Relationship between Savant Skills and Autistic Symptoms in Korean Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to examine the prevalence and characteristics of savant skills and the relationship between the savant skills and autistic symptoms in Korean ASD children. METHODS: 141 ASD subjects participated in this study and they were divided in to two groups based on the presence or lack of savant skills. The domain scores and total scores of the K-ADI-R, K-ASDS and SRS were used for evaluating the ASD symptoms between the groups. RESULTS: Memory (n=47) was the most prevalent savant skill in the savant ASD group (n=60). The savant ASD group had a statistically higher mean age and IQ score than did the nonsavant ASD group. Despite their high IQ profile, the savant ASD group showed a higher restricted, repetitive and stereotype behavior score on the K-ADI-R and higher language and cognitive scores on the K-ASDS than did the nonsavant ASD group. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest savant syndrome in ASD might be related to the severity of some subdomain of autistic symptoms even though their IQ scores were higher than nonsavant ASD patients.

Establishment of Korean Dietary Guidelines for Cancer Prevention

BACKGROUND: As a leading cause of death in Korea, cancer is known to be related to lifestyle including diet. In 2007, the World Cancer Research Fund announced 10 evidence-based guidelines for reducing the number of cancers. The purpose of this paper was to produce guidelines specific to and relevant to the people of Korea. METHODS: Ranging over 6 categories, 15 dietary factors known to be associated with cancers were selected after reviewing the results of relevant researches including Korean subjects and evidence-based research documents regarding the relationships between cancer and diet. The levels of intake of these selected dietary factors by Koreans were compared to the established dietary guidelines and detailed practices for cancer prevention. RESULTS: The Korean dietary guidelines for cancer prevention consists of 8 detailed recommendations along with multiple specific practices based on the analyses of data and documents on weight and intake of cereals, fruits, vegetables, meat, salt, dairy products, alcohol, and nutrient supplements. CONCLUSIONS: The Korean dietary guidelines for cancer prevention were established based on valid scientific approach by analyzing the most recent available data. For some dietary factors, however, sufficient analysis for intake levels in Koreans was not possible. Therefore, fundamental data for the establishment of national strategy and for guideline amendments for preventing cancers need to be gathered through the analyses of relationships between cause and deaths due to cancer, database reinforcement, additional research including Korean subjects, and assessment of usual intake.

Effects of Psychosocial Factors and the Genotypes of Aldehyde Dehydrogenase II and Tryptophan Hydroxylase on the Alcohol Use in Freshmen of a University / 대한정신약물학회지

OBJECTIVE: This study was done to investigate the genetic polymorphism of Aldehyde Dehydrogenase (ALDH) II and Tryptophan Hydroxylase (TPH) and examine effects of socio-demographic, psychological and genetic factors on the alcohol use in freshmen of a university in Korea. METHODS: ALDH II (N=534) and TPH (N=504) genotypes of 551 subjects were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism method. The severity of alcohol drinking was assessed by average alcohol use per drinking episode and frequency of drinking per month. Characteristics of alcohol related behaviors, socio-demographic information, and motives and expectancies of drinking in the subjects, were assessed by designed questionnaires and selfreport scales. RESULTS: The frequencies of NN, ND, and DD genotype of ALDH II (N=534) were 64.0%, 30.1%, and 5.8%, while those of AA, AC, and CC genotypes of TPH (N=504) were 31.7%, 48.4%, 19.8% respectively. The distribution of ALDH II genotypes was not correlated with that of TPH genotypes. Subjects with D (-) (NN) genotype showed more average alcohol use per drinking episode (chi2 trend=29.42, p=0.001) and higher severity index of alcohol drinking (F=9.36, df=2, p=0.000) compared with those with D (+) (ND or DD) genotypes. Subjects with D (-) genotype showed higher frequency of heavy drinking behavior (chi2 trend=5.25, p=0.022) and blackout episode (chi2 trend=17.84, p=0.001). Socio-demographic, psychological, and genetic factors seemed to contribute to the severity of alcohol drinking in the subjects. CONCLUSIONS: C allele of TPH genotypes is important in determining the severity of drinking in subjects with NN genotype of ALDH II. Social motive, gender, and D allele of ALDH II genotype are contributing factors to determine the severity of drinking in total subjects. D allele of ALDH II genotypes plays an important role in determining the severity and motives of drinking, and other alcoholrelated behaviors.