Lateral orbitofrontal gray matter abnormalities in subjects with problematic smartphone use.

Background And Aims: Smartphone use is becoming commonplace and exerting adequate control over smartphone use has become an important mental health issue. Little is known about the neurobiology underlying problematic smartphone use. We hypothesized that structural abnormalities in the fronto-cingulate brain region could be implicated in problematic smartphone use, similar to that has been reported for Internet gaming disorder and Internet addiction.

Comparing the Effectiveness and Safety of the Addition of and Switching to Aripiprazole for Resolving Antipsychotic-Induced Hyperprolactinemia: A Multicenter, Open-Label, Prospective Study.

Objectives: Hyperprolactinemia is an important but often overlooked adverse effect of antipsychotics. Several studies have shown that switching to or adding aripiprazole normalizes antipsychotic-induced hyperprolactinemia. However, no study has directly compared the effectiveness and safety of the 2 strategies.

Incidence and risk factors for psychiatric comorbidity among people newly diagnosed with cancer based on Korean national registry data.

Objective: The present study investigates the incidence of psychiatric disorders, related risk factors, and the use of mental health services among people newly diagnosed with one of five major cancers (stomach, liver, colorectal, lung, and breast cancer) based on national registry data from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) in the Korean population.

Methods: We collected data on people newly diagnosed with one of the five major cancers between 2005 and 2008 using the nationwide claims data and cancer registration files of the NHIS. We analyzed the data of those diagnosed with psychiatric disorders over a 5-year period, from 2004 to 2009.

Epitope-specific regulation of memory programming by differential duration of antigen presentation to influenza-specific CD8(+) T cells.

Memory CD8(+) T cells are programmed during the primary response for robust secondary responsiveness. Here we show that CD8(+) T cells responding to different epitopes of influenza virus received qualitatively different signals during the primary response that altered their secondary responsiveness. Nucleoprotein (NP)-specific CD8(+) T cells encountered antigen on CD40-licensed, CD70-expressing, CD103(-)CD11b(hi) dendritic cells (DCs) at later times in the primary response.

The epidemiology of psychiatric disorders among women with breast cancer in South Korea: analysis of national registry data.

Objective: Population-based data on the epidemiology of psychiatric disorders in patients with breast cancer are lacking. Because the National Health Insurance (NHI) Program in South Korea is a compulsory social insurance system covering the entire Korean population, the NHI is a good source of information for epidemiological studies. In the present study, we examined the incidence of psychiatric disorders among Korean women newly diagnosed with breast cancer using the NHI Corporation (NHIC) database.

Silicosis caused by chronic inhalation of snail shell powder.

A 70-yr-old woman visited our hospital for shortness of breath. Chest CT showed ground glass opacity and traction bronchiectasis at right middle, lower lobe and left lingular division. Video-assisted thoracic surgical biopsy at right lower lobe and pathologic examination revealed mixed dust pneumoconiosis.

Identification of a unique double-negative regulatory T-cell population.

Regulatory T (Treg) cells represent one of the main mechanisms of regulating self-reactive immune cells. Treg cells are thought to play a role in down-regulating immune responses to self or allogeneic antigens in the periphery. Although the function of Treg cells has been demonstrated in many experimental settings, the precise mechanisms and antigen specificity often remain unclear.

Use of hepadnavirus core proteins as vaccine platforms.

The first virus-like particle to be tested for use as a vaccine carrier was based on the hepatitis B virus nucleocapsid protein. This viral subunit, while not infectious on its own, is a 36-nm particle that is highly immunogenic during a natural infection. The self-assembly and high degree of immunogenicity is maintained when expressed as a recombinant protein and, moreover, can confer a high degree of immunogenicity on foreign antigens linked to the particle, either chemically or genetically.

Interaction of the hepatitis B core antigen and the innate immune system.

Previous studies demonstrated that the primary APCs for the hepatitis B core Ag (HBcAg) were B cells and not dendritic cells (DC). We now report that splenic B1a and B1b cells more efficiently present soluble HBcAg to naive CD4(+) T cells than splenic B2 cells. This was demonstrated by direct HBcAg-biotin-binding studies and by HBcAg-specific T cell activation in vitro in cultures of naive HBcAg-specific T cells and resting B cell subpopulations.

CD28 and inducible costimulator (ICOS) signalling can sustain CD154 expression on activated T cells.

The biological outcome of receptor-mediated signalling often depends on the duration of engagement. Because CD40 signalling is controlled by the regulated expression of its ligand, CD154, the mechanisms that regulate CD154 expression probably determine the strength and duration of CD40 signalling. Here, we demonstrate that CD154 expression on the surface of mouse CD4 T cells can be separated into an early phase, occurring between 0 and 24 hr after T-cell activation, and a later extended phase, occurring after 24 hr.

A mechanism to explain the selection of the hepatitis e antigen-negative mutant during chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) expresses two structural forms of the nucleoprotein, the intracellular nucleocapsid (hepatitis core antigen [HBcAg]) and the secreted nonparticulate form (hepatitis e antigen [HBeAg]). The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of HBcAg- and HBeAg-specific genetic immunogens to induce HBc/HBeAg-specific CD4(+)/CD8(+) T-cell immune responses and the potential to induce liver injury in HBV-transgenic (Tg) mice. Both the HBcAg- and HBeAg-specific plasmids primed comparable immune responses.

Advantages to the use of rodent hepadnavirus core proteins as vaccine platforms.

The hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) has been proposed as a useful particulate carrier platform for poorly immunogenic peptidic and carbohydrate B cell epitopes. However, biochemical and immunologic impediments have plagued this technology. Specifically, the "assembly" problem characterized by the low yield of unstable hybrid particles resulting from the insertion of foreign sequences and the "pre-existing immunity" problem due to the fact that the HBcAg is derived from a human pathogen have limited the development of this carrier technology.

Differences of photographs inducing craving between alcoholics and non-alcoholics.

Many researchers have used cue reactivity paradigm to study alcohol craving. But the difference of craving response to drinks between alcoholic patients and social drinkers was little evaluated. To investigate characteristics of alcohol-related visual cues which induce alcohol craving in alcoholism, we examined the response of subjects to alcohol-related cues considering qualitative aspects.

CD4 T cell-independent antibody response promotes resolution of primary influenza infection and helps to prevent reinfection.

It is generally believed that the production of influenza-specific IgG in response to viral infection is dependent on CD4 T cells. However, we previously observed that CD40-deficient mice generate influenza-specific IgG during a primary infection, suggesting that influenza infection may elicit IgG responses independently of CD4 T cell help. In the present study, we tested this hypothesis and show that mice lacking CD40 or CD4 T cells produce detectable titers of influenza-specific IgG and recover from influenza infection in a manner similar to that of normal mice.

Increased P3 amplitudes induced by alcohol-related pictures in patients with alcohol dependence.

Background: Alcohol craving, a key element in alcohol dependence, is recognized as being a kind of motivational or emotional state. It is meaningful in research and clinical practice involving alcohol dependence to explore ways of measuring alcohol craving. The aim of this study was to measure the P3 event-related potentials induced by alcohol-related pictures in patients with alcohol dependence; these potentials are considered to constitute a neuronal correlate of alcohol craving.

CD40-deficient, influenza-specific CD8 memory T cells develop and function normally in a CD40-sufficient environment.

Two models have been proposed to explain the requirement for CD40 signaling in CD8 T cell responses. The first model suggests that CD4 T cells activate antigen-presenting cells (APCs) through CD40 signaling (APC licensing). In turn, licensed APCs are able to prime naive CD8 T cells.

CD40, but not CD154, expression on B cells is necessary for optimal primary B cell responses.

CD40 is an important costimulatory molecule for B cells as well as dendritic cells, monocytes, and other APCs. The ligand for CD40, CD154, is expressed on activated T cells, NK cells, mast cells, basophils, and even activated B cells. Although both CD40(-/-) and CD154(-/-) mice have impaired ability to isotype switch, form germinal centers, make memory B cells, and produce Ab, it is not entirely clear whether these defects are intrinsic to B cells, to other APCs, or to T cells.

[A case of inflammatory pseudotumor of the spleen].

Inflammatory pseudotumor is a benign disease, which is histologically composed of the inflammatory cells such as mature lymphocytes, plasma cells, and histiocytes. It usually occurs in the respiratory system, liver, central nervous system, and gastrointestinal tracts. However, inflammatory pseudotumor rarely occurs in the spleen.

Lymphotoxin-alpha-deficient mice make delayed, but effective, T and B cell responses to influenza.

Lymphotoxin-alpha(-/-) (LTalpha(-/-)) mice are thought to be unable to generate effective T and B cell responses. This is attributed to the lack of lymph nodes and the disrupted splenic architecture of these mice. However, despite these defects we found that LTalpha(-/-) mice could survive infection with a virulent influenza A virus.

The biological outcome of CD40 signaling is dependent on the duration of CD40 ligand expression: reciprocal regulation by interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-12.

CD40 ligand (CD154) expression on activated T cells can be separated into an early TCR-dependent phase, which occurs between 0 and 24 h after activation, and a later extended phase, which occurs after 24 h and is reciprocally regulated by the cytokines IL-4 and IL-12. IL-4 represses, whereas IL-12 sustains CD154 expression. Consistent with this, Th1, but not Th2, cells express CD154 for extended periods.