PURPOSE: Suicide attempts are known to be influenced by mass media reports. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of mass media reporting celebrity suicides on an increase of intentional carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and suicide attempts. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of the consecutive patients who presented with suicide attempts to the Emergency Department of Ajou University Hospital during a 24 month period. We obtained the demographic data, any past history of suicide attempt and the methods of suicide attempts from the medical records of the suicide attempters. Time series analysis was conducted for evaluating the influence of mass media reporting of celebrity suicide on the suicide rates. RESULTS: We finally enrolled 770 patients during the study period. The total number of suicide attempts by CO poisoning was 18 and the average number of suicide attempts by CO was 0.33+/-0.73 per week. All of the suicide attempts by CO poisoning occurred after a celebrity committed suicide using CO from burning charcoal. CONCLUSION: This study showed that celebrity suicide by CO poisoning resulted in the Werther effect, which made the rate of intended CO poisoning increase, and the study provided further evidence for the need to actively restrain mass media reporting of suicide to decrease the Werther effect.
Burns ; Carbon ; Carbon Monoxide ; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Mass Media ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Suicide

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is the standard induction treatment for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Quite many ATRA-related side effects, including retinoic acid syndrome, were reported. So far, it has rarely been reported that Sweet's syndrome, characterized by fever, neutrophilia, painful erythematous cutaneous plaques, dense dermal infiltrates of mature neutrophils and rapid response to steroid therapy, is associated with ATRA. In the case that Sweet's syndrome associated with ATRA is found, physicians will have to face a great challenge over the possibility of infectious conditions. We present here a case of Sweet's syndrome associated with ATRA. A 35-year-old female with APL developed fever, painful erythematous cutaneous plaques on both cheeks, right wrist and both shins during induction chemotherapy with ATRA. A skin biopsy revealed a dense dermal infiltrate, consisting of mature neutrophils without vasculitis or cutaneous immunoglobulin deposits, which is compatible with Sweet's syndrome. Oral prednisone was administered and the lesions started to improve within 48 hours
Adult ; Biopsy, Needle ; Case Report ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Human ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute/diagnosis/*drug therapy ; Prednisone/administration & dosage ; Risk Assessment ; Sweet's Syndrome/*chemically induced/drug therapy/*pathology ; Tretinoin/*adverse effects/therapeutic use

The presence of pre-existing intracoronary thrombus has consistently been shown to be among the strongest predictors of unsuccessful angioplasty and abrupt vessel closure. Abciximab, platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor antagonist, through prevention platelet aggregation and coronary thrombosis, has shown promise in helping to decrease the incidence of complications of PTCA when prophylatically administered in patients presenting with unstable angina or complex lesion morphology for PTCA and in lower risk patients as well. However, the cost of abciximab and its associated increased risk of bleeding may limit its use as a prophylactic treatment. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of the rescue administration of abciximab in seven patients with thrombus containing lesion during angioplasty. Thrombus was disappeared in 4 patients and decreased in 2 patients, and the follow-up angiogram showed normal brisk flow in all 6 patients. There were no death or myocardial infarction on clinical follow-up at a mean of 7 months except one which was developed restenosis at the angioplasty lesion. Dissolution of thrombus and restoration or maintenance of TIMI grade 3 flow were achieved without complications after administration of abciximab when delivered in a rescue manner on thrombus containing lesion during angioplasty. These results showed that failure to give preprocedural proph-ylactic abciximab did not appear to exclude the possibility of a beneficial effect of abciximab, given therapeutically during the early stage of thrombus formation in patients with complicated lesion during angioplasty.
Angina, Unstable ; Angioplasty ; Blood Platelets ; Coronary Thrombosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glycoproteins ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Myocardial Infarction ; Platelet Aggregation ; Thrombosis*

BACKGROUND: Measurement of pleural fluid constituents are of value in the diagnosis of pleural effusions and in the seperation of exudates from transudates. The position of the patient (sitting or lying) prior to thoracentesis may result in difference in the measurement of these constituents. The purpose of this study is to determine whether postural differences in pleural fluid constituents exist, and if so, whether they are of any clinical significance. METHOD: 41 patients with pleural effusions on chest roentgenography were prospectively studied. The fluid cell counts, partial gas tension, and concentrations of chemical constituents were compared in the supine and upright positions. RESULTS: 1) A total of 10 patients were found to have an transudative effusion. In the transudates there was no significant difference in pleural fluid constituents according to posture change. 2) A total of 31 patients were found to have an exudative effusion. Statistically significant postural changes were noted in pH, WBC counts, protein, and LDH concentrations in the exudates. It may be due to postural sedimentary effect in the pleural space. 3) The PC02 measurements and glucose concentration were not affected by changes in position in exudates or transudates. CONCLUSION: Postural sedimentary effect occurs in the pleural space with reference to the measurement of certain pleural fluid constituents when an inflammatory process is present. Therefore it is recommended that thoracentesis after 30 minutes in the sitting position should be performed.
Cell Count ; Diagnosis ; Exudates and Transudates ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Pleural Effusion ; Posture ; Prospective Studies ; Radiography ; Thorax