• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.295-301
• /
• 2017

Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT/A) is a neurotoxin that selectively attacks the peripheral cholinergic nerve endings. It is produced by Gram -positive, endospore-forming strict anaerobic bacteria, Clostridium botulinum. Since BoNT/A could be a biothreat agent, as well as a contaminator of food and water supplies, the development of sensitive assays for toxin detection and potent antitoxin for the treatment of intoxication is necessary. In this study, for the purpose of producing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that are capable of neutralizing Botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A), scFv (single-chain variable domain fragment) libraries from the rabbit antisera against BoNT/A was fused to a human IgG. The resulting recombinant scFvIgG antibody protein was expressed in stable cell lines and was purified using a protein A affinity chromatography. The efficacy of scFvIgG mAb was confirmed by ELISA and was evaluated for the neutralization of BoNT/A in vivo. Such an in vivo toxin neutralization assay was performed using mice. Although scFvIgG antibody proteins (10 ug) failed to fully protect the mice challenged with BoNT/A (100,000 $LD_{50}$), it significantly prolonged the survival time. These results suggest that scFvIgG mAb may be capable of neutralizing BoNT/A single-chain variable domain fragment.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.717-748
• /
• 2022

This study was conducted to develop and validate the social media anxiety and anger scale(SAACS), which measures emotions, especially anxiety and anger that can be contagioned to individuals, through posts and comments on social conflicts in social media. A literature search was conducted on social conflicts in social media, 12 factors(anxiety and anger about gender, crime, generation, wealth gap, politics, region) were selected. Then questions were developed after looking into previous literature and reviewing community posts and comments, and 105 preliminary questions were selected. Following the results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis for people aged 20 to 39 age group, SAACS was revised to 12 factors(anxiety and anger about gender, crime, generation, wealth gap, politics, and region) and 48 questions. When verifying the validity, the SAACS had a significant level of correlation with the SNS addiction tendency scale, Rosenberg self-esteem scale, Korean aggression questionnaire(K-AQ), and the state-trait anxiety inventory(STAI-X). SAACS showed no significant correlation with Korean emotional contagion scale(K-ECS). Finally, based on the results, the implications of this study and suggestions for future studies were discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.74-89
• /
• 1995

Selective mutism is a childhood condition defined by persisten failure to speak in specific social situation when speaking is expected, dispite preserved ability to comprehend spoken language and speak. Present study is to investigate clinical characteristics, treatment method and outcome of 23 children who were diagnosed as selective mutism by DSM-IV criteria at the child psychiatry ouptatient department of SNUH. The results were as follows : 1) The Sex ratio was 1: 4.8, female dominant Mear age of onset was 33 years old and mean age of first referral was 7.7 years old. 2) 22% of subjects had perinatal problem such as low birth weight, preterm birth, 26% of the subjects have history of delayed language development. There are subjects who had been separated with mam caretaker before 3 years old(26%) and who experienced physical or psychological trauma before 3 years old(26%). A few subjects had enurests(30%) and encoprests(4%). 3) Many subjects(65%) had symbiotic relationship with their mother. These families consist of dominant, verbally aggressive mother and passive father. Parents of 39% of all subjects were judged to have definite psychopathology(social phobic, depression, hysterical trait or alcohol problem) 26% of all subject, were reported physically abused. 4) The personality trait of the subjects were frequently described as follows(in order of frequency) ; Shy(100%), anxious(83%), stubborn(83%)m rigid and tense posture(78%), immature(65%) overdependent(65%), irritable(52%), manipulative(39%), depressive(39%). 5) The mean performance IQ of 16 subjects by KEDI-WISC was 88.3 Among them, the subjects with IQ below 69 were seven and those with IQ above 70 were nine. When comparing these two group(Mental retardation group vs Normal IQ group), we could find some difference in language development, personality trait, family dynamics and treatment outcome. 6) Among several treatment methods for selective mutism, play therapy was the most frequently used method(65%). Other commonly used treatment methods were pharmacotherapy(21%), behavioral therapy(8%), combined therapy(play therapy+pharmacotherapy+family therapy+behavioral therapy)(12%), 7) Regarding the outcome of treatment 8.6% was evaluated as Excellent, 30.4% as Good, 52% as Fair, 8.7% as Poor at the tinic of treatment. At follow up interview 21.7% was evaluated Excellent, 13% as Good, 21.7% as Fair, 34.8% as Poor. 8) We classified all subjects by Havden's 4 subtype. Symbiotic mutism was most common(65%) and other subtypes are Speech phobic mutism(8.6), Reactive mutism(13%) and Passive-aggressive mutism(30%).