Background: There are several differences in the clinical course of hypertension due to the biological and social differences between men and women. Resistant hypertension is an advanced disease state, and significant gender difference could be expected, but much has not been revealed yet. The purpose of this study was to compare gender differences on the current status of blood pressure (BP) control and clinical prognosis in patients with resistant hypertension. Methods: This is a multicenter, retrospective cohort study using common data model databases of 3 tertiary hospitals in Korea. Total 4,926 patients with resistant hypertension were selected from January 2017 to December 2018. Occurrence of dialysis, heart failure (HF) hospitalization, myocardial infarction, stroke, dementia or all-cause mortality was followed up for 3 years. Results: Male patients with resistant hypertension were younger but had a higher cardiovascular risk than female patients. Prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy and proteinuria was higher in men than in women. On-treatment diastolic BP was lower in women than in men and target BP achievement rate was higher in women than in men.During 3 years, the incidence of dialysis and myocardial infarction was higher in men, and the incidence of stroke and dementia was higher in women. After adjustment, male sex was an independent risk factor for HF hospitalization, myocardial infarction, and all-cause death. Conclusion In resistant hypertension, men were younger than women, but end-organ damage was more common and the risk of cardiovascular event was higher. More intensive cardiovascular prevention strategies may be required in male patients with resistant hypertension.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the association between the high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in Korean men. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed the data of 3,705 men (age 30–64 years) who participated in the 2014–2016 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). SSB intake was defined as the sum of the intakes of carbonated beverages and fruit juices. Participants were categorized into study groups depending on their intake of SSBs: ≤2, 3–4, or ≥5 times per week. High CVD risk was defined as a 10-year risk of more than 10%, based on the Framingham Heart Study 10-year CVD Risk Calculator. The association between high CVD risk and SSB intake was evaluated using a multivariable-adjusted logistic regression model. Results: Korean men who consumed SSBs 3–4 and ≥5 times a week showed a multivariate-adjusted odds ratio of 1.49 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05–2.11) and 1.61 (95% CI, 0.97–2.67) for high CVD risk, respectively, compared with those who consumed SSBs ≤2 times per week. Additionally, the risk of CVD increased with the increase in the intake of SSBs (P-trend=0.01). In subgroup analysis, no association was observed between SSB intake and high CVD risk in the group with regular physical activity (P for interaction=0.01). Conclusion In Korean men, except those with regular physical activity, SSB intake ≥3 times a week is associated with a high risk for CVD (10-year CVD risk ≥10%).

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the association between the high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in Korean men. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed the data of 3,705 men (age 30–64 years) who participated in the 2014–2016 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). SSB intake was defined as the sum of the intakes of carbonated beverages and fruit juices. Participants were categorized into study groups depending on their intake of SSBs: ≤2, 3–4, or ≥5 times per week. High CVD risk was defined as a 10-year risk of more than 10%, based on the Framingham Heart Study 10-year CVD Risk Calculator. The association between high CVD risk and SSB intake was evaluated using a multivariable-adjusted logistic regression model. Results: Korean men who consumed SSBs 3–4 and ≥5 times a week showed a multivariate-adjusted odds ratio of 1.49 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05–2.11) and 1.61 (95% CI, 0.97–2.67) for high CVD risk, respectively, compared with those who consumed SSBs ≤2 times per week. Additionally, the risk of CVD increased with the increase in the intake of SSBs (P-trend=0.01). In subgroup analysis, no association was observed between SSB intake and high CVD risk in the group with regular physical activity (P for interaction=0.01). Conclusion In Korean men, except those with regular physical activity, SSB intake ≥3 times a week is associated with a high risk for CVD (10-year CVD risk ≥10%).

PURPOSE: This paper examined the relationship between knowledge differences of maternal oral health and of relevant demographic variables. METHODS: Participants included 239 pregnant women who were recruited from Women's Hospital located in B city who agreed to participate in this study. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis using the SPSS 21.0 program. RESULTS: Maternal knowledge of oral health was moderate level (10.22±2.36). Scores of maternal knowledge of oral health were different according to age, education, occupation, parity, and dental care experience in pregnancy. Level of oral healthcare knowledge was weakly related to age and education. CONCLUSION: Consequently, it is necessary to encourage pregnant women to take part in oral health education program during antenatal care.
Delivery of Health Care ; Dental Care ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Occupations ; Oral Health* ; Parity ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women*

Autoimmune diseases (AIDs), a heterogeneous group of immune-mediated disorders, are a major and growing health problem. Although AIDs are currently treated primarily with anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs, the use of stem cell transplantation in patients with AIDs is becoming increasingly common. However, stem cell transplantation therapy has limitations, including a shortage of available stem cells and immune rejection of cells from nonautologous sources. Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology, which allows the generation of patient-specific pluripotent stem cells, could offer an alternative source for clinical applications of stem cell therapies in AID patients. We used nonintegrating oriP/EBNA-1-based episomal vectors to reprogram dermal fibroblasts from patients with AIDs such as ankylosing spondylitis (AS), Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The pluripotency and multilineage differentiation capacity of each patient-specific iPSC line was validated. The safety of these iPSCs for use in stem cell transplantation is indicated by the fact that all AID-specific iPSCs are integrated transgene free. Finally, all AID-specific iPSCs derived in this study could be differentiated into cells of hematopoietic and mesenchymal lineages in vitro as shown by flow cytometric analysis and induction of terminal differentiation potential. Our results demonstrate the successful generation of integration-free iPSCs from patients with AS, SS and SLE. These findings support the possibility of using iPSC technology in autologous and allogeneic cell replacement therapy for various AIDs, including AS, SS and SLE.
Autoimmune Diseases* ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells* ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Pluripotent Stem Cells ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Stem Cells ; Transgenes

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in Korea. In addition, we planned to do a performance analysis of the Registration Project of Type 1 diabetes for the reimbursement of consumable materials. METHODS: To obtain nationwide data on the incidence and prevalence of T1DM, we extracted claims data from July 2011 to August 2013 from the Registration Project of Type 1 diabetes on the reimbursement of consumable materials in the National Health Insurance (NHI) Database. For a more detailed analysis of the T1DM population in Korea, stratification by gender, age, and area was performed, and prevalence and incidence were calculated. RESULTS: Of the 8,256 subjects enrolled over the 26 months, the male to female ratio was 1 to 1.12, the median age was 37.1 years, and an average of 136 new T1DM patients were registered to the T1DM registry each month, resulting in 1,632 newly diagnosed T1DM patients each year. We found that the incidence rate of new T1DM cases was 3.28 per 100,000 people. The average proportion of T1DM patients compared with each region's population was 0.0125%. The total number of insurance subscribers under the universal compulsory NHI in Korea was 49,662,097, and the total number of diabetes patients, excluding duplication, was 3,762,332. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of T1DM over the course of the study was approximately 0.017% to 0.021% of the entire population of Korea, and the annual incidence of T1DM was 3.28:100,000 overall and 3.25:100,000 for Koreans under 20 years old.
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1* ; Epidemiology* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Insurance ; Korea* ; Male ; National Health Programs ; Prevalence

BACKGROUND: Hand eczema is one of the most common skin disorders and negatively affects quality of life. However, a large-scale multicenter study investigating the clinical features of patients with hand eczema has not yet been conducted in Korea. OBJECTIVE: To identify the prevalence of various hand diseases, which is defined as all cutaneous disease occurring in hands, and to investigate the clinical features of patients with hand eczema and the awareness about hand eczema in the general population and to compare the prevalence of hand eczema between health care providers and non-health care providers. METHODS: To estimate the prevalence of hand diseases, we analyzed the medical records of patients from 24 medical centers. Patients were assessed by online and offline questionnaires. A 1,000 from general population and 913 hand eczema patients answered the questionnaire, for a total of 1,913 subjects. RESULTS: The most common hand disease was irritant contact dermatitis. In an online survey, the lifetime prevalence of hand eczema was 31.2%. Hand eczema was more likely to occur in females (66.0%) and younger (20~39 years, 53.9%). Health care providers and housewives were the occupations most frequently associated with hand eczema. Winter (33.6%) was the most common season which people experienced aggravation. The 63.0% and 67.0% answered that hand eczema hinders their personal relationship and negatively affects daily living activities, respectively. CONCLUSION: Hand eczema is a very common disease and hinders the quality of life. The appropriate identification of hand eczema is necessary to implement effective and efficient treatment.
Activities of Daily Living ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Eczema* ; Female ; Hand* ; Health Personnel ; Humans ; Korea* ; Medical Records ; Occupations ; Prevalence ; Quality of Life ; Seasons ; Skin ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: Although microalbuminuria is considered as an early marker of nephropathy in diabetic adults, available information in diabetic adolescents is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate prevalence and frequency of regression of microalbuminuria in type 1 (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with childhood onset. METHODS: One hundred and nine adolescents (median, 18.9 years; interquartile range (IQR), 16.5-21.0 years) with T1DM and 18 T2DM adolescents (median, 17.9 years; IQR, 16.8-18.4 years) with repeated measurements of microalbuminuria (first morning urine microalbumin/creatinine ratios) were included. The median duration of diabetes was 10.1 (7.8-14.0) years and 5.0 (3.5-5.6) years, respectively, and follow-up period ranged 0.5-7.0 years. Growth parameters, estimated glomerular filtration rate, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and lipid profiles were obtained after reviewing medical record in each subject. RESULTS: The prevalence of microalbuminuria at baseline and evaluation were 21.1% and 17.4% in T1DM, and 44.4% and 38.9% in T2DM. Regression of microalbuminuria was observed in 13 T1DM patients (56.5%) and 3 T2DM patients (37.5%), and progression rate was 10.5% and 20% in T1DM and T2DM respectively. In regression T1DM group, HbA1c at baseline and follow-up was lower, and C-peptide at baseline was higher compared to persistent or progression groups. In T2DM, higher triglyceride was observed in persistent group. CONCLUSION: Considerable regression of microalbuminuria more than progression in diabetes adolescents indicates elevated urinary microalbumin excretion in a single test does not imply irreversible diabetic nephropathy. Careful monitoring and adequate intervention should be emphasized in adolescents with microalbuminuria to prevent rapid progression toward diabetic nephropathy.
Adolescent* ; Adult ; Albuminuria ; C-Peptide ; Child ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Prevalence ; Triglycerides

PURPOSE: Renal size is an important indicator to determine adequate organ growth in children. The aim of this study was to estimate renal size with Technesium-99m dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scan and propose a simple formula for predicting renal length in normal Korean children. METHODS: This study included 346 children (148 boys and 198 girls; age range, 1 month to 17 years) in whom renal length was measured using the DMSA scan. Patients with anatomical renal abnormalities or acute pyelonephritis were excluded. Children were divided into two groups: 214 children (61.8%) were less than a year old (group 1) and 132 (38.2%) were > or =1 year (group 2). RESULTS: Renal length was larger on the left side than the right side, and there was no significant gender-related difference in renal length. We propose the following formula for renal length based on the analysis of the 346 children in our study: the formula was as follows: 4.682xage (month)0.137, R2=0.780. In group 1, the formula was renal length (cm)=0.127xage (month)+5.144, R2=0.354, and in group 2, the formula was 0.334xage (year)+6.477, R2=0.829. CONCLUSION: It is difficult to establish simple formulae in infants (R2=0.354). Therefore, further studies including relevant variables are needed for this age group. We proposed formulae to estimate renal length in Korean children over 1 year of age by using the DMSA scan.
Child* ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Kidney* ; Pyelonephritis ; Radionuclide Imaging* ; Succimer*

The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of DA-9801, an optimized extract of Dioscorea species, on diabetic peripheral neuropathy in a type 2 diabetic animal model. In this study, db/db mice were treated with DA-9801 (30 and 100 mg/kg, daily, p.o.) for 12 weeks. DA-9801 reduced the blood glucose levels and increased the withdrawal latencies in hot plate tests. Moreover, it prevented nerve damage based on increased nerve conduction velocity and ultrastructural changes. Decrease of nerve growth factor (NGF) may have a detrimental effect on diabetic neuropathy. We previously reported NGF regulatory properties of the Dioscorea genus. In this study, DA-9801 induced NGF production in rat primary astrocytes. In addition, it increased NGF levels in the sciatic nerve and the plasma of type 2 diabetic animals. DA-9801 also increased neurite outgrowth and mRNA expression of Tieg1/Klf10, an NGF target gene, in PC12 cells. These results demonstrated the attenuation of diabetic peripheral neuropathy by oral treatment with DA-9801 via NGF regulation. DA-9801 is currently being evaluated in a phase II clinical study.
Animals ; Astrocytes ; Blood Glucose ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; Dioscorea* ; Mice* ; Models, Animal ; Nerve Growth Factor ; Neural Conduction ; Neurites ; PC12 Cells ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases* ; Plasma ; Rats ; RNA, Messenger ; Sciatic Nerve