Background and Objectives: Nonpharmacologic interventions (NPIs), such as social distancing and preventive measures, were administered during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which may influence the incidence of upper respiratory diseases (URDs). The present study compared the incidence of URDs during the COVID-19 pandemic and during the years prior to COVID-19, and investigated the effect of NPIs on URD in the nationwide general population.Subjects and Method This is an epidemiologic study based on the Korean National Health Insurance Database from March 2016 to February 2021. We compared the monthly incidence of URDs from March 2020 to February 2021 (12 months) with that of the past four years. A negative binomial regression model was used to evaluate the annual difference in the incidence of each URD and adjusting temperature, humidity, and the level of particulate matter 10 (PM10). Results: The monthly incidence of ‘the five common URDs’ in 2020 was significantly lower than that in the past four years. The incidence of other chronic diseases, however, such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus, was comparable or higher in the past four years. Among the five common URDs, influenza virus infections decreased most dramatically, nearing 99%, from 296.4-377.1 per 100000 people during the period of 2016 to 2019 to 3.7 per 100000 people in 2020. Conclusion The present study shows that the incidence of ‘five common URDs’ significantly decreased during the era of COVID-19 in Korea. We believe that nationwide NPI might prevent the transmission of COVID-19 as well as other infectious sources associated with URDs.

Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are still a considerable challenge in Myanmar. We undertook a control program for STH infections (especially Trichuris trichiura) among schoolchildren in Myanmar using mass drug administration (MDA) and health education. Around 1,700 schoolchildren from 15 primary schools in 3 suburban districts (Shwe Pyi Thar, Twantay, and Kyauktan) of the Yangon Region were subjected in this study during 2017-2019. All of the schoolchildren in each school were orally administered albendazole (400 mg in a single dose) 2, 3, and 4 times a year in 2017, 2018, and 2019, respectively. The results revealed that the egg positive rate of any intestinal helminths (including STH) was reduced from 37.6% (649/1,724) in 2017 to 22.8% (352/1,542) in 2019. The egg positive rate of Ascaris lumbricoides was decreased remarkably from 23.3% (402/1,724) in 2017 to 3.6% (56/1,542) in 2019. However, that of T. trichiura was only slightly reduced from 26.9% (464/1,724) in 2017 to 20.2% (312/1,542) in 2019. The intensity of infection with A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura was both more or less reduced, and the proportion of light infection cases with A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura increased from 35.6% in 2017 to 64.3% in 2019 and from 70.3% in 2017 to 81.7% in 2019, respectively. The results indicated that repeated MDAs (2-4 times a year for 3 years) using albendazole on schoolchildren in Myanmar failed to control T. trichiura infection. For a successful control of trichuriasis in Myanmar, new MDA strategies, using a modified albendazole regimen (multiple daily doses for 2 or 3 days) or an alternative anthelmintic drug, such as oxantel pamoate, is strongly recommended.

Chinese edible frogs, Hoplobatrachus rugulosus, were examined to estimate the potential risks of human gnathostomiasis and sparganosis in Myanmar. A total of 20 frogs were purchased in a local market of Yangon and examined with naked eyes and the artificial digestion method after skin peeling in June 2018 and June 2019. Larvae of gnathostomes and Spirometra (=spargana) were detected in 15 (75.0%) and 15 (75.0%) frogs with average intensities of 10.5 and 6.3 larvae per infected frog, respectively. Gnathostome larvae were 2.75-3.80 (av. 3.30) mm long and 0.29-0.36 (0.33) mm wide. They had a characteristic head bulb with 4 rows of hooklets, a muscular long esophagus, and 2 pairs of cervical sac. The mean number of hooklets were 41, 44, 47, and 50 on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th row, respectively. Collected spargana were actively moving, particularly with the scolex part, and have ivory-white color and variable in size. Conclusively, it has been first confirmed that Chinese edible frogs, H. rugulosus, are highly infected with larval gnathostomes and spargana in this study. Consuming these frogs is considered a potential risk of human gnathostomiasis and sparganosis in Myanmar.

A survey was performed to investigate the infection status of zoonotic helminth larvae in fish from a local market of North Dagon District in Yangon City, Myanmar. A total of 486 fish in 13 species were collected 8 times from December 2015 to December 2019. All fish were transported under ice to a laboratory in Korea and examined for helminth larvae using artificial digestion method. Larval gnathostomes and metacercariae of more than 8 zoonotic trematode species, i.e., Opisthorchis viverrini, Haplorchis taichui, H. pumilio, H. yokogawai, Centrocestus spp., Stellantchasmus falcatus, Pygidiopsis cambodiensis, and Procerovum sp., were detected. Larval gnathostomes were found in 58 (16.0%) out of 362 fish of 6 species, with mean intensity of 2.8 per fish infected. Metacercariae of O. viverrini were detected in 10 (2.9%) out of 349 fish of 5 species, with mean intensity of 16.9 per fish infected. Metacercarial prevalences of 4 intestinal flukes, H. taichui, H. pumilio, H. yokogawai, and Centrocestus spp., were 16.8%, 26.0%, 12.5%, and 15.0% in the positive fish species, respectively, and mean metacercarial intensity was 63.3, 26.8, 86.2, and 8.7 per fish infected. Metacercariae of S. falcatus and P. cambodiensis were detected only from the mullet, Chelon macrolepis. Metacercariae of Procerovum sp. were found in Channa striata and Anabas testudineus. Collectively, it was confirmed that the fish were infected with gnathostome larvae and metacercariae of O. viverrini and intestinal flukes in Yangon City, Myanmar.

A survey was performed to investigate the infection status of zoonotic helminth larvae in fish from a local market of North Dagon District in Yangon City, Myanmar. A total of 486 fish in 13 species were collected 8 times from December 2015 to December 2019. All fish were transported under ice to a laboratory in Korea and examined for helminth larvae using artificial digestion method. Larval gnathostomes and metacercariae of more than 8 zoonotic trematode species, i.e., Opisthorchis viverrini, Haplorchis taichui, H. pumilio, H. yokogawai, Centrocestus spp., Stellantchasmus falcatus, Pygidiopsis cambodiensis, and Procerovum sp., were detected. Larval gnathostomes were found in 58 (16.0%) out of 362 fish of 6 species, with mean intensity of 2.8 per fish infected. Metacercariae of O. viverrini were detected in 10 (2.9%) out of 349 fish of 5 species, with mean intensity of 16.9 per fish infected. Metacercarial prevalences of 4 intestinal flukes, H. taichui, H. pumilio, H. yokogawai, and Centrocestus spp., were 16.8%, 26.0%, 12.5%, and 15.0% in the positive fish species, respectively, and mean metacercarial intensity was 63.3, 26.8, 86.2, and 8.7 per fish infected. Metacercariae of S. falcatus and P. cambodiensis were detected only from the mullet, Chelon macrolepis. Metacercariae of Procerovum sp. were found in Channa striata and Anabas testudineus. Collectively, it was confirmed that the fish were infected with gnathostome larvae and metacercariae of O. viverrini and intestinal flukes in Yangon City, Myanmar.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Diffuse long coronary artery disease (DLCAD) still has unfavorable clinical outcomes after successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Resolute™ zotarolimus-eluting stent (R-ZES; Resolute™ Integrity) for patients with DLCAD. METHODS: From December 2011 to December 2014, 1,011 patients who underwent PCI using R-ZES for CAD with longer than 25 mm lesion were prospectively enrolled from 21 hospitals in Korea. We assessed the clinical outcome of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) defined as the composite of cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), and clinically-driven target vessel revascularization at 12 months. RESULTS: Mean age was 63.8±10.8 years, 701 (69.3%) patients were male, 572 (87.0%) patients had hypertension, 339 (33.8%) patients had diabetes, 549 (54.3%) patients diagnosed with acute MI and 545 (53.9%) patients had multi-vessel disease (MVD). A total of 1,697 stents were implanted into a total of 1,472 lesions. The mean diameter was 3.07±0.38 mm and the length was 28.27±6.97 mm. Multiple overlapping stents were performed in 205 (13.8%) lesions. A 12-month clinical follow-up was available in 1,004 patients (99.3%). The incidences of MACE and definite stent thrombosis at 12-month were 3.0% and 0.3% respectively. On multivariate Cox-regression analysis, multiple overlapping stents implantation, previous congestive heart failure, MVD, and age ≥75 years were independent predictors of one-year MACE. CONCLUSIONS Our study shows that R-ZES has an excellent 1-year clinical outcome in Korean patients with DLCAD.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Diffuse long coronary artery disease (DLCAD) still has unfavorable clinical outcomes after successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Resolute™ zotarolimus-eluting stent (R-ZES; Resolute™ Integrity) for patients with DLCAD. METHODS: From December 2011 to December 2014, 1,011 patients who underwent PCI using R-ZES for CAD with longer than 25 mm lesion were prospectively enrolled from 21 hospitals in Korea. We assessed the clinical outcome of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) defined as the composite of cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), and clinically-driven target vessel revascularization at 12 months. RESULTS: Mean age was 63.8±10.8 years, 701 (69.3%) patients were male, 572 (87.0%) patients had hypertension, 339 (33.8%) patients had diabetes, 549 (54.3%) patients diagnosed with acute MI and 545 (53.9%) patients had multi-vessel disease (MVD). A total of 1,697 stents were implanted into a total of 1,472 lesions. The mean diameter was 3.07±0.38 mm and the length was 28.27±6.97 mm. Multiple overlapping stents were performed in 205 (13.8%) lesions. A 12-month clinical follow-up was available in 1,004 patients (99.3%). The incidences of MACE and definite stent thrombosis at 12-month were 3.0% and 0.3% respectively. On multivariate Cox-regression analysis, multiple overlapping stents implantation, previous congestive heart failure, MVD, and age ≥75 years were independent predictors of one-year MACE. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that R-ZES has an excellent 1-year clinical outcome in Korean patients with DLCAD.
Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Death ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Prospective Studies ; Stents ; Thrombosis ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) requires time-dependent reperfusion therapy, and early recognition of AIS is important to patient outcomes. This study was conducted to identify the clinical features and risk factors of AIS patients that are missed during the early stages of diagnosis. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed AIS patients admitted to a hospital through the emergency department. AIS patients were defined as ischemic stroke patients who visited the emergency department within 6 hours of symptom onset. Patients were classified into two groups: an activation group (A group), in which patients were identified as AIS and the stroke team was activated, and a non-activation group (NA group), for whom the stroke team was not activated. RESULTS: The stroke team was activated for 213 of a total of 262 AIS patients (81.3%), while it was not activated for the remaining 49 (18.7%). The NA group was found to be younger, have lower initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores, lower incidence of previous hypertension, and a greater incidence of cerebellum and cardio-embolic infarcts than the A group. The chief complaints in the A group were traditional stroke symptoms, side weakness (61.0%), and speech disturbance (17.8%), whereas the NA group had non-traditional symptoms, dizziness (32.7%), and decreased levels of consciousness (22.4%). Independent factors associated with missed stroke team activation were nystagmus, nausea/vomiting, dizziness, gait disturbance, and general weakness. CONCLUSION: A high index of AIS suspicion is required to identify such patients with these findings. Education on focused neurological examinations and the development of clinical decision tools that could differentiate non-stroke and stroke are needed.
Cerebellum ; Consciousness ; Diagnosis ; Dizziness ; Education ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Gait ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; National Institutes of Health (U.S.) ; Neurologic Examination ; Reperfusion ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Stroke*

PURPOSE: Scoring systems such as the Modified Alvarado Score (MAS), Eskelinen score (ES), Lintula score (LS), nd Ohmann score (OS) can be helpful in the early diagnosis of acute appendicitis (AA). We analyze and compare the diagnostic value of each scoring system and investigate the optimal cut off point. METHODS: A total of 62 adult patients admitted for suspicion of acute appendicitis in a tertiary hospital emergency department were analyzed prospectively. Each scoring system was calculated at admission and compared to the final diagnosis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine the appropriate cutoff scores of scoring systems. The sensitivity and specificity, and area under the ROC curve were calculated. RESULTS: The area under curve of the Ohmann score was higher than those of the other scoring systems (OS: 0.79, MAS: 0.73, ES: 0.65, LS: 0.67). In pairwise comparison of the ROC curve of two scoring systems, OS was found to have significantly higher predictive power than ES and LS. However, no difference was observed between MAS and OS. CONCLUSION: No single score may be used alone to dictate or decline surgery. However, the scoring system may provide helpful information for primary or emergency physicians to determine whether the patient should undergo surgical consultation may provide helpful information for use by primary or emergency physicians in determination of whether the patient should undergo surgical consultation.
Adult ; Appendicitis ; Area Under Curve ; Early Diagnosis ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tertiary Care Centers

As an adjunct to cancer treatment, the use of health functional foods (HFFs) seems to be increasing. However, little is known for the use of HFFs among cancer patients in Korea. The aims of this study were to investigate the exposure rate of HFF use among gastrointestinal (GI) cancer patients and to examine the relationship of socio-demographic and disease-related characteristics with the use of HFFs. A total of 126 patients diagnosed with GI cancer participated in the study. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a questionnaire. Over a half of all the patients surveyed (n = 67; 53.2%) used HFFs. Patients who were younger, had higher income, or longer duration of disease showed a trend to use HFFs more frequently, even though the tendency was not statistically significant. The most commonly used HFF was vitamin complex (n = 20; 16%), followed by red ginseng (n = 15; 12%), and sweet wormwood (Artemisia annua) (n = 11; 8.8%). About 26% of all responders expressed concerns for using HFFs. The primary concern was 'going against physician's recommendations' (36.8%). About 63% of respondents expressed a desire to consult with their physicians and follow their recommendations. More basic scientific data and educational materials regarding HFFs are required for both health-care professionals and cancer patients. A larger sample and size-controlled groups representing each cancer type will continue to be recruited for participation in this survey.
Artemisia ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Functional Food* ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms* ; Humans ; Korea ; Panax ; Vitamins