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Background: In South Korea, COVID-19 vaccination has been recommended to adolescents aged 12 − 17 since October, 2021. We aimed to assess the rate of adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination in adolescents with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in South Korea, using national cohort data. Methods: We retrieved the clinical information of adolescents 12 − 17 years old from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency-COVID19-National Health Insurance Service (K-COV-N) database, to calculate incidence rates of purpura and other hemorrhagic conditions, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), Kawasaki disease/multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), myocarditis and/or pericarditis, and anaphylaxis in adolescents with CKD, after BNT162b2 vaccination. Results: Among the 2306 adolescents with CKD, 62.7% (n = 1446) had received the BNT-162b2 vaccine. GBS, Kawasaki disease/MIS-C, and anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock did not occur during the observation period. Purpura and hemorrhagic conditions were more frequent in the unvaccinated group (7/860 vs. 1/1446), while myocarditis/pericarditis was observed only in the vaccinated group (0/860 vs. 1/1446). Adjusted odds ratio for any of the two adverse events was lower in vaccinated adolescents than in the unvaccinated group which did not reach statistical significance (adjusted odds ratio = 0.14, 95% confidence interval: 0.02, 1.16, P = 0.068). Conclusions: In this national cohort study of adolescents with CKD in South Korea, we observed no evidence of increased risk of adverse events following BNT162b2 vaccination. Our finding offers insights into the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, empowering adolescent patients with CKD and their caregivers to make informed decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ehrlichia chaffeensisis one of the causative agents of canine ehrlichiosis and human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME). Canine ehrlichiosis caused by E. chaffeensiswas diagnosed in two dogs in South Korea based on clinical findings, and the diagnosis was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing. A 5-year-old intact male American Pit bull terrier allowed outdoors was found to be concurrently infected with Babesia gibsoniand E. chaffeensis. The major clinical findings were lethargy and reddish urine, and laboratory analysis revealed severe hematuria and thrombocytopenia. In addition, a 3-year-old neutered male Shih-tzu was also found to be infected with E. chaffeensis. Although this dog was an indoor companion animal, he was frequently allowed outside for exercise. The clinical signs observed in this dog included generalized purpura with petechiae and ecchymoses due to thrombocytopenia. A 390-bp partial portion of E. chaffeensis16S rRNA gene was amplified in both cases, and nucleotide sequence analysis revealed 99 homology of this fragment with other E. chaffeensisisolates. These findings demonstrate the presence of E. chaffeensisinfection in dogs in South Korea, and this is the first report to confirm clinical cases of E. chaffeensisinfection in dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatic angiosarcomas are uncommon, highly aggressive tumors, rarely seen in children. A 3-month-old female infant was admitted to hospital for evaluation of multiple petechiae on her body. She had hepatosplenomegaly and scattered petechiae over her entire body. Laboratory tests indicated thrombocytopenia and positive cytomegalovirus ( CMV) polymerase chain reaction. Ganciclovir was started, and the platelet count increased. After 4 months the patient was readmitted to hospital for drowsy mental status and eventually died from severe bleeding. Needle biopsy of the liver was performed after receiving written consent from the parents. Pathological findings of the liver lesion included features consistent with hepatic angiosarcoma. There have been no previous reports of hepatic angiosarcoma in Korean infants. Here, we report an infant with hepatosplenomegaly and thrombocytopenia who was diagnosed with hepatic angiosarcoma mimicking congenital CMV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]