The debate about whether depressive disorders should be divided into categories or arrayed along a continuum has gone for decade, without resolution. In our review, there is more evidence consistent with the spectrum concept than there is with the idea that depressive disorders constitute discrete clusters marked by relatively discontinuous boundaries. First, "depression spectrum", "is there a common genetic factors in bipolar and unipolar affective disorder", "threshold model of depression" and "bipolar spectrum disorder" are reviewed. And, a new subtype of depression is so called SeCA depression that is a stressor-precipitated, cortisol-induced, serotonin-related, anxiety/aggression-driven depression. SeCA depression is discussed. But, there is with the idea that depressive disorders constitute discrete subtypes marked by relatively discontinuous boundaries. This subtypes of depressive disorder were reviewed from a variety of theoretical frames of reference. The following issues are discussed ; Dexamethasone suppression test(DST), TRH stimulation test, MHPG, Temperament Character Inventory(TCI), and heart rate variability(HRV).
Depression* ; Depressive Disorder ; Dexamethasone ; Heart Rate ; Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol ; Temperament

If peptic ulcer perforates in the presence of shock or concurrent medical disease or delay of operation, the postoperative morbidity and mortality are high. Years ago most discussion was on whether urgent definite surgery was the most effect therapy, nowadays there is a tendency to less invasive measures in risk situation. Although the simple closure or omental patching has its weak point of high frequency of symptomatic relapse, it is a simple and safe method with the advantage of having a low complication rate than other definite operations. So many surgeons frequently use this simple method in high risk situation. But in the rare instance of large perforation of prepyloric ulcer, this simple closure method is not safe to apply. The authors experienced an unusual case of large prepyloric ulcer perforation in an 80 year old female who had undergone a previous operation(choledocho-duodenostomy). Moreover she had suffered from several concurrent medical diseases and the operation was delayed. We succeeded in repairing the perforation using controlled gastrostomy and omental patching method, and present this case with a review of the literature.
Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Gastrostomy* ; Humans ; Mortality ; Peptic Ulcer Perforation* ; Peptic Ulcer* ; Recurrence ; Shock ; Ulcer

One author's name is misspelled. Correct Seungho Rhu into Seungho Ryu.

This study was designed to evaluated the effects of opioid receptor agonists on the spontaneous alternation behaviour in an animal model of obsessive-compulsive disorder in rats. According to the theory that dopamine is related to the biological etiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder, the effect of the nalbuphine(opioid kappa agonist) and the tramadol(opioid mu agonist), which act as manipulating agents on the inhibition or stimulation of dopamine release, in the spontaneous alternation behaviour were evaluated. 24 hours prior to the experiment, rats were food-deprived. These rats were put into the T-maze, in which white and black goal boxes were baited with small amounts of chocolate milk. Each rat was given 2 set of 7 trials during which it was placed in the start box and allowed to choose the one of the goal boxes for each time. After identifying the stable baseline of spontaneous alternation behaviour, nonselective 5-HT agonist 5-MeODMT(1.25mg/kg/IP) disrupted spontaneous alternation. Rats were stratified into fluoxetine(10mg/kg/IP), nalbuphine(10mg/kg/IP), tramadol(46.4mg/kg/IP), and saline(0.5cc/IP) injection group with experimental drug treatment for 21 days. The effects on the 5-M?DMT(1.25mg/kg/IP) induced disruption of spontaneous alternation behaviour were checked at the next day of discontinuation of drug treatment. The results were as follows : 1) At the day after 21 days of the drug treatment, the nalbuphine treated group and the fluoxetine treated group showed significant difference from the tramadol treated group and the saline treated group in the 5-MeODMT(1.25mg/kg/IP) induced suppression of spontaneous alternation behaviour. 2) Within each drug treatment group, the fluoxetine treated group showed significant difference between before and after the treatment of fluoxetine in the 5-MeODMT(1.25mg/kg/IP) induced suppression of spontaneous alternation behaviour. And also, the nalbuphine treated group showed significant difference between before and after the treatment of nalbuphine in the 5-MeODMT(1.25mg/kg/IP) induced suppression of spontaneous alternation behaviour. There was no difference between the baseline and after the treatment of nalbuphine in the 5-MeODMT(1.25mg/kg/IP) induced suppression of spontaneous alternation behaviour. We indentified that the opioid kappa agonist that act as dopamine release inhibitor affect the spontaneous alternation behaviour which is an animal model of obsessive-compulsive disorder in rat.
Animals ; Cacao ; Dopamine ; Fluoxetine ; Milk ; Models, Animal ; Nalbuphine ; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder ; Rats* ; Receptors, Opioid ; Serotonin Receptor Agonists ; Tramadol

Primary synovial sarcoma of the thyroid is an extremely rare condition which has only been reported twice in the literature. We herein report a case of highly aggressive and rapidly lethal primary synovial sarcoma of the thyroid. A 72-year-old woman presented with extensive local invasion, rapid progression, and early distant metastasis secondary to primary thyroid synovial sarcoma. The tumor exhibited an atypical histologic and immunohistochemical staining pattern. Detection of SYT/SSX fusion transcript confirmed the diagnosis of synovial sarcoma. Due to the aggressive nature of primary synovial sarcoma of the thyroid gland, early diagnosis and comprehensive treatment including wide resection and postoperative chemoradiation is required.
Aged ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Sarcoma, Synovial ; Thyroid Gland

OBJECTIVE: As the geriatric admission and geropsychiatric consultation increase, more study was needed about geropsychiatric consultation. This comparative study investigates the character of geropsychiatric consultation in general hospital. METHOD: We compared 22 young patients (25(age<45) with 55 elderly patients ((65) who are consulted to neuropsychiatry department for the first time for 3 months (2004. 1. 1-2004. 3. 31) in Kang-Dong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University. Data on patterns of consultation, demography, psychiatric and physical illness were collected and analyzed. RESULT: 1) The rate of psychiatric consultations for elderly patients was 6.2%, and this rate was much higher than 1.9% of young patients. 2) There were no significant difference in referral department between the elderly group and the control group, and internal medicine was the most common referral department in both groups. 3) The main reasons of consultations were alcohol related problems and psychiatric follow up in order in control group, but sleep disturbance and disorientation in order in elderly group. 4) In elderly group, the most frequent psychiatric diagnoses made by consultants were organic brain disorder such as dementia and delirium, but in control group, they were functional psychiatric disorder such as alcohol related disorder and psychosis. 5) Psychotropic drug and follow-up consultation were two most frequent recommendations from consultants in both group. But recommendations for psychotherapy and psychosocial management were rare in both groups. 6) There were significant difference only in psychiatric transfer among compliance for psychiatric consultation between the elderly group and the control group. Compliance for recommendations were low in both groups. 7) In both group, only one follow up consultation was done. And OPD follow up after discharge was rare in both groups. CONCLUSION: Elderly patients need more psychiatric consultations than younger patients and has different characteristics in pattern of consultations. Further studies are warranted on geropsychiatric consultation in Korea.
Aged* ; Brain Diseases ; Compliance ; Consultants ; Delirium ; Dementia ; Demography ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Internal Medicine ; Korea ; Neuropsychiatry ; Psychotherapy ; Psychotic Disorders ; Referral and Consultation

BACKGROUND: The causes of eosinophilia are allergies, parasite infections, medications, skin diseases, and others. But, the etiologies of eosinophilia and variables associated with eosinophilia are not well known in Korea. METHODS: This study included patients in a health check up at a general hospital from May 21, 1995 until February 14, 2004. Through self-report, serology, and stool exam, variables associated with eosinophilia were tested. RESULTS: In the eosinophilic group, 5% were helminth infected, and more of C. sinensis infection were found the eosinophilic group with 3.9% compared to the non-eosinophilic group with 1.2% (P<0.05) Associated variables with eosinophilia were old age, high BMI, drinking, smoking, the season of testing helminth infections, and Clonorchiasis infection. But allergy was not associated with eosinophilia. The odds ratios for eosinophilia after adjustment were 2.280 (1.694~3.068) in helminth infections and 2.391 (1.716~3.331) in Clonorchiasis infection. CONCLUSION: In the eosinophilic group, 5% were helminth infected, and more C. sinensis infection were found. Associated variables with eosinophilia were old age, high BMI, drinking, smoking, the season of testing, helminth infections, and Clonorchisis infection. But allergy was not associated with eosinophilia.
Academic Medical Centers* ; Clonorchiasis ; Drinking ; Eosinophilia* ; Eosinophils ; Helminths ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Korea ; Odds Ratio ; Parasites ; Seasons ; Skin Diseases ; Smoke ; Smoking

PURPOSE: To analyze the clinical and radiological outcomes of total hip replacement arthroplasty (THRA) for the treatment of femur neck fractures in the elderly. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Femur neck fracture patients older than70 years of age, who showed good preoperative walking ability without dementia,and underwent THRA between February, 2008 and March, 2010 were reviewed retrospectively. Twelve patients(13 hips) were enrolled and the mean ages of the patients were 79.4(70-91). The mean follow-up period was 31(20-49) months. The modified Koval index was used to determine the clinical outcome. Inclination and anteversion of acetabular cup, loosening, osteolysis, periprosthetic fractures and dislocations were evaluated using the radiographs. RESULTS: The modified Koval index decreased from 4.92 to 4.84 at the final follow-up, but the decrease was not significant (P=0.339). Dislocations occurred in 2 cases postoperatively(2/13, 15.4%). No other complications were encountered. CONCLUSION: The THRA for the treatment of femur neck fractures in elderly patients over 70 years of age showed satisfactory clinical and radiological outcomes. Nevertheless, caution should be taken regarding the relatively high incidence of postoperative dislocations.
Aged* ; Arthroplasty* ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip* ; Dislocations ; Femoral Neck Fractures* ; Femur Neck* ; Femur* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Osteolysis ; Periprosthetic Fractures ; Retrospective Studies ; Walking

Pyoderma gangrenosum is uncommon neutrophilic dermatosis characterized by richness of the mature neutrophilic polynuclear dermal infiltrate. Pyoderma gangrenosum is associated with variable diseases, most commonly inflammatory bowel disease, hematological diseases, malignancies, but it is reported rarely in rheumatoid arthritis. We report a case of pyoderma gangrenosum in rheumoid arthritis patient. A 50-year-old woman admitted to our hospital due to painful pretibial ulcerative skin lesions. She had been treated as rheumatoid arthritis for 8 years. At admission, body temperature was 36.5degrees C and other vital sign was unremarkable. Physical examination revealed right pretibial ulceration, multiple pustules on left pretibial area and both palms. Laboratory studies revealed WBC count 7,600/uL (neutrophils 60.3%, eosinophil 3.2%), hemoglobin 11.4 g/dL, platelet count 319,000/uL, ESR 65 mm/hour. Other lab findings were also unremarkable. Skin biopsy was done, which showed dense dermal infiltrate of neutrophils and wound culture were negative. By 8 weeks after systemic high dose corticosteroid (1 mg/kg/day), cyclosporine A (5 mg/kg/day), sulfasalazine 2 g therapy, symptoms and skin ulceration were being improved. Without skin relapse, she is followed up our hospital with low dose corticosteroid and sulfasalazine.
Arthritis* ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Biopsy ; Body Temperature ; Cyclosporine ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Hematologic Diseases ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Middle Aged ; Neutrophils ; Physical Examination ; Platelet Count ; Pyoderma Gangrenosum* ; Pyoderma* ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Skin Ulcer ; Sulfasalazine ; Ulcer ; Vital Signs ; Wounds and Injuries

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the study are to investigate the incidence and characteristics of nasal obstruction and their association with the types and direction of external deviation among patients with a deviated nose. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-eight patients with a deviated nose without mucosal diseases in the nose from January 2004 to July 2005 were retrospectively reviewed. The overall incidences of nasal obstruction were assessed. Incidences of nasal obstruction by the types and direction of deviation in the external nose and by the direction of the septal deviation were also assessed. RESULTS: Seventy-two patients (81.8%) were found to suffer from various degrees of nasal obstruction. Left sided obstruction was more dominant irrespective of the direction of external nose. There was no relationship between the dominant sides of nasal obstruction and the type and the direction of the deviation of external nose. Among patients with a linear shaped deviated nose, the septum tends to deviate to the opposite side of the direction of the external nose. CONCLUSION: Nasal obstruction is commonly found among patients with a deviated nose. But not all patients suffer from nasal obstruction. To attain good aesthetic and functional results, a rhinoplastic surgeon should pay particular attention to this common findings among patients with deviated nose.
Humans ; Incidence ; Nasal Obstruction* ; Nose* ; Retrospective Studies