Association of Extended Steroid Treatment With Bloodstream Infection in Critically Ill Patients With COVID-19: A National, Multicenter, Propensity Score-Matched Study.

Background: The impact of steroid treatment on mortality outcomes in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been widely demonstrated, while its effect on secondary infections, such as bloodstream infections (BSIs), is controversial. Recent studies have reported the survival benefits of using steroids for a standard duration compared to extended use, though their impact on the risk of BSIs remains debated. This study investigated whether extended steroid use is associated with the risk of BSIs and mortality in critically ill patients with COVID-19.

Relationship between the Geriatric Nutrition Risk Index and the Prognosis of Severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Korea.

Background: Malnutrition exacerbates the prognosis of numerous diseases; however, its specific impact on severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes remains insufficiently explored.

Methods: This multicenter study in Korea evaluated the nutritional status of 1,088 adults with severe COVID-19 using the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) based on serum albumin levels and body weight. The patients were categorized into two groups: GNRI >98 (no-risk) and GNRI ≤98 (risk).

Treatment outcomes and healthcare resource utilization in critically ill COVID-19 patients in Korea: A nationwide multicenter cohort study.

COVID-19 pandemic was accompanied by many healthcare-related issues. Concrete national data regarding the care performance of critical ill cases of COVID-19 does not exist in Korea. The current study aimed to describe the treatment outcome and healthcare resource utilization of critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Navigating the Modern Landscape of Sepsis: Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment.

Sepsis poses a significant threat to human health due to its high morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. Traditional diagnostic methods for identifying sepsis or its causative organisms are time-consuming and contribute to a high mortality rate. Biomarkers have been developed to overcome these limitations and are currently used for sepsis diagnosis, prognosis prediction, and treatment response assessment.

Clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with COVID-19 on mechanical ventilation undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy.

Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly strained global healthcare, particularly in the management of patients requiring mechanical ventilation (MV) and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). This study investigated the characteristics and prognoses of these patients.

Methods: This multicenter retrospective cohort study gathered data from patients with COVID-19 across 26 medical centers.

Risk Factors for the Mortality of Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 Requiring Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in a Non-Centralized Setting: A Nationwide Study.

Background: Limited data are available on the mortality rates of patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We aimed to analyze the relationship between COVID-19 and clinical outcomes for patients receiving ECMO.

Methods: We retrospectively investigated patients with COVID-19 pneumonia requiring ECMO in 19 hospitals across Korea from January 1, 2020 to August 31, 2021.

Functional Aspects of the Obesity Paradox in Patients with Severe Coronavirus Disease-2019: A Retrospective, Multicenter Study.

Background: Results of studies investigating the association between body mass index (BMI) and mortality in patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) have been conflicting.

Methods: This multicenter, retrospective observational study, conducted between January 2020 and August 2021, evaluated the impact of obesity on outcomes in patients with severe COVID-19 in a Korean national cohort. A total of 1,114 patients were enrolled from 22 tertiary referral hospitals or university-affiliated hospitals, of whom 1,099 were included in the analysis, excluding 15 with unavailable height and weight information.

Development and Validation of Deep-Learning-Based Sepsis and Septic Shock Early Prediction System (DeepSEPS) Using Real-World ICU Data.

Background: Successful sepsis treatment depends on early diagnosis. We aimed to develop and validate a system to predict sepsis and septic shock in real time using deep learning.

Methods: Clinical data were retrospectively collected from electronic medical records (EMRs).

Initial Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha and Endothelial Activation Are Associated with Hemorrhagic Complications during Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Studies on inflammatory markers, endothelial activation, and bleeding during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) are lacking. Blood samples were prospectively collected after ECMO initiation from 150 adult patients who underwent ECMO for respiratory failure between 2018 and 2021. After excluding patients who died early (within 48 h), 132 patients were finally included.

Impact of nutrition and physical activity on outcomes of hospital-acquired pneumonia.

Frailty is an important risk factor for adverse health-related outcomes. It is classified into several phenotypes according to nutritional state and physical activity. In this context, we investigated whether frailty phenotypes were related to clinical outcome of hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP).

Prognostic impact of preoperative respiratory colonization on early-onset pneumonia after lung transplantation.

Background: The number of lung transplantation procedures is rapidly increasing worldwide. Little is known about the effect of perioperative respiratory microbial colonization on pneumonia during lung transplantation. We evaluated the microbiome composition and incidence of early pneumonia in patients undergoing lung transplantation.

Microbiologic pattern and clinical outcome of non-ICU-acquired pneumonia: Korean HAP registry analysis.

Background/aims: Most studies on hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) have been conducted in intensive care unit (ICU) settings. This study aimed to investigate the microbiological and clinical characteristics of non-ICU-acquired pneumonia (NIAP) and to identify the factors affecting clinical outcomes in Korea.

Methods: This multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted in patients admitted to 13 tertiary hospitals between July 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019.

Quantitative analysis of retained austenite in Nb added Fe-based alloy.

The use of Pipelines for long-distance transportation of crude oil, natural gas and similar applications is increasing and has pivotal importance in recent times. High specific strength plays a crucial role in improving transport efficiency through increased pressure and improved laying efficiency through reduced diameter and weight of line pipes. TRIP-based high-strength and high-ductility alloys comprise a mixture of ferrite, bainite, and retained austenite that provide excellent mechanical properties such as dimensional stability, fatigue strength, and impact toughness.

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin as a prognostic biomarker of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is produced in the bronchial and alveolar cells of inflamed lungs and is regarded as a potential prognostic biomarker in various respiratory diseases. However, there are no studies on patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). NGAL levels in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were measured at baseline and on day 7 in 110 patients with ARDS.

Head-to-Head Comparison between Xpert MTB/RIF Assay and Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay Using Bronchial Washing Specimens for Tuberculosis Diagnosis.

Background: With the introduction of Xpert MTB/RIF assay (Xpert), its incorporation into tuberculosis (TB) diagnostic algorithm has become an important issue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the Xpert assay in comparison with a commercial polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay.

Methods: Medical records of patients having results of both Xpert and AdvanSure TB/NTM real-time PCR (AdvanSure) assays using the same bronchial washing specimens were retrospectively reviewed.

Vasopressor Initiation Within 1 Hour of Fluid Loading Is Associated With Increased Mortality in Septic Shock Patients: Analysis of National Registry Data.

Objectives: To investigate whether administration of a vasopressor within 1 hour of first fluid loading affected mortality and organ dysfunction in septic shock patients.

Design: Prospective, multicenter, observational study.

Setting: Sixteen tertiary or university hospitals in the Republic of Korea.

Genetic Characterization of Feline Parvovirus Isolate Fe-P2 in Korean Cat and Serological Evidence on Its Infection in Wild Leopard Cat and Asian Badger.

Feline parvovirus (FPV) is a small, non-enveloped, single-stranded DNA virus that infects cats. We recently isolated a feline parvovirus Fe-P2 strain from a dead stray cat in Iksan, 2017. Its partial genomic sequence (4,643 bases) was obtained, and phylogenetic analysis based on the VP2 nucleotide sequence showed that the FPV Fe-P2 strain was closely related to the FPV isolate Gigucheon in cat, 2017 (MN400978).

Raptor genomes reveal evolutionary signatures of predatory and nocturnal lifestyles.

Background: Birds of prey (raptors) are dominant apex predators in terrestrial communities, with hawks (Accipitriformes) and falcons (Falconiformes) hunting by day and owls (Strigiformes) hunting by night.

Results: Here, we report new genomes and transcriptomes for 20 species of birds, including 16 species of birds of prey, and high-quality reference genomes for the Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo), oriental scops owl (Otus sunia), eastern buzzard (Buteo japonicus), and common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus). Our extensive genomic analysis and comparisons with non-raptor genomes identify common molecular signatures that underpin anatomical structure and sensory, muscle, circulatory, and respiratory systems related to a predatory lifestyle.