The omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is known to have high infectivity and is more likely to evade vaccine immunity. However, booster vaccination is expected to strengthen cross-reactive immunity, thereby increasing the vaccine effectiveness (VE). This study aimed to evaluate the relative VE of the 3-dose (booster) vaccination compared with the 2-dose primary series vaccination in healthcare workers during omicron variant-dominant periods. During the omicron-dominant period from February 1, 2022 to February 28, 2022, a 1:1 matched case-control study was conducted.Healthcare workers with positive SARS-CoV-2 test results were classified as positive cases, whereas those with negative results served as controls. Compared with the 2-dose primary series vaccination, booster vaccination with mRNA vaccine showed moderate VE (53.1%).However, in multivariate analysis including the time elapsed after vaccination, the significant VE disappeared, reflecting the impact of recent vaccination rather than the third dose itself.

Background: Bronchoscopy is recommended for patients with suspected nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) whose sputum culture results are consistently negative or from whom adequate sputum samples cannot be obtained. Post-bronchoscopy sputum (PBS) collection is recommended for patients with suspected tuberculosis who undergo bronchoscopy. However, it remains unclear whether PBS collection can increase the diagnostic yield of NTM-PD. Methods: Patients with suspected NTM-PD who underwent diagnostic bronchoscopy from January 1, 2017 to June 30, 2020 at the Seoul National University Hospital were included in the study. They were divided into the sputum culture-negative and scanty sputum groups.The results of mycobacterial cultures from bronchial washing specimens and PBS were compared between these groups. Results: In total, 141 patients were included in the study; there were 39 and 102 patients in the sputum culture-negative and scanty sputum groups, respectively. Nontuberculous mycobacteria were cultured from bronchial washing specimens collected from 38.3% (54/141) of all patients (30.7% [12/39] patients in the sputum culture-negative group and 41.2% [42/102] patients in the scanty sputum group; P = 0.345). Nontuberculous mycobacteria were exclusively cultured from PBS collected from 3.5% (5/141) of all patients (7.7% [3/39] patients in the sputum culture-negative group and 2.0% [2/102] patients in the scanty sputum group; P = 0.255). Conclusions Additional PBS collection improved diagnostic yield marginally in patients with suspected NTM-PD who undergo bronchoscopy.

Background: The impact of reflux esophagitis on the decline of lung function has been rarely reported. This study was performed to evaluate the association between erosive reflux esophagitis and lung function changes. Methods: We included patients with normal lung function who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy for health screening from a health screening center. Patients with persistent erosive reflux esophagitis on two discrete endoscopic examinations were designated as the erosive reflux esophagitis group. We also selected patients without erosive reflux esophagitis and matched them 1:4 with patients from the erosive reflux esophagitis group. We estimated annual forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1 ) and forced vital capacity (FVC) changes from baseline and compared these estimates by the linear mixed regression model. We also estimated the biannual incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Results: In total, 1,050 patients (210 patients with erosive reflux esophagitis, and 840 matched controls) were included. The median follow-up duration for spirometry was six years. In patients with erosive reflux esophagitis, mild reflux esophagitis (A grade) was most common (165 patients, 78.6%). The adjusted annual FEV1 change in patients with erosive reflux esophagitis was −51.8 mL/yr, while it decreased by 46.8 mL/yr in controls (P = 0.270).The adjusted annual FVC decline was similar between the two groups (−55.8 vs. −50.5 mL/ yr, P = 0.215). The estimated COPD incidence during the follow-up period was not different between the erosive reflux esophagitis and control groups. Conclusion In patients with normal lung function, the presence of erosive reflux esophagitis did not affect the annual declines in FEV1 or FVC.

Background: Bronchoscopy is recommended for patients with suspected nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) whose sputum culture results are consistently negative or from whom adequate sputum samples cannot be obtained. Post-bronchoscopy sputum (PBS) collection is recommended for patients with suspected tuberculosis who undergo bronchoscopy. However, it remains unclear whether PBS collection can increase the diagnostic yield of NTM-PD. Methods: Patients with suspected NTM-PD who underwent diagnostic bronchoscopy from January 1, 2017 to June 30, 2020 at the Seoul National University Hospital were included in the study. They were divided into the sputum culture-negative and scanty sputum groups.The results of mycobacterial cultures from bronchial washing specimens and PBS were compared between these groups. Results: In total, 141 patients were included in the study; there were 39 and 102 patients in the sputum culture-negative and scanty sputum groups, respectively. Nontuberculous mycobacteria were cultured from bronchial washing specimens collected from 38.3% (54/141) of all patients (30.7% [12/39] patients in the sputum culture-negative group and 41.2% [42/102] patients in the scanty sputum group; P = 0.345). Nontuberculous mycobacteria were exclusively cultured from PBS collected from 3.5% (5/141) of all patients (7.7% [3/39] patients in the sputum culture-negative group and 2.0% [2/102] patients in the scanty sputum group; P = 0.255). Conclusions Additional PBS collection improved diagnostic yield marginally in patients with suspected NTM-PD who undergo bronchoscopy.

Background: The impact of reflux esophagitis on the decline of lung function has been rarely reported. This study was performed to evaluate the association between erosive reflux esophagitis and lung function changes. Methods: We included patients with normal lung function who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy for health screening from a health screening center. Patients with persistent erosive reflux esophagitis on two discrete endoscopic examinations were designated as the erosive reflux esophagitis group. We also selected patients without erosive reflux esophagitis and matched them 1:4 with patients from the erosive reflux esophagitis group. We estimated annual forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1 ) and forced vital capacity (FVC) changes from baseline and compared these estimates by the linear mixed regression model. We also estimated the biannual incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Results: In total, 1,050 patients (210 patients with erosive reflux esophagitis, and 840 matched controls) were included. The median follow-up duration for spirometry was six years. In patients with erosive reflux esophagitis, mild reflux esophagitis (A grade) was most common (165 patients, 78.6%). The adjusted annual FEV1 change in patients with erosive reflux esophagitis was −51.8 mL/yr, while it decreased by 46.8 mL/yr in controls (P = 0.270).The adjusted annual FVC decline was similar between the two groups (−55.8 vs. −50.5 mL/ yr, P = 0.215). The estimated COPD incidence during the follow-up period was not different between the erosive reflux esophagitis and control groups. Conclusion In patients with normal lung function, the presence of erosive reflux esophagitis did not affect the annual declines in FEV1 or FVC.

Purpose: This cross-sectional study aimed to identify factors affecting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination intention. Methods: For an anonymous online survey, recruitment notices were posted on an anonymous community by each university, and an online survey was conducted through online form from June to July 2021. COVID-19 knowledge and health-protective behavior were measured using a questionnaire based on previous literature and reflecting the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 Response Guidelines. The psychological antecedents of vaccination were measured by 5C scale. Results: Two-hundred and ninety-four college students (women 67.3%) answered the survey; 179 (60.9%) reported that they would accept a COVID-19 vaccine. The mean scores for COVID-19 knowledge and health-protective behavior were 22.97 ± 5.33 (out of 35) and 9.92 ± 2.22 (out of 12), respectively. For the psychological antecedents of vaccination, the mean scores for confidence, collective responsibility, calculation, complacency, and constraints were 4.45 ( ± 1.24), 5.61 ( ± 1.09), 5.09 ( ± 1.18), 2.42 ( ± 1.11), and 2.37 ( ± 1.19) out of 5 points, respectively. The confidence, calculation, and collective responsibility were associated with vaccination intention. Additionally, the top reason for those who were less prone to accept vaccination against COVID-19 was concern about vaccine safety. Conclusion The higher the confidence in the vaccine and the higher the collective responsibility, the higher the vaccination intention. As it is a factor related to an individual’s perception of COVID-19 information, it is necessary to increase confidence in the vaccines through obtaining accurate information on the safety, effectiveness, and side effects of the COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a rare condition characterized by extensive inflammation and fibrosis mainly involving the pulmonary interstitium or alveoli. Usually, patients with ILD clinically present with chronic cough and exertional dyspnea. ILD is classified into subtypes based on clinical characteristics, detailed history obtained from patients, and radiological, and/or histopathological features. The most common type of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). IPF is a chronic progressive fibrosing ILD and is associated with poor prognosis. An exclusive diagnosis of IPF requires no known condition causing ILD and typical radiological and/or histopathological features of lung fibrosis. Fibrosis observed in this condition is attributable to repetitive epithelial injury with consequent abnormal wound healing in genetically susceptible and elderly individuals. Currently, pirfenidone and nintedanib are useful disease-modifying agents available to treat IPF. In this article, we review the concept, diagnosis, clinical course, and treatment of ILD.
Aged ; Cough ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonias ; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis ; Inflammation ; Lung ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Prognosis ; Wound Healing

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a rare condition characterized by extensive inflammation and fibrosis mainly involving the pulmonary interstitium or alveoli. Usually, patients with ILD clinically present with chronic cough and exertional dyspnea. ILD is classified into subtypes based on clinical characteristics, detailed history obtained from patients, and radiological, and/or histopathological features. The most common type of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). IPF is a chronic progressive fibrosing ILD and is associated with poor prognosis. An exclusive diagnosis of IPF requires no known condition causing ILD and typical radiological and/or histopathological features of lung fibrosis. Fibrosis observed in this condition is attributable to repetitive epithelial injury with consequent abnormal wound healing in genetically susceptible and elderly individuals. Currently, pirfenidone and nintedanib are useful disease-modifying agents available to treat IPF. In this article, we review the concept, diagnosis, clinical course, and treatment of ILD.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a rare condition characterized by extensive inflammation and fibrosis mainly involving the pulmonary interstitium or alveoli. Usually, patients with ILD clinically present with chronic cough and exertional dyspnea. ILD is classified into subtypes based on clinical characteristics, detailed history obtained from patients, and radiological, and/or histopathological features. The most common type of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). IPF is a chronic progressive fibrosing ILD and is associated with poor prognosis. An exclusive diagnosis of IPF requires no known condition causing ILD and typical radiological and/or histopathological features of lung fibrosis. Fibrosis observed in this condition is attributable to repetitive epithelial injury with consequent abnormal wound healing in genetically susceptible and elderly individuals. Currently, pirfenidone and nintedanib are useful disease-modifying agents available to treat IPF. In this article, we review the concept, diagnosis, clinical course, and treatment of ILD.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of a Tanner-Whitehouse 3 (TW3)-based fully automated bone age assessment system on hand-wrist radiographs of Korean children and adolescents. Materials and Methods: Hand-wrist radiographs of 80 subjects (40 boys and 40 girls, 7-15 years of age) were collected. The clinical efficacy was evaluated by comparing the bone ages that were determined using the system with those from the reference standard produced by 2 oral and maxillofacial radiologists. Comparisons were conducted using the paired t-test and simple regression analysis. Results: The bone ages estimated with this bone age assessment system were not significantly different from those obtained with the reference standard (p>0.05) and satisfied the equivalence criterion of 0.6 years within the 95% confidence interval ( - 0.07 to 0.22), demonstrating excellent performance of the system. Similarly, in the comparisons of gender subgroups, no significant difference in bone age between the values produced by the system and the reference standard was observed (p>0.05 for both boys and girls). The determination coefficients obtained via regression analysis were 0.962, 0.945, and 0.952 for boys, girls, and overall, respectively (p=0.000); hence, the radiologist-determined bone ages and the system-determined bone ages were strongly correlated. Conclusion This TW3-based system can be effectively used for bone age assessment based on hand-wrist radiographs of Korean children and adolescents.