ABSTRACT
The Korean National Health Information Database (NHID) contains big data combining information obtained from the National Health Insurance Service and health examinations. Data are provided in the form of a cohort, and the NHID can be used to conduct longitudinal studies and research on rare diseases. Moreover, data on the cause and date of death are provided by Statistics Korea. Research and publications based on the NHID have increased explosively in the field of endocrine disorders. However, because the data were not collected for research purposes, studies using the NHID have limitations, particularly the need for the operational definition of diseases. In this review, we describe the characteristics of the Korean NHID, operational definitions of endocrine diseases used for research, and an overview of recent studies in endocrinology using the Korean NHID.
ABSTRACT
Thyroid hormone plays a critical role in fetal growth and development, and thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy is associated with several adverse outcomes, such as miscarriage and preterm birth. In this review, we introduce and explain three major changes in the revised Korean Thyroid Association (KTA) guidelines for the diagnosis and management of thyroid disease during pregnancy: first, the normal range of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) during pregnancy; second, the treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism; and third, the management of euthyroid pregnant women with positive thyroid autoantibodies. The revised KTA guidelines adopt 4.0 mIU/L as the upper limit of TSH in the first trimester. A TSH level between 4.0 and 10.0 mIU/L, combined with free thyroxine (T4) within the normal range, is defined as subclinical hypothyroidism, and a TSH level over 10 mIU/L is defined as overt hypothyroidism regardless of the free T4 level. Levothyroxine treatment is recommended when the TSH level is higher than 4 mIU/L in subclinical hypothyroidism, regardless of thyroid peroxidase antibody positivity. However, thyroid hormone therapy to prevent miscarriage is not recommended in thyroid autoantibody-positive women with normal thyroid function.
ABSTRACT
Background@#This study aimed to investigate the changes of incidence and treatment of choice for hyperthyroidism from 2003 to 2018 and explore the treatment-related complications and concomitant comorbidities in South Korea using data from the National Health Insurance Service. @*Methods@#This is a retrospective observational study. Hyperthyroidism was defined as a case having two or more diagnostic codes of thyrotoxicosis, with antithyroid drug intake for more than 6 months. @*Results@#The average age-standardized incidence of hyperthyroidism from 2003 to 2018 was 42.23 and 105.13 per 100,000 men and women, respectively. In 2003 to 2004, hyperthyroidism was most often diagnosed in patients in their 50s, but in 2017 to 2018, people were most often diagnosed in their 60s. During the entire period, about 93.7% of hyperthyroidism patients were prescribed with antithyroid drugs, and meanwhile, the annual rates of ablation therapy decrease from 7.68% in 2008 to 4.56% in 2018. Antithyroid drug-related adverse events, mainly agranulocytosis and acute hepatitis, as well as complications of hyperthyroidism such as atrial fibrillation or flutter, osteoporosis, and fractures, occurred more often in younger patients. @*Conclusion@#In Korea, hyperthyroidism occurred about 2.5 times more in women than in men, and antithyroid drugs were most preferred as the first-line treatment. Compared to the general population, hyperthyroid patients may have a higher risk of atrial fibrillation or flutter, osteoporosis, and fractures at a younger age.
ABSTRACT
Thyroid hormones have an important physiological role in maintaining adult bone structure and strength. Therefore, thyroid dysfunction is inevitably associated with various degrees of skeletal consequences. Endogenous overt hyperthyroidism is an established cause of high bone turnover with accelerated bone loss, resulting in osteoporosis and an increased risk of fractures. Hyperthyroidism induced by thyroid stimulating hormone suppression therapy in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer also has emerged as a contributing factor to osteoporosis and fragility fractures. While, there is lack of evidence that hypothyroidism negatively affects bone health. Although there is growing clinical evidence of the importance of bone health in hyperthyroidism, clinical guidelines on how to evaluate and manage bone health in these diseases have not yet been published worldwide. The Task Force from the Korean Thyroid Association Committee of Clinical Practice Guideline has developed this position statement for the evaluation and management of bone health in patients with thyroid diseases, particularly focused on endogenous hyperthyroidism and thyroid stimulating hormone suppression therapyassociated hyperthyroidism in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer.
ABSTRACT
Purpose@#The aim of this study was to examine the rate of expression of estrogen receptor α (ERα) and β1 (ERβ1), progesterone receptor (PR), and rate of overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in a relatively large cohort of patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). We also aimed to examine whether each receptor influenced clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of PTC. @*Materials and Methods@#We made a microarray of paraffin-embedded PTC surgical tissues from 436 patients. We compared the results of the immunohistochemical staining for each hormone receptor with clinicopathological characteristics. @*Results@#The positive expression rate of hormonal receptors was 40.4% for ERα, 83.7% for ERβ1, and 71.3% for PR in patients with PTC. Overexpression of EGFR was shown in 19.3% of patients with PTC. The age was lower (44.6±12.1 years vs. 47.1±12.5 years, p=0.040) and tumor smaller (0.96±0.69 cm vs. 1.13±0.82 cm, p=0.020) in the ERα positive group, which also showed higher PR positivity (80.7% vs. 65.0%, p < 0.001) and overexpression of EGFR (27.3% vs. 13.8%, p < 0.001). However, neither the positivity of hormone receptors nor overexpression of EGFR affected the recurrence of PTC. @*Conclusion@#In conclusion, most (94.6%) patients with PTC were found to exhibit positive expression for ERs or PR. We also found that neither the positive expression of hormone receptors nor overexpression of EGFR were associated with the recurrence of PTC.
ABSTRACT
Background@#We aimed to evaluate the clinicopathological features and biological behaviors of Korean thyroid cancer patients with rare variants of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) to address the ambiguity regarding the prognostic consequences of these variants. @*Methods@#We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 5,496 patients who underwent thyroid surgery for PTC, between January and December 2012, in nine tertiary hospitals. Rare PTC variants included tall cell (TCV), columnar cell (CCV), diffuse sclerosing (DSV), cribriform-morular (CMV), solid (SV), hobnail, and Warthin-like variants. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) was defined as the time from the date of thyroidectomy until recurrence. @*Results@#Rare variants accounted for 1.1% (n=63) of the PTC patients; with 0.9% TCV, 0.02% CCV, 0.1% DSV, 0.1% CMV, and 0.1% SV. The mean age of patients and primary tumor size were 42.1±13.1 years and 1.3±0.9 cm, respectively. Extrathyroidal extension and cervical lymph node metastasis were observed in 38 (60.3%) and 37 (58.7%) patients, respectively. Ultrasonographic findings revealed typical malignant features in most cases. During a median follow-up of 7 years, 6.3% of patients experienced a locoregional recurrence. The 5-year RFS rates were 71.4% in patients with DSV or SV, 95.9% for TCV, or CCV, and 100% for other variants. DSV emerged an independent risk factor associated with shorter RFS. @*Conclusion@#In this multicenter Korean cohort, rare variants accounted for 1.1% of all PTC cases, with TCV being the most frequent subtype. DSV emerged as a significant prognostic factor for RFS.
ABSTRACT
Background@#We aimed to evaluate the clinicopathological features and biological behaviors of Korean thyroid cancer patients with rare variants of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) to address the ambiguity regarding the prognostic consequences of these variants. @*Methods@#We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 5,496 patients who underwent thyroid surgery for PTC, between January and December 2012, in nine tertiary hospitals. Rare PTC variants included tall cell (TCV), columnar cell (CCV), diffuse sclerosing (DSV), cribriform-morular (CMV), solid (SV), hobnail, and Warthin-like variants. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) was defined as the time from the date of thyroidectomy until recurrence. @*Results@#Rare variants accounted for 1.1% (n=63) of the PTC patients; with 0.9% TCV, 0.02% CCV, 0.1% DSV, 0.1% CMV, and 0.1% SV. The mean age of patients and primary tumor size were 42.1±13.1 years and 1.3±0.9 cm, respectively. Extrathyroidal extension and cervical lymph node metastasis were observed in 38 (60.3%) and 37 (58.7%) patients, respectively. Ultrasonographic findings revealed typical malignant features in most cases. During a median follow-up of 7 years, 6.3% of patients experienced a locoregional recurrence. The 5-year RFS rates were 71.4% in patients with DSV or SV, 95.9% for TCV, or CCV, and 100% for other variants. DSV emerged an independent risk factor associated with shorter RFS. @*Conclusion@#In this multicenter Korean cohort, rare variants accounted for 1.1% of all PTC cases, with TCV being the most frequent subtype. DSV emerged as a significant prognostic factor for RFS.
ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives@#Iodine is known to be an important factor in the occurrence of goiter, and South Korea is a region with sufficient iodine supplementation. In this regard, we checked the size change of thyroid nodules found by health check-up in Koreans and examined which risk factors influence the size change. @*Materials and Methods@#A total 7753 subjects who underwent thyroid sonography two or more times were included. We defined that there was a change in the size of the nodule when the difference in diameter identified in the last ultrasound was more than 3 mm. @*Results@#Thyroid nodules were decreased in 895 subjects (11.5%) and increased in 1041 subjects (13.5%). The rate of increased nodule was on an increasing trend according to the duration (annual percent change 2.6%, p＜0.001). In contrast, the rate of decreased nodule was unchanged. Predictive factors related to decrease of the nodule size were young age, male sex, larger initial nodule size and thyroiditis. Similarly, young age, larger initial nodule size and diffuse parenchymal abnormality were significant predictive factors for increased nodules. However, diffuse parenchymal abnormality was not a predictive factor when we analyzed only thyroid nodules larger than 1 cm. @*Conclusion@#In our study, 11.5-13.5% of benign thyroid nodules were increased or decreased during median 27 months of follow-up in iodine sufficient condition. Young age, larger initial size and diffuse parenchymal abnormality were common predictive factor affecting both the increase and decrease of thyroid nodules.
ABSTRACT
Growth hormone (GH) deficiency is caused by congenital or acquired causes and occurs in childhood or adulthood. GH replacement therapy brings benefits to body composition, exercise capacity, skeletal health, cardiovascular outcomes, and quality of life. Before initiating GH replacement, GH deficiency should be confirmed through proper stimulation tests, and in cases with proven genetic causes or structural lesions, repeated GH stimulation testing is not necessary. The dosing regimen of GH replacement therapy should be individualized, with the goal of minimizing side effects and maximizing clinical improvements. The Korean Endocrine Society and the Korean Society of Pediatric Endocrinology have developed a position statement on the diagnosis and treatment of GH deficiency. This position statement is based on a systematic review of evidence and expert opinions.
ABSTRACT
Background@#High-dose intravenous steroids are the first-line treatment for patients with moderate-to-severe and active Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO). We aimed to investigate the response rate of methylprednisolone (MPD) treatment among Korean patients with active moderate-to-severe GO and to identify predictive factors of treatment response. @*Methods@#This is a retrospective observational study. We included 54 active moderate-to-severe GO patients treated with 4.5 g intravenous MPD over 12 weeks between November 2011 and November 2018. Response was defined as an improvement in at least two of five indicators (clinical activity score [CAS], soft-tissue involvement, exophthalmos, diplopia, and visual acuity) at immediate and 3 months after treatment completion. We examined predictive factors for response using logistic regression analysis. @*Results@#Twenty-four (44.4%) and 22 (40.7%) patients showed response at immediate and 3 months after intravenous (IV) steroid treatment. Of the five ophthalmic parameters, all patients in the responsive group (100.0%) showed a decrease in CAS and 90.9% showed less soft tissue involvement after IV steroid treatment. Among variables, the sum of extraocular muscle width was positively (odds ratio [OR], 1.163; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.973–1.389; P = 0.096) associated with treatment response. While, the OR of age was 0.918 (95% CI, 0.856–0.985; P = 0.017) and thyrotropin binding inhibitory immunoglobulin (TBII) was 0.921 (95% CI, 0.864–0.982; P = 0.012). @*Conclusion@#In Korean active moderate-to-severe GO patients, intravenous steroid treatment is not as effective as previously reported. Parameters associated with CAS and soft-tissue involvement were found to be influenced by IV MPD treatment. Extraocular muscle enlargement, younger age and lower TBII are predictive factors for a good steroid treatment response.
ABSTRACT
Background@#Thyroid cancer is becoming increasingly common worldwide, but little is known about the epidemiology of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). This study investigated the current status of the incidence and treatment of MTC using Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) data for the entire Korean population from 2004 to 2016. @*Methods@#This study included 1,790 MTC patients identified from the NHIS database. @*Results@#The age-standardized incidence rate showed a slightly decreasing or stationary trend during the period, from 0.25 per 100,000 persons in 2004 to 0.19 in 2016. The average proportion of MTC among all thyroid cancers was 0.5%. For initial surgical treatment, 65.4% of patients underwent total thyroidectomy. After surgery, external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT) was performed in 10% of patients, a proportion that increased from 6.7% in 2004 to 11.0% in 2016. Reoperations were performed in 2.7% of patients (n=49) at a median of 1.9 years of follow-up (interquartile range, 1.2 to 3.4). Since November 2015, 25 (1.4%) patients with MTC were prescribed vandetanib by December 2016. @*Conclusion@#The incidence of MTC decreased slightly with time, and the proportion of patients who underwent total thyroidectomy was about 65%. EBRT, reoperation, and tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy are additional treatments after initial surgery for advanced MTC in Korea.
ABSTRACT
Background@#Thyroid cancer is becoming increasingly common worldwide, but little is known about the epidemiology of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). This study investigated the current status of the incidence and treatment of MTC using Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) data for the entire Korean population from 2004 to 2016. @*Methods@#This study included 1,790 MTC patients identified from the NHIS database. @*Results@#The age-standardized incidence rate showed a slightly decreasing or stationary trend during the period, from 0.25 per 100,000 persons in 2004 to 0.19 in 2016. The average proportion of MTC among all thyroid cancers was 0.5%. For initial surgical treatment, 65.4% of patients underwent total thyroidectomy. After surgery, external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT) was performed in 10% of patients, a proportion that increased from 6.7% in 2004 to 11.0% in 2016. Reoperations were performed in 2.7% of patients (n=49) at a median of 1.9 years of follow-up (interquartile range, 1.2 to 3.4). Since November 2015, 25 (1.4%) patients with MTC were prescribed vandetanib by December 2016. @*Conclusion@#The incidence of MTC decreased slightly with time, and the proportion of patients who underwent total thyroidectomy was about 65%. EBRT, reoperation, and tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy are additional treatments after initial surgery for advanced MTC in Korea.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The present research was done to examine the fundamental significance and structure of conflict experience of nurses in hospital nursing organizations.METHODS: This qualitative research was conducted by analyzing data collected through in-depth interviews based on Colaizzi's (1978) method of analysis, one of the phenomenological methods of analysis.RESULTS: Statements from the 12 study participants demonstrate two key topics “accumulation of conflicts” and “manifestation of new conflicts” as well as seven sub-topics including “being forced to comply”, “Lack of respect and consideration”, “unsatisfactory conflict management by the leaders”, “continuous and overwhelming vicious cycle”, “prevalence of self-defensive egotism”, “difficult to accept differences”, and “incapable of responding to the structural changes of nursing workforce”.CONCLUSION: Resolving the dysfunctional conflicts in hospital nursing organizations requires not only improvement in the organizational culture of individuals and nursing organizations, but also legal and institutional measures in addition to new attempts to integrate education and research findings from relevant fields of studies.
Subject(s)
Education , Methods , Nursing , Organizational Culture , Qualitative ResearchABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: We evaluated the prevalence and characteristics of thyroid nodules detected by thyroid ultrasound (US) at health checkups and the associated clinical parameters. METHODS: A total of 72,319 subjects who underwent thyroid US at three health checkup centers in Korea from January 2004 to December 2010 were included in this study. The correlations between the presence of thyroid nodules and other clinical parameters were analyzed. RESULTS: The prevalence of thyroid nodules and cysts was 34.2% (n = 24,757). Thyroid nodules were more prevalent in women and older age groups. Among the subjects with thyroid nodules with size information (n = 24,686), 18,833 (76.3%) had nodules measuring ≤ 1.0 cm. Women and older age groups showed higher proportion of larger nodules. Percentage of women, age, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, body fat composition, blood pressure, and the level of fasting glucose, total cholesterol, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol were higher in the subjects with thyroid nodules compared to those without nodules. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome and overt/subclinical thyrotoxic state was higher in the subjects with thyroid nodules. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, women, age, BMI, metabolic syndrome, and thyrotoxicosis were independently associated with the presence of thyroid nodules. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of thyroid nodules in people who underwent thyroid US at a health checkup suggests that increased detection of thyroid nodules resulted in an increased prevalence in the general population. However, metabolic disturbances may also have contributed to the increase in thyroid nodule prevalence in Korea.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Adipose Tissue , Blood Pressure , Body Mass Index , Cholesterol , Cholesterol, LDL , Fasting , Glucose , Korea , Logistic Models , Prevalence , Thyroid Gland , Thyroid Nodule , Thyrotoxicosis , Ultrasonography , Waist CircumferenceABSTRACT
Thyroid hormone plays an important role in bone remodeling. In overt hyperthyroidism, excess thyroid hormone accelerates bone turnover and shortens the normal bone remodeling cycle, leading osteoporosis and increased fracture risk. Several population and case-control studies have demonstrated that a prior history of hyperthyroidism is an independent risk factor for hip and vertebral fracture. In contrast, bone remodeling cycle is prolonged to almost 2 years with an increase in mineralized cortical bone in overt hypothyroidism. Some cross-sectional and longitudinal studies have suggested that thyroid hormone replacement could decrease bone mineral density in overt hypothyroidism. However, this effect might be interpreted as an adaptive mechanism on decreased bone turnover in preexistent hypothyroidism, and not as thyroid hormone induced bone loss. The effect of thyroid hormone replacement for hypothyroidism on fracture risk has not been investigated well. However, excessive thyroid hormone treatment might be increased the risk of fracture.
Subject(s)
Bone Density , Bone Remodeling , Case-Control Studies , Hip , Hyperthyroidism , Hypothyroidism , Longitudinal Studies , Metabolism , Miners , Osteoporosis , Risk Factors , Thyroid GlandABSTRACT
Zenker's diverticulum, a pulsion diverticulum of the hypopharynx, is a rare lesion that commonly occurs in left side of hypopharynx. The incidence of esophageal diverticula is much lower than that of focal lesions or nodules of thyroid. In an ultrasonography, the outpouching just like a focal thyroid lesion, may present as an oval or circular structure. The food remnants or gas bubbles present in the diverticulum may mimic microcalcifications presented in papillary thyroid carcinoma. We reported a case of right side Zenker's diverticulum mimicking a thyroid cancer in thyroid ultrasonography.
Subject(s)
Diverticulum , Diverticulum, Esophageal , Hypopharynx , Incidence , Thyroid Gland , Thyroid Neoplasms , Thyroid Nodule , Ultrasonography , Zenker DiverticulumABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is commonly related with concurrent differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). We aimed to examine the clinicopathologic characteristics, prognosis and gene expression of DTC with anaplastic foci. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen patients with DTC with anaplastic foci were enrolled in this study. To compare the clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis of anaplastic foci subjects with conventional ATC or DTC, we additionally included 12 ATC and 1030 DTC patients who diagnosed during same period. Immunohistochemistry was performed to check the gene expression in anaplastic foci and DTC component. RESULTS: In anaplastic foci group, tumor size was larger (2.5±1.3 vs. 1.2±0.9 cm, p=0.001), distant metastasis was more frequent (11.1 vs. 0%, p=0.000) and 1-year survival rate was low (88.9 vs. 100%, p=0.000) than DTC group. In contrast, compared with ATC group, anaplastic foci group showed younger age at diagnosis (50±16 vs. 63±18 years, p=0.039), smaller tumor size (2.5±1.3 vs. 3.8±1.4 cm, p=0.027), less distant metastasis (11.1 vs. 41.7%, p=0.084) and longer 1-year survival rate (88.9 vs. 25.0%, p=0.001). Expression of p53 protein was observed in 100% of anaplastic foci, ATC and 12.5% of papillary thyroid carcinoma component. CONCLUSION: DTC with foci of anaplastic transformation has a worse prognosis than DTC, but a better prognosis than ATC. Our results support that DTC with anaplastic foci was intermediate state from DTC to ATC.
Subject(s)
Humans , Diagnosis , Gene Expression , Immunohistochemistry , Neoplasm Metastasis , Prognosis , Survival Rate , Thyroid Carcinoma, Anaplastic , Thyroid Gland , Thyroid Neoplasms , Tumor Suppressor Protein p53ABSTRACT
Recently, the incidence of thyroid nodule has been rising due to the usage of ultrasonography in health check-up. Also, modern society is faced with increasing rates of obesity by sedentary life style and high caloric intake. Obesity is closely related to metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance. Insulin resistance leads to hyperinsulinemia, increased insulin-like growth factor 1 and alteration of adipocytokine level. These factors not only have a role in metabolic regulation, but they also have mitogenic effect in cell proliferation. Epidemiologic and clinical evidence about the association between obesity and thyroid nodule are reviewed in this section.
Subject(s)
Cell Proliferation , Energy Intake , Hyperinsulinism , Incidence , Insulin Resistance , Life Style , Metabolic Syndrome , Obesity , Thyroid Gland , Thyroid Nodule , UltrasonographyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Expression of hepatic cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) is negatively regulated by orphan nuclear receptor small heterodimer partner (SHP). In this study, we aimed to find whether thyroid hormone regulates SHP expression by modulating the transcriptional activities of liver receptor homolog-1 (LRH-1). METHODS: We injected thyroid hormone (triiodothyronine, T3) to C57BL/6J wild type. RNA was isolated from mouse liver and used for microarray analysis and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Human hepatoma cell and primary hepatocytes from mouse liver were used to confirm the effect of T3 in vitro. Promoter assay and electrophoretic mobility-shift assay (EMSA) were also performed using human hepatoma cell line RESULTS: Initial microarray results indicated that SHP expression is markedly decreased in livers of T3 treated mice. We confirmed that T3 repressed SHP expression in the liver of mice as well as in mouse primary hepatocytes and human hepatoma cells by real-time PCR analysis. LRH-1 increased the promoter activity of SHP; however, this increased activity was markedly decreased after thyroid hormone receptor beta/retinoid X receptor alpha/T3 administration. EMSA revealed that T3 inhibits specific LRH-1 DNA binding. CONCLUSION: We found that thyroid hormone regulates the expression of SHP mRNA through interference with the transcription factor, LRH-1.