• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.71-84
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was performed to assess the benefits of Alcoholics anonymous program for anxiety and depression of alcoholics. And we investigate Sasang constitution in Alcoholics Anonymous(A.A.) members to study relation between alcoholic and constitution. Methods : 21 members of A.A. groups in korea who agreed to the purpose of this study were selected. We evaluated anxiety by BAl, depression by BDI-II and sasang constitution by QSCCII+. Results : The research result is as follows. 1. Eighteens of 21 A.A. members are men and the rest are women. First alcohol drinking age(mean) is 15. Getting alcohol drunk age(mean) is 20.9. 2. The duration of alcohol drinking before A.A. participation(mean) is 20.2 years. The duration of giving up drinking after A.A. participation(mean) is 26.5 months. 3. A.A. program significantly reduced anxiety of A.A. members from 10.43${\pm}$1.37(mean${\pm}$S.E.)(light anxiety) to 6.86${\pm}$1.24(normal). 4. A.A. program significantly reduced depression of A.A. members from 4.14${\pm}$1.14(mean${\pm}$S.E)(normal) to 2.33${\pm}$0.75(normal) in the statistics, but it does not have the meaning clinically. 5. Sasang constitution classification result was Taeum group 10 people(47.6%), Soyang group 9 people(42.9%), Soeum group 2peopleC9.5%), Taeyang group 0 people(0%), Taeum group and Soyang group were relatively more than Soeum group. Conclusions : Participation in the A.A. program reduce anxiety and depression of A.A. members. This research provide data on positive effect of A.A. program and may prove that the self-help program(A.A.) can help to maintain long term sobriety and improve the quality of life of its members.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.64-73
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• 2000

There are several candidate genes in genetic study of alcoholism. Among them, allelic associations have been reported between MAOA CA repeat polymorphism and alcohol dependence, recently. And also, several studies have been investigated genotype-phenotype relationships between MAOA CA repeat polymorphism and clinical manifestations. The authors tried to identify differences in allelic frequency of MAOA CA repeat polymorphism between alcohol dependence and controls, and in behavioral trait and clinical characteristics according to MAOA CA repeat polymorphism. We also tried to investigate genotype-phenotype relationships between MAOA CA repeat polymorphism and behavioral trait such as aggression. We examined 49 male patients with alcohol dependence(DSM-IV) who had been admitted in Yong-In Mental Hospital from June 1st 1998 to October 31th 1998. We performed semistructured interview for demographic and clinical characteristics. Self-report questionnaire for BDHI(Buss-Durkey Hostility Inventory) was given to all subject at least 4weeks later after admission. Using polymerase chain reaction and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, MAOA CA repeat polymorphism were observed in 52 male controls and 49 male patients with alcohol dependence. We devided alcoholic patients into two groups according to allelic length of MAOA CA repeat polymorphism ; alcoholics with short alleles(${\leq}$119bp, N=20) and alcoholics with long alleles(${\geq}$123bp, N=29). T-test, ${\chi}^2$-test and Fisher exact probability test were used for statistical analysis. There were no significant differences in frequency of each allele and short and long alleles of MAOA CA repeat polymorphism between alcoholics and controls. But there were significant differences in clinical symptoms and behavioral trait between alcoholics with short and long alleles. In clinical symptoms, alcoholics with long alleles used alcohol more frequently during one month before admission, had much more maximum amount of beer drinking and reported withdrawal seizure more frequently than with short alleles. In contrary, alcoholics with short alleles expressed depressed mood and guilty feeling more frequently and wanted complete abstinence as a treatment goal more frequently than with long alleles. In behavioral trait, alcoholics with long alleles had higher total aggression score and showed much more self-assertive attitude(subscale of expression of aggression) than with short alleles. Allelic length of MAOA CA repeat polymorphism was correlated with self-assertive attitude and accounted for 9% of the variance of self-assertive attitude. And also, predictable variables of allelic length of MAOA CA repeat polymorphism were drinking frequency and self-assertive attitude. Our findings suggest that MAOA CA repeat polymorphism may provide some behavior modifying role especially in self-assertive attitude and indirect symptom modifying role in Korean male alcoholics.

• BMB Reports
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.230-235
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• 1996

The interaction of ${\alpha}-ketoglutarate$ dehydrogenase complex (${\alpha}-KGDC$) with a hydrophobic fluorescent probe [1,1'-bi(4-aniline)naphthalene-5,5'-disulfonic acid] (bis-ANS) was studied. The punfied ${\alpha}-KGDC$ was potently inhibited by bis-ANS with an apparent half maximal inhibitory concentration ($IC_{50}$) of 9.8 ${\mu}m$ at pH 8.0. The catalytic activities of both the E1o and E2o subunits were predominantly inhibited while that of the E3 component was hardly affected. The binding of bis-ANS to the enzyme caused a marked enhancement and blue shift from 523 nm to 482 nm in the fluorescence emission spectrum. The dissociation constant ($K_d$) and the number of binding sites (n) were calculated to be 0.87 mM and 158, respectively. Allosteric regulators such as purine nucleotides and divalent cations further increased the fluorescence intensity of the $bis-ANS-{\alpha}-KGDC$ binary complex. These data suggest that the binding of these allosteric regulators to ${\alpha}-KGDC$ may cause the conformational changes in the enzyme and that bis-ANS could be used as a valuable probe to study the interaction of the multi-enzyme complex and its allosteric regulators.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.234-239
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• 2012

Objective : Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is a typical disease that is encountered frequently in neurosurgical practice. The medications which could cause coagulopathies were known as one of the risk factors of CSDH, such as anticoagulants (ACs) and antiplatelet agents (APs). Recently, the number of patients who are treated with ACs/APs is increasing, especially in the elderly population. With widespread use of these drugs, there is a need to study the changes in risk factors of CSDH patients. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed 290 CSDH patients who underwent surgery at our institute between 1996 and 2010. We classified them into three groups according to the time of presentation (Group A : the remote period group, 1996-2000, Group B : the past period group, 2001-2005, and Group C : the recent period group, 2006-2010). Also, we performed the comparative analysis of independent risk factors between three groups. Results : Among the 290 patients, Group A included 71 patients (24.5%), Group B included 98 patients (33.8%) and Group C included 121 patients (41.7%). Three patients (4.2%) in Group A had a history of receiving ACs/APs, 8 patients (8.2%) in Group B, and 19 patients (15.7%) in Group C. Other factors such as head trauma, alcoholism, epilepsy, previous neurosurgery and underlying disease having bleeding tendency were also evaluated. In ACs/APs related cause of CSDH in Group C, significantly less proportion of the patients are associated with trauma or alcohol compared to the non-medication group. Conclusion : In this study, the authors concluded that ACs/APs have more importance as a risk factor of CSDH in the recent period compared to the past. Therefore, doctors should prescribe these medications carefully balancing the potential risk and benefit.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.28-30
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• 2013

A 66-year-old male with chronic alcoholism presented with tremor, gait disturbance, memory impairment, insomnia, decreased appetite, and confusion. The patient had been taking lithium daily for treatment of bipolar disorder. Brain CT showed no specific abnormality, and serum lithium and ammonia levels were 3.63 mEq/L (therapeutic range, 0.6~1.2 mEq/L) and $85{\mu}g/dL$ (reference range: $19{\sim}54{\mu}g/dL$), respectively. Therefore, the initial differential diagnosis included chronic lithium intoxication, hepatic encephalopathy, Wernicke encephalopathy, or alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Even with the provision of adequate hydration, the patient's neurologic status did not show improvement, so that lactulose enema, thiamine replacement, and continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) were started on the third admission day. By the fifth admission day he had made a rapid neurologic recovery, and was discharged on the 20th admission day. Therefore, CVVHDF might be a treatment for patients with chronic lithium intoxication, because, even if serum lithium concentration is normal, lithium concentration in the brain may be different from that of the serum.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.218-236
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• 1995

The author studied prognostic indicators of sixty Korean male alcoholics in psychological, social and biological aspects who were divided into abstinent and drinking groups. Thirty patients were assigned to each group. They were controlled in age and sex. Both groups were compared in terms of the demographic characteristics, past drinking history, treatment history, famaily history, ego strength and personality factors differences and distribution of dopamine $D_2$ receptor gene Al allele. Also the author studied relation of clinical course, alcoholic family history and dopamine $D_2$ receptor gene Al allele in both groups. The results were as follows; 1) The abstinent group had higher rate of married state, higher economic status, longer education years and maintained more stable job than the drinking group. But made no differences in occupation and religion. 2) The abstinent group showed higher rate of living with family members than the drinking group, and wives and fellows of the alcoholics anonymous were important factors for maintenance of abstinence. Family loading and parent's characters were not different. 3) The abstinent group had longer maximal length of abstinence but mean amount of alcohol consumption per day were larger than the drinking group. But there were no differences in duration of past drinking, drinking pattern, main drinking time, first drinking age and preference of the kind of alcoholic beverage in the past drinking history. 4) The abstinent group showed stronger treatment motivation, absolute abstinence in treatment goal, more voluntary adimission and maintained longer therapeutic relationship otter discharge than the drinking group. But both groups showed negative attitude toward antabuse therapy. 5) The abstinent group had higher mean score in ego strength scale than the drinking group. 6) In the personality factor questionnaire, the abstinent group showed strong laugh poise and the trait of praxernia, conservatism personality but the drinking group showed tough poise, the trait of weak ego strength(unstableness) and tough mindedness personality. 7) In comparision of dopamine $D_2$ receptor gene A1 allele, the prevalence of A1 allele was seventy percent and the frequency was 0.38 in the abstinent group. The prevalence of A1 allele was sixty percent and the frequency was 0.42 in the drinking group. Both groups were not significantly different in A1 allele prevalence and frequency. 8) In comparision of dopamine $D_2$ receptor gene A1 allele according to alcoholic family history, the prevalence of A1 allele was seventy percent and the frequency was 0.43 in the family history positive group. The prevalence of A1 allele was sixty-one percent and the frequency was 0.38 in the family history negative group. Both groups were not significantly different in A1 allele prevalence and frequency. In comparision of past drinking history according to alcoholic family history, the family history positive group showed earlier first drinking and problem drinking, but the family history negative group hod longer duration of past drinking. The mean amount of alcohol consumption per day, the longest duration of abstinence and Alcoholism Screening Test of Seoul Natoinal Mental Hospital(NAST) results were not significant. In conclusion, the results suggest that successful prognostic indicators of Korean alcoholics are married state, higher economic status, longer education years, stable job, living with family members, longer abstinence during past drinking history, strong treatment motivation, absolute abstinence in treatment goal, voluntary adimission, maintained therapeufic relationship, strong ego strength and the trait of praxernia, conservatism personality. But occupation, religion, alcoholic family history, parent's characters, duration of past drinking, drinking pattern, main drinking time, first drinking age, preference of the kind of alcoholic beverage, attitude to antabuse therapy and distribution of dopamine $D_2$ receptor A1 allele were not significantly related to the prognostic indicators of Korean alcoholics.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.34-45
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• 1998

We provide the reader with a brief introduction to the neurobiology of neuropeptides. Several comprehensive reviews of the distribution and neurochemical, neurophysiological, neuropharmacological and behavioral effects of the major neuropeptides have recently appeared. In reviews of the large number of neuropeptides in brain and their occurance in brain regions thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of major psychiatric disorders, investigators have sought to determine whether alternations in neuropeptide systems are associated with schizophrenia, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, alcoholism and neurodegenerative disease. There is no longer any doubt that neuropeptide-containing neurons are altered in several neuropsychiatric disorders. One of the factors that has hindered neuropeptide research to a considerable extent is the lack of pharmacological agents that specifically alter the synaptic availability of neuropeptides. With the exception of naloxone and naltrexone, the opiate-receptor antagonists, there are few available neuropeptide- receptor antagonists. Two independent classes of neuropeptide-receptor antagonists has been expected to be clinically useful. Naltrexone, a potent ${\mu}$-receptor antagonist, has been used successfully to reduce the need for alcohol consumption. And cholecycstokinin antagonists are now in development as a new class of anxiolytics, which would be expected to be free from tolerance and physical dependence and lack of sedation. In this review, we deal with these two kinds of neuropeptide system, the opioid system and cholesystokinins in the brain. The role of opioid systems in the reinforcement after alcohol consumtion and that of cholesystokinins in the pathogenesis of anxiety will be discussed briefly. As we know, the future for neuropeptides in psychiatry remains bright indeed.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.199-206
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• 1997

Object：The purpose of this study was to investigate frequency and risk factor of violence toward parents seen in adolescents. We also want to apply this data toward developing a prevention program for adolescent violence. Method：A total of 1,345 students from 5 middle schools in Seoul, participated in this study：675 males, 670 females. We administered self-reporting questionnaire including violence toward parents, exposure to violence, family history of alcoholism, substance abuse of adolescetnt and dermographic data etc. Result：The frequency of boys’ violence toward parent was 2.8%, which was significantly higher than girls’(p<0.001). The frequency of violence toward the father was higher than the mother. The risk factors for violence toward parents were sex, parental alcohol problem, adolescent alcohol-smoking-drug problem, exposure to violence at home in the last year and exposure to violence in the life(p<0.0001). The grade, punishment, socioeconomic status, educational level of parent were not significantly related to violence toward parents. Conclusion：These suggest that adolescent violence toward parents is not rare problem any more and preventive intervention is needed for high-risk groups, that is related with experience domestic violence, substance abuse, alcoholic parent.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.55-63
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• 2006

Alcoholism and alcohol abuse are major public health concerns. This is linked to the injury of many organs, especially liver. Experiments were peformed to know the acute effects of LeeKwaDoo (LKD) induced by two-third partial hepatectomy (PH) in rats. In liver samples, regeneration parameters and histological assessment were performed. For the blood biochemical study, the blood were assayed with AST, ALT. The portal branch of liver lobes was ligated in the male Sprague-Dowley rats, two-thirds partial hepatectomies were also performed. It was estimated bodyweight and relative liver weight for the index of liver mass. For the marker of blood chemistry, we investigate the serum sample of rats and demonstrated the level of AST, ALT. Remaining tissues of liver developed as microscopic structures. Resection of the lobes in PH+LKD group resulted in a marked change of liver weight, blood chemistry and histological changes. The initiation of the proliferative response in PH group stimulated as well as reduction of the liver mass. On the other hands, the Initiation of the proliferative response in PH+LKD group delayed. Eventually, both PH group and PH+LKD group was restored relative liver weigh after 7 day. In conclusion, the acute adminstration of LKD seems to inhibit the initial response of liver regeneration through alcohol effects.

• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.1069-1076
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• 2007

Cancer cells, characterized by local invasion and distant metastasis, are very much dependant on the extracellular matrix. The expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) has been implicated in the invasion and metastasis of cancer cells. In this study, we reported the effects of disulfiram, a clinically used anti-alcoholism drug, on tumor invasion suppression, as well as its effects on the activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in human osteosarcoma cells (U2OS). Disulfiram has been used for alcohol aversion therapy. However, recent reports have shown that disulfiram may have potential in the treatment of human cancers. Herewith, we showed that the anti-tumor effects of disulfiram, in an invasion assay using U2OS cells and that disulfiram has a type IV collagenase inhibitory activity that inhibits expression of genes and proteins responsible for both cell and non-cell mediated invasion on pathways. In conclusion, disulfiram inhibited expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and it regulated the invasion of human osteosarcoma cells. These observations raise the possibility of disulfiram being used clinical for the inhibition of cancer invasion.