Exercise Training Attenuates Ovariectomy-Induced Alterations in Skeletal Muscle Remodeling, Apoptotic Signaling, and Atrophy Signaling in Rat Skeletal Muscle / 대한배뇨장애요실금학회지

Purpose@#The effects of aerobic exercise training on soleus muscle morphology, mitochondria-mediated apoptotic signaling, and atrophy/hypertrophy signaling in ovariectomized rat skeletal muscle were investigated. @*Methods@#Female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control (CON), ovariectomy (OVX), and ovariectomy plus exercise (OVX+EX) groups. After ovarian excision, exercise training was performed using a rat treadmill at 20 m/min, 50 min/day, 5 days/week for 12 weeks. Protein levels of mitochondria-mediated apoptotic signaling and atrophy/hypertrophy signaling in the skeletal muscle (soleus) were examined through western immunoblot analysis. @*Results@#The number of myocytes and myocyte cross-sectional area (CSA) were increased and the extramyocyte space was decreased in the OVX group compared to those in the CON group. However, aerobic exercise training significantly increased myocyte CSA and decreased extramyocyte space in the OVX+EX group compared to those in the OVX group. The protein levels of proapoptotic signaling and muscle atrophy signaling were significantly increased, whereas the protein levels of muscle hypertrophy signaling were significantly decreased in the OVX group compared to that in the CON group. Aerobic exercise training significantly decreased the protein levels of proapoptotic signaling and increased the protein level of antiapoptotic protein in the OVX+EX group compared to that in the OVX group. Aerobic exercise training significantly increased the protein levels of hypertrophy signaling and decreased protein levels of atrophy signaling in the OVX+EX group compared to those in the OVX group. @*Conclusions@#Treadmill exercise improved estrogen deficiency-induced impairment in skeletal muscle remodeling, mitochondria-mediated apoptotic signaling, and atrophy/hypertrophy signaling in skeletal muscle.

Risk factors for poor prognosis in nosocomial infective endocarditis

BACKGROUND/AIMS@#The aim of our study was to compare the characteristics of nosocomial infective endocarditis (NIE) with community-acquired infective endocarditis (CIE) and to determine independent risk factors for in-hospital death.@*METHODS@#We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 560 patients diagnosed with infective endocarditis. NIE was defined by a diagnosis made > 72 hours after hospital admission or within 2 months of hospital discharge.@*RESULTS@#Among the 560 cases reviewed, 121 were classified as NIE. Compared with patients with CIE, patients with NIE were older (mean ± SD, 51.30±18.01 vs. 59.76±14.87, p < 0.001). The in-hospital death rate of the NIE group was much higher than that of the CIE group (27.3% vs. 5.9%, p < 0.001). More patients with NIE had central intravenous catheters, and were undergoing hemodialysis (p < 0.001). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was the most common causal microorganism of NIE, and MRSA (p < 0.001) and fungus (p = 0.002) were more common in NIE compared with CIE. On multiple analysis, age, liver cirrhosis, cancer chemotherapy, central intravenous catheter, hemodialysis, and genitourinary tract manipulation were independent clinical risk factors for NIE. Among the patients with NIE, 33 died during their hospital admission. The independent risk factors for in-hospital death were older age (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01 to 1.07; p = 0.037) and chemotherapy for malignancy (adjusted OR, 3.89; 95% CI, 1.18 to 12.87; p = 0.026).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Because of the considerable incidence of NIE and its poor prognosis, we should pay attention to early diagnosis and active management of NIE, especially for older patients and patients receiving chemotherapy.

Effects of Decreased Annular Height and Annular Saddle-Shaped Non-Planarity in Degenerative Severe Mitral Regurgitation with Normal Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction: Real-Time 3D Transesophageal Echocardiography

BACKGROUND: The extent of mitral annular (MA) remodeling and dysfunction is correlated with the severity of mitral regurgitation (MR) as well as left atrial (LA) and left ventricular (LV) dilation. MA dysfunction may be a useful prognostic factor for operative timing and MR recurrence after successful mitral valve (MV) repair. The aim of this study was to evaluate additive prognostic factors of MA non-planarity using real-time 3D transesophageal echocardiography (RT3D-TEE) analysis in patients with chronic severe MR and preserved LV systolic function. METHODS: Forty-seven patients with chronic severe MR and preserved LV systolic function scheduled for MV repair were prospectively enrolled. Echocardiographic studies were performed before surgery and postoperatively within 2 weeks and at least 6 months after surgery. RT3D-TEE was performed before the operation and immediately post-operative. RESULTS: Mean age was 55.4 ± 15.1 years and 24 were male. Annulus height/body surface area (BSA) obtained via RT3D-TEE was correlated with the degree of postoperative LA remodeling. Patients were divided into two groups by average baseline annulus height/BSA. Patients with normal annular height had a smaller postoperative LV end-diastolic dimension, LV end-systolic dimension and LA volume index than patients with decreased annular height. Preoperative annulus height/BSA values strongly predicted postoperative LA remodeling. CONCLUSION: MA height may be a useful prognostic factor for determining the timing of surgery in patients with chronic primary MR. Annulus height/BSA assessed via RT3D-TEE may provide additional information predictive of postoperative LA remodeling after successful MV repair.

Predicting Left Ventricular Dysfunction after Surgery in Patients with Chronic Mitral Regurgitation: Assessment of Myocardial Deformation by 2-Dimensional Multilayer Speckle Tracking Echocardiography

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The development of postoperative left ventricular (LV) dysfunction is a frequent complication in patients with chronic severe mitral valve regurgitation (MR) and portends a poor prognosis. Assessment of myocardial deformation enables myocardial contractility to be accurately estimated. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the predictive value of preoperative regional LV contractile function assessment using two-dimensional multilayer speckle-tracking echocardiography (2D MSTE) analysis in patients with chronic severe MR with preserved LV systolic function. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty-three consecutive patients with chronic severe MR with preserved LV systolic function scheduled for mitral valve replacement (MVR) or MV repair were prospectively enrolled. Serial echocardiographic studies were performed before surgery, at 7 days follow-up, and at least 3 months follow-up postoperatively. The conventional echocardiographic parameters were analyzed. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) was obtained quantitatively by 2D MSTE. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 51.7±14.3 years and 25 (58.1%) were male. In receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis, the most useful cutoff value for discriminating postoperative LV remodeling in severe MR with normal LV systolic function was -20.5% of 2D mid-layer GLS. Patients were divided into two groups by the baseline GLS -20.5%. Preoperative GLS values strongly predicted postoperative LV remodeling or LV dysfunction. The postoperative degree of decrease in LV end-diastolic dimension might be an additive predictive factor. CONCLUSION: STE can be used to predict a decrease in LV function after MVR in patients with chronic severe MR. This promising method could be of use in the clinic when trying to decide upon the optimum time to schedule surgery for such patients.

Prehypertension and Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction in Middle-Aged Koreans

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction is known to be a marker of myocardial damage, in particular myocardial fibrosis resulting from hypertension (HT). However, few studies have shown an association between the grade of diastolic dysfunction and blood pressure classification. We investigated the association between diastolic dysfunction and prehypertension (preHT) in apparently healthy adults who underwent routine health examinations. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study sample included 4261 Koreans, 45 to 64 years of age with no previous history of HT, diabetes mellitus, malignancy, proven coronary artery disease, or valvular heart disease based on echocardiography, who underwent routine health examinations including echocardiography. The subjects were classified into three groups based on resting blood pressure: prehypertensive, hypertensive, and normotensive. RESULTS: The prevalence of preHT in our study was 42.1%. After adjusting for age, gender, smoking status, alcohol consumption, fasting blood sugar, serum lipid profile, and body mass index, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction grades 1 and 2 were significantly more frequent in subjects with preHT (odds ratio [OR] 1.66 [95% confidence interval {CI} 1.40-1.96] and 1.37 [95% CI 0.95-1.97], respectively). When analyzed according to gender, the increased OR was especially notable in males. CONCLUSION: Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction appears to be significantly associated with preHT in Korean middle-aged males.

Incidence of coronary artery disease before valvular surgery in isolated severe aortic stenosis / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Angina pectoris has been recognized as one of the principal symptoms of aortic valve stenosis (AS), even in patients without significant coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the incidence of angina pectoris and related CAD in such patients is controversial. There is continuing debate as to whether coronary angiography is necessary before aortic valve replacement (AVR) in patients with severe AS. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence and predictors of CAD in patients with severe AS in a Korean population.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Data from all consecutive patients with severe AS undergoing AVR at a major tertiary cardiac and vascular center in Korea were entered in a prospective registry beginning in 1995. Clinical and echocardiographic follow-up data were recorded into the database annually. Significant CAD was defined as one or more major coronary arteries having an estimated narrowing of ≥70% and left main coronary arteries having an estimated narrowing of ≥50% on coronary angiography. We excluded patients with multiple valve disease, significant aortic regurgitation, or prior CAD or valve surgery.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Totally 574 patients with severe AS (mean age, (65.9±9.6) years) were enrolled in this study. Significant CAD was found in 61 patients (10.6%). Factors associated with increased likelihood of CAD were age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, carotid disease, and aorta calcification. In Logistic regression analysis, the independent predictor of the presence of CAD was age (P = 0.011). The incidence of CAD increased significantly at 69.2 years of age. Having two risk factors for cardiovascular disease was the most useful cutoff to predict whether a patient was going to have significant CAD.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>There was a low incidence of significant CAD in a population of Korean patients with severe AS. Therefore, coronary angiography before AVR will be considered in patients with multiple risk factors for cardiovascular disease or in patients more than 69 years of age without risk factors for cardiovascular disease.</p>

What is the real practice of exercise echocardiographic testing in asymptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis? / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Although exercise testing has been suggested to help predict clinical outcome, limited data are available to guide how exercise Doppler echocardiography (ECG) can be used clinically in asymptomatic patients with aortic stenosis (AS). The aim of this study was to assess the clinical value of exercise echocardiographic testing in asymptomatic patients with severe AS.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Symptom-limited treadmill exercise testing using the modified Bruce protocol was performed in 31 asymptomatic patients (mean age (62 ± 11) years) with severe AS (aortic valve area <1 cm(2), peak aortic velocity (AV Vmax) >4 m/sec, or a mean transaortic pressure gradient (AV mean PG) >40 mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa)) with normal left ventricular (LV) systolic function (LV ejection fraction (EF) >50%). Clinical symptoms, vital signs, ECG, and Doppler hemodynamics were obtained during and/or immediately after exercise.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Aortic valve replacement (AVR) was performed in 18 patients during follow-up. The patients who had AVR exhibited higher baseline AV mean PG (51 (35-84) vs. 44 (25.2-57.0) mmHg; P = 0.031). There were no significant differences between the AVR group and non-AVR group including exercise duration (7.47 (2.32-11.59) vs. 7.25 (4.06-10.52) minutes, P = 0.917), exercise capacity (10.1 (4.6-12.8) vs. 10.1 (7.0-12.8) metabolic equivalents, P = 0.675), and an increment in AV mean PG by exercise (18.5 (3.2-48.0) vs. 12.6 (4.4-32.1) mmHg, P = 0.366). Univariate regression analysis revealed that independent determinant of AVR was the baseline AV mean PG (P = 0.031).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Although additional value of exercise ECG was demonstrated, baseline transaortic mean pressure gradient is the major determinant of AVR. Further large-scale prospective studies are required to determine whether surgery should be recommended in the presence of an abnormal exercise ECG in asymptomatic severe AS.</p>

Tracheal granuloma after thyroidectomy with difficult intubation / 대한마취과학회지

No abstract available.

Occurrence of a spinal intradural arachnoid cyst after epiduroscopic neural decompression / 대한마취과학회지

No abstract available.

Transient unilateral vocal cord paralysis following endotracheal intubation in elderly patient with the abdominal surgery: A case report

Vocal cord paralysis is one of the most serious complications, which, in most situations, is preventable, associated with tracheal intubation. Unilateral vocal cord paralysis following tracheal intubation usually causes hoarseness. Postoperative vocal cord paralysis may be due to mechanical or neurogenic factors. The patient complained of hoarseness one day after operation and coughing on swallowing water ten days after operation. The vocal cords were examined with a fiberoptic nasopharyngolaryngoscopy and the right vocal cord was fixed in the paramedian position. We present a case of unilateral vocal cord paralysis following endotracheal intubation in a 71-year-old male patient with descending colon carcinoma and left renal cell carcinoma.

Airway fire injury during rigid bronchoscopy in a patient with a silicon stent: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Therapeutic bronchoscopy is widely employed as an effective first-line treatment for patients with central airway obstructions. Airway fires during rigid bronchoscopy are rare, but can have potentially devastating consequences. Pulmonologist and anesthesiologist undertaking this type of procedure should be aware of this serious problem and be familiar with measures to avoid this possibly fatal complication. We report the case of a 24-year-old patient with a silicone stent who experienced an electrocautery-induced airway fire during rigid bronchoscopy.

The accidental renal artery embolism in patient with aortoiliac occlusive disease with unilateral renal atrophy during aortobifemoral bypass graft: A case report

Aortoiliac occlusive disease occurs commonly in patients with peripheral arterial disease. Aortofemoral bypass is the most common surgical procedure to treat aortoiliac occlusive disease. Intraoperative renal artery embolism is rare complication that may occur during aortofemoral bypass in patients with aortoiliac occlusive disease. It is very important to prevent the risk of subsequent renal artery thrombotic or atheromatous embolism during aortofemoral bypass in patients with juxtarenal aortic occlusion because of accidentally dislodging fragments or atheromatous emboli into the renal arteries. Emboli to one or more major renal arteries are an occasional cause of renal failure. We report a case of renal artery embolism in patient with aortoiliac occlusive disease and unilateral renal atrophy during aortobifemoral bypass graft.

Effects of Ezetimibe Added to Ongoing Statin Therapy on C-Reactive Protein Levels in Hypercholesterolemic Patients

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Ezetimibe alone does not decrease C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in hypercholesterolemic patients. However, several reports have suggested that ezetimibe might potentiate the effect of statin not only on cholesterol but also on CRP when administered together. We investigated the effect of ezetimibe on CRP levels in patients taking statins. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Patients who had not achieved recommended low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) goals with statin therapy were divided into two groups, the ezetimibe group (n=60) and the control group (n=60). A third group of hypercholesterolemic patients without statin therapy was treated with statin (n=59). Patients with CRP level 10 mg/L were excluded. Lipid and CRP levels were measured before therapy commenced, and after 2 months of therapy. RESULTS: Ezetimibe decreased cholesterol and LDL-C levels by 20.2% (p=0.000) and 28.1% (p=0.000) respectively. However, ezetimibe did not reduce CRP levels (from 0.83+/-0.68 to 1.14+/-1.21 mg/dL, p=0.11). CRP levels remained unchanged in the control group (p=0.42). In contrast, statin lowered CRP levels (from 0.82+/-0.73 to 0.65+/-0.57 mg/dL, p=0.008). In patients taking statins, changes in CRP levels were not associated with changes in LDL-C (r=-0.02, p=0.87), but with baseline CRP levels (r=-0.38, p=0.000). CONCLUSION: Ezetimibe failed to reduce CRP levels in hypercholesterolemic patients taking statins despite significant reduction of LDL-C. This finding suggests that the anti-inflammatory effect of statin may not be secondary to cholesterol reduction, but via other mechanisms.

A Study on Consumption of Convenience Foods of University Students by Residing Types in Changwon and Masan Area

The purpose of this study was to investigate the dietary habits and the consumption patterns of convenience foods by university students according to where they reside. The subjects were 572 university students in Changwon and Masan who were divided into three groups by their residential type; students living with their parents (n=297), self-boarding students (n=139), and students living in a dormitory (n=136). This survey was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire. Among all students, 22.4% skipped breakfast, and the major reason was lack of time (38.1%). Convenience food intake at lunch was 39.1%, and that of snacks was 35.4%. In particular, convenience food intake at lunch was 45.9% for students living with their parents, 30.9% for those self-boarding, and 32.6% for those living in a dormitory (P<0.01). Approximately 66% of the students said that the reason they bought convenience food was that it was easy to cook. Those who were residents of a house (P<0.001) believed that nutritional imbalance was a problem with convenience food. The students who lived in the dormitory ate frozen fried pilaff (P<0.01), canned vegetables (P<0.05), packed kimchi (P<0.001), and Ramyon cups (P<0.001) more, while the self-boarding students ate Ramyon (P<0.05) more. The results suggest that it is necessary to educate people how to buy reasonably by understanding the interrelationship between convenience food and health care and by checking the nutrition index label on convenience foods.

Electro-Mechanical Safety Testing of Portable ECG Devices for Home Healthcare Usage / 대한의료정보학회지

OBJECTIVES: This paper suggests the experimental guidelines to evaluate the electro-mechanical safety of belt type equipment. The electro-mechanical safety was determined by using the International Electrotechnical Commission guidelines, which are widely used as important factors for assessing the electro-mechanical safety of belt type equipment. However, the local guidelines on wearable healthcare sensors are currently not well-established. Therefore, safety guidelines suited for the actual circumstances in Korea are required, and this paper attempts to try a new experimental safety test procedure of the wearable healthcare sensor. METHODS: This belt type device measures the electrocardiogram (ECG) and heart rates by attaching to the chest. Examination lists were selected by analyzing the common standards ofelectro-mechanical safety (IEC 60601-1) and environment tests (IEC 60068-1, IEC 60068-2) of home-healthcare equipment. RESULTS: The essential electrical safety, which was required for the RS300G3 as a medical device, was evaluated, and most of the examination lists were selected by considering the circumstances of the users. The device passed all the selected examinable lists that are applicable to the Korean environment. CONCLUSIONS: This study has limitations to estimate and to conduct electro-mechanical safety experiments because our study focused on the belt type of heart-rates equipment. We are not taking into account the overall electro-mechanical home-healthcare measurements. According to industrial and technological development, there are infinite possibilities for the advancement of home-healthcare equipment, so more examination lists for safety are being added in addition to what we have done.

A case of type 3 hyperlipoproteinemia associated with generalized tuberoeruptive xanthomas / 대한내과학회지

A 55-year-old female presented with extensive yellowish eruptive plaques over both elbows and the buttocks that she had first noticed 2 years earlier. Yellowish orange discoloration of her palmar creases was noted. Her serum cholesterol and triglyceride were markedly elevated. Lipoprotein electrophoresis showed a broad beta band. On apolipoprotein E genotyping, the arginine at position 158 had been replaced by cysteine in both alleles (E2/E2). Under a diagnosis of type III hyperlipoproteinemia, combined atorvastatin and fenofibrate therapy for 2 months normalized the serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Primary jugular venous ectasia: A rare cause of neck mass / 대한내과학회지

Venous ectasia, also called phlebectasia or venous aneurysm, is an isolated saccular or fusiform dilatation of a vein. Ectasia of the internal jugular vein was once considered rare, but is increasing in apparent frequency due to the wide use of noninvasive diagnostic modalities. A 57-year-old woman was referred for right neck discomfort that had developed 1 month earlier. She complained of a non-painful right neck swelling, located anteromedial to the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Computed tomography and color Doppler ultrasonography showed a 2x.7-cm right internal jugular venous ectasia. The size of the jugular venous ectasia decreased after compression with a probe and increased during the Valsalva maneuver. Here, we report the first Korean case of primary internal jugular venous ectasia, which presented as an asymptomatic right neck swelling

Assessment of Blood Glucose Values Measured by Blood Gas Analyzer or Portable Glucometer / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: A portable glucometer is commonly used to immediately check the blood glucose level. In the anesthetic field, some blood gas analyzers can also give a rapid indication of the blood sugar level but the accuracy is unknown. Therefore, this study assessed the accuracy of the blood glucose values measured by either a blood gas analyzer or portable glucometer. METHODS: Venous blood from diabetic patients was used to measure the glucose level with either a blood gas analyzer or a portable glucometer. The difference and 5% deviation from reference values was analyzed. These values were also assessed using a Bland-Altman plot and clinical significance was examined using a Clarke error grid. RESULTS: The differences from the reference values were smaller using the blood gas analyzer (1.3 +/- 7.8 mg/dl) than using the portable glucometer (-5.1 +/- 16.7 mg/dl)(P < 0.01). 73.4% of the values measured by the blood gas analyzer and 40.0% of those measured by the portable glucometer were within 5% of the reference value. The 95% limits of agreement in the difference ranged from -14.3 to 16.9 in the blood gas analyzer and -38.5 to 28.2 in the portable glucometer. Error grid analysis showed that 100% of the values measured by the blood gas analyzer were located in zone A. When locating the values measured using the portable glucometer, 95.6% were located in zone A, and the remaining 4.4% are located in zone B. CONCLUSIONS: The blood gas analyzer measures the blood glucose more accurately than the portable glucometer. However, the blood glucose values measured by the portable glucometer are clinically acceptable.

The Sphenopalatine Ganglion Radiofrequency Thermocoagulation on a Patient of CRPS with Facial Pain and Pruritus:A report of 2 cases / 대한통증학회지

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) type 1 is characterized by the presence of pain, which is severe, diffuse and associated with allodynia, and is also associated with autonomic and trophic changes. The sensitization phenomena of CRPS also cause allodynia and itching, as well as pain. These symptoms are the issues associated with the treatment of CRPS. Under normal conditions, an antagonistic interaction exists between the pain and itching, but the patterns of peripheral and central sensitization phenomena for the pain and itching are very similar. The chronic pain and chronic itch have similar characteristics in their developmental and therapeutical principles. Herein, our experience of 2 cases of CRPS, which showed improvement of these facial symptoms after sphenopalatine ganglion radiofrequency thermocoagulation, but were not controlled by spinal cord stimulation or other conservative treatments, is reported.