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Abstract: Recent developments in nano/micro technology have made it possible to construct small-scale sensing chips for the analysis of biological markers such as nucleic acids, proteins, small molecules, and cells. Although biochip technology for the diagnosis of severe physiological diseases (e.g., cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease) has been extensively studied, biochips for the monitoring of human emotions such as stress, fear, depression, and sorrow have not yet been introduced, and the development of such a biochip is in its infancy. Emotion science (or affective engineering) is a rapidly expanding engineering/scientific discipline that has a major impact on human society. The growing interest in the integration of emotion science and engineering is a result of the recent trend of merging various academic fields. In this paper we discuss the potential importance of biochip technology in which human emotion can be precisely measured in real time using body fluids such as blood, saliva, urine, or sweat. We call these biochips emotion-on-a-chip (EOC). The EOC system consists of four parts: (1) collection of body fluids, (2) separation of emotional markers, (3) detection of optical or electrical signals, and (4) display of results. These techniques provide new opportunities to precisely investigate human emotion. Future developments in EOC techniques will combine social and natural sciences to expand their scope of study. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: Autism has been hypothesized to reflect neuronal disconnection. Several recent reports implicate the key thalamic relay nuclei and cortico-thalamic connectivity in the pathophysiology of autism. Accordingly, we aimed to focus on evaluating the integrity of the thalamic radiation and sought to replicate prior white matter findings in Korean boys with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders (ASD) using Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI). Methods: We compared fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD) and radial diffusivity (RD) in 17 boys with ASD and 17 typically developing controls in the anterior thalamic radiation (ATR), superior thalamic radiation (STR), posterior thalamic radiation (PTR), corpus callosum (CC), uncinate fasciculus (UF) and inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF). Results: The two groups were group-matched on age, IQ, handedness and head circumference. In whole-brain voxel-wise analyses, FA was significantly reduced and MD was significantly increased in the right ATR, CC, and left UF in subjects with ASD (p<0.05, corrected). We found significantly lower FA in right and left ATR, CC, left UF and right and left ILF and significantly higher MD values of the CC in the ASD group in region of interest-based analyses. We also observed significantly higher RD values of right and left ATR, CC, left UF, left ILF in subjects with ASD compared to typically developing boys and significantly lower AD values of both ILF. Right ATR and right UF FA was significantly negatively correlated with total SRS score within the ASD group (r=−.56, p=.02). Conclusions: Our preliminary findings support evidence implicating disturbances in the thalamo-frontal connections in autism. These findings highlight the role of hypoconnectivity between the frontal cortex and thalamus in ASD. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Methylphenidate (MPH) blocks the norepinephrine transporter as well as the dopamine transporter. The α-2a-adrenergic receptor is a key component of the noradrenergic system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the ADRA2A -1291 C>G polymorphism and the response to MPH treatment in Korean subjects with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods: This study enrolled 114 ADHD children (mean age = 9.08 ± 1.94 years) from a child psychiatric clinic in South Korea. Subjects who had an improvement of ≥ 50% compared with the baseline ADHD rating scale (ARS) score or who had a Clinical Global Impression–improvement score of 1 or 2 points after treatment were defined as the “good response”. We examined the relationship of the ADRA2A to MPH response. Results: We found that a good response to MPH treatment, measured by the ARS as assessed by the parents, was observed for 76.9% of the subjects carrying the G/G genotype but for only 46.0% and 41.7% of those with the C/G and C/C genotypes, respectively [χ 2(2) = 11.929, p = .003]. We also found a significant difference in the change in total ARS scores between subjects with and without the G/G genotype [t(1) = 2.21, p = .029]. Conclusions: Our findings provide evidence of an association between the ADRA2A -1291 C>G genotype and response to MPH treatment in Korean subjects with ADHD. Nonetheless, the methodological limitation of not being a randomized placebo-controlled trial and primarily basing results on parent report to clinicians suggest that these results should be viewed as more preliminary. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The studies on the genetic risk factors of the children of alcoholics (COAs) are still in an early stage. The A1 allele of the dopamine receptor 2 gene (DRD2) may be associated with positive alcohol expectancy of the COAs. In addition, several researchers reported that the COAs might be associated with the GABAA receptor β3 subunit gene (GABRB3) and serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR). In this study, we investigated the association of the polymorphism of the DRD2, Dopamine D4 receptor gene (DRD4), GABRB3, 5-HTTLPR with the COAs. Twenty-two COAs and 23 age and sex-matched control children were included for the genetic study (children of nonAlcoholics; nonCOAs). All COAs aged 6–18 were recruited and selected from family of alcoholic patients in Alcohol Clinic of the University hospital. The genotyping of the DRD2, DRD4, GABRB3, 5-HTTLPR was carried out. We used the Chi-square method for evaluating the association of genetic polymorphic allelic status with the COAs. The frequency of the A1+ allele at DRD2 in the COAs was significantly higher than nonCOAs. Significant association between the genotype at DRD4 and the COAs was found. The G1− alleles of the GABRB3 in COAs were significantly higher than nonCOAs. However, no association of the polymorphic alleles of the 5-HTTLPR with the COAs was found. We found that the children of alcoholics had a significantly increased number of risk alleles of candidate genes of alcohol drinking expectancy. Despite of several limitations, this study provides some preliminary information on the risk and protective factors associated with the COAs, which can be used as a foundation for prevention and intervention of future psychopathology. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Children with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and intellectual disability (ID), need early intervention and continuous treatment. We aimed to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of mobile application-based interventions in children with ADHD and ID in supporting attention and cognitive function. Twenty-six children with ADHD and/or ID with attention and cognition difficulties were recruited. Participants completed a 12-week mobile application-based intervention. To assess whether digital intervention improved attention and cognitive function, we used the Comprehensive Attention Test (CAT), Cambridge Neuropsychological Tests Automated Battery (CANTAB), and electroencephalography (EEG) to examine direct changes in children's behavior and neural activity. Clinicians and parents assessed changes using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, Second Edition (BRIEF-2), Korean version of the ADHD Rating Scale (K-ARS), Clinical Global Impression-Improvement Scale, and parental questionnaires. The intervention induced changes in neural activities on EEG and behavior but there were no significant changes in CAT and CANTAB results. Relative theta and alpha power were significantly lower post-intervention in the eyes-open (EO) condition of EEG recording and these changes were mainly observed in the frontal regions of the brain. Parental reports using the BRIEF-2 and K-ARS noted significant improvements in executive function, attention, and hyperactivity-impulsivity. In addition, the clinical impression improved in 60% of participants. These results provide evidence that a mobile application-based intervention has the benefit of supporting children with ADHD and/or ID. Digital intervention could change neural activity and improve children's attention and cognitive function. Given our findings, we suggested that mobile application-based digital therapeutics may have great potential for helping children with neurodevelopmental disorders who need continuous treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate changes of diagnoses, PTSD-related scales, and social support scale in child and adolescent victims with sexual abuse based on the cohorts of Nation-funded Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA) protection center in Korea. Eighteen of 22 subjects had diagnoses of mental illness, such as PTSD with/without depressive disorder, depressive disorder, adjustment disorder, and enuresis. Our data suggest that the prevalence of mental illness would be decreased, and the scores of PTSD-related and behavioral problems and familial functioning for CSA victims would be improved at the 1-year follow-up period. [Extracted from the article]

Tourette's disorder (TD) is characterized by multiple motor and one or more vocal tics. We retrospectively assessed the clinical outcomes of 8 patients with refractory TD who underwent DBS. All patients reported improvement in tic severity at 3 months after surgery, and mean YGTSS severity score was 32.38 (SD = 10.53; p = 0.012). [Extracted from the article]

Pre- and perinatal complications have been implicated in the onset and clinical expression of Tourette syndrome albeit with considerable inconsistencies across studies. Also, little is known about their role in co-occurring obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention–deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in individuals with a tic disorder. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the role of pre- and perinatal complications in relation to the presence and symptom severity of chronic tic disorder and co-occurring OCD and ADHD using data of 1113 participants from the Tourette International Collaborative Genetics study. This study included 586 participants with a chronic tic disorder and 527 unaffected family controls. We controlled for age and sex differences by creating propensity score matched subsamples for both case-control and within-case analyses. We found that premature birth (OR = 1.72) and morning sickness requiring medical attention (OR = 2.57) were associated with the presence of a chronic tic disorder. Also, the total number of pre- and perinatal complications was higher in those with a tic disorder (OR = 1.07). Furthermore, neonatal complications were related to the presence (OR = 1.46) and severity ( b = 2.27) of co-occurring OCD and also to ADHD severity ( b = 1.09). Delivery complications were only related to co-occurring OCD (OR = 1.49). We conclude that early exposure to adverse situations during pregnancy is related to the presence of chronic tic disorders. Exposure at a later stage, at birth or during the first weeks of life, appears to be associated with co-occurring OCD and ADHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Although the etiology of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is not well understood, evidence from the family and twin studies suggest that ADHD is familial and highly heritable. The aim of the study was to test whether dopamine transporter gene (DAT1) and dopamine receptor D4 gene (DRD4) polymorphisms are in linkage disequilibrium with ADHD in Korean children, using a family-based association study. One hundred and twenty-six trios were studied and 87% of probands were boys (mean age=8.2 years, mean IQ=104). ADHD not otherwise specified (NOS) was the most common subtype and comorbidity rates were low. Descriptive analysis and the TDT test were the primary analyses. In exploratory analyses, logistic regression and QTDT were performed. The 10-repeat allele and 4-repeat allele were the most frequent for DAT1 and DRD4. TDT test for DAT1 and DRD4 did not show preferential transmission. Based on logistic regression and QTDT, the 5-repeat allele of DRD4 may confer protection for hyperactive-impulsivity symptom severity compared to the 4-repeat allele. The negative TDT finding between DAT1 and DRD4 VNTR polymorphisms and ADHD should be interpreted with caution; partly due to lack of power caused by low heterozygosity in the study population. Future studies are necessary to test the hypothesis generated in this study that the 5-repeat allele of DRD4 is protective for hyperactive-impulsivity symptom severity compared to the 4-repeat allele. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An abstract of the article "Behavior Assessment System for Children-2, Parent Rating Scale-Chidren As a Potential Screener for Autism Spectrum Disorder in Korean Children" by Jungeun Song and colleagues is presented.