Neurological and Psychiatric Manifestations of Post-COVID-19 Conditions.

Background: We aimed to investigate the factors associated with neurological manifestations of post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) conditions.

Methods: We retrospectively collected data from 440 patients who visited our post-COVID-19 clinic more than 4 weeks after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. We analyzed the prevalence of different neurological symptoms (brain fog, memory impairment, headache, and dizziness) and assessed the associated factors.

Persistent Symptoms After Acute COVID-19 Infection in Omicron Era.

Background: We aim to compare the clinical characteristics and subjectively reported symptoms of the acute coronavirus disease (COVID) phase and those of the post-acute COVID phase to examine varying factors that affect the number of persistent symptoms and their categories.

Methods: We categorized 1,122 patients who visited the post coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) clinic into two groups: "acute group" (< 4 weeks following diagnosis of COVID-19) and "post-acute group" (> 4 weeks following diagnosis of COVID-19). We statistically compared clinical characteristics between the two groups and determined which factors are associated with the number of persistent symptoms and their categories.

Comparison of Antibody Response Elicited by ChAdOx1 and BNT162b2 COVID-19 Vaccine.

Background: ChAdOx1 and BNT162b2 vaccines are currently commonly used against coronavirus disease 2019 worldwide. Our study was designed to determine the serostatus and relative levels of anti-S and neutralizing antibodies in patients who were administered either ChAdOx1 or BNT162b2 vaccine. In addition, we investigated whether the antibody response to each vaccine differed according to sex and age.

Reactogenicity after the first and second doses of BNT162b2 mRNA coronavirus disease vaccine: a single-center study.

Purpose: This study was conducted to determine differences in adverse events associated with the first and second doses of the BNT162b2 coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine based on the age and sex of recipients.

Materials And Methods: An online survey on the post-vaccination adverse events of healthcare workers was conducted from March 2021 to April 2021. The differences in the types of adverse events, including severity, onset time, and duration of symptoms, and how the adverse events were dealt with by the patient were analyzed based on the age and sex.

Rapidly Declining SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Titers within 4 Months after BNT162b2 Vaccination.

The efficacy and safety of the BNT162b2 vaccine are known, but antibodies are expected to decrease over time after vaccination. We collected blood samples from 104 fully vaccinated health care workers at 3 and 5 weeks after first vaccination and 4 months after second vaccination. Antibody titers and neutralizing antibodies were measured.

SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Response to the BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccine in Persons with Past Natural Infection.

There are still no agreed guidelines on the vaccination of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) for previously infected patients. Here, we present two seropositive healthcare workers (HCWs) working in an isolation ward who recovered from COVID-19 in April 2020 and got vaccinated with BNT162b2 vaccine in March 2021. We have assessed the clinical course, vaccine-related adverse events, and antibody response after natural infection and after first and second dose vaccination.

Case of the Index Patient Who Caused Tertiary Transmission of COVID-19 Infection in Korea: the Application of Lopinavir/Ritonavir for the Treatment of COVID-19 Infected Pneumonia Monitored by Quantitative RT-PCR.

Since mid-December of 2019, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection has been spreading from Wuhan, China. The confirmed COVID-19 patients in South Korea are those who came from or visited China. As secondary transmissions have occurred and the speed of transmission is accelerating, there are rising concerns about community infections.

Molecular Epidemiology of Human Adenovirus-Associated Febrile Respiratory Illness in Soldiers, South Korea.

During January 2013-April 2014, we subjected nasopharyngeal specimens collected from patients with acute febrile respiratory illness in a military hospital to PCR testing to detect 12 respiratory viruses and sequence a partial hexon gene for human adenovirus (HAdV) molecular typing. We analyzed the epidemiologic characteristics of HAdV infections and compared clinical characteristics of HAdV types. Among the 305 patients with acute febrile respiratory illness, we detected respiratory viruses in 139 (45.

Prevalence and serogroup changes of Neisseria meningitidis in South Korea, 2010-2016.

Determination of the major serogroups is an important step for establishing a vaccine programme and management strategy targeting Neisseria meningitidis. From April 2010 to November 2016, a total of 25 N. meningitidis isolates were collected in South Korea, in collaboration with the Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology.

Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome versus non-immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome lymphoma in HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy.

Little is known about differences between immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) and non-IRIS lymphoma in HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART). The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of IRIS and non-IRIS lymphoma in Korean HIV-positive patients on ART compared with lymphoma in those off ART. Of 1490 patients, 41 (3%) had lymphoma.

Incidence of narcolepsy before and after MF59-adjuvanted influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccination in South Korean soldiers.

Background: Previous reports mostly from Europe suggested an association between an occurrence of narcolepsy and an influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccine adjuvanted with AS03 (Pandemrix(®)). During the 2009 H1N1 pandemic vaccination campaign, the Korean military performed a vaccination campaign with one type of influenza vaccine containing MF59-adjuvants. This study was conducted to investigate the background incidence rate of narcolepsy in South Korean soldiers and the association of the MF59-adjuvanted vaccine with the occurrence of narcolepsy in a young adult group.

Vaccination policy in Korean armed forces: current status and future challenge.

Infectious diseases have historically resulted in suspended or cancelled military operations. Vaccination for disease prevention is a critical component of the military's force readiness doctrine. Until recently, Korea had not recognized the importance of vaccinating military personnel.

Acute lower respiratory tract infections in soldiers, South Korea, April 2011-March 2012.

During April 2011-March 2012, we retrospectively reviewed medical records for South Korea soldiers to assess the etiology and epidemiology of acute viral lower respiratory tract infections. Adenovirus was the most commonly identified virus (63.2%) and the most common cause of pneumonia (79.

A case of meningococcal sepsis and meningitis with complement 7 deficiency in a military trainee.

Complement component 7 (C7) deficiency leads to the loss of complement lytic function, and affected patients show increased susceptibility to encapsulated organisms infection, especially Neisseria meningitidis. Recently, we have experienced a 20-year-old military trainee with meningococcal sepsis and meningitis who was diagnosed as having C7 deficiency based upon the undetectable serum C7 protein on radioimmunoassay. This case emphasizes that although C7 deficiency is rare immune disorder, it is important to be aware of possibility about late complement deficiency among patients who present with meningococcal disease.

Clinical and radiological characteristics of 2009 H1N1 influenza associated pneumonia in young male adults.

Purpose: Pneumonia was an important cause of death in 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic (pH1N1). Clinical characteristics of pH1N1 have been described well, but discriminative characteristics suggesting pH1N1 infection in pneumonia patients are not evident today. We evaluated differences between clinical and radiologic characteristics for those associated and not associated with pH1N1 influenza during the pandemic period.

Incidence and risk factors of tuberculosis in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Korea is a low prevalence country for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and has an intermediate tuberculosis (TB) burden. We previously reported that the incidence of TB in HIV-infected patients was 9.6 cases per 100 person-years (P-Y) between 1988 and 1997.

The adverse events of influenza A (H1N1) vaccination and its risk factors in healthcare personnel in 18 military healthcare units in Korea.

In this study, we characterized adverse events related to influenza A (H1N1) vaccination and studied the factors that influence the occurrence of these events. A total of 4,302 personnel in 18 military healthcare units in Korea received 0.5 ml of inactivated H1N1 vaccine.

A comparative study of pyogenic and tuberculous spondylodiscitis.

Study Design: We performed a retrospective review of 126 cases of infectious spondylodiscitis over a 4-year period.

Objective: Differentiation between pyogenic spondylodiscitis (PS) and tuberculous spondylodiscitis (TS) is essential for deciding on the appropriate therapeutic regimen. The aim of this study was to compare the characteristics of the 2 forms of spondylodiscitis.

Spectrum of intracranial parenchymal lesions in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection in the Republic of Korea.

The incidence of specific intracranial parenchymal lesions of HIV-infected patients varies considerably between countries. In the Republic of Korea, the number of HIV-infected patients is increasing, but little is known regarding the spectrum of intracranial parenchymal lesions in these patients. The aim of the present study was to obtain this information.

Genetic factors influencing severe atazanavir-associated hyperbilirubinemia in a population with low UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1*28 allele frequency.

Background: High prevalence of severe atazanavir-associated hyperbilirubinemia in Asians with low prevalence of the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT)1A1*28 polymorphism suggests the importance of genetic factors other than UGT1A1*28 for atazanavir-associated hyperbilirubinemia in these populations.

Methods: Serum bilirubin levels were measured in 129 Korean human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients 3 months after initiation of atazanavir (400 mg per day) with good adherence to medication. The multidrug resistance gene 1 (MDR1) C3435T and G2677T/A variations and UGT1A1*6 and *28 were examined by direct sequencing of DNA from peripheral whole blood samples.

Clinical features, risk factors and outcomes of bacteremia due to enterococci with high-level gentamicin resistance: comparison with bacteremia due to enterococci without high-level gentamicin resistance.

High-level gentamicin resistance (HLGR) in enterococci has increased since the 1980s, but the clinical significance of the resistance and its impact on outcome have not been established. One hundred and thirty-six patients with bacteremia caused by enterococci with HLGR (HLGR group) were compared with 79 patients with bacteremia caused by enterococci without HLGR (non-HLGR group). Hematologic malignancy, neutropenia, Enterococcus faecium infection, nosocomial infection and monomicrobial bacteremia were more common in the HLGR group than the non-HLGR group, and APACHE II scores were also higher (P<0.

Salvage treatment for persistent methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia: efficacy of linezolid with or without carbapenem.

Background: Persistent methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia is associated with high mortality rates, but no treatment strategy has yet been established. We performed this study to evaluate the efficacy of linezolid with or without carbapenem in salvage treatment for persistent MRSA bacteremia.

Methods: All adult patients with persistent MRSA bacteremia for 7 days from January 2006 through March 2008 who were treated at Seoul National University Hospital were studied.

Clinical outcomes of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis due to extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species: a retrospective matched case-control study.

Background: Clinical outcomes of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) due to extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species (ESBL-EK) have not been adequately investigated.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective matched case-control study to evaluate the outcomes of SBP due to ESBL-EK compared with those due to non-ESBL-EK. Cases were defined as patients with liver cirrhosis and SBP due to ESBL-EK isolated from ascites.