An Exploratory Pilot Study with Plasma Protein Signatures Associated with Response of Patients with Depression to Antidepressant Treatment for 10 Weeks.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of global disability with a chronic and recurrent course. Recognition of biological markers that could predict and monitor response to drug treatment could personalize clinical decision-making, minimize unnecessary drug exposure, and achieve better outcomes. Four longitudinal plasma samples were collected from each of ten patients with MDD treated with antidepressants for 10 weeks. Plasma proteins were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively with a nanoflow LC-MS/MS technique. Of 1153 proteins identified in the 40 longitudinal plasma samples, 37 proteins were significantly associated with response/time and clustered into six according to time and response by the linear mixed model. Among them, three early-drug response markers (PHOX2B, SH3BGRL3, and YWHAE) detectable within one week were verified by liquid chromatography-multiple reaction monitoring/mass spectrometry (LC-MRM/MS) in the well-controlled 24 patients. In addition, 11 proteins correlated significantly with two or more psychiatric measurement indices. This pilot study might be useful in finding protein marker candidates that can monitor response to antidepressant treatment during follow-up visits within 10 weeks after the baseline visit

Three Cases of Reversible Agranulocytosis after Treatment with Lamotrigine

Several psychotropic drugs, including clozapine, are known to cause agranulocytosis and this may lead to a fatal condition. Lamotrigine is an anticonvulsant that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved for the depression of bipolar disorder. A few cases of lamotrigine-induced agranulocytosis have been previously reported on, but the pathophysiology and clinical manifestations are not yet known. This case series reports on 3 patients with different medical conditions who experienced agranulocytosis during treatment with lamotrigine. In these cases, the agranulocytosis occurred a few weeks after initiation of lamotrigine and it rapidly disappeared after discontinuation. We also discuss several characteristics of lamotrigine-induced agranulocytosis

The Aftermath: Post-pandemic Psychiatric Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic, a South Korean Perspective

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted our everyday life. Along with the fear of getting infected or of having loved ones infected, the lifestyle changes and the socioeconomic consequences of the pandemic have profound impact on mental health of the general population. While numerous studies on immediate psychological responses to COVID-19 are being published, there is a lack of discussion on its possible long-term sequelae. In this study, we systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed longitudinal studies that examined mental health of the general population prior to and during the pandemic. Furthermore, we explored the long-term psychiatric implications of the pandemic with data from South Korea. Our analysis showed that the number of suicidal deaths during the pandemic was lower than the previous years in many countries, which is in contrast with the increased depression, anxiety, and psychological distress in the general population in South Korea as well as in other countries. To explain this phenomenon, we propose a possibility of delayed impacts. The post-traumatic stress, long-term consequences of social restrictions, and maladaptive response to the “new normal” are discussed in the paper. COVID-19 being an unprecedented global crisis, more research and international collaboration are needed to understand, to treat, and to prevent its long-term effects on our mental health. Copyright © 2021 Min, Jeong, Kim, Koo and Ahn.1

The effects of MK-801 on the phosphorylation of Ser338-c-Raf-MEK-ERK pathway in the rat frontal cortex

MK-801 induces psychotomimetic behavioural changes in animals. ERKs play an important role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and in the action of antipsychotics and psychotomimetics. We observed phosphorylation of ERK-signalling-pathway-associated molecules in the rat frontal cortex and their association with rat behaviour after MK-801 administration. After injecting 0.25-1 mg/kg MK-801, ERK phosphorylation decreased compared to vehicle treatment, and rats showed increased locomotion. After 2 mg/kg treatment, ERK phosphorylation increased and rat motility started to decrease. After treating with 4-8 mg/kg, ERK phosphorylation once again decreased and rats showed hypomotility and ataxia. ERK phosphorylation levels were maintained from 15 min to 90 min after 1 or 2 mg/kg treatment. Ser338-c-Raf and MEK phosphorylation showed similar dose-dependent and temporal patterns to those of ERK. Taken together, Ser338-c-Raf-MEK-ERK phosphorylation by MK-801 in the rat frontal cortex showed a specific pattern and may be associated with behavioural changes induced by MK-801

A Survey of Korean Physicians’ Prescription Patterns for Allergic Rhinitis

Objectives The aim of this study was to compare the prescription patterns according to characteristics of physicians using a survey distributed amongst physicians in Korea. Methods We surveyed the prescription patterns for allergic rhinitis (AR) of the members of the Korean Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology (KAAACI) and the Korean Association of Otorhinolaryngologists (KAO). Questionnaire contained 4 categories with 28 queries. 448 physicians including 98 internal medicine (IM), 113 pediatrics (PED), and 237 otorhinolaryngology (ENT) were responded. Results Although the Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) guidelines are most frequently used in all specialties, seasonal or perennial AR is the most frequent classification system. For the definitive diagnosis of AR, ENT physicians reported using multiple allergen simultaneous test (MAST)/radio allergy sorbent test (RAST) more than others (IM, 10.9%; PED, 20.6%; ENT, 44.2%; P<0.001). In treatment, most physicians reported that antihistamine medication is the initial treatment for AR. PED physicians prescribed fewer intranasal steroid to combinations with an antihistamine than other specialists (IM, 65.3%; PED, 42.5%; ENT, 63.3%), but preferred leukotriene antagonists (IM, 4.1%; PED, 23.0%; ENT, 3.9%; P=0.041). Overall, 53% (235/448) of the physicians performed allergen immunotherapy (AIT), and IM administers the most AIT (IM, 71.6%; PED, 42.0%; ENT, 39.5%; P=0.019). Furthermore, university and general hospital physicians prescribed more AIT than doctors at other hospital types (university hospital, 76.4%; general hospital, 64.3%; local hospital, 21.4%; private clinic, 20.2%; P<0.001). Conclusion The prescription patterns for AR were different according to the physicians’ characteristics and general rate of prescribing AIT is just about 53% in Korea. Thus, the development of complementary Korean-specific guidelines is needed and proper clinical instruction of AIT would be necessary

Sex differences in the factors that affect medical lethality in elderly suicide attempters

ObjectivesThis study aimed to identify sex differences in the factors that affect medical lethality in elderly suicide attempters.MethodsA total of 253 elderly suicide attempters and 351 middle-aged attempters (comparison group) who visited the emergency room at a general hospital were included. The sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the patients were investigated. The Chi-squared test and logistic regression analysis were performed. And Spearman’s correlation coefficient was calculated.ResultsIn older males, the risk of high lethality was lower when attempting suicide due to the loss of family members [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 0.08]. The risk increased as the intent to die became more certain (some AOR: 11.31, certain AOR: 28.75), and this association became more pronounced with age (rho middle-aged: 0.329; young-old: 0.387; old-old: 0.415). In older females, the risk was lower when employed (AOR: 0.28). The method of suicide attempt also affected lethality (agricultural chemicals AOR: 3.71; psychiatric medication AOR: 0.31).ConclusionSex differences in the factors that affect medical lethality were identified among elderly suicide attempters. In particular, medical lethality can be predicted by the degree of suicide intention in older males. These findings will help to establish more efficient preventive strategies with specific targets

Lung Metastasis from an Immature Teratoma of the Nasal Cavity Masquerading as Small Cell Carcinoma of the Lung

We report a case of small cell lung cancer that turned out to be a metastatic teratoma from the nasal cavity rather than a new primary cancer. A 54-year-old woman was diagnosed with an immature teratoma of the nasal cavity with a predominant neuroblastomatous component. Small cell lung cancer was detected by bronchoscopic biopsy 21 months later, and it was treated with concurrent radiochemotherapy as if it had been a new primary cancer. Since a recurrent tumor containing fat-like density grew slowly on the serial chest CT scans after achieving complete response, we reached the conclusion that the small undifferentiated cells could be metastatic neuroblastomatous components from the immature teratoma of the nasal cavity

Discrimination of cultivation ages and cultivars of ginseng leaves using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy combined with multivariate analysis

AbstractTo determine whether Fourier transform (FT)-IR spectral analysis combined with multivariate analysis of whole-cell extracts from ginseng leaves can be applied as a high-throughput discrimination system of cultivation ages and cultivars, a total of total 480 leaf samples belonging to 12 categories corresponding to four different cultivars (Yunpung, Kumpung, Chunpung, and an open-pollinated variety) and three different cultivation ages (1 yr, 2 yr, and 3 yr) were subjected to FT-IR. The spectral data were analyzed by principal component analysis and partial least squares-discriminant analysis. A dendrogram based on hierarchical clustering analysis of the FT-IR spectral data on ginseng leaves showed that leaf samples were initially segregated into three groups in a cultivation age-dependent manner. Then, within the same cultivation age group, leaf samples were clustered into four subgroups in a cultivar-dependent manner. The overall prediction accuracy for discrimination of cultivars and cultivation ages was 94.8% in a cross-validation test. These results clearly show that the FT-IR spectra combined with multivariate analysis from ginseng leaves can be applied as an alternative tool for discriminating of ginseng cultivars and cultivation ages. Therefore, we suggest that this result could be used as a rapid and reliable F1 hybrid seed-screening tool for accelerating the conventional breeding of ginseng