BACKGROUND: In recent studies, tacrolimus ointment has been shown to be effective for the treatment of atopic dermatitis with an excellent safety profile. OBJECTIVE: This study was done to assess the efficacy and side-effects of tacrolimus ointment for the facial atopic dermatitis(AD) in Korean. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Open-label, non-comparative study with 2 months' follow-up was done to assess the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus ointment (Protopic0ointment 0.1%, Fujisawa, Japan) in moderate to severe facial AD. Patients were instructed to apply it two times daily for 8 weeks. Facial lesions were evaluated at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks of treatment with in-tensity score by investigator. RESULTS: In comparing of intensity scores and each clinical score at baseline with those of 4 and 8 weeks of treatment, a significant decrease was noticed at all follow-up periods. Burning sense(54.5%) and pruritus(18.2%) were detected. CONCLUSION: Tacrolimus ointment is effective in treatment of severe facial AD and has tolerable mild adverse effects at the site of application in Korean.
Burns ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Research Personnel ; Tacrolimus*

PURPOSE: The ictal perfusion patterns of cerebellum and basal ganglia have not been systematically investigated in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Their ictal perfusion patterns were analyzed in relation with temporal lobe and frontal lobe hyperperfusion during TLE seizures using SPECT subtraction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-three TLE patients had interictal and ictal SPECT, video-EEG monitoring, SPGR MRI, and SPECT subtraction with MRI co-registration. RESULTS: The vermian cerebellar hyperperfusion (CH) was observed in 26 patients (78.8%) and hemispheric CH in 25 (75.8%). Compared to the side of epileptogenic temporal lobe, there were seven ipsilateral hemispheric CH (28.0%), fifteen contralateral hemispheric CH (60.0%) and three bilateral hemispheric CH (12.0%). CH was more frequently observed in patients with additional frontal hyperperfusion (14/15, 93.3%) than in patients without frontal hyperperfusion (11/18, 61.1%). The basal ganglia hyperperfusion (BGH) was seen in 11 of the 15 patients with frontotemporal hyperperfusion (73.3%) and 11 of the 18 with temporal hyperperfusion only (61.1%). In 17 patients with unilateral BGH, contralateral CH to the BGH was observed in 14 (82.5%) and ipsilateral CH to BGH in 2 (11.8%) and bilateral CH in 1 (5.9%). CONCLUSION: The cerebellar hyperperfusion and basal ganglia hyperperfusion during seizures of TLE can be contralateral, ipsilateral or bilateral to the seizure focus. The presence of additional frontal or basal ganglia hyperperfusion was more frequently associated with contralateral hemispheric CH to their sides. However, temporal lobe hyperperfusion appears to be related with both ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheric CH.
Basal Ganglia* ; Cerebellum* ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe* ; Frontal Lobe ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Perfusion ; Seizures ; Temporal Lobe* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

Background: Metformin (MET) has been used to prevent weight gain in patients treated with antipsychotic drugs. However, liraglutide (LIRA), initially used for diabetes, is now considered for obesity treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and safety of these drugs in patients with psychiatric disorders. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on patients prescribed and administered MET and LIRA from January 1, 2017 to August 31, 2023. To assess treatment efficacy, the mean change in the body mass index of the patients before and after drug use was calculated for both medications. Drug safety was evaluated by determining the early discontinuation and occurrence of adverse effects. Results: We collected data from 45 patients, with the majority being women (84.4%). The most frequently diagnosed psychiatric disorders were depressive disorder for LIRA (35.3%) and psychotic disorder for MET (63.6%). No demographic variations were observed between patients who were administered the two types of drugs. The treatment efficacy and safety of both drugs did not show any statistically significant difference. When conducting a subgroup analysis exclusively on patients diagnosed with psychotic disorders (n = 14), MET showed better efficacy; however, no statistically significant difference was observed (−2.48±3.17 vs. 0.56±2.93, t=−1.860, p=0.088). Conclusion LIRA and MET did not show any significant differences in terms of therapeutic efficacy and safety. However, in patients diagnosed with psychotic disorders, MET showed better efficacy and was cost-effective than LIRA. Future studies with larger sample sizes are required to confirm these findings.

Background: Metformin (MET) has been used to prevent weight gain in patients treated with antipsychotic drugs. However, liraglutide (LIRA), initially used for diabetes, is now considered for obesity treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and safety of these drugs in patients with psychiatric disorders. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on patients prescribed and administered MET and LIRA from January 1, 2017 to August 31, 2023. To assess treatment efficacy, the mean change in the body mass index of the patients before and after drug use was calculated for both medications. Drug safety was evaluated by determining the early discontinuation and occurrence of adverse effects. Results: We collected data from 45 patients, with the majority being women (84.4%). The most frequently diagnosed psychiatric disorders were depressive disorder for LIRA (35.3%) and psychotic disorder for MET (63.6%). No demographic variations were observed between patients who were administered the two types of drugs. The treatment efficacy and safety of both drugs did not show any statistically significant difference. When conducting a subgroup analysis exclusively on patients diagnosed with psychotic disorders (n = 14), MET showed better efficacy; however, no statistically significant difference was observed (−2.48±3.17 vs. 0.56±2.93, t=−1.860, p=0.088). Conclusion LIRA and MET did not show any significant differences in terms of therapeutic efficacy and safety. However, in patients diagnosed with psychotic disorders, MET showed better efficacy and was cost-effective than LIRA. Future studies with larger sample sizes are required to confirm these findings.

Background: Metformin (MET) has been used to prevent weight gain in patients treated with antipsychotic drugs. However, liraglutide (LIRA), initially used for diabetes, is now considered for obesity treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and safety of these drugs in patients with psychiatric disorders. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on patients prescribed and administered MET and LIRA from January 1, 2017 to August 31, 2023. To assess treatment efficacy, the mean change in the body mass index of the patients before and after drug use was calculated for both medications. Drug safety was evaluated by determining the early discontinuation and occurrence of adverse effects. Results: We collected data from 45 patients, with the majority being women (84.4%). The most frequently diagnosed psychiatric disorders were depressive disorder for LIRA (35.3%) and psychotic disorder for MET (63.6%). No demographic variations were observed between patients who were administered the two types of drugs. The treatment efficacy and safety of both drugs did not show any statistically significant difference. When conducting a subgroup analysis exclusively on patients diagnosed with psychotic disorders (n = 14), MET showed better efficacy; however, no statistically significant difference was observed (−2.48±3.17 vs. 0.56±2.93, t=−1.860, p=0.088). Conclusion LIRA and MET did not show any significant differences in terms of therapeutic efficacy and safety. However, in patients diagnosed with psychotic disorders, MET showed better efficacy and was cost-effective than LIRA. Future studies with larger sample sizes are required to confirm these findings.

Background: Metformin (MET) has been used to prevent weight gain in patients treated with antipsychotic drugs. However, liraglutide (LIRA), initially used for diabetes, is now considered for obesity treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and safety of these drugs in patients with psychiatric disorders. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on patients prescribed and administered MET and LIRA from January 1, 2017 to August 31, 2023. To assess treatment efficacy, the mean change in the body mass index of the patients before and after drug use was calculated for both medications. Drug safety was evaluated by determining the early discontinuation and occurrence of adverse effects. Results: We collected data from 45 patients, with the majority being women (84.4%). The most frequently diagnosed psychiatric disorders were depressive disorder for LIRA (35.3%) and psychotic disorder for MET (63.6%). No demographic variations were observed between patients who were administered the two types of drugs. The treatment efficacy and safety of both drugs did not show any statistically significant difference. When conducting a subgroup analysis exclusively on patients diagnosed with psychotic disorders (n = 14), MET showed better efficacy; however, no statistically significant difference was observed (−2.48±3.17 vs. 0.56±2.93, t=−1.860, p=0.088). Conclusion LIRA and MET did not show any significant differences in terms of therapeutic efficacy and safety. However, in patients diagnosed with psychotic disorders, MET showed better efficacy and was cost-effective than LIRA. Future studies with larger sample sizes are required to confirm these findings.

Background: Metformin (MET) has been used to prevent weight gain in patients treated with antipsychotic drugs. However, liraglutide (LIRA), initially used for diabetes, is now considered for obesity treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and safety of these drugs in patients with psychiatric disorders. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on patients prescribed and administered MET and LIRA from January 1, 2017 to August 31, 2023. To assess treatment efficacy, the mean change in the body mass index of the patients before and after drug use was calculated for both medications. Drug safety was evaluated by determining the early discontinuation and occurrence of adverse effects. Results: We collected data from 45 patients, with the majority being women (84.4%). The most frequently diagnosed psychiatric disorders were depressive disorder for LIRA (35.3%) and psychotic disorder for MET (63.6%). No demographic variations were observed between patients who were administered the two types of drugs. The treatment efficacy and safety of both drugs did not show any statistically significant difference. When conducting a subgroup analysis exclusively on patients diagnosed with psychotic disorders (n = 14), MET showed better efficacy; however, no statistically significant difference was observed (−2.48±3.17 vs. 0.56±2.93, t=−1.860, p=0.088). Conclusion LIRA and MET did not show any significant differences in terms of therapeutic efficacy and safety. However, in patients diagnosed with psychotic disorders, MET showed better efficacy and was cost-effective than LIRA. Future studies with larger sample sizes are required to confirm these findings.

Sometimes it is not easy to make the diagnosis of myasthenia gravis (MG). The aim of our study was to understand the diagnostic sensitivities of tensilon, repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS), single fiber EMG (SFEMG) tests, acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies (Ab), and to know their comparative significances for making diagnosis of MG. Those tests were safely completed in 40 myasthenia gravis, which consisted of 17 ocular, 21 generalized, 1 acute severe, 1 late severe MG. In all 40 subjects at least one of the tests was abnormal. The positive rates of tensilon, RNS tests, SFEMG, AChR Ab were 92.5%, 65.0%, 90.0%, and 82.5% respectively. The sensitivities of each tests were high in severe MG group, compared with those in mild MG group, because the positive rates were decreased from 100.0% to 89.2% in tensilon tests, from 83.3% to 57.1% in RNS test, from 100.0% to 89.2% in SFEMG tests and 91.7% to 78.6% in AChR Ab test. The positive results of RNS test was increased from 32.5% on abductor digiti quinti (ADQ) to 65.0% on orbicularis oculi (OOC). Among 3 cases with negative tensilon test, the RNS test in 1 case, the SFEMG tests were positive in all 3 cases, and the AChR Ab assay 1case. Among 3 cases with negative SFEMG, the tensilon tests were positive in 3 all cases, the RNS test in 1case and the AChR Ab assay in 1 cases. Among 5 cases, with negative RNS teses and negative AChR Ab assay, the tensilon tesrs wre positive in 3 cases and the SFEMG tests in 3 cases. Therefore we conclude that tensilon and SFEMG tests were more sensitive than RNS tests and AChR Ab assay. SFEMG test would be indicated to diagnose MG, especially in those mild MG cases with negative stensilon test. Also AChR Ab assay could improve diagnostic yields.
Acetylcholine ; Antibodies ; Diagnosis ; Edrophonium ; Myasthenia Gravis*

No abstract available.
Caroli Disease*

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of CarnitilR (acetylcarnitine, Hanmi, Korea) therapy in idiopathic oligoasthenospermic men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-four subfertile men with abnormal semen parameters were treated between March, 2003 and March, 2004 with 3 g of CarnitilR daily for 3 months. Changes in semen parameters were evaluated 3 months after this therapy. RESULTS: The mean age was 34.2 years and the mean follow-up duration was 3.7 months. In asthenospemic patients (n=28), semen analysis before and after CarnitilR treatment showed an increase in volume (2.64+/-1.65 ml vs. 3.10+/-1.60 ml), motility (35.1+/-17.7% vs. 45.9+/-20.4%) and viability (51.4+/-20.3% vs. 59.3+/-13.6%) respectively. In oligoasthenospermic patients (n=16), semen analysis before and after CarnitilR treatment showed an increase in sperm count (10.7+/-54.4 million/ml vs. 38.4+/-32.5 million/ml) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that in idiopathic oligoasthenospermic men the empirical medical therapy with acetylcarnitine may be considered as primary treatment.
Acetylcarnitine* ; Carnitine ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; Male ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count