Clopidogrel Versus Aspirin as Chronic Maintenance Antiplatelet Monotherapy in Patients After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Post Hoc Analysis of the HOST-EXAM Trial.

Background: Clopidogrel monotherapy improved clinical outcomes compared with aspirin monotherapy during a chronic maintenance period in patients who underwent coronary stenting in the HOST-EXAM (Harmonizing Optimal Strategy for Treatment of Coronary Artery Stenosis-Extended Antiplatelet Monotherapy) trial. However, it is uncertain whether the beneficial effect of clopidogrel over aspirin is different according to the renal function.

Methods And Results: We conducted a post hoc analysis of the HOST-EXAM trial.

The Impact of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation on Health Care Costs and Clinical Outcomes Based on Frailty Risk: A Nationwide Cohort Analysis.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is preferred for treating severe aortic stenosis in older, frail populations, yet the impact of frailty on economic and clinical outcomes of TAVI is not well studied.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 2175 TAVI patients from 2015 to 2019, using Korea's National Health Insurance Service database, stratifying patients into low, intermediate, and high-frailty groups, using the Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS). Health care costs, admissions, and total length of hospitalization were analyzed using Wilcoxon-rank test 12 months pre- and post-TAVI.

Impact of Complete Revascularization for Acute Myocardial Infarction In Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease Patients With Diabetes Mellitus.

Background And Objectives: The clinical benefits of complete revascularization (CR) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients are unclear. Moreover, the benefit of CR is unknown in AMI with diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. We sought to compare the prognosis of CR and incomplete revascularization (IR) in patients with AMI and multivessel disease, according to the presence of DM.

Early rhythm control on diabetes-related complications and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and atrial fibrillation.

Aims: We evaluated the impact of early rhythm control (ERC) on diabetes-related complications and mortality in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: This observational cohort study based on the Korean National Health Insurance Service claims database from 2009 to 2016, divided newly diagnosed AF patients with T2DM into ERC or usual care groups based on receiving rhythm control treatment within 1 year of AF diagnosis. The primary outcome was ischemic stroke, and the secondary outcomes were macro/microvascular complications, and all-cause death.

Hederacolchiside A1 Suppresses Autophagy by Inhibiting Cathepsin C and Reduces the Growth of Colon Cancer.

While autophagy degrades non-functional or unnecessary cellular components, producing materials for synthesizing cellular components, it can also provide energy for tumor development. Hederacolchiside A1 (HA1) derived from has anticancer effects on several carcinomas by inducing apoptosis or exhibiting cytotoxicity, but the relationship with autophagy has not been studied. We investigated the association between HA1 and autophagy and evaluated its anticancer effect on colon cancer.

Feasibility and measurement stability of smartwatch-based cuffless blood pressure monitoring: A real-world prospective observational study.

Cuffless wearable devices are currently being developed for long-term monitoring of blood pressure (BP) in patients with hypertension and in apparently healthy people. This study evaluated the feasibility and measurement stability of smartwatch-based cuffless BP monitoring in real-world conditions. Users of the first smartwatch-based cuffless BP monitor approved in Korea (Samsung Galaxy Watch) were invited to upload their data from using the device for 4 weeks post calibration.

Accumulated hypertension burden on atrial fibrillation risk in diabetes mellitus: a nationwide population study.

Background: Patients with diabetes mellitus have an increased risk of incident atrial fibrillation (AF). The effect of accumulated hypertension burden is a less well-known modifiable risk factor. We explored the relationship between accumulated hypertension burden and incident AF in these patients.

The impact of socioeconomic deprivation on the risk of atrial fibrillation in patients with diabetes mellitus: A nationwide population-based study.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between socioeconomic status and the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM).

Research Design And Methods: From the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database, we identified 2,429,610 diabetic patients who underwent national health check-ups between 2009 and 2012. Tracing back the subjects for 5 years from the date of health check-up, we determined the subjects' income and whether they received medical aid (MA) during the past 5 years.

Cumulative Alcohol Consumption Burden and the Risk of Stroke in Young Adults: A Nationwide Population-Based Study.

Background And Objective: Alcohol consumption is one of the important modifiable risk factors for stroke in young adults. The association between the cumulative burden of alcohol consumption and its impact on incident stroke in young adults is unknown. We aimed to investigate the association between cumulative alcohol burden and the risk for stroke among young adults.

Habitual Alcohol Intake and Risk of Atrial Fibrillation in Young Adults in Korea.

Importance: Guidelines recommend that all risk factors for early-onset atrial fibrillation, including lifestyle factors, be proactively managed, considering the poor prognosis of the disease. Not much is known about the association of cumulative alcohol intake with the risk of atrial fibrillation in young adults aged 20 to 39 years, especially among heavy drinkers.

Objective: To explore the association of alcohol consumption with the risk of incident atrial fibrillation in young adults.

Risk of Dementia After Smoking Cessation in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Atrial Fibrillation.

Importance: Incident atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with an increased risk of dementia. However, data on the association between smoking cessation after AF diagnosis and dementia risk are limited.

Objective: To evaluate the association between changes in smoking status after AF diagnosis and dementia risk.

Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and the Risk of Incident Atrial Fibrillation in Young Adults: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a multisystem disease including cardiovascular. However, the association between NAFLD and the risk of incident atrial fibrillation (AF), especially in young adults, remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the association between NAFLD as assessed by the fatty liver index (FLI) and the risk of AF in young adults.

Low Risk of Dementia in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Atrial Fibrillation and a Clustering of Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background Limited data are available on the clinical impact of healthy lifestyle behaviors on the risk of dementia in patients with new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF). Here, we aimed to evaluate the association between a combination of healthy lifestyle behaviors and the risk of incident dementia in patients with AF. Methods and Results Using the Korean National Health Insurance database between 2009 and 2016, we identified 199 952 adult patients who were newly diagnosed as AF without dementia.

Gaucher disease type 1: Unexpected diagnosis in a 75-year old patient presenting with splenomegaly.

We present a 75-year old Korean female patient harboring novel hemizygous variant mutation in glucosidase beta acid (GBA) gene, who was diagnosed with splenic marginal zone cell lymphoma and Gaucher disease (GD) concurrently. Our case is significant in that (1) it delivers the message that GD can occur at any age regardless of ethnicity and (2) we report a novel variant of pathogenic GBA mutation, and the fact that the patient harbored hemizygous mutation.