Publications by authors named "Bung-Nyun Kim"

Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), specifically phthalates, bisphenol A, bisphenol F, and bisphenol S, and the severity of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms using neuropsychological tests in children diagnosed with ADHD.

Methods: This study included 67 medication-naïve children with ADHD aged 6-16 years. The urinary concentrations of EDCs were measured, and ADHD symptom severity was evaluated using neuropsychological tests and clinical symptom scale measurements.

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  • A study examined how early life exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen dioxide (NO) affects thyroid function in children, focusing on their levels of thyrotropin, triiodothyronine, and free thyroxine.
  • Results indicated that increases in PM exposure during the first trimester were linked to lower thyrotropin levels in children at ages 4 and 6.
  • Conversely, childhood PM exposure was positively associated with higher thyrotropin levels at ages 4 and 6 and negatively related to free thyroxine levels at age 8, suggesting the importance of timing in understanding these effects.
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  • The study investigates how exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) during pregnancy and childhood affects early breast development (thelarche) in girls, specifically before age 8.
  • Researchers analyzed data from 211 girls, focusing on chemicals like cadmium, lead, mercury, bisphenol-A (BPA), and others from prenatal samples and assessed breast development through Tanner staging.
  • Results revealed that higher prenatal exposure to cadmium increased the likelihood of early thelarche, while prenatal exposure to BPA appeared to lower this risk; however, no significant associations were found with chemical exposures at age 8.
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Background: This study investigated the association of prenatal and early childhood exposure to air pollution with epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) at six years of age using the Environment and Development of Children Cohort (EDC Cohort) MATERIALS & METHODS: Air pollution, including particulate matter [< 2.5 µm (PM) and < 10 µm (PM) in an aerodynamic diameter], nitrogen dioxide (NO), ozone (O), carbon monoxide (CO), and sulfur dioxide (SO) were estimated based on the residential address for two periods: 1) during the whole pregnancy, and 2) for one year before the follow-up in children at six years of age. The methylation levels in whole blood at six years of age were measured, and the methylation clocks, including Horvath's clock, Horvath's skin and blood clock, PedBE, and Wu's clock, were estimated.

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With the global increase in life expectancy, there has been a rise in the incidence of cognitive impairments attributed to diverse etiologies. Notably, approximately 50% of individuals diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) progress to dementia within 3 years. However, the precise mechanisms underlying MCI remain elusive.

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This study utilized arterial spin labeling-magnetic resonance imaging (ASL-MRI) to explore the developmental trajectory of brain activity associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Pulsed arterial spin labeling (ASL) data were acquired from 157 children with ADHD and 109 children in a control group, all aged 6-12 years old. Participants were categorized into the age groups of 6-7, 8-9, and 10-12, after which comparisons were performed between each age group for ASL analysis of cerebral blood flow (CBF).

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  • The study examines how brain structure in preterm infants predicts their neurodevelopmental outcomes at 2 years old, focusing on extremely preterm (EP) and very-to-late preterm (V-LP) groups.
  • Using MRI and advanced machine learning techniques, researchers identified local connectivity features as key indicators of cognitive, motor, and language scores in these infants.
  • Findings emphasize the importance of these structural features in forecasting development, showcasing machine learning's potential to inform early interventions based on brain microstructure changes.
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  • Bisphenol S (BPS) and Bisphenol F (BPF), substitutes for the endocrine disruptor Bisphenol A (BPA), were studied for their effects on children's body composition and hormone levels.
  • In a cohort of 561 children aged 6 and 8, higher urinary levels of BPS and BPF were linked to increased BMI, fat mass, and altered serum adipokine levels, specifically lower adiponectin and higher leptin.
  • The study concludes that exposure to BPS and BPF may have negative impacts on children's obesity-related measures, raising concerns over the safety of these BPA substitutes.
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Aberrant intrinsic brain networks are consistently observed in individuals with autism spectrum disorder. However, studies examining the strength of functional connectivity across brain regions have yielded conflicting results. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the functional connectivity of the resting brain in children with low-functioning autism, including during the early developmental stages.

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Objective: : To examine the effect of mobile neurofeedback training on the clinical symptoms, attention abilities, and execution functions of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Methods: : The participants were 74 children with ADHD aged 8-15 years who visited the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Seoul National University Children's Hospital. The participants were randomly assigned to the mobile neurofeedback (n = 35) or control (sham; n = 39) group.

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Under the Ministry of Health and Welfare of the Republic of Korea, the National Autism and Developmental Disorder Centers for people with developmental disabilities are gradually expanding. The headquarters of the National Autism and Developmental Disorder Center provides support for education, training, and research, and several centers have been effectively operating since 2020. This study aimed to provide practical recommendations and guidelines for specialists such as clinical psychologists, child psychiatrists, allied professionals, community workers, and related administrators.

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Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often encounter unique challenges when attempting to understand their children's challenging behaviors such as self-injury, aggression, noncompliance, and stereotypies. In this study, we aimed to analyze and clarify the definition of challenging behaviors in individuals with ASD, identify the variables associated with challenging behaviors, and determine the function of these behaviors. Systematic observation and data collection are crucial to understand the functions of specific behaviors exhibited by individuals with ASD based on their antecedents and consequences.

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Introduction: Since the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), public safety measures, including social distancing and school closures, have been implemented, precipitating psychological difficulties and heightened online activities for adolescents. However, studies examining the impact of the pandemic on adolescent mental health and their coping strategies in Asian countries are limited. Further, most studies have used survey measures to capture mental health challenges so far.

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Objective: Adequate iodine intake is essential for growing children, and thyroid volume (Tvol) is considered as an indicator of iodine status. We investigated Tvol and goiter using ultrasonography (US) and their association with iodine status in 228 6-year-old children living in Korea.

Methods: Iodine status was assessed using urine iodine concentration (UIC) and categorized as deficient (<100 μg/L), adequate (100-299 μg/L), mild excess (300-499 μg/L), moderate excess (500-999 μg/L), and severe excess (≥1000 μg/L).

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Objective: : Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder in children and adults characterized by cognitive and emotional self-control deficiencies. Previous functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) studies found significant group differences between ADHD children and healthy controls during cognitive flexibility tasks in several brain regions. This study aims to apply a machine learning approach to identify medication-naive ADHD patients and healthy control (HC) groups using task-based fNIRS data.

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  • The study evaluated the current status of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (JKACAP) and proposed strategies for its improvement.
  • It used a questionnaire to gather insights from members, focusing on factors such as journal accessibility, English conversion impact, and the journal's recognition as an international publication.
  • Findings showed that while access methods and manuscript interest were positive, there is a need for better digital presence, support for authors, and efforts to achieve SCIE indexing to enhance the journal's international status.
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Background: Mindfulness-based training programs have consistently shown efficacy in stress reduction. However, questions regarding the optimal duration and most effective delivery methods remain.

Objective: This research explores a 4-week neurofeedback-assisted mindfulness training for employees via a mobile app.

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Objective: Atomoxetine and fluoxetine are psychopharmacologic agents associated with loss of appetite and weight. Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is the cellular energy sensor that regulate metabolism and energy, being activated by fasting and inhibited by feeding in the hypothalamus.

Methods: Human brain cell lines (SH-SY5Y and U-87 MG cells) were used to study the outcome of atomoxetine and fluoxetine treatment in the activity of AMPK-acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC)- carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 (CPT1) pathway and upstream regulation by calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase kinase β (CaMKKβ) using immunoblotting and CPT1 enzymatic activity measures.

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There is evidence that exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. Previous studies have focused on prenatal exposure to PFAS, and only few studies have examined the associations of early-childhood exposure, especially at low exposure levels. This study explored the association between early-childhood exposure to PFAS and ADHD symptoms later in childhood.

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Importance: Postnatal growth may be associated with longitudinal brain development in children born preterm.

Objective: To compare brain microstructure and functional connectivity strength with cognitive outcomes in association with postnatal growth among early school-aged children born preterm with extremely low birth weight.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This single-center cohort study prospectively enrolled 38 children 6 to 8 years of age born preterm with extremely low birth weight: 21 with postnatal growth failure (PGF) and 17 without PGF.

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  • Iodine is vital for child development, and both iodine deficiency and excess can lead to thyroid issues, prompting a study on Korean children aged 6 to assess their iodine levels and thyroid function.
  • The research examined 439 children and found that 73.8% had excessive iodine levels, with a notable number suffering from low thyroid hormone levels associated with this excess.
  • The study concluded that while most children had higher iodine intake, it might negatively impact their thyroid health, highlighting the importance of balanced iodine consumption.
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Epigenetic influence plays a role in the association between exposure to air pollution and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); however, research regarding sulfur dioxide (SO) is scarce. Herein, we investigate the associations between prenatal SO exposure and ADHD rating scale (ARS) at ages 4, 6 and 8 years repeatedly in a mother-child cohort (n = 329). Whole blood samples were obtained at ages 2 and 6 years, and genome-wide DNA methylation (DNAm) was analyzed for 51 children using the Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation BeadChip.

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There are three presentations of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): the predominantly inattention (ADHD-PI), predominantly hyperactive-impulsive (ADHD-HI), and combined (ADHD-C) presentations of ADHD. These may represent distinct childhood-onset neurobehavioral disorders with separate etiologies. ADHD diagnoses are behaviorally based, so investigations into potential etiologies should be founded on behavior.

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