No abstract available.
Esophageal Fistula* ; Tuberculosis, Spinal*

This report describes the efficacy of combined use of aripiprazole in the treatment of a patient with clozapine induced enuresis. Aripiprazole acts as a potential dopamine partial agonist and the dopamine blockade in the basal ganglia might be one of the causes of urinary incontinence and enuresis. We speculate that aripiprazole functioned as a D2 agonist in hypodopaminergic state of basal ganglia caused by clozapine and maintained dopamine level that would improve enuresis ultimately.
Adult ; Antipsychotic Agents/*adverse effects ; Clozapine/*adverse effects ; Dopamine/metabolism ; Dopamine Agonists/*therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Enuresis/chemically induced/*drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Piperazines/*therapeutic use ; Quinolones/*therapeutic use ; Schizophrenia, Paranoid/drug therapy

Purpose: Granular corneal dystrophy type 1 (GCD1) is a genetic disorder characterized by grayish-white granular deposits in the corneal stroma, typically manifesting before age 10. The specific characteristics of GCD1 in the Korea population remain insufficiently described. This study investigated the morphological features of GCD1 corneas with confirmed genetic mutations in this population. Methods: Medical records of GCD1 patients with the R555W mutation confirmed through transforming growth factor β induced (TGFBI) gene testing on oral epithelium or blood samples from 2005-2022, were analyzed. Corneal photographs obtained using a slit lamp biomicroscope were also examined. Results: The study group included 11 males and 19 females with an average age of 35.7 years, ranging from 3-70 years. All participants were heterozygotes. In 28 individuals (56 eyes, representing 93.3% of the total), there were signs of corneal deposit detachments, known as “drop-off”, observed in patients aged 6 years and above. Surface deposits reemerged at the peripheral margin of previous locations and expanded toward the center. The number and shape of opacities significantly changed with age, showing cycles of deposition and shedding. There were variations in the severity of opacities within the same family, particularly with advancing age, and distinct opacities extending into deeper stromal layers. Conclusions This study outlines the morphological characteristics of corneas in Korean GCD1 patients, based on corneal photograph analysis. These findings provide a basis for future comparative studies with GCD2 and may aid rapid clinical diagnosis based on clinical findings, prior to genetic testing confirmation.

IgA nephropathy can occur rarely as a complication of D-penicillamine treatment, but it is exact pathogenesis remains unclear. If a patients has gross or microscopic hematuria during D-penicillamine treatment, D-penicillamine induced IgA nephropathy should be suspected as a cause of hematuria. In those cases, renal biopsy should be taken for diagnosis and proper management. We experienced a case of IgA nephropathy confirmed by renal biopsy in a 39-years-old female patient with scleroderma during D-penicillamine therapy and report this case with a review of literature.
Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA* ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A* ; Penicillamine*

No abstract available.
Female ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic*

BACKGROUND: Bilateral interruption of the upper thoracic sympathetic chain at T2 level represents a selective cure for essential hyperhidrosis. Following the surgical sympathectomy, significant changes in pulmonary function has been observed. Our hypothesis was that thoracic sympathectomy may increase airway resistance during mechanical ventilation and which may be attenuated by the anticholinergics. METHODS: 21 patients with essential hyperhidrosis in ASA physical status class 1 under going thoracoscopic sympathectomy, they were randomizely divided into two groups: glycopyrrolate premedication group (n=13) and non-premedication, control group (n=9). Glycopyrrolate 0.2 mg was administered 30 minutes before the induction of anesthesia. Blood pressure, heart rate, peak airway pressure, plateau pressure were measured at before and immediate after sympathectomy. Respiratory compliance and resistance were calculated. RESULTS: After thoracoscopic sympathectomy, there was significant increase in mean peak airway pressure (15 +/- 3 vs 18 +/- 3 cmH2O, P<0.05) and decrease in respiratory compliance (52 +/- 12 vs 45 +/- 10 ml/cmH2O, P<0.05) compared to baseline. However there was no significant difference between glycopyrolate premedication group and non-premedication group. Conclusion: Thoracoscopic upper dorsal sympathectomy in patients with essential hyperhidrosis causes increase peak airway pressure and decrease the compliance of respiratory system during mechanical ventilation.
Airway Resistance ; Anesthesia ; Blood Pressure ; Cholinergic Antagonists ; Compliance ; Glycopyrrolate ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hyperhidrosis* ; Premedication ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory System ; Sympathectomy*

OBJECTS: It has been reported that the incidence of tardive dyskinesia(TD), the remarkable abnormal involuntary movement, was higher in the schizophrenics with high blood sugar levels and that TD had been improved by small amount of insulin-injection for 90 days. And also it was generally known that the blood lipids were higher in the schizophrenics with tardive dyskinesia. Thus, we tried to replicate the correlations of abnormal involuntary movements with blood sugar levels and blood lipids in chronic schizophrenics treated with antipsychotics. METHODS: Thirty-eight male schizophrenic inpatients who were stable in clinical state with medications, were included. The patients who had been already diagnosed as diabetes mellitus(DM), organic brain disorder, substance-related disorder, physical illness were excluded and also we excluded female patients to remove the hormonal effect on TD. Eleven patients who ranked higher(above five) in the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale(AIMS) were assigned into 2 groups, a dibenese group and a placebo group. Diabinese or placebos were administrated for 3 weeks with antipsychotics and AIMS was rechecked. RESULTS: There were no correlations between the total AIMS scores and blood sugar and lipids levels in all subjects. The means of total and subscale scores(objective, face, and extremity) of AIMS did not reveal statistical significances between diabinese and placebo groups. However(total, jaw, face, upper arm, and objective feeling), were statistically higher in the diabinese group than those in the placebo group. And correlations of total cholesterol(TC) with fast blood sugar(FBS), weight with body mass index(BMI) and waist, total glycerol (TG) with BMI were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: In this study, there were statistical significances in the changes in ratings of AIMS scores between the diabinese group and the placebo group. Application of oral hypoglycemic agent might be a way of improving abnormal involuntary movements in schizophrenics with abnormal involuntary movements or TD. Althogugh it was not certain that there were correlations of abnormal involuntary movement with blood sugar and lipids, correlations of TC/TG with AIMS, of FBS with AIMS cautiously suggest that the regular check of HbA1C, waist, and weight are recommended for schizophrenics.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Arm ; Blood Glucose* ; Brain Diseases ; Chlorpropamide ; Dyskinesias* ; Female ; Glycerol ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Hyperlipidemias ; Incidence ; Inpatients ; Jaw ; Male ; Movement Disorders ; Placebos ; Schizophrenia

Peptides are short chain of amino acids linked by peptide bonds. They are widely used as effective and biocompatible active ingredients in cosmetic industry. In this study, we developed novel peptide mixture and identified its anti-pigmentation effect on melanocytes and keratinocytes. Our results revealed that peptide mixture inhibited melanosome biogenesis through the regulation of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, a key factor of melanogenesis in melanocytes. And we observed that peptide mixture inhibited melanosome uptake through the reduction of protease-activated receptor 2, a phagocytosis-related receptor in keratinocytes. Furthermore, peptide mixture activated autophagy system resulting in degradation of transferred melanosomes in keratinocytes. The anti-pigmentation effect of multi-targeting peptide mixture was assessed in a human skin equivalent model (MelanoDerm). Melanin contents in epidermal layer were significantly decreased by topical treatment of peptide mixture, suggesting that it can be applied as a novel cosmetics material having a whitening function.

Peptides are short chain of amino acids linked by peptide bonds. They are widely used as effective and biocompatible active ingredients in cosmetic industry. In this study, we developed novel peptide mixture and identified its anti-pigmentation effect on melanocytes and keratinocytes. Our results revealed that peptide mixture inhibited melanosome biogenesis through the regulation of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, a key factor of melanogenesis in melanocytes. And we observed that peptide mixture inhibited melanosome uptake through the reduction of protease-activated receptor 2, a phagocytosis-related receptor in keratinocytes. Furthermore, peptide mixture activated autophagy system resulting in degradation of transferred melanosomes in keratinocytes. The anti-pigmentation effect of multi-targeting peptide mixture was assessed in a human skin equivalent model (MelanoDerm). Melanin contents in epidermal layer were significantly decreased by topical treatment of peptide mixture, suggesting that it can be applied as a novel cosmetics material having a whitening function.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined medication adherence rate and associated factors with medication adherence in patients who had been diagnosed as having dementia through the nationwide project for early detection of dementia in South Korea. METHODS: This study enrolled a total of 131 patients, who were diagnosed as having dementia through utilization of the Korean version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Packet at the Namgu Dementia Center in Incheon, from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012. Telephone interview was done with principal caregivers of dementia patients at least 18 months after they had been diagnosed. RESULTS: Out of 131 patients, 83 caregivers of patients completed telephone interview. 62 (72.9%) patients were currently being treated with antidementia drugs, and the proportion of patients being treated at the psychiatric clinic was 54.8%. Sociodemographic variables and clinical rating scales included in the study had no statistically significant effect on the medication adherence. The most common cause of nonadherence was a misconception of dementia diagnosis and treatment (28.6%). CONCLUSION: The major cause of nonadherence was a misconception of dementia diagnosis and treatment, therefore, education on misconception may enhance a patient's medication adherence. Sociodemographic variables and clinical rating scales included in the study had no statistically significant effect on the medication adherence.
Alzheimer Disease ; Caregivers ; Dementia* ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Education ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Incheon ; Interviews as Topic ; Korea ; Medication Adherence* ; Weights and Measures