Background/Aims: Although balloon-assisted enteroscopy (BAE) enables endoscopic visualization of small bowel (SB) involvement in Crohn’s disease (CD), there is no data on the changes in outcomes over time. We therefore investigated the changes in BAE use on CD patients over different time periods in terms of its role and clinical outcomes. Methods: We used a multicenter enteroscopy database to identify CD patients with SB involvement who underwent BAE (131 procedures, 116 patients). We compared BAE-related factors and outcomes between the first period (70 procedures, 60 patients) and the second period (61procedures, 56 patients). The specific cutoff point for dividing the two periods was 2007, when BAE guidelines were introduced. Results: Initial diagnosis of SB involvement in CD was the most common indication for BAE during each period (50.0% vs 31.1%, p=0.034). The largest change was in the number of BAE uses for stricture evaluation and/or treatment, which increased significantly in the latter period (2.9% vs 21.3%, p=0.002). The diagnostic yield in patients with suspected CD was 90.7% in the first period and 95.0% in the second (p=0.695). More endoscopic interventions were performed in the second period than in the first (5.1% vs 17.6%, p=0.041). Enteroscopic success rates were high throughout (100% in the first period vs 80.0% in the second period, p>0.999). In the first and second periods, therapeutic plans were adjusted in 62.7% and 61.4% of patients, respectively. Conclusions The overall clinical indications, outcomes, and effectiveness of BAE were constant over time in CD patients with SB involvement, with the exception that the frequency of enteroscopic intervention increased remarkably.

Background/Aims: Although balloon-assisted enteroscopy (BAE) enables endoscopic visualization of small bowel (SB) involvement in Crohn’s disease (CD), there is no data on the changes in outcomes over time. We therefore investigated the changes in BAE use on CD patients over different time periods in terms of its role and clinical outcomes. Methods: We used a multicenter enteroscopy database to identify CD patients with SB involvement who underwent BAE (131 procedures, 116 patients). We compared BAE-related factors and outcomes between the first period (70 procedures, 60 patients) and the second period (61procedures, 56 patients). The specific cutoff point for dividing the two periods was 2007, when BAE guidelines were introduced. Results: Initial diagnosis of SB involvement in CD was the most common indication for BAE during each period (50.0% vs 31.1%, p=0.034). The largest change was in the number of BAE uses for stricture evaluation and/or treatment, which increased significantly in the latter period (2.9% vs 21.3%, p=0.002). The diagnostic yield in patients with suspected CD was 90.7% in the first period and 95.0% in the second (p=0.695). More endoscopic interventions were performed in the second period than in the first (5.1% vs 17.6%, p=0.041). Enteroscopic success rates were high throughout (100% in the first period vs 80.0% in the second period, p>0.999). In the first and second periods, therapeutic plans were adjusted in 62.7% and 61.4% of patients, respectively. Conclusions The overall clinical indications, outcomes, and effectiveness of BAE were constant over time in CD patients with SB involvement, with the exception that the frequency of enteroscopic intervention increased remarkably.

BackgroundUntil now, various types of combined therapy with nucleotide analogs and pegylated interferon (Peg-INF) in patients with hepatitis B patients have been tried. However, studies regarding the benefits of de novo combination, late-add on, and sequential treatment are very limited. The objective of the current study was to identify the efficacy of sequential treatment of Peg-INF after short-term antiviral treatment.

MethodsBetween June 2010 and June 2015, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive patients (n = 162) received Peg-IFN for 48 weeks (mono-treatment group, n = 81) and entecavir (ETV) for 12 weeks with a 48-week course of Peg-IFN starting at week 5 of ETV therapy (sequential treatment group, n = 81). The primary endpoint was HBeAg seroconversion at the end of follow-up period after the 24-week treatment. The primary endpoint was analyzed using Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and regression analysis.

ResultsHBeAg seroconversion rate (18.2% vs. 18.2%, t = 0.03, P = 1.000) and seroclearance rate (19.7% vs. 19.7%, t = 0.03, P = 1.000) were same in both mono-treatment and sequential treatment groups. The rate of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization (45.5% vs. 54.5%, t = 1.12, P = 0.296) and serum hepatitis B virus (HBV)-DNA <2000 U/L (28.8% vs. 28.8%, t = 0.10, P = 1.000) was not different in sequential and mono-treatment groups at 24 weeks of Peg-INF. Viral response rate (HBeAg seroconversion and serum HBV-DNA <2000 U/L) was not different in the two groups (12.1% vs. 16.7%, t = 1.83, P = 0.457). Baseline HBV-DNA level (7 logU/ml vs. 7.5 logU/ml, t = 1.70, P = 0.019) and hepatitis B surface antigen titer (3.6 logU/ml vs. 4.0 logU/ml, t = 2.19, P = 0.020) were lower and predictors of responder in mono-treatment and sequential treatment groups, respectively.

ConclusionsThe current study shows no differences in HBeAg seroconversion rate, ALT normalization, and HBV-DNA levels between mono-therapy and sequential therapy regimens.

Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01220596; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01220596?term=NCT01220596&rank=1.

The objective of this study was to investigate national surgical trends for distal radius fractures (DRFs) in Korea and analyze healthcare institution type-specific surgical trends. We analyzed a nationwide database acquired from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) from 2011 to 2015. International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD-10) codes and procedure codes were used to identify patients aged ≥ 20 years with newly diagnosed DRFs. A total of 459,388 DRFs occurred from 2011 to 2015. The proportion of DRF cases treated by surgery tended to increase over time, from 32.6% in 2011 to 38.3% in 2015 (P < 0.001). Open reduction with internal fixation (ORIF) using a plate steadily gained in popularity each year, increasing from 39.2% of overall surgeries in 2011 to 60.9% in 2015. The type of surgery for DRFs differed depending on the type of healthcare institution. ORIF (91%) was the most popular procedure in tertiary hospitals, whereas percutaneous pinning (58%) was most popular in clinics. In addition, general hospitals and hospitals with 30–100 beds used external fixation more frequently than tertiary hospitals and clinics did. Overall, our findings indicate that surgical treatment of DRF, particularly ORIF, continues to increase, and that the component ratio of operation codes differed according to the healthcare institution type.
Delivery of Health Care ; Epidemiology ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Insurance, Health ; International Classification of Diseases ; Korea* ; Radius Fractures* ; Radius* ; Tertiary Care Centers

PURPOSE: Hibernoma is a very rare benign soft tissue tumor of the hypervascularized brown fat tissue with no malignant potential. MATERIALS AND METHODS: However, it is difficult to differentiate a hibernoma from other malignant tumors, such as liposarcoma using computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, and a surgical resection with histological confirmation is the treatment of choice. RESULTS: Histopathologically, hibernoma is composed of brown adipose cells that are polygonal and multivacuolated with a centrally located nucleus and granular cytoplasm, unlike white adipose cells. CONCLUSION: This article describes a patient with a histologically-confirmed hibernoma of the right shoulder.
Adipose Tissue, Brown ; Cytoplasm ; Humans ; Lipoma ; Liposarcoma ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Shoulder

There has been an increase in the use of central venous catheters for temporary hemodialysis. Infected thrombus of right atrium is a rare but life-threatening complication of the central venous catheterization. A 35-year-old female hemodialysis patient was admitted with fever and dyspnea. She had been inserted tunneled hemodialysis catheter 2 months before. Blood cultures revealed methicillin- resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Chest CT showed multi-focal pneumonia and 4 cm sized huge thrombus in the right atrium. Echocardiography demonstrated same thrombus attached to the catheter tip in the right atrium. The catheter could not be removed because of high risk of pulmonary thromboembolism. Despite intravenous vancomycin treatment, the patient died from esophageal varix bleeding.
Adult ; Catheter-Related Infections ; Catheterization, Central Venous ; Catheters ; Central Venous Catheters ; Dyspnea ; Echocardiography ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Female ; Fever ; Heart Atria ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Pneumonia ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Renal Dialysis ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Thorax ; Thrombosis ; Vancomycin

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Several treatment options have been introduced to control Meniere's disease (MD). Among them, intratympanic injection of gentamicin (ITGM) is now accepted as a standard treatment method for intractable vertigo in patients with hearing impaired MD. The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical course and treatment flow in patients with MD and to analyze the efficacy and problems after ITGM. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A retrospective study was performed on 458 patients who were diagnosed as definite MD from May 2003 to October 2007 and were followed up at least 1 year. The authors investigated the course of disease and the results in our patients according to the treatment options. Several clinical parameters including frequency of vertigo, audiometry, caloric and rotation test were reviewed and analyzed according to the guideline of the AAO-HNS (1995), if necessary. Efficacy and problems after ITGM were reviewed. RESULTS: Among 458 patients, vertigo was resolved or improved in 399 patients (87.1%) with medical management. Fifty-nine patients needed further treatment (endolymphatic sac decompression: 4, Meniette: 2, ITGM: 53). Among 53 patients who got ITGM, 40 patients were followed up for more than 1 year after injection. Thirty-six patients (87.5%) showed successful control of vertigo. The average pure-tone threshold was changed from 54.1 dB to 56.9 dB after treatment. Three patients (7.5%) revealed more than 20 dB aggravation. CONCLUSION: Vertigo was controlled by supportive treatments or medication in 87% of definite MD patients. And ITGM could effectively and reasonably control vertigo for intractable MD patients.
Audiometry ; Endolymphatic Hydrops ; Gentamicins ; Hearing ; Humans ; Meniere Disease ; Retrospective Studies ; Vertigo

BACKGROUND: Insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS-2) is a key regulator of beta cell proliferation and apoptosis. This study was aimed to investigate effect of the glucolipotoxicity on apoptosis in INS-1 cell, and the effect of Exendin-4, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, on IRS-2 expression in the glucolipotoxicity induced INS-1 cell. The goal was to discover the new action mechanism and function of Exendin-4 in beta cell apoptosis. METHOD: INS-1 cells were cultured in glucolipotoxic condition for 2, 4 or 6 days and were categorized as G groups. Another group in which 50 nM Exendin-4 was added to INS-1 cells, cultured in glucolipotoxic condition, were named as Ex-4 groups. We investigated the expression of IRS-2 by RT-PCR, phosphorylated IRS-2 and phosphorylated Akt protein levels by western blot. We measured the apoptosis ratio of INS-1 cell in glucolipotoxic condition by TUNEL staining in both groups. RESULT: IRS-2 expression of INS-1 cells decreased with correlation to the time of exposure to glucolipotoxic condition. pIRS-2 and pAkt protein levels decreased in the similar pattern in glucolipotoxicity group. However, this effect of glucolipotoxicity on INS-1 cell was inhibited by the Exendin-4 treatment. In the Ex-4 groups, IRS-2 expression, pIRS-2 and pAkt protein levels remained at the similar level to low glucose condition state. Also, apoptosis induced by glucolipotoxicity was suppressed by Exendin-4 treatment significantly. CONCLUSION: We showed that the long-term treatment of Exendin-4 inhibited the apoptosis of beta cells significantly in glucolipotoxic condition and that this effect of Exendin-4 was related with IRS-2 and Akt among the beta cell's intracellular signal transduction pathway.
Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 ; Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor ; Glucose ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins ; Peptides ; Phosphorylation ; Receptors, Glucagon ; Signal Transduction ; Venoms

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of antidepressant treatment on serum cytokines and nutritional status in hemodialysis patients. Twenty-eight hemodialysis patients with a depressed mood were given 20 mg of fluoxetine for 8 weeks. The degree of depressive symptoms, the serum levels of interleukin-1beta, interleukin- 2, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, c-reactive protein, and markers of nutritional status were assessed at baseline and after treatment. The outcome was assessed in terms of response to treatment (>50% reduction in the score of the Hamilton depression rating scale). Antidepressant treatment decreased the serum level of interleukin- 1 in both response and nonresponse groups, and increased the serum level of interleukin-6 only in the response group. At baseline, the level of interleukin-6 in the response group was lower than in the nonresponse group. Antidepressant treatment also increased fat distribution significantly in the response group which might have slightly improved the nutritional status. This study suggests that antidepressant treatment improve depressive symptoms and may affect immunological functions and nutritional status in chronic hemodialysis patients with depression.
Adult ; Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation/*pharmacology ; C-Reactive Protein/biosynthesis ; Cytokines/*blood ; Depression/*drug therapy ; Electric Impedance ; Female ; Fluoxetine/*pharmacology ; Human ; Interleukin-1/blood ; Interleukin-2/blood ; Interleukin-6/blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nutrition ; Renal Dialysis/*methods ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Treatment Outcome ; Tumor Necrosis Factor/biosynthesis

BACKGROUND: Since its reemergence in 1993, a number of cases of Plasmodium vivax malaria have been reported in Korea. We analyzed the cases of malaria patients living in Chuncheon and its neighboring communities, to characterize its clinical manifestations and laboratory findings, and to identify any differences between our clinical findings and those of previous studies. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical records of cases that were confirmed as malaria by peripheral blood smear at Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital from July 1998 to September 2001. RESULTS: Forty-four cases were included in the study. All patients were infected with Plasmodium vivax, and presented with high fever; however, tertian fever developed in only 15 patients (35.7%). A number of cases showed various symptoms, which included headache, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Of the 44 cases identified, 41 (93.2%) developed malaria between June and September. Thrombocytopenia was a prominent finding in 75% of the cases at diagnosis, but resolved during or after therapy. Other laboratory abnormalities such as, anemia, elevated transamines, coagulopathies, and elevated lactose dehydrogenase (LDH) were also noted. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) studies were performed in five cases, one of which showed pleocytosis in the CSF. CONCLUSION: We noted only 15 patients (35.7%) with tertian fever; the other patients showed variable fever patterns. Thrombocytopenia was the most prominent laboratory finding. Therefore, we suggest that malaria should be included in the differential diagnosis of febrile diseases with an onset between June to and September, regardless of the pattern of the fever.
Adult ; Animals ; Comparative Study ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Human ; Malaria/blood/cerebrospinal fluid/*diagnosis/*microbiology ; Male ; Plasmodium vivax/*isolation & purification ; Retrospective Studies ; Thrombocytopenia/diagnosis