• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1671-1679
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• 2021

Objective: We quantitatively measured the fat fraction (FF) in the vertebrae of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and investigated the role of FF as an indicator of both active inflammation and chronicity. Materials and Methods: A total of 52 patients with AS who underwent spinal MRI were retrospectively evaluated. The FF values of the anterosuperior and anteroinferior corners of the bone marrow in the L1-S1 spine were assessed using the modified Dixon technique. AS activity was measured using the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), AS Disease Activity Score (ASDAS), and serum inflammatory marker levels. AS disease chronicity was assessed by AS disease duration and the modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spinal Score (mSASSS). Univariable and multivariable regression analyses were conducted to investigate the correlation between FF and other clinical characteristics. Results: The mean FF ± standard deviation of the total lumbar spine was 43.0% ± 11.3%. At univariable analysis, spinal FF showed significant negative correlation with BASDAI (β = -0.474, p = 0.002) and ASDAS with C-reactive protein (ASDAS-CRP; β = -0.478, p = 0.002) and a significant positive correlation with AS disease duration (β = 0.440, p = 0.001). After adjusting for patient age, sex, and total mSASSS score, spinal FF remained significantly negatively correlated with BASDAI (β = -0.543, p < 0.001), ASDAS-CRP (β = -0.568, p < 0.001), and ASDAS with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (β = -0.533, p = 0.001). Spinal FF was significantly lower in patients with very high disease activity (ASDAS-CRP > 3.5) than in those with only high disease activity (2.1 ≤ ASDAS-CRP ≤ 3.5) (p = 0.010). Conclusion: Spinal FF may help assess both AS disease activity and chronicity.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.120-124
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• 2016

Subcutaneous tissue calcification in rheumatic diseases usually occurs in connective tissue diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, and dermatomyositis. Domestic cases of calcification in rheumatoid arthritis have not been reported. The mechanism of subcutaneous tissue calcification may differ depending on the cause and it can develop on all parts of the body. Calcification occurring in rheumatic diseases is a major mechanism of tissue damage caused by chronic inflammation. No standard therapy for calcification has been established; however, many studies have reported on medical and surgical treatment. We report on subcutaneous tissue calcification in a rheumatoid arthritis patient tissue calcification on both sides of the buttocks, the upper limbs, and the lower limbs.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.420-421
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• 2001

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1999.10a
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• pp.334-335
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• 1999

• 대한근관절건강학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1997.05a
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• pp.134-146
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• 1997

Sixty-nine articles were reviewed to understand the depression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Among these articles, forty seven were the studies that dealt with depression in rheumatoid disease, nineteen studied the depression in patients with other chronic disease or in normals, and three were the studies that compared the depression in the patients with rheumatic disease and in the other subjects. Specifically, the articles were analyzed (1) to determine whether the patients with rheumatic arthritis were more depressed than normal population or subjects with other chronic diseases ; (2) to test whether the measurement problems exit ; (3) to identify the disease related, personal, psychologic, and demographic variables to affect the depression and (4) to identify the nursing interventions which improve the depression in rheumatoid arthritis. Based upon these results, some suggestion were made for future research and practice.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.14-20
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• 2001

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most typical rheumatic diseases, and is characterized by chronic inflammation, cartilage destruction and joint deformity ［1,2］. During this process, profound hypertrophic changes of the synovium with infiltration of immune cells, increased vascularity, and hyperplasia result in the formation of a synovial pannus that invades cartilage and bone ［3］. In early stages of RA, the synovial membrane begins to invade the cartilage. In established RA, the synovial membrane becomes transformed into inflammatory tissue, the pannus (Fig. 1). The cell types that occupy cartilage-pannus junctions include synovial macrophages, fibroblasts, mast cells, polymorphonuclear lymphocytes (PMNs), and displaced, probably differentiated condrocytes ［4-6］. Recent studies of rheumatoid synovial tissue have demonstrated localized accumulations of mast cells and evidence of their activation/degranulation［7］.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.276-282
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• 1988

Surgery is now the usual mode of therapy in patients with severe valvular heart disease. Until recently, clinicians and pathologists attributed nearly all acquired valvular heart diseases to a rheumatic origin, except some obviously resulting from acute infection and syphilis. Although many clinicians and pathologists describe that the origin of aortic valvular disease is a nonrheumatic origin, we recognize the major origin of aortic valvular disease in Korea as a rheumatic origin. We excised 47 cardiac valves from valvular heart diseased patients and performed anatomical and pathological analysis for its origin and underlying pathology. The purpose of this article is to provide an update for the clinicians of evolving issues related to the pathology of valvular heart disease. But myxomatous origin and infective endocarditis valvulitis will not be covered in detail.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.346-352
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• 1998

Rheumatic valvulitis produces at least three distinct pathologic changes, the degree varying widely among the patients: fusion of the valve leaflets at the commissures; fusion and shortening of chordae tendinae: and fibrosis of the leaflets with subsequent stiffening, contraction and calcification. The most extensive changes usually are seen in patients with recurrent attacks of rheumatic fever. We studied on outcome of the surgical treatments of rheumatic valvular diseases that have been experienced for 12 years since 1982 at Pusan National University Hospital. The diagnoses were made by rheumatic fever history, echocardiographic findings, gross operative findings and microscopic findings. Total 502 patients were performed surgery for valvular heart diseases and 440 patients of rheumatic origin have bene analysed. There were more female than male patients as 1.3:1, and the mean age was 37.8 years old. 96.3% of them affected to the mitral valve, 19.8% to aortic valve, 16.3% affected to the tricuspid valve. Most of them underwent valve replacement, and valve repair was done in 3.9% of patients. There were 36 hospital deaths(8.2%) mainly from low cardiac output syndrome, and 15 late deaths equally due to embolism and hemorrhage. Follow up was 90.1% completed(2890 patient- year). Linealized rates of late complication events are follows : thromboembolism 1.3% per patient year; anticoagulant related hemorrhage 0.8% per patient year. Overall actuarial survival including hospital mortality was 92.7＋/-2.9% in 1 year, 88.0＋/-4.5% in 5 year, 82.3＋/-7.7% in 10 year. We conclude that the rheumatic disease is still the most frequent and the most important cause of heart valve disease. So more intensive study is needed in spite of the abrupt decreasing rate of rheumatic fever in U.S.A. and other industrial country.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.39-42
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• 1981

Recent changes in the cause of death among the Korean population seem to be systematic and significant. Data on cause of death from the medically certified death certificates provide at least four types of evidence: a sudden increase in recent years in the numbers of death due to cerebrovascular disease or circulatory diseases including rheumatic fever and chronic heart diseases and atherosclerosis; increasing steadily in the numbers of death due to malignant neoplasm of various sites, and death due to accident; decreasing steadily in the numbers of death due to communicable diseases or parasite diseases; and a large number of deaths with unspecified symptoms and ill-defined conditions. The lack of complete registration of the deads occurred or the incomplete description on the cause of death reported suggests that statistical information of cause of death from the medically certified death records is meaningful in interpreting changing patterns.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.109-125
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• 2018

Objectives : It is difficult to make accurate diagnosis of musculoskeletal disease because of its multiple, subjective and non-specific symptoms. It is possible to reduce errors of differential diagnosis through detailed history taking and physical examination in parallel with laboratory tests based on clinical decision. Methods : Korean and foreign on-line databases(Pubmed, Cochran Library, NDSL, KISS and OASIS) were researched for articles discussing laboratory tests in musculoskeletal diseases. Results : Laboratory tests could be applied usefully for various musculoskeletal diseases, In this review, available laboratory components in these musculoskeletal diseases are summarized, and then significance and usefulness of disease-specific laboratory examination are described. Conclusions : When examining musculoskeletal patients, it needs to accurate differential diagnosis by full interview and physical examination, to select required tests by understanding laboratory tests thoroughly, and to judge the prognosis precisely.