Effect of Topiramate on Risperidone-Induced Weight Gain: A Pilot Study / 대한정신약물학회지

OBJECTIVE: It is known that risperidone induces weight gain moderately which has been previously considered of little clinical concern. And there was no specific effective treatment for atypical antipsychotics-induced weight gain. The study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of topiramate as an weight-reducing medicine for schizophrenia patients with risperidone-induced weight gain. METHODS: Topiramate, 100-200 mg/day, was administered to 12 schizophrenia patients with risperidone-induced weight gain. Body weight and body mass index (BMI) were measured at baseline, 4-week and 8-week. Brief Psychatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) were used to evaluate psychotic symptoms. RESULTS: Body weight and BMI were decreased significantly at 4-week and 8-week treatment compared to baseline (weight loss: 1.17+/-1.80 kg and 2.50+/-2.24 kg; BMI: -0.41+/-0.65 kg/m2 and -0.88+/-0.82 kg/m2 on 4-week and 8-week). Psychiatric symptoms were improved significantly in BPRS and PANSS. Adverse effects were showed such as fatigue, paresthesia, difficulty in concentration and diarrhea, which were mild and self-limited. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that topiramate have significant effects on patients with risperidone-induced weight gain. Randomized controlled study would be necessary in the near future.

Asymmetric Exercise and Scoliosis: A Study of Volleyball Athletes / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of scoliosis in volleyball athletes and compare this with the prevalence in the general population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and sixteen volleyball athletes who had been enrolled in the activity for more than one year were examined for prevalence of scoliosis. The Adams forward bending test was performed with a measurement of the truncal asymmetry using a scoliometer (Orthopaedic System, Inc, USA). Those atheletes who showed more than 5degreesof measurement were selected for an X-ray evaluation. Data from a randomized point prevalence survey of Korean Middle school students (46,428) in Seoul City, which had been performed by our department, was adopted for the control group. RESULTS: Among the 116 volleyball players, 60 (51.7%) showed more than a 5degreesof angle of trunk rotation, whereas controls of middle school students showed 2.5%. Cobb's angle more than 10degrees was 6 (5.17%) in athletes and the control group was 465 (1.0%). Despite higher frequency of prevalence, the Cobb' angle was below 15degrees whereas the control group showed a severe scoliosis which of Cobb's angle reaching to 45degrees. CONCLUSION: Volleyball athletes showed a higher incidence of truncal asymmetry and scoliotic spinal columns than the control group. However, we were able to conclude that asymmetrical muscle development can produce a mild scoliosis. However this doesn't have the potential for a severe progression as found in some cases of idiopathic scoliosis.

A Case of Pulmonary Intravascular Lymphomatosis / 결핵

Intravascular lymphomatosis(IVL) which was first described by pfleger and Tappeiner in 1959 is rare malignancy characterized by neoplastic proliferation of lymphoid cell lineage within the vascular lumen with little or no adjacent parenchymal involvement. Its usual sites of involvement are central nervous system and skin or infrequently heart, lungs, pancreas, liver, spleen, kidney, adrenal glands, genitourinary tract, and bone marrow. Pulmonary involvement of IVL is not common. Symptoms of pulmonary involvement include dyspnea, cough and fever. Radiologicially, the disease is manifested with diffuse interstitial infiltrates. We report a recently experienced case of pulmonary intravascular lymphomatosis which was manifested with fever and chest pain.