Publications by authors named "Yong-Jin Kim"
Article Synopsis
- Researchers examined how genetic risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) interacts with air pollution exposure to influence CVD outcomes.
- Using data from the UK Biobank involving over 249,000 participants, they found that individuals with high genetic risk who were also exposed to high levels of particulate matter (PM) faced significantly increased risks of cardiovascular death.
- The study suggests that reducing PM exposure and tailoring preventive strategies for those at high genetic risk could improve cardiovascular health outcomes.
Article Synopsis
- Optimal medical treatment using angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (ARNI) can improve left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with heart failure with reduced EF (HFrEF), with a significant portion (46.4%) experiencing improvement after one year.
- The study identified several factors affecting outcomes: older age, male sex, and larger heart size predicted persistent HFrEF, while atrial fibrillation and high blood pressure were inversely linked.
- Patients with improved ejection fraction (HFimpEF) had lower rates of all-cause and cardiac mortality compared to those with persistent HFrEF (perHFrEF), suggesting that ARNI therapy leads to better overall outcomes in HFrEF
Article Synopsis
- Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is a disease linked to eosinophils, leading to inflammation in small to medium blood vessels, and the REVEAL study examined how often it overlaps with other eosinophil-associated diseases (EADs).
- In a sub-study of 701 EGPA patients, around 72.2% had at least one overlapping EAD, with notable healthcare costs: the average annual cost was $98,644, mostly from outpatient services.
- Patients not receiving certain treatments had higher overall costs but lower disease-specific costs compared to those on treatments, revealing that more overlapping EADs resulted in increased healthcare resource utilization and expenses.
Article Synopsis
- Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common primary kidney disease worldwide, and this study investigates the impact of intrarenal vascular lesions on patient prognosis, as current grading systems largely overlook these lesions.
- Conducted at Kyungpook National University Hospital from 2016 to 2021, the research analyzed the medical records of 138 IgAN patients, focusing on pathological features like fibrous intimal thickening and arteriolar wall thickening.
- Results indicated that patients with arteriolar wall thickening had significantly lower kidney function (eGFR), higher serum creatinine, and increased global glomerulosclerosis, suggesting a link to more severe disease progression and potential end-stage renal disease.
Article Synopsis
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a condition with different forms and varying risks for sudden cardiac death (SCD), and this study aimed to categorize these forms based on their SCD-related features and outcomes.
- Researchers analyzed data from 1,231 HCM patients and identified three distinct groups: young patients with low SCD risk (Group 1), young patients with high SCD risk (Group 2), and older patients (Group 3) who faced different rates of SCD and other complications.
- The findings suggest that using these clear phenotypes can help better assess risks and manage patients with HCM more effectively.
Article Synopsis
- * A review of 206 patient charts revealed that 14% experienced ITM, which was associated with more severe postoperative reflux symptoms and a longer use of anti-reflux medication.
- * Patients with ITM also had a higher incidence of esophagitis confirmed through examinations, establishing a significant link between ITM and adverse clinical outcomes.
Article Synopsis
- The study evaluated the effectiveness of fimasartan, an antihypertensive medication, by comparing its impact on patients transitioning to three-drug therapy with calcium channel blockers (CCBs) vs. other angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs).
- Data was collected from a large cohort of 34,422 patients in South Korea who were prescribed ARBs and CCBs, with a focus on those taking fimasartan and those taking other ARBs, over a follow-up period of 2.5 years.
- Results showed that patients on fimasartan had a significantly lower rate of needing additional antihypertensive medications, suggesting fimasartan may be more effective for managing hypertension compared
Article Synopsis
- * This study used cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging to evaluate myocardial health and found that increased interstitial fibrosis (measured by extracellular volume fraction, ECV%) correlates with worse health outcomes in these patients.
- * Over a median follow-up of 5.7 years, higher ECV% was linked to increased mortality and heart failure admissions, indicating that ECV% could be a valuable tool for identifying patients needing closer monitoring.
Effect of Evogliptin on the Progression of Aortic Valvular Calcification.
J Am Coll Cardiol
September 2024
Article Synopsis
- The study explored whether evogliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, could slow the progression of aortic stenosis (AS) in 228 patients over 96 weeks, measuring changes in aortic valve calcium volume (AVCV).
- Results showed no significant reduction in AVCV for either dosage of evogliptin compared to placebo; however, evogliptin groups had significantly lower active calcification volume at 48 weeks using F-sodium fluoride PET.
- Although evogliptin did not appear to protect against AV calcification, the study suggests the potential for longer-term benefits, indicating a need for larger trials to confirm these findings.
Article Synopsis
- This study investigates the impact of personality traits on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) using data from over 8,000 individuals followed for up to 13.6 years.
- Key findings indicate that the personality trait of diligence is associated with a lower risk of several types of CVD, suggesting that more conscientious individuals may have better health outcomes.
- Additionally, adopting healthy lifestyle behaviors, such as managing obesity and staying active, can further reduce CVD risk, regardless of one's level of diligence.
Article Synopsis
- Right ventricular (RV) systolic dysfunction is a key prognostic factor in patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR), yet traditional echocardiography struggles to assess RV function accurately.
- This study examined the effectiveness of speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) in measuring RV function by comparing RV free wall longitudinal strain (RVFWLS) and global longitudinal strain (RVGLS) to RV ejection fraction (RVEF) obtained from cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR).
- Results showed that RVFWLS was the most reliable indicator of RV systolic dysfunction, outperforming RV fractional area change in its ability to discriminate between normal and reduced RV function, indicating STE's potential for better assessment
Article Synopsis
- The study investigated the impact of strict blood pressure (BP) control on health outcomes in patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD), focusing on whether targeting systolic BP (SBP) below 130 mmHg has benefits compared to below 140 mmHg.
- A total of 341 DKD patients were split into standard and strict BP control groups, with cardiovascular and renal events being monitored over a follow-up period of 2.8 years.
- Results showed that while strict BP control didn't significantly lower the risk of health events, maintaining achieved SBP levels between 130-139 mmHg was linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular and renal complications.
Anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS) nephropathy is an autoimmune disease that is sometimes accompanied by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Here, we report the use of rituximab to treat a case of APS nephropathy in a SLE patient with recurrent vascular thrombosis. A 52-year-old woman, who had been diagnosed with SLE 11 years earlier, was referred to a nephrology clinic for evaluation of azotaemia and proteinuria.
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- The study aimed to investigate if managing dyslipidaemia with fibrates could influence the expression of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in patients, particularly those with obesity and metabolic issues.
- Researchers analyzed data from a large cohort of fibrate users, matching them with a similar group who did not use fibrates, to identify new cases of clinical HCM over a median follow-up of almost 4 years.
- The results showed that fibrate use significantly reduced the risk of developing clinical HCM, especially in individuals who were obese or had poor metabolic health, highlighting the potential benefits of fibrates in these populations.
Article Synopsis
- - The study evaluated how various cardiometabolic risk factors, such as metabolic syndrome and individual factors like high fasting glucose and low HDL cholesterol, impact the progression of coronary plaque and the likelihood of major cardiovascular events in patients with stable coronary artery disease.
- - In a cohort of 1,200 patients followed over several years, 28% experienced rapid coronary plaque progression, identified primarily through increased atheroma volume, which indicates worsening arterial health.
- - The findings suggest that a combination of risk factors, particularly high blood sugar and blood pressure, significantly forecast both plaque progression and serious cardiovascular incidents, highlighting the importance of monitoring these factors in at-risk patients.
Article Synopsis
- The study developed a predictive model to monitor weight loss in Korean patients post-bariatric surgery, focusing on sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.
- It analyzed data from 765 patients over 24 months, identifying factors like gender, BMI, and age that influence weight loss outcomes.
- The resulting percentile charts can help healthcare providers track patient progress and decide when additional interventions are needed for those struggling to lose weight.
2023 Korean Society of Echocardiography position paper for the diagnosis and management of valvular heart disease, part II: mitral and tricuspid valve disease.
Chi Young Shim Eun Kyoung Kim Dong-Hyuk Cho Jun-Bean Park Jeong-Sook Seo In-Cheol Kim Hyung Yoon Kim Hyue Mee Kim Yong-Jin Kim Kye Hun Kim Hyungseop Kim
J Cardiovasc Imaging
June 2024
Article Synopsis
- This manuscript outlines the official stance of the Korean Society of Echocardiography on valvular heart diseases, focusing on their diagnosis and management.
- It references recent guidelines from major cardiac organizations like the American College of Cardiology and the European Society of Cardiology.
- The paper includes a systematic review of national data and plans to provide specific recommendations for mitral and tricuspid valve disease in a subsequent section.
Article Synopsis
- * The research revealed that the most common treatment was first-line systemic therapy, leading to a median overall survival (mOS) of 9.0 months, compared to 6.5 months for the entire cohort.
- * The average cost of treatment per patient was approximately $49,640 CAD, with oral medications and hospitalizations contributing the most to expenses, highlighting the importance of evaluating treatment strategies amid new therapeutic options.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the role of early diastolic mitral annular tissue velocity (e') as a prognostic marker for patients with mitral regurgitation (MR).
- It analyzed 1,536 patients under 65 years old with moderate to severe chronic primary MR, focusing on all-cause and cardiovascular mortality over a median follow-up of 6 years.
- Findings indicate that an abnormal e' velocity (≤7 cm/s) is a significant independent predictor for both all-cause and cardiovascular death, enhancing mortality risk assessment in these patients.
Article Synopsis
- This study investigates how COVID-19 infection control measures affected healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) in hematology units from 2019 to 2020.
- The researchers found that while the rates of infections from vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) stayed the same, Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) rates increased significantly after the pandemic began.
- Contrarily, common respiratory virus (cRV) infections decreased dramatically during the same period, highlighting the effectiveness of COVID-19 control measures but also indicating a need for specific strategies to tackle CDI and protect vulnerable patients.