Analysis of the Status and Future Direction for Digital Therapeutics in Children and Adolescent Psychiatry

Digital therapeutics based on software, such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, games, and smartphone applications, are in the spotlight as new therapeutic alternatives in child and adolescent psychiatry. It draws attention to overcoming conventional therapeutics’ limitations, such as toxicity, cost, and accessibility, and encourages patients to participate in the treatment attractively. The growth potential of the digital therapeutics market for psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents in Korea and abroad has been highlighted. Clinical studies and Food and Drug Administration approvals for digital therapeutics have increased, and cases approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety have emerged in Korea. As seen above, digital transformation in child and adolescent psychiatry will change treatment paradigms significantly. Therefore, as this new field has just begun to emerge, it is necessary to verify the effectiveness and scope of the application of digital therapeutics and consider preparing a compensation system and institutional arrangements. Accordingly, this study analyzed the development trends and application status of digital therapeutics in children and adolescents and presented limitations and development directions from the perspective of application in healthcare. Further, the study is expected to identify the utility and limitations of digital therapeutics for children and adolescents and establish effective application measures.

Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids May Attenuate Streptozotocin-Induced Pancreatic beta-Cell Death via Autophagy Activation in Fat1 Transgenic Mice

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory factors and beta-cell dysfunction due to high-fat diets aggravate chronic diseases and their complications. However, omega-3 dietary fats have anti-inflammatory effects, and the involvement of autophagy in the etiology of diabetes has been reported. Therefore, we examined the protective effects of autophagy on diabetes using fat-1 transgenic mice with omega-3 self-synthesis capability. METHODS: Streptozotocin (STZ) administration induced beta-cell dysfunction in mice; blood glucose levels and water consumption were subsequently measured. Using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson's trichrome staining, we quantitatively assessed STZ-induced changes in the number, mass, and fibrosis of pancreatic islets in fat-1 and control mice. We identified the microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B light chain 3-immunoreactive puncta in beta-cells and quantified p62 levels in the pancreas of fat-1 and control mice. RESULTS: STZ-induced diabetic phenotypes, including hyperglycemia and polydipsia, were attenuated in fat-1 mice. Histological determination using H&E and Masson's trichrome staining revealed the protective effects of the fat-1 expression on cell death and the scarring of pancreatic islets after STZ injection. In the beta-cells of control mice, autophagy was abruptly activated after STZ treatment. Basal autophagy levels were elevated in fat-1 mice beta-cells, and this persisted after STZ treatment. Together with autophagosome detection, these results revealed that n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) enrichment might partly prevent the STZ-related pancreatic islet damage by upregulating the basal activity of autophagy and improving autophagic flux disturbance. CONCLUSION: Fat-1 transgenic mice with a n-3 PUFA self-synthesis capability exert protective effects against STZ-induced beta-cell death by activating autophagy in beta-cells.

Clinical Analysis of Electrical Burn Patients

BACKGROUND: Good documentation of electrical injuries at the time of presentation is very important to emergency management, so this study was designed to investigate the clinical characteristics and the outcomes of patients with electrical injury. METHODS: A review of 75 cases of electrical injuries admitted to our hospital via the emergency department over a 4 year period from 1996 to 1999 was conducted. RESULTS: There were 49 patients with high-voltage injuries and 19 patients with low-voltage injuries. All but 4 patients were males, with a mean age of 29.5 years. The most common type of injury was 14.5% TBSA in the high-voltage group and 2.5% in the low-voltage group. Forty-nine(72.1%) of the injuries were work related. The number of patient with compartment syndrome was 19, and fasciotomies were performed in all but one patient. Myoglobinuria was noted in 22 patients, but no patient developed acute renal failure due to myoglobinuria. In the high-voltage group, 10 limb amputations were performed. Complication were observed in 12 patients. The most common complication was neurological injury. The average length of hospital stay was 50.7 days in the high-voltage group and 13.8 days in the low-voltage group. The overall mortality rate was 4.3%. CONCLUSION: Prevention of electrical injuries is very important. Education and compliance with safety measures, as well as basic knowledge and precaution in dealing with electricity, are essential to avoid these injuries.

A Preliminary Survey of Emergency Medicine in 12 Asian Countries

BACKGROUND: To assess the current level of development of emergency medicine (EM) systems in Asia. METHOD: Survey of EM professionals from 12 Asian countries during a 90-day period from August to November 1998. 12 EM professionals from 12 Asian countries completed the survey. All participants were physicians. 7 participants (58%) gave presentations at an international EM conference during the study period. Respondents completed a 103 question questionnaire about the status of EM specialty, academic, patient care, information and management systems and the factors influencing the future of EM in their countries. RESULTS: 92% of respondents stated that their countries have hospital-based emergency departments (ED). More than 80% of respondents reported that their countries have EMS systems and ED systems for trauma care and patient transfer. More than 70% stated that their countries have national EM organizations, EM research, national EMS activation phone numbers, ED systems for pediatric emergency care, emergency physician (EP) training in ACLS and ATLS and peer review. More than 60% reported official recognition of EM as an independent specialty status, ED triage systems and systems for customer service. More than 50% reported EM residency training programs, EM journals and EP ability to perform rapid sequence intubation (RSI). 50% reported EP ability to perform thrombolysis for acute MI and 33% reported EP ultrasonography. 92% felt that a lack of funding posed a moderate or great obstacle to the future development of EM in their countries. CONCLUSION: Many essential systems of EM now exist throughout Asia. In the systems of administration and emergency medical information in many countries, there are some parts to be developed further.

A Clinical Review of Intussusception of Infancy and Childhood in Emergency Department

Intussusception is a condition of invagination of the proximal segment of bowel into the more distal receiving bowel. Intussusception is one of the common pediatric and surgical emergencies of infancy and childhood in Korea. Intussusception is the most common cause of acquired intestinal obstruction in infancy and childhood, and it needs emergency treatment. 1) On the age and sex distribution, the age under 15 month was the most common(70.6%), and the peak incidence was 3-12 months of age(60.1%). In sex distribution, male to female ratio was 1.25:1. 2) The seasonal distribution was summer(27.4%), spring, autumn and winter in order of frequency. 3) As to the etiology of Intussusception treated by surgery, idiopathic was the most common(75%). 4) The cardinal symptoms and signs were vomiting(72.5%), bloody or bloody mucoid stool(57.5%), abdominal pain(49.7%), abdominal distention(20.9%), abdominal mass(19.6%) and others in order of frequency. 5) On the hematologic finding, 60.8% revealed leukocytosis above 10,000/mm3. 6) As to the duration from the onset of the symptom to admission, 84.2% was within 24 hours, 9.8% was from 24 hours to 48 hours, and 5% was over 48 hours. 7) The common anatomical types were ileocolic(73.2%), and ileocecal(17.0%). 8) The success rate of air reduction was 84.3%. 9) In the method of operation, manual reduction was performed in 91.7% and intestinal resection in 8.3%. 10) The recurrence rate after air reduction was 12.4% and after operative manual reduction was 8.3%.

Clinical review and evaluation of the blunt traumatic diaphragmatic injury

OBJECTIVE: Sixteen cases of blunt diaphragmatic injury were clinically reviewed during 10 years from Oct.1987 to Jun.1996 at the Kangdong sacred heart hospital. The age and sex distribution were ranged from 3 to 67-old-years. The most common age range was between third decades to fifth decades in 10 cases(62.50%) and occurred predominantly in male, the sex ratio was 4.3 : 1.(M:F 4.3:1) The modes of blunt diaphragmatic injury were due to motor vehicle accidents(MVA), motor cycle accidents(MCA), fall down(FD) and others. Most common injuries were responsible for MVA. MVA were pedestrian traffic accidents 5 cases (41.7%), driver 4 cases(33.3%) passenger 3 cases(25.0%). In the blunt diaphragmatic injury sites, the left-sided diaphragmatic injury had predominant[left-sided cases 10(62.50%), right-sided cases 6(37.50%)]. Cost common symptoms and signs were chest pain or chest discomfort(81.25%) and dyspnea(68.75%), abdominal tenderness(50.00%), decreased bowel sound and breath sound(50.00%) and others. All of 16 cases in blunt diaphragmatic injury were associated with other injuries. The associated injuries were hemopneumothorax 14(87.50%), hemoperitoneum 7(43.759o), liver injury 7(43.75%), orthopedics fracture 14(87.50%), head injury 5(31.25%) and others. The diagnostic methods were used with simple x-ray, ultrasonogram and computed tomogram. The preoperative diagnosis of blunt diaphragmatic injury were suggested in 10 cases(62.509o) and others were confirmed during operation. The thirteen cases of all of sixteen cases were performed emergency operation within eight hours. The herniated intraabdominal organs through ruptured diaphragm were presented in 10cases(62.5%) [stomach 7 cases(43.75%), spleen 6 cases(37.50%), colon 3 cases(18.75%), liver 3 cases(18.75%), small bowel and omentum 2 cases(12.50%), respectively]. The mean size of blunt diaphragmatic injury were 7.7cm, right-sided mean size were 9cm, left-sided mean size were 6.9cm. The most common site of blunt diaphragm- atic injury were presented in anteromedial site 7 cases(43.75%). Simple chest x-ray revealed abnormal finding [hemothorax 10cases(62.50%), pneumothorax 4cases(25.00%), herniated organ into thorax8 cases(50.00%), diaphragm elevation 3 cases(18.75%) and others]. The postoperative complication were associated in 10 cases(62.50%) out of 16 cases. Common complications were pleural effusion 6 cases(37.50%) and atelectasis 3 cases(18.75%). Injury severity score(ISS) value of 16 cases in the blunt trauma ranged from 10 to 59. It was presented with mean value of ISS(35.5),mean value of ISS survivors(35) and nonsurvivors(55.5). Revised trauma score(RTS) value ranged also from 4 to 12. There were revealed with mean value of RTS(9.7),mean value of RTS survivors(10) and nonsurvivors(6.5). All of the blunt traumatic injury, mortality rate was related to the values of ISS and RTS.