Background: The benefits of transradial access (TRA) over transfemoral access (TFA) for bifurcation percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are uncertain because of the limited availability of device selection. This study aimed to compare the procedural differences and the in-hospital and long-term outcomes of TRA and TFA for bifurcation PCI using secondgeneration drug-eluting stents (DESs). Methods: Based on data from the Coronary Bifurcation Stenting Registry III, a retrospective registry of 2,648 patients undergoing bifurcation PCI with second-generation DES from 21 centers in South Korea, patients were categorized into the TRA group (n = 1,507) or the TFA group (n = 1,141). After propensity score matching (PSM), procedural differences, in-hospital outcomes, and device-oriented composite outcomes (DOCOs; a composite of cardiac death, target vessel-related myocardial infarction, and target lesion revascularization) were compared between the two groups (772 matched patients each group). Results: Despite well-balanced baseline clinical and lesion characteristics after PSM, the use of the two-stent strategy (14.2% vs. 23.7%, P = 0.001) and the incidence of in-hospital adverse outcomes, primarily driven by access site complications (2.2% vs. 4.4%, P = 0.015), were significantly lower in the TRA group than in the TFA group. At the 5-year follow-up, the incidence of DOCOs was similar between the groups (6.3% vs. 7.1%, P = 0.639). Conclusion The findings suggested that TRA may be safer than TFA for bifurcation PCI using second-generation DESs. Despite differences in treatment strategy, TRA was associated with similar long-term clinical outcomes as those of TFA. Therefore, TRA might be the preferred access for bifurcation PCI using second-generation DES.

Intradural schwannoma accompanied with torsion is rare. Intradural lumbar schwannoma was found in a 63-year-old man presenting with right sacral pain radiating to the lower extremity. This mass showed minimal enhancement on MRI. The tumor's location changed each time on MRI and CT-myelography. The patient underwent surgical resection and the cauda equina, linked to this schwannoma, was severely twisted.

Intradural schwannoma accompanied with torsion is rare. Intradural lumbar schwannoma was found in a 63-year-old man presenting with right sacral pain radiating to the lower extremity. This mass showed minimal enhancement on MRI. The tumor's location changed each time on MRI and CT-myelography. The patient underwent surgical resection and the cauda equina, linked to this schwannoma, was severely twisted.

Background/Aims: To date, prospective data are limited on efficacy and safety profiles of statin therapy in Korean hypercholesterolemic patients. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate the practice patterns of statin therapy and its efficacy and safety through the prospective Daegu and Gyeongbuk statin registry. Methods: Statin naïve patients who were prescribed statins according to the criteria of Korean Guidelines for Management of Dyslipidemia were enrolled. Clinical and laboratory evaluations were performed at baseline and at week 8, where the efficacy was assessed with the same guidelines. Results: Of 908 patients, atorvastatin and rosuvastatin were most frequently prescribed statins (63.1% and 29.3%, respectively). High intensity statins (atorvastatin 40 mg or rosuvastatin 20 mg) were prescribed in 24.7% of all patients and in 79.5% of high and very high risk groups. The total and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels decreased from 203.7 ± 43.0 to 140.6 ± 28.6 mg/dL and 134.4 ± 35.7 to 79.5 ± 21.3 mg/dL, respectively. The achievement rate of the LDL target goal was 98.6% in low risk, 95.0% in moderate risk, 88.1% in high risk, and 42.1% in very high risk patients (59.7% in overall). There was no significant difference in the efficacy between atorvastatin and rosuvastatin. Adverse events were observed in 12.0% of patients and led to 1.4% of treatment cessation. Conclusions The efficacy of the usual starting dose of statins in daily practice was relatively insufficient for Korean hypercholesterolemic patients with high or very high risks. Short-term adverse events of statin therapy were not common in Korean patients with a low discontinuation rate.

Purpose: To determine an appropriate surgical technique, it is important to predict pathological results for patientswith clinically localized prostate cancer (PCa) eligible for nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy (NSRP). Severalstudies have highlighted that serum testosterone level was associated with aggressive features of PCa. Therefore,we analyzed factors, including serum testosterone, to predict upstaging and upgrading after surgery for patientswith clinically localized PCa eligible for NSRP. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated patients who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) betweenJanuary 2015 and May 2018 at our institution. Patients with Gleason grade group 1 or 2 on biopsy,prostate-specific antigen<10, and ≤clinical/radiologic stage T2 were included in this study. Upstaging andupgrading were defined as pathological stage≥T3a and Gleason grade group≥3, respectively. We evaluatedthe patients’ demographics and outcomes according to upstaging and upgrading after surgery. Predictive factorsfor upstaging and upgrading were analyzed using a multivariate logistic regression model. Results: Of 108 patients included in the study, upstaging and upgrading after surgery were observed in 24 (22.2%)and 36 (33.3%), respectively. Low serum testosterone level, small prostate size, and positive core number≥3on biopsy were identified as predictive factors for upstaging in multivariate analysis. Although serum testosteronewas associated with upgrading in univariate analysis, only clinical/radiologic stage and biopsy Gleason grade groupwere observed as predictive factors for upgrading in multivariate analysis. Conclusions Serum testosterone level was identified as a predictive factor for upstaging after RP for clinicallylocalized PCa eligible for NSRP.

Background: Implantable loop recorders (ILRs) can provide an enhanced possibility to detect atrial fibrillation (AF), but the accuracy, especially the positive predictive value (PPV), is controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of ILRs for detecting AF through a comparison with Holter. Method and results: Thirteen patients who underwent AF ablation were enrolled. ILRs were implanted in all patients, who were scheduled to have Holter monitorings after the procedure. The incidence of AF was compared between the two modalities and analyzed for any correlations. A total of 51 Holters (67,985.5 min) and concomitant ILRs were available for the comparison. The judgment of the presence of AF did not perfectly correlate between the ILR and Holter (Kappa = 0.866, P < 0.001). In the ILR data, the sensitivity of detecting AF on the Holter was 81.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.812–0.820; P < 0.001). The specificity was 99.9% (95% CI 0.998–0.999; P < 0.001). When the ILR detected AF, the PPV was 99.5% (95% CI 0.994–0.995), but the ILR did not detect AF, and the negative predictive value was 94.2% (95% CI 0.941–0.944). A separate analysis of AF/atrial tachycardia (AT) showed that the AT detection rate of the ILR was 2.3%. Conclusion The ILR had a low false positive value and high PPV for AF events. However, it was limited in identifying AT.

Background: Carvedilol is one of the most effective beta-blockers in reducing ventricular tachyarrhythmias and mortality in patients with heart failure. One of the possible antiarrhythmic mechanisms of carvedilol is the suppression of store overload-induced Ca2+ release, especially for the triggered activity. Objectives: Premature ventricular complex (PVC) originating from the ventricular outflow tract (OT) is the most common form of idiopathic PVC, and its main mechanism is related to triggered activity. We evaluate the efficacy of carvedilol to suppress the OT PVC. Methods: The electronic medical records at our hospital were screened to identify OT PVC patients treated with carvedilol. Clinical, electrocardiographic, and Holter monitoring studies were reviewed. Results: A total of 25 patients who underwent Holter monitoring before and after carvedilol administration were found and enrolled. The mean age of the patients was 54.9 ± 13.9 years, and the mean dose of carvedilol was 18.2 ± 10.2 mg (sustained release formulation, 8/16/32 mg). The 24-h burden of PVC in 18 (72%) of 25 patients was significantly reduced from 12.2 ± 9.7% to 4.4 ± 6.7% (P = 0.006). In seven patients, the burden of PVC was changed from 7.1 ± 6.1% to 9.8 ± 8.4% (P = 0.061). There was no difference in age, carvedilol dose, duration of treatment, ventricular function, and left atrial size between responding and non-responding groups. Conclusion In this retrospective pilot study, treatment with carvedilol showed PVC suppression in 72% of patients. Now, we are conducting a prospective, randomized, multicenter study to evaluate the effect of carvedilol on OT PVC (Clinical trial registration: FOREVER trial, Clinical-Trials.gov: NCT03587558).

Background: s: The severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread worldwide. Cardiac injury after SARS-CoV-2 infection is a major concern. The present study investigated impact of the biomarkers indicating cardiac injury in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on patients' outcomes. Methods: This study enrolled patients who were confirmed to have COVID-19 and admitted at a tertiary university referral hospital between February 19, 2020 and March 15, 2020. Cardiac injury was defined as an abnormality in one of the following result markers: 1) myocardial damage marker (creatine kinase-MB or troponin-I), 2) heart failure marker (N-terminal-pro B-type natriuretic peptide), and 3) electrical abnormality marker (electrocardiography). The relationship between each cardiac injury marker and mortality was evaluated. Survival analysis of mortality according to the scoring by numbers of cardiac injury markers was also performed. Results: A total of 38 patients with COVID-19 were enrolled. Twenty-two patients (57.9%) had at least one of cardiac injury markers. The patients with cardiac injuries were older (69.6 ± 14.9 vs. 58.6 ± 13.9 years old, P = 0.026), and were more male (59.1% vs. 18.8%, P = 0.013).They showed lower initial oxygen saturation (92.8 vs. 97.1%, P = 0.002) and a trend toward higher mortality (27.3 vs. 6.3%, P = 0.099). The increased number of cardiac injury markers was significantly related to a higher incidence of in-hospital mortality which was also evidenced by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis (P = 0.008). Conclusion The increased number of cardiac injury markers is related to in-hospital mortality in patients with COVID-19.

Spinal cord injury without radiological abnormality (SCIWORA) is a unique concern in pediatric spine injuries. The incidence of pediatric spinal injuries is relatively low, with cervical spine being the most frequently involved in young children. The immature anatomical structure of the cervical spine in young children is attributable to the occurrence of SCIWORA. The author had experienced a case of failure to detect the spinal cord injury during the initial neurologic assessment in the emergency room, in a 22-month-old girl who had suffered a brain injury subsequent to a traffic accident. Since the brain injury resulted in decreased mentality and posttraumatic seizure, precise motor and sensory examinations were not performed, thereby resulting in the missed spinal cord injury during initial diagnosis.