Performance of STANDARD™ M10 SARS-CoV-2 Assay for the Diagnosis of COVID-19 from a Nasopharyngeal Swab

Ham Sin Young,Jeong Hyeonju,Jung Jongtak,Kim Eu Suk,Park Kyoung Un,Kim Hong Bin,Park Jeong Su,Song Kyoung-Ho 대한감염학회 2022 Infection and Chemotherapy Vol.54 No.2

The STANDARD™ M10 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) assay (M10 assay) (SD Biosensor Inc., Suwon, Korea) is a rapid, fully-automated, cartridge-type molecular diagnostic assay that detects SARS-CoV-2 RNA using primers and probes for each target gene (ORF1ab gene, E gene). This study evaluated its performance by assessing its concordance with the approved SARS-CoV-2 real-time PCR assay. Tests were performed on 80 nasopharyngeal samples. The sensitivity and specificity of the M10 assay were 100%. The M10 assay effectively diagnosed SARS-CoV-2 infection, and it was comparable to the approved SARS-CoV-2 real-time PCR assay. It is a viable point-of-care test due to its short turnaround time.

Clinical Characteristics of COVID-19: Use of Steroids in Mostly Unvaccinated COVID-19 Patients Before the Omicron Variant

Oh Sang-Min,Ham Sin Young,Suh Hyeon Jeong,Lee Eunyoung,Park Sang-Won 대한의학회 2022 Journal of Korean medical science Vol.37 No.29

Background: Glucocorticoids are one of the current standard agents for moderate to severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) treatment based on the RECOVERY trial. Data on the real clinical application of steroids for COVID-19 are scarce and will help guide the optimal use of steroids. We described the current prescription pattern of steroids for COVID-19 and investigated the factors related to specific practices. Methods: All adults aged ≥ 19 years who were diagnosed with COVID-19 by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and admitted to one of 3 study hospitals from 8 December 2020 to 30 June 2021 were enrolled. Demographic and clinical data, including medications and oxygen therapy, were retrospectively collected from electronic medical records. The severity of comorbidities and COVID-19 were measured. The subjects were divided into steroid and nonsteroid groups, and the steroid group was then subdivided into standard and higher/longer groups. Results: Among a total of 805 patients, 217 (27.0%) were treated with steroids. The steroid group showed a higher rate of oxygen therapy (81.1% vs. 2.7%), more concomitant use of remdesivir (77.4% vs. 1.4%) or antibiotics (79.3% vs. 4.3%), and a higher proportion of high risk according to National Early Warning Score-2 score (30.0% vs. 0.9%) or severe risk according to National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease Ordinal Scale score (81.1% vs. 2.7%) than the nonsteroid group. The mortality of the steroid group was 4.6%. In the steroid group, 82.5% received a standard or lower dose of steroids within ten days, and 17.5% (38/217) received a higher or longer dose of steroids. Multivariate analysis showed that initial lymphopenia (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.94; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.89–0.99) and high level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (aOR, 1.00; 95% CI, 1.00–1.01) were independent risk factors for higher doses or longer steroid use. Conclusion: The dose and duration of steroids were in line with current guidelines in 82.5% of COVID-19 patients, but the outliers may need tailored therapy according to surrogate markers, such as initial lymphopenia or high level of LDH.

촉매를 사용하지 않는 열 기화법으로 다양한 형태의 ZnO 3차원 구조체 합성

방신영,오동근,최봉근,함헌,김경훈,심광보,Bang, Sin Young,Tran, Van Khai,Oh, Dong Keun,Maneeratanasarn, Prachuporn,Choi, Bong Geun,Ham, Heon,Kim, Kyoung Hun,Shim, Kwang Bo 한국결정성장학회 2013 한국결정성장학회지 Vol.23 No.1

다른 형태의 ZnO는 형태에 따라 각각의 활용분야에 사용할 수 있다. 다양한 형태의 ZnO 구조체(structures)는 촉매를 사용하지 않는 열 기화법(thermal evaporation process)으로 합성되었다. ZnO 구조체의 형태들은 같은 실험 공정에서 기판과 소스간의 거리에 의존하였으며, 그 결과 합성물의 형태는 hollow, cage, star 이었다. ZnO 구조체의 형상과 결정성을 주사전자현미경(SEM)과 X선 회절분석(XRD)으로 각기 평가했다. 본 연구에서는 어떤 종류의 성장 요소가 최종 구조체의 형태에 관여하는지를 입증한다. ZnO with different morphologies can be used various application depending on their shapes. Different morphologies of ZnO structures were synthesized by a catalysis-free thermal evaporation process. Their morphologies were dependent on the distance from the source to substrate on the same processing condition; in the result were products morphologies of the hollow, cage and star. Their shapes and crystalinity were evaluated by SEM and XRD, respectively. This work demonstrates what kind of growth factors would be involved in the final structure morphologies.

Fabrication of single-phase titanium carbide layers from MWCNTs using high DC pulse

Kim, Woo Sik,Moon, Sook Young,Lee, Jeong Hoon,Bang, Sin Young,Choi, Bong Geun,Ham, Heon,Sekino, Tohru,Shim, Kwang Bo IOP Pub 2010 Nanotechnology Vol.21 No.5

<P>Single-phase layered titanium carbide (TiC) was successfully synthesized by reacting carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and titanium dioxide (TiO<SUB>2</SUB>) under a high direct current (DC) pulse. Single-phase TiC layer fabrication is confirmed as the transformation of multi-layered graphene from MWCNTs. Therefore its thickness and width is almost identical to those of transformed graphene layers. This is the first report on the formation of single-phase layered nano-TiC. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) were used for the characteristic analysis of single-phase layered TiC structures.</P>

Real-World Effectiveness of Nirmatrelvir-Ritonavir and Its Acceptability in High-Risk COVID-19 Patients

Kim Min-Kyung,Lee Kyung-Shin,Ham Sin Young,Choi Youn Young,Lee Eunyoung,Lee Seungjae,Lee Bora,Jeon Jaehyun,Chin BumSik,Kim Yeonjae,Kim Gayeon,Jang Hee-Chang,Choi Jae-Phil,Park Sang-Won 대한의학회 2023 Journal of Korean medical science Vol.38 No.35

Background: Nirmatrelvir-ritonavir is highly effective in preventing severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in high-risk patients with mild-to-moderate severity. However, real-world performance data are limited, and the drug is not so acceptable to the COVID-19 patients at high risk who need it in Korea. Methods: To evaluate the effectiveness of nirmatrelvir-ritonavir, we conducted a propensity score-matched retrospective cohort study on patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 at high risk for a severe disease who were hospitalized at four hospitals in South Korea from February 2022 to April 2022. A total of 236 patients in the treatment group (administered nirmatrelvir-ritonavir) and 236 in the matched control group (supportive care only) were analyzed for the primary outcome, i.e., the time to oxygen support-free survival. The secondary outcome was a composite result of disease progression. The reason for not prescribing nirmatrelvir-ritonavir to the indicated patients was also investigated. Results: The treatment group showed significantly longer oxygen support-free survival than the matched control group (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.01–0.31; P < 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that age (aHR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.00–1.07), National Early Warning Score-2 at admission (aHR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.08–1.71), nirmatrelvir-ritonavir treatment, female sex (aHR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.15–0.88), and time from symptom onset to admission (aHR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.48–0.95) were significantly associated with oxygen therapy. However, none of the factors were related to the composite outcome. In the unmatched control group, 19.9% of 376 patients had documented explanations for nirmatrelvirritonavir non-prescription, and 44.0% of these were due to contraindication criteria. In the treatment group, 10.9% of patients discontinued the medication primarily because of adverse events (71.4%), with gastrointestinal symptoms being the most common (50.0%). Conclusion: Nirmatrelvir-ritonavir treatment significantly reduced oxygen therapy requirements in high-risk patients with COVID-19 during the omicron variant surge in South Korea. Physicians are encouraged to consider the active use of nirmatrelvir-ritonavir and to be watchful for gastrointestinal symptoms during medication.

Hybrid Tubular 아치교의 설계

조경식(Kyung Sik Cho),강신오(Sin Oh Kang),안기업(Ki Up Ahn),김형원(Hyung Won Kim),함덕봉(Duck Bong Ham),정일영(Il Young Jung) 한국강구조학회 2006 韓國鋼構造學會誌 Vol.18 No.3

자기주도학습전형 입학생의 성과에 영향을 미치는 요인에 관한 연구

이재덕(Lee, Jaeduck),김정현(Kim, Jung Hyun),함은혜(Ham, Eun Hye),이영신(Lee, Young Sin) 한국교육행정학회 2018 敎育行政學硏究 Vol.36 No.2

이 연구는 자기주도학습전형으로 입학한 학생들의 자기주도성, 창의적 사고능력, 진로성숙도, 인성 및, 학업성취도 등의 성과에 영향을 미치는 요인을 파악하는데 목적이 있다. 이를 위해 자기주도학습전형으로 학생을 선발하는 학교들 중 과학고를 제외한 총 63개교 중 18개교를 표집하여 2년간 설문조사를 실시하였다. 2차 연도의 성과변인을 종속 변인으로 하고, 1차 연도 성과와 학생 배경 및 과정변인, 학교 과정변인을 독립변인으로 하는 다층선형모형 분석을 시행하였다. 연구 결과, 자기주도학습 참여시간과 공교육 참여도 및 사교육 참여도 등이 공통적으로 중요한 영향 요인이었고, 학업지향 문화는 자기주도성과 창의적 사고능력, 진로성숙도, 인성 함양에 영향을 미쳤고, 관계지향 문화는 국어 및 영어 성적에 부정적인 영향을 미쳤다. 학교 문화 및 과정을 조성하는 것도 중요하지만, 실질적으로 학생들의 학교 교육활동 참여도를 높이기 위해 노력할 필요가 있다. The purpose of this study is to identify which student-level and school-level characteristics affected students" self-initiative, creative thinking, career maturity, personality, and academic achievement. For this purpose, approximately 6,000 students from the 18 selective schools for self-directed learning were tracked for two consecutive years, and their changes were monitored. A series of multi-level models were applied and main findings are as follows: First, while participation in private tutoring was negatively associated with creative thinking, career maturity and personality, self-directed learning hours and participation in school learning activities were positively associated with all five measured outcomes. Second, academic-oriented school culture positively predicted students’ self-initiative, creative thinking ability, career maturity and personality. Finally, we highlighted schools need to make efforts not only for creating positive school culture but also for boosting students" participation in school learning activities

Dynamics of viral load and anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in patients with positive RT-PCR results after recovery from COVID-19

( Kyoung-ho Song ),( Dong-min Kim ),( Hyunju Lee ),( Sin Young Ham ),( Sang-min Oh ),( Hyeonju Jeong ),( Jongtak Jung ),( Chang Kyung Kang ),( Ji Young Park ),( Yu Min Kang ),( Ji-yeon Kim ),( Jeong S 대한내과학회 2021 The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine Vol.36 No.1

Recently, the number of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who have tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), via the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test, after recovery has increased; this has caused a dilemma regarding the medical measures and policies. We evaluated the dynamics of viral load and anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in four patients with positive RT-PCR results after recovery. In all patients, the highest levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM antibodies were reached after about a month of the onset of the initial symptoms. Then, the IgG titers plateaued, and the IgM titers decreased, regardless of RT-PCR results. The IgG and IgM levels did not increase after the post-negative positive RT-PCR results in any of the patients. Our results reinforced that the post-negative positive RT-PCR results may be due to the detection of RNA particles rather than reinfection in individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.

Short-Term Effectiveness of Oral Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir Against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant and Culture-Positive Viral Shedding

Lee Eunyoung,Park Sehee,Choi Jae-Phil,Kim Min-Kyung,Yang Eunmi,Ham Sin Young,Lee Seungjae,Lee Bora,Yang Jeong-Sun,Park Byoung Kwon,Kim Da Sol,Lee So-Young,Lee Joo-Yeon,Jang Hee-Chang,Jeon Jaehyun,Park 대한의학회 2023 Journal of Korean medical science Vol.38 No.8

Background: Information on the effectiveness of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir against the omicron is limited. The clinical response and viral kinetics to therapy in the real world need to be evaluated. Methods: Mild to moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with risk factors for severe illness were prospectively enrolled as a treatment group with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir therapy versus a control group with supportive care. Serial viral load and culture from the upper respiratory tract were evaluated for seven days, and clinical responses and adverse reactions were evaluated for 28 days. Results: A total of 51 patients were analyzed including 40 in the treatment group and 11 in the control group. Faster symptom resolution during hospitalization (P = 0.048) was observed in the treatment group. Only minor adverse reactions were reported in 27.5% of patients. The viral load on Day 7 was lower in the treatment group (P = 0.002). The viral culture showed a positivity of 67.6% (25/37) vs. 100% (6/6) on Day 1, 0% (0/37) vs. 16.7 (1/6) on Day 5, and 0% (0/16) vs. 50.0% (2/4) on Day 7 in the treatment and control groups, respectively. Conclusions: Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir against the omicron was safe and resulted in negative viral culture conversion after Day 5 of treatment with better symptomatic resolution.

Clinical and Laboratory Factors Associated with Symptom Development in Asymptomatic COVID-19 Patients at the Time of Diagnosis

오홍상,김준호,우명렬,Kim Ji Yeon,박철희,Won Hyejin,Lim Seungkwan,Jeong Hyeonju,Ham Sin Young,Kim Eun Jin,신승수,강유민,Yoon Doran,Lee Seung Youp,Song Kyoung-Ho 대한감염학회 2021 Infection and Chemotherapy Vol.53 No.4

In preparation for the surge of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), it is crucial to allocate medical resources efficiently for distinguishing people who remain asymptomatic until the end of the disease. Between January 27, 2020, and April 21, 2020, 517 COVID-19 cases from 13 healthcare facilities in Gyeonggi province, Korea, were identified out of which the epidemiologic and clinical information of 66 asymptomatic patients at the time of diagnosis were analyzed retrospectively. An exposure-diagnosis interval within 7 days and abnormal aspartate aminotransferase levels were identified as characteristic symptom development in asymptomatic COVID-19 patients. If asymptomatic patients without these characteristics at the time of diagnosis could be differentiated early, more medical resources could be secured for mild or moderate cases in this COVID-19 surge.