Commencing one-handed chest compressions while activating emergency medical system using a handheld mobile device in lone-rescuer basic life support: a randomised cross-over simulation study.

INTRODUCTION: In conventional basic life support (c-BLS), a lone rescuer is recommended to start chest compressions (CCs) after activating the emergency medical system. To initiate earlier CCs in lone-rescuer BLS, we designed a modified BLS (m-BLS) sequence in which the lone rescuer commences one-handed CCs while calling for help using a handheld cellular phone with the other free hand. This study aimed to compare the quality of BLS between c-BLS and m-BLS. METHODS: This was a simulation study performed with a randomised cross-over controlled trial design. A total of 108 university students were finally enrolled. After training for both c-BLS and m-BLS, participants performed a 3-minute c-BLS or m-BLS on a manikin with a SkillReporter at random cross-over order. The paired mean difference with SE between c-BLS and m-BLS was assessed using paired t-test. RESULTS: The m-BLS had reduced lag time before the initiation of CCs (with a mean estimated paired difference (SE) of -35.0 (90.4) s) (p<0.001). For CC, a significant increase in compression fraction and a higher number of CCs with correct depth were observed in m-BLS (with a mean estimated paired difference (SE) of 16.2% (0.6) and 26.9% (3.3), respectively) (all p<0.001). However, no significant paired difference was observed in the hand position, compression rate and interruption time. For ventilation, the mean tidal volumes did not differ. However, the number of breaths with correct tidal volume was higher in m-BLS than in c-BLS. CONCLUSION: In simulated lone-rescuer BLS, the m-BLS could deliver significantly earlier CCs than the c-BLS while maintaining high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Vulnerabilities of the Open Platform Communication Unified Architecture Protocol in Industrial Internet of Things Operation.

Recently, as new threats from attackers are discovered, the damage and scale of these threats are increasing. Vulnerabilities should be identified early, and countermeasures should be implemented to solve this problem. However, there are limitations to applying the vulnerability discovery framework used in practice. Existing frameworks have limitations in terms of the analysis target. If the analysis target is abstract, it cannot be easily applied to the framework. Therefore, this study proposes a framework for vulnerability discovery and countermeasures that can be applied to any analysis target. The proposed framework includes a structural analysis to discover vulnerabilities from a scenario composition, including analysis targets. In addition, a proof of concept is conducted to derive and verify threats that can actually occur through threat modeling. In this study, the open platform communication integrated architecture used in the industrial control system and industrial Internet of Things environment was selected as an analysis target. We find 30 major threats and four vulnerabilities based on the proposed framework. As a result, the validity of malicious client attacks using certificates and DoS attack scenarios using flooding were validated, and we create countermeasures for these vulnerabilities.

Proximal hyper-intense vessel sign on initial FLAIR MRI in hyper-acute middle cerebral artery ischemic stroke: a retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: A hyper-intense vessel sign on fluid attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging (FHV) represents slow blood flow in the cerebral arteries. PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between the proximal FHV (pFHV) on initial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the status of the culprit vessel (stenosis, obstruction) in hyper-acute strokes affecting the territory of the middle cerebral artery (MCA). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study participants consisted of 105 patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with acute MCA infarction within 4.5 h of onset of symptoms. Patients underwent brain MRI within 45 min of arrival at the ED and angiography within 2 h of arrival. Culprit vessel status and presence of a pFHV on initial MRI were investigated retrospectively. RESULTS: The pFHV was observed in 71/105 (67.6%) patients who presented with a hyper-acute MCA infarction. All patients with hyper-acute MCA infarction caused by internal carotid artery (90.6% caused by M1 occlusion, 92.9% caused by M2 occlusion) showed a pFHV on initial MRI. After logistic regression analysis, the presence of a pFHV showed significant positive correlation with large vessel occlusion (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 34.533, 95% confidence interval [CI] 9.781-121.926; P < 0.001). A pFHV was not associated with severe large vessel stenosis. CONCLUSION: A pFHV is independently representative of the acute occlusion of intervention-eligible proximal arteries within the territory of the MCA. If a patient with a hyper-acute MCA infarction shows a pFHV, aggressive flow augmentation strategies and early activation of intervention team should be warranted for best patient outcome.

Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Modulator Promotes Neonatal Mouse Primordial Follicle Activation In Vitro.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is known as a regulator of cellular functions, including adipogenesis and immune cell activation. The objectives of this study were to investigate the expression of PPARγ and identify the mechanism of primordial follicle activation via PPARγ modulators in mouse ovaries. We first measured the gene expression of PPARγ and determined its relationship with phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), protein kinase B (AKT1), and forkhead box O3a (FOXO3a) expression in neonatal mouse ovaries. We then incubated neonatal mouse ovaries with PPARγ modulators, including rosiglitazone (a synthetic agonist of PPARγ), GW9662 (a synthetic antagonist of PPARγ), and cyclic phosphatidic acid (cPA, a physiological inhibitor of PPARγ), followed by transplantation into adult ovariectomized mice. After the maturation of the transplanted ovaries, primordial follicle growth activation, follicle growth, and embryonic development were evaluated. Finally, the delivery of live pups after embryo transfer into recipient mice was assessed. While PPARγ was expressed in ovaries from mice of all ages, its levels were significantly increased in ovaries from 20-day-old mice. In GW9662-treated ovaries in vitro, PTEN levels were decreased, AKT was activated, and FOXO3a was excluded from the nuclei of primordial follicles. After 1 month, cPA-pretreated, transplanted ovaries produced the highest numbers of oocytes and polar bodies, exhibited the most advanced embryonic development, and had the greatest blastocyst formation rate compared to the rosiglitazone- and GW9662-pretreated groups. Additionally, the successful delivery of live pups after embryo transfer into the recipient mice transplanted with cPA-pretreated ovaries was confirmed. Our study demonstrates that PPARγ participates in primordial follicle activation and development, possibly mediated in part by the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Although more studies are required, adapting these findings for the activation of human primordial follicles may lead to treatments for infertility that originates from poor ovarian reserves.

Delta neutrophil index: A reliable marker to differentiate perforated appendicitis from non-perforated appendicitis in the elderly.

BACKGROUND: Delta neutrophil index (DNI) is a new inflammatory marker and the present study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of the DNI for the presence of a perforation in elderly with acute appendicitis. METHODS: This retrospective observational study was conducted on 108 consecutive elderly patients (≥65 years old) with acute appendicitis treated over a 24-month period. RESULTS: Sixty-nine of the 108 patients (median, IQR: 72, 67-77 years) were allocated to the perforated appendicitis group (63.9%) and 39 to the non-perforated appendicitis group (36.1%). WBC, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio and DNI were significantly higher in the perforated group. In multiple logistic regression analyses, initial DNI was the only independent marker that can significantly predict the presence of perforation in multiple regression [odds ratio 9.38, 95% confidence interval (2.51-35.00), P=.001]. Receiver operator characteristic curve analysis showed that DNI is a good predictor for the presence of appendiceal perforation at an optimal cut-off for DNI being 1.4% (sensitivity 67.7%, specificity 90.0%, AUC 0.807). CONCLUSION: Clinicians can reliably differentiate acute perforated appendicitis from non-perforated appendicitis by DNI level of 1.4 or more in elderly patients.

Manikin study showed that counting inflation breaths out loud improved the speed of resuming chest compressions during two-person paediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

AIM: We investigated whether counting inflation breaths out loud during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) led to an earlier resumption of chest compressions. METHODS: In this randomised controlled manikin simulation study, conducted from February 2015 to April 2015, 32 fourth-year Korean medical students, equally divided into study and control groups, performed 10 cycles of 15:2 CPR while administering inflation breaths using a bag mask. The first study participant counted the number of inflation breaths out loud, and the second study participant was told to perform chest compressions as soon as they heard their colleague say two. The control group did not count out loud. The groups were blinded to the study outcomes and put in separate rooms. RESULTS: The median chest compression interruption time was shorter in the study group than the control group (40 vs 46 seconds, p < 0.01, r = 0.70), and the median chest compression fraction (CCF) was higher (68 vs 62%, p < 0.01, r = 0.71). Other quality outcomes related chest compressions and ventilation did not differ between the groups. CONCLUSION: Counting the number of inflation breaths out loud was a simple method that improved the speed of resuming chest compressions and increased CCFs in 15:2 CPR.

Clinical manifestations in patients with herpes zoster oticus.

Patients with herpes zoster oticus (HZO) may exhibit diverse symptoms regarding cochleovestibular dysfunction. This study investigated the clinical manifestations of HZO by comparing symptoms associated with dysfunctions of the 7th and 8th cranial nerves (CN VII and VIII, respectively). This study is a retrospective case series. Eighty-one patients with HZO who had dysfunction of CN VII or VIII were included in this study. Electroneuronography (ENoG) values were compared among patient groups with facial weakness. Patients with ipsilateral facial weakness (62 of 81) were more common than those without. Among 81 patients, those with facial weakness, hearing loss, and vertigo were most common, and only 1 patient had vertigo without hearing loss or facial weakness. Most patients with vertigo also had hearing loss (28 of 30), and patients without hearing loss did not have vertigo (19 of 21). While patients with vertigo had worse ENoG values than those without vertigo, ENoG values were not significantly different between patients with and without hearing loss. In conclusion, various clinical manifestations of CN VII and VIII dysfunction are possible in patients with HZO. Patients with vertigo had worse ENoG values than those without, which may indicate that vertigo reflects more severe facial nerve degeneration in HZO patients with facial weakness.

A vertical two-thumb technique is superior to the two-thumb encircling technique for infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

AIM: The two-thumb encircling (TTE) technique often results in suboptimal cardiac compression and does not meet the requirements of current resuscitation guidelines. We compared this technique with the vertical two-thumb (VTT) technique, our novel modification of the TTE technique. METHODS: This was a prospective randomised crossover simulation study of out-of-hospital infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Participants who had completed a basic life support course performed 10 cycles of cardiac compressions on a manikin for each technique. RESULTS: We enrolled 36 medical doctors who had applied for a hospital internship in this study. The VTT generated significantly higher pressure than the TTE and the pressure difference ranged from 26.8 to 62.9 mmHg for each cycle, with a mean difference of 43.5 mmHg (95% CI, 37.8-49.2). The difference in pressure showed a tendency to increase with increasing cycles of cardiac compressions. The participants' heart and respiratory rate was higher with the VTT, but they said that it was easier to perform cardiac compressions with this technique. CONCLUSION: The VTT technique generated more pressure than the TTE technique in a simulated model of infant out-of-hospital CPR. It can provide an alternative compression technique for effective infant CPR, especially for the rescuers with small hands or a weak grip.

Can CT measured LA diameter predict the presence and the degree of LV Diastolic Dysfunction?

Objective: This study was conducted to determine whether the presence and the degree of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) can be predicted by the simple LA diameter measured on computed tomography (CTLAD). Methods: Among adult patients who underwent both chest CT and echocardiography in the emergency department from January 2020 to December 2021, a retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on patients in whom the time interval between the two tests was less than 24 hours. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic power of CTLAD for echocardiographic LVDD. Results: In a study involving 373 patients, 192 (51.5%) had LVDD. Among them, 122 (63.5%) had grade 1, 61 (31.8%) had grade 2, and 9 (4.7%) had ≥grade 3 LVDD. Median CTLAD values were 4.1cm for grade 1, 4.5cm for grade 2, and 4.9cm for ≥grade 3 LVDD. The AUC value of CTLAD in distinguishing LVDD of ≥grade 1, ≥grade 2 (optimal cutoff ≥4.4cm), and ≥grade 3 (optimal cutoff ≥4.5cm) were 0.588, 0.657 (with sensitivity 61.4%, specificity 66.0%, positive predictive value [PPV] 29.5%, negative predictive value [NPV] 88.1%, odds ratio [OR] 3.1), and 0.834 (with sensitivity 88.9%, specificity 70.1%, PPV 6.8%, NPV 99.6%, OR 18.7), respectively. Conclusion: CTLAD ≥4.4cm can be used as a rough reference value to distinguish LVDD of ≥grade 2, and CTLAD ≥4.5cm can be very reliably distinguish LVDD of ≥grade 3. CTLAD might be very useful parameter in predicting LVDD in environments where echocardiography is not available.

Femoral Neck Fractures Treated by Closed Reduction and Internal Fixation with the Double Fluoroscope Technique: A Preliminary Study.

Background: Fractures of the femur require significant radiation exposure during operations using fluoroscopy (C-arm), posing a high risk of radiation exposure to the medical staff and patients. To address this concern, in this study, we investigated the efficacy of using two fluoroscopy machines simultaneously. Methods: We categorized 30 patients with femoral neck fracture (FNF) into single and double C-arm groups. The operation and radiation exposure times during a closed reduction and internal fixation operation were investigated to evaluate whether the operation and radiation exposure times were effectively audited when the operation was performed using a double C-arm. Results: The total operation times were 93.21 ± 20.70 min and 66.69 ± 13.97 min for the single and double C-arm groups, respectively. Additionally, the total radiation times were 100.43 ± 24.59 s and 83.06 ± 19.53 s for the single and double C-arm groups, respectively. Operation and radiation exposure times in the two groups showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The use of double C-arm in FNF can reduce operation and radiation exposure times. Hence, using the double C-arm in surgical treatment could reduce the risk of radiation exposure to medical staff and patients.

Efficacy of metronome sound guidance via a phone speaker during dispatcher-assisted compression-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation by an untrained layperson: a randomised controlled simulation study using a manikin.

AIM: Untrained laypersons should perform compression-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (COCPR) under a dispatcher's guidance, but the quality of the chest compressions may be suboptimal. We hypothesised that providing metronome sounds via a phone speaker may improve the quality of chest compressions during dispatcher-assisted COCPR (DA-COCPR). METHODS: Untrained laypersons were allocated to either the metronome sound-guided group (MG), who performed DA-COCPR with metronome sounds (110 ticks/min), or the control group (CG), who performed conventional DA-COCPR. The participants of each group performed DA-COCPR for 4 min using a manikin with Skill-Reporter, and the data regarding chest compression quality were collected. RESULTS: The data from 33 cases of DA-COCPR in the MG and 34 cases in the CG were compared. The MG showed a faster compression rate than the CG (111.9 vs 96.7/min; p=0.018). A significantly higher proportion of subjects in the MG performed the DA-COCPR with an accurate chest compression rate (100-120/min) compared with the subjects in the CG (32/33 (97.0%) vs 5/34 (14.7%); p<0.0001). The mean compression depth was not different between the MG and the CG (45.9 vs 46.8 mm; p=0.692). However, a higher proportion of subjects in the MG performed shallow compressions (compression depth <38 mm) compared with subjects in the CG (median % was 69.2 vs 15.7; p=0.035). CONCLUSIONS: Metronome sound guidance during DA-COCPR for the untrained bystanders improved the chest compression rates, but was associated more with shallow compressions than the conventional DA-COCPR in a manikin model.

Utility of the Pentax-AWS in performing tracheal intubation while wearing chemical, biological, radiation and nuclear personal protective equipment: a randomised crossover trial using a manikin.

INTRODUCTION: Following a chemical, biological, radiation and nuclear (CBRN) incident, prompt establishment of an advanced airway is required for patients with respiratory failure within the warm zone, while wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). Previous studies reported that intubation attempts were prolonged, and incidence of esophageal intubation was increased with conventional Macintosh laryngoscope (McL), while wearing CBRN-PPE. Pentax-AWS (AWS), a recently introduced portable video laryngoscope, was compared with the McL to test its utility for tracheal intubation while wearing CBRN-PPE. METHODS: 31 participants performed unsuited and suited intubations on an advanced life support simulator. The sequence of intubating devices and PPE wearing were randomised. Time to complete tracheal intubation (primary end point), time to see the vocal cords, overall success rate, percentage of glottic opening, dental compression and ease of intubation were measured. RESULTS: Suited intubations required significantly longer time to complete intubation than unsuited intubations, in both McL and AWS (22.2 vs 26.4 s, 14.2 vs 18.2 s, respectively). However, suited AWS intubations required shorter time to complete tracheal intubation than unsuited McL intubations (18.2 vs 22.2 s). In secondary outcomes, moreover, suited intubations using the AWS compared favourably with unsuited intubations using the McL. CONCLUSIONS: Although the CBRN-PPE adversely affected time required to complete tracheal intubation with the AWS, suited intubations using the AWS were even superior to unsuited intubations using the McL. The AWS should be a promising device to perform tracheal intubation while wearing the CBRN-PPE.

Efficacy of the Disposcope endoscope, a new video laryngoscope, for endotracheal intubation in patients with cervical spine immobilisation by semirigid neck collar: comparison with the Macintosh laryngoscope using a simulation study on a manikin.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether endotracheal intubation in patients with cervical spine immobilisation by a semirigid neck collar is easier using the Disposcope endoscope (DE), a new video laryngoscope, than with the Macintosh laryngoscope (ML). METHODS: Sixty-eight medical interns who participated in a training programme for endotracheal intubation using the DE and ML were recruited to the randomised crossover trial 1 week after completing the training programme. In the trial, they used both the DE and the ML to perform intubation on a manikin wearing a semirigid neck collar. The time required to view the vocal cords and to complete intubation, successful endotracheal intubation, modified Cormack-Lehane classification (CL grade) and dental injury were recorded and analysed. RESULTS: The mean (SD) time to view the vocal cords was significantly shorter with the DE than with the ML (10.0 (7.0) vs 20.8 (18.9) s; p<0.0001). There were higher rates of CL grades 1 and 2a (69.1% and 22.1%) using the DE than with the ML (10.3% and 14.7%). All 68 participants had a higher rate of successful endotracheal intubation using the DE than using the ML (68 (100%) vs 47 (69.1%); p<0.0001). It took less time to complete endotracheal intubation with the DE than with the ML (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with cervical spine immobilisation by a semirigid neck collar, the DE may be a more effective device for endotracheal intubation than the ML.

A study on computed tomography cardiothoracic ratio in predicting left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE: A cardiothoracic ratio ≥0.50 is widely used as an indicator of cardiomegaly, but associations between the cardiothoracic ratio and left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) have not been investigated previously. We conducted this study to investigate the relationship between cardiothoracic ratio measured using computed tomography (CT) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and to determine the optimal cardiothoracic ratio for predicting left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD). METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed using data from patients who underwent both chest CT and echocardiography at the emergency department from January 1 to December 31, 2021. The patients were classified as normal, or having mild, moderate, and severe LVSD based on their LVEF, and the cardiothoracic ratios of each group were compared. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were used to identify the optimal cardiothoracic ratio for prediction of mild, moderate, and severe LVSD. RESULTS: The final study population included 444 patients. The median CT-measured cardiothoracic ratio was 0.54 for patients with normal LVEF, and 0.60 for patients with LVSD (P<0.001). The optimal CT-measured cardiothoracic ratios for predicting mild, moderate, and severe LVSD were 0.56, 0.59, and 0.60, and their areas under the ROC curve were 0.653, 0.690, and 0.680, and negative predictive values were 90%, 94%, and 98%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The best cutoff value for a CT-measured cardiothoracic ratio suggestive of LVSD was 0.56, which is very different from the 0.50 value typically considered an abnormal cardiothoracic ratio. The CT-measured cardiothoracic ratio ≥0.56 can be used as a rough indicator of mild LVSD, and a ratio <0.60 can exclude severe LVSD with a high degree of confidence.

Semen quality and sperm DNA fragmentation in cancer patients undergoing sperm cryopreservation.

PURPOSE: We compared semen quality and sperm DNA fragmentation in cancer patients who underwent sperm banking and controls who underwent sperm cryopreservation for assisted reproductive technology (ART). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 132 men, 65 cancer patients and 67 controls, were prospectively enrolled and performed sperm cryopreservation for fertility preservation from May 2019 to February 2021. Sperm quality was determined by measuring semen volume, sperm concentration, sperm motility, and sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI). Sperm quality and sperm DFI were compared in cancer patients and controls. RESULTS: The major cancers of the 65 cancer patients were leukemia (26.2%), testicular cancer (23.1%), and lymphoma (20.0%). Sperm concentration, sperm total motility, and sperm progressive motility were significantly lower in cancer patients than in controls. Sperm DFI was significantly higher in cancer patients than in controls (24.32%±15.69% vs. 19.11%±11.63%; p=0.033). After excluding 8 cancer patients who received chemotherapy before sperm banking, sperm concentration, sperm total motility, and sperm progressive motility were significantly lower in cancer patients than in controls, but there was no significant difference in sperm DFI for cancer patients and controls (23.14%±12.79% vs. 19.11%±11.63%; p=0.069). CONCLUSIONS: Sperm quality was lower in cancer patients than in controls. There was no difference in the sperm DFI of cancer patients prior to chemotherapy and men presenting for sperm cryopreservation for ART. We recommend that all men who are planning cancer therapy should be offered sperm banking prior to gonadotoxic chemotherapy as a standard of fertility preservation.

Effect of male age on reproductive function: A comparison of young and middle-aged men.

PURPOSE: There have been concerns regarding potential effects of older paternal age on male reproductive function. However, currently available data on this topic are insufficient and controversy exists. We analyzed semen characteristics and reproductive hormones in young men and middle-aged men to investigate the effect of age on male reproductive function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study examined healthy males of reproductive age who visited a single infertility center from January 2016 to July 2021. The young group consisted of men who were less than 35 years-old, and the middle-age group consisted of men who were more than 45 years-old. RESULTS: The two groups had no significant differences in sperm concentration ([89.9±59.4]×106/mL vs. [104.4±82.1]×106/mL, p=0.108) or sperm morphology (normal forms: 3.6%±1.5% vs. 3.4%±1.6%, p=0.131). However, the middle-age group had a smaller semen volume (3.2±1.5 mL vs. 2.5±1.4 mL, p<0.001), lower sperm motility (42.3%±9.8% vs. 31.2%±12.4%, p<0.001), lower progressive sperm motility (39.2%±10.3% vs. 28.4%±12.6%, p<0.001), and a higher serum follicle-stimulating hormone level. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that advanced male age might have a negative effect on fertility potential, as in women. This finding has important clinical implications because more couples are choosing to have children when they are older. Further studies on this issue, especially those that examine reproductive outcome, are warranted.

Conventional blood tests in predicting influenza A (H1N1) rapidly.

PURPOSE: Although real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reactions (rRT-PCR) are gold standard for the diagnosis of influenza A (H1N1), the results can be delayed up to several days, which is problematic during a pandemic. Because of this limitation of rRT-PCR, clinicians have often had to set a treatment plan that was solely based on clinical suspicion. We investigated the hematological and biochemical factors that are associated with rRT-PCR results, in order to help clinicians deal with acute febrile patients during influenza pandemics. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional study of 465 emergency department patients who underwent both rRT-PCR and blood tests at the same time. Hematological and biochemical findings were compared between the rRT-PCR-positive group and rRT-PCR-negative group. RESULTS: Levels of leukocytes, hemoglobin, platelets, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), total bilirubin, lactate dehydrogenase, serum glucose, C-reactive protein (CRP), and procalcitonin were significantly different between the two groups in the univariate analyses. In the multivariate analyses, leukocyte counts ≤ 10.8 (× 10(9))/L [odd ratio (OR) = 8.2, sensitivity = 93.7%, NPV = 85.3%], BUN levels ≤ 7.1 µmol/L (OR = 3.0, sensitivity = 93.7%, NPV = 85.3%), and CRP levels ≤ 60 mg/L (OR = 2.4, sensitivity = 93.7%, NPV = 85.3%) were independently associated with positive rRT-PCR results. CONCLUSIONS: Leukocyte counts, BUN levels and CRP levels were important predictors of rRT-PCR-positive results for 2009 influenza A (H1N1) in adults.

Clinical study on ureteritis observed in contrast-enhanced computed tomography in the emergency department.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the causes and clinical and laboratory features of patients with ureteritis observed on intravenous contrast-enhanced abdominopelvic computed tomography (APCT) conducted in the emergency department (ED). METHODS: All APCTs conducted in the ED from November 2017 to November 2020 were investigated for the presence of ureteritis. The incidence of ureteritis, presumed cause of ureteritis, and clinical as well as laboratory features of patients with ureteritis were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Ureteritis was observed in 422 out of 7,386 patients (5.7%) who underwent APCTs. The two main reasons for undergoing APCT in the ED were abdominal pain (49%) and infection focus workup (33%). The first major cause of ureteritis was urinary tract infection (UTI) (351 of 422, 83%). Most patients (85%) were febrile, but 208 (59%) exhibited no urinary symptoms such as dysuria, increased frequency, or residual urine sense. The second major cause of ureteritis was ureteral stones (42 of 422, 10%). Thirty-two of 42 patients (76%) had simple obstructive uropathy, while 24% of patients had a combined infection along with an obstruction. Other rare causes were malignancy and the spread of adjacent inflammation. CONCLUSION: Ureteritis was a common finding observed in 5.7% of patients who underwent APCTs at the ED, and most of them were secondary to UTIs and ureteral stones. UTIs can cause ureteritis even without typical symptoms or signs suggestive of UTI, and diagnosis without an APCT can be difficult. More liberal use of APCTs should be considered when the cause of fever is difficult to diagnose.

Clinical investigation on acute pyelonephritis without pyuria: a retrospective observational study.

BACKGRUOUND: The current guidelines for the diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis (APN) recommend that APN be diagnosed based on the clinical features and the presence of pyuria. However, we observed that some of the patients who are diagnosed with APN do not have characteristic clinical features or pyuria at the initial examination. We performed this study to investigate the characteristics of APN without pyuria. METHODS: A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted on 391 patients diagnosed with APN based on clinical and radiologic findings, between 2015 and 2019. The clinical features, laboratory results, and computed tomography (CT) findings were compared between patients with normal white blood cell (WBC) counts and those with abnormal WBC counts (WBC of 0-5/high power field [HPF] vs. >5/HPF) in urine. RESULTS: More than 50% of patients with APN had no typical urinary tract symptoms and one-third of them had no costovertebral angle (CVA) tenderness. Eighty-eight patients (22.5%) had normal WBC counts (0-5/HPF) on urine microscopy. There was a negative correlation between pyuria (WBC of >5/HPF) and previous antibiotic use (odds ratio, 0.249; 95% confidence interval, 0.140-0.441; p<0.001), and the probability of pyuria was reduced by 75.1% in patients who took antibiotics before visiting the emergency room. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of APN should not be overlooked even if there are no typical clinical features, or urine microscopic examination is normal. If a patient has already taken antibiotics at the time of diagnosis, imaging studies such as CT should be performed more actively, regardless of the urinalysis results.

Increasing incidence of inflammatory bowel disease among young men in Korea between 2003 and 2008.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Temporal trends in incidence rates of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) can provide valuable clues about etiology. Korea has a draft system, and every male must fulfill his military service. However, according to military rules, patients with CD and UC are not conscripted into the army, and when the disease is diagnosed during military service, patients are relieved from military duties. Such policies provide a unique opportunity to determine the incidence of CD and UC among young men in Korea. We studied the incidence of CD and UC over time in Korea, a rapidly developing country. METHODS: The Armed Forces Medical Command of the Republic of Korea Army provided lists of members who were relieved from military duties due to diagnoses of CD and UC between 2003 and 2008. RESULTS: During this 6-year period, there were 96 incident cases of CD and 104 incident cases of UC. For the 6-year period, the adjusted mean annual incidence rates of CD and UC per 100,000 persons were 3.2 and 3.5, respectively. When analyzed by 2-year intervals, the mean annual incidence of CD and UC increased, from 1.8 and 1.7 per 100,000 persons in 2003-2004, to 2.7 and 3.3 per 100,000 persons in 2005-2006, and to 5.1 and 5.4 per 100,000 persons in 2007-2008, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Incidence of CD and UC among young men is rapidly increasing in Korea, which strongly suggests an environmental contribution to the disease.