Metformin use in cancer survivors with diabetes reduces all-cause mortality, based on the Korean National Health Insurance Service between 2002 and 2015.

ABSTRACT: Malignant neoplasms are the leading cause of death in Korea. We aimed to examine if metformin use in cancer survivors reduces all-cause mortality. This study was retrospectively designed based on data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Health Screening Cohort (HEALS) between 2002 and 2015. The Kaplan-Meier estimator and log-rank test was performed to estimate the survival function according to metformin usage (3721 metformin non-users with diabetes, 5580 metformin users with diabetes, and 24,483 non-diabetic individuals). Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for all-cause mortality were calculated using Cox proportional hazards regression models.The median follow-up duration was 4.2 years. The HRs (95% CIs) for all-cause mortality of metformin users and the non-diabetic group were 0.762 (0.683-0.850) and 1.055 (0.966-1.152) in men and 0.805 (0.649-0.999), and 1.049 (0.873-1.260) in women, respectively, compared with metformin non-users among diabetic cancer survivors, in a fully adjusted model. After stratifying metformin users into pre- and post-diagnosis of cancers, adjusted HRs (95% CIs) of pre- and post-diagnosis metformin users for all-cause mortality were 0.948 (0.839-1.071) and 0.530 (0.452-0.621) in men and 1.163 (0.921-1.469) and 0.439 (0.323-0.596) in women, respectively.Metformin use in cancer survivors with diabetes reduced overall mortality rates. In particular, metformin use after cancer diagnosis, not before cancer diagnosis, was inversely associated with overall mortality.Active treatment with metformin for diabetic cancer survivors after cancer diagnosis can improve their survival rates.

Metformin usage and the risk of colorectal cancer: a national cohort study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the association between metformin usage and the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Health Screening Cohort database. METHODS: Data from the NHIS-HEALS cohort between 2002 and 2015 were longitudinally analyzed. Subjects were divided into three groups: metformin non-users with diabetes mellitus (DM), metformin users with DM, and no DM group. CRC was defined using the ICD-10 code (C18.0-C20.0) at the time of admission. Cox proportional hazard regression models were adopted after stepwise adjustment for confounders to investigate the association between metformin usage and colorectal cancer risk. RESULTS: During the follow-up period, of the total 323,430 participants, 2341 (1.33%) of the 175,495 males and 1204 (0.81%) of the 147,935 females were newly diagnosed with CRC. The estimated cumulative incidence of CRC was significantly different among the three groups based on Kaplan-Meier's survival curve (p values < 0.05 in both sexes). Compared with metformin non-users, hazard ratios (95% CIs) of metformin users and the no DM group were 0.66 (0.51-0.85) and 0.72 (0.61-0.85) in males and 0.59 (0.37-0.92) and 0.93 (0.66-1.29) in females, respectively, after being fully adjusted. CONCLUSIONS: Metformin users with diabetes appear to have a significantly lower risk of CRC compared with metformin non-users.

Metformin use in elderly population with diabetes reduced the risk of dementia in a dose-dependent manner, based on the Korean NHIS-HEALS cohort.

AIMS: The aim of this study is to investigate the association between metformin usage and dementia in an elderly Korean population. METHODS: Participants were divided into five groups: metformin non-users with diabetes mellitus (DM), metformin users with DM (low-, mid-, and high-users), and non-diabetic Individuals. Dementia was defined with primary diagnostic dementia codes according to the 10th edition of the International Classification of Diseases. To compare the incidence rate of dementia among the five groups, Kaplan-Meier estimates and log-rank test were employed. Also, to control the confounding factors, Cox proportional hazards regression models were fitted in a sequential adjustment. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 12.4 years. The overall incidence rate of dementia was 11.3% (8.4% in men and 13.9% in women). Compared with metformin non-users, hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) of low-, mid-, and high-users and non-diabetic individuals for dementia were 0.97 (0.73-1.28), 0.77 (0.58-1.01), 0.48 (0.35-0.67), and 0.98 (0.84-1.15), respectively, in men, respectively, and 0.90 (0.65-0.98), 0.61 (0.50-0.76), 0.46 (0.36-0.58), and 0.92 (0.81-1.04), respectively, in women, after full adjustment of confounding variables. CONCLUSIONS: Metformin use in an elderly population with DM reduced dementia risk in a dose-response manner.

Metformin use reduced the overall risk of cancer in diabetic patients: A study based on the Korean NHIS-HEALS cohort.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Several studies have reported the preventive effect of metformin on cancer development. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between use of metformin and risk of cancer in Koreans. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study was designed retrospectively using the National Health Insurance Service-National Health Screening Cohort conducted between 2002 and 2015. 40 to 69-year-old subjects who received a health screening examination from 2002 to 2003 were enrolled. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for cancer were estimated in a multivariate Cox proportional regression analysis. A total of 323,430 subjects was enrolled (301,905 individuals without diabetes [No DM], 8643 diabetic patients with metformin treatment [metformin users], and 12,882 diabetic patients without metformin treatment [metformin non-users]). The median follow-up period was 12.7 years. Cumulative incidence of overall cancer was 7.9% (7.7, 10.3, and 11.1% in No DM, metformin users and non-users, respectively). Compared to metformin non-users, the fully adjusted HRs (95% CIs) of metformin users and No DM for overall cancer incidence were 0.73 (0.66-0.81) and 0.75 (0.64-0.88), respectively, in men and 0.83 (0.78-0.89) and 0.81 (0.72-0.92) in women. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetic patients receiving metformin treatment, and individuals without diabetes were at lower risk for cancer incidence than diabetic patients without metformin treatment.

Association between statin use and all-cause mortality in cancer survivors, based on the Korean health insurance service between 2002 and 2015.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Cancer is the number one cause of death in Korea. This study aimed to investigate if statin use in cancer survivors was inversely associated with all-cause mortality. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data from the 2002 to 2015 National Health Insurance Service-National Health Screening Cohort (NHIS-HEALS) were used. The Kaplan-Meier estimator was used to estimate the survival function according to statin usage. Cox proportional hazards regression models were adopted after stepwise adjustment for potential confounders to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for all-cause mortality. The median follow-up duration was 10.0 years. Statin users had a higher percentage of diabetes and hypertension in both sexes. Survival rates of statin users were higher than non-users (p-values <0.001 in men and 0.021 in women). Compared to non-users, the HRs (95% CIs) of statin users for all-cause mortality were 0.327 (0.194-0.553) in men and 0.287 (0.148-0.560) in women after adjustment for potential confounding factors. CONCLUSIONS: Statin users in cancer survivors had higher survival rate than non-users in both sexes.

Statin use increased new-onset diabetes in hypercholesterolemic individuals: Data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Health Screening Cohort database (NHIS-HEALS).

AIM: We investigated the association between statin use and new-onset diabetes (NODM) in Korean adults with hypercholesterolemia. METHODS: This study performed based on data from the National Health Insurance Service-National Health Screening Cohort for the years from 2002 to 2015. Statin users classified as high- or low- users according to medication possession ratio. Statin non-users consisted of hypercholesterolemic participants who never used statin over the entire follow-up period. 21,469 participants (10,880 statin users, 10,589 statin non-users) with a median follow-up period of 12.5 years were included. We estimated the NODM risk based on the survival analyses. In particular, to adjust for confounding effects, we considered Cox proportional hazards regression models over three stages. RESULTS: Compared to non-users, statin users had a significantly higher risk for NODM. The fully adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) (95% confidential intervals [95% CIs]) of statin users for NODM were 1.43 (1.31-1.57) in men, and 1.86 (1.66-2.10) in women, respectively after adjusted confounding factors including age and lifestyle factors. Compared to high-users, aHRs (95% CIs) of low-users for NODM were 1.16 (1.03-1.30) and 1.28 (1.16-1.43) in men and women, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In hypercholesterolemic patients, statin users have a higher risk of NODM than non-users.

Cytological findings of NK/T-cell lymphoma in pericardial effusion: A case report with a review of the literature.

Extranodal Natural Killer/T-cell lymphoma (ENKL) is an aggressive NK or cytotoxic T-cell neoplasm. The cytological features of NK/T-cell lymphoma have been rarely described, mainly focusing on the fine needle aspiration cytology from lymph nodes or soft tissue, except for a few cases focused on body fluid. A 46-year-old man visited the hospital due to generalized weakness and weight loss. Three months prior, computed tomographic scan revealed mesenteric panniculitis and reactive lymph nodal enlargement, as well as a mildly thickened left adrenal gland, suggesting an inflammatory condition. About 100 days later, marked enlargement of both adrenal glands with pericardial effusion was noted. The pericardial effusion contained medium-sized atypical lymphocytes, suspicious for malignant lymphoma, and the left adrenal mass was histologically confirmed as ENKL on biopsied specimen. Herein, we describe the cytological features of NK/T-cell lymphoma in body fluid cytology along with a review of the literature.

Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia occurring in the foot: A case report and review of literature.

RATIONALE: Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia (IPEH; Masson tumor) is a type of vascular lesions composed of reactive proliferation of endothelial cells that occur in organizing thrombus. It commonly occurs on the head, neck, trunk, and upper extremities, but rarely in the foot. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 38-year-old woman visited the hospital with a mass on the dorsum of right foot, which gradually increased in size 3 months ago. DIAGNOSES: Ultrasonographic examination suggested angiomyolipoma or hemangioma. INTERVENTIONS: The patient underwent excision under local anesthesia. OUTCOMES: The lesion was confirmed to be IPEH by histological examination. There were no complications or recurrences after successful surgical excision. LESSONS: IPEH presenting on the dorsum of the foot is vary uncommon. Radiologic diagnosis may be limited for diagnosis, and histologic confirmation should be made after surgical excision. There are some reports suggesting an association between trauma and IPEH occurrence, but this is not yet conclusive.

Endoscopic and microscopic findings of gastrointestinal tract in Henoch-Schönlein purpura: Single institute experience with review of literature.

Asia has the highest incidence of Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP). Although 50% to 75% of patients with HSP manifest gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, endoscopic, and pathologic findings of HSP have been rarely reviewed in Asia.Patients diagnosed with HSP who had undergone endoscopic biopsy from GI tract (GIT) in Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital from 2000 to 2018 were evaluated and 25 cases with 44 biopsies from upper GI tract (U-GIT) or lower GI tract (L-GIT) were enrolled. Their clinical and endoscopic findings and histologic findings of endoscopic biopsy were reviewed.Of the 25 patients, 15 were males and 10 were females. There were 6 children and 19 adults. The most common GI symptom was abdominal pain (20/25), followed by loose stool or diarrhea (9/25). Biopsied sites included 19 from U-GIT (9 stomach and 10 duodenum) and 25 from L-GIT (7 terminal ileum, 1 cecum, 4 ascending, 1 transverse, 2 descending, 7 sigmoid, and 3 rectum). Erythema/petechia was the most common endoscopic finding in U-GIT, while erosion/ulceration was the most common one in L-GIT. In U-GIT, extravasted red blood cell (RBC) (14/19) was the most common histologic finding, while leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV)/capillarities were identified in 7 specimens, including 5 duodenum samples. In endoscopic investigations of L-GIT, erosion/ulceration (9/14) was predominantly identified. The most common histologic finding was also extravasted RBC (22/25), while LCV/capillarities were noted in 10 specimens, including 5 specimens from terminal ileum.The HSP commonly involves GIT. Histologic findings of our cases were not significantly different from results of previous studies in Western countries. However, endoscopic and pathologic characteristics of HSP have been rarely reviewed in Asia. Herein, we share experience of endoscopic biopsy of GIT in patients with HSP.