Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by persistent deficits within two core symptom domains: social communication and restricted, repetitive behaviors. Although numerous studies have reported psychopharmacological treatment outcomes for the core symptom domains of ASD, there are not enough studies on fundamental treatments based on the etiological pathology of ASD. Studies on candidate medications related to the pathogenesis of ASD, such as naltrexone and secretin, were conducted, but the results were inconclusive. Oxytocin has been identified as having an important role in maternal behavior and attachment, and it has been recognized as a key factor in the social developmental deficit seen in ASD. Genetic studies have also identified associations between ASD and the oxytocin pathway. As ASD has its onset in infancy, parents are willing to try even experimental or unapproved treatments in an effort to avoid missing the critical period for diagnosis and treatment, which can place their child in an irreversible state. While therapeutic application of oxytocin for ASD is in its early stages, we have concluded that oxytocin would be a promising therapeutic substance via a thorough literature review focusing on the following: the relationship between oxytocin and sociality; single nucleotide polymorphisms as a biological marker of ASD; and validity verification of oxytocin treatment in humans. We also reviewed materials related to the mechanism of oxytocin action that may support its potential application in treating ASD.
Autistic Disorder* ; Child ; Autism Spectrum Disorder* ; Critical Period (Psychology) ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Maternal Behavior ; Naltrexone ; Oxytocin* ; Parents ; Pathology ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Secretin ; Social Change ; Biomarkers

In Korea, the dependence on living donations is high due to the shortage of organs available for donation compared to the number of people waiting for transplants and the number of living organ donations continues to increase. In particular, the number of living-donor transplantations is high worldwide, highlighting the importance of pre-transplant psychosocial evaluation of living kidney donors. According to previous studies, when evaluating living organ donors before transplantation, it is crucial to determine whether the donor can give informed consent and be aware of the risks after surgery. Pre-transplant evaluation tests such as ELPAT living organ donor Psychological Assessment Tool (EPAT), Live Donor Assessment Tool (LDAT), Living Donation Expectancies Questionnaire (LDEQ), Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 questionnaire (MMPI-2) and Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) are conducted for donors. After reviewing the literature on these pre-transplant psychosocial assessment tools, we will also look at legal considerations for living kidney donors in Korea and suggest an effective and essential pre-transplant screening evaluation method for living kidney transplant donors.

In clinical practice, pharmacological treatment is mostly focused on behavioral symptoms in everyday life. Nevertheless, persistent effort continues to develop medication for causal treatment. Recent changes in diagnostic criteria from Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, text revision (DSM-IV-TR) to DSM-5 would affect not only diagnosing approaches, but also therapeutic approaches. Because previous pervasive developmental disorders have been integrated into a single entity, the autism spectrum disorder (ASD), we have to prepare for what medications are valuable for the ASD. In this article, we reviewed the following etiological treatment: acetylcholine and glutamate related medicine; amino acid medicine such as secretin, endogenous opioid, and oxytocin; complementary and alternative medicine such as chelating agents, vitamins, and omega-3; promising drugs related to the scope of pharmacogenetics currently under study.
Acetylcholine ; Behavioral Symptoms ; Chelating Agents ; Child ; Autism Spectrum Disorder* ; Complementary Therapies ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Drug Therapy* ; Glutamic Acid ; Oxytocin ; Pharmacogenetics ; Secretin ; Vitamins

Objective: Tacrolimus intrapatient variability (Tac IPV) has been considered a marker for post-graft risk. We investigated pre-transplant psychometric testing to predict Tac IPV after living kidney transplantation. Methods: Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) examined during pre-transplant evaluation by 102 recipients were analyzed. Subjects were divided into two groups, low IPV (L-IPV) and high IPV (H-IPV), by cutoffs of Tac IPV: median of 24 and value of 30. T-scores of MMPI-2 scales were used to analyze difference between L-IPV and H-IPV using independent t-tests. Stepwise multiple logistic regression was used to test whether MMPI-2 scales affected Tac IPV. Confusion matrix of logistic regression was used to explain statistical power. Cutoff values of significant scales for H-IPV were analyzed by constructing receiver operating characteristic curves. Results: Hysteria (Hy) and depression (D) scale scores and Tac IPV were associated in IPV 24 (odds ratio [OR]: 1.08, p<0.01 for Hy; OR: 0.93, p<0.01 for D) and IPV 30 models (OR: 1.09, p<0.01 for Hy; OR: 0.92, p<0.01 for D). Paranoia (Pa) scale scores were associated with Tac IPV in IPV 24 model (OR=1.10, p<0.01) and were significantly higher in H-IPV 24 (p<0.01). F1 scores of confusion matrix in IPV 24 and 30 models were 0.70 and 0.71, respectively. Cutoffs of Hy, D, and Pa scales were 51, 57, and 47, respectively. Conclusion MMPI-2 profile is suggested as a predictor for high Tac IPV after living kidney transplantation.

Human listeriosis is a relatively rare but serious disease with mortality rate 20~40%. Listeria monocytogenes affects patients with decreased cell mediated immunity such as the elderly, transplant recipients, cancer patients, renal failure, diabetes, HIV, pregnant women and unborn child, neonate. We experienced a case of listeriosis in twin pregnant woman at 35th weeks without preterm labor. The pregnant woman present sepsis with fever at first time. Sepsis progress to MODS (multiple organ dysfunction syndrome) and combined endocarditis. We reported it with brief of literatures.
Aged ; Child ; Endocarditis ; Female ; Fever ; HIV ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Infant, Newborn ; Listeria ; Listeria monocytogenes ; Listeriosis ; Multiple Organ Failure ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Pregnancy, Twin ; Pregnant Women ; Renal Insufficiency ; Sepsis

OBJECTIVES: This study, as a preliminary one attempting to develop the Korean version of Integrated Therapy for the rehabilitation of schizophrenic patients, was designed to investigate the results of Integrated Psychological Therapy(IPT) and review the problems during the program application. METHODS: Cognitive Differentiation Scale, Problem-Solving Scale, and PANSS(Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale) were administered to schizophrenic inpatients before and after IPT incorporating cognitive differentiation, social perception, verbal communication, social skill and interpersonal problem-solving skill subprograms. The therapy groups were offered activities three times per week during the 12-week program. The control groups were attention-placebo groups for control ling factors such as group interaction and social attention, and were offered psychoeducation. RESULTS: The 12-week IPT groups, compared with the control groups, demonstrated significant improvements in the general psychopathology and the total symptoms of PANSS, but did not in cognitive functions and problem-solving skill. Significant improvements in cognitive functions were found only after cognitive differentiation subprogram and social skill subprogram had limited effects on social skills. But within 12-week IPT groups significant improvements in the positive symptoms, negative symptoms and general psychopathology were found. CONCLUSION: These findings support some effectiveness of IPT, but do not address the unique contribution by cognitive components. Applied to schizophrenic patients in this country, this modality had the problems such as differences in sociocultural and lingual background, duration of treatment, homogeneity in the level of the functioning among group members, management of emotions in activities, and the therapists' skill in the training of cognitive components. So the modification of this modality will be required.
Humans ; Inpatients ; Psychopathology ; Rehabilitation ; Schizophrenia ; Social Perception

PURPOSE: To date, the risk factors for central venous port-related bloodstream infection (CVP-BSI) in solid cancer patients have not been fully elucidated. We conducted this study in order to determine the risk factors for CVP-BSI in patients with solid cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1,642 patients with solid cancer received an implantable central venous port for delivery of chemotherapy between October 2008 and December 2011 in a single center. CVP-BSI was diagnosed in 66 patients (4%). We selected a control group of 130 patients, who were individually matched with respect to age, sex, and catheter insertion time. RESULTS: CVP-BSI occurred most frequently between September and November (37.9%). The most common pathogen was gram-positive cocci (n=35, 53.0%), followed by fungus (n=14, 21.2%). Multivariate analysis identified monthly catheter-stay as a risk factor for CVP-BSI (p=0.000), however, its risk was lower in primary gastrointestinal cancer than in other cancer (p=0.002). Initial metastatic disease and long catheter-stay were statistically significant factors affecting catheter life span (p=0.005 and p=0.000). Results of multivariate analysis showed that recent transfusion was a risk factor for mortality in patients with CVP-BSI (p=0.047). CONCLUSION: In analysis of the results with respect to risk factors, prolonged catheter-stay should be avoided as much as possible. It is necessary to be cautious of CVP-BSI in metastatic solid cancer, especially non-gastrointestinal cancer. In addition, avoidance of unnecessary transfusion is essential in order to reduce the mortality of CVP-BSI. Finally, considering the fact that confounding factors may have affected the results, conduct of a well-designed prospective controlled study is warranted.
Case-Control Studies* ; Catheter-Related Infections ; Catheters ; Drug Therapy ; Fungi ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; Gram-Positive Cocci ; Humans ; Mortality ; Multivariate Analysis ; Risk Factors*