The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in the Korea has increased dramatically over the past decade. Clinicians can prescribe the following six currently available classes of oral hypoglycemic agents: sulfonylureas, meglitinides, biguanides, thiazolidinediones, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors and dipeptidyl peptidase inhibitors. The availability of various oral hypoglycemic agents has given rise to several adverse effects and may result in worse outcomes in patients with comorbid conditions such as liver dysfunction, renal impairment and heart failure. When taking a cross-sectional view of hepatic dysfunction, we find that hepatitis B and alcoholic liver disease are most prevalent in Korea. The use of oral hypoglycemic agents in type 2 diabetic patients with hepatic dysfunction requires many considerations.
Administration, Oral ; alpha-Glucosidases ; Biguanides ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Heart Failure ; Hepatitis B ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; Korea ; Liver Diseases ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic ; Prevalence ; Protease Inhibitors ; Thiazolidinediones

In an effort to characterize, on the molecular scale, the Acanthamoeba initially isolated from the cornea of an amoebic keratitis patient associated with overnight-wear orthokeratology lens in Korea, we conducted mitochondrial DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism, 18S rDNA sequencing, and drug sensitivity analyses on the isolate (KA/PE1). The patient was treated with polyhexamethylene biguanide, chlorhexidine and oral itraconazole, which resulted in resolution of the patient's ocular inflammation. The majority of the molecular characteristics of the KA/PE1 were determined to be identical, or quite similar, to those of A. castellanii Ma strain, which had been isolated also from amoebic keratitis. The risk of Acanthamoeba keratitis as a potential complication of overnight orthokeratology is briefly discussed.
*Sequence Analysis, DNA ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Parasitic Sensitivity Tests ; Myopia/therapy ; Itraconazole/administration & dosage ; Humans ; Female ; Disinfectants/administration & dosage ; DNA, Ribosomal/analysis ; DNA, Protozoan/analysis ; DNA, Mitochondrial/analysis ; Contact Lenses/*adverse effects ; Chlorhexidine/administration & dosage ; Biguanides/administration & dosage ; Astigmatism/therapy ; Antiprotozoal Agents/administration & dosage ; Animals ; Adolescent ; Acanthamoeba Keratitis/drug therapy/*parasitology ; Acanthamoeba/classification/*genetics/*isolation & purification