2.Risk Factors for Foot Ulceration in Diabetic Patients.
Journal of Korean Diabetes 2011;12(2):76-79
Diabetic foot ulcers are one of the main complications of diabetes and frequently lead to amputation of the lower extremities. All patients with diabetes should be screened annually to establish their risk of foot ulceration. While foot ulcers affect almost 5% of the patients with diabetes, the cumulative lifetime incidence may be as high as 15%. The development of a foot ulcer usually result from a combination of neuropathy and tissue ischemia caused by peripheral artery disease. Other factors have been identified such as repetitive pressure loading on insensitive feet, previous foot ulcer or amputation of the other leg and poor glycemic control. An understanding of the risk factors for diabetic foot ulcer permits identification of individuals at high risk and prompt management is essential to prevent the development of a foot ulcer. Further studies are needed to establish the independent risk factors associated with diabetic foot ulceration.
Amputation
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Diabetic Foot
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Foot
;
Foot Ulcer
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Humans
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Incidence
;
Ischemia
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Leg
;
Lower Extremity
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Peripheral Arterial Disease
;
Risk Factors
;
Ulcer
3.Combination Surgery of Silicone Tube Intubation and Conjunctival Resection in Patients with Epiphora.
Seon Tae KIM ; Long Yu JIN ; Hee Bae AHN
Korean Journal of Ophthalmology 2018;32(6):438-444
PURPOSE: To compare the success rates of performing only silicone tube intubation versus carrying out both conjunctival resection and silicone tube intubation. METHODS: The subjects of this study involved 62 patients (96 eyes) between October 2015 and May 2017 who were diagnosed as having punctal stricture or nasolacrimal duct stenosis. Out of 96 eyes, 47 underwent only silicone tube intubation, and 49 underwent both silicone tube intubation and conjunctival resection. Three parameters were measured at 1, 3, and 6 months after the surgery: the area of the tear meniscus using RTVue-100 anterior segment optical coherence tomography, the height of the tear meniscus using a slit lamp microscope, and the subjective satisfaction of patients as a result of improved sympotms like epiphora. The surgery was considered successful when the patients' experienced the resolution of symptoms and reduction of the area and height of the tear meniscus. RESULTS: The area of the tear meniscus, height of the tear meniscus, and subjective satisfaction of patients was superior in the group that underwent both silicone tube intubation and conjunctival resection compared silicone tube intubation only. Based on these results, the success rate of the surgery was 68.9% in the group that underwent only silicone tube intubation and 78.7% in the group that underwent both silicone tube intubation and conjunctival resection. CONCLUSIONS: The resection of relaxed plica semilunares seems to increase the success rate of silicone tube intubation through the reduction of the area and height of the tear meniscus. Therefore, after determining the degree of conjunctivochalasis, if it was found to be severe, a combination with conjunctival resection was expected to increase the success rate of the surgery.
Constriction, Pathologic
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Humans
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Intubation*
;
Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases*
;
Nasolacrimal Duct
;
Silicon*
;
Silicones*
;
Slit Lamp
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Tears
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Tomography, Optical Coherence
4.Hypoxia Increases β-Cell Death by Activating Pancreatic Stellate Cells within the Islet
Jong Jin KIM ; Esder LEE ; Gyeong Ryul RYU ; Seung-Hyun KO ; Yu-Bae AHN ; Ki-Ho SONG
Diabetes & Metabolism Journal 2020;44(6):919-927
Hypoxia can occur in pancreatic islets in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) are activated during hypoxia. Here we aimed to investigate whether PSCs within the islet are also activated in hypoxia, causing β-cell injury. Islet and primary PSCs were isolated from Sprague Dawley rats, and cultured in normoxia (21% O2) or hypoxia (1% O2). The expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), as measured by immunostaining and Western blotting, was used as a marker of PSC activation. Conditioned media (hypoxia-CM) were obtained from PSCs cultured in hypoxia. Islets and PSCs cultured in hypoxia exhibited higher expressions of α-SMA than did those cultured in normoxia. Hypoxia increased the production of reactive oxygen species. The addition of N-acetyl-L-cysteine, an antioxidant, attenuated the hypoxia-induced PSC activation in islets and PSCs. Islets cultured in hypoxia-CM showed a decrease in cell viability and an increase in apoptosis. PSCs within the islet are activated in hypoxia through oxidative stress and promote islet cell death, suggesting that hypoxia-induced PSC activation may contribute to β-cell loss in type 2 diabetes mellitus.
5.Polyomavirus-associated Nephropathy after Renal Transplantation.
Sung Bae PARK ; Hyung Joon AHN ; Yu Seun KIM ; Won Hyun CHO ; Hyun Chul KIM
The Journal of the Korean Society for Transplantation 2006;20(1):25-34
The first clinical infections with polyomavirus (PV) were demonstrated in 1971, when BK virus was isolated from the urine after a kidney transplant recipient and JC virus from the brain of a patient who died of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (PVAN) has become an important cause of allograft dysfunction and loss in kidney transplantation since first recognized in kidney transplant recipient with PVAN in 1995. Most cases of PVAN are caused by polyomavirus hominis type 1, known as BK virus and arise while the patient in on triple immunosuppressive combinations, often comprising tacrolimus and/or mycophenolate mofetil plus corticosteroids. Significant progress has been made, particularly in the area of diagnostic methods for PV, facilitating diagnosis, screening and monitoring of PV infection. Definitive diagnosis of PVAN requires allograft kidney biopsy. Immunologic control of PV replication can be achieved by reducing, switching, and discontinuing of the immunusuppressive agents. Cidofovir and leflunomide are used empirically in the treatment of PVAN. However, these antiviral agents are not approved for PVAN. Recently, investigational use at low-dose cidofovir (0.25~0.33 mg/kg intravenously biweekly) without probenecid should be considered for the treatment of cases refractory to decreasedmaintenance immunosuppression. PVAN had a serious consequence of kidney transplantation that increasingly cause for chronic allograft kidney loss. Despite reduction in immuo-suppression, allograft kidney loss occurred in 46% of transplant recipients with PVAN. PVAN recurred in 15% of retransplantations compared with 5% of primary kidney transplantations. However, retransplantation is not contraindicated for transplant recipient in whom a first allograft kidney lost due to PVAN. Recently, preemptive retransplantation can be considered in patients with allograft loss due to PVAN.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones
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Allografts
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Antiviral Agents
;
Biopsy
;
BK Virus
;
Brain
;
Diagnosis
;
Humans
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Immunosuppression
;
JC Virus
;
Kidney
;
Kidney Transplantation*
;
Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal
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Mass Screening
;
Polyomavirus
;
Probenecid
;
Tacrolimus
;
Transplantation
6.MR Imaging of Pineal Cysts.
Yong Sik AHN ; Hyeon YU ; Wan Tae KIM ; Jin Woo BAE ; Hee Jung MOON ; Hyun Ja SHIN
Journal of the Korean Radiological Society 1999;41(3):447-452
PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence and characteristic findings of pineal cyst incidentally detected on magnetic resonance(MR) imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Brain MR images obtained in 2432 patients were retrospectively reviewed to determine the incidence and MR findings of pineal cysts, which were evaluated according to their size, shape, location, signal intensity, interval change, contrast enhancement and mass effect on adjacent structures. RESULTS: Cysts were encountered in 107(4.4 %) of 2432 patients evaluated. Their size ranged from 1 x 1 x 1 to 15 x 8 x 9(mean, 5.97 x 3.87 x 4.82)mm. All were spherical(n=53) or oval(n=54) in shape. Their margin was smooth and they were homogeneous in nature. On T1-weighted images, the cysts were seen to be hyperintense(n=57) or isointense(n=50) to cerebrospinal fluid, but less so than brain parenchyma. T2-weighted images showed them to be isointense(n=51) or hyperintense(n=56) to cerebrospinal fluid. The cysts were centrally located in 65 cases and eccentrically in 42. Compression of the superior colliculi of the tectum was demonstrated in 17 cases(15.9 %). No patients presented clinical symptoms or signs related to either pineal or tectal lesions. Peripheral enhancement around the cyst after Gd-DTPA injection was demonstrated in 51 cases ( 1 00 %). Follow-up examinations in 19 cases demonstrated no interval change. CONCLUSION: The incidence of pineal cysts was 4.4%. The MR characteristics of simple pineal cysts include: (1) an oval or spherical shape, (2) a smooth outer margin and homogeneous nature, (3) isosignal or slightly high signal intensity to cerebrospinal fluid on whole pulse sequences, (4) ring enhancement after contrast injection,(5) an absence of interval change, as seen during follow up MR study. These MR appearances of pineal cysts might be helpful for differentiating them from pineal tumors.
Brain
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Cerebrospinal Fluid
;
Follow-Up Studies
;
Gadolinium DTPA
;
Humans
;
Incidence
;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
;
Pinealoma
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Superior Colliculi
10.Perceptions of Traditional Korean Foods and Satisfaction Levels toward School Foodservice among Middle School Students and Parents of Schools Serving Traditional Korean Menus in Gyeonggi Province.
Yu Mi BAE ; Deok Hee SONG ; Hong Seok AHN
Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association 2011;17(2):118-129
The purpose of this study was to investigate perceptions of Korean foods and school foodservice satisfaction levels among middle school students as provided by a Korean menu-focused school foodservice. The study subjects included middle school freshmen attending a school providing Korean menus and their parents. A survey questionnaire was administered to obtain information on general characteristics, perceptions of traditional Korean foods, and degrees of satisfaction toward school foodservice. The student subjects had significantly lower interest and preference for traditional Korean foods and less positive perceptions of traditional Korean foods than the parent subjects. In regard to degrees of satisfaction for school foodservice, the students evaluated the current Korean menu-focused foodservice significantly higher than the previous foodservice provided to them during their elementary school days. The parent subjects' also generally reported very high satisfaction levels of the foodservice. The current study findings suggest there are positive effects of Korean-style school foodservice and support its further expansion to other schools. It is recommended that dietary education on the excellence of traditional Korean foods should accompany the provision of Korean-style foodservices in order to better guide adolescents' recognition of the matter.
Humans
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Parents
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Surveys and Questionnaires