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Chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity is a critical issue for patients with breast cancer. Change of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is associated with cardiac dysfunction. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between EAT and chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity.This retrospective study analyzed EAT on chest computed tomography (CT) of patients with early breast cancer using automatic, quantitative measurement software between November 2015 and January 2020. Changes in EAT before and after initiation of chemotherapy were compared according to the type of anticancer drug. Subclinical cardiotoxicity was defined as worsening ≥ 10% in left ventricular ejection fraction to an absolute value 50% with a lower limit of normal measured with standard echocardiography.Among 234 patients with breast cancer, 85 were treated with adjuvant anthracycline-based (AC) and 149 were treated with non-anthracycline-based (non-AC) chemotherapy. There was a significant increase in EAT volume index (mL/kg/mMeasurement of EAT during anthracycline-based chemotherapy might help identify subgroups who are vulnerable to chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity. Early detection of EAT volume change could enable tailored chemotherapy with cardiotoxicity prevention strategies.

Chronic inflammation plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN), and inflammatory conditions are closely related to the development and exacerbation of atherosclerosis. This study aimed to compare carotid plaque burden and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in the essential thrombocythemia (ET)/polycythemia vera (PV) and control groups.We retrospectively assessed carotid plaque burden and NLR in patients with ET/PV between January 2010 and September 2021 and propensity-score matched these patients to control subjects from the general population. All patients underwent carotid imaging using carotid ultrasonography for atherosclerosis screening. After 3:1 propensity-score matching, 140 patients in the control group were matched to 51 patients in ET/PV group. The mean NLR was significantly higher in the MPN group than in the control group (4.77 ± 3.96 vs. 1.93 ± 1.03, p 0.001). The carotid plaque score was also higher in MPN group than in the control group (2.37 ± 1.47 vs. 1.94 ± 1.17, p = 0.038).Patients with PV/ET show a higher NLR and carotid plaque burden than the normal population. This reflected that PV/ET was a highly inflammatory and atherosclerotic condition expressing potentially increased cardiovascular risk.

Introduction Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have the potential to increase bleeding due to drug-drug interactions (DDIs). In the present study, the risk of bleeding was evaluated when drugs with potential DDIs were simultaneously prescribed with DOACs. Materials and methods The present study included patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) who were newly prescribed DOACs between January 2014 and December 2016. Results The study included 115,362 patients with AF or VTE who were newly administered DOACs (median age, 73 years, range, 19–108 years; males, 53.0%; AF, 81.9%). A total of 7001 any bleeding (6.1%) and 2283 major bleeding (2.0%) events occurred with DOAC prescriptions. Based on multiple logistic regression analysis, the number of DDIs was significantly associated with bleeding events independent of CHA2DS2-VASc score and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). The rates of exposure to DDI drugs associated with any bleeding and major bleeding were 56.7% and 66.1%, respectively. The most common DDI drugs showed similar distributions in any or major bleeding; non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antiplatelet agents, diltiazem, and amiodarone were frequently prescribed. Conclusions Physicians prescribing DOACs for AF or VTE should be aware of the increasing risk of bleeding associated with drugs having potential DDIs regardless of comorbidities.

The radiodensity and volume of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) on computed tomography angiography (CTA) may provide information regarding cardiovascular risk and long-term outcomes. EAT volume is associated with mortality in patients undergoing incident hemodialysis. However, the relationship between EAT radiodensity/volume and all-cause mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing maintenance hemodialysis remains elusive. In this retrospective study, EAT radiodensity (in Hounsfield units) and volume (in cm3) on coronary CTA were quantified for patients with ESRD using automatic, quantitative measurement software between January 2012 and December 2018. All-cause mortality data (up to December 2019) were obtained from the Korean National Statistical Office. The prognostic values of EAT radiodensity and volume for predicting long-term mortality were assessed using multivariable Cox regression models, which were adjusted for potential confounders. A total of 221 patients (mean age: 64.88 ± 11.09 years; 114 women and 107 men) with ESRD were included. The median follow-up duration (interquartile range) after coronary CTA was 29.63 (range: 16.67–44.7) months. During follow-up, 82 (37.1%) deaths occurred. In the multivariable analysis, EAT radiodensity (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.055; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.015–1.095; p = 0.006) was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality in patients with ESRD. However, EAT volume was not associated with mortality. Higher EAT radiodensity on CTA is associated with higher long-term all-cause mortality in patients undergoing prevalent hemodialysis, highlighting its potential as a prognostic imaging biomarker in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

We report a case of left ventricular apical thrombus induce embolic stroke in patient with stress cardiomyopathy. In this case, although we initiated anticoagulant treatment after finding apical thrombus on time, stroke occurred. However, favorable clinical results were achieved with prompt percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy after early suspicion and accurate diagnosis. This case emphasized the need for a follow-up echocardiography during SCMP recovery period to evaluate possible complications such as LV thrombus.

Patients on haemodialysis (HD) are at high risk of infective endocarditis (IE). Research comparing the microbiological features as well as clinical characteristics and outcomes of HD and non-HD patients with IE is limited. Specifically, no data focussed on vascular access infections (VAIs) have been reported.The medical records of patients with IE were retrospectively reviewed from January 2010 to February 2020 in a referral hospital in Korea. Those with definite or possible IE by modified Duke criteria were included in the study. The clinical characteristics, microbiological features, echocardiographic findings and outcomes of the patients were analysed.Of the 80 patients with IE, 34 had undergone HD and 46 had not. HD patients with IE had a higher in-hospital mortality rate (50% vs. 17.4%,HD patients with IE showed high in-hospital mortality. HD, high C-reactive protein levels and lower left ventricular ejection fraction were predictors of 60-day mortality in IE patients. In particular, HD patients with VAIs had higher mortality rates and MRSA should be considered as the causative microorganism.

Stress cardiomyopathy (SCMP) is an acute but reversible heart failure syndrome with varying clinical outcomes. Although low triiodothyronine (T3) levels are closely associated with heart failure, it is uncertain whether total T3 levels on admission might be correlated with clinical outcomes in patients with SCMP. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of total T3 level for in-hospital mortality in patients with SCMP. Patients presenting with SCMP at a single tertiary hospital between January 2013 and May 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. The diagnosis of SCMP was confirmed using the International Takotsubo Diagnostic Criteria and echocardiography was performed at least twice at the time of admission. Comorbidities, antecedent triggers, and other cardiac and metabolic parameters were measured in the survivor group compared with the non-survivor group. We evaluated the correlation between these parameters, especially total T3 and the prevalence of in-hospital mortality and the predictive values of total T3. Of the 134 SCMP patients (69.4 �� 15.5 years old, 94 women), 29 (21.6%) died during hospitalisation. The median follow-up period (interquartile range) was 480 days (63.25���1052.50). Total T3 levels were significantly lower in the non-survival group than in the survival group (33.38 �� 22.58 ng/dL vs. 65.72 �� 34.68 ng/dL, p p p p = 0.008), and shock at initial presentation (OR, 3.389; 95% CI, 1.076���10.669; p = 0.037) were independent predictors for in-hospital mortality in SCMP patients. In patients with low T3 (p = 0.001). Lower levels of total T3 were strongly correlated with in-hospital mortality in patients with SCMP. A low T3 level might suggest poor prognosis in patients with SCMP.

A 46-year-old male with no past medical history was admitted with acute onset of chest pain, at rest, for the previous 3 h. He presented with a right coronary artery (RCA) segment ST-elevation myoc...

BK virus nephropathy has emerged as an important cause of renal allograft dysfunction. Reduction in immunosuppression is the mainstay of BK virus nephropathy treatment. However, decreasing immunosuppressive medications is not sufficient for treatment of BK virus nephropathy. Therefore, there is a need for other treatment strategies such as cidofovir, leflunomide, and intravenous immunoglobulin in combination with immunosuppression reduction. Ciprofloxacin has recently been reported to have antiviral activity and decrease BK viral load in kidney transplant recipients. These findings suggest that the use of ciprofloxacin represents a valuable treatment strategy in patients with BK virus nephropathy. Here, we report on our experience with three patients who developed presumptive BK virus nephropathy after kidney transplantation, who, after 2 months of ciprofloxacin treatment, showed disappearance of BK viremia and improvement in the estimated glomerular filtration rate. Ciprofloxacin may be consid- ered an effective treatment option for BK viremia in kidney transplant recipients.

So Ra Kim, Mi-Kyung Kwak, Hye Ran Kang, Seug Yun Yoon, Seong Soon Kwon, Bo Young Kim, Hoo Nam Choi, Hye Jeong Kim, Jae Wook Kim, So-Young Jin, Hyeong Kyu Park, Dong Won Byun, Kyoil Suh, Myung-Hi Yoo Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Departments of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Pathology, Soonchunhyang University Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

The classic presentation of renal cell carcinoma (pain, hematuria, and flank mass) occurs in a minority of patients and often is indicative of advanced disease. Common sites of metastatic renal cell carcinoma are lung, soft tissues, bone, and liver. Paranasal sinus is an unusual site for metastasis of renal cell carcinoma. One 73-year-old male presented to Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital with melena. Renal cell carcinoma with metastasis to duodenum was diagnosed by computed tomography (CT). He underwent right radical nephrectomy and Whipple’s operation. Positron emission tomography/CT was performed postoperatively, and then metastasis to maxillary sinus was found by accident. He was treated with molecular targeted therapy (pazopanib hydrochloride 800 mg).

A 46-year-old male arrived at the emergency department with acute dyspnea. On the way to the hospital, heart massage was performed in the ambulance due to asystole on electrocardiography. After 2 hr of resuscitation, sinus rhythm was restored. Extracorporeal life support and an intra-aortic balloon pump were applied due to cardiogenic shock, but the patient showed sustained hypotension. Echocardiography showed moderate pericardial effusion with physiological evidence of cardiac tamponade; emergency pericardiocentesis was performed, which produced bloody pericardial fluid. An explorative sternotomy revealed a massive hematoma in the mediastinum and right ventricular (RV) free wall rupture. After primary repair, echocardiography showed improved left ventricular systolic function and the patient was stable clinically. This case presents RV free wall rupture as an unusual complication of prolonged heart massage. Heart rupture should be considered in hemodynamically unstable patients after prolonged heart massage. (Korean J Med 2015;88:434-437)

글루코사민은 흔하게 사용되며 각광받는 건강 보조식품 중 하나로 항산화 효과 등이 보고되어 있으나 독성, 특히 간염에 대해서는 아직 잘 알려지지 않았다. 저자들은 글루코사민 섭취 후 간독성이 발생한 67세 여자 환자를 경험하였다. 상기 식품을 한 달 이상 섭취 후 약제 유발성 급성 자가면역 간염이 발생하였으며 간손상이 발생할 만한 다른 원인은 관찰되지 않았다. 12주간의 보존적인 치료와 자가면역 간염에 대한 치료(prednisolone과 azathioprine의 병합요법) 후 증상과 생화학적 이상 소견이 호전되었다.