No abstract available.
Atrial Fibrillation ; Risk Factors

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze the method of measuring the angle of the trunk rotation using a smartphone with 3D smartphone holder compared to a scoliometer, which is a measuring tool used as a method for diagnosing scoliosis in scoliosis patients. Methods: Angle of trunk rotation was measured in 21 subjects diagnosed with scoliosis. scoliometer measurement method, a smartphone measurement method with a 3D smartphone holder, a smartphone blind measurement method with a 3D smartphone holder, a smartphone measurement method without a smartphone holder, a smartphone blind measurement method without a smartphone holder, and a total of five measurement methods were repeated three times for comparison and analysis. Results: The smartphone measurement method with a 3D smartphone holder has excellent intra-rater reliability of angle of trunk rotation (Rater A; ICC3, 2 ≥ 0.993, Rater B; ICC3, 2 ≥ 0.992). The smartphone blind measurement method with a 3D smartphone holder has excellent inter-rater reliability of angle of trunk rotation (ICC2, 2 ≥ 0.968). The scoliometer measurement method had the highest validity (r = 0.976) with the smartphone measurement method with a 3D smartphone holder, and the blind measurement method without a smartphone holder had the lowest validity (r = 0.886). Conclusion These findings, the angle of trunk rotation measured by the smartphone measurement method with a 3D smartphone holder in scoliosis patients showed high reliability and validity compared to the scoliometer measurement method.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (AHCM) is an uncommon variant of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with a relatively benign course. However, the prognostic factors of AHCM-particularly those associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) and its anatomical subtypes-are not well known. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We enrolled 98 consecutive patients with AHCM who underwent coronary angiography or coronary computed tomography scanning at two general hospitals in Korea from January 2002 to March 2012. Patient charts were reviewed for information regarding cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, symptoms, and occurrence of CV events and/or mortality. We also reviewed echocardiographic data and angiography records. RESULTS: The mean age at the time of enrollment was 61.45+/-9.78 years, with female patients comprising 38.6%. The proportions of mixed and pure types of AHCM were 34.4% and 65.6%, respectively. CAD was found in 31 (31.6%) patients. The mean follow-up period was 53.1+/-60.7 months. CV events occurred in 22.4% of patients, and the mortality rate was 5.1%. The mixed-type was more frequent in CV event group although this difference was not statistically significant (50% vs. 30%, p=0.097). The presence of CAD emerged as an independent risk factor for CV events in univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis after adjusting for other CV risk factors. CONCLUSION: Coronary artery disease is an independent risk factor for CV events in AHCM patients. However, AHCM without CAD has a benign natural course, comparable with the general population.
Angiography ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic* ; Coronary Angiography* ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels* ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Korea ; Mortality ; Multidetector Computed Tomography ; Prognosis* ; Risk Factors

Ankylosis ; Arthroplasty ; Humans ; Jaw ; Joint Diseases ; Mandibular Condyle ; Prostheses and Implants ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders ; Temporomandibular Joint

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Ergonovine stress echocardiography (ErgECHO) has been proposed as a noninvasive tool for the diagnosis of coronary vasospasm. However, concern over the safety of ErgECHO remains. This study was undertaken to investigate the safety and prognostic value of ErgECHO in a large population. METHODS: We studied 3,094 consecutive patients from a single-center registry who underwent ErgECHO from November 2002 to June 2009. Medical records, echocardiographic data, and laboratory findings obtained from follow-up periods were analyzed. RESULTS: The overall positive rate of ErgECHO was 8.6%. No procedure-related mortality or myocardial infarction (MI) occurred. Nineteen patients (0.6%) had transient symptomatic complications during ErgECHO including one who was successfully resuscitated. Cumulative major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) occurred in 14.0% and 5.1% of the patients with positive and negative ErgECHO results, respectively (p < 0.001) at a median follow-up of 10.5 years. Cox regression survival analyses revealed that male sex, age, presence of diabetes, total cholesterol level of >220 mg/dL, and positive ErgECHO result itself were independent factors associated with MACEs. CONCLUSIONS: ErgECHO can be performed safely by experienced physicians and its positive result may be an independent risk factor for long-term adverse outcomes. It may also be an alternative tool to invasive ergonovine-provoked coronary angiography for the diagnosis of vasospastic angina.
Cholesterol ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vasospasm ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Stress ; Ergonovine ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction ; Prognosis ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Ergonovine stress echocardiography (ErgECHO) has been proposed as a noninvasive tool for the diagnosis of coronary vasospasm. However, concern over the safety of ErgECHO remains. This study was undertaken to investigate the safety and prognostic value of ErgECHO in a large population. METHODS: We studied 3,094 consecutive patients from a single-center registry who underwent ErgECHO from November 2002 to June 2009. Medical records, echocardiographic data, and laboratory findings obtained from follow-up periods were analyzed. RESULTS: The overall positive rate of ErgECHO was 8.6%. No procedure-related mortality or myocardial infarction (MI) occurred. Nineteen patients (0.6%) had transient symptomatic complications during ErgECHO including one who was successfully resuscitated. Cumulative major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) occurred in 14.0% and 5.1% of the patients with positive and negative ErgECHO results, respectively (p < 0.001) at a median follow-up of 10.5 years. Cox regression survival analyses revealed that male sex, age, presence of diabetes, total cholesterol level of >220 mg/dL, and positive ErgECHO result itself were independent factors associated with MACEs. CONCLUSIONS ErgECHO can be performed safely by experienced physicians and its positive result may be an independent risk factor for long-term adverse outcomes. It may also be an alternative tool to invasive ergonovine-provoked coronary angiography for the diagnosis of vasospastic angina.

An ectopic parathyroid gland is a major cause of persistent and recurrent hyperparathyroidism. Surgical success depends on accurate preoperative localization of the parathyroid adenoma. We herein report the case of a 52-year-old male patient who suffered from primary hyperparathyroidism for several years. He initially presented with urinary frequency, hypercalcemia, and a ureter stone. Ultrasonography and a 99mTc-sestamibi scan were performed, but failed to localize the parathyroid lesion. Four years later, the patient revisited our hospital, complaining of general weakness, headache, dyspepsia, and recurrent urinary symptoms secondary to persistent primary hyperparathyroidism. In addition, renal function was decreased and severe osteoporosis was found. We performed a 99mTc-sestamibi scan with single photon emission computed tomography (99mTc-MIBI SPECT) and contrast-enhanced neck CT, and detected an ectopic parathyroid adenoma in the upper anterior mediastinum. In conclusion, the combination of both 99mTc-MIBI SPECT and neck CT could permit better preoperative parathyroid localization, especially for mediastinal adenomas.
Adenoma ; Dyspepsia ; Headache ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia ; Hyperparathyroidism ; Hyperparathyroidism, Primary ; Male ; Mediastinum ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Osteoporosis ; Parathyroid Glands ; Parathyroid Neoplasms ; Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon ; Ureter