Dilaton-Limit Fixed Point in Hidden Local Symmetric Parity Doublet Model

We study nucleon structure with positive and negative parities using a parity doublet model endowed with hidden local symmetry (HLS) with the objective to probe dense baryonic matter. The model -- that we shall refer to as "PDHLS model" for short -- allows a chiral-invariant mass of the nucleons unconnected to spontaneously broken chiral symmetry which comes out to be m_0 ~ 200 MeV at tree level from fitting to the decay width of the parity doubler, N(1535), to nucleon-pion and nucleon axial coupling g_A=1.267. The presence of a substantial m_0 that remains non-vanishing at chiral restoration presents a deep issue for the origin of the nucleon mass as well as will affect nontrivially the equation of state for dense baryonic matter relevant for compact stars. We construct a chiral perturbation theory at one-loop order and explore the phase structure of the model using renormalization group equations. We find a fixed point that corresponds exactly to the "dilaton limit" at which the HLS vector mesons decouple from the nucleons before reaching the vector manifestation fixed point. We suggest that cold baryonic system will flow to this limit as density increases toward that of chiral restoration.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figure

Triple layered compact star with strange quark matter

We explore the possibility of three phases in the core of neutron star in a form of triple layers. From the center, strange quark matter, kaon condensed nuclear matter and nuclear matter form a triple layer. We discuss how the phase of strange quark matter is smoothly connected to kaon condensed nuclear matter phase. We also demonstrate that the compact star with triple layered structure can be a model compatible with the 1.97-solar-mass object PSR J1614-2230 recently observed.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, to appear in the Proceedings of the Symposium on Cosmology and Particle Astrophysics (CosPA2011), October 28-31, 2011, Beijing, Chin

The Relationship Between Ambulatory Arterial Stiffness Index and Blood Pressure Variability in Hypertensive Patients

Background and Objectives: Ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI) is well known as a predictor of cardiovascular mortality in hypertensive patients. Mathematically, AASI reflect the standard deviation (SD) of blood pressure (BP) variation. AASI is measured higher levels in non-dipper than dipper. Thus, AASI has a possibility of not only reflecting arterial stiffness but also BP variability and/or autonomic nervous dysfunction. Subjects and Methods: Consecutive data from 418 untreated hypertensive patients were analyzed retrospectively. We examined the association between the 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) parameters and AASI. Results: AASI had a simple correlation with age (R=0.189, p<0.001), relative wall thickness (RWT) (R=0.115, p=0.019), left ventricular mass index (LVMI) (R=0.192, p<0.001), average systolic BP (SBP) (R=0.232, p<0.001), average pulse pressure (PP) (R=0.363, p<0.001), SD of diastolic BP (DBP) (R=-0.352,p<0.001), SD of PP (R=0.330, p<0.001), SD of heart rate (HR) (R=-0.268, p<0.001), and nocturnal dipping (R=-0.137, p=0.005). In multiple linear regression analysis model including clinical parameters and 24 hour-ABPM parameters, independent predictors of AASI were SD of PP (beta=1.246, p<0.001), SD of DBP (beta=-1.067, p<0.001), SD of SBP (beta=-0.197, p<0.001), and non-dipper (beta=0.054, p=0.033). Conclusion: AASI is closely correlated with BP variability. The result of this study shows that AASI is not only a parameter for arterial stiffness, but also a parameter for BP variability

Symmetry Energy and Universality classes of holographic QCD

We study nuclear symmetry energy of dense matter using holographic QCD. We calculate it in a various holographic QCD models and show that the scaling index of the symmetry energy in dense medium is almost invariant under the smooth deformation of the metric as well as the embedding shape of the probe brane. We find that the scaling index depends only on the dimensionality of the branes and space-time. Therefore the scaling index of the symmetry energy characterizes the universality classes of holographic QCD models. We suggest that the scaling index might be also related to the non-fermi liquid behavior of the interacting nucleons.Comment: 23 pages, 17 figure

Tinea Incognito in Korea and Its Risk Factors: Nine-Year Multicenter Survey

Tinea incognito (TI) is a dermatophytic infection which has lost its typical clinical appearance because of improper use of steroids or calcineurin inhibitors. The incidence of TI is increasing nowadays. We conducted retrospective review on 283patients with TI from 25 dermatology training hospitals in Korea from 2002–2010to investigate the demographical, clinical, and mycological characteristics of TI,and to determine the associated risk factors. More than half (59.3%) patients were previously treated by non-dermatologists or self-treated. The mean duration of TI was 15.0 ± 25.3 months. The most common clinical manifestations were eczemalike lesion, psoriasis-like, and lupus erythematosus-like lesion. The trunk and face were frequently involved, and 91 patients (32.2%) also had coexisting fungal infections. Among 67 isolated strains, Trichophyton rubrum was the most frequently detected (73.1%). This is the largest study of TI reported to date and the first investigational report concerning TI in Korea. We suggest that doctors should consider TI when a patient has intractable eczema-like lesions accompanied by tinea pedis/unguium. Furthermore, there should be a policy change, which would make over-the-counter high-potency topical steroids less accessible in some countries, including Korea

Quality Assessment of Randomized Controlled Trials Published in the Korean Journal of Urology Over the Past 20 Years

PURPOSE: Because low-quality trials may lead to erroneous conclusions, quality assessments are necessary. Thus, in this study, we scrutinized randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in the Korean Journal of Urology (KJU) to assess their quantity and quality. 0aMATERIALS AND METHODS: Upon extracting RCTs from all articles published in the KJU from 1991 to 2010, assessments were made on the basis of the Jadad scale and the adequacy of allocation concealment. The selections and assessments were performed independently by two researchers, and adjustment of the differences was done by a third-party researcher. In addition, the factors that may affect quality were analyzed. 0aRESULTS: A total of 3,516 original articles were searched and 28 RCTs were extracted. In the 1990s, RCTs constituted only 0.27% of the total original articles, but in the 2000s, RCTs constituted 1.34%. The mean total Jadad score increased from 1.6 points in the 1990s to 1.65 points in the 2000s. However, the percentage of "good quality" trials also increased from 20% to 30.43%. As for adequate allocation concealment, one study was observed in the 2000s. The aspect most lacking was appropriate dropout and double-blinding. Studies with medical interventions or funded or examined by institutional review boards tended to receive higher quality assessments. 0aCONCLUSIONS: Although RCTs consistently increased in both quantity and quality, in future studies, researchers should continue to strive toward achieving adequate allocation concealment and appropriate double-blinding. In addition, researchers must become more interested in receiving external funding and undergoing examination by institutional review boards

Skills in Handling Turbuhaler, Diskus, and Pressurized Metered-Dose Inhaler in Korean Asthmatic Patients

Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate skills in handling inhalers and factors associated with these skills among patients with asthma who had undergone treatment at special asthma and allergy clinics in Korea. Methods: We enrolled 78 subjects who used Turbuhaler and 145 who used Diskus for asthma control at special clinics in 10 university hospitals and visually assessed their skills in handling these inhalers. We also evaluated skills in 137 subjects who had used pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs) for symptom relief. Age, sex, duration of asthma and inhaler use, smoking status, monthly income, highest grade completed in school and previous instruction for handling inhalers were also measured to evaluate their association with overall inhaler skills. Results: Performance grade was inadequate for 12.8% of participants using Turbuhaler, 6.2% for Diskus, and 23.4% for pMDIs. The success rates for each step in handling the inhalers were relatively high except for the "exhale slowly to residual volume" step, in which success rates ranged from 24.2% to 28.5%. Older age, male sex, lower educational grade, and absence of previous instruction for handling inhalers were associated with inadequate inhaler technique in univariate analysis; however, only older age and absence of previous instruction remained significant independent risk factors in multivariate analysis. Conclusions: Among Korean asthmatic patients in special asthma and allergy clinics, skills in handling their inhalers were mostly excellent; meanwhile, older age and absence of previous instruction for handling inhalers were associated with inadequate techniques

The Association between Symptoms of Autonomic Neuropathy and the Heart Rate Variability in Diabetics

Background: There are few tools to detect the diabetic autonomic neuropathy at an earlier stage. This study was conducted to investigate the association between symptoms of autonomic neuropathy and the heart rate variability (HRV) in diabetics.Methods: Study subjects consisted of 50 diabetic patients and 30 outpatient hospital control patients at a university family medicine department. The patients completed a Korean version of composite autonomic symptom scale (COMPASS).Electrocardiography was recorded in the supine position, on standing, and during deep breathing, for 5 minutes each.HRV of frequency domain was calculated by power spectral analysis.Results: The COMPASS score was higher in female diabetic patients compared with that in controls. Among 50 diabetic patients, the total COMPASS score correlated positively with normalized low frequency (LF) score (normalized units, n.u.)(r = 0.62, P ??? 0 .001) and low frequency/high frequency (LF/HF) (r = 0.77, P ??? 0.001), negatively with normalized HF score (n.u.) (r = -0.59, P ??? 0.001) and RMSSD (square root of the mean of the sum of the square of differences between adjacent NN interval; r = -0.33, P = 0.031). The decrease in LF (n.u) and the increase in HF (n.u) by deep breathing from the supine position were higher in diabetic patients compared with those in controls. The increase in LF (n.u) and the decrease in HF (n.u) by standing from the supine position were lower in diabetic patients compared with those in controls.Conclusion: The COMPASS score correlated with some component score of the HRV in diabetics. The HRV may be used as a tool to detect diabetic autonomic neuropathy by augmentation with position change

Type 2 Myocardial Infarction Following Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizure

Myocardial infarction is diagnosed when blood levels of biomarkers are increased in the clinical setting of acute myocardial ischemia. Among the biomarkers, troponin I is the preferred biomarker indicative of myocardial necrosis. It is tissue specific for the heart. Myocardial infarction is rarely reported following seizure. We report a case of elevated troponin I in a patient after an episode of generalized tonic-clonic seizure. The diagnosis was type 2 myocardial infarction

Evaluation of the Chondromalacia Patella Using a Microscopy Coil: Comparison of the Two-Dimensional Fast Spin Echo Techniques and the Three-Dimensional Fast Field Echo Techniques

Objective: We wanted to compare the two-dimensional (2D) fast spin echo (FSE) techniques and the three-dimensional (3D) fast fi eld echo techniques for the evaluation of the chondromalacia patella using a microscopy coil.Materials and Methods: Twenty five patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty were included in this study. Preoperative MRI evaluation of the patella was performed using a microscopy coil (47 mm). The proton density-weighted fast spin echo images (PD), the fat-suppressed PD images (FS-PD), the intermediate weighted-fat suppressed fast spin echo images (iw-FS-FSE), the 3D balanced-fast fi eld echo images (B-FFE), the 3D water selective cartilage scan (WATS-c) and the 3D water selective fl uid scan (WATS-f) were obtained on a 1.5T MRI scanner. The patellar cartilage was evaluated in nine areas: the superior, middle and the inferior portions that were subdivided into the medial, central and lateral facets in a total of 215 areas. Employing the Noyes grading system, the MRI grade 0-I, II and III lesions were compared using the gross and microscopic fi ndings. The sensitivity, specifi city and accuracy were evaluated for each sequence. The signifi cance of the differences for the individual sequences was calculated using the McNemar test.Results: The gross and microscopic findings demonstrated 167 grade 0-I lesions, 40 grade II lesions and eight grade III lesions. Iw-FS-FSE had the highest accuracy (sensitivity/specificity/accuracy = 88%/98%/96%), followed by FSPD (78%/98%/93%, respectively), PD (76%/98%/93%, respectively), B-FFE (71%/100%/93%, respectively), WATS-c (67%/100%/92%, respectively) and WATS-f (58%/99%/89%, respectively). There were statistically signifi cant differences for the iw-FS-FSE and WATS-f and for the PD-FS and WATS-f (p < 0.01).Conclusion: The iw-FS-FSE images obtained with a microscopy coil show best diagnostic performance among the 2D and 3D GRE images for evaluating the chondromalacia patella