Different Molecular Phenotypes of Progression in BRAF- and RAS-Like Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

Backgruound: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) can be classified into two distinct molecular subtypes, BRAF-like (BL) and RASlike (RL). However, the molecular characteristics of each subtype according to clinicopathological factors have not yet been determined. We aimed to investigate the gene signatures and tumor microenvironment according to clinicopathological factors, and to identify the mechanism of progression in BL-PTCs and RL-PTCs.

FGM-based remote intervention for adults with type 1 diabetes: The FRIEND randomized clinical trial.

Background: The use of flash glucose monitoring (FGM) in conjunction with proper education has been reported to improve glycemic control in people with diabetes on insulin therapy. However, there are still few randomized controlled trials on the educational effect, and an ideal educational model has not been established. This study aimed to estimate the efficacy of remote intervention for glycemic control in adults with type 1 diabetes using FGM.

Postprandial Free Fatty Acids at Mid-Pregnancy Increase the Risk of Large-for-Gestational-Age Newborns in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Background: To investigate the association between free fatty acid (FFA) level at mid-pregnancy and large-for-gestational-age (LGA) newborns in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Methods: We enrolled 710 pregnant women diagnosed with GDM from February 2009 to October 2016. GDM was diagnosed by a 'two-step' approach with Carpenter and Coustan criteria.

Umbilical Cord-Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Conditioned Medium Improves Insulin Resistance in C2C12 Cell.

Background: Umbilical cord-mesenchymal stem cell-conditioned medium (UC-MSC-CM) has emerged as a promising cell-free therapy. The aim of this study was to explore the therapeutic effects of UC-MSC-CM on insulin resistance in C2C12 cell.

Methods: Insulin resistance was induced by palmitate.

Vitamin D Deficiency at Mid-Pregnancy Is Associated with a Higher Risk of Postpartum Glucose Intolerance in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Background: To evaluate the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) at mid-pregnancy and postpartum glucose intolerance in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Methods: We enrolled 348 pregnant women diagnosed with GDM from August 2012 to October 2016. We measured serum 25(OH)D levels at mid-pregnancy and carried out a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test at 6 to 12 weeks after delivery.

The association of diabetes duration and glycemic control with depression in elderly men with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: The prevalence of depression and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are increasing in the elderly and are reportedly related to each other. We evaluated the relationship between T2DM-related factors and the degree of depression in elderly patients with T2DM based on gender.

Materials And Methods: A total of 155 patients with T2DM (56 males and 99 females aged ≥ 65 years) from seven hospitals were included in the study.

Higher Prevalence and Progression Rate of Chronic Kidney Disease in Elderly Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Background: To evaluate the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and progression rate to CKD in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: We investigated the medical records of 190 elderly patients (65 years or older) with T2DM from 2005 to 2011 in 6-month increments. Mean follow-up duration was 64.

Higher Prevalence and Progression Rate of Chronic Kidney Disease in Elderly Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Background: To evaluate the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and progression rate to CKD in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: We investigated the medical records of 190 elderly patients (65 years or older) with T2DM from 2005 to 2011 in 6-month increments. Mean follow-up duration was 64.

Association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphisms and susceptibility to Graves' ophthalmopathy.

The pathogenesis of Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) remains to be entirely elucidated. The present study aimed to determine the association between phenotypic expression of the MTHFR gene and susceptibility to GO in patients with Graves' disease (GD). A prospective case‑controlled study was conducted with 122 patients with GD and GO (n=72) or without GO (n=50) and 100 healthy controls in South Korea.

Reappraisal of waist circumference cutoff value according to general obesity.

Background: Current criterion of waist circumference (WC) for abdominal obesity is not enough to demonstrate characteristics of obese and non-obese populations defined by BMI. The aim of this study was to redefine the cutoff values of WC according to general obesity (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2)).

Methods: The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to determine cutoff values of WC for predicting atherosclerosis according to BMI in 1,063 non-diabetic subjects.

Effects of pentoxifylline on proteinuria and glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes: a prospective randomized double-blind multicenter study.

Background: Pentoxifylline is a methylxanthine derivative with significant anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, and anti-proliferative properties. Studies have shown that pentoxifylline may have renoprotective effects in patients with diabetic nephropathy. However, most of these studies were limited by small sample sizes.

Low serum testosterone concentrations in hospitalized men with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes.

Our aim was to examine whether serum testosterone concentrations are in fact low in hospitalized men with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes compared with healthy men. In this study, 79 men aged 40 years or older (41 healthy men and 38 men with type 2 diabetes) were included. Total testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin levels were measured.

Efficacy and safety of sustained-release recombinant human growth hormone in Korean adults with growth hormone deficiency.

Purpose: The administration of recombinant human growth hormone in adults with growth hormone deficiency has been known to improve metabolic impairment and quality of life. Patients, however, have to tolerate daily injections of growth hormone. The efficacy, safety, and compliance of weekly administered sustained-release recombinant human growth hormone (SR-rhGH, Declage™) supplement in patients with growth hormone deficiency were evaluated.

Use of ultrasound Doppler to determine tooth vitality in a discolored tooth after traumatic injury: its prospects and limitations.

When a tooth shows discoloration and does not respond to the cold test or electric pulp test (EPT) after a traumatic injury, its diagnosis can be even more difficult due to the lack of proper diagnostic methods to evaluate its vitality. In these case reports, we hope to demonstrate that ultrasound Doppler might be successfully used to evaluate the vitality of the tooth after trauma, and help reduce unnecessary endodontic treatments. In all three of the present cases, the teeth were discolored after traumatic injuries and showed negative responses to the cold test and EPT.

Nonalcoholic Fatty liver disease is associated with increased carotid intima-media thickness only in type 2 diabetic subjects with insulin resistance.

Context: The association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and subclinical atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes is controversial.

Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the participation of insulin resistance in the association of NAFLD and the carotid atherosclerotic burden in a large cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes.

Design, Setting, And Patients: This was an observational study performed in 4437 consecutively enrolled patients with type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is associated with low muscle mass in older adults.

Aims: Our aim was to clarify the association between type 2 diabetes and the risk of low muscle mass in older adults.

Methods: In the present study, 414 adults aged 65 years or older (144 patients with type 2 diabetes and 270 control participants) were included. Body composition was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

The association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and carotid atherosclerosis in subjects with within-reference range alanine aminotransferase levels.

Our aim was to investigate whether the evaluation of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by ultrasound provides additional benefit in assessing carotid atherosclerotic burden in subjects with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) concentrations within the reference range. This was a cross-sectional analysis of 769 healthy individuals (326 men and 443 women) with an ALT concentration ≤ 40 IU/L and alcohol consumption < 140 g/week. Mean carotid artery intima-media thickness (C-IMT) was measured using ultrasound.

Is stopping of anticoagulant therapy really required in a minor dental surgery? - How about in an endodontic microsurgery?

Nowadays, oral anticoagulants are commonly prescribed to numerous patients for preventing cardiovascular accident such as thromboembolism. An important side effect of anticoagulant is anti-hemostasis. In a major surgery, the oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT) regimen must be changed before the surgery for proper post-operative bleeding control.

Management of type 2 diabetes mellitus in older adults.

In the near future, the majority of patients with diabetes will be adults aged 65 or older. Unlike young adults with diabetes, elderly diabetic people may be affected by a variety of comorbid conditions such as depression, cognitive impairment, muscle weakness (sarcopenia), falls and fractures, and physical frailty. These geriatric syndromes should be considered in the establishment of treatment goals in older adults with diabetes.

Impaired colony-forming capacity of circulating endothelial progenitor cells in patients with emphysema.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is classified into emphysema and chronic bronchitis, which are thought to result from different pathophysiological pathways. Smoking-induced lung parenchymal destruction and inadequate repair are involved in the pathogenesis of emphysema. In addition, decreased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and increased endothelial cell apoptosis in the lung may participate in emphysema pathogenesis.

Crystal structure of LeuD from Methanococcus jannaschii.

3-Isopropylmalate/citramalate (IPM) isomerase catalyzes the second step in the leucine biosynthesis pathway. IPM isomerase from Methanococcus jannaschii is a complex protein consisting of a large (MjLeuC) and a small subunit (MjLeuD). It has broad substrate specificity, unlike other bacterial IPM isomerases.

Serum TSH level in healthy Koreans and the association of TSH with serum lipid concentration and metabolic syndrome.

Background/aims: The proper treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism and the normal range of serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) concentration are intensely debated. However, few reports have investigated TSH concentrations in Asian ethnic groups. Therefore, the present study was designed to define the TSH reference range in a Korean population and to investigate the metabolic significance of TSH concentration.

Ratio of waist-to-calf circumference and carotid atherosclerosis in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes.

Objective: To investigate whether waist circumference (WC), calf circumference (CC), and waist-to-calf ratio (WCR) are associated with carotid atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Research Design And Methods: This was an observational study performed in 3,694 Korean patients with type 2 diabetes. Anthropometric measures and carotid ultrasound were performed on each subject.