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.

Background/Aims: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with acute respiratory syndrome. The mechanisms underlying the different degrees of pneumonia severity in patients with COVID-19 remain elusive. This study provides evidence that COVID-19 is associated with eosinophil-mediated inflammation. Methods: We performed a retrospective case series of three patients with laboratory and radiologically confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia admitted to Chosun University Hospital. Demographic and clinical data on inflammatory cell lung infiltration and cytokine levels in patients with COVID-19 were collected. Results: Cytological analysis of sputum, tracheal aspirates, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples from all three patients revealed massive infiltration of polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs), such as eosinophils and neutrophils. All sputum and BALF specimens contained high levels of eosinophil cationic proteins. The infiltration of PMNs into the lungs, together with elevated levels of natural killer T (NKT) cells in BALF and peripheral blood samples from patients with severe pneumonia in the acute phase was confirmed by flow cytometry. Conclusions These results suggest that the lungs of COVID-19 patients can exhibit eosinophil-mediated inflammation, together with an elevated NKT cell response, which is associated with COVID-19 pneumonia.

Background: s: This study was performed to analyze the main key words of newspaper articles related to COVID-19 in 2020 for each category of quarantine measures according to the epidemic period of COVID-19. Methods: We analyzed articles related to COVID-19 in three major newspapers of Korea between February 17 and December 31, 2020. We targeted the front page articles on mondays and thursdays. The analysis of the relationship between the two variables was confirmed through the chi-square test. Results: As a result of analyzing the main key words for each category of quarantine measures, non-pharmaceutical intervention were the most common at 54.3%, followed by 3Ts(test, tracing, treatment and vaccine) at 31.9%. In the category of non-pharmaceutical intervention, social distancing was the most common at 33.9%. In the categories such as 3Ts(test, tracing, treatment) and vaccine, diagnostic tests were the most common at 41.8%. Conclusions It was identified that non-pharmaceutical intervention were the most common, and there was a difference in the reporting of main key words by category of quarantine measures for each epidemic period related to COVID-19 in 2020.

BACKGROUND: Acinetobacter baumannii infection is a significant health problem worldwide due to increased drug resistance. The limited antimicrobial alternatives for the treatment of severe infections by multidrug-resistant A. baumannii (MDRAB) make the search for other therapeutic options more urgent. Linalool, the major oil compound in Coriandrum sativum, was recently found to have high antibacterial activity against A. baumannii. The purpose of this study was to investigate the synergistic effect of linalool and colistin combinations against MDRAB and extensively drug-resistant A. baumannii (XDRAB). METHODS: A total of 51 strains of A. baumannii clinical isolates, consisting of 10 MDRAB and 41 XDRAB were tested. We determined the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of linalool for the test strains using the broth microdilution method and searched for interactions using the time-kill assay. RESULTS: The time-kill assay showed that the linalool and colistin combination displayed a high rate of synergy (92.1%) (by synergy criteria 2), low rate of indifference (7.8%), and a high rate of bactericidal activity (74.5%) in the 51 clinical isolates of A. baumannii. The synergy rates for the linalool and colistin combination against MDRAB and XDRAB were 96% and 92.1%, respectively. No antagonism was observed for the linalool and colistin combination. CONCLUSION The combination of linalool and colistin showed a high synergy rate, which may be beneficial for controlling MDRAB infections. Therefore, this combination is a good candidate for in vivo studies to assess its efficacy in the treatment of MDRAB infections.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of metal primers on the bonding of dental alloys and veneer resin. Polyvinylpyrrolidone solution's tarnish effect on bonding strength was also investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Disk-shape metal specimens (diameter 8 mm, thickness 1.5 mm) were made from 3 kinds of alloy (Co-Cr, Ti and Au-Ag-Pd alloy) and divided into 4 groups per each alloy. Half specimens (n=12 per group) in tarnished group were immersed into polyvinylpyrrolidone solution for 24 hours. In Co-Cr and Ti-alloy, Alloy Primer (MDP + VBATDT) and MAC-Bond II (MAC-10) were applied, while Alloy Primer and V-Primer (VBATDT) were applied to Au-Ag-Pd alloys. After surface treatment, veneering composite resin were applied and shear bond strength test were conducted. RESULTS: Alloy Primer showed higher shear bond strength than MAC-Bond II in Co-Cr alloys and Au-Ag-Pd alloy (P<.05). However, in Ti alloy, there was no significant difference between Alloy Primer and MAC-Bond II. Tarnished Co-Cr and Au-Ag-Pd alloy surfaces presented significantly decreased shear bond strength. CONCLUSION: Combined use of MDP and VBATDT were effective in bonding of the resin to Co-Cr and Au-Ag-Pd alloy. Tarnish using polyvinylpyrrolidone solution negatively affected on the bonding of veneer resin to Co-Cr and Au-Ag-Pd alloys.
Alloys ; Dental Alloys* ; Povidone

Centric occlusion-maximum intercuspation (CO-MI) discrepancy is one of main causes of evoking premature contact and resultant mandibular shift. These non-physiological conditions can induce temporomandibular disease, periodontitis, and non-carious cervical lesion. Therefore, if CO-MI discrepancy exists in patients who need extensive prosthetic rehabilitation, it must be corrected and then physiological occlusion must be restored. This report describes the treatment procedure of removing CO-MI discrepancy and prosthetic rehabilitation in a patient with 3.5 mm discrepancy, multiple caries and periodontitis. Proper mandibular position and modified opening & closing movement were confirmed by ARCUSdigma II and transcranial radiograph.
Centric Relation ; Humans ; Periodontitis ; Rehabilitation*

Teeth wear and extrusion of antagonist are commonly observed in deep bite patient having severe vertical and horizontal overlap. These problems cause collapse of occlusal plane and abnormal anterior guidance. Without restoring harmonious occlusion, loss of multiple teeth and decreased masticatory function could not be prevented. To resolve problems associated with deep bite, multidisciplinary treatment including oral surgical, orthodontic and prosthetic treatment should be performed. This clinical report describes the results of increasing occlusal vertical dimension with a full-mouth restoration procedure. The treatment procedures include extraoral and intraoral examination, diagnosis, treatment planning, diagnostic wax-up, segmental osteotomy, orthodontic intrusion and prosthodontic rehabilitation. Full mouth rehabilitation with increasing occlusal vertical dimension can solve esthetic and functional problems.
Dental Occlusion ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Methods ; Mouth Rehabilitation* ; Osteotomy* ; Overbite* ; Prosthodontics ; Rehabilitation ; Tooth ; Vertical Dimension

Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) of the pancreas is an exocrine tumor with low malignant nature. Although it's treatment of choice is complete surgical resection, the patients who are not eligible for surgical therapy need other kinds of therapy and there are little reports. Vitamin A and its derivatives in some tumors are known to be prohibiting the tumors' growth by reducing the manifestation of transcription factors. We present one case of SPN of the pancreas, which was not eligible for resection and was not responding to chemotherapy and radiation therapy, but, responded with the administration of Isotretionin (Roaccutan(R)). Therefore, for inoperable SPN of the pancreas, we consider Isotretionin therapy can be used as treatment and, in the future, new studies with more of Isotretionin treatment implemented cases should be conducted to identify their anticancer mechanism.
Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Pancreas* ; Transcription Factors ; Vitamin A

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal (TEP) herniorrhaphy has been recognized as a treatment option for inguinal hernia. The objective of this study was to clarify the learning curve for laparoscopic TEP herniorrhaphy using the moving average method. METHODS: A total of 90 patients underwent laparoscopic TEP herniorrhaphy by a single surgeon between March 2009 and March 2011. We analyzed medical records including the demographic data, operating time, hospital stay, and postoperative complications. RESULTS: The mean operating time of the initial 30 cases (learning period group) was 66.3 minutes. After the initial 30 cases were performed, the time decreased to 52.8 minutes in the later 60 cases (experienced period group, P = 0.015). This represents the operating time becoming stabilized and then decreasing as the number of performed cases accumulates. Hospital stay was shorter and frequency of pain control, and complication rate were lower in the experienced period, however, there was no statistical significance. CONCLUSION: We suggest that number of patients needed for the learning curve for laparoscopic TEP herniorrhaphy should be 30 cases. The operating time for laparoscopic TEP herniorrhaphy stabilizes after 40 cases in moving average analysis.
Hernia, Inguinal ; Herniorrhaphy ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Learning ; Learning Curve ; Length of Stay ; Medical Records ; Pyrazines

Mesenteric pseudocyst is rare. This term is used to describe the abdominal cystic mass, without the origin of abdominal organ. We presented a case of mesenteric pseudocyst of the small bowel in a 70-year-old man. Esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy showed a 3.5 cm sized excavated lesion on the posterior wall of angle. Endocopic biopsy confirmed a histologic diagnosis of the poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, which includes the signet ring cell component. Abdominal computed tomography scan showed a focal mucosal enhancement in the posterior wall of angle of the stomach, a 2.4 cm sized enhancing mass on the distal small bowel loop, without distant metastases or ascites in rectal shelf, and multiple gallbladder stones. The patient underwent subtotal gastrectomy with gastroduodenostomy, segmental resection of the small bowel, and cholecystectomy. The final pathological diagnosis was mesenteric pseudocyst. This is the first case report describing incidentally detected mesenteric pseudocyst of the small bowel in gastric cancer patients.
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged ; Ascites ; Biopsy ; Cellular Structures ; Cholecystectomy ; Gallbladder ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Mesenteric Cyst ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms