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Objective@#Comprehensive understanding of polyenvironmental risk factors for the development of psychosis is important. Based on a review of related evidence, we developed the Korea Polyenvironmental Risk Score (K-PERS) for psychosis. We investigated whether the K-PERS can differentiate patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) from healthy controls (HCs). @*Methods@#We reviewed existing tools for measuring polyenvironmental risk factors for psychosis, including the Maudsley Environmental Risk Score (ERS), polyenviromic risk score (PERS), and Psychosis Polyrisk Score (PPS). Using odds ratios and relative risks for Western studies and the “population proportion” (PP) of risk factors for Korean data, we developed the K-PERS, and compared the scores thereon between patients with SSDs and HCs. In addition, correlation was performed between the K-PERS and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). @*Results@#We first constructed the “K-PERS-I,” comprising five factors based on the PPS, and then the “K-PERS-II” comprising six factors based on the ERS. The instruments accurately predicted participants’ status (case vs. control). In addition, the K-PERS-I and -II scores exhibited significant negative correlations with the negative symptom factor score of the PANSS. @*Conclusion@#The K-PERS is the first comprehensive tool developed based on PP data obtained from Korean studies that measures polyenvironmental risk factors for psychosis. Using pilot data, the K-PERS predicted patient status (SSD vs. HC). Further research is warranted to examine the relationship of K-PERS scores with clinical outcomes of psychosis and schizophrenia.
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Objective@#For the proper treatment of first-episode psychosis, assessment of treatment response, remission, relapse, and recovery is important. Therefore, the present study aimed to develop operational definitions of clinical outcomes in first-episode psychosis. @*Methods@#A questionnaire was developed by a panel of experts and underwent three revisions. The final survey was presented to 150 psychiatrists who were members of the Korean Society for Schizophrenia Research. Respondents selected factors that they believed were important to consider while defining treatment response, remission, relapse, and recovery using a 6-point Likert scale. Selected factors that constituted each definition were statistically extracted, and operational definitions were developed. @*Results@#A total of 91 experts responded to the survey. The extent of reduction in psychopathology, socio-occupational functioning, and duration of each state were the core factors of each definition. Outcomes obtained from discussions and consultations by experts have been summarized and proposed. @*Conclusion@#The criteria developed in this survey tended to be somewhat stricter than those used by other studies. The fundamental reason for this is that this survey focused on first-episode psychosis. A better understanding of each definition in first-episode psychosis is necessary to improve effective treatment outcomes.
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Methods@#The study involved 226 people who participated in the Korean Early Psychosis Cohort Study, and we divided the participants into two groups according to the degree of trauma.Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS) were compared at the start of the study and at 12 months after the treatment using paired t-test and repeated measures analysis of variance. @*Results@#At the beginning of the study, there was no significant difference between the two groups. But after 12 months of treatment, the high trauma group showed less improvement in PANSS negative score, general psychopathological score, total score, and SOFAS than the low trauma group. @*Conclusion@#In patients with early psychosis and at least moderate severity of premorbid trauma, negative symptoms, general psychopathological, and social and occupational functional improvements after treatment are less.
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Objective To study the short and long term outcomes in patients after partial hepatectomy carried out for primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTF) who were treated with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus portal vein chemoembolization (PVCE).Methods 57 patients who underwent partial hepatectomy for PHC with PVTT were treated with TACE + PVCE.These patients formed the study group.Another 55 such patients who received TACE only were matched by age and gender to form the control group.Blood samples before and after treatment for these 2 groups were collected to study the serum tumor markers.Any chemotherapy-related toxicity and complications were recorded.The hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence rate and recurrence time were recorded on follow up.Survival analysis was conducted.Results There was no significant difference between the two groups in TACE treatment times (P ＞ 0.05).In the study group,the levels of AFP,IGF-Ⅱ,and IGFBP-2 were significantly lower than those in the control group at 1 month after chemotherapy [respectively,(4.3 ± 0.5) μg/L vs.(4.8±0.6) μg/L,(3.3±0.4) μg/L vs.(4.0±0.5) μg/L,(5.3±0.6) μg/L vs.(5.8 ± 0.6) μg/L;all P ＜ 0.05].The range of follow-up of the patients in this study were 9 to 45 months after operation.The 1 year recurrence rate after operation in the study group was significantly lower than those in the control group (28.1％ vs.47.3％) (P＜0.05).The PFS,OS,2 year and 3 year survival rates were all significantly higher than those in the control group [respectively,(13.4 ± 4.6) m vs.(11.0±3.5) m,(22.6±10.9) m vs.(17.2 ±10.1) m,43.9％ vs.25.5％,33.3％ vs.16.4％].The differences in the PFS and OS between the two groups were significantly different (P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in the rates in toxicity between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).In the study group,2 patients (3.5％) developed bleeding from esophageal and gastric fundus vein rupture,while there were no such cases in the control group.Conclusion Compared with TACE alone,the combination of PVCE and TACE after partial hepatectomy for patients with PHC with PVTT effectively reduced tumor burden,prevented liver recurrence and improved long-term survival rates,with no significant increase in toxicity and complication rates.
ABSTRACT
Objective is designed to observe the effect of the low molecular protein "SL Hong-Xin Blood-Increasing Capsules" on human iron deficiency anemia. Altogether 110 school children, 7 - 12 years old, with iron deficiency anemia (Hb < 120 g/L) were enrolled in this trial and were randomly and evenly divided into two groups. In the treatment group (n = 55), the "SL Hong-Xin Blood-Increasing Capsules" were orally adminitered for 30 days, two capsules at one time and two times a day, whereas in the control group (n = 55) blank capsules were given to the children in the same way as in the treatment group. Before and at the end of the trial period, peripheral blood samples were taken from fringers of the children to determine Hb content, hematocrit percentage, and free protoporphyrin content in red blood cells. Results showed that after trial the Hb content was (15.9 +/- 9.6) g/L in the treatment group, while that of the control group was only (5.3 +/- 4.3) g/L (P < 0.001). The hematocrit percentage markedly increased (P < 0.001) and protoporphyrin level markedly decreased (P < 0.001). In conclusion the active ingredient of "SL Hong-Xin Blood-Increasing Capsules" is low molecular protein iron, which is markedly effective for elevating Hb content and hematocrit percentage, and effective for decresing protoporphyrin content of children with iron deficiency anemia. Hence, the capsules could be used to improve nutritional anemia in children based on the "Functional Evaluation Procedure and Test Methods For Health-Care Food".