Discordance Between Spine-Hip and Paretic-Nonparetic Hip Bone Mineral Density in Hemiplegic Stroke Patients: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Objective: To identify the prevalence and factors associated with T-score discordance between the spine and hip, as well as between the paretic and non-paretic hips in hemiplegic stroke patients, this study investigated bone mineral density (BMD) patterns. Bone loss predominantly affects the paretic hip after a stroke, and typical clinical assessments using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) that scan the lumbar spine (LS) and a single hip may overlook an osteoporosis diagnosis. This oversight could potentially lead to suboptimal treatment for stroke patients.

Combination of low- or moderate-intensity statin and ezetimibe vs. high-intensity statin monotherapy on primary prevention of cardiovascular disease and all-cause death: a propensity-matched nationwide cohort study.

Aims: This study aims to compare the preventive effect of low- or moderate-statin with ezetimibe combination therapy and high-intensity statin monotherapy on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause death in a real-world setting.

Methods And Results: Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service datasets, two cohorts comparing high-intensity statin monotherapy with low- or moderate-intensity statin and ezetimibe combination were constructed by 1:1 propensity score matching procedure. Primary outcome was a composite of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and all-cause death.

Comparison of the Efficacy of Ezetimibe Combination Therapy and High-Intensity Statin Monotherapy in Type 2 Diabetes.

Context: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)-lowering therapy is considerably important in preventing cardiovascular disease (CVD) among patients with diabetes. Studies comparing CVD, stroke, and mortality outcomes of low- or moderate-intensity statins with ezetimibe combination therapy and high-intensity statin monotherapy in patients with diabetes remain lacking.

Objective: This study compared the primary prevention effect of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and all-cause death between combination therapy of low- or moderate-intensity statins and ezetimibe and high-intensity statin monotherapy in patients with diabetes using the Korean National Health Insurance claims database.

Position Statement: Postmenopausal Osteoporosis Treatment Strategies in Korea.

Classifying patients with osteoporosis according to fracture risk and establishing adequate treatment strategies is crucial to effectively treat osteoporosis. The Korean Society for Bone and Mineral Research has issued a position statement regarding appropriate treatment strategies for postmenopausal osteoporosis. According to previous fragility fracture history, bone mineral density (BMD) test results, fracture risk assessment tool, and several clinical risk factors, fracture risk groups are classified into low, moderate, high, and very-high-risk groups.

Effects of Bazedoxifene/Vitamin D Combination Therapy on Serum Vitamin D Levels and Bone Turnover Markers in Postmenopausal Women with Osteopenia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of bazedoxifene/vitamin D combination therapy in preventing osteoporosis in postmenopausal women with osteopenia.

Methods: This was an open-label, multicenter randomized-controlled, phase 4 clinical trial. Women between ages of 55 and 70 years in 9 medical tertiary centers in Korea were enrolled and assigned into 2 groups: an experiment group and a control group.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ activation ameliorates liver fibrosis-differential action of transcription factor EB and autophagy on hepatocytes and stellate cells.

Background: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) activation suppresses HSC activation and liver fibrosis. Moreover, autophagy is implicated in hepatic lipid metabolism. Here, we determined whether PPARγ activation ameliorates HSC activation by downregulating transcription factor EB (TFEB)-mediated autophagy.

Subtypes of type 2 diabetes and their association with outcomes in Korean adults - A cluster analysis of community-based prospective cohort.

Background: Little is known about the subtypes of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and their association with clinical outcomes in Asians.

Methods: We performed data-driven cluster analysis in patients with newly diagnosed drug-naive T2D (n = 756) from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study. Clusters were based on five variables (age at diagnosis, BMI, HbA1c, and HOMA2 β-cell function, and insulin resistance).

Raloxifene/Vitamin D Combination Therapy vs. Raloxifene Monotherapy on Serum 25-Hydroxy-Vitamin D Level among Postmenopausal Women with Osteoporosis or Osteopenia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: We compared the efficacy of a fixed dose combination of raloxifene 60 mg/vitamin D 800 IU to raloxifene 60 mg alone on vitamin D status, as indicated by change in serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25[OH]D) levels.

Methods: In this 16-week, open-label, randomized, active controlled, multicenter clinical trial conducted in 4 university-affiliated hospitals in Korea, postmenopausal women aged 55 to 70 years with osteoporosis or osteopenia were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive raloxifene 60 mg/cholecalciferol 800 IU combination therapy or raloxifene 60 mg monotherapy. Primary endpoint was change in serum 25(OH)D level from baseline to 16 weeks after the intervention.

Association between carotid atherosclerosis and presence of intracranial atherosclerosis using three-dimensional high-resolution vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging in asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes.

Aims: Carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) is associated with a high risk of cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to investigate whether CAS is associated with the presence of intracranial atherosclerosis (ICAS).

Methods: A total of 69 asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes (36 with CAS and 33 without CAS) who were free of cerebrovascular disease were enrolled in this case-control study.

Delayed diagnosis of pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1a with rare hypothyroidism since childhood.

Pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) is a rare disorder that associates with resistance to parathyroid hormone (PTH). A 21-year old man visited outpatient clinic to treat previously diagnosed hypothyroidism and vitamin D deficiency. Despite daily 150 mcg of levothyroxine supplement, thyroid-stimulating hormone level was elevated, but thyroid autoantibodies were not detected.

Trends in the Prevalence of Obesity and Its Phenotypes Based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2007 to 2017 in Korea.

This study used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey IV-VII from 2007 to identify the prevalence of obesity and its phenotypes (metabolically unhealthy obesity [MUO] and metabolically healthy obesity [MHO]) and their secular changes. The prevalence of obesity in Korea increased with significant secular changes observed (β=0.326, P trend <0.

The efficacy and safety of leaf extract on the metabolic syndrome: a 12-week, placebo controlled, double blind, and randomized controlled trial.

Background/objectives: The extract from exhibited diverse therapeutic potentials. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of leaf extract for improving metabolic parameters in human.

Subjects/methods: A 12-week, double blind, placebo-controlled and randomized trial included a total of 74 adults, and they were assigned to the placebo group (n = 38) or 700 mg/day of group (n = 36).

Effects of Advanced Glycation End Products on Differentiation and Function of Osteoblasts and Osteoclasts.

Background: Risk of fragility fractures increases in patients with diabetes mellitus, independent of bone mineral density. In the present study, the effects of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) on differentiation and function of osteoblasts and osteoclasts were investigated.

Methods: AGEs and 25 mM glucose were administered to marrow-derived macrophages and MCT3T3-E1 cells.

Statin use for primary prevention in patients with type 2 diabetes: Can it benefit all ages? - A nationwide propensity-matched cohort study.

Aims: This study aims to investigate whether statin use is associated with a reduction in CVD and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes without pre-existing CVD.

Methods: A propensity score-matched cohort analysis using retrospective data was created. Statin users received at least a 90-day prescription, and never used statin before initiation of the study.

Fenofibrate, a PPARα agonist, reduces hepatic fat accumulation through the upregulation of TFEB-mediated lipophagy.

Background: Recent studies have shown that dysregulation of autophagy is involved in the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Transcription factors E3 (TFE3) and EB (TFEB) are master regulators of the transcriptional response of basic cellular processes such as lysosomal biogenesis and autophagy. Here, we investigated the role of fenofibrate, a PPARα agonist, in promotion of intracellular lipid clearance by upregulation of TFEB/TFE3.

Allopurinol ameliorates high fructose diet induced hepatic steatosis in diabetic rats through modulation of lipid metabolism, inflammation, and ER stress pathway.

Excess fructose consumption contributes to development obesity, metabolic syndrome, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Uric acid (UA), a metabolite of fructose metabolism, may have a direct role in development of NAFLD, with unclear mechanism. This study aimed to evaluate role of fructose and UA in NAFLD and explore mechanisms of allopurinol (Allo, a UA lowering medication) on NAFLD in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats fed a high fructose diet (HFrD), with Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) rats used as a control.

Low Skeletal Muscle Mass Is Associated With the Presence, Incidence, and Progression of Coronary Artery Calcification.

Background: Low skeletal muscle mass (SMM) is an emerging risk factor of cardiovascular disease (CVD). We investigated the association between SMM and coronary artery calcification (CAC).

Methods: We enrolled 19,728 adults free of CVD who underwent computed tomographic estimation of Agatston CAC scores for cross-sectional analysis.

Increased Visit-to-Visit Liver Enzyme Variability Is Associated with Incident Diabetes: A Community-Based 12-Year Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Fatty liver and/or increased liver enzyme values have been reported to be associated with incident diabetes. We sought to determine whether increased visit-to-visit liver enzyme variability is associated with incident diabetes.

Methods: Study participants were recruited from the Korean Genome and Epidemiologic Study (KoGES).

A rare case of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 initially presenting as an asymptomatic, huge mediastinal mass: case report.

Background: Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is a rare inherited syndrome that concurrently involves various endocrine glands. We report a rare case of MEN1 in a 43-year-old man whose first manifestation was an asymptomatic mediastinal mass.

Case Presentation: A 13-cm-sized mediastinal mass was diagnosed as an atypical thymic carcinoid by computed tomography and percutaneous needle biopsy.

The association between lipoprotein (a) and carotid atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes without pre-existing cardiovascular disease: A cross-sectional study.

Aims: Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] has been considered a determinant of residual cardiovascular risk. We aimed to investigate associations between serum Lp(a) levels and carotid atherosclerosis.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 662 type 2 diabetic patients without cardiovascular disease.

Pancreatic fat accumulation is associated with decreased β-cell function and deterioration in glucose tolerance in Korean adults.

Aims: This study was designed to investigate the association between pancreatic fat content (PFC) and insulin secretory capacity as well as glucose tolerance in Korean adults.

Materials: A total of 39 participants (mean age 49.9 years, 53% males) without a previous history of diabetes, or those previously diagnosed as having diabetes but with less than 10 years of disease duration and no medication history were included.

Clinical Significance of Paraspinal Muscle Parameters as a prognostic factor for survival in Gastric Cancer Patients who underwent Curative Surgical Resection.

The quantitative and qualitative skeletal muscle parameters have been proposed to predict the outcome of patients with gastric cancer. However, the evidence for their association with long-term survival is still conflicting. This study aimed to investigate the effect of paraspinal muscle parameters on overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with gastric cancer who underwent curative resection.

Position Statement: Exercise Guidelines to Increase Peak Bone Mass in Adolescents.

Background: An increase in bone mineral density during adolescence increases resistance to fractures in older age. The Korean Society for Bone and Mineral Research and the Korean Society of Exercise Physiology developed exercise guidelines to increase the peak bone mass (PBM) in adolescents based on evidence through a systematic review of previous research.

Methods: Articles were selected using the systematic method, and the exercise guidelines were established by selecting key questions (KQs) and defining the effects of exercises based on evidence through a literature review for selecting the final exercise method.

Efficacy of risedronate with cholecalciferol on bone mineral density in Korean patients with osteoporosis.

Unlabelled: The efficacy of once-weekly risedronate with and without cholecalciferol in bone mineral density (BMD) in Korean patients with osteoporosis was compared. After 12 months, both spine and hip BMD increased significantly in both groups, but there was no significant difference between two groups.

Introduction: This study investigated the efficacy and safety of once-weekly risedronate with and without cholecalciferol in BMD in Korean patients with osteoporosis.