Stimulator of interferon gene (STING)-associated vasculopathy with onset in infancy (SAVI) is an extremely rare autoinflammatory disease. We present the case of a female Korean patient with early-onset interstitial lung disease who was initially suspected to have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) but was ultimately diagnosed with SAVI. The patient exhibited signs of interstitial lung disease and cutaneous manifestations before the age of 1 year and continued to have recurrent fever accompanied by pulmonary infiltrates. Based on positive findings for antibodies associated with SLE, such as antinuclear antibodies and anti-double-stranded DNA, the pulmonary involvement was considered a manifestation of SLE. Another significant symptom was recurrent skin ulceration, which led to partial spontaneous amputation of most of the toes due to inflammation. Given the early onset of interstitial lung disease, severe skin ulcers, and symptoms resembling SLE, autoinflammatory syndrome, especially SAVI was suspected.Following confirmation by genetic testing at age 29 years, the patient was started on tofacitinib, a Janus kinase inhibitor. Despite the prolonged use of multiple immunosuppressive therapies, the patient’s lung condition continued to worsen, ultimately requiring lung transplantation. This observational report highlights the importance of considering SAVI as a potential diagnosis when manifestations of interstitial lung disease are observed during infancy. Early proactive treatment is crucial for lung involvement, as this can have long-term effects on patient’s prognosis.

Legionella species are abundant in the built environment and are increasingly recognized as a cause of Legionnaires' disease (LD). As the number of cases of Legionnaires' disease acquired by local communities in the Seoul metropolitan area in Korea has been increased, there was concern that changes in environmental factors could affect disease outbreaks. We described the association between climatic variables and occurrence of legionellosis in Korea and Legionella detection rate in Seoul area. A total of 418 cases of legionellosis were reported between 2014 and 2017. There was a seasonal peak in summer. LD continuously occurred from early spring to winter every year and rapidly increased in summer. In the regression analysis, the primary variables of interest- PM2.5 (µg/m³), NO₂ (ppb), and a number of the date of issue O₃ warning were not significant except for average temperature (R²=0.8075). The Legionella detection rate in Seoul, Korea showed a trend similar to precipitation (P=0.708, ANOVA). A relatively high proportion of Legionella detection rate was shown, especially cooling tower (17.7%) and public bath (19.3%). This finding is in line with current understanding of the ecological profile of this pathogen and supports the assertion that legionellosis occurs through contamination of water sources.
Baths ; Disease Outbreaks ; Epidemiology ; Korea ; Legionella ; Legionellosis ; Legionnaires' Disease ; Regression Analysis ; Seasons ; Seoul ; Water

BACKGROUND: Kaempferol (3,4′,5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone) is a flavonoid known to have a wide range of pharmacological activities. The 3-OH group in flavonoids has been reported to determine antioxidant activities. OBJECTIVE: We tested whether kaempferol can affect the expression of integrins and the stem cell fate of interfollicular epidermal stem cells. METHODS: Skin equivalent (SE) models were constructed, and the expression levels of stem cell markers and basement membrane-related antigens were tested. The immunohistochemical staining patterns of integrins, p63, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were compared between kaempferol- and apigenin-treated SE models. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to evaluate the mRNA expression of integrins. RESULTS: Kaempferol increased the thickness of the epidermis when added to prepare SEs. In addition, the basal cells of kaempferol- treated SEs appeared more columnar. In the immunohistological study, the expression of integrins α6 and β1 and the numbers of p63- and PCNA-positive cells were markedly higher in the kaempferol-treated model. However, apigenin showed no effects on the formation of three-dimensional skin models. RT-PCR analysis also confirmed that kaempferol increased the expression of integrin α6 and integrin β1. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicated that kaempferol can increase the proliferative potential of basal epidermal cells by modulating the basement membrane. In other words, kaempferol can affect the fate of interfollicular epidermal stem cells by increasing the expression of both integrins α6 and β1. These effects, in particular, might be ascribed to the 3-OH group of kaempferol.
Apigenin ; Basement Membrane ; Epidermis ; Extracellular Matrix ; Flavonoids ; Integrins ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin ; Stem Cells*

OBJECTIVES: Bedding in childcare centers (CCCs) can hold house dust mite (HDM) allergens. This study examined whether HDM allergen levels can be reduced through the distribution of an educational newsletter on bedding control to parents of CCC children in Korea. METHODS: All 38 CCCs were measured for Der 1 (sum of Der f 1 and Der p 1) concentrations on classroom floors and bedding before the intervention. Educational newsletters on children’s bedding control were sent to 21 CCCs by mail, and teachers were asked to distribute the newsletters to the parents of the children (intervention group). The remaining 17 CCCs were not sent newsletters (control group). The measurement of Der 1 concentrations in 38 CCCs was repeated after the intervention. Dust samples were collected with a vacuum cleaner and analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods. RESULTS: The Der 1 concentrations on the bedding were significantly higher than those on the floors in 38 CCCs at baseline (p<0.05). Although changes of the Der 1 concentrations for the control group (n=17) were not significant, Der 1 concentrations for the intervention group (n=21) decreased significantly from 2077.9 ng/g dust to 963.5 ng/g dust on the floors and from 3683.9 ng/g dust to 610.4 ng/g dust on bedding (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The distribution of educational newsletters on bedding control to parents may be an effective means of controlling HDMs in CCCs.
Allergens ; Child ; Dust* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Korea* ; Parents ; Periodicals as Topic* ; Postal Service ; Pyroglyphidae* ; Vacuum

OBJECTIVES: Bedding in childcare centers (CCCs) can hold house dust mite (HDM) allergens. This study examined whether HDM allergen levels can be reduced through the distribution of an educational newsletter on bedding control to parents of CCC children in Korea. METHODS: All 38 CCCs were measured for Der 1 (sum of Der f 1 and Der p 1) concentrations on classroom floors and bedding before the intervention. Educational newsletters on children’s bedding control were sent to 21 CCCs by mail, and teachers were asked to distribute the newsletters to the parents of the children (intervention group). The remaining 17 CCCs were not sent newsletters (control group). The measurement of Der 1 concentrations in 38 CCCs was repeated after the intervention. Dust samples were collected with a vacuum cleaner and analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods. RESULTS: The Der 1 concentrations on the bedding were significantly higher than those on the floors in 38 CCCs at baseline (p<0.05). Although changes of the Der 1 concentrations for the control group (n=17) were not significant, Der 1 concentrations for the intervention group (n=21) decreased significantly from 2077.9 ng/g dust to 963.5 ng/g dust on the floors and from 3683.9 ng/g dust to 610.4 ng/g dust on bedding (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The distribution of educational newsletters on bedding control to parents may be an effective means of controlling HDMs in CCCs.
Allergens ; Child ; Dust* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Korea* ; Parents ; Periodicals as Topic* ; Postal Service ; Pyroglyphidae* ; Vacuum

Although central catheter-related complications are frequently reported and are inevitable in the neonatal care unit, the incidence of pericardiac tamponade is low but may be fatal. Index of suspicion, prompt diagnosis, and urgent pericardiocentesis are crucial for lifesaving. We encountered two premature cases of central venous catheter-related pericardial tamponade. The first case was a 4-day-old male premature infant (gestational age [GA], 33(+5) weeks; birth weight [BW], 1,864 g), and the second case was a 4-day-old female premature infant (GA, 28(+6) week; BW, 1,050 g). Each infant had an indwelling central venous catheter since birth and at the third day of hospitalization. The conditions of the babies suddenly deteriorated, but both babies were successfully resuscitated with urgent echocardiography and prompt pericardiocentesis.
Birth Weight ; Cardiac Tamponade* ; Central Venous Catheters ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Male ; Parturition ; Pericardiocentesis

Making impression is the first step of making hearing aid. Because it needs silicon injection on external auditory canal and lateral side of tympanic membrane, careful evaluation is required regarding the presence of any tympanic perforation or problems of external auditory canal prior to making ear impression. Recently, we experienced encountering one case of foreign body in ear while making impression of hearing aid by a local hearing aid seller. Silicone mold material, impacted into the middle ear, had perforated the tympanic membrane; a metallic foreign body was also found in the eustachian tube. Reporting this case, we suggest that special attention be paid to tympanic membrane and external auditory canal conditions when making an ear impression for hearing aids. Therefore, physical examination by otolaryngologist should precede any application of hearing aid.
Ear ; Ear Canal ; Ear, Middle* ; Eustachian Tube* ; Foreign Bodies* ; Fungi ; Hearing Aids* ; Hearing* ; Physical Examination ; Silicon ; Silicones ; Tympanic Membrane

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease characterized by multiple areas of demyelination, inflammation, and glial scarring in the central nervous system. MS is the most common chronic and usually progressive neurologic disease whose clinical course varies from a benign and symptom-free disease to a rapidly progressive and disabling disorder. MS can be presented with various symptoms, but isolated vertigo, represented in only 5%, is very rare. Nevertheless, in such a case, differential diagnosis of peripheral vestibular disease is very important for neuro-otologist. We recently experienced a 39 year-old female patient of multiple sclerosis with isolated vertigo mimicking vestibular neuritis. We report our case with a review of literature.
Central Nervous System ; Chronic Disease ; Cicatrix ; Demyelinating Diseases ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Multiple Sclerosis* ; Vertigo* ; Vestibular Diseases ; Vestibular Neuronitis

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is a group of neoplasm affecting the lymphoid system. Follicular lymphoma is typically a slow-growing, indolent form of NHL that accounts for 1/3 of all NHL. It is one of the B-cell lymphomas, generally characterized by multiple relapses after responses to a variety of therapies. When lymphoma relapses, it may occur in the same or a different part of the body from where it occurred originally. Recurrence in the primary site is most common but recurrence in other parts is rarely observed. We experienced a rare case of 70-year-old woman who complained of swelling in the left mouth floor and was diagonosed with a recurrent NHL. It recurred in the sublingual gland after a complete remission of the follicular lymphoma.
Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; Lymphoma, Follicular* ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Mouth Floor ; Recurrence ; Sublingual Gland*