Background: This study investigates the long-term efficacy and safety of evogliptin add-on therapy in patients with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) previously received dapagliflozin and metformin (DAPA/MET) combination. Methods: In this multicenter randomized placebo-controlled phase 3 trial, patients with glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels 7.0% to 10.5% (n=283) previously used DAPA 10 mg plus MET (≥1,000 mg) were randomly assigned to the evogliptin 5 mg once daily or placebo group (1:1). The primary endpoint was the difference in the HbA1c level from baseline at week 24, and exploratory endpoints included the efficacy and safety of evogliptin over 52 weeks (trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04170998). Results: Evogliptin add-on to DAPA/MET therapy was superior in HbA1c reduction compared to placebo at weeks 24 and 52 (least square [LS] mean difference, –0.65% and –0.55%; 95% confidence interval [CI], –0.79 to –0.51 and –0.71 to –0.39; P<0.0001). The proportion of patients achieving HbA1c <7% was higher in the triple combination group at week 52 (32.14% vs. 8.51% in placebo; odds ratio, 5.62; P<0.0001). Evogliptin significantly reduced the fasting glucose levels and mean daily glucose levels with improvement in homeostatic model assessment of β-cell function (LS mean difference, 9.04; 95% CI, 1.86 to 16.21; P=0.0138). Adverse events were similar between the groups, and no serious adverse drug reactions were reported in the evogliptin group. Conclusion Long-term triple combination with evogliptin added to DAPA/MET showed superior HbA1c reduction and glycemic control compared to placebo at 52 weeks and was well tolerated.

Purpose: Gastric cancer (GC) is among the most prevalent and fatal cancers worldwide.National cancer screening programs in countries with high incidences of this disease provide medical aid beneficiaries with free-of-charge screening involving upper endoscopy to detect early-stage GC. However, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused major disruptions to routine healthcare access. Thus, this study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the diagnosis, overall incidence, and stage distribution of GC. Materials and Methods: We identified patients in our hospital cancer registry who were diagnosed with GC between January 2018 and December 2021 and compared the cancer stage at diagnosis before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to age and sex. The years 2018 and 2019 were defined as the “before COVID” period, and the years 2020 and 2021 as the “during COVID” period. Results: Overall, 10,875 patients were evaluated; 6,535 and 4,340 patients were diagnosed before and during the COVID-19 period, respectively. The number of diagnoses was lower during the COVID-19 pandemic (189 patients/month vs. 264 patients/month) than before it.Notably, the proportion of patients with stages 3 or 4 GC in 2021 was higher among men and patients aged ≥40 years. Conclusions During the COVID-19 pandemic, the overall number of GC diagnoses decreased significantly in a single institute. Moreover, GCs were in more advanced stages at the time of diagnosis. Further studies are required to elucidate the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and the delay in the detection of GC worldwide.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the association between the presence and severity of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) and development of long-term glucose fluctuation in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus who received cardiovascular autonomic reflex tests (CARTs) at baseline and at least 4-year of follow-up with ≥6 measures of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were included. The severity of CAN was categorized as normal, early, or severe CAN according to the CARTs score. HbA1c variability was measured as the standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation, and adjusted SD of serial HbA1c measurements. RESULTS: A total of 681 subjects were analyzed (294 normal, 318 early, and 69 severe CAN). The HbA1c variability index values showed a positive relationship with the severity of CAN. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that CAN was significantly associated with the risk of developing higher HbA1c variability (SD) after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, diabetes duration, mean HbA1c, heart rate, glomerular filtration rate, diabetic retinopathy, coronary artery disease, insulin use, and anti-hypertensive medication (early CAN: odds ratio [OR], 1.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12 to 2.43) (severe CAN: OR, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.47 to 5.56). This association was more prominent in subjects who had a longer duration of diabetes (>10 years) and lower mean HbA1c ( < 7%). CONCLUSION: CAN is an independent risk factor for future higher HbA1c variability in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Tailored therapy for stabilizing glucose fluctuation should be emphasized in subjects with CAN.
Body Mass Index ; Cohort Studies ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Glucose ; Heart Rate ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated ; Insulin ; Logistic Models ; Odds Ratio ; Reflex ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study evaluated the relationship between thyroid nodules and metabolic syndrome (MS) and its components in apparently healthy Koreans. METHODS: We reviewed the records of 3,298 subjects with no noticeable symptoms who underwent thyroid ultrasound imaging as part of a routine check-up between July 2009 and June 2010; of these, 1,308 were excluded based upon predefined criteria. Among the remaining 1,990 patients, we examined the association between MS and its components and the incidence of thyroid nodules. RESULTS: Of the 1,990 subjects included in this study, 38.4% (n = 764) had thyroid nodules and 12.7% (n = 253) had MS. Female sex, older age, higher body mass index, larger waist circumference, higher glycated hemoglobin level, lower thyroid stimulating hormone level, and presence of MS were all closely related with the presence of thyroid nodules (all p < 0.05). Furthermore, the relevant number of MS components showed a positive linear correlation with the occurrence of thyroid nodules (p < 0.001). Evidence of MS alone was not independently associated with thyroid nodules after adjusting for sex and age in a multivariate binary logistic regression analysis; however, glycated hemoglobin for females and waist circumference for males, as well as both age and thyroid stimulating hormone for all patients, were identified as independent predictors for the existence of thyroid nodules (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests a positive relationship between the components of MS and thyroid nodules in an ostensibly healthy Korean population. Our data support the idea that the recent increase in thyroid nodules is partly due to increases in both MS and obesity.
Adult ; Biomarkers/blood ; Body Mass Index ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus/diagnosis/epidemiology ; Female ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated/analysis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Linear Models ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome X/blood/diagnosis/*epidemiology ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Obesity/diagnosis/epidemiology ; Odds Ratio ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Thyroid Nodule/blood/diagnostic imaging/*epidemiology ; Thyrotropin/blood ; Waist Circumference

PURPOSE: The conventional primary therapy for chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP) is the use of antibiotics. However, the therapy has a low cure rate and long-term use of antibiotics can lead to adverse effects including bacterial resistance. For these reasons, a new therapy for CBP is strongly needed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects of selenium-rich hot spring water on CBP, rats were divided into four groups and treatment was administered for four weeks as follows: (1) control (n=8), (2) ciprofloxacin (n=8), (3) selenium-rich hot spring water (n=8), and (4) selenium-rich hot spring water with ciprofloxacin (n=8). Drip infusion of bacterial suspension (E. coli Z17 O2:K1;H-) into Spargue-Dowley rats was then conducted to induce CBP. Four weeks later, the results of prostate tissue and urine culture and histological analysis on the prostate were analyzed in each group. RESULTS: The use of ciprofloxacin, and selenium-rich hot spring water with ciprofloxacin showed statistically significant decreases in bacterial growth and improvements in prostatic inflammation compared with the control group (p<0.05). The selenium-rich hot spring water with ciprofloxacin group showed a statistically significantly lower rate of bacterial growth and and greater improvements in prostatic inflammation than the ciprofloxacin group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that spring water may be an effective material in the treatment of CBP. Notably, the combination treatment of selenium-rich hot spring water and ciprofloxacin has synergistic effects. Therefore, we can suggest that the combination of selenium-rich hot spring water and ciprofloxacin may be effective in the treatment of CBP, and with a higher success rate than ciprofloxacin alone.
Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Ciprofloxacin ; Hot Springs ; Inflammation ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Prostate ; Prostatitis ; Rats ; Selenium

Ictal asystole is potentially lethal, and known to originate from the involvement of limbic autonomic regions. Appropriate treatment must include an antiepileptic drug and the implantation of a pacemaker. We report the case of a 54-year-old male with recurrent syncope secondary to ictal asystole triggered by temporal lobe epilepsy. This was confirmed by combined Holter and video-electroencephalogram monitoring.
Bradycardia ; Electrocardiography ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Syncope ; Temporal Lobe

There is controversy regarding definition of vitamin D inadequacy. We analyzed threshold 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) below which intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) increases, and examined age- and sex-specific changes of 25(OH)D and iPTH, and association of 25(OH)D and iPTH with bone mineral density (BMD) in elderly Koreans. Anthropometric parameters, serum 25(OH)D and iPTH, lumbar spine and femur BMD by dual-energy radiography absorptiometry (DXA) were measured in 441 men and 598 postmenopausal women. iPTH increased below serum 25(OH) of 36.7 ng/mL in men, but failed to reach plateau in women. Femur neck BMD above and below threshold differed when threshold 25(OH)D concentrations were set at 15-27.5 ng/mL in men, and 12.5-20 ng/mL in postmenopausal women. Vitamin D-inadequate individuals older than 75 yr had higher iPTH than those aged < or = 65 yr. In winter, age-associated iPTH increase in women was steeper than in summer. In conclusion, vitamin D inadequacy threshold cannot be estimated based on iPTH alone, and but other factors concerning bone health should also be considered. Older people seemingly need higher 25(OH)D levels to offset age-associated hyperparathyroidism. Elderly vitamin D-inadequate women in the winter are most vulnerable to age-associated hyperparathyroidism.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Age Factors ; Aged ; *Bone Density ; Female ; Femur/anatomy & histology ; Humans ; Hyperparathyroidism/diagnosis/etiology ; Lumbosacral Region/anatomy & histology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parathyroid Hormone/*blood ; Postmenopause ; Republic of Korea ; Seasons ; Sex Factors ; Vitamin D/*analogs & derivatives/blood

Pituitary abscess is a rare pathology, but it is a potentially life-threatening condition. Therefore, timely intervention, including antibiotics and an operation, can prevent the morbidity and mortality in such cases. A 31-year-old woman, who was 16 months after her second delivery, presented with intermittent headache for 3 months. Amenorrhea, polyuria and polydipsia were noticed and the endocrinological hormone studies were compatible with panhypopituitarism and diabetes insipidus. Pituitary MRI demonstrated a 2.3 cm sized cystic mass with an upper small nodular lesion. Her symptoms such as headache and fever were repeatedly improved whenever corticosteroid was administered, which led us to suspect the diagnosis of an inflammatory condition like lymphocytic hypophysitis. During the hormone replacement therapy, her cystic pituitary mass had grown and her symptoms progressively worsened for another two months. The patient underwent trans-sphenoidal exploration and she turned out to have a pituitary abscess. At the 3-month follow-up, amenorrhea was noticed and her residual function of the pituitary was tested by a combined pituitary stimulation test. The results were compatible with panhypopituitarism. She received levothyroxine 100 microg, prednisolone 5 mg and desmopressin spray and she is being observed at the out-patient clinic. The authors experienced a patient with primary pituitary abscess that was confirmed pathologically and we report on its clinical course with a literature review.
Abscess ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Adult ; Amenorrhea ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Deamino Arginine Vasopressin ; Diabetes Insipidus ; Female ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Headache ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Hypopituitarism ; Outpatients ; Polydipsia ; Polyuria ; Prednisolone ; Thyroxine

Pituitary apoplexy is a clinical syndrome caused by an acute ischemic or hemorrhagic vascular accident. Although pituitary apoplexy is an emergency, it is often overlooked because it is rare and presents with various signs and symptoms, including those of neurologic and endocrine disorders. We describe a case of pituitary apoplexy misdiagnosed as aseptic meningitis accompanied by acute-onset headache and nausea, followed by fever. Subsequently, it was revealed as pituitary apoplexy by brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed when the clinical course worsened and ophthalmoplegia developed. We suggest that pituitary apoplexy be included in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with headache or signs of meningeal irritation; when there is no clinical improvement, prompt steroid treatment should be started, while considering neurological decompression to prevent neurological sequelae.
Brain ; Decompression ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Emergencies ; Fever ; Headache ; Humans ; Hypopituitarism ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meningitis ; Meningitis, Aseptic ; Nausea ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Pituitary Apoplexy

BACKGROUND: We attempted to determine the prevalence and characteristics of metabolically obese but normal weight (MONW) and metabolically healthy but obese (MHO) individuals in a large cohort of middle-aged Koreans. METHODS: 8,987 non-diabetic subjects were selected from the Chungju Metabolic disease Cohort Study performed in 2003-2006. MONW was defined as a body mass index (BMI) > or = 18.5 and < 23 kg/m2 with a homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in the highest quartile. MHO was defined as BMI > or = 25 kg/m2 with HOMA-IR in the lowest quartile. RESULTS: The mean age of the subjects was 62.3 +/- 10.5 years (men 40.4%). The age-adjusted prevalence of MONW and MHO were 4.3% (5.3% men, 3.7% women) and 5.6% (3.6% men, 7.0% women), respectively. 14.2% of men and 12.9% of women were classified as MONW among the normal weight population, whereas 10.7% of men and 14.5% of women were classified as MHO among the obese subjects. The prevalence of prediabetes was significantly higher in the MONW group than in the MHO group (34.7 vs. 12.5%, P < 0.0001 in men; 23.1 vs. 8.8%, P < 0.0001 in women). The MONW group evidenced an equivalent risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) relative to the MHO group (10.77 +/- 0.68 vs. 10.22 +/- 0.90% in men; 7.02 +/- 0.34 vs. 7.26 +/- 0.26% in women, means +/- standard error [SE]). CONCLUSION: The subjects in the MONW group are characterized by a high risk of diabetes and CHD, despite their normal weights. Their substantial prevalence in the population emphasizes the importance of identifying subjects in the MONW group, and warrants more intensive risk management.
Body Mass Index ; Cohort Studies ; Coronary Disease ; Female ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Metabolic Diseases ; Prediabetic State ; Prevalence ; Risk Management ; Weights and Measures