Good outcome prediction after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: A prospective multicenter observational study in Korea (the KORHN-PRO registry).

AIM: To assess the ability of clinical examination, biomarkers, electrophysiology and brain imaging, individually or in combination to predict good neurological outcomes at 6 months after CA. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of the Korean Hypothermia Network Prospective Registry 1.0, which included adult out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients (≥18 years). Good outcome predictors were defined as both pupillary light reflex (PLR) and corneal reflex (CR) at admission, Glasgow Coma Scale Motor score (GCS-M) >3 at admission, neuron-specific enolase (NSE) <17 µg/L at 24-72 h, a median nerve somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) N20/P25 amplitude >4 µV, continuous background without discharges on electroencephalogram (EEG), and absence of anoxic injury on brain CT and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). RESULTS: A total of 1327 subjects were included in the final analysis, and their median age was 59 years; among them, 412 subjects had a good neurological outcome at 6 months. GCS-M >3 at admission had the highest specificity of 96.7% (95% CI 95.3-97.8), and normal brain DWI had the highest sensitivity of 96.3% (95% CI 92.9-98.4). When the two predictors were combined, the sensitivities tended to decrease (ranging from 2.7-81.1%), and the specificities tended to increase, ranging from81.3-100%. Through the explorative variation of the 2021 European Resuscitation Council (ERC) and the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) prognostication strategy algorithms, good outcomes were predicted, with a specificity of 83.2% and a sensitivity of 83.5% in patients by the algorithm. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical examination, biomarker, electrophysiology, and brain imaging predicted good outcomes at 6 months after CA. When the two predictors were combined, the specificity further improved. With the 2021 ERC/ESICM guidelines, the number of indeterminate patients and the uncertainty of prognostication can be reduced by using a good outcome prediction algorithm.

Different neuroprognostication thresholds of neuron-specific enolase in shockable and non-shockable out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: a prospective multicenter observational study in Korea (the KORHN-PRO registry).

BACKGROUND: Serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is the only recommended biomarker for multimodal prognostication in postcardiac arrest patients, but low sensitivity of absolute NSE threshold limits its utility. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic performance of serum NSE for poor neurologic outcome in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survivors based on their initial rhythm and to determine the NSE cutoff values with false positive rate (FPR) < 1% for each group. METHODS: This study included OHCA survivors who received targeted temperature management (TTM) and had serum NSE levels measured at 48 h after return of spontaneous circulation in the Korean Hypothermia Network, a prospective multicenter registry from 22 university-affiliated teaching hospitals in South Korea between October 2015 and December 2018. The primary outcome was poor outcome at 6 month, defined as a cerebral performance category of 3-5. RESULTS: Of 623 patients who underwent TTM with NSE measured 48 h after the return of spontaneous circulation, 245 had an initial shockable rhythm. Median NSE level was significantly higher in the non-shockable group than in the shockable group (104.6 [40.6-228.4] vs. 25.9 [16.7-53.4] ng/mL, P < 0.001). Prognostic performance of NSE assessed by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve to predict poor outcome was significantly higher in the non-shockable group than in the shockable group (0.92 vs 0.86). NSE cutoff values with an FPR < 1% in the non-shockable and shockable groups were 69.3 (sensitivity of 42.1%) and 102.7 ng/mL (sensitivity of 76%), respectively. CONCLUSION: NSE prognostic performance and its cutoff values with FPR < 1% for predicting poor outcome in OHCA survivors who underwent TTM differed between shockable and non-shockable rhythms, suggesting postcardiac arrest survivor heterogeneity. Trial registration KORHN-PRO, NCT02827422. Registered 11 September 2016-Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02827422.

A prospective randomized controlled study comparing patient-reported scar evaluation of single-port versus multiport laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the postoperative outcomes and patient-surveyed scar assessments of single-port laparoscopic appendectomy (SPLA) with the outcomes of multiport laparoscopic appendectomy (MPLA). Methods: Between August 2014 and November 2017, the prospective randomized study comprised 98 patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis and indicated for surgery. Fifty-one patients had MPLA and 47 patients received SPLA. The primary endpoint was the total score of Patient Scar Assessment Questionnaire (PSAQ) administered to patients 6 weeks after surgery. Results: SPLA involved a shorter median operative time than MPLA (47.5 minutes vs. 60.0 minutes, p = 0.02). There were no apparent differences in the time before diet tolerance, length of hospital stay, and postoperative complication. SPLA patients had shorter total incision length (2.0 cm vs. 2.5 cm, p < 0.01) and required fewer analgesics on the day of surgery than MPLA patients (p = 0.011). The PSAQ favored the SPLA approach, revealing significant differences in total score (48 vs. 55, p = 0.026), appearance (15 vs. 18, p = 0.002), and consciousness (8 vs. 10, p = 0.005), while satisfaction with appearance and symptoms scale did not (p = 0.162 and p = 0.690, respectively). Conclusion: The postoperative scar evaluated by the patient was better with SPLA than with MPLA, and patient satisfaction with the scar was comparable between the two techniques.

Coagulation measures after cardiac arrest (CMACA).

BACKGROUND: During cardiac arrest (CA) and after cardiopulmonary resuscitation, activation of blood coagulation and inadequate endogenous fibrinolysis occur. The aim of this study was to describe the time course of coagulation abnormalities after out-of-hospital CA (OHCA) and to examine the association with clinical outcomes in patients undergoing targeted temperature management (TTM) after OHCA. METHODS: This prospective, multicenter, observational cohort study was performed in eight emergency departments in Korea between September 2018 and September 2019. Laboratory findings from hospital admission and 24 hours after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) were analyzed. The primary outcome was cerebral performance category (CPC) at discharge, and the secondary outcome was in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: A total of 170 patients were included in this study. The lactic acid, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thrombin time (aPTT), international normalized ratio (INR), and D-dimer levels were higher in patients with poor neurological outcomes at admission and 24 h after ROSC. The lactic acid and D-dimer levels decreased over time, while fibrinogen increased over time. PT, aPTT, and INR did not change over time. The PT at admission and D-dimer levels 24 h after ROSC were associated with neurological outcomes at hospital discharge. Coagulation-related factors were moderately correlated with the duration of time from collapse to ROSC. CONCLUSION: The time-dependent changes in coagulation-related factors are diverse. Among coagulation-related factors, PT at admission and D-dimer levels 24 h after ROSC were associated with poor neurological outcomes at hospital discharge in patients treated with TTM.

External validation of the 2020 ERC/ESICM prognostication strategy algorithm after cardiac arrest.

PURPOSE: To assess the performance of the post-cardiac arrest (CA) prognostication strategy algorithm recommended by the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) and the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) in 2020. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of the Korean Hypothermia Network Prospective Registry 1.0. Unconscious patients without confounders at day 4 (72-96 h) after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) were included. The association between the prognostic factors included in the prognostication strategy algorithm, except status myoclonus and the neurological outcome, was investigated, and finally, the prognostic performance of the prognostication strategy algorithm was evaluated. Poor outcome was defined as cerebral performance categories 3-5 at 6 months after ROSC. RESULTS: A total of 660 patients were included in the final analysis. Of those, 108 (16.4%) patients had a good neurological outcome at 6 months after CA. The 2020 ERC/ESICM prognostication strategy algorithm identified patients with poor neurological outcome with 60.2% sensitivity (95% CI 55.9-64.4) and 100% specificity (95% CI 93.9-100) among patients who were unconscious or had a GCS_M score ≤ 3 and with 58.2% sensitivity (95% CI 53.9-62.3) and 100% specificity (95% CI 96.6-100) among unconscious patients. When two prognostic factors were combined, any combination of prognostic factors had a false positive rate (FPR) of 0 (95% CI 0-5.6 for combination of no PR/CR and poor CT, 0-30.8 for combination of No SSEP N20 and NSE 60). CONCLUSION: The 2020 ERC/ESICM prognostication strategy algorithm predicted poor outcome without an FPR and with sensitivities of 58.2-60.2%. Any combinations of two predictors recommended by ERC/ESICM showed 0% of FPR.

Relationship between cooling time and neurological outcomes in targeted temperature management.

OBJECTIVES: The relationship between cooling time (CT) variables and neurological outcomes is controversial. We evaluated the relationship between CT and neurological outcomes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients treated with targeted temperature management (TTM). METHODS: We conducted a multicenter, prospective, and registry-based study of OHCA survivors treated with TTM. CT was defined as the time from restoration of spontaneous circulation to achievement of the target temperature. The primary outcome was a favorable neurological outcome at 6 months. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was performed to test the relationship between CT and the primary outcome. RESULTS: Overall, the favorable neurological outcome rates at 6 months were 29.8% in 937 patients. When CT was stratified into categories of 0-3, 3.1-6, 6.1-9, 9.1-12, and >12 h, according to 3-h intervals, the primary outcome rates were 8.2%, 22.7%, 35.5%, 44.7%, and 44.5%, respectively (p < 0.001). Significant differences were not found in multilevel logistic regression analysis; the adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of each category for the primary outcome compared to the 0-3-h group were 0.81 (0.32 to 2.04), 0.77 (0.30 to 2.01), 1.26 (0.43 to 3.68), and 1.06 (0.37 to 3.06). CONCLUSIONS: We did not find a relationship between CT and neurological outcomes at 6 months.

Rearrest during hospitalisation in adult comatose out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients: Risk factors and prognostic impact, and predictors of favourable long-term outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Rearrest occurs commonly after initial resuscitation following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). We determined (1) the predictors of rearrest during hospitalisation that can be identified in the hours immediately after OHCA, (2) the association between rearrest and favourable long-term outcomes, and (3) the predictors of favourable long-term outcomes in rearrest patients. METHODS: Conditional multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed using the Korean Hypothermia Network prospective registry data, which included details of adult OHCA patients treated with targeted temperature management at 22 teaching hospitals in South Korea. RESULTS: Among the 1,233 patients, 260 (21.1%) experienced rearrest. Of the 192 patients resuscitated from first rearrest, 33 (17.2%) achieved 6-month favourable outcomes. Arrhythmia, heart failure, ST-segment elevation, lower initial Glasgow coma scale (GCS) motor score, higher initial lactate level, and antiarrhythmic drug use within 1 h were independently associated with rearrest. Higher lactate level and antiarrhythmic drug use were associated with shockable first rearrest, while arrhythmia, heart failure, ST-segment elevation, and lower GCS motor score were associated with non-shockable first rearrest. Rearrest was independently associated with a lower likelihood of 6-month favourable outcomes (P = 0.003). Initial shockable rhythm after OHCA, absence of diabetes, shorter cumulative time to restoration of spontaneous circulation, coronary angiography, and hypophosphataemia within 7 d were independently associated with 6-month favourable outcomes in the patients resuscitated from first rearrest. CONCLUSIONS: Rearrest during hospitalisation after OHCA was inversely associated with 6-month favourable outcomes. We identified several risk factors for rearrest and prognostic factors for patients resuscitated from first rearrest.

Background frequency can enhance the prognostication power of EEG patterns categories in comatose cardiac arrest survivors: a prospective, multicenter, observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: We assessed the prognostic accuracy of the standardized electroencephalography (EEG) patterns ("highly malignant," "malignant," and "benign") according to the EEG timing (early vs. late) and investigated the EEG features to enhance the predictive power for poor neurologic outcome at 1 month after cardiac arrest. METHODS: This prospective, multicenter, observational, cohort study using data from Korean Hypothermia Network prospective registry included adult patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) treated with targeted temperature management (TTM) and underwent standard EEG within 7 days after cardiac arrest from 14 university-affiliated teaching hospitals in South Korea between October 2015 and December 2018. Early EEG was defined as EEG performed within 72 h after cardiac arrest. The primary outcome was poor neurological outcome (Cerebral Performance Category score 3-5) at 1 month. RESULTS: Among 489 comatose OHCA survivors with a median EEG time of 46.6 h, the "highly malignant" pattern (40.7%) was most prevalent, followed by the "benign" (33.9%) and "malignant" (25.4%) patterns. All patients with the highly malignant EEG pattern had poor neurologic outcomes, with 100% specificity in both groups but 59.3% and 56.1% sensitivity in the early and late EEG groups, respectively. However, for patients with "malignant" patterns, 84.8% sensitivity, 77.0% specificity, and 89.5% positive predictive value for poor neurologic outcome were observed. Only 3.5% (9/256) of patients with background EEG frequency of predominant delta waves or undetermined had good neurologic survival. The combination of "highly malignant" or "malignant" EEG pattern with background frequency of delta waves or undetermined increased specificity and positive predictive value, respectively, to up to 98.0% and 98.7%. CONCLUSIONS: The "highly malignant" patterns predicted poor neurologic outcome with a high specificity regardless of EEG measurement time. The assessment of predominant background frequency in addition to EEG patterns can increase the prognostic value of OHCA survivors. Trial registration KORHN-PRO, NCT02827422 . Registered 11 September 2016-Retrospectively registered.

Which Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Patients without ST-Segment Elevation Benefit from Early Coronary Angiography? Results from the Korean Hypothermia Network Prospective Registry.

The effect of early coronary angiography (CAG) in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients without ST-elevation (STE) is still controversial. It is not known which subgroups of patients without STE are the most likely to benefit. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between emergency CAG and neurologic outcomes and identify subgroups with improved outcomes when emergency CAG was performed. This prospective, multicenter, observational cohort study was based on data from the Korean Hypothermia Network prospective registry (KORHN-PRO) 1.0. Adult OHCA patients who were treated with targeted temperature management (TTM) without any obvious extracardiac cause were included. Patients were dichotomized into early CAG (≤24 h) and no early CAG (>24 h or not performed) groups. High-risk patients were defined as having the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) score > 140, time from collapse to return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) > 30 min, lactate level > 7.0 mmol/L, arterial pH < 7.2, cardiac enzyme elevation and ST deviation. The primary outcome was good neurologic outcome at 6 months after OHCA. Of the 1373 patients from the KORHN-PRO 1.0 database, 678 patients met the inclusion criteria. The early CAG group showed better neurologic outcomes at 6 months after cardiac arrest (CA) (adjusted odds ratio: 2.21 (1.27-3.87), p = 0.005). This was maintained even after propensity score matching (adjusted odds ratio: 2.23 (1.39-3.58), p < 0.001). In the subgroup analysis, high-risk patients showed a greater benefit from early CAG. In contrast, no significant association was found in low-risk patients. Early CAG was associated with good neurologic outcome at 6 months after CA and should be considered in high-risk patients.

Single-port laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis during pregnancy.

AIM OF STUDY: Acute appendicitis is the most common non-obstetric surgical problem in pregnant patients. As minimally invasive surgery has developed, minimising surgical trauma and improving cosmetic outcomes have led to the development of single-port laparoscopic surgery (SPLS). The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and safety of SPLS for acute appendicitis during pregnancy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between September 2014 and May 2016, 12 pregnant patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis and having single-port laparoscopic appendectomy were included in the study. RESULTS: The median gestational age at surgery was 16 weeks (6-30 weeks). All operations were completed safely and without vascular or visceral injury. Four patients (33.3%) required conversion to a reduced-port laparoscopic surgery with 3 patients (25%) having a 5 mm port inserted because of perforated appendicitis with drain placement, and 1 patient (8.3%) having a 2-mm needle instrument insertion. Median operation time was 60 min (32-100 min), and a drainage tube was placed in 5 patients (41.7%). Median total length of incision was 2 cm (1.2-2.5 cm). The median time to soft diet initiation and length of stay in the hospital were 1 day (0-9 days) and 5 days (2-11 days), respectively. Two patients (8.0%) developed post-operative complications: One wound site bleeding and two surgical site infections. One case of abortion (8.3%) was noted on the post-operative day 1 and one case of imperforate hymen was noted after delivery. CONCLUSIONS: SPLS appendectomy is feasible and safe for treating patients with acute appendicitis during pregnancy.

Actinomycosis of the Appendix Mimicking Cecal Tumor Treated by Single-Port Laparoscopic Approach.

Actinomycosis is an inflammatory disease with various clinical presentations including inflammation and formation of masses. There are several reports suggesting the infiltrative mass-like nature of actinomycosis that is misunderstood as a tumor. A 39-year-old male clinically presented with a fungating mass-like lesion during colonoscopy for healthcare screening. Biopsy was performed for the lesion, and chronic inflammation was diagnosed. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) suggested severe edematous changes in the appendix with an appendicolith, suspected chronic inflammation, and wall thickening of the cecal base, but malignancy could not be definitively ruled out. The patient underwent a laparoscopic single-port cecectomy based on the possibility of cecal cancer. The final biopsy was diagnosed as actinomycosis, and the patient was prescribed antibiotics and showed no recurrence in the follow-up CT scan. We present this rare case of mass-like appendiceal actinomycosis treated with the single-port laparoscopic method.

Rare case of postoperative mediastinitis following thyroidectomy.

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is a life-threatening complication secondary to oropharyngeal abscesses, cervical esophageal perforation, or neck infections spreading along the fascial planes into the mediastinum. Post-thyroidectomy surgical site infection is a highly unusual complication that is typically localized around the incision, but may be propagated into the mediastinum, causing DNM. We encountered a case of this rare complication after thyroidectomy. The patient was a 33-year-old woman who was admitted to our center for left hemithyroidectomy. The surgery was performed without any intraoperative events. However, she later developed fever, hypotension, and tachycardia. Imaging revealed deep neck emphysema and focal pneumomediastinum with infiltration in the anterior neck and mediastinum with abscess formation. Additional imaging at 7 days postoperatively revealed reduced fluid collection deep in the neck with minimal changes in fluid collection in the mediastinum. Esophageal perforation was excluded via an esophagogram, which lead to the conclusion that the infection may have been caused by open thyroidectomy. The patient was treated with prompt medical and surgical intervention. After treatment, she was discharged from the hospital with no further complications. We present our case report as well as a literature review of the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

Neuron-specific enolase and neuroimaging for prognostication after cardiac arrest treated with targeted temperature management.

BACKGROUND: Prognostication after cardiac arrest (CA) needs a multimodal approach, but the optimal method is not known. We tested the hypothesis that the combination of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and neuroimaging could improve outcome prediction after CA treated with targeted temperature management (TTM). METHODS: A retrospective observational cohort study was performed on patients who underwent at least one NSE measurement between 48 and 72 hr; received both a brain computed tomography (CT) scan within 24 hr and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) within 7 days after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC); and were treated with TTM after out-of-hospital CA between 2009 and 2017 at the Seoul St. Mary's Hospital in Korea. The primary outcome was a poor neurological outcome at 6 months after CA, defined as a cerebral performance category of 3-5. RESULTS: A total of 109 subjects underwent all three tests and were ultimately included in this study. Thirty-four subjects (31.2%) experienced good neurological outcomes at 6 months after CA. The gray matter to white matter attenuation ratio (GWR) was weakly correlated with the mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), PV400 and NSE (Spearman's rho: 0.359, -0.362 and -0.263, respectively). NSE was strongly correlated with the mean ADC and PV400 (Spearman's rho: -0.623 and 0.666, respectively). Serum NSE had the highest predictive value among the single parameters (area under the curve (AUC) 0.912, sensitivity 70.7% for maintaining 100% specificity). The combination of a DWI parameter (mean ADC or PV400) and NSE had better prognostic performance than the combination of the CT parameter (GWR) and NSE. The addition of the GWR to a DWI parameter and NSE did not improve the prediction of neurological outcomes. CONCLUSION: The GWR (≤ 24 hr) is weakly correlated with the mean ADC (≤ 7 days) and NSE (highest between 48 and 72 hr). The combination of a DWI parameter and NSE has better prognostic performance than the combination of the GWR and NSE. The addition of the GWR to a DWI parameter and NSE does not improve the prediction of neurological outcomes after CA treatment with TTM.

Bovine tongue epithelium-derived cells: A new source of bovine mesenchymal stem cells.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess the ability to differentiate into multiple cell lineages, and thus, confer great potential for use in regenerative medicine and biotechnology. In the present study, we attempted to isolate and characterize bovine tongue tissue epithelium-derived MSCs (boT-MSCs) and investigate the culture conditions required for long-term culturing of boT-MSCs. boT-MSCs were successfully isolated by the collagenase digestion method and their proliferative capacity was maintained for up to 20 or more passages. We observed a significant increase in the proliferation of boT-MSCs during the 20 consecutive passages under low-glucose Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium culture condition among the three culture conditions. These boT-MSCs presented pluripotency markers (octamer-binding transcription factor 3/4 (Oct3/4) and sex determining region Y-box2 (Sox2)) and cell surface markers, which included CD13, CD29, CD44, CD73, CD90, CD105, CD166, and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I (MHC-I) but not CD11b, CD14, CD31, CD34, CD45, CD80, CD86, CD106, CD117, and MHC-II at third passage. Moreover, these boT-MSCs could differentiate into mesodermal (adipocyte, osteocyte, and chondrocyte) cell lineages. Thus, the present study suggests that the tongue of bovines could be used as a source of bovine MSCs.

The effect of a mandatory choice systemfor organ donation after brain death onethical legitimacy and potential efficacyin a mathematical model.

Background: The "mandatory choice" system is an organ donation system that forces individuals to clearly express their choice about organ donation. Although this system is widely practiced in western countries, it has not yet been implemented in many Asian countries. This study aimed to compare the possible outcomes of a mandatory choice system and the current system in Korea. Methods: A mathematical model was used to predict outcomes under each system. A structured questionnaire assuming two systems (current opt-in and mandatory choice) was developed to investigate participants' decisions on organ donation and the family's consent after brain death in each system. Participants who enrolled in this survey were 100 couples (200 people). Results: The total number of donors decreased slightly from 102 (51.0%) in the current opt-in system to 93 (46.5%) in the mandatory choice system. The rate of achieving autonomy was increased from 62.5% (125/200) in the current system to 68.0% (136/200) in the mandatory choice system. The achievement of negative autonomy was relatively higher in the mandatory choice system (73.6% [67/91] vs. 63.2% [55/87]). Conclusions: The mandatory choice system can supplement the weak ethical point of the current system by increasing the achievement of autonomy.

Outcome and status of postcardiac arrest care in Korea: results from the Korean Hypothermia Network prospective registry.

OBJECTIVE: High-quality intensive care, including targeted temperature management (TTM) for patients with postcardiac arrest syndrome, is a key element for improving outcomes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). We aimed to assess the status of postcardiac arrest syndrome care, including TTM and 6-month survival with neurologically favorable outcomes, after adult OHCA patients were treated with TTM, using data from the Korean Hypothermia Network prospective registry. METHODS: We used the Korean Hypothermia Network prospective registry, a web-based multicenter registry that includes data from 22 participating hospitals throughout the Republic of Korea. Adult comatose OHCA survivors treated with TTM between October 2015 and December 2018 were included. The primary outcome was neurological outcome at 6 months. RESULTS: Of the 1,354 registered OHCA survivors treated with TTM, 550 (40.6%) survived 6 months, and 413 (30.5%) had good neurological outcomes. We identified 839 (62.0%) patients with preClinsumed cardiac etiology. A total of 937 (69.2%) collapses were witnessed, shockable rhythms were demonstrated in 482 (35.6%) patients, and 421 (31.1%) patients arrived at the emergency department with prehospital return of spontaneous circulation. The most common target temperature was 33°C, and the most common target duration was 24 hours. CONCLUSION: The survival and good neurologic outcome rates of this prospective registry show great improvements compared with those of an earlier registry. While the optimal target temperature and duration are still unknown, the most common target temperature was 33°C, and the most common target duration was 24 hours.

Adverse Effects of Classical Swine Fever Virus LOM Vaccine and Jeju LOM Strains in Pregnant Sows and Specific Pathogen-Free Pigs.

In Jeju island of South Korea, a classical swine fever (CSF) non-vaccinated region, many pig farmers insisted on abortion and stillbirth in pregnant sows and high mortality of suckling/weaning piglets by circulating CSF virus from 2014 to 2018. We investigated whether CSF viruses isolated from pigs in Jeju Island (Jeju LOM) have recovered their pathogenicity by conducting experiments using pregnant sows and specific pathogen-free (SPF) pigs. The CSF modified live LOM vaccine (MLV-LOM) and Jeju LOM strains induced abortion and stillbirth in pregnant sows. Viral antigens were detected in the organs of fetuses and stillborn piglets in the absence of specific pathological lesions associated with the virulent CSF virus in both groups (MLV-LOM and Jeju LOM strain). However, antigen was detected in one newborn piglet from a sow inoculated with a Jeju LOM strain, suggesting that it may cause persistent infections in pigs. SPF pigs inoculated with the MLV-LOM or Jeju LOM strains were asymptomatic, but virus antigen was detected in several organ and blood samples. Virus shedding in both groups of animals was not detected in the feces or saliva until 21 days post inoculation. The serum concentration of the three major cytokines, IFN-α, TNF-α, and IL-10, known to be related to lymphocytopenia, were similar in both groups when the MLV-LOM or Jeju LOM strains were inoculated into SPF pigs. In conclusion, Jeju LOM strains exhibited most of the characteristics of the MLV-LOM in pigs and resulted in the same adverse effects as the MLV-LOM strain.

Impact of a Live Attenuated Classical Swine Fever Virus Introduced to Jeju Island, a CSF-Free Area.

Here, we examine the effects of LOM(Low virulence of Miyagi) strains isolated from pigs (Jeju LOM strains) of Jeju Island, where vaccination with a live attenuated classical swine fever (CSF) LOM vaccine strain was stopped. The circulation of the Jeju LOM strains was mainly caused by a commercial swine erysipelas (Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae) vaccine mixed with a LOM vaccine strain, which was inoculated into pregnant sows of 20 pig farms in 2014. The Jeju LOM strain was transmitted to 91 pig farms from 2015 to 2018. A histopathogenic investigation was performed for 25 farms among 111 farms affected by the Jeju LOM strain and revealed pigs infected with the Jeju LOM strain in combination with other pathogens, which resulted in the abortion of fetuses and mortality in suckling piglets. Histopathologic examination and immunohistochemical staining identified CSF-like lesions. Our results also confirm that the main transmission factor for the Jeju LOM strain circulation is the vehicles entering/exiting farms and slaughterhouses. Probability estimates of transmission between cohabiting pigs and pigs harboring the Jeju LOM strain JJ16LOM-YJK08 revealed that immunocompromised pigs showed horizontal transmission (r = 1.22). In a full genome analysis, we did not find genetic mutation on the site that is known to relate to pathogenicity between Jeju LOM strains (2014-2018) and the commercial LOM vaccine strain. However, we were not able to determine whether the Jeju LOM strain (2014-2018) is genetically the same virus as those of the commercial LOM vaccine due to several genetic variations in structure and non-structure proteins. Therefore, further studies are needed to evaluate the pathogenicity of the Jeju LOM strain in pregnant sow and SPF pigs and to clarify the characteristics of Jeju LOM and commercial LOM vaccine strains.

Association between acute kidney injury and neurological outcome or death at 6 months in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: A prospective, multicenter, observational cohort study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the association between acute kidney injury (AKI) and 6 months neurological outcome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective multi-center observational cohort included adult OHCA patients treated with targeted temperature management (TTM) across 20 hospitals in the South Korea between October 2015 and October 2017. The diagnosis of AKI was made using the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes criteria. The outcome was neurological outcome at 6 months evaluated using the modified Rankin scale (MRS). RESULTS: Among 5676 patients with OHCA, 583 patients were enrolled. AKI developed in 348 (60%) patients. Significantly more non-AKI patients had good neurological outcome at 6 months (MRS 0-3) than AKI patients (134/235 [57%] vs. 69/348 [20%], P < .001). AKI was associated with poor neurological outcome at six months in multivariate logistic regression analysis (adjusted odds ratio: 0.206 [95% confidence interval: 0.099-0.426], P < .001]). Cox regression analysis with time-varying covariate of AKI showed that patients with AKI had a higher risk of death than those without AKI (hazard ratio: 2.223; 95% confidence interval: 1.630-3.030, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: AKI is associated with poor neurological outcome (MRS 4-6) at 6 months in OHCA patients treated with TTM. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02827422.