Background and Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the association between cardiovascular events and 2 different levels of elevated on-treatment diastolic blood pressures (DBP) in the presence of achieved systolic blood pressure targets (SBP). Methods: A nation-wide population-based cohort study comprised 237,592 patients with hypertension treated. The primary endpoint was a composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and stroke. Elevated DBP was defined according to the Seventh Report of Joint National Committee (JNC7; SBP <140 mmHg, DBP ≥90 mmHg) or to the 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) definitions (SBP <130 mmHg, DBP ≥80 mmHg). Results: During a median follow-up of 9 years, elevated on-treatment DBP by the JNC7 definition was associated with an increased risk of the occurrence of primary endpoint compared with achieved both SBP and DBP (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05–1.24) but not in those by the 2017 ACC/AHA definition. Elevated ontreatment DBP by the JNC7 definition was associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular mortality (aHR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.18–1.70) and stroke (aHR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.08–1.30). Elevated on-treatment DBP by the 2017 ACC/AHA definition was only associated with stroke (aHR, 1.10;95% CI, 1.04–1.16). Similar results were seen in the propensity-score-matched cohort. Conclusion Elevated on-treatment DBP by the JNC7 definition was associated a high risk of major cardiovascular events, while elevated DBP by the 2017 ACC/AHA definition was only associated with a higher risk of stroke. The result of study can provide evidence of DBP targets in subjects who achieved SBP targets.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence and clinical features of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Korea. METHODS: Web-based (www.armd-nova.or.kr) registration was conducted for AMD patients aged 50 or more who were newly diagnosed by retinal specialists in Korea from August 20, 2005 to August 20, 2006. Patient data including ophthalmologic examination, fundus photography, fluorescein angiogram and/or indocyanin green angiogram (ICG), past medical history, behavioral habit, combined systemic diseases were up-loaded. RESULTS: Among finally enrolled 1,141 newly diagnosed AMD patients, 690 patients (60.5%) were male and 451 patients (39.5%) were female. The average age of AMD patients was 69.7+/-8.0. Early AMD was observed in 190 patients and 951 patients had late AMD. Classic choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM) was observed in 18.6% of exudative AMD patients and 63.4 % had occult CNVM. Subfoveal CNVM was observed in 80.4% of the patients with CNVM. Among the 580 exudative AMD eyes that performed indocyanin green angiography (ICG), 184 eyes (31.7%) had polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) and 36 eyes (6.2%) showed retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP). Age, male gender, smoking, diabetes and hypertension significantly increased the risk of the AMD among Koreans. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the low rate of participation by retinal specialists, definite incidence of AMD was not obtainable. However, the estimated 1-year AMD incidence in the Pusan area of Korea is at least 0.4%. In contrast to Western people, 31.7% of exudative AMD cases were revealed to be PCV and 6.2% were revealed to be RAP. This discrepancy between ethnic groups should be considered in the diagnosis and treatment modality selection of Korean AMD patients.
Aged ; Angiography ; Choroid ; Ethnic Groups ; Eye ; Female ; Fluorescein ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Korea ; Macular Degeneration ; Male ; Membranes ; Photography ; Retinaldehyde ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Specialization

The followings are the results for external quality assessment (EQA) in immunoserology for 2009: Evaluation of EQA was done in 2 trials in April and November, about 99% of laboratories participating average 7.4 items. The results were collected via internet and about 98% of laboratories have sent their results via internet. Control materials used in EQA were pooled sera including commercial controls, MASR Immunology Control from Medical Analysis Systems (Camarillo, CA, USA), which were delivered refrigerated for stability of control materials, being received within 48 hours after sending. Latex agglutination tests for rheumatoid factor (RF) showed frequently false positive or false negative results especially in commercial controls, possibly due to matrix effect. False negative and positive results were frequently found in the laboratories using immunochromatography assay (ICA) for anti-HCV and anti-HIV. More careful quality control should be required for ICA tests. New tests measuring non-treponemal and trponemal antibody such as turbidoimmunoassay (TIA) and chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) were introduced. Standardization of instruments and reagents including calibrators for quantitative results should be required for the harmonization of results.
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Immunoassay ; Immunochromatography ; Indicators and Reagents ; Internet ; Korea ; Latex Fixation Tests ; Luminescence ; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry ; Quality Control ; Rheumatoid Factor

The followings are the results for external quality assessment (EQA) in immunoserology for 2008:1.Evaluation of EQA was done in 2 trials in May and November, about 99% of laboratories participating average 7.7 items. The results were collected via internet and about 99% of laboratories have sent their results via internet. 2.Control materials used in the External Proficiecny Testing were pooled sera including Commercial controls, MAS(R) Immunology Control from Medical Analysis Systems (Camarillo, CA, USA), which were delivered refrigerated for stability of control materials, being received within 48 hours after sending. 3.Latex agglutination tests for rheumatoid factor (RF) showed frequently false positive or false negative results especially in Commercial controls, possibly due to matrix effect.4.False negative and positive results were frequently found in the laboratories using immunochromatography assay (ICA) for anti-HCV and anti-HIV. More careful quality control should be required for ICA tests. 5.New tests measuring non-treponemal and trponemal antibody such as turbidoimmunoassay (TIA) and chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) were introduced.6.Standardization of instruments and reagents including calibrators for quantitative results should be required for the harmonization of results.
Agglutination Tests ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Immunoassay ; Immunochromatography ; Indicators and Reagents ; Internet ; Korea ; Luminescence ; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry ; Quality Control ; Rheumatoid Factor

We experienced a case in which yeasts in blood sample from a patient with cervical cancer with hepatic metastasis and multiple intraperitoneal cysts interfered with platelet morphology flag in automated blood analyzer. The peripheral blood smear was performed to confirm the flag and revealed intracellular and extracellular yeasts, which were subsequently identified as Candida parapsilosis by blood culture.
Blood Platelets ; Candida ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; Yeasts

Duodenal diverticulum is commonly found at 2nd portion of duodenum undergoing duodenal procedure. It is generally asymptomatic and not harmful. But occasionally it causes massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Bleeding from duodenal diverticulum is very difficult to diagnose and manage since vision of the lesion by conventional direct endoscope is limited. Recently, emphasis has been placed on aggressive and careful endos- copic diagnosis and hemostasis with hemoclip or local injection. We report a case of massive duodenal diverti- cular bleeding on a senile patient which was treated successfully by endoscopic hemoclip therapy.
Diverticulum ; Duodenal Diseases ; Duodenum ; Endoscopes ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhage ; Hemostasis ; Humans ; Vision, Ocular

The followings are the results for external quality assessment (EQA) in immunoserology for 2007: 1. Evaluation of EQA was done in 2 trials in May and December, about 99% of laboratories participating average 7.8 items. The results were collected via internet for the first time and 96~98% of laboratories have sent their results via internet. 2. All the specimens for Immunoserology in EQA were delivered refrigerated, being received within 48 hours after sending. 3. Commercial controls, MASR Immunology Control from Medical Analysis Systems (Camarillo, CA, USA) were used to assure the quality of quantitative results of C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti- streptolysin O (ASO) tests, and the RF results of MASR Immunology Control were variable depending on the reagents used. 4. The laboratories using immunochromatography assay (ICA) were increased, however, many laboratories using ICA reported falsely negative for the positive specimens. The sensitivity of ICA test kits as well as various factors influencing the ICA results should be evaluated. 5. The HBsAg results of the ACCURUN 1R Multi-Marker Positive Control (Boston Biomedica Inc. USA) were falsely reported as negative in some laboratories using arbitrarily determined cutoff. 6. Standardization of methods including calibrators for quantitative results should be required for the harmonization of results.
Bacterial Proteins ; C-Reactive Protein ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Immunochromatography ; Indicators and Reagents ; Internet ; Korea ; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry ; Rheumatoid Factor ; Streptolysins

The followings are the results for external quality assessment (EQA) in immunoserology for 2007: 1. Evaluation of EQA was done in 2 trials in May and December, about 99% of laboratories participating average 7.8 items. The results were collected via internet for the first time and 96~98% of laboratories have sent their results via internet. 2. All the specimens for Immunoserology in EQA were delivered refrigerated, being received within 48 hours after sending. 3. Commercial controls, MASR Immunology Control from Medical Analysis Systems (Camarillo, CA, USA) were used to assure the quality of quantitative results of C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti- streptolysin O (ASO) tests, and the RF results of MASR Immunology Control were variable depending on the reagents used. 4. The laboratories using immunochromatography assay (ICA) were increased, however, many laboratories using ICA reported falsely negative for the positive specimens. The sensitivity of ICA test kits as well as various factors influencing the ICA results should be evaluated. 5. The HBsAg results of the ACCURUN 1R Multi-Marker Positive Control (Boston Biomedica Inc. USA) were falsely reported as negative in some laboratories using arbitrarily determined cutoff. 6. Standardization of methods including calibrators for quantitative results should be required for the harmonization of results.
Bacterial Proteins ; C-Reactive Protein ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Immunochromatography ; Indicators and Reagents ; Internet ; Korea ; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry ; Rheumatoid Factor ; Streptolysins

The followings are the results for external quality assessment (EQA) in immunoserology for 2005: 1.Evaluation of EQA was done in 2 trials in May and December, about 99% of laboratories participating average 8.4 items. The results were collected via internet for the first time and 66~78% of laboratories have sent their results via internet. 2.Commercial controls, MASR Immunology Control from Medical Analysis Systems (Camarillo, CA, USA) and Immunology Control (Immuno-Q-sera I, SEIKEN, Japan) were used to assure the quality of quantitative results of C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-streptolysin O (ASO) tests. All the specimens for Immunoserology in EQA were delivered refrigerated, being received within 48 hours after sending. 3.Commercial control for serologic tests for syphilis, Syphilis Control (Mediace RPR con, Sekisui, Japan) was newly introduced in 2005. 4.The laboratories using immunochromatography assay (ICA) were increased, however, many laboratories using ICA reported falsely negative for the positive specimens. The sensitivity of ICA test kits as well as various factors influencing the ICA results should be evaluated. 5.Standardization of methods including calibrators for quantitative results should be required for the harmonization of results.
Allergy and Immunology ; C-Reactive Protein ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Immunochromatography ; Internet ; Korea* ; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry ; Rheumatoid Factor ; Serologic Tests ; Syphilis

The followings are the results for external quality assessment (EQA) in immunoserology for 2004: 1. Evaluation of EQA was done in 2 trials in May and November, about 99% of laboratories participating average 8.4 items. EQA for anti-HBc test was newly started in 2004. 2. Commercial control, MASR Immunology Control from Medical Analysis Systems (Camarillo, CA, USA) was used to assure the quality of quantitative results of C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-streptolysin O (ASO) tests in 2004. All the specimens for Immunoserology in EQA were delivered refrigerated for the first time, being received within 48 hours after sending. 3. EQA for detection of HBsAg mutants was tried for the first time, using the recombinant HBsAg mutant (Gly/Arg 145) kindly provided by Abbott Laboratories, USA. 4. The laboratories using immunochromatography assay (ICA) were increased, however, many laboratories using ICA reported falsely negative for the positive specimens. The sensitivity of ICA test kits as well as various factors influencing the ICA results should be evaluated. 5. Standardization of methods including calibrators for quantitative results should be required for the harmonization of results.
Allergy and Immunology ; C-Reactive Protein ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Immunochromatography ; Korea* ; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry ; Rheumatoid Factor