ABSTRACT
Purpose@#An inverse relationship between cancer and neurodegenerative disease, which presents the possibility of a reduced risk of dementia in cancer patients, has been suggested previously. However, a nationwide longitudinal population-based study of specific types of cancer with due consideration of treatment effects has not been conducted. @*Materials and Methods@#This nationwide population-based cohort study used data obtained in a 12-year period (January 2007- December 2018) in the Korean National Health Insurance claims database. All female breast cancer patients (age ≥ 50 years) diagnosed between 2009 and 2010 were included after excluding those with physician visits for any cancer during a 2-year period (2007-2008). Patients with senile cataract constituted the control group. The main study outcome was the risk of developing dementia. @*Results@#From a total of 90,396 and 85,906 patients with breast cancer and cataract, respectively, patients without behavior codes were excluded. Data for 15,407 breast cancer patients and 7,020 controls were analyzed before matching. After matching for comorbidities and age, either group comprised 2,252 patients. The median follow-up time was 104.1±24.0 months after matching. After matching, breast cancer was a predictor of a lower risk of for dementia (hazard ratio, 0.091; 95% confidence interval, 0.075 to 0.111; p < 0.001). In breast cancer patients, receiving chemotherapy and endocrine therapy did not significantly affect the incidence of dementia. @*Conclusion@#Breast cancer was associated with a remarkably decreased risk of dementia. The findings strongly suggest an inverse relationship between cancer and neurodegeneration, regardless of the adverse effects of cancer treatment on cognitive function.
ABSTRACT
Purpose@#The purpose of the present study was to identify the prevalence and clinical characteristics of borderline personality disorder (BPD) in South Korea using the Korean National Health Insurance database (DB). @*Materials and Methods@#We used the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS)’s research DB (NHIS-2021-1-790) from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2019, to make customized DB including sociodemographic information and absence or presence of BPD and other psychiatric disorders. The prevalence and the age of onset of BPD was estimated. To compare medical service utilization between the BPD group and the control group, a 1:1:1 propensity score matching was employed, and the regression analysis was conducted. @*Results@#The prevalence of BPD per 10000 people was 0.96 in 2010 and 1.06 in 2019. The prevalence ratio of males to females was 1:1.38 in 2010 and 1:1.65 in 2019, showing that BPD was more prevalent in females. The patients’ overall average age of onset was 33.19±14.6 years, with the highest prevalence shown in 8503 people in their 20s. By administrative district, the highest prevalence of BPD per 10000 people was shown in Seoul with 8.71 and the lowest in Jeollanam-do with 2.35. The BPD patients showed a pattern of extensive use of general and mental healthcare services. @*Conclusion@#This study identified the prevalence of BPD on a national DB set in South Korea. Although the prevalence of BPD in South Korea was relatively low compared to other countries, there was a steady increase in the number of BPD patients over a decade, which may be possibly due to an increased awareness of mental health and campaigns among healthcare providers and users in the country.
ABSTRACT
Objectives@#This study developed a battery test that allows a comprehensive evaluation of depressive symptoms and related protective-vulnerable factors to screen for depression and mental health and examined the reliability and validity of the test. @*Methods@#PROtective and Vulnerable factors battEry test (PROVE) consisting of five sub-sections was developed: depressive symptomatology (PROVE-DS), suicide risk (PROVE-SR), and three protective-vulnerable factors, which were adult attachment type (PROVE-ATT), adverse childhood experience (PROVE-ACE), and mentalization capacity (PROVE-MC). Two hundred and thirteen subjects completed the PROVE test and other comparative scales, and the analysis was carried out based on the data. @*Results@#The PROVE test showed good convergent, discriminant, and concurrent validity as well as adequate internal consistency. In addition, five sub-sections of the PROVE test showed significant relevance to each other. @*Conclusion@#The results of this study indicate that the PROVE test is a reliable and valid test, which will be useful for the prevention, evaluation, and treatment of depression in various clinical settings.
ABSTRACT
Objectives@#This study developed a battery test that allows a comprehensive evaluation of depressive symptoms and related protective-vulnerable factors to screen for depression and mental health and examined the reliability and validity of the test. @*Methods@#PROtective and Vulnerable factors battEry test (PROVE) consisting of five sub-sections was developed: depressive symptomatology (PROVE-DS), suicide risk (PROVE-SR), and three protective-vulnerable factors, which were adult attachment type (PROVE-ATT), adverse childhood experience (PROVE-ACE), and mentalization capacity (PROVE-MC). Two hundred and thirteen subjects completed the PROVE test and other comparative scales, and the analysis was carried out based on the data. @*Results@#The PROVE test showed good convergent, discriminant, and concurrent validity as well as adequate internal consistency. In addition, five sub-sections of the PROVE test showed significant relevance to each other. @*Conclusion@#The results of this study indicate that the PROVE test is a reliable and valid test, which will be useful for the prevention, evaluation, and treatment of depression in various clinical settings.
ABSTRACT
Purpose@#Little is known about the relationship between brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene polymorphisms and psychiatric symptoms in diabetes patients. We investigated the effects of BDNF Val/66/Met polymorphism, glucose status, psychological susceptibility, and resilience on anxiety and depression symptoms in patients newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). @*Materials and Methods@#We examined biochemical factors and BDNF polymorphism in 89 patients who were newly diagnosed with T2DM. Psychiatric symptoms were investigated with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the ConnorDavidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) and Impact of Event Scale (IES) were used to assess psychological resilience and susceptibility to psychological distress, respectively. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to investigate factors associated with psychiatric symptoms. @*Results@#We determined that 62 patients (70%) were Met-carriers. No significant differences were found between the Val/Val homozygous and Met-carrier groups regarding age, sex, body mass index, and clinical factors related to glycemic control and lipid profiles. HADS-anxiety and HADS-depression scores and IES factor scores were higher in the Met-carrier than the Val/Val homozygous group. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level was significantly inversely correlated with the severity of depressive symptoms. Resilience factors showed significant inverse correlations, and IES factors showed positive correlations with depressive symptom severity. In the logistic regression analysis model, depressive symptoms were significantly associated with HbA1c and BDNF polymorphism, whereas only the hyperarousal factor of the IES scale was associated with anxiety. @*Conclusion@#Depressive symptoms are associated with the presence of the Met-carriers and lower HbA1c in patients newly diagnosed with T2DM.
ABSTRACT
Objective@#Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has contributed to increase in the remission rate for patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, current rTMS treatment is practically inconvenient because it requires daily treatment sessions for several weeks. Accelerated rTMS treatment is as efficient and safe for MDD patients as conventional rTMS. @*Methods@#Fifty-one patients with MDD participated in this study; they were randomized into accelerated rTMS (n = 21), conventional rTMS (n = 22), and sham-treatment (n = 8) groups. The accelerated and conventional rTMS groups received 15 sessions for 3 days and 3 weeks, respectively. The sham-treatment group received 15 sham rTMS sessions for 3 days. Primary outcome was assessed using self-report and clinician-rated Korean Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (KQIDS-SR and KQIDS-C, respectively). Adverse effects were monitored using the Frequency, Intensity, and Burden of Side Effects Rating scale. Changes in depressive symptoms were compared among the three groups using mixed model analyses. @*Results@#For the KQIDS-SR score, there was a significant main effect of “time” (F3,47 = 11.05, p < 0.001), but no effect of “group” (F2,47 = 2.04, p = 0.142), and a trend-level interaction effect of “group × time” (F6,47 = 2.26, p = 0.053). Improvement in depressive symptoms, based on the KQIDS-SR score 3 weeks after treatment, was more prominent in the accelerated rTMS group than in the sham-treatment group (p = 0.011). Tolerability was comparable among the three groups. @*Conclusion@#The accelerated rTMS treatment group showed rapid improvement of depressive symptoms compared with the sham-treatment and conventional rTMS treatment groups. Therefore, accelerated rTMS treatment could be a viable option for MDD, with improved accessibility.
ABSTRACT
Objectives@#This study aimed to develop a Korean version of psychological first aid training program (K-PFA) and examine the education effect on trainees. @*Methods@#This study enrolled 485 subjects who completed both K-PFA and study surveys. In addition to mental health professionals, subjects with various ages and educational backgrounds were included to examine the education effects of the capabilities in conducting PFA and understanding acute phase disaster mental health (DMH). @*Results@#Both mental health professionals and non-professionals improved their understanding of acute-phase DMH intervention and their perceived capabilities in conducting PFA. @*Conclusion@#The development of a DMH intervention-training program adapted to Korean domesticcircumstances and culture represents a significant step towards a comprehensive and individualized intervention for disaster survivors.
ABSTRACT
Objective@#Despite the etiological significance of complex developmental trauma in adult personality disorders and treatment-resistant depression, neurobiological studies have been rare due to the lack of useful animal models. As a first step, we devised an animal model to investigate the effects of multiple trauma-like stress during different developmental periods. @*Methods@#Twenty-one male Sprague-Dawley rats were classified into 3 groups based on the stress protocol: fear conditioning control (FCC, n = 6), complex stress (ComS, n = 9), and control (n = 6). While the ComS experienced three types of stress (maternal separation, juvenile isolation, electric foot shock), the FCC only experienced an electric foot shock stress and the control never experienced any. We compared fear responses at postnatal day (PND) 29 and PND 56 through freezing time per episode (FTpE), total freezing time (TFT), total freezing episodes (TFE), and ultrasonic vocalization (USV). @*Results@#ComS showed the longest FTpE in the conditioned fear response test. ComS and FCC exhibited the longer TFT and these two groups only displayed USV. ComS show difference TFE between PND 29 and PND 56. @*Conclusion@#The results of this investigation show that complex stress may affect not quantity of fear response but characteristics of fear response. Longer FTpE may be associated with tonic immobility which could be considered as a failed self-protective reaction and might be analogous to a sign of inappropriate coping strategy and self-dysregulation in complex trauma patients.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To compare the clinical effectiveness of the virtual reality (VR) programs in assessing psychosocial problems, improving symptoms, and reducing suicide risk in depressive patients with those of pharmacotherapy.METHODS: Thirty-six patients were recruited with depression in the treatment group and 22 participants in the healthy control group through internet advertisements between November 2018 and March 2019. Participants in the treatment group were allocated randomly at a 1:1 ratio to either the VR group or pharmacotherapy group. At the baseline, all participants were assessed with a comprehensive battery for their psychological characteristics by structured scales using VR technologies. Assessments of patients in the treatment group were repeated four weeks after therapeutic intervention. The primary outcome measures were the Korean Version of Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self-Report and suicidality scales of the Korean Mini International Neuropsychiatric interview. The borderline personality (Personality Assessment Inventory-Borderline Features Scale) and resilience (Korean Resilience Questionnaire) were also evaluated.RESULTS: Twenty-four depressive patients completed the treatment, and the final assessment was conducted after four weeks of treatment. In the initial assessment, the patient group showed significantly higher depressive symptoms, suicidality, borderline personality trait, and lower resilience than healthy control group. After the four-week therapeutic interventions, the VR group showed significant improvement in depression, suicidality, borderline personality trait, and resilience. In addition, there was no significant difference in the treatment efficacy between the VR group and the pharmacotherapy group.CONCLUSION: In this study, the VR treatment program has clear benefits for emotional distress and reducing suicidality in depressive patients. Evidence-based VR treatments may show new clinical potential for depressive disorder.
Subject(s)
Humans , Depression , Depressive Disorder , Drug Therapy , Education , Internet , Outcome Assessment, Health Care , Psychotherapy , Suicidal Ideation , Suicide , Treatment Outcome , Weights and MeasuresABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The treatment of borderline personality disorder (BPD) in Korea has been based mainly on individual psychopharmacotherapy and psychotherapy. No quantitative study has examined the effectiveness of group psychotherapy for patients with BPD in Korea. In the present study, the mentalization-based treatment (MBT) program developed from the Anna Freud Center in London was conducted in the author's hospital. This article presents the results of a preliminary analysis of the treatment effects of the Korean MBT for BPD.METHODS: The recruited subjects are patients diagnosed with BPD at Gangnam Severance Hospital. A psychological assessment was conducted at baseline and every six months during the treatment. Statistical analysis was performed using the data of 62 people at the baseline assessment, and the treatment effectiveness was analyzed with the data from 21 people who participated in the treatment group over six months.RESULTS: Borderline personality features were positively correlated with depressive symptoms, anxious attachment, avoidant attachment, and novelty seeking trait, and negatively correlated with self-directedness. After the 12-month treatment, the depressive symptoms and self-disclosure scores were improved significantly. In addition, the self-directedness, cooperativeness factor scores of the temperament and character inventory, and the self-regulation ability score of the resilience scale were also improved significantly.CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the Korean MBT can improve depressive symptoms and induce positive changes in personality functioning. Although the number of people who continued MBT over 12 months was very small due to the high dropout rate, this study is the first quantitative study on the effects of the Korean MBT for BPD patients.
Subject(s)
Humans , Borderline Personality Disorder , Depression , Korea , Psychotherapy , Psychotherapy, Group , Self-Control , Temperament , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The significance of leukoaraiosis on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is uncertain, but it is often seen with vascular risk factors or in the context of cognitive impairment. We aimed to investigate the effect of leukoaraiosis on the severity and course of delirium. METHODS: Periventricular hyperintensity and deep white matter hyperintensity on brain MRI were rated in 42 patients with delirium by semiquantative visual rating scale. Correlations between their grades and the scores of Korean version of Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98 (K-DRS-R-98) were analyzed, and the interaction effects between the groups according to the levels of leukoaraiosis and two evaluation points were also analyzed. RESULTS: The grade of deep white matter hyperintensity in the occipital lobe was positively correlated with the scores on the total, severity items, cognitive items, and non-cognitive items of K-DRS-R-98. The cognitive items scores of K-DRS-R-98 in the low grade group of periventricular hyperintensity showed significantly steeper decrease than the high grade group. CONCLUSIONS: A difference in severity or recovery speed of delirium according to the level of leukoaraiosis may result from disruption in brain functional connectivity. Our results have a clinical implication in that the severity and course of delirium can be possibly predicted using the level of leukoaraiosis.
Subject(s)
Humans , Brain , Cognition Disorders , Delirium , Leukoaraiosis , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Occipital Lobe , Risk Factors , White MatterABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This study investigated the effectiveness of meaning-centered psychotherapy (MCP), which is known to be a helpful psychotherapeutic intervention in distressing conditions, for patients with pancreatobiliary cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited 37 patients with pancreatobiliary cancer from three university general hospitals and assessed their psychological characteristics. Patients who reported clinically significant emotional distress were recommended to undergo MCP. Patients who consented to MCP were provided four sessions of the therapy. Patient psychological characteristics were assessed again 2 months after MCP. For statistical comparison, outcome variables included anxiety, depression, mental adjustment to cancer, and quality of life (QoL), as well as the degree of stress and physical symptoms. RESULTS: Sixteen patients completed the MCP and the final assessment 2 months later. In the initial assessment, the patients receiving MCP showed higher levels of anxiety and depression than those not receiving MCP, and QoL was also lower in terms of role function, emotional function, social function, and global QoL. At the 2-month follow-up, the MCP group showed a significant improvement in anxiety (p=0.007), depression (p=0.010), and anxious preoccupation (p < 0.001). In addition, QoL significantly improved in the MCP group, while there was no significant change in the non-MCP group. CONCLUSION: In this study, MCP showed potential therapeutic benefits against emotional distress in patients with pancreatobiliary cancer, improving their QoL.
Subject(s)
Humans , Anxiety , Depression , Follow-Up Studies , Hospitals, General , Psychotherapy , Quality of LifeABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to investigate whether the charges associated with Korean Diagnosis-Related Groups for mental health inpatients adequately reflect the degree of medical resource consumption for inpatient treatment in the psychiatric ward. METHODS: This study was conducted with psychiatric inpatients data for 2014 from the National Health Insurance claim database. The main diagnoses required for admission, classification of the hospitals, and main treatment services were analyzed by examining descriptive statistics. Homogeneities of the major diagnostic criteria were assessed by calculating coefficient variances. Explanation power was determined by R2 values. RESULTS: The most frequent disorders for psychiatric inpatient treatment were alcohol-use disorder, depressive episodes, bipolar affective disorder, and dementia in Alzheimer's disease. Hospitalization and psychotherapy fees were the main medical expenses. Regardless of the homogeneity of the disease group, duration of hospital stay was the factor that most influenced medical expenses. In the psychiatric area, explanation power of Korean Diagnosis-Related Groups was 16.52% (p<0.05), which was significantly lower than that for other major diagnostic area. CONCLUSION: Most psychiatric illnesses are chronic, and the density of services can vary depending on illness severity or associated complications. The current Korean Diagnosis-Related Groups criteria did not adequately represent the amount of in-hospital medical expenditures. A novel Korean classification system that reflects the expenditures of medical resources in psychiatric hospitals should be developed in order to provide appropriate reimbursements.
Subject(s)
Humans , Alzheimer Disease , Classification , Dementia , Depressive Disorder , Diagnosis , Diagnosis-Related Groups , Fees and Charges , Health Expenditures , Hospital Charges , Hospitalization , Hospitals, Psychiatric , Inpatients , Insurance, Health , Length of Stay , Mental Health , Mood Disorders , National Health Programs , PsychotherapyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Hemodialysis patients may have psychological distress and reduced quality of life (QoL) related to chronic physical health problems. Genetic polymorphisms associated with reduced QoL in hemodialysis patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between genetic polymorphisms and variation in health-related QoL in Korean hemodialysis patients. METHODS: The 36-item Short-Form Health Survey and the Korean Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were used to assess health-related QoL and psychological distress, respectively. Twenty hundred and five clinically stable patients from 6 hemodialysis centers have participated with informed consents. Sociodemographic factors, clinical factors, and genotypes of serotonin 1A receptor, brain-derived neurotrophic factors, and glucocorticoid receptor were assessed. Independent t-tests, correlation analyses, multiple regression analyses were performed for statistical analyses. RESULTS: The serotonin 1A receptor CC genotype group showed significantly higher physical and mental QoL levels than those with the GG/GC genotypes. In the final linear regression analysis, serotonin 1A receptor CC genotype was significantly associated with positive physical and mental QoL levels. CONCLUSION: ConclusionaaSerotonin 1A receptor polymorphism, as well as age and depression, were significantly associated with mental and physical QoL in hemodialysis patients. Functional activity in the serotonin receptor system may have a modulating effect on health-related QoL in hemodialysis patients.
Subject(s)
Humans , Anxiety , Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor , Depression , Genotype , Health Surveys , Linear Models , Polymorphism, Genetic , Quality of Life , Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A , Receptors, Glucocorticoid , Renal Dialysis , SerotoninABSTRACT
This correction is being published to correct the errors and to added missing contents.
ABSTRACT
Early-life stress (ELS), a complex traumatic stress including abuse, neglect and bullying during childhood or adolescence, is closely related to the development of psychiatric disorders. Conduct of a prospective study on the effect of ELS in human subjects is difficult due to ethical issues and limitations, and animal model study can be a reasonable alternative. Articles regarding structural and functional changes in the animal brain associated with ELS have been reviewed in this study. An up-to-date literature search on the effect of ELS on animal brain was performed ; keywords included ELS, central nervous system (CNS), and animal study using PubMed. A total of 623 articles were found and important articles were reviewed. First, we summarized the neurobiological changes in CNS associated with ELS, and then the effects of ELS on emotional and cognitive function and behavioral characteristics were recapped. ELS can induce overreactivity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and cortical-subcortical structural changes including prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala. These changes may be associated with neuroendocrine, cognitive, and emotional dysfunctions and related behavioral changes. Although most animal model studies used a single mode of stress, ELS tends to be experienced with complex types in human-life. Design of a new animal model examining the effects of complex trauma during early-life is important. Studies on the association between complex trauma and brain development can provide important insights regarding the pathogenetic mechanism of complex psychiatric disorders such as personality disorder and treatment-resistant depression.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Animals , Humans , Amygdala , Brain , Bullying , Central Nervous System , Cognition , Depression , Ethics , Hippocampus , Models, Animal , Personality Disorders , Prefrontal Cortex , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Suicide attempters have impaired decision making and are at high risk of reattempt. Therefore it is important to refer them to psychiatric treatment. Especially, People with medical comorbidity are at higher risk of suicidal attempt and mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of suicidal attempters and to analyze the influence of the medical comorbidity on decision to receive psychiatric treatment after visit to an emergency department. METHODS: One hundred and thirty two patients, who visited the emergency room of a general hospital in Gyeonggi-do between January, 2012 and December, 2012 were enrolled as the subjects of this study. After reviewing each subject's medical records retrospectively, demographic and clinical factors were analyzed. RESULTS: Regardless of the engagement type, either via admission or outpatient clinic, the determinant factors of psychiatric treatment engagement were psychiatric diagnosis, employment status, previous psychiatric treatment history, and previous attempt history. Comparison of severity of medical comorbidity(Charlson Comorbidity Index) showed that suicide attempters who received psychiatric treatment via admission or refused the treatment tended to have higher level of medical comorbidity than who received psychiatric treatment via outpatient department. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that medical comorbidity of suicide attempters affected the decision to accept psychiatric treatment. All psychiatrists should evaluate the presence and the severity of medical comorbidity of the suicide attempters and consider implementing more intervention for the medically ill attempters who are willing to discharge against advice.
Subject(s)
Humans , Ambulatory Care Facilities , Comorbidity , Decision Making , Emergency Service, Hospital , Employment , Follow-Up Studies , Hospitals, General , Medical Records , Mental Disorders , Mortality , Outpatients , Psychiatry , Retrospective Studies , SuicideABSTRACT
Early life stress (ELS) may induce long-lasting psychological complications in adulthood. The protective role of resilience against the development of psychopathology is also important. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among ELS, resilience, depression, anxiety, and aggression in young adults. Four hundred sixty-one army inductees gave written informed consent and participated in this study. We assessed psychopathology using the Korea Military Personality Test, ELS using the Childhood Abuse Experience Scale, and resilience with the resilience scale. Analyses of variance, correlation analyses, and hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses were conducted for statistical analyses. The regression model explained 35.8%, 41.0%, and 23.3% of the total variance in the depression, anxiety, and aggression indices, respectively. We can find that even though ELS experience is positively associated with depression, anxiety, and aggression, resilience may have significant attenuating effect against the ELS effect on severity of these psychopathologies. Emotion regulation showed the most beneficial effect among resilience factors on reducing severity of psychopathologies. To improve mental health for young adults, ELS assessment and resilience enhancement program should be considered.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Humans , Male , Young Adult , Adaptation, Psychological , Age Distribution , Aggression/psychology , Anxiety/epidemiology , Comorbidity , Military Personnel/psychology , Prevalence , Republic of Korea/epidemiology , Resilience, Psychological , Risk Factors , Stress, Psychological/epidemiologyABSTRACT
On 16 April 2014, the Sewol ferry, carrying 476 people, sank in the ocean off the south coast of South Korea. Two hundred and ninety five are confirmed dead and 9 remain missing. The Korean Neuropsychiatric Association (KNPA) set up a Disaster Mental Health Committee (KDMHC) for out-reach services and to provide general strategies for promoting mental health and resilience. Mem bers of KDMHC and Volunteering Psychiatrists of the KNPA had participated in disaster mental health services organized by Gyeonggi-Ansan disaster mental health support team. Their activities were composed of psychoeducation, supportive individual and familial counseling and referring service to professional institutes. This report has described the outline of the initial and acute mental health care responses by KDMHC and volunteers among KNPA members.
Subject(s)
Academies and Institutes , Counseling , Disasters , Korea , Mental Health Services , Mental Health , Psychiatry , VolunteersABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: We investigated whether wogonin and apigenin significantly affect the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway involved in MUC5AC mucin gene expression, and production from cultured airway epithelial cells; this was based on our previous report that apigenin and wogonin suppressed MUC5AC mucin gene expression and production from human airway epithelial cells. METHODS: Confluent NCI-H292 cells were pretreated with wogonin or apigenin for 15 minutes or 24 hours and then stimulated with epidermal growth factor (EGF) for 24 hours or the indicated periods. RESULTS: We found that incubation of NCI-H292 cells with wogonin or apigenin inhibited the phosphorylation of EGFR. The downstream signals of EGFR such as phosphorylation of MEK1/2 and ERK1/2 were also inhibited by wogonin or apigenin. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that wogonin and apigenin inhibits EGFR signaling pathway, which may explain how they inhibit MUC5AC mucin gene expression and production induced by EGF.