Prognostic Value of Pulmonary Artery Systolic Pressure in Severe Rheumatic Mitral Stenosis.

Background: Current guidelines recommend intervention for asymptomatic rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS) with mitral valve area ≤1.5 cm based on indicators including pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP) >50 mm Hg and new-onset atrial fibrillation; however, evidence supporting this is lacking.

Methods: This single-center retrospective study included patients with rheumatic MS between 2006 and 2022.

Impact of initial very low-level low-density lipoprotein cholesterol on the prognosis of acute myocardial infarction patients.

Background: Cholesterol control with statins has been shown to have beneficial effects in coronary artery disease. However, the relationship between initial very low low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and long-term clinical outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains unclear.

Methods: A total of 8741 (mean age: 64.

Impact of chronic outward force on arterial responses of proximal and distal of long superficial femoral artery stent.

Background: Self-expanding nitinol stent (SENS) implantation is commonly oversized in the superficial femoral artery (SFA), and leads to chronic outward force (COF) and in-stent restenosis (ISR). This study aimed to investigate the impact of COF of oversizing SENS on ISR of SFA.

Methods: In patients with implanted SENS in SFA, intimal hyperplasia especially between proximal segment and distal segment was evaluated by quantitative angiography, and the impact of COF on mid-term angiographic outcomes was investigated.

Assessment of Sex Differences in 5-Year Clinical Outcomes Following Endovascular Revascularization for Peripheral Artery Disease.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is an effective treatment strategy for peripheral artery disease (PAD). Data are limiting regarding sex differences in patients with PAD who underwent PTA. We assessed the sex-related differences on 5-year clinical outcomes in patients with PAD who underwent PTA.

Impact of left ventricular hypertrophy on long-term clinical outcomes in hypertensive patients who underwent successful percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents.

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is associated with increased risk for vascular events and mortality. This study investigated 8-year clinical outcomes of hypertensive patients with LVH who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents (DES) compared with hypertensive patients without LVH.A total of 1704 consecutive hypertensive patients who underwent PCI from 2004 to 2014 were enrolled.

Impact of serum lipoprotein(a) on endothelium-dependent coronary vasomotor response assessed by intracoronary acetylcholine provocation.

Background: Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic vascular disease. However, there are limited data regarding the impact of Lp(a) levels on the incidence and severity of endothelium-dependent coronary vasomotor response.

Patients And Methods: A total of 2416 patients without significant coronary artery lesion (<50% stenosis) by coronary angiography and underwent acetylcholine (ACh) provocation test were enrolled and categorized according to their serum Lp(a) level into four quartile groups: less than 6.

Five-Year Outcomes of Successful Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Drug-Eluting Stents versus Medical Therapy for Chronic Total Occlusions.

Purpose: Many recent studies have reported that successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents (DESs) for chronic total occlusion (CTO) has more beneficial effects than failed CTO-PCI; however, there are only limited data available from comparisons of successful CTO-PCI with medical therapy (MT) in the Korean population.

Materials And Methods: A total of 840 consecutive CTO patients who underwent diagnostic coronary angiography, receiving either PCI with DESs or MT, were enrolled. Patients were divided into two groups according to the treatment assigned.

Routine angiographic follow-up versus clinical follow-up in patients with diabetes following percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents in Korean population.

Aims: The usefulness of routine angiographic follow-up (RAF) and clinical follow-up (CF) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with diabetes is not well understood. We compare 3-year clinical outcomes of RAF and CF in diabetic patients underwent PCI with drug-eluting stents (DES).

Methods: A total of 843 patients with diabetes who underwent PCI with DES were enrolled.

The association of chronic air pollutants with coronary artery spasm, vasospastic angina, and endothelial dysfunction.

Background: We evaluated the effect of chronic exposure to air pollutants (APs) on coronary endothelial function and significant coronary artery spasm (CAS) as assessed by intracoronary acetylcholine (ACH) provocation test.

Patients And Methods: A total of 6430 patients with typical or atypical chest pain who underwent intracoronary ACH provocation test were enrolled. We obtained data on APs from the Korean National Institute of Environmental Research (http://www.

Selective ß1-Blockers Are Not Associated With New-onset Diabetes Mellitus in Hypertensive Patients.

Background: Although ß-blockers are known to increase new-onset diabetes mellitus (DM), previous evidence have been controversial. It has been suggested that newer vasodilatory ß-blockers yield better glycemic control than older nonselective agents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diabetogenicity of currently used newer ß-blockers based on ß1 receptor selectivity in a series of Asian population.

Hyperuricaemia and development of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Asian population.

Recently, meta-analysis studies reported that hyperuricaemia is associated with higher incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), however, there are limited data on the Asian population. The aim of this observational study is to estimate the long-term impact of hyperuricaemia on the new-onset T2DM and cardiovascular events. This study is based on a single-centre, all-comers, and large retrospective cohort.

Impact of diabetes mellitus on 5-year clinical outcomes in patients with chronic total occlusion lesions.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, there are limited data on the impact of DM in patients who have chronic total occlusion (CTO) lesion on long-term outcomes.

Patients And Methods: A total of 822 CTO patients who underwent coronary angiography, treated by either percutaneous coronary intervention or optimal medical therapy, were enrolled and divided into two groups: (i) diabetic group (n=363) and (ii) nondiabetic group (n=459).

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Versus Optimal Medical Therapy for Chronic Total Coronary Occlusion With Well-Developed Collaterals.

Background: The impact of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on chronic total occlusion in patients with well-developed collaterals is not clear.

Methods And Results: A total of 640 chronic total occlusion patients with collateral flow grade ≥2 were divided into 2 groups; chronic total occlusion patients either treated with PCI (the PCI group; n=305) or optimal medical therapy (the optimal medical therapy group; n=335). To adjust for potential confounders, a propensity score matching analysis was performed.

Clinical Value of Intraoperative Transit-Time Flow Measurement for Autogenous Radiocephalic Arteriovenous Fistula in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Background: The intraoperative assessment of autogenous arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) is crucial for achieving an optimal surgical outcome; however, it is not easy to predict the adequacy of surgically created AVF. We used the transit-time flow measurement (TTFM) method to assess the anastomotic quality of AVF and to identify the cutoff value for predicting prognosis of established AVF.

Methods: Retrospective study, a total of 187 patients were included in this study.

Surgical Removal of a Left Ventricular Thrombus Which Showed Morphologic Changes Over Time in a Patient with Stress-Induced Cardiomyopathy.

Although stress-induced cardiomyopathy (SCMP) is a reversible disease and the prognosis is usually excellent, several complications can occur and can result in fatal adverse events. The formation of left ventricular (LV) thrombus is one of these critical complications of SCMP. This report describes a case of SCMP complicated by formation of a LV thrombus that became increasingly mobile as LV contractility recovered, and for which surgical removal was performed.

A simple modification for a longer and larger internal thoracic artery as a composite Y-graft.

Objectives: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using bilateral internal thoracic artery (BITA) has been proven to improve survival. Many surgeons use the composite Y-graft which is made of left ITA (LITA) and right ITA (RITA) grafts. The LITA is typically anastomosed to left anterior descending artery (LAD).

Short- and long-term results of triple valve surgery: a single center experience.

Triple valve surgery is usually complex and carries a reported operative mortality of 13% and 10-yr survival of 61%. We examined surgical results based on our hospital's experience. A total of 160 consecutive patients underwent triple valve surgery from 1990 to 2006.

Endovenous lasering versus ambulatory phlebectomy of varicose tributaries in conjunction with endovenous laser treatment of the great or small saphenous vein.

Endovenous laser treatment (EVLT) is a widely used minimally invasive alternative to stripping of varicose veins involving the great and small saphenous veins. We expanded the applications to tributary varicosities and compared EVLT alone with combined EVLT and ambulatory phlebectomy. The study included 132 patients (76 males, 56 females) who were treated with EVLT and ambulatory phlebectomy.

Endoscopic evaluation of the quality of the anastomosis after esophagectomy with gastric tube reconstruction.

Background: The morbidity and mortality of anastomotic complications after esophagectomy have gradually decreased in recent years. However, swallowing difficulties and reflux continue to burden patients jeopardizing their quality of life. In the present study we performed endoscopic evaluation of the outcomes of esophagogastrostomy by analyzing the presence of anastomotic stenosis and reflux esophagitis.