Relationship Between Serum Uric Acid Levels, Metabolic Syndrome, and Arterial Stiffness in Korean

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Associations have been reported between the serum uric acid (SUA) level, metabolic syndrome (MS), and atherosclerosis. We have determined the relationship between the SUA level, MS, and arterial stiffness in Korean. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional data from 1,276 adults who underwent routine laboratory tests and pulse wave velocity (PWV) measurements during a health check-up were analyzed in a gender-specific manner. None of the participants had atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, diabetes, renal disease, or systemic disease, or were under treatment which would affect SUA levels, or taking medications for hypertension or dyslipidemia. RESULTS: After adjustment for age, smoking status, total cholesterol (TC), and creatinine, the odds ratios (ORs, 95% confidence interval) of gender-specific quartiles of SUA for MS were 1.0, 1.28 (0.66-2.47), 1.46 (0.76-2.82), and 2.21 (1.15-4.26) in females, and 1.0, 1.33 (0.82-2.17), 1.60 (0.96-2.66), and 2.03 (1.21-3.40) in males. However, after adjustment for waist circumference, there were no significant differences in the ORs among the SUA quartile groups in females and males (both, p=NS). The Pearson's correlation coefficients for the relationship between SUA levels and heart-femoral (hf) PWVs or brachial-ankle (ba) PWVs were not significant in females and males (r=0.054 and r=0.015, respectively, in females; r=-0.036 and r=-0.015, respectively, in males; all, p=NS). CONCLUSION: An elevated SUA level is associated with abdominal obesity among the MS components, but the SUA level is not associated with PWV in females or males.

A Case of Pseudoaneurysm of the Common Carotid Artery Associated with Central Venous Catheterization in a Patient on Hemodialysis / 대한신장학회지

Aneurysm of the carotid artery is an uncommon clinical disease which can occur as the result of atherosclerotic degeneration, fibromuscular dysplasia, or traumatic injury. Because of the risk of aneurysm rupture as well as the neurological sequelae caused by cerebral atheroembolism, surgical intervention is usually required. Internal jugular vein cannulation is the preferred approach for temporary hemodialysis catheter placement. However, the patient with renal failure on hemodialysis who has comorbid condition, the risk of pseudoaneurysm of carotid artery is increased. Here we report a patient on hemodialysis who developed common carotid artery pseudoaneurysm following an attempted internal jugular vein catheterization. A review of relevant literature is also presented.

Renal Artery Embolization of Perirenal Hematoma in Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome: A Case Report

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is an acute viral disease characterized by fever, hemorrhage and renal failure. Among the various hemorrhagic complications of HFRS, spontaneous rupture of the kidney and perirenal hematoma are very rare findings. We report here on a case of HFRS complicated by massive perirenal hematoma, and this was treated with transcatheter arterial embolization.

A case of bilateral vocal cord palsy following short term endotracheal intubation / 대한내과학회지

Bilateral vocal cord paralysis may occur as a result of thyroid and cervical surgery, tracheal intubation, trauma, and neurodegenerative and neuromuscular diseases. However, there are only a few reported cases of bilateral cord paralysis associated with short-term endotracheal intubation. We report a case of bilateral vocal cord palsy leading to respiratory obstruction following short-term endotracheal intubation.