Associations between interleukin 18 gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to vasculitis: A meta-analysis.

Interleukin 18 (IL18), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, affects the development and progress of vasculitis. The production, expression, and function of this cytokine are affected by polymorphisms of promoter region of the gene. In this study, a meta-analysis of the associations between several polymorphisms and susceptibility to vasculitis was performed.

Relationship of rheumatoid arthritis and coronary artery disease in the Korean population: a nationwide cross-sectional study.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is known to be associated with coronary artery diseases (CAD). Previous studies of the association between RA and CAD were reported mainly in non-Asian groups. We aimed to examine the prevalence of RA and the relationship between RA and CAD in South Korea.

Risk factors and outcomes of sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction and stress-induced cardiomyopathy in sepsis or septic shock: A comparative retrospective study.

While both sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction (SIMD) and stress-induced cardiomyopathy (SICMP) are common in patients with sepsis, the pathogenesis of the 2 diseases is different, and they require different treatment strategies. Thus, we aimed to investigate risk factors and outcomes between the 2 diseases.This retrospective study enrolled patients diagnosed with sepsis or septic shock, admitted to intensive care unit via emergency department in Korea University Anam Hospital, and who underwent transthoracic echocardiography within the first 24 hours of admission.