Background: Tuberculosis (TB) survivors have an increased risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study assessed the risk of COPD development and COPD-related hospitalization in TB survivors compared to controls. Methods: We conducted a population-based cohort study of TB survivors and 1:1 age- and sex-matched controls using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database collected from 2010 to 2017. We compared the risk of COPD development and COPD-related hospitalization between TB survivors and controls. Results: Of the subjects, 9.6% developed COPD, and 2.8% experienced COPD-related hospitalization. TB survivors had significantly higher COPD incidence rates (36.7/1,000 vs. 18.8/1,000 person-years, P < 0.001) and COPD-related hospitalization (10.7/1,000 vs.4.3/1,000 person-years, P < 0.001) than controls. Multivariable Cox regression analyses revealed higher risks of COPD development (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.54–1.73) and COPD-related hospitalization (aHR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.81–2.27) in TB survivors. Among those who developed COPD, the hospitalization rate was higher in individuals with post-TB COPD compared to those with non-TB COPD (10.7/1,000 vs. 4.9/1,000 person-years, P < 0.001), showing an increased risk of COPD-related hospitalization (aHR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.17–2.92). Conclusion TB survivors had higher risks of incident COPD and COPD-related hospitalization compared to controls. These results suggest that previous TB is an important COPD etiology associated with COPD-related hospitalization.

Life cycle stages, including daughter sporocysts, cercariae, and metacercariae, of Parvatrema duboisi (Dollfus, 1923) Bartoli, 1974 (Digenea: Gymnophallidae) have been found in the Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum from Aphaedo (Island), Shinan-gun, Jeollanam-do, Korea. The daughter sporocysts were elongated sac-like and 307-570 (av. 395) μm long and 101-213 (av. 157) μm wide. Most of the daughter sporocysts contained 15-20 furcocercous cercariae each. The cercariae measured 112-146 (av. 134) μm in total length and 35-46 (av. 40) μm in width, with 69-92 (av. 85) μm long body and 39-54 (av. 49) μm long tail. The metacercariae were 210-250 (av. 231) μm in length and 170-195 (av. 185) μm in width, and characterized by having a large oral sucker, genital pore some distance anterior to the ventral sucker, no ventral pit, and 1 compact or slightly lobed vitellarium, strongly suggesting P. duboisi. The metacercariae were experimentally infected to ICR mice, and adults were recovered at day 7 post-infection. The adult flukes were morphologically similar to the metacercariae except in the presence of up to 20 eggs in the uterus. The daughter sporocysts and metacercariae were molecularly (ITS1-5.8S rDNA-ITS2) analyzed to confirm the species, and the results showed 99.8-99.9% identity with P. duboisi reported from Kyushu, Japan and Gochang, Korea. These results confirmed the presence of various life cycle stages of P. duboisi in the Manila clam, R. philippinarum, playing the role of the first as well as the second intermediate host, on Aphae-do (Island), Shinan-gun, Korea.

Epidermoid cysts are commonly encountered benign lesions in the field of plastic surgery, but their malignant transformation into squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is extremely rare. A 68-year old woman with a cystic mass on her left lower back presented to our department. We excised the lesion under the suspicion of an epidermoid cyst or metastatic colon cancer based on the patient’s medical history. The skin defect was covered with a split-thickness skin graft, and histopathological evaluation revealed the presence of SCC. Because of the low incidence of SCC arising from an epidermoid cyst, the mechanism of transformation of such cysts to SCC and the prognosis of this condition have not yet been well established. We therefore share the details of this rare case to contribute to the growing base of knowledge about SCC that arises from an epidermoid cyst.

Diabetes is a leading cause of end-stage renal disease. Therefore, prevention of renal dysfunction is an important treatment goal in the management of diabetes. The data of landmark cardiovascular outcome trials of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor showed profound reno-protective effects. The Korean Diabetes Association and the Korean Society of Nephrology reviewed clinical trials and performed meta-analysis to assess the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on the preservation of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). We limited the data of SGLT2 inhibitors which can be prescribed in Korea. Both eGFR value and its change from the baseline were significantly more preserved in the SGLT2 inhibitor treatment group compared to the control group after 156 weeks. However, some known adverse events were increased in SGLT2 inhibitor treatment, such as genital infection, diabetic ketoacidosis, and volume depletion. We recommend the long-term use SGLT2 inhibitor in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) for attenuation of renal function decline. However, we cannot generalize our recommendation due to lack of long-term clinical trials testing reno-protective effects of every SGLT2 inhibitor in a broad range of patients with T2DM. This recommendation can be revised and updated after publication of several large-scale renal outcome trials.

Chronic kidney disease commonly develops in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and is the most common cause of end-stage renal disease and related cardiovascular complications. Meanwhile, despite the current standard of care that includes optimized glucose control and the use of single-agent blockade of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), patients with T2DM remain at increased risk for premature death and complications due to cardiorenal causes. Recent studies using sodiumglucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have shown not only glucose lowering effects, but also a reduction in blood pressure, weight loss, and lower cardiovascular risk. Regarding renal outcomes, the use of SGLT2 inhibitors slows the progression of kidney disease compared to placebo when added to standard care. However, concern has been raised that currently available SGLT2 inhibitors in Korea may also be associated with improved renal outcomes during long-term treatment. As a result, we aimed to evaluate the effect of long-term SGLT2 inhibitor treatment on renal function in patients with T2DM using meta-analysis.

Chronic kidney disease commonly develops in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and is the most common cause of end-stage renal disease and related cardiovascular complications. Meanwhile, despite the current standard of care that includes optimized glucose control and the use of single-agent blockade of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), patients with T2DM remain at increased risk for premature death and complications due to cardiorenal causes. Recent studies using sodiumglucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have shown not only glucose lowering effects, but also a reduction in blood pressure, weight loss, and lower cardiovascular risk. Regarding renal outcomes, the use of SGLT2 inhibitors slows the progression of kidney disease compared to placebo when added to standard care. However, concern has been raised that currently available SGLT2 inhibitors in Korea may also be associated with improved renal outcomes during long-term treatment. As a result, we aimed to evaluate the effect of long-term SGLT2 inhibitor treatment on renal function in patients with T2DM using meta-analysis.

Chronic kidney disease is developed commonly in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and is the most common cause of end-stage renal disease and related cardiovascular complications. Meanwhile, despite the current standard of care including optimized glucose control and the use of single-agent blockade of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), patients with T2DM remain at increased risk for death and complications from cardiorenal causes. The recent studies using sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have shown not only glucose lowering effect, but also a reduction in blood pressure, weight loss, and a lowering cardiovascular risk. Regarding renal outcomes, the use of SGLT2 inhibitor slows the progression of kidney disease compared to placebo when added to standard care. However, concern has been raised that currently available SGLT2 inhibitors in Korea may be also associated with improved renal outcomes with long-term treatment. As a result, we aimed to evaluate the effect of long-term SGLT2 inhibitor treatment on renal function in the patients with T2DM using meta-analysis. (Korean J Med 2020;95:236-243)

Diabetes is a leading cause of end-stage renal disease. Therefore, prevention of renal dysfunction is an important treatment goal in the management of diabetes. The data of landmark cardiovascular outcome trials of sodiumglucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors showed profound reno-protective effects. The Korean Diabetes Association and the Korean Society of Nephrology reviewed clinical trials and performed a meta-analysis to assess the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on the preservation of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). We limited the data of SGLT2 inhibitors which can be prescribed in Korea. Both eGFR value and its change from the baseline were significantly more preserved in the SGLT2-inhibitor treatment group compared to the control group after 156 weeks. However, some known adverse events were increased in SGLT2 inhibitor treatment, such as genital infection, diabetic ketoacidosis, and volume depletion. We recommend long-term use of SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) for attenuation of renal function decline. However, we cannot generalize our recommendations due to the lack of long-term clinical trials testing the reno-protective effects of every SGLT2 inhibitor in a broad range of patients with T2DM. This recommendation can be revised and updated after the publication of several large-scale renal outcome trials.

PURPOSE: In outbreaks of infectious disease, medical students are easily overlooked in the management of healthcare personnel protection although they serve in clinical clerkships in hospitals. In the early summer of 2015, Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) struck South Korea, and students of Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine (SKKUSOM) were at risk of contracting the disease. The purpose of this report is to share SKKUSOM's experience against the MERS outbreak and provide suggestions for medical schools to consider in the face of similar challenges. METHODS: Through a process of reflection-on-action, we examined SKKUSOM's efforts to avoid student infection during the MERS outbreak and derived a few practical guidelines that medical schools can adopt to ensure student safety in outbreaks of infectious disease. RESULTS: The school leadership conducted ongoing risk assessment and developed contingency plans to balance student safety and continuity in medical education. They rearranged the clerkships to another hospital and offered distant lectures and tutorials. Five suggestions are extracted for medical schools to consider in infection outbreaks: instant cessation of clinical clerkships; rational decision making on a school closure; use of information technology; constant communication with hospitals; and open communication with faculty, staff, and students. CONCLUSION: Medical schools need to take the initiative and actively seek countermeasures against student infection. It is essential that medical schools keep constant communication with their index hospitals and the involved personnel. In order to assure student learning, medical schools may consider offering distant education with online technology.
Clinical Clerkship ; Communicable Diseases ; Communicable Diseases, Emerging ; Coronavirus Infections* ; Decision Making ; Delivery of Health Care ; Disease Outbreaks ; Education ; Education, Medical ; Humans ; Korea ; Leadership ; Learning ; Lectures ; Middle East* ; Risk Assessment ; Schools, Medical* ; Students, Medical