There are numerous drug interactions related to many psychotropic and cardiovascular medications. Firstly, the principles in predicting drug interactions are discussed. Cytochrome P (CYP) 450 plays a significant role in the metabolism of these drugs that are substrates, inhibitors, or inducers of CYP450 enzymes. The two most significant enzymes are CYP2D6 and CYP3A4. The ability of psychotropic drugs to act as inhibitors for the enzymes may lead to altered efficacy or toxicity of co-administered cardiovascular agents as a substrate for the enzymes. The following is also a review of the known interactions between many commonly prescribed cardiovascular agents and psychotropic drugs. Most beta blockers are metabolized by CYP2D6, which may lead to drug toxicity when they use in combination with potent CYP2D6 inhibitors including bupropion, chlorpromazine, haloperidol, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and quinidine. Concomitant administration of lithium with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, and diuretics may increase serum lithium concentrations and toxicity. Calcium channel blockers and cholesterol lowering agents are subject to interactions with potent inhibitors of CYP3A4, such as amiodarone, diltiazem, fluvoxamine, nefazodone, and verapamil. Prescribing antiarrhythmic drugs in conjunction with medications are known to prolong QT interval and/or inhibitors on a relevant CYP450 enzyme is generally not recommended, or needs watchful monitoring. Digoxin and warfarin also have warrant careful monitoring if co-administered with psychotropic drugs.
Amiodarone ; Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors ; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents ; Bupropion ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; Cardiovascular Agents ; Chlorpromazine ; Cholesterol ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6 ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; Cytochromes ; Digoxin ; Diltiazem ; Diuretics ; Drug Interactions ; Drug Toxicity ; Fluvoxamine ; Haloperidol ; Lithium ; Psychotropic Drugs ; Quinidine ; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors ; Triazoles ; Verapamil ; Warfarin

A 31-year-old male patient had malignant atrophic papulosis that afected the skin only. He had multiple typical porcelain-white skin lesion on the face and trunk without abdominal symptoms. Histopathologic studies showed moderate inflammatory infiltration in addition to the typical cone-shaped region of necrobiosis, There are no satisfactory treatment modes, and in the present case, the patient's condition improved transiently on oral medication of aspirin, but we lost the contact with him afterwards.
Adult ; Aspirin ; Humans ; Male ; Malignant Atrophic Papulosis* ; Necrobiotic Disorders ; Skin

At first, we review a sample size estimation method for log-rank test in survival analysis. Although it is widely used these days, it has a weakness for practical use. We propose a modification method to avoid the weakness.
Sample Size*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Hepatolenticular Degeneration*

In order to search for anti-Herpes simplex virus (HSV) type-1 agents from Korean medicinal herbs and Korean traditional prescriptions (herb complexes), we selected 80 medicinal herbs and 45 prescriptions, based on a review of the Korean traditional medicine books. Both methanol extracts and boiling-water extracts were tested by means of the MTT assay (tetrazolium based colorimetric assay). Ten of the 125 methanol extracts: CM-11, CM-18, CM-19, CM-21, CM-22, CM-39, MM-3, MM-18, MM-29, MM-73 (see explanation of nomenclature below), showed efficacy against HSV-1. Twelve of the water extracts: CW-2, CW-3-I, CW-3-II, CW-18, MW-3, MW-5 MW-6, MW-12, MW-47, MW-69, MW-73 and MW-75 were active. #3 (individual herb) and #73 (individual herb) were interesting because both water and methanol extracts were active. Especially, #3 is a part of composition of Hong-il-laksamd ngbang and Hojanghaedokt'ang which have anti-HSV-1 activitives. The SI value of MW-69 and CW-18 was relative high as 10.2+/-0.7 and 11.8+/-2.2. The cytotoxic effect on Vero cells of Panch' n-ch' ngbang, Taraxacum platycarpum H. Dahlst. and acycloguanosine was determined by MTT assay. Water extracts of Panch' ngch' ngbang (prescription) and Taraxacum platycarpum H. Dahlst. showed very weak cytotoxic effects on Vero cells at > 100 mug/ml but acycloguanosine showed strong cytotoxic effects on Vero cells at > 100 mu g/ml. As a result, #3, #73, MW-69 and CW-18 are considered as potentially useful for anti-HSV-1 agent and will be the focus of further research. Abbreviations: CM - methanol extracts of traditional prescriptions; CW - water extracts of traditional prescriptions; MM - methanol extracts of individual herbs; MW - water extracts of individual herbs.
Abbreviations ; Acyclovir ; Herpes Simplex* ; Herpesvirus 1, Human ; Mass Screening* ; Medicine, Korean Traditional ; Methanol ; Plants, Medicinal* ; Prescriptions* ; Simplexvirus* ; Taraxacum ; Vero Cells ; Water

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial*

A 44-year-old man was transferred to our department for mediastinal mass. He had suffered from only an easily fatiguable condition for 1 month. A physical examination and laboratory finding of the patient disclosed no abnormality. A chest radiograph showed a soft tissue tumor in the posterior mediastinum. It was well circumscribed and ovoid. Invasions to adjacent organs were not seen. Therefore it was though the 5th intercostal space. The tumor mass was attached to the visceral pleura of the right upper lobe by a pedicle and this pedunculated tumor laid entirely within the pleural cavity. Excision of the tumor which measured 7x7x3cm was done easily. Pathologic studies confirmed the diagnosis of localized fibrous tumor of the pleura. Localized fibrous tumor of the pleura is rare, This tumor along ith the evidence from ultrastructural and immunohistochemical studies has led most researchers to conclude that localized fibrous tumor is not of the mesothelial origin but arises in the submesothelial connective tissue.
Adult ; Connective Tissue ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Mediastinum ; Mesothelioma ; Physical Examination ; Pleura* ; Pleural Cavity ; Pleural Neoplasms ; Radiography, Thoracic

A study was made of the differences in clinical features and immunological aspects between herpes zoster patients with malignancies and those without malignant tumors. The results obtained from the retrospective review of medical records are as follows: Herpes zoster occurred more frequently in younger patients(less than twenty) with malignanciee as compared with the control group of the same ages,' Male was dominant among zoster patients with malignancies as is the contrary to contral group; Tihere were no marked differences in primarilly involved dermatomes between the two groups; Generalized varicelliform eruptiona were more common in zoster pa,tients with malignaneies than in control group, It seemed that zoster patients with malignancies complained of milder degree of pain. Zoeter patienta associated with malignancies were more frequently DNCB-negative and had decreased OKT3+ pan T cells, OKT4+ helper/inducer T cells as compared with control group, which suggest impaired cell mediated immunity in the former.
Herpes Zoster* ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Male ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; T-Lymphocytes

Melanosis coli is the brownish pigmentation of the colon associted with the ingestion of anthraquinone compounds as iaxatives. The brownish discoloration of the colon mucosa is due to accumulation of macrophage containing lipofuscin pigment in the lamina propria. This is the one of the complications of laxative abuse, but the pigments disappear by withdrawing the anthraquinone. We report a case of malanosis coli histologically confirmed by fibersigmoidoscopic biopsy in a 70-year-old female patient consuming anthraquinone compound for twelve months with a review of the literature.
Aged ; Biopsy ; Colon ; Eating ; Female ; Humans ; Lipofuscin ; Macrophages ; Melanosis* ; Mucous Membrane ; Pigmentation