Efficacy and safety of cilostazol-based triple antiplatelet therapy compared with clopidogrel-based dual antiplatelet therapy in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: A multicenter, randomized, open-label, phase 4 trial.

Background: Previous studies reported that compared to conventional dual antiplatelet therapy (DAT; aspirin + clopidogrel), triple antiplatelet therapy (TAT), involving the addition of cilostazol to DAT, had better clinical outcomes in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, the optimal duration of TAT is yet to be determined.

Methods: In total, 985 patients with STEMI who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents (DESs) were prospectively enrolled in 15 PCI centers in South Korea and China.

Revised definition of predicted left ventricular mass using ambulatory blood pressure in healthy Korean adults.

Background: Left ventricular hypertrophy is influenced by both hemodynamic and non-hemodynamic factors. Ambulatory blood pressure is correlated with left ventricular hypertrophy. We established the influences of hemodynamic and non-hemodynamic factors, including ambulatory blood pressure, on variation in left ventricular mass in healthy Korean adults.

A case of successful reperfusion through a combination of intracoronary thrombolysis and aspiration thrombectomy in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction associated with an ectatic coronary artery.

Background: Large thrombus burdens in ectatic coronary arteries that remain after aspiration thrombectomy can negatively impact outcomes following percutaneous coronary interventions in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Case Presentation: A 53-year-old man presented with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Coronary angiography revealed an ectatic right coronary artery (RCA) that was completely occluded in the mid portion by a large amount of thrombus.

Relationship between nocturnal blood pressure and 24-h urinary sodium excretion in a rural population in Korea.

Background: The relationship between sodium intake and blood pressure (BP) is affected by many factors such as absolute level of sodium intake, salt sensitivity, and the accuracy or the timing of the BP measurement. There is no epidemiologic study using both ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) and 24-h urine sample in a middle-aged general population.

Methods: In the rural area, Yeojoo County, Gyunggi Province in South Korea, 218 subjects with age between 30 and 59 years old were measured with ABPM and 24-h urine sample.

A reverse dipping pattern predicts cardiovascular mortality in a clinical cohort.

An abnormal dipping pattern in ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is a cardiovascular (CV) risk factor. However, its impact on CV mortality has not been investigated sufficiently in clinical practice to be considered a standard parameter. We assessed the association between abnormal dipping patterns and increased CV mortality in a tertiary hospital in Korea.

The relationship between adiponectin and left ventricular mass index varies with the risk of left ventricular hypertrophy.

Background: Adiponectin directly protects against cardiac remodeling. Despite this beneficial effect, most epidemiological studies have reported a negative relationship between adiponectin level and left ventricular mass index (LVMI). However, a positive relationship has also been reported in subjects at high risk of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH).

Correlation between Proximal Abdominal Aortic Stiffness Measured by Ultrasound and Brachial-Ankle Pulse Wave Velocity.

Background And Objectives: The proximal portion of the abdominal aorta (AA) is characterized by minimal arteriosclerosis compared with other aortic segments. To assess the clinical usefulness of this characteristic, the correlation between ultrasonographically measured proximal AA stiffness and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was examined.

Subjects And Methods: 285 subjects were analyzed, half with hypertension and half with normal blood pressure.

A case of deep vein thrombosis after coronary angiography in a patient using antidepressants and anxiolytics.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a rare but potentially serious complication of coronary angiography (CAG) affecting just under 5 in 10000 patients. Most of the cases regarding DVT after CAG reported in the literature were associated with procedure-related vascular complications or with risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE). Here, we describe the case of a 50-year-old woman during treatment for anxiety disorder, who developed significant DVT after CAG without a history of VTE and with no significant risk factors for VTE, which was treated with an anticoagulant.

Relationship between sodium intake and blood pressure according to metabolic syndrome status in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Objectives: The relationship between sodium intake and blood pressure (BP) in population studies varies depending on the dietary habit and the characteristics of the population studied. Asian dietary patterns and salt sensitivity have been suggested to explain this association. Aging and metabolic syndrome (MS) are the most common reasons for salt sensitivity in populations.

The relationship between ambulatory arterial stiffness index and blood pressure variability in hypertensive patients.

Background And Objectives: Ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI) is well known as a predictor of cardiovascular mortality in hypertensive patients. Mathematically, AASI reflect the standard deviation (SD) of blood pressure (BP) variation. AASI is measured higher levels in non-dipper than dipper.

Non-Dipper Pattern is a Determinant of the Inappropriateness of Left Ventricular Mass in Essential Hypertensive Patients.

Background And Objectives: Inappropriately high left ventricular mass (iLVM) is known to be related to cardiovascular prognosis. A non-dipper pattern has a greater mean left ventricular (LV) mass than the dipper pattern in hypertensive patients. However, the appropriateness of LV mass in dipper or non-dipper patterns has not been adequately investigated.

[Esophageal sinus formation due to cyanoacrylate injection for esophageal variceal ligation-induced ulcer bleeding in a cirrhotic patient].

Intravariceal injection of N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate is widely used for the hemostasis of bleeding gastric varices, but not routinely for esophageal variceal hemorrhage because of various complications such as pyrexia, bacteremia, deep ulceration, and pulmonary embolization. We report a rare case of esophageal sinus formation after cyanoacrylate obliteration therapy for uncontrolled bleeding from post-endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) ulcer. A 50-year-old man with alcoholic liver cirrhosis presented with hematemesis.

The relationship between coronary artery calcification and bone mineral density in patients according to their metabolic syndrome status.

Background And Objectives: The extent of coronary artery calcification (CAC) is closely related to total atherosclerotic plaque burden. However, the pathogenesis of CAC is still unclear. Conditions such as diabetes mellitus, renal failure, smoking, and chronic inflammation have been suggested to link vascular calcification and bone loss.

A case of microscopic polyangiitis associated with aortic valve insufficiency.

Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) is an anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis characterized by inflammation of small-sized vessels. Although there have been some reports of ANCA-associated vasculitis presenting as aortitis syndrome, MPA rarely involves large-sized vessels such as the aorta. We report an unusual case of MPA combined with severe acute aortic valve insufficiency in a 56-year-old man.