Purpose: This study developed a thermoelectric element (TEE) tourniquet integrating a tourniquet with a temperature control device capable of delivering heat or cold therapy. A randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of the TEE tourniquet on pain, stress, and satisfaction during venipuncture. Methods: In total, 118 hospitalized adults were randomly assigned to heat therapy (40~45°C), cold therapy (0~10°C), thermal grill illusion therapy (alternating heat and cold), or the control group. The TEE tourniquet was applied 10 cm above the puncture site. A temperature intervention began 5 seconds before cannulation and was maintained during the procedure, typically lasting 10 to 30 seconds. The control group received the TEE tourniquet without temperature activation. Outcomes included perceived pain and stress (numerical rating scale), observed pain (Wong-Baker FACES), SpO2, stress index, and participant satisfaction. Results: Significant differences were found among groups in perceived pain (F = 4.82, p = .003), observed pain (F = 5.50, p = .001), and perceived stress (F = 4.72, p = .004). The heat therapy group reported significantly lower pain and stress than the control group. No significant differences were found in SpO₂, the stress index, or satisfaction. Conclusion Heat therapy via the TEE tourniquet significantly reduced venipuncture-related pain and stress. Given its short application time and usability, this device may serve as a clinically useful nursing intervention to improve comfort during invasive procedures.

Purpose: This study developed a thermoelectric element (TEE) tourniquet integrating a tourniquet with a temperature control device capable of delivering heat or cold therapy. A randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of the TEE tourniquet on pain, stress, and satisfaction during venipuncture. Methods: In total, 118 hospitalized adults were randomly assigned to heat therapy (40~45°C), cold therapy (0~10°C), thermal grill illusion therapy (alternating heat and cold), or the control group. The TEE tourniquet was applied 10 cm above the puncture site. A temperature intervention began 5 seconds before cannulation and was maintained during the procedure, typically lasting 10 to 30 seconds. The control group received the TEE tourniquet without temperature activation. Outcomes included perceived pain and stress (numerical rating scale), observed pain (Wong-Baker FACES), SpO2, stress index, and participant satisfaction. Results: Significant differences were found among groups in perceived pain (F = 4.82, p = .003), observed pain (F = 5.50, p = .001), and perceived stress (F = 4.72, p = .004). The heat therapy group reported significantly lower pain and stress than the control group. No significant differences were found in SpO₂, the stress index, or satisfaction. Conclusion Heat therapy via the TEE tourniquet significantly reduced venipuncture-related pain and stress. Given its short application time and usability, this device may serve as a clinically useful nursing intervention to improve comfort during invasive procedures.

Purpose: This study developed a thermoelectric element (TEE) tourniquet integrating a tourniquet with a temperature control device capable of delivering heat or cold therapy. A randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of the TEE tourniquet on pain, stress, and satisfaction during venipuncture. Methods: In total, 118 hospitalized adults were randomly assigned to heat therapy (40~45°C), cold therapy (0~10°C), thermal grill illusion therapy (alternating heat and cold), or the control group. The TEE tourniquet was applied 10 cm above the puncture site. A temperature intervention began 5 seconds before cannulation and was maintained during the procedure, typically lasting 10 to 30 seconds. The control group received the TEE tourniquet without temperature activation. Outcomes included perceived pain and stress (numerical rating scale), observed pain (Wong-Baker FACES), SpO2, stress index, and participant satisfaction. Results: Significant differences were found among groups in perceived pain (F = 4.82, p = .003), observed pain (F = 5.50, p = .001), and perceived stress (F = 4.72, p = .004). The heat therapy group reported significantly lower pain and stress than the control group. No significant differences were found in SpO₂, the stress index, or satisfaction. Conclusion Heat therapy via the TEE tourniquet significantly reduced venipuncture-related pain and stress. Given its short application time and usability, this device may serve as a clinically useful nursing intervention to improve comfort during invasive procedures.

Purpose: This study developed a thermoelectric element (TEE) tourniquet integrating a tourniquet with a temperature control device capable of delivering heat or cold therapy. A randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of the TEE tourniquet on pain, stress, and satisfaction during venipuncture. Methods: In total, 118 hospitalized adults were randomly assigned to heat therapy (40~45°C), cold therapy (0~10°C), thermal grill illusion therapy (alternating heat and cold), or the control group. The TEE tourniquet was applied 10 cm above the puncture site. A temperature intervention began 5 seconds before cannulation and was maintained during the procedure, typically lasting 10 to 30 seconds. The control group received the TEE tourniquet without temperature activation. Outcomes included perceived pain and stress (numerical rating scale), observed pain (Wong-Baker FACES), SpO2, stress index, and participant satisfaction. Results: Significant differences were found among groups in perceived pain (F = 4.82, p = .003), observed pain (F = 5.50, p = .001), and perceived stress (F = 4.72, p = .004). The heat therapy group reported significantly lower pain and stress than the control group. No significant differences were found in SpO₂, the stress index, or satisfaction. Conclusion Heat therapy via the TEE tourniquet significantly reduced venipuncture-related pain and stress. Given its short application time and usability, this device may serve as a clinically useful nursing intervention to improve comfort during invasive procedures.

Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence have been rapidly increasing in some parts of Korea. We analyzed prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies, using a rapid diagnostic test (RDT), in the sera of 552 residents in Ganghwa-gun, 661 ones in Cheorwon-gun, and 305 ones in Goseong-gun, Korea in 2019. IgG/IgM RDT mounted with recombinant fragment of major surface antigen (SAG1), glutathione-S-transferase-linker-SAG1A, were applied to the sera. IgG seroprevalence was 28.1% in Ganghwa-gun, 19.5% in Cheorwon-gun and 35.7% in Goseong-gun. Odds ratios comparing Cheorwon vs Ganghwa was 0.63 (P=0.001) and Goesong versus Ganghwa was 1.47 (P=0.01) adjusting age and sex. Goseong had highest seroprevalence among the 3 counties both in crude rates and logistic regression. Although Cheorwon and Goseong are adjacent to the demilitarized zone (DMZ) in Korea, seroprevalence rate was much higher in Goseong. Further investigation on other DMZ-closed areas is necessary whether they have high prevalence rates compared to the other areas. T. gondii prevalence in Korea is still persists; proper health policy should be established.

A rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kit was developed to detect non-structural protein 1 (NS1) of yellow fever virus (YFV) using monoclonal antibody. NS1 protein was purified from the cultured YFV and used to immunize mice. Monoclonal antibody to NS1 was selected and conjugated with colloidal gold to produce the YFV NS1 RDT kit. The YFV RDTs were evaluated for sensitivity and specificity using positive and negative samples of monkeys from Brazil and negative human blood samples from Korea. Among monoclonal antibodies, clones 3A11 and 3B7 proved most sensitive, and used for YFV RDT kit. Diagnostic accuracy of YFV RDT was fairly high; Sensitivity was 0.0% and specificity was 100% against Dengue viruses type 2 and 3, Zika, Chikungunya and Mayaro viruses. This YFV RDT kit could be employed as a test of choice for point-of-care diagnosis and large scale surveys of YFV infection under clinical or field conditions in endemic areas and on the globe.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Brazil ; Clone Cells ; Dengue Virus ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Gold Colloid ; Haplorhini ; Humans ; Korea ; Mice ; Point-of-Care Systems ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Yellow fever virus ; Yellow Fever

Chagas disease is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, and is endemic in many Latin American countries. Diagnosis is based on serologic testing and the WHO recommends two or more serological tests for confirmation. Acidic ribosomal P protein of T. cruzi showed strong reactivity against positive sera of patients, and we cloned the protein after fragmenting it to enhance its antigenicity and solubility. Twelve positive sera of Chagas disease patients were reacted with the fragmented ribosomal P protein using western blot. Detection rate and density for each fragment were determined. Fragments F1R1, F1R2, and F2R1 showed 100% rate of detection, and average density scoring of 2.00, 1.67, and 2.42 from a maximum of 3.0, respectively. Therefore, the F2R1 fragment of the ribosomal P protein of T. cruzi could be a promising antigen to use in the diagnosis of Chagas disease in endemic regions with high specificity and sensitivity.
Blotting, Western ; Chagas Disease ; Clone Cells ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Parasites ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Serologic Tests ; Solubility ; Trypanosoma cruzi

We developed a Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kit for detecting IgG/IgM antibodies against Zika virus (ZIKV) using monoclonal antibodies to the envelope (E) and non-structural protein 1 (NS1) of ZIKV. These proteins were produced using baculovirus expression vector with Sf9 cells. Monoclonal antibodies J2G7 to NS1 and J5E1 to E protein were selected and conjugated with colloidal gold to produce the Zika IgG/IgM RDT kit (Zika RDT). Comparisons with ELISA, plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT), and PCR were done to investigate the analytical sensitivity of Zika RDT, which resulted in 100% identical results. Sensitivity and specificity of Zika RDT in a field test was determined using positive and negative samples from Brazil and Korea. The diagnostic accuracy of Zika RDT was fairly high; sensitivity and specificity for IgG was 99.0 and 99.3%, respectively, while for IgM it was 96.7 and 98.7%, respectively. Cross reaction with dengue virus was evaluated using anti-Dengue Mixed Titer Performance Panel (PVD201), in which the Zika RDT showed cross-reactions with DENV in 16.7% and 5.6% in IgG and IgM, respectively. Cross reactions were not observed with West Nile, yellow fever, and hepatitis C virus infected sera. Zika RDT kit is very simple to use, rapid to assay, and very sensitive, and highly specific. Therefore, it would serve as a choice of method for point-of-care diagnosis and large scale surveys of ZIKV infection under clinical or field conditions worldwide in endemic areas.
Antibodies ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Baculoviridae ; Brazil ; Cross Reactions ; Dengue Virus ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Flavivirus ; Gold Colloid ; Hepacivirus ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Korea ; Methods ; Neutralization Tests ; Point-of-Care Systems ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sf9 Cells ; Yellow Fever ; Zika Virus

BACKGROUND: Megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts (MLC) is a rare inherited disorder characterized by infantile-onset macrocephaly, slow neurologic deterioration, and seizures. Mutations in the causative gene, MLC1, are found in approximately 75% of patients and are inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. We analyzed MLC1 mutations in five unrelated Korean patients with MLC. METHODS: Direct Sanger sequencing was used to identify MLC1 mutations. A founder effect of the p.Ala275Asp variant was demonstrated by haplotype analysis using single-nucleotide polymorphic (SNP) markers. Multiple ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) and comparative genomic hybridization plus SNP array were used to detect exonic deletions or uniparental disomy (UPD). RESULTS: The most prevalent pathogenic variant was c.824C>A (p.Ala275Asp) found in 7/10 (70%) alleles. Two pathogenic frameshift variants were found: c.135delC (p.Cys46Alafs*12) and c.337_353delinsG (p.Ile113Glyfs*4). Haplotype analysis suggested that the Korean patients with MLC harbored a founder mutation in p.Ala275Asp. The p.(Ile113Glyfs*4) was identified in a homozygous state, and a family study revealed that only the mother was heterozygous for this variant. Further analysis of MLPA and SNP arrays for this patient demonstrated loss of heterozygosity of chromosome 22 without any deletion, indicating UPD. The maternal origin of both chromosomes 22 was demonstrated by haplotype analysis. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to describe the mutational spectrum of Korean patients with MLC, demonstrating a founder effect of the p.Ala275Asp variant. This study also broadens our understanding of the mutational spectrum of MLC1 by demonstrating a homozygous p.(Ile113Glyfs*4) variant resulting from UPD of chromosome 22.
Alleles ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22* ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; Exons ; Founder Effect ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Leukoencephalopathies* ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Megalencephaly ; Mothers ; Seizures ; Uniparental Disomy*

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among the residents of Cheorwon-gun, Gangwon-do, Korea, which partly includes the demilitarized zone (DMZ), were surveyed for 4 years and evaluated by RDT using recombinant fragment of major surface antigen (SAG1A). Sera from 1336, 583, 526, and 583 adult residents were collected on a yearly basis from 2010 to 2013, respectively. The total positive seroprevalence was 19.3, 21.9, 23.4, and 26.8% from 2010 to 2013, respectively. The positive seroprevalence in men (23.6, 27.5, 29.5, 34.6%) was far higher than women (14.1, 18.3, 19.4, 21.4%), from 2010 to 2013, respectively. This high seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in Cheorwon-gun may have been influenced in part by its geographical locality of the area as it includes the DMZ, where civilian access is strictly limited, thus creating a relatively isolated area that is a well-preserved habitat. Further research is necessary to study the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis in this area.
Adult ; Antigens, Surface ; Ecosystem ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Gangwon-do* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male ; Seroepidemiologic Studies* ; Toxoplasma ; Toxoplasmosis*