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.

The study investigated the current epidemiologic and etiologic trends of shoulder pain over the past 10 years in South Korea.Current Concepts: From 2011 to 2020, nationwide health statistics data of the following diseases and soft tissue damage codes related to shoulder pain were extracted from the Healthcare Bigdata Hub—M75, S43, and S46. The annual changes in total medical cost and the number of patients with the three codes were extracted. The crude and age-standardized prevalence rates, and the annual percentage change were analyzed to characterize trends in prevalence rates over time. Changes in the proportion of medical cost by age, hospital type, and outpatient/inpatient distribution were also analyzed. Among the three codes, a significant increase in total medical cost, crude and age-standardized prevalence was observed only for the code M75. Additionally, in the distribution of total medical cost for the code M75 by age, the increase in the number of patients of the age group of 60 to 69 years was remarkable. The total medical cost gradually decreased at the clinic level and showed a remarkably increasing trend at the hospital level. This pattern is consistent with those of rotator cuff disease (M751), a representative disease of shoulder lesions.Discussion and Conclusion: The age of patients with shoulder pain appears to be increasing. Considering this trend of change in health statistics on shoulder pain in Korea, socioeconomic support and improvement of health policy regarding the distribution of medical expenses and resources for shoulder pain will be more necessary in the future.

Purpose: This study examined the characteristics based on the ultrasound findings of non-contact, gradual-onset shoulder pain in recreational-level surf beginners with a surf experience of one year or less and the treatment outcomes. Materials and Methods: From January 2019 to May 2020, 34 patients with gradual-onset shoulder pain from recreational-level surfing activity who visited outpatient clinics were analyzed retrospectively with prospective data collection. All patients had a surf experience of one year or less as surf club members. The demographic data, including the surf-specific data and physical test, were reviewed. Simple radiographs and ultrasound of both shoulders were performed for an initial evaluation in all patients. If needed, magnetic resonance images were taken for an additional evaluation. Conservative treatments, including medication or injection, combined with trunk extension, periscapular, and core muscle training were performed in all cases. The clinical outcomes were evaluated using the visual analog scale for pain (PVAS), the Simple Shoulder Test (SST) score at the initial and final follow-up, and the patient’s level of satisfaction with treatment. Results: Thirty-two patients (94.1%) showed minor symptoms. The clinical findings were predominantly divided into periscapular or pectoralis muscle strain (14.7%), proximal biceps tendinopathy (38.2%), subacromial impingement (44.1%), and shoulder instability (2.9%). The common findings in ultrasound were effusion around the biceps tendon, cuff tendinosis, and subacromial bursitis. The mean PVAS and SST score improved significantly at the last follow-up (p<0.001, p<0.001). The patient’s satisfaction with treatment ranged from ‘satisfied’ to ‘very satisfied’ in 31, ‘so so’ in two, and ‘dissatisfied’ in one patient. Conclusion This study showed that the common pathologic conditions of shoulder pain in recreational-level beginners with a surf experience of one year or less are tendinopathy around the long head of the biceps tendon and rotator cuff. Ultrasound was helpful in rapidly diagnosing and determining the treatment plans during the primary diagnostic approach at the outpatient visit. Most cases were associated with minor symptoms that did not interfere with work or surfing and showed relatively satisfactory results for conservative treatments combined with functional muscle training.

Only few studies have shown the efficacy and safety of glucose-control strategies using the quadruple drug combination. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the usefulness of the quadruple combination therapy with oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs) in patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Only few studies have shown the efficacy and safety of glucose-control strategies using the quadruple drug combination. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the usefulness of the quadruple combination therapy with oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs) in patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Background: Only few studies have shown the efficacy and safety of glucose-control strategies using the quadruple drug combination. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the usefulness of the quadruple combination therapy with oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs) in patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: From March 2014 to December 2018, data of patients with T2DM, who were treated with quadruple hypoglycemic medications for over 12 months in 11 hospitals in South Korea, were reviewed retrospectively. We compared glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels before and 12 months after quadruple treatment with OHAs. The safety, maintenance rate, and therapeutic patterns after failure of the quadruple therapy were also evaluated. Results: In total, 357 patients were enrolled for quadruple OHA therapy, and the baseline HbA1c level was 9.0%±1.3% (74.9± 14.1 mmol/mol). After 12 months, 270 patients (75.6%) adhered to the quadruple therapy and HbA1c was significantly reduced from 8.9%±1.2% to 7.8%±1.3% (mean change, –1.1%±1.2%; P<0.001). The number of patients with HbA1c <7% increased significantly from 5 to 68 (P<0.005). In addition, lipid profiles and liver enzyme levels were also improved whereas no changes in body weight. There was no significant safety issue in patients treated with quadruple OHA therapy. Conclusion This study shows the therapeutic efficacy of the quadruple OHA regimen T2DM and demonstrates that it can be an option for the management of T2DM patients who cannot use insulin or reject injectable therapy.

Background: The fatality rate of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) varies among countries owing to demographics, patient comorbidities, surge capacity of healthcare systems, and the quality of medical care. We assessed the clinical outcomes of patients with COVID-19 during the first wave of the epidemic in Korea. Methods: Using a modified World Health Organization clinical record form, we obtained clinical data for 3,060 patients with COVID-19 treated at 55 hospitals in Korea. Disease severity scores were defined as: 1) no limitation of daily activities; 2) limitation of daily activities but no need for supplemental oxygen; 3) supplemental oxygen via nasal cannula; 4) supplemental oxygen via facial mask; 5) non-invasive mechanical ventilation; 6) invasive mechanical ventilation; 7) multi-organ failure or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy; and 8) death. Recovery was defined as a severity score of 1 or 2, or discharge and release from isolation. Results: The median age of the patients was 43 years of age; 43.6% were male. The median time from illness onset to admission was 5 days. Of the patients with a disease severity score of 3–4 on admission, 65 (71.5%) of the 91 patients recovered, and 7 (7.7%) died due to illness by day 28. Of the patients with disease severity scores of 5–7, 7 (19.5%) of the 36 patients recovered, and 8 (22.2%) died due to illness by day 28. None of the 1,324 patients who were < 50 years of age died; in contrast, the fatality rate due to illness by day 28 was 0.5% (2/375), 0.9% (2/215), 5.8% (6/104), and 14.0% (7/50) for the patients aged 50–59, 60–69, 70–79, and ≥ 80 years of age, respectively. Conclusion In Korea, almost all patients of < 50 years of age with COVID-19 recovered without supplemental oxygen. In patients of ≥ 50 years of age, the fatality rate increased with age, reaching 14% in patients of ≥ 80 years of age.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to document the sonographic morphology of the subscapularis footprint, particularly the 1st facet, of the non-pathologic subscapularis tendon and footprint, and analyze the correlation between the size of the 1st facet and the demographic variables. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between March 2015 and December 2017, retrospectively data analysis was performed for the ultrasound (US) scans of 115 consecutive shoulder (mean age 53.4 years, range 23–74 years) with non-pathologic subscapularis tendon and footprint. The sonographic findings of the 1st facet of the subscapularis footprint was a very unique, flat, broad, and plane angle in the upward direction, which were distinguished from the other facets. On US, the transverse (medio-lateral) and longitudinal (superior-inferior) length of the 1st facet on axis of the humerus shaft were recorded. The demographic variables, including age, site, body height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and arm length, were reviewed. RESULTS: On US, the mean transverse length of the 1st facet was 12.75 mm (range 10.54–14.50 mm, standard deviation [SD] 0.712) and the mean longitudinal length was 12.22 mm (range 9.20–13.30 mm, SD 0.888). The transverse and longitudinal length of the size of the 1st facet were significantly greater in males than in females (p<0.001, p=0.001). Of the demographic data (body height, weight, BMI, arm length) that showed a significant positive linear correlation, the correlation with body height (transverse r=0.749, p<0.001; longitudinal r=0.642, p<0.001) showed the strongest relationship, and the correlation with the BMI was weakly related. The relationships between the size of the 1st facet to site/age were not statistically significant or appeared to have no linear correlation. CONCLUSION: The structural and morphologic features of the 1st facet of the subscapularis footprint on the US were identified. This will provide anatomic knowledge of an US examination for subscapularis tendon pathology.
Arm ; Body Height ; Body Weight ; Female ; Humans ; Humerus ; Male ; Pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Shoulder ; Statistics as Topic ; Tendons ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to evaluate the outcome of the arthroscopic capsular release for adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder. METHODS: This study retrospectively investigated thirty shoulders in 29 patients who presented with recalcitrant adhesive capsulitis and underwent arthroscopic treatments. Other than typical findings of adhesive capsulitis, combined pathologies in the glenohumeral joint and subacromial space were evaluated by arthroscopy. Clinical evaluations were performed using the Constant's score and ranges of motion (ROM) at preoperative, 6 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up. RESULTS: Our study included 17 women and 12 men with a mean age of 53.8 years (range, 34–74). Mean follow-up duration was 24 months (range, 12–40 months). Assessment of combined pathologies revealed that partial rotator cuff tear of less than 25% thickness, was most common (overall 83.3%; with bursal 57% and articular 23%). Subacromial synovitis and adhesion were also frequent (53.3%). The Constant score and ranges of motion significantly improved at the final follow-up, compared with preoperative levels. However, clinical results at 6 months postoperatively were found to be significantly inferior to those observed at the final follow-up (p≤0.001 for all factors). Functional impairment was the major complaint in 59.3% patients at the 6 months follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Although arthroscopic capsular release yielded favorable outcome at the mean 24 months follow-up, pain and motion limitations at 6-month postoperatively persisted in more than 50% of our patients. While combined pathologies were commonly encountered during arthroscopy, although their effects on surgical outcome in adhesive capsulitis remains unclear in this study.
Adhesives ; Arthroscopy ; Bursitis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joint Capsule Release ; Male ; Pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Rotator Cuff ; Shoulder Joint ; Shoulder ; Synovitis ; Tears

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a life-threatening complication after bone marrow transplantation (BMT), is induced by activation of alloreactive donor T cells. Our previous study demonstrated that transplantation of myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)-deficient knockout (KO) bone marrow (BM) resulted in aggravation of GVHD. Here, to understand the cellular mechanism, we performed longitudinal in vivo imaging and flow cytometric analyses followed by transcriptome and functional examination of donor MyD88-KO BM progenies in GVHD hosts, using a major histocompatibility complex-matched but minor histocompatibility antigen-mismatched C57BL/6→BALB.B model. In GVHD hosts with MyD88-KO BMT, donor BM-derived CD11b+Gr-1+ cells were found to undergo cell death, a fate significantly different from the explosive expansion shown by the wild type (WT) counterparts, and also from the moderate expansion of the WT or MyD88-KO BM-derived cells in non-GVHD hosts. It was also revealed that MyD88-KO CD11b+Gr-1+ cells preferred differentiation into CD11c+ dendritic cells (DCs) to expansion as myeloid-derived suppressor cells in GVHD hosts or in high inflammatory in vitro conditions. These CD11c+ DCs comprised the majority of MyD88-KO CD11b+Gr-1+ apoptotic cells in GVHD hosts. Their ability to cross-present alloantigens of host origin contributed to the enhancement of T cell alloreactivity, causing GVHD aggravation and eventually death through the killing function of activated T cells. These results provide insights into the roles of MyD88 in myelopoiesis of donor BM and the protective effects in GVHD hosts, helpful information for development of a strategy to control GVHD.
Bone Marrow Cells* ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Bone Marrow* ; Cell Death ; Dendritic Cells* ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Histocompatibility ; Homicide ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Isoantigens ; Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 ; Myelopoiesis ; T-Lymphocytes ; Tissue Donors* ; Transcriptome