Humans ; Vascular Stiffness ; Coal Mining ; Occupational Diseases/epidemiology* ; Risk Factors ; Coal ; Miners

INTRODUCTION: An echocardiographic calcium score (ECS) predicts cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the general population. Its utility in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients is unknown. METHODS: This cross-sectional study assessed 125 patients on PD. The ECS (range 0-8) was compared between subjects with CVD and those without. RESULTS: Among the subjects, 54 had CVD and 71 did not. Subjects with CVD were older (69 years vs. 56 years, P < 0.001) and had a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) (81.5% vs. 45.1%, P < 0.001). They had lower diastolic blood pressure (72 mmHg vs. 81 mmHg, P < 0.001), lower phosphate (1.6 mmol/L vs. 1.9 mmol/L, P = 0.002), albumin (30 g/L vs. 32 g/L, P = 0.001), parathyroid hormone (34.4 pmol/L vs. 55.8 pmol/L, P = 0.002), total cholesterol (4.5 vs. 4.9, P = 0.047), LDL cholesterol (2.4 mmol/L vs. 2.8 mmol/L, P = 0.019) and HDL cholesterol (0.8 mmol/L vs. 1.1 mmol/L, P = 0.002). The ECS was found to be higher in subjects with CVD than in those without (2 vs. 1, P = 0.001). On multivariate analysis, only DM and age were independently associated with CVD. CONCLUSION The ECS was significantly higher in PD patients with CVD than in those without, reflecting a higher vascular calcification burden in the former. It is a potentially useful tool to quantify vascular calcification in PD patients.
Humans ; Cardiovascular Diseases/diagnostic imaging* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Calcium ; Peritoneal Dialysis/adverse effects* ; Vascular Calcification/epidemiology* ; Echocardiography

OBJECTIVE: The association between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) with subclinical macrovascular and microvascular diseases has been less investigated. We sought to examine the association between NLR and new-onset subclinical macrovascular and microvascular abnormalities in the Chinese population. METHODS: From a community cohort, we included 6,430 adults aged ≥ 40 years without subclinical macrovascular and microvascular diseases at baseline. We measured subclinical macrovascular and microvascular abnormalities separately using the ankle-brachial index (ABI), brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), and albuminuria. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of 4.3 years, 110 participants developed incident abnormal ABI, 746 participants developed incident elevated baPWV, and 503 participants developed incident albuminuria. Poisson regression analysis indicated that NLR was significantly associated with an increased risk of new-onset abnormal ABI, elevated baPWV, and albuminuria. Compared to overweight/obese participants, we found a much stronger association between NLR and subclinical vascular abnormalities in participants with normal weight. Furthermore, we found an interaction between the NLR and body mass index (BMI) on the risk of new-onset abnormal ABI ( P for interaction: 0.01). CONCLUSION NLR was associated with subclinical macrovascular and microvascular diseases in the Chinese population. Furthermore, in participants with normal weight, the association between NLR and subclinical vascular abnormalities was much stronger.
Adult ; Aged ; Ankle Brachial Index ; Body Mass Index ; China/epidemiology* ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymphocytes/cytology* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neutrophils/cytology* ; Poisson Distribution ; Prospective Studies ; Vascular Diseases/etiology*

With the onset of a metabolic syndrome epidemic and the increasing life expectancy, erectile dysfunction (ED) has become a more common condition. As incidence and prevalence increase, the medical field is focused on providing more appropriate therapies. It is common knowledge that ED is a chronic condition that is also associated with a myriad of other disorders. Conditions such as aging, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity, prostatic hypertrophy, and prostate cancer, among others, have a direct implication on the onset and progression of ED. Characterization and recognition of risk factors may help clinicians recognize and properly treat patients suffering from ED. One of the most reliable treatments for ED is penile prosthetic surgery. Since the introduction of the penile prosthesis (PP) in the early seventies, this surgical procedure has improved the lives of thousands of men, with reliable and satisfactory results. The aim of this review article is to characterize the epidemiology of men undergoing penile prosthetic surgery, with a discussion about the most common conditions involved in the development of ED, and that ultimately drive patients into electing to undergo PP placement.
Diabetes Complications/surgery* ; Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiology* ; Erectile Dysfunction/surgery* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Impotence, Vasculogenic/surgery* ; Male ; Pelvic Bones/injuries* ; Penile Implantation/statistics & numerical data* ; Penile Induration/surgery* ; Penile Prosthesis ; Penis/injuries* ; Prostatectomy/adverse effects* ; Prostatic Neoplasms/surgery* ; Radiation Injuries/surgery* ; Radiotherapy/adverse effects* ; Reoperation ; Spinal Cord Injuries/epidemiology* ; Vascular Diseases/epidemiology* ; Wounds and Injuries/epidemiology*

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and predictors of poststroke anxiety (PSA) at acute and chronic stage. METHODS: PSA was defined as 7 or higher score on Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-anxiety subscale within 2 weeks (n=286) and at 1 year (n=222) after the index stroke. Following variables were examined at baseline: sociodemographic characteristics (age, sex, education years, marital status, living alone, and unemployment), risk factor of vascular disease, stroke location on brain imaging, severity of stroke (National Institute of Health Stroke Scale), physical impairment (Barthel Index), etc. These variables were compared by PSA initially using t-test or χ2 test. Those variables shown significant associations (p < 0.05) entered simultaneously to logistic regression analysis for evaluating independent predictive factors. RESULTS: PSA was observed in 27 patients (9.4%) at acute stage, and in 35 patients (15.8%) at chronic stage. Acute PSA was associated with younger age and higher Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) score, and chronic PSA was associated with hypertension and higher HAM-D score. CONCLUSION: PSA was prevalent and was associated with those variables on poor prognosis of stroke outcome. Therefore, early screening of PSA and referral to proper treatment may reduce stroke burden.
Anxiety* ; Depression ; Education ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Logistic Models ; Marital Status ; Mass Screening ; Neuroimaging ; Prevalence* ; Prognosis ; Referral and Consultation ; Risk Factors ; Stroke ; Vascular Diseases

BACKGROUND: Uric acid has been reported to function both as an oxidant or antioxidant depending on the context. A previous study in the Korean population reported a positive linear association between serum uric acid level and arterial stiffness in men, but little is known about how serum uric acid level is related to the risk of increased arterial stiffness in Korean postmenopausal women. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study of 293 subjects who participated in a health examination program run by the health promotion center of Gangnam Severance Hospital between October 2007 and July 2010. High brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity was defined as a brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity of more than 1,450 cm/s. The odds ratios (ORs) for high brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity were calculated using multivariate logistic regression analysis across uric acid quartiles after adjusting for other indicators of cardiovascular risk. RESULTS: The 293 postmenopausal women were divided into quartiles according to uric acid level. The mean brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity values of each quartile were as follows: Q1, 1,474 cm/s; Q2, 1,375 cm/s; Q3, 1,422 cm/s; Q4, 1,528 cm/s. The second quartile was designated as the control group based on mean brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity value. Multivariate adjusted ORs (95% confidence intervals) for brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity across the uric acid quartiles were 2.642 (Q1, 1.095–6.3373), 1.00, 4.305 (Q3, 1.798–10.307), and 4.375 (Q4, 1.923–9.949), after adjusting for confounding variables. CONCLUSION: Serum uric acid level has a J-shaped association with arterial stiffness in Korean postmenopausal women.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Confounding Factors (Epidemiology) ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Menopause ; Odds Ratio ; Pulse Wave Analysis ; Uric Acid* ; Vascular Stiffness*

PURPOSE: Acute aortic diseases, such as aortic dissection and aortic aneurysm, can be life-threatening vascular conditions. In this study, we compared outcomes before and after the implementation of a critical pathway (CP) for patients with acute aortic disease at the emergency department (ED). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective observational cohort study. The CP was composed of two phases: PRE-AORTA for early diagnosis and AORTA for prompt treatment. We compared patients who were diagnosed with acute aortic disease between pre-period (January 2010 to December 2011) and post-period (July 2012 to June 2014). RESULTS: Ninety-four and 104 patients were diagnosed with acute aortic disease in the pre- and post-periods, respectively. After the implementation of the CP, 38.7% of acute aortic disease cases were diagnosed via PRE-AORTA. The door-to-CT time was reduced more in PRE-AORTA-activated patients [71.0 (61.0, 115.0) min vs. 113.0 (56.0, 170.5) min; p=0.026]. During the post-period, more patients received emergency intervention than during the pre-period (22.3% vs. 36.5%; p=0.029). Time until emergency intervention was reduced in patients, who visited the ED directly, from 378.0 (302.0, 489.0) min in the pre-period to 200.0 (170.0, 299.0) min in the post-period (p=0.001). The number of patients who died in the ED declined from 11 to 4 from the pre-period to the post-period. Hospital mortality decreased from 26.6% to 14.4% in the post-period (p=0.033). CONCLUSION: After the implementation of a CP for patients with acute aortic disease, more patients received emergency intervention within a shorter time, resulting in improved hospital mortality.
Acute Disease ; Adult ; Aged ; Aneurysm, Dissecting/diagnosis/mortality/*surgery ; Aorta ; Aortic Aneurysm/diagnosis/mortality/*surgery ; Aortic Diseases/diagnosis/mortality/*surgery ; *Critical Pathways ; Emergency Service, Hospital/*organization & administration ; Female ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Outcome and Process Assessment (Health Care) ; Postoperative Complications/mortality ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; Vascular Surgical Procedures/*methods

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of childhood excessive adiposity on long-term risk of adult carotid atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness.

METHODSAt baseline, in 1987, by using stratified cluster sampling design, 3 198 healthy children aged 6-18 were recruited from six primary schools and six middle schools from three districts (Chaoyang, Xicheng, and Haidian) in Beijing, with blood pressure, weight, height and left scapular skinfold thickness (LSSF) measured. From April 2010 to July 2012, 1 225 subjects were followed from childhood to adulthood. Questionnaire, biochemistry parameters, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), and carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) were measured at follow-up. Based on weight statuses in childhood and adulthood, subjects were classified into four groups (persistent non-overweight from childhood to adulthood, overweight in childhood but non-overweight in adulthood, non-overweight in childhood but overweight in adulthood, persistent overweight from childhood to adulthood). Multiple logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between weight statuses changing from childhood to adulthood and adult high cfPWV and high cIMT.

RESULTSThe prevalence of overweight (including obesity) at adulthood was 52.2% (639). Males had higher prevalence of smoking (62.5%(422/675) vs 29.4%(160/550), χ(2)=133.21, P<0.001), drinking (52.1%(353/675) vs 26.1%(140/550), χ(2)=87.13, P<0.001), overweight (including obesity) (69.3% (468/675) vs 31.1% (171/550), χ(2)=182.18, P< 0.001) than females. With adjusting for gender, age, and length of follow-up, the risk of high cfPWV and high cIMT increased by 26% and 58% for 1 units increase in BMI, and by 30% and 36% for 1 units increase in LSSF. Compared to subjects with persistent non-overweight from childhood to adulthood, subjects with overweight in childhood but non-overweight in adulthood had similar risks of high cfPWV (OR=1.59, 95%CI: 0.77-3.30)and high cIMT (OR=1.47, 95%CI:0.65-3.31). The risks of high cfPWV and high cIMT increased among subjects with non-overweight in childhood but overweight in adulthood (OR=1.92, 95%CI:1.37-2.68; OR=3.69, 95% CI:2.61- 5.23) and among subjects with persistent overweight from childhood to adulthood (OR=2.53, 95%CI:1.70-3.76; OR=5.37, 95%CI:3.62-7.97).

CONCLUSIONSWe concluded that a overweight children changed to a healthy weight adult, the risks of adult subclinical atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness would not be increased.

Adiposity ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Atherosclerosis ; epidemiology ; Beijing ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; epidemiology ; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Overweight ; epidemiology ; Pediatric Obesity ; epidemiology ; Pulse Wave Analysis ; Risk Factors ; Vascular Stiffness

Spinal dural arteriovenous fistula (SDAVF) is the most common spinal vascular malformation, however it is still rare and underdiagnosed. Magnetic resonance imaging findings such as spinal cord edema and dilated and tortuous perimedullary veins play a pivotal role in the confirmation of the diagnosis. However, spinal angiography remains the gold standard in the diagnosis of SDAVF. Classic angiographic findings of SDAVF are early filling of radicular veins, delayed venous return, and an extensive network of dilated perimedullary venous plexus. A series of angiograms of SDAVF at different locations along the spinal column, and mimics of serpentine perimedullary venous plexus on MR images, are demonstrated. Thorough knowledge of SDAVF aids correct diagnosis and prevents irreversible complications.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Central Nervous System Vascular Malformations/*diagnosis/epidemiology/etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Cord Diseases/diagnosis ; Spine/radiography

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim was to determine which of three sets of metabolic syndrome (MetS) criteria (International Diabetes Federation [IDF], National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III [ATP III], and European Group for the Study of Insulin Resistance [EGIR]) best predicts the coronary artery calcification (CAC) score in a cross-sectional study. This has not been evaluated in previous studies. METHODS: A total of 24,060 subjects were screened for CAC by multi-detector computed tomography. The presence of CAC was defined as a CAC score > 0. The odds ratio for the presence of CAC was analyzed for three different sets of MetS criteria and according to number of MetS components. RESULTS: CAC was observed in 12.6% (3,037) of the subjects. Patients with MetS, as defined by the IDF, ATP III, and EGIR criteria, had a CAC rate of 23.0%, 25.1%, and 29.5%, respectively (p < 0.001). Comparisons of C statistics for multivariate regression models revealed no significant difference among the three sets of criteria. After adjustment for risk factors, the ATP III criteria produced a slightly higher odds ratio for CAC compared with the other criteria, but this difference was not significant. The risk factor-adjusted odds ratio for the presence of CAC increased from 1 to 1.679 as the number of MetS components defined by ATP III increased from 0 to > or = 3 (p for trend < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of MetS was associated with the presence of CAC. There was no significant difference among the three sets of MetS criteria in terms of the ability to predict CAC. An increase in the number of MetS components was associated with an increased odds of CAC.
Adult ; Asymptomatic Diseases ; Biological Markers/blood ; Calcium/*analysis ; Coronary Angiography/methods ; Coronary Artery Disease/blood/*epidemiology/radiography ; Coronary Vessels/*chemistry/radiography ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome X/blood/diagnosis/*epidemiology ; Middle Aged ; Multidetector Computed Tomography ; Multivariate Analysis ; Odds Ratio ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors ; Vascular Calcification/blood/*epidemiology/metabolism/radiography