Journal of Korean medical science
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Jul 2020
Comparison of Serum Uric Acid in Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder: a Retrospective Chart Review Study.
Uric acid (UA) has been suggested as a possible biomarker of bipolar disorder (BD) in recent studies. We aimed to provide a clearer comparison of UA levels between BD and major depressive disorder (MDD). ⋯ Our study confirms that BD patients are significantly more likely to show higher serum UA levels than MDD patients. The high UA levels in BD point to purinergic dysfunction as an underlying mechanism that distinguishes BD from MDD. Further research is recommended to determine whether UA is a trait or a state marker and whether UA correlates with the symptoms and severity of BD.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Jul 2020
Case ReportsA Case of Autoimmune Hepatitis after Occupational Exposure to N,N-Dimethylformamide.
N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), a widely used solvent in the chemical industry, is known to induce toxic hepatitis. However, there have been no reported cases of DMF-associated autoimmune hepatitis. A 31-year-old healthy man working at a glove factory since July 2015 had intermittently put his bare hands into a diluted DMF solution for his first 15 days at work. ⋯ Though his liver chemistry was normalized, the IgG level remained persistently upper normal range. His 2nd liver biopsy performed in April 2019 showed mild portal activity, and he was well under a low dose immunosuppressive therapy up to April 2020. This case warns of the hazard of occupational exposure to DMF, and clinicians should be aware of DMF-related AIH for timely initiation of immunosuppressive therapy.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Jul 2020
Association between Serum Uric Acid Level and ESRD or Death in a Korean Population.
Serum uric acid (SUA) is recognized as a risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and mortality. However, there is controversy as to whether a high or low level of SUA is related to the risk of CKD progression or death, and whether it differs between males and females. ⋯ Elevated levels of SUA are associated with increased risk for ESRD and all-cause mortality in both sexes. Low levels of SUA might be related to ESRD and death only in males, showing U-shaped associations. Our findings suggest sex-specific associations between SUA levels and ESRD development and mortality.