Background: Atherogenic dyslipidemia, which is frequently associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and insulin resistance, contributes to the development of vascular complications. Statin therapy is the primary approach to dyslipidemia management in T2D, however, the role of non-statin therapy remains unclear. Ezetimibe reduces cholesterol burden by inhibiting intestinal cholesterol absorption. Fibrates lower triglyceride levels and increase high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels via peroxisome proliferator- activated receptor alpha agonism. Therefore, when combined, these drugs effectively lower non-HDL-C levels. Despite this, few clinical trials have specifically targeted non-HDL-C, and the efficacy of triple combination therapies, including statins, ezetimibe, and fibrates, has yet to be determined. Methods: This is a multicenter, prospective, randomized, open-label, active-comparator controlled trial involving 3,958 eligible participants with T2D, cardiovascular risk factors, and elevated non-HDL-C (≥100 mg/dL). Participants, already on moderate-intensity statins, will be randomly assigned to either Ezefeno (ezetimibe/fenofibrate) addition or statin dose-escalation. The primary end point is the development of a composite of major adverse cardiovascular and diabetic microvascular events over 48 months. Conclusion This trial aims to assess whether combining statins, ezetimibe, and fenofibrate is as effective as, or possibly superior to, statin monotherapy intensification in lowering cardiovascular and microvascular disease risk for patients with T2D. This could propose a novel therapeutic approach for managing dyslipidemia in T2D.

Background/Aims: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) often. However, the disease course of patients with both IBD and AS is not well understood. This study aims to evaluate the effect of concomitant AS on IBD outcomes. Methods: Among the 4,722 patients with IBD who were treated in 3 academic hospitals from 2004 to 2021, 55 were also diagnosed with AS (IBD-AS group). Based on patients’ electronic medical records, the outcomes of IBD in IBD-AS group and IBD group without AS (IBD-only group) were appraised. Results: The proportion of patients treated with biologics or small molecule therapies was significantly higher in IBD-AS group than the proportion in IBD-only group (27.3% vs. 12.7%, P= 0.036). Patients with both ulcerative colitis and AS had a significantly higher risk of biologics or small molecule therapies than patients with only ulcerative colitis (P< 0.001). For univariable logistic regression, biologics or small molecule therapies were associated with concomitant AS (odds ratio, 4.099; 95% confidence interval, 1.863–9.021; P< 0.001) and Crohn’s disease (odds ratio, 3.552; 95% confidence interval, 1.590–7.934; P= 0.002). Conclusions Concomitant AS is associated with the high possibility of biologics or small molecule therapies for IBD. IBD patients who also had AS may need more careful examination and active treatment to alleviate the severity of IBD.

No abstract available.
Cyclosporine ; Peroneal Neuropathies

The authors recently found a mistake in their previously published article.

PURPOSE: Dyspnea is the cardinal symptom of asthma, but it is difficult to quantify clinically. Although modified Borg (mBorg) scale has been successfully used in adult, but there has been some difficulties to apply in children. Recently, Pediatric Dyspnea Scale (PDS) was adequately designed and has been widely used. The aim of this study is to compare 2 evaluating scales of dyspnea provoked by induced-bronchoconstriction in childhood asthma. METHODS: Seventy-three clinically suspected children with asthma were enrolled in this study. Each ‘fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO)’ was documented. Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁), mBorg score and PDS score were recorded during methacholine provocation test. RESULTS: Mapping using canonical plot demonstrated global similarity between 2 scales with some distinctive features. Whereas mBorg score showed more diverse categories in low level of dyspnea, PDS score did in medium level of it. A distribution of dyspnea perception score at a 20% decrease in FEV₁ relative to baseline (PS₂₀), a perception score of dyspnea at 20% fall in FEV1 of 2 scales represented similar wide, biphasic feature. Statistical relevance was verified with spearman correlation (R(s)=0.903, P<0.001) and Bland-Altman analysis. PS₂₀ of both scores and FeNO had no statistical relationship. While relationship between PS20 by mBorg score and the concentration of methacholine at 20% fall in FEV₁ (PC₂₀) was not significant (R(s)=0.224, P=0.154), that between PS₂₀ by PDS and PC₂₀ was weak positive (R(s)=0.29, P=0.063). CONCLUSION: PDS had similar pattern to assess the dyspnea with the mBorg scale suggesting adequacy of PDS in evaluating pediatric clinical asthma. We expect these scales to help clinical practice in complementary ways.
Adult ; Asthma* ; Bronchial Provocation Tests ; Bronchoconstriction* ; Child* ; Dyspnea* ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Methacholine Chloride ; Nitric Oxide ; Weights and Measures

"Clinical Practice Guideline for Stroke Rehabilitation in Korea 2012" is a 2nd edition of clinical practice guideline (CPG) for stroke rehabilitation in Korea, which updates the 1st edition published in 2009. After 1st stroke rehabilitation CPG, many studies concerning stroke rehabilitation have been published and the necessity for update has been raised. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention supported the project "Development of Clinical Practice Guideline for Stroke Rehabilitation" in 2012. Thirty-two specialists in stroke rehabilitation from 18 universities and 3 rehabilitation hospitals and 10 consultants participated in this project. The scope of this CPG included both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke from the acute to chronic stages. The purpose of this CPG is to provide guidelines for doctors and therapists to make a decision when they manage stroke patients and ultimately, to help stroke patients obtain maximal functional recovery and return to the society. "Clinical Practice Guideline for Stroke Rehabilitation in Korea 2012" consists of 'Chapter 1; Introduction of Stroke Rehabilitation', 'Chapter 2; Rehabilitation for Stroke Syndrome, 'Chapter 3; Rehabilitation for Return to the Society', and 'Chapter 4; Advanced Technique for Stroke Rehabilitation'. Both the adaptation and de novo development methods were used to develop this 2nd edition of CPG. The appraisal of foreign CPGs was performed using 'Korean appraisal of guidelines for research and evaluation II' (K-AGREE II); moreover, four CPGs from Scotland (2010), Austrailia (2010), USA (2010), Canada (2010) were chosen for adaptation. For de novo development, articles that were published following the latest foreign CPGs were searched from the database system, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library. Literatures were assessed in the aspect of subjects, study design, study results' consistency, language and application possibility in the Korean society. The chosen articles' level of evidence and grade of recommendation were decided by the criteria of Scotland (2010) and the formal consensus was derived by the nominal group technique. The levels of evidence range from 1++ to 4 and the grades of recommendation range from A to D. GPP (Good Practice Point) was recommended as best practice based on the clinical experience of the guideline developmental group. The draft of the developed CPG was reviewed by the experts group in the public hearings and then revised.
Canada ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Consensus ; Consultants ; Humans ; Korea* ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Rehabilitation* ; Scotland ; Specialization ; Stroke*

PURPOSE: We aimed to verify whether the formal clinical index derived from infants and toddlers have a good association with the disease severity when we confine subjects to only infants, who undergo profound changes physically and immunologically. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of hospitalized infants with acute bronchiolitis caused by respiratory syncytial virus between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2011 in three hospitals. The age, respiratory rate, presentation of chest retraction, and percutaneous oxygen saturation upon admission; presentation of fever, use of oxygen therapy and inhaled corticosteroid within 24 hours after admission were investigated. We then examined the effect of clinical index on severity of acute bronchiolitis; the mean length of stay, mean duration of fever and oxygen therapy. RESULTS: A total of 172 infants were studied. The mean length of stay was longer in patients younger than 3 months (P=0.015), in those with fever (P=0.028) and chest retraction (P=0.014), and in those who needed oxygen supplement (P=0.000). In the patients with fever, the mean duration of fever was longer in those who needed the oxygen supplement than those who did not (P=0.046). CONCLUSION: Younger than 3 months of age, chest retraction upon admission; fever, need of oxygen supplement within 24 hours after admission may predict the severe course of infants with acute bronchiolitis.
Bronchiolitis* ; Fever ; Humans ; Infant* ; Length of Stay ; Medical Records ; Oxygen ; Respiratory Rate ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses ; Retrospective Studies ; Thorax

A 29-month-old boy presented with fever, dyspnea, and paleness. He was initially diagnosed with pneumonia and severe sepsis. Although he was treated with intravenous antibiotics and high dose methylprednisolone, dyspnea and paleness recurred two times. Under suspicion of pulmonary hemosiderosis, we performed video-assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsy and bronchoalveolar lavage on him and found hemosiderin-laden macrophages in both specimens. Despite thorough history and laboratory examination, we could not find any pathologic or serologic evidence for primary and secondary causes of pulmonary hemosiderosis except for one that indicating Heiner's syndrome. After taking oral prednisolone he showed improvement of anemia and dyspnea, which was maintained by milk avoidance. Based on the history and the existence of immunoglobulin G antibodies against milk components, we are considering it as the case of Heiner's syndrome.
Anemia ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Antibodies ; Biopsy ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Dyspnea ; Fever ; Hemosiderosis ; Immunoglobulin G ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Macrophages ; Methylprednisolone ; Milk ; Milk Hypersensitivity ; Pneumonia ; Prednisolone ; Sepsis

PURPOSE: A significant proportion of patients with cough variant asthma (CVA) eventually develops asthma. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) and development of asthma in preschool children with CVA. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of children aged 5 to 7 years who presented with chronic cough and had regular check-up by the school age. All children had methacholine bronchial challenge test (MBCT) at preschool age with a modified auscultation method. The end-point was defined as the appearance of wheezing and/or oxygen desaturation. Positive BHR was defined as end-point concentration (EPC)< or =8 mg/mL. MBCT was performed at the school age with spirometric method. Positive BHR was defined as PC20< or =8 mg/mL. We collected information on the development of wheezing or dyspnoea from the medical records. RESULTS: Thirty-six children with CVA were analyzed. During follow-up (2.1+/-0.9 years), 9/36 children developed wheezing or dyspnoea (group A), and 27/36 children did not (group B). EPC (geometric mean, 95% confidence interval) was significantly lower in group A than group B (1.59 mg/mL, 0.93 to 2.70 mg/mL vs. 3.43 mg/mL, 2.34 to 5.03 mg/mL; P=0.02, respectively). The prevalence of positive BHR at school age was significantly higher in group A than group B (77.8% vs. 22.2%, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the increase and the persistence of BHR may have an important role in the development of asthma during the course of CVA in preschool children.
Aged ; Asthma ; Auscultation ; Bronchial Provocation Tests ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cough ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Methacholine Chloride ; Oxygen ; Phosphorylcholine ; Prevalence ; Respiratory Sounds

PURPOSE: It is important to assess the level of control in asthmatic children who were well-controlled and thus discontinued controller medications. Office spirometry has been regarded to provide objective measures. We aimed to see time changes in lung function indices measured by the office spirometry and their relationship to clues for asthma exacerbation after discontinuation of controller medications. METHODS: As a pilot study, a total of 20 well-controlled children with persistent asthma were included. After discontinuing controller medications, each made follow-up visits at the 2nd, 6th, and 12th week. At each visit, spirometric values before and after bronchodilators were evaluated by the office-based spirometer. Time changes and their relationship to clues for asthma exacerbation were assessed. RESULTS: Among 20 children, 13 (65%) were successfully followed-up for 12 weeks with asthma kept stable. They presented similar spirometric values (forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1], peak expiratory flow rate [PEFR], bronchodilator responses [BDRs] based on the FEV1 and PEFR) across all time-points. No differences in spirometric values were found between those who were stable and those who exhibited clues for asthma exacerbation. BDRs calculated from FEV1 values (BDRFEV1) correlated well with those calculated from PEFR values (BDRPEFR). CONCLUSION: When controller medications were discontinued in children with well-controlled asthma, many of them were able to maintain the stable condition. Since the spirometric measures including BDR failed to differentiate clues for asthma exacerbation, the usefulness of office spirometry needs to be reevaluated by the larger population of children with controlled asthma after discontinuing medications.
Asthma ; Bronchodilator Agents ; Child ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Pilot Projects ; Spirometry