Fenfluramine is an amphetamine-derived substance first developed in the late 1960s for appetite control. Because of its known side effects at therapeutic doses, it is now controlled by the government and has been withdrawn from the market, but the underground market is still big. When over-dosed, it can produce a wide range of neurologic and cardiovascular symptoms, and even death, when a large amount is ingested. We report two cases of acute fenfluramine overdose: a fatal case with generalized seizure and pulseless electrical activity, and a case of relatively mild intoxication.
Appetite ; Fenfluramine* ; Seizures

No abstract available.
Appetite* ; Ghrelin* ; Growth Hormone*

No abstract available.
Appetite* ; Ghrelin* ; Growth Hormone*

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Cholecystokinin (CCK), a hormone or neuropeptide, is secreted in response to intraluminal nutrients by enteroendocrine I-cells of the intestine and has important physiological actions related to appetite regulation and satiety. The stimulation on CCK secretion from the intestine is of potential relevance for body weight management. Naringenin (4',5,7-trihydroxyflavanone) and its glycoside naringin (naringenin 7-rhamnoglucoside) have been reported to have many biological functions. In the current study, we investigated the question of whether naringenin and naringin could stimulate CCK secretion and then examined the mechanisms involved in CCK release. MATERIALS/METHODS: STC-1 cells were used as a model of enteroendocrine cells. CCK release and changes in intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) were measured after incubation of cells with naringenin and naringin for 1 h. RESULTS: Naringenin caused significant (P < 0.05) stimulation of CCK secretion, but naringin did not. In addition, regarding the secretory mechanisms, naringenin-induced CCK secretion involved increases in [Ca2+]i, influx of extracellular Ca2+, at least in part, and activation of TRP channels, including TRPA1. CONCLUSION: Findings of this study suggest that naringenin could have a role in appetite regulation and satiety.
Appetite ; Appetite Regulation ; Body Weight ; Cholecystokinin* ; Enteroendocrine Cells ; Intestines ; Neuropeptides

We present a case report indicating that the administration of phentermine, an appetite suppressant with sympathomimetic activity, can provoke an intracerebral hemorrhage. A 48-year-old woman with no previously established cerebrovascular risk fa ctors and who had taken phentermine for 30 days developed sudden-onset left hemiparesis. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed an acute intracerebral hemorrhage involving the right thalamus. This case indicates that physicians should be aware of the relevant cause of medication history including appetite suppressants in young patients with an acute intracerebral hemorrhage.
Appetite Depressants ; Appetite* ; Brain ; Cerebral Hemorrhage* ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Paresis ; Phentermine* ; Thalamus

This study was conducted to evaluate health consequences of phenol resin workers for 6 weeks from February 21, to March 28, 1986. The subject population was 26 in a factory with phenol resin and control group was 30 non-exposed workers who were working in the other factory. The biological parameters chosen for this study were phenol concentration in working room-air, total phenol level in urine and BUN of phenol resin workers. The phenol concentration in working room-air and total phenol in urine were significantly correlated (r=0.791, p<0.01). The frequency of symptom and sign in phenol resin workers were higher than control group. The frequent symptom and sign were coughing, weight loss, poor appetite, headache, dyspnea, eye irritation and tinnitus, in order. Total phenol in urine was not reversed to normal range in spite of interruption of exposure for 4 days. The BUN value in blood and total phenol in urine were not correlated.
Appetite ; Cough ; Dyspnea ; Headache ; Phenol* ; Reference Values ; Tinnitus ; Weight Loss

We review the effect of methylphenidate, focusing on Osmotic-controlled Release Oral delivery System (OROS) methylphenidate, on cardiovascular system, appetite and growth, sleep, tic, epilepsy, psychiatric and rare adverse events. Although OROS methylphenidate has side effects including increased heart rate or blood pressure, decreased appetite, delayed sleep onset, emergence or aggravation of tics, withdrawal or changes in mood, these effects appeared to be minimal in impact or difficult to distinguish from risk to untreated population and tended to be improved by dose adjustment or drug discontinuation. However, in subjects with underlying cardiac problems, uncontrolled epilepsy, previous psychotic episode, clinicians should pay attention and balance the risk and benefit.
Appetite ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular System ; Epilepsy ; Heart Rate ; Methylphenidate ; Tics

We review the effect of methylphenidate, focusing on Osmotic-controlled Release Oral delivery System (OROS) methylphenidate, on cardiovascular system, appetite and growth, sleep, tic, epilepsy, psychiatric and rare adverse events. Although OROS methylphenidate has side effects including increased heart rate or blood pressure, decreased appetite, delayed sleep onset, emergence or aggravation of tics, withdrawal or changes in mood, these effects appeared to be minimal in impact or difficult to distinguish from risk to untreated population and tended to be improved by dose adjustment or drug discontinuation. However, in subjects with underlying cardiac problems, uncontrolled epilepsy, previous psychotic episode, clinicians should pay attention and balance the risk and benefit.
Appetite ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular System ; Epilepsy ; Heart Rate ; Methylphenidate ; Tics

A 44-year-old man had been suffering from nausea, vomiting and watery diarrhea for 5 days and was then admitted to Dankook University Hospital. He had suffered from several episodes of mild symptoms, including abdominal distension, loss of appetite, easy satiety, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea throughout his lifetime, but most episodes had been ignored by him or physicians. An upper gastrointestinal series and a computed tomography scan revealed an intestinal malrotation with a volvulus. In order to untwist the small bowel in a counterclockwise direction to about 180 degrees, we had to perform not only a dissection of Ladd's band, but also a dissection of other adhesions between the mesocolon and the mesenteric vessel trunk. Surgical intervention needs to be performed for an old intestinal malrotation with any symptoms because the structural or morphological change proceeds as time passes, which is caused by fibrosis due to tension being repetitively applied to Ladd's band, leading to its contraction. Furthermore, a severe contraction may even lead to a fixed partial volvulus.
Adult* ; Appetite ; Diarrhea ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Intestinal Volvulus* ; Mesocolon ; Nausea ; Vomiting

BACKGROUNDS: Many Korean epidemiologic studies reported lower prevalence rates of depression than those of Western countries. For the low prevalence, it is explained that there's something wrong in the direct application of diagnostic criteria of depression to Korean culture, i.e. categorical fallacy, or it may be truly low-prevalent. We will analyze diagnostic criteria for depression defined by Western. METHODS: Six thousand and two hundred seventy-five community dwelling subjects, aged 18-64 years were interviewed by using Korean version of Composite International Diagnostic Interview (K-CIDI). Diagnostic criteria for depression defined by DSM-IV were analyzed using the item response theory. RESULTS: We could not find any fallacies of diagnostic criteria for depression defined by DSM-IV when assessing depre-ssion among Koreans. Fatigue, concentration difficulties, and sleep disturbance appeared more frequently in mild depression, while psychomotor change, death/suicide, and worthlessness/guilt did not appear until severe depression. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic criteria for depression defined by DSM-IV are appropriate for the Koreans. There are different responding levels, i.e. threshold, of depressive criteria according to severities of depression. Koreans with depression are more likely to complain of appetite change, but less of worthless or guilty feelings than Western people.
Appetite ; Depression* ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Fatigue ; Korea* ; Prevalence