BACKGROUND: We performed electrical cardioversion for the patients with chormic nonvalvular atrial fibrillation under the transesophageal echocardiographic guidance after anticoagulation to evaluate the safety of this procedure and the effects of electrical cardioversion on the atrial function. METHODS: After anticoagulation therapy with coumadine for three weeks, we tried chemical cardioversion with amiodarone first. Failed cases were included in this study. Pre-cardioversion transesophageal echocardiographic parameters were measured after exclusion of thrombi. After sedation with intravenous midazolam, direct-current cardioversion was done with the transesophageal echocardiographic probe in situ. Immediately after sinus conversion, we measured echocardiographic parameters again. Spontaneous echo contrast(SEC), left atrial appendage flow velocity, pulmonary vein flow velocity and time-velocity-integral(TVI), transmitral flow velocity, TVI and deceleration time were measured. All patients were anticoagulated for at least 4 weeks after cardiovesion. RESULTS: The total number of patients was forty one(24 males, 17 females) with the mean age of 58 years(range : 39-70). Mean duration of atrial fibrillation was 65 months(range : 1-360). Hypertension(12), dilated cardiomyopathy(10), cerebrovascular accidents(6), ischemic heart disease(2) and chronic lung disease(1) were associated. There were no complications. SEC increased or newly appeared in 18(43.9%) patients after sinus conversion. The left atrial appendage emptying velocity decreased(32.8+/-17.4 vs. 22.1+/-11.4cm/sec, p=0.020) and systolic TVI of both upper pulmonic vein increased significantly after sinus conversion. In two cases, early systolic forward flow(S1) of pulmonic vein appeared after sinus conversion. Transmitral E velocity decreased(86.9+/-28.8 vs. 76.3+/-30.6cm/sec, p=0.006) and the deceleration time increased(164+/-49 vs. 206+/-53msec, p=0.000) after sinus conversion. Transmitral A velocity was still low(34.9+/-19.5cm/sec) and E/A ratio was high(2.6+/-1.4) immediately after sinus conversion. CONCLUSION: After appropriate anticoagulation therapy and exclusion of left atrium and left atrial appindage thrombi with TEE we could perform electrical cardioversion safety without complications. The changes in transesophageal echocardiographic parameters after sinus conversion revealed the appearance of atrial mechanical activity in concordance with electrical activity. But these findings suggested atrial stunning or electromechanical dissociation which necessitates extended anticoagulation therapy until the full recovery of atrial mechanical function.
Amiodarone ; Atrial Appendage ; Atrial Fibrillation* ; Atrial Function ; Deceleration ; Echocardiography* ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Electric Countershock* ; Heart ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Lung ; Male ; Midazolam ; Pulmonary Veins ; Veins ; Warfarin

Systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease of unknown etiology which affects various parts of body. SLE can involve all parts of the heart including the pericardium, myocardium, endocardium, heart valves and coronary arteries. Cardiopathy of SLE is the third common cause of death in all patients with SLE. Although cardiopulmonary symptoms are common in SLE, symptomatic acute lupus myocarditis is a very rare and fatal complication of SLE. We report here on a 20-year-old female patient with acute myocarditis as a initial manifestation of SLE and rapidly diagnosed using echocardiogram.
Cause of Death ; Coronary Vessels ; Endocardium ; Female ; Heart ; Heart Valves ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Myocarditis* ; Myocardium ; Pericardium ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: We previously reported that concurrent reactivation of latent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in children with hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is common and EBV reactivation with HAV infection adversely affects the clinical features of hepatitis. However, the incidence of concurrent reactivation was not accurate because the detection of EBV reactivation was based on serologic methods. Therefore, we studied the effects of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-proven EBV reactivation, thus a more precise concurrence, on acute HAV infection in children. METHODS: PCR were conducted in 34 patients, who had enrolled previous study and diagnosed with acute HAV infection between January 2008 and June 2010. Their medical records were reviewed. RESULTS: Among 34 patients with acute HAV infection, 12 patients (35.3%) had EBV reactivation which was proven using serologic and molecular biologic techniques. There were significant differences in the peak levels of AST and ALT between the reactivated and non-reactivated groups (p=0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). The duration of full recovery from hepatitis was more prolonged in the reactivated group (p<0.001). Clinical parameters, such as serum protein (p<0.001) and albumin concentrations (p<0.001), atypical lymphocyte count (p=0.001), prothrombin time-international normalized ratio (PT-INR, p<0.001), and splenomegaly (p<0.001), showed significant differences. The clinical features in the reactivated sub-group >10 years of age revealed more liver dysfunction compared to the non-reactivated sub-group. A comparison with a previous study was performed. CONCLUSION: PCR-proven reactivation of latent EBV in children with HAV infection is common and EBV reactivation with HAV infection adversely affects the clinical features of hepatitis, especially in older children.
Child ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis A ; Hepatitis A virus ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver Diseases ; Lymphocyte Count ; Medical Records ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prothrombin ; Splenomegaly

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that affects various organs. SLE patients have an increased risk of infection compared to the general population. Immunosuppressive agents commonly used in SLE increase the risk of infection. Vaccination is a good way to reduce the risk of infection. However, some SLE patients are concerned that vaccination may worsen lupus disease activity or cause side effects. The latest SLE patient vaccination data were reviewed in this study, which focused on the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of influenza, pneumococcal, tetanus, hepatitis A, herpes zoster, and human papillomavirus vaccines. Korean immunization recommendations were also compared to those of other countries.

Anti-nuclear antibodies (ANAs) are autoantibodies against nuclear substances or other cellular components. ANA tests are used in the diagnostic process to screen patients with suspected rheumatic or autoimmune diseases. ANA-associated diseases are characterized by a high titer of antinuclear antibodies and include systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, and mixed connective tissue diseases. ANA test results must be cautiously interpreted as they can be positive not only in infections and oncological diseases but also for the healthy general population. The ANA test mainly uses the indirect immunofluorescence test, and the results are expressed in terms of the final titer and pattern. The ANA test can increase diagnostic value when used in conjunction with the evaluation of disease-related clinical symptoms.

Anti-nuclear antibodies (ANAs) are autoantibodies against nuclear substances or other cellular components. ANA tests are used in the diagnostic process to screen patients with suspected rheumatic or autoimmune diseases. ANA-associated diseases are characterized by a high titer of antinuclear antibodies and include systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, and mixed connective tissue diseases. ANA test results must be cautiously interpreted as they can be positive not only in infections and oncological diseases but also for the healthy general population. The ANA test mainly uses the indirect immunofluorescence test, and the results are expressed in terms of the final titer and pattern. The ANA test can increase diagnostic value when used in conjunction with the evaluation of disease-related clinical symptoms.

Objectives: There was no previous report about the electrical cardioversion for the patients with atrial fibrillation after successful percutaneous ballon mitral valvuloplasty (PBMV). We performed electrical cardioversion after PBMV to evaluate the effectiveness of this procedure in the view of conversion to and maintenance of the sinus rhythm. METHODS: 28 patients who had persistent atrial fibrillation after successful PBMV were included in this study. All patients were anticoagulated with warfarin. Amiodarone was loaded and maintained before cardioversion. The PBMV procedures were guided by transesophageal echocardiography in all patients. Transthoracic echocardiography was done before and after PBMV and cardioversion, and was followed. RESULTS: The number of patients were 28 (male 9 and female 19) within the mean age of 50.3+/-12.0 years (24-66). Initially 24 patients (86%) succeeded in electrical cardioversion. The energy required for successful conversion was 230+/-75J, on average. There were no complications except for the transient sinus bradycardia in 2 cases. The mean follow-up duration was 357+/-144 days and when followed-up, the sinus rhythm was maintained in 15 patients out of 24 with initial success (63%). No factor was significantly related to the success of cardioversion, but left atrial dimension after 1 month of PBMV was significantly related to the maintenance of the sinus rhythm. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation after successful PBMV is favorable and recommendable treatment modality of chronic valvular atrial fibrillation with high conversion rate (88%) and good maintenance rate (63%).
Amiodarone ; Atrial Fibrillation* ; Bradycardia ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Electric Countershock* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Warfarin

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are non-protein coding RNAs of more than 200 nucleotides in length. Despite the term “noncoding”, lncRNAs have been reported to be involved in gene expression. Accumulating evidence suggests that lncRNAs play crucial roles in the regulation of immune system and the development of autoimmunity. lncRNAs are expressed in various immune cells including T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, dendritic cells, and NK cells, and are also involved in the differentiation and activation of these immune cells. Here, we review recent studies on the role of lncRNAs in immune regulation and the differential expression of lncRNAs in various autoimmune diseases.
Autoimmune Diseases ; Autoimmunity ; B-Lymphocytes ; Clinical Coding ; Dendritic Cells ; Gene Expression ; Immune System ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Macrophages ; Neutrophils ; Nucleotides ; RNA ; RNA, Long Noncoding ; T-Lymphocytes

OBJECT: Currently, the alteration of cytokine system has been known to play an important role in regard to depressive symptom. We focused on the relationship between immunological parameters and clinical improvement in major depressive disorder. METHOD: Data were collected on 26 patients with major depressive disorder using a 8-week prospective follow-up design. After 8-week treatment period with fluoxetine, patients were classified into a response group and a non-response group according to their psychopathological outcome as evaluated by Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. The differences of the immunological parameters between pre-treatment phase and post-treatment phase were compared among patients. The difference of those was also compared within each phase among them. The relationship between socio-demographic variables, depression, cytokine, mononuclear cells was examined by correlation analysis. Multiple regression analyses were performed to explore the predictors of clinical improvement of major depressive disorder. RESULT: Pre-treatment levels of IL-1beta in the response group were significantly higher than those in the non-response group. Pre-treatment levels of IL-1beta of all patients and in the response group were positively correlated with pre-treatment monocyte counts. Patients with subsequent remission showed significantly lower IL-6 values at baseline than those with non-response. Post-treatment values of IL-6 did not differ significantly among the patients. The correlation test showed more frequent relations among cytokines and mononuclear cells in the response group than in the non-responder group. Especially, serum level of IL-6 in pre-treatment phase was only significantly correlated with HAMD score after 8-week treatement phase, while other cytokines and mononuclear cells were not. Pretreatment level of IL-6 was of paramount importance in predicting clinical improvement of depressive symptom. CONCLUSION: The immune system of major depressive disorder patients might dichotomize the patients into subsequent responders and non-responders. Immune system might be of great influence on the clinical improvement of major depressive disorder. The mode of interaction between depression and cellular immune function and the mediators responsible for the cytokine production need to be studied further.
Cytokines ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder, Major* ; Fluoxetine ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immune System ; Interleukin-6 ; Lymphocytes ; Monocytes ; Prospective Studies ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

PURPOSE: Leptin is a hormone, encoded by ob gene in adipocytes and regulates food intake and energy expenditure. The serum concentration of leptin is known to be proportional to the amount of body fat but the regulation of leptin for growth and development in childhood is not clear. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the correlation of serum leptin levels to gender, pubertal development and sex steroid in children. METHODS: Serum leptin levels were measured by RIA in 145 Korean children of both sexes, age 8-16yr, and were compared according to body mass index, gender and pubertal stage. The correlations of leptin with testosterone and estradiol were also analized. RESULTS: A positive relationship was observed for leptin levels with body mass index(in male:r=0.63, P<0.001, in female:r=0.80, P<0.001). The mean leptin level of girls was higher than that of boys(7.50+/-.83ng/mL vs 4.11+/-.72ng/mL, P<0.05) in lean children but there was no significant difference in obese group. An analysis according to the pubertal development showed an increase of leptin level in girls while leptin decreased in boys at overt puberty. Serum leptin levels of boys in puberty correlated inversely with testosterone(r=-0.52, P<0.001) but leptin of girls did not have significant correlation with estradiol. CONCLUSION: Serum leptin level increases in girls and decreases in boys as the pubertal development proceeds. The relationships between leptin level and pubertal developement show gender difference and it might be explained in part by suppressive effects of androgen in male.
Adipocytes ; Adipose Tissue ; Adolescent ; Body Mass Index ; Child* ; Eating ; Energy Metabolism ; Estradiol ; Female ; Growth and Development ; Humans ; Leptin* ; Male ; Puberty ; Testosterone