Alteration of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels in Panic Disorder / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a neurotrophin involved in neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity, has been implicated in the pathophysiology of several neuropsychiatric disorders. However, there have been no consistent findings regarding BDNF levels in panic disorder. In this study, we investigated plasma BDNF levels in panic disorder, and evaluated whether there is an association between plasma BDNF levels and severity of symptoms of panic disorder. METHODS: Plasma BDNF levels were measured in 110 panic disorder patients and 110 normal control subjects using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The severity of symptoms of panic disorder was determined using the Panic Disorder Severity Scale, Acute Panic Inventory, Agoraphobic Cognition Questionnaire, and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale. RESULTS: The mean plasma BDNF levels of patients with panic disorder were significantly lower compared with those of control subjects (192.50 pg/mL vs. 693.75 pg/mL). No significant association was observed between plasma BDNF levels and the severity of symptoms of panic disorder. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that BDNF may play a potential role in the pathophysiology of panic disorder.

Auditory Stimulation Effect to Comatous Patients

As a result of significantly improved medical and surgical cares, traumatic brain injury has been significantly increasing. This calls for an imperative study of the perception ability and recovery in physiological and mental functions. With the assumption that comatous patients may respond to various auditory stimulations, authors studied somatic physiological responses searching for significant basic character of auditory stimulation using three different kinds of sound. Thirteen patients were stimulated with voices, classic musics and bird songs through the earphones. Pulse rates and respiration rates were checked simultaneously. The changes of pulse and respiration rates were not statistically significant. A trial to help recovery from a coma state, with Glasgow coma scale below 8, was not so significant clinically wiith these simple auditory stimulation. A further study of somatic physiological response to more complicated auditory stimulations or patients with clasgow coma scale above 8 would be necessary. In conclusion, for the comatous patients Glasgow coma scale below 8, family voices, classic musics and bird sounds did not change pulse rates and respiratory rates of statistical significance. In the comatous patients with Glasgow cama scale below 8, the trial to promote recovery by simple auditory stimulation seems to be unsuccessful clinically. More extensive study would be required.

Rehabilitation of the complicated bilateral amputee with right below the knee and left above the knee amputation

No abstract available.