OBJECTIVES: We estimated the population prevalence of antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), including unreported infections, through a Korea Seroprevalence Study of Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Retention and Transmission (K-SEROSMART) in 258 communities throughout Korea. METHODS: In August 2022, a survey was conducted among 10,000 household members aged 5 years and older, in households selected through two stage probability random sampling. During face-to-face household interviews, participants self-reported their health status, COVID-19 diagnosis and vaccination history, and general characteristics. Subsequently, participants visited a community health center or medical clinic for blood sampling. Blood samples were analyzed for the presence of antibodies to spike proteins (anti-S) and antibodies to nucleocapsid proteins (anti-N) SARS-CoV-2 proteins using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. To estimate the population prevalence, the PROC SURVEYMEANS statistical procedure was employed, with weighting to reflect demographic data from July 2022. RESULTS: In total, 9,945 individuals from 5,041 households were surveyed across 258 communities, representing all basic local governments in Korea. The overall population-adjusted prevalence rates of anti-S and anti-N were 97.6% and 57.1%, respectively. Since the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency has reported a cumulative incidence of confirmed cases of 37.8% through July 31, 2022, the proportion of unreported infections among all COVID-19 infection was suggested to be 33.9%. CONCLUSIONS The K-SEROSMART represents the first nationwide, community-based seroepidemiologic survey of COVID-19, confirming that most individuals possess antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and that a significant number of unreported cases existed. Furthermore, this study lays the foundation for a surveillance system to continuously monitor transmission at the community level and the response to COVID-19.

In patients with tumors and spinal cord lesions, inflammation and tissue infection can result in mass effect detection on imaging. As a result, surgical biopsy procedures are often performed on the lesions. We report a rare case in which the thickening ligamentum flavum (LF) appeared to be a tumor in the epidural space of the cervical spine based on imaging findings. A 52-year-old man visited our outpatient clinic with severe shoulder pain and radicular pain in his right arm that had developed gradually after a traffic accident two months earlier. Magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine revealed an extradural mass at the cervicothoracic junction level. Suspecting a tumor, spinal decompression surgery was performed and a biopsy of the mass was obtained. At the time of surgery, the LF was thick and compressed the spinal cord. After successful removal of the LF, the spinal cord appeared normal. Histopathological examination confirmed the mass as the LF. The patient was discharged without pain or weakness two weeks postoperatively. This case demonstrated that when the LF of the cervicothoracic junction is thickened, it may be misdiagnosed as a cervical spine tumor compressing the spinal cord.
Accidents, Traffic ; Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Arm ; Biopsy ; Cervical Vertebrae ; Decompression ; Epidural Space* ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Ligamentum Flavum* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Radiculopathy ; Shoulder Pain ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Compression ; Spine*

Ischemic colitis is the consequence of a sudden reduction in colon blood supply, which in turn results in ischemic injury. The splenic flexure and rectosigmoid junction are the areas most often affected. Ischemic colitis occurs with greater frequency in the elderly and is caused by various medications and procedures. Pseudoephedrine acts as a vasoconstrictor directly affecting adrenal receptors of nasal mucous membrane. Pseudoephedrine occasionally causes vascular insufficiency due to intense vasoconstriction, even at standard doses. Ischemic colitis associated with pseudoephedrine has been reported in other countries,, but it has never been reported in Korea. In this paper, we describe 3 cases of ischemic colitis that occurred after taking pseudoephedrine for nasal congestion.
Aged ; Colitis, Ischemic* ; Colon ; Colon, Transverse ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Korea ; Mucous Membrane ; Pseudoephedrine* ; Vasoconstriction

BACKGROUND: The number of patients with pulmonary disease caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) has been increasing worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term trends in the NTM recovery rate from respiratory specimens over a 10-year period in a tertiary referral hospital in South Korea. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of mycobacterial cultures of respiratory specimens at Samsung Medical Center from January 2001 to December 2011. RESULTS: During the study period, 32,841 respiratory specimens from 10,563 patients were found to be culture-positive for mycobacteria. These included 12,619 (38%) Mycobacterium tuberculosis and 20,222 (62%) NTM isolates. The proportion of NTM among all positive mycobacterial cultures increased from 43% (548/1,283) in 2001 to 70% (3,341/4,800) in 2011 (p<0.001, test for trend). The recovery rate of NTM isolates from acid-fast bacilli smear-positive specimens increased from 9% (38/417) in 2001 to 64% (1,284/1,997) in 2011 (p<0.001, test for trend). The proportion of positive liquid cultures was higher for NTM than for M. tuberculosis (p<0.001). The most frequently isolated NTM were Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex (53%) and Mycobacterium abscessus-massiliense complex (25%). CONCLUSION: The recovery rate of NTM from respiratory specimens in South Korea has increased steadily.
Epidemiology ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung Diseases ; Mycobacterium ; Mycobacterium avium Complex ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria* ; Republic of Korea* ; Retrospective Studies ; Tertiary Care Centers* ; Tuberculosis

Malignant glioma is the most frequent type in brain tumors. The prognosis of this tumor has not been significantly improved for the past decades and the average survival of patients is less than one year. Thus, an effective novel therapy is urgently needed. TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL), known to have tumor cell-specific killing activity, has been investigated as a novel therapeutic for cancers. We have developed Ad-stTRAIL, an adenovirus delivering secretable trimeric TRAIL for gene therapy and demonstrated the potential to treat malignant gliomas. Currently, this Ad-stTRAIL gene therapy is under phase I clinical trial for malignant gliomas. Here, we report preclinical studies for Ad-stTRAIL carried out using rats. We delivered Ad-stTRAIL intracranially and determined its pharmacokinetics and biodistribution. Most Ad-stTRAIL remained in the delivered site and the relatively low number of viral genomes was detected in the opposite site of brain and cerebrospinal fluid. Similarly, only small portion of the viral particles injected was found in the blood plasma and major organs and tissues, probably due to the brain-blood barrier. Multiple administrations did not lead to accumulation of Ad-stTRAIL at the injection site and organs. Repeated delivery of Ad-stTRAIL did not show any serious side effects. Our data indicate that intracranially delivered Ad-stTRAIL is a safe approach, demonstrating the potential as a novel therapy for treating gliomas.
Adenoviridae/genetics ; Animals ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; Brain/drug effects/*metabolism/pathology ; Brain Neoplasms/genetics/metabolism/pathology/*therapy ; Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic ; DNA, Viral/metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; *Gene Therapy ; Glioma/genetics/metabolism/pathology/*therapy ; Humans ; Liver/drug effects/metabolism/pathology ; Protein Multimerization/genetics ; Rats ; Spleen/drug effects/metabolism/pathology ; TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand/genetics/*pharmacokinetics

Malignant glioma is the most frequent type in brain tumors. The prognosis of this tumor has not been significantly improved for the past decades and the average survival of patients is less than one year. Thus, an effective novel therapy is urgently needed. TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL), known to have tumor cell-specific killing activity, has been investigated as a novel therapeutic for cancers. We have developed Ad-stTRAIL, an adenovirus delivering secretable trimeric TRAIL for gene therapy and demonstrated the potential to treat malignant gliomas. Currently, this Ad-stTRAIL gene therapy is under phase I clinical trial for malignant gliomas. Here, we report preclinical studies for Ad-stTRAIL carried out using rats. We delivered Ad-stTRAIL intracranially and determined its pharmacokinetics and biodistribution. Most Ad-stTRAIL remained in the delivered site and the relatively low number of viral genomes was detected in the opposite site of brain and cerebrospinal fluid. Similarly, only small portion of the viral particles injected was found in the blood plasma and major organs and tissues, probably due to the brain-blood barrier. Multiple administrations did not lead to accumulation of Ad-stTRAIL at the injection site and organs. Repeated delivery of Ad-stTRAIL did not show any serious side effects. Our data indicate that intracranially delivered Ad-stTRAIL is a safe approach, demonstrating the potential as a novel therapy for treating gliomas.
Adenoviridae/genetics ; Animals ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; Brain/drug effects/*metabolism/pathology ; Brain Neoplasms/genetics/metabolism/pathology/*therapy ; Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic ; DNA, Viral/metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; *Gene Therapy ; Glioma/genetics/metabolism/pathology/*therapy ; Humans ; Liver/drug effects/metabolism/pathology ; Protein Multimerization/genetics ; Rats ; Spleen/drug effects/metabolism/pathology ; TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand/genetics/*pharmacokinetics

PURPOSE: The optimal treatment regimen for Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) lung disease has not yet been fully established. We evaluated the efficacy of standardized combination antibiotic therapy and the factors that might affect unfavorable microbiologic responses in patients with MAC pulmonary disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed data from 96 patients (56 females; median age 59 years) treated with newly diagnosed MAC lung disease between January 2003 and December 2006. RESULTS: All patients received standardized combination antibiotic therapy, consisting of clarithromycin, rifampicin, and ethambutol. Streptomycin was additionally given in 72 patients (75%) for a median duration of 4.5 months. The overall favorable microbiologic response rate was 79% (76/96); 20 patients (21%) had unfavorable microbiologic responses, including failure to sputum conversion (n = 13), relapse (n = 3), and MAC-related death (n = 4). A positive sputum acid-fast bacillus smear at the start of treatment was an independent predictor of an unfavorable microbiologic response. CONCLUSION: Standardized combination antibiotic therapy consisting of clarithromycin, rifampicin, and ethambutol with or without initial use of streptomycin is effective in treating patients with newly diagnosed MAC lung disease.
Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*therapeutic use ; Clarithromycin/therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination/*methods ; Ethambutol/therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Diseases/*drug therapy/*microbiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycobacterium Infections/*drug therapy ; Mycobacterium avium/*metabolism ; Retrospective Studies ; Rifampin/therapeutic use ; Streptomycin/therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

This study was designed to examine the effects of recombinant human growth hormone replacement on somatic growth and cognitive function in hypophysectomized (HYPOX) female Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats (5 per group) were randomized by weight to 3 experimental groups: group 1, administered 200 microgram/kg of GH once daily for 9 days; group 2, administered 200 microgram/kg of GH twice daily; and group 3, administered saline daily. Somatic growth was evaluated by measurement of body weight daily and of the width of the proximal tibial growth plate of the HYPOX rats. Cognitive function was evaluated using the Morris water maze (MWM) test. The results indicated that GH replacement therapy in HYPOX rats promoted an increase in the body weight and the width of the tibial growth plate in a dose-dependent manner. On the third day of the MWM test, the escape latency in the GH-treated groups 1 and 2 was significantly shorter than that in the control rats (P<0.001 and P=0.032, respectively), suggesting that rhGH improved spatial memory acquisition in the MWM test. Therefore it is concluded that rhGH replacement therapy in HYPOX rats stimulates an increase in somatic growth in a dose-dependent manner and also has beneficial effects on cognitive functions.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Female ; Growth/*drug effects ; Growth Plate/drug effects/pathology ; Human Growth Hormone/administration & dosage/*pharmacology ; Humans ; *Hypophysectomy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spatial Behavior/*drug effects

PURPOSE: A closed reduction of the posterior arch and percutaneous fixation with S1 and S2 iliosacral (IS) screw was performed on an unstable pelvis fracture with a disruption of the sacroiliac complex. The radiological and clinical results were analyzed according the number of screws and their position. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 31 cases with an unstable pelvis fracture involving the sacral complex, classified as Tile type C (AO/OTA), 16 and 15 cases were treated with one S1 screw fixation and two screws fixation into S1 and S2, respectively, using a percutaneous fixation technique. The patients were followed up for a minimum of 12 months and the radiological and clinical outcomes were analyzed statistically using the Majeed score and SF-36. RESULTS: Five cases of screw displacement occurred in the one screw fixation group. On the other hand, there was no screw displacement in the two screws fixation group after a mean follow-up of 40.2 months. In the case of a narrow safe zone (iliac cortical density, ICD), it is impossible to fix with two S1 screws. However, in these patients, good clinical results were achieved with S1 and S2 were achieved with S1 and S2 screw without complications. CONCLUSION: The technique of two screws fixation is an efficient and reliable method for reducing and fixing the unstable pelvic ring disruptions. Additional S2 screw fixation is recommended for patients with a narrow ICD.
Displacement (Psychology) ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand ; Humans ; Pelvis

BACKGROUND: The role of glucocorticoids for treating persistent acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is matter of debate. In the previous studies, the side effects of moderate doses of glucocorticoids might have negated positive effects of glucocorticoids. This study aimed at determining the feasibility of administering "low-dose" glucocorticoid to treat the patients who suffer with persistent ARDS. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of twelve patients with ARDS of at least seven days' duration and who were treated with "low-dose" glucocorticoid (starting dose of 1 mg/kg) between June 2007 to December 2008. The patients were divided by whether or not they were successfully weaned from the ventilator after glucocorticoid therapy. The baseline characteristics and physiologic parameters were recorded for up to 7 days after starting glucocorticoid therapy. RESULTS: Five patients (42%) were included in the weaned group. There was no significant difference in the clinical characteristics and the physiologic parameters between the two groups on the day of ARDS. Yet the weaned group had a significantly lower Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, as compared to that of the failed group [3 (3-6) vs 8 (5-12), p = 0.009)] at start of glucocorticoid treatment. After 3 days of glucocorticoid therapy, there was significant improvement in the PEEP, the PaO2/FIO2 ratio, the PCO2, the SOFA score and the Murray Lung Injury Score of the weaned group, as compared to that of the failed group. There were no major neuromuscular side effects from the therapy. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the "low-dose" glucocorticoid therapy is feasible and that the SOFA score and the physiologic parameters may assist in determining whether or not to initiate and to continue glucocorticoid therapy for the patients who are suffering with persistent ARDS.
Glucocorticoids ; Humans ; Lung Injury ; Medical Records ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; Retrospective Studies ; Stress, Psychological ; Ventilators, Mechanical