Defining conversion therapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

A multimodality treatment conference with experts from across East Asia was held to establish a consensus for conversion therapy. An agreement was reached that conversion therapy was defined as surgery or chemoradiotherapy (CRT) aiming at cure after initial treatment for tumors that were initially unresectable due to adjacent organ invasion or distant metastasis.

Procedural Outcomes After Percutaneous Coronary Interventions in Focal and Diffuse Coronary Artery Disease.

Background Coronary artery disease (CAD) patterns play an essential role in the decision-making process about revascularization. The pullback pressure gradient (PPG) quantifies CAD patterns as either focal or diffuse based on fractional flow reserve (FFR) pullbacks. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of CAD patterns on acute percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) results considered surrogates of clinical outcomes.

HLA-A*24:02 increase the risk of allopurinol-induced drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms in HLA-B*58:01 carriers in a Korean population; a multicenter cross-sectional case-control study.

Background: HLA-B*58:01 is a well-known risk factor for allopurinol-induced severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs). However, only a minority of HLA-B*58:01 carriers suffer SCARs after taking allopurinol. The aim of this study was to investigate subsidiary genetic markers that could identify those at further increased risk of developing allopurinol-induced drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) in subjects with HLA-B*58:01.

Long-term outcomes of laparoscopic versus open liver resection for intrahepatic combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma with propensity score matching.

Background: Combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CCA) is a rare primary hepatic neoplasm. Currently, there are no well-structured studies that analyze the feasibility of laparoscopic liver resection in cHCC-CCA alone. This retrospective cohort study aimed to compare the long-term survival of laparoscopic liver resection with open liver resection in cHCC-CCA.

Endoscopic management of pin stuck into the segmental bronchus.

This case is a challenging case review of a successful removal of sharp and deep located airway foreign body using ventilating bronchoscopy.

Association Between Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity and the Risk of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events or Mortality in People With Various Metabolic Syndrome Status: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study Including 6 Million People.

Background A population-scale evidence for the association between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MV-PA) and risks of major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) or all-cause mortality in people with various metabolic syndrome (MetS) status is warranted. Methods and Results We performed a nationwide retrospective cohort study based on the claims database of South Korea. We included people who received ≥3 national health screenings from 2009 to 2013 without a previous MACE history.

Phenotyping Heart Failure According to the Longitudinal Ejection Fraction Change: Myocardial Strain, Predictors, and Outcomes.

Background Many patients with heart failure (HF) experience changes in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) during follow-up. We sought to evaluate the predictors and outcomes of different HF phenotypes according to longitudinal changes in EF. Methods and Results A total of 2104 patients with acute HF underwent echocardiography at baseline and follow-up.

Sex Differences in Long-Term Outcomes in Patients With Deferred Revascularization Following Fractional Flow Reserve Assessment: International Collaboration Registry of Comprehensive Physiologic Evaluation.

Background Sex-specific differences may influence prognosis after deferred revascularization following fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurement. This study sought to investigate the sex differences in long-term prognosis of patients with deferred revascularization following FFR assessment. Methods and Results A total of 879 patients (879 vessels) with deferred revascularization with FFR >0.

Comparison of Long-Term Clinical Outcome Between Multivessel Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Versus Infarct-Related Artery-Only Revascularization for Patients With ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction With Cardiogenic Shock.

Background Data are limited regarding long-term outcomes in patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction and multivessel disease presenting with cardiogenic shock according to revascularization strategy. We sought to compare the 3-year clinical outcomes of patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction multivessel disease with cardiogenic shock and patients with multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and infarct-related artery (IRA)-only PCI. Methods and Results Of 13 104 patients from the nationwide, multicenter, prospective KAMIR-NIH (Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry--National Institutes of Health) registry, we selected 659 patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction who had concomitant non-IRA stenosis and presented with cardiogenic shock.

Status of international normalized ratio control and treatment patterns in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation taking vitamin K antagonist with or without antiplatelet therapy: Results from KORAFII registry.

Background: Studies have shown that the concomitant use of a vitamin K antagonist (VKA) and an antiplatelet (APL) drug increased the bleeding risk and was less effective at preventing ischemic events. This study aimed to investigate the control status of international normalized ratio (INR) and the discontinuation rate of a VKA in patients taking VKA plus an APL drug compared with those taking a VKA alone.

Methods: Data were extracted from the KORean Atrial Fibrillation Investigation II registry, a multicenter noninterventional prospective observational study.

Interindividual Variations in the Adenosine-Induced Hemodynamics During Fractional Flow Reserve Evaluation: Implications for the Use of Quantitative Flow Ratio in Assessing Intermediate Coronary Stenoses.

Background Quantitative flow ratio (QFR), a novel functional angiography technique, computes fractional flow reserve (FFR) without pressure wires or adenosine. We investigated interindividual variations in the adenosine-induced hemodynamics during FFR assessment and their influence on QFR diagnostic performance. Methods and Results Patients with coronary stenoses who underwent intracoronary pressure and flow assessment were analyzed.

Prognostic Implications of Door-to-Balloon Time and Onset-to-Door Time on Mortality in Patients With ST -Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Treated With Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Background In patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction, timely reperfusion therapy with door-to-balloon (D2B) time <90 minutes is recommended by the current guidelines. However, whether further shortening of symptom onset-to-door (O2D) time or D2B time would enhance survival of patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction remains unclear. Therefore, the current study aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of O2D or D2B time in patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Coronary Microcirculation Downstream Non-Infarct-Related Arteries in the Subacute Phase of Myocardial Infarction: Implications for Physiology-Guided Revascularization.

Background Concerns exist about reliability of pressure-wire-guided coronary revascularization of non-infarct-related arteries (non- IRA ). We investigated whether physiological assessment of non- IRA during the subacute phase of myocardial infarction might be flawed by microcirculatory dysfunction. Methods and Results We analyzed non- IRA that underwent fractional flow reserve, coronary flow reserve, and the index of microcirculatory resistance assessment.

Diagnostic Agreement of Quantitative Flow Ratio With Fractional Flow Reserve and Instantaneous Wave-Free Ratio.

Background Quantitative flow ratio ( QFR ) has a high diagnostic accuracy in assessing functional stenoses relevance, as judged by fractional flow reserve ( FFR ). However, its diagnostic performance has not been thoroughly evaluated using instantaneous wave-free ratio ( iFR ) or coronary flow reserve as the reference standard. This study sought to evaluate the diagnostic performance of QFR using other reference standards beyond FFR .

Association Between Serum High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels and Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease: Results From the KNOW-CKD.

Background High-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( HDL -C) levels are generally decreased in patients with chronic kidney disease ( CKD ). However, studies on the relationship between HDL -C and CKD progression are scarce. Methods and Results We studied the association between serum HDL -C levels and the risk of CKD progression in 2168 participants of the KNOW - CKD (Korean Cohort Study for Outcome in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease).

Influence of Sex on Relationship Between Total Anatomical and Physiologic Disease Burdens and Their Prognostic Implications in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease.

Background Total atherosclerosis disease burden is associated with clinical outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease. However, the influence of sex on the relationship between total anatomical and physiologic disease burdens and their prognostic implications have not been well defined. Methods and Results A total of 1136 patients who underwent fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurement in all 3 major coronary arteries were included in this study.

Management and 1-Year Outcomes of Patients With Newly Diagnosed Atrial Fibrillation and Chronic Kidney Disease: Results From the Prospective GARFIELD - AF Registry.

Background Using data from the GARFIELD - AF (Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD -Atrial Fibrillation), we evaluated the impact of chronic kidney disease ( CKD ) stage on clinical outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation ( AF ). Methods and Results GARFIELD - AF is a prospective registry of patients from 35 countries, including patients from Asia (China, India, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand). Consecutive patients enrolled (2013-2016) were classified with no, mild, or moderate-to-severe CKD , based on the National Kidney Foundation's Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative guidelines.

Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy for Patients With Heart Failure With Midrange Ejection Fraction: A Patient-Pooled Analysis From the Kor HF and Kor AHF Registries.

Background Although current guidelines now define heart failure with midrange ejection fraction ( HF mr EF ) as HF with a left ventricular EF of 40% to 49%, there are limited data on response to guideline-directed medical therapy in patients with HF mr EF . The current study aimed to evaluate the association between β-blocker, renin-angiotensin system blocker ( RASB ), or aldosterone antagonist ( AA ) treatment with clinical outcome in patients with HF mr EF . Methods and Results We performed a patient-level pooled analysis on 1144 patients with HF mr EF who were hospitalized for acute HF from the Kor HF (Korean Heart Failure) and Kor AHF (Korean Acute Heart Failure) registries.

Prognostic Value of Biventricular Strain in Risk Stratifying in Patients With Acute Heart Failure.

Background Few studies have shown that right ventricular ( RV ) function is independently related to adverse events regardless of left ventricular ( LV ) function in heart failure. We evaluated the prognostic value of global longitudinal strain ( GLS ) of both ventricles in patients with acute heart failure. Methods and Results We measured biventricular strains in 1824 randomly selected patients (973 men, aged 70±14 years) from a strain registry.

Effect of smoking cessation on the risk of dementia: a longitudinal study.

Objective: To determine the risk of developing dementia in relation to duration of smoking cessation by using a nationwide health claims database.

Methods: This cohort study included 46,140 men aged 60 years or older from Korean National Health Insurance System - National Health Screening Cohort, a population-based national health screening program from 2002 to 2013. The changes in smoking habit from a questionnaire during the first (2002 and 2003) and second (2004 and 2005) health examination periods, participants were divided into continual smokers, short-term (less than 4 years) quitters, long-term (4 years or more) quitters, and never smokers.

Pretreatment neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio is not a significant prognostic factor in epidermal growth factor receptor-mutant non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Background: The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a marker of poor prognosis in lung cancer patients. However, previous data have been based on an heterogeneous population of lung cancer patients and various treatments. In this study, we evaluate the prognostic value of NLR in an homogeneous population of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.