Exosomal miRNAs Differentiate Chronic Total Occlusion from Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Although coronary artery occlusion can have a negative effect on the myocardium, chronic total occlusion (CTO) exhibits different clinical features from those of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In this study, we identify the differential associations of exosomal miRNAs with CTO and AMI. Exosomes were isolated from the plasma obtained from coronary arteries of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention to treat CTO (n = 29) and AMI (n = 24), followed by small RNA sequencing, target gene predictions, and functional enrichment analyses.

Incidence of atrial fibrillation in patients with renal infarction: A retrospective cohort analysis of the Korean national health insurance registry.

Background: Regarding the pathophysiology of renal infarction (RI), cardioembolic causes could have large proportion. However, there are notable variations in prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) among patients with RI across different studies, ranging from 17 to 65%. The primary objective of this study is to analyze the incidence of AF in patients with RI.

Home Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Management System in Patients With Heart Failure: Rationale and Study Design.

Body fluid monitoring and management are essential to control dyspnea and prevent re-hospitalization in patients with chronic heart failure (HF). There are several methods to estimate and monitor patient's volume status, such as symptoms, signs, body weight, and implantable devices. However, these methods might be difficult to use for reasons that are slow to reflect body water change, inaccurate in specific patients' condition, or invasive.

Hemo-metabolic impairment in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: Data from the INTERSTELLAR registry.

Background: Not only hemo-dynamic (HD) factors but also hemo-metabolic (HM) risk factors reflecting multi-organ injuries are considered as important prognostic factors in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, studies regarding HM risk factors in STEMI patients are currently limited.

Method: Under analysis were 1,524 patients with STEMI who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention in the INTERSTELLAR registry.

Clinical efficacy of angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor in de novo heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

Background/aims: We aimed to analyze the efficacy of angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) by the disease course of heart failure (HF).

Methods: We evaluated 227 patients with HF in a multi-center retrospective cohort that included those with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 40% undergoing ARNI treatment. The patients were divided into patients with newly diagnosed HF with ARNI treatment initiated within 6 months of diagnosis (de novo HF group) and those who were diagnosed or admitted for HF exacerbation for more than 6 months prior to initiation of ARNI treatment (prior HF group).

Temporal Trend of the Incidence and Characteristics of Renal Infarction: Korean Nationwide Population Study.

Background: Large-scale studies about epidemiologic characteristics of renal infarction (RI) are few. In this study, we aimed to analyze the incidence and prevalence of RI with comorbidities in the South Korean population.

Methods: We investigated the medical history of the entire South Korean adult population between 2013 and 2019 using the National Health Insurance Service database (n = 51,849,591 in 2019).

Prognostic value of preoperative left ventricular global longitudinal strain for predicting postoperative myocardial injury and mortality in patients undergoing major non-cardiac surgery (SOLOMON study).

Background: The usefulness of preoperative measurement of left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) for predicting prognosis in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery has not been evaluated. We analyzed the prognostic value of LVGLS in predicting postoperative 30-day cardiovascular events and myocardial injury after non-cardiac surgery (MINS).

Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted in two referral hospitals and included 871 patients who underwent non-cardiac surgery <1 month after preoperative echocardiography.

Left Atrial Velocity Vector Imaging Can Assess Early Diastolic Dysfunction in Left Ventricular Hypertrophy and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: The function of left atrium (LA) is difficult to assess because of its ventricle-dependent, dynamic movement. The aim of this study was to assess LA function using velocity vector imaging (VVI) and compare LA function in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCMP) and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) with normal controls.

Methods: Fourteen patients with HCMP (72% male, mean age of 52.

Prevalence and clinical features of bone morphogenetic protein receptor type 2 mutation in Korean idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension patients: The PILGRIM explorative cohort.

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive chronic disease with poor outcomes. One reason for poor prognosis is the lack of understanding regarding individual variability in response to treatment. Idiopathic PAH (IPAH) patients with bone morphogenetic protein receptor type 2 (BMPR2) mutations have distinct phenotypes that are crucial for individualized therapy but evidence regarding their prevalence and clinical features in the Korean population is lacking.

Assessment of Right Ventricular Function in Pulmonary Hypertension with Multimodality Imaging.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is defined as resting mean pulmonary artery pressure ≥ 25 mmHg and is caused by multiple etiologies including heart, lung or other systemic diseases. Evaluation of right ventricular (RV) function in PH is very important to plan treatment and determine prognosis. However, quantification of volume and function of the RV remains difficult due to complicated RV geometry.

Impact of Contrast Echocardiography on Assessment of Ventricular Function and Clinical Diagnosis in Routine Clinical Echocardiography: Korean Multicenter Study.

Background: Fundamental echocardiography has some drawbacks in patients with difficult-to-image echocardiograms. The aim of this study is to evaluate impact of contrast echocardiography (CE) on ventricular function assessment and clinical diagnosis in routine clinical echocardiography.

Methods: Two hundred sixty patients were prospectively enrolled over 3 years in 12 medical centers in Korea.

Apelin-13 infusion salvages the peri-infarct region to preserve cardiac function after severe myocardial injury.

Background: Apelin-13 (A13) regulates cardiac homeostasis. However, the effects and mechanism of A13 infusion after an acute myocardial injury (AMI) have not been elucidated. This study assesses the restorative effects and mechanism of A13 on the peri-infarct region in murine AMI model.

2-Dimensional Strain Analysis of Regional Change in Right Ventricular Function after Treadmill Exercise.

Background: Function of right ventricle (RV) influences on symptoms and prognosis in various diseases. However the regional RV function analyzed with 2-dimensional (2D) strain echocardiography before and just after treadmill test has not been evaluated. The aim of this study was to show the change of regional RV function just after treadmill exercise with strain analysis.

The Clinical Impact of Bedside Contrast Echocardiography in Intensive Care Settings: A Korean Multicenter Study.

Background And Objectives: We assessed the ability of portable echocardiography (with contrasts) to clearly delineate the cardiac structure, and evaluated the impact of its use on the diagnosis and management of critically ill patients in Korea.

Subjects And Methods: We prospectively enrolled 123 patients (mean age 66±16 years), who underwent portable transthoracic echocardiography (with contrast) for image enhancement at 12 medical centers. The quality of the global left ventricular (LV) images, the number of the regional LV segments visualized, the ability to visualize the LV apex and the right ventricle (RV), and any changes in the diagnostic procedure and treatment strategy were compared before and after the contrast.

Baseline Characteristics of the Korean Registry of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

Despite recent advances in understanding of the pathobiology and targeted treatments of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), epidemiologic data from large populations have been limited to western countries. The aim of the Korean Registry of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (KORPAH) was to examine the epidemiology and prognosis of Korean patients with PAH. KORPAH was designed as a nationwide, multicenter, prospective data collection using an internet webserver from September 2008 to December 2011.

A case of sheathless transradial coronary intervention for complex coronary lesions with a standard guiding catheter.

One of the major limitations of transradial coronary intervention is the inability to use large guiding system, which leads to the development of dedicated sheathless guide catheter system. However, these devices are not available in the Republic of Korea. We present a case in which conventional guiding catheter was used for sheathless transradial coronary intervention in the treatment of complex coronary anatomy.

The Association of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy with Intraventricular Dyssynchrony at Rest and during Exercise in Hypertensive Patients.

Background: Impaired exercise tolerance with dyspnea is common in hypertensive patients and this may be due to the exaggeration of nonuniform ventricular activation during exercise. So we want to evaluate the effect of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) on systolic intraventricular dyssynchrony during exercise.

Methods: A total of 85 patients with hypertension who having exertional dyspnea and 30 control individuals were enrolled.

The correlation of carotid artery stiffness with heart function in hypertensive patients.

Background: The strength of each heart beat and the stiffness of large arteries contribute to blood pressure (BP). When the large arteries are stiff and their resistance greater, the afterload increases and this may change the function of the heart. However, the relation between common carotid artery stiffness and heart function in hypertensive patients has not been clarified.

The Effect of Metabolic Syndrome on Myocardial Contractile Reserve during Exercise in Non-Diabetic Hypertensive Subjects.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is associated with increased left ventricular (LV) mass and diastolic dysfunction. This study uses relatively load-independent Doppler tissue echocardiography to examine whether MS is associated with decreased longitudinal contractile reserve during dynamic exercise.

Methods: A total of 112 patients with relatively well-controlled, treated hypertension who complained of exertional dyspnea were enrolled (average age: 56.

Recanalization of an accidentally crushed coronary stent by intravascular ultrasonography catheter entrapment.

Intravascular ultrasonography (IVUS) imaging is a user-friendly technique widely used during coronary interventions. An 80-year-old man was admitted with chest pain, and successful percutaneous coronary intervention was performed with stent implantation. One week later, the patient complained of further chest pain.