The Relationship between Systemic Anti-Psoriatic Treatment and Positive Interferon-Gamma Release Assay Rate in Moderate-Severe Korean Psoriasis Patients / 대한피부과학회지

Background@#The relationship between latent tuberculosis and the use of certain biologics is well known, but the relationship between the test for latent tuberculosis results and psoriasis itself or systemic anti-psoriatic treatment (cyclosporine and methotrexate) has not been elucidated to date. @*Objective@#To assess the influence of psoriasis and systemic anti-psoriatic treatment on results of the interferon-gamma release assay. @*Methods@#A retrospective study was conducted on 353 patients who were screened for latent tuberculosis before the use of medicines for moderate to severe psoriasis. The screening was based on results of the interferon-gamma release assay. The control group included 2,025 health care workers who were screened for latent tuberculosis during a general medical examination. @*Results@#Interferon-gamma release assay was positive in 35.4% of the patients and 11.6% of the subjects from the control group. There was a statistically significant correlation between psoriasis and assay positivity (p＜0.05). Among the patients, no statistically-relevant association regarding previous use of cyclosporine or methotrexate was found (cyclosporine: p=0.284, methotrexate: p=0.231). Furthermore, patients were divided into two groups according to treatment duration, i.e., shorter or longer than 6 months. There were no relevant differences in treatment duration cyclosporine: p=0.243, methotrexate: p=0.743). @*Conclusion@#This study revealed a higher prevalence of interferon-gamma release assay positivity in patients with psoriasis. However, conventional anti-psoriatic drugs, such as cyclosporine and methotrexate, showed no significant difference regarding the assay positivity.

Validation of the Korean Version of the Eating Disorder Inventory-2: Psychometric Properties and Cross-Cultural Comparison

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to examine the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2) in Korean patients with eating disorders and healthy controls, and to investigate cultural differences of EDI-2 between a Korean group and a North American standardization sample. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Korean version of the EDI-2 was prepared after comprehensive clinical assessment of Korean patients with eating disorders (n=327) as well as female undergraduates (n=176). Results were compared between eating disorder subgroups (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and eating disorders not otherwise specified) and those of a North American standardization sample and healthy controls. RESULTS: The results showed that the Korean EDI-2 had adequate internal consistency (0.77-0.93) and discriminated well between patients with eating disorders and healthy controls on all subscales. Significant differences in EDI-2 subscale scores between the eating disorder groups and the healthy control group were observed; however, there was no discernible difference among the eating disorder subgroups. When compared with a North American standardization sample, the Korean control group showed significantly higher scores for drive for thinness and asceticism. When patient groups were compared, the Korean group showed significantly lower scores for perfectionism. CONCLUSION: As expected, the results accurately reflected psychometric properties of the Korean version of EDI-2 for eating disorder patients in Korea. These findings also suggest that common characteristics for the eating disorder exist as a whole rather than with significant difference between each subgroup. In addition, significant differences between the Korean and the North American groups for both patients and controls also demonstrated specific cultural differences.

Characterization and Immunopotentiating Effects of the Glycoprotein Isolated from Dioscorea Batatas

We demonstrate that glycoprotein isolated from Dioscorea batatas (GDB) has immunostimulatory effects including macrophage activation. Analysis of infiltration of inflammatory cells into peritoneal cavity showed GDB treatment significantly increased the recruitment of macrophages, lymphocytes, neutrophils, and monocytes into the peritoneal cavity. Treatment of spleen cells isolated from C57BL/6 mice with GDB significantly increased the proliferation of B cells and T cells induced by LPS and ConA, respectively. Treatment with GDB significantly increased the cytolytic capacity of NK cells and macrophages against YAC-1 and B16 cells, respectively. In order to further confirm and investigate the mechanism of GDB on macrophage activation, we analyzed the effects of GDB on the cytokine expression including iNOS, IL-1beta, and TNF-alpha in mouse macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7 cells. RT-PCR and ELISA showed that GDB increased the expression of IL-1beta, and TNF-alpha, whereas iNOS was not induced by GDB. Collectively, this series of experiments indicates that GDB stimulates immune system including macrophage activation.

Psychological Characteristics of Bulimic Women with and without a History of Anorexia Nervosa / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: This study compared cognitive-behavioral traits related to eating behaviors, obsessive-compulsive traits, and depression levels in bulimic subjects with and without a history of anorexia nervosa according to the perspective that there are common diagnostic transitions over time in subgroups of eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and eating disorder not otherwise specified). METHODS: We compared EDI-2, MOCI, and BDI scores between the bulimic group with a history of anorexia (n=98), the bulimic group without a history of anorexia (n=99), and the non-clinic group (n=100) by ANOVA. RESULTS: The bulimic group with a history of anorexia showed significantly higher scores on four of the EDI-2 subscales (Ineffectiveness, Interoceptive Awareness, Impulse Regulation and Social Insecurity) than the other two groups. They also indicated significantly higher scores on both the MOCI subscale 'rumination' and BDI than both the other groups. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that it is important to consider a prior history of anorexia nervosa in order to understand symptom severity in patients with bulimia. Psychological variables such as ineffectiveness, impulse regulation, social insecurity, rumination, and depression are crucial to consider while treating bulimics with a history of anorexia.

Effect of intratesticular injection of xylazine/ketamine combination on canine castration

This study was performed to compare the effect of intratesticular (IT) injection of xylazine/ketamine combination for canine castration with those of intramuscular (IM) or intravenous (IV) injection. Xylazine and ketamine was administered simultaneously via intratesticularly (IT group), intramuscularly (IM group) or intravenously (IV group) at doses of 2 and 10 mg/kg, respectively. Pain response at the time of injection, mean induction time, mean arousal time, mean walking time and cardiopulmonary function during anesthesia were monitored after the xylazine and ketamine administration. In IV and IM groups, heart rates were significantly decreased 30 and 45 min after xylazine and ketamine administration, respectively (p < 0.05). Respiratory rates were significantly decreased in the IV group (p < 0.05). In the IT group, there was no significant changes in heart and respiratory rates. The occurrence of cardiac arrhythmias was less severe in IT group compared with those in IM and IV groups. The route of administration did not affect rectal temperature. Mean induction time was significantly (p < 0.05) longer in IT group than in IM and IV groups. On the contrary, mean arousal time and mean walking time were shortened in IT group. Clinical signs related to pain response at the time of injection and vomiting were less observed in IT group than in IM group, and head shaking was less shown in IT group than in IM and IV groups during recovery period. These results indicated that intratesticular injection of xylazine/ketamine for castration has several advantages such as less inhibition of cardiopulmonary function and fast recovery from anesthesia without severe complications, and would be an effective anesthetic method for castration in small animal practice.

Pudendal Somatosensory Evoked Potentials and Bulbocavernosus Reflex according to the Type of Neurogenic Bladder

OBJECTIVE: This study was purposed to reveal the differences of the findings of pudendal somatosensory evoked potential (PSEP) and electrophysiological bulbocavernosus reflex (EBCR) according to the type of neurogenic bladder. METHOD: The subjects were 65 patients with neurogenic bladder. The causes of neurogenic bladder were consist of seven brain lesions; 39 spinal cord injuries; 15 cauda equina syndromes; and four peripheral polyneuropathies. PSEP and EBCR were done. RESULTS: Of the patients with hyperreflexic bladder (43.1%), PSEP latency was normal in 21.4%, delayed in 21.4%, and not obtainable in 57.2%. Of the patients with areflexic bladder (56.9%), PSEP latency was normal in 24.3%, delayed in 21.6%, and not obtainable in 54.1%. Of the patients with hyperreflexic bladder, EBCR latency was normal in 82.1%, delayed in 14.3%, and not obtainable in 3.6%. Of the patients with areflexic bladder, EBCR latency was normal in 16.2%, delayed in 37.8%, and not obtainable in 46.0% (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: There was significant correlation between EBCR and type of neurogenic bladder, but not with PSEP. These results seem to be reflected from the neuro-anatomical lesion of the neurogenic bladder.

Anatomical Investigation of Sural Nerve and Its Contributing Nerves

OBJECTIVE: To identify the location and formation of the sural nerve and its contributing nerves. METHOD: Fourteen lower limbs of 7 adult cadavers were anatomically dissected. The location and formation of the sural nerve (SN) in relation to the medial sural cutaneous nerve (MSCN) and the lateral sural cutaneous nerve (LSCN) were investigated. The length and diameter of the SN and contributing nerves were measured and the differences of the results were analyzed. RESULTS: Twelve SNs were formed by the union of the MSCNs and LSCNs, and 2 SNs were direct extensions of the MSCNs. The point of formation of the SN by union of the MSCN and LSCN was found in the middle third of the legs in 66.7% of SNs examined. The union sites of the SNs were located at 40.58+/-13.97% of the length of lower leg from the tip of lateral malleolus and 55.84+/-6.48% of the calf width from the medial border of the calf. There were significant statistical differences of diameter among nerves (p<0.05) and no significant difference of length between MSCN and LSCN. CONCLUSION: The results of this cadaveric study would increase the accuracy of the sural nerve conduction study and provide the locational information for precise surgical approach.

Studies on the Vestibular Compensation after Contralateral Labyrinthectomy in Unilateral Labyrinthectomized Rats / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Vestibular compensation is a process of behavioral recovery following unilateral labyrinthectomy (ULX). The neural plasticity in vestibular compensation was assessed by observing changes of behavioral response and c-Fos expression following contralateral labyrinthectomy (second labyrinthectomy) in ULX rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Contrala-teral labyrinthectomy was performed 2 weeks after ULX in Sprague-Dawley rats, each weighing 250-300 gm. Changes of spontaneous nystagmus, head tilt, and c-Fos expression in the medial vestibular nucleus (MVN) and nucleus prepositus hypoglossi (PrH) were measured. RESULT: In ULX, spontaneous nystagmus with the slow phase directed to the lesion side was 3.5+/-0.5 beats/sec and head tilt deviated to the lesion side was 71+/-16 degrees just after ULX. Spontaneous nystagmus disappeared within 72 hours, but head tilt was maintained at 28+/-8 degrees until 2 weeks after ULX. The number of c-Fos proteins 2 hours after ULX was 81+/-25 and 212+/-63 in MVN of the lesion side and the intact side, respectively. And PrH showed 136+/-37 in the lesion side and 94+/-19 in the intact side, which was opposite of MVN in spatial expression of c-Fos. In second labyrinthectomy, direction of spontaneous nystagmus and head tilt was opposite to the first ULX and their decrement was faster. c-Fos was expressed more in the MVN of the first labyrinthectomized side than in the second one and PrH showed the opposite pattern to MVN, which was opposite to the first ULX in spatial expression. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that recovery of vestibuloocular reflex in vestibular compensation is accomplished by restoration of neuronal activity in the central nervous system including MVN and PrH.

Cognitive Bahavioral therapy of binge Eating / 대한정신약물학회지

Many therapeutic approaches for treafment of binge eating problem including cognitive-behavioral therapy, behavior therapy, focal psychotherapy. psychoanalysis, nutritional counseling, family intervention, psychoeducation, and medication have value. Nevertheless, current research suggest that the most important approant approach to date is a specific form of cognilive-behavioral therapy designed ariginally for patients with bulimia nervosa and recently adapfed for those with binge eating disorder and anorexia nervosa. But it is also important to stress that cognitive-behavioral therapy is not panacea, some patients fail to benefit and others made only limited gains. So there is a need for clinician not only to carefully assess the patient status before freatment start but also to become familiar with and be able to introduce other therapeutic approach.

A study on the moral development in medical students (II) / 신경정신의학

No abstract available.