Memory T cell responses have been demonstrated in COVID-19 convalescents, but ex vivo phenotypes of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells have been unclear. We detected SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T cells by MHC ...class I multimer staining and examined their phenotypes and functions in acute and convalescent COVID-19. Multimer+ cells exhibited early differentiated effector-memory phenotypes in the early convalescent phase. The frequency of stem-like memory cells was increased among multimer+ cells in the late convalescent phase. Cytokine secretion assays combined with MHC class I multimer staining revealed that the proportion of interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-producing cells was significantly lower among SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T cells than those specific to influenza A virus. Importantly, the proportion of IFN-γ-producing cells was higher in PD-1+ cells than PD-1− cells among multimer+ cells, indicating that PD-1-expressing, SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T cells are not exhausted, but functional. Our current findings provide information for understanding of SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T cells elicited by infection or vaccination.
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•SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T cells are effector memory cells in convalescents•CCR7+CD45RA+ cells are increased among SARS-CoV-2-specific cells in the late phase•SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T cells have fewer IFN-γ+ cells than flu-specific cells•PD-1-expressing SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T cells are not exhausted but functional
T cell responses have been demonstrated in COVID-19 patients, but ex vivo phenotypes and functions of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells remain unclear. Rha et al. examined SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T cells in acute and convalescent COVID-19 patients using MHC class I multimers, finding that PD-1-expressing SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T cells are not exhausted but functional.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-infected pneumonia emerged in Wuhan, China in December 2019. In this retrospective multicenter study, we investigated the clinical course ...and outcomes of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) from early cases in Republic of Korea.
All of the cases confirmed by real time polymerase chain reaction were enrolled from the 1st to the 28th patient nationwide. Clinical data were collected and analyzed for changes in clinical severity including laboratory, radiological, and virologic dynamics during the progression of illness.
The median age was 40 years (range, 20-73 years) and 15 (53.6%) patients were male. The most common symptoms were cough (28.6%) and sore throat (28.6%), followed by fever (25.0%). Diarrhea was not common (10.7%). Two patients had no symptoms. Initial chest X-ray (CXR) showed infiltration in 46.4% of the patients, but computed tomography scan confirmed pneumonia in 88.9% (16/18) of the patients. Six patients (21.4%) required supplemental oxygen therapy, but no one needed mechanical ventilation. Lymphopenia was more common in severe cases. Higher level of C-reactive protein and worsening of chest radiographic score was observed during the 5-7 day period after symptom onset. Viral shedding was high from day 1 of illness, especially from the upper respiratory tract (URT).
The prodromal symptoms of COVID-19 were mild and most patients did not have limitations of daily activity. Viral shedding from URT was high from the prodromal phase. Radiological pneumonia was common from the early days of illness, but it was frequently not evident in simple CXR. These findings could be plausible explanations for the easy and rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the community.
Cryptococcus neoformans infections occur most frequently in immunocompromised patients. Here, we report a case of cryptococcal meningitis in a previously immunocompetent 78-year-old female patient ...after treatment of COVID-19. Underlying diseases included hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes. The patient was critically ill and was treated with remdesivir, baricitinib, and dexamethasone. During hospitalization, her mental state changed, and C. neoformans was detected in the cerebrospinal fluid. She died despite receiving antifungal treatment. Treatment of COVID-19 may be a predisposing factor for C. neoformans infection. There is a need for concern and countermeasures for opportunistic fungal infections that may accompany COVID-19.
Background: Individuals living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) encounter challenges throughout the care continuum, right from the time of diagnosis to the culmination of the treatment ...process.Current Concepts: The Republic of Korea, like many other countries, has been addressing the needs of people living with HIV (PLWH) by providing financial support for medical expenditures. Currently, HIV counseling specialist nurses offer psychological support at 28 institutions, assisting patients in maintaining viral suppression state and adhering to antiretroviral therapy. Care and welfare services are also provided by non-governmental organizations funded by the Korean Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The accessibility of medical institutions for PLWH has seen gradual improvement, with KDCA issuing guidelines for healthcare facilities catering to this population. In addition, the legal and medical insurance coverage issues related to long-term care institutionalization have been addressed. However, PLWH continues to face challenges in treatment and hospitalization, especially with a recent increase in immigrant PLWH, highlighting a lack of support for undocumented immigrants seeking treatment.Discussion and Conclusion: Healthcare policies are shifting from merely managing, isolating, and treating PLWH to prioritizing their human rights. Going forward, it is imperative to empower PLWH and support their self-care efforts.
Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) has a high mortality rate and pandemic potential. However, the neurological manifestations of MERS have rarely been reported since it first emerged in 2012.
We ...evaluated four patients with laboratory-confirmed MERS coronavirus (CoV) infections who showed neurological complications during MERS treatment. These 4 patients were from a cohort of 23 patients who were treated at a single designated hospital during the 2015 outbreak in the Republic of Korea. The clinical presentations, laboratory findings, and prognoses are described.
Four of the 23 admitted MERS patients reported neurological symptoms during or after MERS-CoV treatment. The potential diagnoses in these four cases included Bickerstaff's encephalitis overlapping with Guillain-Barré syndrome, intensive-care-unit-acquired weakness, or other toxic or infectious neuropathies. Neurological complications did not appear concomitantly with respiratory symptoms, instead being delayed by 2-3 weeks.
Neuromuscular complications are not rare during MERS treatment, and they may have previously been underdiagnosed. Understanding the neurological manifestations is important in an infectious disease such as MERS, because these symptoms are rarely evaluated thoroughly during treatment, and they may interfere with the prognosis or require treatment modification.
Glycopeptide antibiotics (vancomycin and teicoplanin) are usually used for the treatment of Staphylococcus epidermidis infections owing to their increased oxacillin resistance. However, S. ...epidermidis strains with decreased susceptibility to teicoplanin have become increasingly incident in recent years. We aimed to identify the characteristics of teicoplanin-non-susceptible (Teico-NS) S. epidermidis isolated at our hospital and analyze its relationship with teicoplanin usage. We retrospectively evaluated 328 S. epidermidis strains isolated from clinical isolates between January 2016 and December 2021. All strains were susceptible to vancomycin (minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) ≤ 4 mg/L). The annual incidence for S. epidermidis strains with an elevated teicoplanin MIC of 8 mg/L ranged from 22.2 to 28.9%. In addition, in 2021, the number of S. epidermidis strains with teicoplanin MIC ≥ 16 mg/L rapidly increased (n = 13, 32.5%). Furthermore, teicoplanin use increased annually until 2019; however, in 2020, it decreased abruptly due to the COVID 19 pandemic. Thus, we could not confirm the existence of a clear correlation between teicoplanin usage and increased incidence of S. epidermidis with reduced teicoplanin-susceptibility. We showed the increased incidence of Teico-NS S. epidermidis in recent years. Further studies are needed to identify the mechanisms and risk factors for teicoplanin-resistance in S. epidermidis.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
We report a color tunable display consisting of two passive-matrix micro-LED array chips. The device has combined vertically stacked blue and green passive-matrix LED array chips sandwiched by a ...transparent bonding material. We demonstrate that vertically stacked blue and green micro-pixels are independently controllable with operation of four color modes. Moreover, the color of each pixel is tunable in the entire wavelength from the blue to green region (450 nm - 540 nm) by applying pulse-width-modulation bias voltage. This study is meaningful in that a dual color micro-LED array with a vertically stacked subpixel structure is realized.
Mpox is a viral illness with a characteristic skin rash caused by the monkeypox virus. In 2022, Mpox spread throughout the world, and an epidemic through domestic transmission started in South Korea ...in early 2023. This study aimed to summarize the clinical features of Mpox patients in South Korea.
This is a multicenter retrospective study conducted at four hospitals in South Korea. All adult patients diagnosed with Mpox who were admitted to the study hospitals between June 1, 2022 and May 26, 2023 and were discharged by June 30, 2023 were reviewed.
Sixty patients were included, accounting for 65.9% of Mpox cases reported in South Korea during the study period. Median age was 32 years and 97% (58/60) of patients were male. In total, 85% (51/60) of patients reported their sexual orientation as homosexual or bisexual. The most common route of transmission was sexual or close contact (55/60). Every patient had a skin rash and 88% (53/60) had constitutional symptoms. In total, 42% (25/60) of patients had human immunodeficiency virus and 25% (15/60) had concomitant sexually transmitted infections. Severe manifestations of Mpox were identified in only two patients.
Mpox patients in South Korea were mainly young adult males and were infected through sexual contact. The clinical outcomes were favorable.
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