Background/Aims: The prevalence of GERD and treatment costs are continuously rising in Korea, and the importance of primary health care clinics where the most treatment of actual patients is conducted is increasing. In this study, the diagnosis of GERD, selection of therapeutic drugs, and treatment methods in primary health care clininics were investigated through a large-scale multi-dimensional surveys. Methods: From January 2015 to December 2018, the study data of 18,010 patients with GERD were retrospectively investigated based on eletronic medical record at 542 primary health care clinics in Korea. Results: Among all GERD patients, endoscopy was used for diagnosis in 16.11% of cases, and the most frequently performed in gastroenterology department (28.85%). The average BMI and the proportion of patients in stages 1 to 3 of obesity were highest in the ERD group, and the majority of the severity of ERD group was mild. Symptoms of the patients with GERD were mainly heartburn, gastric acid reflux, and chest pain. Drug treatment was performed in most of the patients with GERD, and PPI was the main drug, and Esomeprazol was prescribed the most among the main ingredients, and the ratio of PPI alone was high. The rate of symptom improvement after GERD treatment was slightly higher in the ERD group (75.91%) and the NERD group (74.36%) than in the GERD diagnosed without endoscopy group (63.89%). Conclusions In domestic primary health care clinics, the majority were diagnosed with GERD without endoscopy on the basis of symptoms. The most preferred treatment for GERD was PPI, which was prescribed alone in the majority.

Background: Tissue engineering can be used for bladder augmentation. However, conventional scaffolds result in fibrosis and graft shrinkage. This study applied an alternative polycaprolactone (PCL)-based scaffold (diameter = 5 mm) with a noble gradient structure and growth factors (GFs) (epidermal growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, and basic fibroblast growth factor) to enhance bladder tissue regeneration in a rat model. Methods: Partially excised urinary bladders of 5-week-old male Slc:SD rats were reconstructed with the scaffold (scaffold group) or the scaffold combined with GFs (GF group) and compared with sham-operated (control group) and untreated rats (partial cystectomy group). Evaluations of bladder volume, histology, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and molecular markers were performed at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after operation. Results: The bladder volumes of the scaffold and GF group recovered to the normal range, and those of the GF group showed more enhanced augmentation. Histological evaluations revealed that the GF group showed more organized urothelial lining, dense extracellular matrix, frequent angiogenesis, and enhanced smooth muscle bundle regeneration than the scaffold group. IHC for α-smooth muscle actin, pan-cytokeratin, α-bungarotoxin, and CD8 revealed that the GF group showed high formation of smooth muscle, blood vessel, urothelium, neuromuscular junction and low immunogenicity. Concordantly, real-time polymerase chain reaction experiments revealed that the GF group showed a higher expression of transcripts associated with smooth muscle and urothelial differentiation. In a 6-month in vivo safety analysis, the GF group showed normal histology. Conclusion This study showed that a PCL scaffold with a gradient structure incorporating GFs improved bladder regeneration functionally and histologically.

PURPOSE: Robotic surgery is expected to have advantages over laparoscopic surgery; however, there are limited data regarding the feasibility of robotic surgery for rectal cancer after preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Therefore, we evaluated the short-term outcomes of robotic surgery for rectal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-three patients with cT3N0-2 rectal cancer after preoperative CRT who underwent robotic low anterior resection (R-LAR) between March 2010 and January 2012 were matched with 66 patients undergoing laparoscopic low anterior resection (L-LAR). Perioperative clinical outcomes and pathological data were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Patient characteristics did not differ significantly different between groups. The mean operation time was 441 minutes (R-LAR) versus 277 minutes (L-LAR, p < 0.001). The open conversion rate was 6.1% in the R-LAR group and 0% in the L-LAR group (p=0.11). There were no significant differences in the time to flatus passage, length of hospital stay, and postoperative morbidity. In pathological review, the mean number of harvested lymph nodes was 22.3 in R-LAR and 21.6 in L-LAR (p=0.82). Involvement of circumferential resection margin was positive in 16.1% and 6.7%, respectively (p=0.42). Total mesorectal excision (TME) quality was complete in 97.0% in R-LAR and 91.0% in L-LAR (p=0.41). CONCLUSION: In our study, short-term outcomes of robotic surgery for rectal cancer after CRT were similar to those of laparoscopic surgery in respect to bowel function recovery, morbidity, and TME quality. Well-designed clinical trials are needed to evaluate the functional results and long-term outcomes of robotic surgery for rectal cancer.
Chemoradiotherapy* ; Flatulence ; Humans ; Laparoscopy* ; Length of Stay ; Lymph Nodes ; Recovery of Function ; Rectal Neoplasms*

PURPOSE: Up to 71% of South Korean postmenopausal women have vitamin D deficiency {serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH) D] level <50 nmol/L}. Data on vitamin D supplementation was collected during the screening phase of an efficacy/safety study of denosumab in Korean postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. This report describes the effect of vitamin D supplementation on repletion to 25(OH)D levels ≥50 nmol/L in Korean postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Vitamin D levels of Korean postmenopausal women (60-90 years old) were measured by extracting 25(OH)D2 and 25(OH)D3 from serum samples via protein precipitation and using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry detection. Calibration curves were constructed from the mass chromatograms to obtain total vitamin D levels. Subjects with serum 25(OH)D levels <50 nmol/L were supplemented with 1000 IU of vitamin D tablets during the 2.5-month-long screening period. Dose, frequency, and duration were determined by the investigator. If repletion was achieved (≥50 nmol/L) on retest, subjects were eligible to be rescreened for study entry. RESULTS: Of 371 subjects screened, 191 (52%) required vitamin D supplementation, and 88% (168 of 191) were successfully repleted. More than half of the subjects (58%) who were successfully repleted received doses of 2000 IU daily. The mean time to successful repletion was 31 days (standard deviation 8.4 days; range 11-48 days). CONCLUSION: Supplementation with daily median doses of 2000 IU vitamin D successfully repleted 88% of Korean postmenopausal women with osteoporosis within 48 days to a serum vitamin D level of 50 nmol/L.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; *Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Bone Density Conservation Agents/*therapeutic use ; *Dietary Supplements ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal/*complications/drug therapy/ethnology ; Postmenopause/blood ; Republic of Korea ; Vitamin D/analogs & derivatives/blood/*therapeutic use ; Vitamin D Deficiency/diagnosis/*drug therapy/ethnology

PURPOSE: The efficacy and safety of denosumab was compared with placebo in Korean postmenopausal women with osteoporosis in this phase III study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Women aged 60 to 90 years with a T-score of <-2.5 and ≥-4.0 at the lumbar spine or total hip were randomized to a single 60 mg subcutaneous dose of denosumab or placebo for the 6-month double-blind phase. Eligible subjects entered the 6-month open-label extension phase and received a single dose of denosumab 60 mg. RESULTS: Baseline demographics were similar in the 62 denosumab- and 64 placebo-treated subjects who completed the double-blind phase. Treatment favored denosumab over placebo for the primary endpoint {mean percent change from baseline in lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) at Month 6 [3.2% (95% confidence interval 2.1%, 4.4%; p<0.0001)]}; and secondary endpoints (mean percent change from baseline in lumbar spine BMD at Month 1, total hip, femoral neck, and trochanter BMD at Months 1 and 6, and median percent change from baseline in bone turnover markers at Months 1, 3, and 6). Endpoint improvements were sustained over 12 months in the open-label extension (n=119). There were no new or unexpected safety signals. CONCLUSION: Denosumab was well tolerated and effective in increasing BMD and decreasing bone turnover markers over a 12-month period in Korean postmenopausal women. The findings of this study demonstrate that denosumab has beneficial effects on the measures of osteoporosis in Korean postmenopausal women.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; *Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Bone Density ; Bone Density Conservation Agents/*therapeutic use ; Denosumab/*therapeutic use ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Femur ; Femur Neck ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal/*drug therapy/*ethnology ; Postmenopause ; Republic of Korea

BACKGROUND: The present study evaluated the efficacy of a combination of ibandronate and cholecalciferol on the restoration of the levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) and various bone markers in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. METHODS: This was a randomized, double-blind, active-controlled, prospective 16-week clinical trial conducted in 20 different hospitals. A total of 201 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis were assigned randomly to one of two groups: the IBN group, which received a once-monthly pill containing 150 mg ibandronate (n=99), or the IBN+ group, which received a once-monthly pill containing 150 mg ibandronate and 24,000 IU cholecalciferol (n=102). Serum levels of 25(OH)D, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and various bone markers were assessed at baseline and at the end of a 16-week treatment period. RESULTS: After 16 weeks of treatment, the mean serum levels of 25(OH)D significantly increased from 21.0 to 25.3 ng/mL in the IBN+ group but significantly decreased from 20.6 to 17.4 ng/mL in the IBN group. Additionally, both groups exhibited significant increases in mean serum levels of PTH but significant decreases in serum levels of bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and C-telopeptide of type 1 collagen (CTX) at 16 weeks; no significant differences were observed between the groups. However, in subjects with a vitamin D deficiency, IBN+ treatment resulted in a significant decrease in serum CTX levels compared with IBN treatment. CONCLUSION: The present findings demonstrate that a once-monthly pill containing ibandronate and cholecalciferol may be useful for the amelioration of vitamin D deficiency in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis. Moreover, this treatment combination effectively decreased serum levels of resorption markers, especially in subjects with a vitamin D deficiency, over the 16-week treatment period.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Cholecalciferol* ; Collagen Type I ; Female ; Humans ; Osteoporosis* ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Prospective Studies ; Vitamin D Deficiency

Vitamin D (vit-D) is essential for bone health, although many osteoporosis patients have low levels of 25-hydroxy-vit-D [25(OH)D]. This randomized, open-label study compared the effects of once weekly alendronate 70 mg containing 5600 IU vit-D3 (ALN/D5600) to alendronate 70 mg without additional vit-D (ALN) on the percent of patients with vit-D insufficiency [25(OH)D <15 ng/mL, primary endpoint] and serum parathyroid hormone (PTH, secondary endpoint) levels in postmenopausal, osteoporotic Korean women. Neuromuscular function was also measured. A total of 268 subjects were randomized. Overall, 35% of patients had vit-D insufficiency at baseline. After 16-weeks, there were fewer patients with vit-D insufficiency in the ALN/D5600 group (1.47%) than in the ALN group (41.67%) (p<0.001). Patients receiving ALN/D5600 compared with ALN were at a significantly decreased risk of vit-D insufficiency [odds ratio=0.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.00-0.08]. In the ALN/D5600 group, significant increases in serum 25(OH)D were observed at weeks 8 (9.60 ng/mL) and 16 (11.41 ng/mL), where as a significant decrease was recorded in the ALN group at week 16 (-1.61 ng/mL). By multiple regression analysis, major determinants of increases in serum 25(OH)D were ALN/D5600 administration, seasonal variation, and baseline 25(OH)D. The least squares mean percent change from baseline in serum PTH in the ALN/D5600 group (8.17%) was lower than that in the ALN group (29.98%) (p=0.0091). There was no significant difference between treatment groups in neuromuscular function. Overall safety was similar between groups. In conclusion, the administration of 5600 IU vit-D in the ALN/D5600 group improved vit-D status and reduced the magnitude of PTH increase without significant side-effects after 16 weeks in Korean osteoporotic patients.
Adult ; Aged ; Alendronate/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Cholecalciferol/adverse effects/deficiency/*therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal/*drug therapy ; Vitamin D Deficiency/*drug therapy

PURPOSE: To evaluate the changes of higher order aberrations (HOAs) before and after laser subepithelial keratomileusis (LASEK) and to analyze the influence of tear film instability on HOAs of the corneal surface after LASEK. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 31 patients who underwent LASEK were divided into dry eye (16 patients, 32 eyes) and non-dry eye groups (15 patients, 30 eyes). Uncorrected distance visual acuity, spherical equivalent refraction, ablation depth, tear film parameters and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire scores were evaluated in both groups. Total HOA root mean square (RMS), third-order coma, third-order trefoil and fourth-order spherical aberration (SA) of the corneal surface immediately and at 10 seconds after blinking were measured before and after surgery. RESULTS: The total HOA RMS, coma, trefoil and SA significantly increased after LASEK compared with preoperative values in both groups. In the dry eye group, total HOA RMS, coma and trefoil significantly increased except for SA at 10 seconds after blinking compared with those measured immediately after blinking. In addition, the changes of total HOA RMS, coma and trefoil were negatively correlated with tear film break-up time (R = -0.420, -0.473 and -0.439, respectively), but positively correlated with OSDI score (R = 0.433, 0.499 and 0.532, respectively). In the non-dry eye group, there were no significant differences between HOAs measured at 10 seconds after blinking and those measured immediately after blinking. CONCLUSIONS: The HOAs including coma, trefoil and SA significantly increased after LASEK. The tear film instability in the dry eye can be associated with more deterioration of the optical quality after LASEK, due to more significant increase of total HOA RMS, coma and trefoil.
Adult ; Cornea/*physiopathology ; Corneal Wavefront Aberration/*etiology/physiopathology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Dry Eye Syndromes/*physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Keratectomy, Subepithelial, Laser-Assisted/*adverse effects ; Lasers, Excimer/*therapeutic use ; Male ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tears/*physiology ; Visual Acuity/physiology ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are common among patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Our aim was to investigate the frequency of chronic GI symptoms in Korean patients with NIDDM. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey, using a reliable and valid questionnaire, was performed in diabetes clinics from seven hospitals of the Catholic University of Korea. RESULTS: A total of 608 patients (249 males and 359 females, mean age 53.7+/-10.9 years) were investigated. The frequencies of weekly heartburn and acid regurgitation (esophageal symptoms) were 7.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.0 to 9.2) and 4.4% (95% CI, 2.8 to 6.1), respectively. The frequency of dyspepsia was 13.2% (95% CI, 10.5 to 15.8). The frequencies of constipation and diarrhea were 15.0% (95% CI, 12.2 to 18.0) and 5.3% (95% CI, 3.5 to 7.1), respectively. Nausea and the use of manual maneuvers to facilitate defecation were more prevalent in women than in men. Constipation and fecal incontinence were more common in diabetes patients with long duration (>10 years). Fecal incontinence and using laxatives were more frequent in the complicated diabetes group. Using laxatives was more frequent in the uncontrolled diabetes group. CONCLUSIONS: Two-thirds of diabetic patients experienced GI symptoms. The prevalence of GI symptoms was more common in patients who had diabetic complications and a long duration of diabetes.
Adult ; Aged ; Constipation/epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/*complications ; Dyspepsia/epidemiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/*epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nausea/epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Sex Characteristics ; Vomiting/epidemiology

Atypical fibroxanthoma is a pleomorphic spindle cell neoplasm characterized by a variable combination of cells with fibroblastic and histiocytic features. It occurs mostly on sun-exposed area of the head and neck of elderly person and is a clinically benign reactive lesion despite apparent malignant histologic features. However, because of its potential for metastasis, it is widely regarded as a low-grade sarcoma. We report a 30-year-old woman with atypical fibroxanthoma developed on the left occipital area. The lesion was 1.5 x 2 cm sized papule. There was no skin lesion such as ulcer or eschar. However, mass was involving occipital bone and composed of dense, pleomorphic spindle cells and several bizarre multinucleated giant cells. After wide excision of the scalp and occipital bone, the defect was covered with bone cement, bipedicled local flap and the donor site was covered with STSG. The wound healed completely without complication. It remained free of recurrence for a period of about 1 year follow up.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Fibroblasts ; Follow-Up Studies ; Giant Cells ; Head ; Humans ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Occipital Bone* ; Recurrence ; Sarcoma ; Scalp* ; Skin ; Tissue Donors ; Ulcer ; Wounds and Injuries