Immunogenicity of Third-dose BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccine Following Two Doses of ChAdOx1 in Health Care Workers: A Prospective Longitudinal Study.

Following the original severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 strain (Wuhan-Hu-1) in December 2019, the Delta variant in May 2021 and the Omicron variant in December 2021 were classified as variants of concern. The pandemic has been ongoing for more than two years, and the three-dose vaccination rate has reached approximately 50% in Korea. We analyzed anti-S antibodies (Abs) and neutralizing Abs (NAbs) in 32 healthcare workers at a university hospital, focusing on the first to third doses of ChAdOx1-ChAdOx1-BNT162b2, which is the most common vaccination regimen in Korea. Antibodies were analyzed at eight time points according to the vaccine regimen. The first to third doses of ChAdOx1-ChAdOx1-BNT162b2 produced high Ab concentrations; NAb concentrations after the third dose were predicted to remain high for a longer period than those after the first and second doses. The effectiveness of a second dose of ChAdOx1 in the real world was demonstrated by analyzing samples collected during an outbreak that occurred in the study period, 4-5 months after the second dose. The relative risk ratio was 88.0%, and the efficacy of the second ChAdOx1 dose was 12.0% (P<0.05). Therefore, maintaining appropriate Ab concentrations through regular vaccination will help protect against coronavirus disease-19.

A novel bi-alleleic DDX41 mutations in B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia: case report.

BACKGROUND: The germline mutations of DDX41, also known as DEAD box RNA helicase 41, have been found in about 1.5% of myeloid neoplasms (MNs). Development of MDS/AML is relatively common in germline DDX41 mutations. However, a variety of hematological malignancies (HMs) have been reported. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a novel case of bi-alleleic DDX41 mutations in B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), with unusual location of DDX41 mutations. The gene expression profile (GEP) of Ph + B-ALL with bi-alleleic DDX41 mutations showed heterogeneously transitional GEP and altered gene expression levels of genes involved in the process essential for red blood cells and myeloid cell differentiation were noted. CONCLUSIONS: We report that DDX41 mutations are unusual but can be an underlying event in Ph + B-ALL and screening DDX41 mutations can be also informative for patients awaiting for haploidentical stem cell transplantation and choosing the therapy.

Changes in Blood Glucose Level After Steroid Injection for Musculoskeletal Pain in Patients With Diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate changes in blood glucose level after steroid injection in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and factors affecting those changes. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 51 patients with type 2 DM who underwent steroid injection for shoulder and back pain. Mean fasting blood sugar (FBS) levels for 7 days before steroid injection was used as the baseline blood glucose level, which was compared with FBS levels for 14 days after steroid injection. We compared the differences in blood glucose changes between HbA1c >7% and HbA1c ≤7% groups and those between insulin and non-insulin treated groups. Demographic data, injection site, and steroid dose were analyzed. RESULTS: Compared to baseline, blood glucose significantly (p=0.012) elevated 1 day after steroid injection but not 2 days after injection. In the HbA1c >7% and insulin groups, blood glucose was significantly increased 1 day after injection compared to that in the HbA1c ≤7% (p=0.011) and non-insulin (p=0.024) groups, respectively. Higher HbA1c level before injection was significantly (p=0.003) associated with the degree of blood glucose increase 1 day after injection. No significant differences were noted in the degree of blood glucose increase according to injection site or steroid dose. CONCLUSION: Higher HbA1c level was associated with greater elevation in blood glucose 1 day after steroid injection. Careful monitoring of blood glucose is required on the first day after steroid injection in patients with poorly controlled DM.

Effect of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy Versus Intra-articular Injections of Hyaluronic Acid for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the effects and outcomes of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) and intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid (HA) in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: Of the 78 patients recruited for the study, 61 patients met the inclusion criteria. The enrolled patients were randomly divided into two groups: the ESWT group and the HA group. The ESWT group underwent 3 sessions of 1,000 shockwave pulses performed on the affected knee with the dosage adjusted to 0.05 mJ/mm2 energy. The HA group was administered intra-articular HA once a week for 3 weeks with a 1-week interval between each treatment. The results were measured with the visual analogue scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Lequesne index, 40-m fast-paced walk test, and stair-climb test (SCT). A baseline for each test was measured before treatment and then the effects of the treatments were measured by each test at 1 and 3 months after treatment. RESULTS: In both groups, the scores of the VAS, WOMAC, Lequesne index, 40-m fast-paced walk test, and SCT were significantly improved in a time-dependent manner (p<0.01). There were no statistically significant differences measured at 1 and 3 months after treatment between the two groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The ESWT can be an alternative treatment to reduce pain and improve physical functions in patients with knee OA.