Yonsei medical journal
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Yonsei medical journal · Feb 2021
Case ReportsTwo Cases of Fungemia after Endoscopic Variceal Obturation for Gastric Variceal Bleeding.
Fever is a common complication of endoscopic variceal obturation (EVO) therapy for gastric variceal bleeding. However, fungemia related to EVO therapy has not yet been reported. Herein, we report two cases of post-EVO fungemia in cirrhotic patients who underwent therapeutic EVO for gastric variceal bleeding. ⋯ Candida is a common member of the intestinal flora; however, it can cause invasive infection with consequent poor prognosis in cirrhotic patients. The route of Candida invasion is unclear; however, repeated EVO may predispose patients to Candida infection, particularly those who are in the end stage of liver disease and receiving prophylactic antibiotics. Our cases highlight that repeated invasive procedures can increase the risk of fungal infections, and fungemia should be considered in the differential diagnosis of post-EVO fever.
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Yonsei medical journal · Feb 2021
Systemic Immunomodulatory Effects of Combinatorial Treatment of Thalidomide and Dexamethasone on T Cells and Other Immune Cells.
In organ transplantation, the need for immune modulation rather than immune suppression has been emphasized. In this study, we investigated whether combinatorial treatments of with thalidomide (TM) and dexamethasone (DX) might be new approaches to induce systemic immunomodulation on T cells and other immune cells that regulate the expression of co-inhibitory molecules. ⋯ Based on these results, we suggest that TM/DX combinatorial treatments might be efficient immunomodulatory methods for regulating T cell immunity.
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Yonsei medical journal · Jan 2021
Association of Mortality with Antiplatelet Treatment in Patients with Stent Placement or Angioplasty: A Population-Based Nested Case-Control Study.
Antiplatelet drugs are essential in patients with cardiovascular disease who undergo stent placement. We hypothesized that risks of mortality would differ according to adherence to antiplatelet agents, number of antiplatelet agents, and antiplatelet regimens in patients undergoing stent placement or angioplasty. ⋯ Our study demonstrated that adherence to antiplatelet therapy and antiplatelet monotherapy, compared with DAPT, in patients with stent placement or angioplasty may have a beneficial effect on mortality in cerebro-cardiovascular disease.
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Yonsei medical journal · Jan 2021
ReviewA Comprehensive Review of Coronavirus Disease 2019: Epidemiology, Transmission, Risk Factors, and International Responses.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has caused a worldwide pandemic. The first reports of patients with COVID-19 were provided to World Health Organization on December 21, 2019 and were presumably associated with seafood markets in Wuhan, China. As of October 25, 2020, more than 42 million cases have been confirmed worldwide, with more than 1.1 million deaths. ⋯ Moreover, effective control measures should be further identified by comprehensive evaluation of hospital and community responses. In this review, we provide a comprehensive update on the epidemiology, presentation, transmission, risk factors, and public health measures associated with COVID-19. We also review past insights from previous coronavirus epidemics [i.e., severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)] to suggest measures to reduce transmission.
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Yonsei medical journal · Jan 2021
Clinical TrialEffectiveness of 4-Week Oral Taurine Treatment for Muscle Cramps in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis: A Single-Arm Pilot Study.
Painful muscle cramps are a common complication in liver cirrhosis patients, and no effective treatment is available. This pilot study aimed to evaluate whether taurine supplementation improves muscle cramps in Korean cirrhotic patients. ⋯ Oral taurine therapy for 4 weeks improved muscle cramps safely in cirrhotic patients.