An increased pericoronary fat attenuation index (FAI) on computed tomography angiography (CTA) is associated with increased all-cause and cardiac mortality in the general population. However, the ability of pericoronary FAI to predict long-term outcomes in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients is unknown. Methods: In this single-center retrospective longitudinal cohort study, we assessed the utility of CTA-based pericoronary FAI measurement to predict mortality of CKD patients, including those with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Mapping and analysis of pericoronary FAI involved three major proximal coronary arteries. The prognostic value of pericoronary FAI for long-term mortality was assessed with multivariable Cox regression models. Results: Among 268 CKD participants who underwent coronary CTA, 209 participants with left anterior descending artery (LAD) FAI measurements were included. The pericoronary FAI measured at the LAD was not significantly associated with adjusted risk of allcause mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 2.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.94–3.51) in any CKD group. However, ESRD patients with elevated pericoronary FAI values had a greater adjusted risk of all-cause mortality compared with the low-FAI group (HR, 2.26; 95% CI, 1.11–4.61). Conclusion: The pericoronary FAI measured at the LAD predicted long-term mortality in patients with ESRD, which could provide an opportunity for early primary intervention in ESRD patients.

Purpose: Curative treatment is challenging in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer and unresectable metastases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of short-course radiotherapy (RT) followed by systemic chemotherapy for patients with rectal cancer with mesorectal fascia (MRF) involvement and unresectable distant metastases. Methods: The study included consecutive patients diagnosed as having metastatic mid-to-low rectal cancer treated with short-course RT followed by systemic chemotherapy for conversion radical or palliative surgery between 2014 and 2019 at Gil Medical Center. The patients had primary rectal tumors involving the MRF and unresectable distant metastases. The treatment strategies were determined in a multidisciplinary team discussion. Results: Seven patients (five men and two women) underwent short-course RT (5 × 5 Gy) and preoperative systemic chemotherapy. The median age was 68 years (range, 46–84 years), and the median distance from the anal verge to the primary tumor was 6.0 cm (range, 2.0–9.0 cm). During the median follow-up period of 29.4 months, three patients underwent conversion radical surgery with R0 resection, two underwent palliative surgery, and two could not undergo surgery. No postoperative major morbidity or mortality occurred. The patients who underwent conversion complete radical surgery showed good long-term survival outcomes, with an overall survival time of 29.4–48.8 months and progression-free survival time of 14.7–41.1 months. Conclusion Short-course RT followed by systemic chemotherapy could provide patients with unresectable stage IV rectal cancer a chance to undergo to conversion radical surgery with good long-term survival outcomes.

PURPOSE: We aimed to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia in Korean children. METHODS: We retrospectively collected and analyzed data from the medical records of the patients with S. aureus bacteremia ≤18 years of age in Gil Medical Center from 2002 to 2016. RESULTS: A total of 212 SAB cases were detected. The annual incidence of SAB from 2002 to 2016 ranged from 0.77 to 1.95 per 1,000 patients hospitalized. The neonate group (<28 days of age) and the pediatric group (28–18 years of age) were 51.4% (n=109) and 48.6% (n=103), respectively. According to the origin of infection, there were 93 cases (43.9%) of community-associated (CA)-SAB and 119 cases (56.1%) of healthcare-associated (HA)-SAB. The rates of HA-SAB among the neonate group and among the pediatric group were 64.2% and 47.6%, respectively (P=0.015). There was no difference in complications between CA-SAB and HA-SAB, but mortality was higher in HA-SAB. The proportion of methicillin-resistance S. aureus (MRSA) was the highest in neonates (88.1%), decreased with age, and was 36.4%–37.5% among children aged ≥5 years. The MRSA proportion was 72.2%, showing no consistent trend over the period. CONCLUSIONS: The annual incidence of SAB and the proportion of MRSA in SAB remained constant in the recent 15 years in children. Judicious decision of antimicrobial agents for treatment considering the patient's age and the origin of infection is necessary.
Anti-Infective Agents ; Bacteremia ; Child ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Medical Records ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Mortality ; Retrospective Studies ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Staphylococcus

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the proportion of aspiration pneumonia cases among patients with community-acquired pneumonia in Korea. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients with community-acquired pneumonia who had been admitted to the emergency department of a university-affiliated tertiary hospital in Gyeonggi Province, Korea between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016. Among these patients, those with aspiration pneumonia were identified using ICD-10 codes (J69.*). Patients with recurrent pneumonia were excluded, as were those who were immunocompromised. The proportion of cases of aspiration pneumonia was calculated, and the characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients with aspiration pneumonia and non-aspiration pneumonia were compared. RESULTS: The proportion of aspiration pneumonia cases among patients with community-acquired pneumonia was 14.2%. Patients with aspiration pneumonia were significantly more likely to be older (p<0.001) and male (p<0.001), and to have a higher confusion, uremia, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and age ≥65 years (CURB-65) score (p<0.001) as compared to patients with non-aspiration pneumonia. They were also more likely to require admission to the intensive care unit (p<0.001) and a longer hospital stay (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Aspiration pneumonia accounts for 14.2% of all cases of community-acquired pneumonia in Korea. These data may contribute to the establishment of healthcare strategies for managing aspiration pneumonia among Korean adults.
Adult ; Blood Pressure ; Community-Acquired Infections ; Delivery of Health Care ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; International Classification of Diseases ; Korea ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Aspiration ; Respiratory Rate ; Retrospective Studies ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Uremia

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of vitamin C on inflammation, tumor development, and dysbiosis of intestinal microbiota in an azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced inflammation-associated early colon cancer mouse model. MATERIALS/METHODS: Male BALB/c mice were injected intraperitoneally with AOM [10 mg/kg body weight (b.w)] and given two 7-d cycles of 2% DSS drinking water with a 14 d inter-cycle interval. Vitamin C (60 mg/kg b.w. and 120 mg/kg b.w.) was supplemented by gavage for 5 weeks starting 2 d after the AOM injection. RESULTS: The vitamin C treatment suppressed inflammatory morbidity, as reflected by disease activity index (DAI) in recovery phase and inhibited shortening of the colon, and reduced histological damage. In addition, vitamin C supplementation suppressed mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines, including cyclooxygenase-2, microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-2, tumor necrosis factor-α, Interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6, and reduced expression of the proliferation marker, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, compared to observations of AOM/DSS animals. Although the microbial composition did not differ significantly between the groups, administration of vitamin C improved the level of inflammation-related Lactococcus and JQ084893 to control levels. CONCLUSION: Vitamin C treatment provided moderate suppression of inflammation, proliferation, and certain inflammation-related dysbiosis in a murine model of colitis associated-early colon cancer. These findings support that vitamin C supplementation can benefit colonic health. Long-term clinical studies with various doses of vitamin C are warranted.
Animals ; Ascorbic Acid* ; Azoxymethane* ; Body Weight ; Colitis ; Colon* ; Colonic Neoplasms* ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; Cytokines ; Drinking Water ; Dysbiosis ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukins ; Lactococcus ; Male ; Mice* ; Microbiota ; Necrosis ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; RNA, Messenger ; Sodium* ; Vitamins*

Upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is an unusual condition compared to lower extremity DVT, and it represents about 10% of all DVTs. We report a case of upper extremity DVT after clavicle fracture and immobilization.

Traumatic blunt aortic injury especially on proximal ascending aorta is a rare injury with a few reports. Generally emergency surgical management was performed. In this case, however, in multiple trauma with brain injury, emergency surgical management of aortic injury might result in unexpected secondary injury of the brain. Herein, we report a case of a 33-year-old man who was driving a truck was injured in a head-on collision. Evaluation revealed a pseudoaneurysm on his ascending aorta concomitant with epidural hemorrhage. He was treated by surgical management of his ascending aorta after 3 days from accident. There were no postoperative and neurologic complications and the patient was discharged after 18 days.

Malignant melanoma has a very high propensity to metastasize to the heart. However, melanoma may sometimes present as a metastatic lesion in the absence of a primary lesion, which are called melanomas of unknown primary origin. We report a case in which a patient presented with a metastatic maligant melanoma in the right atrium with pericardial effusion and without a primary origin.
Heart ; Heart Atria ; Heart Neoplasms ; Humans ; Melanoma ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pericardial Effusion

BACKGROUND: Volatile agents have been reported to protect myocardium against ischemia. But, there were a few clinical reports about the myocardial protection of inhalation agents. So we investigated the cardiac protection of sevoflurane in comparison with total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA). The study is a retrospective unrandomized study via the medical record review. METHODS: The records of 102 patients who received off-pump CABG were reviewed. One patient group received TIVA by midazolam and sufentanil continuous infusion (TIVA group, n = 68), and the other patient group received an inhalational anesthesia by sevoflurane (sevoflurane group, n = 34). Except maintenance of anesthesia, two groups of patients received an identical surgical, anesthetical, and postoperative care. At arrival in the intensive care unit, and after 1, 2, 3 and 5 days, serum cardiac enzyme levels were measured. RESULTS: All the median values of cardiac enzyme concentrations were lower in the sevoflurane group than TIVA group. Moreover, there were the significant differences between groups at the immediate postoperative CK-MB (median 4.7 ng/ml versus 5.9 ng/ml (P = 0.049)), 1-5 days postoperative LD (1 day 271.5 U/L versus 292 U/L (P = 0.045), 2 day 227.5 U/L versus 270 U/L (P = 0.009), 3 day 215 U/L versus 250 U/L (P = 0.030), 5 day 218 U/L versus 231 U/L (P = 0.005)), and 1, 3 postoperative troponin I level (0.485 ng/ml versus 1.12 ng/ml [P = 0.029], 0.090 ng/ml versus 0.235 ng/ml [P = 0.047] respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Sevoflurane lowered cardiac enzyme levels in comparison with TIVA after off-pump CABG anesthesia. These data suggest a cardioprotective effect of sevoflurane during CABG.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Intravenous ; Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Intensive Care Units ; Ischemia ; Medical Records ; Methyl Ethers ; Midazolam ; Myocardium ; Postoperative Care ; Retrospective Studies ; Sufentanil ; Troponin I

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are anti-hypertensive medications that are used worldwide. CCB overdose has increased in proportion to the use of these drugs. Although amlodipine is the most widely used CCB, many physicians are not familiar with amlodipine overdose. We report the clinical outcome in patients with an intentional amlodipine overdose. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of the patients who visited Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital with an amlodipine overdose from January 2002 through December 2010. We recorded the initial vital signs, blood chemistry, electrocardiography, and estimated amount of amlodipine ingested. RESULTS: Nine patients were enrolled, of whom two patients died. Both patients who died had ingested more than 200 mg/m2 of amlodipine, while all of the patients who ingested less than 200 mg/m2 of amlodipine survived. Three patients had blood sugar levels exceeding 200 mg/dL and two of these died despite high-dose insulin therapy in combination with glucose infusion (hyperinsulinemia/euglycemia therapy). Although three patients also took a glimepiride overdose, none had hypoglycemia. The amount of amlodipine ingested relative to the body surfaced area (BSA) was 197.1 +/- 92.3 mg/m2 in patients with an abnormal ECG and 58.5 +/- 27.1 mg/m2 in patients with a normal ECG. CONCLUSIONS: Amlodipine overdose can induce hyperglycemia, resulting in lethal cardiogenic shock owing to the decreased calcium influx, inappropriate energy production, and weakened inotropic effect. Therefore, amlodipine-induced hyperglycemia indicates a poor prognosis.
Amlodipine ; Blood Glucose ; Calcium ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; Electrocardiography ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Hypoglycemia ; Insulin ; Medical Records ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Shock, Cardiogenic ; Sulfonylurea Compounds ; Vital Signs