Objectives: The Panbio COVID-19 Ag Rapid Test Device (Panbio COVID-19 Ag, Abbott Rapid Diagnostics) is a lateral flow immunochromatographic assay targeting the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) nucleoprotein in nasopharyngeal specimens for the diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aimed to verify the performance of the Panbio COVID-19 Ag for implementation in clinical laboratories. Methods: Sixty nasopharyngeal swab specimens (30 positive and 30 negative) dipped in transport medium, and COVID-19 was confirmed using real-time RT-PCR using Allplex SARS-CoV-2 assay (Seegene), were tested using the Panbio COVID-19 Ag. Reproducibility was evaluated using positive and negative control materials. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated based on the results of realtime RT-PCR as the standard test method. Results: Reproducibility was confirmed by the consistent results of repeated tests of the quality control materials. The overall sensitivity and specificity of Panbio COVID-19 Ag were 50.0% and 100.0%, respectively. Panbio COVID-19 Ag demonstrated high sensitivity (88.2%) in analyzing the detection limit cycle threshold (Ct) value of 26.67 provided by the manufacturer as a positive criterion, and the sensitivity was 100.0% for the positive criterion of Ct values <25, although it was less sensitive for Ct ≥ 25. Conclusion Considering the high sensitivity for positive samples with Ct values <25 and the rapid turnaround of results, Panbio COVID-19 Ag can be used in clinical laboratories to diagnose COVID-19 in limited settings.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare inflammatory neoplasia of the dendritic cells that can affect the whole body and commonly affect the pediatric age. Adult onset LCH is relatively rare, and the cutaneous form without any other organ involvement is much more uncommon. A 62-year-old woman visited the clinic presenting pruritic erythematous papule and nodules on the whole body, from which she suffered for several years. Skin biopsy showed hyperkeratosis, mild acanthosis, intra-epidermal tumor cell infiltration, and band-like tumor cell infiltration. Cells infiltrating the epidermis and dermis showed characteristics consistent with Langerhans cells. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed tumor cells highlighted with CD1a and S-100, but not with CD68, and therefore, diagnosed as LCH. The patient showed no evidence of any other organ manifestation, which led the final diagnosis of single-system LCH. This case highlights a rare adult-onset cutaneous form of single-system LCH with skin manifestations very similar to prurigo nodularis.

OBJECTIVES: The study compared the intelligence test profiles of Tourette's Disorder (TD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and TD with ADHD (TD+ADHD) groups. METHODS: The Korean Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-third edition (K-WISC-III) and Korean Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-fourth edition (K-WISC-IV) were administered to 13 children and adolescents with TD, 17 children and adolescents with ADHD, and 15 children and adolescents with TD+ADHD. Each parameter was compared among the groups using the Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: The mean scores of the freedom from distractibility/working memory index (FD/WMI) and the digit span and arithmetic subtests of the TD+ADHD group were significantly lower than those of the TD group. CONCLUSION: According to the intelligence test results, the comorbid ADHD+TD group showed a significant decrease in working memory compared to the TD group. These findings are similar to those of previous research on cognitive functions and suggest that the TD+ADHD comorbid and TD alone groups exhibit different endophenotypes. The results also imply that WISC-III and WISC-IV, the most commonly used intelligence tests clinically, are effective in evaluating cognitive functions such as attention. Further research is required to confirm these results.
Adolescent ; Child ; Cognition ; Endophenotypes ; Freedom ; Humans ; Intelligence Tests* ; Intelligence* ; Memory ; Memory, Short-Term ; Tourette Syndrome*

Retinyl palmitate (RP)-loaded pectinate micro- and nano-particles (PMP and PNP) were designed for stabilization of RP that is widely used as an anti-wrinkle agent in anti-aging cosmeceuticals. PMP/PNP were prepared with an ionotropic gelation method, and anti-oxidative activity of the particles was measured with a DPPH assay. The stability of RP in the particles along with pectin gel and ethanolic solution was then evaluated. In vitro release and skin permeation studies were performed using Franz diffusion cells. Distribution of RP in each skin tissue (stratum corneum, epidermis, and dermis) was also determined. PMP and PNP could be prepared with mean particle size diameters of 593~843 mum (PMP) and 530 nm (i.e., 0.53 mum, PNP). Anti-oxidative activity of PNP was greater than PMP due largely to larger surface area available for PNP. The stability of RP in PMP and PNP was similar but much greater than RP in pectin bulk gels and ethanolic solution. PMP and PNP showed the abilities to constantly release RP and it could be permeated across the model artificial membrane and rat whole skin. RP was serially deposited throughout the skin layers. This study implies RP loaded PMP and PNP are expected to be advantageous for improved anti-wrinkle effects.
Animals ; Diffusion ; Epidermis ; Ethanol ; Gels ; Membranes, Artificial ; Nanoparticles ; Particle Size ; Rats ; Skin*

Background: In the current situation, where severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is rapidly spreading, vaccines for coronavirus are thought to be the most effective approach to containing the situation.However, limited comparative data are available on cutaneous adverse reactions to coronavirus vaccination in Korea. Objective: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and histopathological characteristics of adverse cutaneous reactions following coronavirus vaccination. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and histopathological characteristics of 95 patients who were vaccinated with Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Janssen vaccines and visited the Dermatology Departments of Dankook University Hospital and Chungnam National University Hospital. Results: The mean age was 49.3±17.5 years. Patients who received the AstraZeneca vaccine had an average age of 61.7±10.8 years, significantly higher than those in the Pfizer (44.1±18.7 years) and Moderna (42.5±15.0 years) groups (p＜0.001). Of the 95 patients, 36 (37.9%) were diagnosed with urticaria, 24 (25.3%) with morbilliform eruption, 18 (18.9%) with petechiae and purpura, and eight (8.4%) with erythema multiforme. Additionally, there were diagnoses of erythema nodosum, alopecia areata, eczema, generalized pustular psoriasis, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis, pityriasis rosea, and bullous pemphigoid. In the AstraZeneca-vaccinated group, the proportion of morbilliform eruptions was significantly higher than that in the Pfizer- and Moderna-vaccinated groups (p=0.008). The Pfizer- and Moderna-vaccinated groups had higher rates of urticaria than did the AstraZeneca-vaccinated group. However, this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.083). Conclusion This study described the clinical characteristics of cutaneous adverse reactions after coronavirus vaccination.

PURPOSE: To compare the current management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) by urologists and nonurologists by use of Korean nationwide health insurance data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We obtained patient data from the national health insurance system. New patients diagnosed with BPH in 2009 were divided into two groups depending on whether they were diagnosed by a urologist (U group) or by a nonurologist (NU group). RESULTS: A total of 390,767 individuals were newly diagnosed with BPH in 2009. Of these, 240,907 patients (61.7%) were in the U group and 149,860 patients (38.3%) were in the NU group. The rate of all initial evaluation tests, except serum creatinine, was significantly lower in the NU group. The initial prescription rate was higher in the U group, whereas the prescription period was longer in the NU group. Regarding the initial drugs prescribed, the use of alpha-blockers was common in both groups. However, the U group was prescribed combination therapy of an alpha-blocker and 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor as the second choice, whereas the NU group received monotherapy with a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor. During the 1-year follow-up, the incidence of surgery was significantly different between the U group and the NU group. CONCLUSIONS: There are distinct differences in the diagnosis and treatment of BPH by urologists and nonurologists in Korea. These differences may have adverse consequences for BPH patients. Urological societies should take a leadership role in the management of BPH and play an educational role for nonurologists as well as urologists.
5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors/therapeutic use ; Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists/therapeutic use ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Databases, Factual ; *Disease Management ; Humans ; Insurance, Health ; Linear Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Physicians ; Prostatic Hyperplasia/*diagnosis/*therapy ; Republic of Korea ; Urology/*methods ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: Previous retrospective studies suggest that anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) mutation-positive (ALK+) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients are sensitive to pemetrexed. To determine its efficacy, we retrospectively evaluated clinical outcomes of pemetrexed-based chemotherapy in patients with ALK+ NSCLC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified 126 patients with advanced, ALK+ NSCLC who received first-line cytotoxic chemotherapy. We compared response, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) rates according to chemotherapy regimens. Furthermore, we evaluated intracranial time to tumor progression (TTP) and proportion of ALK+ cells as prognostic factors. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients received pemetrexed-based chemotherapy, while 78 received other regimens as first-line treatment. The pemetrexed-based chemotherapy group showed superior overall response (44.7% vs. 14.3%, p < 0.001) and disease control (85.1% vs. 62.3%, p=0.008) rates. The pemetrexed-based chemotherapy group also exhibited longer PFS (6.6 months vs. 3.8 months, p < 0.001); OS rates were not significantly different. The lack of exposure to second-generation ALK inhibitors and intracranial metastasis on initial diagnosis were independent negative prognostic factors of OS. Intracranial TTP was similar between the treatment groups (32.7 months vs. 35.7 months, p=0.733). Patients who harbored a greater number of ALK+ tumor cells (≥70%) showed prolonged OS on univariate analysis (not reached vs. 44.8 months, p=0.041), but not on multivariate analysis (hazard ratio: 0.19, 95% confidence interval: 0.03–1.42; p=0.106). CONCLUSION: Pemetrexed-based regimens may prolong PFS in patients with ALK+ NSCLC as a first-line treatment, but are not associated with prolonged OS. Exposure to second-generation ALK inhibitors may improve OS rates in patients with ALK+ NSCLC.
Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents/*therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/*drug therapy/enzymology/mortality ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/*drug therapy/enzymology/mortality ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Pemetrexed/*therapeutic use ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/genetics ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome