Objectives: This study examined the changes in the characteristics of high-risk suicide groups in South Korea before and after the COVID-19 pandemic using the Korean Cohort for the Model Predicting a Suicide and Suicide-related Behavior (K-COMPASS) cohort. Methods: The K-COMPASS is a longitudinal cohort study that started in 2015. The participants included suicide attempters and individuals with suicidal ideation from various hospitals and mental health centers in South Korea. This study compared the sociodemographic and psychiatric characteristics of 800 participants from the first cohort (2015–2019) with 511 participants from the second and third cohorts (2019–2024). Data were collected through structured interviews and validated scales. Results: The second and third cohort participants were younger, had a higher proportion of females, and exhibited more severe psychiatric symptoms and higher suicidal risk than the first cohort. The prevalence of physical illnesses decreased, while the use of psychiatric medications and the severity of mental health issues increased. In addition, significant sociodemographic changes were observed, such as higher educational levels and urban residency. Conclusion Significant shifts in the characteristics of high-risk suicide groups were observed during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the need for targeted mental health interventions focusing on younger individuals and females to prevent suicide in high-risk groups.

Objectives: This study examined the changes in the characteristics of high-risk suicide groups in South Korea before and after the COVID-19 pandemic using the Korean Cohort for the Model Predicting a Suicide and Suicide-related Behavior (K-COMPASS) cohort. Methods: The K-COMPASS is a longitudinal cohort study that started in 2015. The participants included suicide attempters and individuals with suicidal ideation from various hospitals and mental health centers in South Korea. This study compared the sociodemographic and psychiatric characteristics of 800 participants from the first cohort (2015–2019) with 511 participants from the second and third cohorts (2019–2024). Data were collected through structured interviews and validated scales. Results: The second and third cohort participants were younger, had a higher proportion of females, and exhibited more severe psychiatric symptoms and higher suicidal risk than the first cohort. The prevalence of physical illnesses decreased, while the use of psychiatric medications and the severity of mental health issues increased. In addition, significant sociodemographic changes were observed, such as higher educational levels and urban residency. Conclusion Significant shifts in the characteristics of high-risk suicide groups were observed during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the need for targeted mental health interventions focusing on younger individuals and females to prevent suicide in high-risk groups.

Objectives: This study examined the changes in the characteristics of high-risk suicide groups in South Korea before and after the COVID-19 pandemic using the Korean Cohort for the Model Predicting a Suicide and Suicide-related Behavior (K-COMPASS) cohort. Methods: The K-COMPASS is a longitudinal cohort study that started in 2015. The participants included suicide attempters and individuals with suicidal ideation from various hospitals and mental health centers in South Korea. This study compared the sociodemographic and psychiatric characteristics of 800 participants from the first cohort (2015–2019) with 511 participants from the second and third cohorts (2019–2024). Data were collected through structured interviews and validated scales. Results: The second and third cohort participants were younger, had a higher proportion of females, and exhibited more severe psychiatric symptoms and higher suicidal risk than the first cohort. The prevalence of physical illnesses decreased, while the use of psychiatric medications and the severity of mental health issues increased. In addition, significant sociodemographic changes were observed, such as higher educational levels and urban residency. Conclusion Significant shifts in the characteristics of high-risk suicide groups were observed during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the need for targeted mental health interventions focusing on younger individuals and females to prevent suicide in high-risk groups.

Objectives: This study examined the changes in the characteristics of high-risk suicide groups in South Korea before and after the COVID-19 pandemic using the Korean Cohort for the Model Predicting a Suicide and Suicide-related Behavior (K-COMPASS) cohort. Methods: The K-COMPASS is a longitudinal cohort study that started in 2015. The participants included suicide attempters and individuals with suicidal ideation from various hospitals and mental health centers in South Korea. This study compared the sociodemographic and psychiatric characteristics of 800 participants from the first cohort (2015–2019) with 511 participants from the second and third cohorts (2019–2024). Data were collected through structured interviews and validated scales. Results: The second and third cohort participants were younger, had a higher proportion of females, and exhibited more severe psychiatric symptoms and higher suicidal risk than the first cohort. The prevalence of physical illnesses decreased, while the use of psychiatric medications and the severity of mental health issues increased. In addition, significant sociodemographic changes were observed, such as higher educational levels and urban residency. Conclusion Significant shifts in the characteristics of high-risk suicide groups were observed during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the need for targeted mental health interventions focusing on younger individuals and females to prevent suicide in high-risk groups.

Background: Despite a plethora of research on the topic, there is still no solid evidence that pharmacological treatment actually reduces the risk of suicide in patients with mental illness.In this study, we aimed to assess the effect of psychotropic medications on suicidal ideation in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BPD) in two age groups: less than 25 years and 25 years and older. Methods: We analyzed 312 patients with mood disorders with current suicidal thoughts or recent suicide attempts. We followed the participants from baseline for 6 months and assessed changes in suicidal ideation with Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS).The effect of psychotropic drug administration on suicidal ideation over time was analyzed using a linear mixed model. Results: In patients aged 25 years and older with mood disorders, suicidal ideation was more severe when using psychotropic drugs than when not using them. However, suicidal ideation decreased rapidly over time. The time-dependent reduction in suicidal ideation was accelerated when using antidepressants and sedatives/hypnotics in adult MDD, and when using mood stabilizers in adult BPD. However, this effect was not observed in participants aged less than 25 years. Conclusion Adequate psychotropic medication may reduce suicidal ideation in patients with mood disorders aged 25 years and older. Additional research on psychotropic drugs is needed to effectively reduce the risk of suicide among children and adolescents with mood disorders.

Background: A decline in masticatory function may indicate brain dysfunction related to dementia, but the relationship between masticatory function and dementia risk remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether masticatory function is associated with the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Methods: Data were obtained from the nationwide prospective cohort study of randomly sampled community-dwelling Koreans aged ≥ 60 years. The 5,064 non-demented participants, whose number of chewing cycles per bite was assessed by clinical interview, were followed for 8 years with biennial assessments of cognitive performance and clinical diagnoses of all-cause dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Structural brain magnetic resonance imaging was collected from a subset of cohort participants and their spouses for imaging analyses. Results: Males who chewed ≥ 30 cycles/bite had faster decline in global cognition and memory function and were at higher risk for incident all-cause dementia (hazard ratio [HR], 2.91; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18–7.18) and AD (HR, 3.22; 95% CI, 1.14–9.11) compared to males with less than 10 cycles/bite. Additionally, increased chewing cycles in males were associated with reduced brain volume, particularly in regions involved in compensatory cognitive control of mastication. There was no significant association between chewing cycles and the risk of dementia or brain volume in females. Conclusion Older men who frequently chew their meals could be considered a notable population at risk for dementia who should be carefully assessed for their cognitive trajectories.

Objective: Suicide is a significant public health issue, with South Korea having the highest suicide rate among Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development countries. This study aimed to develop clinical guidelines for suicide prevention in psychiatric patients in Korea using the ADAPTE methodology. Methods: The development process involved a comprehensive review of literature, expert consultations, and consensus-building using the Nominal Group Technique and Delphi method. The guidelines focus on evidence-based psychiatric treatments, including both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches, tailored to the Korean context. Key findings underscoring the need for standardized treatment protocols for patients with major psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and schizophrenia. Results: The guidelines incorporate treatments like lithium, clozapine, atypical antipsychotics, electroconvulsive therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy, which have shown effectiveness in suicide prevention. Applicability and acceptability within Korea’s healthcare system were addressed, ensuring feasibility given the country’s medical insurance coverage and accessibility. The guidelines were validated through expert reviews and Delphi rounds, achieving consensus on the final recommendations. Conclusion The developed guidelines provide a structured, evidence-based approach to reducing suicide rates among psychiatric patients in Korea. Future research will focus on expanding these guidelines to include screening protocols for high-risk groups.

Ginseng Radix(GR) had been used widely from oriental medicine and the effects of it have been investigated by many researchers. The purpose of present study was to investigate the effects of GR on the cell cycle progression and its molecular mechanism in human fetal osteoblast. The results were as follows. Increased cell proliferation was observed in cells exposed to 100 ng/ml, 10 ng/ml of GR-1 at 12 hours and 24 hours, 1 microgram/ml of GR-1 at 48 hours, and 100 microgram/ml, 10 microgram/ml of GR-2 at 12 hours, all treatment groups of GR-2 at 24 hours(p<0.05). S phase and G1 phase was increased in the group of treated with 100 ng/ml of GR-1, with 10 microgram/ml and 1 microgram/ml of GR-2, with 100 microgram/ml and 10 microgram/ml of GR-3 in the cell cycle analysis. The cell cycle regulation protein levels of Cyclin D1, Cyclin E, CDK 2, CDK 4 and CDK 6 were increased in the group of treated with 1 microgram/ml and 100 ng/ml of GR-1, with 10 microgram/ml and 1 microgram/ml of GR-2, with 100 microgram/ml and 10 microgram/ml of GR-3. On the other hand, p21 was decreased in the treatment group with 1 microgram/ml and 100 ng/ml of GR-1, with 10 microgram/ml and 1 microgram/ml of GR-2, 10 microgram/ml of GR-3, and p53 and p16 was decreased in the treatment group with 100 ng/ml of GR-1, 100 microgram/ml GR-3 and pRb was decreased in the all treatment groups except 1 microgram/ml of GR-1. These results suggested that GR increases the cell proliferation and the cell cycle progression in human fetal osteoblast, which is linked to increased cell cycle regulation protein levels of Cyclin D1, Cyclin E, CDK 2, CDK 4, CDK 6 and decreased cell cycle regulation protein levels of p21, pRb.
Humans

A case was experienced involving submandibular salivary gland swelling (sialoadenopathy), developing after gastroscopy in a 15-year-old female who was suffering from epigastric pain & diarrhea and a case of parotid salivary gland swelling after gastroscopy in a 25-year-old female who was suffering from dyspepsia and epigastric pain. Both patients were the first two cases among about 5,000 gastroscopic examinations of the stomach conducted by the authors. As soon as the gastroscope was withdrawn, unilateral swelling, which was neither painful nor tender, was found in the left submandibular salivary gland area. This swelling disappeared spontaneously in about few hours later.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Diarrhea ; Dyspepsia ; Female ; Gastroscopes ; Gastroscopy* ; Humans ; Salivary Glands ; Stomach

Transient ischemic colitis comprises a clinical triad of lower abdominal pain, diarrhea and rectal bleeding of sudden onset, with rapid clearance of symptoms on a non-specific management regimen. The peak age incidence of ischemic colitis is in the sixth and seventh decades, as would be expected due to progressive arterial occlusion and falling cardiac function with increasing age. In this report, transient ischemic colitis was diagnosed on the basis of colonoscopic and associated histopathological findings. Colonoscopy is a useful technique in establishing the diagnosis of transient ischemic colitis. Conservative management includes repeated careful assessment, pain management and fluid replacement. Complications are rare and the prognosis is excellent. Occasionally, patients have recurrences. We report a case of transient ischemic colitis complicated by stricture formation with review of literatures.
Abdominal Pain ; Colitis, Ischemic* ; Colon* ; Colonoscopy ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Diagnosis ; Diarrhea ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Pain Measurement ; Prognosis ; Recurrence