Depression and Subclinical Coronary Atherosclerosis in Adults Without Clinical Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: The relationship between depression and subclinical coronary atherosclerosis in asymptomatic individuals is not clear. We evaluated this relationship in a Korean population.

Methods And Results: We analyzed 3920 individuals (mean age 54.

Differential Impact of Degree of Hypertension on Subclinical Coronary Atherosclerosis in Asymptomatic Subjects With and Without Diabetes Mellitus.

This study sought to evaluate the association between the degree of hypertension and subclinical coronary atherosclerosis in asymptomatic subjects with and without diabetes mellitus (DM). We retrospectively analyzed 7,352 asymptomatic subjects (mean age 52.8 ± 7.

Comprehensive Prediction of Subclinical Coronary Atherosclerosis in Subjects Without Traditional Cardiovascular Risk Factors.

It is not uncommon for asymptomatic individuals without identified cardiovascular risk factors to present with atherosclerosis-related adverse events. We aimed to evaluate the predictors of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis in individuals without traditional cardiovascular risk factors. We analyzed 2,061 individuals without identified cardiovascular risk factors who voluntarily underwent coronary computed tomography angiography as part of a general health examination.

Serum phosphorus and subclinical coronary atherosclerosis in asymptomatic subjects without kidney dysfunction.

Background And Aims: There is limited data on the association between serum phosphorus concentration (SPC) and subclinical coronary atherosclerosis in low-risk asymptomatic subjects without kidney dysfunction.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 1,636 Korean individuals (mean age 52.6 ± 7.

Combination Effects of Metformin and a Mixture of Lemon Balm and Dandelion on High-Fat Diet-Induced Metabolic Alterations in Mice.

Metformin, the first-line drug for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), has additional effects on improvements of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); however, there are no treatments for both T2DM and NAFLD. Previous studies have shown hepatoprotective effects of a mixture of lemon balm and dandelion (LD) through its antioxidant and anti-steatosis properties. Thus, combination effects of metformin and LD were examined in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced metabolic disease mouse model.

Lipoprotein(a) and subclinical coronary atherosclerosis in asymptomatic individuals.

Background And Aims: There are limited data regarding the association between lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) and subclinical coronary atherosclerosis. This study investigated the association between Lp(a) and subclinical coronary atherosclerosis detected by coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) in an asymptomatic population.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 7201 asymptomatic individuals (mean age 54.

Frequency and Significance of Right Bundle Branch Block and Subclinical Coronary Atherosclerosis in Asymptomatic Individuals.

Limited data exist regarding the association between right bundle branch block (RBBB) and subclinical coronary atherosclerosis. This study investigated the influence of RBBB on subclinical coronary atherosclerosis detected by coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) in an asymptomatic population. We retrospectively analyzed 7,205 asymptomatic individuals (mean age 54.

Gemcitabine-incorporated polyurethane films for controlled release of an anticancer drug.

Background: Local delivery of anti-cancer drugs through a stent is a very promising and anticipated treatment modality for patients who have obstructions in their gastrointestinal tract with malignant tumors. Anticancer drug release via stents, however, needs to be optimized with respect to drug delivery behavior for the stents to be effective for prolonged containment of tumor proliferation and stent re-obstruction. Local stent-based drug delivery has been tested using an effective anti-cancer drug, gemcitabine, but the release from the stent-coated polyurethane films is often too fast and the drug is depleted from the coated film virtually in a day.

Management of recurrent ileocolic intussusception.

Purpose: The aims of this study were to evaluate the need for surgical intervention for patients with recurrent ileocolic intussusception (RICI), especially for multiple recurrences, and to investigate whether early and late recurrence patterns were associated with surgery.

Methods: Patients with ileocolic intussusception (ICI) during the years 2007-2019 were included. Demographic data, recurrences, and outcomes were analyzed.

Diagnosis of urine leakage after bladder repair: a prospective comparative study of ultra-low-dose CT cystography and conventional retrograde cystography.

Purpose: We performed this prospective cohort study to compare the accuracy and technical characteristics of ultra-low-dose CT cystography with those of conventional retrograde cystography.

Materials And Methods: A cohort of 31 patients referred for cystography after bladder repair were enrolled. To detect urine leakage, we initially performed conventional cystography after retrograde distention of the bladder with dilute iodinated contrast material, followed by ultra-low-dose CT cystography.

Reference parameters for left ventricular wall thickness, thickening, and motion in stress myocardial perfusion CT: Global and regional assessment.

Purpose: To use adenosine-induced stress CT myocardial perfusion imaging (CT-MPI) to determine normal reference values for left ventricle (LV) wall thickness (WT) and motion parameters.

Methods: This study included 106 Korean subjects (52 men and 54 women) who underwent CT-MPI due to chest pain, but were not found to have any detectable mild or severe coronary artery disease or myocardial perfusion defect. The following quantitative parameters were assessed on the CT-MPI according to a 17-segment model: LV myocardial thickness at end-systolic (WT) and end-diastolic (WT) phases, systolic wall thickening (SWT), and wall motion (WM).

Neurodevelopmental outcomes in newborns with neonatal seizures caused by rotavirus-associated leukoencephalopathy.

Purpose: Rotavirus infection has recently been reported to be associated with seizures accompanied by leukoencephalopathy in newborns. We aimed to determine long-term outcomes and prognostic factors in newborns with neonatal seizures caused by rotavirus-associated leukoencephalopathy.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records and brain magnetic resonance (MR) images of 32 patients who fulfilled the following criteria: (1) neonatal seizures, (2) distinctive symmetric cerebral white matter lesions on diffusion-weighted MR images (DWI), (3) rotavirus infection, (4) absence of a specific etiology of seizures, except for the aforementioned DWI lesions, and (5) Korean Bayley Scales of Infant Development II (K-BSID-II) assessment after 12 months of age.

Type I interferon and proinflammatory cytokine levels in cerebrospinal fluid of newborns with rotavirus-associated leukoencephalopathy.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify whether there is an increase in type I interferon and proinflammatory cytokine levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of newborns with rotavirus-associated leukoencephalopathy.

Methods: Levels of type I interferons (interferon-alpha and interferon-beta) and proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6 and interferon-gamma) were measured in the cerebrospinal fluid of 23 newborns with rotavirus-associated leukoencephalopathy (patient group) and 39 infants under 90 days-of-age (control group).

Results: Cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis was not observed in either group.

Radiation Dose Reduction in Paranasal Sinus CT: With Feasibility of Iterative Reconstruction Technique.

Objectives: To (1) compare the radiation dose of low-dose computed tomography (CT) to that of standard-dose CT, (2) determine the minimum optimal radiation dose for use in patients who need endoscopic sinus surgery, and (3) assess the reliability of iterative model reconstruction.

Study Design: Prospective single-institution study.

Setting: Tertiary care center.

Diagnostic performance of on-site CT-derived fractional flow reserve versus CT perfusion.

Aims: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of on-site computed tomography (CT)-derived fractional flow reserve (FFR) and stress CT myocardial perfusion (CTP) in patients with coronary artery disease.

Methods And Results: Using a prospective CTP registry, 72 patients with invasive FFR were enrolled. CT-derived FFR was computed on-site using rest-phase CTP data.

Serum Phosphorus Concentration and Coronary Artery Calcification in Subjects without Renal Dysfunction.

Serum phosphorus (P) concentration is associated with coronary artery calcification (CAC) as well as cardiovascular events in patients with chronic kidney disease. It has been suggested that this relationship is extended to subjects without renal dysfunction, but further explorations in diverse races and regions are still needed. We performed a cross-sectional study of 2,509 Korean subjects (Far Eastern Asian) with an estimated glomerular filtration rate of ≥60 ml/min/1.

A Case Report: Cavitary Infarction Caused by Pulmonary Tumor Thrombotic Microangiopathy in a Patient with Pancreatic Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm.

Pulmonary tumor embolism is commonly discovered at autopsy, but is rarely suspected ante-mortem. Microangiopathy is an uncommon and distinct form of simple tumor pulmonary embolism. Here, we present a 52-year-old male with tumor thrombotic microangiopathy and pulmonary infarction, which might have originated from intraductal papillary mucinous tumor of the pancreas.

Development of Coronary Vasospasm during Adenosine-Stress Myocardial Perfusion CT Imaging.

Adenosine is a short-acting coronary vasodilator, and it is widely used during pharmacological stress myocardial perfusion imaging. It has a well-established safety profile, and most of its side effects are known to be mild and transient. Until now, coronary vasospasm has been rarely reported as a side effect of adenosine during or after adenosine stress test.

Reproducibility of coronary artery calcium measurements using 0.8-mm-thickness 256-slice coronary CT.

Purpose: Coronary artery calcium (CAC) measurement has been utilized as an important indicator of coronary artery disease and predictor of cardiovascular risk. The reproducibility of CAC measurements makes it clinically useful for the assessment of progression and regression of coronary atherosclerosis. This study assessed the reproducibility of the Agatston CAC score among patients undergoing 256-slice multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) scans using 0.

Value of tumor vessel sign in isolated circumscribed hypervascular abdominopelvic mesenchymal tumors on multidetector computed tomography.

Objective: The objective was to determine the usefulness of the tumor vessel sign for differentiating the groups of circumscribed hypervascular abdominopelvic mesenchymal tumors.

Methods: We enrolled a total of 4 groups such as patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) (26 patients), those with paraganglioma (9 patients), those with primary sarcomas (13 patients, excluding those with liposarcoma), and those with desmoid tumor (6 patients). The reviewers evaluated the presence of tumor vessels capable of directly tracing from the tumor margin to the named vessels.

Neonatal seizures accompanied by diffuse cerebral white matter lesions on diffusion-weighted imaging are associated with rotavirus infection.

Background And Aims: Some full-term neonates presenting seizures show diffusion-restricted lesions in the cerebral white matter on brain diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics and DWI findings in a group of neonates with seizures, white matter lesions on DWI, and a high incidence of rotavirus infection.

Methods: Total 30 full-term neonates with seizures were admitted between 2008 and 2010.

Evaluation of feasible timing of elective noncardiac procedure after antiplatelet discontinuation in patients treated with antiplatelet agents.

Background: The current standard of care is to delay noncardiac procedure (NCP) 5 to 7 days after discontinuation of antiplatelet agents (APAs) in patients with coronary stents. However, it is often difficult to follow because of concerns over stent thrombosis. The point-of-care aspirin/P2Y(12) assay (VerifyNow; Accumetrics Inc, San Diego, CA) is useful to evaluate platelet reactivity in conjunction with APAs.

Role of prostate volume in the early detection of prostate cancer in a cohort with slowly increasing prostate specific antigen.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between prostate volume and the increased risk for being diagnosed with prostate cancer (PCa) in men with slowly increasing prostate specific antigen (PSA).

Materials And Methods: A cohort of 1035 men who visited our hospital's health promotion center and were checked for serum PSA levels more than two times between January 2001 and November 2011 were included. Among them, 116 patients had a change in PSA levels from less than 4 ng/mL to more than 4 ng/mL and underwent transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy.