Hee-Jin Kim

Factors affecting the interindividual variability of warfarin dose requirement in adult Korean patients

INTRODUCTION Warfarin, a commonly prescribed anticoagulant, exhibits large interindividual and interethnic differences in the dose required for its anticoagulation effect. Asian patients require a much lower maintenance dose compared with Caucasians; the explanation for these differences remains unknown. METHODS We analyzed five single nucleotide polymorphisms of the vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 gene (VKORC1) and the *3 variant of cytochrome P450 (CYP)2C9, as well as the plasma warfarin concentration, in 108 Korean patients with atrial fibrillation. RESULTS Genotypic frequencies of VKORC1 +1173CT and CYP2C9*1/*3 were 17.6 and 10.2%, respectively, in the study population; VKORC1 +1173CC and CYP2C9*3/*4 were detected in one patient each. Patients carrying at least one copy of the VKORC1 +1173C allele, or the H7 (group B) haplotype, required a significantly higher warfarin dose (n = 20; 5.5 +/- 1.7 mg/day) than those homozygous for the +1173T allele, or the H1 (group A) haplotype, (3.8 +/- 1.2 mg/day; p < 0.001). There were statistically significant differences in warfarin dose between the CYP2C9*1/*1 (4.3 +/- 1.6 mg/day; p < 0.001) and those with the other two genotypes including CYP2C9*1/*3 and CYP2C9*3/*4 (2.7 +/- 0.9 mg/day). The multiple regression analysis revealed that the VKORC1 genotype (r2 = 0.197; p < 0.001), the age when warfarin started (r2 = 0.09; p < 0.001), body surface area (r2 = 0.041; p = 0.004) and CYP2C9 genotype (r2 = 0.029; p = 0.014) were factors associated with the daily dose of warfarin required. CONCLUSION In the present study, we found that the VKORC1 polymorphism had a dominant genetic influence on interindividual variability for warfarin dose in Korean patients. It explained approximately 32% of the overall variability in warfarin dose requirements given all of the variables studied. Thus, analysis of the VKORC1 genotypes may be important to guide warfarin dose selection and allow personalized warfarin treatment.

Effects of Tongue Strength and Accuracy Training on Tongue Strength, Swallowing Function, and Quality of Life in Chronic Stroke Patients with Dysphagia

본 연구는 삼킴장애가 있는 만성 뇌졸중 환자를 대상으로 혀 근력 및 정확도 훈련이 혀 근력, 삼킴기능, 삶의 질에 미치는 영향을 알고자 하였다. 삼킴장애가 있는 만성 뇌졸중 환자 18명이 본 연구에 참가하였으 며, 실험군과 대조군으로 9명씩 무작위 배정되었다. 두 군은 전통적 삼킴장애 치료를 수행하였고, 실험군 은 혀 근력 및 정확도 훈련을 추가적으로 수행하였다. 혀 근력 및 정확도 훈련은 아이오와 구강수행기구를 이용하여 수행하였으며, 최대 등척성 혀 근력의 50%, 75%, 100%로 설정하여 수행하였다. 두 군은 8주간 주 5회 치료를 받았다. 결과측정은 혀 근력을 측정하기 위하여 아이오와 구강수행기구를 사용하여 최대 등척성 혀 근력을 평가하였으며, 삼킴기능을 측정하기 위하여 삼킴기능 검사로 평가하였다. 삼킴과 관련 된 삶의 질을 측정하기 위하여 삼킴-삶의 질 척도를 사용하였다. 연구결과, 두 군 간 변화량 비교에서 실 험군은 대조군보다 혀 앞·뒤쪽의 근력과 삼킴기능에서 유의한 향상을 보였다(p<0.05). 삶의 질은 두 군 간에 유의한 차이는 없었다(p>0.05). 본 연구의 결과를 통하여 혀 근력 및 정확도 훈련은 삼킴장애가 있는 만성 뇌졸중 환자의 혀 근력과 삼킴기능에 효과적인 중재방법으로 사용될 수 있을 것이다.

Topography of the Branching Patterns of the Facial Nerve in Korean

This study demonstrates the anatomical relationships and variability of the facial nerve trunk and branches with emphasis on intraparotid connections between divisions. Microsurgical dissections were performed on 30 Korean halfheads. The facial nerve trunk was exposed, depth from the skin surface to the stylomastoid foramen (21.03.1 mm) and distance between the stylomastoid foramen and the bifurcation point of temporofacial (upper) and cervicofacial (lower) divisions (13.02.8 mm) were measured. In 26 out of 30 dissections, the facial nerve terminated in a bifurcation into two main divisions, and in four cases, the nerve ended in a trifurcation pattern. According to the origin of the buccal division, branching patterns of the facial nerve were classified into 6 categories. A buccal division was originated from the upper and lower divisions (type I, 13.8%), from the two main and zygomatic divisions (type II, 44.8%), from the two main and marginal mandibular divisions (type III, 17.3%), from the two main, zygomatic and mandibular divisions (type IV, 17.3%), from the lower, zygomatic and mandibular divisions (type V, 3.7%), and from the upper, zygomatic and mandibular divisions (type VI, 3.7%). These details of facial nerve anatomy suggest surgical procedures such as tumor resection, facial nerve reconstruction, and facelift.