Background: Numerous patients around the globe are dying from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). While age is a known risk factor, risk analysis in the young generation is lacking. The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical features and mortality risk factors in younger patients (≤ 50 years) with a critical case of COVID-19 in comparison with those among older patients (> 50 years) in Korea. Methods: We analyzed the data of adult patients only in critical condition (requiring high flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy or higher respiratory support) hospitalized with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 at 11 hospitals in Korea from July 1, 2021 to November 30, 2021 when the delta variant was a dominant strain. Patients’ electronic medical records were reviewed to identify clinical characteristics. Results: During the study period, 448 patients were enrolled. One hundred and forty-two were aged 50 years or younger (the younger group), while 306 were above 50 years of age (the older group). The most common pre-existing conditions in the younger group were diabetes mellitus and hypertension, and 69.7% of the patients had a body mass index (BMI) > 25 kg/m 2 .Of 142 younger patients, 31 of 142 patients (21.8%, 19 women) did not have these pre-existing conditions. The overall case fatality rate among severity cases was 21.0%, and it differed according to age: 5.6% (n = 8/142) in the younger group, 28.1% in the older group, and 38% in the ≥ 65 years group. Age (odds ratio [OR], 7.902; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.754–18.181), mechanical ventilation therapy (OR, 17.233; 95% CI, 8.439–35.192), highest creatinine > 1.5 mg/dL (OR, 17.631; 95% CI, 8.321–37.357), and combined blood stream infection (OR, 7.092;95% CI, 1.061–18.181) were identified as independent predictors of mortality in total patients.Similar patterns were observed in age-specific analyses, but most results were statistically insignificant in multivariate analysis due to the low number of deaths in the younger group.The full vaccination rate was very low among study population (13.6%), and only three patients were fully vaccinated, with none of the patients who died having been fully vaccinated in the younger group. Seven of eight patients who died had a pre-existing condition or were obese (BMI > 25 kg/m 2 ), and the one remaining patient died from a secondary infection. Conclusion About 22% of the patients in the young critical group did not have an underlying disease or obesity, but the rate of obesity (BMI > 25 kg/m2 ) was high, with a fatality rate of 5.6%. The full vaccination rate was extremely low compared to the general population of the same age group, showing that non-vaccination has a grave impact on the progression of COVID-19 to a critical condition. The findings of this study highlight the need for measures to prevent critical progression of COVID-19, such as vaccinations and targeting young adults especially having risk factors.

Background: The objective of this study was to examine changes in the prevalence of cytotoxic-associated gene A (CagA) positive Helicobacter pylori infection in Jinju, Korea, over the last 20 years. Methods: Three cross-sectional analyses were conducted concurrently. A total of 1,305 serum samples were collected from 1994–1995, 2004–2005, and 2014–2015, respectively. The presence of immunoglobulin (Ig) G, IgA, and IgM antibodies against H. pylori CagA protein was examined by western blotting. Results: Overall, seropositivity for anti-CagA IgG antibody was significantly decreased from 63.2% to 42.5% over the last 20 years (P < 0.001). Anti-CagA IgG seropositivities in children and young adults aged 10–29 years decreased from 1994 (60.0%–85.0%) to 2015 (12.5%– 28.9%). The age when plateau of increasing IgG seropositivity was reached in each study period shifted from the 15–19 year-old group in 1994–1995 (85.0%) to the 40–49 year-old group in 2014–2015 (82.5%). Overall seropositive rates of anti-CagA IgA and IgM antibodies did not change significantly either over the last 20 years. Conclusion H. pylori infection rate in children and young adults declined over 20 years in Jinju, probably due to improved sanitation, housing, or economy.

The policies developed for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection in adults may not be the most suitable ones to treat children and adolescents. Methods used to treat children and adolescents in Europe and North America may not be appropriate for treating children and adolescents in Korea due to differences in epidemiological characteristics of H. pylori between regions. Moreover, the agreed standard guidelines for the treatment of H. pylori infection in children and adolescents in Korea have not been established yet. In this study, the optimal treatment strategy for H. pylori infection control in children and adolescents in Korea is discussed based on these guidelines, and recent progress on the use and misuse of antimicrobial agents is elaborated. Non-invasive as well as invasive diagnostic test and treatment strategy for H. pylori infection are not recommendable in children aged less than ten years or children with body weight under 35 kg, except in cases of clinically suspected or endoscopically identified peptic ulcers. The uncertainty, whether enough antimicrobial concentrations to eradicate H. pylori can be maintained when administered according to body weight-based dosing, and the costs and adverse effects outweighing the anticipated benefits of treatment make it difficult to decide to eradicate H. pylori in a positive non-invasive diagnostic test in this age group. However, adolescents over ten years of age or with a bodyweight of more than 35 kg can be managed aggressively as adults, because they can tolerate the adult doses of anti-H. pylori therapy. In adolescents, the prevention of future peptic ulcers and gastric cancers is expected after the eradication of H. pylori. Bismuth-based quadruple therapy (bismuth-proton pump inhibitor-amoxicillin/tetracycline-metronidazole) with maximal tolerable doses and optimal dose intervals of 14 days is recommended, because in Korea, the antibiotic susceptibility test for H. pylori is not performed at the initial diagnostic evaluation. If the first-line treatment fails, concomitant therapy plus bismuth can be attempted for 14 days as an empirical rescue therapy. Finally, the salvage therapy, if needed, must be administered after the H. pylori antibiotic susceptibility test.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Bismuth ; Body Weight ; Child ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Europe ; Helicobacter pylori ; Helicobacter ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Korea ; North America ; Peptic Ulcer ; Salvage Therapy ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Uncertainty

BACKGROUND: Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), one of the most widely used brominated flame-retardants, is a representative persistent organic pollutants group. Studies on TBBPA toxicity have been conducted using various target cells; however, few studies have investigated TBBPA toxicity in bone cells. Therefore, this study investigated the in vitro effects of TBBPA on osteoclasts, a cell type involved in bone metabolism. METHODS: RAW264.7 cells were cultured in medium containing 50 ng/mL receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL) and varying concentrations of TBBPA. To evaluate the effects of TBBPA on the differentiation and function of osteoclasts, osteoclast-specific gene expression, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity, bone resorbing activity, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and mitochondrial superoxide were measured. RESULTS: The presence of 20 μM TBBPA significantly increased TRAP activity in RANKL-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, the bone resorbing activity of osteoclasts, and the gene expression of Akt2, nuclear factor of activated T-cells cytoplasmic 1, and chloride channel voltage-sensitive 7. However, TBBPA treatment caused no change in the expression of carbonic anhydrase II, cathepsin K, osteopetrosis-associated transmembrane protein 1, Src, extracellular signal-related kinase, GAB2, c-Fos, or matrix metalloproteinase 9. Furthermore, 20 μM TBBPA caused a significant decrease in MMP and a significant increase in mitochondrial superoxide production. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that TBBPA promotes osteoclast differentiation and activity. The mechanism of TBBPA-stimulated osteoclastogenesis might include increased expression of several genes involved in osteoclast differentiation and reactive oxygen species production.
Acid Phosphatase ; Carbonic Anhydrase II ; Cathepsin K ; Chloride Channels ; Cytoplasm ; Gene Expression ; In Vitro Techniques ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; Metabolism ; Osteoclasts ; Phosphotransferases ; RANK Ligand ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B ; Superoxides ; T-Lymphocytes

This nationwide, prospective cohort study evaluated pulmonary function and radiological sequelae according to infection severity in 73 survivors from the 2015 Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) outbreak in Korea. Patients with severe pneumonia in MERS-coronavirus infection had more impaired pulmonary function than those with no or mild pneumonia at the 1-year follow-up, which was compatible with the radiological sequelae. Severe pneumonia significantly impairs pulmonary function and makes long radiological sequelae in MERS.
Cohort Studies ; Coronavirus ; Coronavirus Infections* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Middle East* ; Pneumonia* ; Prospective Studies ; Survivors

Helicobacter pylori plays an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, gastric cancer, and gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. In Korea, the guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of H. pylori infection in adults were revised in 2013. The European Helicobacter and Microbiota Study Group and Consensus panel released the fifth edition of the Maastricht Consensus Report for the management of H. pylori infection in 2015, and the European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition and the North American Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition released the updated joint guidelines for children and adolescents in 2016. Considering these recommendations and recent progress in our research and that of other research teams, this study aimed to discuss the diagnostic strategies for H. pylori infection in children and adolescents.
Adolescent* ; Adult ; Child* ; Consensus ; Diagnosis* ; Gastritis ; Gastroenterology ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Joints ; Korea* ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone ; Microbiota ; Peptic Ulcer ; Stomach Diseases

To identify the Helicobacter pylori antigens operating during early infection in sera from infected infants using proteomics and immunoblot analysis. Two-dimensional (2D) large and small gel electrophoresis was performed using H. pylori strain 51. We performed 2D immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin A (IgA), and immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody immunoblotting using small gels on sera collected at the Gyeongsang National University Hospital from 4–11-month-old infants confirmed with H. pylori infection by pre-embedding immunoelectron microscopy. Immunoblot spots appearing to represent early infection markers in infant sera were compared to those of the large 2D gel for H. pylori strain 51. Corresponding spots were analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). The peptide fingerprints obtained were searched in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database. Eight infant patients were confirmed with H. pylori infection based on urease tests, histopathologic examinations, and pre-embedding immunoelectron microscopy. One infant showed a 2D IgM immunoblot pattern that seemed to represent early infection. Immunoblot spots were compared with those from whole-cell extracts of H. pylori strain 51 and 18 spots were excised, digested in gel, and analyzed by MALDI-TOF-MS. Of the 10 peptide fingerprints obtained, the H. pylori proteins flagellin A (FlaA), urease β subunit (UreB), pyruvate ferredoxin oxidoreductase (POR), and translation elongation factor Ts (EF-Ts) were identified and appeared to be active during the early infection periods. These results might aid identification of serological markers for the serodiagnosis of early H. pylori infection in infants.
Biotechnology ; Electrophoresis ; Flagellin ; Gels ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Immunoblotting ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Infant* ; Microscopy, Immunoelectron ; Peptide Elongation Factors ; Peptide Mapping ; Proteomics ; Pyruvate Synthase ; Serologic Tests ; Spectrum Analysis ; Urease

BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment and brain damage in diabetes is suggested to be associated with hypoglycemia. The mechanisms of hypoglycemia-induced neural death and apoptosis are not clear and reperfusion injury may be involved. Recent studies show that glucose deprivation/reperfusion induced more neuronal cell death than glucose deprivation itself. The forkhead box O (FOXO) transcription factors are implicated in the regulation of cell apoptosis and survival, but their role in neuronal cells remains unclear. We examined the role of FOXO transcription factors and the involvement of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt and apoptosis-related signaling pathways in PC-12 cells exposed to repeated glucose deprivation/reperfusion. METHODS: PC-12 cells were exposed to control (Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium [DMEM] containing 25 mM glucose) or glucose deprivation/reperfusion (DMEM with 0 mM glucose for 6 hours and then DMEM with 25 mM glucose for 18 hours) for 5 days. MTT assay and Western blot analysis were performed for cell viability, apoptosis, and the expression of survival signaling pathways. FOXO3/4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining was done to ascertain the involvement of FOXO transcription factors in glucose deprivation/reperfusion conditions. RESULTS: Compared to PC-12 cells not exposed to hypoglycemia, cells exposed to glucose deprivation/reperfusion showed a reduction of cell viability, decreased expression of phosphorylated Akt and Bcl-2, and an increase of cleaved caspase-3 expression. Of note, FOXO3 protein was localized in the nuclei of glucose deprivation/reperfusion cells but not in the control cells. CONCLUSION: Repeated glucose deprivation/reperfusion caused the neuronal cell death. Activated FOXO3 via the PI3K/Akt pathway in repeated glucose deprivation/reperfusion was involved in genes related to apoptosis.
Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Brain ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Death* ; Cell Survival ; Cognition Disorders ; Eagles ; Glucose* ; Hypoglycemia ; Neurons ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase ; Reperfusion ; Reperfusion Injury ; Transcription Factors*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: It is well known that the menopause is related to interference in lipid metabolism, obesity, and a hypercoagulable state. The aim of the present study was to examine the impact of the menopause in middle-aged Korean females with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: A total of 1,781 middle-aged females (aged < 65 years) in the Korean Acute Myocardial Infarction registry were enrolled into this study between November 2005 and December 2013. The patients were divided into two groups; the pre-menopause group (≤ 55 years old) and the menopause group (56-64 years old). Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were analyzed over a one-year follow-up period. RESULTS: The pre-menopause and menopause groups comprised 669 patients (mean age, 49.1 ± 5.6 years) and 1,112 patients (mean age, 60.6 ± 2.6 years), respectively. The incidence of hypertension (42.2% vs. 59.4%, p < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (DM) (27.4% vs. 35.7%, p < 0.001), and dyslipidemia (12.9% vs. 17.7%, p = 0.008) were more frequent in menopausal patients. Additionally, the rates of smoking (20% vs. 12.7%, p < 0.001) and familial history (12% vs. 6.8%, p < 0.001) were higher in the pre-menopause group. The cumulative rates of MACE did not show any differences between the two groups. A history of atrial fibrillation, previous AMI and DM, higher Killip class, and multi-vessel disease were independent risk factors for predicting one-year MACE. CONCLUSIONS: The survival analysis demonstrated that there was no significant difference in MACE rates between the pre-menopause and menopause groups during the one-year follow-up. Therefore, middle-aged pre-menopausal women should be treated more intensively, regardless of whether they are menopausal.
Atrial Fibrillation ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Dyslipidemias ; Female* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Lipid Metabolism ; Menopause ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Obesity ; Premenopause ; Prognosis ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking

We tested correlations between anti-Helicobacter pylori IgG and IgA levels and the urease test, anti-CagA protein antibody, degree of gastritis, and age. In total, 509 children (0-15 years) were enrolled. Subjects were stratified as 0-4 years (n = 132), 5-9 years (n = 274), and 10-15 years (n = 103) and subjected to the urease test, histopathology, ELISA, and western blot using whole-cell lysates of H. pylori strain 51. The positivity rate in the urease test (P = 0.003), the degree of chronic gastritis (P = 0.021), and H. pylori infiltration (P < 0.001) increased with age. The median titer for anti-H. pylori IgG was 732.5 IU/mL at 0-4 years, 689.0 IU/mL at 5-9 years, and 966.0 IU/mL at 10-15 years (P < 0.001); the median titer for anti-H. pylori IgA was 61.0 IU/mL at 0-4 years, 63.5 IU/mL at 5-9 years, and 75.0 IU/mL at 10-15 years (P < 0.001). The CagA-positivity rate was 26.5% at 0-4 years, 36.5% at 5-9 years, and 46.6% at 10-15 years for IgG (P = 0.036), and 11.3% at 0-4 years, 18.6% at 5-9 years, and 23.3% at 10-15 years for IgA (P < 0.001). Anti-H. pylori IgG and IgA titers increased with the urease test grade, chronic gastritis degree, active gastritis, and H. pylori infiltration. Presence of CagA-positivity is well correlated with a high urease test grade and high anti-H. pylori IgG/IgA levels.
Adolescent ; Antibodies, Bacterial/*blood ; Antigens, Bacterial/*analysis/immunology ; Bacterial Proteins/*analysis/immunology/metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Chronic Disease ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Gastritis/pathology ; Helicobacter Infections/blood/microbiology/*pathology ; Helicobacter pylori/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A/*blood ; Immunoglobulin G/*blood ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Severity of Illness Index ; Urease/metabolism