BACKGOUND: Gitelman's syndrome is manifested by hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis, normal blood pressure, hyperreninemic hyperaldosteronism, hypomagnesemia and hypocalciuria. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of magnesium supplementation for correcting hypokalemia in Gitelman syndrome. METHODS: A Gitelman patient without hyperaldosteronism in our hospital was studied, oral supplementation periods of regimens for 60 days were divided into eight stages (each stage is at least over 5 days) such as 1 stage:no regimen supplementation period 2 stage:spironolactone 100 mg, alone period 3 stage:spironolactone 100 mg, MgO 1 g mixed period, 4 stage:spironolactone 100 mg, alone period, 5 stage:spironolactone 100 mg, MgO 1 g mixed period, 6 stage:spironolactone 150 mg, MgO 1 g mixed period, 7 stage: spironolactone 150 mg, MgO 1.5 g mixed period, 8 stage:spironolactone 150 mg, MgO 1.5 g, KCl 3.6 g mixed period. RESULTS: The highest value of plasm [K] was 3.3 mEq/L, the lowest value of TTKG was 2.6 during 3 stage, plasm [K] had tendency to increased and TTKG decreased, however next during 4 stage, the tendency of correcting hypokalemia diminished. The highest value of plasm [K] was only 3.3 mEq/L during 7 stage, the highest value of plasm [K] was 4.6 mEq/L during 8 stage. And the highest value of plasm ionized [Mg++] was 0.44 mmol/L during MgO 1.5 g supplementation. CONCLUSION: Magnesium alone fails to completely correct potassium and magnesium depletion despite tendency of correcting. Therefore, the optimal therapeutic regimens for correcting hypokalemia in Gitelman syndrome without hyperaldosteronism would be the magnesium and additional K supplementation.
Alkalosis ; Blood Pressure ; Gitelman Syndrome* ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism ; Hypokalemia* ; Magnesium* ; Potassium ; Spironolactone ; Gitelman Syndrome

To evaluate potassium(K) homeostasis during in-terdialytic and dialytic phases in chronic hemodialysis patients, we analyzed pre- and post- dialysis plasma K concentration(n=28) over n week with an interdialytic interval of 7Zhrs, 48hrs(l), and 48hrs(II), respectively, and the quantity of total dialytic K removal via dialysate. The predialysis plasma K at 72h interval(prePK72h: 4.89+/-0.17mEq/L) was significantly higher than those at 48h interval(prePK48h-I: 4.57+/-0.15mEq/L, and prePK48h-II: 4.40+/-15mEq/L) (p=0.000, p=0.000). 10.7% in prePK72h were categorized into severe hyperkalemia more than 6.0mEq/L, but none in prePK48h-I, II(p=0.000, p=0.000). In contrast no difference between 72-h and 42-h intervals was found in the postdialysis plasma K(postPK72h: 3.59+/-0.07 vs postPK48h-I : 3.530+/-08mEq/L, p>0.05) and in the quantity of total dialytic K removal via dialysate(delta Ktota172h : 74+/-2.6 vs delta Ktota148h-I:71+/-2.2mEq, p>0.05). On approach to this with two-compartment model, there was significant difference in dialytic K removal from ECF(delta Kecf72h:22.2+/-1.6 vs delta Kecf48h-I:17.7+/-1.6mEq, p<0.01), but not in that from ICF(delta Kicf72h:51.6+/-3.1 vs delta Kicf48h-I: 53.5+/-2.7mEq, p>0.05). In all 28 patients, age, sex and body weight were not correlated with either pre- and post- plasma K levels or total K removal per kg body weight. In conclusion, the majority of dialytic K removal is from the replenishment of the ICF potassium and it has rather constant feature in that there was no autoregulatory increment even with the higher predialysis plasma K concentration. So the plasma K concentration on chronic maintenace hemodialysis is more dependent on the potassium gain during interdialytic phase than the potassium removal during dialytic phase. Also it is reasonable to restrict dietary K intake and apply K-exalate orientating to the interdialytic phase of 72hrs because severe hyperkalemia is rare in that of 48hrs.
Body Weight ; Dialysis ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Hyperkalemia ; Plasma* ; Potassium* ; Renal Dialysis*

Myocardial infarction is usually associated with thrombotic occlusion of an artherosclerotic coronary artery. Reperfusion induced by administration of thrombolytic agents may presserve myocardial function and reduce mortality. At a mean of 272 minutes from symtom onset, 7 patients with acute myocardial infarction received recombinant tissue-type Plasminogen Activator. The results are as followings: 1) Reperfusion of the infarct-related artery was observed in all of the 5 patients in whom coronary angiography was performed 19 hour after initiation of drug infusion. Ergonovine challenge test, done in 1 patient who showed normal coronary artery, did not induced coronary spasm. 2) The maximal value of Creatine Kinase and Creatine Kinase-MB(2098+/-2107U/L and 728+/-532U/L, respectively) occured at 7.2+/-4.3 hour, respectively. A nadir value of fibrinogen(42+/-21% of the preinfusion value) occured at 3.1+/-2.0 hour. 3) Major bleeding episodes occured in 3 patients. Major cardiac events were angina followed by percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in 1 patient; cardiogenic shock in 2 patients, one of whom also experienced recurrent ventricular tachycardia;reinfarction in 1 patient, 3 of the 7 patients died.
Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Arteries ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels ; Creatine ; Creatine Kinase ; Ergonovine ; Fibrinolytic Agents ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Reperfusion ; Shock, Cardiogenic ; Spasm ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator*

Myocardial infarction is usually associated with thrombotic occlusion of an artherosclerotic coronary artery. Reperfusion induced by administration of thrombolytic agents may presserve myocardial function and reduce mortality. At a mean of 272 minutes from symtom onset, 7 patients with acute myocardial infarction received recombinant tissue-type Plasminogen Activator. The results are as followings: 1) Reperfusion of the infarct-related artery was observed in all of the 5 patients in whom coronary angiography was performed 19 hour after initiation of drug infusion. Ergonovine challenge test, done in 1 patient who showed normal coronary artery, did not induced coronary spasm. 2) The maximal value of Creatine Kinase and Creatine Kinase-MB(2098+/-2107U/L and 728+/-532U/L, respectively) occured at 7.2+/-4.3 hour, respectively. A nadir value of fibrinogen(42+/-21% of the preinfusion value) occured at 3.1+/-2.0 hour. 3) Major bleeding episodes occured in 3 patients. Major cardiac events were angina followed by percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in 1 patient; cardiogenic shock in 2 patients, one of whom also experienced recurrent ventricular tachycardia;reinfarction in 1 patient, 3 of the 7 patients died.
Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Arteries ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels ; Creatine ; Creatine Kinase ; Ergonovine ; Fibrinolytic Agents ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Reperfusion ; Shock, Cardiogenic ; Spasm ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator*

Background/Aims: As the global impact of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been severe, many countries have intensified containment activities to eliminate virus transmission, through early detection and isolation strategies. To establish a proper quarantine strategy, it is essential to understand how easily the virus can spread in the communities. Methods: In this study, we collected detailed information on the circumstances in which human-to-human transmission occurred in the tertiary transmission cases of COVID-19 in the community. Results: On January 26, 2020, an imported case of COVID-19 was confirmed, and by February 10, 2020, one secondary transmission and three tertiary transmissions were identified. Secondary transmission occurred on the first day of illness of the infector, and his symptoms were suggestive of a common cold. The transmission occurred during a 90-minute long meal together in a restaurant. The people were sitting within one meter of each other, and had no direct contact. The tertiary transmission also occurred on the first-day illness of the other infector, and his only symptom was slight chills. The transmission occurred at a church during 2-hour-long worship, and two rows separated them. Conclusions Our findings suggest that mildly symptomatic patients with COVID-19 could transmit the virus from the first day of illness through daily activities in the community. Early detection and isolation of patients with COVID-19 may be challenging.

Background/Aims: As the coronavirus disease-2019 global pandemic progresses, screening of antiviral agents effective against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is urgently needed. In addition, considering the viral load kinetics of SARS-CoV-2, which peaks early in the illness, and the massive burden of the disease, which may increase in the near future, identifying well-tolerated oral antivirals becomes increasingly important. We examined the in vitro activity of lopinavir/ritonavir and hydroxychloroquine on SARS-CoV-2, at concentrations which can be used to treat coronavirus-19 patients with little concern of toxicity. Methods: Lopinavir/ritonavir (7/1.75 μg/mL), hydroxychloroquine base (1 or 2 μg/mL), or a combination thereof were administered 1 hour after the inoculation of SARS-CoV-2 to Vero cells at a multiplicity of infection of 0.05. We examined cytopathic effects of virus 48 hours after administration of the respective treatments and measured viral loads at three time points (0, 24, and 48 hours post-treatment) by quantitative real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, and compared the results obtained from the different antiviral regimens tested. Results: The severity of cytopathic effects was lower in lopinavir/ritonavir-treated cells, and viral load was significantly reduced in this group compared with the control group (p < 0.001). However, hydroxychloroquine did not show significant inhibitory effects on anti-SARS-CoV-2-mediated cytotoxicity or on viral load at either concentration. Conclusions Lopinavir/ritonavir showed significant inhibitory effects on SARS-CoV-2 in vitro at its usual plasma concentration. However, the in vitro antiviral activity of hydroxychloroquine at concentrations commonly used in humans was minimal, whether used alone or in combination with lopinavir/ritonavir.

OBJECTIVE: Ovarian reserve tests are commonly used to predict ovarian response in infertile patients undergoing ovarian stimulation. Although serum markers such as basal follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) or random anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) level and ultrasonographic markers (antral follicle count, AFC) are good predictors, no single test has proven to be the best predictor. In this study, we developed appropriate equations and novel nomograms to predict the number of oocytes that will be retrieved using patients' age, serum levels of basal FSH and AMH, and AFC. METHODS: We analyzed a database containing clinical and laboratory information of 141 stimulated in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles performed at a university-based hospital between September 2009 and December 2013. We used generalized linear models for prediction of the number of oocytes. RESULTS: Age, basal serum FSH level, serum AMH level, and AFC were significantly related to the number of oocytes retrieved according to the univariate and multivariate analyses. The equations that predicted the number of oocytes retrieved (log scale) were as follows: model (1) 3.21-0.036×(age)+0.089×(AMH), model (2) 3.422-0.03×(age)-0.049×(FSH)+0.08×(AMH), model (3) 2.32-0.017×(age)+0.039×(AMH)+0. 03×(AFC), model (4) 2.584-0.015×(age)-0.035×(FSH)+0.038×(AMH)+0.026×(AFC). model 4 showed the best performance. On the basis of these variables, we developed nomograms to predict the number of oocytes that can be retrieved. CONCLUSION: Our nomograms helped predict the number of oocytes retrieved in stimulated IVF cycles.
Biomarkers ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Multivariate Analysis ; Nomograms* ; Oocytes* ; Ovarian Reserve ; Ovulation Induction*

Zika is a re-emerging, mosquito-borne viral infection, which has been recently shown to cause microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Since 2015 the number of infected patients has increased significantly in South America. The purpose of this study was to identify the epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of patients with Zika virus (ZIKV) infections in Korea. Patients who had visited areas of risk and tested positive in the ZIKV reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in blood, urine, or saliva specimens were included. The first Korean case of ZIKV infection was reported in March 2016, and 14 cases had been reported by October 2016. The median age of the patients was 34 years (19–64 years). Ten patients had been exposed in Southeast Asia and 4 in Latin America. Rash was the most common symptom (92.9%; 13/14), followed by myalgia (50.0%; 7/14), and arthralgia (28.6%, 4/14). There were no neurologic abnormalities and none of the patients was pregnant. Results of biochemical tests were normal. Positivity rates of RT-PCR for ZIKV in serum, urine, and saliva were 53.8%, 100.0%, and 83.3%, respectively in the first week of symptoms. In conclusion, 14 patients with ZIKV infections were reported in Korea by October 2016 and all of them had mild clinical symptoms.
Arthralgia ; Asia, Southeastern ; Epidemiology* ; Exanthema ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome ; Humans ; Korea* ; Latin America ; Microcephaly ; Myalgia ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Saliva ; South America ; Virus Shedding ; Zika Virus*

The aminoglycoside antibiotics is widely used in the treatment of infectious caused by gram-negative bacteria and for synergistic effect with(beta-lactam antibiotics. However, its therapeutic usefulness is limited by this potential nephrotoxicity and by disturbance of electrolyte homeostasis resulting in hypomagnesemia, hypokalemia, hypocalcemia such as Bartter-like syndrome. Many case repots have been reported on development of Bartter-like syndrome after aminoglycosides administration. But these reports had the many differences of such as types of aminoglycosides, age of patients, duration and total dose of treatment, combined antibiotics and baseline diseases. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to assess the effects of micronomocin sulfate on magnesium, calcium and potassium status of patients in acute pyelonephritis. Twenty one patients in acute pyelonephritis(18 female/3 male, ages 20-75) was treated with single or combined antibiotics. Eleven of twenty one patients as study group were treated with both micronomicin sulfate(aminoglycoside, 4mg/kg/day, during 5-8days) and flomoxef sodium (3rd cephalosporine, 2g/day, during 5-8days), and ten of twenty one patients as control group were treated only with flomoxef sodium(3rd cephalosporine. 2g/day. during 5-8days). Renal values, plasma and urinary electrolytes were measured before and at the end of IV antibiotic therapy. After micronomicin sulfate administrated for 6.4+/-1.5days, serum Mg, Ca, K, FEMg (fractional excretion of Mg), TTKG(transtubular K concentration gradient) and FECa(fractional excretion of Ca) did not significantly change(p>0.05). Therefore, those results suggest that micromonicin sulfate therapy within dose of 240mg/day(4mg/kg/day) for 6.4+/-1.5days may not cause disturbance of electrolyte homeostasis such as Bartter-like syndrome in acute pyelonephritis. Howerever, electrolyte disturbance is an important complication when aminoglycosides is given in larges doses over extended periods. Therefore, monitoring of blood concentration and urinary losses of electrolyte should be carried out along with careful observation of Bartter-like syndrome.
Aminoglycosides ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Calcium ; Electrolytes ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Hypocalcemia ; Hypokalemia ; Magnesium ; Male ; Plasma ; Potassium ; Pyelonephritis* ; Sodium

BACKGROUND: Delays in isolating patients admitted to hospital with active pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) can contribute to nosocomial transmission; however, in Korea, patients with clinically diagnosed PTB are not routinely isolated while awaiting microbiological confirmation of the diagnosis. We aimed to assess the extent of delays in isolating patients admitted with PTB and to identify the factors associated with delayed isolation. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of patients aged ≥ 18 years with active PTB, between January 2008 and December 2017, from two Korean hospitals. RESULTS: Among 1,062 patients, 612 (57.6%) were not isolated on admission day. The median time from admission to isolation was 1 day (interquartile range: 0–2 days). The independent risk factor most strongly associated with delayed isolation was admission to departments other than pulmonology or infectious diseases departments (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 5.302; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.177–8.847; P < 0.001). Factors associated with isolation on admission day were a past history of tuberculosis (TB) (aOR, 0.669; 95% CI, 0.494–0.906; P = 0.009), night sweats (aOR, 0.530; 95% CI, 0.330–0.851; P = 0.009), and apical infiltrates on chest radiographs (aOR, 0.452; 95% CI, 0.276–0.740; P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Concerning patients subsequently diagnosed with active PTB, > 50% were not isolated on admission day. We suggest that the patients with clinically suspected PTB including the elderly who have a past history of TB, night sweats, or apical infiltration on chest radiographs, be presumptively isolated on admission, without waiting for microbiological confirmation of the diagnosis.
Aged ; Communicable Diseases ; Diagnosis ; Electronic Health Records ; Humans ; Korea ; Odds Ratio ; Pulmonary Medicine ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sweat ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary