Objective: To report the clinical and radiological characteristics of patients with underlying B-cell lymphoma and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) showing migratory airspace opacities on serial chest computed tomography (CT) with persistent COVID-19 symptoms. Materials and Methods: From January 2020 to June 2022, of the 56 patients with underlying hematologic malignancy who had undergone chest CT more than once at our hospital after acquiring COVID-19, seven adult patients (5 female; age range, 37–71 years; median age, 45 years) who showed migratory airspace opacities on chest CT were selected for the analysis of clinical and CT features. Results: All patients had been diagnosed with B-cell lymphoma (three diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and four follicular lymphoma) and had received B-cell depleting chemotherapy, including rituximab, within three months prior to COVID-19 diagnosis. The patients underwent a median of 3 CT scans during the follow-up period (median 124 days). All patients showed multifocal patchy peripheral ground glass opacities (GGOs) with basal predominance in the baseline CTs. In all patients, followup CTs demonstrated clearing of previous airspace opacities with the development of new peripheral and peribronchial GGO and consolidation in different locations. Throughout the follow-up period, all patients demonstrated prolonged COVID-19 symptoms accompanied by positive polymerase chain reaction results from nasopharyngeal swabs, with cycle threshold values of less than 25. Conclusion COVID-19 patients with B-cell lymphoma who had received B-cell depleting therapy and are experiencing prolonged SARS-CoV-2 infection and persistent symptoms may demonstrate migratory airspace opacities on serial CT, which could be interpreted as ongoing COVID-19 pneumonia.

PURPOSE: Almost all liver diseases are known to be accompanied by increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), regardless of the cause of the liver disorder. However, little is known about the role of hypoxic conditioned media (HCM) in the view of pro-oxidative/antioxidative balance. METHODS: Normoxic conditioned media (NCM) and HCM were obtained after culturing adipose-derived stem cells in 20% O₂ or 1% O₂ for 24 hours, respectively. Their effects on the expression of various markers reflecting pro-oxidative/antioxidative balance were investigated in both in vitro (thioacetamide-treated AML12 cells) and in vivo (partially hepatectomized mice) models of liver injury, respectively. RESULTS: HCM treatment induced the higher expression of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase than did NCM in the in vitro model of liver injury. We also found that HCM increased the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (NRF2). The in vivo models of liver injury consistently validated the phenomenon of upregulated expression of antioxidant enzymes by HCM. CONCLUSION: We thus could conclude that HCM provides protection against ROS-related toxicity by increasing the expression of antioxidant enzymes, in part by releasing NRF2 in the injured liver.
Antioxidants ; Catalase ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; In Vitro Techniques ; Liver ; Liver Diseases ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Stem Cells ; Superoxide Dismutase

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of eggshell membrane (ESM) patching for tympanic membrane (TM) perforation, and to investigate correlations between healing time and age, gender, patching time, perforation size, and perforation location. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred and seventy-five patients diagnosed with traumatic TM perforation at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University Ansan Hospital, between January 2008 and October 2013. Patients were divided into two groups, according to perforation edge approximation or ESM patching treatment. Healing time was compared between the group that received perforation edge approximation and the group that received ESM patching. Perforation grade, age, onset, and location were also compared between the two groups. RESULTS: ESM patching significantly improved healing time compared to spontaneous healing, especially in patients with moderate or large traumatic TM perforations (≥grade II). However, patient age, gender, perforation location, and especially timing of procedure, did not significantly affect healing time. CONCLUSIONS: ESM patching can be a good treatment choice to promote tympanic membrane healing in large traumatic TM perforations.
Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Korea ; Membranes* ; Neck ; Tympanic Membrane Perforation* ; Tympanic Membrane*

OBJECTIVES: One of the antidiabetic drugs, metformin, have shown that it prevented oxidative stress-induced death in several cell types through a mechanism involving the opening of the permeability transition pore and cytochrome c release. Thus, it is possible that the antioxidative effect of metformin can also serve as protection against gentamicin-induced cytotoxicity related to reactive oxygen species (ROS). The aim of this study was to examine the protective effect of metformin on gentamicin-induced vestibulotoxicity in primary cell culture derived from rat utricle. METHODS: For vestibular primary cell culture, rat utricles were dissected and incubated. Gentamicin-induced cytotoxicity was measured in both the auditory and vestibular cells. To examine the effects of metformin on gentamicin-induced cytotoxicity in the primary cell culture, the cells were pretreated with metformin at a concentration of 1 mM for 24 hours, and then exposed to 2.5 mM gentamicin for 48 hours. The intracellular ROS level was measured using a fluorescent dye, and also measured using a FACScan flow cytometer. Intracellular calcium levels in the vestibular cells were measured with calcium imaging using Fura-2 AM. RESULTS: Vestibular cells were more sensitive to gentamicin-induced cytotoxicity than auditory hair cells. Metformin protects against gentamicin-induced cytotoxicity in vestibular cells. Metformin significantly reduced a gentamicin-induced increase in ROS, and also reduced an increase in intracellular calcium concentrations in gentamicin-induced cytotoxicity. CONCLUSION: Metformin significantly reduced a gentamicin-induced increase in ROS, stabilized the intracellular calcium concentration, and inhibited gentamicin-induced apoptosis. Thus, Metformin showed protective effect on gentamicin-induced cytotoxicity in vestibular primary cell culture.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Calcium ; Cytochromes c ; Fura-2 ; Gentamicins ; Hair Cells, Auditory ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; Metformin* ; Permeability ; Primary Cell Culture* ; Rats* ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Saccule and Utricle ; Vestibule, Labyrinth

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infection (SSI) is prominent among the total incidence of healthcare-associated infections, and is a major contributing factor in the trend of increasing medical costs. There have been numerous efforts to analyze the conditions and causes of SSI for the purpose of prevention. In this study of SSI development after gastric surgery, we evaluated the prevalence of specific pathogens and compared the clinical characteristics observed between gram-positive (GPB) and gram-negative bacteria (GNB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of patients who developed SSI within 30 days after gastric surgery at 13 clinics in Korea, between January 2007 and December 2008. Only those cases of SSI which included confirmed pathogen were included in this study. RESULTS: Among the 121 patients who developed SSI, GPB were observed in 32 patients and 36 cases, and GNB were isolated in 32 patients and 36 cases. Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was the most frequently isolated pathogen in this analysis. There were no differences observed between the GPB and GNB group in terms of baseline characteristics, patient or procedure related risk factors, or factors associated with prophylactic antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: In the previous studies of the occurrence of SSI after gastric surgery, it was reported that the majority of observed pathogens were enteric GNB. Further studies of the incidence of SSI after gastric surgery, particularly those related to MRSA infection, are necessary.
Gram-Negative Bacteria ; Gram-Positive Bacteria ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Methicillin Resistance ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Staphylococcus aureus

Glutaric aciduria type I (GA I) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by a deficiency of glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase. Although over 400 patients confirmed as GA I have been reported, reports from the Asian population had contributed to the minor proportion. We recently diagnosed two cases of GA I confirmed with mutational analysis. Here, we present their rather atypical clinical presentations with genetic characteristics for the first time in Korea. Profound developmental delay from birth, association of hearing loss, and neurological improvement after surgical intervention, were considered to be different clinical features from most reported cases. One patient was a compound heterozygote for p.Ser139Leu and p.Asp220Tyr, and the other for p.Ser139Leu and Glu160X. The mutations of the two alleles (p.Asp220Tyr and p.Glu160X) were novel and reports of p.Ser139Leu were rare both in Western and other Asian populations. These might suggest different genetic spectrum of Korean GA I patients.

BACKGROUND: Neurosurgical site infection may have serious sequelae, especially that occurring after craniotomy. A nationwide prospective multicenter study was performed in Korea to determine the incidence and risk factors for surgical site infections (SSI) after craniotomy. Methods: We collected demographic data, clinical and operative risk factors for SSI, and information regarding the antibiotics administered for the patients who underwent craniotomy in 17 hospitals between July and December of 2008. All the data were collected using a real-time web-based reporting system. RESULTS: Of the 1,020 patients who underwent craniotomy, 31 (3%) developed SSI, including 4 with superficial incisional SSI, 2 with deep incisional SSI, and 25 with organ/space SSI. The SSI rate was predicted on the basis of the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) risk index. The SSI rate of 3.1%, 3.3%, and 1.8% were ascribed NNIS scores of 0, 1, and 2, respectively. The independent risk factors for SSI identified were postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage (odds ratio, 12.13; 95% confidence interval, 4.54-32.42) and preoperative Glasgow coma scales score < or =8 (odds ratio, 2.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.07-5.18). Third generation cephalosporins were the most frequently (in 65.6% of the cases) used for prophylaxis. CONCLUSION: A multicenter SSI surveillance system for craniotomy was first established in Korea. The NNIS risk index was not effective in identifying the patients at risk. We required to further analyze a large number of SSI cases to correctly identify the risk factors for SSI after craniotomy.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Antibiotic Prophylaxis ; Cephalosporins ; Coma ; Craniotomy ; Cross Infection ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Weights and Measures

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the patient satisfaction and its influencing factors after medical care for workrelated injuries. METHODS: A self-reported questionnaire was mailed to 921 workers who had experienced workers' compensation medical care. The data from 335 respondents (response rate was 36.4%) were merged and analysed with the data from the Korea Labor Welfare Corporation (KLWC) which contain other general information of the respondents. RESULTS: Dissatisfaction with their medical care was reported by 17.3% of the respondents. Overall patient satisfaction (OPS) was highly correlated with the medical treatment process such as hospital facility, medical therapy, surgical therapy, doctor's explanation and physical therapy. However, OPS was negatively influenced by three factors: 1) unsatisfactory hospital care during waiting period before the approval of workers' compensation, 2) forced end of the hospital care by the workers' compensation, and 3) end of the hospital care with no further improvement. CONCLUSIONS: To improve the satisfaction of patients with work-related injuries, both the practice of medical treatment and also the administrative process of workers' compensation must be reformed. These reforms are needed to improve the quality of workers' compensation medical care and prevent abnormal illness behavior such as inappropriate treatment seeking.
Data Collection ; Humans ; Illness Behavior ; Korea ; Patient Satisfaction* ; Postal Service ; Questionnaires ; Workers' Compensation*

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to develop a worksite-based, post-examination, health care management system for continuous and systematic management of workers with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and abnormal LFT detected by periodic health examination and to assess the effectiveness such a system as an intervention study. METHODS: Study subjects were selected from workers with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and abnormal LFT according to the selection criteria. The intervention group, but not the control group, received medical treatment of disease, follow up examination, and health education which consisted of information about the disease and the importance of life-style modification through periodic interview using the resources of occupational health service center in the worksite. To assess the effectiveness of this system, we compared follow up examination data from the intervention group with periodic examination data from the worksite control group. RESULTS: In the intervention group a significant reduction trend was recorded for systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, postprandial 2 hour glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, AST, ALT, and gamma-GTP, and a rising trend for HDL-cholesterol. Significant group differences ware recorded for fasting blood sugar, postprandial 2 hour glucose, total cholesterol, AST, and ALT. CONCLUSIONS: The worksite-based, post-examination, health care management system was effective for the continuous and systematic management of workers who had abnormal findings detected by periodic health examination.
Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Cholesterol ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Fasting ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glucose ; Health Education ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypertension ; Intervention Studies ; Occupational Health Services ; Patient Selection ; Triglycerides ; Workplace

OBJECTIVES: This research was conducted to investigate workers'return to work rate after work-related injury or illness and to determine which factors could predict return to work and job retention. METHODS: From the documents held by the six local branches of the Korea Labor Welfare Corporation(KLWP), 2,464 cases of work-related injury or illness which had telephone numbers were identified from September to December, 2003. Data about the employment status was gained from 921 occupationally injured workers through telephone questionnaire and was merged with the electronic data obtained from KLWP with included information of the workers whose worker's compensation period was ended from 2002 to 2004. Finally the data for 516 workers was analysed by logistic regression using SAS 9.0. RESULTS: The return to work rate was 50.3% and the job retention rate was 28.3%. Decreased return to work rate was associated with old age, shorter employment duration, longer treatment duration, higher disability grade, lower average wage and manual worker. Decreased job retention rate was associated with a smaller number of employees, shorter employment duration and work in the construction industry. CONCLUSIONS: This research highlighted the numerous occupationally injured workers who couldn't return to work and the multiple factors that were associated with the return to work or job retention. Based on this and related research, rehabilitation programs which consider the issues of return to work and job retention have to be implemented.
Construction Industry ; Employment ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Occupations ; Questionnaires ; Rehabilitation ; Return to Work* ; Salaries and Fringe Benefits ; Telephone ; Workers' Compensation