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.

A clinical study was conducted to compare effectiveness of IV Globulin with that of steriod in childhood acute ITP. We carried out an experiment to 36 patients of acute ITP who recovered over 50.000/mm(3) of platelet count and not to recur in 6 months. Study group consist of 10 children who were treated with steriod only (Group A), 13 children who were treated with IV Globulin (0.4g/kg/d, 5 days, Group B), and 13 children combined with steroid (Group C) Study period was from January 1988 to December 1992, folllowing results were obtained. 1) There were no significant difference in sex ratio. age distribution, pretreatment hemoglobin level, platelet count and prolonged bleeding time among study groups. 2) The days which platelet count reached to 50.000/mm(3), 100,000/mm(3) were 3.7 days (Group A), 2.1 days (Group B), and 2.3 days (Group C), respectively (p<0.05). 3) Complete response rates within 4 weeks did not show significant difference (90% in Group A, 84.6% in Group B, 92.3% in Group C), the complete response rate within 1 week were significantly different among three group (44.4% in Group A, 90.9% in Group B, 83.3% in Group C)(p<0.05). In conclusion, it is more desirable for early treatment of a childhood ITP because IV Globulin is easy to normalize platelet count in a short time.
Age Distribution ; Bleeding Time ; Child ; Humans ; Platelet Count ; Sex Ratio

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