Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common life-threatening cancers worldwide. Recently, many patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) have progressed to HCC even in the absence of cirrhosis. As the morbidity of metabolic syndrome increases, the proportion of HCC associated with NAFLD is expected to increase gradually. A new mechanism for the development of HCC in NAFLD has been identified; Diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance, obesity, lipotoxicity, gut dysbiosis are risk factors. Inflammatory cytokines such as adipokines, leptin, tumor necrosis factor-α, interlukin-8, nuclear factor-κB constitute dysplasia-carcinoma sequence. At the time of diagnosis, NAFLD/NASH related HCC tend to progress to larger and in advanced tumor-node-metastasis stages compared to viral hepatitis related HCC. But there are no guidelines for early detection of NAFLD-related HCC. So, it is essential to study the screening program for the early detection of NAFLD-related HCC and precise methods for NAFLD.
Adipokines ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Cytokines ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diagnosis ; Dysbiosis ; Fatty Liver ; Fibrosis ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Leptin ; Mass Screening ; Metabolic Syndrome X ; Necrosis ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease* ; Obesity ; Risk Factors

No abstract available.
Fibrosis* ; Humans ; Tenofovir*

Reducing caloric intake is important for weight loss and obesity; a reduction of ~500-700 kcal/day has been recommended previously. However, only a minority of individuals can successfully sustain such a reduced caloric intake. Therefore, many specialized diet programs have been proposed. Until now, many experts have recommended low-fat diets in various countries, but very-low-carbohydrate diets have recently garnered attention in Korea. The various effects of changing the dietary compositions of macro- and micronutrients have been debated. The majority of large-scale studies have demonstrated that total caloric intake, rather than the composition of macronutrients or the consumption of a specialized diet, is important for successful weight loss. While many cross-sectional studies have investigated specialized diet programs for patients with non-alcoholic liver disease, no randomized controlled studies have been performed, except for some that investigated the effect of high consumption of unsaturated fatty acids as part of the Mediterranean diet.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diet* ; Diet, Fat-Restricted ; Diet, Mediterranean ; Energy Intake ; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver Diseases ; Micronutrients ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease* ; Obesity ; Weight Loss

Background: The traditional nasolabial V-Y advancement flap is widely used for midface reconstruction, particularly for the lower third of the nose and upper lip, as its color and texture are similar to these areas. However, it provides insufficient tissue to cover large defects and cannot restore the nasal convexity, nasal ala, and adjacent tissues. The purpose of this study is to investigate the modified nasolabial V-Y advancement flap with extension limbs the along alar crease for the reconstruction of complex midface defects. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 18 patients, who underwent reconstruction with the modified nasolabial V-Y advancement flap, was performed between September 2014 and December 2022. An extension limb was added along the alar crease, adjacent to the defect area, and was hinged down as a transposition flap at the end of the advancement flap. Results: The extension limb along the alar crease successfully covered large and complicated defects, including those of the ala, the alar rim, the alar base, the nostrils, and the upper lip, with minor complications. Conclusion The alar crease is a good donor site for the reconstruction of large and complex nasal and upper lip defects.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major infectious disease in South Korea causing substantial disease burden, particularly in the elderly. This study aimed to identify the case detection rate of mobile TB screening for the elderly conducted in the Jeollanam-do region and to analyze risk factors of active TB. METHODS: We screened the elderly population (≥65 years old) in Jeollanam-do from August to December 2017. Chest radiography was performed for all participants. Participants with TB presumptive signs were asked to submit sputum specimen(s). Sputum smear, culture, and polymerase chain reaction analyses were performed. Cascade analysis, chi-squared tests, and Fisher exact tests were used to evaluate screening performance. RESULTS: In total, 12,402 participants were screened, and 211 (1.7%) were suspected to have active TB; 181 of the suspected patients (85.8%) underwent sputum smear test, and 16 (8.8%) patients were confirmed to have TB. The TB prevalence among the elderly was bacteriologically confirmed to be 129 per 100,000 individuals, which was similar to national TB notification data for the same age groups. The proportion of active TB cases increased with age, and differed based on sex and past TB history. However, TB-related symptoms, comorbidity status, and TB screening history within 12 months were not predictive of active TB. CONCLUSION: This study identified that the prevalence rate was similar to national TB notification data from the same age groups. Periodic, community-based, systematic TB screening among the elderly population is recommended.
Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Communicable Diseases ; Comorbidity ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Pilot Projects ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; Radiography ; Risk Factors ; Sputum ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major infectious disease in South Korea causing substantial disease burden, particularly in the elderly. This study aimed to identify the case detection rate of mobile TB screening for the elderly conducted in the Jeollanam-do region and to analyze risk factors of active TB. METHODS: We screened the elderly population (≥65 years old) in Jeollanam-do from August to December 2017. Chest radiography was performed for all participants. Participants with TB presumptive signs were asked to submit sputum specimen(s). Sputum smear, culture, and polymerase chain reaction analyses were performed. Cascade analysis, chi-squared tests, and Fisher exact tests were used to evaluate screening performance. RESULTS: In total, 12,402 participants were screened, and 211 (1.7%) were suspected to have active TB; 181 of the suspected patients (85.8%) underwent sputum smear test, and 16 (8.8%) patients were confirmed to have TB. The TB prevalence among the elderly was bacteriologically confirmed to be 129 per 100,000 individuals, which was similar to national TB notification data for the same age groups. The proportion of active TB cases increased with age, and differed based on sex and past TB history. However, TB-related symptoms, comorbidity status, and TB screening history within 12 months were not predictive of active TB. CONCLUSION This study identified that the prevalence rate was similar to national TB notification data from the same age groups. Periodic, community-based, systematic TB screening among the elderly population is recommended.

The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is estimated to be 25-30% of the population, and is the most common cause of elevated liver enzymes in Korea. NAFLD is a "hot potato" for pharmaceutical companies. Many clinical trials are underway to develop a first-in-class drug to treat NAFLD. However, there are several challenging issues regarding the diagnosis of NAFLD. Currently, liver biopsy is the gold standard method for the diagnosis of NAFLD and steatohepatitis. Ideally, globally recognized standards for histological diagnosis and methods to optimize observer agreement on biopsy interpretation should be developed. Liver biopsy is the best method rather than a perfect one. Recently, multi-parametric magnetic resonance imagery can estimate the amount of intrahepatic fat successfully and is widely used in clinical trials. But no diagnostic method can discriminate between steatohepatitis and simple steatosis. The other unresolved issue in regard to NAFLD is the absence of satisfactory treatment options. Vitamin E and obeticholic acid have shown protective effects in randomized controlled trials, but this drug has not been approved for use in Korea. This study will provide a description of diagnostic methods and treatments that are currently recommended for NAFLD.
Biomarkers/analysis ; Chenodeoxycholic Acid/analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Fatty Liver/diagnosis ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Liver/diagnostic imaging/pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/*diagnosis/drug therapy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography ; Vitamin E/therapeutic use

It is well known that high sodium intake is closely associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease, but the effect of low sodium intake on insulin resistance is not clear. In this article, we summarize findings from previous studies focusing on the association between low sodium intake and insulin resistance. While many investigations on this topic have been conducted actively, their major findings are inconsistent, partly due to different study designs. Thus, additional randomized controlled trials with an adequate study period and reasonable levels of low sodium intake are needed.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Diet* ; Insulin Resistance* ; Insulin* ; Sodium

Development of transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI), a non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema, after blood transfusion, is a rare but potentially leading cause of mortality from blood transfusion. We report on a case of TRALI in a 51-year male with acute calculous cholecystitis and liver cirrhosis. As preoperative treatment, he was given ten units of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) for 3 days before the operation. During the transfusion of the 10th unit of FFP, he experienced a sudden onset of hemoptysis, tachypnea, tachycardia, and cyanosis. Bilateral pulmonary infiltration not observed on the chest X-ray at the visit was newly developed. There was no evidence of volume overload but severe hypoxemia. Blood transfusion was stopped and he recovered fully after 8 days of oxygen therapy through a nasal cannula. Although HLA and HNA antibodies were not detected in the donor's blood, HLA antibodies (A2, B57, B58) were detected in the patient's blood. We reported this meaningful case of TRALI that occurred after transfusion of only fresh frozen plasma which did not contain human leukocyte antibody in a patient with HLA antibody.
Acute Lung Injury* ; Anoxia ; Antibodies ; Blood Transfusion ; Catheters ; Cholecystitis ; Cyanosis ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Male ; Mortality ; Oxygen ; Plasma* ; Pulmonary Edema ; Tachycardia ; Tachypnea ; Thorax