Psychological Characteristics of Living Liver Transplantation Donors using MMPI-2 Profiles / 정신신체의학

OBJECTIVES: Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is a life-saving therapy for patients with terminal liver disease. Many studies have focused on recipients rather than donors. The aim of this study was to assess the emotional status and personality characteristics of LDLT donors. METHODS: We evaluated 218 subjects (126 male, 92 female) who visited Daegu Catholic University Medical Center from August 2012 to July 2018. A retrospective review of their preoperative psychological evaluation was done. We investigated epidemiological data and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 questionnaire. Subanalysis was done depending on whether subjects actually underwent surgery, relationship with the recipient, and their gender. RESULTS: Mean age of subjects was 32.19±10.91 years. 187 subjects received LDLT surgery (actual donors) while 31 subjects didn't (potential donors). Donor-recipient relationship included husband-wife, parent-children, brother-sister etc. Subjects had statistical significance on validity scale L, F, K and all clinical scales compared to the control group. Potential donors had significant difference in F(b), F(p), K, S, Pa, AGGR, PSYC, DISC and NEGE scales compared to actual donors. F, D and NEGE scales were found to be predictive for actual donation. Subanalysis on donor-recipient relationship and gender also showed significant difference in certain scales. CONCLUSIONS: Under-reporting of psychological problems should be considered when evaluating living-liver donors. Information about the donor's overall psychosocial background, mental status and donation process should also be acquired.

Professor Manuel Rodríguez Gómez and the tuberous sclerosis complex paradigm / Professor Manuel Rodríguez Gómez e o paradigma da Esclerose Tuberosa

ABSTRACT The authors present an historical review of aspects of the life of Professor Manuel R. Gómez, a Spanish neuropediatrician, who graduated in Havana and is known internationally for his work while he was in charge of Pediatric Neurology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, USA. His main contribution was related to the tuberous sclerosis complex, demystifying the Vogt triad previously used as a diagnostic criterion, and he was considered the "father of the tuberous sclerosis complex " in the USA.

RESUMO Os autores apresentam uma revisão histórica sobre aspectos da vida do professor Manuel R. Gómez, neuropediatra espanhol, formado em Havana e conhecido internacionalmente pelo seu trabalho à frente do serviço de Neurologia Pediátrica da clínica Mayo em Rochester, EUA. Sua principal contribuição esteve relacionada com o complexo esclerose tuberosa desmitificando a tríade de Vogt até então usada como critério diagnóstico da doença, pelo que foi considerado o 'pai do complexo esclerose tuberosa' nos EUA.

Comparative Study on Personality Assessment Inventory and MMPI-2 Profiles of Groups with High and Low Depression and Suicide Ideation in Psychiatry Patients and Discriminant Variables of Depression and Suicide Ideation / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare psychological test profiles of psychiatric outpatients with high and low depression/suicide ideation and to identify predictor variables for depression/suicide ideation. METHODS: Component scores of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) were compared using t-tests. Discriminant analysis was conducted for predictor variables of depression/suicide ideation. RESULTS: Regarding PAI profiles, somatic complaints (SOM), anxiety (ANX), anxiety-related disorder (ARD), depression (DEP), paranoia (PAR), borderline features (BOR), antisocial features (ANT), mania (MAN) drug problems (DRG) scores were significantly elevated in high depression and high suicide ideation groups. Concerning MMPI-2 profiles, the scores of hypochondriasis (Hs), depression (D), hysteria (Hy), psychopathic deviate (Pd), paranoia (Pa), psychasthenia (Pt), schizophrenia (Sc), social introversion (Si) were significantly elevated in these same groups. The PAI and MMPI-2 profile shapes were remarkably similar between high depression and high suicide ideation groups. Therefore, in terms of psychological profile, depression and suicidal ideation seemed to reflect the same construct. However, in discriminant analysis, significant predictors for depression were found to be Pt and D Sc from MMPI-2, while those for suicide ideation were found to be Pa and Sc, suggest subtle differences. CONCLUSION: The superficial characteristics of depression and suicide ideation groups reflected by the psychological test profiles seemed similar, but the determining factors may differ. Thus, the psychological interventions for these two groups may have to follow different routes considering these subtle differences.

Psychological Characteristics of Elderly Visited to the Department of Psychiatry : Focused on the Cluster Analysis of The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze psychological characteristics of elderly patients. METHODS: The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) data of 110 elderly patients who visited the department of psychiatry was analyzed. We examined differences of MMPI-2 score according to sex and age. The elderly were classified into four clusters with similar characteristics. RESULTS: Depression, suicidal ideation, low motivation score was high in total sample. Depression, subjective depression, mental dullness, lassitude-malaise, psychasthenia, and fears score was higher among females than males. Through the cluster analysis, elderly were classified into four types of ‘high profile’, ‘1-2-7 profile’, ‘6-7-8-0 profile’, and ‘low profile’. CONCLUSION: The elderly patients who visited the department of psychiatry complain depression and helplessness. Females complained depression and anxiety more than males. Elderly were classified into four types of patients with high somatic complaints ‘high profile’, patients with high depression and helplessness ‘1-2-7 profile’, patients who were dissatisfied and could blame others ‘6-7-8-0 profile’, and patients who needed additional interview and projective test ‘low profile’.

Reliability and validity test of the Korean version of Noe's evaluation / 한국의학교육

PURPOSE: This study aims to demonstrate whether the functionalities between the widely used questionnaire in other countries and the Korean-translated version show similarity. Also, it intends to verify their reliability and validity. METHODS: The original questionnaire was first developed by professor Noe at the University of Minnesota with 29 items named as “mentoring functions” to identify the participants' psychological and career-development functions. Using the Korean-translated version of the original questionnaire, the study was conducted on total 288 Kyung Hee University medical students, ranging from the first-year students to the third-year students on December 2015. In order to investigate if the survey form could be applied to the Korean participants, exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted, using varimax rotation. Cronbach α statistics and the figures of standardized regression weights were analyzed respectively to indicate construct, convergent, and discriminant validities. RESULTS: The result of exploratory factor analysis shows there are a total of three functions, including the additional “friendship function” (Eigen value, 1.152; significant level if higher than 1.0) with its high emphasis. The result of confirmatory factor analysis also demonstrates the similarity (p=0.000). As the whole reliability scale of the three functions is significantly high (Cronbach α , 0.971), each reliability scales of the three functions are shown to be high (0.814-0.955) as well. CONCLUSION: The model, with its three functions, proved the significant statistics regarding the reliability and validity. According to this ground, the conclusion is that the adapted questionnaire used in this study could be applied to Korean medical students.

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory Characteristics of Parricide Offenders with Schizophrenia in Korea

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine the personality characteristics in parricide offenders, by using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) test, which is commonly used in clinical medicine. METHODS: A total of 73 parricide offenders with schizophrenia who were admitted to National Forensic Hospital in Gongju city between September 2014 and February 2015, and 104 comparison schizophrenia patients who had been admitted to Dankook University Hospital in Cheonan city the same hospital, completed the Korean version of the MMPI. RESULTS: The parricide offender group showed significantly higher on L, F, Hs, Hy and Pd than the comparison group. The result of the regression analysis indicated that Pd and Si significantly increased the odd ratio of the sexual offender group by 2.77 times and 0.32 times, respectively (p=0.029 and p=0.023). The offenders of parricide may have developed the following characteristics: hypochondriasis, hysteria and psychopathic deviate. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that the psychopatholgy in the offenders of parricide might be different, compared to the control group.

Avaliação da destreza manual em pessoas com síndrome de Down: comparação entre teste caixa e blocos, Minnesota e Jebsen-Taylor / Dexterity manual assessment in people with Down syndrome: comparing box test and blocks, Minnesota and Jebsen-Taylor

Poucos estudos discutem o uso de instrumentos de avaliação da destreza manual para pessoas com déficit intelectual como a Síndrome de Down (SD). Esta síndrome caracteriza-se por ser uma das deficiências intelectuais mais comuns, acompanhada de atraso global do desenvolvimento, incluindo as habilidades motoras. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a destreza motora em jovens com SD por meio da utilização de 3 diferentes testes e comparar os resultados obtidos de cada um deles na aplicação com essa população. Esta amostra foi composta por 10 crianças e jovens com SD, entre 9 e 13 anos, de ambos os sexos que frequentavam uma instituição especializada. Foram utilizados os testes de caixa e blocos (TCB), o Minnesota Dexterity Test e o Teste de Função Manual de Jebsen e Taylor (TFMJT). Observou-se correlação entre quase todas as tarefas propostas nos testes para os participantes. Todavia, houve maior dificuldade na aplicação do Minnesota, no qual o desempenho foi prejudicado pela dispersão durante sua realização. Conclui-se que a escolha do teste pode influenciar nos resultados obtidos, devendo, portanto, haver preocupação na busca dos melhores instrumentos para testar as habilidades de pessoas com déficits intelectuais. (AU)

Few studies have been reported on manual dexterity assessment for people with intellectual deficits, such as Down syndrome. This syndrome is characterized like the most common intellectual impairment accompanied by global developmental delay, including motor skills. The present study aimed to evaluate motor skills in young people with Down syndrome through the use of three different tests and compare the results of each application in this population. This sample consisted of 10 children and young people with SD, 9 to 13 years old, of both sexes, attending a specialized institution. The Test Box and Block (TBB), the Minnesota Desterity Test and the Test Manual Function Jebsen and Taylor were used. Correlation was found between almost all the tasks proposed to the participants in the tests. However, there was greater difficulty in the application of Minnesota, in which performance was hampered by scattering during its realization. We conclude that the choice of test might influence the results and should therefore be concern in search of the best instruments to test the abilities of people with intellectual deficits.(AU)

The Relationship between Cognitive Decline and Psychopathology in Patients with Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder

OBJECTIVE: The primary goals of the present study were to assess intellectual function in participants with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (BD) and to investigate the relationships between cognitive decline and the severity of each type of psychopathology. METHODS: The present study included 51 patients with schizophrenia and 42 with BD who were recruited from the psychiatry outpatient clinic of Jeju University Hospital between March 2011 and March 2014. The Korean Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (K-WAIS) was administered to each of the 93 participants, and they were categorized into two groups based on their current intelligence quotient (IQ) and their estimated premorbid IQ: severely impaired group (SIG) and mildly impaired group (MIG). The Minnesota Multiple Personality Inventory (MMPI) and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) were used to assess psychopathology. RESULTS: The SIG schizophrenia participants exhibited significantly higher scores on the frequent (F) and schizophrenia (Sc) subscales of the MMPI, but significantly lower scores on the correction (K) and psychopathic deviate (Pd) subscales compared with the MIG schizophrenia participants. Furthermore, the BPRS scores were significantly higher in the SIG schizophrenia participants relative to the MIG schizophrenia participants. The SIG BD participants had significantly higher F, masculinity-femininity (Mf), paranoia (Pa), and Sc but significantly lower Pd scores compared with the MIG BD participants. CONCLUSION: The present findings revealed a significant discrepancy between the estimated premorbid levels of cognitive function and current cognitive function in participants with schizophrenia or BD. Moreover, this discrepancy was correlated with severity of psychopathology in both groups.

Dr. LEE Jong-wook-Seoul Project - Successful Korean Version of Minnesota Project - Could Be a Model of Partner in the Field of Medicine

No abstract available.

Characteristics of Emotion and Personality in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients with Insomnia Symptoms: Analysis of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory

OBJECTIVES: Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) and insomnia are two of the most common sleep disorders in the general population. Because OSAHS patients with insomnia may have difficulty in adapting to the sleep breathing medical equipment, it is necessary to pay special attention to the diagnosis and treatment of comorbid insomnia. This study is to investigate the emotion and personality in OSAHS patients with insomnia complaints by using Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2). METHODS: We reviewed the results of the standardized questionnaires assessing sleep-related variables, MMPI, and polysomnographic findings of the patients diagnosed as OSAHS. RESULTS: 145 subjects were 49.05+/-11.83 years of age. The mean Respiratory Disturbance Index was 33.57+/-19.91 and the mean score of Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) was 11.52+/-6.49. The mean scores of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and MMPI-2 were within normal ranges. We divided the patients into two groups based on the scores of the ISI, OSAHS with insomnia (n=109) and OSAHS without insomnia (n=36). OSAHS patients with insomnia symptoms had significantly higher scores of hypochondriasis, hysteria, psychasthenia, schizophrenia, paranoia and psychopathic deviate scales and BDI than those without insomnia. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that insomnia complaints are very common in OSAHS patients and the psychological problems are more frequently found in OSAHS patients with insomnia symptom than those without it.

The Effects of Job Stress, Depression, and Psychological Happiness on Job Satisfaction of Office Workers / 한국간호교육학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to identify factors that predict job satisfaction in office workers. Participants were recruited from eight industries in B Ku in D city, and the research was carried out from February 10 until October 10, 2014. Job satisfaction was assessed using the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ). METHODS: Data was analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients and a stepwise multiple regression analysis with SPSS/WIN 18.0. There was a negative correlation between job satisfaction and job stress. RESULTS: Job stress (lack of reward, occupational climate, job demand, job insecurity) and psychological happiness were identified as determinants of job satisfaction, which explained 43.6% of the total variance of job satisfaction. CONCLUSION: The findings provide empirical evidence to help nurses prepare effective interventions related to the mental health promotion of office workers.

Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory as related factor for post traumatic stress disorder symptoms according to job stress level in experienced firefighters: 5-year study

OBJECTIVES: As first responders to an increasing number of natural and manmade disasters, active-duty firefighters are at increased risk for physical and psychiatric impairment as reflected by high rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Because little is known about related factor with PTSD according to job stress level among firefighters, we assessed utility of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) using 5-year medical surveillance. METHODS: Data were analyzed from 185 male firefighters without psychiatric disease history and who at assessments in 2006 and 2011 completed all questionnaires on personal behaviors (including exercise, drinking and smoking habits) and job history (including job duration and department). MMPI, Events Scale-Revised-Korean version (IES-R-K) and Korean Occupational Stress Scale-Short Form (KOSS-SF) were used to screen for personality trait, PTSD symptom presence and job stress level, respectively. IES-R-K subgroups were compared using two-sample t- and chi2 tests, and factors influencing IES-R-K according to KOSS-SF were determined using uni- and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Mean age and job duration were higher in PTSD-positive than negative groups. In multivariate analysis, increased PTSD risk was associated with: job duration (Odds ratio (OR) = 1.064, 95 % CI 1.012-1.118) for firefighters overall; masculinity-femininity (OR = 5.304, 95 % CI 1.191-23.624) and job duration (OR = 1.126, 95 % CI 1.003-1.265) for lower job stress level; and social introversion (OR = 3.727, 95 % CI 1.096-12.673) for higher job stress level. CONCLUSIONS: MMPI relates with PTSD according to job stress level among experienced firefighters. Masculinity-femininity and social introversion were the strongest related factor for PTSD symptom development in low and high job stress levels, respectively.

Discriminating Power of Dissociation in Patients with Psychological Trauma / 정신간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to identify the discriminating power of dissociation as defined by depression, obsession, and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory(MMPI; psychopathology) in patients with psychological trauma. METHODS: Participants were patients (N=114) from "S" clinic for psychological trauma. Data were collected from April to June 2014 through semi-structured interviews and self-reports using a modified Lifetime Incidence of Traumatic Events, Dissociative Experience Scale (DES), Beck Depression Inventory-2, Maudsley Obsessional Compulsive Inventory, and MMPI-2. RESULTS: Participants were grouped in to two groups depending on DES scores; dissociative (n=15) and non-dissociative (n=99). Depression, F-scale (infrequency), Ma (Hypomania), and Hs (Hypochondriasis) scale of MMPI correctly discriminated 86.8% of the sample. There were also significant differences in Obsession, K-scale (korrection), D (Depression), Hy (Hysteria), Pd (Psychopathic Deviate), Pa (Paranoia), Pt (Psychasthenia), Sc (Schizophrenia), Si (Social Introversion) scales of MMPI between two groups, but they were not significant discriminant factors. CONCLUSION: Future interventions for patients with high levels of dissociation and psychological trauma should focus on the prevention of suicide and chronic dissociation by assessing depression-related factors; suicidal behavior, impulsivity, aggression, and alexithymia. Therapists should also interpret patients' MMPI profiles carefully, especially in the presence of an extremely elevated F-scale.

Association of Leisure Time Physical Activity and Metabolic Syndrome over 40 Years / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between leisure time physical activities (LTPA) and metabolic syndrome (MS). METHODS: Five thousand seven hundred and thirty two adults 40 years old or older were enrolled in the study from April 2009 to December 2010. National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III was used for the criteria of MS, and Minnesota Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to measure LTPA. After adjusted covariates (age, hypertension, smoking, drinking, education level, household income level, work time physical activities, and menopause for females), the relationship between LTPA and MS was analyzed using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of MS was 22.8% in men, and 14.1% in women. Average LTPA was 1,498 kcal/wk in men, and 1,308 kcal/wk in women. After adjustment for covariates, the odds ratios of middle and low LTPA compared with high LTPA were 1.06 (0.87-1.34), 1.54 (1.08-1.75), for women, this same association was not seen in men. The prevalence of MS was 22.8% in men and 14.1% in women, and their LTPA burned 1,498 and 1,308 kcal/wk, respectively. When the odds ratio of MS for the high LTPA group was set at 1.0, the odds ratio of MS was 1.06 (0.87-1.34) in the middle LTPA group and 1.54 (1.08-1.75) in the low LTPA group in women, which showed that the MS risk increased when the LTPA was lower. This same association was not seen in men. CONCLUSION: LTPA was independently associated with metabolic syndrome, but only for women.

The Incidence of Acute Traumatic Tendon Injuries in the Hand and Wrist: A 10-Year Population-based Study

BACKGROUND: Acute traumatic tendon injuries of the hand and wrist are commonly encountered in the emergency department. Despite the frequency, few studies have examined the true incidence of acute traumatic tendon injuries in the hand and wrist or compared the incidences of both extensor and flexor tendon injuries. METHODS: We performed a retrospective population-based cohort study of all acute traumatic tendon injuries of the hand and wrist in a mixed urban and rural Midwest county in the United States between 2001-2010. A regional epidemiologic database and medical codes were used to identify index cases. Epidemiologic information including occupation, year of injury, mechanism of injury and the injured tendon and zone were recorded. RESULTS: During the 10-year study period there was an incidence rate of 33.2 injuries per 100,000 person-years. There was a decreasing rate of injury during the study period. Highest incidence of injury occurred at 20-29 years of age. There was significant association between injury rate and age, and males had a higher incidence than females. The majority of cases involved a single tendon, with extensor tendon injuries occurring more frequently than flexor tendons. Typically, extensor tendon injuries involved zone three of the index finger, while flexor tendons involved zone two of the index finger. Work-related injuries accounted for 24.9% of acute traumatic tendon injuries. The occupations of work-related injuries were assigned to major groups defined by the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification structure. After assigning these patients' occupations to respective major groups, the most common groups work-related injuries occurred in construction and extraction occupations (44.2%), food preparation and serving related occupations (14.4%), and transportation and material moving occupations (12.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Epidemiology data enhances our knowledge of injury patterns and may play a role in the prevention and treatment of future injuries, with an end result of reducing lost work time and economic burden.

Medical Residents' Job Satisfaction and Their Related Factors / 한국의학교육

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate medical residents' job satisfaction and their related factors to improve the quality of residency program. METHODS: The study subjects were 159 medical residents being trained at Chonnam National University Hospital, South Korea, in 2011. The participants were asked to complete a short form Minnesota satisfaction questionnaire (MSQ). RESULTS: The mean score for 20 items on the short form MSQ varied between 2.91 and 3.64 on a 5-point Likert scale. The assessment of related factors with job satisfaction revealed that medical residents had higher levels for job satisfaction, particularly those who were women (beta=0.200, p=0.022), and those who had mentorship experience (beta=0.219, p=0.008). CONCLUSION: This study results indicate that we should expand and support the mentorship program during medical residency to promote job satisfaction.

Dietary Sodium Intake and Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Stable Heart Failure

BACKGROUND: Dietary sodium restriction is an essential component of self-care behavior for improved health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with heart failure (HF). However, there is little direct evidence about the impact of dietary sodium restriction on HRQoL. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of dietary sodium intake on HRQoL in HF patients with no cardiac events over 1-year of follow-up. METHODS: A total of 106 patients with HF completed a 3-day food diary to estimate daily sodium intake. Patients were divided into 4 groups (4 g). The Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire was used to assess HRQoL at baseline and one year later. Hierarchical linear and logistic regressions were used to determine the relationship between dietary sodium intake and HRQoL. RESULTS: Thirty-seven (35%) patients had a daily sodium intake >3 g. Greater than 4 g of daily sodium intake was independently associated with a worse HRQoL at baseline and one year later (F=3.15, P=0.028; F=4.33, P=0.006) and an almost 5.2 times higher risk of a worsening HRQoL at one year follow-up (P=0.040) after controlling for age, gender, etiology, body mass index, New York Heart Association class, ejection fraction, total comorbidity score, and use of beta blockers. CONCLUSIONS: This finding provides additional evidence that greater than 4 g of daily sodium intake is associated with worsening HRQoL in stable HF patients who are free from cardiac events.

Dietary Sodium Intake and Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Stable Heart Failure

BACKGROUND: Dietary sodium restriction is an essential component of self-care behavior for improved health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with heart failure (HF). However, there is little direct evidence about the impact of dietary sodium restriction on HRQoL. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of dietary sodium intake on HRQoL in HF patients with no cardiac events over 1-year of follow-up. METHODS: A total of 106 patients with HF completed a 3-day food diary to estimate daily sodium intake. Patients were divided into 4 groups (4 g). The Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire was used to assess HRQoL at baseline and one year later. Hierarchical linear and logistic regressions were used to determine the relationship between dietary sodium intake and HRQoL. RESULTS: Thirty-seven (35%) patients had a daily sodium intake >3 g. Greater than 4 g of daily sodium intake was independently associated with a worse HRQoL at baseline and one year later (F=3.15, P=0.028; F=4.33, P=0.006) and an almost 5.2 times higher risk of a worsening HRQoL at one year follow-up (P=0.040) after controlling for age, gender, etiology, body mass index, New York Heart Association class, ejection fraction, total comorbidity score, and use of beta blockers. CONCLUSIONS: This finding provides additional evidence that greater than 4 g of daily sodium intake is associated with worsening HRQoL in stable HF patients who are free from cardiac events.

Dietary Sodium Intake and Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Stable Heart Failure

BACKGROUND: Dietary sodium restriction is an essential component of self-care behavior for improved health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with heart failure (HF). However, there is little direct evidence about the impact of dietary sodium restriction on HRQoL. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of dietary sodium intake on HRQoL in HF patients with no cardiac events over 1-year of follow-up. METHODS: A total of 106 patients with HF completed a 3-day food diary to estimate daily sodium intake. Patients were divided into 4 groups (4 g). The Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire was used to assess HRQoL at baseline and one year later. Hierarchical linear and logistic regressions were used to determine the relationship between dietary sodium intake and HRQoL. RESULTS: Thirty-seven (35%) patients had a daily sodium intake >3 g. Greater than 4 g of daily sodium intake was independently associated with a worse HRQoL at baseline and one year later (F=3.15, P=0.028; F=4.33, P=0.006) and an almost 5.2 times higher risk of a worsening HRQoL at one year follow-up (P=0.040) after controlling for age, gender, etiology, body mass index, New York Heart Association class, ejection fraction, total comorbidity score, and use of beta blockers. CONCLUSIONS: This finding provides additional evidence that greater than 4 g of daily sodium intake is associated with worsening HRQoL in stable HF patients who are free from cardiac events.

Analysis of reference interval and age-related changes in serum biochemistry and hematology in the specific pathogen free miniature pig / 한국실험동물학회지

We analyzed 72 items related to serum biochemistry and hematology in 85 specific pathogen-free (SPF) Seoul National University (SNU) miniature pigs aged 1- to 36-months which originated from a Minnesota miniature pig. Almost all examined items were similar between male and female pigs. However, some items such as Cr level, B/C ratio, C.R.F, LDH, LAP and T4 were significantly different between male and female pigs (P<0.05). Thirty four examined items showed age-related changes, and the significant changes were observed in animals less than six months old. The values for BUN, K, uric acid, Ca, Ca++, and Pi were significantly higher in pigs younger than six months of age, which might reflect poor kidney function in young pigs. Additionally, TIBC, UIBC and RDW were significantly higher in young pigs, and RBC, Hb, HCT, MCHC and MCV were significantly lower in young pigs, thus indicating a similar physiology of iron deficiency anemia. These age-related specific phenotypes seemed to be normal, but it should be considered in the long-term experiment using the young pigs. In conclusion, in this study, we defined the normal reference intervals for SPF SNU miniature pigs, and we also determined that there are some physiological differences between the pig genders and ages. This study provides fundamental data for use in experiments involving SPF SNU miniature pigs.