Objectives: Recently, weight loss has emerged as a national concern in South Korea, and this has resulted in an increase in the frequency of use of central nervous system (CNS)-stimulating appetite suppressants. This study aimed to collect cases of psychotic disorders and bipolar disorders triggered by phentermine and phendimetrazine and explore the clinical features and courses. Methods: In this retrospective study, we analyzed the electronic medical records of patients and selected eight patients who developed psychotic symptoms and manic symptoms for the first time after taking phentermine and phendimetrazine. All cases were reviewed, and their clinical features and course were summarized. Results: All eight patients developed psychotic symptoms, and one had accompanying manic symptoms. The final diagnosis was appetite-suppressant-induced psychotic disorder in four patients, schizophrenia in three, and appetite-suppressant-induced bipolar disorder in one. In addition, three patients were diagnosed as having substance-use disorder. The key psychotic symptoms of these patients were hallucinations and paranoia. Conclusions These case findings suggest that phentermine and phendimetrazine can cause psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, or substance use disorder and that medical professionals and the public should practice caution when prescribing and using these drugs.

We induced percutaneous spinal cord injuries (SCI) using a balloon catheter in 45 rats and transplanted human umbilical cord blood derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCB-MSCs) at the injury site. Locomotor function was significantly improved in hUCB-MSCs transplanted groups. Quantitative ELISA of extract from entire injured spinal cord showed increased expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF) and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3). Our results show that treatment of SCI with hUCB-MSCs can improve locomotor functions, and suggest that increased levels of BDNF, NGF and NT-3 in the injured spinal cord were the main therapeutic effect.
Animals ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/*genetics ; *Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Locomotion ; Nerve Growth Factor/genetics ; Rats ; Spinal Cord Injuries/*therapy

AIM: To investigate the cytotoxicity, anti-inflammatory activity, and action mechanism of root bark extracts of Acanthopanax henryi. METHOD: The hot methanol extract of the root bark of A. henryi was subjected to XAD-4 column chromatography eluting with a gradient of methanol in water. The cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory effects of the MeOH fractions were evaluated on the inhibition on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6 production in RAW 264.7 macrophages. RESULTS: The 80% MeOH fraction was a better inhibitor of LPS-induced NO, PGE2, IL-1β, and IL-6 production, and expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) at the protein levels in a concentration-dependent manner. CONCLUSION The 80% MeOH fraction of A. henryi root bark has significant anti-inflammatory activity. This provides a pharmacological basis for clinical application for the treatment of inflammation.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Dinoprostone ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Eleutherococcus ; Inflammation ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Mice ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Bark ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Plant Roots

The use of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells for cell transplantation therapy holds great promise for repairing spinal cord injury. Here we report the first clinical trial transplantation of human umbilical cord (hUCB)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into the spinal cord of a dog suspected to have fibrocartilaginous embolic myelopathy (FCEM) and that experienced a loss of deep pain sensation. Locomotor functions improved following transplantation in a dog. Based on our findings, we suggest that transplantation of hUCB-derived MSCs will have beneficial therapeutic effects on FCEM patients lacking deep pain sensation.
Animals ; Cartilage Diseases/etiology/therapy/*veterinary ; *Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation/veterinary ; Dog Diseases/etiology/*therapy ; Dogs ; Embolism/etiology/therapy/*veterinary ; Female ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells/cytology/*metabolism ; Spinal Cord Diseases/etiology/therapy/*veterinary ; Treatment Outcome

Here, percutaneous spinal cord injury (SCI) methods using a balloon catheter in adult rats are described. A balloon catheter was inserted into the epidural space through the lumbosacral junction and then inflated between T9-T10 for 10min under fluoroscopic guidance. Animals were divided into three groups with respect to inflation volume: 20 microL (n = 18), 50 microL (n = 18) and control (Fogarty catheter inserted but not inflated; n = 10). Neurological assessments were then made based on BBB score, magnetic resonance imaging and histopathology. Both inflation volumes produced complete paralysis. Gradual recovery of motor function occurred when 20 microL was used, but not after 50 microL was applied. In the 50 microL group, all gray and white matter was lost from the center of the lesion. In addition, supramaximal damage was noted, which likely prevented spontaneous recovery. This percutaneous spinal cord compression injury model is simple, rapid with high reproducibility and the potential to serve as a useful tool for investigation of pathophysiology and possible protective treatments of SCI in vivo.
Animals ; Balloon Embolectomy/*methods ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord Compression/*therapy

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to develop Treatment Guidelines for Alcohol Use Disorder-the Korean Addiction Treatment Guidelines-using the Adaptation method. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: As the Adaptation method of Guidelines, the ADAPTE Manual, which is developed by ADAPTE collaboration is applied. In Part 1 : preparatory work prior to the beginning of Adaptation is performed. In Part 2 : the core phase of the Adaptation in which we searched the guidelines and performed a systematic review of the literature. The two guidelines (of the AU and the UK) are selected by gone through the methodological quality and currency evaluation for guidelines. And, in order to choose the proper recommendations, the contents were evaluated with regard to the applicability and acceptability of guidelines to the domestic. Finally, in Part 3 : the adapted guideline is reviewed externally, with review and plan update. Therefore, in this way, the Korean Guidelines for Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder, comprised of 55 recommendations, was developed. CONCLUSION: In this study, Korean Guidelines for Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder were developed by application of the Adaptation method of ADAPTE. These are the first evidence-based Korean Guidelines for Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder, which were modified and accepted in accordance with Korean circumstances within the range not damaging the validity of the treatment worth, and it is expected to contribute to improvement in quality and efficiency enhancement of Korean treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder.
Cooperative Behavior

PURPOSE: Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is the gold standard treatment for symptomatic benign prostate hyperplasia, but significant complications are associated with this procedure. The aim of this study was to compare the standard TURP with the high power (80W) potassium-titanyl-phosphate laser (KTP/532; Greenlights PVTM laser system; Laserscope, San Jose, USA) to elucidate the efficacy and safety of laser treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed comparative trials of 40 patients suffering with symptomatic bladder outlet obstruction due to benign prostatic hyperplasia from February 2005 to June 2005. Twenty patients were treated with TURP (Group I) and 20 patients were treated with KTP (Group II). All patients were assessed preoperatively and at an interval of 3 months postoperatively based on the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), the quality of life (QoL) index, changes in maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), and the postvoid residual urine (ml). The safety parameters we evaluated included the operative time (minutes), the postoperative catheterization time (day) and the blood loss (ml). The Kolmogorov- Smirnov & Shapiro-Wilk test, Student's t-test, Student's t-test (paired), and Fisher's Exact test were performed for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The mean age of each group was 68.9+/-9.9 years (group 1) and 63.9+/-9.7 years (group II), and the prostate weight was 49.5+/-15.4cc and 45.0+/-17.3cc, respectively. The mean operation time was shorter for group II (27.7+/-13.6min) than for group I (48.1+/-22.6min) (p<0.05). The mean catheterization time was 5.6+/-1.82 and 1.36+/-1.64 days, respectively, (p<0.001). The blood loss was lower in group II (11.7+/-11.4ml) than in group I (181.9+/-168.17ml, respectively) (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this preliminary short-term study, KTP Laser enucleation of the prostate was shown to be an effective alternative for treating benign prostate hyperplasia as compared with standard TURP.
Catheterization ; Catheters ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Laser Therapy* ; Lasers, Solid-State ; Operative Time ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Quality of Life ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction

PURPOSE: Pseudomonas aeruginosa has emerged as one of the most problematic bacteria in modern hospital settings, and this organism is increasingly isolated as a nosocomial pathogen. Burn patients are particularly susceptible to Pseudomonas infection. Therefore, the accurate and sensitive microbiologic tests are needed for strict management of this prevalent microorganism. METHODS: A nested polymerase chain reaction test based on consecutive amplification of the lipoprotein genes, oprL and oprI, was designed and evaluated, in comparison with the conventional blood culture, for its ability to detect Pseudomonas aeruginosa in clinical materials of burn patients. RESULTS: Positive results of PCR based on oprL gene were observed only for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. All other bacteria (n=4) tested by this amplification method were negative. Also the lowest detection level was 1X101 bacteria per ml of blood samples. In addition, PCR afforded a significantly higher detection rate for Pseudomonas aeruginosa than the conventional blood culture technique in clinical materials of burn patients (25.9% vs. 8.6%). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the nested PCR technique is highly specific and sensitive test for detectionof Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and therefore it may be a useful adjunct tool, in combination with other conventional techniques, for detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection.
Bacteria ; Burns* ; Culture Techniques ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa* ; Pseudomonas Infections ; Pseudomonas*

OBJECTIVES: Recently high dose chemotherapy with autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT) has been investigated with the hope of maximizing tumor response and increasing survival. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect, feasibility, and toxicity of high-dose cyclophosphamide, thiotepa, and carboplatin (CTCb) with APBSCT in patients with metastatic or high risk primary breast cancer. METHODS: Four cases of high-risk primary breast cancer (with more than 10 involved axillary nodes) and three cases of metastatic disease in complete or partial response were enrolled. Peripheral blood stem cells were mobilized by G-CSF plus chemotherapy, and median number of collected mononuclear cells was 5.44 X 108/kg(range, 1.95-7.08 X 108/kg). High-dose chemotherapy of cyclophosphamide (1,500mg/m2/day), thiotepa (125mg/m2/day) and carboplatin (200mg/m2/day) was administered for 4 days and peripheral blood stem cells were reinfused to the patients 72 hours after the completion of chemotherapy. RESULTS: The median days of recovery for neutrophil (over 500/mm3) and for platelet (over 50,000/mm3) were 10 (range, 8 to 33) and 30 (range, 10 to 40). One patient suffered from seizure attack and grade 3 hepatotoxicity during high dose chemotherapy, There were no treatment-related death. Four patients with high-risk primary breast cancer remained disease-free at 2, 8, 12 and 19 months post-transplant. In one patient with bone metastasis, complete response was induced following APBSCT. All three patients with metastatic disease remained progression-free at 8, 18 and 19 months post-transplant. CONCLUSION: High-dose chemotherapy and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation was feasible and would be a potentially effective treatment modality in high risk and metastatic breast cancer.
Blood Platelets ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Carboplatin* ; Cyclophosphamide* ; Drug Therapy* ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Hope ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neutrophils ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation* ; Seizures ; Stem Cells ; Thiotepa*

Total of 311 cases who were admitted to pediatric departmenr of Kyung Hee University Hospital from October, 1971 to December, 1975 were studied clinically about the cases in various age group. The results are as follows. 1) Convulsion was most frequent in children between 6months and 3years (38%), but it was least frequent in children from 10years to 15 years (7%). 2) The most common cause of convulsions in children was febrile convulsion(30.5%). 3) Tetanus (50.9%) was most frequent cause of convulsion in the neonatal period. 4) Febtile convulsion was most common in infants from one month to six months. 5) The most common cause of conculsions in infants from six months to three years was febrile convulsion (47.8%). 6) In children more than three years of age, idiopathic epilepsy was most frequent cause of convulsion (3 to 10 years and 10 years to 15years , 36%, 72.7% respectively).
Child* ; Epilepsy ; Humans ; Infant ; Seizures* ; Seizures, Febrile ; Tetanus