients with symptoms from the foot, but without a neuroma who were matched for age, gender, affected side, and web space location, were enrolled. The first to fifth intermetatarsal distance, intermetatarsal angle and intermetatarsal distance of involved web space on standing radiographs were assessed. RESULTS: The inter- and intra-observer reliability was excellent. The three parameters did not differ significantly between the involved and uninvolved feet. Neither did they differ significantly between the patients and the controls. CONCLUSION: We conclude that there is no significant relationship between the width of the forefoot and the development of a Morton's neuroma. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B:365-8.

Inhibitory effects of berberine against morphine-induced locomotor sensitization and analgesic tolerance in mice.

We previously reported that a methanolic extract of Coptis japonica, which is a well-known traditional oriental medicine, inhibits morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) in mice. Berberine is a major component of Coptis japonica extract, and it has been established that the adverse effects of morphine on the brain involve dopamine (DA) receptors. However, to our knowledge, no study has investigated the inhibitory effects of berberine on morphine-induced locomotor sensitization and analgesic tolerance in mice. Here, we investigated the effects of berberine on morphine-induced locomotor sensitization and on the development of analgesic tolerance. Furthermore, we examined the effects of berberine treatment on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor channel activity expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Berberine was found to completely block both morphine-induced locomotor sensitization and analgesic tolerance, and reduce D(1) and NMDA receptor bindings in the cortex. Moreover, berberine markedly inhibited NMDA current in Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing NMDA receptor subunits. Our results suggest that the inhibitory effects of berberine on morphine-induced locomotor sensitization and analgesic tolerance are closely related to the modulation of D1 and NMDA receptors, and that berberine should be viewed as a potential novel means of attenuating morphine-induced sensitization and analgesic tolerance.

Comparison of the effects of sevoflurane and propofol anaesthesia on regional cerebral glucose metabolism in humans using positron emission tomography.

This study compared brain glucose metabolism during sevoflurane anaesthesia and propofol anaesthesia using positron emission tomography (PET) in the same eight human volunteers. All the volunteers were anaesthetized twice, with a 1-week interval. Half of the volunteers received sevoflurane on the first occasion and propofol on the second; the other half received the two anaesthetics in the reverse order. PET scans using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose were performed after sevoflurane or propofol anaesthesia. The relative glucose metabolic rate (rGMR) in the brain was assessed with statistical parametric mapping. Propofol suppressed the rGMR of the neocortex area more than sevoflurane, and sevoflurane suppressed the rGMR of the paleocortex and telencephalon more than propofol. These findings suggest that these two anaesthetics act via different mechanisms and may provide an important clue to the relationship between anaesthesia and the brain.

SIRT3 regulates cellular iron metabolism and cancer growth by repressing iron regulatory protein 1.

Iron metabolism is essential for many cellular processes, including oxygen transport, respiration and DNA synthesis, and many cancer cells exhibit dysregulation in iron metabolism. Maintenance of cellular iron homeostasis is regulated by iron regulatory proteins (IRPs), which control the expression of iron-related genes by binding iron-responsive elements (IREs) of target mRNAs. Here, we report that mitochondrial SIRT3 regulates cellular iron metabolism by modulating IRP1 activity. SIRT3 loss increases reactive oxygen species production, leading to elevated IRP1 binding to IREs. As a consequence, IRP1 target genes, such as the transferrin receptor (TfR1), a membrane-associated glycoprotein critical for iron uptake and cell proliferation, are controlled by SIRT3. Importantly, SIRT3 deficiency results in a defect in cellular iron homeostasis. SIRT3 null cells contain high levels of iron and lose iron-dependent TfR1 regulation. Moreover, SIRT3 null mice exhibit higher levels of iron and TfR1 expression in the pancreas. We found that the regulation of iron uptake and TfR1 expression contribute to the tumor-suppressive activity of SIRT3. Indeed, SIRT3 expression is negatively correlated with TfR1 expression in human pancreatic cancers. SIRT3 overexpression decreases TfR1 expression by inhibiting IRP1 and represses proliferation in pancreatic cancer cells. Our data uncover a novel role of SIRT3 in cellular iron metabolism through IRP1 regulation and suggest that SIRT3 functions as a tumor suppressor, in part, by modulating cellular iron metabolism.

Quantification of Both Platelet Count and Fibrinogen Concentration Using Maximal Clot Firmness of Thromboelastometry During Liver Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Rotation thromboelastometry (ROTEM®) is increasingly used in liver transplantation (LT). Of the ROTEM® parameters, maximum clot firmness (MCF) of EXTEM (MCFEXT) and INTEM (MCFINT) are influenced by both platelet count (PLT) and fibrinogen concentration (FIB), whereas MCF of FIBTEM (MCFFIB) is solely influenced by FIB. We aimed to determine whether using MCFs of thromboelastometry could reliably predict both PLT and FIB and to evaluate their relations in patients with thrombocytopenia and hypofibrinogenemia during LT. METHODS: A total of 4100 retrospective ROTEM® assays with simultaneous standard laboratory tests performed during LT were analyzed in 295 patients. The optimal cut-off values of PLT and FIB according to the ROTEM® transfusion guideline were determined by area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS: MCFEXT and MCFINT showed good correlation with platelet count (r = 0.79 and 0.80, respectively, P < .001) and with fibrinogen concentration (r = 0.67 and 0.66, respectively, P < .001). MCFFIB and fibrinogen concentration were highly correlated (r = 0.84, P < .001). Additionally, PLT and FIB were calculated mathematically: PLT (/µL) = 14827 + 3.93 (MCFEXT)(2.5); FIB (mg/dL) = 63 + 0.00082 (MCFEXT)(3.0); FIB (mg/dL) = 29 + 13.3 MCFFIB. MCFEXT <35 mm predicted PLT of 43 × 10(3)/µL (AUC = 0.89) and FIB of 91 mg/dL (AUC = 0.78), whereas MCFEXT <45 mm predicted PLT of 52 × 10(3)/µL (AUC = 0.89) and FIB of 121 mg/dL (AUC = 0.86), MCFFIB <8 mm predicted FIB of 128 mg/dL (AUC = 0.94). MCFINT showed almost the same cut-off values as MCFEXT. CONCLUSIONS: Both PLT and FIB can be reliably quantified by MCFs of thromboelastometry, reducing the needs for additional laboratory tests to know values of thrombocytopenia and hypofibrinogenemia in patients undergoing LT.

Modulation of neuroendocrinological function by psychosomatic training: acute effect of ChunDoSunBup Qi-training on growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, and insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-3 in men.

The neuroendocrine system is regarded as the major link between the psychological state and the immune system in man. The present study was undertaken to examine the acute effect of ChunDoSunBup Qi-training, a traditional psychosomatic training, on the plasma level of growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and insulin like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-3 in young men. To characterize the plasma level of hormones and the pattern of IGFBP-3 at pre- (-10 min), mid-time (40 min), and immediately after (post-time, +10 min) Qi-training, radioimmunoassay (RIA) and western ligand blot (WLB) analysis were used. The plasma level of GH at the mid-time was significantly increased (P<0.05) compared to the level at pre-time of Qi-training. The plasma level of IGF-I was also increased at mid-time (P<0.05) and immediately after Qi-training. There was a significant correlation between the levels of GH and IGF-I immediately after Qi-training (r=0.69, P<0.01). In this study, the change of IGFBP-3 among the several IGFBPs was determined. There was a relative shift in IGFBP-3 for the 43-kDa fraction during mid-time of Qi-training (P<0.05). These results suggest that Qi-training influences the growth hormone, IGF-I and IGFBP-3 status via brain-target organ axis in men.

Comparison of the effects of nicardipine and sodium nitroprusside for control of increased blood pressure after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

We compared the haemodynamic effects of nicardipine and sodium nitroprusside after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. When post-surgery systolic blood pressure reached > 150 mmHg, patients were randomly given nicardipine (N group, n = 26) or sodium nitroprusside (S group, n = 21). The drugs were infused at a rate of 2 microg/kg per min for 10 min. If the target blood pressure (120-140 mmHg) was not achieved, the infusion rate was increased by 1 microg/kg per min every 10 min. Cardiac and stroke volume indices had increased significantly in the N group after 10 min and in both groups after 60 min. The infusion duration and total dose of drug were significantly lower in the N group compared with the S group. Nicardipine infusion controlled post-operative hypertension more rapidly and was superior to sodium nitroprusside in maintaining left ventricular performance immediately after drug infusion.

Effects of chundosunbup Qi-training on psychological adjustments: a cross-sectional study.

This cross-sectional investigation evaluated the trend of psychological changes by ChunDoSunBup (CDSB) Qi-training using a self-report inventory of emotional distress, Symptom Check List-90-Revision (SCL-90-R). 41 normal healthy subjects (mean age = 20.98 +/- 5.39) and 123 CDSB Qi-trainees (divided into three groups, Q1, Q2 and Q3) participated in this study. Group Q1 has received 1-4 months CDSB Qi-training (age 21.95 +/- 7.82, n = 41); Q2 has 5-12 months Qi-training (age 20.0 +/- 7.75, n = 41); and Q3 has more than 13 months Qi-training (age 22.68 +/- 6.72, n = 41). Our results show that Qi-trainees over 13 months had significantly lower scores compared to controls. A significant negative correlation was found between the Qi-training period and all SCL-90-R subscales except phobic anxiety. These results suggest that CDSB Qi-training is effective in protection as well as reduction of psychological symptomatology.