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Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first reported in December 2019 and the first case in Korea was confirmed on January 20, 2020. Due to the absence of therapeutic agents and vaccines, the Korean government implemented social distancing on February 29, 2020. This study aimed to examine the effect of physical activity (PA) on health through changes in multi-omics biomarkers with a 6-month of exercise intervention during the first wave of COVID-19 in Korea. Methods: Twenty-seven healthy middle-aged women were recruited and 14 subjects completed the exercise intervention. The mean age (± SD) was 46.3 (± 5.33) and the mean BMI (± SD) was 24.9 (± 3.88). A total of three blood and stool samples were collected at enrollment, after period 1, and after period 2 (3-month intervals). The amount of PA was measured with an accelerometer and by questionnaire. Clinical variables were used, including blood pressure, grip strength, flexibility, and blood glucose levels and lipid markers obtained from laboratory tests. The concentration of blood metabolites was measured by targeted metabolomics. Fecal microbiome data were obtained by 16 S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Results: During the second half period (period 2), Coronavirus disease 2019 occurred and spread out in Korea, and PA decreased compared with the first half period (period 1) (185.9 ± 168.73 min/week to 102.5 ± 82.30 min/week; p = 0.0101). Blood pressure, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) decreased in period 1 (p < 0.05) and tended to increase again during period 2 (p < 0.05). Forty metabolites were changed significantly during period 1 (FDR p < 0.05), and we found that 6 of them were correlated with changes in blood pressure, HbA1c, and LDL-C via network analysis. Conclusions: Our results may suggest that exercise improves health through changes in biomarkers at multi-omics levels. However, reduced PA due to COVID-19 can adversely affect health, emphasizing the necessity for sustained exercise and support for home-based fitness to maintain health. Trial Registration: The trial is retrospectively registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05927675; June 30, 2023). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The Korean Medication Algorithm Project for Depressive Disorder (KMAP-DD) is an expert consensus guideline for depressive disorder created in 2002, and since then, four revisions (2006, 2012, 2017, 2021) have been published. In this study, changes in the content of the KMAP-DD survey and recommendations for each period were examined. Methods. The development process of the KMAP-DD was composed of two stages. First, opinions from experts with abundant clinical experience were gathered through surveys. Next, a final guideline was prepared through discussion within the working committee regarding the suitability of the results with reference to recent clinical studies or other guidelines. Results. In mild depressive symptoms, antidepressant (AD) monotherapy was preferred, but when severe depression or when psychotic features were present, a combination of AD and atypical antipsychotics (AD + AAP) was preferred. AD monotherapy was preferred in most clinical subtypes. AD monotherapy was preferred for mild depressive symptoms, and AD + AAP was preferred for severe depression and depression with psychotic features in children, adolescents, and the elderly. Conclusions. This study identified the changes in the KMAP-DD treatment strategies and drug preferences in each period over the past 20 years. This work is expected to aid clinicians in establishing effective treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The Korean Medication Algorithm Project for Bipolar Disorder (KMAP‐BP) is based on expert consensus and has been revised five times since 2002. This study evaluated the changes in treatment strategies advocated by the KMAP‐BP over time. Methods: The five editions of the KMAP‐BP were reviewed, and the recommendations of the KMAP‐BP were compared with those of other bipolar disorder (BP) treatment guidelines. Results: The most preferred option for the initial treatment of mania was a combination of a mood stabilizer (MS) and an atypical antipsychotic (AAP). Either MS or AAP monotherapy was also considered a first‐line strategy for mania, but not for all types of episodes, including mixed/psychotic mania. In general, although lithium and valproic acid were commonly recommended, valproic acid has been increasingly preferred for all phases of BP. The most notable changes over time included the increasing preference for AAPs for all phases of BP, and lamotrigine for the depressive and maintenance phases. The use of antidepressants for BP has gradually decreased, but still represents a first‐line option for severe and psychotic depression. Conclusions: In general, the recommended strategies of the KMAP‐BP were similar to those of other guidelines, but differed in terms of the emphasis on rapid effectiveness, which is often desirable in actual clinical situations. The major limitation of the KMAP‐BP is that it is a consensus‐based rather than an evidence‐based tool. Nevertheless, it may confer advantages in actual clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Theta-phase gamma-amplitude coupling (TGC) measurement has recently received attention as a feasible method of assessing brain functions such as neuronal interactions. The purpose of this electroencephalographic (EEG) study is to understand the mechanisms underlying the deficits in attentional control in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) by comparing the power spectra and TGC at rest and during a mental arithmetic task. Methods: Nineteen-channel EEGs were recorded from 97 volunteers (including 53 subjects with ADHD) from a camp for hyperactive children under two conditions (rest and task performance). The EEG power spectra and the TGC data were analyzed. Correlation analyses between the Intermediate Visual and Auditory (IVA) continuous performance test (CPT) scores and EEG parameters were performed. Results: No significant difference in the power spectra was detected between the groups at rest and during task performance. However, TGC was reduced during the arithmetic task in the ADHD group compared with the normal group (F = 16.70, p < 0.001). The TGC values positively correlated with the IVA CPT scores but negatively correlated with theta power. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that desynchronization of TGC occurred during the arithmetic task in ADHD children. TGC in ADHD children is expected to serve as a promising neurophysiological marker of network deactivation during attention-demanding tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Social network analysis has emerged as a promising tool in modern social psychology. This method can be used to examine friend-based social relationships in terms of network theory, with nodes representing individual students and ties representing relationships between students (e.g., friendships and kinships). Using social network analysis, we investigated whether greater severity of ADHD symptoms is correlated with weaker peer relationships among elementary school students. Methods: A total of 562 sixth-graders from two elementary schools (300 males) provided the names of their best friends (maximum 10 names). Their teachers rated each student’s ADHD symptoms using an ADHD rating scale. Results: The results showed that 10.2% of the students were at high risk for ADHD. Significant group differences were observed between the high-risk students and other students in two of the three network parameters (degree, centrality and closeness) used to assess friendship quality, with the high-risk group showing significantly lower values of degree and closeness compared to the other students. Moreover, negative correlations were found between the ADHD rating and two social network analysis parameters. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the severity of ADHD symptoms is strongly correlated with the quality of social and interpersonal relationships in students with ADHD symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Bipolar disorders are relatively frequent but easily misdiagnosed. The Korean version of the Mood Disorder Questionnaire ( K- MDQ) is a screening instrument for bipolar disorders. The aim of this study was to establish the pattern of responses to the K- MDQ for several psychiatric disorders. Methods The subjects for this study were 345 patients with bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, depressive disorders or anxiety disorders, as determined using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision, and 96 controls from five hospitals. The subjects completed the questionnaire by themselves. Results The total K- MDQ score was higher in the bipolar disorder group than the other groups. Although the mean K- MDQ score differed significantly between the bipolar disorder group and the other groups, the distributions of total scores for the groups overlapped, and in particular with the schizophrenia group. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve was relatively high for the bipolar disorder group and the other subjects, but it was less than 0.8 between the bipolar disorder group, and the schizophrenia and control groups. Discussion There are some distinguishing features of the K- MDQ pattern for each disorder, but their similarities were significant. This made it difficult to differentially diagnose the disorder using only the total K- MDQ score. The diagnostic power of the K- MDQ can only be improved in the clinical setting by utilizing reinforcing criteria to diagnose bipolar disorders. Clinicians should be cautious in their interpretation of the K- MDQ, and the use of additional data is essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of the Korean version of the Mood Disorder Questionnaire ( K- MDQ) as a screening tool for the identification of bipolar spectrum disorder ( BSD) among Korean college students. Methods The sample of 1,020 college students was stratified to reflect geographical differences among the students. The K- MDQ and an epidemiological survey were administered between November 2006 and February 2007. To validate the K- MDQ as a screening tool for BSD, the Korean version of the Bipolar Spectrum Diagnostic Scale ( K- BSDS) and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV ( SCID) were also administered. Results The rates satisfying MDQ criterion 1, and all three MDQ criteria, were 55.5% and 2.3%, respectively. According to the K- BSDS, 59.9% of the sample met the criteria for BSD using a threshold of 10, while no statistical differences were observed among subgroups. When we examined the diagnostic agreement between K- MDQ and K- BSDS, 79.5% of students who met MDQ criterion 1 were also positive on the BSDS. Sixteen (21.6%) of the 74 students who participated in the SCID interview were diagnosed with BSD. Discussion Although the K- MDQ is a useful tool to assess BSD among inpatients and outpatients, it does not appear useful as a screening tool to detect BSD among college students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction The Feasibility Study of the Korean Medication Algorithm Project for Bipolar Disorder 2002 ( KMAP-BP 2002) revealed its clinical usefulness in 2005. Since much more data had become available since 2002, it was revised in 2006 as KMAP-BP 2006. For the same reason, revision of KMAP-BP 2006 is now necessary. Methods The questionnaire, amended on the basis of KMAP-BP 2006 and new data, was sent to 94 experts, 65 of whom replied. Results In an acute manic episode, a combination of a mood stabilizer ( MS) with an atypical antipsychotic ( AAP) is recommended as first-line strategy. Monotherapy with MS is first-line in a hypomanic episode. Triple combination of a MS, an AAP, and an antidepressant ( AD), is the first-line strategy in non-psychotic severe depression. Also MS+ AAP and MS+ AD are recommended as first-line. In psychotic bipolar depression, MS+ AAP+ AD, MS+ AAP and AAP+ AD are first-line strategies. In bipolar depression, lithium, lamotrigine and valproic acid are selected as first-line MS and quetiapine, olanzapine and aripiprazole are preferred antipsychotics. In maintenance treatment, a combination of MS with AAP and monotherapy of MS are recommended as first-line. Discussion In treating bipolar disorder, even the first step of treatment, the expert consensus has changed from our studies in 2002 and 2006. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effective treatment of depression has been reported to reduce the severity of alcohol use, potentially reflecting improvements in common brain reward circuits. We hypothesized that augmentation therapy of escitalopram with aripiprazole would improve depressive symptoms as well as reduce craving for alcohol and cue-induced brain activity in patients with co-morbid alcohol dependence and major depressive disorder, compared with treatment with escitalopram alone. Thirty-five subjects with major depressive disorder and alcohol dependence were recruited and randomly assigned into 17 aripiprazole + escitalopram and 18 escitalopram only groups. At baseline and following six weeks of treatment, symptoms of depression, craving for alcohol and brain activity were evaluated. During the six week treatment period, Beck Depression Inventory and clinical global index-severity (CGI-S) scores decreased in both the aripiprazole + escitalopram and escitalopram only groups. In addition, following the treatment period, the Korean alcohol urge questionnaire scores in the aripiprazole + escitalopram group were reduced from 23.3±8.4 to 14.3±4.9, compared with those of the escitalopram group of from 21.6±8.4 to 19.3±7.1 (F=13.1, p<0.01). The activity within the anterior cingulate was increased in response to the presentation of alcohol drinking scenes following treatment in the aripiprazole + escitalopram group. The change of brain activity within the left anterior cingulate gyrus in all patients with co-morbid alcohol dependence and major depressive disorder was negatively correlated with the change in craving for alcohol. These findings suggest that the effects of aripiprazole on anterior cingulate cortex might mediate the successful treatment of alcohol dependence in patients with major depressive disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain responses, particularly within the orbitofrontal and cingulate cortices, to Internet video-game cues in college students are similar to those observed in patients with substance dependence in response to the substance-related cues. In this study, we report changes in brain activity between baseline and following 6 weeks of Internet video-game play. We hypothesized that subjects with high levels of self-reported craving for Internet video-game play would be associated with increased activity in the prefrontal cortex, particularly the orbitofrontal and anterior cingulate cortex. Twenty-one healthy university students were recruited. At baseline and after a 6-week period of Internet video-game play, brain activity during presentation of video-game cues was assessed using 3T blood oxygen level dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging. Craving for Internet video-game play was assessed by self-report on a 7-point visual analogue scale following cue presentation. During a standardized 6-week video-game play period, brain activity in the anterior cingulate and orbitofrontal cortex of the excessive Internet game-playing group (EIGP) increased in response to Internet video-game cues. In contrast, activity observed in the general player group (GP) was not changed or decreased. In addition, the change of craving for Internet video games was positively correlated with the change in activity of the anterior cingulate in all subjects. These changes in frontal-lobe activity with extended video-game play may be similar to those observed during the early stages of addiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid progress in treatments for bipolar disorder makes it necessary to revise the Korean Medication Algorithm Project for Bipolar Disorder (KMAP-BP) published in 2002. This study was performed to timely revise KMAP-BP 2002. A questionnaire comprising 37 questions and 645 treatment options was developed for surveying the opinions of Korean experts. We classified the opinions into three categories: first-, second-, and third-line treatments. Fifty-three (75.7%) of the 70 selected experts answered the questionnaire. For an acute manic episode, the combination of a mood stabilizer (MS) and an atypical antipsychotic (AAP) was the preferred first-line treatment. Most experts recommended divalproex and lithium as MSs, and olanzapine, quetiapine, and risperidone as AAPs. For moderately to severely depressed bipolar patients, MS monotherapy and a combination of an MS and an antidepressant (AD) were considered to be preferred treatments respectively. A combination of an MS and an AD was the preferred strategy in severe nonpsychotic depression. Most ADs were rated as second-line drugs. Overall, the preference for lamotrigine and AAPs was higher than in KMAP-BP 2002. The algorithm was developed mainly using consensus among experts supplemented with findings of recent clinical trials to ensure that our algorithm was both up to date and balanced. These results suggest that the medication strategies of KMAP-BP are changing rapidly, reflecting recent studies and clinical experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. The Korean Medication Algorithm Project for Bipolar Disorder (KMAP-BP 2002) was developed in 2002. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical feasibility, efficacy, and safety of implementation of the KMAP-BP 2002 algorithm in clinical situations. Methods. Participating investigators were asked to follow the KMAP-BP 2002 algorithm as much as possible, but they were allowed to change their treatment strategies as they considered necessary. The enrolled patients were followed for 4 months. Results. A total of 126 bipolar patients were consecutively enrolled and 73% were treated according to the KAMP-BP 2002 algorithm. The majority (79%) of manic patients demonstrated a treatment response at the starting step and were thus treated with only one step of the algorithm. An atypical antipsychotic drug was coadministered with a mood stabilizer from the beginning of treatment in almost all manic patients. There was a significant improvement in manic symptoms (F=187.32, P<0.001) over the 4-month testing period. There was no significant increase in side effects at the endpoint. Overall, the investigators were satisfied with implementing the algorithm. Conclusion. These results suggest that the KMAP-BP 2002 algorithm could be implemented effectively and safely in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgroud: Craving for alcohol and food has been studied in association with alcohol dependence and eating disorders, respectively. One subclass of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor, 1519T>C GABAAα6 has been reported to be associated with both alcohol dependence and weight gain. In this study, we hypothesized that patients being treated for alcohol dependence would report decreased craving for alcohol, but an increased craving for food during a 4-week treatment period. We further hypothesized that the T allele of the 1519T>C GABAAα6 gene would modulate the extent of changes in craving for alcohol and food. Methods: This study included 98 male inpatients being treated for alcohol dependence. A 7-point visual analog scale was applied to evaluate relative levels of alcohol and food craving at baseline and again 4 weeks later. Body weight was also checked at the same periods. Genotyping of the 1519T>C SNP in GABAAα6 was carried out by restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results: There were significant changes in craving for alcohol and food in all patients with alcohol dependence. During the treatment period, body weight increased in all patients with alcohol dependence. Changes in alcohol and food craving in T-allele carriers (CT + TT) of 1519T>C GABAAα6 were greater than those observed in CC homozygotes. In T-allele carriers, body weight significantly increased and the changes in weight showed a negative correlation with the change in the craving for alcohol and a positive correlation with the changes in craving for food. Discussion: The current results suggest that in T-allele carriers the change in craving for alcohol during treatment for alcohol dependence is negatively associated with changes in craving for food. The T allele of the 1519T>C GABAAα6 gene may be one of the modulating factors associated with changes in craving for alcohol and food during treatment of patients with alcohol dependence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma arising in mature cystic teratomas of the ovary is extremely rare. We report a case of well-differentiated intestinal adenocarcinoma arising in a mature cystic teratoma of the ovary in a 77-year-old woman, presenting as acute abdomen with ovarian torsion. An immunohistochemical study revealed expression of CK20 and CK7, and the tumor was also positive for MUC2. The patient had no evidence of disease after 12 months of follow-up. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Continuous use of antidepressants can relieve depressive symptoms and prevent recurrence in people with depression; however, many studies have reported low drug compliance rates. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the type of initial antidepressants and treatment adherence in outpatients with new onset depression.Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study using National Health Insurance claim data for services provided in 2012. We examined data from 142,336 individuals aged 18 years or older, who were continuously enrolled in treatment after a new episode of depression, and had initiated antidepressant treatment. A new diagnosis of depression, is defined as a first reported diagnosis of depression in the preceding five years. Adherence was operationally defined as the antidepressant being dispensed to the patient at least 80% of the time during the first three- and six-month treatment periods. To investigate the relationship between the initial type of antidepressants and treatment adherence, we estimated adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals using logistic regression analysis, adjusting for socio-demographic and health care utilization characteristics.Results: A statistically significant association was found between initial antidepressant type and adherence in the first three- and six-month treatment periods for employed and self-employed patients newly diagnosed with major depression. In addition, patients with starting prescriptions for tricyclic antidepressants had significantly lower adherence compared to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.Limitations: This study used national insurance data; therefore, only variables on the claim form were available, and psychological and environmental factors were not considered.Conclusions: This was the first study to demonstrate the relationship between initial antidepressant type and treatment adherence among Korean outpatients with new onset depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of mixed features using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM‐5) and to examine how patients with mixed states would be classified using the DSM‐5. Methods: In total, 12 hospitals participated in this study, and data on the demographic characteristics and clinical diagnoses of patients treated between October 2013 and September 2016 were obtained. We reviewed the data for opposite‐polarity symptoms according to the DSM‐5 criteria and the research‐based diagnostic criteria. Results: Of the 859 patients included in the final analysis, the prevalence of mixed features in patients with major depressive episodes based on the DSM‐5 remained low. Patients with major depressive disorder were more likely to be classified as experiencing anxious distress and/or a cluster‐B personality disorder in mixed state patients not diagnosed with DSM‐5 mixed features, whereas more mixed state patients with bipolar disorder were diagnosed with mixed features using the DSM‐5. Conclusions: The prevalence of mixed features did not increase significantly when the DSM‐5 was used, and patients with mixed states were more likely to be classified as having anxious distress and/or a cluster‐B personality disorder in addition to mixed features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Many treatment guidelines for bipolar disorders have been introduced to assist clinical decision. Majority of these guidelines are based on evidences from clinical trials. The Korean Medication Algorithm Project for Bipolar Disorder (KMAP-BP) was developed to adopt and maintain an expert-consensus paradigm which was more practical and specific to the atmosphere in Korea. In this research, preferred medication strategies for acute mania over four consecutively published KMAP-BP guidelines (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018) were investigated. Methods The KMAP-BP questionnaire using a nine-point scale had covered some specific clinical situations divided into subsections with many treatment options. A written survey asked about the appropriateness of various treatment strategies and treatment agents commonly used by clinicians as the first-line. Results The most preferred initial treatment strategy for all subtypes of mania was a combination of mood stabilizer (MS) and atypical antipsychotic (AAP) in every edition. In contrast to MS monotherapy, the preference of combination therapy has been increased over time. Among MSs, lithium and valproic acid are almost equally preferred except in the mixed subtype where valproic acid is the most recommended MS. Carbamazepine was the first-line MS only in the first edition. Olanzapine, quetiapine, and aripiprazole were the preferred AAP for acute manic episode in later editions. This change might depend on the recent research results and safety profile. In cases of unsatisfactory response to the first-line medications, we recommended switching or adding another first-line agent. In KMAP-BP 2018, MS (more preferred as treatment of choice) or AAP monotherapy was first-line medication. Discussion The Korean experts have been increasingly convinced of the effectiveness of a combination therapy for acute manic episode. There have been evident preference changes: increased for AAP and decreased for carbamazepine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Depression might be an aggravating factor in Alzheimer's disease. [•] Left inferior temporal volume was decreased in AD patients with depression. [•] Depressive symptoms may accelerate cognitive decline and brain volume changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theta-phase gamma-amplitude coupling (TGC) between slow and fast oscillations is considered to represent cortico-subcortical interactions. The purpose of this electroencephalographic (EEG) study was to evaluate the diagnostic utility of TGC by comparing the power spectra and TGC at rest between ADHD and control children. Nineteen-channel EEGs were recorded from 97 volunteers (including 53 subjects with ADHD attending a camp for hyperactive children). The EEG power spectra and TGC data were analyzed. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted on the quantitative EEG results between the groups to adjust for sex. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis was conducted to examine the discriminating ability of each parameter for ADHD diagnosis. The ADHD group exhibited significantly decreased TGC in multiple areas, including frontal (Fp1, F3, F7, F6), temporal (T3), and occipital (O2) areas, compared with the control group. The ROC analysis performed on the TGC data generated the most accurate result among the EEG measures, with an overall classification accuracy of 71.7%. TGC, which reflects the degree of neuronal interactions between functional systems, provides information about an individual's attentional network. Therefore, resting-state TGC is a promising neurophysiological marker of ADHD in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Continuous Performance Test (CPT) is a valuable tool for assessing behavior in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) is a promising tool for the diagnosis of ADHD. Recently, theta-phase gamma-amplitude coupling (TGC) measurement has received attention because it is a feasible method of assessing brain function. We investigated the relationship between CPT performance and EEG measures such as TGC and theta and gamma activity. EEGs were recorded from 68 volunteers from a camp for hyperactive children using a 19-electrode system. Their TGC, theta and 40 Hz gamma activity were estimated and compared with results obtained on the Korean ADHD Rating Scale (KARS) and the Intermediate Visual and Auditory (IVA) CPT. The results demonstrated significant negative partial correlations between TGC and the IVA CPT, such as the Response Control Quotient (RCQ) and Attention Quotient (AQ). TGC successfully identified the level of dysfunctional interaction of the attention/arousal system at a multi-scale large network level. It is thought that as the TGC increases, the efficacy of the system is very low or dysfunctional. Compensatory hyper-arousal patterns of the dysfunctional attention/arousal system may account for this effect. TGC is a promising neurophysiological marker for ADHD behavior in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]