1.Combination of Aβ40, Aβ42, and Tau Plasma Levels to Distinguish Amyloid-PET Positive Alzheimer Patients from Normal Controls
Seungyeop BAEK ; Jinny Claire LEE ; Byung Hyun BYUN ; Su Yeon PARK ; Jeong Ho HA ; Kyo Chul LEE ; Seung-Hoon YANG ; Jun-Seok LEE ; Seungpyo HONG ; Gyoonhee HAN ; Sang Moo LIM ; YoungSoo KIM ; Hye Yun KIM
Experimental Neurobiology 2025;34(1):1-8
Alzheimer disease (AD) diagnosis is confirmed using a medley of modalities, such as the detection of amyloid-β (Aβ) neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles with positron electron tomography (PET) or the appraisal of irregularities in cognitive function with examinations. Although these methods have been efficient in confirming AD pathology, the rising demand for earlier intervention during pathogenesis has led researchers to explore the diagnostic potential of fluid biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma. Since CSF sample collection is invasive and limited in quantity, biomarker detection in plasma has become more attractive and modern advancements in technology has permitted more efficient and accurate analysis of plasma biomolecules. In this study, we found that a composite of standard factors, Aβ40 and total tau levels in plasma, divided by the variation factor, plasma Aβ42 level, provide better correlation with amyloid neuroimaging and neuropsychological test results than a level comparison between total tau and Aβ42 in plasma. We collected EDTA-treated blood plasma samples of 53 subjects, of randomly selected 27 AD patients and 26 normal cognition (NC) individuals, who received amyloid-PET scans for plaque quantification, and measured plasma levels of Aβ40, Aβ42, and total tau with digital enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in a blinded manner. There was difficulty distinguishing AD patients from controls when analyzing biomarkers independently. However, significant differentiation was observed between the two groups when comparing individual ratios of total-tau×Aβ40/Aβ42. Our results indicate that collectively comparing fluctuations of these fluid biomarkers could aid in monitoring AD pathogenesis.
2.Combination of Aβ40, Aβ42, and Tau Plasma Levels to Distinguish Amyloid-PET Positive Alzheimer Patients from Normal Controls
Seungyeop BAEK ; Jinny Claire LEE ; Byung Hyun BYUN ; Su Yeon PARK ; Jeong Ho HA ; Kyo Chul LEE ; Seung-Hoon YANG ; Jun-Seok LEE ; Seungpyo HONG ; Gyoonhee HAN ; Sang Moo LIM ; YoungSoo KIM ; Hye Yun KIM
Experimental Neurobiology 2025;34(1):1-8
Alzheimer disease (AD) diagnosis is confirmed using a medley of modalities, such as the detection of amyloid-β (Aβ) neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles with positron electron tomography (PET) or the appraisal of irregularities in cognitive function with examinations. Although these methods have been efficient in confirming AD pathology, the rising demand for earlier intervention during pathogenesis has led researchers to explore the diagnostic potential of fluid biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma. Since CSF sample collection is invasive and limited in quantity, biomarker detection in plasma has become more attractive and modern advancements in technology has permitted more efficient and accurate analysis of plasma biomolecules. In this study, we found that a composite of standard factors, Aβ40 and total tau levels in plasma, divided by the variation factor, plasma Aβ42 level, provide better correlation with amyloid neuroimaging and neuropsychological test results than a level comparison between total tau and Aβ42 in plasma. We collected EDTA-treated blood plasma samples of 53 subjects, of randomly selected 27 AD patients and 26 normal cognition (NC) individuals, who received amyloid-PET scans for plaque quantification, and measured plasma levels of Aβ40, Aβ42, and total tau with digital enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in a blinded manner. There was difficulty distinguishing AD patients from controls when analyzing biomarkers independently. However, significant differentiation was observed between the two groups when comparing individual ratios of total-tau×Aβ40/Aβ42. Our results indicate that collectively comparing fluctuations of these fluid biomarkers could aid in monitoring AD pathogenesis.
3.A case of progesterone-induced drug reactions presenting with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms
Chang-June CHOI ; Jae-Hyuk JANG ; Soyoon SIM ; Hyun-Seob JEON ; Youngsoo LEE ; Hae-Sim PARK
Allergy, Asthma & Respiratory Disease 2025;13(2):70-74
Progesterone hypersensitivity is mediated by type I, III, and IV hypersensitivity reactions to endogenous or exogenous progesterone, involving autoimmune mechanisms in females of reproductive age. It presents with a range of dermatologic manifestations, most commonly urticaria, angioedema, eczema, and maculopapular rashes. Systemic and severe symptoms, such as generalized erythema multiforme or lesions resembling severe cutaneous adverse reactions, have rarely been reported. We describe a case of a 42-year-old woman who developed drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) following exogenous progesterone therapy administered for assisted reproduction. She received high-dose subcutaneous progesterone and vaginal tablets. Despite this being her first procedure, she achieved pregnancy. However, at 8 weeks of gestation and during the third month of progesterone treatment, she developed generalized erythema multiforme, pruritus, and high-grade fever. Her laboratory findings showed increased blood eosinophil counts and inflammatory markers. After oral corticosteroid (OCS) treatment for several weeks, her skin lesions were partially improved. However, after tapering of OCS, her skin lesions were aggravated with increased blood eosinophil counts. Despite daily OCS (prednisolone, 12.5–60 mg/day) treatment after childbirth, her skin symptoms and eosinophilia persisted. Reslizumab treatment was also attempted, but only the eosinophilia resolved. These clinical findings were much improved after Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor (upadacitinib 15 mg/day) treatment; consequently, OCS was stopped. Here, we report a case of relapsing DRESS triggered by exogenous progesterone, which has been controlled by JAK inhibitor treatment.
4.Two cases of cat-pork syndrome in adults
Jae-Hyuk JANG ; Soyoon SIM ; Hyun-Seob JEON ; Youngsoo LEE ; Hae-Sim PARK
Allergy, Asthma & Respiratory Disease 2025;13(1):35-38
Cat-pork syndrome is an uncommon food allergy induced by red meat (pork/beef) that cross-reacts with cat/dog allergens, which is mediated by immunoglobulin E (IgE) response to the cat/dog albumin component. We report 2 cases of cat-pork syndrome occurred in adult pet breeders. They had suffered from allergic rhinitis/atopic dermatitis sensitive to cat/dog dander as well as house dust mites for several years, during which an immediate type of food allergy due to red meats developed whenever taking pork or beef. ImmunoCAP results showed the increased levels of serum-specific IgE to pork and beef allergens (f26, f27) as well as cat and dog dander (e1, e5); moreover, increased level of serum-specific IgE to the cat albumin component (e224) was noted. In conclusion, cat-food allergy can be found in allergic patients among whom are sensitive to cats and dogs and develop food allergy due to red meat.
5.Association Between Childhood Trauma and Anhedonia-Related Symptoms: The Mediation Role of Trait Anhedonia and Circulating Proteins
Sang Jin RHEE ; Dongyoon SHIN ; Daun SHIN ; Yoojin SONG ; Eun-Jeong JOO ; Hee Yeon JUNG ; Sungwon ROH ; Sang-Hyuk LEE ; Hyeyoung KIM ; Minji BANG ; Kyu Young LEE ; Jihyeon LEE ; Yeongshin KIM ; Youngsoo KIM ; Yong Min AHN
Journal of Korean Medical Science 2025;40(18):e66-
Background:
Though accumulating evidence suggests an association between childhood trauma and anhedonia, further analysis is needed to consider specific traumatic dimensions, both traits and state anhedonia, and the role of circulating proteins. Therefore, this study investigated the association between different types of childhood traumas and their influence on anhedonia-related symptoms, and to evaluate the influence of anhedonia traits and plasma proteins as mediators.
Methods:
This study included 170 patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and healthy controls aged 19–65 years. Multiple reaction monitoring was performed to quantify plasma proteins, and 464 proteins were analyzed. The association between childhood trauma dimensions, anhedonic traits, and related symptoms was analyzed with linear regression. A series of mediation analyses was performed to determine whether anhedonic traits and plasma proteins mediated the association between childhood trauma and anhedonia-related symptoms.
Results:
Childhood emotional neglect was significantly associated with anhedonic traits and anhedonia-related symptoms. Mediation analysis revealed that the indirect effect of anhedonic traits for childhood emotional neglect on anhedonia-related symptoms (effect = 0.037; bias-corrected CI, 0.009 to 0.070) was statistically significant. The indirect effect of plasma TNR5 for anhedonic traits on anhedonia-related symptoms was statistically significant (effect = −0.011; bias-corrected CI, −0.026 to −0.002). Serial mediation analysis revealed that the indirect effect of childhood emotional neglect on anhedonia-related symptoms via anhedonic traits and TNR5 was statistically significant (effect = 0.007; biascorrected CI, 0.001 to 0.017).
Conclusion
Anhedonic traits and plasma TNR5 protein levels serially mediated the association between childhood emotional neglect and anhedonia-related symptoms.The study highlights the importance of considering both psychopathological traits and biological correlates when investigating the association between childhood trauma and psychopathological symptoms.
6.Association Between Childhood Trauma and Anhedonia-Related Symptoms: The Mediation Role of Trait Anhedonia and Circulating Proteins
Sang Jin RHEE ; Dongyoon SHIN ; Daun SHIN ; Yoojin SONG ; Eun-Jeong JOO ; Hee Yeon JUNG ; Sungwon ROH ; Sang-Hyuk LEE ; Hyeyoung KIM ; Minji BANG ; Kyu Young LEE ; Jihyeon LEE ; Yeongshin KIM ; Youngsoo KIM ; Yong Min AHN
Journal of Korean Medical Science 2025;40(18):e66-
Background:
Though accumulating evidence suggests an association between childhood trauma and anhedonia, further analysis is needed to consider specific traumatic dimensions, both traits and state anhedonia, and the role of circulating proteins. Therefore, this study investigated the association between different types of childhood traumas and their influence on anhedonia-related symptoms, and to evaluate the influence of anhedonia traits and plasma proteins as mediators.
Methods:
This study included 170 patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and healthy controls aged 19–65 years. Multiple reaction monitoring was performed to quantify plasma proteins, and 464 proteins were analyzed. The association between childhood trauma dimensions, anhedonic traits, and related symptoms was analyzed with linear regression. A series of mediation analyses was performed to determine whether anhedonic traits and plasma proteins mediated the association between childhood trauma and anhedonia-related symptoms.
Results:
Childhood emotional neglect was significantly associated with anhedonic traits and anhedonia-related symptoms. Mediation analysis revealed that the indirect effect of anhedonic traits for childhood emotional neglect on anhedonia-related symptoms (effect = 0.037; bias-corrected CI, 0.009 to 0.070) was statistically significant. The indirect effect of plasma TNR5 for anhedonic traits on anhedonia-related symptoms was statistically significant (effect = −0.011; bias-corrected CI, −0.026 to −0.002). Serial mediation analysis revealed that the indirect effect of childhood emotional neglect on anhedonia-related symptoms via anhedonic traits and TNR5 was statistically significant (effect = 0.007; biascorrected CI, 0.001 to 0.017).
Conclusion
Anhedonic traits and plasma TNR5 protein levels serially mediated the association between childhood emotional neglect and anhedonia-related symptoms.The study highlights the importance of considering both psychopathological traits and biological correlates when investigating the association between childhood trauma and psychopathological symptoms.
7.Combination of Aβ40, Aβ42, and Tau Plasma Levels to Distinguish Amyloid-PET Positive Alzheimer Patients from Normal Controls
Seungyeop BAEK ; Jinny Claire LEE ; Byung Hyun BYUN ; Su Yeon PARK ; Jeong Ho HA ; Kyo Chul LEE ; Seung-Hoon YANG ; Jun-Seok LEE ; Seungpyo HONG ; Gyoonhee HAN ; Sang Moo LIM ; YoungSoo KIM ; Hye Yun KIM
Experimental Neurobiology 2025;34(1):1-8
Alzheimer disease (AD) diagnosis is confirmed using a medley of modalities, such as the detection of amyloid-β (Aβ) neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles with positron electron tomography (PET) or the appraisal of irregularities in cognitive function with examinations. Although these methods have been efficient in confirming AD pathology, the rising demand for earlier intervention during pathogenesis has led researchers to explore the diagnostic potential of fluid biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma. Since CSF sample collection is invasive and limited in quantity, biomarker detection in plasma has become more attractive and modern advancements in technology has permitted more efficient and accurate analysis of plasma biomolecules. In this study, we found that a composite of standard factors, Aβ40 and total tau levels in plasma, divided by the variation factor, plasma Aβ42 level, provide better correlation with amyloid neuroimaging and neuropsychological test results than a level comparison between total tau and Aβ42 in plasma. We collected EDTA-treated blood plasma samples of 53 subjects, of randomly selected 27 AD patients and 26 normal cognition (NC) individuals, who received amyloid-PET scans for plaque quantification, and measured plasma levels of Aβ40, Aβ42, and total tau with digital enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in a blinded manner. There was difficulty distinguishing AD patients from controls when analyzing biomarkers independently. However, significant differentiation was observed between the two groups when comparing individual ratios of total-tau×Aβ40/Aβ42. Our results indicate that collectively comparing fluctuations of these fluid biomarkers could aid in monitoring AD pathogenesis.
8.A case of progesterone-induced drug reactions presenting with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms
Chang-June CHOI ; Jae-Hyuk JANG ; Soyoon SIM ; Hyun-Seob JEON ; Youngsoo LEE ; Hae-Sim PARK
Allergy, Asthma & Respiratory Disease 2025;13(2):70-74
Progesterone hypersensitivity is mediated by type I, III, and IV hypersensitivity reactions to endogenous or exogenous progesterone, involving autoimmune mechanisms in females of reproductive age. It presents with a range of dermatologic manifestations, most commonly urticaria, angioedema, eczema, and maculopapular rashes. Systemic and severe symptoms, such as generalized erythema multiforme or lesions resembling severe cutaneous adverse reactions, have rarely been reported. We describe a case of a 42-year-old woman who developed drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) following exogenous progesterone therapy administered for assisted reproduction. She received high-dose subcutaneous progesterone and vaginal tablets. Despite this being her first procedure, she achieved pregnancy. However, at 8 weeks of gestation and during the third month of progesterone treatment, she developed generalized erythema multiforme, pruritus, and high-grade fever. Her laboratory findings showed increased blood eosinophil counts and inflammatory markers. After oral corticosteroid (OCS) treatment for several weeks, her skin lesions were partially improved. However, after tapering of OCS, her skin lesions were aggravated with increased blood eosinophil counts. Despite daily OCS (prednisolone, 12.5–60 mg/day) treatment after childbirth, her skin symptoms and eosinophilia persisted. Reslizumab treatment was also attempted, but only the eosinophilia resolved. These clinical findings were much improved after Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor (upadacitinib 15 mg/day) treatment; consequently, OCS was stopped. Here, we report a case of relapsing DRESS triggered by exogenous progesterone, which has been controlled by JAK inhibitor treatment.
9.Two cases of cat-pork syndrome in adults
Jae-Hyuk JANG ; Soyoon SIM ; Hyun-Seob JEON ; Youngsoo LEE ; Hae-Sim PARK
Allergy, Asthma & Respiratory Disease 2025;13(1):35-38
Cat-pork syndrome is an uncommon food allergy induced by red meat (pork/beef) that cross-reacts with cat/dog allergens, which is mediated by immunoglobulin E (IgE) response to the cat/dog albumin component. We report 2 cases of cat-pork syndrome occurred in adult pet breeders. They had suffered from allergic rhinitis/atopic dermatitis sensitive to cat/dog dander as well as house dust mites for several years, during which an immediate type of food allergy due to red meats developed whenever taking pork or beef. ImmunoCAP results showed the increased levels of serum-specific IgE to pork and beef allergens (f26, f27) as well as cat and dog dander (e1, e5); moreover, increased level of serum-specific IgE to the cat albumin component (e224) was noted. In conclusion, cat-food allergy can be found in allergic patients among whom are sensitive to cats and dogs and develop food allergy due to red meat.
10.A case of progesterone-induced drug reactions presenting with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms
Chang-June CHOI ; Jae-Hyuk JANG ; Soyoon SIM ; Hyun-Seob JEON ; Youngsoo LEE ; Hae-Sim PARK
Allergy, Asthma & Respiratory Disease 2025;13(2):70-74
Progesterone hypersensitivity is mediated by type I, III, and IV hypersensitivity reactions to endogenous or exogenous progesterone, involving autoimmune mechanisms in females of reproductive age. It presents with a range of dermatologic manifestations, most commonly urticaria, angioedema, eczema, and maculopapular rashes. Systemic and severe symptoms, such as generalized erythema multiforme or lesions resembling severe cutaneous adverse reactions, have rarely been reported. We describe a case of a 42-year-old woman who developed drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) following exogenous progesterone therapy administered for assisted reproduction. She received high-dose subcutaneous progesterone and vaginal tablets. Despite this being her first procedure, she achieved pregnancy. However, at 8 weeks of gestation and during the third month of progesterone treatment, she developed generalized erythema multiforme, pruritus, and high-grade fever. Her laboratory findings showed increased blood eosinophil counts and inflammatory markers. After oral corticosteroid (OCS) treatment for several weeks, her skin lesions were partially improved. However, after tapering of OCS, her skin lesions were aggravated with increased blood eosinophil counts. Despite daily OCS (prednisolone, 12.5–60 mg/day) treatment after childbirth, her skin symptoms and eosinophilia persisted. Reslizumab treatment was also attempted, but only the eosinophilia resolved. These clinical findings were much improved after Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor (upadacitinib 15 mg/day) treatment; consequently, OCS was stopped. Here, we report a case of relapsing DRESS triggered by exogenous progesterone, which has been controlled by JAK inhibitor treatment.

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