Korean vs. Western Exercise Capacity Nomograms for Korean Patients With Cardiovascular Disease

Background@#Exercise capacity is known to be an independent predictor of cardiovascular events and mortality. However, most previous studies were based on Western populations.Further study is warranted for Asian patients according to ethnic or national standards. We aimed to compare prognostic values of Korean and Western nomograms for exercise capacity in Korean patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). @*Methods@#In this retrospective cohort study, we enrolled 1,178 patients (62 ± 11 years;78% male) between June 2015 and May 2020, who were referred for cardiopulmonary exercise testing in our cardiac rehabilitation program. The median follow-up period was 1.6 years. Exercise capacity was measured in metabolic equivalents by direct gas exchange method during the treadmill test. The nomogram for exercise capacity from healthy Korean individuals and a previous landmark Western study was used to determine the percentage of predicted exercise capacity. The primary endpoint was the composite of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; all-cause death, myocardial infarction, repeat revascularization, stroke and hospitalization for heart failure). @*Results@#A multivariate analysis showed that the risk of primary endpoint was more than double (hazard ratio [HR], 2.20; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10–4.40) in the patients with lower exercise capacity (< 85% of predicted) by Korean nomogram. The lower exercise capacity was one of the strong independent predictors along with left ventricular ejection fraction, age, and level of hemoglobin. However, the lower exercise capacity by Western nomogram could not predict the primary endpoint (HR, 1.33; 95% CI, 0.85–2.10). @*Conclusion@#Korean patients with CVD with lower exercise capacity have higher risk of MACE.Considering inter-ethnic differences in cardiorespiratory fitness, the Korean nomogram provides more suitable reference values than the Western nomogram to determine lower exercise capacity and predict cardiovascular events in Korean patients with CVD.

Development and validation of equation for cardiorespiratory fitness in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

Background/Aims@#Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), as measured by maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), is an important independent predictive factor of cardiovascular outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). However, it is unclear whether conventional equations for estimating CRF are applicable to patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). @*Methods@#This study included 521 patients with HFpEF (EF ≥ 50%) whose CRF was directly measured by cardiopulmonary exercise test using a treadmill. We developed a new equation (Kor-HFpEF) for half of the patients in the HFpEF cohort (group A, n = 253) and validated it for the remaining half (group B, n = 268). The accuracy of the Kor-HFpEF equation was compared to that of the other equations in the validation group. @*Results@#In the total HFpEF cohort, the directly measured VO2max was significantly overestimated by the FRIEND and ACSM equations (p < 0.001) and underestimated by the FRIEND-HF equation (p <0.001) (direct 21.2 ± 5.9 mL/kg/min; FRIEND 29.1 ± 11.8 mL/kg/min; ACSM 32.5 ± 13.4 mL/kg/min; FRIEND-HF 14.1 ± 4.9 mL/kg/min). However, the VO2max estimated by the Kor-HFpEF equation (21.3 ± 4.6 mL/kg/min) was similar to the directly measured VO2max (21.7 ± 5.9 mL/kg/min, p = 0.124), whereas the VO2max estimated by the other three equations was still significantly different from the directly measured VO2max in group B (all p < 0.001). @*Conclusions@#Traditional equations used to estimate VO2max were not applicable to patients with HFpEF. We developed and validated a new Kor-HFpEF equation for these patients, which had a high accuracy.

Pulmonary graft-versus-host disease after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

No abstract available.

Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma Presented as an Incidental Lung Mass with Multiple Pulmonary Nodules / 결핵및호흡기질환

Low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) is an uncommon gynecologic malignancy of mesodermal origin. Pulmonary metastasis of low-grade ESS can occur years and decades after the treatment of the primary disease. Low-grade ESS is frequently mistaken as benign uterine neoplasm like uterine leiomyoma, which can potentially lead to a misdiagnosis. We present a case of a 42-year-old woman with low-grade ESS, that initially presented as an incidental lung mass with multiple pulmonary nodules, seven years after an uterine myomectomy. A 6.9x5.8 cm-sized intrapelvic mass suspected of uterine origin was discovered while searching for potential extrathoracic primary origin. A pelviscopy and simultaneous thoracoscopic lung biopsy were conducted for pathologic diagnosis. Finally, the diagnosis was confirmed as low-grade ESS with lung metastasis based on the histopathologic examination with immunohistochemical stain, which was showed positive for CD10 and hormone receptor markers (estrogen and progesterone receptors) in both pelvic and lung specimens.

Impact of Hemodialysis on Left Ventricular Performance: A Doppler Echocardiographic Study / 영남의대학술지

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular diastolic filling is an important determinant for maintenance of cardiac output during hemodialysis. Few investigators have studied the influence of hemodialysis on diastolic function. To evaluate the change of left ventricular systolic and diastolic function, we performed M-mode and Doppler echocardiopraphic studies before and after hemodialysis. METHODS: The study population consisted of 30 patients(15 patients were male, mean age 45+/-10 years) with CRF on maintenance henodialysis. They have normal left ventricular systolic function(Fractional shortening > 30%) and no evidence of valvular heart disease or regional wall motion abnormalities. The ejection fraction(EF) was measured using M-mode echocardiography and Doppler indices such as peak E velocity, peak A velocity, isovolumetric relaxaion time(IVRT), deceleration time(DT), and left ventricular ejection time(LVET) obtained from Doppler echocardiography. The index of myocardial performance(IMP) was calculated from each of the Doppler velocity indices. RESULTS: The weight reduction after hemodialysis was 2.1+/-1.0kg(p<0.0001). After hemodialysiss, there was some decrease in blood pressure(p<0.05), but no significant change in heart rate, EF and fractional shortening, mean VCF, peak A velocity, and DT. And significant in IVRT and IMP(p<0.05, p<0.0001) were noted. CONCLUSTION: In conclusion, preload reduction is the main mechanism that accounts for changes in Doppler diastolic indices after hemodialysis. And and increased IMP suggests that diastolic function may be aggravated after gemodialysis, and that implies impaired left ventricular filling and disturbed left ventricular compliance.

A Case of Renal Cell Carcinoma in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease Hemodialyzed / 대한신장학회잡지

The development of renal cell carcinoma in auto-sornal dominant polycystic kidney disease hemodialyzed was rarely found. A sixty-six year old man has been hemodialyzed for four years. His end-stage renal failure was caused by autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. He presented the sudden onset of gross hematuria which does not cause any pain. Radi-ological examination showed the possibility of renal cell carcinoma in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. The renal cell carcinoma was confirmed through nephrectomy and pathological examination. In this article, we present a case of renal cell carcinoma in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease hemodialyzed.

A Case of Rhino-orbital Mucormycoses with Orbital Apex Syndrome in Diabetic Patient / 대한내분비학회지

Rhino-orbital mucormycosis is a rare fungal infection that involves paranasal sinus and orbits and usually presented as acute invasive fungal sinusitis or orbital apex syndrome. It often occurs in patients with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus especially during or following episode of diabetic ketoacidosis. If the condition is not treated, the fungal infection may disseminated into the brain and death usually occurs in a day to week. Exenteration is often needed as a therapy. We have experienced a case of rhino-orbital mucormycosis that presented as a orbital apex syndrome and confirmed by maxillary and periorbital soft tissue biopsy. A 56-year-old female suffered from diabetes mellitus for 3 years was admitted with rapidly progressive visual acuity loss and left hemi-facial numbness. She was treated with daily intravenous amphotericin B and intraconal amphotericin B irrigation and packing. Exenteration was not neccisated.