Objective: This study compared the incidence of suicide cases among Korean students before and after the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: Aggregated case reports of all known suicide victims attending elementary, middle, and high school in South Korea from 2017 to 2022 were analyzed. These reports, compiled by teachers under the directive of the South Korean Department of Education, surveyed the circumstances surrounding each suicide and identified associated risk factors posthumously. Results: The completed suicide rate was 2.37 per 100,000 students pre-COVID-19 (2017–2019), significantly increasing to 3.37 per 100,000 students post-COVID-19 (2020–2022; odds ratio [OR] 1.42, p<0.001). The rate began to rise approximately 6 months into the pandemic and continued to worsen throughout 2021 and 2022. Fair attendance significantly increased in 2020 (74.83%, p=0.003) during the initial stage of school closure measures compared to 2019 (58.27%) among students prior to suicide completion. However, as social distancing measures continued, “absence due to medical reasons” showed a significant increase in 2022 (23.56%) compared to 2019 (13.67%, p=0.025) and 2020 (9.52%, p<0.001) among these students. Among those who completed suicide, teachers reported increased signs of depression and anxiety posthumously compared to pre-COVID-19 periods. Conclusion The incidence of completed suicide among students was significantly higher in the post-COVID-19 years compared to pre-COVID-19. Attendance records and teachers’ reports indicated a deterioration in mental health among these students before suicide completion, highlighting the need to consider mental health impacts when implementing future quarantine policies.

Objective: This study aims to investigate may moesin deficiency resulted in neurodevelopmental abnormalities caused by negative impact on synaptic signaling ultimately leading to synaptic structure and plasticity. Methods: Behavioral assessments measured neurodevelopment (surface righting, negative geotaxis, cliff avoidance), anxiety (open field test, elevated plus maze test), and memory (passive avoidance test, Y-maze test) in moesin-knockout mice (KO) compared to wild-type mice (WT). Whole exome sequencing (WES) of brain (KO vs. WT) and analysis of synaptic proteins were performed to determine the disruption of signal pathways downstream of moesin. Risperidone, a therapeutic agent, was utilized to reverse the neurodevelopmental aberrance in moesin KO. Results: Moesin-KO pups exhibited decrease in the surface righting ability on postnatal day 7 (p<0.05) and increase in time spent in the closed arms (p<0.01), showing increased anxiety-like behavior. WES revealed mutations in pathway aberration in neuron projection, actin filament-based processes, and neuronal migration in KO. Decreased cell viability (p<0.001) and expression of soluble NSF adapter protein 25 (SNAP25) (p<0.001) and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95) (p<0.01) was observed in days in vitro 7 neurons. Downregulation of synaptic proteins, and altered phosphorylation levels of Synapsin I, mammalian uncoordinated 18 (MUNC18), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) was observed in KO cortex and hippocampus. Risperidone reversed the memory impairment in the passive avoidance test and the spontaneous alternation percentage in the Y maze test. Risperidone also restored the reduced expression of PSD95 (p<0.01) and the phosphorylation of Synapsin at Ser605 (p<0.05) and Ser549 (p<0.001) in the cortex of moesin-KO. Conclusion Moesin deficiency leads to neurodevelopmental delay and memory decline, which may be caused through altered regulation in synaptic proteins and function.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the utility of the Korean version of the Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT) in hospital settings and to identify items sensitive for detecting autism spectrum disorder (ASD) trait. Methods: The Q-CHAT was administered to a clinical sample of children presenting with developmental delays with a high probability of ASD in a hospital setting (n=37), as well as to typically developing community children (n=67), aged 12 to 54 months. Results: The mean Q-CHAT total score in the hospital sample (42.0±13.6) was significantly higher than in the community sample (29.9±7.8), with maximized sensitivity and adequate specificity at 32.5 (sensitivity=0.811, specificity=0.687). The internal consistency of Q-CHAT was 0.764 for the overall sample and 0.825 for the hospital sample. Q-CHAT total scores and item scores in the hospital sample remained stable across age groups, indicating age-invariant properties. The hospital sample showed higher endorsement of less favorable development in social interaction and reciprocity items compared to community sample. No difference in the Q-CHAT item scores was present among age groups in the hospital samples. In the community samples, item scores, such as comprehending a child’s speech, using the hand of others as a tool, adapting to a change in routine, repeating the same action, and making unusual finger movements, decreased with the advance of age. Conclusion The Korean version of the Q-CHAT demonstrates good validity and reliability and is effective in discriminating autistic traits even in children older than 24 months. The items endorsed for hospital samples varied from community samples, implying item-specific sensitivity for hospital samples.

Objective: This study compared the incidence of suicide cases among Korean students before and after the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: Aggregated case reports of all known suicide victims attending elementary, middle, and high school in South Korea from 2017 to 2022 were analyzed. These reports, compiled by teachers under the directive of the South Korean Department of Education, surveyed the circumstances surrounding each suicide and identified associated risk factors posthumously. Results: The completed suicide rate was 2.37 per 100,000 students pre-COVID-19 (2017–2019), significantly increasing to 3.37 per 100,000 students post-COVID-19 (2020–2022; odds ratio [OR] 1.42, p<0.001). The rate began to rise approximately 6 months into the pandemic and continued to worsen throughout 2021 and 2022. Fair attendance significantly increased in 2020 (74.83%, p=0.003) during the initial stage of school closure measures compared to 2019 (58.27%) among students prior to suicide completion. However, as social distancing measures continued, “absence due to medical reasons” showed a significant increase in 2022 (23.56%) compared to 2019 (13.67%, p=0.025) and 2020 (9.52%, p<0.001) among these students. Among those who completed suicide, teachers reported increased signs of depression and anxiety posthumously compared to pre-COVID-19 periods. Conclusion The incidence of completed suicide among students was significantly higher in the post-COVID-19 years compared to pre-COVID-19. Attendance records and teachers’ reports indicated a deterioration in mental health among these students before suicide completion, highlighting the need to consider mental health impacts when implementing future quarantine policies.

Objective: This study aims to investigate may moesin deficiency resulted in neurodevelopmental abnormalities caused by negative impact on synaptic signaling ultimately leading to synaptic structure and plasticity. Methods: Behavioral assessments measured neurodevelopment (surface righting, negative geotaxis, cliff avoidance), anxiety (open field test, elevated plus maze test), and memory (passive avoidance test, Y-maze test) in moesin-knockout mice (KO) compared to wild-type mice (WT). Whole exome sequencing (WES) of brain (KO vs. WT) and analysis of synaptic proteins were performed to determine the disruption of signal pathways downstream of moesin. Risperidone, a therapeutic agent, was utilized to reverse the neurodevelopmental aberrance in moesin KO. Results: Moesin-KO pups exhibited decrease in the surface righting ability on postnatal day 7 (p<0.05) and increase in time spent in the closed arms (p<0.01), showing increased anxiety-like behavior. WES revealed mutations in pathway aberration in neuron projection, actin filament-based processes, and neuronal migration in KO. Decreased cell viability (p<0.001) and expression of soluble NSF adapter protein 25 (SNAP25) (p<0.001) and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95) (p<0.01) was observed in days in vitro 7 neurons. Downregulation of synaptic proteins, and altered phosphorylation levels of Synapsin I, mammalian uncoordinated 18 (MUNC18), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) was observed in KO cortex and hippocampus. Risperidone reversed the memory impairment in the passive avoidance test and the spontaneous alternation percentage in the Y maze test. Risperidone also restored the reduced expression of PSD95 (p<0.01) and the phosphorylation of Synapsin at Ser605 (p<0.05) and Ser549 (p<0.001) in the cortex of moesin-KO. Conclusion Moesin deficiency leads to neurodevelopmental delay and memory decline, which may be caused through altered regulation in synaptic proteins and function.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the utility of the Korean version of the Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT) in hospital settings and to identify items sensitive for detecting autism spectrum disorder (ASD) trait. Methods: The Q-CHAT was administered to a clinical sample of children presenting with developmental delays with a high probability of ASD in a hospital setting (n=37), as well as to typically developing community children (n=67), aged 12 to 54 months. Results: The mean Q-CHAT total score in the hospital sample (42.0±13.6) was significantly higher than in the community sample (29.9±7.8), with maximized sensitivity and adequate specificity at 32.5 (sensitivity=0.811, specificity=0.687). The internal consistency of Q-CHAT was 0.764 for the overall sample and 0.825 for the hospital sample. Q-CHAT total scores and item scores in the hospital sample remained stable across age groups, indicating age-invariant properties. The hospital sample showed higher endorsement of less favorable development in social interaction and reciprocity items compared to community sample. No difference in the Q-CHAT item scores was present among age groups in the hospital samples. In the community samples, item scores, such as comprehending a child’s speech, using the hand of others as a tool, adapting to a change in routine, repeating the same action, and making unusual finger movements, decreased with the advance of age. Conclusion The Korean version of the Q-CHAT demonstrates good validity and reliability and is effective in discriminating autistic traits even in children older than 24 months. The items endorsed for hospital samples varied from community samples, implying item-specific sensitivity for hospital samples.

Objective: This study compared the incidence of suicide cases among Korean students before and after the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: Aggregated case reports of all known suicide victims attending elementary, middle, and high school in South Korea from 2017 to 2022 were analyzed. These reports, compiled by teachers under the directive of the South Korean Department of Education, surveyed the circumstances surrounding each suicide and identified associated risk factors posthumously. Results: The completed suicide rate was 2.37 per 100,000 students pre-COVID-19 (2017–2019), significantly increasing to 3.37 per 100,000 students post-COVID-19 (2020–2022; odds ratio [OR] 1.42, p<0.001). The rate began to rise approximately 6 months into the pandemic and continued to worsen throughout 2021 and 2022. Fair attendance significantly increased in 2020 (74.83%, p=0.003) during the initial stage of school closure measures compared to 2019 (58.27%) among students prior to suicide completion. However, as social distancing measures continued, “absence due to medical reasons” showed a significant increase in 2022 (23.56%) compared to 2019 (13.67%, p=0.025) and 2020 (9.52%, p<0.001) among these students. Among those who completed suicide, teachers reported increased signs of depression and anxiety posthumously compared to pre-COVID-19 periods. Conclusion The incidence of completed suicide among students was significantly higher in the post-COVID-19 years compared to pre-COVID-19. Attendance records and teachers’ reports indicated a deterioration in mental health among these students before suicide completion, highlighting the need to consider mental health impacts when implementing future quarantine policies.

Objective: This study aims to investigate may moesin deficiency resulted in neurodevelopmental abnormalities caused by negative impact on synaptic signaling ultimately leading to synaptic structure and plasticity. Methods: Behavioral assessments measured neurodevelopment (surface righting, negative geotaxis, cliff avoidance), anxiety (open field test, elevated plus maze test), and memory (passive avoidance test, Y-maze test) in moesin-knockout mice (KO) compared to wild-type mice (WT). Whole exome sequencing (WES) of brain (KO vs. WT) and analysis of synaptic proteins were performed to determine the disruption of signal pathways downstream of moesin. Risperidone, a therapeutic agent, was utilized to reverse the neurodevelopmental aberrance in moesin KO. Results: Moesin-KO pups exhibited decrease in the surface righting ability on postnatal day 7 (p<0.05) and increase in time spent in the closed arms (p<0.01), showing increased anxiety-like behavior. WES revealed mutations in pathway aberration in neuron projection, actin filament-based processes, and neuronal migration in KO. Decreased cell viability (p<0.001) and expression of soluble NSF adapter protein 25 (SNAP25) (p<0.001) and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95) (p<0.01) was observed in days in vitro 7 neurons. Downregulation of synaptic proteins, and altered phosphorylation levels of Synapsin I, mammalian uncoordinated 18 (MUNC18), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) was observed in KO cortex and hippocampus. Risperidone reversed the memory impairment in the passive avoidance test and the spontaneous alternation percentage in the Y maze test. Risperidone also restored the reduced expression of PSD95 (p<0.01) and the phosphorylation of Synapsin at Ser605 (p<0.05) and Ser549 (p<0.001) in the cortex of moesin-KO. Conclusion Moesin deficiency leads to neurodevelopmental delay and memory decline, which may be caused through altered regulation in synaptic proteins and function.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the utility of the Korean version of the Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT) in hospital settings and to identify items sensitive for detecting autism spectrum disorder (ASD) trait. Methods: The Q-CHAT was administered to a clinical sample of children presenting with developmental delays with a high probability of ASD in a hospital setting (n=37), as well as to typically developing community children (n=67), aged 12 to 54 months. Results: The mean Q-CHAT total score in the hospital sample (42.0±13.6) was significantly higher than in the community sample (29.9±7.8), with maximized sensitivity and adequate specificity at 32.5 (sensitivity=0.811, specificity=0.687). The internal consistency of Q-CHAT was 0.764 for the overall sample and 0.825 for the hospital sample. Q-CHAT total scores and item scores in the hospital sample remained stable across age groups, indicating age-invariant properties. The hospital sample showed higher endorsement of less favorable development in social interaction and reciprocity items compared to community sample. No difference in the Q-CHAT item scores was present among age groups in the hospital samples. In the community samples, item scores, such as comprehending a child’s speech, using the hand of others as a tool, adapting to a change in routine, repeating the same action, and making unusual finger movements, decreased with the advance of age. Conclusion The Korean version of the Q-CHAT demonstrates good validity and reliability and is effective in discriminating autistic traits even in children older than 24 months. The items endorsed for hospital samples varied from community samples, implying item-specific sensitivity for hospital samples.

Objective: This study compared the incidence of suicide cases among Korean students before and after the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: Aggregated case reports of all known suicide victims attending elementary, middle, and high school in South Korea from 2017 to 2022 were analyzed. These reports, compiled by teachers under the directive of the South Korean Department of Education, surveyed the circumstances surrounding each suicide and identified associated risk factors posthumously. Results: The completed suicide rate was 2.37 per 100,000 students pre-COVID-19 (2017–2019), significantly increasing to 3.37 per 100,000 students post-COVID-19 (2020–2022; odds ratio [OR] 1.42, p<0.001). The rate began to rise approximately 6 months into the pandemic and continued to worsen throughout 2021 and 2022. Fair attendance significantly increased in 2020 (74.83%, p=0.003) during the initial stage of school closure measures compared to 2019 (58.27%) among students prior to suicide completion. However, as social distancing measures continued, “absence due to medical reasons” showed a significant increase in 2022 (23.56%) compared to 2019 (13.67%, p=0.025) and 2020 (9.52%, p<0.001) among these students. Among those who completed suicide, teachers reported increased signs of depression and anxiety posthumously compared to pre-COVID-19 periods. Conclusion The incidence of completed suicide among students was significantly higher in the post-COVID-19 years compared to pre-COVID-19. Attendance records and teachers’ reports indicated a deterioration in mental health among these students before suicide completion, highlighting the need to consider mental health impacts when implementing future quarantine policies.