A variety of complications in endoscopic third ventriculostomy have been reported, including neurovascular injury, hemodynamic alterations, endocrinologic abnormalities, electrolyte imbalances, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, fever and infection. Even though most complications are transient, the overall rate of permanent morbidity is 2.38% and the overall mortality rate is 0.28%. To avoid these serious complications, we should keep in mind potential complications and how to prevent them. Proper decisions with regard to surgical indication, choice of endoscopic entry and trajectory, careful endoscopic procedures with anatomic orientation, bleeding control and tight closure are emphasized for the prevention of complications.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak ; Fever ; Hemodynamics ; Hemorrhage ; Mortality ; Neuroendoscopy ; Ventriculostomy*

Lung cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors, and it has the highest death rate. Oncothermia is a feasible and successful treatment for lung cancer. Results show a remarkable survival benefit for patients, with a good quality of life. The treatment has no, or in some cases mild, side-effects and could decrease the adverse effects of the complementary treatment. Applying oncothermia together with other treatment methods could increase the effects and result in better performance. A comparison of studies demonstrates a good correspondence in the data, which strengthens the reliability of the studies, and clearly shows the feasibility of the application of oncothermia to treating all kinds of pulmonary malignancies including non-small-cell and small-cell primary tumors, and all of the metastatic diseases of the pulmonary system.
Fever ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Mortality ; Quality of Life

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious zoonosis caused by the SFTS virus. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a life-threatening syndrome associated with excessive immune activation. Cytokine storms are often seen in both SFTS and HLH, resulting in rapid disease progression and poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to identify whether SFTS cases complicated by HLH are related to higher rates of mortality. Descriptive analysis of the frequency of clinical and laboratory data, complications, treatment outcomes, and HLH-2004 criteria was performed. Cases presenting with five or more clinical or laboratory findings corresponding to the HLH-2004 diagnostic criteria were defined as SFTS cases complicated by HLH. Eighteen cases of SFTS were identified during a 2-year study period, with a case-fatality proportion of 22.2% (4 among 18 cases, 95% confidence interval 9%–45.2%). SFTS cases complicated by HLH were identified in 33.3% (6 among 18 cases). A mortality rate of 75% (3 among 4 cases) was recorded among SFTS cases complicated by HLH. Although there were no statistically significant differences in outcomes, fatal cases exhibited more frequent correlation with HLH-2004 criteria than non-fatal cases [3/14 (21.4%) vs. 3/4 (75%), p=0.083]. In conclusion, the present study suggests the possibility that SFTS cases complicated by HLH are at higher risk of poor prognosis.
Disease Progression ; Fatal Outcome ; Fever ; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic ; Mortality ; Prognosis ; Thrombocytopenia

In Yugoslavia, homorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is one of the important national health problem, but no vaccine has been used to prevent HFRS. Since first HFRS case in 1952, sporadic cases of HFRS occurred every year and over 4,000 registered cases with 1~16% mortality so far. We performed a prospective, randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of Hantavax(TM) against HFRS in 3,900 healthy adults living in the endemic areas of Yugoslavia. 1,900 people were given 0.5 ml of Hantavax subcutaneously twice at one month interval and a booster shot at one year after. For controls other 2,000 healthy people were given 0.5 ml of physiolosical saline as a placebo. We investigated HFRS cases in both the vaccinated and nonvaccinated groups by monitoring the program for patient registration in the areas from 1996 to 1998, and the effect of vaccine was analyzed epidemiologically No confirmed case of HFRS was observed among 1,900 Hantavax vaccinees, while 20 confirmed cases were observed among 2,000 nonvaccinated control group. There were no remarkable side effects among the vaccinees either locally or in general after inoculation of the vaccine. The Hantavax vaccine showed statistically significant protective efficacy against HFRS among Yugoslavian people.
Adult ; Fever ; Hantaan virus* ; Hantavirus ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome* ; Humans ; Mortality ; Prospective Studies ; Yugoslavia*

In Yugoslavia, homorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is one of the important national health problem, but no vaccine has been used to prevent HFRS. Since first HFRS case in 1952, sporadic cases of HFRS occurred every year and over 4,000 registered cases with 1~16% mortality so far. We performed a prospective, randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of Hantavax(TM) against HFRS in 3,900 healthy adults living in the endemic areas of Yugoslavia. 1,900 people were given 0.5 ml of Hantavax subcutaneously twice at one month interval and a booster shot at one year after. For controls other 2,000 healthy people were given 0.5 ml of physiolosical saline as a placebo. We investigated HFRS cases in both the vaccinated and nonvaccinated groups by monitoring the program for patient registration in the areas from 1996 to 1998, and the effect of vaccine was analyzed epidemiologically No confirmed case of HFRS was observed among 1,900 Hantavax vaccinees, while 20 confirmed cases were observed among 2,000 nonvaccinated control group. There were no remarkable side effects among the vaccinees either locally or in general after inoculation of the vaccine. The Hantavax vaccine showed statistically significant protective efficacy against HFRS among Yugoslavian people.
Adult ; Fever ; Hantaan virus* ; Hantavirus ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome* ; Humans ; Mortality ; Prospective Studies ; Yugoslavia*

Classical swine fever (CSF), a highly contagious disease that affects domestic pigs and wild boar, has serious economic implications. The present study examined the virulence and transmission of CSF virus strain YC11WB (isolated from a wild boar in 2011) in breeding wild boar. Virulence of strain YC11WB in domestic pigs was also examined. Based on the severe clinical signs and high mortality observed among breeding wild boar, the pathogenicity of strain YC11WB resembled that of typical acute CSF. Surprisingly, in contrast to strain SW03 (isolated from breeding pigs in 2003), strain YC11WB showed both acute and strong virulence in breeding pigs. None of three specific monoclonal antibodies (7F2, 7F83, and 6F65) raised against the B/C domain of the SW03 E2 protein bound to the B/C domain of strain YC11WB due to amino acid mutations (⁷²⁰K→R and ⁷²³N→S) in the YC11WB E2 protein. Although strains YC11WB and SW03 belong to subgroup 2.1b, they had different mortality rates in breeding pigs. Thus, if breeding pigs have not developed protective immunity against CSF virus, they may be susceptible to strain YC11WB transmitted by wild boar, resulting in severe economic losses for the pig industry.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Breeding ; Classical swine fever virus* ; Classical Swine Fever* ; Mortality ; Sus scrofa* ; Swine ; Virulence

Despite a high mortality rate, no specific treatment for severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) has been established. This study compared the clinical outcomes of SFTS patients treated with plasma exchange (PE group) with those who were not treated (non-PE group) at nine Korean hospitals between May 2013 and August 2015. A total of 53 SFTS patients were included: 24 (45.3%) PE cases and 29 (54.7%) non-PE cases. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 32.1% (17/53). The in-hospital mortality rate of the PE group did not differ from that of the non-PE group (29.3% vs. 34.5%, p=0.680). Of the 24 PE cases, 16 (66.7%) were treated with PE within 7 days of symptom onset (early PE group). The early PE group survived longer than the non-PE group (mean 28.4 days vs. 22.6 days, p=0.044). Multivariate analysis showed an inverse association between early PE implementation and 30-day mortality (adjusted hazard ratio 0.052, 95% confidence interval 0.004–0.678, p=0.024). The results of this study suggest that early PE implementation may have a beneficial effect on the clinical outcome of SFTS patients.
Fever* ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Mortality ; Multivariate Analysis ; Phlebovirus ; Plasma Exchange* ; Plasma* ; Thrombocytopenia*

The 2014 outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in West Africa, caused by Ebola virus (Zaire Ebola virus species), is the largest outbreak of EVD in history. It cause hemorrhagic fever in human and nonhuman primates with high mortality rate up to 90% and can be transmitted by direct contact with blood, body fluids, skin of EVD patients or persons who have died of EVD. As of December 17, 2014, 450 healthcare personnel are known to have been infected with Ebola, of whom 244 died. For development of Ebola vaccine and treatment are highly difficult due to its dangerous and accessibility that requires biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) to conduct experiment. Also there is no specific vaccine and treatment for Ebola virus; however, many candidate vaccines and antiviral-drugs such as ZMapp and TKM-Ebola are being developed for Ebola virus disease. In this review, we focus on the epidemiology of 2014 outbreak of Ebola virus and candidate agent for preventing and curing from Ebola virus.
Africa, Western* ; Body Fluids ; Delivery of Health Care ; Ebolavirus* ; Epidemiology ; Fever ; Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola ; Humans ; Mortality ; Primates ; Skin ; Vaccines

BACKGROUND: Tsutsugamushi disease is one of the acute febrile illness frequently developed in Korea. Unless it is cared properly in acute stage, it can be progressed to severe status associated with complication such as acute renal failure (ARF). But there has been little reported about tsutsugamushi disease associated with ARF. METHODS: We investigated patients records with tsutsugamushi disease associated with ARF, who were admitted at Our Lady of Mercy's Hospital and Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital from 1994 to 2003. 6. RESULTS: The incidence rate for ARF was 14.1% (23/163). Most patients have fever but eschar which is one of the most important findings, appeared less than half patients. Hypotension during developed more frequently in severe ARF group than mild ARF (p<0.05). Platelet count at admission and lowest platelet count was significantly lower in severe ARF group (p<0.05). The mortality rate was 3/23. All of them are in severe ARF group (p<0.05). The highest creatinine level was positively correlated with AST (p<0.01) and ALT (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Tsutsugamushi disease is an acute febrile illness which is not rare in Korea. With proper and early management, it can be cured. But as it can be progressed to severe state with complication such as ARF and death in some cases, it is important to diagnose early and manage carefully.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Creatinine ; Fever ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Incidence ; Korea ; Mortality ; Platelet Count ; Scrub Typhus*

PURPOSE: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of neonatal sepsis and meningitis. Little is known about neonatal GBS infection in Korea. We investigated the clinical characteristics of GBS meningitis in neonate. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 15 medical records of patients who diagnosed neonatal GBS meningitis admitted to two tertiary centers from January 2001 to December 2011. We analyzed the patient's characteristics, clinical symptoms and signs at admission, laboratory findings, and short-term outcomes at discharge. RESULTS: Among a total of 15 patients, five patients had early GBS meningitis and ten patients had late GBS meningitis. The most frequent clinical onset time was after three weeks of age. The major clinical symptom was respiratory difficulty in early GBS meningitis and fever in late GBS meningitis. The mortality rate was 6.7%. Among 15 patients, eight patients (53.3%) had abnormalities on neuroimaging studies at discharge and most of these patients were late GBS meningitis. CONCLUSION: Late GBS meningitis was the majority of neonatal GBS meningitis and had poor short-term neurological outcomes. To prevent the late GBS meningitis, we need to nation-wide preventive study including the incidence, mortality, and long-term outcomes of neonatal GBS meningitis.
Fever ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn* ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Meningitis* ; Mortality ; Neuroimaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis ; Streptococcus