To substantiate the hypothesis that patients with antecedent angina(> or =24hr before myocardial infarcton) are more likely to have a significant residual stenosis than are those without antedecent angina, the coronary angiogram of 27 patients with successful coronary thrombolysis for acute myocardial infarction were reviewed. In comparison with the patients without antecedent angina the patient with antecedent angina had an increased mean stenosis (86.9% vs 69.3%) and had a more decreased ejection fraction(52.3% vs 65.6%). These findings suggest that angina pectoris before acute myocardial infarction would be regarded as one of high risk factors after acute myocardial infarction.
Angina Pectoris* ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Risk Factors

We performed radionuclide ventriculography before and within 1 week after percutaneous mirtal valvuloplasty(PMV) to evaluate left ventricular(LV) function in 20 patients(3 males and 17 females, mean age of 38±10 years) who were pure mitral stenosis before PMV and less than grade 1 mitral regurgitation developed after PMV. 9 out of 20 patients had atrial fibrillation and 3 patients developed a small left-to-right shunt(Qp/Qs<1.5)after PMV using double-balloon technique resulted in a increase in mitral valve area(0.9±0.3 to 2.1±0.8mm
Atrial Fibrillation ; Cardiac Output ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Mitral Valve Stenosis* ; Radionuclide Ventriculography ; Stroke Volume

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus, using the Rashkind double umbrella occluder system, had been attempted in mulitcenter since non-surgical closure of patent ductus arteriosus by Rashkind. METHODS: Between July 1991 and June 1993, transcatheter closure of patent ductus arterious was attempted in 20 adult patients(21 trials). RESULTS: Seventeen female and 3 male patients was consisted of the study. The patient age ranged from 17 to 54 years(mean 30+/-9 years). Mean pulmonary artery pressure before closure was 18.5+/-6.0mmHg(range from 10mmHg to 30mmHg). The diameter of ductus ranged from 3.5mm to 8.0mm(mean 5.2+/-1.5mm), as determined by contrast injection through 11F Mullin sheath or 7F catheter. There was significant decrease of Qp/Qs from 2.6+/-1.1 to 1.5+/-0.4 immediately after transcatheter closure of ductus(p<0.01). There was significant decrease of left ventricular end-diastolic dimension by echocardiogram from 58.7+/-7.6mm to 53.6+/-6.5mm after transcatheter closure of ductus(p<0.01). Among the 21 cases, 16 cases(76.2%) had the clinical improvement without the support of surgical closure. One 17mm Rashkind umbrella was retrieved because of position and problem of deployment. There was no device embolic experience in 21 cases. There were 2 cases of hemolytic anemia during the follow-up period ; one case was surgically ligated and another 17mm device was implanted in the other case. CONCLUSIONS: Transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus in adult patients can replace the surgical correction in selected patients.
Adult* ; Anemia, Hemolytic ; Catheters ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Pulmonary Artery

Hypoxia is a serious aviation problem and can always be a source of dangerous aerospace accidents. Hypoxic chamber flight training used to evaluate hypoxia tolerance via TUC (time of useful consciousness) and to become aware of hypoxic symptoms. Because TUC depends on subjective symptoms and lacks strict objectivity, pulse oximetry monitoring has become useful in the aviation environment. In this study, we monitored arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) by pulse oximetry in the ROKAF subjects (n=33) experiencing hypoxia at the simulated altitude of 25,000 ft. The duration from mask-off to mask-on (TUC), the duration from mask-off to the time of SaO2 of 90% (T90), the duration from 90% to 70% of SaO2(T70), and the SaO2 value at mask-on (bottom SaO2) were examined. The mean bottom SaO2 and TUC were 64.5% and 180 sec, respectively. The subjective hypoxic symptoms were facial flushing, thinking impairment, dyspnea, sweating, anxiety, and so on, in descending order. The majority of the subjects put on their mask before 70% of SaO2 was reached or before they felt any severe symptoms. In comparison with the data of JASDF (Yoneda, 2000), TUC, T90, and T70 were longer in JASDF, but bottom SaO2 and pulse increasing rate during hypoxia (PR/TUC) were higher in ROKAF. Also, TUC in the subjects of this study was much shorter than those of 10 years ago. These may be due to different training protocols, but not enough data exists to explain such difference. The need for the reconsideration of the hypoxic training from the various viewpoints is raised.
Altitude ; Anoxia ; Anxiety ; Aviation ; Dyspnea ; Flushing ; Masks ; Oximetry* ; Oxygen ; Sweat ; Sweating ; Thinking

OBJECTIVE: A number of soluble factors,which play important role in the pathophysiology of rheumatoid synovitis are also known to be involved in osteoclast differentiation and activation through RANKL (Receptor activator of NF-kB ligand). To investigate the importance of RANKL in the pathogenesis of bone erosion in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, we analyzed the expression of RANKL and Osteoprotegerin (OPG) and examined the formation of osteoclasts in rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts under the influence of various osteotropic factors. METHODS: Primary culture synoviocytes or fibroblast-like synoviocytes isolated from synovial tissues of 8 RA patients were cultured and treated with IL-1beta (2 ng/ml), TNF-alpha (2 ng/ml), INF-gamma(1000 micro/ml), IL-15 (10 ng/ml), IL-12 (10 ng/ml), dexamethasone (10(-9) M), PMA (10 ng/ml) or 1,25 (OH)2D3 (10(-9) M) for 18 hours. Expression RANKL or OPG mRNA was measured by semiquantitative RT-PCR within linear amplification condition. TRAP (+) MNC (tartrate resistant acid phosphatase-positive multinucleated cell) formation was induced from primary culture synoviocytes or in coculture system of synovial fibroblasts with PBMCs in the presence of M-CSF and 1,25 (OH)2D3. RESULTS: 1. The intensity of base-line expression was different from patient to patient. Primary culture synoviocytes and synovial fibroblasts express RANKL and OPG mRNA with decreasing intensity when they are passaged. 2. Expresssion of RANKL mRNA was significantly increased by 1,25 (OH)2D3 and IL-1beta (158.8+/-21% and 197.2+/-17% of controls, p<0.05 and p<0.005, respectively), while decreased significantly by dexamethasone (25.6+/-4.6% of controls, p<0.005). Expression of RANKL mRNA was significantly increased by IL-1beta and decreased by dexamethasone, in a dose- and time-dependant manner. 3. TRAP (+) MNCs are formed from primary culture synoviocytes or in coculture system of synovial fibroblasts and PBMC in the presence of M-CSF and 1,25 (OH)2D3. Dexamethasone clearly inhibited TRAP (+) MNCs formation from synovial cells. CONCLUSION: The regulatory mechanism for the expression of RANKL or OPG in rheumatoid synoviocytes might be different from that in bone marrow cells. Modulating the expression of these molecules could have potential therapeutic implication targeting bone destruction in RA.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Coculture Techniques ; Dexamethasone ; Fibroblasts* ; Humans ; Interleukin-12 ; Interleukin-15 ; Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; NF-kappa B* ; Osteoclasts* ; Osteoprotegerin ; RNA, Messenger ; Synovitis ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is indicated as an alternative treatment modality to surgical aortic valve replacement for high risk patients. The standard retrograde approach through the femoral artery is not feasible in the case of unfavorable iliofemoral anatomy or severe peripheral arterial disease (PAD). However, patients with aortic stenosis (AS) have a higher prevalence of for PAD because both diseases are consequences of atherosclerotic degenerative changes. Transsubclavian, transapical, and direct access to the ascending aorta by thoracotomy are alternative routes for the TAVI procedure. In this report, we present the first Korean patient with symptomatic severe AS and bilateral iliofemoral artery disease who was successfully treated with TAVI using a CoreValve (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA) by transsubclavian approach.
Aorta ; Aortic Valve ; Aortic Valve Stenosis ; Arteries ; Catheters ; Femoral Artery ; Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Humans ; Peripheral Arterial Disease ; Prevalence ; Prosthesis Implantation ; Thoracotomy

Purpose: This study sought to compare clinical outcomes between transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and sutureless aortic valve replacement (SU-AVR). Materials and Methods: In total, 320 patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis who underwent TAVR (n=254) or SU-AVR (n=66) at Severance Cardiovascular Hospital between July 2011 and September 2019 were included for analysis. Propensity score matching and inverse probability weighted adjustment were performed to adjust for confounding baseline characteristics. Outcomes defined by the Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 in 62 patients pairs were compared. Results: Device success (79.0% vs. 79.0%, p>0.999) and 30-day mortality (4.8% vs. 0.0%, p=0.244) did not differ between the TAVR and SU-AVR groups. The TAVR group developed more frequent mild or moderate paravalvular leakage (59.7% vs. 8.1%, p<0.001), whereas SU-AVR was associated with higher rates of major or life-threatening bleeding (9.7% vs. 22.6%, p=0.040), acute kidney injury (8.1% vs. 21.0%, p=0.041), and new-onset atrial fibrillation (4.8% vs. 32.3%. p<0.001) at 30 days, along with longer stays in the intensive care unit (ICU) (1.9±1.6 days vs. 5.9±9.2 days, p=0.009) and hospital (7.1±7.9 days vs. 13.1±8.8 days, p<0.001). The TAVR group showed a trend towards a higher 1-year all-cause mortality, compared with the SU-AVR group (7.0% vs 1.7%, p=0.149). Cardiovascular mortality, however, did not differ significantly (1.6% vs 1.7%, p=0.960). Conclusion TAVR achieved a similar 1-year survival rate free from cardiovascular mortality as SU-AVR and was associated with a lower incidence of complications, except for paravalvular leakage, and shorter stays in the ICU and hospital.

Purpose: This study sought to compare clinical outcomes between transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and sutureless aortic valve replacement (SU-AVR). Materials and Methods: In total, 320 patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis who underwent TAVR (n=254) or SU-AVR (n=66) at Severance Cardiovascular Hospital between July 2011 and September 2019 were included for analysis. Propensity score matching and inverse probability weighted adjustment were performed to adjust for confounding baseline characteristics. Outcomes defined by the Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 in 62 patients pairs were compared. Results: Device success (79.0% vs. 79.0%, p>0.999) and 30-day mortality (4.8% vs. 0.0%, p=0.244) did not differ between the TAVR and SU-AVR groups. The TAVR group developed more frequent mild or moderate paravalvular leakage (59.7% vs. 8.1%, p<0.001), whereas SU-AVR was associated with higher rates of major or life-threatening bleeding (9.7% vs. 22.6%, p=0.040), acute kidney injury (8.1% vs. 21.0%, p=0.041), and new-onset atrial fibrillation (4.8% vs. 32.3%. p<0.001) at 30 days, along with longer stays in the intensive care unit (ICU) (1.9±1.6 days vs. 5.9±9.2 days, p=0.009) and hospital (7.1±7.9 days vs. 13.1±8.8 days, p<0.001). The TAVR group showed a trend towards a higher 1-year all-cause mortality, compared with the SU-AVR group (7.0% vs 1.7%, p=0.149). Cardiovascular mortality, however, did not differ significantly (1.6% vs 1.7%, p=0.960). Conclusion TAVR achieved a similar 1-year survival rate free from cardiovascular mortality as SU-AVR and was associated with a lower incidence of complications, except for paravalvular leakage, and shorter stays in the ICU and hospital.

The patency of graft vessels and their effects on the native coronary circulation were studied by evaluation of 78 graft sites in 35 patients who underwent selective bypass graft angiography among 152 CABG cases at a mean follow-up 12.6 month. The result were as follows ; 1) The overall graft patency rate was 70.5% : 73.8% for left anterior descending artery, 68.4% for left circumflex arterty, 64.7% for right coronary artery. 2) The patency rate of internal mammary artery was 77.8%. 3) In twenty eight patients who underwent native coronary angiography, twelve pateints showed progression of coronary artery disease in grafted vessel and two patients showed progression of coronary artery disease in non-grafted vessel. 4) The treadmill test was performed before and after coronary artery bypass graft in thirteen patients. Among 13 patients, nine patinets showed improved exercise tolerance. 5) The percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty were successfully performed for dilating three cases of stenotic vein graft and two cases of left main lesions after CABG and one case of stenotic left internal mammary artery graft.
Angiography ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Arteries ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Bypass* ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Circulation ; Coronary Vessels* ; Exercise Test ; Exercise Tolerance ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mammary Arteries ; Transplants ; Veins

No abstract available.
Humans ; Mitral Valve Stenosis* ; Radionuclide Ventriculography*