PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the use of health services and health expenditures between non-exercise and exercise groups of diabetic patients and among three groups divided according to exercise intensity. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Korean Health Panel Survey of 2011. The participants of this study were 864 diabetic patients who did exercise (walk, moderate exercise, or vigorous exercise) or not. Data were subsequently analyzed using the SPSS 21 Program. RESULTS: The exercise group showed higher percentages of medication compliance, non-smokers, and regular diet than the non-exercise group. The hospitalization percentage, the number of outpatient hospital visits, and health expenditures were higher in the non-exercise group than in the exercise group. There was no difference among the three groups divided according to exercise intensity in the use of health services and health expenditures. CONCLUSION: These results show that exercise is a way to reduce diabetic patients' use of health services and their health expenditures.
Diabetes Mellitus ; Diet ; Health Behavior* ; Health Expenditures* ; Health Services* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Medication Adherence ; Outpatients

No abstract available.
Endometriosis* ; Female ; Humans

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the important medical adverse events (IMEs) of cyclosporine and tacrolimus using the reports in US FDA adverse event reporting system (FAERS) and to detect related signals. Methods: The FAERS database was used to analyze the IMEs reported for cyclosporine or tacrolimus during 2017-2021. Reporting odds ratio (ROR) and information component were used to analyze signals for adverse events of both drugs. It was investigated whether the detected signals were present on drug labels in Korea and the United States. Results: Among the total 24,688 reports, the reports on tacrolimus accounted 75.8%. Mean age of the patients was 47.9 years old and median number of adverse events was 2.0 per report. The number of patients hospitalized for adverse events was 7,979 (25.3%). Among the adverse reactions reported on the cyclosporine and tacrolimus, 576 and 1,363 events were detected as signals for cyclosporine and tacrolimus, respectively, and of these, IMEs accounted for 44.8 and 59.2%, respectively. The IMEs related with infections/infestations, renal/urinary disorders, and blood and lymphatic system disorders were reported frequently for both drugs. The most frequently detected IMEs were renal impairment for cyclosporine and acute kidney injury for tacrolimus. Among the top 3 IMEs for each reported SOC for cyclosporine and tacrolimus, 9 and 2 unexpected adverse events were identified, respectively. Conclusion This study identified the IMEs and signals of cyclosporine and tacrolimus, and detected unidentified adverse events in a drug information database.

Background: and Purpose: Ventricle enlargement has been implicated in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We studied the relationship between ventricular size and cognitive function in patients with AD. We focused on the effect of the initial ventricle size on the rate of cognitive decline in patients with AD. Methods: A retrospective analysis of probable clinical AD participants with more than 2 magnetic resonance imaging images was performed. To measure ventricle size, we used visual rating scales of (1) Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) score and (2) conventional linear measurement method. Results: Increased clinical dementia rating (CDR) was correlated with a decreased MiniMental Status Examination (MMSE) score, and increased medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTLA) and global ventricle size (p<0.001, p<0.001, p=0.021, respectively). There was a significant correlation between the change in cognitive function in the group (70%–100%ile) with a large initial ventricle size (p=0.021 for ΔCDR, p=0.01 for ΔMMSE), while the median ventricle size (30%–70%ile) showed correlation with other brain structural changes (MTLA, frontal atrophy [FA], and white matter) (p=0.036 for initial MTLA, p=0.034 for FA). Conclusions In this study, the initial ventricle size may be a potential new imaging biomarker for initial cognitive function and clinical progression in AD. We found a relationship between the initial ventricle size and initial AD-related brain structural biomarkers.

PURPOSE: To review the retrospective imaging findings of thyroid cancer initially assessed as no suspicious malignancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 338 nodules confirmed to be thyroid cancer, this study included 38 patients with 39 nodules assessed as no suspicious malignancy on initial sonography. (mean age: 39 years, 36 females and 2 males). We evaluated sonographic findings by shape, margin, echogenecity, calcification, cystic degeneration and peripheral hypoechoic rim retrospecively. We analyzed whether sonographic findings were different according to the size (standard: 1 cm). RESULTS: The most frequent sonographic findings were ovoid to round shape 90%, well-defined smooth margin 64%, hypoechogenecity 54%, no calcification 92%, no cystic degeneration 77% and peripheral hypoechoic rim 56%. Suspicious malignancy findings were taller than wide shape 10%, well-defined spiculated margin 36%, markedly hypoechogenecity 10% and microcalcifications 8%. Isoechogenecity, cystic degenetaion and peripheral hypoechoic rim were common in 1 cm more than nodules. Well-defined spiculated margin was common in 1 cm less than nodules. In retrospective, 56% showed no suspicious malignancy finding. CONCLUSION: Although nodules assessed as no suspicious malignancy on initial US had many retrospectively suspicious malignancy findings, still many nodules showed no suspicious malignancy finding. Suspicious findings were ignored due to equivocal finding in small size, isoechogenecity, cystic degeneration or peripheral hypoechioic rim. We need careful observation.
Female ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroid Nodule

Ovarian stromal tumors containing Leydig cell components are rare. Only a few cases of ovarian stromal Leydig cell tumors characterized by clusters of Leydig cells have been reported to date. Here, we present the first case report of a 65-year-old woman with a cellular fibroma of the ovary containing Leydig cell hyperplasia. Microscopic examination revealed the proliferation of spindle cells arranged in intersecting bundles with mild nuclear atypia and an average of 2-3 mitotic figures per ten high-power fields. Multifocal nests of polygonal cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm and round nuclei were seen within the spindle cells. Final pathology of the tumor revealed a cellular fibroma including Leydig cell hyperplasia.
Aged ; Cellular Structures ; Cytoplasm ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Fibroma ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Leydig Cell Tumor ; Leydig Cells ; Male ; Ovary

PURPOSE: We examined the prevalence and CGG/AGG repeat structure of expanded alleles of the FMR1 gene in preconceptional and pregnant Korean women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The CGG repeats in the FMR1 genes of 1,408 women were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot analysis. To estimate the prevalence of expansion alleles, the individuals were divided into low risk and high risk group. RESULTS: Within this population, 98.4% had normal alleles and 1.6% had abnormal alleles including intermediate (0.6%), premutation (0.5%), full mutation (0.1%), and hemizygous (0.4%) alleles. There were 2 premutation alleles (1:666, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1:250-1,776) in the low risk group and 5 premutation alleles (1:15, 95% 1:6-36) in the high risk group. There were 8 intermediate alleles (1:167, 95% CI 1:130-213) in the low risk group and 1 intermediate alleles (1:76, 95% CI 1:11-533) in the high group. Six of the 7 premutation alleles did not contain AGG interruptions within the repeats and 1 had a single AGG interruption. Four of the 9 intermediate alleles contained 2-3 AGG, 4 had a single AGG, and 1 had no AGG interruptions. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates the prevalence and CGG/AGG structure of expansion alleles in Korean women. The identified premutation prevalence is higher than that of other Asian populations and lower than that of Caucasian populations. Although our study is limited by size and population bias, our findings could prove useful for genetic counseling of preconceptional or pregnant women.
Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Blotting, Southern ; Carrier State ; Female ; Fragile X Syndrome ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Counseling ; Humans ; Mass Screening* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pregnant Women ; Prevalence ; Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate that a surgeon can safely remove all sonographic evidence of masses in the breast grater than 3.0 cm in greatest dimension using the 8 g hand held Mammotome (MT). METHODS: From Jan. 2003 to Mar. 2005, a total of 1,368 US-guided MT excision were performed in 1,112 patients at Kangnam Cha hospital. Of these 1,368 lesions 28 lesions with BI-RADS category 3 features by ultrasonography were included in this study. Ultrasonographic follow-up were performed on 3~6 months later to assess residual tissue and scarring. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 32.0 years (range 20~55 years). The average size of lesion was 3.5 cm (SD+-0.43 cm). All of the lesions were palpable and all of the specimens were benign. Most common pathologic features were fibroadenoma (75.0%) and breast abscess (14.3%). Mean time required to perform mammotome procedures was 12.2+/-8.2 minutes and mean number of cores removed were 35.1+/-30.2 pieces. No bleeding or infections occurred postoperatively and most complications were mild and anticipated. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that percutaneous removal of big breast benign mass above 3 cm in diameter using The MT system is feasible, effective and safe method for the therapeutic management with minimal morbidity without any additional procedures.
Abscess ; Breast* ; Cicatrix ; Fibroadenoma ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVES: Mindfulness-base cognitive therapy (MBCT) has been used to treat patients with depression to prevent relapse. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of Mindfulness- Base Cognitive Therapy for patients who suffer with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder for 1 year. METHODS: 19 patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder were assigned to receive MBCT for a period of 8 weeks. The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were used at 0 weeks, 8 weeks and 1 year to assess the results. RESULTS: MBCT demonstrated significantly decreases on all the anxiety scale scores (HAM-A, p=0.00 ; BAI, p=0.00) and depressive scale scores (HAM-D, p=0.00 ; BDI, p=0.00). The patients who received 8-week of MBCT showed a higher remission rate (15/19, 78%) during the 1-year followup period. CONCLUSION: MBCT may be effective at relieving the anxiety and depressive symptoms of patients who suffer with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder for 1 year. However, further well-designed controlled trials are needed to assess the value of MBCT.
Anxiety ; Anxiety Disorders ; Cognitive Therapy ; Depression ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Panic ; Panic Disorder ; Recurrence

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of short-term use of selective progesterone receptor modulator (SPRM) or gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist on uterine fibroid shrinkage among Korean women. METHODS: This retrospective study involved 101 women with symptomatic uterine fibroids who received ulipristal acetate (SPRM, n=51) and leuprolide acetate (GnRH agonist, n=50) for 3 months between November 2013 and February 2015. The fibroid volume was measured both before and after treatment using ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. The outcomes were compared between the SPRM and GnRH agonist groups. RESULTS: The median rate of fibroid volume reduction after SPRM treatment was 12.4% (IQR −14.5% to 40.5%) which was significantly lower than the reduction rate observed after GnRH agonist treatment (median 34.9%, IQR 14.7% to 48.6%, P=0.004). 19 of 51 (37.3%) patients with SPRM treatment did not show any response of volume shrinkage, while 7 of 50 (14.0%) women with GnRH agonist showed no response (P=0.007). CONCLUSION: Short-term SPRM treatment yields lower volume reduction than GnRH agonist treatment in Korean women with symptomatic fibroids. Further large-scale randomized trials are needed to confirm our findings.
Female ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone* ; Humans ; Leiomyoma* ; Leuprolide ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Progesterone* ; Receptors, Progesterone* ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography