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.

Background/Aims: The clinical benefit of strict blood glucose-lowering therapy for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) is still debated. We aimed to evaluate the long-term outcomes of patients with diabetes who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), according to the mean hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level after PCI. Methods: We evaluated 675 diabetes patients with CAD treated with PCI. We categorized the study population into three groups based on the mean observed HbA1c levels during the follow-up duration, as follows: aggressive control (AC) group (HbA1c level < 6.5%, n = 148), moderate control (MC) group (HbA1c level ≥ 6.5% and < 7.0%, n = 138), and uncontrolled (UC) group (HbA1c level ≥ 7.0%, n = 389). The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs), defined as cardiac death, myocardial infarction, repeat target vessel revascularization, and stroke. Results: The mean HbA1c level of the AC group was significantly lower than that of the MC and UC groups (6.04% ± 0.36% vs. 6.74% ± 0.14% vs. 8.39% ± 1.20%, p < 0.001). The incidence of MACCEs was significantly lower in the AC group than in the MC and UC groups (16.0% vs. 24.3% vs. 26.3%, p = 0.010), mostly driven by the incidence of stroke (4.4% vs. 14.0% vs. 11.4%, p = 0.013). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that only the AC group was associated with a reduced rate of MACCEs (hazard ratio, 0.499; 95% confidence interval, 0.316 to 0.786; p = 0.004) compared with the UC group. Conclusions Our study showed that intensive glycemic control (HbA1c level < 6.5%) is associated with improved clinical outcomes after PCI in patients with diabetes.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the image quality and adverse events between Iopamidol 250 and Ioversol 320 usage during transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records and hepatic angiography from 113 patients who underwent TACE with Iopamidol 250 (44 patients) and Ioversol 320 (69 patients) were retrospectively reviewed. Vessel perception on hepatic angiography was graded into three categories by two radiologists for hepatic subsegmental arteries, the right gastroepiploic artery, right gastric artery, and pancreaticoduodenal artery. Imaging concordance was assessed by comparing the number of detected HCCs on hepatic angiography and CT. The adverse events before and after hepatic angiography were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean vessel perception scores were 2.92 and 2.94 for Iopamidol 250 and Ioversol 320, respectively. The imaging concordance was 31 (70.5%) and 46 (66.7%) patients for Iopamidol 250 and Ioversol 320, respectively. There were no statistical differences in vessel perception or imaging concordance (p > 0.05). One and six patients experienced nausea for Iopamidol 250 and Ioversol 320, respectively. There was no statistical difference in adverse events (p = 0.24). CONCLUSION Iopamidol 250 can be used in hepatic angiography for TACE without significant difference in image quality or occurrence of adverse events from Ioversol 320.

BACKGROUND:Accurate and timely diagnosis of acute surgical disease in pregnant patient is chal enging. Although magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the most accurate modality to diagnose acute appendicitis in pregnant patients, it is often used as a last resort because of high cost and long scan time. We performed this study to analyze differential diagnoses of appendix MRI and to investigate if there are any blood tests that can predict surgical condition in pregnant patients. METHODS:A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted on 46 pregnant patients who underwent non-enhanced appendix MRI in suspicion of acute appendicitis from 2010 to 2016. Differential diagnoses of appendix MRI were analyzed and blood tests were compared between those who had surgical and non-surgical disease. RESULTS:Appendix MRI differentiated two surgical disease; acute appendicitis and ovarian torsion; and various non-surgical conditions such as uterine myoma, hydronephrosis, ureterolithiasis and diverticulitis among clinically suspected acute appendicitis in pregnancy. The diagnostic accuracy of MRI for acute appendicitis in this study was 93.5％. Patients who had surgical disease showed significantly higher WBC count (≥11,000/mm3), proportion of neutrophils in the WBC (≥79.9％), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR≥6.4), levels of C-reactive protein (CRP≥1.82 mg/dL) and bilirubin (≥0.66 mg/dL ) than those who had non-surgical disease. CONCLUSION:MRI can reliably differentiate surgical conditions and several blood tests (WBC, proportion of neutrophils in the WBC, NLR, CRP, bilirubin) can help anticipate acute surgical condition among pregnant patients suspected to have acute appendicitis.

PURPOSE: To analyze the clinical and angiographic features with outcome of transcatheter arterial embolization in patients with secondary postpartum hemorrhage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical details and angiographic features with assessment of arterial embolization were reviewed in total 38 patients underwent arterial embolization at single tertiary referral center. RESULTS: Twenty patients (53%) had Cesarean section. The major causes of bleeding were iatrogenic vascular injury, and retained placenta (55%). The patterns of vaginal bleeding were recorded as intermittent (50%), or as persistent (50%). Seven patients (18%) were hemodynamically unstable at presentation. Positive angiographic findings appeared in eighteen patients (47.3%). The frequency of pseudoaneurysm was statistically high in the Cesarean section (p < 0.001). The used embolic agents except gelfoam were N-butyl cyanoacrylate (n = 7), and microcoil (n = 7). Unilateral selective embolization (26.3%) was shown effective in superselective embolization of bleeding focus. Technical and clinical success rate were 100% and 97.4%, respectively with no complication. Sixteen resumed regular menstruation, and one pregnancy were observed in patients with available follow-up of over 6 months. CONCLUSION Considerable rate of hemodynamically unstable patients was observed with high rate of positive angiography findings. Given high successful rate and few complications, early angiographic assessment with embolization should be considered.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a simple verbal instruction regarding the rescuer gazing point can improve the depth of chest compressions (CCs) in the hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). METHODS: Participants who took part in basic life support training courses for lay-rescuers were eligible for inclusion in this prospective, single-blinded, cluster randomized controlled study. After the training courses, both the control and the intervention groups performed the hands-only CPR for two minutes on a manikin placed on the ground. Immediately prior to CCs, instructors provided the intervention group with brief verbal instructions to look in the opposite direction of the adducted arm after placing the heel of the hand on the mid-sternum. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-two participants (61 for each group) were enrolled in this study. The intervention group showed significantly deeper CCs than the control group (47.9±8.2 mm vs. 43±8.4 mm, p<0.01); however, there were no significant differences between the two groups in the quality of chest recoil, CC rate, or duty cycle of CCs. However, the frequency of incorrect hand position was higher in the intervention group when compared with the control group (10.3 [2.3-35.7] vs. 5.7 [0-33.0], p=0.036) CONCLUSION: Instructions to look in the opposite direction of the adducted arm during CCs improved the mean depth of CCs without significant adverse effects on the quality of recoil, CC rate, or duty cycle of CCs. However, the frequency of incorrect hand position was higher in the intervention group than the control group.
Arm ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation* ; Education ; Hand ; Heart Massage ; Heel ; Manikins ; Prospective Studies ; Thorax*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of the GlideRite with the conventional-malleable-stylet (CMS) in endotracheal intubation (ETI) using the Macintosh-laryngoscope. METHODS: This study is a randomized crossover simulation study. Participants performed ETI using both the GlideRite and the CMS in the normal airway and in a tongue edema (simulated difficult airway resulting in lower percentage of glottis opening [POGO]) model. RESULTS: In both the normal and the tongue edema models, all 36 participants performed ETI successfully using the two stylets on the first attempt. In the normal airway model, there was no difference in time required for ETI (T(ETI)) or ease of handling between the two stylets. In the tongue edema model, the T(ETI) increased as POGO score decreased with the CMS (POGO score showing negative correlation with T(ETI) for the CMS, Spearman's rho=-0.518, p=0.001) but not for the GlideRite (rho=-0.208, p=0.224). The T(ETI) was shorter with the GlideRite than the CMS, but without statistical significance (15.1 vs. 18.8 seconds, p=0.385). Ease of handling was superior with the GlideRite compared to the CMS (p=0.006). CONCLUSION: Performance of the GlideRite and the CMS was not different in the normal airway model. However, in the simulated difficult airway model with a low POGO score, the GlideRite performed better than the CMS for direct laryngoscopic intubation.
Edema ; Glottis ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal* ; Tongue

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of the GlideRite stylet with the conventional malleable stylet (CMS) in endotracheal intubation (ETI) by the Macintosh laryngoscope. METHODS: This study is a randomized, crossover, simulation study. Participants performed ETI using both the GlideRite stylet and the CMS in a normal airway model and a tongue edema model (simulated difficult airway resulting in lower percentage of glottic opening [POGO]). RESULTS: In both the normal and tongue edema models, all 36 participants successfully performed ETI with the two stylets on the first attempt. In the normal airway model, there was no difference in time required for ETI (TETI) or in ease of handling between the two stylets. In the tongue edema model, the TETI using the CMS increased as the POGO score decreased (POGO score was negatively correlated with TETI for the CMS, Spearman’s rho=-0.518, P=0.001); this difference was not seen with the GlideRite (rho=-0.208, P=0.224). The TETI was shorter with the GlideRite than with the CMS, however, this difference was not statistically significant (15.1 vs. 18.8 seconds, P=0.385). Ease of handling was superior with the GlideRite compared with the CMS (P=0.006). CONCLUSION: Performance of the GlideRite and the CMS were not different in the normal airway model. However, in the simulated difficult airway model with a low POGO score, the GlideRite performed better than the CMS for direct laryngoscopic intubation.
Edema ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal* ; Laryngoscopes* ; Manikins* ; Tongue

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to estimate the effect of counting numbers out for giving breaths on the interruption time (IT) of chest compressions (CCs) and chest compression fraction (CCF) in the 2-rescuer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). METHODS: Thirty medical students were enrolled in this randomized control simulation study, and were randomly divided into the control group and the study group. Both groups performed 2-rescuer CPR for 5-cycles with giving breaths using a bag-mask. Only participants in the study group were instructed to count numbers out for each breath verbally ("one, two") at the end point of each inspiration period and immediately perform CCs at the point of counting "two". RESULTS: However, no differences in terms of depth, rate, incorrect location, and duty cycle of CCs, as well as ventilation volume of each breath, time to delivery of two breaths, and counts of breathing during 1 minute were observed between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The study group had significantly shorter IT and higher CCF compared with the control group. And no significant differences in the other measured parameters of CPR quality were observed between the two groups.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation* ; Heart Massage ; Humans ; Manikins* ; Pilot Projects* ; Respiration ; Respiration, Artificial ; Students, Medical ; Thorax* ; Ventilation