The mechanism of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in schizophrenia remains unclear, with limited research available. Previous studies have reported ECT-induced changes in protein markers, including neurotrophic factors, inflammatory markers, and signaling proteins, but findings have been inconsistent. This study reviews existing literature on protein changes associated with ECT and explores potential molecular mechanisms underlying its effects. Additionally, we present pilot findings from 34 patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who underwent ECT at Seoul National University Hospital. Blood samples collected before and after ECT were analyzed via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), with Pearson’s correlation analysis examining their association with symptom changes. Talin 2 emerged as a potential biomarker linked to clinical improvement. However, given the small sample size, these findings require cautious interpretation. Further research is needed to clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying ECT’s therapeutic effects in schizophrenia.

The mechanism of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in schizophrenia remains unclear, with limited research available. Previous studies have reported ECT-induced changes in protein markers, including neurotrophic factors, inflammatory markers, and signaling proteins, but findings have been inconsistent. This study reviews existing literature on protein changes associated with ECT and explores potential molecular mechanisms underlying its effects. Additionally, we present pilot findings from 34 patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who underwent ECT at Seoul National University Hospital. Blood samples collected before and after ECT were analyzed via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), with Pearson’s correlation analysis examining their association with symptom changes. Talin 2 emerged as a potential biomarker linked to clinical improvement. However, given the small sample size, these findings require cautious interpretation. Further research is needed to clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying ECT’s therapeutic effects in schizophrenia.

The mechanism of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in schizophrenia remains unclear, with limited research available. Previous studies have reported ECT-induced changes in protein markers, including neurotrophic factors, inflammatory markers, and signaling proteins, but findings have been inconsistent. This study reviews existing literature on protein changes associated with ECT and explores potential molecular mechanisms underlying its effects. Additionally, we present pilot findings from 34 patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who underwent ECT at Seoul National University Hospital. Blood samples collected before and after ECT were analyzed via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), with Pearson’s correlation analysis examining their association with symptom changes. Talin 2 emerged as a potential biomarker linked to clinical improvement. However, given the small sample size, these findings require cautious interpretation. Further research is needed to clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying ECT’s therapeutic effects in schizophrenia.

The mechanism of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in schizophrenia remains unclear, with limited research available. Previous studies have reported ECT-induced changes in protein markers, including neurotrophic factors, inflammatory markers, and signaling proteins, but findings have been inconsistent. This study reviews existing literature on protein changes associated with ECT and explores potential molecular mechanisms underlying its effects. Additionally, we present pilot findings from 34 patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who underwent ECT at Seoul National University Hospital. Blood samples collected before and after ECT were analyzed via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), with Pearson’s correlation analysis examining their association with symptom changes. Talin 2 emerged as a potential biomarker linked to clinical improvement. However, given the small sample size, these findings require cautious interpretation. Further research is needed to clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying ECT’s therapeutic effects in schizophrenia.

The mechanism of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in schizophrenia remains unclear, with limited research available. Previous studies have reported ECT-induced changes in protein markers, including neurotrophic factors, inflammatory markers, and signaling proteins, but findings have been inconsistent. This study reviews existing literature on protein changes associated with ECT and explores potential molecular mechanisms underlying its effects. Additionally, we present pilot findings from 34 patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who underwent ECT at Seoul National University Hospital. Blood samples collected before and after ECT were analyzed via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), with Pearson’s correlation analysis examining their association with symptom changes. Talin 2 emerged as a potential biomarker linked to clinical improvement. However, given the small sample size, these findings require cautious interpretation. Further research is needed to clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying ECT’s therapeutic effects in schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the role of miRNA-21 and miRNA-223 in a balloon-compression model of spinal cord injury (SCI). METHODS: A total of 50 male Wistar rats (n=50) were divided into the three groups: the group A (n=15, insertion of the unflated Fogarty balloon catheter), the group B (n=15, insertion of the Fogarty balloon catheter at a volume of 20 μL) and the group C (n=15, insertion of the Fogarty balloon catheter at a volume of 50 μL). After the behavioral test, RNA isolation, microRNA expression profiling using microarrays and quantitative polymerase chain reaction, measurements were compared between the three groups. RESULTS: Despite a lack of significant differences in time-dependent changes in miRNA-21 expression levels between the three groups at 4 hours, there were significant differences in them at 1, 3, and 7 days (p<0.05). Moreover, there were significant differences in time-dependent changes in miRNA-223 expression levels between the three groups at 4 hours and 1, 3, and 7 days (p<0.05). Furthermore, miRNA-223 expression levels reached the highest at 1 day but were decreased with time thereafter in all the three groups. CONCLUSION: Expression levels of miRNA-21 and miRNA-223 might be associated with the severity and acute phase of SCI, respectively. It is mandatory, however, to analyze changes in levels of inflammatory markers and the relevant biological pathways.
Behavior Rating Scale ; Catheters ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Male ; MicroRNAs ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rats, Wistar ; RNA ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Spinal Cord

Objectives: Healthcare facilities are high-risk sites for infection. This study analyzed the epidemiological characteristics of a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in a tertiary hospital after COVID-19 vaccination had been introduced in Republic of Korea. Vaccine effectiveness (VE) and shared anti-infection strategies are also assessed. Methods: The risk levels for 4,074 contacts were evaluated. The epidemiological characteristics of confirmed cases were evaluated using the chi-square test. The “1 minus relative risk” method was used to determine VE in preventing infection, progression to severe disease, and death. In the largest affected area (the 8th floor), a separate relative risk analysis was conducted. A multivariate logistic regression analysis (with 95% confidence interval [CIs]) was used to identify transmission risk factors with a significance level <10% via the backward elimination method. Results: In total, 181 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed, with an attack rate of 4.4%. Of those cases, 12.7% progressed to severe disease, and 8.3% died. In the cohort isolation area on the 8th floor, where 79.0% of the confirmed cases occurred, the adjusted odds ratio was 6.55 (95% CI, 2.99–14.33) and 2.19 (95% CI, 1.24–3.88) for caregivers and the unvaccinated group, respectively. VE analysis revealed that 85.8% of the cases that progressed to severe disease and 78.6% of the deaths could be prevented by administering a second vaccine. Conclusion Caregiver training for infection prevention and control is necessary to reduce infection risk. Vaccination is an important intervention to reduce the risk of progression to severe disease and death.

Background: As the number of large-scale studies involving multiple organizations producing data has steadily increased, an integrated system for a common interoperable format is needed. In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a number of global efforts are underway to develop vaccines and therapeutics. We are therefore observing an explosion in the proliferation of COVID-19 data, and interoperability is highly requested in multiple institutions participating simultaneously in COVID-19 pandemic research. Results: In this study, a laboratory information management system (LIMS) approach has been adopted to systemically manage various COVID-19 non-clinical trial data, including mortality, clinical signs, body weight, body temperature, organ weights, viral titer (viral replication and viral RNA), and multiorgan histopathology, from multiple institutions based on a web interface. The main aim of the implemented system is to integrate, standardize, and organize data collected from laboratories in multiple institutes for COVID-19 non-clinical efficacy testings. Six animal biosafety level 3 institutions proved the feasibility of our system. Substantial benefits were shown by maximizing collaborative high-quality non-clinical research. Conclusions This LIMS platform can be used for future outbreaks, leading to accelerated medical product development through the systematic management of extensive data from non-clinical animal studies.

Viral load and the duration of viral shedding of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are important determinants of the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019.In this study, we examined the effects of viral doses on the lung and spleen of K18-hACE2 transgenic mice by temporal histological and transcriptional analyses. Approximately, 1×105 plaque-forming units (PFU) of SARS-CoV-2 induced strong host responses in the lungs from 2 days post inoculation (dpi) which did not recover until the mice died, whereas responses to the virus were obvious at 5 days, recovering to the basal state by 14 dpi at 1×102 PFU. Further, flow cytometry showed that number of CD8+ T cells continuously increased in 1×102 PFU-virusinfected lungs from 2 dpi, but not in 1×105 PFU-virus-infected lungs. In spleens, responses to the virus were prominent from 2 dpi, and number of B cells was significantly decreased at 1×105PFU; however, 1×102 PFU of virus induced very weak responses from 2 dpi which recovered by 10 dpi. Although the defense responses returned to normal and the mice survived, lung histology showed evidence of fibrosis, suggesting sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our findings indicate that specific effectors of the immune response in the lung and spleen were either increased or depleted in response to doses of SARS-CoV-2. This study demonstrated that the response of local and systemic immune effectors to a viral infection varies with viral dose, which either exacerbates the severity of the infection or accelerates its elimination.