COMPARISON OF THE RISK FACTORS OF KOREAN ADOLESCENT SUICIDE RESIDING IN HIGH SUICIDAL REGIONS VERSUS THOSE IN LOW SUICIDAL REGIONS

Background: The suicide rate of the youth in South Korea has been increasing, and suicide of the youth still has been the most common cause of death since 2007. We aimed to determine the trends and the regional risk factors of youth suicide in South Korea from 2001 to 2010. Subjects and Methods: We used the data from the National Statistical Office to calculate the standardized suicide rates and various regional data including population census, employment, and labor. To calculate the effect of individual risk factors, we used the data from the fourth Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBWS-VI). Conditional autoregressive model for regional standardized mortality ratio (SMR) using inter-regional spatial information was fitted. Results: Suicide rates of adolescents aged 12 to 18 was from 3.5 per 100,000 people in 2001 and 5.3 per 100,000 in 2010. There were no significant gender difference in suicide rates, however, the number of suicides among adolescents aged 15-18 accounted for four times than those of adolescents ages 12-14. High proportion of late adolescents, higher number of recipients of national basic livelihood, and higher number of adolescents who treated with depression were related to elevated suicide rate of adolescent. Total sleep time of adolescents and regional unemployment rate were negatively associated with the suicide risk of respective regions. Conclusions: Age distribution, economic status, total sleep time, and the number of adolescent patients with depression were different between those in low and in high adolescent suicidal regions in Korea. Our findings suggest that preferential appliance of adolescent suicide prevention program for regions by considering those factors may be important steps to reduce adolescent suicide in Korea

Long-term outcome of Bartter syndrome in 54 patients: A multicenter study in Korea

IntroductionBartter syndrome (BS) is a rare salt-wasting tubulopathy caused by mutations in genes encoding sodium, potassium, or chloride transporters of the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle and/or the distal convoluted tubule of the kidney. BS is characterized by polyuria, failure to thrive, hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis, hyperreninemia, and hyperaldosteronism. Potassium and/or sodium supplements, potassium-sparing diuretics, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be used to treat BS. While its symptoms and initial management are relatively well known, long-term outcomes and treatments are scarce.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed 54 Korean patients who were clinically or genetically diagnosed with BS from seven centers in Korea.ResultsAll patients included in this study were clinically or genetically diagnosed with BS at a median age of 5 (range, 0–271) months, and their median follow-up was 8 (range, 0.5–27) years. Genetic diagnosis of BS was confirmed in 39 patients: 4 had SLC12A1 gene mutations, 1 had KCNJ1 gene mutations, 33 had CLCNKB gene mutations, and 1 had BSND mutation. Potassium chloride supplements and potassium-sparing diuretics were administered in 94% and 68% of patients, respectively. The mean dosage of potassium chloride supplements was 5.0 and 2.1 mEq/day/kg for patients younger and older than 18 years, respectively. Nephrocalcinosis was a common finding of BS, and it also improved with age in some patients. At the last follow-up of 8 years after the initial diagnosis, 41% had short stature (height less than 3rd percentile) and impaired kidney function was observed in six patients [chronic kidney disease (CKD) G3, n = 4; CKD G5, n = 2].ConclusionBS patients require a large amount of potassium supplementation along with potassium-sparing agents throughout their lives, but tend to improve with age. Despite management, a significant portion of this population exhibited growth impairment, while 11% developed CKD G3–G5

Early prediction of molecular remission by monitoring BCR-ABL transcript levels in patients achieving a complete cytogenetic response after imatinib therapy for posttransplantation chronic myelogenous leukemia relapse

Imatinib induces a high complete cytogenetic response (CCR) rate in relapsed chronic myelogenous leukemia. By analyzing minimal residual disease (MRD) under the levels of CCR, we tried to assess the molecular response after imatinib therapy. By using real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (Q-RT-PCR), MRD was evaluated in 23 patients (3 in cytogenetic relapse, 6 in chronic phase, 9 in accelerated phase, and 5 in blast crisis) who were treated with standard-dose imatinib for relapsed chronic myelogenous leukemia after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. With a median therapy time of 399 days (range, 35–817 days), 19 (83%) patients achieved a CCR. Meanwhile, 11 (58%) of them achieved a molecular remission (MR), which was associated with improved survival. The Q-RT-PCR data were compared according to the best response (MR, n = 11; CCR, n = 8) in the patients achieving a CCR. The BCR-ABL/ABL ratios were similar in 2 groups at 3 months but were significantly different at 6 months (median, 0.0000012 for MR and 0.00022 for CCR; P = .003). The probability of a subsequent MR was significantly higher in patients with a lower BCR-ABL/ABL ratio at 6 months (100% for <0.0001 versus 33% for ≥0.0001; P = .006) or a greater reduction in the level between 3 and 6 months (log-reduction ≥1.0;, 100%; <1.0, 17%; P = .003). Q-RT-PCR is a reliable method for monitoring MRD: the early trends in the BCR-ABL/ABL ratio may be clinically useful in discriminating patients who will achieve an MR from those who will remain in CCR

South Koreas Soft Power in the Era of the Covid-19 Pandemic: An Analysis of the Expert Survey in Europe

Since the recent outbreak of the Covid-19, South Korea hasdemonstrated successful pandemic management that can beexemplary to other countries. This paper analyzes how SouthKoreas responses to the Covid-19 pandemic has changed theperceptions of the country in Europe. Through a survey conducted with Korea experts in 16 European countries, this paper documents the positive recognition of South Koreas pandemic management by the European public. Part of the positive appraisal can be attributed to South Koreas extensive testing, high technology, and the culture of wearing a face mask, while the opinions were more mixedregarding its comprehensive tracking and tracing strategy due to privacy concerns. Furthermore, the findings of the survey show that Europeans overall perception of South Korea has improved together with its Covid-19 management. This evidence suggests that thecountrys success in pandemic management can be an instrumentof public diplomacy to enhance its soft power, for which thegovernment of South Korea currently invests considerable efforts.We are grateful to the KDI School of Public Policy and Management for providing financial support. We also thank the Korea experts who participated in the survey

Observation of the orbital Hall effect in a light metal Ti

The orbital angular momentum is a core ingredient of orbital magnetism, spin Hall effect, giant Rashba spin splitting, orbital Edelstein effect, and spin-orbit torque. However, its experimental detection is tricky. In particular, direct detection of the orbital Hall effect remains elusive despite its importance for electrical control of magnetic nanodevices. Here we report the direct observation of the orbital Hall effect in a light metal Ti. The Kerr rotation by the accumulated orbital magnetic moment is measured at Ti surfaces, whose result agrees with theoretical calculations semiquantitatively and is supported by the orbital torque measurement in Ti-based magnetic heterostructures. The results confirm the electron orbital angular momentum as an essential dynamic degree of freedom, which may provide a novel mechanism for the electric control of magnetism. The results may also deepen the understanding of spin, valley, phonon, and magnon dynamics coupled with orbital dynamics

Benign Schwannoma of the Liver: A Case Report

A primary benign schwannoma of the liver is extremely rare. Only nine cases have been reported in the medical literature worldwide and no case has been reported in Korea previously. A 36-yr-old woman was admitted to our hospital with vague epigastric pain. The ultrasound and computed tomography scan revealed a multi-septated cystic mass in the right lobe of the liver. The mass was resected; it was found to be a 5 × 4 × 2 cm mass filled with reddish yellow fluid. The histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of a benign schwannoma, proven by positive immunoreaction with the neurogenic marker S-100 protein and a negative response to CD34, CD117 and smooth muscle actin. This is the first report of a benign schwannoma of the liver parenchyma in a Korean patient

A Patient With Dysphagia due to an Aortic Aneurysm

Dysphagia aortica is difficulty in swallowing caused by extrinsic compression of the esophagus due to an ectatic, tortuous, or aneurysmatic atherosclerotic thoracic aorta. This condition is very uncommon, and it is usually associated with old age, women with short stature, hypertension, and kyphosis. We report herein a case involving a patient with dysphagia who had an aortic aneurysm