OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the influences of affect states and mood congruent/incongruent variables in psychosis-proneness. METHODS: Five hundred and two undergraduate students completed the SPQ and other scales. Psychosis-proneness was measured by Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ), and affect states were measured by Positive Affect and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). Mood congruent variables were measured by Mood reactivity in Mood Survey and Affect Intensity Measure (AIM), and mood incongruent variables were measured by Trait Meta-Mood Scale (TMMS), Emotional Inhibition and Aggression Control in Emotional Control Questionnaire (ECQ). RESULTS: By hierachical regression analysis, total 39.1% of SPQ total score variance was explained by emotion related variables. In detail, negative and positive affect states explained 26% of variance, and affect intensity and mood reactivity of mood-congruent variables added 7.7% and mood aware, emotional inhibition & aggression control among mood-incongruent variables added 5.5%. And emotion related variables explained 43.8% of negative symptom, 27.6% of positive symptom and 23.6% of disorganization score. CONCLUSION: Negative affect was revealed as important factor for psychosis-proneness, and positive affect acted as the reversed role. Mood reactivity and affect intensity acted as mood congruent variables which amplified and reinforced the influence of negative affect on psychosis-proneness. Mood aware, repair and aggression control acted as mood incongruent variables which modulated and reduce the influence of negative affect, while mood attention and emotional inhibition acted as mood congruent variables in contrast with the prediction.
Aggression ; Appointments and Schedules ; Humans ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Weights and Measures

No abstract available.
Ceruloplasmin* ; Cholesterol, HDL* ; Copper* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Iron* ; Zinc*

Intracaval neoplastic extension of renal cell carcinoma to the right atrium has been reported in 14-39% of the patients with carcinoma involving the vena cava. We report a case of 44-year-old woman hospitalized with intermittent vomiting and presented with evidence of renal cell carcinoma extending into the inferior vena cava and right atrium on CF and MRI. We successfully managed renal cell carcinoma surgically extending into the right atrium using hypothermia and circulatory arrest.
Adult ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Female ; Heart Atria* ; Humans ; Hypothermia* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Vena Cava, Inferior* ; Vomiting

No abstract available.

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular hypertrophy(LVH) is a powerful indepedent risk factor of ventricular tachycardia and sudden death. Even though it is not clear the mechanism of sudden death in patients with LVH, inhomogenous ventricular repolarization is highly suggested. QT dispersion which reflecting regional inhomogeneity of repolarization is defined as interlead variation in QT intervals of 12 leads ECG. The purpose of this study was to assess whether QT dispersion is associated with LVH in hypertensive patients. METHODS: We assessed 23 untreated hypertensives with echocardiographic LVH and normal left ventricular systolic function. The criteria of 5th Joint National Committee stage I-III was used to define hypertension. Thirty four normotensives was assessed as controls. On a standard 12 lead ECG, the intervals between onset of QRS to end of T wave were measured(QT intervals) and corrected by heart rate(QTc). QT dispersion was calculated by the difference of maximal and minimal QTc. Left ventricular mass(LVM) was calculated from Devereux's formula using the parameters measured by the recommendation of American Society of Echocardiography. LVH was defined by LVM indices over 130 g/m2. RESULTS: LVM indices of hypertensive group were significantly greater than those of controls (162.2+/-39.3 g/m2 vs 84.2+/-16.1 g/m2, p<0.001). Maximal QT and QTc of hypertensive group were significantly prolonged than those of controls(maximal QT=401+/-31 ms vs 380+/-35 ms, p<0.05 ; maximal QTc=432+/-19 ms vs 414+/-17 ms, p<0.001). QT dispersions were significantly greater in hypertensive group than in controls(60.2+/-15.7 ms vs 33.2+/-11.7 ms, p<0.001). In hypertensive group, there was significant association between LVM index and QT dispersion(r=0.492, p=0.017). CONCLUSIONS: Hypertensives with LVH have a prolonged QT and QTc and increased QT dispersion in comparision with controls. QT dispersion in these patients correlates with degree of LVH.
Death, Sudden ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Heart ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular* ; Joints ; Risk Factors ; Tachycardia, Ventricular

Heterotopic pregnancy with coexistiong intrauterine and extrauterine pregnancy, is a rare event in natural pregnancy. However, in recent years, the increase in the incidence of pelvic inflammatory disease and use of assisted reproductive technology had led to an increase in the frequency of heterotopic pregnancy. When the diagnosis of heterotopic pregnancy is delayed, maternal mortality and morbidity may be increased, and unwanted loss of intrauterine pregnancy may occur. Therefore, the early diagnosis of heterotopic pregnancy is clinically important, and clinicians have to consider the possibility of heterotopic pregnancy and conduct careful and thorough evaluation if suspected. We experienced a case of heterotopic pregnancy in a woman in the absence of the known risk factors. She underwent underwent spontaneous abortion of intrauterine pregnancy at postoperative 4th day, after laparoscopic salpingectomy for left tubal pregnancy. We report this case with brief review of literature.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Maternal Mortality ; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Heterotopic* ; Pregnancy, Tubal* ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; Risk Factors ; Salpingectomy

Heterotopic pregnancy with coexistiong intrauterine and extrauterine pregnancy, is a rare event in natural pregnancy. However, in recent years, the increase in the incidence of pelvic inflammatory disease and use of assisted reproductive technology had led to an increase in the frequency of heterotopic pregnancy. When the diagnosis of heterotopic pregnancy is delayed, maternal mortality and morbidity may be increased, and unwanted loss of intrauterine pregnancy may occur. Therefore, the early diagnosis of heterotopic pregnancy is clinically important, and clinicians have to consider the possibility of heterotopic pregnancy and conduct careful and thorough evaluation if suspected. We experienced a case of heterotopic pregnancy in a woman in the absence of the known risk factors. She underwent underwent spontaneous abortion of intrauterine pregnancy at postoperative 4th day, after laparoscopic salpingectomy for left tubal pregnancy. We report this case with brief review of literature.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Maternal Mortality ; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Heterotopic* ; Pregnancy, Tubal* ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; Risk Factors ; Salpingectomy

Data from clinical studies are needed for psychiatrists to make quick and scientific decisions based on the best available evidence in clinical settings. Various methods of clinical studies are useful for clinicians to have reliable answers to unmet clinical needs. Although randomized controlled trials may provide high-quality information about major issues, well-designed, naturalistic and observational studies often give us unbiased explanation for real-world phenomena. Adequate selection of clinical variables and appropriate number of participants are key factors of well-designed clinical studies. Statistical methods can add an extra dimension to initial design of clinical studies. Given ethical issues in clinical studies on psychiatric disorders, special regards should be paid to participants' ability to provide informed consents. New strategies of clinical studies need to be developed to meet clinical needs and protect the rights and welfare of study participants.
Ethics, Research ; Human Rights ; Psychiatry

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the patterns of psychotropic medications prescribed to patients admitted to an open psychiatric ward. METHODS: We reviewed 4282 medical records of patients who were discharged from an open psychiatric ward from May 2003 through April 2014. Data were collected on each patient's age, sex, length of hospital stay, number of past admissions, discharge diagnosis, and kinds and dosages of psychotropic medications at discharge. RESULTS: Among the 1384 male and 2898 female patients, 3.56 psychotropic medications were prescribed on average, with the number increasing across years, from 3.30 in 2003-2008 to 3.76 in 2009-2014. Prescription rates of antipsychotics, anxiolytics, and hypnotics significantly increased in patients with depressive disorders, bipolar disorders, anxiety disorders, delirium, dementia, and amnestic and other cognitive disorders. Only lithium prescription rates decreased significantly. Prescriptions for two or more anxiolytics and antipsychotics increased during the survey years, while antidepressant polypharmacy rates decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Recently, there has been a significant increase in the number of psychotropic medications prescribed, including antipsychotics, anxiolytics, and hypnotics. Caution should be exercised when prescribing medications to avoid cost increases and the risk of side effects, with uncertain gains in the quality of care.
Anti-Anxiety Agents ; Antipsychotic Agents ; Anxiety Disorders ; Bipolar Disorder ; Delirium ; Dementia ; Depressive Disorder ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Gyeonggi-do* ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Length of Stay ; Lithium ; Male ; Medical Records ; Polypharmacy ; Prescriptions*

OBJECTIVE: Lamotrigine's possible efficacy in the treatment of depressive disorders has been suggested. This naturalistic study investigated clinical response to lamotrigine augmentation in patients with treatment-resistant depression. Characteristics of the lamotrigine-responders were also explored. METHODS: Clinical data from 40 lamotrigine- treated patients with treatment-resistant unipolar depression were analyzed. The subjects were diagnosed with DSM-IV major depressive disorder and resistant to at least 2 antidepressants. Efficacy of lamotrigine treatment was measured by the changes in mean scores of the Clinical Global Impression Severity subscale (CGI-S), which were extracted from the prospective mood chart and structured interviews. Response was defined as a decrease of at least 2 or more from baseline on the CGI-S. Untoward effects associated with lamotrigine treatment were also assessed through medical records. RESULTS: Significant reduction in the CGI-S mean score was observed from baseline through 8 week lamotrigine augmentation in 40 patients with treatment-resistant unipolar depression (t=5.7, df=39, p<.01), and the magnitude of treatment effect was large (r(effect size)=0.68). Drop-outs were mainly attributable to lamotrigine-associated rash (N=5). Greater rate of improvement was associated with responder group (N=14) compared to non-responder group (N=17) from week 3 onward. CONCLUSION: The results of current study lend support to the potential benefit of lamotrigine augmentation in a subpopulation of patients with treatmentresistant unipolar depression. Continuation of lamotrigine add-on for more than 3 weeks may be needed to assess clinical outcome. Lamotrigine augmentation was generally well-tolerated. Large scale, double-blind studies are necessary to confirm its use as an augmentation agent.
Antidepressive Agents ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Double-Blind Method ; Exanthema ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Triazines