New antidepressants have become available for clinical use in the 1990s. Before this decade, the drugs available to treat depression consisted essentially of monoamine oxidase inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, and lithium. Following the introduction of SSRIs, the options have expanded and now include SSRIs nefazodone, venlafaxine, mirtazapine, reboxetine, tianeptine. Newer antidepressants possess a variety of pharmacological characteristics that are relevant to the choice of an antidepressant for clinical use. This review summarizes some of the major pharmacological characteristics among the drugs.
Antidepressive Agents ; Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic ; Depression ; Lithium ; Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors ; Venlafaxine Hydrochloride

The genetically determined CYP2D6 activity may be considered to be associated with antipsychotic induced extrapyramidal side effects with inter-individual variation. Genetic polymorphism of CYP2D6 was determined by polymerase chain reaction(PCR) and Mspl restriction fragment length polymorphisms(RFLP) for 194 schizophrenics. Subjects with a 334bp band were classified a1a1, those with 229bp and 105bp bands a2a2, and those with all three bands a1a2. We did not identify schizophrenic subject with poor metabolizer. 194 schizophrenic patients previously treated neuroleptic medication, were assessed by Extrapyramidal Symptom Rating Scale(ESRS). The cases were composed of 33 akathisia, 47 parkinsonism, 21 tardive dyskinesia. These results are similar to the previous understanding that the poor metabolizer is very rare in Orientals compared to Caucasians, therefore, it considered that CYP2D6 genotypes have maybe no association with schizophrenia and extrapyramidal side effects in Koreans.
Antipsychotic Agents* ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6* ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System* ; Cytochromes* ; Genotype ; Humans ; Movement Disorders ; Parkinsonian Disorders ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Psychomotor Agitation ; Schizophrenia

We studied 600 normal lower extremities of Korean students of elementary school in order to establish normal values for the rotational profile and to define any differences between ethnic groups. Rotational profile examined at this study included medial and lateral rotation of the hip and thighfoot angle. The mean value of medial rotation of the hip was 48 degrees with a range of 35 to 64 degrees in male subjects, and 50 degrees with a range of 35 to 60 degrees in female subjects. The mean value of lateral rotation of the hip was 57 degrees with a range of 43 to 75 degrees, and 53 degrees with a range of 40 to 72 degrees in female subjects. Unlike medial rotation, lateral rotation of the hip was greater in male than in female subjects by a mean difference of 4 degrees(T-test, p<0.05). The mean value of thigh-foot angle was 10 degrees with a range of -2 to 23 degrees in male subjects, and 12 degrees with a range of 0 to 21 degrees in female subjects. The total range of hip rotation was slightly greater in Korean than in Caucasians or in Chinese, but, to conclude this, more large study by the same methods will be needed in other areas of Korea.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Ethnic Groups ; Female ; Hip ; Humans ; Korea ; Lower Extremity* ; Male ; Reference Values

The 5-HT2A receptor is of great interest for research into schizophrenia and psychopharmacology in light of the observation that schizophrenic patients has 5-HT cortical-subcortical imbalance and atypical antipsychotic clozpine has 5-HT2A antagonists properties. An significant association between schizophrenia and the T102C polymorphism of the gene for 5-HT2A receptor has been reported. In this study, we investigated an association between schizophrenia and the T102C polymorphism of the gene for 5-HT2A receptor in Korean schizophrenic patients. The subjects consisted of 139 schizophrenic patients and 88 normal controls. Genomic DNA was amplified by PCR and digested with MsPI. The uncutt product identified allele 1(nucleotide sequence TCT) ; digested products of 216bp and 156bp identified allele 2(nucleotide sequence TCC). The allele frequencies and the genotypic distribution of 5-HT2A receptor gene were not significantly different between schizophrenic patients and normal controls. Since allele frequencies of the T102C polymorphism may differ between individuals of different ethnic backgrounds, it needs to be conducted in an advanced research.
Alleles ; DNA ; Gene Frequency ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Psychopharmacology ; Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A ; Schizophrenia* ; Serotonin ; Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Antagonists

Based on the histopathologic findings of the lacrimal gland tumor, the lesion is classified as either epithelial or nonepithelial tumor. 22% of lacrimal gland lesions were primary epithelial neoplasm. 4%of epithelial tumor of lacrimal glands were primary malignant tumor. Squamous cell carcinoma arising from pleomorphic adenoma of lacrimal gland is a very rare(0.4%). Inspite of surgical intervention, postoperative radiation and chemotherapy, the mortality and recurrence rate of the carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma of lacrimal gland is very high. We report a case of squamous cell carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma of lacrimal gland, which was completely removed via lateral orbitotomy with bicoronal incision and had no major complication or recurrence.
Adenoma* ; Adenoma, Pleomorphic ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Drug Therapy ; Lacrimal Apparatus* ; Mortality ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial ; Recurrence

No abstract available.
Fertilization in Vitro* ; Humans ; Twins* ; Umbilical Cord*

Hemiplegic gait is characterized by slow and poorly coordinated movements of the affected limb resulting from foot drop or equinus deformities. Ankle-foot orthoses(AFO) are frequently prescribed to improve the gait pattern of hemiplegics. Plastic AFO with different trimlines in controlling ankle motion can cause variable biomechanical effects. In this study, we analysed the biomechanical effect of donning AFO on hemiplegic gait and assessed whether any differences resulted when the AFO was modified. Gait events, plantar pressure, foot contact and centers of pressure(COP) parameters were measured with F-scan pressure sensitive insole system in 21 hemiplegic stroke patients with Brunnstrom's lower extremity stage 3. And those parameters were compaired in each of four different conditions: 1) before donning AFO, 2) donning AFO without any modification, 3) donning AFO with the dis tal part of metatarsal head trimmed off, 4) donning AFO with third condition and weaning a cushioned heel shoes. After donning AFO, total contact area and contact width were increased, and initial contact COP and mean COP were displaced medially. But contact length was not changed and initial contact COP and mean COP were not displaced anteroposteriorly. Anteroposterior displacement of COP, slope and velocity of COP were not also changed after donning AFO. Among various AFO adjustments, there were no significant changes of plantar pressure, foot contact and COP parameters. The results suggest that 1) AFO provides mediolateral stability, but does not provide additional functional rocker actions during stance phase and 2) There were no definite different biomechanical actions among various adjustments of plastic AFO in hemiplegic gait of Brunnstrom's lower extremity stage 3.
Ankle* ; Equinus Deformity ; Extremities ; Foot Orthoses* ; Foot* ; Gait ; Gait Disorders, Neurologic* ; Head ; Heel ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Metatarsal Bones ; Plastics ; Shoes ; Stroke ; Weaning

No abstract available.
Chordoma*

No abstract available.
Neurilemmoma*

Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Genetic Counseling ; Humans ; Mandible ; Mass Screening ; Mothers ; Odontogenic Cysts ; Recurrence ; Siblings ; Skin ; Young Adult