Effectiveness of the ALT/AST ratio for predicting insulin resistance in a Korean population: A large-scale, cross-sectional cohort study.

Insulin resistance is a common pathophysiology in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Thus, screening for the risk of insulin resistance is important to prevent disease progression. We evaluated the alanine aminotransferase/aspartate aminotransferase (ALT/AST) ratio to predict insulin resistance in the general population, regardless of comorbidities.

Validation of MELD 3.0 in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis using prospective KACLiF cohort.

Background And Aim: The Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) is a reliable prognostic tool for short-term outcome prediction in patients with end-stage liver disease. MELD 3.0 was introduced to enhance the predictive accuracy.

[Pulmonary Complications in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis].

Portal hypertension is a clinical syndrome defined by an increased portal venous pressure. The most frequent cause of portal hypertension is liver cirrhosis, and many of the complications of cirrhosis, such as ascites and gastroesophageal variceal bleeding, are related to portal hypertension. Portal hypertension is a pathological condition caused by the accumulation of blood flow in the portal system.

Subclinical diabetes confirmed by 75-g OGTT influence on the prognosis of decompensated cirrhosis.

Background And Aim: Disorders of glucose metabolism, such as impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and diabetes mellitus (DM), frequently occur in cirrhosis. We aimed to evaluate who needs to be undertaken a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) to find underlying subclinical diabetes.

Methods: This prospective study included 713 patients with either compensated (Child-Turcotte-Pugh [CTP] class A) or decompensated cirrhosis (CTP class B/C) without previous DM history.

Associations of Serum Uric Acid Level With Liver Enzymes, Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, and Liver Fibrosis in Korean Men and Women: A Cross-Sectional Study Using Nationally Representative Data.

Background: This study aimed to determine whether serum uric acid (SUA) levels are associated with various indices of liver damage in the adult Korean population.

Methods: We used the Seventh (VII) Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Surveys. Our study population comprised 6,007 men and 8,488 women.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: Definition and subtypes.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common liver diseases worldwide, with a global prevalence of approximately 30%. However, the prevalence of NAFLD has been variously reported depending on the comorbidities. The rising prevalence of obesity in both the adult and pediatric populations is projected to consequently continue increasing NAFLD prevalence.

Outcome of Intermittent Thoracentesis versus Pigtail Catheter Drainage for Hepatic Hydrothorax.

Background/Aims: The management of hepatic hydrothorax (HH) remains a challenging clinical scenario with suboptimal options. We investigated the effect and safety of pigtail catheter drainage compared to intermittent thoracentesis. Methods: This multicenter, retrospective study included 164 cirrhotic patients with recurrent pleural effusion from March 2012 to June 2017.

Application of ultrasound for the diagnosis of cirrhosis/portal hypertension.

With advances in technologic approaches in patients with cirrhosis, including the improvement of management, a simple, one-step approach for advanced fibrotic state of the liver is clinically useful. Although refining the diagnosis of cirrhosis to reflect disease heterogeneity is essential, current diagnostic tests have not kept pace with the progression of this new paradigm. There are unmet needs in primary care centers with respect to patients with cirrhosis.

Monitoring of Oxygen in Simulated Electrolytic Reduction Salt of Pyroprocessing Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy.

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was explored as a method of monitoring oxygen (O) concentration in electrolytic reduction salt of pyroprocessing. Simulated salt samples were fabricated, and each sample was put in a transparent and sealed vial filled with argon gas. An neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser pulse was applied to the sample through the vial surface, and the optical emission spectrum was measured.

Dynamic balance measurements: Reliability of smartphone attachment sites.

Introduction: Dynamic balance devices are costly and uncommon, requiring dedicated space for use. Thus, studies often utilize smartphones to measure dynamic balance by attaching them to body parts, as they are inexpensive, small, and readily available. However, little consideration has been given to determine which body part would yield the most reliable measurements.

Hepatopulmonary syndrome is related to the development of acute-on-chronic liver failure and poor prognosis in cirrhotic patients.

Background And Aims: Long-term prospective data on hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) from a large number of patients, especially in Asian patients, are lacking. We evaluated the long-term prognosis of HPS and the development of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), and related factors.

Methods: A total of 142 patients with cirrhosis who underwent saline-agitated contrast echocardiography for the diagnosis of HPS were enrolled and observed prospectively from 2014 to 2019.

Usefulness of a Colonoscopy Cap with an External Grid for the Measurement of Small-Sized Colorectal Polyps: A Prospective Randomized Trial.

Accurate measurement of polyp size during colonoscopy is crucial. The usefulness of cap-assisted colonoscopy and external grid application on monitor (gCAP) was evaluated for polyp size measurement in this 3-year, single-center, single-blind, randomized trial. Using the endoscopic forceps width as reference, the discrepancy percent (DP), error rate (ER), and measurement time were compared between gCAP and visual estimation (VE) after randomization.

Changes in the Range of Motion of the Hip Joint and the Muscle Activity of the Rectus Femoris and Biceps Femoris of Stroke Patients during Obstacles Crossing on the Ground and Underwater.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine range of motion (ROM) and the muscle activity of stroke patients during obstacle task on the ground and underwater. [Subjects] The subjects of this study were seven stroke patients in a hospital located in Daejeon, South Korea. [Methods] The measurements in this study were conducted in an exercise therapy room and a pool dedicated to underwater exercise (water temperature 33.

Comparison of effects of a proprioceptive exercise program in water and on land the balance of chronic stroke patients.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to compare changes in balance ability of land exercise and underwater exercise on chronic stroke patients. [Subjects] A total of 60 patients received exercise for 40 minutes, three times a week, for 6 weeks. [Methods] Subjects from both groups performed general conventional treatment during the experimental period.