Ultrasound Echogenicity of Papillary Thyroid Cancer Is Affected by Tumor Growth Patterns and Tumor Fibrosis.

Background/aim: The association between preoperative ultrasound (US) echogenicity and histopathological characteristics of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) has been rarely investigated is not well characterized. This study evaluated a relationship between the clinical characteristics of PTC, histopathological phenomena including tumor growth patterns (TGPs) and tumor fibrosis (TF), and US echogenicity.

Patients And Methods: In total, 170 patients with PTC (<2 cm) underwent total thyroidectomy with central neck dissection.

Relative handgrip strength as a marker of metabolic syndrome: the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) VI (2014-2015).

Purpose: Muscles play an important role in energy metabolism. Several studies have investigated the association between muscle mass and metabolic syndrome (MetS), reporting conflicting results. However, studies concerning the association between muscle strength and MetS are limited.

Association between serum cystatin C and bone mineral density in Korean adults.

Background: Serum cystatin C has been known as a novel marker of preclinical renal dysfunction, and higher cystatin C levels are associated with increased risks of hip and nonvertebral fractures. However, there are few reports on the association between serum cystatin C and bone mineral density (BMD), especially in the Asian population. We evaluated the association between cystatin C levels and BMD of the spine and hip in Korean adults.

Prevalent Rate of Nonalbuminuric Renal Insufficiency and Its Association with Cardiovascular Disease Event in Korean Type 2 Diabetes.

Background: Nonalbuminuric renal insufficiency is a unique category of diabetic kidney diseases. The objectives of the study were to evaluate prevalent rate of nonalbuminuric renal insufficiency and to investigate its relationship with previous cardiovascular disease (CVD) event in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: Laboratory and clinical data of 1,067 subjects with T2DM were obtained and reviewed.

Prevalence of Reduced Kidney Function by Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate Using an Equation Based on Creatinine and Cystatin C in Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components in Korean Adults.

Background: It is known that metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with chronic kidney disease. We evaluated and compared the prevalence of reduced kidney function in MetS and its components by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using an equation based on creatinine (eGFRcr), cystatin C (eGFRcys), and combined creatinine-cystatin C (eGFRcr-cys) in Korean adults.

Methods: We analyzed data from 3,649 adults who participated in a comprehensive health examination.

Lymph node status of lateral neck compartment in patients with N1b papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Conclusion Loco-regional recurrence-free survival was significantly decreased in the papillary thyroid cancer patients with > 6 metastatic lymph nodes and a lymph node ratio > 0.22. Also, the risk of lung metastasis was significantly increased in cases with bilateral neck node metastases.

The Association of Serum Cystatin C with Glycosylated Hemoglobin in Korean Adults.

Background: Cystatin C has been known to be associated not only with early renal impairment but also with the incidence of diabetic conditions (prediabetes plus diabetes). However, it is not clear whether cystatin C levels are associated with the prevalence of diabetic conditions in Asian populations. We evaluated this association using glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels as the definition of diabetes in Korean adults.

Metastatic lymph node status in the central compartment of papillary thyroid carcinoma: A prognostic factor of locoregional recurrence.

Background: The purpose of this study was to present our focus on the lymph node status in the central compartment and evaluate the relevant factors and disease recurrence.

Methods: Between January 2004 and December 2009, 1040 patients were diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and underwent surgery.

Results: The number of metastatic lymph nodes was a significant predictor for recurrence conferring a hazard ratio of 1.

Low serum TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) levels are associated with acute ischemic stroke severity.

Background: TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily and its serum level is known to be closely associated with future cardiovascular events and prognosis of various cardiovascular diseases. We investigated whether serum TRAIL levels are associated with the severity of acute ischemic stroke and specific stroke subtype.

Methods: We used an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure the serum TRAIL levels of 293 patients with acute ischemic stroke within 7 days of onset.

Long Term Effect of High Glucose and Phosphate Levels on the OPG/RANK/RANKL/TRAIL System in the Progression of Vascular Calcification in rat Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells.

Osteoprotegerin (OPG), receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL)/receptor activator of NF-κB (RANK) axis, and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) participate in vascular calcification process including atherosclerosis, but their contributions under high glucose (HG) and phosphate (HP) condition for a long-term period (more than 2 weeks) have not been fully determined. In this study, we evaluated the effects of HG and HP levels over 2 or 4 weeks on the progression of vascular calcification in rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Calcium deposition in VSMCs was increased in medium containing HG (30 mmol/L D-glucose) with β-glycerophosphate (β-GP, 12 mmol/L) after 2 weeks and increased further after 4 weeks.

Comparison of serum ferritin and vitamin d in association with the severity of nonalcoholic Fatty liver disease in korean adults.

Background: Increased serum ferritin and decreased vitamin D levels associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, their association with the severity of NAFLD has not been fully evaluated. The aim of this study was to compare the association of serum ferritin and 25(OH)D₃ levels with the severity of ultrasonographically detected NAFLD (US-NAFLD) and hepatic steatosis defined by fatty liver index (FLI) in Korean adults.

Ultrasonographic findings relating to lymph node metastasis in single micropapillary thyroid cancer.

Background: In thyroid cancer, preoperative ultrasonography (US) is performed to detect the primary tumor and lymph node metastasis (LNM), which are related to prognosis. This study examined the relationships between specific US findings and LNM in micropapillary thyroid cancer (MPTC).

Methods: Data on 220 patients with solitary MPTC who underwent total thyroidectomy and neck dissection between 2008 and 2009 were evaluated retrospectively.

Tumor location-dependent skip lateral cervical lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid cancer.

Background: Lateral cervical lymph node metastasis without central lymph node (CLN) metastasis is not infrequent in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). This study was designed to investigate the frequency and pattern of skip metastasis in PTC.

Methods: We reviewed 131 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy with CLN dissection and selective lymph node dissection.

Nodal status of central lymph nodes as a negative prognostic factor for papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Background: The status of metastatic lymph nodes, including the size and extracapsular spread (ECS), in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) has not been well established. This study evaluated the correlation between the specific status of central lymph node metastases (CLNM) and negative prognostic factors.

Methods: We reviewed 243 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy and neck dissection.

Frozen biopsy of central compartment in papillary thyroid cancer: quantitative nodal analysis.

Background: Nodal metastasis in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) usually occurs in the central compartment of the ipsilateral neck and spreads laterally. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of frozen biopsy for quantitative nodal evaluation of central neck metastasis in PTC.

Methods: In all, 252 patients with PTC underwent total thyroidectomy with bilateral central neck dissection (CND).

Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in pathogenesis of vascular complications of diabetes.

Macrovascular and microvascular diseases are currently the principal causes of morbidity and mortality in subjects with diabetes. Disorders of the physiological signaling functions of reactive oxygen species (superoxide and hydrogen peroxide) and reactive nitrogen species (nitric oxide and peroxynitrite) are important features of diabetes. In the absence of an appropriate compensation by the endogenous antioxidant defense network, increased oxidative stress leads to the activation of stress-sensitive intracellular signaling pathways and the formation of gene products that cause cellular damage and contribute to the vascular complications of diabetes.

The Association between Apolipoprotein A-II and Metabolic Syndrome in Korean Adults: A Comparison Study of Apolipoprotein A-I and Apolipoprotein B.

Background: Apolipoprotein A-II (apoA-II) is the second-most abundant apolipoprotein in human high-density lipoprotein and its role in cardio metabolic risk is not entirely clear. It has been suggested to have poor anti-atherogenic or even pro-atherogenic properties, but there are few studies on the possible role of apoA-II in Asian populations. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of apoA-II in metabolic syndrome (MetS) compared with apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) and apolipoprotein B (apoB) in Korean adults.

Clinical implications of bilateral lateral cervical lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid cancer: a risk factor for lung metastasis.

Background: Distant metastasis to the lung in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is rarely detected, but it is known to be an important prognostic factor associated with survival. We investigated risk factors for lung metastasis in PTC.

Materials And Methods: We performed a retrospective review of patients with PTC (n=977) who were treated from January 2006 to August 2009.

Lateral cervical lymph node metastases from papillary thyroid carcinoma: predictive factors of nodal metastasis.

Background: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) frequently metastasizes to the regional neck; skip metastasis (metastasis to the lateral compartment in the absence of central disease) is uncommon. This prospective study was to evaluate the incidence of occult lateral neck metastasis (LNM) and elucidated the factors that predict LNM in PTC with central neck metastasis (CNM) by performing prophylactic selective lateral neck dissection (SND).

Methods: Sixty-two patients with PTC without clinical LNM underwent total thyroidectomy with central compartment neck dissection and prophylactic SND consecutively after ipsilateral CNM was confirmed by intraoperative frozen biopsy.

Preoperative serum thyroid stimulating hormone levels in well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma is a predictive factor for lateral lymph node metastasis as well as extrathyroidal extension in Korean patients: a single-center experience.

It has been known that thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) stimulates the growth or development of thyroid malignancy and higher serum TSH has association with both thyroid cancer incidence and advanced tumor stage. However, the role of TSH in high-risk features of well-differentiated thyroid cancer was not fully evaluated especially in Asian population. The purpose of our study is to evaluate the association of preoperative serum TSH levels with the advance of differentiated thyroid cancer and its high-risk clinicopathological features in Korean patients.

Pheochromocytoma crisis after a dexamethasone suppression test for adrenal incidentaloma.

A 61-year-old woman was referred to our department for evaluation of an incidental adrenal mass. An abdominal CT scan revealed a 4.1 cm right adrenal mass.