Randomized, multicenter, parallel, open, phase 4 study to compare the efficacy and safety of rosuvastatin/amlodipine polypill versus atorvastatin/amlodipine polypill in hypertension patient with dyslipidemia.

The authors performed this study to investigate the efficacy and safety of a rosuvastatin (RSV)/amlodipine (AML) polypill compared with those of atorvastatin (ATV)/AML polypill. We included 259 patients from 21 institutions in Korea. Patients were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups: RSV 10 mg/AML 5 mg, RSV 20 mg/AML 5 mg, or ATV 20 mg /AML 5 mg.

Effect of heart failure on postoperative short and long-term mortality in elderly patients with hip fracture.

Introduction: We designed a comparative study using elderly hip fracture patients with and without heart failure (HF). The purpose of this study was to assess 1) prevalence of HF, compare 2) early and late mortality after elderly hip fracture between HF and non-HF patients and to assess 3) risk factors of mortality after hip fractures in elderly patients with HF. In addition, we also investigated 4) whether there is a difference in mortality according to the severity of left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction classified by LV ejection fraction (EF) in HF patients through subgroup analysis.

Comparison of efficacy and safety between two different irbesartan, generic vs branded, in the treatment of Korean patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension: an 8-week, multicenter, randomized, open-label, Phase IV clinical study.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of generic and branded irbesartan for 8 weeks in patients with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension.

Patients And Methods: We screened 221 patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension. After exclusion per study criteria, 177 subjects were randomized to receive 150 mg generic irbesartan (n=91) or branded irbesartan (n=86) as the intention to treat set.

Morphological characteristics of optical coherence tomography defined plaque fissure in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

We assessed the plaque disruption in 245 consecutive patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. The plaque fissure was diagnosed with optical coherence tomography, and intravascular ultrasound was used to determine arterial remodeling. Of them, 26 fissures were found in this study.

A Randomized, Multicenter, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and the Tolerability of a Triple Combination of Amlodipine/Losartan/Rosuvastatin in Patients With Comorbid Essential Hypertension and Hyperlipidemia.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of a triple combination of amlodipine/losartan/rosuvastatin in patients with hypertension and hypercholesterolemia.

Methods: A randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted. Eligible patients with hypertension and a sitting diastolic blood pressure (SiDBP) of >90 mm Hg and LDL-C levels <250mg/dL were screened.

Plaque Vulnerability as Assessed by Radiofrequency Intravascular Ultrasound in Patients with Valvular Calcification.

Background: Cardiac valvular calcification is associated with the overall coronary plaque burden and considered an independent cardiovascular risk and prognostic factor. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the presence of valvular calcification and plaque morphology and/or vulnerability.

Methods: Transthoracic echocardiography was used to assess valvular calcification in 280 patients with coronary artery disease who underwent radiofrequency intravascular ultrasound (Virtual Histology IVUS, VH-IVUS).

Multimodality Intravascular Imaging Assessment of Plaque Erosion versus Plaque Rupture in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Background And Objectives: We assessed plaque erosion of culprit lesions in patients with acute coronary syndrome in real world practice.

Subjects And Methods: Culprit lesion plaque rupture or plaque erosion was diagnosed with optical coherence tomography (OCT). Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) was used to determine arterial remodeling.

Doppler Imaging in Aortic Stenosis: The Importance of the Nonapical Imaging Windows to Determine Severity in a Contemporary Cohort.

Background: Although the highest aortic valve velocity was thought to be obtained from imaging windows other than the apex in about 20% of patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS), its occurrence appears to be increasing as the age of patients has increased with the application of transcatheter aortic valve replacement. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency with which the highest peak jet velocity (Vmax) is found at each imaging window, the degree to which neglecting nonapical imaging windows underestimates AS severity, and factors influencing the location of the optimal imaging window in contemporary patients.

Methods: Echocardiograms obtained in 100 consecutive patients with severe AS from January 3 to May 23, 2012, in which all imaging windows were interrogated, were retrospectively analyzed.

Gap junction remodelling by chronic pressure overload is related to the increased susceptibility to atrial fibrillation in rat heart.

Aims: Left atrial (LA) fibrosis caused by various pathological stimuli is a common finding. However, the difference of atrial remodelling via haemodynamic change in diverse cardiomyopathy has not been elucidated.

Methods And Results: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (6-8 weeks, n = 180) were randomly assigned to three groups and corresponding sham control groups: (i) ischaemic cardiomyopathy, (ii) left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), and (iii) dilated cardiomyopathy.

Paenibacillus yonginensis sp. nov., a potential plant growth promoting bacterium isolated from humus soil of Yongin forest.

Strain DCY84(T), a Gram-stain positive, rod-shaped, aerobic, spore-forming bacterium, motile by means of peritrichous flagella, was isolated from humus soil from Yongin forest in Gyeonggi province, South Korea. Strain DCY84(T) shared the highest sequence similarity with Paenibacillus barengoltzii KACC 15270(T) (96.86 %), followed by Paenibacillus timonensis KACC 11491(T) (96.

Influence of previous statin therapy on cholesterol-lowering effect of ezetimibe.

Background And Objectives: The inhibition of cholesterol absorption by ezetimibe increases cholesterol synthesis. The effect of inhibition of cholesterol synthesis on cholesterol absorption is controversial. The influence of these interactions on cholesterol levels is unknown.

Psychometric properties of a short self-reported measure of medication adherence among patients with hypertension treated in a busy clinical setting in Korea.

Background: We examined the psychometric properties of the Korean version of the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) among adults with hypertension.

Methods: A total of 373 adults with hypertension were given face-to-face interviews in 2 cardiology clinics at 2 large teaching hospitals in Seoul, South Korea. Blood pressure was measured twice, and medical records were reviewed.

Fenofibrate reduces C-reactive protein levels in hypertriglyceridemic patients with high risks for cardiovascular diseases.

Background And Objectives: The effects of fenofibrate on C-reactive protein (CRP) are under debate. We investigated the effect of fenofibrate on CRP levels and the variables determining changes.

Subjects And Methods: This case-control study enrolled 280 hypertriglyceridemic patients who were managed either with 200 mg of fenofibrate (Fenofibrate group, n=140) or with standard treatment (comparison group, n=140).

Relation Between RR Intervals and Early Diastolic Mitral Annular Velocities in Atrial Fibrillation.

Background And Objectives: Irregular RR intervals in atrial fibrillation (AF) make beat-to-beat changes in left ventricular (LV) systolic performance. Early diastolic mitral annular velocity (E') is one of the well-established parameters for evaluating LV diastolic function. The relation between RR intervals and E's is unknown.

Acute viral myopericarditis presenting as a transient effusive-constrictive pericarditis caused by coinfection with coxsackieviruses A4 and B3.

Acute myopericarditis is usually caused by viral infections, and the most common cause of viral myopericarditis is coxsackieviruses. Diagnosis of myopericarditis is made based on clinical manifestations of myocardial (such as myocardial dysfunction and elevated serum cardiac enzyme levels) and pericardial (such as inflammatory pericardial effusion) involvement. Although endomyocardial biopsy is the gold standard for the confirmation of viral infection, serologic tests can be helpful.

Relationship between coronary artery plaque composition by virtual histology intravascular ultrasound analysis and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity in patients with coronary artery disease.

Objective: Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is an indicator of atherosclerotic cardiovascular risks. To identify patients with coronary atherosclerosis before the onset of angina pectoris or myocardial infarction will be desirable.

Methods: We measured the ankle-brachial index and baPWV in 150 consecutive patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Effects of ezetimibe added to ongoing statin therapy on C-reactive protein levels in hypercholesterolemic patients.

Background And Objectives: Ezetimibe alone does not decrease C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in hypercholesterolemic patients. However, several reports have suggested that ezetimibe might potentiate the effect of statin not only on cholesterol but also on CRP when administered together. We investigated the effect of ezetimibe on CRP levels in patients taking statins.

Effects of the transition from premenopause to postmenopause on lipids and lipoproteins: quantification and related parameters.

Background/aims: The aim of this study was to quantitatively measure changes in lipids and lipoproteins during perimenopause and to identify variables related to these changes.

Methods: Among women who had three regular health evaluations over a span of 2-4 years, 34 women remained in the premenopausal state, 34 premenopausal women transitioned to the postmenopausal state, and 36 postmenopausal women were enrolled. The menopausal state was determined not only by a history of amenorrhea but also by levels of female sex hormones.

The impact of mitral annular calcification on left ventricular function in nonagenarians.

Background And Objectives: Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is known to be associated with degenerative processes of the cardiac fibrous skeleton and cardiovascular disease mortality. However, MAC has not been evaluated in an extreme age group (patients >/=90 years of age). In this study, the clinical significance of MAC associated with aging was examined in this age group and compared with MAC associated with aging in a younger (20 to 50 years of age) group of patients.

Association of the parameters derived from the relation between RR intervals and left ventricle performance with a history of heart failure in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Parameters derived from the relation between RR intervals and left ventricular (LV) performance in atrial fibrillation (AF) have been useful to evaluate systolic LV function. This study investigated the association of these parameters with a history of heart failure. Echocardiography was performed in 107 patients with AF.

Atherosclerotic progression attenuates the expression of Nogo-B in autopsied coronary artery: pathology and virtual histology intravascular ultrasound analysis.

The relation of Nogo-B to atherosclerotic plaque progression is not well understood. Thus, the purpose of this study was to assess the expression of Nogo-B in fibroatheromas (FA) of different stages, classified using virtual histology intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS) analysis in 19 autopsied cases of non-sudden cardiac death. VH-IVUS imaging analysis was performed 30 mm from the ostium of each coronary artery.

Acute embolic occlusion of the left common iliac artery treated with intra-arterial thrombolysis and percutaneous thrombectomy.

Acute embolic occlusion of the common iliac artery is a rare medical emergency that is not only limb-threatening, but also potentially life-threatening. Several treatment options exist for acute limb ischemia, although no treatment is clearly best. We report a case of acute embolic occlusion of the left common iliac artery in a patient with atrial fibrillation who was treated successfully using mechanical thrombectomy following intra-arterial thrombolysis.

Repeated stenting of recurrent in-stent restenotic lesions: intravascular ultrasound analysis and clinical outcome.

Background: Stents are used to treat the first and even successive episodes of in-stent restenosis (ISR).

Methods: In 18 patients (19 lesions), intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) was performed after placement of a stent for a nonrestenotic lesion after the second stent was used to treat the first episode of ISR and after the third stent was used to treat the second episode of ISR. The duration between the first and second stent was 355 +/- 374 days, and between the second and third stent was 330 +/- 279 days.

Prediction of left ventricular peak ejection velocity by preceding and prepreceding RR intervals in atrial fibrillation: a new method to adjust the influence between two intervals.

In atrial fibrillation, cardiac performance is dependent on both preceding RR (RR-1) and prepreceding RR (RR-2) intervals. However, relative contributions were not well defined. Left ventricular outflow peak ejection velocity (Vpe) was measured by echocardiography from 21 patients.