Multivessel Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction With Cardiogenic Shock.

Background: Recent trials demonstrated a benefit of multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for noninfarct-related artery (non-IRA) stenosis over IRA-only PCI in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) multivessel disease. However, evidence is limited in patients with cardiogenic shock.

Objectives: This study investigated the prognostic impact of multivessel PCI in patients with STEMI multivessel disease presenting with cardiogenic shock, using the nationwide, multicenter, prospective KAMIR-NIH (Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction-National Institutes of Health) registry.

Sphingosine-1-phosphate is involved in inflammatory reactions in patients with Graves' orbitopathy.

Objective: Graves' orbitopathy (GO) is initiated by excessive amount of various inflammatory mediators produced by orbital fibroblasts. This study aimed to assess the crucial role of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) in the inflammatory process of GO.

Methods: Orbital adipose/connective tissue samples were obtained from 10 GO patients and 10 normal control individuals during surgery.

Differential Benefit of Statin in Secondary Prevention of Acute Myocardial Infarction according to the Level of Triglyceride and High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol.

Background And Objectives: The differential benefit of statin according to the state of dyslipidemia has been sparsely investigated. We sought to address the efficacy of statin in secondary prevention of myocardial infarction (MI) according to the level of triglyceride and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) on admission.

Subjects And Methods: Acute MI patients (24653) were enrolled and the total patients were divided according to level of triglyceride and HDL-C on admission: group A (HDL-C≥40 mg/dL and triglyceride<150 mg/dL; n=11819), group B (HDL-C≥40 mg/dL and triglyceride≥150 mg/dL; n=3329), group C (HDL-C<40 mg/dL and triglyceride<150 mg/dL; n=6062), and group D (HDL-C<40 mg/dL & triglyceride≥150 mg/dL; n=3443).

Pre- and post-ESD discrepancies in clinicopathologic criteria in early gastric cancer: the NECA-Korea ESD for Early Gastric Cancer Prospective Study (N-Keep).

Background: Discrepancies in the clinicopathologic parameters pre- and post-endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) sometimes necessitate additional surgical resection. The aim of this study was to assess such discrepancies in clinicopathologic parameters before and after ESD in the context of reducing the risk of failure of curative ESD.

Methods: Data on 712 early gastric cancer patients were prospectively collected from 12 university hospitals nationwide.

Placental expression of D6 decoy receptor in preeclampsia.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of the D6 decoy receptor that can bind chemokines and target them for degradation, resulting in inhibition of inflammation in placentas from preeclamptic and normal pregnancies.

Methods: The current study was carried out in 35 pregnant women (23 patients with preeclampsia and 12 healthy, normotensive pregnant women) during the third trimester of pregnancy. The expressions of D6 decoy receptor in the placenta were determined with real time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and western blotting.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Acute ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction in Younger Korean Adults.

Background And Objectives: This study aims to investigate the clinical features, angiographic findings, and outcomes of younger Korean ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients.

Subjects And Methods: We analyzed major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry from November 2005 to October 2010. The registered patients were divided into two groups; young age group (<65 years) and old age group (≥65 years).

The Immunogenicity and Safety of the Live-attenuated SA 14-14-2 Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine Given with a Two-dose Primary Schedule in Children.

Effective and tolerable vaccination is an essential strategy to prevent Japanese encephalitis (JE) in endemic areas. Although the live attenuated SA 14-14-2 JE vaccine (LAJEV) has been widely used since its introduction, the systemic data of LAJEV was very rarely available in Korea. We conducted the open-label, prospective cohort study to assess the immunogenicity and safety of this vaccine.

A Meta-Analysis Comparing Open-Label versus Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trials for Aripiprazole Augmentation in the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder: Lessons and Promises.

Objective: The present study is to provide whether open-label studies (OLS) may properly foresee the efficacy of randomized, placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) using OLSs and RCTs data for aripiprazole in the treatment of MDD, with the use of meta-analysis approach.

Methods: A search of the studies used the key terms "depression and aripiprazole" from the databases of PubMed/PsychInfo from Jan 2005 through July 2013. The data were selected and verified for publication in English-based peer-reviewed journals based on rigorous inclusion criteria.

Three-year patient-related and stent-related outcomes of second-generation everolimus-eluting Xience V stents versus zotarolimus-eluting resolute stents in real-world practice (from the Multicenter Prospective EXCELLENT and RESOLUTE-Korea Registries).

Long-term outcomes are imperative to confirm safety of drug-eluting stents. There have been 2 randomized controlled trials comparing everolimus-eluting stents (EESs) and Resolute zotarolimus-eluting stents (ZES-Rs). To date, long-term clinical outcomes of these stents were limited to only 1 report, which has recently reported 4-year comparisons of these stents.

Quantitative analysis of functional changes caused by pinhole glasses.

Purpose: To quantify the visual functional changes caused by pinhole glasses.

Methods: Healthy subjects underwent ophthalmic examinations including uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) and corrected near visual acuity (CNVA), pupil size, depth of focus (DOF), accommodative amplitude, visual field (VF) test, contrast sensitivity (CS), and stereopsis. Subjects underwent the same examinations while wearing pinhole glasses 1 week later.

The CHA2DS2VASc score can be used to stratify the prognosis of acute myocardial infarction patients irrespective of presence of atrial fibrillation.

Background: The CHA2DS2VASc score has been used to evaluate the risk of thromboembolic events in atrial fibrillation. However, because all the components of CHA2DS2VASc are important cardiovascular risk factors, we decided to evaluate the effectiveness of CHA2DS2VASc score as a long-term predictor for prognosis in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients.

Methods: We enrolled 15,681 AMI patients for the Korean Working Group in Acute Myocardial Infarction (KORMI) consecutively and analyzed retrospectively.

Non-HDL cholesterol is an independent risk factor for aspirin resistance in obese patients with type 2 diabetes.

Objective: We evaluated the prevalence of aspirin resistance and predictive factors for aspirin resistance in Korean type 2 diabetes patients.

Approach And Results: A total of 1045 type 2 diabetes patients from 11 hospitals who were taking aspirin (100 mg/day for ≥2 weeks) and no other antiplatelet agents were studied to evaluate aspirin resistance. Aspirin resistance was measured in aspirin reaction units using VerifyNow(®).

Low-fluence photodynamic therapy versus ranibizumab for chronic central serous chorioretinopathy: one-year results of a randomized trial.

Purpose: To compare the efficacy and safety between low-fluence photodynamic therapy (PDT) and the intravitreal ranibizumab in the treatment of chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).

Design: Prospective, randomized, single-center, parallel-arm, controlled trial.

Participants: Thirty-four eyes of 32 patients with chronic CSC with >6 months' duration of symptoms or recurrent CSC were randomly placed into the low-fluence PDT group (n = 18) or the ranibizumab group (n = 16).

Common polymorphisms in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene are associated with risks of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer in women with low serum folate and vitamin B12.

Objective: We evaluated associations between folate, vitamin B12, and the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene, and risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cervical cancer.

Methods: This multicenter case-control study enrolled 927 Korean women (440 controls, 165 patients with CIN 1, 167 patients with CIN 2/3, and 155 patients with cervical cancer, aged 20-75 years).

Results: Patients with cervical cancer had significantly lower median serum folate and vitamin B12 concentrations vs.

High levels of serum uric acid are associated with silent brain infarction.

Background: Uric acid has been known to exert neuroprotective effects by acting as a free radical scavenger; however, several observational studies indicated that high levels of serum uric acid increased the risk of cardiovascular events or stroke. We sought to determine whether increased levels of uric acid are associated with the presence of silent brain infarction (SBI).

Methods: We recruited a consecutive series of non-stroke individuals who visited the Healthcare System in our hospital and underwent brain MRI (n=1577).

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis with eosinophilic dermatitis.

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EG) is characterized by eosinophilic infiltration of the bowel wall and variable gastrointestinal manifestations. Clinicians should have a high index of suspicion for EG when faced with gastrointestinal symptoms and peripheral eosinophilia to avoid incorrect diagnosis and inappropriate treatments. A 24-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital complaining of acute right lower quadrant abdominal pain and a laparoscopic appendectomy performed for a presumed diagnosis of an acute appendicitis.

[Hepatitis A virus seropositivity among healthcare workers at a university hospital in Korea].

Background: Healthcare workers (HCW) are known as a risk group of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection and vaccination of this group against HAV has been suggested. However, the seroprevalence of HAV antibody among HCW in Korea has not been reported. We investigated the seropositivity of HAV antibody in HCW, to obtain a baseline data.

A prospective randomized study on computed virtual chromoendoscopy versus conventional colonoscopy for the detection of small colorectal adenomas.

Background: Colonoscopy is considered to be the standard diagnostic test for detecting colonic neoplasia, particularly for small lesions. However, recent publications have suggested that 15-27% of small adenomas might be missed during conventional colonoscopy.

Aims: To determine whether computed virtual chromoendoscopy (CVC) can improve the detection of small adenomas as compared to conventional colonoscopy.

Cytoplasmic expression of HuR is related to cyclooxygenase-2 expression in colon cancer.

Purpose: HuR, human family embryonic-lethal abnormal vision-like protein, can bind to mRNA and stabilizes the nucleic acid in the cytoplasm, resulting in more efficient translation. HuR is predominantly present in the nucleus and shuttles between the nucleus and cytoplasm. HuR stabilizes cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) mRNA in several cancers, including breast, stomach, lung and brain cancer.

[Clinical significance of dense fine speckled pattern in anti-nuclear antibody test using indirect immunofluorescence method].

Background: Dense fine speckled (DFS) pattern in antinuclear antibody (ANA) test using indirect immunofluorescence method became to be known recently and it is detected in patients with various chronic inflammatory diseases as well as in healthy individuals. We investigated the relation between DFS pattern and various diseases.

Methods: ANA tests by indirect immunofluorescence method using HEp-2 cell line slide (Kallestad; Bio-Rad, USA) were performed in 2,654 patients for screening of systemic autoimmune diseases.

Granular cell tumor of the descending colon treated by endoscopic mucosal resection: a case report and review of the literature.

Although colorectal granular cell tumors (GCTs) are rare, their incidental finding has increased as the use of diagnostic colonoscopy has become more common. Here we describe the case of a 41-yr-old man with a GCT in the descending colon that was detected after a screening colonoscopy. Endoscopic examination revealed a yellowish submucosal tumor, 13x12 mm in diameter, in the descending colon.

Giant mesenteric lipoma as an unusual cause of abdominal pain: a case report and a review of the literature.

We report a rare case of giant mesenteric lipoma presenting with colicky abdominal pain. A 29-yr-old woman underwent laparoscopic resection for a giant mesenteric lipoma causing compression of the ileal loop. The resected ileal segment was encased by a giant fatty tissue, and normal mucosal fold patterns of the resected ileum were effaced by the mass.

IgE response to staphylococcal enterotoxins in adenoid tissues from atopic children.

Objectives/hypothesis: To evaluate local production of staphylococcal superantigen (SAg)-specific IgE in adenoid tissue and to compare its prevalence with that in the tonsil and serum, as well as its relationship with markers of allergic inflammation within adenoid tissue.

Study Design: Prospective randomized study.

Methods: We recruited 18 atopic children who had rhinitis symptoms and were sensitized to more than one common aeroallergen, and 22 nonatopic children undergoing adenotonsillectomy.

Impact of glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 gene polymorphisms on the smoking-related coronary artery disease.

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) plays a key role in the detoxification of xenobiotic atherogen generated by smoking. To analyze the effect of GSTM1/T1 gene polymorphisms on the development of smoking-related coronary artery disease (CAD), 775 Korean patients who underwent coronary angiography were enrolled. The subjects were classified by luminal diameter stenosis into group A (>50%), B (20-50%), or C (<20%).