OBJECTIVES: To examine emotional and psychological characteristics associated with suicide attempts in depressed patients. METHODS: A sample of 37 inpatients diagnosed with major depressive disorder or depressive disorder NOS was divided into two groups : lifetime suicide attempters(N=15 ; 40.54%), non-attempters(N=22 ; 59.46%). Beck Depression Scale(BDI), Beck Anxiety Scale(BAI), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale(HDRS), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale(HARS), and MMPI-2 were used to evaluate symptoms severity and psychological characteristics. RESULTS: Suicide attempters scored higher on the BDI though there were no group differences on the HDRS and on the both anxiety scales. Also they showed higher scores on the F, Fb, Pa, RC1, DEP, HEA, PK, AAS among MMPI-2 subscales. Our findings suggest that suicide attempters among depressed patients undergo more severe subjective distress and difficulties in adjustment than non-attempters. Also they were more hostile to others and showed lower trust. Lastly, they showed more somatic complaints and substance related problems. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that suicide attempters among depressed patients have distinct emotional and psychological characteristics. MMPI-2 would be helpful to assess suicidal risk of depressed patients.
Anxiety ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Pyrrolidines ; Suicide ; Weights and Measures

Purpura fulminans is a potentially disabling and life-threatening disorder characterized by acute onset of progressive cutaneous hemorrhage and necrosis on distal extremities, and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. We experienced a case of purpura fulminans due to Streptococcus pneumoniae. A 42-year-old women presented with skin petechiae, ecchymosis and gangrene on distal extremities with laboratory evidence of DIC. The latex agglutination test with CSF was positive at Streptococcus pneumoniae. To our knowledge, this is the first report of purpura fulminans caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in Korea.
Adult ; Dacarbazine ; Ecchymosis ; Extremities ; Female ; Gangrene ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Korea ; Latex Fixation Tests ; Necrosis ; Purpura Fulminans* ; Purpura* ; Sepsis ; Skin ; Streptococcus pneumoniae* ; Streptococcus*

Purpose: To assess the effect of medically-attended injury (MAI) on the use of home safety equipment, we analyzed the differences in parents’ perception and attitude about injury prevention, and use of home safety equipment depending on the children’s MAI experiences. Methods: From March 2018 through February 2019, we surveyed parents of children aged 5 years or younger via a mobile phone. The parents were divided into the MAI and non-MAI groups. The mobile survey focused on the perception and attitude about injury prevention, and use of home safety equipment (if not used, barriers). Results: Of the 204 parents, 75 (36.8%) reported their children’s MAI, comprising the MAI group. This group used the safety equipment more frequently than the non-MAI group (odds ratio, 7.03; 95% confidence interval, 3.39-14.59; P < 0.001). No significant differences between the 2 groups were found in the perception and attitude about injury prevention, barriers to the use of the equipment, and the type of the equipment in use. Conclusion Parents’ experience in their children’s MAIs was associated with the use of home safety equipment, but it did not affect their perception and attitude about injury prevention. A visit to the emergency department with MAI is an opportunity for education on injury prevention and changes of the attitude.

Purpose: The optimal time for home safety intervention for children’s injury prevention is during the injury-related visits to emergency departments. The authors investigated the effect of home safety equipment provision on the guardians’ perception of injury prevention and attitude toward it, and the use of home safety equipment. Methods: We conducted a double blind randomized controlled study on guardians of children aged 7 years or younger who visited the emergency department with accidental injuries. After completing the structured, pre-intervention survey on home safety, the guardians were randomly assigned to receive either home safety equipment (the intervention group) or stationery (the control group) in the same opaque boxes enclosing pamphlets about home safety education. After 4 weeks, the guardians were contacted for the post-intervention survey. The questionnaires for the latter survey consisted of the same contents with 2 added questions regarding the use of new home safety equipment after intervention. Logistic regressions were conducted to identify factors associated with the outcome (i.e., behavioral change). Results: From April through October 2019, we approached 972 guardians. Of these, 59 guardians answered both pre- and post-intervention surveys. No differences were found in the perception and attitude, and use of home safety equipment between the intervention and control groups at the pre- and post-intervention surveys. No variables were associated with the primary outcome. Conclusion Provision of home safety equipment may be inadequate to improve guardians’ behaviors about prevention of domestic injuries.

Purpose: To assess the effect of medically-attended injury (MAI) on the use of home safety equipment, we analyzed the differences in parents’ perception and attitude about injury prevention, and use of home safety equipment depending on the children’s MAI experiences. Methods: From March 2018 through February 2019, we surveyed parents of children aged 5 years or younger via a mobile phone. The parents were divided into the MAI and non-MAI groups. The mobile survey focused on the perception and attitude about injury prevention, and use of home safety equipment (if not used, barriers). Results: Of the 204 parents, 75 (36.8%) reported their children’s MAI, comprising the MAI group. This group used the safety equipment more frequently than the non-MAI group (odds ratio, 7.03; 95% confidence interval, 3.39-14.59; P < 0.001). No significant differences between the 2 groups were found in the perception and attitude about injury prevention, barriers to the use of the equipment, and the type of the equipment in use. Conclusion Parents’ experience in their children’s MAIs was associated with the use of home safety equipment, but it did not affect their perception and attitude about injury prevention. A visit to the emergency department with MAI is an opportunity for education on injury prevention and changes of the attitude.

Purpose: The optimal time for home safety intervention for children’s injury prevention is during the injury-related visits to emergency departments. The authors investigated the effect of home safety equipment provision on the guardians’ perception of injury prevention and attitude toward it, and the use of home safety equipment. Methods: We conducted a double blind randomized controlled study on guardians of children aged 7 years or younger who visited the emergency department with accidental injuries. After completing the structured, pre-intervention survey on home safety, the guardians were randomly assigned to receive either home safety equipment (the intervention group) or stationery (the control group) in the same opaque boxes enclosing pamphlets about home safety education. After 4 weeks, the guardians were contacted for the post-intervention survey. The questionnaires for the latter survey consisted of the same contents with 2 added questions regarding the use of new home safety equipment after intervention. Logistic regressions were conducted to identify factors associated with the outcome (i.e., behavioral change). Results: From April through October 2019, we approached 972 guardians. Of these, 59 guardians answered both pre- and post-intervention surveys. No differences were found in the perception and attitude, and use of home safety equipment between the intervention and control groups at the pre- and post-intervention surveys. No variables were associated with the primary outcome. Conclusion Provision of home safety equipment may be inadequate to improve guardians’ behaviors about prevention of domestic injuries.

The objectives of this study were to assess the ultrasonographic (US) findings in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) with pes anserinus tendinitis or bursitis (PATB) syndrome and to determine the correlation between the US findings and the response to local corticosteroid injection. We prospectively studied 26 patients with knee OA with clinically diagnosed PATB syndrome. A linear array 7 MHz transducer was used for US examination of the knee. Seventeen patients were injected locally with tramcinolone acetonide in the anserine bursa area. Response to local corticosteroid injection was evaluated by pain visual analog scale (VAS), Western Ontario and MacMaster (WOMAC) osteoarthritis index and Global patient/physician assessment using Likert scale. On US examination, only 2 patients (8.7%) showed evidence of PATB. Pain VAS, WOMAC pain index and WOMAC physical function index improved significantly after corticosteroid injection. Global patient assessment revealed that 2 patients showed best response, 6 good, 1 fair, 8 the same, and none worse. It is of note that the 2 patients who showed the best response were those who showed US evidence of PATB. This finding shows that US can serve as a useful diagnostic tool for guiding treatment in PATB syndrome of OA patients.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones/*pharmacology ; Aged ; Bursitis/ultrasonography ; Female ; Glucocorticoids/pharmacology ; Humans ; Knee/*pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/*diagnosis/drug therapy/*ultrasonography ; Pain ; Pain Measurement ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Tendinitis/pathology/ultrasonography ; Treatment Outcome

Objective: To determine the preventive effect of changing gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) to reduce the recurrence of GBCA-associated acute adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Materials and Methods: This retrospective, observational, single-center study—conducted between January 2016 and December 2021—included 238743 consecutive GBCA-enhanced MRI examinations. We focused on a subgroup of patients who experienced acute GBCA-associated ADRs during any of these examinations and subsequently underwent follow-up GBCAenhanced MRI examinations up until July 2023. The follow-up examinations involved either the same (non-change group) or different (change group) GBCAs compared to the ones that initially caused the acute ADR. Baseline participant characteristics, generic profile of the GBCAs, administration of premedication, history of prior ADR to iodinated contrast media, and symptoms of GBCA-associated acute ADRs were retrospectively analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression with generalized estimating equations and propensity score matching were used. Results: A total of 1042 instances of acute ADRs (0.44%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.41%–0.46%) were reported. Threehundred and seventy-three patients underwent GBCA-enhanced MRI examinations after experiencing GBCA-associated acute ADRs within the study period; 31.9% (119/373) reexperienced acute ADRs at any of the follow-up examinations. The ADR recurrence was significantly lower in the GBCA change group than in the non-change group according to multivariable logistic regression (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 0.35; 95% CI: 0.13–0.90; P = 0.03) and analysis with propensity score matching (14.3% [6/42] vs. 36.9% [31/84], respectively; OR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.11–0.94; P = 0.04). A history of an ADR to iodinated contrast media (OR: 1.14, 95% CI: 0.68–1.90; P = 0.62) and premedication (adjusted OR: 2.09, 95% CI: 0.93–4.68; P = 0.07) were not significantly associated with GBCA-associated acute ADR recurrence. A separate analysis for recurrent allergic-like hypersensitivity reactions demonstrated similar results (adjusted OR: 0.20, 95% CI: 0.06–0.65; P < 0.01). Conclusion Changing GBCAs may reduce the risk of GBCA-associated acute ADR recurrence.