• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.131-135
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• 2015

Since April 2012, more than 1,600 laboratory-confirmed human infections with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) have been reported, occurring primarily in countries in the Arabian Peninsula; the majority in Saudi Arabia. The MERS outbreak in Korea, which began in May 2015 through the importation of a single case who had recently traveled to Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. As of November 28th, 186 secondary and tertiary cases had been reported; 38 deaths, mainly associated with underlying chronic illnesses, were reported. One case was exported to China and has been recorded as the first MERS case in China. Thirty-seven confirmed cases were associated with the index case, who was hospitalized from May 15 to May 17. Emergency room at one of the nation's largest hospitals had been affected by hospital-to-hospital and intra-hospital transmissions of MERS-CoV, resulting in an outbreak of 90 infected patients. The vast majority of 186 confirmed cases are linked to a single transmission chain associated with health facilities. The median age of patients is 55 years, with a range of 16 to 87 years. The majority (61%) of patients are men. Twenty-five (14%) of the cases involve healthcare workers. The overall median incubation period was six days, but it was four days for secondary cases and six days for tertiary cases. There has been no evidence of airborne transmission and sustained human-to-human transmission in communities. Intensified public health measures, including contact tracing, quarantine and isolation of all contacts and suspected cases, and infection prevention and control have brought the MERS-CoV under control in Korea. Since 4 July no new cases have been reported.

• International Journal of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.275-280
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• 2023

Currently, the cumulative number of confirmed cases from the coronavirus in Korea is 30.17 million, and the cumulative number of deaths also reaches 33,444 (as of January 31, 2023). Therefore, this study aims to conduct an empirical analysis on the establishment of quarantine systems in major domestic cities as it is necessary to analyze the influencing factors of COVID-19 and discuss policy directions necessary to establish an effective quarantine system in the future. Among them, 16 cities in Korea with a relatively weak quarantine infrastructure were compared with the interrelationship between "number of upper-level hospitals", "number of urban populations", "number of infected", and "number of deaths", and ultimately the results of quarantine for each local government. In conclusion, the average population of 16 cities is 0.792 million, and the average number of infected people is 0.458 million, and the average cumulative infection rate is 57.8%. Seven cities exceed the average cumulative infection rate: Suwon (61.6%), Yongin (59.1%), Seongnam (61.8%), Hwaseong (65.6%), Anyang (60.7%), Cheonan (62.9%), and Jeonju (62.9%). In addition, despite the establishment of excellent treatment facilities in the city (ave=0.0129), the ratio of "accumulated deaths" (ave=0.11%) was high in Changwon (0.12%/0.0193), Ansan (0.12%/0.0138), Cheongju (0.11%/0.0174), and the ratio of "accumulative deaths" was low (0.09%) despite the construction of relatively poor treatment facilities. Through the results of this study, we expect a paradigm shift in the infectious disease management system in major cities in Korea after post-COVID-19.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.34-39
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• 2023

Purpose: This article was to collect data on the safety of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines in children with underlying medical conditions. Methods: We constructed a prospective cohort of children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 years who had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Patients diagnosed with and treated for chronic kidney disease, autoimmune disease, or other chronic conditions at the Seoul National University Children's Hospital were recruited from June to December 2022. A mobile survey questionnaire was sent to their guardians. The presence of adverse events on the day (day 0), 3 weeks (day 21), and 6 months (day 180) after the 1st dose of COVID-19 vaccine was recorded by the guardians. Results: A total of 73 children participated. The median age was 14 years, and 64.4% of the patients were male. On the day of immunization, 65.8% of the patients reported at least one adverse event. Pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache, arthralgia, and myalgia were the most common symptoms. The prevalence of adverse events decreased over time (65.8% on day 0, 27.4% between days 0 and 21, and 24.6% between days 21 and 180). Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection after the 1st dose occurred in 17 patients (23.3%) and one of the patients (5.88%) was hospitalized due to infection. Conclusions: Adverse events after COVID-19 vaccination were generally mild in children and adolescents with underlying medical conditions. Our findings provide evidence for the safety of COVID-19 vaccination in the vulnerable pediatric population.

• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.116-120
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• 2023

Purpose: In Japan, the data on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibody titers after the booster dose of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine are insufficient. The aim of this study is to evaluate changes in SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers before, 1, 3, and 6 months after the booster dose of the BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine among health care workers. Materials and Methods: A total of 268 participants who received the booster dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine were analyzed. SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers were measured before (baseline) and at 1, 3, and 6 months after the booster dose. Factors associated with changes in SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers at 1, 3, and 6 months were analyzed. Cutoff values at baseline were calculated to prevent infection of the omicron variant of COVID-19. Results: The SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers at baseline, and 1, 3, and 6 months were 1,018.3 AU/mL, 21,396.5 AU/mL, 13,704.6 AU/mL, and 8,155.6 AU/mL, respectively. Factors associated with changes in SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers at 1 month were age and SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers at baseline, whereas changes in SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers at 3 and 6 months were associated with the SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers at 1 month. The cutoff values of the SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers at baseline were 515.4 AU/mL and 13,602.7 AU/mL at baseline and 1 month after the booster dose, respectively. Conclusion: This study showed that SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers increase rapidly at 1 month after the booster dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine and begin to decrease from 1 to 6 months. Hence, another booster may be needed as soon as possible to prevent infection.

• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.134-142
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• 2023

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the scope of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of pregnant women about the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine. Materials and Methods: A total of 886 pregnant women were recruited for the study. A cross-sectional questionnaire was conducted on these selected participants. Data about past infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), SARS-CoV-2 infection of closely related people, and deaths due to COVID-19 among their relatives were questioned. Results: The rate of vaccination was higher (64.1%) in pregnant women with higher education levels. Informing about the vaccine, especially by health professionals, showed that the rates of vaccination (25%) increased (p<0.001). In addition, a significant increase was observed in vaccination rates with increasing age and financial income (p<0.001). Conclusion: The main limitation of our study is that the vaccine, which was approved for "emergency use", was just started to be administered to pregnant women during the study. Our findings show that our target audience, low-income, low-education, younger pregnant women should be given more attention than those who apply to the doctor for routine follow-up.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.147-152
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• 2024

기저 질환 없이 평소 건강하던4세 남아에서 COVID-19와 연관된 열성 경련이 발생하였다. SARS-CoV-2 양성으로 확인되어 음압격리병동에 입원한 당일 발열과 함께 25분간 전신 간대성 발작이 있었고 산소흡입, 항경련제 투여 후 소실되었다. 말초혈액, 혈액화학, 전해질, 혈액기체분석, 급성기반응물질, 면역혈청, 특수화학 검사 결과들은 참고치 내에 있었으나, 소변검사에서 케톤이 검출되었다. 가슴X선 영상검사에서 활동성 폐병변이 관찰되지 않았고, 뇌파 검사에서 이상 소견 없었다. 뇌 자기공명영상 검사에서 뇌실질 내외의 병변은 없었다. 발작은 재발하지 않았고 입원 12병일째 퇴원하였으며 신경학적 후유증은 없었다.

• Kidney Research and Clinical Practice
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• 제36권2호
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• pp.111-116
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• 2017

The Korean Society of Nephrology participated in the task force team consisting of government authorities and civilian experts to prevent and control the spread of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in 2015. The Korean Society of Nephrology MERS Task Force Team took an immediate action and drafted 'the clinical recommendation for hemodialysis facilities' to follow when the first and the only confirmed case was reported in the hemodialysis unit. Owing to the dedicated support from medical doctors, dialysis nurses, and related medical companies, we could prevent further transmission of MERS infection successfully in hemodialysis units. This special report describes the experience of infection control during MERS outbreak in 2015 and summarizes the contents of 'the clinical practice guideline for hemodialysis facilities dealing with MERS patients' built upon our previous experience.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• 제52권4호
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• pp.435-440
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• 2022

Mucormycosis is a rare, invasive fungal infection that progresses aggressively and requires prompt surgery and appropriate treatment. The number of cases of mucormycosis in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients has recently increased, and patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus are particularly at an elevated risk of infection. This report presents a case of mucormycosis-related osteomyelitis of the maxilla in a 37-year-old man with diabetes mellitus. The patient complained of severe and persistent pain in the right maxilla, accompanied by increased tooth mobility and headache. On contrast-enhanced computed tomographic images, gas-forming osteomyelitis of the right maxilla was observed. Destruction of the maxilla and palatine bone then proceeded aggressively. Sequestrectomy was performed on the right maxilla, and the histopathological diagnosis was mucormycosis. Further investigation after the first operation revealed the patient's history of COVID-19 infection.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.273-281
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• 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome CoV-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Signaling pathways that are essential for virus production have potential as therapeutic targets against COVID-19. In this study, we investigated cellular responses in two cell lines, Vero and Calu-3, upon SARS-CoV-2 infection and evaluated the effects of pathway-specific inhibitors on virus production. SARS-CoV-2 infection induced dephosphorylation of STAT1 and STAT3, high virus production, and apoptosis in Vero cells. However, in Calu-3 cells, SARS-CoV-2 infection induced long-lasting phosphorylation of STAT1 and STAT3, low virus production, and no prominent apoptosis. Inhibitors that target STAT3 phosphorylation and dimerization reduced SARS-CoV-2 production in Calu-3 cells, but not in Vero cells. These results suggest a necessity to evaluate cellular consequences upon SARS-CoV-2 infection using various model cell lines to find out more appropriate cells recapitulating relevant responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro.

• 한국보건간호학회지
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.417-430
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a respiratory infection prevention program for the rural elderly in the post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) era. Methods: The Delphi method was used to validate the contents of the program. Two rounds of Delphi surveys and one individual interview were conducted on four subjects and 16 categories with nine experts. Content validity was calculated using the content validity ratio (CVR) and coefficient of variation (CV). Results: This study verified the content validity of the existing program components, such as respiratory infection prevention characteristics, cough etiquette, correct hand washing, oral hygiene, correct tooth brushing, and exercise by walking. The study comprised 28 categories covering seven subjects, including the provision of knowledge and information about COVID-19, environmental management for respiratory infection prevention, and exercise training for immunity enhancement. Conclusion: This Delphi study examined the respiratory infection prevention program that was redesigned for the post-COVID-19 era and confirmed the validity of the educational contents. The findings of this study suggest that the program can be used practically for the prevention of respiratory infection among the rural elderly.