Since a novel beta-coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first reported in December 2019, there has been a rapid global spread of the virus. Genomic surveillance was conducted on samples isolated from infected individuals to monitor the spread of genetic variants of SARS-CoV-2 in Korea. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency performed whole genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 in Korea for 1 year (January 2020 to January 2021). A total of 2,488 SARSCoV-2 cases were sequenced (including 648 cases from abroad). Initially, the prevalent clades of SARSCoV-2 were the S and V clades, however, by March 2020, GH clade was the most dominant. Only international travelers were identified as having G or GR clades, and since the first variant 501Y.V1 was identified (from a traveler from the United Kingdom on December 22 nd , 2020), a total of 27 variants of 501Y.V1, 501Y.V2, and 484K.V2 have been classified (as of January 25 th , 2021). The results in this study indicated that quarantining of travelers entering Korea successfully prevented dissemination of the SARS-CoV-2 variants in Korea.

As of February 2020, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak started in China in December 2019 has been spreading in many countries in the world. With the numbers of confirmed cases are increasing, information on the epidemiologic investigation and clinical manifestation have been accumulated. However, data on viral load kinetics in confirmed cases are lacking. Here, we present the viral load kinetics of the first two confirmed patients with mild to moderate illnesses in Korea in whom distinct viral load kinetics are shown. This report suggests that viral load kinetics of SARS-CoV-2 may be different from that of previously reported other coronavirus infections such as SARS-CoV.
China ; Coronavirus ; Coronavirus Infections ; Humans ; Kinetics ; Korea ; SARS Virus ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; Viral Load

Following reports of patients with unexplained pneumonia at the end of December 2019 in Wuhan, China, the causative agent was identified as coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), and the 2019 novel coronavirus disease was named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization. Putative patients with COVID-19 have been identified in South Korea, and attempts have been made to isolate the pathogen from these patients.

As of February 2020, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak started in China in December 2019 has been spreading in many countries in the world. With the numbers of confirmed cases are increasing, information on the epidemiologic investigation and clinical manifestation have been accumulated. However, data on viral load kinetics in confirmed cases are lacking. Here, we present the viral load kinetics of the first two confirmed patients with mild to moderate illnesses in Korea in whom distinct viral load kinetics are shown. This report suggests that viral load kinetics of SARS-CoV-2 may be different from that of previously reported other coronavirus infections such as SARS-CoV.

No abstract available.
B-Lymphocytes ; Glossopharyngeal Nerve Diseases ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; Syncope

A 62-year-old man with a neurogenic tumor in the neck was admitted to our hospital for recurrent ischemic stroke due to carotid occlusion. The magnetic resonance (MR) angiograms revealed the occlusion of the right internal carotid artery (ICA). Arterial compression by the tumor could be considered as the cause of ICA occlusion. Since neurogenic tumors of the neck have significant surgical risks, the patient underwent extracranial-intracranial arterial bypass (EC-IC bypass) surgery. We report a case with recurrent ischemic stroke due to carotid compression by a neurogenic tumor of the neck.
Carotid Artery, Internal ; Cerebral Infarction ; Cerebral Revascularization ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Stroke

Pneumatosis intestinalis is an uncommon disorder characterized by an accumulation of gas in the bowel wall. We described three cases undertaking liver transplantation. The patients developed diarrhea in three cases and high fever in two. An abdominal X-ray and computed tomography scan demonstrated extensive pneumatosis intestinalis in the colon with pneumoperitoneum mimicking hollow organ perforation. However, the patients had no abdominal symptoms and there was no evidence of peritonitis. The infection work-up was negative except one case with cytomegalovirus antigenemia. After one week of conservative management including bowel rest and antibiotic therapy, their pneumoperitoneum resolved spontaneously without any complication. Pneumatosis intestinalis should be considered as a differential diagnosis after adult liver transplantation with patients suffering from watery diarrhea and fever. Pneumoperitoneum, air-density in mesentery and retroperitoneum in patients with pneumatosis intestinalis without signs of peritonitis improved with conservative management, which included bowel rest and antibiotic therapy.
Adult ; Colon ; Cytomegalovirus ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diarrhea ; Fever ; Humans ; Liver ; Liver Transplantation ; Mesentery ; Mortuary Practice ; Peritonitis ; Pneumoperitoneum ; Stress, Psychological

BACKGROUND: Discontinuation of antiepileptic drug (AED) is valuable in patients of epilepsy who have been seizure free for a considerable time. However, there are few established methods to successfully stop AED. The purpose of study was to find the prognostic factors and the method of desirable AED withdrawal. METHODS: Seventy-eight patients who were seizure free for more than 18 months were enrolled in this retrospective study. The patients were followed for more than 2 years after starting withdrawal, or until seizure recurrence within 2 years. To clarify the prognostic factors affecting the seizure recurrence related to the withdrawal, statistical analyses were done about AED types, EEG before withdrawal, sex, age, onset age of seizure, febrile convulsion, family history, brain CT/MRI, trauma history, loss of consciousness history, seizure nature, and duration of seizure free. Furthermore, survival analysis between groups over the duration of withdrawal period and AED decrement rate was done to elucidate the most successful methods of AED withdrawal. RESULTS: Fifty-seven patients (73%) experienced seizure recurrence after starting withdrawal within 2 years. Over 12 months of withdrawal duration (p=0.037) and under 20 percent per month of the decrement rate of carbamazepine (p=0.019) were related to reduce the seizure recurrence. These were also confirmed via survival curve analysis. CONCLUSIONS: This study is a new attempt to apply reduction rate in withdrawal. AED withdrawal duration and decrement rate are important factor to prognostic factors of desirable AED withdrawal and minimize the recurrence after withdrawal.
Age of Onset ; Anticonvulsants ; Brain ; Carbamazepine ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures ; Seizures, Febrile ; Unconsciousness

PURPOSE: We checked the levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitmain D (25OHD) in the patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) to survey the status of vitamin D levels, to see the seasonal variations of 25OHD, and to evaluate the relationships among the levels of intact PTH, corrected calcium, and phosphorus. METHODS: We defined vitamin D insufficiency and vitamin D deficiency as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels between 20 and 30 ng/mL and below 20 ng/mL, respectively. 185 patients in a single center were enlisted who categorized into 3 groups, CKD2-3, CKD4, and CKD5 by eGFR using MDRD7 equation. To see the seasonal differences of the levels of 25OHD, we collected laboratory data two times per each patient during summer division (April to September) and winter division (October to March). RESULTS: Prevalences of hypovitaminosis D were 42.8% (CKD2-3), 66.1% (CKD4), 92.8% (CKD5) in summer division and 48.7% (CKD2-3), 73.1% (CKD4), 92.8% (CKD5) in winter division. Seasonal difference of the levels of 25OHD was evident only in CKD stage 2-3 (p=0.018). Negative correlations were recognized between 25OHD and intact PTH (r=-0.2048, p<0.001), phosphorus (r=-0.1711, p=0.0011). CONCLUSION: Hypovitaminosis D is prevalent even in patients with early stages of CKD. The levels of 25OHD decreased significantly in winter division in patients with CKD stages 2-3. The levels of 25OHD were inversely correlated with those of intact PTH, phosphorus, respectively.
25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2 ; Calcium ; Humans ; Phosphorus ; Prevalence ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Seasons ; Vitamin D ; Vitamin D Deficiency