OBJECTIVES: The authors investigated the possibility of homovanillic acid (HVA) and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) concentrations in plasma to be biological markers before and after the pharmacological treatment of schizophrenia. METHODS: Twenty-six patients with schizophrenia were enrolled after two week washout of neuroleptics. Baseline sampling was done after washout. Consequent samplings were done at two and four week time-points after neuroleptic treatment. The concentrations of HVA and MHPG were analysed with clinical variables, such as age, age of onset, duration of illness, period of hospitalization, and changes of clinical state. The HVA and MHPG were assayed using high pressure liquid chromatographyelectrochemical detection method. RESULTS: A significant association was observed between the age of onset and plasma HVA concentration in washout state of antipsychotics. The earlier onset group had lower plasma HVA concentration than the late onset group. A significant association was observed between the age of onset and plasma MHPG concentration in washout state of antipsychotics. The earlier onset group had lower plasma MHPG concentration than the late onset group. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings suggest that the activities of dopamine and norepinephrine are different with respect to age of onset in the neuroleptic-naive schizophrenia. Plasma HVA and MHPG concentration can be biological markers for the subgrouping of schizophrenia.
Age of Onset* ; Antipsychotic Agents ; Biomarkers ; Dopamine ; Homovanillic Acid* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol ; Norepinephrine ; Plasma* ; Schizophrenia*

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome is characterized clinically by the triad of fever, hemorrhage and renal failure. The hemorrhage in hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome(HFRS) varies from transient petechial lesions to fulminant and massive bleeding. The latter can be an important cause of death in HFRS. We here report a case of massive perirenal hematoma in a patient with HFRS. A 17-year-old male was admited to our hospital presenting with fever, sore throat, nausea and oliuria. Computed tomography was performed at the 2nd day of hospitalization due to abruptly developing right flank pain and anemia and showed perirenal hematoma on the right kidney. He was diagnosed as HFRS and treated with hemodialysis, fluid infusion, and transfusion. There was no evidence of further blood loss at the 7th day of hospitalization. After conservative treatment, he recovered from HFRS.
Adolescent ; Anemia ; Cause of Death ; Fever ; Flank Pain ; Hematoma* ; Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Kidney ; Male ; Nausea ; Pharyngitis ; Renal Dialysis ; Renal Insufficiency

We assessed the risk factors for major amputation of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) in patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) stages 3b–5. For DFU assessment, in addition to DFU location and presence of infection, ischemia, and neuropathy, vascular calcification was assessed using the medial arterial calcification (MAC) score. Of 210 patients, 26 (12.4%) underwent major amputations. Only the location and extension of DFU, represented by Texas grade differed between the minor and major amputation groups. However, after adjusting for covariates, ulcer location of mid- or hindfoot (vs. forefoot, odds ratio [OR] = 3.27), Texas grades 2 or 3 (vs. grade 0, OR = 5.78), and severe MAC (vs. no MAC, OR = 4.46) was an independent risk factor for major amputation (all P < 0.05). The current use of antiplatelets was a possible protective factor for major amputations (OR = 0.37, P = 0.055). In conclusion, DFU with severe MAC is associated with major amputation in patients with DKD.

While endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is prevailing for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in modern vascular practice, PURPOSE: we conducted nationwide questionnaire survey to investigate the current status of AAA treatment and their results in Korea. METHOD: We reviewed the replies from 28 hospitals (33 departments) to the questionnaire inquiring annual number, clinical features, mode of treatment and results of AAA patients during the period from Jan. 2000 to Jul. 2004. Results: 980 AAA patients were reported including 292 ruptured AAA (29.8%) and 688 non-ruptured AAA (70.2%). For treatment of AAA, 834 (85.1%) surgical repairs (SRs) and 111 (11.3%) endovascualr aneurysm repairs (EVARs) were performed while 35 patients (3.6%) died of AAA rupture before operation. The locations of AAA were infrarenal in 889 (90.7%), juxtarenal in 62 (6.3%), and suprarenal in 29 patients (3.0%). Among 834 patients undergoing SR, 577 patients (69.2%) had non-ruptured AAAs and 257 patients (30.8%) had ruptured AAAs. Mean operative mortality rate was 4.1% after elective SRs, 30.7% after SR for ruptured AAAs, and 2.3% after EVARs. The reported brand name of stent graft devices were various including domestic custom-made in 56 (50.5%), imported brand in 18 (16.2%) while 37 (33.3%) stent grafts were not reported their brand name. The frequencies of type I and III endoleaks after EVAR were reported 5.8% and 5.8% respectively in 86 patients with an available data. CONCLUSION: SR has been used as a major treatment option in Korea for the treatment of AAA patients while EVAR is increasing. The mortality rate of SR of AAA was comparable to western multi-center trial reports but mortality or morbidity rates of EVAR were unable to know in this questionnaire survey.
Aneurysm ; Aortic Aneurysm ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal* ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis ; Endoleak ; Humans ; Korea* ; Mortality ; Questionnaires* ; Rupture ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo examinie the synergistic effects of Banxia Xiexin Decoction (, Known as Banhasasim-tang in Korean) extract (BXDE) on cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity in the A549 human lung cancer cell lines.

METHODSA549 cells were treated with varying concentrations (50-200 μg/mL) of cisplatin and BXDE alone or in combination for 96 h. We used 1-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-3,5-diphenylformazan assay and flow cytometry to analyze cell viability and apoptosis, respectively.

RESULTSThe exposure of cells to cisplatin and BXDE alone or in combination decreased cell viability dose- and time-dependently (P<0.05), which was found to be mediated by the apoptotic pathway as confirmed by the increase in the annexin V/propidium iodide- stained cell population and a ladder pattern of discontinuous DNA fragments. Furthermore, the apoptosis was inhibited by the pan-caspase inhibitor, benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp (OMe) fluoromethylketone (z-VAD-FMK).

CONCLUSIONSBXDE significantly potentiated apoptotic effects of cisplatin in A549 cells. Moreover, apoptosis induced by BXDE might be the pivotal mechanism mediating its chemopreventative action against cancer.

A549 Cells ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; metabolism ; Caspase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; DNA Fragmentation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology