Aortic valve sclerosis is not a benign finding but progressive disease associated with poor cardiovascular outcomes.

Background: Aortic valve sclerosis (AVS) shares risk factors with atherosclerosis. However, the relationship between AVS progression with cardiovascular (CV) risk has not been researched. This study investigates CV outcomes according to progression of AVS.

Long-term impacts of COVID-19 in patients with prior heart failure in Korea: A nationwide cohort study using the common data model.

Limited data are available on the long-term prognosis and monitoring period after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection in the population with prior heart failure (HF). We aimed to exam the association of COVID-19 with clinical prognosis in populations with prior HF and evaluate prognosis within 30 days and 30 days to 1 year after infection. Based on insurance benefit claims sent to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service of Korea from January 2018 to April 2022, 9,822,577 patients were selected and converted to the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership-common data model by the Big Data Department of Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service of Korea.

The Effect of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors on COVID-19 Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Retrospective Cohort Study Using the Common Data Model.

Background: There is no clinical evidence about the effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors on diabetic patients who have been diagnosed with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19).

Methods: The dataset is based on insurance benefit claims sent to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service of Korea from January, 2018 to April, 2022. Among 9,822,577 patients who were involved in the claims, diabetic patients were divided into two groups based on whether they had a prescription for an SGLT2 inhibitor.

The 24-Hour Cardiac Autonomic Activity in Patients With Allergic Rhinitis.

Background: Definitive knowledge of the 24-hour cardiac autonomic activity in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) is lacking. Thus, we aimed to evaluate heart rate variability (HRV), which is used to measure cardiac autonomic activity by 24-hour Holter monitoring in patients with AR.

Methods: We enrolled 32 patients who visited our clinic and were diagnosed with AR.

Long-Term Clinical Implications of Atrial Fibrillation on Mortality in Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) increases the risk of long-term mortality in patients hospitalized with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), but the evidence is limited.

Methods: This study used data from the Common Data Model of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service of Korea collected between 1 January 2020 and 30 April 2022. A total of 107,247 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 were included in this study.

Impact of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol on progression of aortic valve sclerosis and stenosis.

Background: Little research has been assessed atherosclerotic risk factors at various stages of calcific aortic valve disease. This study sought to determine risk factors of patients with aortic valve sclerosis (AVS) and mild to moderate aortic stenosis (AS).

Methods: The study included 1,007 patients diagnosed with AVS or mild to moderate AS according to echocardiographic criteria.

How can progression be predicted in patients with mild to moderate aortic valve stenosis?

Aims: The pressure increase per time unit (dP/dt) in aortic stenosis (AS) jet velocity is assumed to have inter-individual variability in the progressive AS stage. We sought to examine the association of aortic valve (AoV) Doppler-derived dP/dt in patients with mild to moderate AS with risk of progression to severe disease.

Methods And Results: A total of 481 patients diagnosed with mild or moderate AS [peak aortic jet velocity (Vmax) between 2 and 4 m/s] according to echocardiographic criteria were included.

Glycan-Controlled Human PD-1 Variants Displaying Broad-Spectrum High Binding to PD-1 Ligands Potentiate T Cell.

Although therapeutic immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies that regulate the activity of immune checkpoints bring innovation to the field of immuno-oncology, they are still limited in their efficiency to infiltrate the tumor microenvironment due to their large molecular size (150 kDa) and the necessity of additional engineering works to ablate effector functions for antibodies targeting immune cells. To address these issues, the human PD-1 (hPD-1) ectodomain, a small protein moiety of 14-17 kDa, has been considered as a therapeutic agent. Here, we used bacterial display-based high-throughput directed evolution to successfully isolate glycan-controlled (aglycosylated or only single--linked glycosylated) human PD-1 variants exhibiting over 1000-fold increased hPD-L1 binding affinity compared to that of wild-type hPD-1.

Higher heart rate variability as a predictor of atrial fibrillation in patients with hypertension.

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays an important role in the initiation and maintenance of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the meaning of higher heart rate variability (HRV) in predicting AF remains unclear. Among 2100 patients in the Holter registry, a total of 782 hypertensive patients were included in this study.

Impact of Total Ischemic Time on the Recovery of Regional Wall Motion Abnormality after STEMI in the Modern Reperfusion Era.

Background: Total ischemic time (TIT) is an important factor for predicting mortality among patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, the correlation between TIT and the extent of wall motion abnormality has not been well studied. Therefore, we investigated changes in the wall motion score index (WMSI) value based on TIT in STEMI patients who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and subsequent transthoracic echocardiography.

The differences between daytime and nighttime heart rate variability may usefully predict the apnea-hypopnea index in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Study Objectives: The association between daytime/nighttime heart rate variability (HRV) and the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) remains unclear. We sought a relationship between AHI and the daytime-to-nighttime HRV ratio as measured by 24-hour Holter monitoring in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled 66 patients who visited our sleep clinic complaining of habitual snoring or sleep apnea.

SGLT2 Inhibitors and Kidney and Cardiac Outcomes According to Estimated GFR and Albuminuria Levels: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Rationale & Objective: There are few data on the absolute effects of sodium/glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, despite their importance in treatment decision making. We investigated absolute treatment effects according to baseline kidney disease status.

Study Design: Meta-analysis.

Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and incidence of lung cancer in a population based cohort of common data model in Korea.

Contradictory findings exist about association of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) and angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) with lung cancer development. This was a retrospective observational cohort study that used data from 7 hospitals in Korea, converted to the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model. The primary outcome was occurrence of lung cancer.

Does Surgical-site Multimodal Drug Injection After Palmar Plating of Distal Radius Fractures Improve Pain Scores?

Background: Although palmar locked plating is a stable fixation method frequently used to treat unstable distal radius fractures (DRFs), surgical treatment may be painful, and so interventions to decrease that pain might improve our patients' experiences with surgery. Some surgeons use local multimodal drug injections to decrease postoperative pain after lower-extremity arthroplasty, but little is known about the effectiveness of a local multimodal drug injection in patients who undergo palmar plating for DRFs.

Questions/purposes: (1) Do patients who receive a local multimodal drug injection after palmar plating for unstable DRFs have better pain scores at 4, 8, 24, and 48 hours after surgery than patients who have not received such an injection? (2) Do patients who receive a local multimodal drug injection have lower fentanyl consumption and administration of anti-emetic drugs within the first 48 hours after surgery than patients who have not received such an injection?

Methods: A randomized controlled study was performed between August 2018 and August 2019 at a single tertiary care referral center.

Necessity of acceptable radiologic alignment by preoperative closed reduction for unstable distal radius fractures treated with volar locking plates.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the necessity of achieving acceptable radiographic alignment by preoperative closed reduction in unstable distal radius fractures (DRFs) to improve preoperative pain and obtain satisfactory outcomes after surgery.

Methods: From 2013 to 2016, patients who received volar locking plates for DRFs were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were classified into acceptable and non-acceptable reduction groups based on immediate post-reduction radiographs.

A MULTICENTRE SURVEY OF LOCAL DIAGNOSTIC REFERENCE LEVELS AND ACHIEVABLE DOSE FOR CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY AND PERCUTANEOUS TRANSLUMINAL CORONARY INTERVENTION PROCEDURES IN KOREA.

Interventional cardiology procedures can involve relatively high radiation doses compared to general radiography. During coronary angiography (CAG) and percutaneous transluminal coronary intervention (PCI), the same area is exposed to radiation for a long period. In this study, radiation exposure data of 1071 examinations in Korean hospitals were collected, and the achievable dose (AD) and diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) in actual medical practice for two types of interventional cardiology procedures in Korea were established.

Clinical features, predictors, and long-term prognosis of pacing-induced cardiomyopathy.

Aims: We investigated the clinical features, predictors, and long-term prognosis of pacing-induced cardiomyopathy (PiCM).

Methods And Results: From a retrospective analysis of 1418 consecutive pacemaker patients, 618 were found to have a preserved baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), follow-up echocardiographic data, and no history of heart failure (HF). PiCM was defined as a reduction in LVEF (< 50%) along with either (i) a ≥ 10% decrease in LVEF, or (ii) new-onset regional wall motion abnormality unrelated to coronary artery disease.

Statins Have No Role in Preventing the Progression of Aortic Valve Sclerosis.

Background: Statins are thought to have little effect on the progression of aortic stenosis, but the data on their role in patients with aortic valve sclerosis (AVS) are limited and inconsistent.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 541 consecutive patients (214 men, age: 70 ± 11 years) with AVS. Each patient underwent two or more electrocardiography examinations at least 6 months apart at Kangwon National University Hospital from August 2010 to August 2015.

Which antiarrhythmic drug to choose after electrical cardioversion: A study on non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients.

The relative efficacy of antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) after electrical cardioversion are not well established. This study aimed to investigate the efficacies of different AADs for maintaining sinus rhythm (SR) after electrical cardioversion for atrial fibrillation (AF). We selected patients from a retrospective registry including patients admitted for cardioversion between January 2012 and June 2016.

Reversible pulmonary hypertension with unclear etiology associated with suspected viral infection.

Clinical classification of pulmonary hypertension (PH) includes five groups: pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), PH due to left heart disease, PH due to lung diseases and/or hypoxemia, chronic thromboembolic PH, and PH with unclear and/or multifactorial mechanism. PH is categorized according to clinical presentation, pathological findings, hemodynamic significances and treatment strategy. The authors report a case of reversible PH with unknown etiology in association with suspected acute viral illness.

Lower diastolic wall strain is associated with coronary revascularization in patients with stable angina.

Background: Left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction occurs earlier in the ischemic cascade than LV systolic dysfunction and electrocardiographic changes. Diastolic wall strain (DWS) has been proposed as a marker of LV diastolic stiffness. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to define the relationship between DWS and coronary revascularization and to evaluate other echocardiographic parameters in patients with stable angina who were undergoing coronary angiography (CAG).