Journal of Korean medical science
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Dec 2013
Knee pain and its severity in elderly Koreans: prevalence, risk factors and impact on quality of life.
This study investigated the epidemiology (prevalence, risk factors, and impact on quality of life) of knee pain and its severity in elderly Koreans. The subjects (n=3,054) were participants aged ≥50 yr from the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, conducted in 2010. Knee pain was defined as pain in the knee lasting ≥30 days during the most recent 3 months; severity was categorized as mild, moderate, or severe. ⋯ Old age, female gender, a low level of education, a manual occupation, obesity, and radiographic osteoarthritis were risk factors for knee pain, and were associated with increased severity of knee pain. Excluding men with mild knee pain, people with knee pain had significantly lower quality of life than those without knee pain. Early interventional approaches are needed to reduce the medical, social, and economic burden of knee pain in elderly Koreans.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Dec 2013
Application of the multiplex cytokine analysis to monitor xenogeneic immune responses to the porcine islet graft in non-human primate.
Non-human primate studies must be conducted prior to the clinical trial of xenotransplantation. In order to develop clinically applicable immune-modulatory regimen through non-human primate studies, close monitoring of xenogeneic immune responses is required. We adopted multiplex cytokine analysis in assessment of the immune status during the course of pig-to-non-human primate islet transplantation. ⋯ Supportive information for in vivo efficacy of cytokine neutralizing antibody could be speculated by in vitro neutralization assay (1,250 pg/mL → 0 pg/mL). In addition, periodic monitoring of cytokines in peripheral blood allowed the detection of the infection episode prior to other routine assays. These benefits of multiplex cytokine assay may be generally applied to other pre-clinical research, which is a prerequisite for clinical trials.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Dec 2013
Case ReportsA case of acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy following hepatitis a infection.
Acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN) are recently described subtypes of Guillain-Barre syndrome characterized by acute onset of distal weakness, loss of deep tendon reflexes, and sensory symptoms. A 21-yr-old male was transferred to our hospital due to respiration difficulties and progressive weakness. In laboratory findings, immunoglobulin M antibodies against hepatitis A were detected in blood and cerebrospinal fluid. ⋯ Based on clinical features, laboratory findings, and electrophysiologic investigation, the patient was diagnosed the AMSAN following acute hepatitis A viral infection. The patient was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin and recovered slowly. Clinicians should consider this rare but a serious case of AMSAN following acute hepatitis A infection.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Dec 2013
Differential prognostic impacts of diabetes over time course after acute myocardial infarction.
This study was performed to evaluate the effects of diabetes on short- and mid-term clinical outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Between October 2005 and December 2009, a total of 22,347 patients with AMI from a nationwide registry was analyzed. At the time point of the day 30 after AMI onset, landmark analyses were performed for the development of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), including death, re-infarction and revascularization. ⋯ After adjustment for potential confounders, diabetes was an independent predictor of mid-term MACEs (HR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.08-1.45; P = 0.002), but not of short-term MACEs (HR: 1.16; 95% CI: 0.93-1.44; P = 0.167). Diabetes is a poor prognostic factor for mid-term clinical outcomes but not for short-term outcomes in AMI patients. Careful monitoring and intensive care should be considered in diabetic patients, especially following the acute stage of AMI.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Dec 2013
Change in somatostatinergic tone of acromegalic patients according to the size of growth hormone-producing pituitary tumors.
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between somatostatinergic tone (SST) and the size of growth hormone (GH)-producing pituitary tumors. GH levels of 29 patients with newly diagnosed acromegaly were measured using a 75-gram oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), an insulin tolerance test (ITT), and an octreotide suppression test (OST). ⋯ In conclusion, as the size of the pituitary tumor increases, the effect of glucose on SST appears to be attenuated. Macroadenomas that are non-responders to the OST possess a portion of GH secretion exceeding the range of regulation by SST.