OBJECTIVES: The binge eaters are increasing rapidly since 1990's in Korea. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of cognitive-behavioral group therapy on improving the frequency of binging and purging, eating attitude, self-esteem, and depression. METHOD: The subjects were 27 women who showed over 17 on the EAT-26 among binge eaters visited at eating disorders clinic "M". 10 sessions of cognitive-behavioral group therapy were provided to each group composed of 8-10 binge eaters. All subjects completed the Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI), Rosenberg Self-Eesteem Scale, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) pre- and post intervention, and recorded daily food records. Paired t-test was used for the comparison of EDI subscales before and after treatment. RESULTS: Frequency of binging and purging, self-esteem, depression, drive for thinness, bulimia, body dissatisfaction, ineffectiveness, interoceptive awareness subscales of EDI showed significant immprovement but perfectionism, interpersoual distrust, maturity fear subscales of EDI showed no improvement after the cognitive-behavioral group therapy. Frequency of binging and purging per week showed a general trend of decline from the beginning to the end of the treatment and a rapid decrease at the second week was noticed. CONCLUSION: The results of this preliminary study suggest that cognitive-behavioral group therapy may be an effective initial approach for the treatment of binge eating. Future research aimed at replicating these initial results and providing systematic long-term evaluation is needed.
Bulimia* ; Depression ; Eating ; Feeding and Eating Disorders ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Psychotherapy, Group* ; Thinness

Background: Hand fractures can be treated using various operative or nonoperative methods. When an operative technique utilizing fixation is performed, early postoperative mobilization has been advocated. We implemented a protocol involving controlled active exercise in the early postoperative period and analyzed the outcomes. Methods: Patients who were diagnosed with proximal phalangeal or metacarpal fractures of the second to fifth digits were included (n=37). Minimally invasive open reduction and internal fixation procedures were performed. At 3 weeks postoperatively, controlled active exercise was initiated, with stress applied against the direction of axial loading. The exercise involved pain-free active traction in three positions (supination, neutral, and pronation) between 3 and 5 weeks postoperatively. Postoperative radiographs and range of motion (ROM) in the interphalangeal and metacarpophalangeal joints were analyzed. Results: Significant improvements in ROM were found between 6 and 12 weeks for both proximal phalangeal and metacarpal fractures (P<0.05). At 12 weeks, 26 patients achieved a total ROM of more than 230° in the affected finger. Postoperative radiographic images demonstrated union of the affected proximal phalangeal and metacarpal bones at a 20-week postoperative follow-up. Conclusions Minimally invasive open reduction and internal fixation minimized periosteal and peritendinous dissection in hand fractures. Controlled active exercise utilizing pain-free active traction in three different positions resulted in early functional exercise with an acceptable ROM.

Xeroderma pigmentosum is a rare autosomal recessive disease, related to defects in DNA repair mechanism. It presents skin lesions on sun-exposed areas, leading to various skin cancer. Skin lesions can be treated with cryotherapy, skin resurfacing, 5-FU, Imiquimod, topical T4 endonuclease V, radiotherapy and genetic therapy, but invasive skin cancer should be treated by a surgery. We report a 12-year-old female xeroderma pigmentosum patient with recurrent basal cell carcinoma successfully treated by skin grafting. In that there is no cure for this disease, prevention and patient education is most important.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction. Among available oral antidiabetic agents, only the thiazolidinediones (TZDs) primarily target insulin resistance. TZDs improve insulin sensitivity by activating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ. Rosiglitazone and pioglitazone have been used widely for T2DM treatment due to their potent glycemic efficacy and low risk of hypoglycemia. However, their use has decreased because of side effects and safety issues, such as cardiovascular concerns and bladder cancer. Lobeglitazone (Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Corporation), a novel TZD, was developed to meet the demands for an effective and safe TZD. Lobeglitazone shows similar glycemic efficacy to pioglitazone, with a lower effective dose, and favorable safety results. It also showed pleiotropic effects in preclinical and clinical studies. In this article, we summarize the pharmacologic, pharmacokinetic, and clinical characteristics of lobeglitazone.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction. Among available oral antidiabetic agents, only the thiazolidinediones (TZDs) primarily target insulin resistance. TZDs improve insulin sensitivity by activating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ. Rosiglitazone and pioglitazone have been used widely for T2DM treatment due to their potent glycemic efficacy and low risk of hypoglycemia. However, their use has decreased because of side effects and safety issues, such as cardiovascular concerns and bladder cancer. Lobeglitazone (Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Corporation), a novel TZD, was developed to meet the demands for an effective and safe TZD. Lobeglitazone shows similar glycemic efficacy to pioglitazone, with a lower effective dose, and favorable safety results. It also showed pleiotropic effects in preclinical and clinical studies. In this article, we summarize the pharmacologic, pharmacokinetic, and clinical characteristics of lobeglitazone.

Xeroderma pigmentosum is a rare autosomal recessive disease, related to defects in DNA repair mechanism. It presents skin lesions on sun-exposed areas, leading to various skin cancer. Skin lesions can be treated with cryotherapy, skin resurfacing, 5-FU, Imiquimod, topical T4 endonuclease V, radiotherapy and genetic therapy, but invasive skin cancer should be treated by a surgery. We report a 12-year-old female xeroderma pigmentosum patient with recurrent basal cell carcinoma successfully treated by skin grafting. In that there is no cure for this disease, prevention and patient education is most important.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of blood contamination on the compressive strength and surface morphology of both conventional and newly developed calcium silicate cements (CSCs). Materials and Methods: Compressive strengths of Endocem MTA Premixed Regular (EMPR) and ProRoot MTA (PMTA) were assessed after immersion in fetal bovine serum (FBS), saline, and deionized water (DW). Surface morphology was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results: The compressive strength of EMPR samples immersed in FBS for both 1 and 7 days was significantly lower compared to those in saline and DW, with no significant differences between the saline and DW groups. The PMTA group exhibited the lowest compressive strength after 1 day in FBS, although it did not significantly differ from that of saline and DW groups. SEM images revealed significant differences in crystalline formation between FBS and the other experimental groups. Conclusion Minimizing blood contamination during vital pulp therapy (VPT) is crucial to ensure optimal CSC setting. PMTA may be preferred over EMPR for resisting high occlusal forces in the presence of blood contamination.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of blood contamination on the Vickers hardness and the surface morphology of premixed MTA and compare them with the effects on conventional MTA. The Vickers microhardness of Endocem MTA Premixed Regular (EP) and ProRoot MTA (PM) was assessed after immersion in fetal bovine serum (FBS) and saline. Stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) were seeded on MTA after immersion in FBS, saline, and deionized water (DW). Cell adhesion patterns and surface morphology were visualized via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The surface microhardness of EP and PM in FBS was lower than in saline. However, short-term exposure of PM to FBS did not reduce the microhardness compared to saline. Angular crystals formed in water, while rounded crystals with more air voids appeared in FBS. Favorable SHED attachment occurred in all groups. Overall, the surface hardness of EP and PM decreased after FBS exposure, although PM was less influenced. We suggest minimizing the amount of bleeding when using MTA clinically; nevertheless, PM remains an option with more expected blood contamination than EP. In summary, exposure to FBS decreased mechanical performance but allowed cell adhesion for both MTAs, with PM being more resistant to these changes.

BACKGROUND: The use of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors is increasing among renal transplant patients with diabetes. However, the glucose-lowering efficacies of various DPP-4 inhibitors and their effects on blood cyclosporine levels have not been fully investigated. We compared the glucose-lowering efficacies of DPP 4 inhibitors and evaluate their effects on the blood levels of cyclosporine in renal transplant recipients with diabetes. METHODS: Sixty-five renal allograft recipients who received treatment with DPP-4 inhibitors (vildagliptin, sitagliptin, or linagliptin) following kidney transplant were enrolled. The glucose-lowering efficacies of the DPP-4 inhibitors were compared according to the changes in the hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels after 3 months of treatment. Changes in the trough levels of the cyclosporine were also assessed 2 months after treatment with each DPP-4 inhibitor. RESULTS: HbA1c significantly decreased in the linagliptin group in comparison with other DPP-4 inhibitors (vildagliptin –0.38%±1.03%, sitagliptin –0.53%±0.95%, and linagliptin –1.40±1.34; P=0.016). Cyclosporine trough levels were significantly increased in the sitagliptin group compared with vildagliptin group (30.62±81.70 ng/mL vs. –24.22±53.54 ng/mL, P=0.036). Cyclosporine trough levels were minimally changed in patients with linagliptin. CONCLUSION: Linagliptin demonstrates superior glucose-lowering efficacy and minimal effect on cyclosporine trough levels in comparison with other DPP-4 inhibitors in kidney transplant patients with diabetes.
Allografts ; Cyclosporine* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia* ; Kidney ; Kidney Transplantation ; Pilot Projects* ; Transplantation

Background: Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are a new class of antidiabetic drugs that exhibit multiple extraglycemic effects. However, there are conflicting results regarding the effects of SGLT2 inhibition on energy expenditure and thermogenesis. Therefore, we investigated the effect of ipragliflozin (a selective SGLT2 inhibitor) on energy metabolism. Methods: Six-week-old male 129S6/Sv mice with a high propensity for adipose tissue browning were randomly assigned to three groups: normal chow control, 60% high-fat diet (HFD)-fed control, and 60% HFD-fed ipragliflozin-treated groups. The administration of diet and medication was continued for 16 weeks. Results: The HFD-fed mice became obese and developed hepatic steatosis and adipose tissue hypertrophy, but their random glucose levels were within the normal ranges; these features are similar to the metabolic features of a prediabetic condition. Ipragliflozin treatment markedly attenuated HFD-induced hepatic steatosis and reduced the size of hypertrophied adipocytes to that of smaller adipocytes. In the ipragliflozin treatment group, uncoupling protein 1 (Ucp1) and other thermogenesis-related genes were significantly upregulated in the visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue, and fatty acid oxidation was increased in the brown adipose tissue. These effects were associated with a significant reduction in the insulin-to-glucagon ratio and the activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) pathway in the liver and adipose tissue. Conclusion SGLT2 inhibition by ipragliflozin showed beneficial metabolic effects in 129S6/Sv mice with HFD-induced obesity that mimics prediabetic conditions. Our data suggest that SGLT2 inhibitors, through their upregulation of energy expenditure, may have therapeutic potential in prediabetic obesity.