Effectiveness of Booster and Influenza Vaccines against COVID-19 among Healthcare Workers,Taiwan

Among previously uninfected healthcare workers in Taiwan, mRNA COVID-19 booster vaccine was associated with lower odds of COVID-19 after primary recombinant vaccine. Symptom-triggered testing revealed that tetravalent influenza vaccine was associated with higher odds of SARS-CoV-2 infection. COVID-19 vaccination continues to be most effective against SARS-CoV-2.     

The Korea Cohort Consortium: The Future of Pooling Cohort Studies

ObjectivesWe introduced the cohort studies included in the Korean Cohort Consortium (KCC), focusing on large-scale cohort studies established in Korea with a prolonged follow-up period. Moreover, we also provided projections of the follow-up and estimates of the sample size that would be necessary for big-data analyses based on pooling established cohort studies, including population-based genomic studies.MethodsWe mainly focused on the characteristics of individual cohort studies from the KCC. We developed “PROFAN”, a Shiny application for projecting the follow-up period to achieve a certain number of cases when pooling established cohort studies. As examples, we projected the follow-up periods for 5000 cases of gastric cancer, 2500 cases of prostate and breast cancer, and 500 cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The sample sizes for sequencing-based analyses based on a 1:1 case-control study were also calculated.ResultsThe KCC consisted of 8 individual cohort studies, of which 3 were community-based and 5 were health screening-based cohorts. The population-based cohort studies were mainly organized by Korean government agencies and research institutes. The projected follow-up period was at least 10 years to achieve 5000 cases based on a cohort of 0.5 million participants. The mean of the minimum to maximum sample sizes for performing sequencing analyses was 5917–72 102.ConclusionsWe propose an approach to establish a large-scale consortium based on the standardization and harmonization of existing cohort studies to obtain adequate statistical power with a sufficient sample size to analyze high-risk groups or rare cancer subtypes.     

Evaluation of the nutrient quotient for the elderly (NQ-E) using congregate meal services according to their oral health conditions

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVESThe purposes of this study were to evaluate the nutritional status and dietary habits of the elderly using the nutrition quotient for the elderly (NQ-E) and to analyze the differences in the NQ-E according to their levels of oral health.SUBJECTS/METHODSThe survey was administered to 123 elderly people receiving congregate meal services in Seoul. The questionnaire comprised 3 domains: oral health status, general characteristics, and the NQ-E for the elderly.RESULTSThe respondents were divided into 2 groups based on the average score of their levels of oral health (the group with high oral health scores: 4.42 points and the group with low oral health scores: 2.89 points). As a result of evaluating nutritional status using the NQ-E, it was found that the average NQ-E score was 58.7 points, with 46.0 points in the balance domain, 47.0 points in the diversity domain, 72.9 points in the moderation domain, and 61.8 points in the dietary behavior domain. The NQ-E score (62.3 points) of the group with high oral health scores is significantly higher than the NQ-E score (54.7 points) of the group with low oral health scores (P < 0.001). Concerning the NQ domain scores, the elderly with good oral health status had “favorable” results in terms of balance and dietary behavior, and the elderly with poor oral health status had “favorable” results only in terms of balance.CONCLUSIONSOverall, several dietary areas needed improvement in general. Those with poor oral health conditions urgently needed to improve related factors to minimize the risk of increasing imbalanced nutrition and comorbidities due to insufficient nutrition and undesirable eating habits.     

Associations of Dietary Fats with All-Cause Mortality and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality among Patients with Cardiometabolic Disease

Previous studies have shown distinct associations between specific dietary fats and mortality. However, evidence on specific dietary fats and mortality among patients with cardiometabolic disease (CMD) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to estimate the association between consumption of specific fatty acids and survival of patients with CMD and examine whether cardiometabolic biomarkers can mediate the above effects. The study included 8537 participants with CMD, from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) and NHANES 1999–2014. Cox proportional hazards regression, restricted cubic spline regression, and isocaloric substitution models were used to estimate the associations of dietary fats with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality among participants with CMD. Mediation analysis was performed to assess the potential mediating roles of cardiometabolic biomarkers. During a median follow-up of 10.3 years (0–27.1 years), 3506 all-cause deaths and 882 CVD deaths occurred. The hazard ratios (HRs) of all-cause mortality among patients with CMD were 0.85 (95% confidence interval (CI), 95% CI, 0.73–0.99; p trend = 0.03) for ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-6 PUFA), 0.86 (95% CI, 0.75–1.00; p trend = 0.05) for linoleic acid (LA), and 0.86 (95% CI, 0.75–0.98; p trend = 0.03) for docosapentaenoic acid (DPA). Isocalorically replacing energy from SFA with PUFA and LA were associated with 8% and 4% lower all-cause mortality respectively. The HRs of CVD mortality among CMD patients comparing extreme tertiles of specific dietary fats were 0.60 (95% CI, 0.48–0.75; p trend = 0.002) for eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and 0.64 (95% CI, 0.48–0.85; p trend = 0.002) for DPA and above effects were mediated by levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL). Restricted cubic splines showed significant negative nonlinear associations between above specific dietary fats and mortality. These results suggest that intakes of ω-6 PUFA, LA, and DPA or replacing SFA with PUFA or LA might be associated with lower all-cause mortality for patients with CMD. Consumption of EPA and DPA could potentially reduce cardiovascular death for patients with CMD, and their effects might be regulated by cardiometabolic biomarkers indirectly. More precise and representative studies are further needed to validate our findings.     

A Prognostic Model Based on Nutritional Risk Index in Operative Breast Cancer

Background: The nutritional risk index (NRI) is an independent prognostic factor for overall survival in various cancers, but its prognostic value in breast cancer remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the relationship between the NRI and overall survival (OS) in breast cancer and to develop a predictive nomogram. Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 1347 breast cancer patients who underwent mastectomy or lumpectomy between January 2011 and November 2012. Using a cutoff value of 110.59, patients were divided into a high-NRI group and a low-NRI group. OS was compared between the two groups. Clinicopathological factors independently associated with survival were used to construct a predictive nomogram. Results: Of the 1347 patients, 534 patients were classified as high NRI and 813 as low NRI. OS was significantly shorter in low-NRI patients. The 3- and 5-year OS rates were 87.3% and 73.4%, respectively, in the high-NRI group whereas they were 83.0% and 67.2%, respectively, in the low-NRI group. Cox regression analysis found that histopathological type, tumor size, lymph node status, progesterone receptor (PR) status, Ki-67, and NRI were independently associated with OS. Conclusions: NRI is an independent prognostic factor of OS in breast cancer patients. The proposed nomogram model may be a useful tool for individualized survival prediction.     

门静脉周围积液的影像表现分型及临床意义

目的 探讨肝门静脉周围间隙积液的影像学表现、分型及临床意义.方法 选取265例经MSCT及MRI检查诊断肝脏IPSE征象的病例包括肝肿瘤介入治疗后108例(40.8％)、慢性肝炎78例(29.4％)、肝转移瘤25例(9.4％)、尿毒症16例(6.0％)、肝脓肿11例(4.1％)、心力衰竭10例(3.7％),其他包括急性...     

Epidemiological Trends of Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Korea: A Multicenter Study of the Last 3 Years Including the COVID-19 Era

BackgroundStudies on how the coronavirus pandemic has affected pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (PIBD) are lacking. We aimed to investigate the trends in epidemiology, characteristics, initial management, and short-term outcomes of PIBD in South Korea over the recent three years including the era of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).MethodsThis multicenter study retrospectively investigated temporal trends in the epidemiology of PIBD in Korea. Annual occurrences, disease phenotypes, and initial management at diagnosis were analyzed from January 2018 to June 2021.ResultsA total of 486 patients from 17 institutions were included in this epidemiological evaluation. Analysis of the occurrence trend confirmed a significant increase in PIBD, regardless of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Crohn’s disease, patients with post-coronavirus outbreaks had significantly higher fecal calprotectin levels than those with previous onset (1,339.4 ± 717.04 vs. 1,595.5 ± 703.94, P = 0.001). Patients with post-coronavirus-onset ulcerative colitis had significantly higher Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index scores than those with previous outbreaks (48 ± 17 vs. 36 ± 15, P = 0.004). In the initial treatment of Crohn’s disease, the use of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) and steroids significantly decreased (P = 0.006 and 0.001, respectively), and enteral nutrition and the use of infliximab increased significantly (P = 0.045 and 0.009, respectively). There was a significant increase in azathioprine use during the initial treatment of ulcerative colitis (P = 0.020).ConclusionRegardless of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of patients with PIBD is increasing significantly annually in Korea. The initial management trends for PIBD have also changed. More research is needed to establish appropriate treatment guidelines considering the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of Korean PIBD.     

七味白术散对抗生素相关性腹泻小鼠肠道糖苷水解酶活性的影响

目的 探究七味白术散对抗生素相关性腹泻(AAD)小鼠肠道β-D-葡萄糖苷酶和β-D-葡萄糖醛酸酶活性的影响, 从肠道糖苷水解酶角度阐释七味白术散治疗AAD的机制。 方法 采用混合抗生素灌胃制备AAD小鼠模型, 予七味白术散汤剂干预, 分别于造模和治疗后采集小鼠小肠内容物(SC)、小肠黏膜(SM)、结肠内容物(CC)、结肠黏膜(CM)标本检测糖苷水解酶活性, 采集血液与肝脏标本检测琥珀酸脱氢酶(SDH)和乳酸脱氢酶(LDH), 氧化应激功能相关指标丙二醛(MDA), 以及炎症相关指标白细胞介素-17(IL-17)和脂多糖(LPS)。 结果 AAD小鼠SC、SM及CC中β-D-葡萄糖苷酶和β-D-葡萄糖醛酸酶活性均明显下降(均P＜0.05), CM中两种糖苷水解酶活性均明显升高(均P＜0.05)。七味白术散治疗后, 小鼠各肠段的糖苷水解酶活性均较正常组和自愈组高, 血中MDA、LDH、IL-17和LPS含量较自愈组降低, SDH较自愈组升高。 结论 抗生素导致小鼠SC、SM和CC中糖苷水解酶活性下降, CM中糖苷水解酶活性升高, 七味白术散能较好地调节AAD小鼠肠道糖苷水解酶活性及小鼠能量代谢、氧化应激和炎症因子, 恢复小鼠的代谢能力, 改善小鼠肠道环境, 从而治疗腹泻。     

不同药物麻醉下行肝肿瘤切除患者术后血浆miR-92a水平与肝损伤指标的关系

目的 分析不同药物麻醉下行肝脏肿瘤切除患者术后血浆miR-92a水平与肝损伤指标的相关性,探讨血浆miR-92a表达水平对肝脏肿瘤切除术后肝损伤的诊断价值.方法 将择期行肝脏肿瘤切除手术的93例患者按照麻醉药物不同分为七氟醚组48例和丙泊酚组45例.检测两组患者术后12 h血浆丙氨酸转氨酶(ALT)、天冬氨酸转氨酶(A...     

Validation of the Korean Version of the Delirium Diagnostic Tool-Provisional (K-DDT-Pro)

Objective The Delirium Diagnostic Tool-Provisional (DDT-Pro) was designed to detect the presence and severity of delirium briefly and objectively regardless of psychiatric expertise. We translated the DDT-Pro into Korean and validated it in elderly Korean patients. Methods To validate the translation and evaluate inter-rater reliability, a psychiatric trainee and a research nurse independently assessed the same patients referred to the Department of Psychiatry. The results were compared with the reference evaluations performed by a psychiatrist using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5). Results We enrolled 42 elderly patients. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient were 0.839 (the trainee), 0.822 (the nurse). The Cohen’s weighted κ between the trainee and nurse, ranged from 0.555±0.102 to 0.776±0.062. The Pearson correlation coefficients (Korean version of the DDT-Pro [K-DDT-Pro] and Korean version of the Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98 [DRS-R98-K] total score) were γ=-0.850 (the trainee), and γ=-0.821 (the nurse). The areas under the ROC curves (AUCs) were 0.974 (the trainee) and 0.893 (the nurse). Conclusion The K-DDT-Pro exhibited high internal consistency and relatively substantial inter-rater reliability. The correlation with the DRS-R98-K was strongly negative. The accuracy of the K-DDT-Pro was excellent, regardless of expertise. In conclusion, the K-DDT-Pro is a brief and simple tool that usefully screens for delirium in elderly patients.