Adverse Reactions of the Second Dose of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19Vaccine in Healthcare Workers in Korea

We conducted a prospective, mobile-based survey on the self-reported adverse reactions in healthcare workers (HCWs) who received both doses of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. Of the 342 HCWs who completed the two-dose vaccination, 265 (77.5%) responded to the survey at least once. Overall, the rates of adverse reactions were higher after the second dose compared with the first dose (89.1% vs. 80.1%, P = 0.006). The most common systemic reactions were muscle ache (69.1%), fatigue (65.7%), headache (48.7%), chills (44.2%), and fever (32.1%), and were notably more common after the second dose vaccine as well. We also noted a sex difference in which the frequency of adverse reactions after the second dose of the vaccine was significantly higher in females, which was not observed after the first dose. The rates of adverse reactions were lower in older age groups, and the rates and severities of the adverse reactions decreased during the 3-day period following vaccination.

Adverse Reactions of the Second Dose of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19Vaccine in Healthcare Workers in Korea

We conducted a prospective, mobile-based survey on the self-reported adverse reactions in healthcare workers (HCWs) who received both doses of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. Of the 342 HCWs who completed the two-dose vaccination, 265 (77.5%) responded to the survey at least once. Overall, the rates of adverse reactions were higher after the second dose compared with the first dose (89.1% vs. 80.1%, P = 0.006). The most common systemic reactions were muscle ache (69.1%), fatigue (65.7%), headache (48.7%), chills (44.2%), and fever (32.1%), and were notably more common after the second dose vaccine as well. We also noted a sex difference in which the frequency of adverse reactions after the second dose of the vaccine was significantly higher in females, which was not observed after the first dose. The rates of adverse reactions were lower in older age groups, and the rates and severities of the adverse reactions decreased during the 3-day period following vaccination.

Comparison of Quantitation of Cytomegalovirus DNA by Real-Time PCR in Whole Blood with the Cytomegalovirus Antigenemia Assay

BACKGROUND: Quantitation of cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA using real-time PCR has been utilized for monitoring CMV infection. However, the CMV antigenemia assay is still the 'gold standard' assay. There are only a few studies in Korea that compared the efficacy of use of real-time PCR for quantitation of CMV DNA in whole blood with the antigenemia assay, and most of these studies have been limited to transplant recipients. METHOD: 479 whole blood samples from 79 patients, falling under different disease groups, were tested by real-time CMV DNA PCR using the Q-CMV real-time complete kit (Nanogen Advanced Diagnostic S.r.L., Italy) and CMV antigenemia assay (CINA Kit, ArgeneBiosoft, France), and the results were compared. Repeatedly tested patients were selected and their charts were reviewed for ganciclovir therapy. RESULTS: The concordance rate of the two assays was 86.4% (Cohen's kappa coefficient value=0.659). Quantitative correlation between the two assays was a moderate (r=0.5504, P<0.0001). Among 20 patients tested repeatedly with the two assays, 13 patients were transplant recipients and treated with ganciclovir. Before treatment, CMV was detected earlier by real-time CMV DNA PCR than the antigenemia assay, with a median difference of 8 days. After treatment, the antigenemia assay achieved negative results earlier than real-time CMV DNA PCR with a median difference of 10.5 days. CONCLUSIONS: Q-CMV real-time complete kit is a useful tool for early detection of CMV infection in whole blood samples in transplant recipients.

Evaluation of the Wisecheck Glucose Monitoring System

BACKGROUND: Glucometers are widely used for self-monitoring and point-of-care testing in diabetes management. We evaluated the performance of the recently developed Wisecheck Glucose Monitoring System (Wisemeditech, Korea) compared to that of 2 other well-known glucometer systems. METHODS: The Wisecheck glucometer was evaluated for precision, linearity, and carryover rate. One-hundred fifty samples samples were tested, and the results obtained from the Wisecheck glucometer, ACCU-CHEK Performa (Roche Diagnostics, Germany) and SD GlucoLink (SD Diagnostics, Korea) were compared to those obtained using the laboratory reference method from the Toshiba 200FR (Toshiba, Japan), according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. RESULTS: The coefficient of variation (CV) values for within-run imprecision at low, middle, and high levels were 2.06%, 1.02%, and 2.02%, respectively, and the CV values for total-run imprecision at low, middle, and high levels were 2.98%, 2.41%, and 1.88%, respectively. In the linearity test, the coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.9985 in glucose concentration ranging from 48.6 mg/dL to 428 mg/dL (P<0.0001). The results obtained using the Wisecheck glucometer were well correlated with those obtained using the Toshiba 200FR (R2=0.980, P<0.0001). The carryover rate was 0.12%. CONCLUSIONS: The Wisecheck glucometer showed good precision, linearity, and correlation with the reference method. It provided rapid and reliable measurements of blood glucose levels and seemed appropriate for use in diabetes management.