The Haemophilus influenzae HipBA toxin-antitoxin system adopts an unusual three-com-ponent regulatory mechanism.

Type II toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems encode two proteins: a toxin that inhibits cell growth and an antitoxin that neutralizes the toxin by direct inter-molecular protein-protein inter-actions. The bacterial HipBA TA system is implicated in persister formation. The Haemophilus influenzae HipBA TA system consists of a HipB antitoxin and a HipA toxin, the latter of which is split into two fragments, and here we investigate this novel three-com-ponent regulatory HipBA system. Structural and functional analysis revealed that HipAN corresponds to the N-ter-minal part of HipA from other bacteria and toxic HipAC is inactivated by HipAN, not HipB. This study will be helpful in understanding the detailed regulatory mechanism of the HipBAN+C system, as well as why it is constructed as a three-com-ponent system.

The Mental Effects on Child Actors in Playing a Role : Observations on Filming Sites and Interviews with Filming Personnel

This study was conducted to evaluate the psychological changes and influences of child actors depending on their role. First, we met the film producer of Dogani and discussed about the filming condition. Second, we visited filming locations during the filming of Neighborhood, when shooting of parts involving the female child actor was taking place and evaluated the emotional states of the child actor before and after she played her role. Third, we interviewed various people of the movie industry, which included adult actors, directors, a professor of films and broadcasting who was a former child actor and a scriptwriter. In case of the film Dogani, the production crew provided enough care and protection and we concluded that child actors had no psychological sequelae. After interviewing the child actor and visiting filming locations, we confirmed that the child actor was not influenced by playing certain roles. In addition, after interviewing various people related to filming, we thought that child actors might not have psychological sequelae related to the character played. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study about influences of the playing character for child actors. We concluded that playing certain roles would not have negative effects on child actors.

A Pilot Study of the Usefulness of Intelligence Test in Assessment of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

OBJECTIVES: We analyzed the usefulness of intelligence test in assessing attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHODS: The medical records of 312 patients with ADHD who visited the child psychiatry department in one university hospital in Seoul, Korea, were reviewed. Demographic data and scores on the Korean Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-III (K-WISC-III) and Korean-Conners' Parent Rating Scale (K-CPRS) were analyzed. To assess the relationship with comorbidities, ADHD subjects were classified as; externalizing disorders, internalizing disorders, tic disorders, and no comorbidities. RESULTS: Verbal intelligence quotient (VIQ) was significantly higher than performance IQ (PIQ)(102.6+/-14.44, 99.2+/-14.48, p<.001). Using mean scatter method, subtest scores such as 'information, similarities, digit span and coding' were significantly lower than mean scores of sum of subtests of VIQ or PIQ (p<.05). Regarding comorbidities, children with externalizing disorders exhibited. Lower scores on 'information and vocabulary' than other groups (p=.008). Children with no comorbidities exhibited higher scores on 'similarities and object assembly' than children with externalizing/internalizing disorders (p=.001) and also on 'comprehension' than children with externalizing disorders (p=.006). For subtypes of ADHD, children with hyperactive-impulsive type had higher scores on 'comprehension' than children with inattentive and combined type (p=.004). CONCLUSION: These results suggested that intelligence test might provide useful information for assessing ADHD.

A Pilot Study of the Usefulness of Intelligence Test in Assessment of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

OBJECTIVES: We analyzed the usefulness of intelligence test in assessing attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHODS: The medical records of 312 patients with ADHD who visited the child psychiatry department in one university hospital in Seoul, Korea, were reviewed. Demographic data and scores on the Korean Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-III (K-WISC-III) and Korean-Conners' Parent Rating Scale (K-CPRS) were analyzed. To assess the relationship with comorbidities, ADHD subjects were classified as; externalizing disorders, internalizing disorders, tic disorders, and no comorbidities. RESULTS: Verbal intelligence quotient (VIQ) was significantly higher than performance IQ (PIQ)(102.6+/-14.44, 99.2+/-14.48, p<.001). Using mean scatter method, subtest scores such as 'information, similarities, digit span and coding' were significantly lower than mean scores of sum of subtests of VIQ or PIQ (p<.05). Regarding comorbidities, children with externalizing disorders exhibited. Lower scores on 'information and vocabulary' than other groups (p=.008). Children with no comorbidities exhibited higher scores on 'similarities and object assembly' than children with externalizing/internalizing disorders (p=.001) and also on 'comprehension' than children with externalizing disorders (p=.006). For subtypes of ADHD, children with hyperactive-impulsive type had higher scores on 'comprehension' than children with inattentive and combined type (p=.004). CONCLUSION: These results suggested that intelligence test might provide useful information for assessing ADHD.

Efficacy of the Short Form of Mentalization Improvement Program for Adolescent (MIPAdo) for Enhancement of Mental Health in School Children

OBJECTIVES: We developed the short form of the Mentalization Improvement Program for Adolescent-Community Model (MIPAdo-CM-S), based on the concept of the mentalization. METHODS: The MIPAdo-CM was composed of 6 sessions and was applied to 133 students in the 1st grade of a middle school for six weeks during their regular school hours. After 6 weeks, we compared the endpoint changes of Adolescent Mental Problem Questionnaire-Revised (AMPQ-R), Emotional Empathy Test, Peer Aggression Scale, Peer Bullying Scale, School Adjustment Scale, Test Anxiety Inventory and Visual Analogue Scale between the subject and the control group. RESULTS: On the Visual Analoge Scale, students in the trial classes reported an increased understanding and respect for others, as well as themselves. CONCLUSION: The efficacy of MIPAdo-CM was subjective improvement of understanding and respect for both others and themselves. To prove objective usefulness of this program, further studies should be administered in the form of long-term, regular and structured courses.

Efficacy of the Mentalization Improvement Program for Adolescent (MIPAdo) for Enhancement of Mental Health in School Children

OBJECTIVES: Understanding the emotions, thoughts, feelings and behaviors of others, as well as oneself, is part of the mentalizing function. We developed a new school-based community model for mental health, called the Mentalization Improvement Program for Adolescent-Community Model (MIPAdo-CM), based on the concept of mentalization. METHODS: The MIPAdo-CM was composed of 12 sessions and was applied to 403 students in the 2nd grade of a middle school. Every session was conducted after the regular school hours for 6 weeks. After 6 weeks, we compared the endpoint changes of Adolescent Mental Problem Questionnaire-Revised (AMPQ-R), Emotional Empathy Test (EET), Peer Aggression Scale (PAS), Peer Bullying Scale (PBS), School Adjustment Scale (SAS), Test Anxiety Inventory (TAI) and Visual Analogue Scale between the subject and the control group. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between two groups in AMPQ-R, EET, PAS, PBS, SAS, and TAI. On the Visual Analoge Scale, however, students in the trial classes reported more increase in understanding and respect for both others and themselves. CONCLUSION: The efficacy of MIPAdo-CM was subjective improvement of understanding and respect for both others and themselves, erence between two groups in AMPQ-R, Empathy test, To prove objective usefulness of this program, further studies with more structured design will be needed.

A Clinical Review of Chemical Castration Against Sex Offenders for Children / 대한정신약물학회지

In the past, physical castration was adopted to punish sex offenders and prevent the recurrence of sexual crimes. However, it was abrogated because of human right issues and the irreversibility of fertility. Chemical castration of depot injection with hormones was introduced as an alternative method of physical castration. Antiandrogen is the most frequently used hormonal agents. Although there are several positive results such as changes of sexual behaviors and decrease of the recurrence rate of sexual crime after hormonal treatment, it also has serious limitations; difficulties in academic evaluation for control group and placebo effect; difficulties in the assessment of the therapeutic effect; and difficulties to decide the proper duration of treatment. Although the law for chemical castration to control sexual impulses in sex offenders was enforced since July, 2011 in Korea, there are not enough resources for treatment. We reviewed the appropriate references and suggested continuous long-term follow-up studies.

Possible Implications of Placental Expressions for Heat Shock Protein 70 and Lectin-like Oxidized Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-1 on Postnatal Blood Pressure in Their Newborns / 체질인류학회지

The 'fetal origin' hypothesis propose the alteration in fetal environment result in developmental adaptation, the permanently change in structure, physiology and metabolism, thereby predisposing to cardiovascular, metabolic and endocrine disease in adult life. Evidence is accumulating that the fetal environment affects newborn cardiac structure and function in humans, and blood pressure (BP) in newborn predicts the likelihood of developing hypertension in adult life. However, few studies have reported the influence of fetal factors on BP in neonates and an attempt to relate fetal factors to a neonate's BP seems to be important to identify individuals at risk of developing hypertension later in life. As the placenta is the regulator of nutrient composition and supply from mother to fetus and the source of hormonal signals that affect maternal and fetal metabolism, appropriate development of the placenta is crucial to normal fetal development. By virtue of these roles the placenta is in a key position to play a direct role in fetal programming. The aim of this study was to evaluate positive relationship between placental oxidative stress and BP in their healthy newborn offsprings, and propose to relate fetal factors to a neonatal BP. Systemic blood pressure was measured by automated device in 68 healthy term newborns who were born at Ewha Womans Medical Center, and their tissue samples of placentas were obtained from 40 cases which are 20 cases from high neonatal blood pressure group and 20 cases from low neonatal blood pressure group. We investigated placental expressions for heat shock protein (HSP) 70 and lectin-like oxidized low density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1), as markers for placental oxidative stress using immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis, and evaluated their association with BP in healthy term newborn babies. The mean values of placental LOX-1 and HSP 70 were significantly higher in newborns with high BP group compared to those with low BP group. Increase in placental oxidative stress was associated with higher newborn systolic blood pressure. These findings suggest that newborn blood pressure may represent prenatal influence on cardiac structure and function.