ABSTRACT
Background@#Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread globally, leading to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Because a significant proportion of the COVID-19 confirmed cases were concentrated in the capital metropolitan area of South Korea, and a large proportion of the population in the area had been adequately vaccinated against COVID-19, we conducted a seroprevalence surveillance study focusing on the residents of the capital metropolitan area in South Korea. @*Methods@#We used a quota-sampling method to obtain blood samples from 1,000 individuals per round, equally stratified across seven age categories and sexes and regions, from five medical institutions located within the capital metropolitan area of South Korea. During five consecutive months (rounds) between January 2022 and May 2022, a total of 5,000 samples were analyzed for anti-spike (S) and anti-nucleocapsid (N) antibodies. @*Results@#High anti-S seropositivity was observed in all age groups, which corresponded to the vaccine coverage during the study period. Both the cumulative incidence based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the estimated seroprevalence based on anti-N seropositivity increased in the fourth and fifth rounds, which corresponded to April 2022 and May 2022. Seroprevalence coincided with the cumulative incidence during the first three rounds, but exceeded from the fourth survey onwards when infection with omicron variants was increased rapidly in Korea. @*Conclusion@#Seroprevalence confirmed the number of infection cases outside of PCR testing-based surveillance. Seroepidemiological surveillance can help us understand vaccine responses and detect hidden infections, thereby providing appropriate public health guidance for achieving population-level immunity.
ABSTRACT
Background@#Lung dysfunction and high apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A-I (apoB/apoA-I) ratio are both recognized risk factors for cardiovascular disease. However, few studies have examined the association between the apoB/ApoA-I ratio and lung function. Therefore, we investigated whether this ratio is associated with decreased lung function in a large healthy cohort. @*Methods@#We performed a cohort study on 68,418 healthy Koreans (34,797 males, mean age:38.1 years) who underwent a health examination in 2019. ApoB/apoA-I ratio was categorized into quartiles. Spirometric values at the fifth percentile in our population were considered the lower limit of normal (LLN), which was used to define lung function impairment. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), using the lowest quartile as the reference, were estimated to determine lung function impairment. @*Results@#Mean apoB/apoA-I ratio was 0.67 ± 0.21. Subjects with the highest quartile of this ratio had the lowest predicted forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1 %) and forced vital capacity (FVC%) after controlling for covariates (P < 0.001). However, FEV1 /FVC ratio was not significantly different among the four quartiles (P = 0.059). Compared with the lowest quartile (Q1, reference), the aORs (95% CI) for FEV1 % < LLN across increasing quartiles (from Q2 to Q4) were 1.216 (1.094–1.351), 1.293 (1.156–1.448), and 1.481 (1.311– 1.672) (P for trend < 0.001), respectively. Similarly, the aORs for FVC% < LLN compared with the reference were 1.212 (1.090–1.348), 1.283 (1.147–1.436), and 1.502 (1.331–1.695) with increasing quartiles (P for trend < 0.001). However, the aORs for FEV1 /FVC < LLN were not significantly different among groups (P for trend = 0.273). @*Conclusion@#High apoB/apoA-I ratio was associated with decreased lung function. However, longitudinal follow-up studies are required to validate our findings.
ABSTRACT
Benign cephalic histiocytosis (BCH) is an uncommon subtype of non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis. A 5-month-old boy presented with multiple yellowish facial papules and plaques, which later spread to his trunk and both extremities. Laboratory tests, including lipid profile, were normal. Histological examination revealed non-foamy histiocytes, lymphocytes, and some eosinophils in the dermis. Immunohistochemical staining was positive for CD68and factor XIIIa, but negative for CD1a and S-100. Additionally, the patient developed multiple café-au-lait spots with axillary and inguinal freckling. Next-generation sequencing identified a pathogenic variant of the neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) gene. Herein, we report a rare case of BCH in a patient with NF1. Although many cases of NF1 accompanied by juvenile xanthogranuloma have been reported, the association between BCH and NF1 has not been elucidated. However, considering that BCH may be a clinicopathological variant of juvenile xanthogranuloma, an association between the two diseases can be considered.
ABSTRACT
Background@#For effective management of blood components, periodic updates of the maximum surgical blood order schedule (MSBOS) using recent data are crucial. This study aimed to establish an updated MSBOS and red blood cell (RBC) mean transfusion units per patient according to the adjacent diagnosis related groups (ADRG) classification system. @*Methods@#This retrospective study was based on an audit of the medical records of inpatients at a tertiary hospital between January and December 2017. We investigated transfusion-related data to establish the MSBOS and determine the RBC mean transfusion units per patient according to the ADRG and compared these updated values with previous data. @*Results@#During the investigated period, a total of 5,607 RBC units were transfused in 17,382 patients. The revised MSBOS was similar to the previous MSBOS in most surgeries. Among the 130 ADRG codes analyzed, 34 codes showed an increase, while 96 codes showed a decrease in RBC mean transfusion units per patient, compared to data from 2007. Overall, the RBC mean transfusion units per patient in 2017 was 0.89 units less compared to that in 2007 after adjusting for age (95% CI: 0.853–0.912). @*Conclusions@#The revised MSBOS was similar to that of the previous versions. However, there were differences in the number of RBC transfusion units used in some surgeries and disease treatments compared to those in the past. Considering the changes within the medical environment, this study highlights the importance of periodic evaluation of MSBOS and RBC transfusion usage.
ABSTRACT
Background@#Multiple Allergo-Sorbent Test (MAST) allows simultaneous detection of specific IgE antibodies using multiple allergens, and it is commonly used for allergy screening. Phadiatop assay (Phadia AB, Sweden), including Phadiatop test and Phadiatop Infant test, is a variant of specific IgE test that covers a mixture of common allergens. We compared the clinical utility of Phadiatop assay with that of the MAST AlloScreen (LG Life Science, Korea). @*Methods@#A total of 218 samples classified by AlloScreen results were collected. Phadiatop test was performed on sera from 61 and 103 aeroallergen-positive and -negative subjects. Phadiatop Infant test was performed on sera from 54 and 103 food and aeroallergen-positive and -negative subjects. When the results of AlloScreen and Phadiatop assay were not identical, we confirmed them using ImmunoCAP (Phadia AB). @*Results@#The concordance rate between AlloScreen and Phadiatop test was 93.2% (κ=0.86, P<0.001). Eleven (6.7%) of 164 specimens showed discrepant results. The results of AlloScreen did not agree with those of ImmunoCAP. The concordance rate between AlloScreen and Phadiatop Infant test was 97.4% (κ=0.945, P <0.001). Four (2.5%) specimens showed negative results in AlloScreen and positive results in Phadiatop Infant test. Three cases were confirmed as positive and one case was not confirmed through ImmunoCAP. @*Conclusions@#There was excellent agreement between AlloScreen and Phadiatop assay. Phadiatop assay accurately detected sensitization to common food and aeroallergen mixes. Therefore, Phadiatop assay is recommended as a screening test for allergic diseases.
ABSTRACT
Background@#Multiple Allergo-Sorbent Test (MAST) allows simultaneous detection of specific IgE antibodies using multiple allergens, and it is commonly used for allergy screening. Phadiatop assay (Phadia AB, Sweden), including Phadiatop test and Phadiatop Infant test, is a variant of specific IgE test that covers a mixture of common allergens. We compared the clinical utility of Phadiatop assay with that of the MAST AlloScreen (LG Life Science, Korea). @*Methods@#A total of 218 samples classified by AlloScreen results were collected. Phadiatop test was performed on sera from 61 and 103 aeroallergen-positive and -negative subjects. Phadiatop Infant test was performed on sera from 54 and 103 food and aeroallergen-positive and -negative subjects. When the results of AlloScreen and Phadiatop assay were not identical, we confirmed them using ImmunoCAP (Phadia AB). @*Results@#The concordance rate between AlloScreen and Phadiatop test was 93.2% (κ=0.86, P<0.001). Eleven (6.7%) of 164 specimens showed discrepant results. The results of AlloScreen did not agree with those of ImmunoCAP. The concordance rate between AlloScreen and Phadiatop Infant test was 97.4% (κ=0.945, P <0.001). Four (2.5%) specimens showed negative results in AlloScreen and positive results in Phadiatop Infant test. Three cases were confirmed as positive and one case was not confirmed through ImmunoCAP. @*Conclusions@#There was excellent agreement between AlloScreen and Phadiatop assay. Phadiatop assay accurately detected sensitization to common food and aeroallergen mixes. Therefore, Phadiatop assay is recommended as a screening test for allergic diseases.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate patterns of adjacent tooth displacement in the posterior implant with interproximal contact loss (ICL) by 3-D digital superimposition method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Posterior partially edentulous patients, restored with implant fixed partial prostheses before 2011 and suffered from food impaction of ICL between 2009 and 2011, were included. Two dental casts, at the time of delivery and at the time of food impaction in a same patient, was converted into 3-D digital models through scanning and superimposition was performed to assess chronologic changes of the dentition. Directions of tooth displacement were evaluated and the amount of ICL was calculated. Correlations between the amount of ICL and elapsed time, or between the amount of ICL and age after function, were assessed at a significance level of P.05). CONCLUSION: Natural teeth showed various directional movements to result in occlusal change in the arch. The 3-D superimposition of chronologic digital models was a helpful method to analyze the changes of dentition and individual tooth displacement adjacent to implant restoration.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Dental Implants , Dentition , Maxilla , Methods , Prostheses and Implants , Retrospective Studies , ToothABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Several factors contribute to differences in Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype distribution. We investigated the serotype distribution and antimicrobial resistance of S. pneumoniae isolated between 2014 and 2016 in Korea. METHODS: We collected a total of 1,855 S. pneumoniae isolates from 44 hospitals between May 2014 and May 2016, and analyzed the serotypes by sequential multiplex PCR. We investigated the distribution of each serotype by patient age, source of the clinical specimen, and antimicrobial resistance pattern. RESULTS: The most common serotypes were 11A (10.1%), followed by 19A (8.8%), 3 (8.5%), 34 (8.1%), 23A (7.3%), and 35B (6.2%). The major invasive serotypes were 3 (12.6%), 19A (7.8%), 34 (7.8%), 10A (6.8%), and 11A (6.8%). Serotypes 10A, 15B, 19A, and 12F were more common in patients ≤5 years old, while serotype 3 was more common in patients ≥65 years old compared with the other age groups. The coverage rates of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)7, PCV10, PCV13, and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine 23 were 11.8%, 12.12%, 33.3%, and 53.6%, respectively. Of the 1,855 isolates, 857 (46.2%) were multi-drug resistant (MDR), with serotypes 11A and 19A predominant among the MDR strains. The resistance rates against penicillin, cefotaxime, and levofloxacin were 22.8%, 12.5%, and 9.4%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There were significant changes in the major S. pneumoniae serotypes in the community. Non-PCV13 serotypes increased in patients ≤5 years old following the introduction of national immunization programs with the 10- and 13-polyvalent vaccines.
Subject(s)
Humans , Cefotaxime , Immunization Programs , Korea , Levofloxacin , Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction , Penicillins , Pneumococcal Vaccines , Pneumonia , Serogroup , Streptococcus pneumoniae , Streptococcus , VaccinesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Blood culture is an important method for identifying infectious microorganisms and confirming that a selected antimicrobial treatment is appropriate. In this study, we investigated the annual changes in the frequencies of blood isolates and antibiotic susceptibility test (AST) results. METHODS: We created a large database comprising data on all patient-unique blood cultures obtained from January 2007 through December 2016. Blood specimens were cultured using the BD BACTEC FX system, and species identification and AST were performed using the VITEK 2 system. RESULTS: During the 10-year study period, a total of 203,651 blood culture results were collected. Of these, gram-positive cocci, gram-negative rods, and fungi were isolated in 2.15%, 0.55%, and 0.12% of the blood cultures, respectively. Escherichia coli was the most commonly isolated species (22.8%), followed by Staphylococcus epidermidis (16.8%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (8.1%), and Staphylococcus aureus (8.0%). Fungal species were isolated in 3.0% of all positive blood cultures. Candida albicans was the most commonly isolated species (1.1%), followed by Candida parapsilosis (0.6%). Methicillin resistance was seen in 55.2% of S. aureus isolates. The frequencies of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) and carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA) were 13.1% and 10.9%, respectively. The isolation rates of MRSA, VRE, and CRPA showed different patterns each year. CONCLUSIONS: Among the isolates, E. coli was the most common, followed by S. epidermidis and K. pneumoniae. This study represents a long-term analysis of bloodstream infections, and the results can be used to identify trends in the microorganisms isolated and their drug resistance.
Subject(s)
Bacteremia , Candida , Candida albicans , Drug Resistance , Enterococcus , Escherichia coli , Fungi , Gram-Positive Cocci , Klebsiella pneumoniae , Korea , Methicillin Resistance , Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus , Methods , Pneumonia , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Staphylococcus aureus , Staphylococcus epidermidisABSTRACT
PURPOSE@#In this study, we attempted to analyze the occupational accident experience rate by working life cycle of Korean workers considering entrance and turnover in their jobs. The specific goal of this study was to calculate the accident experience rate according to workers' turnover history and previous accident experience.@*METHODS@#We constructed a cumulative data set of 90,338 cases of workers' accident experiences in their jobs from the Fourth Korean Working Conditions Survey. The accident experience rates according to workers' turnover and previous accident experiences were analyzed using descriptive statistics and analysis of variance.@*RESULTS@#In this study, the cumulative accident experience rate of Korean workers was found to be 5.2%. It was confirmed that the accident experience rate of workers increased as the turnover frequencies increased. In addition, we analyzed only the data of the workers who had experienced turnover and found that the accident experience rate after turnover increased about 7.5 times when workers had experienced accidents in the past.@*CONCLUSION@#To prevent occupational accidents in workers, safety strategies should consider a worker's previous job history and injury experiences. It will also be necessary to focus preventive efforts on new and young workers through ongoing monitoring and on-the-job training.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: In this study, we attempted to analyze the occupational accident experience rate by working life cycle of Korean workers considering entrance and turnover in their jobs. The specific goal of this study was to calculate the accident experience rate according to workers' turnover history and previous accident experience. METHODS: We constructed a cumulative data set of 90,338 cases of workers' accident experiences in their jobs from the Fourth Korean Working Conditions Survey. The accident experience rates according to workers' turnover and previous accident experiences were analyzed using descriptive statistics and analysis of variance. RESULTS: In this study, the cumulative accident experience rate of Korean workers was found to be 5.2%. It was confirmed that the accident experience rate of workers increased as the turnover frequencies increased. In addition, we analyzed only the data of the workers who had experienced turnover and found that the accident experience rate after turnover increased about 7.5 times when workers had experienced accidents in the past. CONCLUSION: To prevent occupational accidents in workers, safety strategies should consider a worker's previous job history and injury experiences. It will also be necessary to focus preventive efforts on new and young workers through ongoing monitoring and on-the-job training.
Subject(s)
Accidents, Occupational , Dataset , Inservice Training , Life Cycle StagesABSTRACT
No abstract available.
Subject(s)
Humans , Infant , Male , Anemia, Sideroblastic , High-Throughput Nucleotide SequencingABSTRACT
Micturition is a complex process involving the bladder, spinal cord, and the brain. Highly sophisticated central neural program controls bladder function by utilizing multiple brain regions, including pons and suprapontine structures. Periaqueductal grey, insula, anterior cingulate cortex, and medial prefrontal cortex are components of suprapontine micturition centers. Under pathologic conditions such as epilepsy, urinary dysfunction is a frequent symptom and it seems to be associated with increased suprapontine cortical activity. Interestingly, micturition can also trigger seizures known as reflex epilepsy. During voiding behavior, frontotemporal cortical activation has been reported and it may induce reflex seizures. As current researches are only limited to present clinical cases, more rigorous investigations are needed to elucidate biological mechanisms of micturition to advance our knowledge on the process of micturition in physiology and pathology.
Subject(s)
Brain , Epilepsy , Epilepsy, Reflex , Gyrus Cinguli , Pathology , Physiology , Pons , Prefrontal Cortex , Reflex , Seizures , Spinal Cord , Urinary Bladder , UrinationABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The pathophysiology of social anxiety disorder (SAD) is not yet well understood, but previous research has suggested that oxytocin is associated with social behavior and may play a role in human anxiety states and anxiety-related traits. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible relationship between social anxiety symptoms and plasma oxytocin levels. METHODS: Twenty-three male patients with SAD and 28 healthy male controls participated in this study. All participants were assessed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) and the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS). Multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify associations between plasma oxytocin levels and SAD. RESULTS: In multiple regression models, after controlling for age and years of education, we found that higher oxytocin levels were significantly associated with higher total LSAS scores (R²=0.157, coefficient=0.145, 95% CI=-0.0005–0.291, p=0.051) and fear subscale scores (R²=0.134, coefficient=0.083, 95% CI=0.007–0.159, p=0.034) in the SAD group. CONCLUSION: In this study, increased plasma oxytocin levels were associated with higher social anxiety symptoms among SAD patients, but not among controls. This might be because among SAD patients, higher oxytocin (OT) secretion is an insufficient compensatory attempt to reduce social anxiety symptoms.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Anxiety Disorders , Anxiety , Education , Oxytocin , Plasma , Social BehaviorABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The use of point-of-care (POC) devices for evaluating HbA1c is increasing; accordingly, comparisons between these devices and central laboratory methods are important. In the present study, we evaluated the analytical performance of the cobas b 101 analyzer for POC HbA1c testing. METHODS: The analytical quality of the cobas b 101 system was assessed based on repeatability, within-laboratory precision, linearity, and lot-to-lot reproducibility. Two specimen types, i.e., EDTA whole blood and capillary blood, were examined using the cobas b 101 system and the Variant II Turbo instrument. RESULTS: The coefficient of variation for within laboratory precision was 5.22% for a normal HbA1c level and 2.56% for a higher HbA1c level. The method showed good linearity, with a coefficient of correlation of 0.990. In a comparison of two different HbA1c disk lots, a strong correlation (r=0.986) and a mean %difference of −2.9% were observed. The cobas b 101 results using EDTA whole blood were strongly correlated with the Variant II Turbo results (r=0.958), with a mean %difference of 0.8%; the cobas b 101 results using capillary blood were strongly correlated with the Variant II Turbo results, using EDTA whole blood (r=0.976), with a mean %difference of 2.0%. A comparison between HbA1c levels in EDTA whole blood and capillary blood obtained using the cobas b 101 showed a strong correlation (r=0.985) and a mean %difference of 1.3%. CONCLUSIONS: The cobas b 101 analyzer is convenient for the measurement of HbA1c levels for diabetes management.
Subject(s)
Capillaries , Edetic Acid , Methods , Point-of-Care Systems , Point-of-Care TestingABSTRACT
Psychrobacter sanguinis has been described as a Gram-negative, aerobic coccobacilli originally isolated from environments and seaweed samples. To date, 6 cases of P. sanguinis infection have been reported. A 53-year-old male was admitted with a generalized tonic seizure lasting for 1 minute with loss of consciousness and a mild fever of 37.8℃. A Gram stain revealed Gram-negative, small, and coccobacilli-shaped bacteria on blood culture. Automated microbiology analyzer identification using the BD BACTEC FX (BD Diagnostics, Germany) and VITEK2 (bioMérieux, France) systems indicated the presence of Methylobacterium spp., Aeromonas salmonicida, and the Moraxella group with low discrimination. The GenBank Basic Local Alignment Search Tool and an Ez-Taxon database search revealed that the 16S rRNA gene sequence of the isolate showed 99.30% and 99.88% homology to 859 base-pairs of the corresponding sequences of P. sanguinis, respectively (GenBank accession numbers JX501674.1 and HM212667.1). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first human case of P. sanguinis bacteremia in Korea. It is notable that we identified a case based on blood specimens that previously had been misidentified by a commercially automated identification analyzer. We utilized 16S rRNA gene sequencing as a secondary method for correctly identifying this microorganism.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Aeromonas salmonicida , Bacteremia , Bacteria , Databases, Nucleic Acid , Discrimination, Psychological , Fever , Genes, rRNA , Korea , Methods , Methylobacterium , Moraxella , Psychrobacter , RNA, Ribosomal, 16S , Seaweed , Seizures , UnconsciousnessABSTRACT
Female adnexal tumor of probable Wolffian origin (FATWO) is a rare disease entity that arises from the mesonephric duct system. FATWO is different than other gynecological cancers in terms of embryology. Here, we describe the case of a 52-year-old woman with malignant FATWO. The patient underwent explorative laparotomy and surgical staging after a frozen section revealed malignancy. Detailed examination of the pathologic findings were consistent with FATWO. Counseling and further testing were provided to the patient to assess the risk of germline mutation and epigenetic change. An O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase gene methylation test was positive, and all other tests were normal. This is the first study to report a case of O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase methylation with FATWO in Korea.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Counseling , Embryology , Epigenesis, Genetic , Epigenomics , Frozen Sections , Germ-Line Mutation , Korea , Laparotomy , Methylation , Rare Diseases , Wolffian DuctsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Cotinine has been widely used as an objective marker to identify current smokers. We conducted this study to address the absence of Korean studies investigating the efficacy of immunoassays and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for the detection of serum cotinine and to determine the optimal serum cotinine cut-off level for differentiating current smokers from nonsmokers. METHODS: Serum specimens were obtained from 120 subjects. They were randomly chosen to represent a broad distribution of urine cotinine levels based on a retrospective review of questionnaires and results of urine cotinine levels. We determined serum cotinine levels using the IMMULITE 2000 XPi Immunoassay System (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc., USA) and LC-MS/MS (API-4000, Applied Biosystems, USA). Correlation was analyzed between IMMULITE serum cotinine, urine cotinine, and LC-MS/MS serum cotinine levels. ROC curve was analyzed to identify the optimal IMMULITE serum cotinine cut-off level for differentiating current smokers from nonsmokers. RESULTS: IMMULITE serum cotinine levels correlated with both urine cotinine and LC-MS/MS serum cotinine levels, with correlation coefficients of 0.958 and 0.986, respectively. The optimal serum cotinine cut-off level for distinguishing current smokers from nonsmokers was 13.2 ng/mL (95.7% sensitivity, 94.1% specificity) using IMMULITE. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to investigate the use of LC-MS/MS for the measurement of serum cotinine and to determine the optimal serum cotinine cut-off level for the IMMULITE immunoassay. Our results could provide guidelines for differentiating current smokers from nonsmokers in the Korean population.