Objectives: This study aimed to examine the association between anticholinergic burden, cognitive function, and clinical severity in elderly patients with schizophrenia to suggest safer medication treatment strategies. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 60 patients aged 60-90 years diagnosed with schizophrenia according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition criteria at the National Center for Mental Health. Participants with Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGS-S) scores ≤4 were included. The Korean Version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease assessment Packet, the 2nd Edition (CERAD-K), CGI-S, and total Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden (ACB) scores were assessed. Statistical analyses included Mann-Whitney tests, Bootstrap analysis of covariance, and Spearman correlations. Results: The mean age was 69.52±6.33 years, with 66.67% female participants. The mean total ACB score was 4.30±2.42, with 80% of patients having scores ≥3. High ACB group (n=48) showed significantly higher CGI-S scores (3.13±0.73 vs. 2.67±0.49, p=0.030) and lower performance in Word List Memory, Constructional Praxis, and Constructional Recall domains. After adjusting for education year, age, and sex, high ACB group showed significantly lower CERAD-K total score I than the low ACB group (F=5.947, p=0.018). Total ACB score also showed significant negative correlations with CERAD-K total score I (r=-0.32, p=0.011). Conclusion High anticholinergic burden in elderly schizophrenia patients was significantly associated with cognitive impairment and symptom severity. These findings suggest the need for careful medication adjustment in this population.

PURPOSE: This study identified the characteristics differentiating node-first presentation of Kawasaki disease (NFKD) from bacterial cervical lymphadenitis (BCL) and typical Kawasaki disease (KD). METHODS: From July 2007 to June 2015, the medical records of patients with BCL, NFKD, and typical KD were retrospectively reviewed. We analyzed and compared the demographic, clinical, laboratory, and imaging characteristics of the cohorts. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients with BCL, 37 with NFKD, and 132 with typical KD were included in this study. Patients with BCL had longer durations of hospitalization than patients with NFKD. Bilateral and multiple enlarged cervical lymph nodes were associated more with NFKD than BCL. Compared with BCL patients, NFKD patients had lower platelet counts, higher percentages of neutrophils, and higher C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. NFKD patients were older and presented with higher white blood cell counts, percentages of neutrophils, absolute neutrophil counts, and CRP levels as well as lower platelet counts and alanine aminotransferase levels than typical KD patients. CONCLUSIONS: In febrile patients with cervical lymphadenopathy, the combination of bilateral and multiple enlarged nodes, low platelet count, high percentage of neutrophils, and high CRP levels should prompt consideration of NFKD for prevention of delayed diagnosis of KD.
Alanine Transaminase ; C-Reactive Protein ; Cohort Studies ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Fever* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphadenitis* ; Lymphatic Diseases* ; Medical Records ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Neutrophils ; Platelet Count ; Retrospective Studies

Many opthalmologists prefer to treat the eyes operated on with drops containing corticosteroids and antibiotics for a few days of a few weeks after strabismus surgery. But no controlled studies are available to support the rationale for such therapy. Therefore, we conducted a prespective double-blind masked trial to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of the drops containing antibiotics and steroid on 40 patients. There are no singnificant difference between the drug and the placebo groups.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Humans ; Masks ; Strabismus*

Many opthalmologists prefer to treat the eyes operated on with drops containing corticosteroids and antibiotics for a few days of a few weeks after strabismus surgery. But no controlled studies are available to support the rationale for such therapy. Therefore, we conducted a prespective double-blind masked trial to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of the drops containing antibiotics and steroid on 40 patients. There are no singnificant difference between the drug and the placebo groups.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Humans ; Masks ; Strabismus*