Background: This study aimed to investigate whether respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza virus (IFV) infections would occur in 2021–2022 as domestic nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) are easing. Methods: Data were collected from the Korean Influenza and Respiratory Virus Monitoring System database. The weekly positivity rates of respiratory viruses and number of hospitalizations for acute respiratory infections were evaluated (January 2016–2022).The period from February 2020 to January 2022 was considered the NPI period. The autoregressive integrated moving average model and Poisson analysis were used for data analysis. Data from 14 countries/regions that reported positivity rates of RSV and IFV were also investigated. Results: Compared with the pre-NPI period, the positivity and hospitalization rates for IFV infection during 2021–2022 significantly decreased to 0.0% and 1.0%, respectively, at 0.0% and 1.2% of the predicted values, respectively. The RSV infection positivity rate in 2021–2022 was 1.8-fold higher than that in the pre-NPI period at 1.5-fold the predicted value. The hospitalization rate for RSV was 20.0% of that in the pre-NPI period at 17.6% of the predicted value. The re-emergence of RSV and IFV infections during 2020–2021 was observed in 13 and 4 countries, respectively. Conclusion During 2021–2022, endemic transmission of the RSV, but not IFV, was observed in Korea.

Purpose: To compare efficacy of ultrasound (US)-guided single-injection nerve blocks (SINB) before bipolar hemiarthroplasty (BHA) of the hip in patients with femoral neck fractures. Materials and Methods: Clinical outcomes of 89 patients who underwent BHA between September 2016 and February 2018 were retrospectively compared. Eight patients were excluded according to exclusion criteria and the remaining patients were divided into two groups: patients who received SINB before surgery (Group I; n=40), and patients who did not (Group II; n=41). The femoral, obturator, and lateral femoral cutaneous nerves were each blocked separately under US guidance. Pain scores determined using the visual analogue scale (VAS) were recorded 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours postoperatively, and all use of analgesics were recorded separately for 72 hours after surgery. Duration of hospitalization, general complications, and local complications due to SINB were also compared among the groups. Results: Significant differences were observed between the two groups: I) VAS at 6 hours and at 12 hours after the operation, II) total amounts of analgesics used. VAS at 24 hours and at 48 hours were not significantly different between the two groups. General complications and duration of hospitalization were also not significantly different between the groups. Conclusion US-guided lower limb nerve blocks provide excellent immediate postoperative pain relief and can be used as a safe, and effective method of pain control after BHA.

PURPOSE: To analyze the risk factors for posterior migration of a single cage after transforminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted retrospectively on 48 patients (60 discs) who were followed-up for 1 year after TLIF from January 2015 to January 2017. The patients were divided into two groups: group 1 containing 16 patients (17 discs) with cage migration and group 2 containing 32 patients (43 discs) without it. Information related to cage migration, such as the demographic factors, shape of disc, level and location of the cage inserted, and disc height change, was acquired from the medical records and radiologic images, and the possibility for generating posterior migration of cage was evaluated statistically. RESULTS: The demographic factors and cage-inserted level were similar in the two groups (16 patients in group 1, 32 patients in group 2). In the migration group, number of patients with a pear-type disc, 9 patients, was significantly larger; the disc height change, 1.8 mm, was significantly smaller; and the cage was located frequently on non-center in the anteriorposterior view and center in the lateral view in 9 and 15 out of 16 patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: A pear-type disc shape, small disc height change, cage with non-center on the anteriorposterior view and non-anterior on the lateral view are the risk factors for posterior migration. These factors are important for preventing posterior migration of the cage.
Demography ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

PURPOSE: To compare the clinical outcomes of single injection adductor canal block (SACB), continuous adductor canal block (CACB), and the concomitant use of transdermal buprenorphine after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 125 patients who underwent TKA were divided into three groups and the clinical results were retrospecitively compared. Group I was comprised of patients with pain controlled by SACB (n=41). Group II consisted of patients with pain controlled by both SACB and transdermal buprenorphine (10 µg/h) (n=44). Group III contained patients with pain controlled by CACB (n=40). The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used as the pain control indicator and the patients were measured on a VAS for resting on the bed (VAS-Rest) at 12 hours, 24 hours, and 48 hours after surgery. The VAS while doing continuous passive motion (VAS-CPM) on the first and second postoperative day was also measured. In addition, the total amount of medications used (Butopahn, Tridol, and Ketorac) for the intravenous patient controlled analgesia (PCA) was counted for 48 hours after surgery. As the indicator of the functional recovery outcome, the incidence of nausea and vomiting was observed for 48 hours after surgery. The maximum knee joint flexion range and maximum walking distance on the first and second postoperative day, and the total length of stay at the hospital were compared. RESULTS: The VAS-Rest was similar in the three groups at 12 hours after surgery, but at 24 hours and 48 hours after surgery, group II and III a lower VAS-CPM and total amount of medications used for PCA than group I (p<0.05). The three groups showed a low incidence of nausea and vomiting, maximum knee joint flexion range, and similar walking distance and total length of stay at the hospital. CONCLUSION: The combination of SACB and transdermal buprenorphine has great pain control effect initially. On the other hand, it is not associated with catheter complications and it is convenient to use and safety toward the renal function. Therefore, the concomitant use of SACB and transdermal buprenorphine can be an effective pain control method after TKA.
Analgesia, Patient-Controlled ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Buprenorphine ; Catheters ; Hand ; Humans ; Incidence ; Knee Joint ; Length of Stay ; Methods ; Nausea ; Pain, Postoperative ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Vomiting ; Walking

PURPOSE: Peripheral nerve block is one of the many options available to reduce pain after total knee arthroplasty. Among the various kinds of peripheral nerve block procedure, femoral nerve block (FNB) using ropivacaine is a very effective method for reducing pain. However, it has been known to cause weakness in the quadriceps femoris, resulting in an increased risk of fall during ambulation after surgery. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of FNB on pain and muscle strength with different concentrations of ropivacaine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study was performed on 120 patients with knee osteoarthritis who had undergone total knee arthroplasty between January 2016 and December 2016. Patients were divided to 3 groups depending on the concentration of ropivacaine: Group 1 received 0.125% ropivacaine 6 ml FNB; group 2 received 0.2% ropivacaine 6 ml FNB; group 3 received normal saline 6 ml FNB. FNB with 1% lidocaine 10 ml and 0.75% ropivacaine 10 ml was performed to all groups at 3 hours after surgery. From the day after surgery, each group of patients were injected 4 times with FNB on their own designated concentration of ropivacaine with an interval of 6 hours. The severity of pain was estimated by visual analogue scale (VAS) and the strength of quadriceps femoris was measured using medical research council (MRC) grade and knee extension angle. RESULTS: VAS score in group 3 was significantly higher compared to other groups; MRC grade in group 2 was significantly lower than in other grades, and knee extension angle in group 2 was significantly lower than in other groups at 6 pm on the day of and at 6 am on the day after surgery. VAS score, MRC grade, and extension angle of all groups showed no significantly difference at other times. CONCLUSION: FNB with 0.125% ropivacaine after total knee arthroplasty shows effective reduction of pain without inducing quadriceps femoris weakness.
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee* ; Femoral Nerve* ; Humans ; Knee ; Lidocaine ; Methods ; Muscle Strength ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; Peripheral Nerves ; Quadriceps Muscle ; Walking

No abstract available.
Coronavirus Infections/*diagnosis/virology ; Humans ; Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus/genetics/isolation & purification ; Nasopharynx/virology ; RNA, Viral/genetics/metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Viral Envelope Proteins/genetics

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effectiveness of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) for adjacent lumbar disc herniation through radiologic evaluations. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: PELD minimizes posterior structural damage, allowing rapid rehabilitation. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This study was conducted on 45 patients who were followed up for 1 year after PELD for adjacent lumbar disc herniation from March 2014 to February 2016. The modified Macnab criteria, the modified Suezawa and Schreiber score (MSS score), and visual analogue scales for the back (VAS-B) and legs (VAS-L) were evaluated. The disc height ratio and segmental angulation change were compared before posterolateral fusion and before PELD. Moreover, spinal stenosis was confirmed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before PELD. RESULTS: Based on the modified Macnab criteria, 53.3% patients received an evaluation of at least “good,” and the mean MSS score improved from 4.77 to 6.99 at 1 year after the operation. The mean VAS-B score decreased from 7.02 to 4.67, and the mean VAS-L score decreased from 8.15 to 4.24 at 1 year after the operation. The mean disc height ratio was 87.1%, and the mean segmental angulation change was 6.5°, with a greater change in the “fair” or “poor” group, and the rate of spinal stenosis on MRI was also higher in the “fair” or “poor” group. CONCLUSION: The clinical outcomes of PELD, which is accompanied by degenerative changes on simple radiographic images such as disc space narrowing and increased segmental angulation or spinal stenosis on MRI, may not be satisfactory. Therefore, decisions regarding surgery should be made carefully in such cases.
Diskectomy* ; Humans ; Leg ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Rehabilitation ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Stenosis ; Weights and Measures

PURPOSE: There was a global increase in the prevalence of oseltamivir-resistant influenza viruses during the 2007-2008 influenza season. This study was conducted to investigate the occurrence and characteristics of oseltamivir-resistant influenza viruses during the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 influenza seasons among patients who were treated with oseltamivir (group A) and those that did not receive oseltamivir (group B). METHODS: A prospective study was conducted on 321 pediatric patients who were hospitalized because of influenza during the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 influenza seasons. Drug resistance tests were conducted on influenza viruses isolated from 91 patients. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the clinical characteristics of groups A and B during both seasons. Influenza A/H1N1, isolated from both groups A and B during the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 periods, was not resistant to zanamivir. However, phenotypic analysis of the virus revealed a high oseltamivir IC50 range and that H275Y substitution of the neuraminidase (NA) gene and partial variation of the hemagglutinin (HA) gene did not affect its antigenicity to the HA vaccine even though group A had a shorter hospitalization duration and fewer lower respiratory tract complications than group B. In addition, there was no significant difference in the clinical manifestations between oseltamivir-susceptible and oseltamivir-resistant strains of influenza A/H1N1. CONCLUSION: Establishment of guidelines to efficiently treat influenza with oseltamivir, a commonly used drug for treating influenza in Korean pediatric patients, and a treatment strategy with a new therapeutic agent is required.
Child ; Drug Resistance ; Hemagglutinins ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Influenza, Human ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Neuraminidase ; Orthomyxoviridae ; Oseltamivir ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies ; Respiratory System ; Seasons ; Viruses ; Zanamivir

BACKGROUND: Using long-term (more than 30 years) data from a single center, this retrospective study evaluated changes of independent risk factors affecting renal allograft survival by transplant era. METHODS: Of 3,000 cases of kidney transplantation, 2,708 (90.3%), including their follow-up observations, were reviewed. Transplant era was classified according to immunosuppressive regimens as either early group (transplant serial No. 1~1,500) or recent group (transplant serial No. 1,501~3,000). RESULTS: There was a significant difference observed in pre-transplant clinical manifestations between the early and recent groups. The number of elderly recipients and donors, number of deceased donors, and cases related to pre-transplant diabetes, pre-emptive transplantation, and retransplantation were differed relative to transplant era. The short- and long-term graft survival rate of the recent group improved significantly, and the effect of human leukocyte antigen mismatching and living donor type disappeared in the recent group. Moreover, pre-emptive transplantation and retransplantation were effective only in the recent group. However, non-immunological factors such as elderly recipients and donors, and immunologic factors such as episodes of acute rejection and types of immunosuppressive regimen were persistent independent risk factors affecting graft survival rate. CONCLUSIONS: According to the retrospective survival analysis of a large number of recipients in a single center, risk factors for kidney transplant patients differed by transplant era. However, the independent risk factors associated with elderly recipients and donors (non-immunologic), and episodes of acute rejection, and types of immunosuppressive regimen (immunologic) persisted regardless of transplant era.
Aged ; Follow-Up Studies ; Graft Survival ; Humans ; Immunologic Factors ; Kidney ; Kidney Transplantation ; Leukocytes ; Living Donors ; Rejection (Psychology) ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Tissue Donors ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Transplants

OBJECTIVE: To compare survival outcomes and treatment-related morbidities between radical hysterectomy (RH) and primary chemoradiation therapy (CRT) in patients with bulky early-stage cervical cancer. METHODS: We selected 215 patients with stage IB2 and IIA2 cervical cancer (tumor diameter > 4 cm on magnetic resonance imaging) who underwent RH followed by tailored adjuvant therapy (n=147) or primary CRT (n=68) at two tertiary referral centers between 2001 and 2010. RESULTS: About twenty nine percent of patients were cured by RH alone and these patients experienced the best survival outcomes with the lowest morbidity rates. After the median follow-up times of 40 months, 27 RH (18.4%) and 20 CRT (29.4%) patients had recurrence (p=0.068) and 23 (15.6%) and 17 (25%) patients died of disease (p=0.101). The 5-year progression-free survival were 77% and 66% (p=0.047), and the 5-year overall survival were 78% and 67% (p=0.048) after RH and primary CRT, respectively. In multivariate analysis, patients who received primary CRT was at higher risk for tumor recurrence (odds ratio [OR], 2.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24 to 4.14; p=0.008) and death (OR, 3.02; 95% CI, 1.53 to 5.98; p=0.001) than those who received RH. Grade 3-4, early (17% vs. 30.9%, p=0.021) and late (1.4% vs. 8.8%, p=0.007) complications were significantly less frequent after RH than primary CRT. CONCLUSION: Thirty percent of patients were cured by RH alone. A treatment outcome was better in this retrospective study in terms of morbidity and survival. Randomized trials are needed to confirm this result.
Disease-Free Survival ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Multivariate Analysis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Treatment Outcome ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms