No abstract available.
Fournier Gangrene*

No abstract available.

We investigated whether the two variant elements of CRE(TGcCGTCA[5'CRE], TGACcTCA[3'CRE]) in the 5'flanking region of the rat TRH gene, which are different from the CRE consensus sequence(5'-TGACGTCA-3') by one base pair, are responsive to cAMP, and whether the one base pair difference is responsible for the degree of cAMP responsiveness of the gene. When CA 77 cells were stimulated with forskolin and isobutylmethylxanthine for 4 hours, the level of TRH mRNA was increased by only two fold. The transient gene expression study using serial 5'deletion of the TRH gene in PC12 cells showed that the region between-113 and-77, which includes 5'CRE, was crucial for the cAMP resonsiveness. When the plasmid, which contains the 30 bp oligonucleotide including either 5'CRE or 3'CRE ligated to the enhancerless RSV promoter, was transfected into PC12 cells, it did not significantly affect not only the basal transcription but cAMP responsiveness. The 65 bp oligonucleotide including both 5'CRE and 3'CRE, however, increased both of the basal transcription and cAMP-stimulated transcription by 2-3 fold. When the sequence of 5'CRE was converted to that of the CRE consensus by replacing one base pair, the cAMP responsiveness was increased by two fold although the basal transcription was not increased. The one base pair mutant of 3'CRE increased both of the basal and cAMP-stimulated transcription by 3-4 fold. These results suggest that there are the two variant CREs in rat TRH gene, which are relatively weak CRE compared to the CREs of other neuropeptide genes and cooperative for the activation of both the basal and cAMP-stimulated transcription. The one base pair difference of the variant CREs from the CRE consensus sequence is responsible for the weak responsiveness to cAMP.
Animals ; Base Pairing ; Colforsin ; Consensus ; Consensus Sequence ; Cyclic AMP ; Gene Expression ; Neuropeptides ; PC12 Cells ; Plasmids ; Rats ; Response Elements ; RNA, Messenger ; Thyrotropin ; Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone

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.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The endoscopic mucosal resection has now been adopted for a useful modality in both curative therapy and accurate diagnosis of early gastric cancer. A retrospective study was done to evaluate the indication and the limitation of endoscopic mucosal resection of early gastric cancer. METHODS: We studied 20 cases of early gastric cancer treated by endoscopic mucosal resection in Chungnam National University Hospital from November, 1995 to July, 1997. RESULTS: 1) The size affected the curability: 83. 3% of lesions less than 2 cm and 50. 0% of those larger than 2 cm were resected completely. 2) The depth of cancer invasion affected the curability: 87. 5% of lesion confined to mucosa were resected completely, while all of submucosal cancers were resected incompletely. 3) Among fourteen cases resected completely, three cases of lesions larger than 2 cm were residual cancer and two of those less than 2 cm were recurred locally. CONCLUSIONS: To be a curative therapy by endoscopic mucosal resection of early gastric cancer, we think that careful selection of the lesion, that is lesion less than 2cm and confined to mucosa, is necessary
Chungcheongnam-do ; Diagnosis ; Mucous Membrane ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms*

PURPOSE: To evaluate effectiveness of oblique approach under biplane fluoroscopic guidance in transthoracic fine needle aspiration biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen consecutive patients underwent transthoracic fine needle aspiration biopsy for subcarinal lesions. Subcarina was the only accessible biopsy site in 13 patients. Subcarinal biopsy was performed to determine the presence of metastasis in an enlarged subcarinal lymph node in the remaining one patient. Before biopsy, we evaluated the size and location of the lesion on preliminary plain chest X-ray film and CT scan. Under dual projection fluoroscopic guidence, biopsy was performed through right posterior intercostal space with the patient prone by using oblique approach. On 15 degree LAO projection the needle was directed to the area anterior to the spine and advanced to the line extending through the posterior wall of the main bronchus. RESULTS: Cytologic diagnosis was made in 12 out of 14 patients(accuracy 85.7%). The final diagnosis consisted of 5 squamous cell carcinoma, 5 small cell carcinoma, 1 adenocarcinoma and 1 adenosquamous carcinoma. Pneumothorax developed in 2 patients(14%) and was managed by chest tube drainage. Mild hemoptysis was observed in 2. CONCLUSION: Transthoracic fine needle aspiration biopsy using oblique approach under biplane fluoroscopic guidance is a relatively safe and sensitive method for the histologic diagnosis of subcarinal lesion.
Adenocarcinoma ; Biopsy* ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Bronchi ; Carcinoma, Adenosquamous ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Chest Tubes ; Diagnosis ; Drainage ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Needles ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pneumothorax ; Spine ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; X-Ray Film