Post-hoc analysis of the CARES trial suggests delayed progression of chronic kidney disease in patients with gout during urate-lowering therapy.

Based on the hypothesis that hyperuricemia is a modifiable risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression, there is an expectation that urate-lowering therapy (ULT) could delay the progression of CKD. Here, we investigated changes in kidney function and the association of the serum uric acid (sUA) level and kidney function during ULT in patients with gout. To do this we conducted post-hoc analysis on patients who received ULT with either febuxostat or allopurinol for more than six months in the CARES trial.

A study of pre- and post-treatment hematologic markers of immune response in patients undergoing radiotherapy for soft tissue sarcoma.

Introduction: This study investigates the impact of pre- and post-treatment hematologic markers, specifically neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), on treatment outcomes in soft tissue sarcoma (STS) patients undergoing radiation therapy (RT).

Methods: Data from 64 patients who underwent RT for curative management of STS were reviewed. Pre-RT and post-RT hematologic measures were evaluated for associations with survival outcomes.

Concurrent spontaneous coronary dissection and reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome during postnatal care.

Background: Pregnancy-associated spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) and reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) are rare conditions that may occur during pregnancy and the postpartum period. The coexistence of both diseases may pose a risk to patients, potentially resulting in a variety of complications and clinical manifestations. This is considered the first case of a patient who successfully recovered from a critical condition in the postpartum period, with contemporaneous SCAD and RCVS.

A Pilot Study of Pembrolizumab Combined With Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy for Patients With Advanced or Metastatic Sarcoma.

Objectives: Immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors has shown only limited success in the management of metastatic soft tissue sarcoma. Overall response rates (ORR) with single agent pembrolizumab were 18% and median PFS was 18 weeks on the clinical trial SARC028. One strategy to improve the responses to immunotherapy is with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), which can enhance the antitumor CD8 T cell response through the release of tumor-specific antigens, potentially priming a more diverse class of T cell receptors.

Bovine pericardial versus porcine bioprosthetic mitral valves: results from a Korean Nationwide Cohort Study.

Objectives: Comparisons of long-term clinical outcomes of mitral valve replacement (MVR) between bovine pericardial and porcine bioprostheses are conflicting, with limited research in large-scale real-world clinical settings. This study examined clinical outcomes in MVR according to bioprosthesis type using a national administrative claims database.

Methods: This study included adult patients undergoing bioprosthetic MVR between 2003 and 2018 using administrative health care data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database.

Endovascular treatment of Takayasu arteritis in a middle-aged woman with syncope and limb claudication: a case report.

Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a disease that causes inflammation and stenosis of medium to large blood vessels. We report a case of a 50-year-old female patient with newly developed hypertension, syncope, and claudication of the extremities. Total occlusion of the left subclavian artery at the origin was found and significant stenosis of the right common iliac artery was revealed by hemodynamic analysis.

Long-term outcomes and prognostic factors after aortic valve surgery in patients with Takayasu arteritis.

Background: Aortic regurgitation (AR) is a common cardiovascular complication in patients with Takayasu arteritis (TAK), and complication after aortic valve surgery (AVS) is not rare. This study aimed to identify the long-term postoperative outcomes for significant AR in patients with TAK compared with those in patients without TAK.

Methods: We included 35 patients with TAK with moderate-to-severe AR who underwent AVS and compared their postoperative outcomes with those of 105 age- and operation period-matched patients with severe AR but without TAK.

Audiometric and Surgical Outcomes of a Novel Bone-Conduction Hearing Aid.

Objective: To report the audiometric and surgical outcomes of a series of patients having undergone implantation of a novel transcutaneous bone conduction implant (t-BCI).

Study Design: Retrospective case series.

Setting: Single academic tertiary referral center.

Mechanical and Pore Properties of Concrete Using Basalt-Based Recycled Aggregates According to Mixture Conditions.

This study investigated recycled aggregates of Jeju Island-where porous basalt exists as a natural aggregate-and is a study aimed at verifying the applicability of the basalt-based recycled aggregate in the field. To this end, the application properties of concrete were analyzed using the quality improvement of the recycled aggregate (PRA), the type of fine aggregate received in the region, and the cement content as variables. In an experiment using concrete in which 50% of the PRA was replaced with basalt (BA), the air content of the fresh concrete decreased due to the increasing solid content of the aggregate when PRA and fine aggregates (with an even particle size distribution) were used.

The long-term prognostic value of E/e' in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the long-term prognostic value of E/e' ratio in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods: We retrospectively assessed 314 patients who underwent primary coronary interventions between January 2010 and December 2015. The included patients were classified into two groups according to the E/e' ratios: E/e'<15 (n = 245) and E/e'≥15 (n = 69).

Spontaneous Resolution of Extensive Iatrogenic Type A Aortic Dissection After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

The management of type A aortic dissection (TAAD) during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is challenging because TAVR is often performed in elderly patients with significant surgical risk. We present a case of extensive TAAD that developed during the TAVR procedure, which resolved spontaneously with medical treatment. ().

Safety concern with electrical cardioversion of persistent atrial fibrillation with slow ventricular response.

Rhythm control strategies in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) can bring many clinical benefits. However, there is still uncertainty regarding selection of the optimal rhythm control strategy for persistent AF. Chronicity, substrate alteration, and underlying bradyarrhythmias could influence the clinical outcomes.

Examination of multiple drug arrests reported to the Maine Diversion Alert Program.

Purpose: Much of the responsibility for the increasing drug overdoses in the US has been attributed to opioids but most opioid overdoses also involve another drug. The objective of this study was to identify the drugs involved in polysubstance arrests. The substances that were more likely to be found in conjunction with other substances, using the drug arrests reported to Maine's Diversion Alert Program (DAP) were examined.

Mechanical Properties of Basalt-Based Recycled Aggregate Concrete for Jeju Island.

Recycled aggregate is essential to protect Jeju Island's natural environment, but waste concrete, including porous basalt, is a factor that lowers the quality of recycled aggregate. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to analyze the properties of concrete application of basalt-based recycled aggregate (B-RA) through quality improvement. The absorption of the B-RA ranged from 3-5%; restricting its absorption to less than 3% was challenging owing to its porosity and irregular shape.

Emphysematous myocardial abscess without infective endocarditis.

Diagnosis of myocardial abscess without endocarditis is challenging, and a high index of clinical suspicion is fundamental for diagnosis. It should never be ruled out before TEE. And CT could be a helpful modality in case of emphysematous morphology.

Prognostic implications of the electrocardiographic findings in acute myocarditis: Which is the strongest one?

Myocarditis is an inflammatory disease of the myocardium with high morbidity and mortality; however, definite prognostic factors are still unclear. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the predictor of clinical outcomes of acute myocarditis focusing on electrocardiographic findings. The overall result of the study consists of a total of 51 patients demonstrated that wide QRS duration is a meaningful factor for predicting the fulminant course of acute myocarditis.

A Phase II Trial of Imatinib Mesylate as Maintenance Therapy for Patients With Newly Diagnosed C-kit-positive Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Introduction: Adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have a high rate of remission; however, more than 50% relapse. C-kit is expressed in approximately 60% of patients with de novo AML and represents a potential therapeutic target.

Materials And Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed AML received 12 months of imatinib mesylate as maintenance therapy after the completion of post-remission therapy.

Large left ventricular non-infectious vegetation in patient with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis.

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is a rare form of systemic vasculitis in which cardiac involvement is relatively common and accounts for half of EGPA-related deaths. Cardiac involvement is more frequent in patients with an absence of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody and those with higher eosinophil counts. Clinical manifestations are various, including myocarditis, pericarditis, pericardial effusion, heart failure, arrhythmias, valvular insufficiencies and intra-cardiac thrombus formation.

Feasibility of right coronary artery first ergonovine provocation test.

Background: Intracoronary (IC) provocation angiography is recommended when variant angina is suspected. However, specific procedure-related factors remain uncertain.

Methods: Intracoronary ergonovine infusion was used for the provocation test.