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

The author attempted to allelic association between the a1 allele of Dopamine D2 receptor and alcoholism in Korean. The allelic disribution of Taq I polymorphism of the D2 dopamine receptor gene with alcoholism was examined in 67 Korean alcoholics and compared with 100 Korean controls. In alcoholics, the numbers of alcoholics with A1A1, A1A2 and A2A2 were 11(16.4%), 30(44.8%) and 26(38.8%) respectively and in control with A1A1, A1A2 and A2A2 were 17(17.0%), 42(42.0%), respectively. The prevalence of the A1 allele in alcoholics was 61.2% and 59.0% in controls. And the frequency of the A1 allele in alcoholics and controls were 0.39 and 0.38, respectively. There was not significant difference in the frequency of the A1 allele between alcoholics and controls. This data suggest that the A1 allele is not associated with alcoholism in Koreans. The author conclude that our data do not support on allelic association between the A1 allele at Dopamine D2 receptor and alcoholism. Further systemized studies will be necessary to determine whether the role of allele of Dopamine D2 receptor is major effect gene or modifying effect gene in the pathogenesis of alcoholism.
Alcoholics* ; Alcoholism ; Alleles ; Dopamine* ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Receptors, Dopamine ; Receptors, Dopamine D2

No abstract available.
Anxiety Disorders* ; Anxiety*

The results regarding an association between the polymorphism sites in the dopamine D1 receptor gene and schizophrenia compelled us to study the distribution of the polymorphism in Korean schizophrenia and controls. Eighty-eight schizophrenic patients and normal controls were examined by case-control study for distribution of the polymorphism of the dopamine D1 receptor gene in Korean popualtion to minimize the effect of racial differencies in gene frequencies. The frequencies of the B1 and B2 in schizophrenic patients were 0.11 and 9.89, respectively. And 0.10 and 0.90 in normal control. There was no significant differences in the frequencies in the allele B1 and 2 between schizophrenic patients and normal controls. The author present here the evidence of a lack of alleic association between the polymorphism of the dopamine D1 receptor gene and Korean schizophrenic. The assumption that the dopamine D1 receptor gene has genetic role in the development of schizophrenia was not supported by this case-control study.
Alleles* ; Case-Control Studies ; Dopamine* ; Gene Frequency ; Humans ; Receptors, Dopamine D1 ; Receptors, Dopamine D2 ; Schizophrenia*

OBJECTIVES: To elucidate an association of the fragile X syndrome with autism, Southern blot analysis was performed in 66 autistic children aged from 2 years to 11 years. METHODS: Subjects were 66 autistic children with of autistic disorder diagnosed by DSM-IV criteria and Childhood Autism Rating Scale-Korean version. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and DNA was used to detect a FMR (Fragile Mental Retardation)-1 gene. Xho/PstI probes and two restriction enzymes (EcoRI, EagI)were used for Southern blot analysis. RESULTS: There were one boy with a methylated mosaic pattern and 3 boys and 2 girls with an unmethylated premutation band. But there was no full mutation pattern. CONCLUSION: Although the possibility of the relationship between autistic disorder and FMR-1 gene has been suggested, the results from this study do not provide any definite association of FMR-1 gene with autism in autistic children.
Autistic Disorder ; Blotting, Southern ; Child* ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; DNA ; Female ; Fragile X Syndrome ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Biology*

In general, the long head of the biceps brachii originates from the superior glenoid labrum and the supraglenoid tubercle, crosses the rotator cuff interval, and extends into the bicipital groove. However, rare anatomic variations of the origins of the long head have been reported in the past. In this report, we review the clinical history, radiologic findings, and arthroscopic identifications of 3 anatomic variants of the biceps tendon long head. As the detection of long head of biceps tendon pathology during preoperative radiologic assessment can be difficult without prior knowledge, surgeons should be aware of such possible anatomic variations.
Anatomic Variation ; Head* ; Pathology ; Rotator Cuff ; Shoulder ; Tendons

BACKGROUND: In spite of relative high risk of extrapyramidal side effect and tardive dyskinesia, it is common clinical practice to use antipyschotics in treatment of bipolar I disorder. But in Korea, there has been few study about clinical factors related with antipsychotics treatment in bipolar disorder patients. So the author studied about the clinical factors related with antipsychotics treatment in bipolar inpatients focusing on the comparison of risperidone and classical antipsychotics. METHOD: By reviewing medical record retrospectively, datas about patient-related, illness-related, and treatment-related clinical factors on antipsychotics use were collected. Association between antipsychotics dose and duration and clinical factors were analysed by statistical method. RESULTS: Aggressive behavior was only statistically significant factor associated with antipsychotics use. And in the case of aggression, maintenance dose of risperidone was not changed(p=0.84), but dose of classical antipsychotics was increased significantly(p=0.005). Total hospital days and antipsychotics treatment duration showed no difference between risperidone and classical antipsychotics treatment groups. CONCLUSION: Clinical factors associated with antipsychotics use was aggressive behavior. In the case of aggression, risperidone required lesser dose increment compared with classical antipsychotics.
Aggression ; Antipsychotic Agents* ; Bipolar Disorder ; Humans ; Inpatients* ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Movement Disorders ; Retrospective Studies ; Risperidone*

OBJECTIVES: The authors have intended to know the drug interaction of fluoxetine and haloperidol when coadministering two drugs to the chronic schizophrenics by assessing the changes of positive, negative symptoms and extrapyramidal symptoms. METHOD: We selected 38 patients, the chronic schizophrenics with no physical problems. they are randomly assigned to placebo group and drug group. And then, placebo or fluoxetine 20mg were administered to the subjects of each group during 8 week period. We have assessed their psychopathology and extrapyramidal symptoms using positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS), Clinical Global Impression(CGI), Simpson-Angus Scale at o, 2, 4, 6, 8 week during the period. RESULTS: 38 patients have completed the study during 8 week. 1) PANSS, CGI : no significant difference between groups and no significant change according to the times. 2) Simpson-Angus Scale : no significant changes. CONCLUSION: When co-administering fluoxetine and haloperidol, there were no significant changes of psychopathology and extrapyramidal symptoms. There results suggest that it is safe to coadminister fluoxetine to schizophrenic with haloperidol treatment.
Drug Interactions ; Fluoxetine* ; Haloperidol* ; Humans ; Psychopathology*

OBJECTIVES: Schizophrenia manifests a variety of interindividual differences in therapeutic response to antipsychotics. This might be attributable to dopamine and serotonin receptors that a important target for various antipsychotics, and the D3 receptor(DRD3) alleles they carry. The purpose of our study was to investigate whether the plasma levels of homovanillic acid(HVA) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid(HIAA), and the polymorphism of DRD3 can be held as a predictor of treatment response ni chronic schizophrenic patients. METHODS: Therapeutic response for 16 korean schizophrenia patient treated during 48 weeks were assessed by PANSS used as the clinical symptom rating scales. The levels of concentration of HVA and 5-HIAA were examined by HPLC at baseline and at 48 weeks. We classified the polymorphism of DRD3 receptor using amplifying by polymerase chain reaction(PCR). RESULTS: Neither concentrations of HVA and 5-HIAA nor genotype of dopamine 3 receptor were not significantly associated with the therapeutic response. But, the patients who has A1 alleles of DRD3 gene showed poor therapeutic responses. CONCLUSION: A1 allele of DRD3 gene is associated with poor prognosis of chronic schizophrenia.
Alleles ; Antipsychotic Agents ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Dopamine* ; Genotype ; Homovanillic Acid ; Humans ; Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid ; Plasma* ; Prognosis ; Receptors, Dopamine D3* ; Receptors, Serotonin ; Schizophrenia ; Weights and Measures

OBJECTIVES: Risperidone and clozapine beling to a new generation of antipsychotics that are reportedly more effective and better tolerated than conventional neuroleptics. However, each of these agents costs far more per unit than conventional neuroletics. The purpose of our retrospective study was to ascertain the total cost and effectiveness of treatment before and after administration of risperidone and clozapine in 'revolving door' schizophrenia patients. METHOD: Data collected on revolving door schizophrenics for 2 years before clozapine and risperidone treatment and for at least 2 years after clozapine and risperidone treatment. Direct cost of inpatient and outpatient treatment was measured. Effectiveness was scaled as 'years of mild disability gained'. RESULT: Both risperidone and cloazpine result in higher costs and additional benefits to patients, for example, increased mild disability, reduced number of relapse, and reduced hospital length-of-stay. An ICER of risperidone was less than Rc and ICER of clozapine was greater than Rc. According to decision-analytic this model, risperidone had favorable cost-effectivenss ratios relative to clozapine. CONCLUSION: We have assumed that risperidone is more cost-effective than clozapine.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Clozapine* ; Cost-Benefit Analysis* ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Outpatients ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risperidone* ; Schizophrenia