Journal of Korean medical science
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Apr 2023
Multicenter StudyGender Difference of Blood Pressure Control Rate and Clinical Prognosis in Patients With Resistant Hypertension: Real-World Observation Study.
There are several differences in the clinical course of hypertension due to the biological and social differences between men and women. Resistant hypertension is an advanced disease state, and significant gender difference could be expected, but much has not been revealed yet. The purpose of this study was to compare gender differences on the current status of blood pressure (BP) control and clinical prognosis in patients with resistant hypertension. ⋯ In resistant hypertension, men were younger than women, but end-organ damage was more common and the risk of cardiovascular event was higher. More intensive cardiovascular prevention strategies may be required in male patients with resistant hypertension.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Apr 2023
Multicenter StudyTwenty-Five Year Trend Change in the Etiology of Pediatric Invasive Bacterial Infections in Korea, 1996-2020.
The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has contributed to the change in the epidemiology of many infectious diseases. This study aimed to establish the pre-pandemic epidemiology of pediatric invasive bacterial infection (IBI). ⋯ In the proportion of IBIs over a 24-year period between 1996 and 2019, we observed a decreasing trend for S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae and an increasing trend for S. aureus, S. agalactiae, and S. pyogenes in children > 3 months of age. These findings can be used as the baseline data to navigate the trend in the epidemiology of pediatric IBI in the post COVID-19 era.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Apr 2023
Associations of Particulate Matter Exposures With Brain Gray Matter Thickness and White Matter Hyperintensities: Effect Modification by Low-Grade Chronic Inflammation.
Numerous studies have shown the effect of particulate matter exposure on brain imaging markers. However, little evidence exists about whether the effect differs by the level of low-grade chronic systemic inflammation. We investigated whether the level of c-reactive protein (CRP, a marker of systemic inflammation) modifies the associations of particulate matter exposures with brain cortical gray matter thickness and white matter hyperintensities (WMH). ⋯ Particulate matter exposures were associated with a reduced global cortical thickness in men with a high level of chronic inflammation. Men with a high level of chronic inflammation may be susceptible to cortical atrophy attributable to particulate matter exposures.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Apr 2023
Anti-Alpha-Toxin Antibody Responses and Clinical Outcomes of Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia.
Alpha-toxin (AT), a major virulence factor of Staphylococcus aureus, is an important immunotherapeutic target to prevent or treat invasive S. aureus infections. Previous studies have suggested that anti-AT antibodies (Abs) may have a protective role against S. aureus bacteremia (SAB), but their function remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association between serum anti-AT Ab levels and clinical outcomes of SAB. ⋯ The study findings suggest that lower anti-AT Ab responses before and during SAB, reflective of immune dysfunction, are associated with more severe clinical presentations of infection.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Apr 2023
Analysis of Antibody Responses After COVID-19 Vaccination in Liver Transplant Recipients: A Single-Center Study.
Liver transplant (LT) recipients were considered a vulnerable population during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The clinical efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine is unknown in immunocompromised patients. The purpose of this study was to provide evidence of antibody responses after COVID-19 vaccination in LT recipients. ⋯ A higher TAC level before vaccination resulted in less effective vaccination in LT patients. Booster vaccinations are required, especially for patients in the early stage after LT who have compromised immune function.