Prognostic Impact of Left Atrial Strain After Mitral Valve Repair Surgery in Patients With Severe Mitral Regurgitation

Background and Objectives@#The prognostic value of left atrial (LA) function in terms of long-term clinical outcomes after mitral regurgitation (MR) surgery remains unclear.Therefore, we investigated the impact of preoperative LA global longitudinal strain (LAGLS) on the long-term postoperative clinical outcomes in chronic severe MR patients who underwent mitral valve (MV) repair surgery. @*Methods@#From January 2012 to December 2017, we analyzed 338 patients (mean age, 51.9±12.5 years; 218 males [64.5%]) treated with MV repair surgery for severe MR. The primary outcome was cardiovascular events, defined as the composite of all-cause death, newly developed atrial fibrillation (AF), and re-hospitalization for cardiovascular causes. @*Results@#During a median follow-up of 45 months (interquartile range, 26–65), 30 (8.9%) cardiovascular events, 5 (1.5%) all-cause death, 8 (2.4%) newly developed AF, and 26 (7.7%) re-hospitalizations occurred. On multivariable analysis, baseline LAGLS was an independent predictor of cardiovascular events (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.91; 95% confidential interval [CI], 0.85–0.97; p=0.004) and re-hospitalization (adjusted HR, 0.93; 95% CI,0.86–1.00; p=0.037). According to the optimal cutoff value of LAGLS, patients with low LAGLS (<23.6%) had a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular events (adjusted HR, 2.70;95% CI, 1.04–7.00; p=0.041) than those with high LAGLS (≥23.6%). In a subgroup analysis, patients with high LAGLS had better clinical outcomes regardless of whether the patient had a LA volume index <60 mL/m2 . @*Conclusions@#In patients with chronic severe MR who received successful MV repair surgery, preoperative LAGLS is an independent predictor of long-term postoperative outcomes.

Clinical Outcomes of Atherectomy Plus Drug-coated Balloon Versus Drugcoated Balloon Alone in the Treatment of Femoropopliteal Artery Disease

Background and Objectives@#Atherectomy as a pretreatment has the potential to improve the outcomes of drug-coated balloon (DCB) treatment by reducing and modifying atherosclerotic plaques. The present study investigated the outcomes of atherectomy plus DCB (A+DCB) compared with DCB alone for the treatment of femoropopliteal artery disease. @*Methods@#A total of 311 patients (348 limbs) underwent endovascular therapy using DCB for native femoropopliteal artery lesions at two endovascular centers. Of these, 82 limbs were treated with A+DCB and 266 limbs with DCB alone. After propensity score matching based on clinical and lesion characteristics, a total of 82 pairs was compared for immediate and mid-term outcomes. @*Results@#For the matched study groups, the lesion length was 172.7±111.2 mm, and severe calcification was observed in 43.3%. The technical success rate was higher in the A+DCB group than in the DCB group (80.5% vs. 62.2%, p=0.015). However, the A+DCB group showed more procedure-related minor complications (37.0% vs. 13.4%, p=0.047). At 2-year follow-up, primary clinical patency (73.8% vs. 82.6%, p=0.158) and the target lesion revascularization (TLR)-free survival (84.3% vs. 88.2%, p=0.261) did not differ between the two groups. In Cox proportional hazard analysis, atherectomy showed no significant impact on the outcome of DCB treatments. @*Conclusions@#The pretreatment with atherectomy improved technical success of DCB treatment; however, it was associated with increased minor complications. In this study, A+DCB showed no clinical benefit in terms of TLR-free survival or clinical patency compared with DCB treatment alone.

Ischemic Burden Assessment Using Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography in Single Vessel Chronic Total Occlusion of Coronary Artery

Background and Objectives@#Studies evaluating the nature of ischemic burden of chronic total occlusion (CTO) vessels are still lacking. @*Methods@#A total of 165 patients with single vessel CTO >2.5 mm in an epicardial coronary artery who underwent single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) were enrolled in the study. Ischemic burden was calculated with the use of semi-quantitative SPECT analysis, and was defined as the summed difference score (SDS) divided by the maximal limit of the score (=SDS/68). @*Results@#The mean age of the participants was 59.5 years and the CTO of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), left circumplex coronary artery (LCX), and right coronary artery (RCA) accounted for 93 (56.4%), 18 (10.9%), and 54 (32.7%) patients, respectively. The median ischemic burden of the total population was 8.8%, and it was highest in the LAD CTO (10.3%) compared with the LCX (5.9%) and RCA CTO (5.9%, p10%) was observed in 66 patients (40.0%), and in 47 patients (50.5%) of the LAD CTO. Ischemic burden was different according to the CTO location only in LAD CTO. The statistically significant predictors for high-ischemic burden were hypertension, baseline ejection fraction >45%, LAD CTO, proximal CTO location, and de novo CTO. Japanese-CTO score and Rentrop scale collateral grade were not associated with high-ischemic burden. @*Conclusions@#Only 40% of patients with single vessel CTO had ischemic burden >10%. For CTO vessels, measurement of ischemic burden using SPECT prior to revascularization may be helpful in identifying beneficial subjects.

A Close Relationship between Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Markerand New-Onset Hypertension inHealthy Korean Adults

Background and Objectives@#Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an excessiveaccumulation of fat into the liver as a result of increased inflammation and insulin resistance.Although there can be common pathogenic mechanisms for NAFLD and hypertensionassociated with the development of cardiovascular diseases, little data are showing theassociation between NAFLD and hypertension in a large-scale cohort study. Thus, weevaluated the ability of the fatty liver index (FLI), a surrogate marker of NAFLD, to predict thedevelopment of hypertension in healthy individuals. @*Methods@#We included 334,280 healthy individuals without known comorbidities whounderwent the National Health check-ups in South Korea from 2009 to 2014. Theassociation between the FLI and hypertension was analyzed using multivariate Coxproportional-hazards models. @*Results@#During a median of 5.2 years' follow-up, 24,678 subjects (7.4%) had new-onsethypertension. We categorized total subjects into quartile groups according to FLI (range: Q1,0–4.9; Q2, 5.0–12.5; Q3, 12.6–31.0; and Q4, >31.0). The incidence of hypertension was higherin subjects with the highest FLI than in those with the lowest FLI (Q4, 9,968 [11.9%] vs. Q1,2,277 [2.7%]; p<0.001). There was a significant correlation between the highest FLI and anincreased risk of new-onset hypertension (adjusted hazard ratio between Q4 and Q1, 2.330;95% confidence interval, 2.218–2.448; p<0.001). FLI was significantly associated with anincreased risk of new-onset hypertension regardless of baseline characteristics. @*Conclusions@#Higher FLI was independently associated with increased risk of hypertension ina healthy Korean population.

Transcatheter Closures for Fistula Tract and Paravalvular Leak after Mitral Valve Replacement and Tricuspid Annuloplasty

Paravalvular leaks (PVLs) often occur after surgical valve replacement. Surgical reoperation has been the gold standard of therapy for PVLs, but it carries a higher operative risk and an increased incidence of re-leaks compared to the initial surgery. In high surgical risk patients with appropriate geometries, transcatheter closure of PVLs could be an alternative to redo-surgery. Here, we report a case of successful staged transcatheter closures of a fistula tract between the aorta and right atrium, and mitral PVLs after mitral valve replacement and tricuspid annuloplasty.

The Clinical Significance of the Mini-Nutritional Assessment and the Scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment in Elderly Patients With Stroke

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical usefulness of the subjective assessments of nutritional status (Mini-Nutritional Assessment [MNA] and scored patient-generated subjective global assessment [PG-SGA]), compared with the objective (hematological, biochemical, and anthropometric) assessments, and to identify the correlation between the MNA and the scored PG-SGA in elderly patients with stroke. METHODS: Thirty-five stroke patients, aged 60 to 89 years old, participated in our study. The MNA, the scored PG-SGA and objective factors were evaluated. The objective malnutrition state was defined based on laboratory outcomes. According to the MNA and the scored PG-SGA classifications, total patients were respectively divided into three groups; well-nourished (W), at risk of malnutrition (R), and malnourished (M), and into four groups; normally nourished (A), suspected or mildly malnourished (B), moderately malnourished (C), and severely malnourished (D). RESULTS: Mean age and body mass index of subjects were 70.6 years and 22.2 kg/m2, respectively. Twenty-six (74.3%) patients were identified to be at an objectively malnourished state. In MNA, 3 (8.6%) patients were classified as group W, 13 (37.1%) as R, and 19 (54.3%) as M. Total MNA scores and three categorization had mild correlation with objective grouping (r=0.383, r=0.350, p<0.05, respectively). Restructuring into two groups by combining group R and M made strong correlation (r=0.520, p<0.01). On the basis of scored PG-SGA, 6 (17.1%) patients were sorted as group A, 10 (28.6%) as B, 15 (42.9%) as C, and 4 (11.4%) as D, respectively. Total scores and the grouping into four indicated meaningful correlation with the objective distinction (r=-0.403, p<0.05, r=0.449, p<0.01, respectively). There was a significant correlation between the MNA scores and the PG-SGA scores (r=-0.651, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: It is proposed that the MNA and the scored PG-SGA would be useful in screening malnourished elderly patients with stroke.

Deep Vein Thrombosis Due to Hematoma as a Rare Complication after Femoral Arterial Catheterization / 영남의대학술지

Hematoma is quite a common complication of femoral arterial catheterization. However, to the best of our knowledge, there have been no previous studies regarding deep vein thrombosis (DVT) caused by compression of a vein due to a hematoma. We report a case of a hematoma developing after femoral arterial catheterization and causing extensive symptomatic DVT. A 59-year-old male was seen in our Emergency Department with right lower leg swelling 15 days after coronary stent implantation performed using right femoral artery access. Computed tomographic (CT) scanning revealed a large hematoma (45 mm in its longest diameter) compressing the common femoral vein and with DVT from the right external iliac vein to the popliteal vein. Due to the extensive DVT involvement, we decided to release the compressed common femoral vein by surgical evacuation of the large hematoma. However, even following evacuation of the hematoma, as the DVT did not resolve soon, further mechanical thrombectomy and catheter-directed thrombolysis were performed. Angiography then showed nearly resolved DVT, and the leg swelling was improved. The patient was discharged with the anticoagulation medication, warfarin.

A Case of Synovial Sarcoma in Mediastinum / 영남의대학술지

Synovial sarcoma is a rare malignancy in the thoracic cavity, especially in the mediastinum. In this paper, a case of primary mediastinal synovial sarcoma is reported. A 34-year-old woman was hospitalized with dyspnea. Her chest X-ray and computed tomography (CT) showed a 16x13x11 cm mass in her anterior mediastinal space. Surgical resection was performed but was incomplete. The pathological and immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the diagnosis of monophasic spindle cell synovial sarcoma. The patient underwent adjuvant radiotherapy for two months, but local recurrence and metastasis occurred in her pleural cavity. She eventually underwent chemotherapy for one year and died 18 months after her operation.

Fear of Falling in Subacute Hemiplegic Stroke Patients: Associating Factors and Correlations with Quality of Life

OBJECTIVE: To determine the associating factors of fear of falling (FOF) and the correlations between FOF and quality of life (QOL) on subacute stroke patients in Korea. METHOD: Fifty hemiplegic subacute stroke patients in our clinic were recruited. We directly asked patients with their fear of falling and interviewed them with the Korean version of falls efficacy scale-international (KFES-I). We divided the participants into two groups; with FOF and without FOF. We compared these groups with the strength of hemiplegic hip abductor, knee extensor, ankle plantar flexor, functional ambulation category (FAC) scale, stroke specific quality of life (SSQOL), and hospital anxiety depression scale (HADS). RESULTS: Thirty-four participants were enrolled, and more than half of the patients with subacute stroke had FOF. We compared the patients with and without FOF. According to the results, FOF was associated with the strength of hemiplegic hip abductor, knee extensor and ankle plantar flexor, FAC, total SSQOL, and domains (energy, mobility, self care, upper extremity function) of SSQOL (p<0.05). FOF was also associated with the anxiety score of HADS (p<0.05). KFES-I had a significant negative correlation with the strength of hemiplegic hip abductor, knee extensor and ankle plantar flexor, FAC, total SSQOL, and domains (energy, mobility, self care, upper extremity function) of SSQOL (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The FOF was associated with not only QOL but also with the physical and psychological factors, and in particular, anxiety. Therefore, further concerns about FOF in subacute stroke patients might be required.

A Case Report of Bile Duct Duplication Arising from the Hepatic Hilum / 대한내과학회지

Anatomic variation in the hepatobiliary tract is relatively common, although bile duct duplication is rare. Detection of biliary tract variation is important because it is closely related to complications such as cholangitis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis, stone formation, and gastrointestinal tract malignancy. Therefore, preoperative imaging and a high index of suspicion are required to make an accurate diagnosis of a biliary tract anomaly. A 44-year-old woman presented with a 2-year history of epigastric pain after eating a meal and gallbladder sludge with chronic cholecystitis. The presumed diagnosis was gallbladder duplication. However, during surgery it was observed that the tubular structure was parallel with the fissure for the ligamentum venosum and ended at the lesser curvature of the stomach. The pathologic diagnosis was bile duct duplication. We report a case of a unique variant of bile duct duplication arising from the hepatic hilum.

Lymphohematopoietic Cancer Mortality and Morbidity of Workers in a Refinery/Petrochemical Complex in Korea

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to investigate the relationship between exposure of Korean workers to petrochemicals in the refinery/petrochemical industry and lymphohematopoietic cancers. METHODS: The cohort consisted of 8,866 male workers who had worked from the 1960s to 2007 at one refinery and six petrochemical companies located in a refinery/petrochemical complex in Korea that produce benzene or use benzene as a raw material. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated for 1992-2007 and 1997-2005 based on the death rate and cancer incidence rate of the Korean male population according to job title (production, maintenance, laboratory, and office workers). RESULTS: The overall mortality and most cause-specific mortalities were lower among these workers than those of the general Korean population. Increased SMRs were observed for leukemia (4/1.45; SMR 2.77, 95% CI: 0.75-7.09) and lymphohematopoietic cancers (5/2.51; SMR 2, 95% CI: 0.65-4.66) in production workers, and increased SIRs were also observed in leukemia (3/1.34; SIR 2.24, 95% CI: 0.46-6.54) and lymphohematopoietic cancers (5/3.39; SIR 1.47, 95% CI: 0.48-3.44) in production workers, but the results were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The results showed a potential relationship between leukemia and lymphohematopoietic cancers and exposure to benzene in refinery/petrochemical complex workers. This study yielded limited results due to a short observational period; therefore, a follow-up study must be performed to elucidate the relationship between petrochemical exposure and cancer rates.

Change of Visual Perception in Geriatric Strokes after Visuomotor Coordination Training

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of visuomotor coordination training on the visual perception of geriatric stroke patients. METHOD: Thirty (n=30) cooperative geriatric stroke patients were randomly assigned into 2 groups. The control group received conventional rehabilitation therapy, and intervention group received additional visuomotor coordination training with Dynavision for 30 minutes a day, 3 times a week for 4 weeks. We assessed visual perception and functional status before and after intervention by measuring K-MMSE, K-MBI, K-DRS scores, and by conducting Computerized Neuropsychological Test (CNT) (Maxmedia, Seoul, Korea) 1) visual memory; visual span backward & forward, 2) visual attention; visual continuous performance test (correct response, reaction time), 3) visuomotor coordination; trail making A test. RESULTS: The intervention group showed significant improvement in visual attention (p0.05). Both groups showed significant increase in K-MMSE and K-MBI scores (p0.05). CONCLUSION: Dynavision training improved the primary visual skill - visual attention, but did not improve higher order visual skills, such as visual memory, visuomotor coordination, cognition or functional performance in the elder stroke patients. Dynavision could be a useful tool for cognitive rehabilitation in patients with cognitive impairment and attention deficit by improving visual attention.