Purpose: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of a new refractive corneal lenticule extraction method (SmartSight) using a Schwind ATOS femtosecond laser (Schwind Eye-Tech-Solutions, Kleinostheim, Germany). Methods: The medical records of 338 eyes of 170 patients who underwent SmartSight treatment from April to September 2022 and were followed-up for at least 3 months were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were followed-up at 1 day, 1 week, and 1 and 3 months after operation. Refraction, visual acuity, and intraocular pressure were measured at each visit. Results: Preoperatively, the uncorrected distant visual acuity was 1.26 ± 0.33 logarithm of minimum angle or resolution (logMAR) and the spherical equivalent was -4.52 ± 1.77 diopters. The 3-month, postoperative, uncorrected distant visual acuity was 0.01 ± 0.03 logMAR and the spherical equivalent was -0.12 ± 0.22 diopters. The 3-month data were as follows: efficacy of refractive surgery, 0.99 ± 0.11; safety, 1.00 ± 0.05; predictabilities at ±0.5 and ± 1.0 diopters, 97% and 100%, respectively. Conclusions Myopic astigmatism correction using the SmartSight method was effective, safe, and predictable in terms of visual outcomes.

Objective: Data pertaining to the prognostic value of the combination of high neutrophilto-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and anemia on admission in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are limited. The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical value of baseline NLR in combination with anemia in predicting clinical outcomes after STEMI. Methods: A total of 5,194 consecutive patients with STEMI within 12 hours of symptom onset from the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry-National Institute of Health database between 2011 and 2015 were categorized into 4 groups according to their NLR and hemoglobin levels: low NLR (<4) without anemia (n=2,722; reference group); high NLR (≥4) without anemia (n=1,527); low NLR with anemia (n=508); and high NLR with anemia (n=437). The co-primary outcomes were 180-day and 3-year all-cause mortality. Results: Mortality rates significantly increased at the 3-year follow-up across the groups (3.3% vs. 5.4% vs. 16.5% vs. 21.7% for 180-day mortality and 5.3% vs. 9.0% vs. 23.8% vs. 33.4% for 3-year mortality; all p-trends <0.001). After adjusting for baseline covariates, the combination of high NLR and anemia was a significant predictor of 180-day mortality after STEMI with low NLR and no anemia as the reference (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.16; 95% confidence interval, 1.58–2.95; p<0.001). Similar findings were observed for the 3-year mortality. Conclusions This nationwide prospective cohort study showed that the combination of high NLR (≥4) and anemia is a strong predictor of all-cause mortality after STEMI.

Background: Data regarding the association between preexisting cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and the outcomes of patients requiring hospitalization for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the impact of preexisting CVRFs or CVDs on the outcomes of patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in a Korean healthcare system. Methods: Patients with COVID-19 admitted to 10 hospitals in Daegu Metropolitan City, Korea, were examined. All sequentially hospitalized patients between February 15, 2020, and April 24, 2020, were enrolled in this study. All patients were confirmed to have COVID-19 based on the positive results on the polymerase chain reaction testing of nasopharyngeal samples. Clinical outcomes during hospitalization, such as requiring intensive care and invasive mechanical ventilation (MV) and death, were evaluated. Moreover, data on baseline comorbidities such as a history of diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, current smoking, heart failure, coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular accidents, and other chronic cardiac diseases were obtained. Results: Of all the patients enrolled, 954 (42.0%) had preexisting CVRFs or CVDs. Among the CVRFs, the most common were hypertension (28.8%) and diabetes mellitus (17.0%). The prevalence rates of preexisting CVRFs or CVDs increased with age (P < 0.001). The number of patients requiring intensive care (P < 0.001) and invasive MV (P < 0.001) increased with age.The in-hospital death rate increased with age (P < 0.001). Patients requiring intensive care (5.3% vs. 1.6%; P < 0.001) and invasive MV (4.3% vs. 1.7%; P < 0.001) were significantly greater in patients with preexisting CVRFs or CVDs. In-hospital mortality (12.9% vs. 3.1%; P < 0.001) was significantly higher in patients with preexisting CVRFs or CVDs. Among the CVRFs, diabetes mellitus and hypertension were associated with increased requirement of intensive care and invasive MV and in-hospital death. Among the known CVDs, coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure were associated with invasive MV and in-hospital death. In multivariate analysis, preexisting CVRFs or CVDs (odds ratio [OR], 1.79; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07–3.01; P = 0.027) were independent predictors of in-hospital death adjusting for confounding variables. Among individual preexisting CVRF or CVD components, diabetes mellitus (OR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.51–3.90; P < 0.001) and congestive heart failure (OR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.06–5.87; P = 0.049) were independent predictors of in-hospital death. Conclusion Based on the findings of this study, the patients with confirmed COVID-19 with preexisting CVRFs or CVDs had worse clinical outcomes. Caution is required in dealing with these patients at triage.after

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA-125) is an emerging prognostic biomarker for heart failure. We aimed to test the long-term prognostic value of CA-125 in combination with N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). METHODS: This observational study included a total of 413 patients (64.1 ± 15.6 year-old, 214 men) with ADHF. All-cause mortality during the 2-year follow-up was investigated for the prognosis. RESULTS: During the follow-up (mean follow-up, 591 ± 233 days), 109 deaths (26.0%) were recorded. In the multivariable analysis model, CA-125 was an independent factor associated with all-cause mortality (log CA-125: hazard ratio, 1.23; 95% confidence interval, 1.02 to 1.48; p = 0.030) together with age, sex, New York Heart Association class, β-blocker, and NT-proBNP. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated that the group with both low marker levels showed the best 2-year survival (87.9%) followed by the group with low NT-proBNP and high CA-125 (76.1%), high NT-proBNP and low CA-125 (64.7%) and high NT-proBNP and high CA-125 levels (54.3%) (p < 0.001). Addition of CA-125 in combination with NT-proBNP and established risk factors further increased the predictive power for mortality in patients with ADHF. CONCLUSIONS CA-125 was an independent factor associated with all-cause mortality in patients with ADHF. Combination of CA-125 with NT-proBNP significantly improved the prediction of mortality in patients with ADHF.

Cardiac involvement is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES). It is classified into 3 stages by the degree of eosinophils-mediated heart injury; acute necrotic stage, thrombotic stage, and fibrotic stage. Nonetheless, definitive evidence that each patient passes sequentially through these stages is lacking. We present a case of 48-year-old male patient with dyspnea and peripheral edema who underwent valve replacement surgery due to severe mitral regurgitation. After the valve replacement, HES with cardiac involvement in the thrombotic stage was diagnosed. In the follow-up study, the patient progressed into fibrotic stage of HES.
Dyspnea ; Edema ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Injuries ; Humans ; Hypereosinophilic Syndrome* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Mortality

A 30-year-old female patient with known hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCMP) was admitted for recurrent syncope episodes. Electrocardiogram (ECG) showed 2 : 1 atrioventricular (AV) block. Stress echocardiography with bicycle showed high grade AV block at high stage of the exercise associated with exercise intolerance and dyspnea. Twenty-four hour ECG monitoring also revealed high grade AV block and 1 episode of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia. Implantable cardioverter/defibrillator-pacemaker (ICD-P) was inserted. After implantation of ICD-P, conduction disturbance and exercise intolerance were improved. AV block is a rare complication HCMP. There are just a few case reports that present symptoms caused by conduction disturbance in HCMP. This case describes repeated syncope episodes and exercise intolerance caused by conduction disturbance during exercise in HCMP patient. For evaluating the cause of syncope in HCMP, stress echocardiography can be helpful to understand the probable mechanism of syncope.
Adult ; Atrioventricular Block ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic* ; Dyspnea ; Echocardiography, Stress ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Syncope* ; Tachycardia, Ventricular

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to determine the population-based prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and prediabetes in a rural district of Daegu City, Korea. METHODS: Between August and November 2003, a community-based health survey of adults aged 20 years and older was performed in the rural district of Dalseong-gun in Daegu City. A total of 1,806 of all eligible individuals agreed to participate. Fasting plasma glucose was measured in all participants. Two hour oral glucose tolerance was measured in the 1,773 participants for whom there was neither an established diagnosis of DM nor evidence of DM according to fasting glucose levels. The prevalence of DM and prediabetes was determined according to the 2003 criteria of the American Diabetes Association. Subjects with prediabetes were classified into one of three categories of glucose intolerance: isolated impaired fasting glucose (IFG); isolated impaired glucose tolerance (IGT); or combined IFG and IGT. RESULTS: The prevalence of DM was 12.2%. The highest prevalence rates were observed in subjects in their seventies. A total of 34.7% of all subjects who were assigned a diagnosis of DM in the present study had not been diagnosed previously. The prevalence of prediabetes was 22.7%. The highest prevalence rates were observed in subjects in their fifties. CONCLUSION: The present study identified prevalence rates of 12.2% for DM (age-standardized prevalence rate [ASR], 6.8%), and 22.7% for prediabetes (ASR 18.5%). These results emphasize the need for community health promotion strategies to prevent or delay the onset of DM in individuals with prediabetes.
Adult ; Aged ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Health Promotion ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Korea ; Plasma ; Prediabetic State ; Prevalence

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and multivessel disease, complete revascularization (CR) for non-culprit lesions is not routinely recommended. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of multivessel compared with infarct-related artery (IRA)-only revascularization in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for STEMI. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: From the Korean Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry (KAMIR) database, 1,094 STEMI patients with multivessel disease who underwent primary PCI with drug-eluting stents were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into two groups: culprit-vessel-only revascularization (COR, n=827) group; multivessel revascularization, including non-IRA (MVR, n=267) group. The primary endpoint of this study included major adverse cardiac events (MACEs), such as death, myocardial infarction, or target or nontarget lesion revascularization at one year. RESULTS: There was no difference in clinical characteristics between the two groups. During the one-year follow-up, 102 (15.2%) patients in the COR group and 32 (14.2%) in the MVR group experienced at least one MACE (p=0.330). There were no differences between the two groups in terms of rates of death, myocardial infarction, or revascularization (2.1% vs. 2.0%, 0.7% vs. 0.8%, and 11.7% vs. 10.1%, respectively; p=0.822, 0.910, and 0.301, respectively). The MACE rate was higher in the incompletely revascularized patients than in the completely revascularized patients (15% vs. 9.5%, p=0.039), and the difference was attributable to a higher rate of nontarget vessel revascularization (8.6% vs. 1.8%, p=0.002). CONCLUSION: Although multivessel angioplasty during primary PCI for STEMI did not reduce the MACE rate compared with culprit-vessel-only PCI, CR was associated with a lower rate of repeat revascularization after multivessel PCI.
Angioplasty ; Arteries ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

The purpose of this study is to understand spatio-temporal changes of active fungal biomass and water in Tricholoma matsutake soil colonies during the mushroom fruiting season. The active fungal biomass was estimated by analyzing ergosterol content at four different points within four replicated locations in a single circular T. matsutake colony at Ssanggok valley in the Sogri Mt. National Park in Korea during 2003 to 2005. The four points were the ahead of the colony, the front edge of the colony and 20 cm and 40 cm back from the front edge of the colony. Ergosterol content was 0.0 to 0.7 microg per gram dried soil at the ahead, 2.5 to 4.8 microg at the front edge, 0.5 to 1.8 microg at the 20 cm back and 0.3 to 0.8 microg at the 40 cm back. The ergosterol content was very high at the front edge where the T. matsutake hyphae were most active. However, ergosterol content did not significantly change during the fruiting season, September to October. Soil water contents were lower at the front edge and 20 cm back from the front edge of the colony than at the ahead and 40 cm back during the fruiting season. Soil water content ranged from 12 to 19% at the ahead, 10 to 11% at the edge, 9 to 11% at the 20 cm back and 11 to 15% at the 40 cm back. Our results suggest that the active front edge of the T. matsutake soil colony could be managed in terms of water relation and T. matsutake ectomycorrhizal root development.
Agaricales ; Biomass ; Ergosterol ; Fruit ; Hyphae ; Korea ; Seasons ; Soil ; Tricholoma ; Water

BACKGROUND: Toxocariasis is a common cause of eosinophilia and eosinophilic lung disease in Korea. We analyzed the characteristics of eosinophilic lung disease in toxocariasis. METHOD: One hundred and forty one patients with eosinophilia caused by a toxocara larval infection were evaluated from September 1, 2001 through March 30, 2006. The plain chest x-ray, chest CT(computed tomography), and bronchoalveolar larvage(BAL) were examined. A diagnosis of toxocariasis was made by ELISA using that secretory-excretory antigen from the T. canis larvae. RESULTS: Toxocarial eosinophilic lung diseases was diagnosed in 32 out of 141 patients. Ground glass attenuation was the main feature on the CT scans in 23 out of 141 patients (71.9%). Thirteen patients (40.6%) had a random in zonal distribution on CT. Pleural effusion was observed in 9 patients (28.1%). Twenty eight patients (87.5%) complained of respiratory symptoms. Eleven patients (34.4%) had gastrointestinal symptoms and 12 patients (37.5%) had liver infiltration. CONCLUSIONS: The most common findings of the chest CT in patients with toxocariasis was a randomly distributed ground grass attenuation. A toxocara infection should be considered in a differential diagnosis of patients who exhibit pulmonary infiltration with eosinophilia in Korea.
Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Fluconazole ; Glass ; Humans ; Korea ; Larva ; Liver ; Lung Diseases* ; Lung* ; Parasites ; Pleural Effusion ; Pneumonia ; Poaceae ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Toxocara canis* ; Toxocara* ; Toxocariasis