OBJECTIVES: To investigate the role of ATP-sensitive potassium channel (KATP) during sustained ventricular fibrillation (VF), the effects of gliburide, a specific blocker of KATP channel and PCO400, an KATP opener, were studied in isolated and perfused swine right ventricular free walls (n=). METHODS: Recording of single cell transmembrane potentials was performed and constructed action potential duration restitution (APDR) curve by plotting APD 90%(APD90) versus preceding diastolic interval (DI). RESULTS: All isolated tissues fibrillated spontaneously. In this preparation, stable VF could persist over a 4-hour period if it was allowed to continue undisturbed (n=). Gliburide (1-5 uM) increased DI without significant changes in APD90 during VF, resulting in more regularization of VF. Higher concentration (10-20 uM) increased both APD90 and DI, and converted to monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (MVT) through the transitional period characterized by APD alternans. PCO400 (1-2.5 uM) caused a significant shortening of APD during MVT and a period of APD alternans became more evident before conversion from MVT to VF. Gliburide eliminated profibrillatory effect of PCO400. This antifibrillatory action of gliburide was accompanied by gradual decrease in the maximum slope of APDR curve during VF. CONCLUSION: KATP channel blockade causes a transition from VF to MVT via lengthening of DI and APD alternans, concomitantly with a reduction of the slope of APD restitution curve.
Action Potentials ; Membrane Potentials ; Potassium Channels ; Swine ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; Ventricular Fibrillation*

Background: Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the military as in the general population. To mitigate such a serious public health problem, identifying the risk or protective factors of suicide behaviors is crucial. Methods: We analyzed the representative data of the 2014 Korean Armed Forces to explore the relationship between past year adverse events (PAE), accumulated lifetime trauma (ALT), mental illness vulnerability, perceived social support, and suicidal ideation in the previous year. Results: Among the 6,377 subjects, 3.7% of males and 6.2% of females reported suicidal ideation in the previous year. Multivariate analytic models identified significant associations of PAE and ALT with suicidal ideation with a dose-response pattern. The mental illness vulnerability showed the most significant association with suicidal ideation even after controlling PAE or ALT. We found that perceived social support may be potentially linked with a reduced risk of suicidal ideation. Conclusion This Korean military representative data demonstrates mental illness vulnerability; PAE; and lifetime trauma as significant risk factors of suicidal ideation, while perceived social support was found as a potential protective factor. Given the importance of the prevention of suicide in the military, those risk and protective factors may be used to screen soldiers at risk of suicide and provide further support on mental health services as needed.

Background: Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the military as in the general population. To mitigate such a serious public health problem, identifying the risk or protective factors of suicide behaviors is crucial. Methods: We analyzed the representative data of the 2014 Korean Armed Forces to explore the relationship between past year adverse events (PAE), accumulated lifetime trauma (ALT), mental illness vulnerability, perceived social support, and suicidal ideation in the previous year. Results: Among the 6,377 subjects, 3.7% of males and 6.2% of females reported suicidal ideation in the previous year. Multivariate analytic models identified significant associations of PAE and ALT with suicidal ideation with a dose-response pattern. The mental illness vulnerability showed the most significant association with suicidal ideation even after controlling PAE or ALT. We found that perceived social support may be potentially linked with a reduced risk of suicidal ideation. Conclusion This Korean military representative data demonstrates mental illness vulnerability; PAE; and lifetime trauma as significant risk factors of suicidal ideation, while perceived social support was found as a potential protective factor. Given the importance of the prevention of suicide in the military, those risk and protective factors may be used to screen soldiers at risk of suicide and provide further support on mental health services as needed.

PURPOSE: We aimed to define supine static and dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appearance of changes in bladder neck and levator ani muscle and find out clinical significance of this method from comparing with valsalva leak point pressure (VLPP) in patients with stress urinary incontinence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients were studied with supine static MR imaging through volumetric axial and sagittal pelvic imaging in the first and second procedures and then were examined with dynamic MR imaging through resting/straining midline sagittal imaging in the third procedure. We evaluated the changes in bladder neck and levator ani muscle of stress urinary incontinence patients from these MR imaging. Patients were divided into two groups according to their responses to VLPP; the group 1 (n=20) with VLPP below 60cmH2O and the group 2 (n=40) with VLPP over 60cmH2O. We analyzed the data taken from comparing MR imaging results with VLPP results. RESULTS: Regarding the degree of changes in bladder neck compared with the results of supine static and dynamic MRI, there were beak shaped changes in the bladder neck in 15 patients from group 1 (75.0%) and especially, in the rest 5 patients excluding 3 patients who had severe cystocele, we could observe 88.2% of beak shaped changes. Beak shaped changes were seen in 5 patients (12.5%) and funnel shaped change or non-specific changes in the rest cases from group 2 (p<0.0001). We could observe the degenerative changes of levator ani muscle in 41 patients from overall (68.3%), which means 13 patients from group 1 (65.0%) and 28 patients from group 2 (70.0%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Supine static MRI enables to observe degenerative changes in pelvic floor muscle of stress urinary incontinence while dynamic MRI is deemed to be a relatively comfortable and non-invasive diagnostic method for stress urinary incontinence especially complementing VLLP.
Animals ; Beak ; Complement System Proteins ; Cystocele ; Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Neck ; Pelvic Floor ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Incontinence* ; Urodynamics

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Circulating B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) has been used as a marker of left ventricular hypertrophy and heart failure, and known to be increased after exercise in healthy men as well as patients with left ventricular dysfunction. However, the relationship between exercise duration and BNP level, and the determinants of circulating BNP concentration during exercise have not been fully elucidated. For these reason, we measured circulating BNP level during exercise, and exercise-induced changes of cardiac function by echocardiography in healthy men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten healthy male volunteers (mean age 27+/-3 year-old) underwent symptom-limited bicycle ergometer in supine position for 30 min. The workload started at 25 W for 6 min with increment of 50 W every 3 min. Blood samples for BNP were obtained at baseline, every 1 min for first 3 min, 25 W, 75 W, 125 W, peak exercise and 10 min after resting. RESULTS: BNP level was increased only at peak exercise (mean:5.3+/-0.5 vs 7.7+/-4.1 pg/ml, median:5.0 vs 6.3 pg/ml, p<0.05), not during submaximal exercise, and sustained 10 minutes after exercise (190+/-25 watt, 14.9+/-12 min). Peak BNP level was significantly correlated with baseline BNP level (r=0.723, p<0.05), E' (0.18+/-0.04 vs 0.29+/-0.08 m/sec, r=-0.649, p<0.05) and E/E' (4.18+/- 0.87 vs 5.66+/-2.31, r=0.769 p<0.01) by bivariate correlation analysis, but correlated with only baseline BNP level by multiple linear regression analysis (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Circulating BNP concentration was minimally increased only after peak exercise in young healthy men, not increased at submaximal exercise The BNP concentration after exercise is only determined by baseline BNP level, not by duration and workload of exercise.
Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Stress ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; Linear Models ; Male ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain* ; Supine Position ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left ; Volunteers

BACKGROUND: Aging is an important factor to determine transmitral inflow velocity pattern. Cardiac geometry such as left ventricular (LV) volume, mass and left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) was also changed with age. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of geometric change of LVOT on transmitral inflow velocity pattern excluding a factor of age. METHODS: Healthy 115 (61 men, 37+/-15 years) individuals were enrolled. Echocardiography was performed to measure LV mass, thickness, left atrial (LA) size, aortoseptal angle (ASA), early (E) and late (A) transmitral inflow velocity, and deceleration time (DT). ASA was measured at mid-diastole in apical long-axis view according to a method as the open angle between the edge of the interventricular septum and axis perpendicular to the aortic annulus. The relation between transmitral inflow velocity pattern and LV geometric parameters was analyzed by regression analysis. RESULTS: Simple regression analysis demonstrated a significant correlation between transmitral inflow parameters with age and geometric parameters (ASA, LA size and LV mass index). Multiple regression analysis, taking into consideration age, ASA, LA size and LV mass index showed that only age was an independent predictor for E, A, DT, and E/A ratio (r2=0.210, Beta coefficient (beta)=0.459, p<0.001;r2=0.427, beta=0.654, p<0.001;r2=0.227, beta=-0.476, p<0.001;r2=0.436, beta=-0.661, p<0.001, respectively). But, excluding age, ASA was an independent predictor for E, A, DT, and E/A ratio (r2=0.151, beta=0.389, p<0.001;r2=0.294, beta=0.542, p<0.001;r2=0.227, beta=-0.476, p<0.001;r2=0.260, beta=0.509, p<0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: ASA, a parameter of LVOT geometry, might be an important factor related to transmitral inflow velocity pattern excluding a factor of age.
Aging ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Deceleration ; Diastole ; Echocardiography ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Male

BACKGROUND: Arterial stiffening may affect regional myocardial function in hypertensive patients with normal ejection fraction (EF). METHODS: Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured in 70 patients, of mean age 48 +/- 14 years, with untreated hypertension and EF > 55%. Using two-dimensional-speckle tracking echocardiography, we measured longitudinal and circumferential strain (epsilon) and strain rate (SR). Basal and apical rotations were measured using short axis views. RESULTS: The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure in these patients was 152 +/- 15 mmHg and 92 +/- 11 mmHg, respectively. The mean value of PWV was 1578 +/- 274 cm/s. PWV significantly correlated with age (r = 0.682, p < 0.001), body mass index (r = -0.330, p = 0.005), systolic blood pressure (r = 0.386, p = 0.001) and pulse pressure (r = 0.509, p < 0.001). PWV also significantly correlated with septal E' velocity (r = -0.570, p < 0.001), E/A ratio (r = -0.414, p < 0.001), E/E' ratio (r = 0.589, p < 0.001), systolic global longitudinal epsilon (r = 0.300, p = 0.012) and early diastolic SR (SRE) (r = -0.479, p < 0.001) suggesting impaired abnormal relaxation. PWV was also correlated with basal rotation (r = -0.301, p = 0.011) and basal-to-apical twist (r = -0.256, p = 0.032). The increases in apical rotation and basal-to-apical twist were attenuated in patients with PWV > 1700 cm/s compared to those with PWV < or = 1400 cm/s or those with PWV 1400-1700 cm/s. CONCLUSION: In hypertensive patients with normal ejection fraction, arterial stiffening contributes to impaired systolic and diastolic function of the regional myocardium. Compensatory increases in ventricular twist were diminished in patients with advanced stage of vascular stiffening.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Myocardium ; Pulse Wave Analysis ; Relaxation ; Sprains and Strains ; Track and Field ; Vascular Stiffness

Left atrial myxoma is a common primary tumor which frequently presents systemic embolizations. Embolization in various systemic organs is often the first and sometimes the only symptom in patient with cardiac myxoma. However, coronary embolization from the left atrial myxoma is very rare clinical presentation. We experienced 57-year-old woman with a left atrial myxoma combined with inferior myocardial infarction who had no stenotic lesion in coronary angiography. The ergonovine spasm test was negative. In the interleukin-6 immunohistochemical staining, the extracellular matrix of myxoma stained abundantly with pink color. It can be considered as inferior myocardial infarction due to embolization from the myxoma, which is associated with interleukin-6. So, we report this case with review of literature for the first time in Korea.
Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels* ; Embolism ; Ergonovine ; Extracellular Matrix ; Female ; Humans ; Inferior Wall Myocardial Infarction ; Interleukin-6 ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Myxoma* ; Spasm

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to report on the progress of the fire at Jecheon sports complex and to assess the adequacy of Disaster Medical Assistant Team (DMAT)'s activities in response to the fire disaster. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review based on camera recordings and medical records that were recorded at the disaster site for assessment of activities. We cooperated with firefighters, police officers, local hospital medical staffs and public health personnel in Jecheon in order to classify patients in the disaster field and to understand the patients' progress. RESULTS: At 15:53, the first request for emergency rescue came to the 119 general emergency call center, and a request for DMAT activation came at 16:28. DMAT arrived at the site at 17:04 and remained active until the following day at 00:43. The total number of casualties was 60, including 27 minimal (Green) patients, 29 expectant (Black) patients, three delayed (Yellow) patients, and one immediate (Red) patient. There were 32 patients who received on-site care by DMAT. Two patients were transferred from a local hospital to Wonju Severance Christian Hospital for hyperbaric oxygen therapy. CONCLUSION: Twenty-nine victims were found in the sports complex building, and there were 31 mildly to moderately injured patients in this fire disaster. The main cause of death was thought to be smoke suffocation. Although DMAT was activated relatively quickly, it was not able to provide effective activity due to the late rescue and difficulty with fire suppression.
Asphyxia ; Cause of Death ; Chungcheongbuk-do* ; Disasters* ; Emergencies ; Firefighters ; Fires* ; Gangwon-do ; Humans ; Hyperbaric Oxygenation ; Medical Assistance ; Medical Records ; Medical Staff, Hospital ; Police ; Public Health ; Retrospective Studies ; Smoke ; Sports*

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a worldwide problem. This study was designed to survey the prevalence and risk factors for CKD in Korea. The 2,356 subjects were selected in proportion to age, gender, and city. Subjects 35 yr of age or older were selected from 7 cities. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) Study equation, with albuminuria defined as a urine albumin to creatinine ratio of 30 mg/g or more. The overall prevalence of CKD was 13.7%. The prevalences of CKD according to stage were 2.0% stage 1, 6.7% stage 2, 4.8% stage 3, 0.2% stage 4, and 0.0% stage 5. The prevalences of microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria were 8.6% and 1.6%, respectively. The prevalence of eGFR less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 was 5.0%. Age, body mass index (BMI), hypertension, diabetes mellitus, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and fasting blood glucose were independent factors related to the presence of CKD. In conclusions, Korea, in which the prevalence of CKD is increasing, should prepare a policy for early detection and appropriate treatment of CKD. The present data will be helpful in taking those actions.
Adult ; Aged ; Albuminuria/diagnosis ; Diet ; Disease Susceptibility ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/*epidemiology ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nephrology/methods ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors