Korean guidelines for the management of gout

Gout is the most common form of arthritis, with the prevalence increasing worldwide. The present treatment guidelines provide recommendations for the appropriate treatment of acute gout, management during the inter-critical period, and prevention of chronic complications. The guidelines were developed based on evidence-based medicine and draft recommendations finalized after expert consensus. These guidelines are designed to provide clinicians with clinical evidence to enable efficient treatment of gout.

Korean guidelines for the management of gout

Gout is the most common form of arthritis, with the prevalence increasing worldwide. The present treatment guidelines provide recommendations for the appropriate treatment of acute gout, management during the inter-critical period, and prevention of chronic complications. The guidelines were developed based on evidence-based medicine and draft recommendations finalized after expert consensus. These guidelines are designed to provide clinicians with clinical evidence to enable efficient treatment of gout.

Quality Indicators for Evaluating the Health Care of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: a Korean Expert Consensus

Background@#There is increasing interest in the quality of health care and considerable efforts are being made to improve it. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease that can result in favorable outcomes when appropriate diagnosis and treatment are provided. However, several studies have shown that RA is often managed inappropriately. Therefore, the Korean College of Rheumatology aimed to develop quality indicators (QIs) to evaluate and improve the health care of patients with RA. @*Methods@#Preliminary QIs were derived based on the existing guidelines and QIs for RA. The final QIs were determined through two separate consensus meetings of experts. The consensus was achieved through a panel of experts who voted using the modified Delphi method. @*Results@#Fourteen final QIs were selected among 70 preliminary QIs. These included early referral to and regular follow-up with a rheumatologist, radiographs of the hands and feet, early initiation and maintenance of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy, periodic assessment of disease activity, screening for drug safety and comorbidities,including viral hepatitis and tuberculosis before biologic DMARD therapy, periodic laboratory testing, supplementation with folic acid, assessment of the risk for cervical spine instability before general anesthesia, patient education, and specialized nurse. @*Conclusion@#These QIs can be used to assess and improve the quality of health care for patients with RA.

Receptor-Mediated Muscle Homeostasis as a Target for Sarcopenia Therapeutics

Sarcopenia is a disease characterized by age-related decline of skeletal muscle mass and function. The molecular mechanisms of the pathophysiology of sarcopenia form a complex network due to the involvement of multiple interconnected signaling pathways. Therefore, signaling receptors are major targets in pharmacological strategies in general. To provide a rationale for pharmacological interventions for sarcopenia, we herein describe several druggable signaling receptors based on their role in skeletal muscle homeostasis and changes in their activity with aging. A brief overview is presented of the efficacy of corresponding drug candidates under clinical trials. Strategies targeting the androgen receptor, vitamin D receptor, Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor, and ghrelin receptor primarily focus on promoting anabolic action using natural ligands or mimetics. Strategies involving activin receptors and angiotensin receptors focus on inhibiting catabolic action. This review may help to select specific targets or combinations of targets in the future.

Receptor-Mediated Muscle Homeostasis as a Target for Sarcopenia Therapeutics

Sarcopenia is a disease characterized by age-related decline of skeletal muscle mass and function. The molecular mechanisms of the pathophysiology of sarcopenia form a complex network due to the involvement of multiple interconnected signaling pathways. Therefore, signaling receptors are major targets in pharmacological strategies in general. To provide a rationale for pharmacological interventions for sarcopenia, we herein describe several druggable signaling receptors based on their role in skeletal muscle homeostasis and changes in their activity with aging. A brief overview is presented of the efficacy of corresponding drug candidates under clinical trials. Strategies targeting the androgen receptor, vitamin D receptor, Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor, and ghrelin receptor primarily focus on promoting anabolic action using natural ligands or mimetics. Strategies involving activin receptors and angiotensin receptors focus on inhibiting catabolic action. This review may help to select specific targets or combinations of targets in the future.

Quality Indicators for Evaluating the Health Care of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: a Korean Expert Consensus

Background@#There is increasing interest in the quality of health care and considerable efforts are being made to improve it. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease that can result in favorable outcomes when appropriate diagnosis and treatment are provided. However, several studies have shown that RA is often managed inappropriately. Therefore, the Korean College of Rheumatology aimed to develop quality indicators (QIs) to evaluate and improve the health care of patients with RA. @*Methods@#Preliminary QIs were derived based on the existing guidelines and QIs for RA. The final QIs were determined through two separate consensus meetings of experts. The consensus was achieved through a panel of experts who voted using the modified Delphi method. @*Results@#Fourteen final QIs were selected among 70 preliminary QIs. These included early referral to and regular follow-up with a rheumatologist, radiographs of the hands and feet, early initiation and maintenance of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy, periodic assessment of disease activity, screening for drug safety and comorbidities,including viral hepatitis and tuberculosis before biologic DMARD therapy, periodic laboratory testing, supplementation with folic acid, assessment of the risk for cervical spine instability before general anesthesia, patient education, and specialized nurse. @*Conclusion@#These QIs can be used to assess and improve the quality of health care for patients with RA.

Effect of Donor Age on Graft Survival in Primary Penetrating Keratoplasty with Imported Donor Corneas

A Case of Recurrent Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease Successfully Treated with Adalimumab in Young Female Adult Patient

No abstract available.

Utility of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Positron Emission Tomography in Rheumatic Diseases

The use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) in rheumatology allows a better understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease as well as early diagnosis and appropriate evaluation of the disease status and treatment responses. Despite the limited availability because of the high cost, there is growing evidence for the advantages and clinical application of these modalities to various rheumatic diseases. This review discusses the basic mechanisms and clinical applications of MRI and PET in certain rheumatic diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis, idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, large vessel vasculitis, central nervous system disease associated with rheumatic diseases, polymyalgia rheumatica, adult-onset Still’s disease, and immunoglobulin G4-related disease.

Severe Sinus Bradycardia Requiring Cardiac Pacing in a Lupus Patient Who Was Successfully Treated Using Methylprednisolone Pulse Therapy / 대한내과학회지

Symptomatic sinus bradycardia in adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is rare. Here, we report a case of severe sinus bradycardia requiring temporary cardiac pacing in a SLE patient successfully treated using methylprednisolone pulse therapy.

Severe Sinus Bradycardia Requiring Cardiac Pacing in a Lupus Patient Who Was Successfully Treated Using Methylprednisolone Pulse Therapy / 대한내과학회지

Symptomatic sinus bradycardia in adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is rare. Here, we report a case of severe sinus bradycardia requiring temporary cardiac pacing in a SLE patient successfully treated using methylprednisolone pulse therapy.

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-Cell Wall Skeleton as Immunotherapeutic Option for BCG-Refractory Superficial Bladder Cancer

Although intravesical instillation of Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is the most successful cancer immunotherapy for superficial bladder cancer, the serious side effects are frequently arisen by using live mycobacteria. To allow less toxic and more potent immunotherapeutic agents following intravesical BCG treatment for superficial bladder cancer, noninfectious immunotherapeutic drug instead of live BCG would be highly desirable. Recently, immune-enhancing adjuvants are considered an effective vaccine immunotherapy for cancer, providing enhanced antitumor effects and boosted immunity. The BCG-cell wall skeleton (BCG-CWS), the main immune active center of BCG, is a potent candidate as a noninfectious immunotherapeutic drug instead of live BCG against bladder cancer. However, the most limited application for anticancer therapy, it is difficult to formulate a water-soluble BCG-CWS due to the aggregation of BCG-CWS in both aqueous and nonaqueous solvents. To overcome the insolubility and improve the internalization of BCG-CWS into bladder cancer cells, it should be developed the lipid nanoparticulation of BCG-CWS, resulting in improved dispensability, stability, and small size. In addition, powerful technology of delivery systems should be applied to enhance the internalization of BCG-CWS, such as encapsulated into lipid nanoparticles using novel packaging methods. Here, we describe the progress in research on effects of BCG-CWS for cancer immunotherapy, development of lipid-based solvent, and packaging method using nanoparticles with drug delivery system.

Leptospirosis as Unusual Trigger of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disorder of an unknown origin. The role of leptospirosis as a triggering factor for SLE is unknown. This paper reports an uncommon case of SLE following a leptospira infection. A 29-year-old female was referred due to fevers, myalgia, and facial edema with rash. Laboratory investigations revealed a hepatic dysfunction, significantly raised lactate dehydrogenase with marked leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. A diagnosis of leptospirosis was confirmed. The patient was treated with antibiotic therapy for leptospirosis. She developed dyspnea after one week. The echocardiogram revealed global hypokinesia with a decreased ejection fraction. A positivity of antinuclear, anti-DNA, and anti-Smith antibodies, together with clinical and laboratory improvement by steroid therapy, led to the diagnosis of SLE. This case highlights the presence of concurrent SLE and leptospirosis. As the symptoms of SLE are similar to leptospirosis, accurate diagnosis through high suspicion is essential for appropriate treatment.

Standardized, musculoskeletal ultrasonographic reference values for healthy Korean adults

BACKGROUND/AIMS@#To define standard reference values for musculoskeletal ultrasonography (MSUS) in Korea.@*METHODS@#A total of 251 healthy adults were recruited for this study. Ultrasonography was performed by experienced rheumatologists who had undergone four appropriate training programs in Korea. A General Electric LOGIQ electronic ultrasound device fitted with a 12 MHz linear transducer was employed. Mean values ± standard deviations (SDs) were defined as standard reference values. Intraclass correlation coefficients was employed to evaluate the extent of inter- and intraobserver agreement when MSUS measurements were made.@*RESULTS@#The 251 study participants included 122 males. Mean subject age was 28.6 years. The average bone-to-capsule distance of the right-side second and third metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints were 0.68 and 0.72 mm respectively, and those of the left-side joints 0.62 and 0.68 mm. The cartilage thicknesses of the right-side second and third MCP joints were 0.55 and 0.55 mm, and those of the left-side joints were 0.55 and 0.56 mm, respectively. The bone-to-capsule distances of the right and left wrists were 0.80 and 0.82 mm. In 12.4% of participants (31/251), the erosion score of the humeral head was 1.71. In the right-side knee joint, mean cartilage thicknesses of the medial and lateral condyles were 1.86 and 2.03 mm in longitudinal scans. High overall interobserver agreement was evident after appropriate training that included instruction on standard MSUS methodology.@*CONCLUSIONS@#We defined standard reference values for MSUS in healthy Korean adults. The reliabilities of interobserver agreements were high after appropriate training program.

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy Versus Trigger Point Injection in the Treatment of Myofascial Pain Syndrome in the Quadratus Lumborum

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) and trigger point injection (TPI) for the treatment of myofascial pain syndrome in the quadratus lumborum. METHODS: In a retrospective study at our institute, 30 patients with myofascial pain syndrome in the quadratus lumborum were assigned to ESWT or TPI groups. We assessed ESWT and TPI treatment according to their affects on pain relief and disability improvement. The outcome measures for the pain assessment were a visual analogue scale score and pain pressure threshold. The outcome measures for the disability assessment were Oswestry Disability Index, Roles and Maudsley, and Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale scores. RESULTS: Both groups demonstrated statistically significant improvements in pain and disability measures after treatment. However, in comparing the treatments, we found ESWT to be more effective than TPI for pain relief. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups with respect to disability. CONCLUSION: Compared to TPI, ESWT showed superior results for pain relief. Thus, we consider ESWT as an effective treatment for myofascial pain syndrome in the quadratus lumborum.

Hypercalcemia in a Patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus / 대한내과학회지

Hypercalcemia is a common clinical problem. The most frequent causes of hypercalcemia include primary hyperparathyroidism and malignancy; systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a very rare cause of hypercalcemia. Here we describe a case of symptomatic severe hypercalcemia, which developed during a lupus flare. After treatment with intravenous fluids, diuretics, pamidronate, and hemodialysis, calcium levels normalized and were maintained on low-dose prednisolone treatment. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of hypercalcemia in a patient with SLE in Korea. Clinicians should consider lupus as a differential diagnosis for patients with severe hypercalcemia.

Serial Changes of Heat Shock Protein 70 and Interleukin-8 in Burn Blister Fluid

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) play an important role in cells during the wound healing process. However, there has been no report on the effect of HSP70 and IL-8 on the blisters of burn patients. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the serial quantitative changes of HSP70 and IL-8 in burn blisters. METHODS: Twenty-five burn patients were included, for a total of 36 cases: twenty cases on the first day, six cases on the second, five cases on the third, three cases on the fourth, and two cases on the fifth. A correlation analysis was performed to determine the relationship between the concentration of HSP70 and IL-8 and the length of the treatment period. RESULTS: The HSP70 concentration was the highest on the first day, after which it decreased down to near zero. Most HSP70 was generated during the first 12 hours after the burn accident. There was no correlation between the concentration of HSP70 on the first day and the length of the treatment period. No measurable concentration of IL-8 was detected before 5 hours, but the concentration started to increase after 11 hours. The peak value was measured on the fourth day. CONCLUSION: While HSP70 increased in the first few hours and decreased afterwards, IL-8 was produced after 11 hours and increased afterward in burn blister fluid. These findings provide new evidence on serial changes of inflammatory mediators in burn blister fluid.

Development and Evaluation of Acellular Dermal Matrix Originated from Transgenic Porcine Skin for Primates Skin Graft

This study was performed to compare the healing quality of the allogenic acellular dermal matix (ADM) and xenogenic ADM combined with autologous split thicknessskin graft. Xenogenic ADM was obtained from two wild type pigs. Allogenic ADM was obtained from cynomolgus monkeys. ADM was stored with cryo-preservation. Full-thickness skin wounds were made on the back of two cynomolgus monkeys. In one monkey, wounds were covered by allogenic ADM combined with autologous split thickness skin graft (STSG) or autologous STSGonly. In another monkey, wounds were covered by xenogenic ADM combined with autologous skin graft or autologous skin graft only. Skin healing process was observed during 2 weeks and skin biopsies were performed on 3 months after skin transplantation. We obtained IACUC approval (ORIENT-IACUC-16053). Skin on the xenogenic ADM was necrotized 1 week after skin transplantation. Possibly due to the thickness of ADM, which block the blood supply from the subcutaneous tissue to the autologous skin graft. Skin biopsy revealed that less fibrotic change of the skin on the ADM compared with the skin without ADM. Xenogenic ADM can be used in high degree burn patients who can suffered from contracture after healing since it can reduce fibrotic change.

Gastrointestinal Risk Factors and Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs Use in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis Patients in Korea

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine and compare the gastrointestinal (GI) risk factors and treatment patterns of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) patients in Korea. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, observational study on RA and OA patients taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for at least 1 month. A total of 1,896 patients (981 RA patients, 915 OA patients) were recruited from 20 university hospitals. Data were collected through medical records and patient surveys. GI risk factors included age, prolonged (over 3 months) or high-dose use of NSAIDs, alcohol drinking, smoking, use of aspirin, anticoagulants or glucocorticoids, comorbidities, and history of Helicobacter pylori infection or other GI complications. Treatment patterns were classified according to groups using, selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors+/-gastro-protective agents, non-selective COX-2 inhibitors+proton pump inhibitor, or non-selective COX-2 inhibitors+/-other gastro-protective agents. RESULTS: GI risk factors were highly present in both RA and OA patients. The proportion of prolonged use of NSAIDs, smoking, and glucocorticoid use were higher in RA patients (p<0.001). The proportion of comorbidities and use of aspirin were higher in OA patients (p<0.001). The remaining GI risk factors were present in similar proportions in both groups. Use of selective COX-2 inhibitors or gastro-protective agents was higher in RA patients. CONCLUSION: Prolonged use of NSAIDs and concomitant glucocorticoid use were higher in RA patients, while comorbidities and concomitant aspirin use were predominant in OA patients. These results will provide insights for use in development of future guidelines for proper selection of NSAIDs and effective prevention of GI complications in arthritis patients.

Ultrasonography in Osteoarthritis / 대한내과학회지

Ultrasonography (US) is a valuable imaging modality used to assess joint and periarticular abnormalities in patients with osteoarthritis (OA). US can detect articular cartilage damage, bony changes, joint effusion, synovitis, and adjacent soft tissue lesions. In addition, US facilitates the monitoring of disease progression and effects of treatments. US is a safe and accessible bedside procedure that can improve diagnosis and management of patients. The objective of this article was to describe the clinical applications of US for patients with OA.