Association Between the Timing of Coronary Angiography, Targeted Temperature Management, and Neurological Outcomes After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Nationwide Population-Based Registry Study in Korea.

Background: Coronary angiography (CAG) and targeted temperature management (TTM) may improve clinical outcomes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. This study aimed to assess whether the intervention effects differed according to timing and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) performance.

Methods And Results: Adult patients with presumed cardiac cause who underwent CAG and TTM within 24 hours following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest were included from the Korean nationwide out-of-hospital cardiac arrest registry.

Prognostic Implication of Ventricular Volumetry in Early Brain Computed Tomography after Cardiac Arrest.

Brain swelling after cardiac arrest may affect brain ventricular volume. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic implications of ventricular volume on early thin-slice brain computed tomography (CT) after cardiac arrest. We measured the gray-to-white matter ratio (GWR) and the characteristics and volumes of the lateral, third, and fourth ventricles.

Good outcome prediction after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: A prospective multicenter observational study in Korea (the KORHN-PRO registry).

Aim: To assess the ability of clinical examination, biomarkers, electrophysiology and brain imaging, individually or in combination to predict good neurological outcomes at 6 months after CA.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of the Korean Hypothermia Network Prospective Registry 1.0, which included adult out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients (≥18 years).

Glucose control and outcomes in diabetic and nondiabetic patients treated with targeted temperature management after cardiac arrest.

Hyperglycemia is commonly observed in critically ill patients and postcardiac arrest patients, with higher glucose levels and variability associated with poorer outcomes. In this study, we aim to compare glucose control in diabetic and nondiabetic patients using glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, providing insights for better glucose management strategies. This retrospective observational study was conducted at Seoul St.

Association between early lactate-related variables and 6-month neurological outcome in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients.

Introduction: The role of lactate measurement in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survivors remains controversial. We assessed the association between early lactate-related variables, OHCA characteristics, and long-term neurological outcome.

Methods: In OHCA patients who received targeted temperature management, lactate levels were measured at 0, 12, and 24 h after the return of spontaneous circulation.

Serum spectrin breakdown product and neurofilament heavy in predicting outcome after cardiac arrest: A diagnostic accuracy study.

Objectives: Spectrin breakdown products 145 kDa (SBDP145) and neurofilament heavy chain (Nf-H) have been identified as potential biomarkers of neuronal injury. However, their ability to predict hypoxic-ischemic brain injury following cardiac arrest in humans is not well understood. This study aimed to investigate whether SBDP145 and Nf-H could be used as biomarkers to predict neurological outcomes after cardiac arrest.

Predictive Validity of a New Triage System for Outcomes in Patients Visiting Pediatric Emergency Departments: A Nationwide Study in Korea.

Triage is essential for rapid and efficient intervention in patients visiting an emergency department. In Korea, since 2016, the Pediatric Korean Triage and Acuity Scale (PedKTAS) has been implemented nationwide for the triage of patients visiting pediatric emergency departments (PEDs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of the PedKTAS in patients who visit PEDs.

Prognostic Performance of Initial Clinical Examination in Predicting Good Neurological Outcome in Cardiac Arrest Patients Treated with Targeted Temperature Management.

Prognostication studies of cardiac arrest patients have mainly focused on poor neurological outcomes. However, an optimistic prognosis for good outcome could provide both justification to maintain and escalate treatment and evidence-based support to persuade family members or legal surrogates after cardiac arrest. The aim of the study was to evaluate the utility of clinical examinations performed after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in predicting good neurological outcomes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients treated with targeted temperature management (TTM).

Novel serum biomarkers for predicting neurological outcomes in postcardiac arrest patients treated with targeted temperature management.

Objective: To determine the clinical feasibility of novel serum biomarkers in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients treated with target temperature management (TTM).

Methods: This study was a prospective observational study conducted on OHCA patients who underwent TTM. We measured conventional biomarkers, neuron‑specific enolase and S100 calcium-binding protein (S-100B), as well as novel biomarkers, including tau protein, neurofilament light chain (NFL), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L1 (UCH-L1), at 0, 24, 48, and 72 h after the return of spontaneous circulation identified by SIMOA immunoassay.

A novel cardiac arrest severity score for the early prediction of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury and in-hospital death.

Introduction: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) outcomes are unsatisfactory despite postcardiac arrest care. Early prediction of prognoses might help stratify patients and provide tailored therapy. In this study, we derived and validated a novel scoring system to predict hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI) and in-hospital death (IHD).

Stem cell laden nano and micro collagen/PLGA bimodal fibrous patches for myocardial regeneration.

Background: Although the use of cardiac patches is still controversial, cardiac patch has the significance in the field of the tissue engineered cardiac regeneration because it overcomes several shortcomings of intra-myocardial injection by providing a template for cells to form a cohesive sheet. So far, fibrous scaffolds fabricated using electrospinning technique have been increasingly explored for preparation of cardiac patches. One of the problems with the use of electrospinning is that nanofibrous structures hardly allow the infiltration of cells for development of 3D tissue construct.

Development of a Cranial Suture Traction Therapy Program for Facial Asymmetry Correction Using the New Delphi Technique.

We aimed to develop a cranial suture traction therapy program, a non-surgical therapeutic method for facial asymmetry correction. Six experts, including rehabilitation medicine specialists, oriental medical doctors, dentistry specialists, five experts, including Master's or doctoral degree holders in skin care and cosmetology with more than 10 years of experience in the field, 4 experts including educators in the field of skin care, a total of 15 people participated in the validation of the development of the cranial suture traction therapy program in stages 1 to 3. Open questions were used in the primary survey.

The association of different target temperatures in targeted temperature management with neurological outcome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest based on a prospective multicenter observational study in Korea (the KORHN-PRO registry): IPTW analysis.

Background: Among comatose survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), targeted temperature management (TTM) has improved neurological outcomes. However, although the target temperature shifted from 33°C to 33°C~36°C, the optimal target temperature is still unclear. The goal of this study was to evaluate neurological outcomes at 6 months at target temperatures of 33°C and 36°C.

Can Optic Nerve Sheath Images on a Thin-Slice Brain Computed Tomography Reconstruction Predict the Neurological Outcomes in Cardiac Arrest Survivors?

We analyzed the prognostic performance of optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) on thin-slice (0.6 mm) brain computed tomography (CT) reconstruction images as compared to routine-slice (4 mm) images. We conducted a retrospective analysis of brain CT images taken within 2 h after cardiac arrest.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on patients with cardio/cerebrovascular disease who visit the emergency department.

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic situation is a state that has had a great impact on the medical system and society. To respond to the pandemic situation, various methods, such as a pre-triage system, are being implemented in the emergency medical field. However, there are insufficient studies on the effects of this pandemic situation on patients visiting the emergency department (ED), especially those with cardio/cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) classified as time-dependent emergencies.

External validation of the 2020 ERC/ESICM prognostication strategy algorithm after cardiac arrest.

Purpose: To assess the performance of the post-cardiac arrest (CA) prognostication strategy algorithm recommended by the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) and the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) in 2020.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of the Korean Hypothermia Network Prospective Registry 1.0.

External validation of cardiac arrest-specific prognostication scores developed for early prognosis estimation after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in a Korean multicenter cohort.

We evaluated the performance of cardiac arrest-specific prognostication scores developed for outcome prediction in the early hours after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in predicting long-term outcomes using independent data. The following scores were calculated for 1,163 OHCA patients who were treated with targeted temperature management (TTM) at 21 hospitals in South Korea: OHCA, cardiac arrest hospital prognosis (CAHP), C-GRApH (named on the basis of its variables), TTM risk, 5-R, NULL-PLEASE (named on the basis of its variables), Serbian quality of life long-term (SR-QOLl), cardiac arrest survival, revised post-cardiac arrest syndrome for therapeutic hypothermia (rCAST), Polish hypothermia registry (PHR) risk, and PROgnostication using LOGistic regression model for Unselected adult cardiac arrest patients in the Early stages (PROLOGUE) scores and prediction score by Aschauer et al. Their accuracies in predicting poor outcome at 6 months after OHCA were determined using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and calibration belt.

The relationship between body mass index and neurologic outcomes in survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest treated with targeted temperature management.

Background: The association of body mass index with outcome in patients treated with targeted temperature management (TTM) after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of body mass index (BMI) on neurological outcomes and mortality in resuscitated patients treated with TTM after OHCA.

Methods: This multicenter, prospective, observational study was performed with data from 22 hospitals included in the Korean Hypothermia Network KORHN-PRO registry.

Differences in the gray-to-white matter ratio according to different computed tomography scanners for outcome prediction in post-cardiac arrest patients receiving target temperature management.

The gray-to-white matter ratio (GWR) has been used to identify brain damage in comatose patients after cardiac arrest. However, Hounsfield units (HUs), the measurement of brain density on computed tomography (CT) images, may vary depending on the machine type or parameter. Therefore, differences in CT scanners may affect the GWR in post-cardiac arrest patients.

Late Awakening Is Common in Settings Without Withdrawal of Life-Sustaining Therapy in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Survivors Who Undergo Targeted Temperature Management.

Objectives: We investigated awakening time and characteristics of awakening compared nonawakening and factors contributing to poor neurologic outcomes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors in no withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy settings.

Design: Retrospective analysis of the Korean Hypothermia Network Pro registry.

Setting: Multicenter ICU.

Prognostic value of brainstem auditory and visual evoked potentials in cardiac arrest patients with targeted temperature management.

Purpose: We analysed the prognostic value of somatosensory, brainstem auditory and visual evoked potentials (SSEPs, BAEPs and VEPs, respectively) for outcome prediction in cardiac arrest patients with targeted temperature management (TTM) and assessed whether BAEP and VEP measurements conferred added value to SSEP measurements.

Methods: Cases with SSEPs and VEPs or BAEPs were reviewed in a TTM registry. We focused on whether the following responses were clearly discernible: N20 for SSEPs, V for BAEPs, and P100 for VEPs.

Complete Genome Sequences of Two Type 3 Porcine Circoviruses, WB17KW and WB20GG, Isolated from Korean Wild Boar.

Porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3) in domestic pigs was first reported in South Korea in 2017. Here, we report the first complete genome sequences of two PCV3 strains isolated from Korean wild boar, which enhance our understanding about the genetic relatedness of PCV3 in domestic pigs and wild boar.

Which Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Patients without ST-Segment Elevation Benefit from Early Coronary Angiography? Results from the Korean Hypothermia Network Prospective Registry.

The effect of early coronary angiography (CAG) in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients without ST-elevation (STE) is still controversial. It is not known which subgroups of patients without STE are the most likely to benefit. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between emergency CAG and neurologic outcomes and identify subgroups with improved outcomes when emergency CAG was performed.