In addition to Helicobacter pylori, the acute bacterial causes of infectious gastritis, include phlegmonous gastritis, gastric tuberculosis, and gastric syphilis. Bacterial gastritis often improves with appropriate broad-spectrum antibiotics, emphasizing the need for prompt diagnosis and treatment based on the clinical and endoscopic findings. Among viral gastritis, cytomegalovirus gastritis, primarily occurring in immunocompromised patients, necessitates antiviral intervention, while immunocompetent individuals typically achieve amelioration by administering proton pump inhibitors. In contrast, most gastric infections caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) are asymptomatic, but an EBV infection is a cause of stomach cancer. EBV-associated gastric cancer exhibits distinct clinical, pathological, genetic, and post-genetic mutation features, making it clinically significant. The colonization of Candida albicans in the stomach is uncommon, and typical antifungal treatment is unnecessary. Candida infections in gastric ulcers can be treated with anti-ulcer treatment alone. Lastly, anisakidosis in the stomach, which occurs when consuming raw seafood, can manifest in various clinical presentations and is typically treated through endoscopic removal of the nematode. This article aims to contribute to the rapid diagnosis and treatment of rare stomach infections beyond Helicobacter pylori in real clinical situations.

No abstract available.
Endocarditis ; Sinus of Valsalva

Applying work restrictions for asymptomatic healthcare personnel (HCP) with potential exposure to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is recommended to prevent transmission from potentially contagious HCP to patients and other HCP. However, it can lead to understaffing, which threatens the safety of both patients and HCP. We evaluated 203 COVID-19 exposure events at a single tertiary hospital from January 2020 to June 2021. A total of 2,365 HCP were potentially exposed, and work restrictions were imposed on 320 HCP, leading to the loss of 3,311 working days. However, only one of the work-restricted HCP was confirmed with COVID-19. During the study period, the work restriction measures might be taken excessively compared to their benefit, so establishing more effective standards for work restriction is required.

Applying work restrictions for asymptomatic healthcare personnel (HCP) with potential exposure to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is recommended to prevent transmission from potentially contagious HCP to patients and other HCP. However, it can lead to understaffing, which threatens the safety of both patients and HCP. We evaluated 203 COVID-19 exposure events at a single tertiary hospital from January 2020 to June 2021. A total of 2,365 HCP were potentially exposed, and work restrictions were imposed on 320 HCP, leading to the loss of 3,311 working days. However, only one of the work-restricted HCP was confirmed with COVID-19. During the study period, the work restriction measures might be taken excessively compared to their benefit, so establishing more effective standards for work restriction is required.

Background: To evaluate whether insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion are useful predictors of incident diabetes in Koreans using nationwide population-representative data to enhance data privacy. Methods: This study analyzed the data of individuals without diabetes aged >40 years from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2007–2010 and 2015 and the National Health Insurance Service-National Health Screening Cohort (NHIS-HEALS). Owing to privacy concerns, these databases cannot be linked using direct identifiers. Therefore, we generated 10 synthetic datasets, followed by statistical matching with the NHIS-HEALS. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and homeostasis model assessment of β-cell function (HOMA-β) were used as indicators of insulin resistance and insulin secretory function, respectively, and diabetes onset was captured in NHIS-HEALS. Results: A median of 4,580 (range, 4,463 to 4,761) adults were included in the analyses after statistical matching of 10 synthetic KNHANES and NHIS-HEALS datasets. During a mean follow-up duration of 5.8 years, a median of 4.7% (range, 4.3% to 5.0%) of the participants developed diabetes. Compared to the reference low–HOMA-IR/high–HOMA-β group, the high–HOMA-IR/low– HOMA-β group had the highest risk of diabetes, followed by high–HOMA-IR/high–HOMA-β group and low–HOMA-IR/low– HOMA-β group (median adjusted hazard ratio [ranges]: 3.36 [1.86 to 6.05], 1.81 [1.01 to 3.22], and 1.68 [0.93 to 3.04], respectively). Conclusion Insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion are robust predictors of diabetes in the Korean population. A retrospective cohort constructed by combining cross-sectional synthetic and longitudinal claims-based cohort data through statistical matching may be a reliable resource for studying the natural history of diabetes.

Purpose: To investigate urine microbiome differences among healthy women, women with recurrent uncomplicated cystitis (rUC), and those with sporadic/single uncomplicated cystitis (sUC) to challenge traditional beliefs about origins of these infections. Materials and Methods: Patients who underwent both conventional urine culture and next-generation sequencing (NGS) of urine were retrospectively reviewed. Symptom-free women with normal urinalysis results as a control group were also studied. Samples were collected via transurethral catheterization. Results: In the control group, urine microbiome was detected on NGS in 83.3%, with Lactobacillus and Prevotella being the most abundant genera. The sensitivity of urine NGS was significantly higher than that of conventional urine culture in both the sUC group (91.2% vs. 32.4%) and the rUC group (82.4% vs. 16.4%). In urine NGS results, Enterobacterales, Prevotella, and Escherichia/ Shigella were additionally found in the sUC group, while the recurrent urinary tract infection (rUTI)/rUC group exhibited the presence of Lactobacillus, Prevotella, Enterobacterales, Escherichia/Shigella, and Propionibacterium. Moreover, distinct patterns of urine NGS were observed based on menopausal status and ingestion of antibiotics or probiotics prior to NGS test sampling. Conclusions Urine microbiomes in control, sUC, and rUTI/rUC groups exhibited distinct characteristics. Notably, sUC and rUC might represent entirely separate pathological processes, given their distinct urine microbiomes. Consequently, the use of urine NGS might be essential to enhancing sensitivity compared to conventional urine culture in both sUC and rUTI/rUC groups.

Purpose: To investigate urine microbiome differences among healthy women, women with recurrent uncomplicated cystitis (rUC), and those with sporadic/single uncomplicated cystitis (sUC) to challenge traditional beliefs about origins of these infections. Materials and Methods: Patients who underwent both conventional urine culture and next-generation sequencing (NGS) of urine were retrospectively reviewed. Symptom-free women with normal urinalysis results as a control group were also studied. Samples were collected via transurethral catheterization. Results: In the control group, urine microbiome was detected on NGS in 83.3%, with Lactobacillus and Prevotella being the most abundant genera. The sensitivity of urine NGS was significantly higher than that of conventional urine culture in both the sUC group (91.2% vs. 32.4%) and the rUC group (82.4% vs. 16.4%). In urine NGS results, Enterobacterales, Prevotella, and Escherichia/ Shigella were additionally found in the sUC group, while the recurrent urinary tract infection (rUTI)/rUC group exhibited the presence of Lactobacillus, Prevotella, Enterobacterales, Escherichia/Shigella, and Propionibacterium. Moreover, distinct patterns of urine NGS were observed based on menopausal status and ingestion of antibiotics or probiotics prior to NGS test sampling. Conclusions Urine microbiomes in control, sUC, and rUTI/rUC groups exhibited distinct characteristics. Notably, sUC and rUC might represent entirely separate pathological processes, given their distinct urine microbiomes. Consequently, the use of urine NGS might be essential to enhancing sensitivity compared to conventional urine culture in both sUC and rUTI/rUC groups.

Background: To evaluate whether insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion are useful predictors of incident diabetes in Koreans using nationwide population-representative data to enhance data privacy. Methods: This study analyzed the data of individuals without diabetes aged >40 years from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2007–2010 and 2015 and the National Health Insurance Service-National Health Screening Cohort (NHIS-HEALS). Owing to privacy concerns, these databases cannot be linked using direct identifiers. Therefore, we generated 10 synthetic datasets, followed by statistical matching with the NHIS-HEALS. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and homeostasis model assessment of β-cell function (HOMA-β) were used as indicators of insulin resistance and insulin secretory function, respectively, and diabetes onset was captured in NHIS-HEALS. Results: A median of 4,580 (range, 4,463 to 4,761) adults were included in the analyses after statistical matching of 10 synthetic KNHANES and NHIS-HEALS datasets. During a mean follow-up duration of 5.8 years, a median of 4.7% (range, 4.3% to 5.0%) of the participants developed diabetes. Compared to the reference low–HOMA-IR/high–HOMA-β group, the high–HOMA-IR/low– HOMA-β group had the highest risk of diabetes, followed by high–HOMA-IR/high–HOMA-β group and low–HOMA-IR/low– HOMA-β group (median adjusted hazard ratio [ranges]: 3.36 [1.86 to 6.05], 1.81 [1.01 to 3.22], and 1.68 [0.93 to 3.04], respectively). Conclusion Insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion are robust predictors of diabetes in the Korean population. A retrospective cohort constructed by combining cross-sectional synthetic and longitudinal claims-based cohort data through statistical matching may be a reliable resource for studying the natural history of diabetes.

Purpose: To investigate urine microbiome differences among healthy women, women with recurrent uncomplicated cystitis (rUC), and those with sporadic/single uncomplicated cystitis (sUC) to challenge traditional beliefs about origins of these infections. Materials and Methods: Patients who underwent both conventional urine culture and next-generation sequencing (NGS) of urine were retrospectively reviewed. Symptom-free women with normal urinalysis results as a control group were also studied. Samples were collected via transurethral catheterization. Results: In the control group, urine microbiome was detected on NGS in 83.3%, with Lactobacillus and Prevotella being the most abundant genera. The sensitivity of urine NGS was significantly higher than that of conventional urine culture in both the sUC group (91.2% vs. 32.4%) and the rUC group (82.4% vs. 16.4%). In urine NGS results, Enterobacterales, Prevotella, and Escherichia/ Shigella were additionally found in the sUC group, while the recurrent urinary tract infection (rUTI)/rUC group exhibited the presence of Lactobacillus, Prevotella, Enterobacterales, Escherichia/Shigella, and Propionibacterium. Moreover, distinct patterns of urine NGS were observed based on menopausal status and ingestion of antibiotics or probiotics prior to NGS test sampling. Conclusions Urine microbiomes in control, sUC, and rUTI/rUC groups exhibited distinct characteristics. Notably, sUC and rUC might represent entirely separate pathological processes, given their distinct urine microbiomes. Consequently, the use of urine NGS might be essential to enhancing sensitivity compared to conventional urine culture in both sUC and rUTI/rUC groups.

Background: To evaluate whether insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion are useful predictors of incident diabetes in Koreans using nationwide population-representative data to enhance data privacy. Methods: This study analyzed the data of individuals without diabetes aged >40 years from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2007–2010 and 2015 and the National Health Insurance Service-National Health Screening Cohort (NHIS-HEALS). Owing to privacy concerns, these databases cannot be linked using direct identifiers. Therefore, we generated 10 synthetic datasets, followed by statistical matching with the NHIS-HEALS. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and homeostasis model assessment of β-cell function (HOMA-β) were used as indicators of insulin resistance and insulin secretory function, respectively, and diabetes onset was captured in NHIS-HEALS. Results: A median of 4,580 (range, 4,463 to 4,761) adults were included in the analyses after statistical matching of 10 synthetic KNHANES and NHIS-HEALS datasets. During a mean follow-up duration of 5.8 years, a median of 4.7% (range, 4.3% to 5.0%) of the participants developed diabetes. Compared to the reference low–HOMA-IR/high–HOMA-β group, the high–HOMA-IR/low– HOMA-β group had the highest risk of diabetes, followed by high–HOMA-IR/high–HOMA-β group and low–HOMA-IR/low– HOMA-β group (median adjusted hazard ratio [ranges]: 3.36 [1.86 to 6.05], 1.81 [1.01 to 3.22], and 1.68 [0.93 to 3.04], respectively). Conclusion Insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion are robust predictors of diabetes in the Korean population. A retrospective cohort constructed by combining cross-sectional synthetic and longitudinal claims-based cohort data through statistical matching may be a reliable resource for studying the natural history of diabetes.