Background: We analyzed cell-free serum Epstein‒Barr virus (EBV) DNA to identify its prognostic role in patients with newly diagnosed lymphoma. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients diagnosed with lymphoma between January 2014 and July 2020. Patients were enrolled according to the following criteria: i) pathologically confirmed lymphomas according to the World Health Organization criteria, ii) age over 18 years, iii) serum EBV DNA measurement using polymerase chain reaction prior to first-line therapy, and iv) receipt of curative standard chemotherapy. In total, 263 patients met these criteria and were included in this study. Results: Serum EBV DNA was detected in 79 patients (30.0%). Patients with positive serum EBV tended to be older (P =0.090), and the proportion of T-cell lineage lymphomas was higher than that of B-cell lymphomas (P =0.003). EBV positivity was significantly associated with more advanced disease based on the Ann Arbor staging system (P =0.008) and the International Prognostic Index (P =0.009). EBV positivity was also associated with higher disease relapse (P =0.038) and death rates (P =0.005). EBV-positive lymphomas further showed inferior long-term survival outcomes in terms of progression-free survival (PFS) (P =0.053) and overall survival (OS) (P =0.014). In the subgroup analyses, serum EBV positivity was a significant prognostic factor for patients with B-cell lineage lymphomas in terms of PFS (P =0.003) and OS (P =0.033). Conclusion We demonstrated that cell-free serum EBV DNA status at the time of diagnosis has potential as a prognostic biomarker for patients with newly diagnosed malignant lymphomas.

In preparation for the surge of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), it is crucial to allocate medical resources efficiently for distinguishing people who remain asymptomatic until the end of the disease. Between January 27, 2020, and April 21, 2020, 517 COVID-19 cases from 13 healthcare facilities in Gyeonggi province, Korea, were identified out of which the epidemiologic and clinical information of 66 asymptomatic patients at the time of diagnosis were analyzed retrospectively. An exposure-diagnosis interval within 7 days and abnormal aspartate aminotransferase levels were identified as characteristic symptom development in asymptomatic COVID-19 patients. If asymptomatic patients without these characteristics at the time of diagnosis could be differentiated early, more medical resources could be secured for mild or moderate cases in this COVID-19 surge.

Background: We analyzed cell-free serum Epstein‒Barr virus (EBV) DNA to identify its prognostic role in patients with newly diagnosed lymphoma. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients diagnosed with lymphoma between January 2014 and July 2020. Patients were enrolled according to the following criteria: i) pathologically confirmed lymphomas according to the World Health Organization criteria, ii) age over 18 years, iii) serum EBV DNA measurement using polymerase chain reaction prior to first-line therapy, and iv) receipt of curative standard chemotherapy. In total, 263 patients met these criteria and were included in this study. Results: Serum EBV DNA was detected in 79 patients (30.0%). Patients with positive serum EBV tended to be older (P =0.090), and the proportion of T-cell lineage lymphomas was higher than that of B-cell lymphomas (P =0.003). EBV positivity was significantly associated with more advanced disease based on the Ann Arbor staging system (P =0.008) and the International Prognostic Index (P =0.009). EBV positivity was also associated with higher disease relapse (P =0.038) and death rates (P =0.005). EBV-positive lymphomas further showed inferior long-term survival outcomes in terms of progression-free survival (PFS) (P =0.053) and overall survival (OS) (P =0.014). In the subgroup analyses, serum EBV positivity was a significant prognostic factor for patients with B-cell lineage lymphomas in terms of PFS (P =0.003) and OS (P =0.033). Conclusion We demonstrated that cell-free serum EBV DNA status at the time of diagnosis has potential as a prognostic biomarker for patients with newly diagnosed malignant lymphomas.

Cytophagic histiocytic panniculitis (CHP) is a rare form of panniculitis, presenting lymphohistiocytic infiltration within subcutaneous fat tissue with phagocytic histiocytes. Associated systemic symptoms includes fever, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, serositis, pancytopenia, hepatic abnormalities, hypertriglyceridemia, and coagulopathy, which are the features of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). The patients of CHP associated with HLH may have nonfatal acute/intermittent, or rapidly fatal clinical courses, so the prompt and accurate diagnosis with immunosuppressive treatments are significant.

Recently, the number of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who have tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2), via the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test, after recovery has increased; this has caused a dilemma regarding the medical measures and policies. We evaluated the dynamics of viral load and anti-SARSCoV-2 antibodies in four patients with positive RT-PCR results after recovery. In all patients, the highest levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM antibodies were reached after about a month of the onset of the initial symptoms. Then, the IgG titers plateaued, and the IgM titers decreased, regardless of RT-PCR results.The IgG and IgM levels did not increase after the post-negative positive RT-PCR results in any of the patients. Our results reinforced that the post-negative positive RT-PCR results may be due to the detection of RNA particles rather than reinfection in individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.

Objective: The rising number of carbapenemase-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) cases has become a concern worldwidely. This study investigated patient characteristics with CRE and analyzed the risk factors associated with its acquisition. Methods: A retrospective review of the electronic medical records of the Kangbuk Samsung Medical Center from May 2016 to April 2019 was performed. The inclusion criterion was hospitalized patients aged ≥18 years with confirmed CRE acquisition. Patients were divided by CRE acquired and non-required patients. CRE acquired patients were those with CRE confirmed by their active surveillance cultures, while non-acquired patients were those with carbapenemase-sensitive Enterobacteriaceae (CSE). If CRE was isolated more than once during hospitalization, only the first isolation was used for data analysis. Patient characteristics, antibiotic used, and the duration of use were compared between two groups using univariate analysis, and the risk factors associated with CRE were analyzed using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: Among the 73 CRE acquired patients, 44 (60.3%) were positive for carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE). Infection from Klebsiella pneumonia (42 cases, 57.5%), Escherichia coli (17 cases, 23.3%), and Enterobacter cloacae (5 cases, 6.8%). The risk of CRE acquisition was significantly increased by 4.99 times [confidence interval (CI), 1.40-17.78; p=0.013] with mechanical ventilation, 3.86 times (CI, 1.59-9.36; p=0.003) with penicillin administration, and 21.19 times (CI, 6.53-68.70; p<0.001) with carbapenem administration. Conclusions Proper antibiotic use including the selection, frequency, and duration, and patients on mechanical ventilators need close monitoring.