Predictive value and optimal cut-off level of high-sensitivity troponin T in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

Background/aims: Elevated troponin levels predict in-hospital mortality and influence decisions regarding thrombolytic therapy in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). However, the usefulness of high-sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT) regarding PE remains uncertain. We aimed to establish the optimal cut-off level and compare its performance for precise risk stratification.

Clinical Impact of Self-Recognition of Recurrent Acute Myocardial Infarction: From KRMI-RCC.

: Self-recognition of recurrent myocardial infarction (re-MI) may be essential for reducing prehospital time contrast to awareness of re-MI symptoms. However, data on the current status and clinical impact of self-recognition of re-MI are limited in the contemporary period. Thus, this study aimed to increase this body of knowledge.

Very early vs delayed invasive strategy in high-risk NSTEMI patients without hemodynamic instability: Insight from the KAMIR-NIH.

Background: High-risk non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients' optimal timing for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is debated despite the recommendation for early invasive revascularization. This study aimed to compare outcomes of NSTEMI patients without hemodynamic instability undergoing very early invasive strategy (VEIS, ≤ 12 hours) versus delayed invasive strategy (DIS, >12 hours).

Methods: Excluding urgent indications for PCI including initial systolic blood pressure under 90 mmHg, ventricular arrhythmia, or Killip class IV, 4,733 NSTEMI patients were recruited from the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry-National Institutes of Health (KAMIR-NIH).

Case Report: Complete atrioventricular block in an elderly patient with acute pulmonary embolism.

Introduction: Multiple abnormal electrocardiographic findings have been documented in patients experiencing acute pulmonary embolism. Although sinus tachycardia is the most commonly encountered rhythmic disturbance, subsequent reports have highlighted other findings. These include right bundle branch block, right axis deviation, nonspecific ST segment/T wave changes, and T wave inversion in the right precordial leads.

Impact of height difference between coronary ostium and location of intracoronary pressure sensor on fractional flow reserve measurements.

Background: During fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurements, distal coronary pressure (Pd) can be influenced by hydrostatic pressure changes resulting from the height difference (HD) between the coronary ostium and the location of the distal pressure sensor.

Aims: We investigated the effect of aortocoronary HD on the FFR measurements in each coronary artery.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed 257 patients who underwent FFR measurements and coronary computed tomography (CCTA) within a year.

Role and Clinical Importance of Progressive Changes in Echocardiographic Parameters in Predicting Outcomes in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: The prognostic utility of follow-up transthoracic echocardiography (FU-TTE) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is unclear, specifically in terms of whether changes in echocardiographic parameters in routine FU-TTE parameters are associated with cardiovascular outcomes.

Methods: From 2010 to 2017, 162 patients with HCM were retrospectively enrolled in this study. Using echocardiography, HCM was diagnosed based on morphological criteria.

Influence of an abnormal ankle-brachial index on ischemic and bleeding events in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background/aims: Bleeding events after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have important prognostic implications. Data on the influence of an abnormal ankle-brachial index (ABI) on both ischemic and bleeding events in patients undergoing PCI are limited.

Methods: We included patients who underwent PCI with available ABI data (abnormal ABI, ≤ 0.

Development of dilated cardiomyopathy with a long latent period followed by viral fulminant myocarditis: A case report.

Background: The clinical course of acute myocarditis ranges from the occurrence of a few symptoms to the development of fatal fulminant myocarditis. Specifically, fulminant myocarditis causes clinical deterioration very rapidly and aggressively. The long-term prognosis of myocarditis is varied, and it fully recovers without leaving any special complications.

Residual Inflammatory Risk and its Association With Events in East Asian Patients After Coronary Intervention.

Background: East Asian population has a low level of inflammation compared with Western population. The prognostic implication of residual inflammatory risk (RIR) remains uncertain in East Asians.

Objectives: This study sought to provide an analysis to estimate early-determined RIR and its association with clinical outcomes in East Asian patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Native Aortic Valve Thrombus Complicating Intermittent Occlusion of a Left Main Coronary Artery.

Intermittent left main coronary artery ostium obstruction (LMOO) caused by native aortic valve thrombus (NAVT) is an extremely rare condition. It may therefore be challenging to identify the cause using only coronary angiography, even though the clinical presentation and electrocardiography (ECG) strongly suggest myocardial infarction. We herein report a 53-year-old man with NAVT complicating intermittent occlusion of left main disease in preexisting coronary artery stenosis.

Association Between Thrombogenicity Indices and Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction.

The association between thrombogenicity and coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) has been poorly explored in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In our real-world clinical practice (N = 116), thrombogenicity was evaluated with thromboelastography and conventional hemostatic measures, and CMD was defined as index of microcirculatory resistance of >40 U using the invasive physiologic test. High platelet-fibrin clot strength (P-FCS) (≥68 mm) significantly increased the risk of postprocedural CMD (odds ratio: 4.

Predictors and Long-Term Impact of De Novo Aortic Regurgitation in Continuous Flow Left Ventricular Assist Devices Using Vena Contracta.

The aim of this study was to identify the optimal echocardiographic measurement of aortic regurgitation (AR) in continuous flow left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) and determine risk factors and clinical implications of de novo AR. Echocardiographic images from consecutive patients who underwent LVAD implantation from February 2007 to March 2017 were reviewed. Severity of de novo AR was determined by vena contracta (VC).

Serum microRNA-185 Levels and Myocardial Injury in Patients with Acute ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Objective Human microRNA-185 (miR-185) has been reported to act as a regulator of fibrosis and angiogenesis in cancer. However, miR-185 has not been investigated in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We hypothesized that the changes in miR-185 levels in STEMI patients are related to the processes of myocardial healing and remodeling.

Prognostic Utility of Culprit SYNTAX Score in Patients With Cardiogenic Shock Complicating ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

A higher SYNTAX score (SS) is strongly associated with poor prognosis in patients with cardiogenic shock complicating ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (CS-STEMI). However, the predictive value of culprit-lesion SYNTAX score (cul-SS) and SS has not been compared although the culprit-lesion-only primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) strategy showed improved long-term survival recently. This study compared the predictive utility of cul-SS and SS for in-hospital mortality among the patients with CS-STEMI from during 2010-2019.

Anderson-Fabry disease presenting with atrial fibrillation as earlier sign in a young patient: A case report.

Background: Anderson-Fabry disease (AFD) is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder that results from a deficiency of α-galactosidase A enzyme activity in which glycosphingolipids gradually accumulate in multi-organ systems. Cardiac manifestations are the leading cause of mortality in patients with AFD. Among them, arrhythmias comprise a large portion of the heart disease cases in AFD, most of which are characterized by conduction disorders.

Comparative analysis of three nutrition scores in predicting mortality after acute myocardial infarction.

Objective: We investigated the utility of nutrition scores in predicting mortality and prognostic importance of nutrition status using three different scoring systems in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods: In total, 1147 patients with AMI were enrolled in this study (72.5 % men; mean age 65.

Cardiac mortality benefit of direct admission to percutaneous coronary intervention-capable hospital in acute myocardial infarction: Community registry-based study.

Appropriate risk stratification and timely revascularization of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are available in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) - capable hospitals (PCHs). This study evaluated whether direct admission vs inter-hospital transfer influences cardiac mortality in patients with AMI. This study was conducted in the PCH where the patients were able to arrive within an hour.

Restenosis of a drug eluting stent on the previous bioresorbable vascular scaffold successfully treated with a drug-coated balloon: A case report.

Background: The in-stent restenosis (ISR) rates are reportedly inconsistent despite the increased use of second-generation drug eluting stent (DES). Although bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) have substantial advantages with respect to vascular restoration, the rate of scaffold thrombosis is higher with BVS than with DES. Optimal treatment strategies have not been established for DES-ISR to date.

Normal Reference Values for Left Atrial Strain and Its Determinants from a Large Korean Multicenter Registry.

Background: Left atrial (LA) strain is a novel parameter of LA function. However, its reference value has not been established, and the determining factors for LA strain remain elusive. We aimed to present LA strain with reservoir, conduit, and contractile components and associated parameters in a large-sized group of healthy individuals.

Head-to-head comparison of prognostic accuracy in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery of dobutamine stress echocardiography versus computed tomography coronary angiography (PANDA trial): A prospective observational study.

Background: Dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) and coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) can provide perioperative prognostic information in risk stratification of patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. This study directly compared the prognostic value of DSE and CTA in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery.

Methods: Between 2014 and 2016, 215 patients with more than one clinical risk factor for perioperative cardiovascular (CV) events were enrolled prospectively.

Predictive value of the combination of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity and ankle-brachial index for cardiovascular outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Although ankle-brachial index and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity measurement are well-established modalities for assessing peripheral artery disease and arterial stiffness and predicting cardiovascular events, it is unclear which one is more important or if a combination of the two is more effective for determining prognosis among patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Methods: Patients with acute myocardial infarction (n = 889) were stratified into four groups according to a brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (cut-off value: 1684 cm/s) and ankle-brachial index (cut-off value: 0.98): group I (high ankle-brachial index and low brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, n = 389), group II (high ankle-brachial index and high brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, n = 281), group III (low ankle-brachial index and low brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, n = 103), group IV (low ankle-brachial index and high brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, n = 116).

Influence of rabeprazole and famotidine on pharmacodynamic profile of dual antiplatelet therapy in clopidogrel-sensitive patients: The randomized, prospective, PROTECT trial.

Although acid suppressants are needed to attenuate gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), pharmacodynamic interaction between clopidogrel and proton pump inhibitor (PPI) can increase the risk of high platelet reactivity (HPR). We sought to evaluate serial changes of platelet measures and influence of rabeprazole on platelet measures. After 600-mg clopidogrel loading for elective PCI, clopidogrel-sensitive patients were recruited and randomly assigned to add rabeprazole of daily 20 mg (n = 40) or famotidine of daily 40 mg (n = 40).

Erratum to clinical efficacy of high-flow oxygen therapy through nasal cannula in patients with acute heart failure.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.21037/jtd.2019.

Association between pulse pressure at discharge and clinical outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction: From the KAMIR-Korean-NIH registry.

Pulse pressure (PP) is affected by arterial stiffness and is a predictor of cardiovascular events. However, value and utility of PP assessment in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remain less clear. We aimed to evaluate the association between PP and cardiovascular events in surviving patients with AMI at discharge.