The Comparison of Prevalence and Patterns of Sexual Dysfunction between Patients with Schizophrenia and Healthy Controls / 생물치료정신의학

Objectives@#：Sexual dysfunction is common in both untreated and treated patients with schizophrenia and known as affecting the quality of life and drug compliance. The primary objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in Korean patients with schizophrenia treated with antipsychotic medications compared with healthy controls. @*Methods@#：Subjects were 75 patients who were recruited from outpatients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder according to DSM-IV-TR criteria, who had been stabilized on antipsychotic medications for more than three consecutive months. Control group consisted of 76 volunteers without history of any psychiatric disorder were excluded. We assessed for sexual dysfunction by the ASEX. @*Results@#：The prevalence of sexual dysfunction in the patient group was 57.33%, while that of the control group was 23.37%. Female gender and the use of antidepressants were best predictors of sexual dysfunction in patient group. Sexual difference at sexual drive observed in the control group diminished in the patient group. @*Conclusion@#：The present study demonstrated a higher prevalence of sexual dysfunction in patient group than control. Clinicians should consider the differential sexual dysfunction effects of antipsychotics when prescribing medications.

The Comparison of Prevalence and Patterns of Sexual Dysfunction between Patients with Schizophrenia and Healthy Controls / 생물치료정신의학

Objectives@#：Sexual dysfunction is common in both untreated and treated patients with schizophrenia and known as affecting the quality of life and drug compliance. The primary objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in Korean patients with schizophrenia treated with antipsychotic medications compared with healthy controls. @*Methods@#：Subjects were 75 patients who were recruited from outpatients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder according to DSM-IV-TR criteria, who had been stabilized on antipsychotic medications for more than three consecutive months. Control group consisted of 76 volunteers without history of any psychiatric disorder were excluded. We assessed for sexual dysfunction by the ASEX. @*Results@#：The prevalence of sexual dysfunction in the patient group was 57.33%, while that of the control group was 23.37%. Female gender and the use of antidepressants were best predictors of sexual dysfunction in patient group. Sexual difference at sexual drive observed in the control group diminished in the patient group. @*Conclusion@#：The present study demonstrated a higher prevalence of sexual dysfunction in patient group than control. Clinicians should consider the differential sexual dysfunction effects of antipsychotics when prescribing medications.

Comparison of Dyes for Easy Detection of Extracellular Cellulases in Fungi

To evaluate which dye is effective in a plate assay for detecting extracellular cellulase activity produced by fungi, four chromogenic dyes including remazol brilliant blue, phenol red, congo red, and tryphan blue, were compared using chromagenic media. For the comparison, 19 fungal species belonging to three phyla, ascomycota, basidiomycota, and zygomycota were inoculated onto yeast nitrogen-based media containing different carbon substrates such as cellulose (carboxylmethyl and avicel types) and cellobiose labeled with each of the four dyes. Overall, the formation of clear zone on agar media resulting from the degradation of the substrates by the enzymes secreted from the test fungi was most apparent with media containing congo red. The detection frequency of cellulase activity was also most high on congo red-supplemented media. The results of this study showed that congo red is better dye than other three dyes in a plate assay for fungal enzyme detection.

Detection of Extracellular enzymes Activities in Various Fusarium spp

Thirty seven species of Fusarium were evaluated for their ability of producing extracellular enzymes using chromogenic medium containing substrates such as starch, cellobiose, CM-cellulose, xylan, and pectin. Among the tested species Fusarium mesoamericanum, F. graminearum, F. asiaticum, and F. acuminatum showed high beta-glucosidase acitivity. Xylanase activity was strongly detected in F. proliferatum and F. oxysporum. Strong pectinase activity was also found in F. oxysporum and F. proliferatum. Amylase activity was apparent in F. oxysporum. No clear activity in cellulase was found from all the Fusarium species tested.

Detection of Extracellular Enzyme Activity in Penicillium using Chromogenic Media

A total of 106 Penicillium species were tested to examine their ability of degrading cellobiose, pectin and xylan. The activity of beta-glucosidase was generally strong in all the Penicillium species tested. P. citrinum, P. charlesii, P. manginii and P. aurantiacum showed the higher ability of producing beta-glucosidase than other tested species. Pectinase activity was detected in 24 Penicillium species. P. paracanescens, P. sizovae, P. sartoryi, P. chrysogenum, and P. claviforme showed strong pectinase activity. In xylanase assay, 84 Penicillium species showed activity. Strong xylanase activity was detected from P. megasporum, P. sartoryi, P. chrysogenum, P. glandicola, P. discolor, and P. coprophilum. Overall, most of the Penicillium species tested showed strong beta-glucosidase activity. The degree of pectinase and xylanase activity varied depending on Penicillium species.

A Case of Melanosis Ilei / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Melanosis ilei is a condition that's characterized by gross greyish-black or brownish-black pigmentation of the mucosa of the terminal ileum. There were several substances that produce gastrointestinal tract pigmentation such as lipofuscin, iron sulphide (FeS), Hemosiderin and exogenous material such as silicates and titanium. We report here on a case of a 58-year-old female who ingested charcoal for a long time, and she was diagnosed with melanosis ilei by colonoscopy. Her condition improved after she stopped ingesting the charcoal.

Detection of Cellulolytic Activity in Ophiostoma and Leptographium species by Chromogenic Reaction

To understand the ability of producing cellulolytic enzyme activity in the sapstaining fungi, four species of Ophiostoma and two species of Leptographium were investigated in the culture media containing each of cellulose substrates such as CM-cellulose, Avicel and D-cellobiose and each of chromogenic dyes such as Congo-Red, Phenol Red, Remazol Brilliant Blue and Tryphan Blue. When the fungi were grown for 5~7 days at 25degrees C, the formation of clear zone by chromogenic reaction around the margin of the fungal colony was demonstrated in all the culture media Congo-Red containing CM-cellulose. There was difference in the formation of clear zone among the dyes. Only Ophiostoma setosum and Leptographium spp. showed cellulolytic activity to the three substrates. Overall, the results of this study show that ophiostomatoid sapstaining fungi can produce cellulolytic enzymes.

A case of colonoscopically removed toothpick in the sigmoid colon / 대한내과학회지

Most ingested foreign bodies spontaneously pass through the upper and lower intestinal tract. The impaction of an ingested foreign body in the colon is rare. Foreign bodies swallowed inadvertently often cause serious complications, such as perforation, obstruction, abscess formation, enterocolic fistula, or hemorrhage. Physicians should proceed with routine medical care while considering the possibility of the ingestion of a foreign body In cases where abdominal pain of an unknown origin is observed, particularly in elderly patients who wear dentures, alcoholics, mentally disturbed, or rapid eating, and presenting with altered bowel habits. We report a case of a colonoscopically-removed wooden toothpick that impacted the sigmoid colon and was complicated by the formation of a local abscess with a review of the literature.

A case of hyereosinophilic syndrome with exudative pleural effusion / 대한내과학회지

Hypereosinophilic syndrome, the disease with continuous over production of eosinophil from bone marrow without any identifiable underlying disorder, causes various symptoms or signs by infiltrating organs. As many as 28,780/mm3 eosinophils in peripheral blood, the eosinophilic hyperplasia in bone marrow and features of hepatic involvement -revealed elevated serum AST, ALT and ultrasonogram of abdomen showed the multiple nodules scattered throughout the liver, we have reached to make a diagnosis of the rare hyper eosinophilic syndrome carrying the eosinophil-rich exudate in pleural effusion. The patient showed improvement of clinical symptoms with oral administration of predinisolone, and we report this case with literature consideration.