Objectives: This study aimed at investigating the pharmacological and physiological effects of cannabidiol (CBD) oil on weight loss in diet-induced obese (DIO) mice. Methods: A DIO mice model was constructed with 33 C57BL/6 male mice, aged six weeks, who had been fed a high-fat diet for 13 weeks. Subsequently, 20 mg/kg (n=11) or 60 mg/kg (n=11) of CBD oil or sesame seed oil (n=11) per day was given along with a high-fat diet for four weeks. The body weight of each subject was measured weekly, and venous blood was drawn for biochemistry and enzyme-linked immunoassay before and after the four-week trial period. An oral glucose tolerance test was performed to assess glucose metabolism. At the end of the CBD oil treatment, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to calculate body fat composition, and the mesenteric adipose tissue was measured as representative of the fat mass of each subject. For statistical analysis, we used the Kruskal-Wallis test, Turkey’s test using ranks and generalized estimating equations. Results: After administration of CBD oil (60 mg/kg) for four weeks, the DIO mice showed significant weight loss, compared to the sham control mice (p=0.027). Mice fed with 60 mg/kg of CBD oil also had a significant reduction in fat percentage (p=0.009) and mesenteric fat weight loss (p=0.024), compared to the sham control mice, even with higher food intake (p=0.029). Moreover, mice fed with 60 mg/kg of CBD oil showed a significant improvement in glucose tolerance (p=0.003) and lower plasma leptin levels (p=0.006). Conclusion This study shows that orally administered CBD oil induces weight loss in DIO mice. It has been postulated that CBD oil attenuates an over-activated endocannabinoid system, thereby increasing energy expenditure, and improving glucose metabolism and leptin resistance.

The definition of the high-risk group for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) defined by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists was changed from the criteria composed of five historic/demographic factors (old criteria) to the criteria consisting of 11 factors (new criteria) in 2017. To compare the predictive performances between these two sets of criteria.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of treatment in patients with non-bothering nocturia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective multicenter study, patients who visited hospitals for treatment of voiding symptoms were enrolled. Inclusion criteria were: 1) men >45 years, and 2) nocturia ≥2 confirmed by a three-day voiding diary. Subjects were divided into non-bothering and bothering groups based on International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Nocturia (ICIQ-N) question 2b. Changes in voiding symptoms, frequency of nocturia, and bothersomeness were evaluated with international prostate symptom score (IPSS), ICIQ-N, and three-day voiding diary at 4 and 12 weeks after treatment. RESULTS: A total of 48 patients in the non-bothering nocturia group and 50 patients in the bothering nocturia group who completed the 12-week treatment were analyzed. The total IPSS was decreased by 5.8 in the non-bothering group and 5.2 in the bothering group. There was no significant difference in decrease of IPSS between the two groups. Both groups showed significant reduction in discomfort of nocturia. The ICIQ-N 2b score decreased from 3.9 to 2.7 (p=0.01) in the non-bothering group and from 6.9 to 4.6 (p=0.02) in the bothering group. The number of nocturia episodes was significantly decreased in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of discomfort associated with nocturia, both groups showed significant improvement in nocturia-related discomfort and voiding symptoms. These results suggest that patients with nocturia who were unaware of its discomfort benefited from treatment.
Humans ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; Male ; Nocturia* ; Observational Study* ; Prospective Studies* ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia

A multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted with 158 subjects who were randomized to placebo or avanafil 50, 100, and 200 mg on demand for 8 weeks to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of avanafil in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in Korean men. The primary outcome was the erectile function (EF) domain score of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire. Secondary outcomes included changes in the scores of IIEF questions 3 and 4 (IIEF Q3, Q4) from baseline, changes in all domain scores in the IIEF from baseline, Sexual Encounter Profile questions 2–5 (SEP2–5), the Global Efficacy Assessment Question (GEAQ), and the number of subjects whose EF domain score at the 8th week visit was ≥ 26. After 8 weeks of treatment, the dose groups except avanafil 50 mg scored significantly higher on the IIEF-EF domain from baseline than the placebo group. The changes from baseline in the avanafil group in IIEF Q3 (all doses) and Q4 (200 mg alone) were higher than the placebo group. The differences between avanafil and placebo groups were significant in SEP2 (100 and 200 mg) and SEP3–5 (200 mg). The differences in the GEAQ “Yes” response were also significant in the avanafil 100 and 200 mg groups. Regarding the ratio of normal EF at the end of the study, avanafil 200 mg differed significantly from the placebo. Most treatment-associated adverse events were mild and resolved spontaneously. This is a clinical trial study and was registered at www.ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT02477436).
Erectile Dysfunction* ; Humans ; Male ; Penile Erection ; Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors

Mirizzi syndrome is a rare complication, resulting in bile duct obstruction and jaundice that usually arise from impacted gallstone in the cystic duct or neck of the gallbladder. It is vitally important to confirm underlying cystic duct anomaly in Mirizzi syndrome since it can produce surgical difficulty and higher complications. Generally, Mirizzi syndrome is treated surgically while endoscopic treatment is limited. Herein, we present Mirizzi syndrome with low lying cystic duct and remnant cyst duct calculi treated successfully by biliary stent and administration of choleretic agent, following by balloon dilatation on cystic duct and balloon extraction of the stone.
Calculi ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholangitis ; Cholestasis ; Cystic Duct* ; Deception* ; Dilatation ; Gallbladder ; Gallstones ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Mirizzi Syndrome* ; Neck ; Stents

Mirizzi syndrome is a rare complication, resulting in bile duct obstruction and jaundice that usually arise from impacted gallstone in the cystic duct or neck of the gallbladder. It is vitally important to confirm underlying cystic duct anomaly in Mirizzi syndrome since it can produce surgical difficulty and higher complications. Generally, Mirizzi syndrome is treated surgically while endoscopic treatment is limited. Herein, we present Mirizzi syndrome with low lying cystic duct and remnant cyst duct calculi treated successfully by biliary stent and administration of choleretic agent, following by balloon dilatation on cystic duct and balloon extraction of the stone.
Calculi ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholangitis ; Cholestasis ; Cystic Duct* ; Deception* ; Dilatation ; Gallbladder ; Gallstones ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Mirizzi Syndrome* ; Neck ; Stents

In the spring of 2011, a cluster of lung injuries caused by humidifier disinfectant (HD) usage were reported in Korea. Many patients required mechanical ventilation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and even lung transplantation (LTPL). However, the long-term course of HD-associated lung injury remains unclear because the majority of survivors recovered normal lung function. Here we report a 33-year-old woman who underwent LTPL approximately four years after severe HD-associated lung injury. The patient was initially admitted to the intensive care unit and was supported by a high-flow nasal cannula. Although she had been discharged, she was recurrently admitted to our hospital due to progressive lung fibrosis and a persistent decline in lung function. Finally, sequential double LTPL was successfully performed, and the patient's clinical and radiological findings showed significant improvement. Therefore, we conclude that LTPL can be a therapeutic option for patients with chronic inhalation injury.
Adult ; Catheters ; Disinfectants ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Humidifiers* ; Inhalation ; Inhalation Exposure ; Intensive Care Units ; Korea ; Lung Injury* ; Lung Transplantation* ; Lung* ; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy ; Respiration, Artificial ; Survivors

In the spring of 2011, a cluster of lung injuries caused by humidifier disinfectant (HD) usage were reported in Korea. Many patients required mechanical ventilation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and even lung transplantation (LTPL). However, the long-term course of HD-associated lung injury remains unclear because the majority of survivors recovered normal lung function. Here we report a 33-year-old woman who underwent LTPL approximately four years after severe HD-associated lung injury. The patient was initially admitted to the intensive care unit and was supported by a high-flow nasal cannula. Although she had been discharged, she was recurrently admitted to our hospital due to progressive lung fibrosis and a persistent decline in lung function. Finally, sequential double LTPL was successfully performed, and the patient's clinical and radiological findings showed significant improvement. Therefore, we conclude that LTPL can be a therapeutic option for patients with chronic inhalation injury.
Adult ; Catheters ; Disinfectants ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Humidifiers ; Inhalation ; Inhalation Exposure ; Intensive Care Units ; Korea ; Lung Injury ; Lung Transplantation ; Lung ; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy ; Respiration, Artificial ; Survivors

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine clinical practice patterns in the management of pregnant women admitted with threatened preterm labor (TPL) in Korea. METHODS: Data from women admitted with a diagnosis of TPL were collected from 22 hospitals. TPL was defined as regular uterine contractions with or without other symptoms such as pelvic pressure, backache, increased vaginal discharge, menstrual-like cramps, bleeding/show and cervical changes. Data on general patient information, clinical characteristics at admission, use of tocolytics, antibiotics, and corticosteroids, and pregnancy outcomes were collected using an online data collections system. RESULTS: A total of 947 women with TPL were enrolled. First-line tocolysis was administered to 822 (86.8%) patients. As a first-line tocolysis, beta-agonists were used most frequently (510/822, 62.0%), followed by magnesium sulfate (183/822, 22.3%), calcium channel blockers (91/822, 11.1%), and atosiban (38/822, 4.6%). Of the 822 women with first-line tocolysis, second-line tocolysis were required in 364 (44.3%). Of 364 with second-line, 199 had third-line tocolysis (37.4%). Antibiotics were administered to 29.9% of patients (284/947) with single (215, 22.7%), dual (26, 2.7%), and triple combinations (43, 4.5%). Corticosteroids were administered to 420 (44.4%) patients. Betamethasone was administered to 298 patients (71.0%), and dexamethasone was administered to 122 patients (29.0%). CONCLUSION: Practice patterns in the management of TPL in Korea were quite various. It is needed to develop standardized practice guidelines for TPL management.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Back Pain ; Betamethasone ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; Dexamethasone ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Magnesium Sulfate ; Muscle Cramp ; Obstetric Labor, Premature* ; Physician's Practice Patterns ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnant Women ; Premature Birth ; Retrospective Studies* ; Tocolysis ; Tocolytic Agents ; Uterine Contraction ; Vaginal Discharge

PURPOSE: In this study, we compared the treatment outcomes for an alpha-blocker between 2 groups of men, one with high sympathetic activity (HSA) and another with low sympathetic activity (LSA) or normal sympathetic activity. METHODS: A total of 159 men (> or =50 years of age) with lower urinary tract symptoms resulting from benign prostatic hyperplasia were analyzed. We assigned patients to groups according to their sympathetic activity, which was evaluated by heart ratevariability measurements. HSA was defined as a low frequency/high frequency ratio greater than 1.6. All patients received 10mg of alfuzosin once a day for 12 weeks. The primary end point was a change in the total International Prostate SymptomScore (IPSS) at 12 weeks from baseline. RESULTS: Sixty-seven men were assigned to the HSA group and 92 men were assigned to the LSA group. The baseline characteristics were not significantly different between the 2 groups, and the response to alfuzosin was good in both groups. Themean total IPSS change was not different between the groups. Both groups were not significantly different with respect to the changes in maximal flow rate, IPSS voiding or storage symptom subscores, quality of life, and rates of adverse drug events. TheHSA group showed a similar willingness to continue treatment compared to the LSA group, although their treatment satisfaction rating was lower. CONCLUSIONS: The therapeutic effects of alfuzosin did not differ in regards to the differences in sympathetic activity, but treatment satisfaction ratings were lower in the HSA group.
Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; Heart ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms* ; Male ; Observational Study* ; Prospective Studies* ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Quality of Life ; Sympathetic Nervous System