• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.134-141
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• 2017

Objectives A retrospective case series study was conducted to investigate the clinical characteristics of psychotic disorders induced by appetite suppressants, phentermine and phendimetrazine. Methods A retrospective electronic medical record review identified 5 admitted patients who had psychotic symptoms after taking phentermine or phendimetrazine. Clinical information was reviewed and summarized in each case. Results Hallucinations were reported in all cases, including auditory, visual, olfactory and somatic hallucinations. After discontinuation of phentermine or phendimetrazine, the symptoms rapidly improved with low dose of antipsychotics. Patients tended to have less prominent negative symptoms and higher insight into illness, and often showed depressive mood. These clinical characteristics were similar to psychosis induced by amphetamines. Two patients developed stimulant use disorder while using phentermine. Conclusions These findings call for awareness of the risks associated with use of appetite suppressants. Prescription of phentermine or phendimetrazine should be accompanied by close monitoring of mental status, and suspicion for substance/medication-induced psychotic disorder.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2015

Excessive manganese (Mn) in the brain promotes a variety of abnormal behaviors, including memory deficits, decreased motor skills and psychotic behavior resembling Parkinson's disease. Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is a prevalent genetic iron overload disorder worldwide. Dysfunction in HFE gene is the major cause of HH. Our previous study has demonstrated that olfactory Mn uptake is altered by HFE deficiency, suggesting that loss of HFE function could alter manganese-associated neurotoxicity. To test this hypothesis, Hfe-knockout ($Hfe^{-/-}$) and wild-type ($Hfe^{+/+}$) mice were intranasally-instilled with manganese chloride ($MnCl_2$ 5 mg/kg) or water daily for 3 weeks and examined for memory function. Olfactory Mn diminished both short-term recognition and spatial memory in $Hfe^{+/+}$ mice, as examined by novel object recognition task and Barnes maze test, respectively. Interestingly, $Hfe^{-/-}$ mice did not show impaired recognition memory caused by Mn exposure, suggesting a potential protective effect of Hfe deficiency against Mn-induced memory deficits. Since many of the neurotoxic effects of manganese are thought to result from increased oxidative stress, we quantified activities of anti-oxidant enzymes in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Mn instillation decreased superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) activity in $Hfe^{+/+}$ mice, but not in $Hfe^{-/-}$ mice. In addition, Hfe deficiency up-regulated SOD1 and glutathione peroxidase activities. These results suggest a beneficial role of Hfe deficiency in attenuating Mn-induced oxidative stress in the PFC. Furthermore, Mn exposure reduced nicotinic acetylcholine receptor levels in the PFC, indicating that blunted acetylcholine signaling could contribute to impaired memory associated with intranasal manganese. Together, our model suggests that disrupted cholinergic system in the brain is involved in airborne Mn-induced memory deficits and loss of HFE function could in part prevent memory loss via a potential up-regulation of anti-oxidant enzymes in the PFC.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.181-185
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• 2023

We present a case report of a 52-year-old male patient who suffered head trauma in a car accident and subsequently experienced taste and smell disorders. Following the accident, the patient reported difficulty detecting salty and sour tastes and diminished olfactory perception. Neurosurgical evaluation revealed subarachnoid and subdural hemorrhages, while otolaryngology investigations revealed hyposmia-a decreased sense of smell. Upon referral to the Department of Oral Medicine, a comprehensive assessment revealed a general bilateral reduction in taste sensation, particularly ageusia for salty taste. Electric taste-detection thresholds significantly exceeded the normal ranges. Integrating our findings from neurosurgery, otolaryngology, and oral medicine resulted in a diagnosis of mixed chemosensory disorder attributed to head trauma. This case highlights the intricate interplay of alterations in taste and smell following head injury, emphasizing the significance of multidisciplinary evaluations in diagnosing mixed chemosensory disorders resulting from traumatic brain injury.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.85-94
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• 2014

Non-pharmacological treatments have long been used for paraphilia or sexual offenders, but few clinical studies were conducted. However, recently there were issued cognitive behavioral therapy of paraphilia or sexual offenders based on the research findings obtained so far. In addition, there were the changes of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder by American Psychiatric Association at 2014. The methods of cognitive behavioral therapy for paraphilia or sexual offenders were electric aversion therapy, olfactory aversion therapy, ammonia aversion therapy, covert sensitization, masturbatory reconditioning, directed masturbation, verbal satiation, social skill training, assertiveness training etc. By synthesizing the newly reported foreign guidelines for treatment and review articles, the aim of this study is to investigate the non-pharmacologic therapies used for treatment of paraphilia or sexual offenders.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.168-171
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• 2016

Signalment: An 8-month-old female Alaskan malamute was presented for progressive cluster seizure disorder. Results: There were no abnormalities on neurological examination, survey radiographs, or blood analysis. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and computed tomography revealed extension of the olfactory bulb and frontal lobe into the nasal cavity. They also confirmed abnormal anatomy of the nasal turbinates within the rostral part of the nasal cavity and the absence of a cribriform plate. On T2-weighted and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images, the herniated brain showed heterogeneous and hyperintense signals consistent with intraparenchymal edema. Transverse MR images showed brain herniation into the right frontal cavity and an asymmetrical lateral ventricle because of a left midline shift. On contrast-enhanced MR images, the protruding brain parenchyma was mildly enhanced. Ethmoidal encephalocele was suspected as the final diagnosis. Despite symptomatic treatment, the dog continued to exhibit seizures and was euthanized. Clinical relevance: Ethmoidal encephalocele is a rare disease in dogs. However, it could be considered as a cause of seizure in young dogs.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.1-24
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• 2017

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to research on the characteristics of outpatients and distributions of diseases in ophthalmology, otolaryngology of Korean medicine in 2012-2016 and compare the result with previous studies. Methods : This study is based on the analysis of medical records of total 2,319 outpatients in ophthalmology, otolaryngology of Korean medicine at Kyung Hee Korean medicine hospital from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2016. We searched on the demographic characteristics of outpatients and the distributions of diseases in order of frequency by age and sex. Then, we compared these results to previous results of papers at same hospital in 2000 and 2007. Results : The common diseases in 2012-2016 were dry eye syndrome in ophthalmology(32.14%), tinnitus and hearing loss in otology(72.69%), rhinitis in rhinology(82.20%) and laryngopharyngitis in laryngology(67.77%). The most increasing diseases in the distribution between 2004-2006 and 2012-2016 were retinopathy in ophthalmology(+366.77%), etc including the eustachian tube disorder in otology(+151.55%), olfactory disorder in rhinology(+167.50%) and laryngopharyngitis in laryngology(+126.20%). Conclusions : If we accumulate these kinds of epidemiologic studies on ophthalmology, otolaryngology of Korean medicine, it will be great help to make Korean medical preparations for the increasing diseases on these fields.