Understanding the Korean Dialysis Cohort for Mineral, Vascular Calcification, and Fracture (ORCHESTRA) Study: Design, Method, and Baseline Characteristics.

Introduction: End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a growing disease worldwide, including Korea. This is an important condition that affects patient outcome. To provide optimal management for mineral disturbance, vascular calcification, and bone disease in ESRD patients, the Korean dialysis cohort for mineral, vascular calcification, and fracture (ORCHESTRA) study was conducted by enrolling Korean dialysis patients.

Derivation and validation of a combined in-hospital mortality and bleeding risk model in acute myocardial infarction.

Background: In the potent new antiplatelet era, it is important issue how to balance the ischemic risk and the bleeding risk. However, previous risk models have been developed separately for in-hospital mortality and major bleeding risk. Therefore, we aimed to develop and validate a novel combined model to predict the combined risk of in-hospital mortality and major bleeding at the same time for initial decision making in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Variation in treatment strategy for non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction: A multilevel methodological approach.

Background: Variations by hospital and region in the selection of an early invasive strategy (EIS) after non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) in patients with high-risk criteria are unknown.

Methods: We evaluated the data of 7037 patients with NSTEMI from 20 hospitals of 3 regions from the Korean Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry-National Institute of Health database. We used hierarchical generalized linear mixed-models to estimate region- and hospital-level variation in the selection of an EIS after adjusting for patient-level high-risk criteria.

Usefulness of Calculation of Cardiovascular Risk Factors to Predict Outcomes in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Cardiovascular risk factors contribute differently to short-term prognosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI); hypertension and diabetes increase adverse outcomes, whereas hyperlipidemia, smoking, and obesity seem to paradoxically decrease these in post-MI patients. We aimed to investigate whether a simple calculation of conventional risk factors, PARADOCS (Pressure of ARtery elevAtion, Diabetes, Obesity, Cholesterol, Smoking) score, would improve the ability to predict major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) in post-MI patients. Between November 2011 and December 2015, 13,104 patients with diagnosis of AMI were analyzed in this study from Korean AMI Registry - National Institute of Health database.

Intravascular modality-guided versus angiography-guided percutaneous coronary intervention in acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Few data are available for current usage patterns of intravascular modalities such as intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and fractional flow reserve (FFR) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Moreover, patient and procedural-based outcomes related to intravascular modality guidance compared to angiography guidance have not been fully investigated yet.

Methods: We examined 11,731 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) from the Korea AMI Registry-National Institute of Health database.

Radial Versus Femoral Access With or Without Vascular Closure Device in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Compared with transradial intervention (TRI), it is unclear whether transfemoral intervention (TFI) with vascular closure device (VCD) improves major adverse cardiocerebrovascular events (MACCE) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The aim of this study is to compare TRI versus TFI with or without VCD for reducing MACCEs. We examined 11,596 patients who underwent TRI or TFI from the Korean AMI Registry - National Institute of Health database.

Combination Therapy of Rosuvastatin and Ezetimibe in Patients with High Cardiovascular Risk.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of rosuvastatin/ezetimibe combination therapy in Korean patients with high cardiovascular risk.

Methods: This was a 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study. A total of 337 patients were screened.

Angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers as a first choice in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Background/aims: Angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers (ARBs) have not been adequately evaluated in patients without left ventricular (LV) dysfunction or heart failure after acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods: Between November 2005 and January 2008, 6,781 patients who were not receiving angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or ARBs were selected from the Korean AMI Registry. The primary endpoints were 12-month major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) including death and recurrent AMI.

Contemporary Trends of Optimal Evidence-Based Medical Therapy at Discharge for Patients Surviving Acute Myocardial Infarction From the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry.

Background: Temporal trends of evidence-based optimal medical therapy (OMT) at discharge after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have not been investigated in recent years.

Hypothesis: OMT should have been increased in AMI and gap between guidelines and practices in its use should have been narrowed.

Methods: We examined discharge medications of 17,578 post-MI patients who had no documented contraindications to antiplatelet agents, β-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, or statins across a 6-year period (divided into subperiods of November 2005 to December 2006 [period 1], 2007 [period 2], 2008 [period 3], 2009 [period 4], 2010 [period 5], and January to June 2011 [period 6]) in the Korean AMI Registry.

Prognostic value of the age, creatinine, and ejection fraction score for 1-year mortality in 30-day survivors who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention after acute myocardial infarction.

Few simple and effective tools are available for determining the prognosis of 30-day survivors after acute myocardial infarction. We aimed to assess whether the simple age, creatinine, and ejection fraction (ACEF) score could predict 1-year mortality of 12,000 post-myocardial infarction 30-day survivors who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention. The ACEF score was computed as follows: (age/ejection fraction)+1, if the serum creatinine was >2 mg/dl.

One-year clinical impact of cardiac arrest in patients with first onset acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: Cardiac arrest complicating acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is known to be associated with increased in-hospital mortality. However, little is known about the long-term outcomes after cardiac arrest complicating first onset STEMI in contemporary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) era.

Methods: We analyzed 7942 consecutive patients who were diagnosed with STEMI and had no previous history of MI.

Characteristics, in-hospital and long-term clinical outcomes of nonagenarian compared with octogenarian acute myocardial infarction patients.

We compared clinical characteristics, management, and clinical outcomes of nonagenarian acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients (n=270, 92.3 ± 2.3 yr old) with octogenarian AMI patients (n=2,145, 83.

Association between regulating synaptic membrane exocytosis 2 gene polymorphisms and degenerative lumbar scoliosis.

Degenerative lumbar scoliosis (DLS) is a spinal deformity that develops after skeletal maturity and progresses with age. In contrast to adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, the genetic association of DLS has not yet been elucidated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between regulating synaptic membrane exocytosis 2 (RIMS2, OBOE) gene polymorphisms and DLS.

Comparison of zotarolimus- and everolimus-eluting stents in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction and chronic kidney disease undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with poor outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The aim of the study was to compare zotarolimus- and everolimus-eluting stents used during primary PCI in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and CKD.

Methods: We selected 854 consecutive ST-elevation MI patients with CKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.

Effect of oxcarbazepine on bone mineral density and biochemical markers of bone metabolism in patients with epilepsy.

Purpose: Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) may cause adverse effects on bone metabolism and bone mineral density (BMD). The aim of this study is to determine the effect of oxcarbazepine (OXC) monotherapy on biochemical markers of bone metabolism and BMD in epilepsy patients.

Methods: Forty-one new onset drug naïve epilepsy patients were recruited (19 females, 22 males; mean age: 28.

Iatrogenic acute coronary dissection during coronary angioplasty for in-stent restenosis: role of intravascular ultrasound in diagnosis and treatment.

We report on a case of coronary dissection resulting from a guidewire passing out of a stent during in-stent restenosis (ISR) treatment and a guidewire successfully negotiated into true lumen and an implanted stent under intravascular ultrasound guidance, resulting in optimal coronary blood flow.

Rhus verniciflua stokes against advanced cancer: a perspective from the Korean Integrative Cancer Center.

Active anticancer molecules have been searched from natural products; many drugs were developed from either natural products or their derivatives following the conventional pharmaceutical paradigm of drug discovery. However, the advances in the knowledge of cancer biology have led to personalized medicine using molecular-targeted agents which create new paradigm. Clinical benefit is dependent on individual biomarker and overall survival is prolonged through cytostatic rather than cytotoxic effects to cancer cell.

Effect of retropharyngeal steroid on prevertebral soft tissue swelling following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: a prospective, randomized study.

Study Design: A prospective, randomized study.

Objective: To analyze the effect of local retropharyngeal steroid to reduce prevertebral soft tissue swelling (PSTS) after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).

Summary Of Background Data: There have been several reports on intravenous corticosteroid to prevent airway complication without a consensus; however, there have been no reports to date that have discussed the use of local steroids to reduce PSTS.

Development of a valid and reliable phlegm pattern questionnaire.

Objectives: The present study was conducted to examine the reliability and validity of a Phlegm Pattern Questionnaire (PPQ) that was developed within the context of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Methods: A total of 292 normal subjects and 61 inpatients were asked to complete the PPQ. Among the 292 normal subjects, 73 college students were additionally asked to complete the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and the Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFS).

Sonographic findings of a Bochdalek hernia: the importance of ring-down artifacts.

Bochdalek hernia is the most common congenital diaphragmatic hernia. It may be incidentally identified on CT. We report the sonographic findings in a case of Bochdalek hernia, which showed ring-down artifact posterior to the herniated intra-abdominal fat.

Neurotrophic corneal ulcer development following cataract surgery with a limbal relaxing incision.

A 60-year-old man with bilateral corneal opacity underwent cataract extraction surgery involving the use of a limbal relaxing incision in his left eye. He had lower lid ectropion and lagophthalmos in both eyes. Eleven days after the surgery, a slit-lamp examination revealed a neurotrophic corneal ulcer with a punch-out epithelial defect and rolled edges at the center of the pre-existing corneal opacity.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the lung in an autistic child who has never smoked.

Primary bronchogenic carcinoma of the lung is extremely rare in childhood, particularly the squamous cell type. Only 13 cases have been reported in the literature. We report a case of squamous cell carcinoma in an autistic, 16-year-old boy who presented with a productive cough.

Efficacy and safety of Rhus verniciflua stokes extracts in patients with previously treated advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Systemic treatments for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have modest survival benefits but high toxicity. Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS), the lacquer tree, is an ancient traditional medicine being used for the treatment of cancer. We investigated the efficacy and safety of allergen-removed RVS extract (aRVS) for the prolongation of survival in NSCLC after the failure of first-line or second-line chemotherapy.

Sonographic diagnosis of gastric duplication cyst communicating with the gastric lumen.

Gastric duplication cysts are rare congenital anomalies, which account for about 7% of all enteric duplications. We report the sonographic findings of a rare case of gastric duplication cyst, communicating with the gastric lumen in a 30-year-old woman.