Evaluation of propidium monoazide-quantitative PCR to detect viable Mycobacterium fortuitum after chlorine, ozone, and ultraviolet disinfection.

We evaluated whether propidium monoazide (PMA) combined with real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) is suitable for detecting viable Mycobacterium fortuitum after chlorine, ozone, and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection. PMA-qPCR was effective in determining the viability of M. fortuitum compared with qPCR based on the membrane integrity.

A waterborne outbreak and detection of cryptosporidium oocysts in drinking water of an older high-rise apartment complex in seoul.

From May to June 2012, a waterborne outbreak of 124 cases of cryptosporidiosis occurred in the plumbing systems of an older high-rise apartment complex in Seoul, Republic of Korea. The residents of this apartment complex had symptoms of watery diarrhea and vomiting. Tap water samples in the apartment complex and its adjacent buildings were collected and tested for 57 parameters under the Korean Drinking Water Standards and for additional 11 microbiological parameters.

Production of various disinfection byproducts in indoor swimming pool waters treated with different disinfection methods.

In this study, the concentrations of disinfection byproducts (DBPs), including trihalomethanes (THMs; chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, and bromoform), haloacetic acids (HAAs; dichloroacetic acid and trichloroacetic acid), haloacetonitriles (HANs; dichloroacetonitrile, trichloroacetonitrile, bromochloroacetonitrile, and dibromoacetonitrile), and chloral hydrate (CH) were measured in 86 indoor swimming pools in Seoul, Korea, treated using different disinfection methods, such as chlorine, ozone and chlorine, and a technique that uses electrochemically generated mixed oxidants (EGMOs). The correlations between DBPs and other environmental factors such as with total organic carbon (TOC), KMnO(4) consumption, free residual chlorine, pH, and nitrate (NO(3)(-)) in the pools were examined. The geometric mean concentrations of total DBPs in swimming pool waters were 183.

The relationship between heart rate recovery and brain natruretic Peptide in patients with chest discomfort: a study for relationship between heart rate recovery and pre-exercise, post-exercise levels of brain natruretic Peptide in patients with normal systolic function and chest discomfort.

Background And Objectives: The correlation between brain natruretic peptide (BNP) level and cardiac autonomic function has been studied in type 2 diabetic patients. However, there is limited data from patients with normal systolic function. We evaluated the association between heart rate recovery (HRR) representing autonomic dysfunction and three plasma BNP levels: pre-exercise, post-exercise, and change during exercise in patients with normal systolic function.

Association of smoking status, weight change, and incident metabolic syndrome in men: a 3-year follow-up study.

Objective: We investigated the incidence of the metabolic syndrome and assessed the effect of smoking status and weight change on incident metabolic syndrome.

Research Design And Methods: This study included 4,542 men without metabolic syndrome at baseline who were followed for an average of 3 years. Subjects were divided into four categories according to smoking status at baseline and at the 3-year follow-up.

Serum phosphate levels and the risk of cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome: a double-edged sword.

This study was performed to evaluate the relationship between serum phosphate levels and cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome components in a cross-sectional survey. Plasma phosphate was measured by immunoturbidimetry in 46,798 subjects over 20 years of age with an estimated GFR>or=60 mL/(min 1.73 m(2)) who participated in a health-check survey at the Kangbuk Samsung Hospital in South Korea.

Effect of N-acetylcysteine on cystatin C-based renal function after elective coronary angiography (ENABLE Study): a prospective, randomized trial.

Background: Several studies have reported the role of N-acetylcysteine on the prevention of contrast induced nephropathy (CIN) with conflicting results. To date, the effect of acetylcysteine on cystatin C-based CIN has not been described. This study was designed to examine the incidence of cystatin C-based CIN and investigate the effect of N-acetylcysteine on the prevention of CIN after coronary angiography (CAG).

Higher serum free thyroxine levels are associated with coronary artery disease.

Thyroid hormone has many effects on the heart and cardiovascular system. Thyrotoxicosis is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, primarily due to heart failure and thromboembolism. However, the relationship between thyroid hormone excess and the cardiac complications of angina pectoris and myocardial infarction remains largely speculative.

Relationship between metabolic syndrome categorized by newly recommended by International Diabetes Federation criteria with plasma homocysteine concentration.

Plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and increased tHcy levels have been reported to be a novel risk factor of atherosclerotic disease. The aim of this study was to assess the association of the metabolic syndrome components with plasma (tHcy) level. Total 722 participants (284 men, 438 women) from the medical checkup program were enrolled in this study.

Lack of correlation between QTc dispersion and morning blood pressure surge in recently diagnosed essential hypertensive patients.

Background: Cardiovascular events are known to occur more frequently in patients with a high morning surge in blood pressure (BP), but the correlation between a morning BP surge and corrected QT dispersion (QTc) has not been confirmed to date.

Methods And Results: The correlation between the morning BP surge and QTc was studied in 82 patients recently diagnosed with high BP (47 males, 35 females). Twenty-four-hours BP monitoring was conducted to classify patients into dipper (n=45) or nondipper (n=37) groups according to the degree of nocturnal BP reduction.

Comparison of microalbuminuria in 2 blood pressure categories of prehypertensive subjects.

Background: Subjects with high normal blood pressure (BP: systolic, 130-139 mmHg or diastolic, 85-89 mmHg) have higher cardiovascular risks compared with individuals with normal BP (systolic BP, 120-129 mmHg or diastolic BP, 80-84 mmHg). In the present study the prevalence of microalbuminuria and cardiovascular risk factors, as well as factors that influence microalbuminuria, were assessed in 2 groups of subjects with prehypertension.

Methods And Results: Of 2,678 prehypertensive subjects (1,689 men, 989 women), none had a history of diabetes or hypertension.

No association of Pro12Ala polymorphism of PPAR-gamma gene with coronary artery disease in Korean subjects.

Background: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma, a member of the nuclear hormone receptor family, which is involved in the differentiation of adipose tissue, is reported to be associated with the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance and atherosclerosis. Whether the prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) is associated with Pro12Ala polymorphism in exon B of PPAR-gamma was investigated in Korean adults.

Methods And Results: The study was conducted in 267 subjects (158 males, 109 females, mean age 58 years) who underwent coronary angiography because of chest pain.

Presence and severity of coronary artery disease and changes in B-type natriuretic peptide levels in patients with a normal systolic function.

B-type brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels increase during myocardial ischemia. Here, the authors undertook to evaluate the correlation between changes in plasma BNP levels during exercise and the presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). The study subjects consisted of 159 hospitalized patients with a normal systolic function.

The differential effects of age on the association of KLOTHO gene polymorphisms with coronary artery disease.

The Klotho knockout mouse is thought to be a good animal model for human aging. Recent studies have reported on the association of KLOTHO gene mutation with cardiovascular disease in humans. We observed the frequencies of single nucleotide polymorphisms, that is, G-395A in the promoter region, C1818T in exon 4, and a functional variant, KL-VS, of KLOTHO gene in Koreans, and we investigated their relationships with the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients who had undergone coronary angiograms.

Assessment of factors affecting plasma BNP levels in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation and preserved left ventricular systolic function.

Background: Several studies have reported that plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels are increased in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation (AF). The objective of this study was to assess the factors influencing plasma BNP levels in patients with chronic AF and preserved left ventricular (LV) systolic function.

Methods: Transthoracic echocardiography was performed in 104 patients (48 men, 56 women; mean age, 63.

Associations between two single nucleotide polymorphisms of adiponectin gene and coronary artery diseases.

Adiponectin, an adipocyte-secreted protein, is known to have anti-atherogenic, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic properties and its serum levels are decreased in obesity, type 2 diabetes, and coronary artery disease. Several studies have been performed to investigate the association of genetic variations in the adiponectin with obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes, but few studies were performed in association with coronary artery disease. Therefore we examined the associations between two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), +45T>G and +276G>T of the adiponectin gene, and coronary artery diseases (CAD).

Comparison of the relationships between serum apolipoprotein B and serum lipid distributions.

Background: Apolipoprotein B (apo B) has been reported to be a better predictor of coronary artery disease than cholesterol indices. The objectives of this study were to evaluate concordances/discordances between cholesterol indices and apo B and to assess the factors that influence them.

Methods: For this study, 11 816 individuals (6965 males, 4851 females), none of whom had a past history of coronary artery disease, were selected from among visitors to the health promotion center at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital between January and December 2002.

Relationship between serum uric acid concentration and insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.

Background: Associations between hyperuricemia, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes have been reported, but few of the studies have been conducted in the Korean population. The present study examined a Korean adult population with respect to the relationships between serum uric acid concentrations and hypertension, insulin resistance, and the risk factors of metabolic syndrome.

Methods And Results: A total of 53,477 subjects were divided into 4 groups according to serum uric acid quartiles.

Situational syncope induced by belching.

We describe a case of situational syncope induced by belching. The patient showed severe syncope with a high-degree atrioventricular block just after belching, but has not experienced syncope or dizziness over a 3-month follow-up after permanent pacemaker implantation.

Sex difference in the relationship between insulin resistance and corrected QT interval in non-diabetic subjects.

Background: Men with a prolonged corrected QT (QTc) interval have an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality and sudden death, even in healthy individuals. In addition, prolonged QTc is a predictor of mortality in diabetics. However, the relationship between insulin resistance and QTc is not clarified in non-diabetic healthy people.

Relationship of serum osteoprotegerin levels with coronary artery disease severity, left ventricular hypertrophy and C-reactive protein.

OPG (osteoprotegerin) is an inhibitor of osteoclastogenesis and recent work suggests it has a role in atherosclerosis. Therefore we measured serum OPG levels in patients with coronary artery disease, compared the serum OPG levels among the different groups according to the number of stenotic vessels and determined whether there was any correlation with aortic calcification, LV (left ventricular) mass index and serum CRP (C-reactive protein) levels. Subjects (n=100; mean age, 57 years) who underwent coronary angiograms were enrolled.

In normoglycemic Koreans, insulin resistance and adipocity are independently correlated with high blood pressure.

Background: There is some controversy about the role of insulin resistance (IR) in the regulation of blood pressure (BP). Moreover, a large study of the association between BP and IR has not been conducted in normal glucose tolerance Asians. The present study investigated the relationships between IR, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference and BP in normoglycemic Koreans.

Relationship between peripheral leukocyte count and the severity of stable angina determined by coronary angiography.

Background: Inflammation has been demonstrated to be an important risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The relationship of the peripheral leukocyte count to the severity of stable angina remains to be clarified. The present study analyzed the relationship of the peripheral leukocyte count to the severity of stable angina determined by coronary angiography.

C-reactive protein concentrations are related to insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome as defined by the ATP III report.

Background: C-reactive protein (CRP), very sensitive acute phase reactant, is an important marker of coronary artery disease. However, the relationship between insulin resistance and CRP has not been thoroughly studied. We observed the association between CRP, insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome as defined by the ATP III report, and thus identified the role of CRP in the relation to insulin resistance.