Epidemiological control of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is needed to estimate the infection period of confirmed cases and identify potential cases. The present study, targeting confirmed cases for which the time of COVID-19 symptom onset was disclosed, aimed to investigate the relationship between intervals (day) from symptom onset to testing the cycle threshold (CT) values of real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Of the COVID-19 confirmed cases, those for which the date of suspected symptom onset in the epidemiological investigation was specifically disclosed were included in this study. Interval was defined as the number of days from symptom onset (as disclosed by the patient) to specimen collection for testing. A locally weighted regression smoothing (LOWESS) curve was applied, with intervals as explanatory variables and CT values (CTR for RdRp gene and CTE for E gene) as outcome variables. After finding its non-linear relationship, a polynomial regression model was applied to estimate the 95% confidence interval values of CTR and CTE by interval. The application of LOWESS in 331 patients identified a U-shaped curve relationship between the CTR and CTE values according to the number of interval days, and both CTR and CTE satisfied the quadratic model for interval days. Active application of these results to epidemiological investigations would minimize the chance of failing to identify individuals who are in contact with COVID-19 confirmed cases, thereby reducing the potential transmission of the virus to local communities.

Arteriovenous fistula flow dysfunction is the leading cause of vascular access thrombosis and loss in patients undergoing hemodialysis. However, data regarding the influence of access flow rate measurements on the long-term outcomes of access are limited. This study aims to identify accesses at a high risk of thrombosis and loss among patients undergoing hemodialysis by measuring the access flow rate and exploring an optimal threshold value for predicting future access thrombosis. We enrolled 220 patients with arteriovenous fistula undergoing hemodialysis. The primary outcome was the occurrence of access thrombosis. Access flow rates were measured monthly using the ultrasound dilution method and were averaged using all measurements from patients with patent access. In patients experienced access thrombosis, those immediately before the thrombosis were selected. Using these data, we calculated the access flow rate threshold for thrombosis occurrence by analyzing the receiver operating characteristic curve, and the patients were divided into two groups according to whether access flow rates were higher or lower than 400 mL/min. During a median follow-up period of 3.1 years, 4,510 access flows were measured (median measurements per patient, 33 times; interquartile range, 11-54). A total of 65 access thromboses and 19 abandonments were observed. Access thrombosis and loss were higher in the lowflow group than in the high-flow group. This study revealed that low access flow rates are strongly associated with access thrombosis occurrence and subsequent loss of arteriovenous fistulas in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have become increasingly prescribed because of their proven protective effects on the heart and kidneys, and carbohydrate-restricted diets are popular therapeutic approaches for patients with obesity and diabetes. A 28-year-old obese woman with recently diagnosed diabetes developed euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) while on dapagliflozin, an SGLT2 inhibitor, and following a carbohydrate-restricted diet. She presented with nausea, vomiting, and epigastric pain. Hospital tests showed a blood glucose of 172 mg/dL, metabolic acidosis, and increased ketone levels, confirming euglycemic DKA. Treatment involved discontinuing dapagliflozin and administering fluids, glucose, and insulin. She recovered and was discharged on the fourth day. This is considered a case of euglycemic DKA induced by SGLT2 inhibitors and triggered by a carbohydrate-restricted diet. This case highlights the importance of physicians in confirming the symptoms and laboratory results of DKA, even in patients with normal blood glucose levels taking SGLT2 inhibitors and following carbohydrate-restricted diets. It is also crucial to advise patients to maintain an adequate carbohydrate intake.

Here, we present a case of a 56-year-old man with acute myocardial infarction. The patient underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) at the left main bifurcation and mid-left anterior descending artery using drugeluting stents. Four months after the PCI, the patient was readmitted for cardiac arrest. Coronary angiography (CAG) revealed stent thrombosis in the left main-to-proximal left anterior descending artery and in-stent restenosis in the left main-to-proximal left circumflex artery. We performed balloon angioplasty at the left main to mid-left anterior descending artery and left main to proximal left circumflex artery stents; subsequently, blood flow was fully restored. However, contrast agent extravasation was observed outside the mid-portion of the left main artery to the proximal left anterior descending artery stent, indicating the presence of a coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) outside the stent. After guideline-directed medical therapy with dual antiplatelet agents and high-intensity statins, follow-up CAG revealed near-resolution of the CAA, absence of stenotic lesions, and good blood flow.