RESUMEN
Neutralizing antibodies play a critical role in blocking viral infections and in viral clearance during acute infection. The microneutralization assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) targeting the receptor binding domain were performed for 30 patients with mild coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 infections. The elapsed number of days between sample collection and diagnosis was 115 days, and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) cycle threshold (Ct) values at diagnosis were recorded. Clinical characteristics and Ct values were compared between neutralization antibody-positive and -negative patients as measured by the microneutralization assay. Neutralization antibody-positive patients (n = 9) were likely to be older, have low Ct values, have more pneumonia during admission, and have a higher optical density in ELISA than the neutralization antibody-negative patients (n = 21). Elderly people seemed to have a higher viral load causing more pneumonia and to produce more neutralization antibodies. Neutralization antibodies persisted in only 30% of patients as detected by microneutralization test after 100 days of diagnosis.
RESUMEN
Purpose@#The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of public officials working for the Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) response in community health centers in South Korea. @*Methods@#A qualitative thematic analysis was conducted using data collected from three focus groups and two individual interviews. @*Results@#The participants performed quarantine tasks in a poor working environment with several problems, such as significant workload, lack of manpower, and inappropriate compensation system. Participants experienced obstacles in performing quarantine works, which had the lack of the detailed quarantine guidelines, work support and cooperation system. Participants suffered from civil complaints. Participants endured sacrifices in their personal lives while partaking in COVID-19 response work without holidays, and subsequently experienced health problems. And also participants said that it was necessary to secure expertise and effective communication for infectious disease management. @*Conclusion@#The study results suggest that policies are required that are aimed to improve the working environment and the recruitment of experts in infectious diseases. In addition, the job stress related to the COVID-19 response by public officials in community health centers must be evaluated, and the relation of their job stress to physical and mental problems, as well as psychosocial stress, must be examined.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to analyze, compare, and assess the indications, incidences, and types of chromosomal abnormalities in the amniotic fluid, chorionic villus sampling (CVS), and abortus and to compare these with those previously reported. METHODS: The study subjects included 1,995 cases of amniocentesis and 169 cases of abortus, 20 cases of CVS, 21 cases of cord blood, and 2 cases of cardiac-puncture fluid in the last ten years (June 1999 to May 2009). RESULTS: Among the indications, the maternal serum and triple/quad markers testing positive emerged the highest (57.5%). Other factors those were found were an advanced maternal age (over35) (19.5%) and abnormal ultrasonography findings (8.2%). The frequency of chromosomal abnormality in the amniotic fluid was 4.5%, wherein the numerical abnormality was 3.1% and the structural abnormality was 1.4%. Among the numerical abnormalities, trisomy of chromosome 21 emerged the highest (1.4%). The frequency of the chromosomal abnormality of CVS and abortus was 39.1%, the numerical abnormality was 23.7%, and the order of frequency for trisomy was obtained chromosomes 16, 22, and 21. In the sex ratio of the normal chromosomes, it was 1.1%, but it resulted in 0.5% in CVS. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this chromosomal study on amniotic fluid, CVS, and abortus could serve as useful data regarding the prenatal genetic abnormalities of fetuses and for genetic consultation.