Background: It is well known that a large number of patients with diabetes also have dyslipidemia, which significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combination drugs consisting of metformin and atorvastatin, widely used as therapeutic agents for diabetes and dyslipidemia. Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group and phase III multicenter study included adults with glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels >7.0% and <10.0%, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) >100 and <250 mg/dL. One hundred eighty-five eligible subjects were randomized to the combination group (metformin+atorvastatin), metformin group (metformin+atorvastatin placebo), and atorvastatin group (atorvastatin+metformin placebo). The primary efficacy endpoints were the percent changes in HbA1c and LDL-C levels from baseline at the end of the treatment. Results: After 16 weeks of treatment compared to baseline, HbA1c showed a significant difference of 0.94% compared to the atorvastatin group in the combination group (0.35% vs. −0.58%, respectively; P<0.0001), whereas the proportion of patients with increased HbA1c was also 62% and 15%, respectively, showing a significant difference (P<0.001). The combination group also showed a significant decrease in LDL-C levels compared to the metformin group (−55.20% vs. −7.69%, P<0.001) without previously unknown adverse drug events. Conclusion The addition of atorvastatin to metformin improved HbA1c and LDL-C levels to a significant extent compared to metformin or atorvastatin alone in diabetes and dyslipidemia patients. This study also suggested metformin’s preventive effect on the glucose-elevating potential of atorvastatin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia, insufficiently controlled with exercise and diet. Metformin and atorvastatin combination might be an effective treatment in reducing the CVD risk in patients with both diabetes and dyslipidemia because of its lowering effect on LDL-C and glucose.

Objective: To investigate the effects of a herb complex extract (HCE) prepared from Cornus officinalis Sieb. Et Zucc., Eriobotrya japonica Lindley, and olive leaves on immune response of mouse spleen NK cells in vitro and in vivo analysis. Methods: The activity of natural killer (NK) cells was measured in splenocytes and YAC-1 cells. Mice were immunosuppressed using cyclophosphamide (5 mg/kg body weight). Three different doses of HCE (200, 400, and 800 mg/kg body weight) and red ginseng extract (800 mg/kg body weight) which was used as standard immunomodulatory herb were administered orally for 4 weeks. The body weight, dietary, water intake, organs (liver, thymus, and spleen) weight, completed blood count, and cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha, interferon gamma, and interleukin-2) production was measured. Results: At the maximum concentration of HCE, the activity of NK cells was increased by 48.5%. HCE increased liver, spleen, and thymus weights without altering numbers of white blood cells, lymphocytes, and neutrophils in a cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression rat model. However, HCE recovered the inhibited cytokine expression; HCE (800 mg/kg) increased cytokines levels. The results indicate the immune enhancement potential of this HCE. Conclusion: The HCE enhances immunity by increasing NK cell activity, regulating cytokine levels, and maintaining spleen weight. Therefore, it may be used as a potential immunity enhancer.

The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) is a national program designed to assess the health and nutritional status of the noninstitutionalized population of South Korea. The KNHANES was initiated in 1998 and has been conducted annually since 2007. Starting in the latter half of 2008, ophthalmologic examinations were included in the survey in order to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of common eye diseases such as visual impairment, refractive errors, strabismus, blepharoptosis, cataract, pterygium, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, dry eye disease, and color vision deficiency. The measurements included in the ophthalmic questionnaire and examination methods were modified in the KNHANES IV, V, and VI. In this article, we provide detailed information about the methodology of the ophthalmic examinations in KNHANES in order to aid in further investigations related to major eye diseases in South Korea.
*Epidemiologic Methods ; Eye Diseases/*epidemiology ; Humans ; Nutrition Surveys/*statistics & numerical data ; Ophthalmology/*methods ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; *Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: Studies to determine the relation between oxygen tension and outcome in cardiac arrest survivors treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH) are lacking. We investigated the relation of time-weighted mean oxygen tension (TWMO2) and outcome in cardiac arrest survivors treated with TH. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study including 177 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survivors. The patients were divided into four categories according to quartile values of TWMO2. The primary outcome was neurologic outcome at discharge and the secondary outcome was all cause in-hospital mortality. We assessed neurologic outcome using the Cerebral Performance Categories (CPC) at hospital discharge. Neurologic outcome was dichotomised as either good neurologic outcome (CPC1 and CPC2) or poor neurologic outcome (CPC 3 to 5). The odds ratio with 95% confidence interval (CI) was estimated. RESULTS: The median value of PaO2 was 139(104.5-170.0) mmHg. Among a total of 1,239 PaO2 values, 22(1.8%) values were hypoxia (<60 mmHg) and 16(1.3%) values were hyperoxia (>300 mmHg). Results of univariate logistic regression analysis showed a significantly low odds ratio for poor neurologic outcome [0.353(95% CI, 0.133-0.938) and 0.321(95% CI, 0.121-0.850), respectively] and for in-hospital mortality [0.338(95% CI, 0.132-0.870) and 0.387(95% CI, 0.154-0.975), respectively] for the third quartile and the fourth quartile. However, results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed no significant relation between TWMO2 and outcomes. CONCLUSION: In OHCA survivors treated with TH, time-weighted oxygen tension did not show an association with neurologic outcome and in-hospital mortality.
Anoxia ; Heart Arrest ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Hyperoxia ; Hypothermia* ; Logistic Models ; Observational Study ; Odds Ratio ; Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest* ; Oxygen* ; Retrospective Studies ; Survivors*

Patellectomized patients may have less satisfactory clinical outcomes following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) due to a decreased extensor mechanism efficiency and potential instability. Furthermore, the existing literature does not provide concrete guidance on the expected results of TKA or the type of implant that should be used in patellectomized patients. We present a case of a patient with an ankylosing knee who had undergone patellectomy due to gunshot injury 45 years ago and was treated with primary TKA using a posterior stabilized prosthesis at our institution. TKA using this prosthesis in the ankylosed knee with a previous history of patellectomy yielded good results in terms of postoperative clinical scores, range of motion and joint stability.
Ankylosis ; Arthroplasty ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Prostheses and Implants ; Range of Motion, Articular

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to compare and analyze the precision of optical and electromagnetic navigation systems in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 60 patients who underwent TKA using an optical navigation system and 60 patients who underwent TKA using an electromagnetic navigation system from June 2010 to March 2012. The mechanical axis that was measured on preoperative radiographs and by the intraoperative navigation systems were compared between the groups. The postoperative positions of the femoral and tibial components in the sagittal and coronal plane were assessed. RESULTS: The difference of the mechanical axis measured on the preoperative radiograph and by the intraoperative navigation systems was 0.6 degrees more varus in the electromagnetic navigation system group than in the optical navigation system group, but showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p>0.05). The positions of the femoral and tibial components in the sagittal and coronal planes on the postoperative radiographs also showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In TKA, both optical and electromagnetic navigation systems showed high accuracy and reproducibility, and the measurements from the postoperative radiographs showed no significant difference between the two groups.
Arthroplasty ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Humans ; Knee ; Magnets ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVES: The investigation of the prevalence of pleural diseases in regards to those living within 1 km of 14 asbestos mines in Chungnam province. METHODS: We enrolled 4,057 residents (male: 1,887, female: 2,170) living within 1km of asbestos mines in Chungcheong province. They received checkups from Soonchunhyang Environmental Health Center for asbestos related diseases between March 2009 and December 2009. Chest X-rays were taken from all subjects and read by two experts according to International Labor Organization guidelines. Those subjects suspected of asbestos related lesions were further checked with HRCT(high-resolution computed tomography). The determination was done by two experts after reviewing the resulting data. RESULTS: The 4,057 exposed residents underwent the checkup, 859 of whom further underwent the HRCT(high-resolution computed tomography) check. The prevalence of pleural plaque was found to be 11.3% (29.2% non-occupational, 8.0% occupational) from the chest X-rays. The HRCT(high-resolution computed tomography) results revealed that 227 subjects (26.4%) out of the 859 positive subjects (110 (18.8%) non-occupational, 117 (42.9%) occupational) showed evidence of pleural plaque. The statistical analysis showed that the prevalence of pleural plaque increased with increases in age, residence time, and occupational family exposure to asbestos (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We recommend better control of asbestos in the soil and mines. We also recommend that all affected residents living near asbestos mines receive medical checkups as mandated by the asbestos health damage relief policy.
Asbestos ; Environmental Exposure ; Environmental Health ; Humans ; Korea ; Pleural Diseases ; Prevalence ; Soil ; Thorax

No abstract available.
Eye Diseases ; Lipomatosis ; Neurocutaneous Syndromes

We report here an unusual case of pericardial tuberculoma that was misdiagnosed as thymic carcinoma on an imaging study. A 48-year-old woman was referred for evaluation of an anterior mediastinal mass. Computed tomography (CT) scans of the chest displayed cystic masses mimicking thymic carcinoma at the anterior mediastinum. Pericardiotomy and surgical drainage of the cystic masses were done, and pathologic examination of the excised pericardial specimen showed a chronic granulomatous inflammation with necrosis, compatible with tuberculosis. Acid-fast bacilli were also identified in the specimen. After treatment with anti-tuberculosis drugs and steroids, the patient showed clinical improvement. Although tuberculous pericarditis usually presents as pericardial effusion or constrictive pericarditis, it can also present as a pericardial mass mimicking thymic carcinoma on CT. Therefore, we suggest that tuberculous pericardial abscess should be included in the differential diagnosis of a mediastinal mass in Korea, with intermediate tuberculosis prevalence.
Abscess ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drainage ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Korea ; Mediastinum ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Pericardial Effusion ; Pericardiectomy ; Pericarditis, Constrictive ; Pericarditis, Tuberculous ; Pericardium ; Prevalence ; Steroids ; Thorax ; Thymoma ; Thymus Neoplasms ; Tuberculoma ; Tuberculosis

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to report on preliminary data regarding the prevalence of major eye diseases in Korea. METHODS: We obtained data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a nation-wide cross-sectional survey and examinations of the non-institutionalized civilian population in South Korea (n = 14,606), conducted from July 2008 to December 2009. Field survey teams included an ophthalmologist, nurses, and interviewers, traveled with a mobile examination unit and performed interviews and ophthalmologic examinations. RESULTS: The prevalence of visual impairment, myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism in participants over 5 years of age was 0.4 +/- 0.1%, 53.7 +/- 0.6%, 10.7 +/- 0.4%, and 58.0 +/- 0.6%, respectively. The prevalence of strabismus and blepharoptosis in participants over 3 years of age was 1.5 +/- 0.1% and 11.0 +/- 0.8%, respectively. In participants over 40 years of age, the prevalence of cataract, pterygium, early and late age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma was 40.2 +/- 1.3%, 8.9 +/- 0.5%, 5.1 +/- 0.3%, 0.5 +/- 0.1%, 13.4 +/- 1.5%, and 2.1 +/- 0.2%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first nation-wide epidemiologic study conducted in South Korea for assessment of the prevalence of eye diseases by both the Korean Ophthalmologic Society and the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention. This study will provide preliminary information for use in further investigation, prevention, and management of eye diseases in Korea.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Eye Diseases/*epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nutrition Surveys/*statistics & numerical data ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Young Adult