OBJECTIVE: Dopamine plays a significant role in working memory by acting as a key neuromodulator between brain networks. Additionally, treatment of patients with schizophrenia using amisulpride, a pure dopamine class 2/3 receptor antagonist, improves their clinical symptoms with fewer side effects. We hypothesized that patients with schizophrenia treated with amisulpride and aripiprazole show increased working memory and glucose metabolism compared with those treated with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and aripiprazole instead. METHODS: Sixteen patients with schizophrenia (eight in the amisulpride group [aripiprazole+amisulpride] and eight in the CBT group [aripiprazole+CBT]) and 15 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects were recruited for a 12-week-long prospective trial. An [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computerized tomography scanner was used to acquire the images. RESULTS: After 12 weeks of treatment, the amisulpride group showed greater improvement in the Letter-Number Span scores than the CBT group. Additionally, although brain metabolism in the left middle frontal gyrus, left occipital lingual gyrus, and right inferior parietal lobe was increased in all patients with schizophrenia, the amisulpride group exhibited a greater increase in metabolism in both the right superior frontal gyrus and right frontal precentral gyrus than the CBT group. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that a small dose of amisulpride improves the general psychopathology, working memory performance, and brain glucose metabolism of patients with schizophrenia treated with aripiprazole.
Aripiprazole ; Brain ; Cognition ; Cognitive Therapy ; Dopamine ; Electrons ; Frontal Lobe ; Glucose ; Humans ; Memory, Short-Term ; Metabolism ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Occipital Lobe ; Parietal Lobe ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Prefrontal Cortex ; Prospective Studies ; Psychopathology ; Schizophrenia ; Sulpiride

The bacilli Calmette-Guerin (BCG) Tokyo-172 strain was considered to exhibit good protective efficacy with a low rate of unfavorable side effects. However, we describe a rare case of BCG osteomyelitis developed in an immunocompetent host who was given with BCG Tokyo-172 vaccine on the left upper arm by multipuncture method. A 9-month-old girl presented with progressive inability to move her right elbow and had radiographic evidence of septic elbow combined with osteomyelitis of right distal humerus. A biopsy from the site revealed chronic caseating granulomatous inflammation, positive for BCG Tokyo-172 strain on the multiplex polymerase chain reaction. The child had to undergo second surgical debridements and oral antituberculosis chemotherapy. There were no sequelae after 2 yr of follow-up. This complication, although uncommon, should be considered in the appropriate clinical setting.
Antitubercular Agents/therapeutic use ; BCG Vaccine/*adverse effects ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Mycobacterium bovis/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Osteomyelitis/drug therapy/*etiology/*microbiology/surgery

PURPOSE: We aimed to determine whether 12 core-extended biopsies of the prostate could predict insignificant prostate cancer (IPCa) in Koreans reliably enough to recommend active surveillance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred and ninety-seven patients who underwent radical prostatectomy after 12 core-extended prostate biopsies were retrospectively reviewed. 38 cases (12.8%) were shown to be IPCa. RESULTS: The average age was 65.2 years, serum PSA was 5.49 ng/dL, and the PSA density was 0.11. The Gleason scores (GS) were 6 (3+3) in 31, 5 (3+2) in 4, and 4 (2+2) in 3. After radical prostatectomy, higher GS was given in 16 (42.1%), whereas lower GS was given in 1 case (2.6%), as compared with the GS obtained from biopsy. 11 (28.9%) had GS of 7 (3+4) and 5 (13.2%) had GS of 7 (4+3). 6 in GS 7 (4+3) and 1 in GS 7 (3+4) showed prostate capsule invasion and 1 in GS 7 (4+3) had seminal vesicle invasion. Prostate capsule invasion was observed in 1 with GS 6 (3+3). The rate of inaccuracy of the contemporary Epstein criteria was 42.1%. Only PSA density was a reliable indicator of clinically IPCa (odds ratio=1.384, 95% CI, 1.103 to 2.091). CONCLUSION: Diagnosis of IPCa from a prostate biopsy underestimated the true nature of prostate cancer in as many as 42.1% of Koreans.
Aged ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostate-Specific Antigen/blood ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms/blood/*diagnosis/surgery ; Retrospective Studies

We report two cases of dengue fever due to DENV-1 in the family members who returned from Manila, Philippines. Case 1: A 41-year-old female visited the clinic with a general weakness. She had a fever for 5 days. When she came back to Korea, her fever had subsided. The immunoglobulin M (IgM)-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for dengue virus was positive. Case 2: A 11-year-old female was admitted to the pediatric department after reporting symptoms of fever and abdominal pain upon returning from the Philippines. The RT-PCR result for DENV-1 was positive in blood, but IgM came out negative. Dengue fever should be suspected for those who have returned from an endemic area with reports of febrile illness and rash, particularly if thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, elevated serum aminotransferase are present. Using RT-PCR and serological test, the precise diagnosis should be made and proper management should be given to prevent secondary complications.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Child ; Dengue Virus ; Dengue* ; Diagnosis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Exanthema ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; Korea ; Leukopenia ; Philippines ; Serologic Tests ; Thrombocytopenia

We report two cases of dengue fever due to DENV-1 in the family members who returned from Manila, Philippines. Case 1: A 41-year-old female visited the clinic with a general weakness. She had a fever for 5 days. When she came back to Korea, her fever had subsided. The immunoglobulin M (IgM)-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for dengue virus was positive. Case 2: A 11-year-old female was admitted to the pediatric department after reporting symptoms of fever and abdominal pain upon returning from the Philippines. The RT-PCR result for DENV-1 was positive in blood, but IgM came out negative. Dengue fever should be suspected for those who have returned from an endemic area with reports of febrile illness and rash, particularly if thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, elevated serum aminotransferase are present. Using RT-PCR and serological test, the precise diagnosis should be made and proper management should be given to prevent secondary complications.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Child ; Dengue Virus ; Dengue* ; Diagnosis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Exanthema ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; Korea ; Leukopenia ; Philippines ; Serologic Tests ; Thrombocytopenia

OBJECTIVES: Echocardiographically determined left ventricular hypertrophy is associated with increased risk for sudden cardiae death and for complex ventricular arrhythmias in 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring. In subjects with left ventricular hypertrophy, the presence of asymptomatic complex ventricular arrhythmias is associated with higher incidence of sudden cardiac death and higher cardiovascular mortality. However, their accurate relationship and prognostic significances have been remained to be established. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between complex ventricular arrhythmias, left ventricular hypertrophy, and sudden cardiac death in Korean patients. METHODS: Twenty four hour ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring, echocardiographic data and medical records were reviewed in 360 subjects from 1991 to 1994. We evaluated the relationship between complex ventricular arrhythmias and left ventricular mass index, and the prognostic values of them. Of the 360 subjects, 187 could be followed up for one to four years. The mean follow-up period was 2.8 years. RESULTS: The incidence of complex ventricular arrhythmias was significantly correlated with left ventricular mass index and ejection fraction in all subjects. During the follow-up periods, seven of 187 subjects died from sudden cardiac death. Six of them had complex ventricular arrhythmias with left ventricular hypertrophy. CONCLUSION: The incidence of complex ventricular arrhythmias was significantly correlated with echocardiographically determined left ventricular hypertrophy and it is suggested that subjects with complex ventricular arrhythmias combined with left ventricular hypertrophy have higher risk for sudden cardiac death.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac* ; Cardia ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography, Ambulatory ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular* ; Incidence ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Prognosis

A 50-year-old male presented with acutely progressed paraplegia. His magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated two well-demarcated components with opposite signals in one cystic lesion between the T1- and T2-weighted images at the T1 spine level. The patient showed immediately improved neurological symptoms after surgical intervention and the histopathological exam was compatible with a neurenteric cyst. On operation, two different viscous drainages from the cyst were confirmed. A unique similarity of image findings was found from a review of the pertinent literature. The common findings of spinal neurenteric cyst include an isointense or mildly hyperintense signal relative to cerebrospinal fluid for both T1- and T2-weighted images. However, albeit rarer, the signals of some part of the cyst could change into brightly hyperintensity on T1-weighted images and hypointensity on T2-weighted images due to the differing sedimentation of the more viscous contents in the cyst.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Neural Tube Defects/diagnosis/physiopathology/surgery ; *Spinal Cord/pathology/surgery ; *Spinal Cord Diseases/diagnosis/physiopathology/surgery

In our department we selected 52 patients in ASA Class I, aged from 20 to 60 years old undergoing operation of lower limbs and lower abdomen, lasting 1 to 2 hours of duration. They were divided into 2 groups, group A (30 patients) using 0.5% hyperbaric Tcaine 13 mg (2.6 ml), group B (22 patiens) using 0.25% hyperbaric bupivacaine 10 mg (4 ml), which were injected into intrathecal space. Sensory loss level was significantly higher in group A than in group B. The time taken for the block to reach maximum level was significantly faster in group B. Analgesic duration was significantly shorter in group B. In group B, onset of motor blockade was significantly slower and also, the total duration was significantly shorter. In group A, significant decrease of diastolic and systolic blood presssure were noted. Hyperbaric 0.25% bupivacaine can be used for short timed operation of lower limbs and lower abdomen without changes of cardiovascular system.
Abdomen ; Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Anesthetics ; Bupivacaine* ; Cardiovascular System ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Middle Aged

Enterobacteriaceae is a family of gram-negative, rod-shaped bacteria that consists of various species. Among these, members of the genus Cedecea has been reported as relatively rare causative pathogens of human infections. Commercially available automated identification systems that use biochemical reactions are known to accurately identify Enterobacteriaceae species. However, the accurate identification of some organisms with diverse biochemical profiles by these automated identification systems may be problematic. In this study, we report two cases of isolate misidentification, from patients with acute cholecystitis and deep vein thrombosis, as Cedecea davisae with VITEK II system. Both the isolates were correctly identified as Enterobacter hormaechei using gyrB gene sequence analysis. We also performed 16S rRNA sequence analyses and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry analyses; however, indeterminate results were obtained from both the assays. Therefore, the sequence analysis of alternative genes, like gyrB, might be useful for accurate identification of species that belong to the family of Enterobacteriaceae.
Bacteria ; Cholecystitis, Acute ; Enterobacter* ; Enterobacteriaceae ; Humans ; Mass Spectrometry ; Sequence Analysis ; Venous Thrombosis

Renin-angiotensin system is considered important in the genesis of hypertension and development of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). The angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism has been associated with susceptibility to the development of some renal diseases. We investigated the association of ACE gene polymorphism with the progression to hypertension and ESRD in 108 patients with ADPKD. The ACE I/D polymorphism was amplified with the flanking primers by polymerase chain reaction. In patients genotyped for ACE gene polymorphism, the frequencies of DD (15+ACU-), ID (51+ACU-) and II (34+ACU-) genotypes were similar to those of the general population. Of the 108 patients, 64 (59+ACU-) developed hypertension and 24 (22+ACU-) reached ESRD at the time of study. The prevalence of hypertension was not significantly different among the three genotypes. The mean renal survival time was 53-6 yr in II genotype, 5510 yr in ID genotype and 529 yr in DD genotype which was not significantly different among them. Cumulative renal survival was not significantly different either. There was no association of ACE gene polymorphism with the prevalence of hypertension and renal survival in ADPKD. We suggest that ACE I/D polymorphism is not an important modifying gene in the progression of ADPKD.
Adult ; Aged ; Comparative Study ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Human ; Hypertension, Renal/etiology ; Hypertension, Renal/epidemiology ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/etiology ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/epidemiology ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Age ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A/genetics+ACo- ; Polycystic Kidney, Autosomal Dominant/genetics+ACo- ; Polycystic Kidney, Autosomal Dominant/epidemiology ; Polycystic Kidney, Autosomal Dominant/enzymology ; Polycystic Kidney, Autosomal Dominant/complications ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism (Genetics)+ACo- ; Prevalence