The advent of the global pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) necessitates a thorough study of the stability and transmissibility in the environment. We characterized the stability of SARS-CoV-2 in three water matrices: fresh, tap, and seawater. The minimum infective dose of SARS-CoV-2 in Vero cells was confirmed to be 10 3 PFU/mL. The stability of SARS-CoV-2 varied according to the water matrix: infective SARSCoV-2 was undetectable after treatment with fresh water and seawater, but remained detectable for 2 days in tap water, when starting with an initial concentration of 10 4 PFU/mL. When the starting concentration was increased to 10 5 PFU/mL, a similar trend was observed. In addition, viral RNA persisted longer than infectious virus in all water matrices. This study was conducted in stagnant water containing a significantly high titer of virus, thus, human-to-human transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through the actual aquatic environment is expected to be rare.

BACKGROUND: Video assisted thoracic sympathectomy or sympathicotomy is a safe and effective therapy for the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis with immediate symptomatic imporvement. However the degree of satisfaction may diminish with time due to cmpensatory sweating or excessive hand dryness. Therefore by comparing and assessing the degree of symptomatic improvement or compensatory sweating following sympathectomy or sympathicotomy at various levels we aim to determine the optimal level of sympathetic nerve block which will result in minimal side effects and maximal benefit. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Among 194 patients having undergone video assisted thoracic sympathectomy or sympathicotomy between January 1996 and June 1999, 137 patients who responded to either telephone interview or questionnaire were included in the current study. The patients were divided into three groups. Group I(n=61) ; patients having undergone T2,3,4 sympathectomy group II(35) ; patients having undergone T2 sympathicotomy and group III(41) ; patients having undergone limited T2 sympathicotomy which consist of block of interganglionic neuronal fiber on the third rib. The parameters studied comprised of pre- and post-operative palmar temperature change treatment satisfaction the degree of compensatory sweating or discomfort from palmar dryness postoperative complication and changes in plantar sweating. RESULT: There was no difference in age and sex among the groups and the mean postoperative elevation in palmar temperature was 21.59degrees C without any differences among the groups. Patients expressing satisfaction were 65.6%, 62.9% and 90.24% in groups I, II and III, respectively(p<0.05) Moderate to severe compensatory sweating was present in 65.6% 51.4%, and 24.39%, in group I, II, and III, respectively (p<0.05) Slight but comfortable amount of palmar humidness was expressed in decreasing order group III(41.6%) group I(24.6%) and group II(5.7%) (p<0.05) Ineffectiveness or recurrence was present in 5patients in group I(8.2%) 1 patient in group II(2.9%) and none in group III. With regards to plantar sweating decrease in sweating was expressed in 43 patients(31.4%) while similar degree of sweating in 61 patients(44.5%) and increase in sweating in another 33 patinets(24.1%). CONCLUSION: Limited T2 sympathicotomy resection of the lower interganglionic neuronal fiber of the second sympathetic ganglion on the third rib showed immediate effect in palmar hyperhidrosis and caused lesser compensatory sweating and hand dryness.
Autonomic Nerve Block ; Ganglia, Sympathetic ; Hand ; Humans ; Hyperhidrosis* ; Interviews as Topic ; Neurons ; Postoperative Complications ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Recurrence ; Ribs ; Sweat ; Sweating ; Sympathectomy

The intramedullary nailing for humeral shaft fractures has become popular fixation method. It affords less invasive procedure, good stability and early rehabilitation. However many complications were reported such as nonunion, pain and motion limitation of shoulder. We managed 33 patients using interlocking intramedullary nail for the humeral shaft fractures, and nonunion occurred in 9 patients. We reviewed these 9 cases and analyzed the relationship between the nonunions and the fracture sites as well as fracture types. The results were as follows; 1. Nonunion occurred in 9 patients of 25 patients treated closed reduction, but did not occur in 8 patients treated open reduction. 2. The union was obtained in all 6 patients with proximal one third fracture. But nonunion occurred in 6 patients of 19 patients with middle one third fracture and in 3 patients of 8 patients with distal one third fracture. 3. Nonunion after interlocking nails for humeral shaft fractures did not occur in all 6 spiral fracture patients. Nonunion occurred in 5 patients of 8 comminuted fracture patients, in 3 patients of 6 transverse fracture patients and in 1 patient of 3 oblique fracture patients with below the middle one third of humerus. Our study showed that the high rate of nonunion occurred in the comminuted, transverse and oblique fracture below the middle one third of humerus. On the basis of these findings, we recommend that closer attention should be paid when choose the fixation method in these types of the humeral shaft fractures.
Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; Fractures, Comminuted ; Humans ; Humerus ; Rehabilitation ; Shoulder

Purpose: In this study, we aimed to assess whether axial length (AXL) is a true risk factor for steroid-induced ocular hypertension (OHT). We hypothesized that the proportion of patients with steroid-induced OHT among individuals who have received intravitreal dexamethasone (DEX) injections would differ according to the AXL of their eyes. Materials and Methods: A single-center, cross-sectional, case-control study was conducted on 467 eyes that underwent DEX implant injection owing to various retinal diseases. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured before the injection and 1 week and 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months after the injection. Enrolled patients were divided into OHT and normal IOP groups. Univariable logistic regression analysis was used to calculate odds ratios of steroid-induced OHT with significant variables being analyzed using a multivariable model. Results: A longer AXL was identified as a risk factor for steroid-induced OHT via both univariable and multivariable analyses, with an odds ratio of 1.216 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.004–1.472, p=0.0452]. The optimal cut-off value for AXL in terms of steroidinduced OHT was 23.585 mm, with an odds ratio of 2.355 (95% CI: 1.429–3.882, p=0.0008). Conclusion Our findings indicate that a long AXL is a risk factor for steroid-induced OHT. Further, clinicians should be aware of steroid-induced OHT when treating patients with high myopia with steroids.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the treatment results in early stage non-small cell lung cancer patients who have undergone fiducial-less CyberKnife radiosurgery (CKRS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 2011 to November 2013, 58 patients underwent CKRS at Asan Medical Center for stage I lung cancer. After excluding 14 patients, we retrospectively reviewed the records of the remaining 44 patients. All analyses were performed using SPSS ver. 21. RESULTS: The median age at diagnosis was 75 years. Most patients had inoperable primary lung cancer with a poor pulmonary function test with comorbidity or old age. The clinical stage was IA in 30 patients (68.2%), IB in 14 (31.8%). The mean tumor size was 2.6 cm (range, 1.2 to 4.8 cm), and the tumor was smaller than 2 cm in 12 patients (27.3%). The radiation dose given was 48-60 Gy in 3-4 fractions. In a median follow-up of 23.1 months, local recurrence occurred in three patients (2-year local recurrence-free survival rate, 90.4%) and distant metastasis occurred in 13 patients. All patients tolerated the radiosurgery well, only two patients developing grade 3 dyspnea. The most common complications were radiation-induced fibrosis and pneumonitis. Eight patients died due to cancer progression. CONCLUSION: The results showed that fiducial-less CKRS shows comparable local tumor control and survival rates to those of LINAC-based SABR or CKRS with a fiducial marker. Thus, fiducial-less CKRS using Xsight lung tracking system can be effectively and safely performed for patients with medically inoperable stage I non-small cell lung cancer without any risk of procedure-related complication.
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Comorbidity ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Fibrosis ; Fiducial Markers ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pneumonia ; Radiosurgery* ; Recurrence ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: To evaluate the treatment results in early stage non-small cell lung cancer patients who have undergone fiducial-less CyberKnife radiosurgery (CKRS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 2011 to November 2013, 58 patients underwent CKRS at Asan Medical Center for stage I lung cancer. After excluding 14 patients, we retrospectively reviewed the records of the remaining 44 patients. All analyses were performed using SPSS ver. 21. RESULTS: The median age at diagnosis was 75 years. Most patients had inoperable primary lung cancer with a poor pulmonary function test with comorbidity or old age. The clinical stage was IA in 30 patients (68.2%), IB in 14 (31.8%). The mean tumor size was 2.6 cm (range, 1.2 to 4.8 cm), and the tumor was smaller than 2 cm in 12 patients (27.3%). The radiation dose given was 48-60 Gy in 3-4 fractions. In a median follow-up of 23.1 months, local recurrence occurred in three patients (2-year local recurrence-free survival rate, 90.4%) and distant metastasis occurred in 13 patients. All patients tolerated the radiosurgery well, only two patients developing grade 3 dyspnea. The most common complications were radiation-induced fibrosis and pneumonitis. Eight patients died due to cancer progression. CONCLUSION: The results showed that fiducial-less CKRS shows comparable local tumor control and survival rates to those of LINAC-based SABR or CKRS with a fiducial marker. Thus, fiducial-less CKRS using Xsight lung tracking system can be effectively and safely performed for patients with medically inoperable stage I non-small cell lung cancer without any risk of procedure-related complication.
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Comorbidity ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Fibrosis ; Fiducial Markers ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pneumonia ; Radiosurgery* ; Recurrence ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVE: DICAM, a dual Ig domain containing adhesion molecule, is involved in cell-cell adhesion through direct interaction with alphavbeta3 integrin. In our previous study showing the inhibitory role of DICAM in osteoclast differentiation, we found that DICAM also has a suppressive role in macrophage, the precursor cell of osteoclast. The role of DICAM in macrophage activation at the inflammatory milieu, however, remains obscure. METHODS: Expression pattern of DICAM by inflammatory cytokines and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was studied with RAW264.7, a murine macrophage cell line. To study the role of DICAM on macrophage activation, we stably transduced DICAM, or empty vector, into RAW264.7, and then compared the LPS-mediated activation such as spreading and TNF-alpha production. RESULTS: DICAM was abundantly expressed in the synovial tissue of collagen-induced arthritis. When we assessed the expression of DICAM in RAW264.7 cells by mediators of inflammation, inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IFN-gamma, and M-CSF increased the expression of DICAM; however, LPS decreased. Functionally, DICAM that stably transduced-RAW264.7 cells showed attenuation of LPS-mediated macrophage activation including spreading and TNF-alpha production. DICAM decreased the phosphorylation of JNK MAP kinase by M-CSF and LPS stimulation, which was corroborated by a decrease in the expression of ITAM-associated receptors including Trem2, Pira1, and Oscar. Finally, a recombinant ectodomain of DICAM suppressed LPS-induced activation of RAW264.7 cells. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that DICAM acts as a negative regulator of LPS-mediated macrophage activation.
Arthritis, Experimental ; Cell Line ; Cytokines ; Inflammation Mediators ; Macrophage Activation ; Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Macrophages ; Monocytes ; Osteoclasts ; Phosphorylation ; Phosphotransferases ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Pneumonia is one of important complications after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). It is essential to disclose the cause of pneumonia because the treatment depends on the cause. The cause of pneumonia which BMT recipients develop can be infectious as well as noninfectious in origin. Acute eosinophilic pneumonia is a very rare cause of noninfectious pneumonia after BMT. We here report a 42-year-old woman with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML, M4) who developed acute eosinophilic pneumonia on 160 days after unrelated BMT. She was diagnosed by bronchoalveolar lavage and was dramatically improved after steroid treatment.
Adult ; Bone Marrow Transplantation* ; Bone Marrow* ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Eosinophils* ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Pneumonia ; Pulmonary Eosinophilia*

PURPOSE: Early detection of recurrence is an important factor for long term survival of patients with colorectal cancer. Measurement of serum levels of CEA, CA 19-9, CT and PET/CT has been commonly used in the postoperative surveillance of colorectal cancer. The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnostic ability of PET/CT, tumor marker and CT for recurrence in colorectal cancer patients after treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: F-18 FDG PET/CT imaging was performed in 189 colorectal cancer patients who underwent curative surgical resection and/or chemotherapy. Measurement of serum levels of CEA, CA 19-9 and CT imaging were performed within 2 months of PET/CT examination. Final diagnosis of recurrence was made by biopsy, radiologic studies or clinical follow-up for 6 months after each study. RESULTS: Overall sensitivity, specificity of PET/CT was 94.7%, 91.1%, while those of serum CEA were 44.7% and 97.3%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity were 94.2%, 90.4% for PET/CT and better than those of combined CEA and CA 19-9 measurement (52.1%, 88.5%) in 174 patients measured available both CEA and CA 19-9 data. In 115 patients with both tumor markers and CT images available, PET/CT showed similar sensitivity but higher specificity (92.9%, 91.3%) compared to combination of tumor markers and CT images (92.9%, 74.1%). CONCLUSION: PET/CT was superior for detection of recurred colorectal cancer patients compared with both CEA, CA 19-9, and even with combination of both tumor markers and CT. Therefore PET/CT could be used as a routine surveillance examination to detect recurrence or metastasis of colorectal cancer.
Biopsy ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Biomarkers, Tumor

Small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) is a cancer that shows aggressive behavior, early spread to distant sites, and frequent association with distinct paraneoplastic syndromes. Spontaneous remission of cancer, particularly of SCLC, is a rare biological event. Cases involving spontaneous regression of SCLC were reported, and were associated with paraneoplastic syndromes of the nervous system. This article reports on a 78-year-old man with SCLC in remission, with neurological symptoms. The patient visited the hospital because of generalized weakness, and imaging studies revealed a mass in the lower lobe of the left lung, pathological evaluation showed SCLC. The patient refused oncologic treatment and was treated only with conservative care. In follow-up study the diameter of the mass had decreased from initial 32 mm, 9 months after admission to 20 mm, 17 months after admission to 13 mm. The patient kept complaining of generalized weakness, dizziness, and paresthesia of limbs. We assumed that, in this case, the spontaneous remission of lung cancer was related to the immunologic response directed against the tumor, which is believed to be an important factor in the pathogenesis of paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes.
Aged ; Dizziness ; Extremities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous ; Nervous System ; Neurologic Manifestations* ; Paraneoplastic Syndromes ; Paraneoplastic Syndromes, Nervous System ; Paresthesia ; Remission, Spontaneous* ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma*