Background: The fatality rate of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) varies among countries owing to demographics, patient comorbidities, surge capacity of healthcare systems, and the quality of medical care. We assessed the clinical outcomes of patients with COVID-19 during the first wave of the epidemic in Korea. Methods: Using a modified World Health Organization clinical record form, we obtained clinical data for 3,060 patients with COVID-19 treated at 55 hospitals in Korea. Disease severity scores were defined as: 1) no limitation of daily activities; 2) limitation of daily activities but no need for supplemental oxygen; 3) supplemental oxygen via nasal cannula; 4) supplemental oxygen via facial mask; 5) non-invasive mechanical ventilation; 6) invasive mechanical ventilation; 7) multi-organ failure or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy; and 8) death. Recovery was defined as a severity score of 1 or 2, or discharge and release from isolation. Results: The median age of the patients was 43 years of age; 43.6% were male. The median time from illness onset to admission was 5 days. Of the patients with a disease severity score of 3-4 on admission, 65 (71.5%) of the 91 patients recovered, and 7 (7.7%) died due to illness by day 28. Of the patients with disease severity scores of 5-7, 7 (19.5%) of the 36 patients recovered, and 8 (22.2%) died due to illness by day 28. None of the 1,324 patients who were < 50 years of age died; in contrast, the fatality rate due to illness by day 28 was 0.5% (2/375), 0.9% (2/215), 5.8% (6/104), and 14.0% (7/50) for the patients aged 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, and ≥ 80 years of age, respectively. Conclusion: In Korea, almost all patients of < 50 years of age with COVID-19 recovered without supplemental oxygen. In patients of ≥ 50 years of age, the fatality rate increased with age, reaching 14% in patients of ≥ 80 years of age.

ObjectivesPregabalin is used to treat neuropathic pain and has shown analgesic properties in postoperative pain. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and safety of pregabalin in reducing postoperative pain in patients after septoplasty.MethodsForty-seven patients scheduled for elective septoplasty were randomly assigned to groups that received either pregabalin (150 mg) or placebo, both one hour before surgery and 12 hours after the initial dose. Pain (verbal numerical rating scale, VNRS) and side effect assessments were performed at 6, 12, 12 to 24, and 24 to 48 hours postoperatively.ResultsFrom 1 to 12 hours postoperatively, VNRS scores for pain were lower in the pregabalin group (n=24) than in the placebo group (n=23; P<0.05). The number of patients who needed rescue analgesics was lower in the pregabalin group (P=0.042). The incidence of nausea and vomiting did not differ between groups (P=0.666), and the incidence of sedation was higher in the placebo groups (P=0.022).ConclusionThe perioperative administration of oral pregabalin (150 mg twice) is an effective and safe way to reduce early postoperative pain in patients undergoing septoplasty.

Rheological and morphological properties as well as crystal characteristics of syndiotacticity-rich ultrahigh molecular weight poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) were studied with consideration of degree of saponification (DS). The solutions of syndiotacticity-rich PVA with DS higher than 90% in dimethyl sulfoxide exhibited shear-thinning behavior without lower Newtonian flow region, implying the presence of heterogeneity. From the logarithmic plot of G‘ vs G‘ ‘, the modified Casson plot, and the variation of relaxation time with DS, the syndiotacticity-rich PVA chains with high DS were elucidated to have a nature of molecular alignment under shearing deformation through the formation of microgels. These characteristic rheological features have a strong relationship with the development of the microfibrillar structure in the course of saponification of poly(vinyl pivalate). The well-oriented microfibrillar structure was observed in the syndiotacticity-rich PVA with high DS, which resulted from the hydrogen-bonding generation during saponification.

ObjectivesHigh incidence of hypocalcemia after thyroidectomy is a major determinant in delay of discharge. Even though many studies have focused on the search for reliable early predictors of postoperative hypocalcemia, definitions of hypocalcemia are diverse; therefore, interpretation and application of previously reported findings may not be easy. We aimed to elucidate diverse patterns of post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia and to provide reliable early predictors for these different types of hypocalcemia.MethodsRetrospective chart review was performed and eligible 112 patients of thyroidectomy were categorized into four groups according to symptomatic and/or biochemical hypocalcemic criteria. A mismatch of occurrence and the timing of symptomatic or biochemical abnormalities were evaluated. Predictive values of commonly used biomarkers were compared in each group; levels of serum total calcium and ionized calcium, and intact parathyroid hormone (PTH).ResultsAmong 62 hypocalcemic patients, 45 patients (72.5%) experienced both symptomatic and biochemical abnormalities during hospitalization. A mismatch on the timing of initial detection of symptomatic and biochemical hypocalcemia was observed in 21 patients (46.6%). Intact PTH level measured at 1 hour was a useful indicator in prediction of symptomatic hypocalcemia with 79.7-87.4% of diagnostic accuracy. Serum ionized calcium measured next morning after surgery was a reliable predictor of biochemical hypocalcemia with 77.9-94.8% of diagnostic accuracy.ConclusionFor the safety of patients, the possibility of both symptomatic and biochemical hypocalcemia should be considered together before deciding early discharge. Using intact PTH for symptomatic hypocalcemia and day-1 ionized serum calcium level for biochemical hypocalcemia will be helpful for the reliable prediction of heterogeneous nature of postoperative hypocalcemia.

Melt-spun poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) fibers were zone-drawn and the structures and properties of the fibers were investigated in consideration of the spinning and zone-drawing conditions. The draw ratio increased up to 4 with increasing drawing temperature to 180°C, at a maximum drawing stress of 220 MPa. Higher take-up velocity gave lower drawability of the fiber. The PTT fiber taken up at 4000 rpm was hardly drawn, in spite of using maximum drawing stress, because a high degree of orientation had been achieved in the spinning procedure. However, an additional enhancement of birefringence was observed, indicating a further orientation of PTT molecules by zone drawing. The exotherm peak at 60°C disappeared and was shifted to a lower temperature with an increase in the take-up velocity, which means that the orientation and crystallinity of the fiber increased. The d-spacing of (002) plane increased with increasing take-up velocity and draw ratio, whereas those of (010) and (001) planes decreased. In all cases, the crystal size increased with take-up velocity and draw ratio. The cold-drawn PTT fiber revealed a kink band structure, which disappeared as the drawing temperature was raised. The physical properties of zone-drawn PTT fibers were improved as the draw ratio and take-up velocity increased.

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The excessive storage of mucopolysaccharide in Hunter syndrome leads to various otologic manifestations. We interviewed 19 patients with Hunter syndrome to assess their otologic problems, and conducted audiologic tests and temporal bone CT. Patients with the intermediate or severe form exhibited severe speech delay by more than 2 years (12/14 patients). However, in patients with the mild form (5/5), speech development was not much disturbed (2/5), although otoscopic findings were similar. The hearing threshold determined by the auditory brainstem response differed significantly between the mild and intermediate/severe forms (p < 0.05). Therefore, patients with the mild form may benefit from active otologic intervention such as VT insertion, amplification, and speech therapy.

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