We describe the epidemiology of a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in a call center in South Korea. We obtained information on demographic characteristics by using standardized epidemiologic ...investigation forms. We performed descriptive analyses and reported the results as frequencies and proportions for categoric variables. Of 1,143 persons who were tested for COVID-19, a total of 97 (8.5%, 95% CI 7.0%-10.3%) had confirmed cases. Of these, 94 were working in an 11th-floor call center with 216 employees, translating to an attack rate of 43.5% (95% CI 36.9%-50.4%). The household secondary attack rate among symptomatic case-patients was 16.2% (95% CI 11.6%- 22.0%). Of the 97 persons with confirmed COVID-19, only 4 (1.9%) remained asymptomatic within 14 days of quarantine, and none of their household contacts acquired secondary infections. Extensive contact tracing, testing all contacts, and early quarantine blocked further transmission and might be effective for containing rapid outbreaks in crowded work settings.
We analyzed reports for 59,073 contacts of 5,706 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) index patients reported in South Korea during January 20-March 27, 2020. Of 10,592 household contacts, 11.8% had ...COVID-19. Of 48,481 nonhousehold contacts, 1.9% had COVID-19. Use of personal protective measures and social distancing reduces the likelihood of transmission.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between multiple chronic diseases and depressive symptoms in middle-aged and elderly populations.
This study was performed using the 2009 ...Korean Community Health Survey, which targeted adults over the age of 40 (N = 156,747 participants, 88,749 aged 40-59 years and 67,998 aged ≥60 years). The Korean version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-K) was used as the measurement tool for depressive symptoms (CES-D-K score over 16). Multiple chronic diseases were defined as the concurrent presence of two or more chronic diseases.
The prevalence and risk ratios (RRs) of experiencing depressive symptoms increased in the presence of multiple chronic diseases and with the number of comorbidities. The RRs of experiencing depressive symptoms according to the presence of multiple chronic diseases were higher in the middle-aged population (adjusted RR, 1.939, 95% confidence limits (CL), 1.82-2.06) than in the elderly population (adjusted RR, 1.620, 95% CL, 1.55-1.69). In particular, middle-aged women who suffer from 4 or more chronic diseases have the highest RR (adjusted RR, 4.985, 95% CL, 4.13-6.03) for depressive symptoms.
Multiple chronic diseases are closely associated with depressive symptoms in middle-aged and elderly populations. Given the mutual relationship between multiple chronic diseases and depressive symptoms, attention to and the assessment of depressive symptoms are needed in people with multiple chronic diseases.
Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of death among female patients with cancer in the world. High risk human papillomavirus has causal roles in cervical cancer initiation and progression by ...deregulating several cellular processes. However, HPV infection is not sufficient for cervical carcinoma development. Therefore, other genetic and epigenetic factors may be involved in this complex disease, and the identification of which may lead to better diagnosis and treatment. Our aim was to analyze the expression of microRNAs in cervical cancer cases positive or negative for HPV E6/E7 mRNA, and to assess their diagnostic usefulness and relevance.
The expression of three different microRNAs (miR-9, miR-21, and miR-155) in 52 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) primary cervical cancer tissue samples and 50 FFPE normal cervical tissue samples were evaluated.
MiR-9, miR-21, and miR-155 were significantly overexpressed in cervical cancer tissues compared to normal tissues (P < 0.001). MiR-21 and miR-155 expression combined with the HPV E6/E7 mRNA assay in HPV E6/E7 negative cervical cancer showed increased AUC of 0.7267 and 0.7000, respectively (P = 0.01, P = 0.04), demonstrating their potential as diagnostic tools. Moreover, miR-21 and miR-155 were predictors showing a 7 fold and 10.3 fold higher risk for HPV E6/E7 negative patients with cervical cancer (P = 0.024 and P = 0.017, respectively) while miR-155 was a predictor showing a 27.9 fold higher risk for HPV E6/E7 positive patients with cervical cancer (P < 0.0001).
There is a strong demand for additional, alternative molecular biomarkers for diagnosis and management of precancer patients. MiR-21 and miR-155 may be helpful in the prediction of both HPV positive and HPV negative cases of cervical cancer.
Balance impairments are common in patients with infratentorial stroke. Although robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) exerts positive effects on balance among patients with stroke, it remains unclear ...whether such training is superior to conventional physical therapy (CPT). Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of RAGT combined with CPT and compared them with the effects of CPT only on balance and lower extremity function among survivors of infratentorial stroke.
This study was a single-blinded, randomized controlled trial with a crossover design conducted at a single rehabilitation hospital. Patients (n = 19; 16 men, three women; mean age: 47.4 ± 11.6 years) with infratentorial stroke were randomly allocated to either group A (4 weeks of RAGT+CPT, followed by 4 weeks of CPT+CPT) or group B (4 weeks of CPT+CPT followed by 4 weeks of RAGT+CPT). Changes in dynamic and static balance as indicated by Berg Balance Scale scores were regarded as the primary outcome measure. Outcome measures were evaluated for each participant at baseline and after each 4-week intervention period.
No significant differences in outcome-related variables were observed between group A and B at baseline. In addition, no significant time-by-group interactions were observed for any variables, indicating that intervention order had no effect on lower extremity function or balance. Significantly greater improvements in secondary functional outcomes such as lower extremity Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA-LE) and scale for the assessment and rating of ataxia (SARA) were observed following the RAGT+CPT intervention than following the CPT+CPT intervention.
RAGT produces clinically significant improvements in balance and lower extremity function in individuals with infratentorial stroke. Thus, RAGT may be useful for patients with balance impairments secondary to other pathologies.
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT02680691. Registered 09 February 2016; retrospectively registered.
Rapid diagnosis is one key pillar to end tuberculosis (TB). Point-of-care tests (POCTs) facilitate early detection, immediate treatment, and reduced transmission of TB disease. This Review evaluates ...current diagnostic assays endorsed by the World Health Organization and identifies the gaps between existing conventional tests and the ideal POCT. We discuss the commercial development of new rapid tests and research studies on nonsputum-based diagnostic biomarkers from both pathogen and host. Last, we highlight advances in integrated microfluidics technology that may aid the development of new POCTs.
•Application of ID-LC/MS/MS for the accurate determination of vitamin K1 isomers.•Quantification of trans- and cis-vitamin K1 in the primary reference material by NMR.•Minimization of the measurement ...bias using APCI rather than ESI.•Developed method was proven to have high-order metrological quality.
A method based on isotope dilution-liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (ID-LC/MS/MS) using a C30 column has been developed for the separate and accurate determination of trans- and cis-vitamin K1 in infant formula. Vitamin K1 and the deuterium-labeled internal standard eluted at slightly different retention times experiencing different matrix effects, and this possibly resulted in biased measurement. The matrix effect profiles obtained from post-column infusion experiments showed that atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) was less susceptible to matrix effects near the retention time than electrospray ionization (ESI); therefore, APCI was used in this study. The developed method was validated by measuring fortified samples, and the results agreed with the gravimetric values. Its repeatability and reproducibly were within 2% relative standard deviation. The relative expanded uncertainty was approximately 5%, indicating that the method was of higher-order metrological quality as a reference method.
The isolation of whey proteins from human and bovine milks followed by profiling of their entire N-glycan repertoire is described. Whey proteins resulting from centrifugation and ethanol ...precipitation of milk were treated with PNGase F to release protein-bound N-glycans. Once released, N-glycans were analyzed via nanoflow liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry following chromatographic separation on a porous graphitized carbon chip. In all, 38 N-glycan compositions were observed in the human milk sample while the bovine milk sample revealed 51 N-glycan compositions. These numbers translate to over a hundred compounds when isomers are considered and point to the complexity of the mixture. High mannose, neutral, and sialylated complex/hybrid glycans were observed in both milk sources. Although NeuAc sialylation was observed in both milk samples, the NeuGc residue was only observed in bovine milk and marks a major difference between human and bovine milks. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first MS based confirmation of NeuGc in milk protein bound glycans as well as the first comprehensive N-glycan profile of bovine milk proteins. Tandem MS was necessary for resolving complications presented by the fact that (NeuGc:Fuc) corresponds to the exact mass of (NeuAc:Hex). Comparison of the relative distribution of the different glycan types in both milk sources was possible via their abundances. While the human milk analysis revealed a 6% high mannose, 57% sialylation, and 75% fucosylation distribution, a 10% high mannose, 68% sialylation, and 31% fucosylation distribution was observed in the bovine milk analysis. Comparison with the free milk oligosaccharides yielded low sialylation and high fucosylation in human, while high sialylation and low fucosylation are found in bovine. The results suggest that high fucosylation is a general trait in human, while high sialylation and low fucosylation are general features of glycosylation in bovine milk.
Increasing evidence suggests that sleep duration is associated with risks of various diseases including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and certain types of cancer. However, the ...relationship with mortality is not clear, particularly in non-European populations. In this study, we investigated the association between sleep duration and mortality in a population-based prospective cohort of Korean adults.
This analysis included 34,264 participants (14,704 men and 19,560 women) of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2007-2013 who agreed to mortality follow-up through December 31, 2016. Sleep duration was self-reported at baseline and was categorized into four groups: ≤4, 5-6, 7-8, and ≥ 9 h/day. Cox proportional hazards models were performed to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the associations with mortality (all-cause as well as CVD- and cancer-specific), adjusting for potential confounders.
During up to 9.5 years of follow-up, we identified a total of 1028 deaths. We observed the lowest mortality at 5-6 h/day sleep. Compared with 7-8 h/day of sleep, short (≤4 h/day) and long (≥9 h/day) sleep were associated with a 1.05-fold (95% CI = 0.79-1.39) and 1.47-fold (95% CI = 1.15-1.87) higher all-cause mortality, respectively. After additional adjustment for self-rated health, the positive association with short sleep disappeared (HR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.75-1.32) and the association with long sleep was slightly attenuated (HR = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.08-1.76). Long sleep was also nonsignificantly positively associated with both cancer-mortality (HR = 1.30, 95% CI = 0.86-1.98) and CVD-mortality (HR = 1.27, 95% CI = 0.73-2.21). There was no statistically significant evidence for nonlinearity in the relationships between sleep duration and mortality (all-cause as well as CVD- and cancer-specific). Effect modification by age, sex, education, and occupation were not statistically significant.
Our findings suggest that long sleep duration is associated with an increased all-cause mortality in Korean adults.
In the human body, vitamin K
1
is important for bone and cardiovascular health and blood coagulation. To assess the correlation between vitamin K
1
intake and health outcomes, the accurate ...determination of the amounts of vitamin K
1
in green leafy vegetables, which are its major source in the diet, is needed. In this study, an accurate method for quantifying naturally occurring
trans
- and
cis
-vitamin K
1
in spinach and kimchi cabbage was developed on the basis of isotope dilution-liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (ID-LC/MS/MS). A C30 column was employed for proper separation of
trans
- and
cis
-vitamin K
1
isomers, and vitamin K
1
-
d
7
was used as an internal standard. The developed method was validated by measuring gravimetrically fortified samples, and its performance parameters were evaluated. The measured results agreed with the gravimetric results with a difference of less than 3%. The repeatability and reproducibility of the vitamin K
1
analysis were less than 2% relative standard deviation, indicating that the method had a higher-order metrological quality as a reference method.
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