Background: Dengue fever is considered one of the transfusion-transmissible emerging infectious diseases. Dengue fever has been reported every year by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). Because a blood donor screening assay to detect the dengue virus (DENV) as an agent of dengue fever is not performed, the risk of transfusion-transmitted DENV infection needs to be assessed. Methods: This study collected the data of DENV infected cases from the Infectious Disease Portal of the KDCA, the data of blood donors and blood components from the Blood Information Management System of the Korean Red Cross, and the data of travelers to major dengue outbreak countries from the Korean Tourism Organization.All data were from 2016 to 2018. A risk assessment was performed using European Up-Front Risk Assessment Tool (EUFRAT). Results: The risk of DENV-infected red cells and platelet concentrate was higher than that of plasma and apheresis platelet. Nevertheless, the risk of the DENV infected blood component was shown to be less than one case per year for all kinds of blood components. Conclusion All the DENV infected cases in Korea were overseas travelers. Therefore, the risk of transfusiontransmissible DENV infection is very low. On the other hand, continuous observation and monitoring are required because Aedes albopictus as a vector of DENV is found in Korea, and the increase in reported cases may lead to domestic infections.

Background: Dengue fever is considered one of the transfusion-transmissible emerging infectious diseases. Dengue fever has been reported every year by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). Because a blood donor screening assay to detect the dengue virus (DENV) as an agent of dengue fever is not performed, the risk of transfusion-transmitted DENV infection needs to be assessed. Methods: This study collected the data of DENV infected cases from the Infectious Disease Portal of the KDCA, the data of blood donors and blood components from the Blood Information Management System of the Korean Red Cross, and the data of travelers to major dengue outbreak countries from the Korean Tourism Organization.All data were from 2016 to 2018. A risk assessment was performed using European Up-Front Risk Assessment Tool (EUFRAT). Results: The risk of DENV-infected red cells and platelet concentrate was higher than that of plasma and apheresis platelet. Nevertheless, the risk of the DENV infected blood component was shown to be less than one case per year for all kinds of blood components. Conclusion All the DENV infected cases in Korea were overseas travelers. Therefore, the risk of transfusiontransmissible DENV infection is very low. On the other hand, continuous observation and monitoring are required because Aedes albopictus as a vector of DENV is found in Korea, and the increase in reported cases may lead to domestic infections.

Neisseria cinerea is an oropharyngeal normal flora known as a non-pathogenic gram-negative diplococcus. Encephalo-meningitis related to N. cinerea is very rare. A 15-year-old healthy male visited emergency room for altered mentality with fever, headache, and vomiting. Physical examination showed abdominal tenderness and neck stiffness but there was no skin rash. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination revealed opening pressure of 210 mmH2O, red blood cell 200/mm3, white blood cell 8,320/mm3, neutrophil 84%, glucose 34 mg/dL, suggesting acute bacterial meningitis. Empirical antibiotics were administered and N. cinerea was identified in CSF culture. The patient showed complete recovery 10 days after administration of ceftriaxone. We report this case as the first N. cinerea meningitis in Korea.
Adolescent ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Ceftriaxone ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Erythrocytes ; Exanthema ; Fever ; Glucose ; Headache ; Humans ; Korea ; Leukocytes ; Male ; Meningitis ; Meningitis, Bacterial* ; Neck ; Neisseria cinerea* ; Neutrophils ; Physical Examination ; Vomiting

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the relationship between depression, attachment and addiction problems in runaway youths. METHODS: We sent a questionnaire package to 187 runaway youths in 18 adolescent shelters. The questionnaire package collected their sociodemographic data and included the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Inventory of Parent Attachment (IPA), Korean Internet Addiction Self-Scale (K-Scale), Korean version of Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, and Korean version of the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence. RESULTS: The percentage of youth with depression was 28.8% (N=54). In the depression group, there were significantly more problematic alcohol users (53.06%, p=.0199) and significantly lower IPA scores (p=.0064). There was a significant negative correlation between depression and a IPA, and significant positive correlation between depression and the K-Scale. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that runaway youths with depression have more problematic alcohol drinking and attachment problems.
Adolescent* ; Alcohol Drinking ; Child ; Depression* ; Homeless Youth* ; Humans ; Internet ; Parents ; Tobacco Use Disorder

OBJECTIVES: Firefighters frequently experience traumatic events, high-tension situations and shift work. Therefore, the prevalence of insomnia of firefighters is higher than one of general population. Not only does the quality of sleep affect the satisfaction of personal life, but it also influences their performance for the public's safety. We investigated which factors affect the quality of sleep of firefighters. METHODS: After personally delivering 120 questionnaires to 3 fire stations, the survey was conducted when the consents were signed. It inquired about alcohol use, smoking, shift work, sleep quality, depression, anxiety, and experience of traumatic events. We then divided the firefighting officers in two groups according to the quality of sleep and compared the variables examined to conduct the logistic regression analyses according to the results. RESULTS: The poor sleeper group reported a higher level of current alcohol consumption, depression, anxiety and experience of traumatic events. Logistic regression analyses showed that the current alcohol intake (Crude odds ratio=3.707, 95% confidence interval=1.288–10.672, p=0.015 ; Adjusted odds ratio=3.288, 95% confidence interval=1.011–10.694, p=0.048) has a significant effect on sleep quality. CONCLUSIONS: Current alcohol consumption, depression, anxiety and experience of traumatic events were respectively associated with sleep quality of firefighters. When all significant factors considered, the current alcohol use was the only statistically significant. To improve the quality of sleep for firefighters, it will be necessary to evaluate alcohol intake, educate the poor sleep quality caused by alcohol, and provide specific interventions to reduce consumption.
Alcohol Drinking ; Anxiety ; Depression ; Firefighters ; Fires ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Prevalence ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Smoke ; Smoking

Background: The Korean Red Cross adopted HIV NAT for blood donor screening in 2005 using a minipool assay. In June 2012, the NAT system was replaced with the individual assay. This study examined the characteristics of HIV NAT reactive blood donors to determine if there was any difference in their features between 10 years ago and later. Methods: This study analyzed the HIV RNA quantitative values and the distribution of HIV subtypes using 118 HIV NAT positive blood donations (37 in 2007, 20 in 2008, 32 in 2017 and 29 in 2018). Results: No significant variations of the quantitative values of HIV RNA and the distribution of HIV subtypes 10 years ago and later were observed. This study failed to produce quantitative values of three samples due to the low titer. The mean titer of HIV RNA of the remaining 115 samples were 5.14×10 4 IU/mL. The dominant HIV subtype of the HIV NAT reactive donors was B showing 54.2% (64/118). Approximately 5.9% (7/118) of the samples showed the HIV subtype C. Forty-seven samples (39.8%) showed the circulating recombinant form (CRF). Conclusion The rate of HIV subtype B in this study (54.2%) has decreased compared to the results of the past study (95.2%). Some of the cases showing CRF were identified as B in the past study because CRF3, 8, 9, 14, and 15 are recombinant forms, including subtype B.

Analysis of HCV genotypes can help identify infection routes and the development of treatment methods. However, in some samples with a low titer of HCV RNA, it is difficult to analyze their genotypes. In our previous study about HCV genotyping, we could not identify 12 cases among the 175 HCV NAT reactive samples due to their low titer. In this study, we adopted three different kinds of virus concentration methods to identify the genotypes of the 12 unidentified cases and compared their efficacy. The three virus concentration methods were automatic nucleic acid extraction, polyethyleneimine-magnetic bead-based extraction, and sucrose cushion ultracentrifugation. After virus concentration using every three methods, we analyzed HCV RNA genotypes using the concentrated sample of the best efficacy. Among the 12 cases, six were identified as 1b, four as mixed types, and two were unidentified. Here we could validate that the sample concentration method is useful to identify the HCV genotypes, especially in samples with low HCV RNA titers. Furthermore, considering the convenience, high efficacy, and time-saving, automatic nucleic acid extraction is considered the most useful concentration method for samples with titer lower than 50 IU/mL.

There were 10 cases of transfusion-transmitted P. vivax malaria from 1990 to 2021. The Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) designated the areas showing a high frequency of malaria as a malaria-endemic area and has restricted whole blood donation from these areas. While the number of malaria infections has declined in recent years, the blood inventory has declined sharply due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, the Ministry of Health and Welfare temporarily approved the donation of whole blood from malaria-endemic areas to secure the supply of blood products. In the present study, an anti-malaria screening and nucleic acid amplification test (NAT) was performed on samples collected from the malaria-endemic areas from May 20 to June 30, 2020. A total of 14,741 samples were collected and tested. NAT was performed for 1096 runs to test all the collected samples. The 117 (0.79%) samples showed initial reactive results due to the contamination of abnormal PCR results. Negative results were obtained for the samples showing initial reactive results using a duplicated re-test. From the NAT tests, no sample showed a true positive result. The results of the malaria antibody screening test were reactive in 10 out of the 14,741 samples. The malaria antibody screening needs to be reviewed through further study because of its insufficient sensitivity and specificity. According to this study, excluding the 10 reactive malaria antibodies, additional blood components could be secured from 14,731 blood donors for a stable blood supply.

Analysis of HCV genotypes can help identify infection routes and the development of treatment methods. However, in some samples with a low titer of HCV RNA, it is difficult to analyze their genotypes. In our previous study about HCV genotyping, we could not identify 12 cases among the 175 HCV NAT reactive samples due to their low titer. In this study, we adopted three different kinds of virus concentration methods to identify the genotypes of the 12 unidentified cases and compared their efficacy. The three virus concentration methods were automatic nucleic acid extraction, polyethyleneimine-magnetic bead-based extraction, and sucrose cushion ultracentrifugation. After virus concentration using every three methods, we analyzed HCV RNA genotypes using the concentrated sample of the best efficacy. Among the 12 cases, six were identified as 1b, four as mixed types, and two were unidentified. Here we could validate that the sample concentration method is useful to identify the HCV genotypes, especially in samples with low HCV RNA titers. Furthermore, considering the convenience, high efficacy, and time-saving, automatic nucleic acid extraction is considered the most useful concentration method for samples with titer lower than 50 IU/mL.

There were 10 cases of transfusion-transmitted P. vivax malaria from 1990 to 2021. The Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) designated the areas showing a high frequency of malaria as a malaria-endemic area and has restricted whole blood donation from these areas. While the number of malaria infections has declined in recent years, the blood inventory has declined sharply due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, the Ministry of Health and Welfare temporarily approved the donation of whole blood from malaria-endemic areas to secure the supply of blood products. In the present study, an anti-malaria screening and nucleic acid amplification test (NAT) was performed on samples collected from the malaria-endemic areas from May 20 to June 30, 2020. A total of 14,741 samples were collected and tested. NAT was performed for 1096 runs to test all the collected samples. The 117 (0.79%) samples showed initial reactive results due to the contamination of abnormal PCR results. Negative results were obtained for the samples showing initial reactive results using a duplicated re-test. From the NAT tests, no sample showed a true positive result. The results of the malaria antibody screening test were reactive in 10 out of the 14,741 samples. The malaria antibody screening needs to be reviewed through further study because of its insufficient sensitivity and specificity. According to this study, excluding the 10 reactive malaria antibodies, additional blood components could be secured from 14,731 blood donors for a stable blood supply.