TLR2 immunotherapy suppresses neuroinflammation, tau spread, and memory loss in rTg4510 mice.

In Alzheimer's disease, chronic neuroinflammation is accompanied by amyloid and tau pathologies. Especially, aberrant microglial activation is known to precede the regional tau pathology development, but the mechanisms how microglia affect tau spread remain largely unknown. Here, we found that toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) in microglia recognizes oligomeric tau as a pathogenic ligand and induces inflammatory responses. Knockout of TLR2 reduced tau pathology and microglial activation in rTg4510 tau transgenic mice. Treatment of oligomeric tau induced TLR2 activation and increased inflammatory responses in microglial cells. TLR2 further mediated the tau-induced microglial activation and promoted tau uptake into neurons in neuron-microglia co-culture system and in mouse hippocampus after intracranial tau injection. Importantly, treatment with anti-TLR2 monoclonal antibody Tomaralimab blocked TLR2 activation and inflammatory responses in a dose-dependent manner, and significantly reduced tau spread and memory loss in rTg4510 mice. These results suggest that TLR2 plays a crucial role in tau spread by causing aberrant microglial activation in response to pathological tau, and blocking TLR2 with immunotherapy may ameliorate tau pathogenesis in Alzheimer's disease.

Vasoactive-Inotropic Score as a Determinant of Timely Initiation of Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Patients With Cardiogenic Shock.

BACKGROUND: The predictive role of the vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS) for clinical outcomes after venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) in patients with cardiogenic shock is not well known. This study investigated the predictive value of VIS on in-hospital outcomes and the determination of optimal timing for the initiation of VA-ECMO.Methods and Results:Overall, 160 patients with cardiogenic shock requiring VA-ECMO who were treated between December 2012 and August 2018 were analyzed. The in-hospital outcomes according to VIS were compared. Pre-ECMO VIS had an area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.60 (P=0.03) for the prediction of in-hospital death. When the patients were divided into the high (≥32) and low (<32) VIS groups, the high VIS group had a higher rate of in-hospital death (P=0.002) and a lower rate of ECMO weaning (P=0.004). The difference in in-hospital death according to VIS was significant only in patients with a cardiogenic shock of non-ischemic etiology (P=0.01). Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (hazard ratio [HR], 1.99), age (HR, 1.02), pre-ECMO lactate (HR, 1.06), and VIS ≥32 (HR, 2.46) were independently predictive of in-hospital death. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with cardiogenic shock requiring VA-ECMO, the initiation of VA-ECMO before reaching high VIS (≥32) showed better in-hospital outcomes, suggesting that VIS may be a potential marker for determining the initiation of hemodynamic support with VA-ECMO.

Ten-year outcomes of early generation sirolimus- versus paclitaxel-eluting stents in patients with left main coronary artery disease.

To compare 10-year outcomes after implantation of sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) versus paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES) for left main coronary artery (LMCA) stenosis. Very long-term outcome data of patients with LMCA disease treated with drug-eluting stents (DES) have not been well described. In 10-year extended follow-up of the MAINCOMPARE registry, we evaluated 778 patients with unprotected LMCA stenosis who were treated with SES (n = 607) or PES (n = 171) between January 2000 and June 2006. The primary composite outcome (a composite of death, myocardial infarction [MI] or target-vessel revascularization [TVR]) was compared with an inverse-probability-of-treatment-weighting (IPTW) adjustment. Clinical events have linearly accumulated over 10 years. At 10 years, there were no significant differences between SES and PES in the observed rates of the primary composite outcome (42.0% vs. 47.4%; hazard ratio [HR] 0.85; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.66-1.10), and definite stent thrombosis (ST) (1.9% vs. 1.8%; HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.28-3.64). In the IPTW-adjusted analyses, there were no significant differences between SES and PES in the risks for the primary composite outcome (HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.65-1.14) or definite ST (adjusted HR 1.05, 95% CI 0.29-3.90). In patients who underwent DES implantation, high overall adverse clinical event rates (with a linearly increasing event rate over time) were observed during extended follow-up. At 10 years, there were no measurable differences in outcomes between patients treated with SES vs. PES for LMCA disease. The incidence of stent thrombosis was quite low and comparable between the groups.

Clinical impact of mild to moderate pulmonary hypertension in living-donor liver transplantation.

Severe pulmonary hypertension (PHT) is a contraindication to liver transplantation (LT); however, the prognostic implication of mild to moderate PHT in living-donor LT (LDLT) is unknown. The study cohort retrospectively included 1307 patients with liver cirrhosis who underwent LDLT. PHT was defined as a mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) of ≥25 mmHg, measured intraoperatively just before surgery. The primary endpoint was graft failure within 1 year after LDLT, including retransplantation or death from any cause. The secondary endpoints were in-hospital adverse events. In the overall cohort, the median Model for End-stage Liver Disease-Sodium (MELD-Na) score was 19, and 100 patients (7.7%) showed PHT. During 1-year follow-up, graft failure occurred in 94 patients (7.2%). Patients with PHT had lower 1-year graft survival (86% vs. 93.4%, P = 0.005) and survival rates (87% vs. 93.6%, P = 0.011). Mean PAP was associated with a high risk of in-hospital adverse events and 1-year graft failure. Adding the mean PAP to the clinical risk model improved the risk prediction. In conclusion, mild to moderate PHT was associated with higher risks of 1-year graft failure and in-hospital events, including mortality after LDLT in patients with liver cirrhosis. Intraoperative mean PAP can help predict the early clinical outcomes after LDLT.

Application of corona discharge-generated air ions for filtration of aerosolized virus and inactivation of filtered virus.

The effect of corona discharge-generated air ions on the filtration of aerosolized bacteriophage MS2 was studied. A carbon-fiber ionizer was installed upstream of a medium-efficiency air filter to generate air ions, which were used to charge the virus aerosols and increase their filtration efficiency. After the virus aerosols were captured by the filter for a certain time interval, they were exposed to a newly incoming air ion flow. Captured virus particles were detached from the filter by sonication, and their antiviral efficiency due to air ions was calculated by counting the plaque-forming units. The antiviral efficiency increased with ion exposure time and ion concentration. When the concentration of positive air ions was 107 ions/cm3, the antiviral efficiencies were 46.1, 78.8, and 83.7% with exposure times of 15, 30, and 45 min, respectively. When the ionizer was operated in a bipolar mode, the number concentrations of positive and negative ions were 6.6×106 and 3.4×106 ions/cm3, respectively, and the antiviral efficiencies were 64.3, 89.1, and 97.4% with exposure times of 15, 30, and 45 min, respectively. As a quantitative parameter for the performance evaluation of air ions, the susceptibility constant of bacteriophage MS2 to positive, negative, bipolar air ions was calculated as 5.5×10-3, 5.4×10-3 and 9.5×10-3, respectively. These susceptibility constants showed bipolar ion treatment was more effective about 1.7 times than unipolar ion treatment.

Management of potential cardiac donors.

Heart transplantation (HTx) outcomes have improved with careful donor selection and management; nonetheless, donor shortages remain a major challenge. Optimizing donor management is crucial for improving donor utility rates and post-HTx outcomes. Brain death leads to various pathophysiological changes that can affect multiple organs, including the heart. Understanding these alterations and corresponding management strategies is key to optimizing the donor organ condition. This review assesses several aspects of these pathophysiological changes, including hemodynamic and endocrinological considerations, and emphasizes special consideration for potential cardiac donors, including serial echocardiographic evaluations for reversible cardiac dysfunction and coronary assessments for donors with risk factors.

Determination of submicron aerosols effective density using two-stage low-pressure impactor and aerosol electrometer based on pre-measured particle size distribution.

A novel methodology was presented for determining the representative effective density of aerosols of a given size distribution, using a lab-made two-stage low-pressure impactor and an aerosol electrometer. Electrical currents upstream (Imeasured, up) and downstream (Imeasured, down) of the 2nd stage of the impactor were measured using a corona charger and the aerosol electrometer. In addition, the electrical currents upstream (Icalculated, up) and downstream (Icalculated, down) of the 2nd stage of the impactor were calculated using the aerosol charging theory. Then, the difference between the ratio of Imeasured,down to Imeasured,up and the ratio of Icalculated,down to Icalculated,up was iterated with varying the presumed effective density until the difference was smaller than 0.001. The methodology was validated using poly-disperse sodium chloride (NaCl) particles. The effective densities of ambient aerosols were then obtained from indoor and outdoor environments and compared with those calculated from a relation between mobility (scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS) measurement) and aerodynamic (electrical low-pressure impactor (ELPI) measurement) diameters. Compared to the effective densities obtained with SMPS and ELPI measurements, the effective densities obtained using the methodology introduced in this paper differed within 10 % deviation, depending on measurement location. After an averaged effective density for given size distribution is obtained at a measurement location, the number-based size distribution can be easily converted to mass-based size distribution using the representative effective density.

B-lines by lung ultrasound as a predictor of re-intubation in mechanically ventilated patients with heart failure.

Introduction: There have been few studies on predictors of weaning failure from MV in patients with heart failure (HF). We sought to investigate the predictive value of B-lines measured by lung ultrasound (LUS) on the risk of weaning failure from mechanical ventilation (MV) and in-hospital outcomes. Methods: This was a single-center, prospective observational study that included HF patients who were on invasive MV. LUS was performed immediate before ventilator weaning. A positive LUS exam was defined as the observation of two or more regions that had three or more count of B-lines located bilaterally on the thorax. The primary outcome was early MV weaning failure, defined as re-intubation within 72 h. Results: A total of 146 consecutive patients (mean age 70 years; 65.8% male) were enrolled. The total count of B-lines was a median of 10 and correlated with NT-pro-BNP level (r2 = 0.132, p < 0.001). Early weaning failure was significantly higher in the positive LUS group (9 out of 64, 14.1%) than the negative LUS group (2 out of 82, 2.4%) (p = 0.011). The rate of total re-intubation during the hospital stay (p = 0.004), duration of intensive care unit stay (p = 0.004), and hospital stay (p = 0.010) were greater in the positive LUS group. The negative predictive value (NPV) of positive LUS was 97.6% for the primary outcome. Conclusion: B-lines measured by LUS can predict the risk of weaning failure. Considering the high NPV of positive LUS, it may help guide the decision of weaning in patients on invasive MV due to acute decompensated HF.

CT-derived myocardial strain measurement in patients with chronic constrictive pericarditis.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to compare computed tomography (CT)-derived myocardial strain between patients with constrictive pericarditis (CP) and a matched healthy control group and to identify factors associated with clinical outcomes after pericardiectomy. METHODS: This retrospective study included 65 patients with CP (mean age: 58.9 â€‹± â€‹8.0 years) and 65 healthy individuals (mean age: 58.0 â€‹± â€‹6.5 years) who underwent multiphase cardiac CT. The type of CP was classified as calcified CP or fibrotic CP. CT-derived strains from four cardiac chambers were compared between the CP and control groups, as well as between different types of CP. Clinical and CT-derived factors associated with adverse outcomes were identified using Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the CP group showed significantly lower values of left atrium (LA) reservoir strain (15.7 â€‹% vs. 27.4 â€‹%), right atrium (RA) reservoir strain (15.1 â€‹% vs. 27.0 â€‹%), left ventricle (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) (-17.0 â€‹% vs. -19.5 â€‹%), and right ventricle free wall longitudinal strain (-21.1 â€‹% vs. -25.9 â€‹%) (all p â€‹< â€‹0.001). Biatrial reservoir strains and LV GLS were significantly lower in those with calcified CP compared to those with fibrotic CP. LA reservoir strain (hazard ratio, 0.91-95 â€‹% confidence interval, 0.86-0.96- p â€‹= â€‹0.001) was an independent prognostic factor for adverse events in patients with CP. CONCLUSION: Cardiac strain differences in CP were predominantly observed in the LA and RA compared to the healthy control group. Biatrial reservoir strains were specifically impaired in those with calcified CP than in those with fibrotic CP. LA reservoir strain was associated with prognosis in patients with CP following pericardiectomy.

Clinical implications of pleural effusion following left ventricular assist device implantation.

BACKGROUND: Studies on the association between pleural effusion (PE) and left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are limited. This study aimed to examine the characteristics and the clinical impact of PE following LVAD implantation. METHODS: This study is a prospective analysis of patients who underwent LVAD implantation from June 2015 to December 2022. We investigated the prognostic impact of therapeutic drainage (TD) on clinical outcomes. We also compared the characteristics and clinical outcomes between early and late PE and examined the factors related to the development of late PE. RESULTS: A total of 71 patients was analyzed. The TD group (n=45) had a longer ward stay (days; median [interquartile range]: 31.0 [23.0-46.0] vs. 21.0 [16.0-34.0], P=0.006) and total hospital stay (47.0 [36.0-82.0] vs. 31.0 [22.0-48.0], P=0.002) compared to the no TD group (n=26). Early PE was mostly exudate, left-sided, and neutrophil-dominant even though predominance of lymphocytes was the most common finding in late PE. Patients with late PE had a higher rate of reintubation within 14 days (31.8% vs. 4.1%, P=0.004) and longer hospital stays than those without late PE (67.0 [43.0-104.0] vs. 36.0 [28.0-48.0], P<0.001). Subgroup analysis indicated that female sex, low body mass index, cardiac resynchronization therapy, and hypoalbuminemia were associated with late PE. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to patients not undergoing TD, those undergoing TD had a longer hospital stay but not a higher 90-day mortality. Patients with late PE had poor clinical outcomes. Therefore, the correction of risk factors, like hypoalbuminemia, may be required.

Early unloading and clinical outcomes in patients with fulminant myocarditis undergoing VA-ECMO: results of a multicenter retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Although venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) provides effective cardiocirculatory support in patients with fulminant myocarditis, the most effective timing of venting is uncertain. We aimed to investigate the benefit of early venting among patients who underwent VA-ECMO for fulminant myocarditis. METHODS: Among 841 patients with acute myocarditis from 7 hospitals in the Republic of Korea, 217 patients with fulminant myocarditis who underwent VA-ECMO were included in this analysis. The patients were categorized into 2 groups: an early unloading group that underwent venting within 24hours of ECMO insertion, and the no or delayed unloading group. The primary outcome was a composite of death, cardiac replacement, or cardiovascular rehospitalization. RESULTS: Among 217 patients, 56 underwent early venting, 54 underwent delayed venting, and 107 did not undergo venting. On spline curves in 110 patients who underwent venting, rapid deterioration was observed as the timing of venting was delayed. The incidence of the primary outcome was lower in the early venting group than in the no or delayed unloading group (37.5% vs 58.4%; HR, 0.491; 95%CI, 0.279-0.863; P=.014). Among patients not experiencing the primary outcome within 6 months, clinical outcomes were similar after 6 months (P=.375). CONCLUSIONS: Early left heart unloading within 24hours of ECMO insertion is associated with a lower risk of a composite of death, cardiac replacement therapy, and cardiovascular rehospitalization in patients with fulminant myocarditis undergoing VA-ECMO. Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05933902).

The Korean Organ Transplant Registry (KOTRY): Third Official Adult Heart Transplant Report.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The Korean Organ Transplant Registry (KOTRY) provided data for this third official report on adult heart transplantation (HT), including information from 709 recipients. METHODS: Data from HTs performed at seven major centers in Korea between March 2014 and December 2020 were analyzed, focusing on immunosuppression, acute rejection, cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV), post-transplant survival, and mechanical circulatory support (MCS) usage. RESULTS: The median ages of the recipients and donors were 56.0 and 43.0 years, respectively. Cardiomyopathy and ischemic heart disease were the most common preceding conditions for HT. A significant portion of patients underwent HT at waiting list status 1 and 0. In the multivariate analysis, a predicted heart mass mismatch was associated with a higher risk of 1-year mortality. Patients over 70 years old had a significantly increased risk of 6-year mortality. The risk of CAV was higher for male donors and donors older than 45 years. Acute rejection was more likely in patients with panel reactive antibody levels above 80%, while statin use was associated with a reduced risk. The employment of left ventricular assist device as a bridge to transplantation increased from 2.17% to 22.4%. Pre-transplant extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation was associated with worse post-transplant survival. CONCLUSIONS: In this third KOTRY report, we analyzed changes in the characteristics of adult HT recipients and donors and their impact on post-transplant outcomes. The most notable discovery was the increased use of MCS before HT and their impact on post-transplant outcomes.

Effectiveness of pulmonary artery catheter monitoring for patients with cardiogenic shock of various causes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Cardiogenic shock is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Invasive hemodynamic monitoring with pulmonary artery catheterization (PAC) can be useful in the assessment of changes in cardiac function and hemodynamic status; however, the benefits of PAC in the management of cardiogenic shock are not known well. Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies and randomized controlled trials, comparing in-hospital mortality between PAC and non-PAC groups of cardiogenic shock patients with various underlying causes. Articles were obtained from MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL. We reviewed titles, abstracts, and full articles and evaluated the quality of evidence using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations) framework. We used a random-effects model to compare studies in terms of in-hospital mortality findings. Results: We included twelve articles in our meta-analysis. Mortality among patients with cardiogenic shock was not significantly different between the PAC and the non-PAC groups [risk ratio (RR) 0.86, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.73-1.02, I2=100%, P<0.01]. Two studies investigating cardiogenic shock caused by acute decompensated heart failure determined lower in-hospital mortality in the PAC group than in the non-PAC group (RR 0.49, 95% CI: 0.28-0.87, I2=45%, P=0.18). Six studies investigating cardiogenic shock of any cause determined lower in-hospital mortality in the PAC group than in the non-PAC group (RR 0.84, 95% CI: 0.72-0.97, I2=99%, P<0.01). There was no significant difference in in-hospital mortality between the PAC and non-PAC groups of patients with cardiogenic shock secondary to acute coronary syndrome (RR 1.01, 95% CI: 0.81-1.25, I2=99%, P<0.01). Conclusions: Overall, our meta-analysis demonstrated no significant association between PAC monitoring and in-hospital mortality among patients managed for cardiogenic shock. The use of PAC in the management of cardiogenic shock caused by acute decompensated heart failure was associated with lower in-hospital mortality, but there was no association between PAC monitoring and in-hospital mortality among patients with cardiogenic shock caused by acute coronary syndrome.

Prognosis of Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Mixed, Cardiogenic and Septic Shock.

Mixed cardiogenic-septic shock (MS), defined as the combination of cardiogenic (CS) and septic (SS) shock, is often encountered in cardiac intensive care units. Herein, the authors compared the impact of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) in MS, CS, and SS. Of 1,023 patients who received VA-ECMO from January 2012 to February 2020 at a single center, 211 with pulmonary embolism, hypovolemic shock, aortic dissection, and unknown causes of shock were excluded. The remaining 812 patients were grouped based on the cause of shock at VA-ECMO application: i) MS (n = 246, 30.3%), ii) CS (n = 466, 57.4%), iii) SS (n = 100, 12.3%). The MS group was younger and had lower left ventricular ejection fraction than the CS or SS group did. The 30 day and 1 year mortalities were the highest in SS (30 day mortality: 50.4% vs. 43.3% vs. 69.0%, p < 0.001 for MS versus CS versus SS, respectively; 1 year mortality: 67.5% vs. 53.2% vs. 81.0%, p < 0.001 for MS versus CS versus SS, respectively). Posthoc analysis showed that the 30 day mortality of MS was not different from CS, while the 1 year mortality of MS was worse than CS but better than SS. Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation application for MS may help improve survival and should therefore be considered if indicated.

Korean Society of Heart Failure Guidelines for the Management of Heart Failure: Advanced and Acute Heart Failure.

The Korean Society of Heart Failure (KSHF) Guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations based on Korean and international data to guide adequate diagnosis and management of heart failure (HF). Since introduction of 2017 edition of the guidelines, management of advanced HF has considerably improved, especially with advances in mechanical circulatory support and devices. The current guidelines addressed these improvements. In addition, we have included recently updated evidence-based recommendations regarding acute HF in these guidelines. In summary, Part IV of the KSHF Guidelines covers the appropriate diagnosis and optimized management of advanced and acute HF.

CT Coronary Angiography and Dynamic CT Myocardial Perfusion for Detection of Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is a major obstacle limiting long-term graft survival. Effective noninvasive surveillance modalities reflecting both coronary artery and microvascular components of CAV are needed. OBJECTIVES: The authors evaluated the diagnostic performance of dynamic computed tomography-myocardial perfusion imaging (CT-MPI) and coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) for CAV. METHODS: A total of 63 heart transplantation patients underwent combined CT-MPI and CCTA plus invasive coronary angiography (ICA) with intravascular ultrasonography (IVUS) between December 2018 and October 2021. The median interval between CT-MPI and heart transplantation was 4.3 years. Peak myocardial blood flow (MBF) of the whole myocardium (MBFglobal) and minimum MBF (MBFmin) among the 16 segments according to the American Heart Association model, except the left ventricular apex, were calculated from CT-MPI. CCTA was assessed qualitatively, and the degree of coronary artery stenosis was recorded. CAV was diagnosed based on both ICA (ISHLT criteria) and IVUS. Patients were followed up for a median time of 2.3 years after CT-MPI and a median time of 5.7 years after transplantation. RESULTS: Among the 63 recipients, 35 (55.6%) had diagnoses of CAV. The median MBFglobal and MBFmin were significantly lower in patients with CAV (128.7 vs 150.4 mL/100 mL/min; P = 0.014; and 96.9 vs 122.8 mL/100 mL/min; P < 0.001, respectively). The combined use of coronary artery stenosis on CCTA and MBFmin showed the highest diagnostic performance with an area under the curve of 0.886 (sensitivity: 74.3%, specificity: 96.4%, positive predictive value: 96.3%, and negative predictive value: 75.0%). CONCLUSIONS: The combination of CT-MPI and CCTA demonstrated excellent diagnostic performance for the detection of CAV. One-stop evaluation of the coronary artery and microvascular components involved in CAV using combined CCTA and CT-MPI may be a potent noninvasive screening method for early detection of CAV.

Ten-year prognostic value of coronary CT angiography in asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) risk score has limited value for predicting coronary artery disease (CAD) events. We investigated the additive value of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) on top of the UKPDS risk score in predicting 10-year adverse cardiac events in asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: We evaluated 589 asymptomatic diabetic patients without a history of CAD who underwent CCTA. The primary outcome was a composite of cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, unstable angina requiring hospitalization, and revascularization. We estimated the discrimination and reclassification ability for the prediction models, which included combinations of the UKPDS category, severity of stenosis, and coronary artery calcium score by CCTA. RESULTS: The incidence of the primary outcome was 12.4%. During 10 years of follow-up, patients without plaque by CCTA tended to have a low CAD event rate, while those with obstructive CAD tended to have a high event rate, irrespective of the baseline UKPDS risk category. The model that included only the UKPDS category had a Harrell's c-index of 0.658; adding the degree of stenosis to the model significantly increased the c-index by 0.066 (P=.004), while adding coronary artery calcium score increased the c-index by only 0.039 (P=.056). Overall, CCTA information in addition to the UKPDS risk category improved the reclassification rate for predicting the primary outcome. CONCLUSIONS: In asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes, CCTA information for CAD provided significant incremental discriminatory power beyond the UKPDS risk score category for predicting 10-year adverse coronary events.

Korean Society of Heart Failure Guidelines for the Management of Heart Failure: Advanced and Acute Heart Failure.

The Korean Society of Heart Failure (KSHF) Guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations based on Korean and international data to guide adequate diagnosis and management of heart failure (HF). Since introduction of 2017 edition of the guidelines, management of advanced HF has considerably improved, especially with advances in mechanical circulatory support and devices. The current guidelines addressed these improvements. In addition, we have included recently updated evidence-based recommendations regarding acute HF in these guidelines. In summary, Part IV of the KSHF Guidelines covers the appropriate diagnosis and optimized management of advanced and acute HF.

Korean Society of Heart Failure Guidelines for the Management of Heart Failure: Treatment.

The Korean Society of Heart Failure (KSHF) guidelines aim to provide physicians with evidence-based recommendations for the management of patients with heart failure (HF). After the first introduction of the KSHF guidelines in 2016, newer therapies for HF with reduced ejection fraction, HF with mildly reduced ejection fraction, and HF with preserved ejection fraction have since emerged. The current version has been updated based on international guidelines and research data on Korean patients with HF. Herein, we present Part II of these guidelines, which comprises treatment strategies to improve the outcomes of patients with HF.

Risk and Outcome of Infective Endocarditis in Streptococcal Bloodstream Infections according to Streptococcal Species.

This study aimed to identify which streptococcal species are closely associated with infective endocarditis (IE) and to evaluate risk factors for mortality in patients with streptococcal IE. We performed a retrospective cohort study of all patients with streptococcal bloodstream infection (BSI) from January 2010 to June 2020 in a tertiary hospital in South Korea. We compared clinical and microbiological characteristics of streptococcal BSIs according to the diagnosis of IE. We performed multivariate analysis to evaluate the risk of IE according to streptococcal species and risk factors for mortality in streptococcal IE. A total of 2,737 patients were identified during the study period, and 174 (6.4%) were diagnosed with IE. The highest IE prevalence was in patients with Streptococcus mutans BSI (33% [9/27]) followed by S. sanguinis (31% [20/64]), S. gordonii (23% [5/22]), S. gallolyticus (16% [12/77]), and S. oralis (12% [14/115]). In multivariate analysis, previous IE, high-grade BSI, native valve disease, prosthetic valve, congenital heart disease, and community-onset BSI were independent risk factors for IE. After adjusting for these factors, S. sanguinis (adjusted OR [aOR], 7.75), S. mutans (aOR, 5.50), and S. gallolyticus (aOR, 2.57) were significantly associated with higher risk of IE, whereas S. pneumoniae (aOR, 0.23) and S. constellatus (aOR, 0.37) were associated with lower risk of IE. Age, hospital-acquired BSI, ischemic heart disease, and chronic kidney disease were independent risk factors for mortality in streptococcal IE. Our study points to significant differences in the prevalence of IE in streptococcal BSI according to species. IMPORTANCE Our study of risk of infective endocarditis in patients with streptococcal bloodstream infection demonstrated that Streptococcus sanguinis, S. mutans, and S. gallolyticus were significantly associated with higher risk of infective endocarditis. However, when we evaluated the performance of echocardiography in patients with streptococcal bloodstream infection, patients with S. mutans and S. gordonii bloodstream infection had a tendency of low performance in echocardiography. There are significant differences in the prevalence of infective endocarditis in streptococcal bloodstream infection according to species. Therefore, performing echocardiography in streptococcal bloodstream infection with a high prevalence of, and significant association with, infective endocarditis is desirable.