Young Hee Eun

This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of comorbidities in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared with the non-RA population. The 2010-2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), which assesses the general health status of populations in South Korea using interviews and basic health assessment, was analyzed retrospectively. Weighted prevalence and odds ratio (OR) of comorbidities were analyzed in patients with RA compared with the non-RA population. The

AIM: Chronic periaortitis (CP) is a disease characterized by a fibro-inflammatory periaortic cuff and adventitia-predominant fibrosis. CP encompasses idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis and inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), and recent studies have documented overlap between CP and immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD). This study aimed to investigate clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients with CP. METHOD: CP patients were identified by retrospective review

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a male-predominant disease, and radiographic evidence of damage is also more severe in males. Estrogen modulates immune-related processes such as T cell differentiation and cytokine production. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of estrogen on the disease activity of spondyloarthritis (SpA). The effects of estrogen on the development of arthritis were evaluated by performing ovariectomy and 17β-estradiol (E2) pellet implantation in zymosan-treated SKG mice. Cl

Most of the patients with hip arthritis in AS showed no significant radiographic progression during the follow-up period. High BMI and advanced hip arthritis at baseline were associated with hip joint replacement surgery in patients with AS.

Comorbidities were not significantly associated with knee OA after adjustment. Knee OA was associated with physical activity and HRQOL. Painful knee OA, with or without ROA, was more strongly associated with decreased physical activity and lower quality of life than ROA without pain.

This study aimed to evaluate the association between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and hearing impairment in the Korean adult population. Audiometric and laboratory test data from the 2010-2012 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) were used for analysis. The relationship between RA and hearing impairment was analyzed, adjusting for various known risk factors associated with hearing impairment. RA was defined in the questionnaire as "RA diagnosed by a physician (yes/no) t

AIM: To evaluate the effect of tumor necrosis factor α inhibitors (TNFi) on spinal radiographic progression in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS: Subjects were selected from patients at a single tertiary hospital between 1995 and 2014. Patients who used TNFi with baseline and paired follow-up radiographic data with a minimum interval of 2 years were included. Time to start TNFi was defined as the time from symptom onset to the start of TNFi use. TNFi index was defined as the rat

Micronutrient deficiencies in Crohn's disease (CD) patients are not uncommon and usually result in a combination of reduced dietary intake, disease-related malabsorption, and a catabolic state. Decreased serum thiamine levels are often reported in patients with CD. Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) is a severe form of thiamine deficiency that can cause serious neurologic complications. Although WE is known to occur frequently in alcoholics, a number of non-alcoholic causes have also been reported.

TNFi discontinuation rate of Korean patients with AS seems to be similar to those with the European patients. Female sex, hip involvement, CRP, and the type of TNFi were associated with TNFi discontinuation.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176260.].

A 31-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with symptoms of hypertension and bilateral adrenocortical masses with no feature of Cushing syndrome. The serum aldosterone/renin ratio was elevated and the saline loading test showed no suppression of the plasma aldosterone level, consistent with a diagnosis of primary hyperaldosteronism. Overnight and low-dose dexamethasone suppression tests showed no suppression of serum cortisol, indicating a secondary diagnosis of subclinical Cushing syndrom

To the Editor, Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is an uncommon, chronic multisystem disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of cartilaginous tissue inflammation. It can be life threatening, debilitating, and difficult to diagnose [1]. Cartilaginous tissues are the primary targets of destruction, but immune damage can spread to involve non-cartilaginous tissues such as the kidney and blood vessels [2]. Central nervous system (CNS) involvement is rare, and can manifest as cranial neuropathies

Left-sided portal hypertension and consequent gastric varices can occur in patients with isolated splenic vein thrombosis. It is a rare but clinically significant and curable cause of gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Our patient, a 20-year-old woman, with left flank pain was diagnosed with having idiopathic splenic vein thrombosis with resultant splenic infarction. Thorough workups for the possible etiologies of splenic vein thrombosis were all negative. After six months of anticoagulation, follow-u

A 31-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with symptoms of hypertension and bilateral adrenocortical masses with no feature of Cushing syndrome. The serum aldosterone/renin ratio was elevated and the saline loading test showed no suppression of the plasma aldosterone level, consistent with a diagnosis of primary hyperaldosteronism. Overnight and low-dose dexamethasone suppression tests showed no suppression of serum cortisol, indicating a secondary diagnosis of subclinical Cushing syndrom