1.Translational Approach to Social Isolation During a Global Pandemic: Hippocampal Somatic Mutation and Stress
Bomee LEE ; Seri MAENG ; Yuri SEO ; Sohee JUNG ; Soojung IM ; Hyung Jun CHOI ; Jae Nam BAE ; Yangsik KIM
Psychiatry Investigation 2024;21(12):1360-1371
Objective:
The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic’s social isolation has significantly impacted mental health, increasing depression and anxiety. This study explores the effects of social isolation on both humans and mice, focusing on behavioral changes and hippocampal protein expression. It also investigates genetic alterations through single-cell RNA and whole-genome sequencing (WGS).
Methods:
Here we conducted behavioral studies, protein expression studies, single-nucleus sequencing (snRNAseq), and WGS of the hippocampus of mice that underwent early maternal separation and social isolation, and a demographic study of community populations who had been self-quarantined owing to COVID-19 exposure to investigate the link between somatic mutations and stress due to social isolation.
Results:
The demographic study demonstrated more negative mental health findings among individuals who live alone or are single. Mice subjected to early maternal separation and social isolation demonstrated increased anxiety-like behaviors and stress-related corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1, and neurogenesis-related sex-determining region Y-box 2 and doublecortin expression. In snRNA-seq, differences, such as transthyretin increase, were observed in the maternal separation group, and somatic mutations, including insertion in the intron site of Tmem267, were observed in the social isolation group on WGS.
Conclusion
The results of this study suggest that stress, such as social isolation, can cause changes at the genetic level, as well as behavioral and brain protein changes.
2.Relationship Between Suicide Attempts and Peripheral Blood Markers in Patients Who Visited the Emergency Department
Seok-Ho CHOI ; Seo-Hyun CHOI ; Seri MAENG ; Jae Nam BAE ; Jeong-Seop LEE ; Won-Hyoung KIM ; Yangsik KIM
Journal of the Korean Society of Biological Psychiatry 2024;31(2):40-50
Objectives:
We investigate relationship between suicide attempts and peripheral blood inflammatory markers in patients visiting the emergency department (ED) for psychiatric consultations, aiming to identify potential biomarkers for predicting suicide risk.
Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 569 patients who were referred to psychiatric consultation at the ED from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022. Demographic and clinical characteristics and various blood test markers were analyzed. Analyses were performed to compare differences in blood markers between suicide attempters and non-attempters and among those with varying histories of suicide attempts.
Results:
Among 569 patients, 398 (69.9%) had attempted suicide. Significant differences in leukocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophils, red blood cells (RBCs), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and ketone bodies were observed between suicide attempters and non-attempters. Further analysis revealed that patients with a history of suicide attempts had higher lymphocyte and eosinophil counts but lower LDH and ketone body levels. An increasing frequency of past suicide attempts correlated with higher lymphocyte and eosinophil count and lower neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, systemic immune inflammatory index, glucose, LDH, and ketone body levels.
Conclusions
We identify blood markers associated with suicide attempts, indicating that leukocyte, lymphocyte, eosinophil, RBC count, LDH, and ketone body levels could serve as potential biomarkers for assessing suicide risk. Findings underscore importance of biological assessments in conjunction with psychological evaluations in predicting and preventing suicide attempts. Further research is needed to validate these biomarkers and understand mechanisms.
3.Translational Approach to Social Isolation During a Global Pandemic: Hippocampal Somatic Mutation and Stress
Bomee LEE ; Seri MAENG ; Yuri SEO ; Sohee JUNG ; Soojung IM ; Hyung Jun CHOI ; Jae Nam BAE ; Yangsik KIM
Psychiatry Investigation 2024;21(12):1360-1371
Objective:
The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic’s social isolation has significantly impacted mental health, increasing depression and anxiety. This study explores the effects of social isolation on both humans and mice, focusing on behavioral changes and hippocampal protein expression. It also investigates genetic alterations through single-cell RNA and whole-genome sequencing (WGS).
Methods:
Here we conducted behavioral studies, protein expression studies, single-nucleus sequencing (snRNAseq), and WGS of the hippocampus of mice that underwent early maternal separation and social isolation, and a demographic study of community populations who had been self-quarantined owing to COVID-19 exposure to investigate the link between somatic mutations and stress due to social isolation.
Results:
The demographic study demonstrated more negative mental health findings among individuals who live alone or are single. Mice subjected to early maternal separation and social isolation demonstrated increased anxiety-like behaviors and stress-related corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1, and neurogenesis-related sex-determining region Y-box 2 and doublecortin expression. In snRNA-seq, differences, such as transthyretin increase, were observed in the maternal separation group, and somatic mutations, including insertion in the intron site of Tmem267, were observed in the social isolation group on WGS.
Conclusion
The results of this study suggest that stress, such as social isolation, can cause changes at the genetic level, as well as behavioral and brain protein changes.
4.Translational Approach to Social Isolation During a Global Pandemic: Hippocampal Somatic Mutation and Stress
Bomee LEE ; Seri MAENG ; Yuri SEO ; Sohee JUNG ; Soojung IM ; Hyung Jun CHOI ; Jae Nam BAE ; Yangsik KIM
Psychiatry Investigation 2024;21(12):1360-1371
Objective:
The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic’s social isolation has significantly impacted mental health, increasing depression and anxiety. This study explores the effects of social isolation on both humans and mice, focusing on behavioral changes and hippocampal protein expression. It also investigates genetic alterations through single-cell RNA and whole-genome sequencing (WGS).
Methods:
Here we conducted behavioral studies, protein expression studies, single-nucleus sequencing (snRNAseq), and WGS of the hippocampus of mice that underwent early maternal separation and social isolation, and a demographic study of community populations who had been self-quarantined owing to COVID-19 exposure to investigate the link between somatic mutations and stress due to social isolation.
Results:
The demographic study demonstrated more negative mental health findings among individuals who live alone or are single. Mice subjected to early maternal separation and social isolation demonstrated increased anxiety-like behaviors and stress-related corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1, and neurogenesis-related sex-determining region Y-box 2 and doublecortin expression. In snRNA-seq, differences, such as transthyretin increase, were observed in the maternal separation group, and somatic mutations, including insertion in the intron site of Tmem267, were observed in the social isolation group on WGS.
Conclusion
The results of this study suggest that stress, such as social isolation, can cause changes at the genetic level, as well as behavioral and brain protein changes.
5.Relationship Between Suicide Attempts and Peripheral Blood Markers in Patients Who Visited the Emergency Department
Seok-Ho CHOI ; Seo-Hyun CHOI ; Seri MAENG ; Jae Nam BAE ; Jeong-Seop LEE ; Won-Hyoung KIM ; Yangsik KIM
Journal of the Korean Society of Biological Psychiatry 2024;31(2):40-50
Objectives:
We investigate relationship between suicide attempts and peripheral blood inflammatory markers in patients visiting the emergency department (ED) for psychiatric consultations, aiming to identify potential biomarkers for predicting suicide risk.
Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 569 patients who were referred to psychiatric consultation at the ED from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022. Demographic and clinical characteristics and various blood test markers were analyzed. Analyses were performed to compare differences in blood markers between suicide attempters and non-attempters and among those with varying histories of suicide attempts.
Results:
Among 569 patients, 398 (69.9%) had attempted suicide. Significant differences in leukocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophils, red blood cells (RBCs), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and ketone bodies were observed between suicide attempters and non-attempters. Further analysis revealed that patients with a history of suicide attempts had higher lymphocyte and eosinophil counts but lower LDH and ketone body levels. An increasing frequency of past suicide attempts correlated with higher lymphocyte and eosinophil count and lower neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, systemic immune inflammatory index, glucose, LDH, and ketone body levels.
Conclusions
We identify blood markers associated with suicide attempts, indicating that leukocyte, lymphocyte, eosinophil, RBC count, LDH, and ketone body levels could serve as potential biomarkers for assessing suicide risk. Findings underscore importance of biological assessments in conjunction with psychological evaluations in predicting and preventing suicide attempts. Further research is needed to validate these biomarkers and understand mechanisms.
6.Relationship Between Suicide Attempts and Peripheral Blood Markers in Patients Who Visited the Emergency Department
Seok-Ho CHOI ; Seo-Hyun CHOI ; Seri MAENG ; Jae Nam BAE ; Jeong-Seop LEE ; Won-Hyoung KIM ; Yangsik KIM
Journal of the Korean Society of Biological Psychiatry 2024;31(2):40-50
Objectives:
We investigate relationship between suicide attempts and peripheral blood inflammatory markers in patients visiting the emergency department (ED) for psychiatric consultations, aiming to identify potential biomarkers for predicting suicide risk.
Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 569 patients who were referred to psychiatric consultation at the ED from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022. Demographic and clinical characteristics and various blood test markers were analyzed. Analyses were performed to compare differences in blood markers between suicide attempters and non-attempters and among those with varying histories of suicide attempts.
Results:
Among 569 patients, 398 (69.9%) had attempted suicide. Significant differences in leukocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophils, red blood cells (RBCs), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and ketone bodies were observed between suicide attempters and non-attempters. Further analysis revealed that patients with a history of suicide attempts had higher lymphocyte and eosinophil counts but lower LDH and ketone body levels. An increasing frequency of past suicide attempts correlated with higher lymphocyte and eosinophil count and lower neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, systemic immune inflammatory index, glucose, LDH, and ketone body levels.
Conclusions
We identify blood markers associated with suicide attempts, indicating that leukocyte, lymphocyte, eosinophil, RBC count, LDH, and ketone body levels could serve as potential biomarkers for assessing suicide risk. Findings underscore importance of biological assessments in conjunction with psychological evaluations in predicting and preventing suicide attempts. Further research is needed to validate these biomarkers and understand mechanisms.
7.Translational Approach to Social Isolation During a Global Pandemic: Hippocampal Somatic Mutation and Stress
Bomee LEE ; Seri MAENG ; Yuri SEO ; Sohee JUNG ; Soojung IM ; Hyung Jun CHOI ; Jae Nam BAE ; Yangsik KIM
Psychiatry Investigation 2024;21(12):1360-1371
Objective:
The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic’s social isolation has significantly impacted mental health, increasing depression and anxiety. This study explores the effects of social isolation on both humans and mice, focusing on behavioral changes and hippocampal protein expression. It also investigates genetic alterations through single-cell RNA and whole-genome sequencing (WGS).
Methods:
Here we conducted behavioral studies, protein expression studies, single-nucleus sequencing (snRNAseq), and WGS of the hippocampus of mice that underwent early maternal separation and social isolation, and a demographic study of community populations who had been self-quarantined owing to COVID-19 exposure to investigate the link between somatic mutations and stress due to social isolation.
Results:
The demographic study demonstrated more negative mental health findings among individuals who live alone or are single. Mice subjected to early maternal separation and social isolation demonstrated increased anxiety-like behaviors and stress-related corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1, and neurogenesis-related sex-determining region Y-box 2 and doublecortin expression. In snRNA-seq, differences, such as transthyretin increase, were observed in the maternal separation group, and somatic mutations, including insertion in the intron site of Tmem267, were observed in the social isolation group on WGS.
Conclusion
The results of this study suggest that stress, such as social isolation, can cause changes at the genetic level, as well as behavioral and brain protein changes.
8.Relationship Between Suicide Attempts and Peripheral Blood Markers in Patients Who Visited the Emergency Department
Seok-Ho CHOI ; Seo-Hyun CHOI ; Seri MAENG ; Jae Nam BAE ; Jeong-Seop LEE ; Won-Hyoung KIM ; Yangsik KIM
Journal of the Korean Society of Biological Psychiatry 2024;31(2):40-50
Objectives:
We investigate relationship between suicide attempts and peripheral blood inflammatory markers in patients visiting the emergency department (ED) for psychiatric consultations, aiming to identify potential biomarkers for predicting suicide risk.
Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 569 patients who were referred to psychiatric consultation at the ED from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022. Demographic and clinical characteristics and various blood test markers were analyzed. Analyses were performed to compare differences in blood markers between suicide attempters and non-attempters and among those with varying histories of suicide attempts.
Results:
Among 569 patients, 398 (69.9%) had attempted suicide. Significant differences in leukocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophils, red blood cells (RBCs), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and ketone bodies were observed between suicide attempters and non-attempters. Further analysis revealed that patients with a history of suicide attempts had higher lymphocyte and eosinophil counts but lower LDH and ketone body levels. An increasing frequency of past suicide attempts correlated with higher lymphocyte and eosinophil count and lower neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, systemic immune inflammatory index, glucose, LDH, and ketone body levels.
Conclusions
We identify blood markers associated with suicide attempts, indicating that leukocyte, lymphocyte, eosinophil, RBC count, LDH, and ketone body levels could serve as potential biomarkers for assessing suicide risk. Findings underscore importance of biological assessments in conjunction with psychological evaluations in predicting and preventing suicide attempts. Further research is needed to validate these biomarkers and understand mechanisms.
9.Translational Approach to Social Isolation During a Global Pandemic: Hippocampal Somatic Mutation and Stress
Bomee LEE ; Seri MAENG ; Yuri SEO ; Sohee JUNG ; Soojung IM ; Hyung Jun CHOI ; Jae Nam BAE ; Yangsik KIM
Psychiatry Investigation 2024;21(12):1360-1371
Objective:
The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic’s social isolation has significantly impacted mental health, increasing depression and anxiety. This study explores the effects of social isolation on both humans and mice, focusing on behavioral changes and hippocampal protein expression. It also investigates genetic alterations through single-cell RNA and whole-genome sequencing (WGS).
Methods:
Here we conducted behavioral studies, protein expression studies, single-nucleus sequencing (snRNAseq), and WGS of the hippocampus of mice that underwent early maternal separation and social isolation, and a demographic study of community populations who had been self-quarantined owing to COVID-19 exposure to investigate the link between somatic mutations and stress due to social isolation.
Results:
The demographic study demonstrated more negative mental health findings among individuals who live alone or are single. Mice subjected to early maternal separation and social isolation demonstrated increased anxiety-like behaviors and stress-related corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1, and neurogenesis-related sex-determining region Y-box 2 and doublecortin expression. In snRNA-seq, differences, such as transthyretin increase, were observed in the maternal separation group, and somatic mutations, including insertion in the intron site of Tmem267, were observed in the social isolation group on WGS.
Conclusion
The results of this study suggest that stress, such as social isolation, can cause changes at the genetic level, as well as behavioral and brain protein changes.
10.Effect of Pap smear screening on cervical cancer stage at diagnosis: results from the Korean National Cancer Screening Program
Cam Nhung BUI ; Seri HONG ; Mina SUH ; Jae Kwan JUN ; Kyu Won JUNG ; Myong Cheol LIM ; Kui Son CHOI
Journal of Gynecologic Oncology 2021;32(5):e81-
Objective:
We aimed to determine the differences in stage at diagnosis of cervical cancer among Korean women according to screening history.
Methods:
Using linkage data from the Korean Central Cancer Registry and Korean National Cancer Screening Program (KNCSP), we included 18,388 women older than 30 years who were newly diagnosed with cervical cancer between 2013 and 2014 and examined their screening history. Between individuals, age group and socioeconomic status were matched to control for potential confounders.
Results:
Significantly more cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS) were diagnosed in the ever-screened (71.77%) group than in the never-screened group (54.78%), while localized, regional, distant, and unknown stage were more frequent in the never-screened group. Women in the ever-screened group were most likely to be diagnosed with CIS than with invasive cervical cancer (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=2.40; 95% confidence interval [CI]=2.18–2.65). The aOR for being diagnosed with CIS was highest among women who were screened 3 times or more (aOR=5.10; 95% CI=4.03–6.45). The ORs were highest for women screened within 24 months of diagnosis and tended to decrease with an increasing time since last screening (p-trend <0.01).
Conclusion
The KNCSP for cervical cancer was found to be positively associated with diagnosis of cervical cancers at earlier stages among women aged 30 years or older. The benefit of screening according to time was highest for women screened within 24 months of diagnosis.

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