BACKGROUND: Recent evidences indicate that early rapid renal function decline is closely associated with the development and progression of diabetic kidney disease. We have investigated the association between carotid atherosclerosis and rapid renal function decline in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and preserved renal function.METHODS: In a prospective, multicenter cohort, a total of 967 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and preserved renal function were followed for 6 years with serial estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) measurements. Common carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and presence of carotid plaque were assessed at baseline. Rapid renal function decline was defined as an eGFR decline >3.3% per year.RESULTS: Over a median follow-up of 6 years, 158 participants (16.3%) developed rapid renal function decline. While there was no difference in CIMT, the presence of carotid plaque in rapid decliners was significantly higher than in non-decliners (23.2% vs. 12.2%, P<0.001). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, presence of carotid plaque was an independent predictor of rapid renal function decline (odds ratio, 2.33; 95% confidence interval, 1.48 to 3.68; P<0.0001) after adjustment for established risk factors. The model including the carotid plaque had better performance for discrimination of rapid renal function decline than the model without carotid plaque (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.772 vs. 0.744, P=0.016).CONCLUSION: Close monitoring of renal function and early intensive management may be beneficial in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and carotid plaques.
Carotid Artery Diseases ; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness ; Carotid Stenosis ; Cohort Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; ROC Curve

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Because of rarity, role of chemotherapy of bladder adenocarcinoma are still unidentified. Therefore, we performed a retrospective analysis of the clinical features and chemotherapy outcomes of bladder adenocarcinoma. METHODS: Eligible patients for this retrospective analysis were initially diagnosed with bladder adenocarcinoma and presented with a clinically no other primary site of origin. The collected data included age, gender, performance status, stage, hemoglobin, albumin, initial date of diagnosis, treatment modality utilized, response to treatment, presence of relapse, last status of patient, and last date of follow-up. RESULTS: We retrospectively reviewed 29 patients, who were treated with chemotherapy for bladder adenocarcinoma at 10 Korean medical institutions from 2004 to 2014. The median age of patients was 58 years (range, 17 to 78) and 51.7% of the patients were female. Urachal adenocarcinoma was identified in 15 patients. Of 27 symptomatic patients, 22 experienced gross hematuria. Twelve patients were treated with 5-f luorouracil based chemotherapy, five were gemcitabine based, three were taxane and others. Thirteen of them achieved complete response (10.3%) or partial response (34.5%). Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for all patients were 10.6 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 9.5 to 11.6) and 24.5 months (95% CI, 1.2 to 47.8), respectively. The cases of urachal adenocarcinoma exhibited worse tendency in PFS and OS (p = 0.024 and p = 0.046, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Even though bladder adenocarcinoma had been observed moderate effectiveness to chemotherapy, bladder adenocarcinoma is a highly aggressive form of bladder cancer. PFS and OS were short especially in urachal carcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Diagnosis ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gynecology* ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies* ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Urinary Bladder*

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to assess the impact of socioeconomic status (SES) on health behaviors, metabolic control, and chronic complications in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) from South Korea, a country with universal health insurance coverage and that has experienced rapid economic and social transition. METHODS: A total of 3,294 Korean men and women with T2DM aged 30 to 65 years, participating in the Korean National Diabetes Program (KNDP) cohort who reported their SES and had baseline clinical evaluation were included in the current cross-sectional analysis. SES included the level of education and monthly household income. RESULTS: Lower education level and lower income level were closely related, and both were associated with older age in men and women. Women and men with lower income and education level had higher carbohydrate and lower fat intake. After adjustment for possible confounding factors, higher education in men significantly lowered the odds of having uncontrolled hyperglycemia (glycosylated hemoglobin ≥7.5%) (odds ratio [OR], 0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.43 to 0.91 for highest education; P(trend)=0.048), while higher household income in men significantly lowered the odds of having diabetic retinopathy (OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.37 to 0.95 for highest income level; P(trend)=0.048). In women, lower income was associated with a higher stress level. CONCLUSION: Men with lower SES had higher odds of having diabetic retinopathy and uncontrolled hyperglycemia, showing the need to improve care targeted to this population.
Cohort Studies ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Education ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Health Behavior* ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Insurance, Health ; Korea ; Male ; Social Class*

Femoral neck stress fracture occured commonly in athlete and military recruit populations, some of them are bilateral. Bilateral femoral neck stress fracture that associated with other occupation is very uncommon. We report a bilateral femoral neck stress fracture case that presented with unilateral symptoms in a male shipman laborer. The patient was successfully treated conservatively. Stress fracture sometimes occur associated with an unexpected specific occupation. Consideration of bilateral involvement is highly important in managing stress fracture.
Athletes ; Femur Neck* ; Fractures, Stress* ; Humans ; Male ; Military Personnel ; Occupations

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to compare clinical and radiological outcomes of total hip arthroplasty (THA) between ankylosing spondylitis (AS) of the hip joint and avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head. METHODS: Thirty patients (30 hips) underwent cementless THA for AS between 2003 and 2012. They were compared to 30 patients (30 hips) who underwent the same procedure for AVN of the femoral head. Each group was matched for age and gender, and both groups had similar preoperative demographic characteristics. All cases were followed for minimum 4 postoperative years. Clinical evaluation was based on operation time, intraoperative blood loss, quantity of postoperative drainage, Harris Hip Score (HHS), and range of motion (ROM). Radiological results were evaluated by acetabular cup anteversion and inclination, femoral stem orientation, pre- and postoperative leg length discrepancy, and postoperative complications. RESULTS: The operation time was significantly longer in the AS group (120.2 ± 26.2 min) than in the AVN group (79.5 ± 11.1 min). The volume of postoperative drainage was significantly greater in the AS group (764.5 ± 355.4 mL vs. 510.5 ± 195.6 mL). Preoperative HHS was lower in the AS group (55.6 ± 13.8 vs. 59.2 ± 2.8). Similarly, postoperative HHS was significantly lower in the AS group (92.8 ± 2.7 vs. 97.4 ± 2.6). The arc of ROM was improved from 146.5°± 13.2° preoperatively to 254.7°± 17.2° postoperatively in the AS group and from 182.6°± 15.5° to 260.4°± 13.7° in the AVN group. Implant position and postoperative leg length discrepancy were not different between the groups. However, three cases of heterotopic ossification was observed in the AS group, whereas only 1 case was found in the AVN group. One deep infection and one aseptic stem loosening were found in the AS group, whereas none was observed in the AVN group. CONCLUSIONS: Cementless THA showed satisfactory clinical and radiological results in both groups, despite the longer operation time, larger blood loss volume, and lower HHS score of the AS group. Our findings suggest that cementless THA is an effective and reliable treatment for both AS and AVN.
Acetabulum ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip* ; Drainage ; Head* ; Hip ; Hip Joint ; Humans ; Leg ; Necrosis* ; Ossification, Heterotopic ; Postoperative Complications ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing*

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are common in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Rebamipide is an effective gastric cytoprotective agent, but there are few data on its usefulness in T2DM. The aim of this study is to evaluate the improvement of GI symptoms after rebamipide treatment in patients with T2DM. METHODS: Patients with T2DM and atypical GI symptoms were enrolled. They took rebamipide (100 mg thrice daily) for 12 weeks and filled out the diabetes bowel symptom questionnaire (DBSQ) before and after rebamipide treatment. The DBSQ consisted of 10 questions assessing the severity of GI symptoms by a 1 to 6 scoring system. Changes in the DBSQ scores before and after rebamipide treatment were analyzed to evaluate any improvements of GI symptoms. RESULTS: A total of 107 patients were enrolled, and 84 patients completed the study. The mean age was 65.0±7.8, 26 patients were male (24.8%), the mean duration of T2DM was 14.71±9.12 years, and the mean glycosylated hemoglobin level was 6.97%±0.82%. The total DBSQ score was reduced significantly from 24.9±8.0 to 20.4±7.3 before and after rebamipide treatment (P<0.001). The DBSQ scores associated with reflux symptoms, indigestion, nausea or vomiting, abdominal bloating or distension, peptic ulcer, abdominal pain, and constipation were improved after rebamipide treatment (P<0.05). However, there were no significant changes in symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, and anal incontinence. No severe adverse events were reported throughout the study. CONCLUSION: Rebamipide treatment for 12 weeks improved atypical GI symptoms in patients with T2DM.
Abdominal Pain ; Constipation ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* ; Diarrhea ; Dyspepsia ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; Male ; Nausea ; Peptic Ulcer ; Vomiting

We present successful resuscitation in a mentally disabled young male who has isolated jejunal perforation without trauma history. Abdominal computed tomography scan showed large amount of free intraperitoneal air. Cardiac arrest occurred after anesthetic induction. Following resuscitation, emergent exploratory laparotomy revealed only a 3-cm perforation of the jejunum, 40 cm from the ligament of Treitz. During operation, repeated cardiac arrest occurred. Fortunately, the operation was successfully completed and patient discharged 15th day after operation without complications.
Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability ; Jejunum ; Laparotomy* ; Ligaments ; Male ; Mentally Disabled Persons* ; Resuscitation* ; Shock, Septic

BACKGROUND: We developed for the first time a smartphone application designed for diabetes self-management in Korea and registered a patent for the relevant algorithm. We also investigated the user satisfaction with the application and the change in diabetes related self-care activities after using the application. METHODS: We conducted a questionnaire survey on volunteers with diabetes who were using the application. Ninety subjects responded to the questionnaire between June 2012 and March 2013. A modified version of the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA) was used in this study. RESULTS: The survey results exhibited a mean subject age of 44.0 years old, and males accounted for 78.9% of the subjects. Fifty percent of the subjects had diabetes for less than 3 years. The majority of respondents experienced positive changes in their clinical course after using the application (83.1%) and were satisfied with the structure and completeness of the application (86.7%). Additionally, the respondents' answers indicated that the application was easy to use (96.7%) and recommendable to others (97.7%) and that they would continue using the application to manage their diabetes (96.7%). After using the Diabetes Notepad application, diabetes related self-care activities assessed by SDSCA displayed statistically significant improvements (P<0.05), except for the number of days of drinking. CONCLUSION: This smartphone-based application can be a useful tool leading to positive changes in diabetes related self-care activities and increase user satisfaction.
Cellular Phone ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Drinking ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Mobile Applications ; Self Care* ; Volunteers ; Smartphone ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to identify the prognostic factors of distant metastasis (DM) after induction chemotherapy (IC) followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for locoregionally advanced head and neck cancer (HNC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 321 patients with HNC who underwent IC followed by CRT treated between January 2005 and December 2010 were analyzed retrospectively. IC consisted of three courses of docetaxel (70 mg/m2) and cisplatin (75 mg/m2) every three weeks, followed by radiotherapy of 66-70 Gy/2 Gy per fraction/5 fractions per week concurrent with weekly cisplatin (40 mg/m2). Tumor/nodal stage, primary site, tumor differentiation, lower neck node involvement (level IV, VB, and supraclavicular regions), number of concurrent chemotherapy cycles, overall duration of radiotherapy, and response to IC were assessed as potential prognostic factors influencing DM and survival outcome. RESULTS: The five-year loco-regional recurrence and DM rates were 23.6% and 18.2%. N stage, overall duration of radiotherapy, lower neck node involvement, and response to IC were significant factors for DM. With a median follow-up period of 52 months (range, 4 to 83 months), the 5-year progression-free, DM-free, and overall survival rates were 41.2%, 50.7%, and 55.1%, respectively. Lower neck node involvement (p=0.008) and poor response to IC (p < 0.001) showed an association with significantly inferior DM-free survival. CONCLUSION: Even with the addition of IC, the DM rate and survival outcome were poor when metastatic lower neck lymph nodes were present or when patients failed to respond after receiving IC.
Chemoradiotherapy* ; Cisplatin ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head and Neck Neoplasms* ; Humans ; Induction Chemotherapy* ; Lymph Nodes ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate