• Journal of Electrodiagnosis and Neuromuscular Diseases
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.124-129
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• 2018

Neuralgic amyotrophy (NA) is an idiopathic disease characterized by muscular atrophy accompanied by neuralgia, where acute pain in the limb, mostly including the shoulders, leads to muscle weakeness and atrophy in the limb days to weeks after the onset of pain. Although its exact pathogenesis is unknown, genetic and nongenetic factors, such as infection, surgery, and trauma are suspected contributors. We report this case as we diagnosed NA of the right lower limb via enhanced MRI as well as EMG and have followed up the patient's prognosis and radiologic changes for one and a half years. In addition, the patient had been diagnosed with neuropsychiatric disorders, such as major depressive disorder and somatic symptom disorder.

• Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 2017

Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate psychological effects of an outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), a newly emerged infectious disease, on doctors. Methods After the MERS outbreak was over, we conducted an online survey of doctors who worked at the hospitals in which exposure to MERS cases had been confirmed or who were directly involved in MERS diagnosis and treatment. The Patient Health Questionnaires-9 (PHQ-9) and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) assessment methods were used to assess the severity of depressive and posttraumatic stress symptoms among the 64 doctors participating in the survey. Results The results of the survey indicate that 26.6% (n=17) of participants exhibited depressive symptoms and 7.8% (n=5) had post-traumatic stress symptoms. The doctors employed at hospitals with MERS cases had higher PHQ-9 and IES-R mean scores than those in doctors were not so employed. In contrast, there was no significant difference in those test scores between doctors who participated directly in MERS diagnosis and treatment and those doctors who did not. Conclusion The survey demonstrated that 28.1% (n=18) of doctors involved in MERS care suffered from depressive or posttraumatic stress symptoms, even though the MERS infection was being controlled. Working at a hospital with MERS cases was the primary determinant of the adverse psychological outcomes among doctors ; however, direct participation in the diagnosis and care of MERS patients was not significantly related to such outcomes.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.149-157
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• 2008

Dopamine is a major neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS) that regulates neuroendocrine functions, locomotor activity, cognition and emotion. The dopamine system has been extensively studied because dysfunction of this system is linked to various pathological conditions including Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, Tourette's syndrome, and drug addiction. Accordingly, intense efforts to delineate the full complement of signaling pathways mediated by individual receptor subtypes have been pursued. Dopamine D1-like receptors are of particular interest because they are the most abundant dopamine receptors in CNS. Recent work suggests that dopamine signaling could be regulated via dopamine receptor interacting proteins (DRIPs). Unraveling these DRIPs involved in the dopamine system may provide a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying CNS disorders related to dopamine system dysfunction and may help identify novel therapeutic targets.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.239-244
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• 2009

New neurons are continually generated in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus and in the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricles of the adult brain. These neurons proliferate, differentiate, and become integrated into neuronal circuits, but how they are involved in brain function remains unknown. A deficit of adult hippocampal neurogenesis leads to defective spatial learning and memory, and the hippocampi in neuropsychiatric diseases show altered neurogenic patterns. Adult hippocampal neurogenesis is not only affected by external stimuli but also regulated by internal growth factors including BDNF, VEGF and IGF-1. These factors are implicated in a broad spectrum of pathophysiological changes in the human brain. Elucidation of the roles of such neurotropic factors should provide insight into how adult hippocampal neurogenesis is related to psychiatric disease and synaptic plasticity.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.48-56
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• 2016

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder in which neuronal loss causes cognitive decline and other neuropsychiatric problems. It can be diagnosed based on history, examination, and appropriate objective assessments, using standard criteria such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke and the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association (NINCDS-ADRDA). Brain imaging and biomarkers are making progress in the differential diagnoses among the different disorders. The cholinesterase inhibitors, donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors antagonist memantine are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for AD. Recently some acetylcholinesterase inhibitors gained approval for the treatment of severe AD and became available in a higher dose formulation or a patch formulation. Optimal care in AD is multifactorial and it should include early diagnosis and multidisciplinary care with pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions including exercise interventions, cognitive interventions and maintenance of social networks.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.243-248
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• 2006

Objectives: The Quality of Life-Alzheimer's Disease (QOL-AD) scale is a reliable and valid tool for assessing the quality of life (QOL) in the elderly with dementia. This study aimed to develop the Korean version of Quality of Life-Alzheimer's Disease (KQOL-AD) scale for the demented elderly living in the community. Methods: KQOL-AD was administered to two groups: 24 demented elderly and 72 cognitively impaired elderly with no dementia (CIND) who were living in the community Each elderly person and their caregiver rated the elderly QOL. The Korean version of mini-mental state examination (MMSE-K), the clinical dementia rating (CDR), the activities of daily living (ADL), and the neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI) were also assessed. The reliability and validity of the KQOL-AD were examined. Results: In the dementia group, the internal consistency (Cronbach's $\alpha$), the split half and the test-retest reliabilities of the KQOL-AD were excellent. Scores on the KQOL-AD were significantly correlated with the scores of the NPI, but they were not significantly correlated with scores of the MMSE-K, CDR and ADL. In addition, the CIND group showed similar results to the dementia group. Conclusions: KQOL-AD might be a reliable and valid instrument for assessing QOL in the elderly with dementia It could be used as an important outcome measure for research on the demented elderly.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.48-54
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• 2007

Objectives : This study aimed to examine the relationship between behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia(BPSD) and patient and caregiver QOL in Alzheimer's disease(AD). Methods : Fifty-one AD patients and their caregivers participated. Measures about patients were Neuropsychiatric Inventory(NPI), Korean version of QOL-Alzheimer's Disease(KQOL-AD), Activities of Daily Living(ADL), Clinical Dementia Rating(CDR), and Korean version-Mini Mental State Examination(K-MMSE). Caregiver QOL was assessed with KQOL-AD and General Health Questionnaire/Quality of Life-12(GHQ/QOL-12). Results : Patient QOL-AD on patient ratings was negatively correlated with appetite/eating change and NPI scores. Patient QOL-AD on caregiver ratings was negatively correlated with hallucinations, depression/dysphoria, and NPI scores. Caregiver QOL assessed by the GHQ/QOL-12 was negatively correlated with agitation/aggression, depression/dysphoria, and NPI scores and was negatively correlated with distress related to agitation/aggression, depression/dysphoria, and NPI scores. Conclusion : BPSD of AD patients was associated with low QOL of both patients and caregivers. Thus, interventions of BPSD were needed to improve both patient and caregiver QOL.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.29-45
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• 2001

Objectives: In order to overcome psychotherapeutic problems though the theory of oriental medicine by means of the Giungoroen(至言高論-wise saying and lofty opinion). Methods: This research was done by comparing the contents of psychotherapeutic ancient clinical document with the western medical method of psychotherapy Results: 1. Inquire into the clinical document, the psychotherapy is used treatment of wide area disease inclusive of neuropsychiatric disease different from the western medicine. 2. Inquire into the method of psychotherapy, the supportive psychotherapy and behavior therapy is applied. 3. In case of psychotherapy and treatment of medicines is done at the same time, treatment of medicines followed psychotherapy. 4. A viewpoint of Yusic(唯識-vijnaptim-atra)-a field of Buddhism, possibility of psychotherapy is showed. 5. A doctor's oriental thought and oriental medical Preservation of Health view was based. 6. The change of patient's the emotion and will is focused than disease itself. Conclusion: When western medical method of psychotherapy is complemented by a oriental thought and oriental medical Preservation of Health view, the good effects is hoped in psychotherapy.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.1193-1201
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• 2019

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the clinical characteristics of patients who complained of heartburn and to report the effects of Sogunjung-tang granules on heartburn. Methods: Observation was carried out on 30 patients with heartburn who were treated in Dongshin University Oriental Medicine Hospital from 1 October 2018 to 3 July 2019. For relieving heartburn, an oriental medical therapy of Sogunjung-tang granules was administered. To evaluate the effect of treatment, the visual analog scale (VAS) was used. Results: Females predominated among the patients (86.7% of the total). The patients were mostly aged in their 50s and the average age was 56.8 years. In the medical histories of the patients, other diseases (neuropsychiatric disease, cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, urologic disease, uterine disease etc.) were the most common (34.7%) and gastrointestinal disease was the second most common (22.4%). The patients took Sosiho-tang granules plus Sogunjung-tang granules for a maximum of 282 days. The number of patients who took medication within 10 days of experiencing heartburn was the highest and the number of patients who took medication more than 30 days of experiencing heartburn was the lowest. The scores on the visual analog scale (VAS) were significantly improved after treatment, the average decreasing from 7.0 to 3.1. Before taking the granules, the average rate of improvement for patients who recorded less than VAS 6 was 80%. Six out of seven inpatients showed more than two VAS changes on 3.8 day of taking medicine, and 23 outpatients showed more than two VAS changes on the second visit. Conclusions: This study suggests that Sogunjung-tang granules is probably effective in the treatment of heartburn.

• Psychiatry investigation
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• v.15 no.11
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• pp.1064-1070
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• 2018

Objective Several cell line studies have demonstrated thioridazine's anticancer, multidrug resistance-reversing and apoptosis-inducing properties in various tumors. We conducted this nationwide population-based study to investigate the association between thioridazine use and cancer risk among adult patients with schizophrenia. Methods Based on the Psychiatric Inpatient Medical Claim of the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan, a total of 185,689 insured psychiatric patients during 2000 to 2005 were identified. After excluding patients with prior history of schizophrenia, only 42,273 newly diagnosed patients were included. Among them, 1,631 patients ever receiving thioridazine for more than 30 days within 6 months were selected and paired with 6,256 randomly selected non-thioridazine controls. These patients were traced till 2012/12/31 to see if they have any malignancy. Results The incidence rates of hypertension and cerebrovascular disease were higher among cases than among matched controls. The incidence of hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease and chronic pulmonary disease did not differ between the two groups. By using Cox proportional hazard model for cancer incidence, the crude hazard ratio was significantly higher in age, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, cerebrovascular disease, coronary artery disease and chronic pulmornary disease. However, after adjusting for other covariates, only age and hypertension remained significant. Thioridazine use in adult patients with schizophrenia had no significant association with cancer. Conclusion Despite our finding that thioridazine use had no prevention in cancer in adult patients with schizophrenia. Based on the biological activity, thioridazine is a potential anticancer drug and further investigation in human with cancer is warranted.