No abstract available.
Urinary Tract Infections* ; Urinary Tract*

Background: This study aimed to differentiate video nystagmography (VNG) characteristics, including the video head impulse test (vHIT), in patients with idiopathic rapid eye movement behavior disorder (RBD) from healthy controls, which is considered a precursor to degenerative diseases. Methods: One hundred eighty-five patients underwent overnight polysomnography (PSG) and VNG. Based on overnight PSG, 27 patients with RBD or REM sleep without atonia (RWA) and AHI<15 were categorized into the RBD group, 34 patients with RBD/RWA and AHI≥15 were grouped into the combined group. Sixty patients with AHI≥15 and no RBD/RWA were included in the obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) group, and 64 negative participants were assigned to the control group. In VNG, we measured the gain of vHIT in each canal, with the latency, amplitude, and velocity of horizontal saccades and smooth pursuit. We compared the results between groups using ANOVA, after normalization and adjustment for age and sex. Results: The gain of vHIT in the left horizontal canal was decreased in the RBD group, but it was more pronounced in the OSA group. Elevated gain of the left posterior canal was seen in the RBD group, but technical errors were attributable. The RBD group displayed prolonged latency of saccade on the left side and slowed saccade on the right side, but these were statistically insignificant. Conclusions The VNG study revealed differences between the sleep disorders, potentially reflecting brainstem function in each disorder. However, these differences lacked statistical significance. We anticipate that significant results could be obtained with more controlled conditions.

Background: Recent studies have indicated that vitamin D deficiency is associated with diabetes and hypertension in adults. However, this association has not been sufficiently studied in cases of prediabetes and prehypertension. Thus, this study aimed to clarify the relationship between vitamin D levels and prediabetes and prehypertension in Korean adults. Methods: Data from 1,808 adults aged ≥19 years who participated in the 2013–2015 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were included in this study. The odds ratio of prediabetes and prehypertension according to the 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) status was calculated using multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results: Mean serum 25(OH)D levels were significantly different among females with normal glucose levels, prediabetes, and diabetes mellitus. Further, the mean levels were not significantly different in both males and females of all ages with normal blood pressure, prehypertension, and hypertension. In addition, logistic regression analysis showed that serum 25(OH)D levels were not significantly associated with the odds ratio of prediabetes and prehypertension after adjusting for age, sex, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, calcium supplement intake, income, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, and fasting glucose. Conclusion Serum vitamin D status was not independently associated with the risks of prediabetes and prehypertension in Korean adults.

Background: Although the primary vaccine coverage rate for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in South Korea has exceeded 80%, the coronavirus continues to spread, with reports of a rapid decline in vaccine effectiveness. South Korea is administering booster shots despite concerns about the effectiveness of the existing vaccine. Methods: Neutralizing antibody inhibition scores were evaluated in two cohorts after the booster dose. For the first cohort, neutralizing activity against the wild-type, delta, and omicron variants after the booster dose was evaluated. For the second cohort, we assessed the difference in neutralizing activity between the omicron infected and uninfected groups after booster vaccination. We also compared the effectiveness and adverse events (AEs) between homologous and heterologous booster doses for BNT162b2 or ChAdOx1 vaccines. Results: A total of 105 healthcare workers (HCWs) that were additionally vaccinated with BNT162b2 at Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital were enrolled in this study.Significantly higher surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT) inhibition (%) was observed for the wild-type and delta variants compared to sVNT (%) for the omicron after the booster dose (97%, 98% vs. 75%; P < 0.001). No significant difference in the neutralizing antibody inhibition score was found between variants in the BNT/BNT/BNT group (n = 48) and the ChA/ChA/BNT group (n = 57). Total AEs were not significantly different between the ChA/ ChA/BNT group (85.96%) and the BNT/BNT group (95.83%; P = 0.11). In the second cohort with 58 HCWs, markedly higher sVNT inhibition to omicron was observed in the omicroninfected group (95.13%) compared to the uninfected group (mean of 48.44%; P < 0.001) after four months of the booster dose. In 41 HCWs (39.0%) infected with the omicron variant, no difference in immunogenicity, AEs, or effectiveness between homogeneous and heterogeneous boosters was observed. Conclusion Booster vaccination with BNT162b2 was significantly less effective for the neutralizing antibody responses to omicron variant compared to the wild-type or delta variant in healthy population. Humoral immunogenicity was sustained significantly high after 4 months of booster vaccine in the infected population after booster vaccination.Further studies are needed to understand the characteristics of immunogenicity in these populations.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among the health care workers (HCWs) and analyzed its risk factors in South Korea. METHODS: A standard questionnaire regarding the baseline demographics and risk factors for LTBI was given to each participant and tuberculin skin test (TST), QuantiFERON-TB GOLD In-Tube (QFT-GIT) assay, and chest radiography were performed. RESULTS: A total of 493 participants, 152 (30.8%) doctors and 341 (69.2%) nurses were enrolled in eight tertiary referral hospitals. The mean age of the subjects was 30.6 years old, and 383 (77.7%) were female. Of the 152 doctors, 63 (41.4%) and 36 (23.7%) were positive by TST and by QTF-GIT, respectively, and among the 341 nurses, 119 (34.9%) and 49 (14.4%) had positive TST and QFT-GIT results, respectively. Overall, the agreement between the two tests was 0.22 by the chance corrected proportional agreement rate (kappa coefficient) in 493 subjects. Experience of working in tuberculosis (TB)-related departments was significantly associated with positive LTBI test results by QFT-GIT assay, not by TST. In multivariate analysis, only age was independently associated with increased risk of a positive TST result, while age and experience of working in TB-related departments (odds ratio, 2.29; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-5.12) were independently associated with increased risk of a positive QFT-GIT result. CONCLUSION: A high prevalence of LTBI was found among South Korean HCWs. Considering the association between the experience of working in TB-related departments and high risk of LTBI, QFT-GIT may be a better diagnostic test for LTBI than TST in HCWs.
Delivery of Health Care ; Demography ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Female ; Health Personnel ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma Release Tests ; Latent Tuberculosis ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Factors ; Skin Tests ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Thorax ; Tuberculin ; Tuberculin Test ; Tuberculosis

Henoch-Schonlein purpura is a systemic leukocytoclastic vasculitis involving small vessels. The diagnostic criteria is defined as a typical skin rash of which pathologic examination shows leukocytoclastic vasculitis, accompanied by any two of these major manifestations of the disease, namely gastrointestinal tract, kidney, joint involvement. In elder patient, Henoch-Schonlein purpura shows more serious gastrointestinal tract involvement. There are some reports of brain involvement of Henoch-Schonlein purpura. A 69-year-old man was admitted to department of neurosurgery, because of loss of consciousness. Brain CT showed acute cerebellar hemorrhage with rapid resolution by conservative treatment. Diffuse purpuric eruptions on both low legs were developed after 7 days of hospitalization. He was refered to our department due to epigastric pain and bloody diarrhea. There were multiple longitudinal ulcers with hemorrhage on the stomach and the sigmoid colon of which biopsy showed leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Microscopic hematuria and proteinuria were also noted. He had a fatal course due to recurrent colonic bleeding and poor medical condition. We report an unusual case of cerebellar and gastrointestinal involvement of Henoch-Schonlein purpura in elderly patient.
Aged ; Biopsy ; Brain ; Colon ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Diarrhea ; Exanthema ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Hematuria ; Hemorrhage* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Joints ; Kidney ; Leg ; Neurosurgery ; Proteinuria ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch* ; Stomach ; Ulcer ; Unconsciousness ; Vasculitis

BACKGROUND: To evaluate whether Staphylococcus aureus is actually the leading cause of infective endocarditis in Korea, investigation on updated clinical pictures, treatments, and prognosis was performed. This study also aims to describe differences in clinical characteristics of infective endocarditis in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty five patients who were diagnosed with infective endocarditis, using modified Duke criteria, at 4 Soon Chun Hyang University Hospitals (located in Seoul, Bucheon, Cheonan, and Gumi) from January of 2000 to June of 2007 were enrolled. Patients were separated into two groups; those on hemodialysis and those who were not on hemodialysis (control group). Medical records and laboratory results of each patient were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: The positive rate of blood culture was 72.7%. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in 38.2% of the patients, making it the most common causative organism of infective endocarditis. It was also the most common organism in both hemodialysis group and non-hemodialysis group. Six patients (10.9%) died while admitted to the hospital and the in-hospital death rate for hemodialysis group was significantly higher. CONCLUSION: In most parts of the world, S. aureus is increasingly becoming the principal causative organism of infective endocarditis. To our knowledge, this is the first study that shows S. aureus to be the most common causative organism of infective endocarditis in Korea, and that Korea is not except from this global epidemiology.
Endocarditis ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Prognosis ; Renal Dialysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Staphylococcus ; Staphylococcus aureus

BACKGROUND: To evaluate whether Staphylococcus aureus is actually the leading cause of infective endocarditis in Korea, investigation on updated clinical pictures, treatments, and prognosis was performed. This study also aims to describe differences in clinical characteristics of infective endocarditis in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty five patients who were diagnosed with infective endocarditis, using modified Duke criteria, at 4 Soon Chun Hyang University Hospitals (located in Seoul, Bucheon, Cheonan, and Gumi) from January of 2000 to June of 2007 were enrolled. Patients were separated into two groups; those on hemodialysis and those who were not on hemodialysis (control group). Medical records and laboratory results of each patient were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: The positive rate of blood culture was 72.7%. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in 38.2% of the patients, making it the most common causative organism of infective endocarditis. It was also the most common organism in both hemodialysis group and non-hemodialysis group. Six patients (10.9%) died while admitted to the hospital and the in-hospital death rate for hemodialysis group was significantly higher. CONCLUSION: In most parts of the world, S. aureus is increasingly becoming the principal causative organism of infective endocarditis. To our knowledge, this is the first study that shows S. aureus to be the most common causative organism of infective endocarditis in Korea, and that Korea is not except from this global epidemiology.
Endocarditis ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Prognosis ; Renal Dialysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Staphylococcus ; Staphylococcus aureus

Background: Recent evidence has reported the relationships between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) insufficiency and chronic diseases. This study examined the association of physical activity and sitting time with vitamin D status. Methods: This study analyzed the data of 1,598 adults aged ≥19 who participated in the 2014 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Vitamin D insufficiency was defined as a serum 25(OH)D level of ≤20 ng/mL. The odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of vitamin D insufficiency according to physical activity and sitting time were calculated using a multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results: The mean levels of serum 25(OH)D were 16.5 ng/mL in males and 15.2 ng/mL in females, respectively and was significantly higher in the participants with sitting times of <5 hours/day than those with sitting times of ≥5 hours/day. After adjusting for confounding variables, sitting time of <5 hours/day was associated with decreased odds of vitamin D insufficiency as compared with sitting time of ≥5 hours/day in the total participants and females. In addition, the odds ratio for vitamin D insufficiency was significantly lower in the group with sitting times of <5 hours/ day than in the group with sitting times of ≥5 hours/day even among people with low physical activity in the total participants and females. Conclusion Serum 25(OH)D level was insufficient in the Korean adults and shorter sitting time was related to lower odds ratio of vitamin D insufficiency. Our findings suggest that sitting time is an independent factor of serum vitamin D status.