Monoclonal Gammopathy in Patients with Neuropathy.

Background: The incidence of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) in the population of over 50-year-olds is approximately 3% and increases with age. The association between MG and neuropathy has been of interest for several years, but the causal relationship has not yet been clarified.

Methods: For 682 patients who visited the Department of Neurology and requested tests for MG work-up, we retrospectively collected demographic and clinical information, such as age, gender, diagnosis, and neurologic and laboratory test results, from their medical records.

Syndecan-1 Plays a Role in the Pathogenesis of Sjögren's Disease by Inducing B-Cell Chemotaxis through CXCL13-Heparan Sulfate Interaction.

In Sjögren's disease (SjD), the salivary glandular epithelial cells can induce the chemotaxis of B cells by secreting B-cell chemokines such as C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 13 (CXCL13). Syndecan-1 (SDC-1) is a major transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) predominantly expressed on epithelial cells that binds to and regulates heparan sulfate (HS)-binding molecules, including chemokines. We aimed to determine whether SDC-1 plays a role in the pathogenesis of SjD by acting on the binding of HS to B-cell chemokines.

Changes in the Distribution of Pathogens Causing Meningoencephalitis Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: Infectious meningoencephalitis (ME) is a major global health concern. Viruses are the most frequently implicated etiologies, whereas bacterial causes, although life-threatening, constitute a lesser proportion of ME cases, together with other pathogens. The strict implementation of COVID-19 mitigation measures led to the decreased viral and non-viral infectious diseases.

Raynaud's Phenomenon: A Current Update on Pathogenesis, Diagnostic Workup, and Treatment.

Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) is a condition characterized by episodic, excessive vasoconstriction in the fingers and toes, triggered by cold or stress. This leads to a distinctive sequence of color changes in the digits. Pallor indicates reduced blood flow due to oxygen deprivation, while erythema appears as reperfusion.

A Study on the Retrospective Reinterpretation of BRCA1 and BRCA2 Variants.

Background: Hereditary breast/ovarian cancer is associated with BRCA gene mutations. As large volumes of clinical data on BRCA variants are continuously updated, their clinical interpretation may change, leading to their reclassification. This study analyzed the class and proportion of the changed clinical interpretations of BRCA variants to validate the need for periodic reviews of these variants.

Effect of Regdanvimab on Mortality in Patients Infected with SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variants: A Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study.

Introduction: Regdanvimab, a monoclonal antibody pharmaceutical, is the first Korean drug approved for treating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We analyzed the therapeutic efficacy of regdanvimab in patients with the COVID-19 delta variant infection.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of patients hospitalized at two Korean tertiary COVID-19 hospitals with COVID-19 delta variant infection between May 26, 2021, and January 30, 2022.

Molecular mechanism of the anti-inflammatory and skin protective effects of in human skin keratinocytes.

Unlabelled: Irradiation injury, especially caused by UVB, of the skin is one of the critical reasons for skin inflammation and damage. The present study aimed to explore the protective effect of leafy extract (SFLE) and its mechanism of action against UVB-induced damages of human keratinocytes. In this study, SFLE was prepared from 100 kg dried leaves using industrial-scale processes.

Pediatric humoral immune responses and infection risk after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and two-dose vaccination during SARS-CoV-2 omicron BA.5 and BN.1 variants predominance in South Korea.

Background: Humoral immune responses and infection risk after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination during the Omicron BA.5 and BN.1 variants predominant period remains unexplored in pediatric population.

Incidence and Distribution of the Pathogens Causing GI Infections at a University Hospital of Korea.

Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) infections, caused by various pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and parasites, are the second most common infectious diseases. Molecular diagnostics that can simultaneously detect these pathogens are commonly used in syndromic approaches. The authors aimed to identify the causative pathogens of GI infections to provide clinically useful information.

Analysis of microbiological tests in patients withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment at the end stage of life in 2 Korean hospitals.

Objective: We evaluated the adequacy of microbiological tests in patients withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment (WLST) at the end stage of life.

Setting: The study was conducted at 2 tertiary-care referral hospitals in Daegu, Republic of Korea.

Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Protective Effects of Lanostane Triterpenoids from Chaga Mushroom in Human Keratinocytes, HaCaT Cells, against Inflammatory and Oxidative Stresses.

Inotodiol, a lanostane-type triterpenoid, and many phytochemicals from Chaga mushrooms have been investigated for various allergic diseases. However, the anti-aging and anti-inflammatory activities of inotodiol under different types of oxidative stress and the impact of inotodiol on collagen and hyaluronan synthesis have not been sufficiently studied. Lanostane triterpenoids-rich concentrate, which contained 10% inotodiol as major (inotodiol concentrate), was prepared from Chaga and compared with pure inotodiol in terms of anti-inflammatory activities on a human keratinocyte cell line, HaCaT cells, under various stimulations such as stimulation with ultraviolet (UV) B or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α.

Recent Changes in the Human Metapneumovirus Outbreak at a University Hospital in Korea.

Background: Although the detection of respiratory viruses other than severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was significantly reduced because of quarantine due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, an epidemic of several viruses was reported unexpectedly. We also detected a change in the pattern of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) outbreak compared to that before the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the authors intended to identify the incidence and altered distribution pattern of the HMPV outbreak and provide useful information for clinical practice.

First Case of Pseudoclavibacter alba Bacteremia in a Patient with Cholangitis.

Background: Pseudoclavibacter alba isolated from human urine in culture collection was introduced as a new species, but since then, no other reports on P. alba isolated from the environment or organisms have been published. We thus present the first case report of P.

Effectiveness of regdanvimab treatment for SARS-CoV-2 delta variant, which exhibited decreased activity: a nationwide real-world multicenter cohort study.

Background: Immune-evading severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants are emerging continuously. The clinical effectiveness of monoclonal antibody agents that exhibit decreased activity against SARS-CoV-2 variants needs to be elucidated.

Methods: A nationwide, multicenter, retrospective cohort study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of regdanvimab, an anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibody agent.

The Diagnostic Yield and Difficulties of Utilizing Soft-clipped Read Clusters Encountered in Clinical Exome Sequencing.

Background: Despite the wide use of next generation sequencing, there are still many difficulties in detecting structural variants. A split read is one of the clues of structural variants and is represented as a soft-clipped read in the raw sequencing data. Considering that most of the breakpoints of structural variants reside in non-coding regions, split read information has not been routinely used in exome sequencing or targeted panel sequencing.

Diagnostic Performance of Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) for Cell-Mediated Immune Responses to SARS-CoV-2.

Background: As SARS-CoV-2 infection became a pandemic, much effort has been made to measure both antibody production and T cell response to SARS-CoV-2 to diagnose COVID-19 patients or find out their immune status. Authors tried to determine the optimal cutoff value and evaluate clinical performance of one interferon-γ release assay (IGRA) kit and compared their results with serological antibody assay in COVID-19 patients.

Methods: Study subjects included 100 patients confirmed as COVID-19 with RT-PCR method and 88 healthy volunteers who were PCR negative.

Evaluation of two SARS-CoV-2 IgG/IgM Rapid Tests in Capillary Blood Samples.

Background: As COVID-19 has spread rapidly around the world, it has become essential to detect the virus quickly and accurately for disease prevention and control. Therefore, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for rapid serological point-of-care test has increased. Recently, many antibody tests have been developed to detect IgM and/or IgG to SARS-CoV-2 in human blood.

Outbreak of Parainfluenza Virus During the COVID-19 Pandemic at a University Hospital in Korea.

Background: The incidence of respiratory viral diseases including parainfluenza virus (PIV) infection has decreased noticeably due to strict quarantine measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the recent outbreak of PIV in children occurred unexpectedly and the distribution pattern showed prominent differences from before the COVID-19 pandemic. PIV is one of the major viral pathogens related to acute lower respiratory infection in young children and the elderly.

Comparison of Survival Outcomes According to Variant Type in High-grade Serous Ovarian Cancer.

Background/aim: Mutations of BRCA1/2 improve cancer prognosis due to their better response to platinum-based chemotherapy. This study evaluated overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) under similar conditions of first-line adjuvant chemotherapy within seven years in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC).

Patients And Methods: A total of 160 patients were enrolled.

Changes in the Distribution of Respiratory Microorganisms before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Daegu, Korea.

Background: Acute respiratory infection (ARI) is the most common infectious disease in all ages and genders worldwide. Respiratory microorganisms such as respiratory viruses, are commonly responsible for causing ARI. COVID-19 is still prevalent in Korea.

Feasibility of targeted cascade genetic testing in the family members of BRCA1/2 gene pathogenic variant/likely pathogenic variant carriers.

The pathogenic variant (PV) or likely pathogenic variant (LPV) BRCA1/2 gene is strongly associated with hereditary breast or ovarian cancer. Therefore, it is important to screen blood relatives to establish preventive modalities and surveillance. This study evaluated the feasibility of targeted cascade genetic testing for family members of BRCA1/2 gene PV or LPV carriers.

Characterization of the novel HLA-DRB1*13:320 allele by next-generation sequencing.

HLA-DRB1*13:320 differs from HLA-DRB1*13:02:01:02 by one nucleotide substitution in codon 22 in exon 2.