Prognostic Implication of LDL-C Variability and Its Association with Lipid-Lowering Strategies: Insights from the RACING and LODESTAR Trials.

Purpose: We aimed to compare the visit-to-visit variability in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) according to different lipid-lowering strategies and evaluate its prognostic implications using data from previous trials.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed two randomized clinical trials: the RACING trial and the LODESTAR trial. LDL-C variability was evaluated using standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation, and variation independent of mean.

Genetic variants linked to statin-associated Type 2 diabetes mellitus: Findings from the UK Biobank and the All of Us Research Program.

Background And Purpose: Statins are widely prescribed for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, yet recent studies suggest an increased risk of new-onset Type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study aimed to identify genetic variants associated with statin-associated new-onset Type 2 diabetes mellitus from the UK Biobank and All of Us.

Experimental Approach: Among statin users, cases were defined as those diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes mellitus after statin initiation and controls as those never having diabetes mellitus.

Exploring Strategies to Improve Outcomes in Patients With Giant Cell Myocarditis: A Case Series of Five Biopsy-Proven Cases.

Giant cell myocarditis (GCM) is a rare but severe disease with high morbidity and mortality, often requiring heart transplantation (HT). While immunosuppressive therapy has improved outcomes, recurrence after HT remains high, and long-term survival without transplantation is also limited. This case series presents five biopsy-confirmed GCM cases, highlighting clinical characteristics and strategies to improve prognosis.

Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder Presenting as Biventricular Failure After Heart Transplantation.

Background: The diagnosis of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is challenging because of its diverse clinical presentations.

Case Summary: A 65-year-old man, previously stable 61 months after heart transplantation for dilated cardiomyopathy, presented with biventricular failure and worsening dyspnea. Given the acute decline in graft function, acute rejection was suspected, and rejection therapy was initiated.

Prognostic implication of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in acute myocardial infarction-related cardiogenic shock.

Background: Given the conflicting results regarding the clinical outcomes of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) based on etiology, its benefit for patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) remains controversial. This study aimed to report the real-world clinical outcomes of VA-ECMO treatment for patients with CS, based on the presence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods: Patients treated with peripheral VA-ECMO between 2008 and 2023 at a tertiary cardiovascular center were included and classified into two groups based on CS etiology (AMI-CS and non-AMI-CS).

Comparison of High-Dose versus Low-Dose Paclitaxel Drug-Coated Balloons for Native Femoropopliteal Artery Disease: An Analysis of the K-VIS ELLA Registry.

Purpose: Drug-coated balloons (DCBs) have demonstrated favorable outcomes in the treatment of femoropopliteal artery (FPA) disease. A variety of DCBs are currently available, with differing doses of antiproliferative agents and types of excipients. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of high-dose versus low-dose paclitaxel DCBs for the treatment of FPA disease.

Ticagrelor Monotherapy Ticagrelor With Aspirin in Bleeding and Cardiovascular Events in Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients According to Renal Function: The Subanalysis From the TICO Trial.

Background And Objectives: Ticagrelor monotherapy after short-term dual-antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) has not been established in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. This study evaluated the effects of ticagrelor monotherapy after 3-month of DAPT on renal function in acute coronary syndrome patients.

Methods: From the TICO trial, the primary outcome was a composite of net adverse clinical events (NACEs), defined as a composite of major bleeding and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs).

Organ-Specific Responses to Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Multicenter, Retrospective Study.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) monotherapy elicits limited intrahepatic responses in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we investigate the organ-specific objective response rate (OSORR) of nivolumab plus ipilimumab (Nivo/Ipi) combination treatment, considering prior ICI exposure, compared with nivolumab (Nivo) monotherapy.

Methods: We analyzed 204 lesions from Nivo/Ipi-treated and 305 lesions from Nivo-treated patients with advanced HCC at five referral cancer centers in Korea.

Correction: Kim et al. Novel Gene Polymorphisms for Stable Warfarin Dose in a Korean Population: Genome-Wide Association Study. 2023, , 2308.

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Associations of and Polymorphisms with Ritodrine-Induced Adverse Events in Patients with Preterm Labor.

Ritodrine, a tocolytic agent used to delay preterm labor, can cause several cardiovascular-associated adverse events (AEs). This study aimed to examine the relationship between gene polymorphisms in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma () and PPARG coactivator-1α () and the occurrence of ritodrine-induced AEs. Additionally, a risk-scoring system was developed to identify patients at high risk of AEs.

Clinical Outcomes of Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma Did Not Significantly Differ according to Tumor Size in an Iodine-Excessive Country.

Background: Follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) measuring <2 cm is generally associated with good prognosis, while tumor size ≥4 cm is regarded as being associated with a poor prognosis. This study aimed to evaluate FTC prognosis by tumor size to investigate whether the 2- and 4-cm criteria are appropriate for assessing prognosis.

Methods: Data of 248 patients with FTC diagnosed between August 1995 and June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.

Hydroxychloroquine can reduce fetal growth restriction in a dexamethasone-induced rat model.

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a major cause of neonatal mortality, but no therapeutic options are available for the intrauterine period. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), a drug used to treat malaria and autoimmune diseases, reportedly has beneficial effects on pregnancy outcomes in women with lupus or antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, which is often associated with FGR. We investigated the effect of HCQ on fetal growth using a dexamethasone (DEX)-induced FGR rat model.

Significance of placental pathology and CMV PCR in assessing clinical outcomes of congenital CMV infection.

Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is one of the most common congenital infections with adverse outcomes such as intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), hearing loss, and neurologic deficits. The aim of this study was to investigate the significance of histopathologic features and CMV PCR results of placentas with clinical manifestation of congenital CMV infections. We retrospectively collected the placentas of 27 newborns with congenital CMV infections from January 2009 to December 2020.

Prognostic Significance of Volumetric Parameters on Pretreatment FDG PET/CT in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma Receiving Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab Therapy.

Background: This study aimed to assess prognostic significance of FDG PET/CT parameters in predicting progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab therapy.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 78 patients with HCC who underwent FDG PET/CT before atezolizumab plus bevacizumab therapy and identified intrahepatic target tumor lesions on pretreatment imaging studies. From PET/CT images, we measured SUVmax, tumor-to-normal liver uptake ratio, metabolic tumor volume, and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) for intrahepatic tumor lesions, as well as SUVmax for extrahepatic metastatic lesions (extrahepatic SUVmax).

Exploring Oncologists' Perspectives on the Early Integration of Specialty Palliative Care in Korea: Challenges, Needs, and Clinical Implications.

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the practices, perceptions, and barriers related to specialty palliative care (SPC) referrals among oncologists in Korea, highlighting the clinical implications of early integration.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional online survey targeting board-certified hemato-oncology specialists was conducted between August 1-25, 2024. The survey assessed referral practices, attitudes toward early SPC integration, referral criteria, barriers, and institutional characteristics.

Endoscopic Features of Gastrointestinal Amyloidosis: A Proposed Endoscopic Classification.

Background/aims: Gastrointestinal amyloidosis (GIA) is a common condition that presents with a variety of endoscopic features. However, the classification of these endoscopic features of GIA and its clinical implications have not been investigated.

Methods: The endoscopic findings of 127 patients with GIA were reviewed and classified by three experienced endoscopists.

Intravascular Ultrasound Predictors of 12-Month Patency Loss Following Drug-Coated Balloon Angioplasty for the Femoropopliteal Artery.

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) has been shown to improve outcomes of drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty for treatment of femoropopliteal artery (FPA) disease. However, the optimal IVUS criteria for achieving improved outcomes of DCB angioplasty for FPA disease remain uncertain. The study aimed to identify IVUS predictors for loss of patency at 12 months after DCB angioplasty for FPA disease.

Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy and Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Patients with Cardiogenic Shock: Results from the Rescue Registry.

Cardiogenic shock (CS) frequently leads to multiorgan failure, often necessitating continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). We evaluated the association between CRRT, ECMO, and its prognostic implication in patients with CS. A total of 1247 patients with CS were enrolled from the RESCUE (Retrospective and Prospective Observational Study to Investigate Clinical Outcomes and Efficacy of Left Ventricular Assist Device for Korean Patients with Cardiogenic Shock) registry between January 2014 and December 2018.

Endovascular Aneurysmal Repair With the INCRAFT Stent Graft System for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: A Combined Korean Multi-Center and Single-Center Registry Analysis.

Introduction: The INCRAFT™ Stent Graft System is a trimodular, bifurcated, ultra-low-profile endovascular device designed for endovascular aneurysm repair in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).

Materials And Methods: The study population comprised a prospective multi-center cohort (n = 85) and a single-center retrospective cohort (n = 61) of Korean AAA patients treated with INCRAFT. Postprocedural follow-up involved computed tomography (CT) imaging at 1 and 12 months post-procedure to monitor aneurysm dimensions and detect any endoleak.

Chromosome-level genome assembly and improved annotation of onion genome (Allium cepa L.).

Onion (Allium cepa L.) is an economically valuable crop, but its large, repeat-enriched genome makes genome assembly difficult and limits molecular breeding and biological studies. Herein, we present a chromosomal-level reference genome assembly of the double-haploid onion line DHW30006, constructed by combining PacBio, Illumina, and Hi-C sequencing approaches.

Microvascular Resistance Reserve and Prognosis After Heart Transplantation.

Background: Impaired microcirculatory function after heart transplantation is associated with increased risk for acute cellular rejection. Microvascular resistance reserve (MRR) is a novel index for assessing microcirculatory function, irrespective of epicardial coronary artery stenosis, but it has not been validated in transplanted hearts.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic impact of MRR in heart transplantation.

Delayed central nervous system progression with atezolizumab plus chemotherapy in extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (LU23-15).

Background: The combination of atezolizumab with etoposide and carboplatin (AECb) has become a new standard of care for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). This study evaluates its impact on central nervous system (CNS) progression, specifically brain metastases.

Method: We analyzed the outcomes of 550 ES-SCLC patients who received first-line therapy between 2016 and 2022, focusing on time to intracranial progression (TTicP), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS).

Effects of FGF-related gene polymorphisms on cerebral infarction in patients treated with direct oral anticoagulants.

Background: The development of cerebral infarction is multifactorial, including both environmental and genetic factors. This study assessed the association between fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-related gene polymorphisms and the incidence of cerebral infarction among patients on direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs).

Methods: Patients over 18 years old with atrial fibrillation who were receiving DOACs for cerebral infarction prevention at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital and Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital were enrolled in this analysis.