Follow-up COVID-19 PCR result up to day 5 with clinical features predicts positivity for inconclusive results.

Introduction: False-positive inconclusive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 were not low and have potentially harmful effects. We aimed to find parameters to differentiate positive cases from false-positive ones, and suggest an optimal scheme and follow-up period for inconclusive results.

Methods: Cases with inconclusive PCR tests among healthcare personnel from February 2020 to June 2021 were classified as confirmed positive, clinically positive, and clinically negative groups, which were compared.

Incidence and seasonality of respiratory viruses causing acute respiratory infections in the Northern United Arab Emirates.

Background: The data on the seasonality of respiratory viruses helps to ensure the optimal vaccination period and to monitor the possible outbreaks of variant type.

Objectives: This study was designed to describe the molecular epidemiology and seasonality of acute respiratory infection (ARI)-related respiratory viruses in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Methods: Both upper and lower respiratory specimens were collected for the analysis from all the patients who visited the Sheikh Khalifa Specialty Hospital (SKSH) with ARI for over 2 years.

Differences in Colistin-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Clinical Isolates Between Patients With and Without Prior Colistin Treatment.

Background: The increasing morbidity and mortality rates associated with Acinetobacter baumannii are due to the emergence of drug resistance and the limited treatment options. We compared characteristics of colistin-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CR-AB) clinical isolates recovered from patients with and without prior colistin treatment. We assessed whether prior colistin treatment affects the resistance mechanism of CR-AB isolates, mortality rates, and clinical characteristics.

Febrile Respiratory Illness Associated with Human Adenovirus Type 55 in South Korea Military, 2014-2016.

An outbreak of febrile respiratory illness associated with human adenovirus (HAdV) occurred in the South Korea military during the 2014-15 influenza season and thereafter. Molecular typing and phylogenetic analysis of patient samples identified HAdV type 55 as the causative agent. Emergence of this novel HAdV necessitates continued surveillance in military and civilian populations.

In vitro antimicrobial synergy of colistin with rifampicin and carbapenems against colistin-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolates.

Increased use of colistin in a clinical setting had resulted in the emergence of colistin-resistant (CoR) Acinetobacter baumannii. Combination therapy has been studied as a new approach to treat infections caused by A. baumannii.

Vitamin D Status in South Korean Military Personnel with Acute Eosinophilic Pneumonia: A Pilot Study.

Background: A relationship between low vitamin D levels and the development or outcomes of respiratory diseases has been identified. However, there is no data on the vitamin D status in patients with acute eosinophilic pneumonia (AEP). We evaluated the vitamin D status in patients with AEP among South Korean military personnel.

Epidemiology and Characteristics of Metallo-β-Lactamase-Producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Metallo-β-lactamase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MPPA) is an important nosocomial pathogen that shows resistance to all β-lactam antibiotics except monobactams. There are various types of metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) in carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa including Imipenemase (IMP), Verona integron-encoded metallo-β-lactamase (VIM), Sao Paulo metallo-β-lactamase (SPM), Germany imipenemase (GIM), New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM), Florence imipenemase (FIM).

Outcomes of early administration of cidofovir in non-immunocompromised patients with severe adenovirus pneumonia.

The benefits of treatment with antiviral therapy for severe adenovirus (AdV) pneumonia are not well established. We described the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of early cidofovir treatment of severe AdV pneumonia in non-immunocompromised patients. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all patients diagnosed with severe AdV pneumonia between 2012 and 2014.

Clinical implications of correlation between peripheral eosinophil count and serum levels of IL-5 and tryptase in acute eosinophilic pneumonia.

Background: The peripheral eosinophil count (PEC) tends to increase during the course of acute eosinophilic pneumonia (AEP), and an initially elevated PEC is associated with milder disease. However, there is a lack of data regarding these phenomena and inflammatory process of AEP.

Methods: We prospectively evaluated serial changes in serum interleukin (IL)-5 levels and the correlation between the initial level of IL-5 and the PEC to investigate whether the initial PEC indicates a resolving state of inflammation.

Performance evaluation of new automated hepatitis B viral markers in the clinical laboratory: two quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen assays and an HBV core-related antigen assay.

We evaluated quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen (qHBsAg) assays and a hepatitis B virus (HBV) core-related antigen (HBcrAg) assay. A total of 529 serum samples from patients with hepatitis B were tested. HBsAg levels were determined by using the Elecsys (Roche Diagnostics, Indianapolis, IN) and Architect (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL) qHBsAg assays.

Urinary iodine and sodium status of urban Korean subjects: a pilot study.

Objectives: We estimated iodine status of Korean population by determining the concentration of spot urinary iodine (UI) with a reliable method based on the Sandell-Kolthoff reaction.

Materials And Methods: A total of 540 urine samples from apparently healthy subjects were collected, and UI, urinary sodium (UNa), and urinary creatinine (UCr) were determined from those samples and analyzed with age.

Results: There were significant decreases in either UI (P<0.

Diagnostic performances of HE4 and CA125 for the detection of ovarian cancer from patients with various gynecologic and non-gynecologic diseases.

Objectives: We compared diagnostic performance of CA125 and HE4 in various gynecologic and non-gynecologic diseases.

Design And Methods: Sera from 176 patients with various diseases were collected, and CA125 and HE4 levels were compared. ROC curves were constructed to estimate the diagnostic performance.

Serum high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) is closely associated with the clinical and pathologic features of gastric cancer.

Background: High mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) is a newly recognized factor regulating cancer cell tumorigenesis, expansion and invasion. We investigated the correlation between the serum HMGB1 levels and the clinical and pathologic features of gastric cancer and evaluated the validity of HMGB1 as a potential biomarker for the early diagnosis of gastric cancer.

Methods: A total of 227 subjects were classified into 5 disease groups according to the 'gastritis-dysplasia-carcinoma' sequence of gastric carcinogenesis and their serum levels of HMGB1 were analyzed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method.