Association of the medical therapy with beta-blockers or inhibitors of renin-angiotensin system with clinical outcomes in patients with mildly reduced left ventricular ejection fraction after acute myocardial infarction.

In the era of the initial optimal interventional and medical therapy for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), a number of patients with mildly reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) (41%-49%) have been increasing. This observational study aimed to investigate the association between the medical therapy with oral beta-blockers or inhibitors of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and 2-year clinical outcomes in patients with mildly reduced EF after AMI. Among patients enrolled in the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry-National Institute of Health, propensity-score matched patients who survived the initial attack and had mildly reduced EF were selected according to beta-blocker or RAS inhibitor therapy at discharge.

Association of changes of pulse wave velocity and augmentation index after isometric handgrip exercise with coronary lesion extent and revascularization.

Background: Arterial stiffness is associated with myocardial ischemia and incident coronary artery disease (CAD), and indexes of arterial stiffness are usually increased in patients with CAD. However, these indexes are often increased in elderly without CAD. Arterial stiffness in patients with CAD may become more evident after isometric handgrip exercise which increases systolic pressure and ventricular afterload.

A successfully treated case of primary purulent pericarditis complicated by cardiac tamponade and pneumopericardium.

Acute pericarditis is caused by various factors, but purulent pericarditis is rare. Primary purulent pericarditis in immunocompetent hosts is very rare in the modern antibiotics era. We report a successfully treated case of primary purulent pericarditis complicated with cardiac tamponade and pneumopericardium in an immunocompetent host.

Effect of beta-blocker therapy in patients with or without left ventricular systolic dysfunction after acute myocardial infarction.

Aims: This observational study aimed to investigate the association between beta-blocker therapy and clinical outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), especially with mid-range or preserved left ventricular systolic function.

Methods And Results: Among 13 624 patients enrolled in the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry-National Institute of Health (KAMIR-NIH), 12 200 in-hospital survivors were selected. Patients with beta-blockers showed significantly lower 1-year major adverse cardiac events (MACE), which was a composite of cardiac death, MI, revascularization, and readmission due to heart failure [9.

Pseudonormal or Restrictive Filling Pattern of Left Ventricle Predicts Poor Prognosis in Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease Presenting as Acute Heart Failure.

Background: In patients with acute heart failure (AHF), diastolic dysfunction, especially pseudonormal (PN) or restrictive filling pattern (RFP) of left ventricle (LV), is considered to be implicated in a poor prognosis. However, prognostic significance of diastolic dysfunction in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) has been rarely investigated in Korea.

Methods: We enrolled 138 patients with IHD presenting as AHF and sinus rhythm during echocardiographic study.

Predictive Factors of Methicillin-Resistant Infection in Elderly Patients with Community-Onset Pneumonia.

Background: Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) infection is a severe and life-threatening disease in patients with community-onset (CO) pneumonia. However, the current guidelines lack specificity for a screening test for MRSA infection.

Methods: This study was retrospectively conducted in elderly patients aged ≥65 years, who had contracted CO-pneumonia during hospitalization at the Jeju National University Hospital, between January 2012 and December 2014.

Case of invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma mimicking chronic eosinophilic pneumonia.

Invasive mucinous carcinoma is difficult to distinguish from other lung diseases; therefore, confirmation of the diagnosis may be delayed. A 64-year-old woman was admitted with a six-month history of cough, febrile sensation, and shortness of breath, with worsening symptoms. A computed tomography scan of the chest revealed bilateral homogenous ground-glass opacities and consolidation with subpleural predominance.