No abstract available.

No Abstract available.
Ankle* ; Sarcoidosis* ; Tenosynovitis*

OBJECTIVES: Medically unexplained physical symptoms comprised the predominant complaints of patients with depression in clinical settings. Previously, tricyclic antidepressants, which inhibit both presynaptic reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine, had been used to relieve pain as well as treat depression. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of venlafaxine ER, which also has the effects on both serotonin and norepinephrine, in patients suffering from depression with somatic symptoms. METHODS: The subjects were recruited from outpatients who had been treated for depression with venlafaxine ER. They were divided into two groups, based on whether they voiced somatic symptoms as their chief complaint (somatic group) or not (non-somatic group). In addition, they were also divided into two groups according to whether they met the criteria of multisomatoform disorder (DSM-IV, Primary Care Version). The duration from the time venlafaxine ER was used to the point when treatment was changed because of the recurrence of symptoms or side effects was assessed and compared using survival analysis in the two groups. RESULTS: Sixty-four patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria of this study, and 39 patients 'were placed into the somatic group', while the other 25 patients 'were placed into the non-somatic group'. The survival rates of maintenance treatment in the somatic group was significantly higher than in the non-somatic group (logrank test p=0.033), and the mean duration of maintenance treatment in the somatic group was 41.5+/-3.38 weeks, while that in the non-somatic group was 26.0+/-4.95 weeks. When the subjects were classified by the criteria of multisomatoform disorder, no significant difference was observed between the two groups (logrank test p=0.314). CONCLUSION: In the present study, treatment venlafaxine ER was maintained longer in patients suffering from depression with somatic complaints, which suggests the efficacy of venlafaxine ER on somatic symptoms of these patients. Large-scale, controlled trials are needed to confirm our findings.
Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder, Major* ; Humans ; Norepinephrine ; Outpatients ; Primary Health Care ; Recurrence ; Serotonin ; Survival Rate ; Venlafaxine Hydrochloride

OBJECTIVE: Prescription patterns have changed rapidly due to the development of new drugs, results of new researches, and increment of clinician's experience. The goal of this study was to examine and compare the trend of prescription patterns for major depressive disorder at a university hospital between year 2001 and 2006. METHODS: We evaluated the medication usage of inpatients with major depressive disorder in 2001 and 2006, including antidepressants used as the first choice, switching, and combination, and various augmentation agents. And we evaluated the time to switching and combination of antidepressant in 2001 and 2006. RESULTS: The antidepressants used as first line drug were SSRIs (49.3%), mirtazapine (24.0%), and TCAs (4.8%) in 2001, and SSRIs (50.0%), mirtazapine (24.7%) and venlafaxine (19.0%) in 2006, in frequency order. The antidepressants used as switching drug were TCAs (33.3%), mirtazapine (25.0%), and nefazodone (16.7%) in 2001, and SSRIs (33.3%), mirtazapine (33.3%), and venlafaxine (19.0%) in 2006. As combination treatment, SSRIs and TCAs combination was used mostly by far in 2001 (87.5%), but in 2006, various combination were used including SSRIs and mirtazapine, SSRIs and TCAs, mirtazapine and venlafaxine (36.8%, 23.6%, 18.4%, respectively). The time to combination in 2001 and 2006 year were not different significantly (17.4+/-7.9 day vs 18.0+/-12.9 day, respectively; p=0.829) but the time to switching was significantly shorter in 2006 than in 2001 (13.1+/-7.5 day vs 24.1+/-11.7day; p=0.009). The use of typical antipsychotics as augmentation agent decreased and the use of atypical antipsychotics increased significantly in 2006. Most frequently used atypical antipsychotic was quetiapine in 2006. The use of thyroid hormone and trazodone were significantly decreased in 2006, but the use of mood stabilizer was not changed between 2001 and 2006. While the use of lithium decreased, the use of lamotrigine increased in 2006. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study suggested that there were lots of change in prescription patterns for major depressive disorder between 2001 and 2006. Especially, these changes could be seen in use of various antidepressants, increment in use of atypical antipsychotics and lamotrigine. It can reflect not only the current progress of psychopharmacology and clinical experience, but also the clinical complexity of treatment of depression.
Antidepressive Agents ; Antipsychotic Agents ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder, Major* ; Humans ; Inpatients* ; Lithium ; Prescriptions ; Psychopharmacology ; Thyroid Gland ; Trazodone ; Quetiapine Fumarate ; Venlafaxine Hydrochloride

OBJECTIVE: Prescription patterns have changed rapidly due to the development of new drugs, results of new researches, and increment of clinician's experience. The goal of this study was to examine and compare the trend of prescription patterns for major depressive disorder at a university hospital between year 2001 and 2006. METHODS: We evaluated the medication usage of inpatients with major depressive disorder in 2001 and 2006, including antidepressants used as the first choice, switching, and combination, and various augmentation agents. And we evaluated the time to switching and combination of antidepressant in 2001 and 2006. RESULTS: The antidepressants used as first line drug were SSRIs (49.3%), mirtazapine (24.0%), and TCAs (4.8%) in 2001, and SSRIs (50.0%), mirtazapine (24.7%) and venlafaxine (19.0%) in 2006, in frequency order. The antidepressants used as switching drug were TCAs (33.3%), mirtazapine (25.0%), and nefazodone (16.7%) in 2001, and SSRIs (33.3%), mirtazapine (33.3%), and venlafaxine (19.0%) in 2006. As combination treatment, SSRIs and TCAs combination was used mostly by far in 2001 (87.5%), but in 2006, various combination were used including SSRIs and mirtazapine, SSRIs and TCAs, mirtazapine and venlafaxine (36.8%, 23.6%, 18.4%, respectively). The time to combination in 2001 and 2006 year were not different significantly (17.4+/-7.9 day vs 18.0+/-12.9 day, respectively; p=0.829) but the time to switching was significantly shorter in 2006 than in 2001 (13.1+/-7.5 day vs 24.1+/-11.7day; p=0.009). The use of typical antipsychotics as augmentation agent decreased and the use of atypical antipsychotics increased significantly in 2006. Most frequently used atypical antipsychotic was quetiapine in 2006. The use of thyroid hormone and trazodone were significantly decreased in 2006, but the use of mood stabilizer was not changed between 2001 and 2006. While the use of lithium decreased, the use of lamotrigine increased in 2006. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study suggested that there were lots of change in prescription patterns for major depressive disorder between 2001 and 2006. Especially, these changes could be seen in use of various antidepressants, increment in use of atypical antipsychotics and lamotrigine. It can reflect not only the current progress of psychopharmacology and clinical experience, but also the clinical complexity of treatment of depression.
Antidepressive Agents ; Antipsychotic Agents ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder, Major* ; Humans ; Inpatients* ; Lithium ; Prescriptions ; Psychopharmacology ; Thyroid Gland ; Trazodone ; Quetiapine Fumarate ; Venlafaxine Hydrochloride

Laminin, an extracellular matrix glycoprotein composed of three polypeptide chains such as alpha , beta, and gamma is distributed in basement membranes of epithelium, muscle, and nervous tissues. Laminin functions as an extracellular cytoskeleton and regulates the differentiation and polarization of cells adjacent to the basement membrane. Along with type IV collagen and heparan sulfate proteoglycan, laminin forms a spike -like structure in the renal glomerular basement membrane (GBM). It has been previously demonstrated that the distribution and immune reaction of laminin are changed in response to the conditions of glomerulonephritis and that laminin plays a role in the reformation of GBM as well as the regeneration of renal glomerular cells. In the present study, the profile of expression and distribution of laminin/laminin beta1 chain were examined in different developmental stages and upon adriamycin administration. Kidney obtained from fetuses (16, 18, and 20 days old) and infants (1 and 7 days old) of Sprague -Dawley rats were either cryosectioned for immunohistochemical assays or ultrathin -sectioned for electron microscopy using immunogold staining methods. The results were as follows: 1. Intensive expression of laminin was observed in the GBM and surrounding mesenchymal tissues obtained from 16, 18, and 20 days old fetuses and in the glomerulus from one day neonates, whereas the level of staining decreased in the glomerulus from 7 days old infants. 2. Immunogold particles were observed in the comma -shaped nephron, in particular in cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum, vesicles and nuclear membrane of endothelial cells and mesangial cells obtained from 18 days old fetuses. 3. The immune reactions of laminin beta1 chain were trace detected in the kidney from fetuses (16, 18, and 20 days old) and weakly in tissues surrounding blood capillary and mesangial tissues from one day old neonates. 4. After 24 hours following adriamycin treatment, the reactivity of laminin was slightly enhanced in the renal glomerulus, when compared with that of untreated controls. This enhancement persisted up to 1 week of adriamycin treatment. Laminin beta1 chain was weakly detectable, while further treatment with adriamycin for another 24 hours reduced the intensity of laminin beta1 chain. Taken together, these results suggest that laminin is localized in the GBM at the high level during early fetal stages but the expression levels decrease after birth. Moreover, administration with adriamycin may result in an increase in the immune reactivities of laminin and laminin beta1 chain by renal tissue damage followed by renal regeneration.
Animals ; Basement Membrane ; Capillaries ; Collagen Type IV ; Cytoskeleton ; Doxorubicin ; Endoplasmic Reticulum, Rough ; Endothelial Cells ; Epithelium ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fetus ; Glomerular Basement Membrane ; Glomerulonephritis ; Glycoproteins ; Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Kidney* ; Laminin* ; Mesangial Cells ; Microscopy, Electron ; Nephrons ; Nuclear Envelope ; Parturition ; Rats* ; Regeneration

PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to analysis undiagnosed HIV-positive patients in the Emergency Room (ER). We expect these analysis to be of help in preventing exposure to HIV and in making a diagnosis effectively. METHODS: A retrospective analysis by chart review was carried out on 8 unrecognized HIV patients who had been admitted to the ward via the ER from December 2000 to August 2002. RESULTS: The results were as follows: 1) The chief complaints were fever with mental change, dyspnea, hemiparesis, dyspnea with fever, chronic diarrhea with fever, abdominal discomfort, and dyspnea with fever and vertigo. 2) The 8 patients all had AIDS as well as other diseases. 3) The reasons for the anti-HIV test were continuous fever of unknown origin (FUO) 33.3%, chest X-ray abnormality 20.0%, VDRL (Venereal Disease Research Laboratory) test positive 13.3%, pre-operation screening blood test 13.3%. The rest were due to MRI (magnetic resonance image) abnormality, intraabdominal tuberculosis, and Cryptococcus in cerebrospinal fluid and comprised 6.7% of the total. CONCLUSION: We recommend that an anti-HIV test be given in the ER for patients who have FUO, infiltration of both lungs in the chest X-ray and a VDRL positive in serum. We also recommend that an anti-HIV test be given in the ER for patients with suspected HIV-related encephalopathy, tuberculosis, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, recurrent pneumonia, and progressive multi-focal leukoencephalopathy.
Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Cryptococcus ; Diagnosis ; Diarrhea ; Dyspnea ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Fever ; Fever of Unknown Origin ; Hematologic Tests ; HIV ; Humans ; Leukoencephalopathies ; Lung ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mass Screening ; Paresis ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis ; Retrospective Studies ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis ; Vertigo

In order to determine the electrophysiologic properties of aberrant ventricular conduction we analyzed the electrophysiologic studies done for various reasons in SNUH(1983.3 -1987.8). All patients did not have underlying heart disease and were in sinus rhythm with normal PR intervals & no intraventricular conduction delay at the time of study. The patients of preexcitation syndrome were excluded. Only aberrant ventricular conduction induced by premature atrial stimulation at the high right atrium or(HRA) during sinus rhythm or HRA pacing was analyzed. 1) Aberrant ventricular conuction was induced by premature atrial extrastimulation in 34 subjects of 156 cases reviewed(21.8%). The patients were 16 to 70 years old(sixteen males and eighteen females). 2) The longest atrial coupling(A1S2) interval resulting in aberrant ventricular conduction approximated 45%(600-280) of the basic cycle length(450-1550 msec). 3) As a prerequisite for aberrant ventricular conduction, the functional refractory period(FRP) of the AV node should be less than the relative refractory period(RRP) of the His Purkinje System and the most important determinant of aberrant ventricular conduction by atrial extreastimulation was resultant H1H2 interval, which should be between RRP and effective refractory period(ERP) of HPS. 4) There was good linear correlation between the basic cycle length(BCL) and RRP of the HPS(RRP=0.247xBCL+247.048, r=0.885, p-value<0.001). 5) 155 different configurations of aberrant ventricular conduction were recorded during atrial extrastimulation till atrial ERP. The pattern frequencies were as follows : left anterior hemiblock, 6(3.9%) ; right bundle brach block, 92(59.4%) ; left bundle branch block, 28(18.0%) ; left anterior hemiblock combined with right bundle branch block, 14(9.0%) ; left posterior hemiblock combined with right bundle branch block, 9(5.8%) ; unclassified intraventricular conduction disturbances, 6(3.9%). 6) As the atrial coupling intervals were further shortened, aberrant conduction persisted up to the point of atrial ERP at 19/41 BCL's(46.3%). Other patterns of atrioventricular conduction were as follows : atrio-His block, 7(17.1%) ; His-ventricular block, 6(14.6%) ; normal conduction due to prolonged A2H2, 9(22.0%). But there was no statistical significance between the pattern of A-V conduction and the longest S2H2 & H2V2 intervals during VAB (p-value=0.235>0.050). In conclusion, atrial extrastimulation which is routinely done during clinical EPS is an effective method to induce aberrant ventricular conduction and to study the electrophysiologic characteristics of atrioventricular conduction. Further study with recording of bundle branch electrogram, after infusion of cardioactive drugs and pacing of HRA at fixed rate should be done to determine the electrophysiologic properties of VAB more completely.
Atrioventricular Node ; Bundle-Branch Block ; Heart Atria ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Male ; Pre-Excitation Syndromes

The present study was performed to examine whether acupuncture can regulate the expression of cytokines that play important roles in wound healing and morphological changes in the burn wound healing of rats, such as transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1, TGF-beta3, epidermal growth factor (EGF), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250~300 g were divided into two control groups and two experimental groups. Among the control groups, no-treatment group was classified as C and acupuntured group as Ca. Among the experimental groups, burned group (n = 6) was classified as B and acupunctured group after burn (n = 6) as Ba. The lumbar area of rats was burned 15 x 25 mm in size for 15~18 seconds with special small iron adapter and acupunctured at 5~7 mm in diameter and 1 cm in depth using 0.25 mm x 50 mm acupuncture needle for 20 minutes in wound area. Rats in group Ca were acupunctured once. Rats in group Ba were acupunctured every 12 hours 3 times. Rats were sacrificed at days 1, 3, 7, 15 and 20 after burn treatment. Morphological changes were examined by hematoxylin-eosin staining methods. The expression profiles of TGF-beta1, TGF-beta3, EGF and IL-6 were detected by immunohistochemical staining methods. The results we obtained were as follows: 1. In gross observation, the burn wounds were less odorous and cleaner in the acupunctured group (Ba) compared with those of no-acupuncture group (B). 2. Reepithelialization and formation of panniculus carnosus and granulation tissue were more prominent at days 3 and 7 in the acupunctured group Ba than group B. However, this difference was disappear at day 15. 3. In the muscle of group B, TGF-beta1 was observed after day7. However, in group Ba, TGF-beta1 was observed as early as days 1 and 3 and rapidly turnovered at day 7. 4. For TGF-beta3, both B and Ba groups showed similar results. 5. At day 3, EGF was observed in the subcutaneous tissue in both B and Ba groups. However, in day 7, EGF was rapidly decreased in Ba group compared with that of B. 6. For IL-6, both B and Ba groups showed similar results in epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous tissue and muscle. But, at day 3, IL-6 was rapidly decreased in theconnective tissue under the muscle in Ba group compared with that of B. These results suggest that acupuncture may improve the wound healing in the early stage by increasing the TGF-beta1 that is essential for the formation of extracellular matix and by decreasing EGF.
Acupuncture* ; Animals ; Burns* ; Cytokines ; Dermis ; Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Epidermis ; Granulation Tissue ; Interleukin-6* ; Iron ; Needles ; Odors ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta3* ; Transforming Growth Factors ; Wound Healing* ; Wounds and Injuries*

The present study was performed to examine whether acupuncture can regulate the expression of extracellular matrix proteins that play important roles in burn wound healing of rat, such as fibronectin, type I and IV collagens, and laminin. Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250~300 g were divided into 4 groups such as normal control group (C), only acupuncture treatment group (Ca), burn treatment group (B), and a group for acupuncture treatment after burn (Ba). We burned 15x25 mm in size for 15~18 seconds at lumbar area of rats with special iron adapter and acupunctured at 5~7 mm in diameter and 1 cm in depth using 0.25 mm x 50 mm acupuncture needle for 20 minutes in wound area. Rats in group Ca were acupunctured once, and rats in group Ba were acupunctured every 12 hours 3 times. Rats sacrificed at days 1, 3, 7, 15 and 20 after burn treatment. Histological changes were examined by azan staining methods and expression profiles of fibronectin, type I and IV collagens, and laminin were detected by immunohistochemical staining methods. The results we obtained were as follows: 1. At day 1, fibers in epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous tissue in both groups B and Ba were not observed. However groups B and Ba exhibited fibers stained mildly and moderately, respectively, in muscle and connective tissues. At day 20 , the level of fiber in group B which was comparable to group C was less than that of in B group. 2. At day 3, fibronectin in group Ba was observed in the muscle. At days 15 and 20, fibronectin was increased in epidermis and dermis of group Ba compared with those of group B. 3. Type I collagen in subcutaneous tissue was observed at days 1, 3 and 7 in both groups B and Ba. However type I collagen was observed only in group Ba at day 15. In the epidermis of group Ba, type I collagen was observed at day 3 and maintained until day 20, while observing only at day 20 in group B. 4. For type IV collagen, both groups B and Ba showed similar results. 5. For laminin, both groups B and Ba showed similar results except the 7th day results. However after day 15, laminin was stained moderately and mildly in groups Ba and B, respectively. These results suggest that acupuncture may improve the burn wound healing by increasing fibronectin and type I collagen.
Acupuncture* ; Animals ; Burns* ; Collagen Type I ; Collagen Type IV ; Collagen* ; Connective Tissue ; Dermis ; Epidermis ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins ; Fibronectins* ; Iron ; Laminin* ; Needles ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Wound Healing* ; Wounds and Injuries*