• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.184-193
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• 2007

Objectives:There is increasing evidence that the cerebellum plays an important role in cognition and psychiatric symptoms as well as motor coordination. The concept of cognitive dysmetria has been making cerebellar function in schizophrenia the focus of current studies. In other words, disruption in the corticocerebellum-thalamic -cortical circuit could lead to disordered cognition and clinical symptoms of schizophrenia. The purposes of this study were to determine cerebellar dysfunction in male schizophrenic patients semiquantitatively with ICARS and to investigate the clinical and cognitive correlates of ICARS in patients. Methods:We compared the scores of cerebellar neurologic sign using ICARS in 47 male patients with a DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of schizophrenia with 30 gender and age-matched healthy control subjects. The semiquantitative 100-point ICARS consists of 19 items divided into 4 unequally weighted subscores:posture and gait disturbances, kinetic functions, speech disorders and oculomotor disorders. All subjects were also assessed with cognitive function test. Cognitive functions were evaluated by Korean-Mini Mental Status Examination (K-MMSE), Verbal fluency test, and Clock drawing test. The patients were administered Korea version of Positive and Negative Symptom Scale(K-PANSS) to assess the symptom severity. Results:Schizophrenic patients had significantly higher scores on the ICARS than control subjects with posture and gait disturbances, kinetic functions, and oculomotor disorders. They also showed more significant impairments in cognitive function tests than control subjects. There was a significant correlation between ICARS and negative symptoms of patients. In cognitive function test, Clock drawing test was significantly associated with negative symptoms. In addition, Clock drawing test was negatively correlated with the total score of ICARS. Conclusion:In this study, we confirmed that schizophrenic patients have significant impairments in cognitive and cerebellar function, and that those were related with negative symptoms of schizophrenic patients. These results support a role of the cerebellum in schizophrenia. It is meaningful that we used a structured, and reliable procedure for rating neurological soft signs, ICARS. We hope that future prospective studies using a similar design help that rate of neurological sign should have been visible with the progression of illness.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.964-972
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• 1998

Background: The purpose of this study was to independently evaluate the beneficial effects of a high dose of transamine administrated prior to CPB on the postoperative hematologic aspect and bleeding. Materials and methods: This study included randomly selected groups of 40 adult patients undergoing OHS with CPB. All patients were divided into 2 groups: transamine group (T-group, n=20) and placebo group(P-group, n=20). The T-group received a high-dose of transamine(10 g) before and during CPB. The P-group received normal saline at the same times and served as a control group. Results: The results of comparative studies between the 2 groups in the same hematologic variables were summarized as follows. \circled1 During CPB, the fibrinogen concentrations and platelet counts were significantly lower in the P-group than in the T-group(p<0.01). \circled2 During CPB, production of D-dimer occurred in 18 patients(90%) in the P-group and did not occur in the T-group(0%) (p<0.0001). \circled3 At CPB-off, the % concentration of fibrinogen(70.2$\pm$3.9%) and the % platelet counts(72.4$\pm$4.5%) of the T-group were significantly higher than those(54.5$\pm$3.8%, 64.3$\pm$2.9%) of the P-group(p<0.01). \circled4 Postoperative values of PT(14.0$\pm$0.03 sec.) and aPTT (27.6$\pm$0.1 sec.) of the T-group were significantly lower than those(16.0$\pm$0.02sec., 30.1$\pm$0.1sec.) of the P-group(p<0.05). \circled5 Postoperative bleeding and requirement of whole blood and other blood products were significantly less in the T-group than in the P-group(p <0.05). \circled6 There were no significant hypercoagulability signs such as cerebral em bolism, myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, or any other neurological prob lems in either group. Conclusions: We concluded that a high dose of transamine administered prior to CPB prevents the activation of fibri nolytic system and has beneficial effects of reducing the postoperative bleeding t endency without apparent hypercoagulability signs.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.11
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• pp.1373-1380
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• 2002

Purpose : Acute measles encephalitis(ME) is characterized by an abrupt onset of fever and obtundation, frequently accompanied by seizures and multifocal neurological signs. The aim of this study was to clarify the clinical manifestation, progression and the brain SPECT patterns in patients with acute ME. Methods : This study included 11 children with acute ME admitted to Chonbuk National University Hospital. Ten patients received a first dose of measles vaccine, one patient did not receive a first dose, and no patients received a second dose. ME was diagnosed based on characteristic clinical pictures, measles antibodies by ELISA and abnormal CSF findings. Brain MRI and brain SPECT were performed in 11 patients with acute ME. Results : There were four males and seven females whose ages at onset ranged between 18 months and 14 years(mean : 10.5 years). The main clinical neurologic pictures were loss of consciousness( 10) and seizure(five). The titer of IgG and IgM antimeasles antibodies in serum were positive in 10 patients. In CSF, nine patients had IgG antibodies and one patient had IgM antibodies. The concentration of protein(mean : $124{\pm}60mg/dL$) and WBC counts(mean : $158{\pm}157/{\mu}L$) in CSF were elevated in all patients. In electroencephalographic examination, nine patients showed increased slow waves. Seven of 11 patients(63.6%) revealed high signal intensity on the brain MRI. In contrast, all patients showed hypoperfusion in brain SPECT examination. According to brain SPECT, the perfusion deficits were frequently observed in the frontal lobe(nine), temporal (nine), parietal(eight) and thalamus(eight). Conclusion : Brain SPECT is more sensitive than MRI for the evaluation of brain damage in early stages of acute ME.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.41-51
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• 2000

Clinical observation was made on 44 cases of stable thoracolumbar compression fracture that were confirmed through simple x-ray and neurological examination. They were hospitalized and treated by acupuncture and moxibustion, bed rest, herb medicine and physical therapy. If necessary, patient was given an enema. The results obtained are as follows. 1. The patient distribution ratio, in regard to sex, was shown to be 1: 13.7 for males to females. In regard to age, it was shown that people in their 60's was the most predominant case, followed by people in their 70's, 80's, 50's and 40's, respectively. 2. In regard to contributing factors, it was observed that accidental falls were most frequent, followed by reasons unknown, repetitive lifting of heavy objects, overlaboring and bruise in that order. 3. In regard to duration of illness before treatment, it was found that treatment within 1 week was most predominant, followed by over 4 weeks, and 1-2 weeks, respectively. 4. With regard to the duration of hospitalization, hospitalization within 2 weeks was found to be most predominant, followed by 2-4 weeks. 5. In regard to the level of the affected vertebral body; The affected vertebral bodies distributed between T3 to L5 except for T7; T12 was found to be most predominant, followed in turn by L1 and L5. 6. In regard to the number of affected vertebral bodies, 2 was the most frequent followed by 1 and 3, in that order. The average of the number of affected vertebral bodies was observed to be 2.8 and single vertebral body compression fracture was shown to have no clinical and statistical difference as compared with multiple vertebral body compression fractures. 7. In regard to the grade of the seriousness of symptoms, it was found that Grade IV was most predominant, followed by Grade III. 8. With regard to signs at the first medical examination, low back pain was seen in the highest number, and followed in order by gait disturbance, flank pain, flexion-extension disturbance, disturbance of rotation to right or left, and bowel dysfunction. 9. Concerning the effect of treatment, good results were most predominantly seen, and 95.5% of total patients showed fair results. 10. The duration of admission treatment due to the grade of clinical symptoms was as follows; In the case of the Grade IV, it was observed that within 2 weeks was most predominant and for Grade III was 2-4 weeks. It was also found that the grade of clinical symptoms was not in proportion to the duration of admission treatment. 11. In regard to the result of treatment due to the grade of clinical symptoms; It was found that in the case of Grade IV, within 2 weeks was most predominant, and for Grade III, it was found to be 2-4 weeks. 12. Intestinal obstruction was shown in 50% of total patients; In the case of duration of constipation, more than 1 week was found to be most predominant, followed by 2 and 4 days respectively. 13. With regard to the treatment of intestinal obstruction, using acupuncture and moxibustion, herb - medicine and enema together were found to be most effective. 14. Intestinal obstruction was mostly seen in the case of Grade IV.