Resurgence of Pertussis in the Gyeongnam Region of South Korea in 2023 and 2024.

: Pertussis continues to pose a substantial global health challenge despite widespread vaccination programs. This study aimed to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of recent pertussis cases in the Gyeongnam region of South Korea. : We analyzed 419 pertussis cases in the Gyeongnam region of South Korea between October 2023 and April 2024, using data collected from epidemiological investigation reports, medical records, and interviews with health officials and school staff.

Factors Influencing Compliance With Social Distancing as a Nonpharmaceutical Intervention Before Vaccine Availability During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study in South Korea.

This study aimed to identify factors influencing compliance with social distancing, a key nonpharmaceutical intervention during the early stages of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The study population comprised 182 758 Koreans who participated in the 2020 Community Health Survey. Personal characteristics were classified into sociodemographic, health behavioral, and psychosocial factors, and factors associated with social distancing compliance were identified.

Aetiology and Prognosis of Encephalitis in Korean Children: A Retrospective Single-Centre Study, 2005-2020.

Purpose: Encephalitis is a heterogeneous syndrome that occurs in childhood and is not rare. However, epidemiological studies of encephalitis based on the International Encephalitis Consortium (ICS) and expert recommendations are lacking. We investigated the aetiology and prognosis of encephalitis in Korean children.

Sex differences in COVID-19 symptom severity and trajectories among ambulatory adults.

Background: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has led to hundreds of millions of infections worldwide. Although differences in COVID-19 hospitalization rates between males and females have been described, many infections in the general population have been mild, and the severity of symptoms during the course of COVID-19 in non-hospitalized males and females is not well understood.

Methods: We conducted a case-ascertained study to examine household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Nashville, Tennessee, between April 2020 and April 2021.

Comparison of Humoral Response between Third and Fourth Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine in Hemodialysis Patients.

Dialysis patients are more likely to die or become hospitalized from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Currently, only a few studies have evaluated the efficacy of a fourth booster vaccination in hemodialysis (HD) patients and there is not enough evidence to recommend for or against a fourth booster vaccination. This study compared the humoral response and disease severity of patients on HD who received either three or four doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

Korea Seroprevalence Study of Monitoring of SARS-COV-2 Antibody Retention and Transmission (K-SEROSMART): findings from national representative sample.

Objectives: We estimated the population prevalence of antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), including unreported infections, through a Korea Seroprevalence Study of Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Retention and Transmission (K-SEROSMART) in 258 communities throughout Korea.

Methods: In August 2022, a survey was conducted among 10,000 household members aged 5 years and older, in households selected through two stage probability random sampling. During face-to-face household interviews, participants self-reported their health status, COVID-19 diagnosis and vaccination history, and general characteristics.

In-hospital catatonia, delirium, and coma and mortality: Results from the delirium and catatonia prospective cohort investigation.

Background: Catatonia, a form of acute brain dysfunction typically linked with severe affective and psychotic disorders, occurs in critical illness with delirium and coma. Delirium and coma are associated with mortality, though catatonia's relationship with mortality is unclear. We aim to describe whether catatonia, delirium, and coma are associated with mortality.

Comparison of health inequalities according to socioeconomic status: findings from the fourth Korean working condition survey (a cross-sectional study).

Introduction: this study aims to examine health inequalities among Korean workers by sex, age, education, monthly income, occupation, and employment type and identify groups of workers who may be neglected in the process of resolving health inequalities.

Methods: we used data from the Fourth Korean Working Condition Survey conducted by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute and compared the number of health symptoms among various groups using the t-test and one-way analysis of variance to determine their health status. We also calculated the Gini index of the number of health symptoms of each group and plotted the Lorenz curve to illustrate health inequalities.

Cryptococcal Meningitis and Clinical Outcomes in Persons With Human Immunodeficiency Virus: A Global View.

Background: Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; PWH). Little is known about CM outcomes and availability of diagnostic and treatment modalities globally.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we investigated CM incidence and all-cause mortality in PWH in the International Epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS cohort from 1996 to 2017.

Improved Immunogenicity of the Inactivated F Genotype Mumps Vaccine against Diverse Circulating Mumps Viruses in Mice.

Mumps is an acute infectious disease caused by the mumps virus (MuV). Despite high global vaccination coverage, mumps outbreaks continue to occur, even in vaccinated populations. Therefore, we aimed to identify candidate vaccines that can induce an immunogenic response against diverse MuV genotypes with greater efficacy than the currently available options.

Clinical hypnosis can reduce lower urinary tract symptoms in individuals with chronic pain.

Study Purpose: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) can occur in chronic pain populations at high rates and drastically affect quality of life. Hypnosis is a nonpharmacological treatment used in chronic pain known to have beneficial implications to health outside of pain reduction. This study evaluated the potential for hypnosis to reduce LUTS in a sample of individuals with chronic pain, if baseline LUTS severity affected outcomes, and specific LUTS that may respond to hypnosis.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies during the third wave of COVID-19 in the Seoul metropolitan area of Korea.

Objectives: After the third wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), by mid-February 2021, approximately 0.16% of the Korean population was confirmed positive, which appeared to be among the lowest rates worldwide at that time. However, asymptomatic transmission is challenging for COVID-19 surveillance.

Salivary testosterone in male and female youth with and without autism spectrum disorder: considerations of development, sex, and diagnosis.

Background: Puberty is characterized by significant physical, hormonal, and psychological changes, which may be especially challenging for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although the etiology of ASD remains uncertain, studies suggest imbalances in hormones, such as testosterone, may modulate the autism phenotype. While differences in fetal and postnatal testosterone have been reported, there is limited literature regarding testosterone variations during adolescence in ASD.

Virus-like particles coexpressing the PreF and Gt antigens of respiratory syncytial virus confer protection in mice.

The purpose of this study was to assess the protective efficacy of virus-like particles (VLPs) co-expressing the pre-fusogenic (PreF) and G protein with tandem repeats (Gt) antigens of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in mice. VLP constructs expressing PreF, Gt or both were used to immunize mice, and the protective efficacies were evaluated using antibody responses, neutralizing antibody titers, T-cell responses, histopathological assessment and plaque assay. PreF+Gt VLP immunization elicited strong RSV-specific antibody responses and pulmonary T-cell responses that contributed to lessening virus titer and inflammation.

Site-Level Comprehensiveness of Care Is Associated with Individual Clinical Retention Among Adults Living with HIV in International Epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS, a Global HIV Cohort Collaboration, 2000-2016.

Retention in care (RIC) reduces HIV transmission and associated morbidity and mortality. We examined whether delivery of comprehensive services influenced individual RIC within the International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) network. We collected site data through IeDEA assessments 1.

Examination of pubertal timing and tempo in females and males with autism spectrum disorder compared to typically developing youth.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by impaired social communication and poor adaptation to change; thus, pubertal development may be precarious. Pubertal timing and tempo were measured in 244 youth (7.9% Black, 83.

Heterologous ChAdOx1 and Bnt162b2 vaccination induces strong neutralizing antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2 including delta variant with tolerable reactogenicity.

Objectives: We assessed humoral responses and reactogenicity following the heterologous vaccination compared to the homologous vaccination groups.

Methods: We enrolled healthcare workers (HCWs) who were either vaccinated with ChAdOx1 followed by BNT162b2 (heterologous group) or 2 doses of ChAdOx1 (ChAdOx1 group) or BNT162b2 (BNT162b2 group). Immunogenicity was assessed by measuring antibody titers against receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in all participants and neutralizing antibody titer in 100 participants per group.

SARS-CoV-2 Virus Dynamics in Recently Infected People-Data From a Household Transmission Study.

We used daily real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results from 67 cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a household transmission study, conducted April 2020-May 2021, to examine the trajectory of cycle threshold (Ct) values, an inverse correlate of viral RNA concentration. Ct values varied across RT-PCR platforms and by participant age. Specimens collected from children and adolescents had higher Ct values and adults aged ≥50 years showed lower Ct values than adults aged 18-49 years.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the community based on participants in the 2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Objectives: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) is a nationwide cross-sectional surveillance system that assesses the health and nutritional status of the Korean population. To evaluate the occurrence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in the community, we investigated the prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the sera of KNHANES participants.

Methods: Subjects were recruited between April 24 and December 12, 2020.