BACKGROUND: High blood pressure is prevalent in obesity and diabetes, especially noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus, and both conditions are insulin resistant state. METHOD: To test whether resistance to insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and hyperinsulinemia are involved in the pochogenesis of hypertension, author measured glucose, insulin and C-Peptide reponse after oral glucose loading in 52 cases of essential hypertension and 62 cases of normal controls who had been admitted to the ward of internal medicine, Pusan National University Hospita. RESULTS: Basal plasma glucose, insulin and C-Peptide levels in control subjects were 92.1+/-36.8mg/dl, 8.7+/-5.5microu/ml and 2.2+/-1.8ng/ml and in hypertensive subjects were 95.7+/-32.6mg/dl, 12.2+/-5.3microu/ml and 2.9+/-1.6ng/ml. The basal insulin level was markedly higher than tat of control subjets (p<0.05). The basal glucose and C-Peptide levels in hypertensive patioents were higher than controls but statistically not significant. Plasma glucose levels in time course after glucose load in hypertensive patients showed significantly higher levels in 60,90minutes than controls. Plasma insulin levels in hypertensives in 90 minutes were significantly higher. The C-Peptide levels in hypertensives showed significantly higher in each times 30,60,90,120 minutes than controls. In hypertensive patients, body weight, blood pressure levels and duration of hypertension were not significantly correlated with responses of glucose, insalin and c-peptioce. Hypertensive patients aboce the age of 50 showed significantly higher glucose levels in 60,90,120 minutes than under age of 50. CONCLUSION: These results indicate some tendency of disturbed glucose turnover or insulin-resistant state in essential hypertension. This metabolic disturbance in essential hypertension should be considered in the management of hypertensive patients.
Blood Glucose* ; Blood Pressure ; Body Weight ; Busan ; C-Peptide* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hyperinsulinism ; Hypertension* ; Insulin Resistance ; Insulin* ; Internal Medicine ; Obesity ; Plasma*

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to estabilish serum LDL cholesterol(LDL-C) and HDL cholestrol(HDL-C) levels in the Korean adult population and to identify the difference in sex, age, and living place and the incidence of high risk group and the affecting factors on the serum lipid levels. METHODS: The serum LDL-C and HDL-C distribution in the normal Korean abult population were studied in 5,278 cases(males 2,802 and females 2,476) in the age groups of 3rd to 8th decade. Data were collected from 33 institutes and hospitals throughout the country during the period of June 1989 to December 1990. The serum Lipid levels were examined in the state of fasting of at least 12 hours. Total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were measured by enzymatic assays and HDL-C levels were determined by precipitation methods. The level of LDL-C was determined indirectly using the formula by Friedwald [LDL-C=total cholesterol-(HDL-C+triglyceride/5)]. RESULTS: The mean level of LDL-C was 112.1mg/dl. Males had 110.0mg/dl and females had 114.5mg/dl without statistical significance between gender, but levels were significantly higher in the 4th decade in males and in the 6th, 7th and 8th decade in females. The LDL-C levels rose gradually with the increase of age. The peak level of LDL-C for the males was in the 7th decade and that for the females was in the 8th decade. The mean level of serum HDL-C was 45.1mg/dl. Males had 43.8mg/dl and females had 46.6mg/dl without statistical significance between gender, but levels were significantly higher in the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th decade in females. The incidence LDL-C level of > or = 160mg/dl was 10.0%. Males had 8.2% and females had 12.1% with significantly higher incidence in females, especially in 6th decade females. The incidence of LDL-C level of > or = 160mg/dl of big cities was 10.7% and that of smaller cities & towns was 8.8% with significantly higher incidence in big cities. But, there was no significant difference in gender between big cities and smaller cities & towns. The incidence of LDL-C level of > or = 160mg/dl was significantly higher in 7th decade males in big cities and that of big cities and smaller cities and smaller cities & towns was 15.9% and 5.2%, respectively. The incidence of HDL-C level of <35mg/dl was 17.4% Males had 20.0% and females had 14.5% with significantly higher incidence in males, especially in 4th decade males. The incidence of HDL-C level of <35mg/dl of smaller cities & towns was 19.8% and that of big cities was 16.2% with significantly higher incidence in smaller cities & towms. Males in smaller cities & towns had 23.1% and males in big cities had 18.1% with statistical higher in smaller cities & towns. But, there was no significant difference in females between big cities and smaller cities & towns. The incidence of HDL-C level of <35mg/dl was significantly higher in 4th and 6th decade males in smaller cities & towns and that of smaller cities & towns and big cities was 26.8%, 25.6% and 16.2%, 17.7%, repectively. The significantly positively related factors for serum LDL-C level were age, BMI, systolic blood pressure(SBP), location and occupation. And those for serum HDL-C level were SBP and family history and negatively related factor for HDL-C level were BMI, smoking, and exercise. CONCLUSION: This study can provide the basic date base for prevention and management of coronary heart disease among Korean population.
Academies and Institutes ; Adult* ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL* ; Cholesterol, LDL* ; Coronary Disease ; Enzyme Assays ; Fasting ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Occupations ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Triglycerides

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have a common route like sexually transmitted infections (STIs), vertical transmission and blood transfusion, etc. Therefore, it was necessary to be an attempt to confirm the relationship of HBV and HIV in Korea. We investigated the prevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and Hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) in HIV positive groups (n=430) and HIV negative groups (n=434) from January 2014 to October 2015. When comparing the prevalence of anti-HBc between the two groups, HIV positive group (36.0%) showed a higher prevalence than HIV negative group (24.7%), the result was statistically significant (p < 0.05). However, there was a little difference on HBsAg and not significant. Therefore, by showing a clear difference in anti-HBc between the two groups of HIV in Korea, it was confirmed to be associated with co-infections between Hepatitis B and HIV.
Blood Transfusion ; Coinfection* ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; HIV* ; Korea* ; Prevalence* ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Neurofibromatosis type I is a genetic disease caused by mutations in the neurofibromin 1 (NF1) gene. Although it is characterized by a number of distinct clinical features, including cafe au lait macules, freckling in the axillary or inguinal regions, neurofibromas, and Lisch nodules (iris harmartomas), it can affect all physiological systems in the body [1]. Neurofibromatosis-related pulmonary hypertension has also been reported, and some patients showed a poor prognosis despite having received proper medical treatment [2-4]. We herein describe a case of pulmonary hypertension in a patient with neurofibromatosis type I who had no identified risk factors of pulmonary hypertension. To our knowledge, this is the first such report in Korea.
Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertension, Pulmonary* ; Korea ; Neurofibroma ; Neurofibromatoses* ; Neurofibromatosis 1* ; Neurofibromin 1 ; Prognosis ; Risk Factors

Neurofibromatosis type I is a genetic disease caused by mutations in the neurofibromin 1 (NF1) gene. Although it is characterized by a number of distinct clinical features, including cafe au lait macules, freckling in the axillary or inguinal regions, neurofibromas, and Lisch nodules (iris harmartomas), it can affect all physiological systems in the body [1]. Neurofibromatosis-related pulmonary hypertension has also been reported, and some patients showed a poor prognosis despite having received proper medical treatment [2-4]. We herein describe a case of pulmonary hypertension in a patient with neurofibromatosis type I who had no identified risk factors of pulmonary hypertension. To our knowledge, this is the first such report in Korea.
Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertension, Pulmonary* ; Korea ; Neurofibroma ; Neurofibromatoses* ; Neurofibromatosis 1* ; Neurofibromin 1 ; Prognosis ; Risk Factors

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the most effective treatment approach by comparing the impacts of various otolith reduction techniques in patients with apogeotropic lateral semicircular canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (LC-BPPV). Methods: We performed a multicenter randomized prospective study from January to December 2015, involving 72 consecutive patients with apogeotropic LC-BPPV. The patients were divided into three treatment groups: therapeutic head-shaking (group A), the Gufoni-Appiani maneuver (group B), and the cupulolith repositioning maneuver (CuRM; group C). Each group underwent evaluation and treatment up to the fourth week. Treatment success was defined as the disappearance of positional vertigo and nystagmus. Results: This study included 72 patients (49 male and 23 female), with a mean (±standard deviation) age of 55.4±13.5 years. The mean duration of vertigo experienced prior to treatment was 3.9±4.4 days. The mean latency and duration of nystagmus were 2.7±3.0 seconds and 47.9±15.8 seconds, respectively. The overall treatment frequency was 2.0±0.9. The number of treatments differed significantly among the three groups (P<0.05). After 4 weeks, the success rates for groups A, B, and C were 90.5%, 92.3%, and 100%, respectively. No significant difference was observed in the success rate across treatment methods and periods (P>0.05). However, CuRM was the only method with a 100% treatment success rate. Conclusion While no clear difference was observed among the three treatments for LC-BPPV, CuRM was found to be superior to the other approaches in the long term.

Growth hormone (GH) deficiency is caused by congenital or acquired causes and occurs in childhood or adulthood. GH replacement therapy brings benefits to body composition, exercise capacity, skeletal health, cardiovascular outcomes, and quality of life. Before initiating GH replacement, GH deficiency should be confirmed through proper stimulation tests, and in cases with proven genetic causes or structural lesions, repeated GH stimulation testing is not necessary. The dosing regimen of GH replacement therapy should be individualized, with the goal of minimizing side effects and maximizing clinical improvements. The Korean Endocrine Society and the Korean Society of Pediatric Endocrinology have developed a position statement on the diagnosis and treatment of GH deficiency. This position statement is based on a systematic review of evidence and expert opinions.