Jee Yeon Baek

Jo S, et al. J Korean Med Sci. 2027 Jan;42:e8. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2027.42.e8

Despite the decline in the overall birth rate, increasing preterm births and associated medical costs pose a national concern. We analyze hospitalization costs covered by national public insurance for preterm infants. Population-based data, obtained from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), which is operated by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, were used for the study. Preterm births from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2020 were included, using International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th edition (P07.2, extremely preterm < 28 weeks gestational age, P07.3, non-extremely preterm). The primary outcomes related to cost from the first hospitalization due to preterm births and medication, and laboratory, radiological, and functional tests by gestational age and birth weight. Additionally, we assessed the readmission rates of preterm infants and the associated medical costs. A total of 5,312,886 live infants were born, of which 90,575 were claimed as preterm birth hospitalization. The total medical cost per patient increased almost three-fold from $7,390.90 to $20,209.59 from 2008 to 2020; for the extremely preterm group, it increased four-fold ($13,961.03 to $55,984.47). The readmission rate within 90 days of discharge was 62.5%; however, a greater proportion of the extremely preterm, as compared to the non-extremely preterm (16.1% vs. 8.32%, P < 0.001) group was readmitted within 30 days. The extremely preterm group also incurred higher costs associated with readmission (mean $4293.8 vs. $2975.4, P < 0.001). This study reveals not only the increase in preterm birth rate in South Korea, but also in the associated medical costs. Further attention should be paid to efficient resource allocation at the national level to relieve the medical burden of preterm births.

Lee JY, et al. Infect Chemother. 2025 Dec;57(4):462-471. https://doi.org/10.3947/ic.2025.0107

Chikungunya fever, a viral illness transmitted to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes, presents with symptoms such as high fever, severe myalgia, headache, arthralgia, rash, and vomiting. This disease predominantly manifests in Southeast Asia, Africa, and Central and South America, with a limited occurrence in Northeast Asia. To date, no such a documented case has been reported in South Korea. Herein, we present the first adolescent case of chikungunya fever in South Korea following a travel to Bali, Indonesia.

Lee JY, et al. Pediatr Infect Vaccine. 2024 Apr;31(1):25-36. https://doi.org/10.14776/piv.2024.31.e1

Na B, et al. J Korean Med Sci. 2024 Jun;39:e206. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2024.39.e206

Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS, OMIM: #142680) is a rare autoinflammatory disease (AID) with recurrent febrile episodes. To our knowledge, we report herein the first case of a patient with TRAPS in South Korea whose symptoms included fever, arthralgia, abdominal pain, rash, myalgia, cough, and lymphadenopathy. A pathogenic de novo mutation, c.175T>C (p.Cys59Arg), in the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 1A (TNFRSF1A) gene, was confirmed by gene sequencing. The patient has been with tocilizumab (an interleukin-6 inhibitor); tocilizumab administration every other week has completely alleviated the patient's symptoms. Our report further expands the clinical spectrum of patients with TRAPS and reaffirms the use of tocilizumab as a viable alternative treatment option for those patients who are unsatisfactorily responsive to other commonly used biologics, such as canakinumab, anakinra, infliximab, and etanercept. Furthermore, our report may aid in increasing awareness about the existence of mutation-confirmed TRAPS in South Korea in addition to emphasizing the importance of actively pursuing genetic testing to correctly diagnose rare AID.

Kim A, et al. Yonsei Med J. 2024 Feb;65(2):78-88. https://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2023.0250

Live immunization is contraindicated in patients with DiGeorge syndrome (DGS). We retrospectively investigated the occurrence of adverse events after live immunization in patients with DGS in Korea. The data of patients matching the International Classification of Disease-10 code of DGS (D82.1) at Severance Hospital Seoul, Korea, were extracted; patients without genetically diagnosed DGS were excluded. Based on T cell immunity status, the included patients were categorized into group A (CD3 < 500 or CD8 < 200 cells/mm³); group B (CD3 ≥ 500 and CD8 ≥ 200 cells/mm³); or group C (unknown). Among 94 patients, 38 (~40%, group A: 8 [21%]; group B: 30 [79%]) underwent immunological testing and 73 (~80%) received at least one live immunization (measles–mumps–rubella vaccination was most common [66/94, ~70%]). Fifty adverse events (fever [n = 29], upper respiratory infection [n = 9], diarrhea [n = 4], rash [n = 3], thrombocytopenia [n = 3], injection site pus [n = 1], and febrile convulsion [n = 1]) were observed; 13 (26%) occurred in group A, with no significant difference in incidence between groups A and B. Serious adverse events, including intensive care unit hospitalization or death, or diseases due to vaccine strains were not observed. In this study, live immunization was well tolerated by patients with partial DGS.