Sarcopenia Is Not Associated with Depression in Korean Adults: Results from the 2010-2011 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia is associated with metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, and mortality; however, its association with depression in the general population remains unknown. Therefore, we investigated this association in Korea. METHODS: This study included 8,958 and 8,518 subjects from the 2010-2011 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey V-1, 2. The study was restricted to participants > or =20 years of age who had completed the survey, including whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans. After exclusion, 7,364 subjects were included in our final analysis. Age was categorized into three groups (20-39, 40-59, and > or =60 years), and subjects were categorized according to their sarcopenic and obesity status. Depression was categorized into three groups (not depressed, depressed, and depression). RESULTS: The sarcopenia group did not have a higher prevalence of depression or depressive symptoms compared to the nonsarcopenia group; the same was true even when obesity was considered. All age groups showed non-significant associations between sarcopenia and depression. In multivariate logistic regression models, no significant associations were observed between sarcopenia and prevalence of depression or depressed symptoms in men and women. CONCLUSION: We found no associations between sarcopenia and the prevalence of depression or depressed symptoms in Korean adults. Future large prospective studies and randomized controlled trials are needed to further assess this relationship.

Successfully Treated Acute Fulminant Myocarditis Induced by Ulcerative Colitis with Extracorporeal Life Support and Infliximab

We report a case of successfully treated acute fulminant myocarditis induced by ulcerative colitis with extracorporeal life support and infliximab. Myocarditis is a rare but crucial complication during an exacerbation of inflammatory bowel disease. In our case, we applied extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for cardiac rest under impression of acute myocarditis associated with ulcerative colitis, and added infliximab for uncontrolled inflammation by corticosteroid. As a result, our patient was completely recovered with successful weaning of ECMO.

Graves disease following rabbit antithymocyte globulin treatment of severe aplastic anemia in a Korean child / 소아과

Antithymocyte globulin (ATG) is used as an immunosuppressive treatment (IST) to deplete clonal suppressor T cells in patients with severe aplastic anemia (SAA). The depletion of suppressor T cells by ATG may affect the activation of B cells, which results in an increased risk for autoimmune conditions. A 12-year-old boy was diagnosed with idiopathic SAA. As he did not have an human leukocyte antigen-matched sibling, he was treated with rabbit ATG (3.5 mg/kg/day for 5 days) and cyclosporine. Five months later, he became transfusion independent. However, 23 months after IST, he complained of mild hand tremors, sweating, weight loss, palpitations, and goiter. Results of thyroid function tests revealed hyperthyroidism (free thyroxine, 3.42 ng/dL; thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH], <0.01 nIU/mL; triiodothyronine, 3.99 ng/mL). Results of tests for autoantibodies were positive for the antimicrosome antibody and TSH-binding inhibitory immunoglobulin, but negative for the antithyroglobulin antibody and antinuclear antibody. He was treated with methimazole, and his symptoms improved. The patient has been disease free for 39 months after IST and 9 months after methimazole treatment. This case report suggests that although rare, rabbit ATG may have implications in the pathogenesis of autoimmune hyperthyroidism. Our findings suggest that thyroid function tests should be incorporated in the routine follow-up of SAA patients treated with ATG.

Effect of Indomethacin Treatment in Full-term Infants with Symptomatic Patent Ductus Arteriosus / 대한주산의학회잡지

PURPOSE: Indomethacin has been reported as the prophylaxis and initial treatment of preterm infants with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). However, there was controversy over indomethacin treatment in full-term infants with symptomatic PDA. Therefore, we evaluate the effect of indomethacin as a treatment of full-term infants with symptomatic PDA. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of indomethacin in full-term infants who had birth weight > or =2,500 g and a gestational age > or =37 weeks with symptomatic PDA at Chonnam National University Hospital between January 2007 and December 2009. According to responsiveness of indomethacin, we classified them into three groups: 1) complete responder which were completely closed after indomethacin treatment, 2) partial responder which were incompletely closed but symptoms were improved, 3) non responder which were conducted surgical ligation because did not respond. RESULTS: Among the total 29 full-term infants treated with indomethacin, 13 (44.8%) were complete responder, 8 (27.6%) were partial responder, and 8 (27.6%) were non responder. There were no significant differences in birth weight, narrow diameter of PDA, and dose of indomethacin between three groups. However, the age at initiation of treatment using indomethacin of complete (4.8+/-4.5 days, P=0.03) and partial responder (6.3+/-2.0 days, P=0.04) were earlier than those of non responder (13.8+/-8.1 days). CONCLUSION: Indomethacin can expect an effective treatment of PDA in full-term infants prior to surgical ligation.

Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone Stimulation Test for Precocious Puberty / 대한진단검사의학회지

BACKGROUND: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation test is the gold standard to identify central precocious puberty (CPP). This test requires multiple blood samples at different time points to measure gonadotropin levels, and is therefore expensive, time-consuming, and uncomfortable for patients. We aimed to simplify the GnRH stimulation test to require fewer blood samples. METHODS: A study of 166 girls with precocious puberty was undertaken. Blood samples were obtained at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 min after GnRH administration, and the levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were measured. For each parameter, the sensitivities and specificities were estimated and ROC curves were constructed. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-eight patients (77.1%) were diagnosed for CPP. Peak LH levels were achieved 30 min after GnRH stimulation in patients with CPP. Further, 98.4% of the 45-min samples were diagnostic for CPP, and the cumulative frequency of LH values of > or =5 IU/L was 100% at 45 min. Using this cut-off value for LH, the ROC curve for LH at 45 min showed the highest sensitivity (98.4%) and specificity (100%) in the diagnosis of CPP. CONCLUSIONS: Values of LH measured from a single blood sample obtained at 45 min in the GnRH stimulation test may be adequate for the diagnosis of CPP. Two samples, taken at 30 and 45 min after stimulation, were able to accurately diagnose CPP in 100% of the patients in this study.