Prasugrel-based De-Escalation of Dual Antiplatelet Therapy After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients With STEMI

Background and Objectives@#De-escalation of dual-antiplatelet therapy through dose reduction of prasugrel improved net adverse clinical events (NACEs) after acute coronary syndrome (ACS), mainly through the reduction of bleeding without an increase in ischemic outcomes. Whether the benefits of de-escalation are sustained in highly thrombotic conditions such as ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is unknown. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of de-escalation therapy in patients with STEMI or non-STsegment elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS). @*Methods@#This is a pre-specified subgroup analysis of the HOST-REDUCE-POLYTECH-ACS trial. ACS patients were randomized to prasugrel de-escalation (5 mg daily) or conventional dose (10 mg daily) at 1-month post-percutaneous coronary intervention. The primary endpoint was a NACE, defined as a composite of all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, clinically driven revascularization, stroke, and bleeding events of grade ≥2 Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) criteria at 1 year. @*Results@#Among 2,338 patients included in the randomization, 326 patients were diagnosed with STEMI. In patients with NSTE-ACS, the risk of the primary endpoint was significantly reduced with de-escalation (hazard ratio [HR], 0.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.48– 0.89; p=0.006 for de-escalation vs. conventional), mainly driven by a reduced bleeding. However, in those with STEMI, there was no difference in the occurrence of the primary outcome (HR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.48–2.26; p=0.915; p for interaction=0.271). @*Conclusions@#Prasugrel dose de-escalation reduced the rate of NACE and bleeding, without increasing the rate of ischemic events in NSTE-ACS patients but not in STEMI patients.

Impact of Diabetes Control on Subclinical Atherosclerosis: Analysis from Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography Registry

Background@#There are limited data on the impact of diabetes control on the risk of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis. @*Methods@#We analyzed 6,434 consecutive asymptomatic individuals without previous history of coronary artery disease who underwent coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) (mean age, 53.7±7.6 years and 4,694 men [73.0%]). The degree and extent of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis were assessed by CCTA, and ≥50% diameter stenosis was defined as significant. A cardiac event was defined as a composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, unstable angina, or coronary revascularization. Study participants were categorized as normal (n=5,319), controlled diabetes (glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1c] <7%, n=747), or uncontrolled diabetes (HbA1c ≥7%, n=368), respectively. @*Results@#Compared with normal individuals, there were no statistically significant differences in the risk of for any atherosclerotic plaque (odds ratio [OR], 1.16; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.98 to 1.38; p=0.086) and significant coronary artery stenosis (OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.82 to 1.42; p=0.583) in controlled diabetic individuals. In contrast, uncontrolled diabetic individuals had consistently higher risks of any atherosclerotic plaque (OR, 2.16; 95% CI, 1.70 to 2.75; p<0.001) and significant coronary artery stenosis (OR, 3.34; 95% CI, 2.52 to 4.43; p<0.001) than normal individuals. During a follow-up of median 5.4 years, there was no significant difference in cardiac events between normal and controlled diabetic individuals (p=0.365). However, uncontrolled diabetes was associated with an increased risk of cardiac events compared with normal individuals (P<0.001) and controlled diabetic individuals (p=0.023). @*Conclusion@#Asymptomatic uncontrolled diabetes was associated with significant subclinical coronary atherosclerosis with subsequent high risk for cardiac events.

Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation with Therapeutic Hypothermia for Prolonged Refractory In-hospital Cardiac Arrest

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We identified the impact of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) followed by therapeutic hypothermia on survival and neurologic outcome in patients with prolonged refractory in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA). METHODS: We enrolled 16 adult patients who underwent ECPR followed by therapeutic hypothermia between July 2011 and December 2015, for IHCA. Survival at discharge and cerebral performance category (CPC) scale were evaluated. RESULTS: All patients received bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR); the mean CPR time was 66.5±29.9 minutes, and the minimum value was 39 minutes. Eight patients (50%) were discharged alive with favorable neurologic outcomes (CPC 1–2). The mean follow-up duration was 20.1±24.3 months, and most deaths occurred within 21 days after ECPR; thereafter, no deaths occurred within one year after the procedure. CONCLUSION: ECPR followed by therapeutic hypothermia could be considered in prolonged refractory IHCA if bystander-initiated conventional CPR is performed.

Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Deferred Coronary Lesions according to Disease Severity Assessed by Fractional Flow Reserve

Data on the clinical outcomes in deferred coronary lesions according to functional severity have been limited. This study evaluated the clinical outcomes of deferred lesions according to fractional flow reserve (FFR) grade using Korean FFR registry data. Among 1,294 patients and 1,628 lesions in Korean FFR registry, 665 patients with 781 deferred lesions were included in this study. All participants were consecutively categorized into 4 groups according to FFR; group 1: ≥ 0.96 (n = 56), group 2: 0.86–0.95 (n = 330), group 3: 0.81–0.85 (n = 170), and group 4: ≤ 0.80 (n = 99). Primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE), a composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization. The median follow-up period was 2.1 years. During follow-up, the incidence of MACE in groups 1–4 was 1.8%, 7.6%, 8.8%, and 13.1%, respectively. Compared to group 1, the cumulative rate by Kaplan-Meier analysis of MACE was not different for groups 2 and 3. However, group 4 had higher cumulative rate of MACE compared to group 1 (log-rank P = 0.013). In the multivariate Cox hazard models, only FFR (hazard ratio [HR], 0.95; P = 0.005) was independently associated with MACE among all participants. In contrast, previous history of percutaneous coronary intervention (HR, 2.37; P = 0.023) and diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) (HR, 2.35; P = 0.015), but not FFR, were independent predictors for MACE in subjects with non-ischemic (FFR ≥ 0.81) deferred coronary lesions. Compared to subjects with ischemic deferred lesions, clinical outcomes in subjects with non-ischemic deferred lesions according to functional severity are favorable. However, longer-term follow-up may be necessary.

Circadian Rhythm of Hospital Death: Difference Between the Intensive Care Unit and General Room

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose was to record the time at which biological phenomena stop in different hospital wards and determine regular patterns in times of death, as well as any associated factors. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 6,517 inpatients at the Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center who died between January 2006 and December 2012 were retrospectively enrolled. A comparative analysis was conducted for the mortality distribution between the intensive care unit (ICU) and general wards (GW). RESULTS: A total of 3,198 (49%) died in the ICU and 3,319 (51%) in the GW. The ICU showed an increase in mortality over the most recent 3 years. There was no difference in monthly or daily pattern. ICU mortality peaked at 14:00 to 16:00 hours (9.2%) and 20:00 to 22:00 hours (9.1%), and GW mortality peaked at 06:00 to 08:00 hours (9.6%) and 10:00 to 12:00 hours (9.4%), with a significant statistical difference between the two wards (p=0.03). Patients with diseases of the circulatory system died most often in the ICU (28.3%), whereas those with neoplasms had the highest mortality rate in the GW (77.7%) (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Some differences between the ICU and GW may be accounted for by a preserved circadian rhythm that was affected by disease distribution, hospital room environment, and use of various drugs.

Positive Peri-Stent Vascular Remodeling and Late-Acquired Incomplete Stent Apposition in Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS) after Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation / 계명의대학술지

The peri-stent vascular changes after 2nd generation drug-eluting stent (2G DES) implantation have not been fully investigated compare to 1st generation DES (1G DES). From March 2003 to October 2010, patients receiving percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with either 1G or 2G DES were retrospectively included. All patients underwent intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) at post-procedure and 8-12 months after PCI. A total of 281 patients (1G DES: 201 patients with 217 lesions and 2G DES: 80 patients with 88 lesions) were enrolled. The incidence of positive peri-stent vascular remodeling (PPVR) and late-acquired incomplete stent apposition (LAISA) were investigated by IVUS images. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) up to 3 years were also evaluated. The lesion and the stent length were shorter, and the stent size was larger in the 2G DES group. The incidences of PPVR and LAISA were lower in the 2G DES group before and after propensity score matching. However, the incidence of 3-year MACE were not different between the two groups. Independent predictors for PPVR or LAISA were stent length and 1G DES implantation. These results suggested that biocompatible stent system in 2G DES might have reduced peri-stent vascular changes.

Metastatic sarcomatoid carcinoma presenting as a pedunculated mass on the floor of the mouth

No abstract available.

Prognostic Usefulness of Metabolic Syndrome Compared with Diabetes in Korean Patients with Critical Lower Limb Ischemia Treated with Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty

PURPOSE: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a clinical condition that shares many common characteristics with diabetes. However, unlike diabetes, the usefulness of MS as a prognostic entity in peripheral arterial disease is uncertain. This study evaluated the prognostic usefulness of MS in critical lower limb ischemia (CLI) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We compared the 2-year clinical outcomes in 101 consecutive CLI patients (66+/-14 years; 78% men) with 118 affected limbs treated with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) according to the presence of MS and diabetes. RESULTS: The number of MS patients was 53 (52%), of which 45 (85%) had diabetes. During a 2-year follow-up, the incidence of clinical outcomes, including reintervention, major amputation, minor amputation, and survival, was not significantly different between MS and non-MS patients; however, the incidence of minor amputation was significantly higher in diabetic than in non-diabetic patients (42% vs. 17%; p=0.011). Cox regression analysis for the 2-year primary patency demonstrated no association between MS and 2-year primary patency [hazard ratio (HR), 1.02; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.45-2.30; p=0.961], whereas there was a significant association between diabetes and 2-year primary patency (HR, 2.81; 95% CI, 1.02-7.72; p=0.046). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed no significant difference in the 2-year primary patency between MS and non-MS patients; however, the 2-year primary patency was lower in diabetic than in non-diabetic patients (p=0.038). CONCLUSION: As a prognostic concept, MS might conceal the adverse impact of diabetes on the prognosis of CLI patients treated with PTA.

Safety and Cost-Effectiveness of Bridge Therapies for Invasive Dental Procedures in Patients with Mechanical Heart Valves

PURPOSE: Bridge anticoagulation therapy is mostly utilized in patients with mechanical heart valves (MHV) receiving warfarin therapy during invasive dental procedures because of the risk of excessive bleeding related to highly vascular supporting dental structures. Bridge therapy using low molecular weight heparin may be an attractive option for invasive dental procedures; however, its safety and cost-effectiveness compared with unfractionated heparin (UFH) is uncertain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study investigated the safety and cost-effectiveness of enoxaparin in comparison to UFH for bridge therapy in 165 consecutive patients (57+/-11 years, 35% men) with MHV who underwent invasive dental procedures. RESULTS: This study included 75 patients treated with UFH-based bridge therapy (45%) and 90 patients treated with enoxaparin-based bridge therapy (55%). The bleeding risk of dental procedures and the incidence of clinical adverse outcomes were not significantly different between the UFH group and the enoxaparin group. However, total medical costs were significantly lower in the enoxaparin group than in the UFH group (p or =65 years) was significantly associated with an increased risk of total bleeding independent of bridging methods (odds ratio, 2.51; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-5.48; p=0.022). Enoxaparin-based bridge therapy (beta=-0.694, p<0.001) and major bleeding (beta=0.296, p=0.045) were significantly associated with the medical costs within 30 days after dental procedures. CONCLUSION: Considering the benefit of enoxaparin in cost-effectiveness, enoxaparin may be more efficient than UFH for bridge therapy in patients with MHV who required invasive dental procedures.

Migration of a sirolimus-eluting stent from the ostium of the left main coronary artery to the right deep femoral artery

No abstract available.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest with Acute Myocardial Infarction Induced by Left Subclavian Artery Occlusion in a Patient with Prior Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Multivascular preventive and therapeutic approaches are necessary in patients with coronary artery disease because atherosclerosis has a common systemic pathogenesis. We present a rare case of sudden cardiac arrest with acute myocardial infarction induced by the total occlusion of left subclavian artery (LSCA) in a patient with a history of previous coronary artery bypass surgery using the left internal mammary artery. We initially performed blind-puncture of left brachial artery, attempting percutaneous coronary intervention because pulses were absent in both upper and lower extremities. However, the cause of sudden cardiac arrest was atherosclerotic total occlusion of LSCA. The patient was stabilized after successful revascularization of LSCA by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with stent insertion.

A Case of Severe Pulmonary Thromboembolism in a Young Male With Klinefelter Syndrome

A young male patient diagnosed with Klinefelter syndrome was admitted to our hospital via the emergency room with chief complaints of acute chest pain and dyspnea. Pulmonary thromboembolism was diagnosed from his chest CT images. His symptoms improved after he underwent thrombolysis and anticoagulation treatment. Klinefelter syndrome has a tendency towards hypercoagulability due to hormonal imbalance and one or more inherited thromophilic factors. Thus, Klinefelter syndrome patients with a past medical history of venous thromboembolism require continuous oral anticoagulation therapy for a period of at least six months.

Arterial Occlusive Disease Complicating Radiation Therapy of Cervical Cancer

Radiation-induced arterial disease is caused by significant atherosclerosis in the circumjacent vessels being irradiated. Even though this has been recognized as survival of cancer patients treated with radiotherapy improves, it is a problem that is often under-reported. We present a case of chronic thromboembolic occlusion of right common iliac artery in a 53-year-old woman who was treated with radiation therapy for cervical cancer 13 years ago. We initially performed percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with thrombolytic therapy, but had to cease thrombolytic therapy due to upper gastrointestinal bleeding of Dieulafoy's lesion, nevertheless, achieved good results after revascularization by Fogarty embolectomy.

High Serum Advanced Glycation End-Products Predict Coronary Artery Disease Irrespective of Arterial Stiffness in Diabetic Patients

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. We investigated whether serum AGEs are related to the presence or severity of coronary artery disease (CAD), and explored the association between serum AGEs and arterial stiffness according to diabetes status in patients suspected of having CAD. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The measurement of serum AGEs and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) were performed in 145 consecutive patients (63+/-9 years, 58% men) who received a coronary angiogram for evaluation of CAD. RESULTS: Forty-four diabetics and 101 non-diabetics were classified into three subgroups based on the number of diseased vessels with obstructive CAD: 0, 1, and 2 or more vessel diseases (VDs). Serum AGEs were significantly higher in diabetics with obstructive CAD than in those without obstructive CAD (2.16+/-0.29 vs. 1.85+/-0.29 mU/mL, p=0.010) and were significantly correlated with the number of VDs only in diabetics (r=0.504, p<0.001). Serum AGEs were not significantly correlated with baPWV in diabetics or non-diabetics. In receiver operating characteristics analysis, the cut-off value of serum AGEs as a predictor of obstructive CAD was 1.98 mU/mL, with 64% sensitivity and 63% specificity in diabetics. In multiple regression analysis, serum AGEs independently predicted obstructive CAD and were associated with the number of VDs in diabetics. CONCLUSION: Serum AGEs independently predict obstructive CAD and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis irrespective of arterial stiffness only in diabetics. Evaluation of PWV and serum AGEs together may be more effective to identify the risk of CAD in diabetic individuals.

The Breakdown of Preformed Peritoneal Advanced Glycation End Products by Intraperitoneal Alagebrium

It has been demonstrated that inhibitors of advanced glycation end products (AGE), such as aminoguanidine, can suppress peritoneal AGE in rats on peritoneal dialysis (PD). However, it is unknown whether late administration of a putative crosslink breaker, alagebrium, could reverse peritoneal AGE. We therefore compared alagebrium with aminoguanidine in their ability to reverse peritoneal AGE in rats on PD. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: group I dialyzed with 4.25% glucose solution for all exchanges; group II dialyzed with 4.25% glucose solution containing aminoguanidine, and group III dialyzed with 4.25% glucose solution containing alagebrium for last 8 weeks of 12-week dialysis period. Dialysis exchanges were performed 2 times a day for 12 weeks. Immunohistochemistry was performed using a monoclonal anti-AGE antibody. One-hour PET was performed for comparison of transport characteristics. The immunolabelling of AGE in peritoneal membrane was markedly decreased in the alagebrium group. Consistent with this, the alagebrium group exhibited significantly higher D/Do glucose and lower D/P urea, suggesting low peritoneal membrane transport. But there were no significant differences between the control and the aminoguanidine group. These results suggest that the alagebrium may be the optimal therapeutic approach, compared with treatment with inhibitors of AGE formation, in rats on PD.

Relapsing Peritonitis Caused by Bordetella bronchiseptica in Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis Patient: A Case Report

Bordetella (B) bronchiseptica is a common veterinary pathogen, but has rarely been implicated in human infections. Most patients with B. bronchiseptica infections are compromised clinically such as in patients with a malignancy, AIDS, malnutrition, or chronic renal failure. We experienced a case of relapsing peritonitis caused by B. bronchiseptica associated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). A 56-yr-old male, treated with CAPD due to end stage renal disease (ESRD), was admitted with complaints of abdominal pain and a turbid peritoneal dialysate. The culture of peritoneal dialysate identified B. bronchiseptica. The patient was treated with a combination of intraperitoneal antibiotics. There were two further episodes of relapsing peritonitis, although the organism was sensitive to the used antibiotics. Finally, the indwelling CAPD catheter was removed and the patient was started on hemodialysis. This is the first report of a B. bronchiseptica human infection in the Korean literature.