OBJECTIVES: Mild cognitive impairment(MCI) and dementia of Alzheimer's type(AD) are characterized by progressive decline of cognitive abilities and a wide range of neuropsychiatric symptoms like depression. Among various diagnostic tools of AD, many studies showed that elevated levels of serum total homocysteine are associated with increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders. We investigated whether elevated homocysteine concentrations are associated with depressive symptoms in MCI and AD. METHODS: A total of 86 patients diagnosed with MCI or AD participated. Total serum homocysteine levels in fasting blood samples were measured. We examined cognitive symptoms by MMSE-KC, Global Deterioration Scale(GDS), Clinical dementia rating(CDR) and depressive symptoms by Korean version of Geriatric Depression Scale(K-GDS). RESULTS: The total serum homocysteine levels were significantly higher in MCI with depression than in MCI without depression. There was no significant difference in the mean homocysteine levels between AD patients with depression and AD patients without depression. The total homocysteine levels showed a negative correlation with MMSE-KC and a positive correlation with CDR, GDS. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that elevated homocysteine level is a risk factor for the decline of cognitive function and depression. We found a significant relationship between elevated serum homocysteine level and depressive symptoms in MCI. But our study had several limitations, thus more research is needed to confirm this finding.
Alzheimer Disease ; Dementia* ; Depression* ; Fasting ; Homocysteine* ; Humans ; Mild Cognitive Impairment* ; Neurobehavioral Manifestations ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the prevalence and composite score of the neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with mild cognitive impairment(MCI), and dementia of Alzheimer's type(AD). The aim of this study is to analyze the correlation between the result of Korean Neuropsychiatric Inventory(K-NPI) and cognitive function. METHODS: A total of 163 patients diagnosed with MCI or AD was divided into three groups(55 MCI patients, 56 dementia patients with mild stage, and 52 dementia patients with moderate, severe stage). We examined neuropsychiatric symptoms by K-NPI and compared the prevalence and composite score of each subdomain in K-NPI among three groups. RESULTS: The most common symptoms in the MCI group were depression/dysphoria, sleep/night-time behavior, anxiety, and irritability/lability. In mild AD group, the most frequent disturbance was agitation/aggression, depression/dysphoria, anxiety, apathy/indifference, and sleep/night-time behavior. In moderate to severe AD group, the most frequent disturbance was apathy/indifference, depression/dysphoria, agitation/aggression, and delusion. The frequencies of delusion, hallucination, agitation/aggression, apathy/indifference, aberrant motor behavior, appetite/eating change were statistically significant. The total NPI score showed a negative correlation with MMSE-KC and a positive correlation with GDS. CONCLUSIONS: Neuropsychiatric symptoms are common features of MCI and AD. These symptoms observed in MCI are similar to those of mild AD. Psychosis is most common in moderate to severe AD, leading to a faster rate of cognitive decline. Therefore, proper management according to the neuropsychiatric symptoms of MCI and three stages of dementia is needed.
Anxiety ; Delusions ; Dementia ; Hallucinations ; Humans ; Mild Cognitive Impairment ; Prevalence ; Psychotic Disorders

No abstract available.
Mycobacterium* ; Skin*

No abstract available.
Clonorchiasis* ; Clonorchis sinensis

No abstract available.
Hamartoma*

No abstract available.
Pemphigus

No abstract available.
Humans ; Papilloma* ; Warts*

BACKGROUND: Famciclovir and valacyclovir are antiviral agents commonly used to treat herpes zoster. These medications not only reduce the time to complete cessation of zoster-associated pain, but also aid in the healing of the herpes zoster skin lesions. However, only few studies have compared these antiviral agents. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a randomized clinical trial to evaluate the extent of pain relief and wound healing, and the rate of postherpetic neuralgia associated with these drugs during 4 weeks of treatment. METHODS: The study included 69 immunocompetent adult inpatients diagnosed with herpes zoster randomly divided into 2 groups based on the antiviral agent administered. Patient age, date of visit from rash onset, and rash severity at baseline were recorded. Famciclovir or valacyclovir were administered orally for 7 days. Patients reported pain levels through a visual analog scale (VAS) score, and pain durations were assessed on days 1, 3, and 7, and at weeks 2, 3, and 4. Crust formation and reepithelialization times of skin lesions were also recorded. RESULTS: VAS scores, pain durations, ratios of patients undergoing postherpetic neuralgia, and skin lesion healing rates did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. However, rash severity independently correlated with the extent of pain experienced. CONCLUSION: Famciclovir and valacyclovir are comparable to each other in resolving zoster-associated pain, postherpetic neuralgia, and zoster wound healing. Early antiviral treatment before expansion of the skin lesion would be helpful for rapid relief of herpes zoster pain.
Adult* ; Antiviral Agents ; Exanthema ; Herpes Zoster* ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic ; Skin ; Visual Analog Scale ; Wound Healing

BACKGROUND: Although several traditional treatments have been applied for recalcitrant viral warts, these treatments have rarely resulted in complete recovery. To treat the recalcitrant viral wart, alternative therapies are required. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of quadrivalent HPV vaccine for recalcitrant wart treatment. METHODS: From 2012 to 2014, 17 patients who provided informed consent were enrolled. All patients received 3 doses of quadrivalent HPV vaccine at 0, 2, and 6 months, respectively. During clinic visits, doctors checked the grade of improvement, patient satisfaction, and treatment side effects. After completion of the 3 doses, the patients were followed up for 5 months with outpatient visits and telephone inquiries. RESULTS: After the third dose, 58.8% of patients showed complete remission and 41.2% showed no response after 5 months. There were no statistically significant differences in sex, age, disease duration, number, anatomic site, and previous treatment between the complete remission group and the no-response group. An adverse effect (syncope) was observed in one patient. CONCLUSION: Compared with traditional aggressive therapies, quadrivalent HPV vaccine is a simple method and does not usually interfere with the patient's work or social life. Quadrivalent HPV vaccine is an effective and safe alternative treatment for recalcitrant warts.
Ambulatory Care ; Clinical Study* ; Complementary Therapies ; Humans* ; Informed Consent ; Methods ; Outpatients ; Papillomaviridae* ; Patient Satisfaction ; Telephone ; Warts*

Eccrine syringofibroadenoma (ESFA) is a rare, benign adnexal neoplasm of eccrine differentiation. It is typically located on the limbs and presents as a plaque or a solitary hyperkeratotic nodule in an adult. However, there are several clinical subtypes, ranging from a solitary papule or nodule to multiple lesions with linear or diffuse distribution. Despite the diverse clinical presentation, ESFA is histologically similar. It commonly shows proliferation of anastomosing cords and strands of cuboidal epithelial cells with or without lumina embedded in a fibrovascular stroma. Herein, we report an unusual case of ESFA with verrucous surfaced plaque present on the scalp since birth in a 22-year-old man.
Adult ; Epithelial Cells ; Extremities ; Humans ; Nevus* ; Parturition ; Scalp ; Young Adult