Meta-Analysis of Intravascular Ultrasound-Guided Versus Angiography-Guided Endovascular Treatment in Lower Extremity Artery Disease.

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) offers precise information about lesion morphology and enhances the optimization of endovascular treatments (EVT). Nevertheless, the impact of IVUS on the durability of EVTs and clinical outcomes remains uncertain. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy of IVUS-guided EVT compared with angiography-guided EVT.

Effect of rosuvastatin versus atorvastatin on new-onset diabetes mellitus in patients treated with high-intensity statin therapy for coronary artery disease: a post-hoc analysis from the LODESTAR randomized clinical trial.

Background: The impact of rosuvastatin versus atorvastatin on new-onset diabetes mellitus (NODM) among patients treated with high-intensity statin therapy for coronary artery disease (CAD) remains to be clarified. This study aimed to evaluate the risk of NODM in patients with CAD treated with rosuvastatin compared to atorvastatin in the randomized LODESTAR trial.

Methods: In the LODESTAR trial, patients with CAD were randomly assigned to receive either rosuvastatin or atorvastatin using a 2-by-2 factorial randomization.

Treat-to-target or high-intensity statin treatment in older adults with coronary artery disease: a post hoc analysis of the LODESTAR trial.

Background: The optimal statin treatment strategy that is balanced for both efficacy and safety has not been clearly determined in older adults with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: In the post hoc analysis of the LODESTAR (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol-targeting statin therapy versus intensity-based statin therapy in patients with coronary artery disease) trial, the impact between a treat-to-target strategy versus a high-intensity statin therapy strategy was compared in older adults (aged 75 years or older). The goal of treat-to-target low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level was 50-70 mg/dl.

Ultrasound-Driven enhancement of Pt/C catalyst stability in oxygen reduction reaction.

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have reached the commercialization phase, representing a promising approach to curbing carbon emissions. However, greater durability of PEMFCs is of paramount importance to ensure their long-term viability and effectiveness, and catalyst development has become a focal point of research. Pt nanoparticles supported on carbon materials (Pt/C) are the primary catalysts used in PEMFCs.

Treat-to-target versus high-intensity statin treatment in patients with or without diabetes mellitus: a pre-specified analysis from the LODESTAR trial.

Background: The impact of titrated versus fixed intensity statin therapy in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and diabetes mellitus (DM) remains to be elucidated.

Methods: This was a pre-specified analysis of patients with and without DM from the LODESTAR trial. Patients with CAD were randomly assigned to receive either a treat-to-target strategy with a target LDL-C level of 50-70 mg/dL or a high-intensity statin treatment.

Treat-to-Target or High-Intensity Statin in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: In patients with coronary artery disease, some guidelines recommend initial statin treatment with high-intensity statins to achieve at least a 50% reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). An alternative approach is to begin with moderate-intensity statins and titrate to a specific LDL-C goal. These alternatives have not been compared head-to-head in a clinical trial involving patients with known coronary artery disease.

Clinical Results of Drug-Coated Balloon Treatment in a Large-Scale Multicenter Korean Registry Study.

Background And Objectives: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of treatment with drug-coated balloon (DCB) in a large real-world population.

Methods: Patients treated with DCBs were included in a multicenter observational registry that enrolled patients from 18 hospitals in Korea between January 2009 and December 2017. The primary outcome was target lesion failure (TLF) defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, target vessel myocardial infarction, and clinically indicated target lesion revascularization at 12 months.

Prognostic Impact of Chronic Vasodilator Therapy in Patients With Vasospastic Angina.

Background Chronic vasodilator therapy with long-acting nitrate is frequently used to treat vasospastic angina. However, the clinical benefits of this approach are controversial. We investigated the prognostic impact of vasodilator therapy in patients with vasospastic angina from the multicenter, prospective VA-KOREA (Vasospastic Angina in KOREA) registry.

Enhancement of Catalytic Activity and Durability of Pt Nanoparticle through Strong Chemical Interaction with Electrically Conductive Support of Magnéli Phase Titanium Oxide.

In this study, we address the catalytic performance of variously sized Pt nanoparticles (NPs) (from 1.7 to 2.9 nm) supported on magnéli phase titanium oxide (MPTO, TiO) along with commercial solid type carbon (VXC-72R) for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR).

Smoking may be more harmful to vasospastic angina patients who take antiplatelet agents due to the interaction: Results of Korean prospective multi-center cohort.

Background: The interaction between smoking and the use of antiplatelet agents on the prognosis of vasospastic angina (VA) is rarely investigated.

Methods: VA-Korea is a nation-wide multi-center registry with prospective design (n = 1812). The primary endpoint was the composite occurrence of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), symptomatic arrhythmia, and cardiac death.

Long-Term Left Atrial Function after Device Closure and Surgical Closure in Adult Patients with Atrial Septal Defect.

Background: Studies comparing left atrial (LA) function after surgical closure or percutaneous closure in patients with an atrial septal defect (ASD) are lacking.

Methods: Between 1 and 3 years after ASD treatment, we retrospectively analyzed the medical records and transthoracic echocardiographic images of patients who had been diagnosed with an ASD after 20 years of age and who had undergone surgical closure (ASD-S) or percutaneous device closure (ASD-D). We measured LA peak systolic, early diastolic, and late diastolic strain values using 2-dimensional (2D) speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) and calculated reservoir, conduit, and contraction strain.

Quaternary Ammonium-Bearing Perfluorinated Polymers for Anion Exchange Membrane Applications.

Perfluorinated polymers are widely used in polymer electrolyte membranes because of their excellent ion conductivity, which are attributed to the well-defined morphologies resulting from their extremely hydrophobic main-chains and flexible hydrophilic side-chains. Perfluorinated polymers containing quaternary ammonium groups were prepared from Nafion- and Aquivion-based sulfonyl fluoride precursors by the Menshutkin reaction to give anion exchange membranes. Perfluorinated polymers tend to exhibit poor solubility in organic solvents; however, clear polymer dispersions and transparent membranes were successfully prepared using -methyl-2-pyrrolidone at high temperatures and pressures.

Effect of Operator Volume on In-Hospital Outcomes Following Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Based on the 2014 Cohort of Korean Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (K-PCI) Registry.

Background And Objectives: The relationship between operator volume and outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has not been fully investigated. We aimed to investigate the relationship between operator PCI volume and in-hospital outcomes after primary PCI for STEMI.

Methods: Among the total of 44,967 consecutive cases of PCI enrolled in the Korean nationwide, retrospective registry (K-PCI registry), 8,282 patients treated with PCI for STEMI by 373 operators were analyzed.

Clopidogrel plus Aspirin Use is Associated with Worse Long-Term Outcomes, but Aspirin Use Alone is Safe in Patients with Vasospastic Angina: Results from the VA-Korea Registry, A Prospective Multi-Center Cohort.

Anti-platelet agents are commonly used in vasospastic angina (VA) patients with comorbidity like coronary artery disease. However, long-term clinical outcomes in the use of aspirin, clopidogrel or the two agents together have rarely been investigated in VA patients. In a prospective study, we enrolled 2960 patients who received coronary angiography and ergonovine provocation test at 11 university hospitals in Korea.

Effectiveness and Safety of Zotarolimus-Eluting Stent (Resolute™ Integrity) in Patients with Diffuse Long Coronary Artery Disease.

Background And Objectives: Diffuse long coronary artery disease (DLCAD) still has unfavorable clinical outcomes after successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Resolute™ zotarolimus-eluting stent (R-ZES; Resolute™ Integrity) for patients with DLCAD.

Methods: From December 2011 to December 2014, 1,011 patients who underwent PCI using R-ZES for CAD with longer than 25 mm lesion were prospectively enrolled from 21 hospitals in Korea.

Impact of multi-vessel vasospastic angina on cardiovascular outcome.

Background And Aims: Since clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with multi-vessel vasospastic angina (VSA) are not clear, we investigated the nature and prognosis of multi-vessel VSA in Koreans.

Methods: Among 2960 patients enrolled in the VA-KOREA (Vasospastic Angina in Korea) registry, 104 definite multi-vessel VSA patients, 163 single vessel VSA patients and 737 non-VSA patients were identified using the intracoronary ergonovine provocation test.

Results: Multi-vessel VSA and single vessel VSA groups showed similar baseline characteristics and medical treatment on discharge, but different from the non-VSA group.

Evaluation of the flexural mechanical properties of various thermoplastic denture base polymers.

This study evaluated the flexural mechanical properties of various thermoplastic denture base polymers (six polyamides, four acrylic resins, polyester, polypropylene, and polycarbonate) by three different testing conditions; specimens were tested in water bath at 37°C (Wet/Water, by ISO 20795-1), or in ambient air (Wet/Air) after being immersed in distilled water for 50 h, or after desiccation for 7 days (Dry/Air). The mean ultimate flexural strength (UFS) and flexural modulus (FM) for most products ranged from 27 to 61 MPa and from 611 to 1,783 MPa respectively, which failed to meet the minimum requirements of the international standard, except for polycarbonate (89 and 2,245 MPa). The mean UFS and FM values were ranked Dry/Air>Wet/Air>Wet/Water (p<0.

The impact of a dose of the angiotensin receptor blocker valsartan on post-myocardial infarction ventricular remodelling.

Aims: Although clinical guidelines advocate the use of the highest tolerated dose of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers after acute myocardial infarction (MI), the optimal dosing or the risk-benefit profile of different doses have not been fully identified.

Methods And Results: In this multicentre trial, 495 Korean patients with acute ST segment elevation MI and subnormal left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (<50%) were randomly allocated (2:1) to receive maximal tolerated dose of valsartan (titrated up to 320 mg/day, n = 333) or low-dose valsartan (80 mg/day, n = 162) treatment. The primary objective was to assess the changes in echocardiographic parameters of LV remodelling from baseline to 12 months after discharge.

Efficacy and Tolerability of Telmisartan/Amlodipine + Hydrochlorothiazide Versus Telmisartan/Amlodipine Combination Therapy for Essential Hypertension Uncontrolled With Telmisartan/Amlodipine: The Phase III, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind TAHYTI Study.

Purpose: This 8-week study in Korea aimed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of a telmisartan/amlodipine + hydrochlorothiazide (TAH) combination versus telmisartan/amlodipine (TA) combination in patients with essential hypertension that did not respond appropriately to 4-week treatment with TA.

Methods: All patients who met the inclusion criteria received TA (40/5 mg) during a 4-week run-in period (period 1). Patients who met the criteria for essential hypertension (mean sitting systolic blood pressure [MSSBP], ≥140 and <200 mm Hg, or ≥130 and<200 mm Hg in those with diabetes mellitus or chronic kidney disease) after period 1 were randomly assigned to receive TA 40/5 mg + hydrochlorothiazide 12.