OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate memory functions in schizophrenic patients. METHODS: The participants were 45 schizophrenic patients and 27 normal controls. The Rey-Kim Memory Test (RKMT) was used as the testing instrument. RESULTS: 1) Schizophrenic patients showed a significantly lower Memory Quotient (MQ) compared with control participants. Their memory impairment was more severe relative to their intelligence impairment. 2) Memory deficits in schizophrenic patients were most pronounced in retrieval phase compared with encoding or retention phase. 3) Both verbal and visual memory were impaired in schizophrenic patients. 4) There were qualitative as well as quantitative individual differences in memory functions among schizophrenic patients. CONCLUSION: Memory impairment in schizophrenia represents a selective cognitive deficit. Its clinical presentation is similar to 'frontal amnesia' in that retrieval deficit is most pronounced.
Humans ; Individuality ; Intelligence ; Memory Disorders ; Memory* ; Schizophrenia

Objectives: ：The purpose of this study was to identify the change in the reasons for referrals before and after the COVID-19 outbreak among students who were referred to the one hospital-linked Wee center in Dalseo-gu, Daegu. Methods: ：324 students who were referred to one hospital-linked Wee center for personal counseling from January 1, 2019 to December 31 were included. In the initial session of individual counseling, 3 of the chief reasons among 27 emotional and/or behavioral problems were indicated. This reason was divided into before and after COVID-19 to determine whether there is a difference, and whether there is a difference between before and after COVID-19 depending on the school level. Results: ：The most frequent emotional and/or behavioral problem was ‘interpersonal problems’ in both pre- COVID-19 and post- COVID-19 groups. In post- COVID-19 group, ‘anxiety’ was significantly increased, whereas ‘conduct problems,’ ‘impulsivity’ and ‘inattention’ were significantly decreased. In elementary students group, only ‘conduct problems’ was significantly decreased after COVID-19 and the same result was shown in middle and high school students group. Conclusions ：The study showed that after COVID-19 pandemics in Daegu the difference of students’ problems was noted, and internalizing problems seem to increase rather than externalizing problems. This result calls upon schools to plan for students’ further mental health care measures.

Background: Although Korea ranks first in the suicide rate of elderly individuals, there is limited research on those who attempt suicide, with preventive measures largely based on population-based studies. We compared the demographic and clinical characteristics of elderly individuals who attempted suicide with those of younger adults who visited the emergency department after suicide attempts and identified the factors associated with lethality in the former group. Methods: Individuals who visited the emergency department after a suicide attempt from April 1, 2017, to January 31, 2020, were included. Participants were classified into two groups according to age (elderly, ≥65 years; adult, 18–64 years). Among the 779 adult patients, 123 were elderly. We conducted a chi-square test to compare the demographic and clinical features between these groups and a logistic regression analysis to identify the risk factors for lethality in the elderly group. Results: Most elderly participants were men, with no prior psychiatric history or suicide attempts, and had a higher prevalence of underlying medical conditions and attributed their attempts to physical illnesses. Being sober and planning suicide occurred more frequently in this group. In the elderly group, factors that increased the mortality rate were biological male sex (p<0.05), being accompanied by family members (p<0.05), and poisoning as a suicide method (p<0.01). Conclusion Suicide attempts in elderly individuals have different characteristics from those in younger adults and are associated with physical illness. Suicides in the former group are unpredictable, deliberate, and fatal. Therefore, tailored prevention and intervention strategies addressing the characteristics of those who are elderly and attempt suicide are required.

Background: Although Korea ranks first in the suicide rate of elderly individuals, there is limited research on those who attempt suicide, with preventive measures largely based on population-based studies. We compared the demographic and clinical characteristics of elderly individuals who attempted suicide with those of younger adults who visited the emergency department after suicide attempts and identified the factors associated with lethality in the former group. Methods: Individuals who visited the emergency department after a suicide attempt from April 1, 2017, to January 31, 2020, were included. Participants were classified into two groups according to age (elderly, ≥65 years; adult, 18–64 years). Among the 779 adult patients, 123 were elderly. We conducted a chi-square test to compare the demographic and clinical features between these groups and a logistic regression analysis to identify the risk factors for lethality in the elderly group. Results: Most elderly participants were men, with no prior psychiatric history or suicide attempts, and had a higher prevalence of underlying medical conditions and attributed their attempts to physical illnesses. Being sober and planning suicide occurred more frequently in this group. In the elderly group, factors that increased the mortality rate were biological male sex (p<0.05), being accompanied by family members (p<0.05), and poisoning as a suicide method (p<0.01). Conclusion Suicide attempts in elderly individuals have different characteristics from those in younger adults and are associated with physical illness. Suicides in the former group are unpredictable, deliberate, and fatal. Therefore, tailored prevention and intervention strategies addressing the characteristics of those who are elderly and attempt suicide are required.

Background: Although Korea ranks first in the suicide rate of elderly individuals, there is limited research on those who attempt suicide, with preventive measures largely based on population-based studies. We compared the demographic and clinical characteristics of elderly individuals who attempted suicide with those of younger adults who visited the emergency department after suicide attempts and identified the factors associated with lethality in the former group. Methods: Individuals who visited the emergency department after a suicide attempt from April 1, 2017, to January 31, 2020, were included. Participants were classified into two groups according to age (elderly, ≥65 years; adult, 18–64 years). Among the 779 adult patients, 123 were elderly. We conducted a chi-square test to compare the demographic and clinical features between these groups and a logistic regression analysis to identify the risk factors for lethality in the elderly group. Results: Most elderly participants were men, with no prior psychiatric history or suicide attempts, and had a higher prevalence of underlying medical conditions and attributed their attempts to physical illnesses. Being sober and planning suicide occurred more frequently in this group. In the elderly group, factors that increased the mortality rate were biological male sex (p<0.05), being accompanied by family members (p<0.05), and poisoning as a suicide method (p<0.01). Conclusion Suicide attempts in elderly individuals have different characteristics from those in younger adults and are associated with physical illness. Suicides in the former group are unpredictable, deliberate, and fatal. Therefore, tailored prevention and intervention strategies addressing the characteristics of those who are elderly and attempt suicide are required.

Background: Although Korea ranks first in the suicide rate of elderly individuals, there is limited research on those who attempt suicide, with preventive measures largely based on population-based studies. We compared the demographic and clinical characteristics of elderly individuals who attempted suicide with those of younger adults who visited the emergency department after suicide attempts and identified the factors associated with lethality in the former group. Methods: Individuals who visited the emergency department after a suicide attempt from April 1, 2017, to January 31, 2020, were included. Participants were classified into two groups according to age (elderly, ≥65 years; adult, 18–64 years). Among the 779 adult patients, 123 were elderly. We conducted a chi-square test to compare the demographic and clinical features between these groups and a logistic regression analysis to identify the risk factors for lethality in the elderly group. Results: Most elderly participants were men, with no prior psychiatric history or suicide attempts, and had a higher prevalence of underlying medical conditions and attributed their attempts to physical illnesses. Being sober and planning suicide occurred more frequently in this group. In the elderly group, factors that increased the mortality rate were biological male sex (p<0.05), being accompanied by family members (p<0.05), and poisoning as a suicide method (p<0.01). Conclusion Suicide attempts in elderly individuals have different characteristics from those in younger adults and are associated with physical illness. Suicides in the former group are unpredictable, deliberate, and fatal. Therefore, tailored prevention and intervention strategies addressing the characteristics of those who are elderly and attempt suicide are required.

BACKGROUND: In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD), it is well known that hypoxemia increases the frequency of VPB, which is associated with the poor prognosis such as sudden death. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of short and long-term low flow oxygen therapy on the development of VPBs in patients with COPD by correcting the hypoxemia. METHOD: In 19 patients with COPD, oxygen saturation and VPB are monitored by pulse oxymeter and 24-hour Holter EKG, with room air and the 1st and the 8th day during oxygen therapy by nasal prong (2L/min). RESULTS: The arterial oxygen saturation was significantly higher on the 1st day of oxygen therapy compared with breathing room air, and also higher on the 8th day of oxygen therapy than on the 1st day. We found that there was significant correlation between the minimal value of the arterial oxygen saturation and the mean value of the arterial oxygen saturation. The number of VPBs per hour was significantly higher on the 1st day of oxygen therapy compared with breathing room air, and also higher on the 8th day of oxygen therapy than on the 1st day. There was no significant correlation between the decrease of the frequency of VPBs and the increase of the minimal arterial oxygen saturation. But, because of the low p value as 0.056, The correlation is highly suggested. CONCLUSION: With oxygen therapy, the arterial oxygen saturation was increased and the number of VPBs was decreased, and with long-term oxygen therapy more than 7days, the number of VPBs was more decreased in patients with COPD.
Anoxia ; Death, Sudden ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Oxygen* ; Prognosis ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive* ; Respiration

A 71-year-old man was admitted due to abdominal distension and periumbilical pain. He was diagnosed as having mucinous ductal ectasia (MDE) of the pancreas three months prior, but refused an operation. Three months later, an abdominal computed tomography revealed more dilated pancreatic duct, newly developed liver metastasis and ascites in comparison with previous findings. Fine-needle aspiration cytology of the cystic lesion in the pancreatic head was conducted and yielded adenocarcinoma. Also, an ascitic fluid cytology determined adenocarcinoma. This patient was diagnosed to be inoperable and received palliative chemotherapy and pain control. The patient expired 5 months after the initial diagnosis.
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged ; Ascites* ; Ascitic Fluid ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Diagnosis ; Dilatation, Pathologic* ; Drug Therapy ; Head ; Humans ; Liver* ; Mucins* ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Pancreas* ; Pancreatic Ducts

A choledochal cyst is relatively rare lesion in the biliary system, and a carcinoma arising from such a cyst is rarely reported. Until now, a case of a hepatocellular carcinoma combined with a choledochal cyst had not been reported. A 45-year-old woman was recently admitted due to abdominal pain. An abdominal computed tomography revealed a 5 cm-sized low attenuative mass involving the right anterior and left medial segment of the liver and gallbladder fossa. An endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatogram showed fusiform dilatation of the common bile duct, but anomalous union of pancreaticobiliary duct was not observed. Fine-needle aspiration of the liver was conducted and yielded a hepatocellular carcinoma. On celiac arteriography, a hypervascular hepatic mass was also found. Transarterial chemoembolization was performed. It is believed this may be the first case of a choledochal cyst combined with a hepatocellular carcinoma in the literature. Hence, this case is herein reported with a review of related literatures.
Abdominal Pain ; Angiography ; Biliary Tract ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Choledochal Cyst* ; Common Bile Duct ; Dilatation ; Female ; Gallbladder ; Humans ; Liver ; Middle Aged

No abstract available.
Aged ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use ; Carotid Artery Diseases/*complications/diagnosis/therapy ; Cerebral Angiography/methods ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone/therapeutic use ; Hypopituitarism/diagnosis/*etiology/therapy ; Intracranial Aneurysm/*complications/diagnosis/therapy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Plasma Substitutes/administration & dosage ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prednisolone/therapeutic use ; Sella Turcica ; Thyroid Hormones/therapeutic use ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome