Background: Atherogenic dyslipidemia, which is frequently associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and insulin resistance, contributes to the development of vascular complications. Statin therapy is the primary approach to dyslipidemia management in T2D, however, the role of non-statin therapy remains unclear. Ezetimibe reduces cholesterol burden by inhibiting intestinal cholesterol absorption. Fibrates lower triglyceride levels and increase high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels via peroxisome proliferator- activated receptor alpha agonism. Therefore, when combined, these drugs effectively lower non-HDL-C levels. Despite this, few clinical trials have specifically targeted non-HDL-C, and the efficacy of triple combination therapies, including statins, ezetimibe, and fibrates, has yet to be determined. Methods: This is a multicenter, prospective, randomized, open-label, active-comparator controlled trial involving 3,958 eligible participants with T2D, cardiovascular risk factors, and elevated non-HDL-C (≥100 mg/dL). Participants, already on moderate-intensity statins, will be randomly assigned to either Ezefeno (ezetimibe/fenofibrate) addition or statin dose-escalation. The primary end point is the development of a composite of major adverse cardiovascular and diabetic microvascular events over 48 months. Conclusion This trial aims to assess whether combining statins, ezetimibe, and fenofibrate is as effective as, or possibly superior to, statin monotherapy intensification in lowering cardiovascular and microvascular disease risk for patients with T2D. This could propose a novel therapeutic approach for managing dyslipidemia in T2D.

The gastrointestinal tract is the most common extranodal site for lymphomas, and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma is the second most common histological lymphoma subtype. However, primary esophageal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphomas are extremely rare. Few such cases are documented, and the reports demonstrate inconsistent diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Herein, a 54-year-old man was referred to our hospital for treatment of dysphagia. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a large, horseshoe-shaped subepithelial mass in the upper esophagus. Endoscopic ultrasonography and computed tomography revealed that the mass was well-demarcated and confined to the muscularis mucosa, with no abnormalities in other organs or lymph nodes. The mass was presumptively diagnosed as benign, and the patient underwent endoscopic mucosal dissection for pathological confirmation and symptom relief. Pathological examination of the dissection specimen revealed that it was a primary esophageal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. As the patient had an elevated immunoglobulin G level and Helicobacter pylori infection, we administered adjuvant eradication therapy. The patient remains under surveillance and is free of lymphoma recurrence 36 months postoperatively. This case report demonstrates that endoscopic resection and H. pylori eradication are effective treatment strategies for early-stage esophageal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma.

Several medications are approved to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Korea including nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, remdesivir, and regdanvimab. There is potential drug-drug interaction between antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and the medications used to treat COVID-19. Several AEDs such as phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, and primidone are strong cytochrome P450 inducers and can inhibit the drugs used for COVID-19. Particularly, these drugs are contraindicated with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid®). There is a weaker drug-drug interaction between the AEDs and remdesivir. No significant interaction has been reported between the AEDs and molnupiravir. Pharmacokinetic interactions of the AEDs are important in effective management of COVID-19 in patients with epilepsy.

Purpose: Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MP) is a major cause of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children and is associated with extrapulmonary manifestations (EPM). The incidence and risk factors for EPM in children are unknown. Methods: This was a retrospective study involving 65,243 pediatric patients with CAP between 2010 and 2015 at 23 nationwide hospitals in South Korea. Medical records were reviewed to collect information regarding the clinical characteristics, radiological results, and laboratory findings. Logistic regression with multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate the risk factors associated with EPM in MP. Results: The incidence of EPM was 23.9%, including elevation of liver enzymes (18.1%), mucocutaneous manifestations (4.4%), proteinuria (4.1%), cardiovascular and neurological manifestations (0.4%), hematologic manifestations (0.2%), and arthritis (0.2%). Statistical analysis showed that mucocutaneous manifestations significantly increased with elevated alanine aminotransferase (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.623; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.933-6.790) and atopic sensitization (aOR, 2.973; 95% CI, 1.615–5.475) and decreased with respiratory virus coinfection (aOR, 0.273; 95% CI, 0.084–0.887). Elevated liver enzymes were significantly associated with elevated lactate dehydrogenase (aOR, 3.055; 95% CI, 2.257–4.137), presence of pleural effusion (aOR, 2.635; 95% CI, 1.767–3.930), and proteinuria with respiratory virus coinfection (aOR, 2.245; 95% CI, 1.113–4.527). Conclusion Approximately 24% of pediatric patients with MP had various EPM. As the risk factors associated with each EPM were different, it is necessary to evaluate the various clinical aspects and findings of MP to predict and prepare for the occurrence of EPM.

In some cases, hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT) show differences in the D antigen. In previous studies, there have been few cases of de novo anti-D alloimmunization, and even rarer cases of serious side effects or the outcomes. De novo anti-D alloimmunization has been reported to occur more frequently in minor D mismatch than in major D mismatch. For the RhD type of blood components, RhD-negative type is recommended in transfusion in RhD mismatch HSCT without anti-D in donors and recipients. But in situations of insufficient RhD-negative blood supply, this study suggests that the RhD type of blood components depends on the patients’ RhD type before transplantation, and it depends on the donors’ RhD type after transplantation, and an RhD-positive platelet transfusion may be available.

BACKGROUND: Rapid and accurate diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is critical for initiating effective treatment and achieving better prognosis. We investigated the performance of copeptin for early diagnosis of AMI, in comparison with creatine kinase myocardial band (CK-MB) and troponin I (TnI). METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 271 patients presenting with chest pain (within six hours of onset), suggestive of acute coronary syndrome, at an emergency department (ED). Serum CK-MB, TnI, and copeptin levels were measured. The diagnostic performance of CK-MB, TnI, and copeptin, alone and in combination, for AMI was assessed by ROC curve analysis by comparing the area under the curve (AUC). Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value of each marker were obtained, and the characteristics of each marker were analyzed. RESULTS: The patients were diagnosed as having ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI; N=43), non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI; N=25), unstable angina (N=78), or other diseases (N=125). AUC comparisons showed copeptin had significantly better diagnostic performance than TnI in patients with chest pain within two hours of onset (AMI: P=0.022, ≤1 hour; STEMI: P=0.017, ≤1 hour and P=0.010, ≤2 hours). In addition, TnI and copeptin in combination exhibited significantly better diagnostic performance than CK-MB plus TnI in AMI and STEMI patients. CONCLUSIONS The combination of TnI and copeptin improves AMI diagnostic performance in patients with early-onset chest pain in an ED setting.

PURPOSE: Croup is known to have epidemics in seasonal and biennial trends, and to be strongly associated with epidemics of parainfluenza virus. However, seasonal and annual epidemics of croup have not been clearly reported in Korea. This study aimed to examine the seasonal/annual patterns and etiologies of childhood croup in Korea during a consecutive 6-year period. METHODS: Pediatric croup data were collected from 23 centers in Korea from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2015. Electronic medical records, including multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results, demographics and clinical information were cross-sectionally reviewed and analyzed. RESULTS: Overall, 2,598 childhood croup patients requiring hospitalization were identified during the study period. Among them, a total of 927 who underwent RT-PCR were included in the analysis. Males (61.5%) predominated, and most (63.0%) of them were younger than 2 years of age (median, 19 months; interquartile range, 11–31 months). Peak hospitalization occurred in 2010 and 2012 in even-numbered years, and parainfluenza virus (PIV, 39.7%) was the most common cause of childhood croup requiring hospitalization, followed by respiratory syncytial virus (14.9%), human rhinovirus (12.5%), Mycoplasma pneumonaie (10.6%), and human coronavirus (7.3%). CONCLUSION: It is concluded that croup hospitalization has a biennial pattern in even-numbered years. PIV may be the most common cause of childhood croup; however, croup epidemics could be attributed to other viruses.
Child ; Coronavirus ; Croup ; Demography ; Electronic Health Records ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Mycoplasma ; Paramyxoviridae Infections ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses ; Retrospective Studies ; Reverse Transcription ; Rhinovirus ; Seasons

No abstract available.
Hemostasis*

BACKGROUND: Cumulative blood culture data provide clinicians with important information in the selection of empiric therapy for blood stream infections. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed blood culture data from a university hospital during the period from 2006 to 2015. Only the initial isolates of a given species for each patient were included. RESULTS: The number of blood cultures per 1,000 inpatient-days increased from 64 in 2006 to 117 in 2015. The ratio of significant pathogens to total isolates was 0.56-0.63. The most common organisms were Escherichia coli in 2006-2010 but changed to coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) in 2011. The proportion of Staphylococci aureus was decreased during the study period, but Klebsiella pneumoniae was increased. Enterococci were increased, especially E. faecium, which was more frequently isolated than E. faecalis in 2015. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was decreased during the study, but Acinetobacter baumannii was increased. The prevalence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) changed from 62.2% to 53.9%, while vancomycin-resistant E. faecium increased to 35.8%. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae increased to 25% and 34%, respectively, in 2015. Starting in 2008, three E. coli and 11 K. pneumoniae isolates were carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), and three were carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE). The prevalence of imipenem-resistant A. baumannii rapidly increased during the study period. CONCLUSION: About 60% of all blood isolates were significant pathogens. The most common isolates changed from E. coli to CoNS in 2011. ESBL-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae, vancomycin-resistant E. faecium, and imipenem-resistant A. baumannii were increased during the study, while the proportion of MRSA tended to decrease slightly. Of the total isolates, 14 were CRE, and 3 were CPE.
Acinetobacter baumannii ; Bacteremia ; beta-Lactamases ; Enterobacteriaceae ; Escherichia coli ; Humans ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Methicillin Resistance ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Pneumonia ; Prevalence ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Retrospective Studies ; Rivers

Cases of pediatric eosinophilic meningitis following duraplasty with a bovine graft have been reported. These patients recovered following the surgical removal of the dural graft or steroid therapy. Decompression for Chiari malformation is a common procedure in both pediatric and adult neurosurgery. We describe the case of a 33-yr-old male patient with eosinophilic meningitis following Chiari decompression via bovine graft duraplasty. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) study showed 49 red blood cells/μL and 129 leukocytes/μL with 17% eosinophils. There was no evidence of infectious disease. To our knowledge, this is the first report of adult eosinophilic meningitis after bovine graft duraplasty in Korea.
Adult* ; Arnold-Chiari Malformation* ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Communicable Diseases ; Decompression ; Eosinophils* ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Meningitis* ; Neurosurgery ; Transplants*