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1.
Childs Nerv Syst ; 39(11): 3289-3294, 2023 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37354290

ABSTRACT

Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma is an extremely rare vascular tumor which shows aggressive local growth. We present a case of rapid growing vascular skull tumor with dura invasion in a pediatric patient with neurofibromatosis type 1. A 14-year-old male complained of headache and dizziness for 1 month after minor head trauma. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a 5-cm-sized tumor in the left frontotemporal bone with internal hemorrhage and cystic changes. The gross total resection of tumor was done. At the 7-month follow-up, brain MRI revealed a recurrent skull tumor with intracranial dura mass. He underwent second surgery, and the pathologic diagnosis was suggestive of Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma. For this vascular proliferative tumor, mTOR inhibitor was treated for 6 months, and there was the recurred nodular-enhancing mass along the sphenoid ridge. After additional 2 months of medication, the following MRI revealed a decreased nodular-enhancing mass.


Subject(s)
Kasabach-Merritt Syndrome , Skull Neoplasms , Vascular Neoplasms , Adolescent , Humans , Male , Kasabach-Merritt Syndrome/diagnostic imaging , Kasabach-Merritt Syndrome/surgery , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local , Skull Base
2.
Med Sci Monit ; 28: e934926, 2022 May 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35505583

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND Understanding the seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can be a useful tool when studying spread of the disease. This study aimed to compare the prevalence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in 9954 recruits in the Korean Army Training Center with the general Korean population age <30 years between September and November, 2020. MATERIAL AND METHODS At the Korean Army Training Center, samples were taken from 9954 men from September to November, 2020. Participants were randomly enlisted healthy adult men. The data were compared with 4,205,265 samples from the Korean general population. Men age <30 years were used, as this is similar to the age range of the military recruits. RESULTS Among military recruits, 31 subjects (0.31%) were positive for the antibody, while the Korean male population had 3757 (0.09%) positive individuals. Among these 31 men, 13 were previously diagnosed by PCR, while 18 (58.06%) had no history related to the disease. Positive military recruits were mostly from 2 regional clusters. The first cluster was Daegu and Gyeongbuk areas (1.97% and 0.80%, respectively), which had an outbreak in March, 2020. The second cluster was Gyeonggi and Seoul, or capital areas (0.23% and 0.20%, respectively), which currently has high PCR positivity. Overall, seroprevalence was 3.49 times higher in study subjects. CONCLUSIONS The high seroprevalence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 between September and November 2020 in a densely populated military academy in Korea may have been an indicator for the resulting outbreak of COVID-19 in winter 2020-21, which highlights the importance of asymptomatic spread from the young and healthy to the general population.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Military Personnel , Adult , COVID-19/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Immunoglobulin G , Male , Prevalence , SARS-CoV-2 , Seroepidemiologic Studies
3.
J Korean Med Sci ; 37(27): e210, 2022 Jul 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35818701

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues, there are concerns regarding waning immunity and the emergence of viral variants. The immunogenicity of Ad26.COV2.S against wild-type (WT) and variants of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) needs to be evaluated. METHOD: This prospective cohort study was conducted between June 2021 and January 2022 at two university hospitals in South Korea. Healthy adults who were scheduled to be vaccinated with Ad26.COV2.S were enrolled in this study. The main outcomes included anti-spike (S) IgG antibody and neutralizing antibody responses, S-specific T-cell responses (interferon-γ enzyme-linked immunospot assay), solicited adverse events (AEs), and serious AEs. RESULTS: Fifty participants aged ≥ 19 years were included in the study. Geometric mean titers (GMTs) of anti-S IgG were 0.4 U/mL at baseline, 5.2 ± 3.0 U/mL at 3-4 weeks, 55.7 ± 2.4 U/mL at 5-8 weeks, and 81.3 ± 2.5 U/mL at 10-12 weeks after vaccination. GMTs of 50% neutralizing dilution (ND50) against WT SARS-CoV-2 were 164.6 ± 4.6 at 3-4 weeks, 313.9 ± 3.6 at 5-8 weeks, and 124.4 ± 2.6 at 10-12 weeks after vaccination. As for the S-specific T-cell responses, the median number of spot-forming units/106 peripheral blood mononuclear cell was 25.0 (5.0-29.2) at baseline, 60.0 (23.3-178.3) at 5-8 weeks, and 35.0 (13.3-71.7) at 10-12 weeks after vaccination. Compared to WT SARS-CoV-2, ND50 against Delta and Omicron variants was attenuated by 3.6-fold and 8.2-fold, respectively. The most frequent AE was injection site pain (82%), followed by myalgia (80%), fatigue (70%), and fever (50%). Most AEs were grade 1-2, and resolved within two days. CONCLUSION: Single-dose Ad26.COV2.S was safe and immunogenic. NAb titer and S-specific T-cell immunity peak at 5-8 weeks and rather decrease at 10-12 weeks after vaccination. Cross-reactive neutralizing activity against the Omicron variant was negligible.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Ad26COVS1 , Adult , Antibodies, Neutralizing , Antibodies, Viral , Humans , Leukocytes, Mononuclear , Prospective Studies
4.
J Infect Dis ; 223(6): 1088-1092, 2021 03 29.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32761054

ABSTRACT

We conducted a retrospective study of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) viral load kinetics using data from patients hospitalized with MERS-CoV infection between 19 May and 20 August 2015. Viral load trajectories were considered over the hospitalization period using 1714 viral load results measured in serial respiratory specimens of 185 patients. The viral load levels were significantly higher among nonsurvivors than among survivors (P = .003). Healthcare workers (P = .001) and nonspreaders (P < .001) had significantly lower viral loads. Viral RNA was present on the day of symptom onset and peaked 4-10 days after symptom onset.


Subject(s)
Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology , Coronavirus Infections/virology , Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus/isolation & purification , Adult , Aged , Coronavirus Infections/diagnosis , Coronavirus Infections/transmission , Disease Outbreaks , Disease Transmission, Infectious , Female , Health Personnel , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus/genetics , RNA, Viral/analysis , Republic of Korea/epidemiology , Retrospective Studies , Viral Load , Virus Shedding
5.
J Infect Dis ; 224(5): 754-763, 2021 09 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34467985

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: There is insufficient data on the longevity of immunity acquired after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. METHODS: We aimed to evaluate the duration of SARS-CoV-2-specific humoral and cellular immunity according to the clinical severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The study population comprised asymptomatic (n = 14), symptomatic/nonpneumonic (n = 42), and pneumonic (n = 41) patients. RESULTS: The anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin class G and neutralizing antibody (NAb) titers lasted until 6 months after diagnosis, with positivity rates of 66.7% and 86.9%, respectively. Older age, prolonged viral shedding, and accompanying pneumonia were more frequently found in patients with sustained humoral immunity. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2-specific T-cell response was strongly observed in pneumonic patients and prominent in individuals with sustained humoral immunity. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, most (>85%) patients carry NAb until 6 months after diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection, providing insights for establishing vaccination strategies against COVID-19.


Subject(s)
COVID-19/immunology , SARS-CoV-2/immunology , Adult , Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology , Antibodies, Viral/immunology , COVID-19/diagnosis , COVID-19/virology , Female , Humans , Immunity, Cellular , Immunity, Humoral , Immunoglobulin G/immunology , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , T-Lymphocytes/immunology , Virus Shedding
6.
BMC Infect Dis ; 20(1): 216, 2020 Mar 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32164559

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Tick-borne lymphadenopathy (TIBOLA) is an infectious disease, mainly caused by species from the spotted fever group rickettsiae and is characterized by enlarged lymph nodes following a tick bite. Among cases of TIBOLA, a case of scalp eschar and neck lymphadenopathy after tick bite (SENLAT) is diagnosed when an eschar is present on the scalp, accompanied by peripheral lymphadenopathy (LAP). Only a few cases of SENLAT caused by Bartonella henselae have been reported. CASE PRESENTATION: A 58-year-old male sought medical advice while suffering from high fever and diarrhea. Three weeks before the visit, he had been hunting a water deer, and upon bringing the deer home discovered a tick on his scalp area. Symptoms occurred one week after hunting, and a lump was palpated on the right neck area 6 days after the onset of symptoms. Physical examination upon presentation confirmed an eschar-like lesion on the right scalp area, and cervical palpation revealed that the lymph nodes on the right side were non-painful and enlarged at 2.5 × 1.5 cm. Fine needle aspiration of the enlarged lymph nodes was performed, and results of nested PCR for the Bartonella internal transcribed spacer (ITS) confirmed B. henselae as the causative agent. CONCLUSION: With an isolated case of SENLAT and a confirmation of B. henselae in Korea, it is pertinent to raise awareness to physicians in other Asian countries that B. henselae could be a causative agent for SENLAT.


Subject(s)
Angiomatosis, Bacillary/etiology , Bartonella henselae/pathogenicity , Lymphadenopathy/etiology , Scalp Dermatoses/etiology , Tick Bites/complications , Angiomatosis, Bacillary/drug therapy , Animals , Bartonella henselae/genetics , Bartonella henselae/isolation & purification , Humans , Lymphadenopathy/drug therapy , Lymphadenopathy/pathology , Male , Middle Aged , Neck/microbiology , Neck/pathology , Republic of Korea , Scalp Dermatoses/drug therapy , Scalp Dermatoses/microbiology
7.
J Korean Med Sci ; 35(33): e311, 2020 Aug 24.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32830472

ABSTRACT

Serosurveillance studies reveal the actual disease burden and herd immunity level in the population. In Seoul, Korea, a cross-sectional investigation showed 0.07% anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 antibody seropositivity among 1,500 outpatients of the university hospitals. Low seroprevalence reflects well-implemented social distancing. Serosurveillance should be repeated as the pandemic progresses.


Subject(s)
Antibodies, Viral/blood , Betacoronavirus/immunology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , COVID-19 , Child , Child, Preschool , Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology , Coronavirus Infections/immunology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Hospitals, University , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Middle Aged , Outpatients , Pandemics , Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology , Pneumonia, Viral/immunology , SARS-CoV-2 , Seoul/epidemiology , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Young Adult
8.
Int J Mol Sci ; 21(8)2020 Apr 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32290560

ABSTRACT

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) causes hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. EHEC infection begins with bacterial adherence to the host intestine via lectin-like adhesins that bind to the intestinal wall. However, EHEC-related lectin-glycan interactions (LGIs) remain unknown. Here, we conducted a genome-wide investigation of putative adhesins to construct an LGI network. We performed microarray-based transcriptomic and proteomic analyses with E. coli EDL933. Using PSORTb-based analysis, potential outer-membrane-embedded adhesins were predicted from the annotated genes of 318 strains. Predicted proteins were classified using TMHMM v2.0, SignalP v5.0, and LipoP v1.0. Functional and protein-protein interaction analyses were performed using InterProScan and String databases, respectively. Structural information of lectin candidate proteins was predicted using Iterative Threading ASSEmbly Refinement (I-TASSER) and Spatial Epitope Prediction of Protein Antigens (SEPPA) tools based on 3D structure and B-cell epitopes. Pathway analysis returned 42,227 Gene Ontology terms; we then selected 2585 lectin candidate proteins by multi-omics analysis and performed homology modeling and B-cell epitope analysis. We predicted a total of 24,400 outer-membrane-embedded proteins from the genome of 318 strains and integrated multi-omics information into the genomic information of the proteins. Our integrated multi-omics data will provide a useful resource for the construction of LGI networks of E. coli.


Subject(s)
Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli/genetics , Lectins/genetics , Polysaccharides/genetics , Proteome/genetics , Transcriptome/genetics , Adhesins, Bacterial/genetics , Bacterial Adhesion/genetics , Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte/genetics , Escherichia coli Proteins/genetics , Proteomics/methods
9.
BMC Public Health ; 19(1): 1563, 2019 Nov 27.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31771555

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Owing to the continuous increase in the number of new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in Korea, public health centers (PHCs) have performed anonymous tests since 1989. No study has examined the patterns of anonymous HIV testing performed at PHCs and the characteristics of HIV infection detected in those tests. We aimed to assess the influence of anonymous HIV testing on Korea's national HIV surveillance. METHODS: HIV screening test data from 253 PHCs over a 16-year period were classified into 13 groups based on reason for testing. For anonymous HIV test takers (Anonymous), the HIV positivity per 10,000 tests was calculated, as repetitions could not be distinguished. Those with suspected HIV infection voluntarily underwent HIV testing and revealed their identity (Suspected). HIV prevalence was calculated as the number of HIV-positive persons per 10,000 test takers. Analyses were performed using chi-square and Cochran-Armitage trend test with SAS 9.4. RESULTS: Approximately 400,000 HIV screening tests were performed at PHCs annually, which remained unchanged in the past 10 years. The proportion of anonymous testing increased from < 3.0% before 2014 to 4.8% in 2014 and 6.1% in 2015. While the number of HIV cases increased, the number of anonymous HIV-positive test results per 10,000 tests decreased from 68.8 in 2010 to 41.8 in 2015. The HIV prevalence among the suspected was approximately 20.0 per 10,000 test takers before 2014, which steeply increased to 71.6 in 2015. Those with suspected HIV were predominantly men, aged 20 years, foreigners, and metropolitan city dwellers in the last 6 years. The high prevalence of persons with suspected HIV resulted in a doubling of HIV prevalence at PHCs between 2014 and 2015. CONCLUSIONS: Anonymous and Suspected, which were driven by similar motives, impacted each other. Increase in HIV prevalence among the suspected led to a higher HIV prevalence among all test takers in PHCs and higher proportions of HIV infection nationwide, which could be attributed to the increase in the number of anonymous tests performed in PHCs. HIV positivity among the anonymous and HIV prevalence among the suspected are key indexes of the national HIV surveillance in Korea.


Subject(s)
Anonymous Testing/statistics & numerical data , HIV Infections/epidemiology , Mass Screening/statistics & numerical data , Population Surveillance , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prevalence , Republic of Korea/epidemiology , Retrospective Studies , Young Adult
10.
Cardiol Young ; 29(2): 252-255, 2019 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30585570

ABSTRACT

We present a young soldier presenting with aborted sudden cardiac death, who was found to have concomitant hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Along with pathological haemodynamic features of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, an easily-inducible re-entrant tachycardia was clearly documented in our patient. Given the fatal potential of supraventricular tachycardia in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, we postulated that his tachyarrhythmia could potentially trigger the event. Upon his refusal to receive implantable cardioverter/defibrillator therapy, we ablated anatomical arrhythmogenic substrate instead, and he remained uneventfully over 3 years on ß-blocker.


Subject(s)
Adrenergic beta-Antagonists/therapeutic use , Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic/drug therapy , Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome/drug therapy , Adult , Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic/diagnostic imaging , Death, Sudden, Cardiac/prevention & control , Humans , Male , Military Personnel , Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome/diagnostic imaging , Young Adult
11.
J Med Virol ; 90(7): 1177-1183, 2018 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29488229

ABSTRACT

The prevalence of eight respiratory viruses detected in patients with acute respiratory infections (ARIs) in Korea was investigated through analysis of data recorded by the Korea Influenza and Respiratory Viruses Surveillance System (KINRESS) from 2013 to 2015. Nasal aspirate and throat swabs specimens were collected from 36 915 patients with ARIs, and viral nucleic acids were detected by real-time (reverse-transcription) polymerase chain reaction for eight respiratory viruses, including human respiratory syncytial viruses (HRSVs), influenza viruses (IFVs), human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs), human coronaviruses (HCoVs), human rhinovirus (HRV), human adenovirus (HAdV), human bocavirus (HBoV), and human metapneumovirus (HMPV). The overall positive rate of patient specimens was 49.4% (18 236/36 915), 5% of which carried two or more viruses simultaneously. HRV (15.6%) was the most predominantly detected virus, followed by IFVs (14.6%), HAdV (7.5%), HPIVs (5.8%), HCoVs (4.2%), HRSVs (3.6%), HBoV (1.9%), and HMPV (1.6%). Most of the ARIs were significantly correlated with clinical symptoms of fever, cough, and runny nose. Although HRV and HAdV were frequently detected throughout the year in patients, other respiratory viruses showed apparent seasonality. HRSVs and IFVs were the major causative agents of acute respiratory diseases in infants and young children. Overall, this study demonstrates a meaningful relationship between viral infection and typical manifestations of known clinical features as well as seasonality, age distribution, and co-infection among respiratory viruses. Therefore, these data could provide useful information for public health management and to enhance patient care for primary clinicians.


Subject(s)
Epidemiological Monitoring , Respiratory Tract Infections/epidemiology , Respiratory Tract Infections/virology , Virus Diseases/epidemiology , Virus Diseases/virology , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Child , Child, Preschool , Coinfection/epidemiology , Coinfection/virology , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Korea/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Nasal Cavity/virology , Pharynx/virology , Prevalence , Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction , Seasons , Young Adult
12.
Protein Expr Purif ; 132: 1-8, 2017 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28042093

ABSTRACT

Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) is a main cause of lower respiratory tract infections in infants and the elderly. Glycoprotein (G) is major antigen on the viral surface, and plays a key role for virus entry. Therefore, purification of the glycoprotein of HRSV is critical for the development of HRSV vaccine and serological diagnosis. In this study, we report the design and characterization of glycoprotein engineered rationally to enhance the protein solubility and to facilitate efficient purification. We permuted HRSV glycoproteins with two tags: (i) an immunoglobulin (Ig) M signal peptide and a protein A B domain tag to render HRSV glycoprotein secret into the culture media and (ii) a foldon and 6 × histidine tag with or without transmembrane domain. Three recombinant baculoviruses were constructed: (i) transmembrane-truncated HRSV glycoprotein (amino acid positions 66-298) inserted with the N-terminal IgM signal peptide and protein A B domain (MG-GΔTM), (ii) truncated HRSV glycoprotein (amino acid positions 66-298) fused with a C-terminal foldon and 6 × histidine tag (GΔTM-FH), and (iii) full-length HRSV glycoprotein (amino acid positions 1-298) fused with a C-terminal foldon and 6 × histidine tag (G-FH). Highly soluble recombinant MG-GΔTM protein was clearly purified using one-step affinity chromatography with IgG-sepharose resin, whereas the recombinant G-FH protein and truncated GΔTM-FH were purified partially using nickel-resin. Although, the antigenicity of GΔTM-FH was stronger than highly mannose-rich MG-GΔTM protein, MG-GΔTM induced neutralizing antibodies efficiently in the mice to protect from infectious HRSV.


Subject(s)
Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology , Antibodies, Viral/immunology , Gene Expression , Glycoproteins , Respiratory Syncytial Viruses/genetics , Viral Proteins , Animals , Female , Glycoproteins/biosynthesis , Glycoproteins/genetics , Glycoproteins/immunology , Glycoproteins/isolation & purification , Humans , Immunization , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis , Recombinant Proteins/genetics , Recombinant Proteins/immunology , Recombinant Proteins/isolation & purification , Respiratory Syncytial Viruses/immunology , Sf9 Cells , Spodoptera , Viral Proteins/biosynthesis , Viral Proteins/genetics , Viral Proteins/immunology , Viral Proteins/isolation & purification
13.
BMC Infect Dis ; 17(1): 498, 2017 07 14.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28709419

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In 2015, the largest outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection outside the Middle East occurred in South Korea. We summarized the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory findings of the first Korean case of MERS-CoV and analyzed whole-genome sequences of MERS-CoV derived from the patient. CASE PRESENTATION: A 68-year-old man developed fever and myalgia 7 days after returning to Korea, following a 10-day trip to the Middle East. Before diagnosis, he visited 4 hospitals, potentially resulting in secondary transmission to 28 patients. On admission to the National Medical Center (day 9, post-onset of clinical illness), he presented with drowsiness, hypoxia, and multiple patchy infiltrations on the chest radiograph. He was intubated (day 12) because of progressive acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and INF-α2a and ribavirin treatment was commenced. The treatment course was prolonged by superimposed ventilator associated pneumonia. MERS-CoV PCR results converted to negative from day 47 and the patient was discharged (day 137), following rehabilitation therapy. The complete genome sequence obtained from a sputum sample (taken on day 11) showed the highest sequence similarity (99.59%) with the virus from an outbreak in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in February 2015. CONCLUSIONS: The first case of MERS-CoV infection had high transmissibility and was associated with a severe clinical course. The patient made a successful recovery after early treatment with antiviral agents and adequate supportive care. This first case in South Korea became a super-spreader because of improper infection control measures, rather than variations of the virus.


Subject(s)
Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology , Coronavirus Infections/etiology , Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus/genetics , Aged , Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use , Coronavirus Infections/drug therapy , Disease Outbreaks , Humans , Infection Control/methods , Male , Middle East , Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus/isolation & purification , Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus/pathogenicity , Phylogeny , Republic of Korea/epidemiology , Ribavirin/therapeutic use , Saudi Arabia/epidemiology
14.
Pacing Clin Electrophysiol ; 40(2): 162-174, 2017 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28000227

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The role of J-waves in the pathogenesis of ventricular fibrillation (VF) occurring in structurally normal hearts is important. METHODS: We evaluated 127 patients who received an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) for Brugada syndrome (BS, n = 53), early repolarization syndrome (ERS, n = 24), and patients with unknown or deferred diagnosis (n = 50). Electrocardiography (ECG), clinical characteristics, and ICD data were analyzed. RESULTS: J-waves were found in 27/50 patients with VF of unknown/deferred diagnosis. The J-waves were reminiscent of those seen in BS or ERS, and this subgroup of patients was termed variants of ERS and BS (VEB). In 12 VEB patients, the J/ST/T-wave morphology was coved, although amplitudes were <0.2 mV. In 15 patients, noncoved-type J/ST/T-waves were present in the right precordial leads. In the remaining 23 patients, no J-waves were identified. VEB patients exhibited clinical characteristics similar to those of BS and ERS patients. Phenotypic transition and overlap were observed among patients with BS, ERS, and VEB. Twelve patients with BS had background inferolateral ER, while five ERS patients showed prominent right precordial J-waves. Patients with this transient phenotype overlap showed a significantly lower shock-free survival than the rest of the study patients. CONCLUSIONS: VEB patients demonstrate ECG phenotype similar to but distinct from those of BS and ERS. The spectral nature of J-wave morphology/distribution and phenotypic transition/overlap suggest a common pathophysiologic background in patients with VEB, BS, and ERS. Prognostic implication of these ECG variations requires further investigation.


Subject(s)
Brugada Syndrome/classification , Brugada Syndrome/diagnosis , Electrocardiography/methods , ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction/classification , ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction/diagnosis , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Reproducibility of Results , Sensitivity and Specificity
15.
Emerg Infect Dis ; 22(10): 1813-6, 2016 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27479636

ABSTRACT

We evaluated the diagnostic and clinical usefulness of blood specimens to detect Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection in 21 patients from the 2015 outbreak in South Korea. Viral RNA was detected in blood from 33% of patients at initial diagnosis, and the detection preceded a worse clinical course.


Subject(s)
Coronavirus Infections/blood , Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus , RNA, Viral/blood , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Coronavirus Infections/diagnosis , Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology , Coronavirus Infections/virology , Disease Outbreaks , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus/genetics , Patient Outcome Assessment , Prognosis , Republic of Korea/epidemiology , Young Adult
16.
Emerg Infect Dis ; 22(1): 100-4, 2016 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26691200

ABSTRACT

An outbreak of nosocomial infections with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus occurred in South Korea in May 2015. Spike glycoprotein genes of virus strains from South Korea were closely related to those of strains from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. However, virus strains from South Korea showed strain-specific variations.


Subject(s)
Genetic Variation/genetics , Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus/genetics , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics , Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology , Coronavirus Infections/genetics , Coronavirus Infections/virology , Cross Infection/epidemiology , Cross Infection/virology , Disease Outbreaks , Humans , Male , Republic of Korea/epidemiology , Saudi Arabia/epidemiology
17.
J Med Virol ; 88(9): 1479-86, 2016 09.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26950767

ABSTRACT

Mumps is a vaccine-preventable viral disease. Despite vaccine coverage of >95%, the incidence of mumps has increased in Korea since 2007. This study aimed to genetically characterize mumps virus (MuV) strains that circulated in Korea between 2007 and 2012 to determine the factors underlying mumps outbreaks. MuV was isolated from 175 clinical specimens between 2007 and 2012 in Korea. Upon analysis of the SH gene in Korean mumps virus isolates, three different genotypes were identified: I, H, and F. The MuV genotypes I and H co-circulated in Korea, and eight isolates of Korean genotype F were found within the same time period in 2008. An analysis of HN amino-acid sequence data showed that Korean isolates had no changes in their glycosylation sites. At putative neutralizing epitope sites, the Jeryl-Lynn strain showed 4-5 different amino acid sequences from those observed in Korean isolates. Korean isolates of genotypes I and H shared distinctive point mutations on putative neutralizing epitope positions in each genotype. This report describes the genetic characteristics of MuV strains circulating in Korea and provides information on endemic mumps infections. This information may be important to help prevent mumps and control outbreaks of mumps in Korea. J. Med. Virol. 88:1479-1486, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


Subject(s)
Genetic Variation , Mumps virus/genetics , Mumps/virology , Disease Outbreaks , Epitopes/immunology , Genotype , Humans , Mumps/epidemiology , Mumps virus/classification , Mumps virus/isolation & purification , Phylogeny , RNA, Viral/genetics , Republic of Korea/epidemiology , Sequence Alignment , Viral Proteins/genetics
18.
Arch Virol ; 161(6): 1547-57, 2016 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26997611

ABSTRACT

HIV-1 gp41 plays a key role in viral entry. The insertion of Thr at position 4 and Met/Val/Phe substitutions at position 7 are frequently observed in the fusion peptide (FP) motif of gp41 without major enfuvirtide resistance associated with mutation in heptad repeats 1/2 (HR1/2) of HIV-1 isolates from Korean patients. Here, the influence of these mutations on their biological function was evaluated by employing HIV-1 variants with mutant FPs as shown previously and with recombinant HIV-1 using the env genes of 20 HIV-1 isolates from Korean patients. In an infectivity assay, all FP mutants showed lower infectivity than the wild-type NL4-3. In particular, the substitutions at position 7 led to much greater reductions in infectivity than the insertions at position 4. Nevertheless, the replication kinetics of most mutants were similar to those of the wild type, except that the FP mutants with an Ile insertion at position 4 and a Phe substitution at position 7 showed reduced replication. Moreover, most point mutants showed lower IC50 values for enfuvirtide than the wild type, whereas the L7M substitution resulted in a slightly increased IC50 value. The infectivity using the HIV-1 env recombinant viruses decreased in 14 cases but increased slightly in six cases compared with the wild type. Most recombinants were more susceptible to enfuvirtide than the wild type, except for three recombinants that showed slight resistance. Our findings may help to explain the potential mechanisms corresponding to the natural polymorphism of gp41 and to predict the efficiency of enfuvirtide in treatment of HIV-1-infected patients in Korea.


Subject(s)
Anti-HIV Agents/therapeutic use , HIV Envelope Protein gp41/genetics , HIV Envelope Protein gp41/therapeutic use , HIV Infections/drug therapy , HIV Infections/virology , HIV-1/genetics , Peptide Fragments/therapeutic use , Polymorphism, Genetic , Adult , Amino Acid Substitution , Drug Resistance, Viral/genetics , Enfuvirtide , Female , Genes, env , HIV-1/pathogenicity , HIV-1/physiology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Mutagenesis, Insertional , Mutation , Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide , Republic of Korea , Virulence/genetics , Virus Replication/genetics , Young Adult
19.
J Korean Med Sci ; 31(12): 1957-1962, 2016 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27822935

ABSTRACT

In this study, the seroprevalences of measles, mumps, and rubella antibodies in infants were determined to assess the immunization strategy and control measures for these infectious diseases. Serum samples from infants < 1 year of age and their mothers were collected to measure the concentrations of specific IgG antibodies to measles, mumps, and rubella by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. For selected infant serum samples, measles-specific neutralizing antibody levels were determined by using the plaque reduction neutralization test. The sera from 295 of infants and 80 of their mothers were analyzed. No infants had past measles, mumps, or rubella infections. Almost all infants < 2 months of age were positive for measles and rubella IgG antibodies. However, seroprevalence of measles and rubella antibodies decreased with age, and measles IgG and rubella IgG were barely detectable after 4 months of age. The seroprevalence of mumps antibodies was lower than that of measles and rubella antibodies in infants ≤ 4 months old, and mumps IgG was barely detectable after 2 months of age. The seropositivity of measles-specific neutralizing antibody was 63.6% in infants aged 2 months and undetectable in infants ≥ 6 months old. Because the seropositivity rates of measles, mumps, and rubella antibodies were low after the first few months of age in Korean infants, active immunization with vaccines is strongly recommended for infants aged 6-11 months when measles is epidemic. Timely administration of the first dose of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine at 12 months of age should be encouraged in non-epidemic situations.


Subject(s)
Antibodies, Viral/blood , Immunoglobulin G/blood , Adult , Antibodies, Neutralizing/blood , Asian People , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Measles/prevention & control , Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine/immunology , Morbillivirus/immunology , Mumps/prevention & control , Mumps virus/immunology , Republic of Korea , Rubella/prevention & control , Seroepidemiologic Studies
20.
Emerg Infect Dis ; 21(11): 2084-7, 2015 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26488745

ABSTRACT

In May 2015, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection was laboratory confirmed in South Korea. Patients were a man who had visited the Middle East, his wife, and a man who shared a hospital room with the index patient. Rapid laboratory confirmation will facilitate subsequent prevention and control for imported cases.


Subject(s)
Coronavirus Infections/diagnosis , Coronavirus/pathogenicity , Cross Infection/virology , Travel , Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology , Coronavirus Infections/virology , Cross Infection/transmission , Humans , Male , Middle East , Republic of Korea/epidemiology
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