Standardized Database of 12-Lead Electrocardiograms with a Common Standard for the Promotion of Cardiovascular Research: KURIAS-ECG / 대한의료정보학회지

Objectives@#Electrocardiography (ECG)-based diagnosis by experts cannot maintain uniform quality because individual differences may occur. Previous public databases can be used for clinical studies, but there is no common standard that would allow databases to be combined. For this reason, it is difficult to conduct research that derives results by combining databases. Recent commercial ECG machines offer diagnoses similar to those of a physician. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to construct a standardized ECG database using computerized diagnoses. @*Methods@#The constructed database was standardized using Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terms (SNOMED CT) and Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership–common data model (OMOP-CDM), and data were then categorized into 10 groups based on the Minnesota classification. In addition, to extract high-quality waveforms, poor-quality ECGs were removed, and database bias was minimized by extracting at least 2,000 cases for each group. To check database quality, the difference in baseline displacement according to whether poor ECGs were removed was analyzed, and the usefulness of the database was verified with seven classification models using waveforms. @*Results@#The standardized KURIAS-ECG database consists of high-quality ECGs from 13,862 patients, with about 20,000 data points, making it possible to obtain more than 2,000 for each Minnesota classification. An artificial intelligence classification model using the data extracted through SNOMED-CT showed an average accuracy of 88.03%. @*Conclusions@#The KURIAS-ECG database contains standardized ECG data extracted from various machines. The proposed protocol should promote cardiovascular disease research using big data and artificial intelligence.

Prevalence of deep vein thrombosis and its clinical significance in patients with acute symptomatic pulmonary embolism

Objective@#The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and assess the association of concomitant DVT and unfavorable outcomes in patients with acute symptomatic pulmonary embolism (PE). @*Methods@#We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with acute symptomatic PE by a computed tomography angiography. Study patients were divided into two groups, including unfavorable and favorable outcome groups. Baseline characteristics and radiologic findings were compared between the two groups. Then, binary logistic regression analysis using the unfavorable outcome as a dependent variable was performed to assess whether concomitant DVT was associated with unfavorable outcomes. @*Results@#Of the 128 patients, 67.2% (86 of 128) had concomitant DVT, and 20.3% (26 of 128) had an unfavorable outcome. The median age was 75.0 years (interquartile range, 63.0-82.0 years), and 76 (59.4%) patients were female. Concomitant DVT and proximal DVT were associated with unfavorable outcomes (P<0.05). In multivariate analysis, proximal DVT (adjusted odds ratio, 7.03; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-49.12) was an independent risk factor of unfavorable outcome. @*Conclusion@#In patients with acute symptomatic PE, about two-thirds of patients had DVT. This study suggests that proximal DVT is significantly associated with unfavorable outcomes.

Clinical features of acute Phytolacca poisoning and factors associated with severe poisoning

Objective@#This study evaluated the clinical features of acute Phytolacca poisoning and investigated the prognostic factors associated with severe poisoning. @*Methods@#This is a retrospective observational study using the data of patients presenting with acute Phytolacca poisoning. Demographic data, toxicological data, vital signs, laboratory data, and electrocardiographic data were collected. Study patients were divided into mild and severe poisoning patients. After a univariate analysis, binary logistic regression analysis, which used ‘severe poisoning’ as a dependent variable, was performed to figure out the independent variables. In addition, the area under the curve and the cut-off value of independent variables were suggested by using receiver operating characteristics analysis. @*Results@#Most poisonings (80.5%) occurred in winter and spring. Most patients (98.4%) ingested the root of Phytolacca. It took 2 hours from ingestion to the beginning of the symptoms (interquartile range, 1.0-3.0) which included nausea/vomiting (98.4%), abdominal pain (58.6%), or diarrhea (53.1%). Severe poisoning developed in 21 patients (16.4%). For prediction of severe poisoning, the adjusted odds ratio of time from ingestion to the onset of symptoms was 0.18 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.05-0.61) and that of the amount of ingestion was 1.42 (95% CI, 0.99-2.03). The area under the curve of time from ingestion to the onset of symptoms (≤1 hour) was 0.81 (95% CI, 0.73-0.88) and that of the amount of ingestion (>1.5 knuckles) was 0.75 (95% CI, 0.65-0.83). @*Conclusion@#Acute Phytolacca poisoning has clinical features of acute enterocolitis. Severe poisoning could develop especially in patients with a rapid onset of symptoms (≤1 hour) and ingesting over 1.5 knuckles.

Clinical features of acute Phytolacca poisoning and factors associated with severe poisoning

Objective@#This study evaluated the clinical features of acute Phytolacca poisoning and investigated the prognostic factors associated with severe poisoning. @*Methods@#This is a retrospective observational study using the data of patients presenting with acute Phytolacca poisoning. Demographic data, toxicological data, vital signs, laboratory data, and electrocardiographic data were collected. Study patients were divided into mild and severe poisoning patients. After a univariate analysis, binary logistic regression analysis, which used ‘severe poisoning’ as a dependent variable, was performed to figure out the independent variables. In addition, the area under the curve and the cut-off value of independent variables were suggested by using receiver operating characteristics analysis. @*Results@#Most poisonings (80.5%) occurred in winter and spring. Most patients (98.4%) ingested the root of Phytolacca. It took 2 hours from ingestion to the beginning of the symptoms (interquartile range, 1.0-3.0) which included nausea/vomiting (98.4%), abdominal pain (58.6%), or diarrhea (53.1%). Severe poisoning developed in 21 patients (16.4%). For prediction of severe poisoning, the adjusted odds ratio of time from ingestion to the onset of symptoms was 0.18 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.05-0.61) and that of the amount of ingestion was 1.42 (95% CI, 0.99-2.03). The area under the curve of time from ingestion to the onset of symptoms (≤1 hour) was 0.81 (95% CI, 0.73-0.88) and that of the amount of ingestion (>1.5 knuckles) was 0.75 (95% CI, 0.65-0.83). @*Conclusion@#Acute Phytolacca poisoning has clinical features of acute enterocolitis. Severe poisoning could develop especially in patients with a rapid onset of symptoms (≤1 hour) and ingesting over 1.5 knuckles.

Clinical features of May-Thurner syndrome and its relationship with acute pulmonary embolism in patients with acute deep vein thrombosis

Objective@#May-Thurner syndrome (MTS) is a condition, in which the left common iliac vein is compressed by the right common iliac artery and spine, resulting in an increased risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This study examined the clinical features of MTS and relationship of MTS with a pulmonary embolism (PE) in acute DVT patients. @*Methods@#This study was a retrospective observational study using the electronic medical records of patients with acute DVT in 2018. Acute DVT patients were divided into the MTS group (n=18, 23.1%) and non-MTS group (n=60, 76.9%) according to the presence of MTS. The following items were compared: demographic data, risk factors of DVT, vital signs, laboratory results, involvement site of vein, incidence of PE, and severity of PE. @*Results@#The presence of risk factors was similar in the two groups. All MTS patients had DVT in the left lower extremity. The ilio-femoral DVT (21.7% vs. 77.8%, P<0.001) and mixed DVT (both ilio-femoral and femoro-popliteal, 10.0% vs. 44.4%; P=0.002) were observed more frequently in the MTS group. The incidence of PE was higher in the non-MTS group (65.0%) than in the MTS group (33.3%) (P=0.017). On the other hand, the severity of PE assessed with main pulmonary artery involvement or hemodynamic instability, and right ventricular dysfunction did not show a significant difference between the two groups. @*Conclusion@#DVT could develop with the presence of risk factors in MTS patients. DVT patients with MTS might reduce the risk of developing PE compared to those without MTS, but the severity of PE was similar in the two groups.

Initial D-dimer level as early prognostic tool in blunt trauma patients without significant brain injury

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether or not the d-dimer level indicating hyperfibrinolysis could be a predictor of early poor outcome (massive transfusion, death within 24 hours) associated with trauma-induced coagulopathy in blunt trauma without significant brain injury. METHODS: This study was a retrospective observational study using 516 blunt trauma patients without significant brain injury. The poor outcome group, including patients receiving massive transfusion and those who died within 24 hours, consisted of 33 patients (6.4%). The variables were compared between the poor outcome group and good outcome group, and logistic regression analysis was performed using statistically significant variables. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the poor outcome prediction ability of the initial d-dimer level. RESULTS: The poor outcome group showed more serious anatomical, physiological, and laboratory data than the good outcome group. In the ROC curve analysis for evaluation of the poor outcome prediction of the d-dimer level, the area under the curve value was 0.87 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84–0.90) while the cut-off value was 27.35 mg/L. In the logistic regression analysis, the high d-dimer level was shown to be an independent predictor of poor outcome (adjusted odds ratio, 14.87; 95% CI, 2.96–74.67). CONCLUSION: The high d-dimer level (>27.35 mg/L) can be used as a predictor for the poor outcome of patients with blunt trauma without significant brain injury.

Difference of Ammonia Level as Predictor of Delayed Neurologic Complication in Patients with Glufosinate Ammonium Herbicide Poisoning Presented with Alert Mentality

PURPOSE: The serum ammonia level was postulated as a surrogate marker for severe neurotoxicity in glufosinate ammonium (GLA) poisoning. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether the level of serum ammonia can predict delayed neurologic complications in patients with GLA poisoning presented with alert mentality. METHODS: Thirty-six GLA-poisoned patients presented to our emergency department with alert mentality initially were analyzed retrospectively. The baseline characteristics, laboratory findings, ammonia level (initial and second ammonia level, frequency of hyperammonemia, and difference of ammonia level), and clinical outcomes were compared between non-neurologic (n=16) and neurologic complication groups (n=20). RESULTS: Neurologic complications occurred in 20 patients (55.6%) with 14.3 hours (median) of latent period. The initial ammonia level and frequency of initial hyperammonemia did not show any difference between the two groups. However, the difference of ammonia level between the 2nd and 1st samples was an independent predictor of delayed neurologic complication (adjusted odds ratio; 1.184 (95% confidence interval (CI); 1.01-1.387, p=0.037)). The area under the curve and cut-off point of the difference of ammonia level for the prediction of delayed neurologic complication was 0.936 (95% CI; 0.756-0.992) and 15.4 umol/L respectively. CONCLUSION: The difference of ammonia level rather than the initial ammonia level could be used to predict delayed neurologic complication in GLA-poisoned patients presented with alert mentality.

Two Cases of Neurotoxin Tetramine Poisoning Following Ingestion of Buccinum Striatissinum

Some carnivorous gastropods have heat stable tetramine toxins in their salivary glands. This toxin is an autonomic ganglionic blocking agent that enables them to catch the prey easily by paralyzing their targets. Acute tetramine toxin poisoning in humans from eating whelks has been well described based on numerous cases, but is rare in Korea. Symptoms of tetramine poisoning include eyeball pain, blurred vision, headache, dizziness, muscular twitching, tingling of hands and feet, weakness, paralysis and sometimes collapse. Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting can also occur. However, intoxication is self-limiting and patients will usually recover in about 24 hours. Herein, we report 2 cases of tetramine poisoning after ingestion of Buccinum striatissinum as meat and soup.

Two Cases of Neurotoxin Tetramine Poisoning Following Ingestion of Buccinum Striatissinum

Some carnivorous gastropods have heat stable tetramine toxins in their salivary glands. This toxin is an autonomic ganglionic blocking agent that enables them to catch the prey easily by paralyzing their targets. Acute tetramine toxin poisoning in humans from eating whelks has been well described based on numerous cases, but is rare in Korea. Symptoms of tetramine poisoning include eyeball pain, blurred vision, headache, dizziness, muscular twitching, tingling of hands and feet, weakness, paralysis and sometimes collapse. Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting can also occur. However, intoxication is self-limiting and patients will usually recover in about 24 hours. Herein, we report 2 cases of tetramine poisoning after ingestion of Buccinum striatissinum as meat and soup.

Clinical Year in Review 2014: Critical Care Medicine / 결핵및호흡기질환

Severe sepsis is the most common cause of death among critically ill patients in non-coronary intensive care units. In 2002, the guideline titled "Surviving Sepsis Campaign" was published by American and European Critical Care Medicine to decrease the mortality of severe sepsis and septic shock patients, which has been the basis of the treatment for those patients. After the first revised guidelines were published on 2008, the most current version was published in 2013 based on the updated literature of until fall 2012. Other important revised guidelines in critical care field such as 'Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Pain, Agitation, and Delirium in Adult Patients in the Intensive Care Unit' were revised in 2013. This article will review the revised guidelines and several additional interesting published papers of until March 2014, including the part of ventilator-induced lung injury and the preventive strategies.

Clinical Year in Review 2014: Critical Care Medicine / 결핵및호흡기질환

Severe sepsis is the most common cause of death among critically ill patients in non-coronary intensive care units. In 2002, the guideline titled "Surviving Sepsis Campaign" was published by American and European Critical Care Medicine to decrease the mortality of severe sepsis and septic shock patients, which has been the basis of the treatment for those patients. After the first revised guidelines were published on 2008, the most current version was published in 2013 based on the updated literature of until fall 2012. Other important revised guidelines in critical care field such as 'Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Pain, Agitation, and Delirium in Adult Patients in the Intensive Care Unit' were revised in 2013. This article will review the revised guidelines and several additional interesting published papers of until March 2014, including the part of ventilator-induced lung injury and the preventive strategies.