BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes is usually preceded by a long and clinically silent period of increasing insulin resistance. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that rosiglitazone and metformin fixed-dose combination therapy (RSG/MET) will safely and effectively control glycemia as a first line of oral therapy, better than rosiglitazone (RSG) or metformin (MET) monotherapy in Korean type 2 diabetes patients. METHODS: This study was a 32-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind study. Twenty-seven type 2 diabetes patients (males 14; females 13) were included and randomly divided into the rosiglitazone, metformin group, or rosiglitazone /metformin combination groups. The primary objective of this study was to determine the change in HbA1c from baseline (week 0) to week 32. The secondary end-points were to determine changes in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), from baseline to week 32. Other cardiovascular risk markers were also assessed. RESULTS: At week 32, there were significant reductions in HbA1c and FPG, in all three treatment groups. There was no statistical difference in HbA1c among the three groups, but the decrease in FPG in the RSG/MET group was statistically significant compared to the MET group (P < 0.05). RSG/MET significantly reduced HOMA-IR at week 32 compared to baseline, but there was no difference among the three groups. RSG/MET significantly decreased high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) value at week 32, compared to baseline. There were increases in adiponectin from baseline to week 32 in the RSG and RSG/MET groups, and the increase in the RSG/MET group was statistically significant compared to that of the MET group (P < 0.05). At week 32, there was a significant decrease in plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in all three treatment groups, but no statistically significant difference among them. The RSG/MET group significantly decreased in terms of urinary albumin-creatinine ratio at week 32, compared to baseline. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, rosiglitazone and metformin combination therapy was effective in glycemic control as an initial therapy, and it improved cardiovascular risk markers in Korean type 2 diabetes patients.
Adiponectin ; C-Reactive Protein ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Double-Blind Method ; Fasting ; Female ; Glucose ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Metformin ; Plasma ; Plasminogen Activators ; Thiazolidinediones

BACKGROUND: Obese type 2 diabetic subjects are recently increasing in Korea, indicating the importance of insulin resistance rather than insulin secretory defects in the pathophysioloy of type 2 diabetes. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of fixed dose rosiglitazone/metformin combination therapy in poorly controlled subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: 12 type 2 diabetic subjects who had a HbA1c > 11% or fasting plasma glucose > 15 mmol/L were included. After a 2 week screening period, the subjected took the fixed does rosiglitazone/metformin for 24 weeks. The treatment with rosiglitazone/metformin began at week 0 with an initial dose of 4 mg/1000 mg and, unless tolerability issues arose, subjects would be increased to 6 mg/1500 mg at week 4 and at week 8 to the maximum dose of 8 mg/2000 mg. The primary object of this study was to characterize the magnitude of HbA1c reduction from baseline after 24 weeks of rosiglitazone and metformin treatment in poorly controlled type 2 diabetics. RESULTS: The mean age of the subjects was 48.9 +/- 10.6 years old, body mass index was 25.0 +/- 3.5 kg/m2, HbA1c was 12.0 +/- 1.0%, and fasting plasma glucose was 16.3 +/- 3.1 mmol/L. HbA1c was reduced to 7.54 +/- 1.45% and fasting plasma glucose reduced to 7.96 +/- 2.38 mmol/L at week 24. The proportion of HbA1c responder who showed the reduction from baseline of > or = 0.7% or HbA1c < 7% was 11 among 12 subjects (91.7%). 41% of the subjects (5 among 12 subjects) achieved HbA1c level < 7.0% and 75% (9 among 12 subjects) achieved HbA1c level < 8.0%. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, rosiglitazone and metformin combination therapy was effective in glycemic control in poorly controlled subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Body Mass Index ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Metformin ; Plasma ; Thiazolidinediones

Hyalinizing trabecular adenoma is an uncommon benign thyroid tumor that is recently described in the literature. This tumor is easily confused with medullary carcinoma on surgical specimens and with papillay carcinoma on cytologic specimens. Herein we report the cytologic characteristics of a case of histologically proven hyalinizing trabecular adenoma of the thyroid gland. Cytologically, the aspirate showed trabecular or individually dispersed polygonal cells with finely stippled chromatin pattern, nuclear grooves, and eosinophilic nuclear pseudoinclusions. No colloid materials were noted in the background.
Adenoma ; Animals ; Carcinoma, Medullary ; Chromatin ; Colloids ; Eosinophils ; Hyalin ; Mediastinum ; Puromycin Aminonucleoside* ; Puromycin* ; Rats* ; Thyroid Gland

Objectives: This study was conducted to examine the obstacles in the use of healthcare from the perspective of family caregivers based on their experience of mental healthcare services and to identify practical recommendations according to the family’s needs. Methods: A focus group interview was conducted with 59 family caregivers of patients with mental disorders. They were asked about the first moment when they took the patient to a psychiatric hospital, their feelings, and experiences during the treatment, relapse or readmission, access to healthcare and obstacles. The results were analyzed in a three-step procedure using grounded theory analysis. Results: The results showed that the social prejudice and stigma toward mental disorders experienced by the family caregivers hindered the initial treatment approach. Discrimination and disadvantages in healthcare, and poor access to community mental healthcare services, lowered the reliability of institutions and services. A decrease in the sense of healing due to distrust in the treatment and disruption of family life can lead to a vicious circle that affects the continuity of treatment and could result in issues such as the stopping of treatment or difficulty in accessing treatment in case of relapse. Conclusion Based on these results, policy tasks were proposed to improve accessibility to mental health services according to the needs of the patient’s family.

Generalized granuloma annulare is a rare benign granulomatous dermatosis characterized by disseminated necrobiotic dermal papules forming an annular or nonannular configuration. It usually occurs in adults and rarely affects infants. Histologically, it presents as a lymphohistiocytic granuloma associated with varying degrees of connective tissue degeneration. Clinical associations between generalized granuloma annulare and diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease, malignancy, infection, and vaccination have been reported. There are a few cases reports of generalized granuloma annulare associated with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination. Herein, we report three cases of generalized granuloma annulare following BCG vaccination in infants.
Adult ; Bacillus* ; BCG Vaccine ; Connective Tissue ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Granuloma ; Granuloma Annulare* ; Humans ; Infant ; Mycobacterium bovis ; Skin Diseases ; Thyroid Diseases ; Vaccination*

Partial unilateral lentiginosis is a rare pigmentary disorder which is characterized by multiple grouped lentigines in unilateral or segmental distributions. The ocular involvement of the disease is extremely rare and only four cases have been reported until today. The exact pathophysiology is still unknown. An 18-year-old woman is being presented with unilateral hyperpigmented macules on her left forehead, eyelid, cheek, lip and chin which all demarcated sharply at the midline of her face. The lesion has been presented since the age of 1. Also, there are discrete brownish pigmentations on her left bulbar conjunctiva. Biopsy specimen is being obtained from the left chin and the histopathological examinations revealed increasing basal layer of pigmentations and mild elongation of rete ridges. The histopathological features are also consistent with lentigo simplex. Herein, we present a rare case of partial unilateral lentiginosis with an ocular involvement. We have also proposed that the partial unilateral lentiginosis has a possibility of ocular involvements.
Adolescent ; Biopsy ; Cheek ; Chin ; Conjunctiva ; Eyelids ; Female ; Forehead ; Humans ; Lentigo* ; Lip ; Pigmentation

Granulomatous vulvitis is a rare localized inflammatory disease characterized by a painless, swollen, indurated and distorted vulva. Histopathologically, it shows chronic non-necrotizing granulomatous inflammation with edema, fibrosis, and lymphangiectasia. Some cases are associated with granulomatous cheilitis or Crohn's disease. So far, only a few cases of idiopathic granulomatous vulvitis have been reported. A 43-year-old female presented with a 1-year-history of persistent swelling of the vulva. The lesion was enlarged, edematous, and indurated, and there were clustered vesicles and papules on the labia major. Histopathologic examination of the swollen labia major showed granulomatous inflammation composed of multinucleated giant cells and epithelioid cells, with numerous lymphocytes in the dermis. Another biopsy specimen obtained from the clustered vesicles showed lymphangiectasia with chronic inflammation. Based on these characteristic histopathologic features and clinical findings, the patient was diagnosed with idiopathic granulomatous vulvitis. Herein, we reported a rare case of idiopathic granulomatous vulvitis that developed in a healthy woman.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Crohn Disease ; Dermis ; Edema ; Epithelioid Cells ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Giant Cells ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lymphocytes ; Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome ; Vulva ; Vulvitis*

No abstract available.
Paraffin* ; Vitiligo*

BACKGROUND: As the size of the elderly population has increased compared to the hole, there has been growing concern over potential health problems and geriatric hospitals for elderly people. However, despite the emerging needs for geriatric hospitals, there is no data on the clinical characteristics of patients being admitted to geriatric hospitals. To analyze the characteristics of elderly patients admitted to a geriatric hospital, we studied the medical records of patients admitted to Yong-in Hyoja Geriatric Hospital during a recent 20 months period. By clarifying the clinical characteristics of elderly patients admitted to a geriatric hospital, the basic data for understanding and treating elderly patients could be made. METHODS: We analyzed the medical records of 345 patients who were admitted to Yong-in Hyoja Geriatric Hospital from November 1997 to July 1999. The diagnosis of patients was largely subgrouped according to the existence of dementia, and subsequent detailed diagnoses were made. RESULTS: (1) The average age of patients was 74.59 years and there were slightly more females than males admitted (ratio, 1.15:1). (2) Most of the patients suffered from dementia (62.1%), of which vascular dementia was the most common(31.6%), followed by Alzheimer dementia(19.15%). (3) Compared to vascular dementia, patients with Alzheimer dementia had more severe cognitive dysfunction, psychosis, and agitation, while patients with vascular dementia had more problems in activities of daily living (ADL) and were more depressed than Alzheimer dementia (4) The average hospitalization duration was 3.54 months and incidence of significant illness after admission was 29.8%. The mortality rate was 10.9%. (5) The most common cause of death was infection (45.2%), followed by cardiovascular problems(16.2%). CONCLUSIONS: In addition to significant illnesses and mortality after admission, most patients admitted to geriatric hospitals have severe cognitive and behavioral problems. Therefore, adequate medical and neurological assessment and treatment for the aged is necessary.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aged ; Cause of Death ; Dementia ; Dementia, Vascular ; Diagnosis ; Dihydroergotamine ; Female ; Geriatrics ; Gyeonggi-do* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Psychotic Disorders

Sebaceous hyperplasia is a common and benign disorder of the sebaceous gland. It commonly develops in middle aged to elderly persons, but the premature type can appear at puberty. Sebaceous hyperplasia usually presents as yellowish, scattered umbilicated papules on the forehead, nose, and cheeks. The term "sebaceous hyperplasia en plaque" means that numerous sebaceous hyperplasia papules are present in a grouped, plaque-like pattern. No reports of development of sebaceous hyperplasia with nevus sebaceus on the same distribution are available. Herein, we report a case of premature sebaceous hyperplasia en plaque with nevus sebaceus of the same distribution.
Aged ; Cheek ; Forehead ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Middle Aged ; Nevus ; Nose ; Puberty ; Sebaceous Glands