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• We studied associations between game use and mental health in early adulthood. • Risky game users self-reported low satisfaction and happiness. • High prevalence of major depressive disorder and suicidal ideation in risky users. • Happiness mediated game use and lifetime suicidal ideation in risky users. : The number of digital game users is increasing, and so is attention to digital gaming's effects on mental health. We aimed to reveal if risky (game addiction) and usual game use (non-risky) are associated with mental health in early adulthood. : Using data from the nationwide cross-sectional Korean Epidemic Catchment Area study for psychiatric disorders, 415 participants aged 18–30 years were divided into "non-game," "usual game," and "risky game" user groups based on the previous month's game use and cut-off value of game overuse screening questionnaire. Multiple linear and logistic regressions revealed the association between game use groups, perceived mental health, and lifetime prevalence of clinical mental disorders including suicidal ideation. : Among the 415 participants, 167 were non-game users, 175, usual game users, and 73, risky game users. Risky game users self-reported decreased satisfaction and happiness, and a significantly higher lifetime prevalence of major depressive disorder, alcohol dependence, and suicidal ideation. Usual game users were significantly associated with higher lifetime prevalence of alcohol dependence and suicidal ideation. Self-reported happiness partially mediated between game use and lifetime suicidal ideation in risky, but not usual game users. : This study is a cross-sectional observational study which was not possible to define the temporal relationship. : Both risky and usual game use are associated with mental health problems in early adulthood, indicating the need for careful mental health screening on not only risky game users but also usual game users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The number of digital game users is increasing, and so is attention to digital gaming's effects on mental health. We aimed to reveal if risky (game addiction) and usual game use (non-risky) are associated with mental health in early adulthood.Methods: Using data from the nationwide cross-sectional Korean Epidemic Catchment Area study for psychiatric disorders, 415 participants aged 18-30 years were divided into "non-game," "usual game," and "risky game" user groups based on the previous month's game use and cut-off value of game overuse screening questionnaire. Multiple linear and logistic regressions revealed the association between game use groups, perceived mental health, and lifetime prevalence of clinical mental disorders including suicidal ideation.Results: Among the 415 participants, 167 were non-game users, 175, usual game users, and 73, risky game users. Risky game users self-reported decreased satisfaction and happiness, and a significantly higher lifetime prevalence of major depressive disorder, alcohol dependence, and suicidal ideation. Usual game users were significantly associated with higher lifetime prevalence of alcohol dependence and suicidal ideation. Self-reported happiness partially mediated between game use and lifetime suicidal ideation in risky, but not usual game users.Limitations: This study is a cross-sectional observational study which was not possible to define the temporal relationship.Conclusions: Both risky and usual game use are associated with mental health problems in early adulthood, indicating the need for careful mental health screening on not only risky game users but also usual game users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to identify differences between physiological age-related and Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related alterations in sleep and rest-activity rhythm. All participants (n = 280; 20–90 years) underwent clinical assessments, [11C] Pittsburgh compound B–positron emission tomography, and actigraphic monitoring. In cognitively normal adults without cerebral amyloid-β, older age was associated with earlier timing of circadian phase and robust rest-activity rhythm, but sleep quantity and quality were mostly unaffected by age. While preclinical AD was associated with earlier circadian timing, clinical AD exhibited later timing of daily rhythm and increased sleep duration. In conclusion, our findings suggest that older age itself leads to a more regular daily activity rhythm, but does not affect sleep duration. While preclinical AD made the effects of age-related phase advance more prominent, clinical AD was related to later circadian timing and increased sleep duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this work, we present an extended gate field effect transistor (EGFET)-based biosensor integrated with a silicon micro-fluidic channel for the electronic detection of streptavidin–biotin protein complexes. The connection between the EGFET and microfluidic system could be achieved with the proposed device, as it offers isolation between the device and solution, compatibility with the integrated circuit (IC) technology and, is applicable to the micro total analysis system (μ-TAS). The device was fabricated on the basis of semiconductor IC fabrication and micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) technology. Au was used as the extended gate metal to form a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) with thiol. The bindings of the SAM, streptavidin and biotin were detected by measuring the electrical characteristics of the FET device. We also verified the interactions among the SAM, streptavidin, and biotin by using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) measurements. Furthermore, atomic force microscopy (AFM) images of the bio-layers formed on the Au electrode were taken in a solution in order to determine the presence of protein biomolecules with the proposed configuration. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The importance of development of single enantiomers (optically pure isomers) of chiral molecules has been recognized and manifested in countless pharmaceutical and biological advancement. (RS)-(±)-Higenamine (racemic mixture), an active ingredient of Aconite tuber, has been shown to have antioxidant activity along with inhibitory action of iNOS expression in various cells. In the present study, the effects of each enantiomer of higenamine [(S)-(−)-higenamine and (R)-(+)-higenamine] were investigated in comparison with the effects of racemic mixture [(RS)-(±)-higenamine] on iNOS expression and NO production in RAW 264.7 cells activated with LPS. In addition, the effects of higenamine enantiomers on the survival rates were also investigated using mice, in which each test compound was injected (i.p.) 90 min prior to LPS. All three forms of higenamine inhibited iNOS expression and reduced NO production with IC50 of 26.2, 86.3, and 53.4 μM, for (S)-, (R)-, and (RS)-higenamine, respectively. (S)-higenamine also significantly reduced serum NOx level and increased survival rates in LPS-treated mice. In contrast, (R)-isomer only showed tendency to increase the survival rates which was not statistically significant when compared to LPS-treated controls. Taken together, it was concluded that (S)-higenamine may be more beneficial than (R)-enantiomer in diseases associated with iNOS over-expression, such as septic shock. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We examined the prevalence, correlates, and psychiatric comorbidities of community-dwelling subjects with problematic Internet use (PIU). In an epidemiological survey of mental disorders among Korean adults conducted in 2006, 6510 subjects (aged 18–64 years) completed the Korean version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview for DSM-IV psychiatric disorders; Diagnostic Interview Schedule exploring pathological gambling; Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale-Version 1.1 Screener; questionnaire for sleep disturbances; and questionnaire for suicidal ideations, plans, and attempts. Young's Internet Addiction Test was administered to 3212 individuals who had used the Internet within one month before the interviews in order to identify problematic Internet users (cutoff >39). The prevalence of PIU was 9.3% in the general population of South Korea. Being male, younger, never married, or unemployed were all associated with increased risks of PIU. Significant positive associations were observed between PIU and nicotine use disorders, alcohol use disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, somatoform disorders, pathological gambling, adult type ADHD symptoms, sleep disturbances, suicide ideas and suicide plans compare to subjects without PIU, after controlling for socio-demographic variables. These findings suggest that careful evaluation and management of such psychiatric disorders is needed for individuals with PIU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]