• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.248-252
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• 1998

Object : This study was performed in order to examine the correlation between acute neuroleptic-induced dystonic reactions and serum iron level. Method : Serum iron levels were measured in psychiatric inpatients who had developed acute neuroleptic-induced dystonia(N=41) and in control patients with no history of acute dystonic reactions(N=37). Serum iron levels were compared in acute dystonic inpatients before starting treatment with neuroleptics and after acute dystonic reaction. Results : The patients exhibiting acute dystonic reactions had significantly lower serum iron levels than the patients without acute dystonic reactions. Conclusion : This result supports an association between low serum iron and the occurrence of neuroleptic-induced acute dystonic reactions.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 2011

Objective: Hyperprolactinemia is common side effect associated with antipsychotics use. Nevertheless, hyperprolactinemia is relatively neglected by clinician. Especially, there is no study related to amisulprideinduced hyperprolactinemia in korea. This study aimed to determine whether amisulpride can be induced hyperprolactinemia in Korean psychiatric patients. Methods: This study methodology consisted of a retrospective review of medical charts and prolactin levels. Serum prolactin levels were measured in 24 Korean patients(12 males and 12 females) with psychosis who were treated over 400mg of amisulpride per day. Results: All patients had hyperprolactinemia. Prolactin levels significantly increased after receiving amisulpride(z=-3.702, p=0.000). The prolactin level was significantly higher in females($156.29{\pm}63.75$ng/mL) than in males($69.04{\pm}39.91$ng/mL) after administering amisulpride(p=0.000). There was a correlation between dosage and prolactin levels(r=0.61, p=0.002). However, there was no correlation between duration of treatment and prolactin levels. Conclusions: Antipsychotics, especially amisulpride can increase serum prolactin levels and may results in short and long term side effects. Routine clinical assessment of initial and additional prolactin level and associated symptoms should be done

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.111-118
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• 2019

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of antipsychotic medication prescription for the symptom control in patients with delirium. Methods : One hundred and eighty-five patients referred to consultation-liaison psychiatric services for delirium due to general medical condition were included in this study. All subjects were divided into two groups (antipsychotics users vs. antipsychotics nonusers), and comparison analyses on their clinical characteristics were performed. Results : One hundred and twenty nine patients (66.5%) used antipsychotics for their delirium, and 56 patients (30.3%) did not use antipsychotics. The history of psychotropic medication was more frequently observed in antipsychotic users (5.4% vs. 18.6%, χ²=5.498, p=0.022). Especially, the history of benzodiazepine use was significantly high in antipsychotics users. The total score and sub-items of delirium rating scale-severity items except for the psychomotor retardation item showed higher scores in antipsychotic users than in nonusers (all p<0.05). The total score of the delirium rating scale-diagnosis items was higher in antipsychotic users than in the nonusers (p=0.010). Conclusions : Delirium patients with more severe delirium symptoms and with more history of benzodiazepine use were treated with antipsychotics more frequently than those without. These findings imply that benzodiazepine may not only exacerbate delirium but be associated with aggression or psychomotor agitation that need immediate intervention. Clinicians may need to pay attention not only these external symptoms but also to hypoactive symptoms that may lead to misdiagnosis and undertreatment.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.437-444
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• 2009

Purpose: Transgender is a disorder of gender identity, who have appropriate chromosomal, hormonal and anatomical characteristics corresponding to their sexual phenotype but feel strongly with respect to their sexual identity, that they belong to the opposite sex. There is a persistence discomfort and sense of inappropriateness about one's assigned sex in a person who has reached puberty. Transgender is a psychiatric problem, but surgical method provides more satisfactory adjustment for patients. In gender reassignment surgery for female to male transgender, mastectomy, nipple reduction, hysterectomy, oophorectomy and phalloplasty are included. And as the final operation, recommended for scrotoplasty and artificial testes insertion. So we investigated the necessity and method of scrotoplasty in the final operation of female to male transgender. Method: The authors have long term follow-up of 75 cases female to male transgender during January, 1991 to February, 2008. Among them, 13 cases were evaluated in this study. During phalloplasty, the labium major skin preserved. And this labium majoral skin flap was made for the neoscrotum. At least six months later, artificial testes were inserted in neoscrotum with local anesthesia. Middle sized (3 cm diameter) artificial testes(silicon gel or carving soft silicone implant) were used because of the limitation of the neoscrotum. We evaluated the questionnaire and interview about the postoperative satisfaction in configuration of reconstructed scrotum, and the necessity of operation, the postoperative psychosocioeconomic improvement and limitation of body exposure activities such as swimming, public bathing. Results: Based on this study, satisfaction of reconstructed scrotum after scrotoplasty was improved(92%). The necessity of scrotoplasty was in 92.3% and the postoperative psychosocioeconomic well - being improvement was 77% in answers. Less limitation of activities requiring body exposure was 54% in answers. Most of the patients were satisfied with the results of surgical operation inspite of the operative procedure had some postoperative complications. Conclusion: This study was reported that the scrotoplasty in female to male transgender is not only a conversion of external genitalia but also an improvement of psychosocial state. Most patients sincerely hope to this operation, so we improve our surgical method for more good results.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.65-70
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• 2009

Purpose: Many studies have addressed a psychiatric analysis of self-injury patients who have self-injurious behavior and who have attempted suicide. Few studies on the injury characteristics of self-injury related trauma patients have been conducted. We analyzed the injury characteristics of self-injury patients. Methods: A retrospective review of the medical records extracted from the injury surveillance system of Wonju Christian Hospital for the period from August 2006 to February 2008 was conducted. Of the 121 cases extracted, 103 were included in this study. We analyzed the sex ratio, age group, place of injury, injury mechanism, location of injury, management results, injury severity, and relation with drinking. Results: One hundred three cases were included (sex ratio: 1.06), and the mean age was $33.9{\pm}14.2$ years old. Fifty-six patients (54.4%) were discharged from the emergency department (ED) on the day of injury after primary care, and 9 patients (8.7%) were discharged, because they refused treatment. Seven patients (6.8%) died. Of these, 4 patients (3.9%) died after attempted cardio-pulmonary resuscitation in the ED, 1 patient (1%) was dead on arrival, and 2 patients (1.9%) died after admission. Sixteen patients (15.5%) were admitted to the hospital, including 2 patients (1.9%) needing emergency surgery. Sixteen patients (15.5%) were transferred to other hospitals. Sixty-one cases (59.2%) involved drinking, and 31 (30.1%) did not; for 11 cases (10.7%), the involvement of drinking was unknown. The mean revised trauma score (RTS) was $11.26{\pm}2.52$, and 88 cases (85.4%) hat a RTS of 12. The mean injury severity score (ISS) was $5.80{\pm}14.56$, and 9 (8.7%) severely injured patients had scores of more than 15. Conclusion: Most self-injuries were mild traumas related to drinking and occurred at a young age. Most cases were not so severe, and the patients were discharged from the ED, but some patients needed hospitalization. Other patients had injuries so severe that they died.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.1064-1072
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• 2013

Circadian rhythm is controlled by hormonal oscillations governing the physiology of all living organisms. In mammals, the main function of the pineal gland is to transform the circadian rhythm generated in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus into rhythmic signals of circulating melatonin characterized by a largely nocturnal increase that closely reflects the duration of night time. The pineal gland has lost direct photosensitivity, but responds to light via multi-synaptic pathways that include a subset of retinal ganglion cells. Rhythmic control is achieved through a tight coupling between environmental lighting and arylalkylamine-N-acetyltransferase (AANAT) expression, which is the rhythm-controlling enzyme in melatonin synthesis. Previous studies on the nocturnal expression of AANAT protein have described transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and post-translational regulatory mechanisms. Molecular mechanisms for dependent AANAT expression provide novel aspects for melatonin's circadian rhythmicity. Extensive animal research has linked pineal melatonin for the expression of seasonal rhythmicity in many mammalian species to the modulation of circadian rhythms and to sleep regulation. It has value in treating various circadian rhythm disorders, such as jet lag or shift-work sleep disorders. Melatonin, also, in a broad range of effects with a significant regulation influences many of the body's physiological functions. In addition, this hormone is known to influence reproductive, cardiovascular, and immunological regulation as well as psychiatric disorders.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.94-104
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• 2015

Objectives: Mental health disorders and suicide are an important and growing public health concern in Korea. Evidence has shown that both globally and in Korea, obesity is associated with an increased risk of developing some psychiatric disorders. Therefore, we examined the association between distorted body weight perception (BWP) and suicidal ideation. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2007-2012 Korea National Health and Nutritional Evaluation Survey (KNHANES), an annual cross-sectional nationwide survey that included 14 276 men and 19 428 women. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to investigate the associations between nine BWP categories, which combined body image (BI) and body mass index (BMI) categories, and suicidal ideation. Moreover, the fitness of our models was verified using the Akaike information criterion. Results: Consistent with previous studies, suicidal ideation was associated with marital status, household income, education level, and perceived health status in both genders. Only women were significantly more likely to have distorted BWP; there was no relationship among men. In category B1 (low BMI and normal BI), women (odds ratio [OR], 2.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.48 to 3.42) were more likely to express suicidal ideation than women in category B2 (normal BMI and normal BI) were. Women in overweight BWP category C2 (normal BMI and fat BI) also had an increased OR for suicidal ideation (OR, 2.25; 95% CI, 1.48 to 3.42). Those in normal BWP categories were not likely to have suicidal ideation. Among women in the underweight BWP categories, only the OR for those in category A2 (normal BMI and thin BI) was significant (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.13 to 1.59). Conclusions: Distorted BWP should be considered an important factor in the prevention of suicide and for the improvement of mental health among Korean adults, especially Korean women with distorted BWPs.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.202-212
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• 2008

Purpose : The aim of this study was to develop a quality of life scale for children on chronic peritoneal dialysis(QOL-CPD). Methods : Thirty children on chronic PD at Seoul National University Children's Hospital participated. A healthy control group included 47 elementary school children. Other patients groups are 32 children from the department of pediatric orthopedics and 28 children from the department of child psychiatry. The age range of all children was 7 to 16 years. Preliminary items of the QOL-CPD were developed and administered along with the Korean version of the Children's Depression Inventory(CDI) to all children. Results : The final QOL-CPD was constructed by excluding those items with a factor loading of less than .20, and the principal axis factor analysis was performed again. The QOLCPD demonstrated a good internal consistency with a value of .87. The dialysis and childpsychiatric groups showed significantly lower QOL scores compared to the healthy control group. In addition, the dialysis and child-psychiatric groups showed greater difficulties on physical and academic functions. For the CDI, the PD group showed a mild level of depression. Conclusion : The results of this study demonstrate the clinical utility of a newly developed self-report QOL scale specific for children on chronic PD.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.331-335
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• 2015

Consideration of Glenohumeral joint's image with the Changed Body angle of the Glenohumeral joint's Oblique Position in Erect Position. Glenohumeral joint's of Grashey method is a shoulder oblique method available to view the shoulder joint. Grashey method projects AP view of the Glenohumeral joint's so that the Humerus head's subluxation or joint degeneration can be easily visualized. However in this view, the patients, erect position, have to keep their body obliquely. Oblique position is will be needed to get the good quality Glenohumeral joint's view. Therefore, we thought of examining a method which shows the Glenohumeral joint's well by angling the patient one side upward in erect position. For this study, total 20 subject with no history of neurological or psychiatric illness, were recruited for examinations. They consisted of 13 mails and 7 femails, Statistic group analysis was performed with ANOVA test. Score of the evaluation of the expects were $30^{\circ}$ at $0.40{\pm}0.499$, $35^{\circ}$ at $1.34{\pm}0.657$, $40^{\circ}$ at $1.84{\pm}0.573$, $45^{\circ}$ at $0.76{\pm}0.649$, and they were significant(P<0.05). The degree of $40^{\circ}$ views were shown to yield good quality shoulder oblique images.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.59-67
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• 2014

Objective : To obtain the incidence rate of anxiety disorders among the active duty Korean military personnel, who visited the military hospitals from 2011 to 2013, this descriptive epidemiological study was performed. Methods : After acquiring the data for the anxiety disorders from Defense Medical Statistics Information System, the annual incidence rates were analyzed by forces, position status, and specific disease entities. Results : One thousand, nine hundred and thirteen (1,913) active duty male military personnel were diagnosed with any kinds of anxiety disorders in their first visit to the psychiatric outpatient department (OPD). The total OPD visit counts were 7,870 during the same period. Anxiety disorder, NOS was the most frequent disorder, followed by panic disorder. While the incidence rate for anxiety disorder, NOS decreased, panic disorder displayed increasing tendency. Stress-related disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder were positioned third and fourth, respectively, for the number of first visit and they both showed decreasing tendency in annual incidence rates. Social anxiety disorder, specific phobias, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and mixed anxiety-depressive disorder followed next. The annual incidence rates for anxiety disorders showed decreasing tendency, particularly evident in army soldiers. However, naval officers showed higher anxiety disorder incidence rate compared to those of the army and the air forces. Conclusion : Comparing to general population, panic disorder was higher while specific phobias and GAD were lower in the Korean military. It is interesting to observe higher incidence rate for anxiety disorder in naval officers and warrants further evaluation.