No abstract available.
Vulva*

OBJECTIVE: Although the detection of crossed cerebellar diaschisis (CCD) by means of different imaging modalities is well described, little is known about its diagnosis by computed tomography perfusion (CTP) imaging. We investigated the detection rate of CCD by CTP imaging and the factors related to CCD on CTP images in patients with acute ischemic stroke. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT perfusion maps of cerebral blood volume (CBV), cerebral blood flow (CBF), mean transit time (MTT), and time-to-peak (TTP) obtained from 81 consecutive patients affected by an acute ischemic stroke were retrospectively reviewed. Whole-brain perfusion maps were obtained with a multichannel CT scanner using the toggling-table technique. The criteria for CCD was a unilateral supratentorial ischemic lesion and an accompanying decrease in perfusion of the contralateral cerebellar hemisphere on the basis of CTP maps by visual inspection without a set threshold. Maps were quantitatively analyzed in CCD positive cases. RESULTS: The criteria for CCD were fulfilled in 25 of the 81 cases (31%). Detection rates per CTP map were as follows: MTT (31%) > TTP (21%) > CBF (9%) > CBV (6%). Supratentorial ischemic volume, degree of perfusion reduction, and infratentorial asymmetry index correlated strongly (R, 0.555-0.870) and significantly (p < 0.05) with each other in CCD-positive cases. CONCLUSION: It is possible to detect CCD on all four of the CTP-based maps. Of these maps, MTT is most sensitive in detecting CCD. Our data indicate that CTP imaging is a valid tool for the diagnosis of CCD in patients affected by an acute hemispheric stroke.
Aged ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Cerebellar Diseases/*radiography ; Cerebral Angiography/*methods ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; Contrast Media/diagnostic use ; Female ; Humans ; Iohexol/diagnostic use ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke/*radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*methods

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The relationship between ejection fraction (EF), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels and renal function is unknown as stratified by heart failure (HF) type. We investigated their relation and the prognostic value of renal function in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) vs. reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: NT-proBNP, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and EF were obtained in 1,932 acute heart failure (AHF) patients. HFrEF was defined as EF<50%, and renal dysfunction as GFR<60 mL/min/1.73 m² (mild renal dysfunction: 30≤GFR<60 mL/min/1.73 m²; severe renal dysfunction: GFR<30 mL/min/1.73 m²). The primary outcome was 12-month all-cause death. RESULTS: There was an inverse correlation between GFR and log NT-proBNP level (r=−0.298, p<0.001), and between EF and log NT-proBNP (r=−0.238, p<0.001), but no correlation between EF and GFR (r=0.017, p=0.458). Interestingly, the prevalence of renal dysfunction did not differ between HFpEF and HFrEF (49% vs. 52%, p=0.210). Patients with renal dysfunction had higher 12-month mortality in both HFpEF (7.9% vs. 15.2%, log-rank p=0.008) and HFrEF (8.6% vs. 16.8%, log-rank p<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed severe renal dysfunction was an independent predictor of 12-month mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 2.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.40–3.11). When stratified according to EF: the prognostic value of severe renal dysfunction was attenuated in HFpEF patients (HR, 1.46; 95% CI, 0.66–3.21) contrary to HFrEF patients (HR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.52–3.89). CONCLUSION: In AHF patients, the prevalence of renal dysfunction did not differ between HFpEF and HFrEF patients. However, the prognostic value of renal dysfunction was attenuated in HFpEF patients.
Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Heart Failure* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Mortality ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prevalence ; Prognosis

Background/Aims: This study investigated the prognostic power of corrected QT (QTc) interval in patients with acute heart failure (AHF) according to sex. Methods: We analyzed multicenter Korean Acute Heart Failure registry with patients with AHF admitted from 2011 to 2014. Among them, we analyzed 4,990 patients who were followed up to 5 years. Regarding QTc interval based on 12 lead electrocardiogram, patients were classified into quartiles according to sex. Results: During follow-up with median 43.7 months, 2,243 (44.9%) patients died. The relationship between corrected QT interval and all-cause mortality followed a J-curve relationship. In Kaplan-Meier analysis, both sex had lowest mortality in the second QTc quartile. There were significant prognostic differences between the second and the fourth quartiles in male (log-rank p = 0.002), but not in female (log-rank p = 0.338). After adjusting covariates, the third (hazard ratio [HR], 1.185; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.001 to 1.404; p = 0.049) and the fourth (HR, 1.404; 95% CI, 1.091 to 1.535; p = 0.003) quartiles demonstrated increased risk of mortality compared to the second quartile in male. In female, however, there was no significant difference across quartiles. QTc interval was associated with 5-year all-cause mortality in J-shape with nadir of 440 to 450 ms in male and 470 to 480 ms in female. Conclusions QTc interval was an independent predictor of overall death in male, but its significance decreased in female. The relationship between QTc interval and all-cause mortality was J-shaped in both sex.

Background: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved empagliflozin for reducing cardiovascular mortality and heart failure (HF) hospitalization in patients with both HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). However, limited data are available on the generalizability of empagliflozin to clinical practice. Therefore, we evaluated real-world eligibility and potential cost-effectiveness based on a nationwide prospective HF registry. Methods: A total of 3,108 HFrEF and 2,070 HFpEF patients from the Korean Acute Heart Failure (KorAHF) registry were analyzed. Eligibility was estimated by inclusion and exclusion criteria of EMPagliflozin outcomE tRial in Patients With chrOnic heaRt Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction (EMPEROR-Reduced) and EMPagliflozin outcomE tRial in Patients With chrOnic heaRt Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction (EMPEROR-Preserved) trials and by FDA & EMA label criteria. The cost-utility analysis was done using a Markov model to project the lifetime medical cost and quality-adjusted life year (QALY). Results: Among the KorAHF patients, 91.4% met FDA & EMA label criteria, while 44.7% met the clinical trial criteria. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of empagliflozin was calculated at US$6,764 per QALY in the overall population, which is far below a threshold of US$18,182 per QALY. The cost-effectiveness benefit was more evident in patients with HFrEF (US$5,012 per QALY) than HFpEF (US$8,971 per QALY). Conclusion There is a large discrepancy in real-world eligibility for empagliflozin between FDA & EMA labels and clinical trial criteria. Empagliflozin is cost-effective in HF patients regardless of ejection fraction in South Korea health care setting. The efficacy and safety of empagliflozin in real-world HF patients should be further investigated for a broader range of clinical applications.