Development of a Laboratory-safe and Low-cost Detection Protocol for SARS-CoV-2 of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

The severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which emerged in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, has spread rapidly to over a dozen countries. Especially, the spike of case numbers in South Korea sparks pandemic worries. This virus is reported to spread mainly through personto- person contact via respiratory droplets generated by coughing and sneezing, or possibly through surface contaminated by people coughing or sneezing on them. More critically, there have been reports about the possibility of this virus to transmit even before a virus-carrying person to show symptoms. Therefore, a low-cost, easy-access protocol for early detection of this virus is desperately needed. Here, we have established a real-time reverse-transcription PCR (rtPCR)-based assay protocol composed of easy specimen self-collection from a subject via pharyngeal swab, Trizolbased RNA purification, and SYBR Green-based rtPCR. This protocol shows an accuracy and sensitivity limit of 1-10 virus particles as we tested with a known lentivirus. The cost for each sample is estimated to be less than 15 US dollars. Overall time it takes for an entire protocol is estimated to be less than 4 hours. We propose a cost-effective, quick-and-easy method for early detection of SARS-CoV-2 at any conventional Biosafety Level II laboratories that are equipped with a rtPCR machine. Our newly developed protocol should be helpful for a first-hand screening of the asymptomatic virus-carriers for further prevention of transmission and early intervention and treatment for the rapidly propagating virus.

Non-Responders to Intravenous Immunoglobulin and Coronary Artery Dilatation in Kawasaki Disease: Predictive Parameters in Korean Children

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In Kawasaki disease (KD), high dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) significantly lowers the coronary complications. However, some patients either do not respond to initial therapy or develop coronary complications. We aimed to identify the predictive factors for unresponsiveness to initial IVIG therapy and coronary artery dilatation (CAD; defined by Z-score≥2.5) in the acute phase and convalescent phase. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of 703 patients with KD, admitted to Gachon University Gil Medical Center between January 2005 and June 2013. The patients were divided into two groups-IVIG responders vs. non-responders-based on the IVIG treatments, and presence of fever after treatment. Further, these groups were divided into two subgroups based on their CAD. RESULTS: Among the 703 patients with KD, the rate of non-responders to initial IVIG was 16.8%. Serum total bilirubin, platelet count, and neutrophil proportion were independent predictive parameters of unresponsiveness (p<0.05). CAD was found in 234 patients (33.3%) in the acute phase, and in 32 patients (4.6%) in the convalescent phase. Male gender, fever duration, serum C-reactive protein, and white blood cell count were related to CAD (p<0.05). CAD was detected more frequently in non-responders than in the responders (47.5% vs. 31.5%, p=0.001). Kobayashi, Egami, and Sano scoring systems applied to our study population reflected low sensitivities (28.0-33.9%). CONCLUSION: Several independent parameters were related to unresponsiveness to the initial IVIG or CAD. These parameters might be helpful in establishing more focused and careful monitoring of high-risk KD patients in Korea.

Association between Elevated Alanine Aminotransferase and Urosepsis in Children with Acute Pyelonephritis / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to investigate the association between elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and urosepsis in children with acute pyelonephritis (APN). METHODS: We retrospectively identified all children who were managed in our hospital with APN during a decade period. In our study a diagnosis of APN was defined as having a positive urine culture and a positive (99m)Tc-dimercaptosuccinic acid scintigraphy. We compared those with elevated ALT and those with normal ALT according to the following variables: age, gender, duration of fever prior to admission, presence of hypotension, C-reactive protein (CRP), creatinine, presence of anemia, white blood cells count, platelet count, blood culture result, and grades of vesicoureteral reflux. In addition, the correlation between elevated ALT and positive blood culture was analyzed in detail. RESULTS: A total of 996 children were diagnosed with APN, of which 883 were included in the study. ALT was elevated in 81 children (9.2%). In the analysis of demographic characteristics, the number of children with elevated ALT was higher in children between 0 to 3 months, boys, and in those with positive blood culture (p=0.002, 0.036, and 0.010, respectively). In multivariate analysis of variables associated with positive blood culture, age younger than 3 months, elevated ALT, elevated CRP, and elevated creatinine showed statistical significance (p=0.004, 0.030, 0.043, and 0.044, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates the association between elevated ALT and increased prevalence of urosepsis in addition to elevated CRP, elevated creatinine, and age younger than 3 months in children with APN.

A Case of Vertebral Body Compression Fracture as an Initial Sign for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia / 임상소아혈액종양

More than one third of patients may present with bone pain as a consequence of leukemic cell infiltration of bone, however, bone fracture itself is an unusual presentation for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Back pain by vertebral fracture is a rare initial presentation of childhood ALL. If back pain due to vertebral fracture is the only clinical manifestation of ALL without any other accompanying symptoms, signs, or hematologic abnormality, the diagnosis of ALL could be delayed. To promote greater awareness that vertebral facture caused by ALL, resulting in significant back pain without other systemic symptoms, we report on the case of an 8-year-old boy who complained only of back pain which occurred about one month prior to visit and who was later diagnosed with ALL.

Abdominal Subcutaneous Fat Thickness Measured by Ultrasonography Correlates with Hyperlipidemia and Steatohepatitis in Obese Children / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness measured by ultrasonography (US) and serum lipid profile and liver transaminases in obese children. METHODS: One hundred and sixty-six children diagnosed with obesity from May 2001 to December 2013 were included in this study. Data on serum lipid profile and liver transaminases were collected from clinical records. Abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness and grade of hepatic steatosis were evaluated by US. RESULTS: Of the 166 children, 107 were diagnosed with hepatic steatosis by US, 46 with grade I, 56 with grade II, and five children with grade III. According to the grade of hepatic steasosis, the average values of midline abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness and right flank abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness measured 2.9+/-0.8 cm and 1.9+/-0.7 cm in the normal group, 3.3+/-0.8 cm and 2.0+/-0.7 cm in grade I, 3.8+/-0.8 cm and 2.3+/-0.8 cm in grade II, and 4.1+/-0.8 cm and 2.8+/-1.4 cm in grade III, respectively. Abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness correlated with grade of hepatic steatosis (p<0.01). In addition, abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness correlated with concentration of serum lipids and liver transaminases in the age group of 12-14 years (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness measured by US can be used as a reliable predictor of possible hyperlipidemia and steatohepatitis in children, especially during the adolescent stage.

A Case of Vertebral Body Compression Fracture as an Initial Sign for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia / 임상소아혈액종양

More than one third of patients may present with bone pain as a consequence of leukemic cell infiltration of bone, however, bone fracture itself is an unusual presentation for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Back pain by vertebral fracture is a rare initial presentation of childhood ALL. If back pain due to vertebral fracture is the only clinical manifestation of ALL without any other accompanying symptoms, signs, or hematologic abnormality, the diagnosis of ALL could be delayed. To promote greater awareness that vertebral facture caused by ALL, resulting in significant back pain without other systemic symptoms, we report on the case of an 8-year-old boy who complained only of back pain which occurred about one month prior to visit and who was later diagnosed with ALL.