Objective: Creatine, energy buffer in high energy demanding systems including muscle and brain, may play a beneficial role against neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and thus be a potential biomarker. This study aimed to compare the levels of plasma creatine between persons with and without AD and investigate associations of plasma creatine levels with cognitive function and blood-based inflammatory markers. Methods: We classified elderly participants by cognitive statuses: normal cognition (NC, n=17), mild cognitive impairment (MCI,n=21), and AD (n=21). To assess cognitive function and inflammatory condition, we performed neuropsychological tests and mea-sured plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, respectively. Results: Plasma creatine levels were comparable among participants with AD, MCI, and NC. In overall participants, plasma cre-atine levels were not associated with neuropsychological test scores, but negatively associated with plasma CRP levels. In AD group, plasma creatine levels were negatively associated with neuropsychological test scores and, although not significant, CRP levels (p=0.086). In participants without AD (NC plus MCI), these associations disappeared. Conclusion Plasma creatine levels may not be useful as a biomarker indicating cognitive statuses. However, our results suggest that, in AD, plasma levels of creatine might reflect the extent of neuroinflammation as well as cognitive deterioration.

objectives: ：This study aims to compare the mental health of adolescents living in child care institutions (orphanages) and youth shelters, to provide basic data for appropriate psychiatric interventions for each facilities. Methods: ：The sample consisted of 157 adolescents in child care institutions and 31 adolescents in Youth Shelters who completed the Korean version of the Youth Self Report (K-YSR). We compared the K-YSR scores between the two groups and also examined factors related to suicidality. Results: ：Adolescents in youth shelters were older and had higher rates of drinking (p<0.001), smoking (p<0.001), and “abnormal sleep” (p=0.007) than adolescents in child care institutions. They also showed higher ‘suicidality’ (p=0.004) and K-YSR scores. On the other hand, adolescents in child care institutions have lower ‘suicidality’, but they have higher ‘suicidality’ when they have ‘abnormal sleep’ (OR 4.194; p=0.006),abnormal diet’ (OR 2.503; p=0.010), and ‘concerns about weight gain’ (OR 2.503; p=0.010). Additionally, 17.6% of participants in the study showed ‘suicidality’. The ‘suicidality’ group had a higher overall K-YSR score than the non-suicidal group, and had higher ‘abnormal sleep’ (OR 3.766; p=0.014) and ‘concern about weight gain’ (OR 2.864; p=0.032). Conclusions ：Adolescents in youth shelters appear to have more serious clinical difficulties than adolescents in child care institutions, so prompt psychiatric intervention is needed. Additionally, it is necessary to consider mental health assessments including suicidality when adolescents in child care institutions complain of sleep, eating, or weight gain problems.

Objectives: ：This study aims to confirm the effectiveness of a school-based very-short-term dialectical be-havior therapy-skills training (DBT-ST) program for preventing self-harm among children and adolescents, considering factors such as age, sex, self-harm history, and methods of program implementation. Methods: ：The study was conducted from September 2021 to December 2023, targeting 1,012 elementary and middle school students in the Chungcheong region. Changes in responses to the Depressed Mood Questionnaire(RDQ), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-16 (DERS-16), ‘future self-harm possibility’ scores wereanalyzed and compared before and after the program, based on age, sex, self-harm history, and methods of program implementation. Results: ：Overall, participants showed a decrease in the ‘rumination(RDQ) scale’ (t=10.49, p<0.001), ‘reversescored distraction (RDQ)’ (t=10.67, p<0.001) and the total DERS-16 (t=5.56, p<0.001) as well as a decrease in ‘future self-harm possibility’ score (t=4.26, p<0.001). Both elementary and middle school students showed decrease in ’rumination (RDQ)’ and distraction (RDQ), but only middle school students showed a decrease in theDERS-16 and most sub-scales. Regardless of sex, self-harm history, or methods of program implementation, adecrease in ’rumination (RDQ)’, distraction (RDQ) and the total DERS-16 scale and most sub-scales decreased. Conclusions ：Our program appears to be effective as a primary prevention program for preventing self-harm among children and adolescents in a school setting.

Objectives: ：This study aims to confirm the effectiveness of a school-based very-short-term dialectical be-havior therapy-skills training (DBT-ST) program for preventing self-harm among children and adolescents, considering factors such as age, sex, self-harm history, and methods of program implementation. Methods: ：The study was conducted from September 2021 to December 2023, targeting 1,012 elementary and middle school students in the Chungcheong region. Changes in responses to the Depressed Mood Questionnaire(RDQ), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-16 (DERS-16), ‘future self-harm possibility’ scores wereanalyzed and compared before and after the program, based on age, sex, self-harm history, and methods of program implementation. Results: ：Overall, participants showed a decrease in the ‘rumination(RDQ) scale’ (t=10.49, p<0.001), ‘reversescored distraction (RDQ)’ (t=10.67, p<0.001) and the total DERS-16 (t=5.56, p<0.001) as well as a decrease in ‘future self-harm possibility’ score (t=4.26, p<0.001). Both elementary and middle school students showed decrease in ’rumination (RDQ)’ and distraction (RDQ), but only middle school students showed a decrease in theDERS-16 and most sub-scales. Regardless of sex, self-harm history, or methods of program implementation, adecrease in ’rumination (RDQ)’, distraction (RDQ) and the total DERS-16 scale and most sub-scales decreased. Conclusions ：Our program appears to be effective as a primary prevention program for preventing self-harm among children and adolescents in a school setting.

Objectives: ：This study aims to confirm the effectiveness of a school-based very-short-term dialectical be-havior therapy-skills training (DBT-ST) program for preventing self-harm among children and adolescents, considering factors such as age, sex, self-harm history, and methods of program implementation. Methods: ：The study was conducted from September 2021 to December 2023, targeting 1,012 elementary and middle school students in the Chungcheong region. Changes in responses to the Depressed Mood Questionnaire(RDQ), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-16 (DERS-16), ‘future self-harm possibility’ scores wereanalyzed and compared before and after the program, based on age, sex, self-harm history, and methods of program implementation. Results: ：Overall, participants showed a decrease in the ‘rumination(RDQ) scale’ (t=10.49, p<0.001), ‘reversescored distraction (RDQ)’ (t=10.67, p<0.001) and the total DERS-16 (t=5.56, p<0.001) as well as a decrease in ‘future self-harm possibility’ score (t=4.26, p<0.001). Both elementary and middle school students showed decrease in ’rumination (RDQ)’ and distraction (RDQ), but only middle school students showed a decrease in theDERS-16 and most sub-scales. Regardless of sex, self-harm history, or methods of program implementation, adecrease in ’rumination (RDQ)’, distraction (RDQ) and the total DERS-16 scale and most sub-scales decreased. Conclusions ：Our program appears to be effective as a primary prevention program for preventing self-harm among children and adolescents in a school setting.

Objectives: ：This study aims to confirm the effectiveness of a school-based very-short-term dialectical be-havior therapy-skills training (DBT-ST) program for preventing self-harm among children and adolescents, considering factors such as age, sex, self-harm history, and methods of program implementation. Methods: ：The study was conducted from September 2021 to December 2023, targeting 1,012 elementary and middle school students in the Chungcheong region. Changes in responses to the Depressed Mood Questionnaire(RDQ), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-16 (DERS-16), ‘future self-harm possibility’ scores wereanalyzed and compared before and after the program, based on age, sex, self-harm history, and methods of program implementation. Results: ：Overall, participants showed a decrease in the ‘rumination(RDQ) scale’ (t=10.49, p<0.001), ‘reversescored distraction (RDQ)’ (t=10.67, p<0.001) and the total DERS-16 (t=5.56, p<0.001) as well as a decrease in ‘future self-harm possibility’ score (t=4.26, p<0.001). Both elementary and middle school students showed decrease in ’rumination (RDQ)’ and distraction (RDQ), but only middle school students showed a decrease in theDERS-16 and most sub-scales. Regardless of sex, self-harm history, or methods of program implementation, adecrease in ’rumination (RDQ)’, distraction (RDQ) and the total DERS-16 scale and most sub-scales decreased. Conclusions ：Our program appears to be effective as a primary prevention program for preventing self-harm among children and adolescents in a school setting.

Objectives: ：This study aims to confirm the effectiveness of a school-based very-short-term dialectical be-havior therapy-skills training (DBT-ST) program for preventing self-harm among children and adolescents, considering factors such as age, sex, self-harm history, and methods of program implementation. Methods: ：The study was conducted from September 2021 to December 2023, targeting 1,012 elementary and middle school students in the Chungcheong region. Changes in responses to the Depressed Mood Questionnaire(RDQ), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-16 (DERS-16), ‘future self-harm possibility’ scores wereanalyzed and compared before and after the program, based on age, sex, self-harm history, and methods of program implementation. Results: ：Overall, participants showed a decrease in the ‘rumination(RDQ) scale’ (t=10.49, p<0.001), ‘reversescored distraction (RDQ)’ (t=10.67, p<0.001) and the total DERS-16 (t=5.56, p<0.001) as well as a decrease in ‘future self-harm possibility’ score (t=4.26, p<0.001). Both elementary and middle school students showed decrease in ’rumination (RDQ)’ and distraction (RDQ), but only middle school students showed a decrease in theDERS-16 and most sub-scales. Regardless of sex, self-harm history, or methods of program implementation, adecrease in ’rumination (RDQ)’, distraction (RDQ) and the total DERS-16 scale and most sub-scales decreased. Conclusions ：Our program appears to be effective as a primary prevention program for preventing self-harm among children and adolescents in a school setting.

PURPOSE: There were experimental evidences supporting that intrarenal activation of the renin-angiotensin system contributes to increase BP, proteinuria and urinary angiotensinogen (UAGT) excretion. The purpose of this prospective, open label, controlled study was to investigate the effect of losartan on proteinuria and UAGT excretion in chronic non-diabetic proteinuric (0.4 to 2.0 g/day) renal disease with normal renal function (glomerular filtration rate, GFR>60 mL/min/1.73m2). METHODS: Thirty two patients were randomly allocated to the losartan group (100 mg/day; n=17) or the control group (n=15). Systolic BP, diastolic BP, estimated GFR, urinary protein to creatinine ratio (UP/Cr), UAGT and plasma angiotensinogen (PAGT) level were compared between two groups at baseline, 6 months and 12 months. RESULTS: UP/Cr (1.13+/-0.36 g/g vs. 1.07+/-0.34 g/g) was similar in two groups at baseline. Target BP (<140/90 mmHg) was maintained in both groups. After 6 months, UP/Cr (0.63+/-0.35 g/g vs. 0.97+/-0.41 g/g, p<0.01) was significantly decreased in the losartan group compared to the control group. In addition, UAGT (baseline 1.0) was noticeably suppressed in the losartan group (0.72+/-0.42 vs. 1.07+/-0.81, p=0.13). However, PAGT was not changed in both groups. Moreover, our study at 12 months period has demonstrated continuous suppression of UP/Cr (0.79+/-0.53 g/g vs. 1.00+/-0.50 g/g, p=0.06) and UAGT (0.60+/-0.51 vs. 1.51+/-1.36, p<0.05) in the losartan group. UP/Cr was highly correlated with UAGT (Correlation Coefficient=0.74, p<0.01), but not with PAGT. CONCLUSION: Losartan not only induced a remarkable decrease in proteinuria but also contributed a reduction in UAGT in patients with chronic non-diabetic proteinuric renal disease.
Angiotensinogen ; Creatinine ; Filtration ; Humans ; Losartan ; Plasma ; Prospective Studies ; Proteinuria ; Renin-Angiotensin System

Tumoral calcinosis (TC) is a condition resulting from extensive calcium phosphate precipitation, primarily in the periarticular tissues around major joints. Calciphylaxis is a fatal ischemic vasculopathy mainly affecting dermal blood vessels and subcutaneous fat. This syndrome is rare and predominantly occurs in patients with end-stage renal disease. Here, we report on a rare case involving a patient with TC complicated with calciphylaxis. Our patient was a 31-year-old man undergoing hemodialysis who presented with masses on both shoulders and necrotic cutaneous ulcers, which were associated with secondary hyperparathyroidism, on his lower legs. He underwent subtotal parathyroidectomy, and sodium thiosulfate (STS) was administered for 27 weeks. Twenty months after beginning the STS treatment course, he experienced dramatic relief of his TC and calciphylaxis.
Adult ; Blood Vessels ; Calcinosis* ; Calciphylaxis* ; Calcium ; Humans ; Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary ; Joints ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Leg ; Parathyroidectomy* ; Renal Dialysis ; Shoulder ; Sodium* ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Ulcer

This review examines the challenges associated with occupational disease surveillance in Korea, particularly emphasizing the limitations of current data sources such as the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance (IACI) statistics and special health examinations. The IACI system undercounts cases due to its emphasis on severe diseases and restrictions on approvals. Special health examinations, although they cover a broad workforce, are constrained by their annual scheduling, which leads to missed acute illnesses and subclinical conditions. The paper also explores the history of occupational disease surveillance in Korea, highlighting the fragmented and disease-specific approach of earlier systems. The authors introduce the newly established Korea Occupational Disease Surveillance Center (KODSC), a comprehensive nationwide system designed to gather, analyze, and interpret data on occupational diseases through a network of regional centers. By incorporating hospital-based surveillance and focusing on acute poisonings and other sentinel events, the KODSC aims to overcome the limitations of previous systems and promote collaboration with various agencies. Although it is still in the early stages of implementation, the KODSC demonstrates potential for improving data accuracy and contributing valuable insights for public health policy.