OBJECTIVE: Korean Medication Algorithm Project(KMAP) for schizophrenia was started in 2001. Phase II of this algorithm project for schizophrenia was a feasibility trial and was done to investigate suitability of the algorithm. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the influence of the therapeutic environment in application of Korean medication algorithm project for schizophrenia. METHOD: A total 108 schizophrenic patients were enrolled at 16 general hospitals and at 3 mental hospitals. All subjects were treated and evaluated according to the algorithm. After the application of the algorithm, clinical effects, switching tendency of antipsychotics and degree of satisfaction for algorithm were compared between general hospitals and mental hospitals. RESULT: There were no significant demographic differences in the two hospital groups. But, cognitive and obsessive symptoms were significantly more severe in mental hospital patients. In general hospital, transitions between each treatment stages were more frequent than in mental hospital. After 4 months of antipsychotic medications trial, most patients were still in the stage 1 (83.3%) in mental hospital group compared to 51.85% of patients in general hospital group. After 4 months of algorithm trial, changes in PANSS (32.85+/-18.87) and CGI (3.47+/-1.81) in general hospital group were significantly greater than those in mental hospital group. Necessities of treatment algorithm were more emphasized by clinician working at the mental hospitals. Overall, degrees of satisfaction for treatment algorithm were not significantly different between two hospital groups. CONCLUSION: These results could be due to the different characteristics of patients or therapeutic environment between the two groups. Also, the resources needed to implement the algorithm may be different between the two groups. To use the Korean Medication Algorithm for schizophrenia with treatment as usual, the difference between therapeutic environments should be considered.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Hospitals, General ; Hospitals, Psychiatric ; Humans ; Schizophrenia*

Four Years Reports of "Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association" during 2001 to 2005 were evaluated by 18 Editorial Board of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association. We investigated the articles to specific fields and rejection rate etc. by different section chiefs. Although several problems concerning review time duration and rejection guideline issues indicated but generally all reviewer processes proved relatively clear and concise criteria. Through these objective and systematic evaluation processes, "Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association" will develop a good journal.
Evaluation Studies as Topic*

Four Years Reports of "Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association" during 2001 to 2005 were evaluated by 18 Editorial Board of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association. We investigated the articles to specific fields and rejection rate etc. by different section chiefs. Although several problems concerning review time duration and rejection guideline issues indicated but generally all reviewer processes proved relatively clear and concise criteria. Through these objective and systematic evaluation processes, "Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association" will develop a good journal.
Evaluation Studies as Topic*

Strongyloides stercoralis is distinguished by a capacity, unusual among helminths to replicate within the human host, thereby permitting on going cycle of autoinfection due to internal production of internal larvae. It has a worldwide distribution but is much more common in tropical climates where the warm, moist soil offers an environment suited to the development of the larvae. In immunocompromised hosts who receiving corticosteroids, immunosupressive drugs, or radiotherapy in these with AIDS, large numbers of invasive strongyloides larvae can disseminate widely and be fatal. The presents case is a 76 year-old-woman presenting with vomiting and epigastric pain. The patient had a long history of adminstration of steroid and alcohol. A gastrofibroscopic biopsy and stool examination revealed rhabditoid larvae. The patient seems to have suffered from autoinfection with S. stercoralis. We report this case with the review of literatures.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Alcoholics* ; Biopsy ; Helminths ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Larva ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic* ; Radiotherapy ; Soil ; Strongyloides stercoralis* ; Strongyloides* ; Tropical Climate ; Vomiting

Two Years Reports of "Journal of Korean Neuropychiatric Association" during 2001 to 2003 were evaluated by 17 Editorial Board of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association. We investigated the articles to specific fields and rejection rate etc. by different section chiefs. Although several problems concerning review time duration and rejection guideline issues indicated but generally all reviewer processes proved relatively clear and concise criteria. Through these objective and systematic evaluation processes, "Journal of Korean Neuropychiatric Association" will develope a good journal.
Evaluation Studies as Topic*

Anisakiasis is an infection in humans caused by larval nematodes of the family Anisakidae and is encountered in people who eat inadequately prepared raw, salt-water fish or "sashimi". This clinical syndrome is characterized by severe cramping abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Because Koreans like to eat raw fish, anisakiasis of the stomach has been reported occasionally, but the incidences of upper gastrointestinal bleeding caused by anisakiasis has been very rare. The present case is a 30 year-old male Admitted with an episode of hematemesis. A gastrofibroscopy revealed a mucosal laceration and the larva of Anisakis on the esophagogastric junction. We report one case of Mallory-Weiss Syndrome due to gastric Anisakis larva, confirmed by an endoscopy.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Anisakiasis* ; Anisakis ; Endoscopy ; Esophagogastric Junction ; Hematemesis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lacerations ; Larva ; Male ; Mallory-Weiss Syndrome ; Muscle Cramp ; Nausea ; Stomach ; Vomiting

OBJECTIVES: The Korean College of Neuropsychopharmacology and the Korean Academy of Schizophrenia developed the Korean algorithm project for schizophrenia to aid clinical decisions. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of Korean Medication Algorithm for Schizophrenia patients in clinical settings in Korea. METHODS: A total of 108 schizophrenia and schizophreniform disorder patients were enrolled at 19 centers and treated according to the algorithm. PANSS (Positive and Negative Symptom Scale) and CGI (Clinical Global Impression) were used to evaluate symptom severity. Also UKU (UKU side effect rating scale) and LUNSERS (Liverpool University Neuroleptic Side Effect Rating Scale), DAI-10 (Drug Attitude Inventory-10), PPS (Patient Preference Scale), SWN (Subjective Well-Being under Neuroleptic treatment) and WHOQOL (World Health Organization Quality of Life) were used to evaluate tolerability and satisfaction of patient respectively. RESULTS: Overall ratings including symptom severity, compliance of medication, side effect of medication, quality of life were favorable. The treatment response (PANSS improvement > or = 20%) rate was 63%, 75% at the first Clinical decision point (CDP) and 4 month respectively. CONCLUSION: Symptom improvement, tolerability and quality of life were all favorable. These results suggest that this algorithm can be useful in clinical practices.
Compliance ; Humans ; Korea ; Psychotic Disorders ; Quality of Life ; Schizophrenia ; World Health Organization

Infectious keratitis is the most common serious ocular infection, and may be caused by various bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites. The authors performed prospectively an epidemiological study to identify risk factors and causative organisms, and to evaluate clinical manifestations, methods and results of treatment in infectious keratitis under the identical protocol from April 1995 to September 1997. Logistic regression analysis [univariate analysis and multivariate analysis] was used to evaluate possible risk factors. Six hundred sixty cases of infectious keratitis reported from 19 hospitals were studied. Two hundred eighty-three organisms[247 bacteria, 32 fungi, 4 acanthamoeba] were detected in 626 eyes with infectious keratitis excluding 34 pherpetic keratitis. The Pseudomonas aeruginosa, coagulase negative staphylococcus, Staphylococcus aureus and Serratia marcescens were the major orgnisms in bacterial keratitis. Aspergillus, Fusarium and Candida were the major isolates in fungal keratitis. Contact lens wear was a risk factor for bacterial keratitis. Female, age[less than 40 years] and occupation[student, house-wife, office worker, servise] were associated with bacterial keratitis. Risk factors in herpetic keratitis were age[between 40 and 59 years] and ocular adnexal diseases. Male was associated factor with herpetic keratitis.
Adnexal Diseases ; Aspergillus ; Bacteria ; Candida ; Coagulase ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Epidemiology* ; Eye Infections ; Female ; Fungi ; Fusarium ; Humans ; Keratitis ; Keratitis, Herpetic ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Parasites ; Prospective Studies ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Risk Factors ; Serratia marcescens ; Staphylococcus ; Staphylococcus aureus

To identify risk factors and causative organisms, and to evaluate clinical manifestations, methods and results of treatment in infectious keratitis, an epidemiological study was performed prospectively under the identical protocol from April 1995 to March 2000.Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate possible risk factors. The 1474 cases of infectious keratitis reported from 22 hospitals were studied. Five hundred forty-four organisms(442 bacteria, 82 fungi, 20 A c a n t h a m o e b a)were detected in 1320 eyes with infectious keratitis excluding 154 herpetic keratitis. The Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most common organism in bacterial keratitis, and Fusariumspp. was the major isolate in fungal keratitis. Contact lens wear and occupation(industry, forester, miner, fisherman)were the risk factors for bacterial keratitis. Risk factors in fungal keratitis were fifth decade of age, farmer, and systemic diseases(diabetes mellitus etc.). Risk factors in herpetic keratitis were male and occupation(office worker, service, student, housewife). Risk factors in Acanthamoeba keratitis was contact lens wear.
Acanthamoeba Keratitis ; Bacteria ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Epidemiology* ; Fungi ; Humans ; Keratitis ; Keratitis, Herpetic ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Risk Factors

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in Korea and the third leading cause of death from cancer. Treatment outcomes for colon cancer are steadily improving due to national health screening programs with advances in diagnostic methods, surgical techniques, and therapeutic agents.. The Korea Colon Cancer Multidisciplinary (KCCM) Committee intends to provide professionals who treat colon cancer with the most up-to-date, evidence-based practice guidelines to improve outcomes and help them make decisions that reflect their patients’ values and preferences. These guidelines have been established by consensus reached by the KCCM Guideline Committee based on a systematic literature review and evidence synthesis and by considering the national health insurance system in real clinical practice settings. Each recommendation is presented with a recommendation strength and level of evidence based on the consensus of the committee.