In the 2023–2024 season, the influenza epidemic in South Korea peaked earlier than in recent years. In this study, we aimed to estimate the interim vaccine effectiveness (VE) of the influenza vaccination to prevent influenza during the early season. From November 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023, we enrolled 2,632 subjects with influenza-like illness from eight hospitals participating in hospital-based influenza morbidity and mortality surveillance. A retrospective test-negative case-control study was conducted to estimate the VE. The results showed an adjusted VE of 22.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.6 to 35.8) for the total population. The adjusted VE was 22.3% (95% CI, 6.1 to 35.7) for influenza A and 9.4% (95% CI, −51.3 to 45.7) for influenza A/H1N1. Full results of the analysis will be reported.

Background: Bivalent booster mRNA vaccines containing the omicron-variant strains have been introduced worldwide in the autumn of 2022. Nevertheless, the omicron subvariants evoked another large coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic wave in late 2022 and early 2023. Methods: A retrospective, test-negative, case-control study was conducted to estimate the vaccine effectiveness (VE) of bivalent COVID-19 vaccines in 8 university hospitals between January and February 2023. The case and control groups were divided based on nasopharyngeal COVID-19 real-time polymerase chain reaction results and matched based on age, sex, hospital, and date (week) of the test performed. The VE of the BA.1- or BA.4/BA.5-based mRNA vaccines were estimated. VE was calculated using the 1−adjusted odds ratio from multivariable logistic regression. Results: In total, 949 patients and 947 controls were enrolled in this study. VE for the BA.4/ BA.5-based bivalent mRNA vaccine was 43% (95% confidence interval [CI], 17, 61%). In subgroup analysis based on age and underlying medical conditions, BA.4/BA.5-based bivalent mRNA vaccine was effective against old adults aged ≥ 65-years (VE, 55%; 95% CI, 23, 73%) and individuals with comorbidities (VE, 54%; 95% CI, 23, 73%). In comparison, the BA.1-based bivalent mRNA vaccine did not demonstrate statistically significant effectiveness (VE, 25%; 95% CI, −8, 49%). Conclusion The BA.4/BA.5-based bivalent mRNA booster vaccine provided significant protection against COVID-19 in the Korean adults, especially in the older adults aged ≥ 65 years and in individuals with underlying medical conditions.

Purpose: This study aimed to stratify risk factors and vein levels for postoperative deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after lower-extremity orthopedic surgery. Methods: Ninety-nine patients who underwent Doppler ultrasonography after lower-extremity orthopedic surgery were enrolled. Medical records were reviewed for anesthesia duration, type of surgery, body weight, height, and cardiovascular risk factors (including history of smoking, diabetes mellitus or hypertension, blood pressure, and total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol levels), and the DVT treatment. Ultrasound diagnosis of DVT was made according to a routine protocol. The relationships between selected factors and the presence of DVT were assessed using univariate and multivariate regression analyses. Results: Thirty-three (33%) patients were found to have calf DVT. The mean age, weight, and height of the non-DVT and postoperative DVT patients were 55.1 years versus 65.4 years, 70.5 kg versus 61.2 kg, and 163.3 cm versus 157.0 cm, respectively. Total cholesterol/HDL levels in the non-DVT and DVT patients were 70.6/20.7 mg/dL and 90.8/26.0 mg/dL, retrospectively. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the non-DVT and DVT patients were 133.6/80.2 mm Hg and 132.2/78.1 mmHg, respectively. The mean duration of anesthesia was 173.9 versus 199.9 minutes, and the operative time was 136.4 minutes versus 161.0 minutes. Older age (P=0.005) and lower body weight (P=0.002) were significantly associated with postoperative DVT. No other significant between-group differences were found (P>0.05). The patients with ultrasound-identified DVT received antithrombotic treatment. None of them had distant thromboembolism. Conclusion After lower-extremity orthopedic surgery, the calf veins in elderly patients with low body weight are susceptible to thrombosis; they would most likely benefit from postoperative ultrasonography.

Human toxocariasis is a common helminthozoonosis due to the infestation of toxocara canis or toxocara cati larvae, and is a common cause of blood eosinophilia in Korea. Toxocariasis has various clinical manifestations depending on the involved organ, and cardiac involvement can range from asymptomatic to fulminant myocarditis with cardiogenic shock. Treatment of toxocariasis is based on corticosteroid and anthelmintic therapies. Here, we report a case of a 57-year-old male with eosinophilic myocarditis caused by toxocariasis as diagnosed via serial echocardiography follow up.
Echocardiography ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Larva ; Larva Migrans, Visceral ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocarditis ; Shock, Cardiogenic ; Toxocara ; Toxocara canis ; Toxocariasis*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the adjuvant therapeutic effects of fermented red ginseng (FRG) extract on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with chemotherapy.

METHODSA total of 60 patients with advanced NSCLC were divided into two groups using a random number table, i.e., the gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GP) chemotherapy alone group (26 patients) and the FRG + GP chemotherapy group (34 patients), for 60-day treatment. Patients were then assessed according to the Fatigue Symptom Inventory, Chinese medicine symptoms score, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, Self-Rating Depression Scale, Karnofsky Performance Status Scale, and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung. In addition, chemotherapy toxicity and tumor biomarkers were measured.

RESULTSFor NSCLC patients after chemotherapy, FRG extract significantly improved the FSI score, CM symptoms score, psychological status, physical conditions, and quality of life and reduced chemotherapy toxicity, but the expression levels of carcinoembryonic antigen, cytokeratin-19 fragments, and neuron-specific enolase were not significantly different between the chemotherapy alone and the FRG + chemotherapy groups or between pre- and post-treatments.

CONCLUSIONSThis study demonstrated that FRG extract had an adjuvant effect on advanced NSCLC patients treated with chemotherapy. Further studies with a larger sample size will verify the current findings.

BACKGROUND: Health examinations are performed so that diseases can be identified and treated earlier. Several studies have evaluated the determinants of participation in health examinations including cancer screening, but few have evaluated the relationship between the size of the enterprise and their participation in Workers' General Health Examinations (WGHE). The aim of the present study was to estimate the association of WGHE participation with the size of the enterprise and the type of policyholder. METHODS: The eligible population from 2006 through 2013 was extracted from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database. The population size ranged from 14–17 million. After adjustment for age and gender, multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the odds ratios of participating in the WGHE (by age group) based on the type of policyholder (reference: public officers) and the size of the enterprise (reference: enterprise size ≥300 employees), respectively. RESULTS: Workers employed at enterprises with <50 persons were less likely to participate in WGHEs than those employed at enterprises with ≥300 persons. After policyholders were stratified by type (non-office workers vs. public officers), a disparity in the WGHE participation rate was found between the different types of policyholders at enterprises with <50 employees (reference: those employed at enterprises with ≥300 employees); the odds ratios for subjects in their 40s and 50s were 0.2–0.3 for non-office workers vs. 0.8–2.0 for public officers. CONCLUSION: Workplace policyholders at small enterprises comprised a vulnerable group less likely to participate in WGHEs. Efforts should be made to raise the WGHE participation rate among the vulnerable employees belonging to small enterprises, as well as among their dependents.
Early Detection of Cancer ; Healthcare Disparities ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Mass Screening ; National Health Programs ; Odds Ratio ; Population Density ; Socioeconomic Factors*

Acute renal failure can be the result of acute renal cortical necrosis (RCN), which commonly occurs from complications occurring during pregnancy. RCN is rarely caused by medications, although tranexamic acid, which is used in patients with acute bleeding for its antifibrinolytic effects, reportedly causes acute RCN in rare cases. An 82-year-old woman experienced gastrointestinal bleeding after endoscopic papillectomy of an ampullary adenoma. The bleeding was controlled with tranexamic acid administration; however, 4 days later, her urine volume decreased and she developed pulmonary edema and dyspnea. Serum creatinine levels increased from 0.8 to 3.9 mg/dL and dialysis was performed. Abdominal pelvic computed tomography with contrast enhancement revealed bilateral RCN with no renal cortex enhancement. Renal dysfunction and oliguria persisted and hemodialysis was continued. Clinicians must be aware that acute RCN can occur after tranexamic acid administration to control bleeding.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Adenoma ; Aged, 80 and over ; Creatinine ; Dialysis ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Kidney Cortex Necrosis* ; Oliguria ; Pregnancy ; Pulmonary Edema ; Renal Dialysis ; Tranexamic Acid

Cardiac calcification usually occurs in patients with end-stage renal disease. However, rapid progression of cardiac calcification is rarely associated with secondary hyperparathyroidism of end-stage renal disease. We report a patient with end-stage renal disease who showed moderate left ventricular hypertrophy at the first echocardiography, and showed severe myocardial calcification and severe mitral valve stenosis 4 years later. We suspected a rapid progression 'porcelain heart' cardiomyopathy secondary to hyperparathyroidism of end-stage renal disease. The patient underwent parathyroidectomy, and considered mitral valve replacement.
Cardiomyopathies ; Dental Porcelain ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Hyperparathyroidism ; Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; Parathyroidectomy ; Renal Dialysis

Korean raspberry, Rubus coreanus Miquel (RCM), contains high concentrations of phenolic compounds, which prevent oxidative stress. To determine the effect of RCM on antioxidant capacity in humans, we assessed in vivo lipid oxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities from plasma in 15 healthy men. The subjects ingested 30 g of freeze-dried RCM daily for 4 weeks. Blood was taken at baseline and at the end of the study to determine blood lipid profiles, fasting plasma glucose, liver function, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant enzyme activities. RCM supplementation had no effect on blood lipid or fasting plasma glucose concentrations but decreased alkaline phosphatase activity. RCM supplementation increased glutathione peroxidase activities (P < 0.05) but had no effect on lipid peroxidation. These results suggest that short-term RCM supplementation may offer health benefits by enhancing antioxidant capacity in a healthy population.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Humans ; Insurance Benefits ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Liver ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; Phenol ; Plasma

This study was carried out to investigate an enhancing effect of black ginseng extract (BGE) on exercise capacity in an endurance exercising animal model. Fifty Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to 5 experimental groups including non-training control, training control, and 3 treated groups (BGE at doses of 75, 150 and 300 mg/kg). The animals were treated with BGE for 6 weeks and their exercise ability in the maximal running distance test was determined using a treadmill every week. The blood lactic acid (LA) level and the activity of citrate synthase (CS) in the muscle were also measured after the exercise. The levels of glucose and glucose-6-phosphate (G-6-P) in the liver and muscle were determined using commercial assay kits. BGE treatments at the doses of 150 and 300 mg/kg significantly increased the exercise capacity compared with the non-training control or training control groups (P<0.05). The level of blood LA was decreased but the activity of CS was increased by the treatment of BGE at the dose of 300 mg/kg compared with the training control group. The level of G-6-P in the liver was elevated by the treatment of BGE at the dose of 300 mg/kg, compared to the training group. As compared with non-training control group, the treatments of BGE increased the levels of glucose and G-6-P in the liver and soleus muscle of rats. These results indicate that BGE have a potential for promoting exercise capacity by increasing CS activity in the muscle and decreasing LA in the serum of rats. These results also suggested that BGE can be used as a candidate supplement of health food products for promoting endurance exercise capacity in human athletes.
Animals ; Athletes ; Citrate (si)-Synthase ; Exercise ; Glucose ; Glucose-6-Phosphate ; Food, Organic ; Humans ; Lactic Acid ; Liver ; Models, Animal ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Muscles ; Panax ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Running