• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.49-58
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• 1984

The differential diagnosis of atypical mycobacteriosis caused by atypical mycobacteria (with the exception of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium bovis, and Mycobacterium leprae) which are widly distributed in soil and water, from pulmonary tuberculosis is possible only when atypical mycobacteria are isolated and identified. In this investigation, attempts were made to isolate atypical mycobacteria from persons registered as tuberculosis patients in the Anyang Health Center in Anyang City, Kyungki province, Korea. Biological and biochemical tests were performed for the atypical mycobacteria isolated from these patients, also retrospective analysis of clinical and X-ray findings of the patients with bacteriologically confirmed atypical mycobacteriosis were done. The results can be summarized as follows: 1. 103 strains of mycobacteria were isolated among 334 sputum samples from patients. 2. Among the isolated mycobacteria, 10 strains (9.7%) were found to be a atypical mycobacteria and 93 strains (90.3%) were tubercle bacilli of human type. 3. On the basis of Runyon's grouping of atypical mycobacteria, there were 3 strains (30.0 %) of scotochromogen and nonphotochromogen respectively, 4 strains (40.0%) of rapid grower, and no photochromogen. 4. By biochemical tests, 3 strains of scotochromogen were identified as Mycobacterium scrofulaceum (2 strains) and Mycobacterium szulgai (1 strain) 3 strains of nonphotochromogen were Mycobacterium avium-complex (2 strains) and Mycobacterium terriae (1 strain), and 4 strains of rapid grower were Mycobacterium fortuitum (3 strains) and Mycobacterium chelonei. 5. In drug sensitivity tests, all 10 strains isolated atypical mycobacteria showed resistance to various concentration of INH and SM and low concentration (10mcg, 40mcg and 50mcg) of EB, TH, and CS, and were sensitive to only high concentration (20mcg and 100mcg) of EB, TH, CS, and RFP. 6. In analysis of clical findings by the patients with bacteriologically confirmed atypical mycobacteriosis, it was found that clinical symptoms of these patients appeared not to be mild than those of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. The patients with atypical mycobacteriosis had been treated for pulmonary tuberculosis for a long time and they showed no improvement.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.162-166
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• 2017

Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a potentially life-threatening, medication-induced hypersensitivity reaction with long latency. It is characterized by fever, rash, leukocytosis with eosinophilia, atypical lymphocytosis, and internal organ involvement. The most common causes of DRESS syndrome are sulfonamides and anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine and lamotrigine. However, valproic acid and olanzapine could develop DRESS syndrome. We report a case of DRESS syndrome associated with valproic acid and olanzapine in a 41 years old male patient with bipolar disorder.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.174-177
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• 2014

Glomus tumors are a rare, benign neoplasm and 75% exist in the subungual region. Extradigital glomus tumors are much more difficult to diagnose because of their atypical location and symptoms. Furthermore, if their symptoms are similar to neuropathic pain, the patient can suffer from misdirected treatment due to misdiagnosis. It is essential to perform careful evaluation of the lesion itself in order to reduce misdiagnosis. Ultrasonography is a useful, non-invasive method that can be easily performed in the pain clinic for local evaluation and diagnosis. We report a case of misdiagnosed glomus tumor in the thigh which was properly diagnosed after ultrasonography.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.49-56
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• 2014

Objectives Previous literature on the prescription change among patients with schizophrenia mainly focused on antipsychotics. This study investigated chronological change in the patterns of discharge medication among inpatients with schizophrenia at a psychiatric inpatient unit of a university-affiliated hospital. Methods All admission records at a psychiatric unit of Hanyang University Guri Hospital with discharge diagnosis of schizophrenia during two different five-year time frames (1996-2000 and 2006-2010) were reviewed including the demographic and clinical data and discharge medications. The data were gathered from a total of 207 patients (95 in 1990s and 112 in 2000s). Results The frequency in use of atypical antipsychotics (p < 0.01), antidepressants (p < 0.05), beta-blockers (p < 0.01), and benzodiazepine (p < 0.01) was significantly higher in 2000s. Anticholinergic drugs were less likely used in 2000s (p < 0.01). We did not find significant differences in the equivalent dose of antipsychotic drugs, the use of mood stabilizers and cholinergic drugs between two time frames. Conclusions Increased proportion of atypical antipsychotics and decreased use of anti-parkinsonian drugs are in line with literature. Our results show that more diverse classes of psychotic medications are used for schizophrenia in recent years. It is likely that psychiatrists are becoming more conscious of negative symptoms, anxiety, and depression in the pharmacotherapy of schizophrenia as well as positive symptoms of the illness.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.56-60
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• 2022

The most common cause of foot drop is lumbar degenerative disc herniation, particularly at L4/5. We present a rare case of spinal cord injury accompanied by a thoracolumbar lesion that presented with bilateral foot drop. A 69-year-old male patient presented with sudden-onset severe bilateral leg pain and bilateral foot drop. Radiologic findings revealed T12 spondylitis compressing the conus medullaris. He had undergone vertebroplasty for a T12 compression fracture after a fall 6 months before. A physical examination showed bilateral foot drop, paresthesia of both L5 dermatomes, increased deep tendon reflex, and a positive Babinski sign. An acute bilateral L5 root lesion and a conus medullaris lesion were suspected based on electromyography. A surgical procedure was done for decompression and reconstruction. After the operation, bilateral lower extremity muscle strength recovered to a good grade from the trace grade, and the patient could walk without a cane. The current case is a very rare report of bilateral foot drop associated with T12 infectious spondylitis after vertebroplasty. It is essential to keep in mind that lesions of the thoracolumbar junction can cause atypical neurological symptoms. Furthermore, understanding the conus medullaris and nerve root anatomy at the T12-L1 level will be helpful for treating patients with atypical neurological symptoms.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.1245-1254
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• 2021

Objectives: This study investigated the clinical characteristics and symptoms of patients with reflux esophagitis (RE) visiting a Korean medicine hospital. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with an RE diagnosis who visited a Korean medicine hospital from June 15, 2020, to April 15, 2021. We analyzed the clinical characteristics and the results of a symptoms questionnaire. Results: Our sample included 1,151 patients (711 females). The median age was 58 years; the most common age bracket was 60-69 years. A total of 837 patients (72.7%) presented with symptoms lasting more than one year, and 1,035 (89.9%) had been prescribed medications for more than three months before visiting a Korean medicine hospital. Belching (77.6%) and acid regurgitation (70.9%) were the most frequent symptoms, followed by epigastric pain (61.6%) and throat globus (58.5%). Throat globus was the most bothersome symptom, and 72.4% of the patients experienced the symptom on more than five days in the preceding two weeks. Patients with a longer symptom duration were older (p<0.01) and more likely to be overweight (p=0.03). Patients experiencing symptoms for more than five years were more likely to report throat globus (p=0.02), hoarseness (p<0.01), and coughing (p<0.01). Conclusions: Most RE patients visiting a Korean medicine hospital were females in their sixties with chronic and refractory RE. Atypical symptoms (belching, epigastric pain, and throat globus) were common. Throat globus was highly prevalent in severe cases, suggesting that it warrants attention when treating RE patients.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.417-419
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• 2012

Tumors of the central nervous system are common in the pediatric population and constitute the second most prevalent tumor type in children. Within this group, spinal cord tumors are relatively rare and account for 1 to 10% of all pediatric central nervous system tumors. We describe a very rare case of an intradural extramedullary spinal cord tumor with a subcutaneous mass and discuss its clinical presentation, pathogenesis, and treatment. A male infant was delivered normally, with uneventful development. At 16 days post-delivery, his family took him to a pediatrician because of a mass on his upper back. Magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracic spine revealed a well-demarcated soft-tissue mass with central cystic change or necrosis at the subcutaneous layer of the posterior back (T2-7 level). Another mass was found with a fat component at the spinal canal of the T1-3 level, which was intradural extramedullary space. After six weeks, the spinal cord tumor and subcutaneous mass were grossly total resected; pathologic findings indicated an atypical myxoid spindle cell neoplasm, possibly nerve sheath in type. The final diagnosis of the mass was an atypical myxoid spindle cell neoplasm. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged after nine days without any neurological deficit. We report a rare case of an intradural extramedullary spinal tumor with subcutaneous mass in a neonate. It is necessary to monitor the patient's status by examining consecutive radiologic images, and the symptoms and neurological changes should be observed strictly during long-term follow-up.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.288-292
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• 2008

Olanzapine, an atypical antipsychotic, has been widely used for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disease. Although olanzapine is less associated with extrapyramidal symptoms and neuroleptic malignant syndrome compared to existing typical antipsychotics, the use of this drug has a problematic side effect of weight gain, which may cause metabolic syndrome such as type 2 diabetes. However, there are few hospitals practicing body weight monitoring of the patients on olanzapine or other atypical antipsychotics. The goal of this study was to identify the incidence and severity of weight gain associated with the use of the drug in Korea. We performed body weight monitoring of the patients who were on the drug in a hospital setting. Mean of the weight gain (as of one-month-transformation) was 4.33 and 3.39 kg for the male and female patients, respectively. The incidence in the young patients was higher than that observed in the old patients, and the severity was the highest in patients in their thirties followed by twenties or younger. This result suggests that the pattern of the weight gain associated with the use of olanzapine in Korea is similar to the reports performed and documented in US and European countries. Therefore, it appears that healthcare professionals in Korea should also watch on the weight gain issue in patients who are on olanzapine or other atypical antipsychotics.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.8-13
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• 2011

Purpose: Although glyphosate-surfactant herbicide intoxication is relatively mild toxic in humans, we encountered an atypical clinical presentation. We performed this study to understand the atypical clinical course and factors associated with severe intoxication after glyphosate ingestion. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 61 patients (male 43, mean age $54{\pm}18.8$ years) who were presented with glyphosate ingestion between March 1997 and March 2011. The severe intoxication group was defined as patients with systolic blood pressure less than 90 mmHg, respiratory distress needing intubation, or altered mental state. Results: Of the 61 patients, 22 patients (36.1%) had a severe clinical course, 1 patient (1.6%) had died and 1 patient (1.6%) had moribund discharge. The most common symptoms were nausea with or without vomiting which occurred in 30 patients (49.2%). Twenty-seven patients had metabolic acidosis that was the second most common medical complication. Advanced age, pH, base excess, $HCO_3$, Sat, creatinine, X-ray abnormalities and ECG abnormalities were significant factors. Hemoglobin, platelet, $pO_2$, $pCO_2$, BUN, sodium, potassium and AST levels were not different comparing the laboratory characteristics between the severe and mild intoxication groups. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that severe intoxication occurred in 22 patients (36.1%) after glyphosate intoxication. Advanced age, pH, base excess, $HCO_3$, Sat, creatinine, X-ray abnormality and ECG abnormalities were significant predictive factors for severe intoxication in patients with glyphosate surfactant herbicide poisoning.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.79 no.5
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• pp.294-301
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• 2018

Subependymomas are rare benign central nervous system tumor which account of 0.7% of all intracranial tumors. Subependymomas show characteristic MR findings according to their location. However, sometimes atypical findings could be found. In addition, subependymomas can occur very rarely in the spinal cord. We report two cases of pathologically confirmed subependymoma, one of which shows atypical appearances in spite of their intraventicular location and the other of which shows rare case of spinal intramedullary subependymoma. We review the clinical symptoms and radiologic findings of two cases.