In the 2023–2024 season, the influenza epidemic in South Korea peaked earlier than in recent years. In this study, we aimed to estimate the interim vaccine effectiveness (VE) of the influenza vaccination to prevent influenza during the early season. From November 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023, we enrolled 2,632 subjects with influenza-like illness from eight hospitals participating in hospital-based influenza morbidity and mortality surveillance. A retrospective test-negative case-control study was conducted to estimate the VE. The results showed an adjusted VE of 22.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.6 to 35.8) for the total population. The adjusted VE was 22.3% (95% CI, 6.1 to 35.7) for influenza A and 9.4% (95% CI, −51.3 to 45.7) for influenza A/H1N1. Full results of the analysis will be reported.

Background: Bivalent booster mRNA vaccines containing the omicron-variant strains have been introduced worldwide in the autumn of 2022. Nevertheless, the omicron subvariants evoked another large coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic wave in late 2022 and early 2023. Methods: A retrospective, test-negative, case-control study was conducted to estimate the vaccine effectiveness (VE) of bivalent COVID-19 vaccines in 8 university hospitals between January and February 2023. The case and control groups were divided based on nasopharyngeal COVID-19 real-time polymerase chain reaction results and matched based on age, sex, hospital, and date (week) of the test performed. The VE of the BA.1- or BA.4/BA.5-based mRNA vaccines were estimated. VE was calculated using the 1−adjusted odds ratio from multivariable logistic regression. Results: In total, 949 patients and 947 controls were enrolled in this study. VE for the BA.4/ BA.5-based bivalent mRNA vaccine was 43% (95% confidence interval [CI], 17, 61%). In subgroup analysis based on age and underlying medical conditions, BA.4/BA.5-based bivalent mRNA vaccine was effective against old adults aged ≥ 65-years (VE, 55%; 95% CI, 23, 73%) and individuals with comorbidities (VE, 54%; 95% CI, 23, 73%). In comparison, the BA.1-based bivalent mRNA vaccine did not demonstrate statistically significant effectiveness (VE, 25%; 95% CI, −8, 49%). Conclusion The BA.4/BA.5-based bivalent mRNA booster vaccine provided significant protection against COVID-19 in the Korean adults, especially in the older adults aged ≥ 65 years and in individuals with underlying medical conditions.

Cavernous malformation is an important cause of cerebral hemorrhage in pregnant women. We experienced a case of cesarean section followed by neurosurgery for resection of ruptured cavernous malformation of pons in a 24-year-old pregnant woman. Establishing integrated treatment strategy for pregnant women with cavernous malformation is difficult because of the small number of cases. Therefore, the cooperation between the brain surgeon, anesthesiologist and obstetrician is essential when surgical intervention is needed. Despite aspiration pneumonia, the patient successfully underwent surgery. We reported this case along with a brief literature review.
Anesthesia* ; Brain ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Cesarean Section* ; Female ; Hemangioma, Cavernous ; Humans ; Neurosurgery ; Pneumonia, Aspiration ; Pons* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Young Adult

Invasive aspergillosis (IA), generally considered an opportunistic infection in immunocompromised hosts, is associated with high morbidity and mortality. IA commonly occurs in the respiratory tract with isolated reports of aspergillosis infection in the nasal sinuses, central nervous system, skin, liver, and urinary tract. Extra-pulmonary aspergillosis is usually observed in disseminated disease. To date, there are a few studies regarding primary and disseminated gastrointestinal (GI) aspergillosis in immunocompromised hosts. Only a few cases of primary GI aspergillosis in non-immunocompromised hosts have been reported; of these, almost all of them involved the upper GI tract. We describe a very rare case of IA involving the lower GI tract in the patient without classical risk factors that presented as multiple colon perforations and was successfully treated by surgery and antifungal treatment. We also review related literature and discuss the characteristics and risk factors of IA in the immunocompetent hosts without classical risk factors. This case that shows IA should be considered in critically ill patients, and that primary lower GI aspergillosis may also occur in the immunocompetent hosts without classical risk factors.
Amphotericin B/administration & dosage/therapeutic use ; Antifungal Agents/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use ; Aspergillosis/*diagnosis/drug therapy/microbiology/surgery ; Aspergillus/*isolation & purification ; Colon/microbiology/radiography/*surgery ; Colonic Diseases/diagnosis/therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Humans ; *Immunocompetence ; Laparotomy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Voriconazole/administration & dosage/therapeutic use

No abstract available.
Influenza, Human*

No abstract available.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones/contraindications ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Antiviral Agents/administration & dosage ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ; Humans ; Influenza, Human/complications/*therapy

No abstract available.
Antiviral Agents/*therapeutic use ; Cross Infection/diagnosis/*prevention & control/transmission/virology ; Evidence-Based Medicine/standards ; Humans ; Infection Control/*standards ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional/prevention & control ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient/prevention & control ; Influenza Vaccines/*administration & dosage ; Influenza, Human/diagnosis/*prevention & control/transmission/virology ; Occupational Health Services/*standards ; Risk Factors ; *Seasons ; Vaccination/*standards

No abstract available.
Delivery of Health Care* ; Influenza, Human* ; Seasons*

BACKGROUND: In major burn patients, many invasive monitors including a pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) are often required to assess hemodynamic status. An esophageal Doppler monitor (EDM), as a noninvasive method of measuring hemodynamic parameters, may be a substitute for a PAC in this clinical circumstance. This study was conducted to evaluate the validity of Doppler derived hemodynamic indices in comparison to that of a PAC. METHODS: A total of 20 critically ill, severe burn patients, scheduled for an elective escharectomy and application of artificial dermis, were enrolled for the placement of a PAC and EDM. Simultaneous data was collected in regular intervals and the various parameters were compared between the two methods. RESULTS: A total of 158 pairs of data in 20 patients were gathered. Among all the parameters, cardiac output (CO) and stroke volume (SV) showed consistently 20% less in EDM. Correlation coefficients of heart rate (HR), CO, SV and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) were 0.97, 0.54, 0.62, and 0.68 respectively. Corrected flow time (FTc) had poor correlations with central venous pressure (CVP) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP). In the mean time, significant, but very weak correlations with FTc vs. CO and SV were demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: EDM may be a substitute for a thermodilution (TD) PAC technique, it can be used with usefulness for hemodynamic and preload assessment in major burn patients.
Burns* ; Cardiac Output ; Catheters* ; Central Venous Pressure ; Critical Illness ; Dermis ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Pulmonary Wedge Pressure ; Stroke Volume ; Thermodilution ; Vascular Resistance

BACKGROUND: Carbon dioxide insufflation during an endoscopic thyroidectomy may cause an adverse effects on blood gas and hemodynamic status. This study was conducted to evaluate the safety of low pressure carbon dioxide insufflation during an endoscopic thyroidectomy. METHODS: Patients in ASA physical status I or II, scheduled for an endoscopic thyroidectomy (n = 70) were gathered for the evaluation. During the operative procedure, minute ventilation at a tidal volume 10 ml/kg and respiratory rate 10/minute was maintained. End-tidal carbon dioxide tension, blood pressure and heart rate were measured and compared before and at 10, 20, 30, 60 and 90 minutes after CO2 insufflation. RESULTS: End tidal carbon dioxide tension significantly increased up to 30 minutes and plateaued thereafter. Mean blood pressure significantly increased up to 30 minutes but there was no change in heart rate after CO2 insufflation. Complications were not reported. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that low pressure carbon dioxide insufflation during an endoscopic thyroidectomy was safe and useful.
Blood Pressure ; Carbon Dioxide* ; Carbon* ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Insufflation* ; Respiratory Rate ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Thyroidectomy* ; Tidal Volume ; Ventilation