Background: Toe symphalangism is characterized by a fusion of the interphalangeal joint between the middle and distal phalanges. While typical lesser toe fractures heal well with conservative treatment, in our clinical experience, we encountered patients with symphalangeal toe fractures who experienced long-lasting pain and delayed radiographic union. Therefore, this study aimed to report radiographic outcomes following conservative treatment of symphalangeal fractures of the lesser toes. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 14 patients with symphalangeal lesser toe fractures who were treated conservatively. We investigated the mechanism of injury and measured the time from the initial injury date to the complete radiographic union. The fracture gap distance was measured on an initial lateral radiograph. Results: Symphalangeal fractures involved the fourth toe in 4 patients (28.5%) and the fifth toe in 10 patients (71.4%). Regarding the mechanism of injury, 6 patients (42.9%) were injured by stubbing or bumping into the door, 5 patients (35.7%) were injured by tripping, 2 patients (14.3%) were injured by heavy objects falling directly on their toes, and 1 patient (2.3%) complained of pain after wearing pointed shoes for half a day. The mean time to complete union was 9.1 months, and the median period was 5.5 months (range, 0.8–29 months). The initial gap of the fracture was 0.60 mm (range, 0.30–1.04 mm). Conclusions The results of our case series may help counsel patients in the outpatient clinic that prolonged healing time may be required for the union of symphalangeal toe fractures.

Background and Objectives: Ultimaster™, a third-generation sirolimus-eluting stent using biodegradable polymer, has been introduced to overcome long term adverse vascular events, such as restenosis or stent thrombosis. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the 12-month clinical outcomes of Ultimaster™ stents in Korean patients with coronary artery disease. Methods: This study is a multicenter, prospective, observational registry across 12 hospitals. To reflect real-world clinical evidence, non-selective subtypes of patients and lesions were included in this study. The study end point was target lesion failure (TLF) (the composite of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction [MI], and target lesion revascularization [TLR]) at 12-month clinical follow up. Results: A total of 576 patients were enrolled between November 2016 and May 2021. Most of the patients were male (76.5%), with a mean age of 66.0±11.2 years. Among the included patients, 40.1% had diabetes mellitus (DM) and 67.9% had acute coronary syndrome (ACS).At 12 months, the incidence of TLF was 4.1%. The incidence of cardiac death was 1.5%, MI was 1.0%, TLR was 2.7%, and stent thrombosis was 0.6%. In subgroup analysis based on the presence of ACS, DM, hypertension, dyslipidemia, or bifurcation, there were no major differences in the incidence of the primary endpoint. Conclusions The present registry shows that Ultimaster™ stent is safe and effective for routine real-world clinical practice in non-selective Korean patients, having a low rate of adverse events at least up to 12 months.

Background: Exercise capacity is known to be an independent predictor of cardiovascular events and mortality. However, most previous studies were based on Western populations.Further study is warranted for Asian patients according to ethnic or national standards. We aimed to compare prognostic values of Korean and Western nomograms for exercise capacity in Korean patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we enrolled 1,178 patients (62 ± 11 years;78% male) between June 2015 and May 2020, who were referred for cardiopulmonary exercise testing in our cardiac rehabilitation program. The median follow-up period was 1.6 years. Exercise capacity was measured in metabolic equivalents by direct gas exchange method during the treadmill test. The nomogram for exercise capacity from healthy Korean individuals and a previous landmark Western study was used to determine the percentage of predicted exercise capacity. The primary endpoint was the composite of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; all-cause death, myocardial infarction, repeat revascularization, stroke and hospitalization for heart failure). Results: A multivariate analysis showed that the risk of primary endpoint was more than double (hazard ratio [HR], 2.20; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10–4.40) in the patients with lower exercise capacity (< 85% of predicted) by Korean nomogram. The lower exercise capacity was one of the strong independent predictors along with left ventricular ejection fraction, age, and level of hemoglobin. However, the lower exercise capacity by Western nomogram could not predict the primary endpoint (HR, 1.33; 95% CI, 0.85–2.10). Conclusion Korean patients with CVD with lower exercise capacity have higher risk of MACE.Considering inter-ethnic differences in cardiorespiratory fitness, the Korean nomogram provides more suitable reference values than the Western nomogram to determine lower exercise capacity and predict cardiovascular events in Korean patients with CVD.

Background/Aims: Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), as measured by maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), is an important independent predictive factor of cardiovascular outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). However, it is unclear whether conventional equations for estimating CRF are applicable to patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Methods: This study included 521 patients with HFpEF (EF ≥ 50%) whose CRF was directly measured by cardiopulmonary exercise test using a treadmill. We developed a new equation (Kor-HFpEF) for half of the patients in the HFpEF cohort (group A, n = 253) and validated it for the remaining half (group B, n = 268). The accuracy of the Kor-HFpEF equation was compared to that of the other equations in the validation group. Results: In the total HFpEF cohort, the directly measured VO2max was significantly overestimated by the FRIEND and ACSM equations (p < 0.001) and underestimated by the FRIEND-HF equation (p <0.001) (direct 21.2 ± 5.9 mL/kg/min; FRIEND 29.1 ± 11.8 mL/kg/min; ACSM 32.5 ± 13.4 mL/kg/min; FRIEND-HF 14.1 ± 4.9 mL/kg/min). However, the VO2max estimated by the Kor-HFpEF equation (21.3 ± 4.6 mL/kg/min) was similar to the directly measured VO2max (21.7 ± 5.9 mL/kg/min, p = 0.124), whereas the VO2max estimated by the other three equations was still significantly different from the directly measured VO2max in group B (all p < 0.001). Conclusions Traditional equations used to estimate VO2max were not applicable to patients with HFpEF. We developed and validated a new Kor-HFpEF equation for these patients, which had a high accuracy.

A three-dimensional (3D) intraoral scanner, which is one of the major developments in digital dentistry, is widely used in fixed prosthodontics. The application of intraoral scanner is now increasing in removable prosthodontics. Sclerotic change induced by scleroderma causes the limitation of mouth opening and multiple loss of the teeth. Conventional prosthodontic procedures are challenging for patients with this disease. This study showed a case of digital approach to the removable prosthodontic treatment of a patient who had the scleroderma and the consequent microstomia. At the provisional stage, the optical impression of patient’s oral structures was digitally obtained. Using a 3D printer, the provisional dentures were fabricated. After extraction of hopeless tooth, the definitive digital impression was taken and the metal frameworks were fabricated, based on the data acquired from the impression. The definitive removable partial dentures were completed and delivered to the patient, who was satisfied with the prostheses.

OBJECTIVES: Intracoronary injection of acetylcholine (Ach) has been shown to induce significant coronary artery spasm (CAS) in patients with vasospastic angina. Clinical significance and angiographic characteristics of patients with ischemic electrocardiogram (ECG) changes during the Ach provocation test are not clarified yet. METHODS: A total 4,418 consecutive patients underwent coronary angiography with Ach provocation tests from 2004 to 2012 were enrolled. Ischemic ECG changes were defined as transient ST-segment depression or elevation ( > 1 mm) and T inversion with/without chest pain. Finally, a total 2,293 patients (28.5% of total subjects) proven CAS were enrolled for this study. RESULTS: A total 119 patients (5.2%) showed ECG changes during Ach provocation tests. The baseline clinical and procedural characteristics are well balanced between the two groups. Ischemic ECG change group showed more frequent chest pain, higher incidence of baseline spasm, severe vasospasm, multi-vessel involvement, and more diffuse spasm ( > 30 mm) than those without ischemic ECG changes. At 5 years, the incidences of death, major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and major adverse cardiac and cerebral events (MACCE) were higher in the ischemic ECG change group despite of optimal medical therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The patients with ischemic ECG changes during Ach provocation tests were associated with more frequent chest pain, baseline spasm, diffuse, severe and multi-vessel spasm than patients without ischemic ECG changes. At 5-years, the incidences of death, MACE and MACCE were higher in the ischemic ECG change group, suggesting more intensive medical therapy with close clinical follow up will be required.
Acetylcholine ; Chest Pain ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels ; Depression ; Electrocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Spasm

PURPOSE: Many recent studies have reported that successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents (DESs) for chronic total occlusion (CTO) has more beneficial effects than failed CTO-PCI; however, there are only limited data available from comparisons of successful CTO-PCI with medical therapy (MT) in the Korean population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 840 consecutive CTO patients who underwent diagnostic coronary angiography, receiving either PCI with DESs or MT, were enrolled. Patients were divided into two groups according to the treatment assigned. To adjust for potential confounders, propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed using logistic regression. Individual major clinical outcomes and major adverse cardiac events, a composite of total death, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and revascularization, were compared between the two groups up to 5 years. RESULTS: After PSM, two propensity-matched groups (265 pairs, n=530) were generated, and the baseline characteristics were balanced. Although the PCI group showed a higher incidence of target lesion and vessel revascularization on CTO, the incidence of MI tended to be lower [hazard ratio (HR): 0.339, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.110 to 1.043, p=0.059] and the composite of total death or MI was lower (HR: 0.454, 95% CI: 0.224 to 0.919, p=0.028), compared with the MT group up to 5 years. CONCLUSION: In this study, successful CTO PCI with DESs was associated with a higher risk of repeat PCI for the target vessel, but showed a reduced incidence of death or MI.
Coronary Angiography ; Drug-Eluting Stents* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Logistic Models ; Myocardial Infarction ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention* ; Propensity Score ; Stroke

PURPOSE: Prediabetes is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, data on the long term adverse clinical outcomes of prediabetic patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents (DESs) are scarce. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population comprised 674 consecutive non-diabetic patients who underwent elective PCI between April 2007 and November 2010. Prediabetes was defined as hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) of 5.7% to 6.4%. Two-year cumulative clinical outcomes of prediabetic patients (HbA1c of 5.7% to 6.4%, n=242) were compared with those of a normoglycemic group (< 5.7%, n=432). RESULTS: Baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics were similar between the two groups, except for higher glucose levels (104.8±51.27 mg/dL vs. 131.0±47.22 mg/dL, p < 0.001) on admission in the prediabetes group. There was no significant difference between the two groups in coronary angiographic parameters, except for a higher incidence of diffuse long lesion in the prediabetes group. For prediabetic patients, trends toward higher incidences of binary restenosis (15.6% vs. 9.8 %, p=0.066) and late loss (0.71±0.70 mm vs. 0.59±0.62 mm, p=0.076) were noted. During the 24 months of follow up, the incidence of mortality in prediabetic patients was higher than that in normoglycemic patients (5.5% vs. 1.5%, p=0.007). CONCLUSION: In our study, a higher death rate and a trend toward a higher incidence of restenosis in patients with prediabetes up to 2 years, compared to those in normoglycemic patients, undergoing elective PCI with contemporary DESs.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glucose ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mortality ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention* ; Prediabetic State* ; Risk Factors

PURPOSE: Differences in the utility of routine angiographic follow-up (RAF) and clinical follow-up (CF) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are not well understood. The present study aimed to compare the 3-year clinical outcomes of RAF and CF in AMI patients who underwent PCI with drug-eluting stents (DES). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 774 consecutive AMI patients who underwent PCI with DES were enrolled. RAF was performed at 6 to 9 months after index PCI (n=425). The remaining patients were medically managed and clinically followed (n=349); symptom-driven events were captured. To adjust for any potential confounders, a propensity score matched analysis was performed using a logistic regression model, and two propensity-matched groups (248 pairs, n=496, C-statistic=0.739) were generated. Cumulative clinical outcomes up to 3 years were compared between RAF and CF groups. RESULTS: During the 3-year follow-up period, the cumulative incidences of revascularization [target lesion revascularization: hazard ratio (HR), 2.40; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.18–4.85; p=0.015, target vessel revascularization (TVR): HR, 3.33; 95% CI, 1.69–6.58; p=0.001, non-TVR: HR, 5.64; 95% CI, 1.90–16.6; p=0.002] and major adverse cardiac events (MACE; HR, 3.32; 95% CI, 1.92–5.73; p<0.001) were significantly higher in the RAF group than the CF group. However, the 3-year incidences of death and myocardial infarction were not different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: RAF following index PCI with DES in AMI patients was associated with increased incidences of revascularization and MACE. Therefore, CF seems warranted for asymptomatic patients after PCI for AMI.
Coronary Angiography ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Logistic Models ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention* ; Propensity Score

PURPOSE: Calcium channel blockers diltiazem and nitrate have been used as selective coronary vasodilators for patients with significant coronary artery spasm (CAS). However, no study has compared the efficacy of diltiazem alone versus diltiazem with nitrate for long-term clinical outcomes in patients with CAS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 2741 consecutive patients without significant coronary artery disease with positive CAS by acetylcholine (Ach) provocation test between November 2004 and May 2014 were enrolled. Significant CAS was defined as a narrowing of >70% by incremental intracoronary injection of 20, 50, and 100 µg of Ach into the left coronary artery. Patients were assigned to either the diltiazem group (n=842) or the dual group (diltiazem with nitrate, n=1899) at physician discretion. To adjust for potential confounders, a propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed using the logistic regression model. After PSM analysis, two well-balanced groups (811 pairs, n=1622, C-statistic=0.708) were generated. RESULTS: At 5 years, there were similar incidences in primary endpoints, including mortality, myocardial infarction, revascularization, and recurrent angina requiring repeat coronary angiography between the two groups. Diltiazem alone was not an independent predictor for major adverse cardiovascular events or recurrent angina requiring repeat coronary angiography. CONCLUSION: Despite the expected improvement of endothelial function and the relief of CAS, the combination of diltiazem and nitrate treatment was not superior to diltiazem alone in reducing mortality and cardiovascular events up to 5 years in patients with significant CAS.
Acetylcholine ; Aged ; Angina Pectoris/diagnosis ; Calcium Channel Blockers/therapeutic use ; Cardiovascular Agents/*therapeutic use ; Coronary Angiography/adverse effects ; Coronary Artery Disease/prevention & control ; Coronary Vasospasm/diagnosis/*drug therapy ; Diltiazem/*therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction/prevention & control ; Nitrates/*therapeutic use ; Propensity Score ; Time Factors ; Vasodilator Agents/therapeutic use