Plaque Vulnerability as Assessed by Radiofrequency Intravascular Ultrasound in Patients with Valvular Calcification.

Background: Cardiac valvular calcification is associated with the overall coronary plaque burden and considered an independent cardiovascular risk and prognostic factor. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the presence of valvular calcification and plaque morphology and/or vulnerability.

Methods: Transthoracic echocardiography was used to assess valvular calcification in 280 patients with coronary artery disease who underwent radiofrequency intravascular ultrasound (Virtual Histology IVUS, VH-IVUS).

Multimodality Intravascular Imaging Assessment of Plaque Erosion versus Plaque Rupture in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Background And Objectives: We assessed plaque erosion of culprit lesions in patients with acute coronary syndrome in real world practice.

Subjects And Methods: Culprit lesion plaque rupture or plaque erosion was diagnosed with optical coherence tomography (OCT). Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) was used to determine arterial remodeling.

Association of CXCL10 and CXCL13 levels with disease activity and cutaneous manifestation in active adult-onset Still's disease.

Introduction: C-X-C motif chemokine 10 (CXCL10) is produced in response to interferon-γ, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) triggers the accumulation of activated lymphocytes. CXCL13 is constitutively expressed in secondary lymphoid tissues, and the expression is upregulated by TNF-α, via T cell stimulation. It appears that CXCL10 and CXCL13 could play a potential role in the pathogenesis of adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD), therefore, we investigated the associations between CXCL10 and CXCL13 levels and clinical manifestations in patients with active AOSD.

The pathologic findings of skin, lymph node, liver, and bone marrow in patients with adult-onset still disease: a comprehensive analysis of 40 cases.

Adult-onset Still disease (AOSD) is characterized by fever, skin rash, and lymphadenopathy with leukocytosis and anemia as common laboratory findings. We investigated the characteristic pathologic findings of skin, lymph node, liver, and bone marrow to assist in proper diagnosis of AOSD.Forty AOSD patients were included in the study.

Gap junction remodelling by chronic pressure overload is related to the increased susceptibility to atrial fibrillation in rat heart.

Aims: Left atrial (LA) fibrosis caused by various pathological stimuli is a common finding. However, the difference of atrial remodelling via haemodynamic change in diverse cardiomyopathy has not been elucidated.

Methods And Results: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (6-8 weeks, n = 180) were randomly assigned to three groups and corresponding sham control groups: (i) ischaemic cardiomyopathy, (ii) left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), and (iii) dilated cardiomyopathy.

Influence of previous statin therapy on cholesterol-lowering effect of ezetimibe.

Background And Objectives: The inhibition of cholesterol absorption by ezetimibe increases cholesterol synthesis. The effect of inhibition of cholesterol synthesis on cholesterol absorption is controversial. The influence of these interactions on cholesterol levels is unknown.

Frequency and evolution of thin-capped fibroatheromas in left main coronary artery as assessed by serial virtual histology intravascular ultrasound analysis.

Background: The objective of the current study was to assess thin-capped fibroatheroma (TCFA) of the left main coronary artery (LMCA) and its changes after statin therapy.

Methods: We assessed the frequency and distribution of virtual histology intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS) thin-capped fibroatheroma (VH-TCFA) in the LMCA in 500 patients. Serial VH-IVUS examinations were available in 50 patients at 12-month follow-up.

DICOM-based intravascular ultrasound signal intensity analysis: an Echoplaque Medical Imaging Bench study.

Background: Most intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) data are stored digitally using the Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) standard. This allows random access to studies and improves on the major limitation of conventional grayscale IVUS.

Methods: We harvested 129 coronary arteries from 43 autopsied cases.

Fenofibrate reduces C-reactive protein levels in hypertriglyceridemic patients with high risks for cardiovascular diseases.

Background And Objectives: The effects of fenofibrate on C-reactive protein (CRP) are under debate. We investigated the effect of fenofibrate on CRP levels and the variables determining changes.

Subjects And Methods: This case-control study enrolled 280 hypertriglyceridemic patients who were managed either with 200 mg of fenofibrate (Fenofibrate group, n=140) or with standard treatment (comparison group, n=140).

Acute viral myopericarditis presenting as a transient effusive-constrictive pericarditis caused by coinfection with coxsackieviruses A4 and B3.

Acute myopericarditis is usually caused by viral infections, and the most common cause of viral myopericarditis is coxsackieviruses. Diagnosis of myopericarditis is made based on clinical manifestations of myocardial (such as myocardial dysfunction and elevated serum cardiac enzyme levels) and pericardial (such as inflammatory pericardial effusion) involvement. Although endomyocardial biopsy is the gold standard for the confirmation of viral infection, serologic tests can be helpful.

Oncologic manifestations of neurofibromatosis type 1 in Korea.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and spectrum of malignant tumors in Korean neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) patients.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 125 patients who were diagnosed with NF1 at a single institution from 1995 to 2010. The incidence, location, histologic type, and radiologic findings of malignant tumors as well as development of multiple primary tumors were analyzed.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage mimicking leakage of contrast media after coronary angiography.

We report a patient who developed subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) just after coronary angiography (CAG) with non-ionic contrast media (CM) and minimal dose of heparin. The 55-year-old man had a history of acute ST elevation myocardial infarction that had been treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention and was admitted for a follow-up CAG. The CAG was performed by the transradial approach, using 1000 U of unfractionated heparin for the luminal coating and 70 mL of iodixanol.

Prevalence of the CTNNB1 mutation genotype in surgically resected fibromatosis of the breast.

Aims: To investigate CTNNB1 mutation and β-catenin expression in resected breast fibromatosis and to identify potential molecular markers of fibromatosis of the breast.

Methods And Results: We selected 12 patients with fibromatosis of the breast who underwent surgical resection and were confirmed by histological examination. Ultrasonography findings for 10 patients were reviewed and only two cases were suspicious for fibromatosis on imaging.

Relationship between coronary artery plaque composition by virtual histology intravascular ultrasound analysis and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity in patients with coronary artery disease.

Objective: Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is an indicator of atherosclerotic cardiovascular risks. To identify patients with coronary atherosclerosis before the onset of angina pectoris or myocardial infarction will be desirable.

Methods: We measured the ankle-brachial index and baPWV in 150 consecutive patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Effects of ezetimibe added to ongoing statin therapy on C-reactive protein levels in hypercholesterolemic patients.

Background And Objectives: Ezetimibe alone does not decrease C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in hypercholesterolemic patients. However, several reports have suggested that ezetimibe might potentiate the effect of statin not only on cholesterol but also on CRP when administered together. We investigated the effect of ezetimibe on CRP levels in patients taking statins.

Effects of the transition from premenopause to postmenopause on lipids and lipoproteins: quantification and related parameters.

Background/aims: The aim of this study was to quantitatively measure changes in lipids and lipoproteins during perimenopause and to identify variables related to these changes.

Methods: Among women who had three regular health evaluations over a span of 2-4 years, 34 women remained in the premenopausal state, 34 premenopausal women transitioned to the postmenopausal state, and 36 postmenopausal women were enrolled. The menopausal state was determined not only by a history of amenorrhea but also by levels of female sex hormones.

Disappearance of angina pectoris by lipid-lowering in type III hyperlipoproteinemia.

Type III hyperlipoproteinemia is a rare familial disease characterized by marked elevations of serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels caused by an accumulation of remnant lipoproteins in apolipoprotein E2/E2 homozygotes. It is associated with an increased risk for premature atherosclerotic vascular disease. A 55-year-old woman was diagnosed as having type III hyperlipoproteinemia on the basis of skin lesions, serum lipid levels, lipid electrophoresis, and apolipoprotein E genotyping and stable angina pectoris on the basis of typical symptoms and treadmill exercise electrocardiographic results.

The impact of mitral annular calcification on left ventricular function in nonagenarians.

Background And Objectives: Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is known to be associated with degenerative processes of the cardiac fibrous skeleton and cardiovascular disease mortality. However, MAC has not been evaluated in an extreme age group (patients >/=90 years of age). In this study, the clinical significance of MAC associated with aging was examined in this age group and compared with MAC associated with aging in a younger (20 to 50 years of age) group of patients.