• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.132-140
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• 2017

Objectives: Very early-onset schizophrenia (VEOS) is a type of psychosis having a low frequency, insidious onset, and devastating clinical outcome. In this study, the demographic features, information on medication, clinical outcomes, and intellectual capability of patients diagnosed with VEOS in a hospital were analyzed to provide therapeutic strategies for this type of schizophrenia. Methods: Using the electronic medical records of the National Center for Mental Health, 69 patients with VEOS were identified based on the DSM-5 criteria of schizophrenia. The data were summarized and analyzed according to the demographic characteristics, medications used, intellectual strength measured by the full intelligence quotient (FIQ) score, and current clinical status measured by the Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) and various combinations of these parameters. Results: The screened study group contained similar numbers of males and females. The younger the onset of psychosis, the lower the frequency. The study population included a significantly higher proportion of births in the winter season than that of the general population. The 3 most frequently used antipsychotic medications were risperidone and its derivatives, clozapine and olanzapine. Valproic acid and divalproex sodium were the most commonly added drugs for outcome augmentation. 53.5% of the study population had received benzodiazepines and/or hypnotics. The average FIQ of the study population was 69.4, which is quite low compared to previous Korean studies with similar populations. There was a weak negative correlation between FIQ and CGI-S, but it was not statistically significant. The average CGI-S score was 4.2, which meant that the patients were moderately ill. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that patients with VEOS showed more frequent intellectual deficits at baseline and poorer outcomes than the control group. Risperidone, clozapine, valproic acid and their combinations were the most preferred medications for the treatment of psychosis. Benzodiazepines were quite commonly added for various reasons.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.6
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• pp.769-774
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• 1997

Non-neuronal high affinity binding sites for benzodiazepines have been found in many peripheral tissues including cardiac muscle and vascular smooth muscle, and have been designated as 'peripheral benzodiazepine receptor'. Benzodiazepines have been shown to induce relaxation of the ileal, vesical, and uterine smooth muscles. However, it is still unclear about possible involvement of peripheral benzodiazepine receptor on the contractility of trachealis muscle. This study was performed to investigate the role of the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor on the contractility of canine trachealis muscle. Canine trachealis muscle strips of 15 mm long were suspended in an isolated organ bath containing 1 ml of physiological salt solution maintained at $37^{\circ}C$, and aerated with $95%\;O_2/5%\;CO_2$. Isometric myography was performed, and the results of the experiments were as follows: Ro5-4684, FGIN-1-27 and clonazepam reduced a basal tone of isolated canine trachealis muscle strip concentration dependently, relaxant actions of RoS-4684 and FGIN-1-27 were antagonized by PK11195, a peripheral benzodiazepine receptor antagonist. Flumazenil, a central type antagonist, did not antagonize the relaxant action of Peripheral type agonists. Saturation binding assay of [3H]Ro5-4864 showed a high affinity$(Kd=5.33{\pm}1.27nM,\;Bmax=\;867.3{\pm}147.2\;fmol/mg\;protein)$ binding site on the canine trachealis muscle. Ro 5-4684 suppressed the bethanechol-, 5-hydroxyoyptamine- and histamine- induced contractions. Platelet activating factor (PAF) exerted strong and prolonged contraction in trachealis muscle strip. Strong tonic contraction by PAE was attenuated by Ro 5-4684, but not by WEB 2086, a PAF antagonist. Based on these results, it is concluded that the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor mediates the inhibitory regulation of contractilty of canine trachealis muscle.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.304-315
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• 2012

Today, suicide by self-poisoning of prescribed or non-prescribed drugs on purpose has been increasing and is a major cause of mortality. It is very important to treat promptly and properly for saving the lives from those suicides. There is neither an organization such as poison control center nor measurement in S. Korea, though. The object of this study was to evaluate information of frequently used substances for suicide attempt in S. Korea. Our results also can provide healthcare provider including pharmacists and doctors, etc and contribute to increasing health and welfare for Korean. From June $1^{st}$ 2006 to April $30^{th}$ 2012, we retrospectively studied patients visiting emergency room due to suicide attempt. We collected information of underlying disease, history of past medical condition and suicide attempt, ingredient and getting route of ingesting substances, emergency treatment, and outcome by reviewing electronic medical record. We also evaluated actual treatment of self-poisoning and made guide information about antidote medication for S. Korean healthcare provider. Among total 242 cases of suicidal attempts, cases ingesting substances including prescription, non-prescription drugs and agricultural chemicals were 86.4%. The most frequently used drugs for suicide attempt were sedatives-hypnotics (53.6%), followed by analgesics (16.7%) and antidepressants (12.4%). Analgesics including acetaminophen and aspirin were most in teenagers but sedatives-hypnotics including benzodiazepines, non-benzodiazepine (zolpidem) and antihistamine were most in other ages including elderly people. Most frequently used antidote was activated charcoal (62.7%) and specific antidotes for some substances (acetaminophen, aspirin, agricultural chemicals) were also treated properly, accompanying with medication for supportive care. In conclusion, the most used substances for suicide attempt were sedatives-hypnotics and treatments for self-poisoning in emergency room were appropriate based on existing references. Therefore, information of frequently used substances and antidote reflecting these results will be useful for South Korean healthcare provider.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.333-341
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• 2021

Benzodiazepines (BDZs) drugs act on the GABA_A receptor, function as nerve suppressors, and are used to treat anxiety, insomnia, and panic disorder. We analyzed the data of 30 individuals to determine any differences in the sleep-electroencephalogram findings among individuals varying in age, benzodiazepine use, and duration of benzodiazepine use. Comparisons between users and non-users of benzodiazepines, short-term and long-term users, older and younger users, and older short-term and older long-term users, were achieved using electroencephalographic findings obtained through polysomnography. The parameters evaluated included sleep latency, sleep efficiency, sleep-stage percentages, number of sleep spindles, and average frequency of sleep-spindle. The difference between benzodiazepine users and non-users was significant with respect to sleep-stage percentages and average frequency of sleep-spindle. Older and younger users differed significantly with respect to sleep efficiency and sleep-stage percentages, whereas significant difference for sleep efficiency was obtained between long-term and short-term users. Taken together, our results indicate that BDZ consumption suppresses slow-wave sleep and increases the frequency of sleep spindles.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.112-118
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• 2022

Objectives : Zolpidem is a common drug used in insomnia. However, there are several reports of side effects of the central nervous system or sleep related behavior in patients who took zolpidem. This study was conducted to investigate risk factors affecting sleep related behavior after taking zolpidem in inpatients. Methods : From January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019, medical records of patients who took zolpidem hospitalized at Inha University Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. Results : 907 patients who took Zolpidem, 102 (11.2%) showed sleep related behavior, and if they were 65 years of age or older, men, taking antipsychotics, and taking antipsychotics and benzodiazepines at the same time, they were significantly more likely to show sleep related behavior. Conclusions : Risk factors for sleep-related behavior after use of zolpidem are estimated gender, elderly, antipsychotics, and combination of antipsychotics and benzodiazepines.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.676-684
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors for falls and to suggest data for developing a program for preventing falls. Methods: This was a case-control study in five university hospitals and a general hospital. In total, 216 patients over the age of 18 yr admitted from January 1 to December 31, 2007 participated. One hundred eight patients with experience of falling were matched by gender, age level, diagnosis, and length of stay with 108 patents with no experience of falling admitted on the same unit. A quality assurance coordinator nurse in each hospital examined 35 fall risk factors developed by researchers. Results: In acute hospitals, history of falls, orientation ability, dizziness or vertigo, general weakness, urination problems, transfer/mobility difficulty, walking dependency, impatience, benzodiazepines, diuretics, and vasodilators showed significance on adjusted-odds ratios for fall. Logistic regression analysis was performed to elucidate the factors that influence falls. The probability of falls was increased by dizziness/vertigo, general weakness, and impatience/agitation. Conclusion: This finding can be used as a useful resource in developing nursing intervention programs to predict and prevent the falls of inpatients.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.343-349
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• 2018

Although drugs such as barbiturates and benzodiazepines are often used for the treatment of insomnia, they are associated with various side effects such as habituations, tolerance and addiction. Alternatively, natural products with minimal unwanted effects have been preferred for the treatment of acute and/or mild insomnia, with additional benefits of overall health-promotion. Basic and clinical researches on the mechanisms of action of natural products have been carried out so far in insomnia treatments. Recent studies have been focusing on diverse chemical components available in natural products, with an interest of developing drugs that can improve sleep duration and quality. In the last 15 years, our co-workers have been actively looking for candidate substances from natural products that can relieve insomnia. This review is, therefore, intended to bring pharmacological data regarding to the effects of natural products on sleep duration and quality, mainly through the activation of $GABA_A$ receptors. It is imperative that phytochemicals will provide useful information during electroencephalography (EEG) analysis and serve as an alternative medications for insomnia patients who are reluctant to use conventional drugs.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.267-271
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• 2012

The Nuss procedure for the correction of Pectus Excavatum (PE) is associated with intense postoperative pain. Our strategy to control early postoperative pain is to combine epidural with intravenous analgesia. Our aim was to analyse our pain control strategy by reviewing all the PE cases treated at our institution. Sixty consecutive patients, aged between 12 and 26 years old, received the PE operation at our institution from January, 2007 to September, 2010. The median age was 16 (12-27) with a male/female ratio of about 7/1. An epidural catheter was employed in all the cases, with 38 patients (63%) requiring additional drugs to control pain, which remained in place for 74 hours (72-96). The pain score was higher in male patients, but lower in those younger than 16 years old. Moreover, patients that consumed benzodiazepines had a significant decrease in cumulative opioid intake (P = 0.0408). Both gender and age had an impact on pain control, while we noticed a synergistic effect between opiates and tranquillizers.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.280.2-281
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• 2002

This presentation reports the trends of the drug abuses(DA) and the mortalities related to drug-toxicants(MDT) in the Central area of Korea in 2001. We surveyed the DA cases and MDT. which were requested to analyze the drug-toxicants in the Central district office of National Institute of Scientific Investigation. he detected drugs on DA cases were methamphetamine. marihuana. opiates. inhalants(toluene. butane. ropane). dextromethorphane. carisoprodol. benzodiazepines, nalbuphine. fenfluamine. and iscellaneous in order of cases. Men are more liable to drug abuses than women. and the most common age group was 30s. Surveys of MDT shows that the defected toxicants are paraquat(sedative). methomy(insecticide). dicholrvos (insecticide). benxodiaxeqines(anxiolytic), and miscellaneous in order do cases. Men's intoxications by the drug-toxicants are more occured than woman's And most common intoxicated age group was 40s. These trends of the DA cases and the MDT in Central Area fo Korea. can help the forensic toxicologists and government to plan the prevention policy of the DA cases and MDT as well as its future estimation.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.352-362
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• 1999

Thiopental sodium is known as ultrashort-acting barbiturates and can be employed advantageously for numerous conditions. But thiopental has the side effects of cardiovascular and respiratory systems which has barbiturates and are depend on the dose of thiopental. The side effects are reduced when the thiopental is preceded by a tranquilizer and sedative. In these drugs, benzodiazepines have the minimal effects of cardiovascular and respiratory systems. In this study, the effects of midazolam preanesthetic administration, followed by thiopental anesthetic induction, on cardiovascular system and thiopental induction requirement were studied in 14 mixed breed dogs. Cardiovascular data were recorded baseline, after premedication of saline 0.45 ml/kg or midazolam 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8 mg/kg, intubation, and 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 minutes after intubation. Extubation, head-up, sternal recombency, standing, and walking recovery times were recorded. The results were summarized as follows; (1) The 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 mg/kg dosages of midazolam insignificantly decreased thiopental dose requirement necessary to accomplish intubation by 6, 20, 21 and 28%. (2) The 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 mg/kg dosages of midazolam insignificantly reduced the times of extubation, head-up, sternal recumbency, standing, and walking recovery. (3) Midazolam was effective in reducing the frequency and duration of arrhythmia after intubation. (4) Heart rates of preanestheic midazolam administraion groups increased after thiopental injection which insignificantly changed smaller than those of control group. (5) Arterial blood pressures did not vary significantly among groups.