Aortic valve sclerosis is not a benign finding but progressive disease associated with poor cardiovascular outcomes.

Background: Aortic valve sclerosis (AVS) shares risk factors with atherosclerosis. However, the relationship between AVS progression with cardiovascular (CV) risk has not been researched. This study investigates CV outcomes according to progression of AVS.

Impact of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol on progression of aortic valve sclerosis and stenosis.

Background: Little research has been assessed atherosclerotic risk factors at various stages of calcific aortic valve disease. This study sought to determine risk factors of patients with aortic valve sclerosis (AVS) and mild to moderate aortic stenosis (AS).

Methods: The study included 1,007 patients diagnosed with AVS or mild to moderate AS according to echocardiographic criteria.

Risk of pancreatic cancer after acute pancreatitis: A population-based matched cohort study.

Background: We investigated the short- and long-term risks of pancreatic cancer after the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis.

Methods: This population-based matched-cohort study used data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. Patients with acute pancreatitis (n = 25,488) were matched with the control group (n = 127,440) based on age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, and diabetes.

Suspicious findings observed retrospectively on CT imaging performed before the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

Background: Few studies have focused on computed tomography findings before a pancreatic cancer diagnosis. We aimed to investigate the prediagnostic computed tomography findings of patients who had undergone computed tomography within the prediagnostic period of their pancreatic cancer diagnosis.

Methods: Between January 2008 and December 2019, 27 patients who underwent contrast-enhanced abdominal or chest computed tomography including the pancreas within 1 year of a pancreatic cancer diagnosis were enrolled in this retrospective study.

How can progression be predicted in patients with mild to moderate aortic valve stenosis?

Aims: The pressure increase per time unit (dP/dt) in aortic stenosis (AS) jet velocity is assumed to have inter-individual variability in the progressive AS stage. We sought to examine the association of aortic valve (AoV) Doppler-derived dP/dt in patients with mild to moderate AS with risk of progression to severe disease.

Methods And Results: A total of 481 patients diagnosed with mild or moderate AS [peak aortic jet velocity (Vmax) between 2 and 4 m/s] according to echocardiographic criteria were included.

Discriminative Role of Invasive Left Heart Catheterization in Patients Suspected of Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Background Recently, diastolic stress testing and invasive hemodynamic measurements have been emphasized for diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) because when determined using noninvasive parameters it can fall into a nondiagnostic intermediate range. The current study evaluated the discriminative and prognostic roles of invasive measured left ventricular end-diastolic pressure in the population with suspected HFpEF, particularly for patients with intermediate Heart Failure Association Pre-test Assessment, Echocardiography & Natriuretic Peptide, Functional Testing, Final Etiology (HFA-PEFF) score. Methods and Results A total of 404 patients with symptoms or signs of HF and preserved left ventricular systolic function were enrolled.

Prognostic Implications of Left Atrial Stiffness Index in Heart Failure Patients With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Background: The left atrium (LA) plays an important role in the pathophysiology and disease progression of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Objectives: This study sought to assess the prognostic potential of LA stiffness index in patients who have HFpEF.

Methods: This study retrospectively screened patients with elevated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (≥16 mm Hg) and preserved ejection fraction (≥50%) between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2019.

Prognostic implications of coronary artery disease and stress tests in patients with elevated left ventricular filling pressure and preserved ejection fraction.

Background: The prognostic role of myocardial ischemia in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has not been fully elucidated. Therefore, we investigated the change in echocardiographic parameters and clinical outcomes based on the presence of epicardial coronary artery disease (CAD) and positive stress tests in HFpEF patients.

Methods: Symptomatic patients with left ventricular end diastolic pressure ≥15 mmHg who underwent coronary angiography were analyzed between January 2000 and August 2019 after exclusion of patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Association of longitudinal left atrial strain with mortality after tricuspid valve surgery.

Aims: Tricuspid valve (TV) surgery for functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is becoming more common, but the associated mortality remains high. Therefore, we evaluated the clinical and echocardiographic parameters associated with all-cause mortality in patients with severe functional TR who underwent TV surgery.

Methods And Results: A total of 286 patients with severe functional TR who underwent TV replacement or repair was analysed between January 2006 and December 2017.

Lifestyle, body mass index, diabetes, and the risk of pancreatic cancer in a nationwide population-based cohort study with 7.4 million Korean subjects.

Background: Large-scale epidemiological studies on pancreatic cancer in non-Western populations are insufficient. We investigated the risk factors for pancreatic cancer.

Methods: Using the Korean National Health Insurance database, subjects who participated in the health examination program between 2005 and 2006 were identified and followed up until 2017.

Higher heart rate variability as a predictor of atrial fibrillation in patients with hypertension.

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays an important role in the initiation and maintenance of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the meaning of higher heart rate variability (HRV) in predicting AF remains unclear. Among 2100 patients in the Holter registry, a total of 782 hypertensive patients were included in this study.

Predictor of atrial fibrillation recurrence in patients who underwent a tricuspid valve operation with modified Cox maze procedure.

Background: Recurrence of any atrial arrhythmia after surgical ablation is known as a negative predictor of cardiovascular events and total mortality. However, there have been no focused studies for atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence prediction in patients with significant tricuspid regurgitation (TR), and the risk-benefit estimation of surgical ablation in tricuspid valve (TV) surgery is not fully established.

Method: We screened 385 patients who underwent a TV operation between 2001 and 2017.

Impact of Total Ischemic Time on the Recovery of Regional Wall Motion Abnormality after STEMI in the Modern Reperfusion Era.

Background: Total ischemic time (TIT) is an important factor for predicting mortality among patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, the correlation between TIT and the extent of wall motion abnormality has not been well studied. Therefore, we investigated changes in the wall motion score index (WMSI) value based on TIT in STEMI patients who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and subsequent transthoracic echocardiography.

Ethanol Extract of A. Berger (Crassulaceae) Protects Against Type 2 Diabetes by Reducing Insulin Resistance and Hepatic Inflammation in Mice.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a threaten human health problem, and accompanied by hyperglycemia and disorder of insulin secretion, is a major cause of abnormalities in maintaining blood glucose homeostasis. Also, low-grade inflammation, as well as insulin resistance (IR), is a common feature in patients with T2D. Numerous causes of the outbreak of T2D have been suggested by researchers, who indicate that genetic background and epigenetic predisposition, such as overnutrition and deficient physical activity, hasten the promotion of T2D milieu.

Thirteen-week oral toxicity study of fermented ginseng, GBCK25, in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Ginseng (Panax ginseng) is commonly used in Asia as a medicinal herb. In particular, fermented ginseng, GBCK25, has been recently developed to increase ginsenoside absorption. It also has other beneficial biological effects such as hemodynamic and anti-inflammation functions.

Orostachys japonicus ameliorates acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury in mice.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Orostachys japonicus A. Berger (O. japonicus), referred to as Wa-song in Korea is a traditional and herbal medicine.

Clinical characteristics and long-term outcomes of peripartum takotsubo cardiomyopathy and peripartum cardiomyopathy.

Aims: Although some peripartum-associated cardiomyopathy patients present with features that are clinically and echocardiographically similar to those of takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM), little is known about the diagnosis and clinical course of peripartum TCM.

Methods And Results: In a tertiary hospital in Seoul, Korea, we searched the hospital database to find cardiomyopathy cases that were associated with pregnancy from January 1995 to May 2019. Applying the published diagnostic criteria, we sought peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) and peripartum TCM patients for comparison.

A population-based epidemiology of Wilson's disease in South Korea between 2010 and 2016.

Very few population-based studies have examined the epidemiology of Wilson's disease (WD). We investigated the epidemiology of WD using the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database in South Korea. We analyzed not only the statistical variables of WD, but also those of WD-related diseases.

A 12-week, randomized, double-blind study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of liver function after using fermented ginseng powder (GBCK25).

Background: Recently, clinical research has suggested that red ginseng components play a role in liver protection and combating fatigue. However, fermented ginseng has not been analyzed for liver-protective or anti-fatigue effects.

Objective: This study evaluates the positive effects of fermented ginseng powder (GBCK25) on liver function.