Effect of Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and Angiotensin receptor blockers on patients following ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Background And Objectives: It is known that angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers (ACEIs and ARBs, respectively) are effective in preventing atrial fibrillation (AF) in high-risk patients. However, it is not known whether ACEIs and ARBs are effective in preventing the recurrence of AF after catheter ablation.

Subjects And Methods: One hundred fifty-two patients (mean age, 57+/-10 years; M : F=94 : 58) who underwent catheter ablation due to drug-refractory paroxysmal (mean age, 57+/-10 years; M : F=58 : 43) or persistent AF (mean age, 56+/-10 years; M : F=36 : 15) were enrolled.

Curcumin reduces angiotensin II-mediated cardiomyocyte growth via LOX-1 inhibition.

Background: Curcumin, a natural polyphenolic compound, has been shown to reduce cardiomyocyte growth. Angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) and lectin-like oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) receptor-1 (LOX-1) are major stimuli for cardiomyocyte growth via activation of oxidant signals. We postulated that curcumin may reduce Ang II-mediated cardiomyocyte growth via AT1R and LOX-1 inhibition.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma activation attenuates cardiac fibrosis in type 2 diabetic rats: the effect of rosiglitazone on myocardial expression of receptor for advanced glycation end products and of connective tissue growth factor.

Receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) play a key role in diabetic myocardial fibrosis, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) activation has been reported to reduce RAGE and CTGF expression. This study investigated the effects of the PPAR-gamma agonist, rosiglitazone, on myocardial expression of RAGE and CTGF, extent of cardiac fibrosis, and left ventricular (LV) diastolic function in type 2 diabetic (T2D) rats. Twenty-week-old T2D rats were randomized to treatment with either 20 weeks of rosiglitazone (20 mg/kg) or saline (n = 10 in each group).

Comparison of the efficacy and safety of zotarolimus-, sirolimus-, and paclitaxel-eluting stents in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Drug-eluting stents (DESs) are increasingly used for treatment of acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), but there are few comparisons of outcomes of various types of DES. We compared the efficacy and safety of zotarolimus-eluting stents (ZESs), sirolimus-eluting stents (SESs), and paclitaxel-eluting stents (PESs) in primary intervention for STEMI. This multicenter, prospectively randomized ZEST-AMI trial included 328 patients at 12 medical centers who were randomly assigned to ZES (n = 108), SES (n = 110), or PES (n = 110) deployment.

Clinical effects of hypertension on the mortality of patients with acute myocardial infarction.

The incidence of ischemic heart disease has been increased rapidly in Korea. However, the clinical effects of antecedent hypertension on acute myocardial infarction have not been identified. We assessed the relationship between antecedent hypertension and clinical outcomes in 7,784 patients with acute myocardial infarction in the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry during one-year follow-up.

Significance of inflammatory markers in diabetic patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Background/aims: Patients with diabetes are prone to coronary artery disease (CAD); however, the majority of diabetic patients show normal coronary arteries. We examined differences in the clinical aspects of diabetic patients with insignificant and with significant stenosis of the coronary artery.

Methods: A total of 418 consecutive diabetic patients with stable angina who had undergone coronary angiography from January 2004 to March 2007 were included in this study.

Long-term percutaneous coronary intervention rates and associated independent predictors for progression of nonintervened nonculprit coronary lesions.

After successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), unpredictable coronary events occur that are caused by in-stent restenosis and the progression of preexisting nonculprit coronary lesions. However, little is known about the long-term clinically driven PCI rates for the progression of nonculprit coronary lesions discovered during culprit-lesion PCI or its independent predictors, including several biomarkers. In this study, the clinical and angiographic data of 1,395 PCI patients treated from January 2004 to May 2007 were retrospectively analyzed.

Are patients with angiographically near-normal coronary arteries who present as acute myocardial infarction actually safe?

Background: There is a paucity of data concerning the clinical outcome of patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and near-normal coronary angiograms. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome and the prognosis of the patients with near-normal coronary angiograms who were registered in the Korean Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry (KAMIR).

Methods: The subjects were divided into three groups according to findings from coronary angiograms performed between September 2005 and November 2006.

Long-term safety and effectiveness of unprotected left main coronary stenting with drug-eluting stents compared with bare-metal stents.

Background: Limited information is available on long-term outcomes for patients with unprotected left main coronary artery disease who received drug-eluting stents (DES).

Methods And Results: In the multicenter registry evaluating outcomes among patients with unprotected left main coronary artery stenosis undergoing stenting with either bare metal stents (BMS) or DES, 1217 consecutive patients were divided into 2 groups: 353 who received only BMS and 864 who received at least 1 DES. The 3-year outcomes were compared by use of the adjustment of inverse-probability-of-treatment-weighted method.

Lipid treatment assessment project 2: a multinational survey to evaluate the proportion of patients achieving low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goals.

Background: Information about physicians' adherence to cholesterol management guidelines remains scant. The present survey updates our knowledge of lipid management worldwide.

Methods And Results: Lipid levels were determined at enrollment in dyslipidemic adult patients on stable lipid-lowering therapy in 9 countries.

A new risk score system for the assessment of clinical outcomes in patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Background And Objectives: Prediction for long-term clinical outcomes in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome is important as well as early risk stratification. The aim of this study is to develop a simple assessment tool for better early bedside risk stratification for both short- and long-term clinical outcomes.

Subjects And Methods: 2148 patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) (64.

Triple versus dual antiplatelet therapy in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Whether triple antiplatelet therapy is superior or similar to dual antiplatelet therapy in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention in the era of drug-eluting stents remains unclear.

Methods And Results: A total of 4203 ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents were analyzed retrospectively in the Korean Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry (KAMIR). They received either dual (aspirin plus clopidogrel; dual group; n=2569) or triple (aspirin plus clopidogrel plus cilostazol; triple group; n=1634) antiplatelet therapy.

Safety and benefit of early elective percutaneous coronary intervention after successful thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction.

The aim of this study was to assess the safety and benefits of early elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) after successful thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction. Early elective PCI after successful thrombolysis is controversial, and the optimal time for PCI is elusive. Using data from the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry from November 2005 to June 2007, a total of 383 patients with acute myocardial infarction who underwent elective PCI within 2 weeks of successful thrombolytic therapy were grouped based on time between thrombolysis and PCI as group 1, <24 hours (n = 81, age 59.

Acute changes in cardiac synchrony and output according to RV pacing sites in Koreans with normal cardiac function.

Introduction: The synchrony of the pacing heart can be affected by the right ventricular (RV) pacing site and is crucial to cardiac function in pacemaker recipients. We evaluated the acute changes in cardiac synchrony according to the RV pacing sites in normal systolic functioning subjects with normal QRS.

Methods: We conducted this study with 30 patients with the pacing in the RV apex (RVA), RV septum (RVS), and RV outflow tract (RVOT) in a sequential manner.

Vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 gene polymorphism is associated with atherothrombotic complication after drug-eluting stent implantation: 2-Center prospective cohort study.

Background: Single nucleotide polymorphisms of vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 (VKORC1) was reported to have association with arterial vascular disease. We investigated whether single nucleotide polymorphism of VKORC1 +2255 is associated with clinical outcomes among patients who underwent drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation.

Methods: We prospectively collected genomic DNA in patients who underwent DES deployment from September 2003 to December 2006 and compared clinical outcomes according to their VKORC1 genotype at the locus + 2255 (rs 2359612).

Catechin prevents endothelial dysfunction in the prediabetic stage of OLETF rats by reducing vascular NADPH oxidase activity and expression.

Objectives: In the prediabetic stage, hyperinsulinemia or insulin resistance is thought to be closely associated with oxidative stress, which is also the main contributor of endothelial dysfunction. Clinical studies have indicated that regular intake of green tea reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases. This study examined whether catechin prevents endothelial dysfunction and hyperglycemia in the prediabetic stage of a type 2 diabetic (T2D) rat, the Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) model.

Direct comparison of B-type natriuretic peptide and N-terminal pro-BNP for assessment of cardiac function in a large population of symptomatic patients.

Backgrounds: B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal pro-BNP (NTproBNP) levels showed frequent discrepancies in individual patients.

Objectives: The aims were 1) to compare the abilities of BNP and NTproBNP for the detection of left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) or diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) in the symptomatic patients, and 2) to assess the direct correlation and its independent determinants between them.

Methods: 1032 patients with dyspnea underwent BNP and NTproBNP measurements simultaneously.

LOX-1 dependent overexpression of immunoglobulins in cardiomyocytes in response to angiotensin II.

LOX-1, a cell surface lectin-like receptor, is upregulated by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) and angiotensin II (Ang II), and plays an important role in host defense. The specific C-type lectin domain on LOX-1 is essential for ox-LDL binding and internalization, generation of oxidant species and eliciting immune response. Here, we show that LOX-1 deletion alters genes that relate to immune response.

Long-term coronary endothelial function after zotarolimus-eluting stent implantation. A 9 month comparison between zotarolimus-eluting and sirolimus-eluting stents.

Implantation of a paclitaxel- or sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) may be associated with endothelial dysfunction. In the present study, we compared coronary endothelial function after zotarolimus-eluting stent (ZES) implantation to that after SES implantation. Patients who had one stent implantation for a single lesion in the left anterior descending artery were enrolled.

Target organ status in white-coat hypertensives: usefulness of serum procollagen type I propeptide in the respect of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.

Background: Myocardial fibrosis is a feature of diastolic dysfunction and target organ damage, which was compared among subjects with normotension (NT), white-coat hypertension (WCH) and essential hypertension (EH). Serum procollagen type I propeptide (PIP) level was assessed as a marker of diastolic dysfunction in WCH.

Methods And Results: Of 90 subjects, 30 had NT and 30 had WCH (ambulatory daytime blood pressure <135/85 mmHg) and 30 had EH (untreated mild to moderate hypertension); all underwent biochemical and echocardiographic examinations.

Prognosis of large, symptomatic pericardial effusion treated by echo-guided percutaneous pericardiocentesis.

Backgrounds: The causes and prognosis of pericardial effusion (PE) may be different according to time, region, economy, and hospital. This study was performed to evaluate the etiology, clinical outcome, and prognosis of patients with large, symptomatic PE treated by echo-guided pericardiocentesis at Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital (the Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea).

Adenosine Tc-99m tetrofosmin SPECT in differentiation of ischemic from nonischemic cardiomyopathy in patients with LV systolic dysfunction.

Background: The noninvasive differentiation of ischemic from nonischemic cardiomyopathy is clinically important. However, whether adenosine Tc-99m tetrofosmin SPECT can offer clear and accurate information was not known. The aim of this study is to investigate the usefulness of adenosine Tc-99m tetrofosmin SPECT in differentiation of ischemic from nonischemic etiology in patients with mild to severe LV systolic dysfunction and to compare the relationship between patients with mild LV systolic dysfunction and those with severe LV systolic dysfunction.

The effect of Chlamydia pneumoniae on the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the change of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) after the infection of the human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (HCSMCs) with Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) and the effect of PPARgamma agonist on the expression of PPARgamma of C. pneumoniae-infected HCSMCs.

Stents versus coronary-artery bypass grafting for left main coronary artery disease.

Background: Several studies have compared the treatment effects of coronary stenting and coronary-artery bypass grafting (CABG). However, there are limited data regarding the long-term outcomes of these two interventions for patients with unprotected left main coronary artery disease.

Methods: We evaluated 1102 patients with unprotected left main coronary artery disease who underwent stent implantation and 1138 patients who underwent CABG in Korea between January 2000 and June 2006.

N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide is associated with adverse short-term clinical outcomes in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Increased level of N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is known to be associated with adverse outcome in patients with acute coronary syndrome. We evaluated early outcomes of patients with acute ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) according to the level of NT-proBNP as a substudy of Korean Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry (KAMIR).

Methods: Study population consisted of 1052 consecutive patients (mean 61.