A Case of Whole Genome Analysis of SARSCoV-2 Using Oxford Nanopore MinION System / 대한임상미생물학회지

The application of whole genome sequencing on SARS-CoV-2 viral genome is essential for our understanding of the molecular epidemiology and spread of viruses in the community. The portable whole genome sequencer MinION (Oxford Nanopore Technologies, ONT, UK) could be feasibly used in a clinical microbiology laboratory without the need of vast resources or stringent operating conditions. We used the MinION sequencer to analyze the viral genome sequence of one SARS-CoV-2 strain. In June 2020, nasopharyngeal specimen from one patient was subjected to whole-genome analysis using the nCoV-2019 sequencing protocol v2 of ARTIC using the MinION sequencer. The ONT MinKNOW software, RAMPART tool, and Genome Workbench were used. We identified 11 nucleotide variants using the Wuhan-Hu-1 isolate (NC_045512.2) as the reference sequence. There were six nucleotide variants (T265I, F924, Y3884L, P4715L, L5462, and Q6804L) in the ORF1ab region, one variant (D614G) in the S gene, one variant (Q57H) in ORF3a, one variant (P302) in the N gene, and two variants in each the 5′-UTR and 3′-UTR. In this prolonged coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic season, the MinION system that operates an amplicon-based whole-genome sequencing protocol could be a rapid and reliable sequencer without the need of cumbersome viral cultivation.

Effect of preoperative warming during cesarean section under spinal anesthesia / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Postoperative hypothermia and shivering is a frequent event in patients during cesarean section under spinal anesthesia. We assessed the effect of preoperative warming during cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia for prevention of hypothermia and shivering. METHODS: Forty five patients undergoing elective cesarean section were randomly assigned to three groups. Group F received warmed intravenous fluid (40degrees C). Group A patients were actively warmed by forced air-warming. Group C was the control group. Forced air-warming and warmed fluid was maintained for the 15 min preceding spinal anesthesia. Core temperature (tympanic membrane) and the skin temperature of arm and thigh were measured and shivering was graded simultaneously. RESULTS: The core temperature at 45 min decreased less in Groups F and A than Group C (-0.5degrees C +/- 0.3degrees C vs -0.6degrees C +/- 0.4degrees C vs -0.9degrees C +/- 0.4degrees C, respectively; P = 0.004). The arm temperature at 15 min and 30 min exhibited a greater increase in Group A than Group F and Group C (P = 0.001 and P = 0.012, respectively). Leg temperature increased similarly among the three groups. The incidence of shivering was significantly less in Group A and Group F than Group C (20%, 13.3%, and 53.3%, respectively; P = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative forced air-warming and warmed fluid prevents hypothermia and shivering in patients undergoing elective cesarean delivery with spinal anesthesia.

Effect of lumbar epidural and caudal analgesia on the second stage of labor

BACKGROUND: Epidural analgesia is the most effective way of providing pain relief during labor.However, its effect on the second stage of labor is controversial.This study examined the effect of epidural analgesia combined with caudal analgesia on the second stage of labor. METHODS: Forty three multiparous women were divided into three groups, non-epidural group, epidural group and epidural with caudal group.Epidural analgesia was maintained with patient-controlled epidural analgesia (0.09375% ropivacaine with 0.0002% fentanyl) in both the epidural and epidural with caudal groups.The epidural with caudal group was injected with 0.09375% ropivacaine into the caudal epidural space after inserting the lumbar epidural catheter.The assessments made throughout labor included the visual analogue score (VAS), patient's satisfaction, motor block and duration of the second stage. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the patient's satisfaction, VAS and motor block between the epidural group and epidural with caudal group.There were no significant differences in the duration of the second stage between the non-epidural, epidural and epidural with caudal groups. No cesarean or instrumental deliveries were performed. CONCLUSIONS: Epidural with caudal analgesia offers no additional benefit during the second stage of labor.However, it carries no added risk on the maternal outcome.

The relationship between symphysis-fundal height and intravenous ephedrine dose in spinal anesthesia for elective cesarean section / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: A decreased lumbosacral subarachnoidal space volume is a major factor in the cephalad intrathecal spread of local anesthetics in term parturients and their subarachnoidal space is decreased due to the compressive effect of huge uteri. Therefore, they show a higher level of sensory block and hypotensive episodes. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the symphysis-fundal height (SFH) correlates with the highest sensory level and the amount of ephedrine administered under spinal anesthesia. METHODS: Fifty-two uncomplicated parturients who consented to spinal anesthesia for elective cesarean section were studied. The SFH of all parturients had been measured just before the spinal anesthesia administered by one person. Hyperbaric bupivacaine with fentanyl 20 microgram, was administered for spinal anesthesia. The amount of 0.5% bupivacaine was adjusted according to the patient's height and weight. The level of sensory block and the amounts of ephedrine to treat hypotension, nausea and vomiting were assessed. Linear regression and correlation analysis were applied to analyze the data. RESULTS: According to the results of correlation analysis, there was no significant correlation between the level of sensory block and SFH. There were statistically significant positive correlations between the amount of ephedrine administered due to hypotension and SFH. CONCLUSIONS: In term parturients choosing elective cesarean section, the SFH is not correlated with the sensory level of spinal anesthesia, but is correlated with the amount of ephedrine administered during spinal anesthesia.

Comparision of remifentanil and remifentanil/midazolam for outpatient anesthesia in prolotherapy / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Prolotherapy is a therapeutic procedure used for chronic musculoskeletal and arthritic pain. It involves injecting an irritant solution to pain sites and causes patient discomfort, which can lead to treatment discontinuation. Remifentanil is an ultra short-acting micro-opiate receptor agonist that permits a rapid transition from intense analgesia to a minimal residual effect. Here, we evaluated the effect of remifentanil as a preparative medication for ambulatory prolotherapy. METHODS: Eighty patients taking prolotherapy were assigned into three groups for pre-therapeutic injections: remifentanil 0.1 microgram/kg/min alone (Group R), remifentanil 0.05 microgram/kg/min with midazolam 2 mg (Group M), and normal saline (Group C). Pain and sedation scores, blood pressure, pulse oxygen saturation, heart rate, satisfaction score, and time to discharge were measured. RESULTS: Pain scores in groups M and R were lower than group C during and after prolotherapy. The sedation score of group M was higher than groups R and C. Nine patients in group R experienced dizziness during prolotherapy. In group M, 8 patients experienced dizziness and 2 patients experienced nausea. There was no difference in time to discharge among all groups. Satisfaction scores in group M (7.3 +/- 0.8) and group R (7.0 +/- 0.8) were higher than that of group C (5.3 +/- 0.6). CONCLUSIONS: Remifentanil and remifentanil/midazolam effectively reduce the pain produced by prolotherapy.

The Usefulness of Lactate Clearance Adjusted to Time as a Predictive Index in Patients with Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock / 대한구급학회지

BACKGROUND: The lactate concentration should be used to examine the severity of sepsis or any state of shock. This study was conducted to investigate the prognostic power of the lactate clearance, as adjusted for time, between the survivors and nonsurvivors of patients with severe sepsis or septic shock. METHODS: The study was performed on 67 patients over 16 years old and who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with severe sepsis or septic shock. They were divided into the survivors (n = 37) and nonsurvivors (n = 30). The blood lactate concentrations were assayed at intervals ranging from 8 to 24 hours and the APACHE III scoring was done daily for 2 weeks or until discharge or death. The lactate clearance, as adjusted for time, was defined using the following formula: [(the maximal lactate concentration - the normal lactate concentration)/the time to normalize the lactate concentration] x 1,000. RESULTS: There were no significant differences of age, gender and the length of the ICU stay between the survivors and non-survivors. There were significant difference of the time to measuring the maximal serum lactate concentration (3.2 +/- 12.3 hours vs. 28.8 +/- 64.6 hours, respectively; p = 0.037), the lactate clearance, as adjusted for time (132.27 +/- 112.88 mol/L . hour vs. 59.67 +/- 72.60 mol/L . hour, respectively; p = 0.002), the lactate clearance during 24 hours (46.0 +/- 26.3% vs. 22.6 +/- 45.6%, respectively; p = 0.018) and the APACHE III score (67.6 +/- 22.7 vs. 83.9 +/- 21.6, respectively; p = 0.005) between the survivors and non-survivors. The lactate clearance, as adjusted for time and the APACHE III score were the predictive factors for survival on the logistic regression analysis (odd ratio 0.987; p = 0.028 vs. odd ratio 1.046; p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Lactate clearance, as adjusted for time, could be used as a prognostic index, as well as the APACHE III score, for patients with severe sepsis or septic shock.

Safety and Usefulness of Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholecystoscopy (PTCCS) in High-Risk Surgical Patients Manifesting Acute Cholecystitis / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of the present study is to identify the diagnostic and therapeutic usefulness of percutaneous transhepatic cholecystoscopic examination (PTCCS) in high-risk surgical patients manifesting acute cholecystitis. METHODS: Between January 1992 and June 1998, 33 consecutive patients who underwent percutaneous transhepatic cholecystostomy (PC) and subsequent PTCCS for the management of acute cholecystitis were included. RESULTS: PC and subsequent PTCCS were successfully accomplished in all of 33 patients. During PTCCS, minor complication (2 of minor bleeding during electrohydraulic lithotripsy, 2 of tube dislodgement and 1 of bile leakage to peritoneum) occurred in five patients. PTCCS revealed 26 cases of gallstones, 3 cases of sludge ball, 3 cases of gallbladder carcinoma and 1 case of clonorchiasis related with acute cholecystitis. Three cases of the gallbladder cancers which were not predicted radiologically were incidentally found during PTCCS. For 26 patients with gallstones, PTCCS and concomitant stone removal were successfully carried out in one to four consecutive sessions (mean 2.2 sessions). Gallstones recurred in three (3/22, 14%) patients during the mean follow-up period of 27 months. All of them remain asymptomatic. CONCLUSIONS: PTCCS may be justified in the management of acute cholecystitis in selected patients with high surgical risk.

The Effect of Declining Small Solute Clearance on Protein Intake and Nutritional Status in Progressive Renal Failure / 대한신장학회잡지

BACKGROUNDS: Malnutrition is common in patients with chronic renal failure(CRF) and various signs of malnutrition are strong predictors of increased morbidity and mortality. Monitoring of protein intake and nutritional status is therefore important in the clinical management of CRF patients. Few studies have demonstrated direct correlations among renal function, protein intake, and nutritional status in a prospective study although clinical experiences suggest such relationship. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate correlations between renal function, protein intake, and nutritional status during progressive renal failure. METHODS: A total of 431 studies on renal function, protein intake, and nutritional status was carried out in 282 patients with normal renal function and varying degrees of renal failure before beginning dialysis. Renal functional indices included weekly Kt/Vurea, total weekly creatinine clearance(Ccr, L/week/1.73m2), creatinine clearance(Ccr, mL/min/1.73m2), urea clearance(Curea, mL/min) and residual renal function(RRF, mL/min). Protein intake was assessed from the protein equivalent of total nitrogen appearance normalized by standard weight(nPNA, g/kg/day) by DOQI formula[nPNA(D)], Bergstr m formula 1[nPNA(B1)] and Bergstr m formula 2[nPNA(B2)]. Nutritional indices were fat free edema free body mass(FFEFBM, kg) by creatinine kinetics, %lean body mass(LBM, %) and serum albumin(g/dL). We evaluated correlations between renal function, protein intake and nutritional status by linear regression analysis. In a separate analysis, 237 studies from 94 patients with follow-up studies were analyzed for correlations among renal function, protein intake, and nutritional status. RESULTS: There was a highly significant correlation among weekly Kt/Vurea, weekly creatinine clearance, and residual renal function, among nPNA(D), nPNA (B1), nPNA(B2), and between FFEFBM and %LBM. Significant correlation was also observed between weekly Kt/Vurea and nPNA, between weekly Kt/ Vurea and FFEFBM, between weekly Kt/Vurea and %LBM, between nPNA and FFEFBM, and between nPNA and %LBM. The results were the same in patients with follow-up studies. CONCLUSION: These results clearly demonstrate that renal urea and creatinine clearance is closely correlated with protein intake and nutritional status in predialysis patients. With declining small solute clearances, protein intake decreased and nutritional status became worse. Starting dialysis before malnutrition becomes apparent may improve patient morbidity and mortality after dialysis.