Status of international normalized ratio control and treatment patterns in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation taking vitamin K antagonist with or without antiplatelet therapy: Results from KORAFII registry.

Background: Studies have shown that the concomitant use of a vitamin K antagonist (VKA) and an antiplatelet (APL) drug increased the bleeding risk and was less effective at preventing ischemic events. This study aimed to investigate the control status of international normalized ratio (INR) and the discontinuation rate of a VKA in patients taking VKA plus an APL drug compared with those taking a VKA alone.

Methods: Data were extracted from the KORean Atrial Fibrillation Investigation II registry, a multicenter noninterventional prospective observational study.

Quality of Anticoagulation and Treatment Satisfaction in Patients with Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation Treated with Vitamin K Antagonist: Result from the KORean Atrial Fibrillation Investigation II.

Background: Vitamin K antagonist (VKA) to prevent thromboembolism in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients has limitations such as drug interaction. This study investigated the clinical characteristics of Korean patients treated with VKA for stroke prevention and assessed quality of VKA therapy and treatment satisfaction.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter, prospective, non-interventional study.

Simultaneous Determination of Chlorogenic Acid Isomers and Metabolites in Rat Plasma Using LC-MS/MS and Its Application to A Pharmacokinetic Study Following Oral Administration of Leaf Extract (YRA-1909) to Rats.

leaf extract (YRA-1909), which is widely used for the antirheumatic properties, has been under phase 2 clinical trials in patients with rheumatoid arthritis since April 2017. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric method while using liquid⁻liquid extraction with ethyl acetate was validated for the simultaneous determination of the major active components of YRA-1909, including chlorogenic acid (CGA), neochlorogenic acid (NCGA), cryptochlorogenic acid (CCGA), and their metabolites (i.e.

Total cholesterol and stroke mortality in middle-aged and elderly adults: A prospective cohort study.

Background And Aims: The association between cholesterol and stroke has been inconsistent. This study aimed to examine the association between total cholesterol (TC) and mortality from total stroke and stroke subtypes.

Methods: 503,340 Korean adults aged 40-80 years without a history of heart disease or stroke participated in routine health examinations in 2002 and 2003, and were followed up until 2013.

Normal 2-Dimensional Strain Values of the Left Ventricle: A Substudy of the Normal Echocardiographic Measurements in Korean Population Study.

Background: It is important to understand the distribution of 2-dimensional strain values in normal population. We performed a multicenter trial to measure normal echocardiographic values in the Korean population.

Methods: This was a substudy of the Normal echOcardiogRaphic Measurements in KoreAn popuLation (NORMAL) study.

Normal Echocardiographic Measurements in a Korean Population Study: Part II. Doppler and Tissue Doppler Imaging.

Background: Hemodynamic and functional evaluation with Doppler and tissue Doppler study as a part of comprehensive echocardiography is essential but normal reference values have never been reported from Korean normal population especially according to age and sex.

Methods: Using Normal echOcaRdiographic Measurements in a KoreAn popuLation study subjects, we obtained normal reference values for Doppler and tissue Doppler echocardiography including tricuspid annular velocities according to current guidelines and compared values according to gender and age groups.

Results: Mitral early diastolic (E) and late diastolic (A) velocity as well as E/A ratio were significantly higher in women compared to those in men.

Normal Echocardiographic Measurements in a Korean Population Study: Part I. Cardiac Chamber and Great Artery Evaluation.

Background: Measurement of the cardiac chamber is essential, and current guidelines recommend measuring and reporting values for both sides of the cardiac chamber during echocardiographic evaluation. Normal echocardiographic reference values have been suggested previously, but detailed information about right-sided chambers and values according to gender was not included.

Methods: This is a prospective multicenter (23 centers) study evaluating normal Korean adult subjects using comprehensive echocardiography.

Verproside inhibits TNF-α-induced MUC5AC expression through suppression of the TNF-α/NF-κB pathway in human airway epithelial cells.

Airway mucus secretion is an essential innate immune response for host protection. However, overproduction and hypersecretion of mucus, mainly composed of MUC5AC, are significant risk factors in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Previously, we reported that verproside, a catalpol derivative iridoid glycoside isolated from Pseudolysimachion rotundum var.

Organic anion transporter 3- and organic anion transporting polypeptides 1B1- and 1B3-mediated transport of catalposide.

We investigated the in vitro transport characteristics of catalposide in HEK293 cells overexpressing organic anion transporter 1 (OAT1), OAT3, organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B1 (OATP1B1), OATP1B3, organic cation transporter 1 (OCT1), OCT2, P-glycoprotein (P-gp), and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP). The transport mechanism of catalposide was investigated in HEK293 and LLC-PK1 cells overexpressing the relevant transporters. The uptake of catalposide was 319-, 13.

An assessment of the pharmacokinetics of a sustained-release formulation of a tramadol/acetaminophen combination in healthy subjects.

Purpose: To provide consistent pain relief and improve convenient sustained release (SR), a fixed-dose combination tramadol/acetaminophen tablet was formulated. This study aimed to evaluate the pharmacokinetic profiles of an SR 75-mg tramadol/650-mg acetaminophen formulation after a single dose compared with an immediate release (IR) 37.5-mg tramadol/325-mg acetaminophen formulation after 2 doses and at steady state and to assess the effect of food on the pharmacokinetic SR formulation profile after a single dose.

Mid-term outcomes in patients implanted with cardiac resynchronization therapy.

We applied cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) for desynchronized heart failure patients. We evaluated clinical outcomes including morbidity, mortality, and echocardiographic parameters in 47 patients with implanted CRT in Korea from October 2005 to May 2013. The combined outcomes of hospitalization from heart failure, heart transplantation and death were the primary end point.

SUrvey of Guideline Adherence for Treatment of Systolic Heart Failure in Real World (SUGAR): a multi-center, retrospective, observational study.

Background: Clinical practice guidelines have been slowly and inconsistently applied in clinical practice, and certain evidence-based, guideline-driven therapies for heart failure (HF) have been significantly underused. The purpose of this study was to survey guideline compliance and its effect on clinical outcomes in the treatment of systolic HF in Korea.

Method And Results: The SUrvey of Guideline Adherence for Treatment of Systolic Heart Failure in Real World (SUGAR) trial was a multi-center, retrospective, observational study on subjects with systolic HF (ejection fraction <45%) admitted to 23 university hospitals.

Anomalous separate origin of left anterior descending coronary artery: presented as acute anterior myocardial infarction.

Coronary artery anomalies are rare presentations in primary percutaneous coronary interventions of acute myocardial infarction. Herein, we report the case of a 59-year-old man with acute anterior myocardial infarction who had anomalous separate origin of left anterior descending artery (LAD) and left circumflex artery (LCX) from the left coronary aortic sinus. Coronary angiography showed a normal right coronary artery and LCX, but no visualization of the LAD.

In vitro and in vivo metabolism of verproside in rats.

Verproside, a catalpol derivative iridoid glycoside isolated from Pseudolysimachion rotundum var. subintegrum, is a biologically active compound with anti-inflammatory, antinociceptic, antioxidant, and anti-asthmatic properties. Twenty-one metabolites were identified in bile and urine samples obtained after intravenous administration of verproside in rats using liquid chromatography-quadrupole Orbitrap mass spectrometry.

Pharmacokinetic properties and bioequivalence of candesartan cilexetil in Korean healthy volunteers.

Candesartan is a long-acting and selective nonpeptide AT1 subtype angiotensin II receptor antagonist. The aim of this study was to compare the pharmacokinetics and to evaluate the bioequivalence of two candesartan cilexetil 16 mg formulations. Forty healthy volunteers were randomly assigned into two groups.

Rho-associated kinase 2 polymorphism in patients with vasospastic angina.

Background And Objectives: Recent studies indicate that in response to vasoconstrictor stimuli, the small GTPase RhoA and its down-stream effector, Rho-associated kinase 2 (ROCK)/Rho-kinase, are associated with hypercontraction of the vascular smooth muscle of coronary arteries through augmentation of myosin light chain phosphorylation and Ca(2+) sensitization. Expression of ROCK/Rho-kinase mRNA was significantly increased and up-regulated in the spastic coronary artery in a porcine model, and a specific inhibitor of ROCK/Rho-kinase inhibited coronary artery spasm in humans. We therefore explored the role of ROCK2 polymorphisms in the pathogenesis of vasospastic angina (VA).

Intracoronary transluminal attenuation gradient in coronary CT angiography for determining coronary artery stenosis.

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) assessment of calcified or complex coronary lesions is frequently challenging. Transluminal attenuation gradient (TAG), defined as the linear regression coefficient between luminal attenuation and axial distance, has a potential to evaluate the degree of coronary stenosis. We examined the value of TAG in determining the stenosis severity on 64-slice coronary CTA.

Comparison of recurrence rate based on the frequency of preceding symptoms in patients with neurocardiogenic syncope or presyncope.

Background And Objectives: In patients with neurocardiogenic syncope or presyncope, symptoms developed unpredictably and intermittently. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was any significant difference in the recurrence rate of symptoms during the follow-up period between patients with many episodes of symptoms and those with fewer episodes of symptoms before diagnosis, as well as to assess the clinical significance of previous episodes of symptoms during treatment.

Subjects And Methods: A total of 100 patients with neurocardiogenic syncope or presyncope were divided in two groups (high episode group, n=54; low episode group, n=46) according to the frequency of symptoms before the head-up tilt test.

Clinical outcomes of brief versus prolonged unfractionated heparin infusion after primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in the drug-eluting stent era: real-world, single-centre experience.

Objective: Optimal dose and duration of intravenous unfractionated heparin (UFH) infusion after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are unknown when glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (GPIs) are not used. We evaluated the clinical outcomes in patients who received brief versus prolonged UFH infusion following primary PCI for STEMI in the era of drug-eluting stents (DES).

Methods: We studied 273 (216 men, 63 +/- 12 years) consecutive patients who underwent primary PCI with DES implantation for STEMI between December 2003 and May 2009.

Progressive familial heart block type I in a korean patient.

A 29-year-old man was referred to the emergency department with a complaint of abdominal pain and dizziness. He had experienced two previous syncopal episodes. His family history revealed that his mother and his two uncles had received permanent pacemaker implantation.

MRI findings of pericardial fat necrosis: case report.

Pericardial fat necrosis is an infrequent cause of acute chest pain and this can mimic acute myocardial infarction and acute pericarditis. We describe here a patient with the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of pericardial fat necrosis and this was correlated with the computed tomography (CT) findings. The MRI findings may be helpful for distinguishing pericardial fat necrosis from other causes of acute chest pain and from the fat-containing tumors in the cardiophrenic space of the anterior mediastinum.

Left atrial mass with stalk: thrombus or myxoma?

A 63-year-old female was presented to emergency room with an abdominal pain. The patient had moderate mitral valve stenosis and atrial fibrillation. Abdominal computed tomography revealed right renal infarction.