Specific apolipoprotein (apo) E genotype has been suggested as a risk factor for atherosclerosis in the general population. Lipid metabolism is known to be modulated by apo E genotype. In this study, we measured apo E genotype, lipoprotein (a)[Lp (a)], apo A phenotype and other lipoproteins in 50 CAPD patients, and evaluated the association of lipid parameters with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Dipyridamole thallium scan with SPECT and ankle- arm blood pressure index (AABI) were performed in all the subjects. The patients who had positive finding in at least one of the two test were considered to have atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease [CVD (+)]. Fifteen patients had evidence of cardiovascular disease. Serum Lp (a) concentration (median; interquartile range) of CVD (+) patients (n=15, 62.0 mg/dl; 29.5-82.3) was not different from that of CVD (-) patients (n=35, 65.1mg/dl; 34.3-89.9). The frequency distribution of apo (a) phenotype of CVD (+) patients did not differ from that of CVD (-) patients. In addition, there were no differences of other lipoproteins levels and lipid profiles between two group. However, significant difference in the frequency distribution of apo E genotype (E2; 6.7 vs 20%, E3; 40 vs 68.6%, E4; 53.3 vs between CVD (+) and CVD (-) patients. After stratifying the subjects according to the apo E genotype, we observed no difference of lipid profiles, apolipoproteins and Lp (a) concentration in E2, E3, E4. Multivariate regression analysis of risk factors for CVD revealed age and the presence of apo E4 phenotype as independent risk factors of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. In conclusion, Apo E4 genotype could be an independent risk factor of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in CAPD patients.
Apolipoprotein E4 ; Apolipoproteins E ; Apolipoproteins* ; Arm ; Atherosclerosis ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular Diseases* ; Dipyridamole ; Genotype ; Humans ; Lipid Metabolism ; Lipoproteins ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Phenotype ; Risk Factors ; Thallium ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

Sparganosis is a rare parasitic infection caused by plerocercoid tapeworm larvae of the genus Spirometra. While initially asymptomatic, the migrating larvae initially appear as subcutaneous nodules, which can be mistaken for cancer because all parts of the body can be affected, including the abdominal cavity, genitourinary tract, gastrointestinal tract, musculoskeletal system, central nervous system, and even the breasts. Therefore, we report here a case of sparganosis that was differentially diagnosed from recurrence of breast cancer.
Abdominal Cavity ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Central Nervous System ; Cestoda ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Larva ; Musculoskeletal System ; Recurrence* ; Sparganosis* ; Spirometra

Clustered occurrences of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in family have been noticed. We evaluated patients with AS confirmed by the modified New York criteria for familial history of AS (one or more first to third degree relatives). The clinical characteristics and the recurrence risks (number of AS patients/number of familial members) of the familial AS compared to sporadic AS were investigated. Out of a total of 204 AS patients, 38 patients (18.6%) reported that they had a familial history of AS. The recurrence risks in the familial AS patients for first, second and third degree family members were 14.5%, 5.2%, and 4.4% respectively. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (22.6+/-22.2 vs 35.4+/-34.4, P=0.029) and C-reactive protein (CRP) (1.24+/-1.7 vs 2.43+/-3.3, P=0.003) at diagnosis, body mass index (21.9+/-2.7 vs 23.7+/-3.3, P=0.002) and frequency of oligoarthritis (13.2% vs 33.7%, P=0.021) were significantly lower in the familial form. The presence of HLA-B27 (97.4% vs 83.1%, P=0.044) was significantly higher in familial AS. In conclusion, Korean familial AS patients show a lower frequency of oligoarthritis, lower BMI, lower ESR and CRP at diagnosis and higher presence of HLA-B27.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Arthritis, Juvenile/diagnosis/epidemiology ; Blood Sedimentation ; Body Mass Index ; C-Reactive Protein/analysis ; Demography ; Family ; Female ; HLA-B27 Antigen/metabolism ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phenotype ; Recurrence ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Factors ; Severity of Illness Index ; Sex Factors ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing/*diagnosis

This study was performed to evaluate the effects of diabetes on short- and mid-term clinical outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Between October 2005 and December 2009, a total of 22,347 patients with AMI from a nationwide registry was analyzed. At the time point of the day 30 after AMI onset, landmark analyses were performed for the development of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), including death, re-infarction and revascularization. In this cohort, 6,131 patients (27.4%) had diabetes. Short-term MACEs, which occurred within 30 days of AMI onset, were observed in 1,364 patients (6.1%). Among the 30-day survivors (n = 21,604), mid-term MACEs, which occurred between 31 and 365 days after AMI onset, were observed in 1,181 patients (5.4%). After adjustment for potential confounders, diabetes was an independent predictor of mid-term MACEs (HR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.08-1.45; P = 0.002), but not of short-term MACEs (HR: 1.16; 95% CI: 0.93-1.44; P = 0.167). Diabetes is a poor prognostic factor for mid-term clinical outcomes but not for short-term outcomes in AMI patients. Careful monitoring and intensive care should be considered in diabetic patients, especially following the acute stage of AMI.
Acute Disease ; Aged ; Cardiovascular Diseases/etiology ; Cohort Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications/*diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction/*diagnosis/epidemiology/mortality ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Registries ; Survival Analysis ; Time Factors

As the nation’s largest chronic kidney disease (CKD) cohort, the KoreaN Cohort Study for Outcomes in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease (KNOW-CKD) was established to investigate the clinical course, risk factors for progression, and adverse outcomes of CKD. From 2011 to 2016, the KNOW-CKD recruited 2,238 adult patients with CKD from stage G1 to G5 who were not receiving renal replacement therapy from nine tertiary care hospitals throughout Korea. As of 2019, the KNOW-CKD has published more than 50 articles in the areas of socio-economics, nutrition, quality of life, health-related habits, CKD progression, cardiovascular comorbidity and outcome, anemia, mineral bone disease, biomarker discovery, and international and inter-ethnic comparisons. The KNOW-CKD will eventually offer a prediction model for long-term consequences of CKD, such as the occurrences of end-stage renal disease, cardiovascular disease, and death, thereby enabling the identification and treatment of at-risk populations that require extra medical attention.

BACKGROUND: Induction of coagulation necrosis by using thermal energy sources such as radio-frequency (RF), microwaves and lasers has recently been as a new, minimally invasive technique for percutaneous tumor ablation. RF ablation is considerd effective and safe for the local control of small HCCs. The aim of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and complications according to the diameter and location of the HCC. METHODS: Between May 1999 and December 2000, one hundred fifty patients underwent RF thermal ablation in Dong-A university hospital. Among them, forty nine patients were enrolled in this study who have no history of prior other treatment including hepatic resection, TAE, PEI, and chemotherapy, also who have follow-up CT performed at least six months after ablation. The patients devided into two groups, who have small HCC (3 cm in diameter), the mean follow-up duration was 10.8 months and local recurrence rate was 51.0%+/-12.4. In small HCC group ( Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Liver ; Microwaves ; Necrosis ; Pleural Effusion ; Pneumothorax ; Recurrence ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

Inflammatory fibroid polyp is a polypoid lesion of the gastrointestinal tract, composed of fibrous tissue, blood vessels, and inflammatory infiltration often dominated by eosinophilic leukocytes. It is infrequent, localized, and non-neoplastic condition. It is most often formed in the gastric antrum and ileum, and rarely in the esophagus, small bowel or colon. The polyp in the stomach is mainly located in the submucosa of the antrum, and may cause intermittent epigastric pain, vomiting, antral obstructive symptoms or rarely bleeding. When present in small bowel, it is usually localized in the ileum and presents with obstructive symptoms but clincal manifestations are different according to the location. Intussusception resulting from the mass is not common. We report a case of inflammatory fibroid polyp of the cecum causing intussusception. A 42-year-old male patient was referred to the hospital for the evaluation of right lower quadrant abdominal pain and palpable mass. A contrast-enhanced CT scan of the whole abdomen and colonoscopic examination revealed intussusception with a cecal mass. Inflammatory fibroid polyp causing intussusception was histologically confirmed by surgical wedge resection.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Blood Vessels ; Cecum* ; Colon ; Eosinophils ; Esophagus ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Ileum ; Intussusception* ; Leiomyoma* ; Leukocytes ; Male ; Polyps* ; Pyloric Antrum ; Stomach ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vomiting

OBJECTIVES: Approximately 15-20% of all clinically recognized pregnancies result in spontaneous abortion between 8 and 12 weeks. In some early abortus only the extra-embryonic components of the conceptus survive, either as fragments of placenta or as empty gestational sac, and these have been termed 'anembryonic pregnancies'. Despite their common occurrences, the etiology of anembryonic conceptuses is poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether chromosomal abnormalities relate to a role in anembryonic pregnancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study, that consisted of 143 pregnancies from chromosomally normal couples that aborted in first trimester period between January 1, 1994 and December 27, 1997, had chromosomal analysis performed on the products of conception and had ultrasonographic examination prior to spontaneous abortion. The tissue was processed and analysed using standard G-banding cytogenetic techniques with long-term cultures. RESULTS: The patient characteristics of the anembryonic pregnancy were not significantly different from those of the embryonic pregnancy. Among products of conception from embryonic pregnancies, 45% (52/115) had normal chromosomal analyses and 55% (63/115) had abnormal chromosomal analyses. Products of conception from anembryonic pregnancies resulted in 54% (15/28) of abnormal chromosome analyses and normal chromosomal analyses resulted in 46% (13/28) (p>0.05, Chi-square test). The frequency of aneuploidy and polyploidy were not different between products of conception from anembryonic pregnancy and embryonic pregnancy. Also, the gender ratio of euploid spontaneous pregnancy losses showed similar in this study. CONCLUSION: There are no differences in frequency of abnormal karyotypes in products of conception from anembryonic pregnancies compared with miscarriage after the demonstration of fetal pole. If further studies are need for the evaluation of these etiologies, and then immuno-molecular studies in early placental tissues from anembryonic pregnancy might be helpful.
Abnormal Karyotype ; Abortion, Spontaneous ; Aneuploidy ; Chromosome Aberrations* ; Cytogenetic Analysis ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Fertilization ; Gestational Sac ; Humans ; Placenta ; Polyploidy ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Pregnancy*

OBJECTIVES: Pneumoconisis and noise-induced hearing loss(NIHL) have been reported as main occupational diseases by the Special Health Examination. The Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance has reported various work-related diseases, however, these two diseases occupied almost a half of compensated cases. Therefore, it was not well known about the status of occupational diseases other than pneumoconiosis, NIHL, and cardiocerebrovascular accident(CVA). This study was conducted to analyze claimed cases as an occupational disease, that was requested to the Korea Industrial Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA). METHODS: The local office of the Korea Labor Welfare Corporation(KLWC) has asked the KOSHA for confirmation of claimed cases as an occupational disease. We analyzed 379 cases requested from KLWC, the Ministry of Labor, employers, unions and occupational health agencies from 1992 to 1999. RESULTS: Male was 80. 7 % of the requested cases. Their mean age was 42 years old and 75. 5 % of them were more than 35 years old. The requested cases were increased rapidly from 25 cases in 1992 to 108 cases in 1999 and the accept rate was 50. 7 %. The majority of requested cases were respiratory diseases(22.4 %), cancers(18.5 %), Neuropsychiatric problems (14. 5 %), and musculoskeletal problems (13. 5 %). The accept rate was high in reproductive, respiratory, musculoskeletal and digestive disorders and low in neuropsychiatric, renal and otologic problems and occupational cancers. 73. 6 % of them were caused by chemical agents, especially 28. 5 % were by organic solvents. 67 % of them were clinically confirmed at university hospitals. A half of the cases were from KyongIn area, even the request came from the whole country. CONCLUSIONS: A claim was common in workers whose age was over 35 years old and exposure history was over 10 years. The respiratory diseases and neuropsychiatric disorders were still main problems in occupational health and occupational cancers was increasing even though its accept rate was not high yet.
Accidents, Occupational ; Adult ; Compensation and Redress ; Hearing ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Insurance ; Korea* ; Male ; Occupational Diseases* ; Occupational Health* ; Pneumoconiosis ; Solvents

Background: The Korean Society of Nephrology (KSN) has maintained a nationwide end-stage renal disease (ESRD) registry data from Korean Renal Data System (KORDS) since 1985, as the representative registry of ESRD patients in Korea. This review is aimed to update the status of domestic ESRD and to provide evidence on the direction of dialysis therapy. Methods: The KORDS Committee of KSN has collected data on dialysis centers and patients through an online registry program, and the data from 1986 to 2019 were analyzed. Results: The incidence and prevalence of ESRD patients in Korea are increasing. The ESRD population numbered more than 100,000 in 2019, doubling during the 10 years since 2010. The proportion of diabetes mellitus as a major cause of ESRD seems to have reached a plateau. The increasing number of elderly dialysis patients is a constant trend, with more than half for the proportion of patients older than 65 years old in 2019. All-cause mortality decreased for the last approximately 20 years, regardless of sex, age, and cause of ESRD. The 5-year patient survival rate in both hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis increased from 2001 to 2013. Since 2013, the patient survival rates in peritoneal dialysis were similar to those in hemodialysis. Cardiovascular complications were the leading cause of death in ESRD patients. Conclusions The incidence and prevalence of Korean ESRD patients have increased over time, although patient survival has also steadily increased. The establishment of a surveillance method to address the major cause of mortality in ESRD patients will help improve outcomes.