ECMO is associated with decreased hospital mortality in COVID-19 ARDS.

This study determined whether compared to conventional mechanical ventilation (MV), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is associated with decreased hospital mortality or fibrotic changes in patients with COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome. A cohort of 72 patients treated with ECMO and 390 with conventional MV were analyzed (February 2020-December 2021). A target trial was emulated comparing the treatment strategies of initiating ECMO vs no ECMO within 7 days of MV in patients with a PaO/FiO < 80 or a PaCO ≥ 60 mmHg.

Risk Factors for the Mortality of Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 Requiring Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in a Non-Centralized Setting: A Nationwide Study.

Background: Limited data are available on the mortality rates of patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We aimed to analyze the relationship between COVID-19 and clinical outcomes for patients receiving ECMO.

Methods: We retrospectively investigated patients with COVID-19 pneumonia requiring ECMO in 19 hospitals across Korea from January 1, 2020 to August 31, 2021.

Comparison of the end-of-life decisions of patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia after the enforcement of the life-sustaining treatment decision act in Korea.

Background: Although the Life-Sustaining Treatment (LST) Decision Act was enforced in 2018 in Korea, data on whether it is well established in actual clinical settings are limited. Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) is a common nosocomial infection with high mortality. However, there are limited data on the end-of-life (EOL) decision of patients with HAP.

Impact of the Junction Adhesion Molecule-A on Asthma.

Purpose: Junctional adhesion molecule (JAM)-A is an immunoglobulin-like molecule that colocalizes with tight junctions (TJs) in the endothelium and epithelium. It is also found in blood leukocytes and platelets. The biological significance of JAM-A in asthma, as well as its clinical potential as a therapeutic target, are not well understood.

Corticosteroid outcome may be dependent of duration of use in severe COVID-19.

Background/aims: For patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who require supplemental oxygen, the evidence of the optimal duration of corticosteroid is limited. This study aims to identify whether long-term use of corticosteroids is associated with decreased mortality.

Methods: Between February 10, 2020 and October 31, 2021, we analyzed consecutive hospitalized patients with COVID-19 with severe hypoxemia.

Rheumatoid factor is associated with severe COVID-19.

Aim: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been proposed as triggering autoimmunity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence and clinical significance of autoantibodies in patients with COVID-19.

Methods: We retrospectively collected data from 245 patients who were hospitalized for COVID-19.

Nectin4 is a potential therapeutic target for asthma.

Background: Nectins comprise a family of cellular adhesion molecules involved in Ca-independent cellular adhesion. Neither the biological significance nor clinical potential of Nectin4 for asthma has been investigated.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to elucidate the role of Nectin4 in airway inflammation and to determine the relationship between Nectin4 and clinical variables in patients with asthma.

Clinical outcomes of and risk factors for secondary infection in patients with severe COVID-19: a multicenter cohort study in South Korea.

Background/aims: Secondary infection with influenza virus occurs in critically ill patients and is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality; however, there is limited information about it in patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Thus, we investigated the clinical outcomes of and risk factors for secondary infections in patients with severe COVID-19.

Methods: This study included patients with severe COVID-19 who were admitted to seven hospitals in South Korea between February 2020 to February 2021.

Impact of nutrition and physical activity on outcomes of hospital-acquired pneumonia.

Frailty is an important risk factor for adverse health-related outcomes. It is classified into several phenotypes according to nutritional state and physical activity. In this context, we investigated whether frailty phenotypes were related to clinical outcome of hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP).

Cofilin-1 and profilin-1 expression in lung microvascular endothelial cells exposed to titanium dioxide nanoparticles.

Background: Air pollutants exacerbate chronic airway diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the underlying mechanisms are yet to be determined. While a number of studies have reported adverse effects of nanoparticles on humans, little is known about their effects on the respiratory system.

A Transient Effect of Convalescent Plasma Therapy in a Patient with Severe Covonavirus Disease 2019: A Case Report.

A 65-year-old male patient with an end-stage renal disease was diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The patient complained of cough, sputum, and respiratory distress that worsened three days ago. The patient required mechanical ventilation and extracorporeal mentrane oxygenation.

Microbiologic pattern and clinical outcome of non-ICU-acquired pneumonia: Korean HAP registry analysis.

Background/aims: Most studies on hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) have been conducted in intensive care unit (ICU) settings. This study aimed to investigate the microbiological and clinical characteristics of non-ICU-acquired pneumonia (NIAP) and to identify the factors affecting clinical outcomes in Korea.

Methods: This multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted in patients admitted to 13 tertiary hospitals between July 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019.

In-hospital mortality prediction using frailty scale and severity score in elderly patients with severe COVID-19.

Background: Elderly patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have a high disease severity and mortality. However, the use of the frailty scale and severity score to predict in-hospital mortality in the elderly is not well established. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the use of these scores in COVID-19 cases in the elderly.

N-acetylcysteine decreases lung inflammation and fibrosis by modulating ROS and Nrf2 in mice model exposed to particulate matter.

Air pollutants can induce and incite airway diseases such as asthma. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) affects signaling pathways involved in apoptosis, angiogenesis, cell growth and arrest, redox-regulated gene expression, and the inflammatory response. However, it is not known how NAC change redox-regulated gene expression in asthma mouse model exposed to particulate matter (PM).

ROX index and SpO2/FiO2 ratio for predicting high-flow nasal cannula failure in hypoxemic COVID-19 patients: A multicenter retrospective study.

Background: The ratio of oxygen saturation (ROX) index, defined as the ratio of oxygen saturation (SpO2)/fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) to respiratory rate, can help identify patients with hypoxemic respiratory failure at high risk for intubation following high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) initiation; however, whether it is effective for predicting intubation in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients receiving HFNC remains unknown. Moreover, the SpO2/FiO2 ratio has been assessed as a prognostic marker for acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. This study aimed to determine the utility of the ROX index and the SpO2/FiO2 ratio as predictors of failure in COVID-19 patients who received HFNC.

Comparison of Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Younger and Elderly Patients with Severe COVID-19 in Korea: A Retrospective Multicenter Study.

Old age is associated with disease severity and poor prognosis among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases; however, characteristics of elderly patients with severe COVID-19 are limited. We aimed to assess the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19 at tertiary care centers in South Korea. This retrospective multicenter study included patients with severe COVID-19 who were admitted at seven hospitals in South Korea from 2 February 2020 to 28 February 2021.

Lower Driving Pressure and Neuromuscular Blocker Use Are Associated With Decreased Mortality in Patients With COVID-19 ARDS.

Background: The impact of mechanical ventilation parameters and management on outcomes of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) ARDS is unclear.

Methods: This multi-center observational study enrolled consecutive mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 ARDS admitted to one of 7 Korean ICUs between February 1, 2020-February 28, 2021. Patients who were age < 17 y or had missing ventilation parameters for the first 4 d of mechanical ventilation were excluded.