Objective: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) had a significant impact on the mental health of healthcare workers. Related assessments should be included in plans for future pandemics. We investigated the connections between grief, viral anxiety, depression, and preoccupation in the context of COVID-19 in healthcare workers, to determine which factors will need to be incorporated. Methods: A total of 267 healthcare workers who had experienced the death of at least one patient during the COVID-19 pandemic were asked to respond to questionnaires assessing grief, viral anxiety, depression, loneliness, and preoccupation with COVID-19, based on their emotional state during the 2 weeks immediately after the death. Multivariate linear regression, causal mediation analysis and structural equation modeling were used to examine the psychological processes underlying grief. Results: Linear regression showed that viral anxiety (β=0.287, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.235–0.338, p<0.001) and depression (β= 0.157, 95% CI: 0.073–0.241, p<0.001) had independent associations with preoccupation with COVID-19. Causal mediation analysis revealed that both viral anxiety (proportion mediated: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.37–0.66, p<0.001) and depression (proportion mediated: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.50–1.08, p<0.001) were mediators between grief and preoccupation with COVID-19. In a structural equation model, viral anxiety and depression mediated most of the effects of grief on preoccupation with COVID-19, and loneliness was a mediator between grief and depression. Conclusion Contingency plans for the next pandemic are being formulated. Effective measures to protect the mental health of healthcare workers should be included, and such measures should consist of assessments for grief, viral anxiety, depression, and loneliness.

Objective: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) had a significant impact on the mental health of healthcare workers. Related assessments should be included in plans for future pandemics. We investigated the connections between grief, viral anxiety, depression, and preoccupation in the context of COVID-19 in healthcare workers, to determine which factors will need to be incorporated. Methods: A total of 267 healthcare workers who had experienced the death of at least one patient during the COVID-19 pandemic were asked to respond to questionnaires assessing grief, viral anxiety, depression, loneliness, and preoccupation with COVID-19, based on their emotional state during the 2 weeks immediately after the death. Multivariate linear regression, causal mediation analysis and structural equation modeling were used to examine the psychological processes underlying grief. Results: Linear regression showed that viral anxiety (β=0.287, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.235–0.338, p<0.001) and depression (β= 0.157, 95% CI: 0.073–0.241, p<0.001) had independent associations with preoccupation with COVID-19. Causal mediation analysis revealed that both viral anxiety (proportion mediated: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.37–0.66, p<0.001) and depression (proportion mediated: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.50–1.08, p<0.001) were mediators between grief and preoccupation with COVID-19. In a structural equation model, viral anxiety and depression mediated most of the effects of grief on preoccupation with COVID-19, and loneliness was a mediator between grief and depression. Conclusion Contingency plans for the next pandemic are being formulated. Effective measures to protect the mental health of healthcare workers should be included, and such measures should consist of assessments for grief, viral anxiety, depression, and loneliness.

Objective: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) had a significant impact on the mental health of healthcare workers. Related assessments should be included in plans for future pandemics. We investigated the connections between grief, viral anxiety, depression, and preoccupation in the context of COVID-19 in healthcare workers, to determine which factors will need to be incorporated. Methods: A total of 267 healthcare workers who had experienced the death of at least one patient during the COVID-19 pandemic were asked to respond to questionnaires assessing grief, viral anxiety, depression, loneliness, and preoccupation with COVID-19, based on their emotional state during the 2 weeks immediately after the death. Multivariate linear regression, causal mediation analysis and structural equation modeling were used to examine the psychological processes underlying grief. Results: Linear regression showed that viral anxiety (β=0.287, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.235–0.338, p<0.001) and depression (β= 0.157, 95% CI: 0.073–0.241, p<0.001) had independent associations with preoccupation with COVID-19. Causal mediation analysis revealed that both viral anxiety (proportion mediated: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.37–0.66, p<0.001) and depression (proportion mediated: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.50–1.08, p<0.001) were mediators between grief and preoccupation with COVID-19. In a structural equation model, viral anxiety and depression mediated most of the effects of grief on preoccupation with COVID-19, and loneliness was a mediator between grief and depression. Conclusion Contingency plans for the next pandemic are being formulated. Effective measures to protect the mental health of healthcare workers should be included, and such measures should consist of assessments for grief, viral anxiety, depression, and loneliness.

Objective: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) had a significant impact on the mental health of healthcare workers. Related assessments should be included in plans for future pandemics. We investigated the connections between grief, viral anxiety, depression, and preoccupation in the context of COVID-19 in healthcare workers, to determine which factors will need to be incorporated. Methods: A total of 267 healthcare workers who had experienced the death of at least one patient during the COVID-19 pandemic were asked to respond to questionnaires assessing grief, viral anxiety, depression, loneliness, and preoccupation with COVID-19, based on their emotional state during the 2 weeks immediately after the death. Multivariate linear regression, causal mediation analysis and structural equation modeling were used to examine the psychological processes underlying grief. Results: Linear regression showed that viral anxiety (β=0.287, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.235–0.338, p<0.001) and depression (β= 0.157, 95% CI: 0.073–0.241, p<0.001) had independent associations with preoccupation with COVID-19. Causal mediation analysis revealed that both viral anxiety (proportion mediated: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.37–0.66, p<0.001) and depression (proportion mediated: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.50–1.08, p<0.001) were mediators between grief and preoccupation with COVID-19. In a structural equation model, viral anxiety and depression mediated most of the effects of grief on preoccupation with COVID-19, and loneliness was a mediator between grief and depression. Conclusion Contingency plans for the next pandemic are being formulated. Effective measures to protect the mental health of healthcare workers should be included, and such measures should consist of assessments for grief, viral anxiety, depression, and loneliness.

A measles outbreak with 20 confirmed cases occurred at a local children’s hospital in Daejeon from March 28 to April 21, 2019. The index patient was a 7-month-old girl with a recent history of travel to Vietnam. Contact tracing, active surveillance, and post-exposure prophylaxis were conducted by health authorities. Among the 20 patients, 11 (55%) were infants (0–11 months of age), three (15%) were aged 1–3 years, one (5%) was aged 4 years, and five (25%) were adults. Fifteen (75%) patients did not have a history of measles vaccination, and five (25%) had received only one vaccine dose. This study described the importance of prompt application of infection control measures in susceptible environments, including hospitals. Age-appropriate vaccination and providing information on infectious diseases to international travelers and multicultural families in Korea is vital.

Purpose: As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic ended, the number of patients with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) pneumonia increased during the spring/summer of 2022.This study aimed to analyze the clinical features and antibiotic usage of children hospitalized for RSV pneumonia in a recently established general hospital in Sejong city. Methods: In this retrospective review, we included inpatients of the Pediatric Department of Chungnam National University Sejong Hospital diagnosed with RSV pneumonia between March 2022 and April 2023. Patients were divided into 2 groups: with and without antibiotic treatment. Demographic data, initial presentations, and clinical courses were reviewed. Results: A total of 116 patients with RSV pneumonia were hospitalized during this period, of which 102 were analyzed, excluding 14 with underlying diseases or who did not fall within the definition of pneumonia. The median age was 17 months. Diagnoses of bacterial infections (acute otitis media and sinusitis) were documented in 9.8% of cases. Intravenous (IV) antibiotics were administered in 46% of cases. The group receiving IV antibiotics showed higher inflammatory levels (C-reactive protein; CRP), more infiltration on initial chest X-rays, and longer fever duration. There was no difference in the length of hospitalization between the groups with and without IV antibiotics. Conclusions This study showed a tendency for the attending physician to prescribe IV antibiotics to patients with longer fever duration, pulmonary infiltrations on the initial chest X-ray, and higher CRP levels. However, given the high rate of IV antibiotic usage compared to previous studies, care should be taken in antibiotic use.

Purpose: As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic ended, the number of patients with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) pneumonia increased during the spring/summer of 2022.This study aimed to analyze the clinical features and antibiotic usage of children hospitalized for RSV pneumonia in a recently established general hospital in Sejong city. Methods: In this retrospective review, we included inpatients of the Pediatric Department of Chungnam National University Sejong Hospital diagnosed with RSV pneumonia between March 2022 and April 2023. Patients were divided into 2 groups: with and without antibiotic treatment. Demographic data, initial presentations, and clinical courses were reviewed. Results: A total of 116 patients with RSV pneumonia were hospitalized during this period, of which 102 were analyzed, excluding 14 with underlying diseases or who did not fall within the definition of pneumonia. The median age was 17 months. Diagnoses of bacterial infections (acute otitis media and sinusitis) were documented in 9.8% of cases. Intravenous (IV) antibiotics were administered in 46% of cases. The group receiving IV antibiotics showed higher inflammatory levels (C-reactive protein; CRP), more infiltration on initial chest X-rays, and longer fever duration. There was no difference in the length of hospitalization between the groups with and without IV antibiotics. Conclusions This study showed a tendency for the attending physician to prescribe IV antibiotics to patients with longer fever duration, pulmonary infiltrations on the initial chest X-ray, and higher CRP levels. However, given the high rate of IV antibiotic usage compared to previous studies, care should be taken in antibiotic use.

Purpose: As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic ended, the number of patients with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) pneumonia increased during the spring/summer of 2022.This study aimed to analyze the clinical features and antibiotic usage of children hospitalized for RSV pneumonia in a recently established general hospital in Sejong city. Methods: In this retrospective review, we included inpatients of the Pediatric Department of Chungnam National University Sejong Hospital diagnosed with RSV pneumonia between March 2022 and April 2023. Patients were divided into 2 groups: with and without antibiotic treatment. Demographic data, initial presentations, and clinical courses were reviewed. Results: A total of 116 patients with RSV pneumonia were hospitalized during this period, of which 102 were analyzed, excluding 14 with underlying diseases or who did not fall within the definition of pneumonia. The median age was 17 months. Diagnoses of bacterial infections (acute otitis media and sinusitis) were documented in 9.8% of cases. Intravenous (IV) antibiotics were administered in 46% of cases. The group receiving IV antibiotics showed higher inflammatory levels (C-reactive protein; CRP), more infiltration on initial chest X-rays, and longer fever duration. There was no difference in the length of hospitalization between the groups with and without IV antibiotics. Conclusions This study showed a tendency for the attending physician to prescribe IV antibiotics to patients with longer fever duration, pulmonary infiltrations on the initial chest X-ray, and higher CRP levels. However, given the high rate of IV antibiotic usage compared to previous studies, care should be taken in antibiotic use.

Objective: To identify the clinical characteristics of patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) according to age at onset. Methods: We retrospectively recruited 227 non-thymomatous MG patients with adult onset who had been followed up for more than one year. The patients were classified based on the age of symptom onset as “early-onset MG” (EOMG,18–50 years; N=135), “late-onset MG” (LOMG, 50–64 years; N=53), and “very late-onset MG” (VLOMG, 65 years; N=39). Clinical features and serological findings were compared between these groups. Results: LOMG patients showed more frequent ocular MG (55%) and less frequent thymic hyperplasia (9%) compared to EOMG patients (31% and 38%; p=0.006 and p<0.001, respectively), and no female preponderance compared to VLOMG patients (female, 49% vs.77%; p=0.014). However, there were no significant differences between VLOMG and EOMG patients, except for more frequent thymic hyperplasia (p<0.001) in EOMG patients. When analyzing female patients only, less frequent secondary generalization (10%) were additionally found in LOMG patients, compared to EOMG (47%, p= 0.008) and VLOMG (59%, p=0.004) patients. Anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody (HR, 5.48; 95% CI, 1.73–17.37; p=0.004) was independently associated with secondary generalization in female EOMG patients. Conclusion: Our study suggests that LOMG patients, especially female, were characterized by frequent ocular MG and less frequent secondary generalization, distinguished from EOMG and VLOMG patients. Further large epidemiologic studies in Korea are needed to determine the characteristics of MG patients according to the age at onset and gender.

A germacrane-type sesquiterpenoid was isolated and purified from a methanol extract of the roots of Valeriana fauriei (RVF) through open column chromatography using silica gel. This compound was verified to be heishuixiecaoline A by spectroscopic analysis. This compound was isolated for the first time from RVF.Quantitative analysis of heishuixiecaoline A from RVF cultivated from three different regions (Eumseong, Jinbu, and Jinan regions) was performed by combining high-performance liquid chromatography with a photodiode array detector. The extract of RVF cultivated in the Jinbu region showed the highest content (9.23 mg/g). In addition, a significant amount of the compound was detected in all RVF samples, which could be expected since it is a characteristic compound of RVF. The sesquiterpenoid group heishuixiecaoline A was isolated from RVF, a resource for various pharmacological substances, and quantitative analysis of RVF cultivated from three different regions was performed. As a result of these experiments, basic data on RVF that can be used in the development and application of pharmaceuticals and health functional foods in the future were obtained.