• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제87권2호
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• pp.176-184
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• 2024

Background: Results of studies investigating the association between body mass index (BMI) and mortality in patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) have been conflicting. Methods: This multicenter, retrospective observational study, conducted between January 2020 and August 2021, evaluated the impact of obesity on outcomes in patients with severe COVID-19 in a Korean national cohort. A total of 1,114 patients were enrolled from 22 tertiary referral hospitals or university-affiliated hospitals, of whom 1,099 were included in the analysis, excluding 15 with unavailable height and weight information. The effect(s) of BMI on patients with severe COVID-19 were analyzed. Results: According to the World Health Organization BMI classification, 59 patients were underweight, 541 were normal, 389 were overweight, and 110 were obese. The overall 28-day mortality rate was 15.3%, and there was no significant difference according to BMI. Univariate Cox analysis revealed that BMI was associated with 28-day mortality (hazard ratio, 0.96; p=0.045), but not in the multivariate analysis. Additionally, patients were divided into two groups based on BMI ≥25 kg/m² and underwent propensity score matching analysis, in which the two groups exhibited no significant difference in mortality at 28 days. The median (interquartile range) clinical frailty scale score at discharge was higher in nonobese patients (3 [3 to 5] vs. 4 [3 to 6], p<0.001). The proportion of frail patients at discharge was significantly higher in the nonobese group (28.1% vs. 46.8%, p<0.001). Conclusion: The obesity paradox was not evident in this cohort of patients with severe COVID-19. However, functional outcomes at discharge were better in the obese group.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.511-522
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• 2024

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The study examined the association between homocysteine and diabetes mellitus in patients with H-type hypertension and assessed the possible effect modifiers. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 1,255 eligible participants in the 'H-type Hypertension Management and Stroke Prevention Strategic International Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Project' among rural Chinese people with H-type hypertension. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to evaluate the relationship between homocysteine and diabetes mellitus. RESULTS: The mean level of total homocysteine (tHcy) in the diabetes mellitus population was 19.37 μmol/L, which was significantly higher than the non-diabetic patients (18.18 μmol/L). When tHcy was analyzed as a continuous variable, the odds ratio (OR) of diabetes was 1.17 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.35; per interquartile range). When tHcy was stratified according to the quintile, the ORs for diabetes were 2.86 (95% CI, 1.22-6.69) in the highest quintile (tHcy ≥ 20.60 μmol/L) compared to the reference group (tHcy < 12.04 μmol/L). When tHcy was grouped by 15 μmol/L and 20 μmol/L, patients with tHcy ≥ 20 μmol/L had a significantly (P = 0.037) higher risk of diabetes (OR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.04-3.96) than in those with tHcy < 15 μmol/L. Subgroup analysis showed that the tHcy-diabetes association was unaffected by other variables. CONCLUSION: In this study of rural Chinese people with H-type hypertension, the tHcy levels showed a positive association with diabetes mellitus. This independent association is unaffected by other potential risk factors.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• 제52권3호
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• pp.205-217
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• 2022

Background and Objectives: The prognostic value of left atrial (LA) function in terms of long-term clinical outcomes after mitral regurgitation (MR) surgery remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the impact of preoperative LA global longitudinal strain (LAGLS) on the long-term postoperative clinical outcomes in chronic severe MR patients who underwent mitral valve (MV) repair surgery. Methods: From January 2012 to December 2017, we analyzed 338 patients (mean age, 51.9±12.5 years; 218 males [64.5%]) treated with MV repair surgery for severe MR. The primary outcome was cardiovascular events, defined as the composite of all-cause death, newly developed atrial fibrillation (AF), and re-hospitalization for cardiovascular causes. Results: During a median follow-up of 45 months (interquartile range, 26-65), 30 (8.9%) cardiovascular events, 5 (1.5%) all-cause death, 8 (2.4%) newly developed AF, and 26 (7.7%) re-hospitalizations occurred. On multivariable analysis, baseline LAGLS was an independent predictor of cardiovascular events (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.91; 95% confidential interval [CI], 0.85-0.97; p=0.004) and re-hospitalization (adjusted HR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.86-1.00; p=0.037). According to the optimal cutoff value of LAGLS, patients with low LAGLS (<23.6%) had a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular events (adjusted HR, 2.70; 95% CI, 1.04-7.00; p=0.041) than those with high LAGLS (≥23.6%). In a subgroup analysis, patients with high LAGLS had better clinical outcomes regardless of whether the patient had a LA volume index <60 mL/m². Conclusions: In patients with chronic severe MR who received successful MV repair surgery, preoperative LAGLS is an independent predictor of long-term postoperative outcomes.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제25권8호
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• pp.756-766
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• 2024

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of thermal ablation in treating solitary low-risk T2N0M0 papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and compare the outcomes of microwave ablation (MWA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Materials and Methods: This retrospective, single center study involved 34 patients (age: 40.0 ± 13.9 years; 28 female) who had low-risk T2N0M0 PTC with a maximum diameter >2 cm and ≤4 cm and underwent MWA (n = 15) or RFA (n = 19) from November 2016 to April 2023. The primary outcomes were the cumulative rate of disease progression and delayed surgery rates. In contrast, the secondary outcomes included changes in tumor size, cumulative rate of complete tumor disappearance, and complication rates. Results: The median follow-up period was 18.0 months (interquartile range [IQR]: 9.0-40.0 months). At 12 months, the median volume reduction rate of the ablation zone was 74.2% (IQR: 53.7%-86.0%). Disease progression was noted in two patients within 1 year, including one patient with local tumor progression post-RFA and one with a new tumor post-MWA, resulting in a constant cumulative disease progression rate of 8.8% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0%-19.8%) throughout the remaining follow-up period. Both patients were subsequently treated with additional ablation and did not require surgery. The cumulative rates of complete tumor disappearance at 1, 3, and 5 years were 4.0% (95% CI: 0%-11.4%), 26.8% (95% CI: 2.7%-44.9%), and 51.2% (95% CI: 0%-79.1%), respectively. No significant differences were observed in the disease progression (P = 0.829) or complete tumor disappearance (P = 0.633) rates between the MWA and RFA groups. Complications occurred in 14.7% (5/34) of patients presenting with transient hoarseness. RFA had a higher but not statistically significant complication rate than MWA did (21.1% [4/19] vs. 6.7% [1/15]; P = 0.355). Conclusion: Both MWA and RFA demonstrated promising short-term outcomes in terms of efficacy and safety in treating solitary low-risk T2N0M0 PTC, with no significant differences.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• 제52권7호
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• pp.544-555
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• 2022

Background and Objectives: The outcome benefits of β-blockers in chronic coronary artery disease (CAD) have not been fully assessed. We evaluated the prognostic impact of β-blockers on patients with chronic CAD after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: A total of 3,075 patients with chronic CAD were included from the Grand Drug-Eluting Stent registry. We analyzed β-blocker prescriptions, including doses and types, in each patient at 3-month intervals from discharge. After propensity score matching, 1,170 pairs of patients (β-blockers vs. no β-blockers) were derived. Primary outcome was defined as a composite endpoint of all-cause death and myocardial infarction (MI). We further analyzed the outcome benefits of different doses (low-, medium-, and high-dose) and types (conventional or vasodilating) of β-blockers. Results: During a median (interquartile range) follow-up of 3.1 (3.0-3.1) years, 134 (5.7%) patients experienced primary outcome. Overall, β-blockers demonstrated no significant benefit in primary outcome (hazard ratio [HR], 0.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.63-1.24), all-cause death (HR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.60-1.25), and MI (HR, 1.25; 95% CI, 0.49-3.15). In subgroup analysis, β-blockers were associated with a lower risk of all-cause death in patients with previous MI and/or revascularization (HR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.14-0.99) (p for interaction=0.045). No significant associations were found for the clinical outcomes with different doses and types of β-blockers. Conclusions: Overall, β-blocker therapy was not associated with better clinical outcomes in patients with chronic CAD undergoing PCI. Limited mortality benefit of β-blockers may exist for patients with previous MI and/or revascularization.

• 한국방사선학회논문지
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• 제15권5호
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• pp.591-602
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• 2021

급성 허혈성 뇌졸중(Acute ischemic stroke; AIS) 환자는 증상발현 수 시간 이내 영상의학 검사를 통해 뇌경색(Infarction)을 조기 진단하여야 한다. 본 연구에서 SVD와 Bayesian 알고리즘을 이용한 뇌경색의 부피측정을 관류 전산화단층촬영(Computed tomography perfusion; CTP)과 확산 강조 자기공명영상(Magnetic resonance diffusion weighted image; MR DWI)을 비교하여 임상적 유용성을 알고자 하였다. 2017년 9월부터 2020년 9월까지 급성 허혈성 뇌졸중 증상으로 응급실을 내원한 환자 중 50명(남 : 여 = 33 : 17)의 영상의학 검사 정보를 후향적으로 이용하였다. SVD와 Bayesian 알고리즘으로 측정된 뇌경색 부피는 윌콕슨 부호순위검정(Wilcoxon signed rank test) 통계분석을 하여 중앙값(Median)과 사분위수(Iter quartile range; IQR) 25 - 75% 범위로 나타내었다. CTP 검사로 측정한 core volume(단위 : cc)은 SVD가 18.07 (7.76 - 33.98), Bayesian은 47.3 (23.76 - 79.11)으로 측정되었고 penumbra volume은 SVD가 140.24 (117.8 - 176.89), Bayesian은 105.05 (72.52 - 141.98)로 측정되었다. Mismatch ratio (%)는 SVD가 7.56 (4.36 - 15.26), Bayesian은 2.08 (1.68 - 2.77)로 측정되었으며 모든 측정값은 통계적으로 유의미한 차이가 있었다(p < 0.05). 스피어만 상관 분석(Spearman's correlation analysis) 결과는 CT Bayesian과 MR로 측정한 뇌경색 부피의 상관계수(r = 0.915)가 CT SVD와 MR의 상관계수(r = 0.763)보다 더욱 높은 양의 상관관계를 보였다(p < 0.01). 블랜드 알트만 산점도(Bland altman plot) 분석 결과는 CT Bayesian과 MR로 측정한 뇌경색 부피의 산점도 기울기(y = - 0.065)가 CT SVD와 MR의 산점도 기울기(y = - 0.749)보다 완만하게 측정되어 Bayesian이 더 높은 신뢰성을 나타내었다. 따라서 뇌경색 부피의 측정에서 Bayesian 알고리즘이 SVD보다 높은 정확도를 보였으므로 임상에서 유용하게 사용될 것으로 사료된다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제73권5호
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• pp.266-272
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• 2012

Background: Limited data on the incidence and clinical characteristics of adult pertussis infections are available in Korea. Methods: Thirty-one hospitals and the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention collaborated to investigate the incidence and clinical characteristics of pertussis infections among adults with a bothersome cough in non-outbreak, ordinary outpatient settings. Nasopharyngeal aspirates or nasopharyngeal swabs were collected for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and culture tests. Results: The study enrolled 934 patients between September 2009 and April 2011. Five patients were diagnosed as confirmed cases, satisfying both clinical and laboratory criteria (five positive PCR and one concurrent positive culture). Among 607 patients with cough duration of at least 2 weeks, 504 satisfied the clinical criteria of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (i.e., probable case). The clinical pertussis cases (i.e., both probable and confirmed cases) had a wide age distribution ($45.7{\pm}15.5$ years) and cough duration (median, 30 days; interquartile range, 18.0~50.0 days). In addition, sputum, rhinorrhea, and myalgia were less common and dyspnea was more common in the clinical cases, compared to the others (p=0.037, p=0.006, p=0.005, and p=0.030, respectively). Conclusion: The positive rate of pertussis infection may be low in non-outbreak, ordinary clinical settings if a PCR-based method is used. However, further prospective, well-designed, multicenter studies are needed.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제56권10호
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• pp.439-445
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• 2013

Purpose: Previous studies suggest that the concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in cord blood may show an inverse association with respiratory tract infections (RTI) during childhood. The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of 25(OH)D concentrations in cord blood on infant RTI in a Korean birth cohort. Methods: The levels of 25(OH)D in cord blood obtained from 525 Korean newborns in the prospective COhort for Childhood Origin of Asthma and allergic diseases were examined. The primary outcome variable of interest was the prevalence of RTI at 6-month follow-up, as diagnosed by pediatricians and pediatric allergy and pulmonology specialists. RTI included acute nasopharyngitis, rhinosinusitis, otitis media, croup, tracheobronchitis, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia. Results: The median concentration of 25(OH)D in cord blood was 32.0 nmol/L (interquartile range, 21.4 to 53.2). One hundred and eighty neonates (34.3%) showed 25(OH)D concentrations less than 25.0 nmol/L, 292 (55.6%) showed 25(OH)D concentrations of 25.0-74.9 nmol/L, and 53 (10.1%) showed concentrations of ${\geq}75.0$ nmol/L. Adjusting for the season of birth, multivitamin intake during pregnancy, and exposure to passive smoking during pregnancy, 25(OH)D concentrations showed an inverse association with the risk of acquiring acute nasopharyngitis by 6 months of age (P for trend=0.0004). Conclusion: The results show that 89.9% of healthy newborns in Korea are born with vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency (55.6% and 34.3%, respectively). Cord blood vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency in healthy neonates is associated with an increased risk of acute nasopharyngitis by 6 months of age. More time spent outdoors and more intensified vitamin D supplementation for pregnant women may be needed to prevent the onset of acute nasopharyngitis in infants.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제59권6호
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• pp.656-663
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• 2005

배 경 : 급성호흡곤란으로 응급실에 내원한 환자에서 그 원인질환을 감별하는 것은 효율적인 치료에 매우 중요하나 임상양상만으로 감별진단하기는 어려운 경우가 많다. 최근에 쉽게 측정하고 확인이 가능한 생화학적 표지자인 B-type natriuretic peptide에 대해 연구가 이루어지고 있다. 방 법 : 2004년 3월부터 7월까지 한양대학교병원 응급실로 급성호흡곤란을 주소로 내원한 261명의 환자를 대상으로 혈청 BNP를 측정하였고 임상적 소견을 후향적으로 분석하였다. 결 과 : 대상환자를 증상의 원인에 따라 크게 심부전군(n=119, 382, 113-1230 pg/ml)과 비심부전군(n=142, 29, 7-81 pg/ml)으로 나누었고(사람수, 중위수, 백분위수 25-백분위수 75), 하위집단으로 심부전군은 COPD와 좌심부전이 동반된 군(n=5, 820, 354-1620 pg/ml), 폐성심군(n=3, 1650, 239-1990 pg/ml), 좌심부전군(n=111, 378, 106-1120 pg/ml)으로, 비심부전군은 COPD군(n=20, 39, 21-101 pg/ml), 기타 호흡기질환군(n=56, 59, 10-129 pg/ml), 기타 다른 원인군(n=66, 15, 6-47 pg/ml)으로 분류하였다. 혈장 BNP는 원인 질환에 따라 유의한 차이를 보였으며(p<0.001), COPD군과 좌심부전이 동반된 COPD군을 비교했을 때 심부전이 동반될 때 혈장 BNP가 의미있게 높았다(p=0.002). 당뇨병, 고혈압, 흡연 및 신부전 등 심질환의 위험인자가 없는 환자들에서 심부전의 동반 유무와 BNP값을 비교해 보았을 때, 심부전이 동반된 경우 의미있게 BNP값이 증가되어 있었다(p<0.001). 또한, BNP가 133 pg/ml이상일 경우 예민도 0.73, 특이도 0.87로 심부전에 대한 치료에 반응할 수 있는 환자군을 감별할 수 있었다. 결 론 : 혈장 BNP는 급성호흡곤란의 감별진단에서 심부전의 유무를 알아내고 효율적인 치료를 앞당기는데 유용한 검사이다. 특히, 기존의 호흡기 질환을 가지고 있거나 심장질환의 위험요인이 없더라도 BNP가 높은 수치를 보일 경우에는 심부전의 가능성을 고려해서 환자에게 접근해야 한다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제67권1호
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• pp.21-26
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• 2009

연구배경: 급성 호흡부전 환자에서 기관지경 검사 시비침습적 양압환기를 적용하면 저산소혈증의 악화 없이 안전하게 검사를 시행할 수 있으나 일부 환자에서는 저산소혈증의 악화로 기계 환기가 필요하게 된다. 본 연구는 저산소혈증으로 비침습적 양압환기 적용 하에 기관지경 검사를 시행한 환자들에서 검사 후 기관 삽관의 빈도 및 예측 인자를 알아보고자 하였다. 방 법: 2005년 1월부터 2007년 10월까지 삼성서울병원 내과계 중환자실에서 기관지경 검사를 받은 환자 210명 중 저산소혈증으로 비침습적 양압환기 적용 하에 기관지경 검사를 시행한 36명의 환자를 대상으로 후향적 조사를 시행하였다. 결 과: 36명의 환자(남:여, 18:18)들의 중앙연령은 55세(사분위 범위, 43~65세)였다. 기관지경 검사 전 SOFA 점수는 4점(3~7점), SAPSII 점수는 37점(30~42점)이었고 P/F ratio는 중앙값 155 (90~190)이었다. 기관지경 검사 후 17명(47%)에서 기관 삽관이 시행되었고, 시술 후 삽관까지 걸린 시간의 중앙값은 22시간(2~50시간) 이었다. 36명의 환자 중 15명(42%)이 사망하였고, 기관 삽관이 필요했던 경우 그렇지 않은 경우보다 병원 내 사망률이 높았다(11 [65%] vs. 4 [21%], p=0.017). 다중 로지스틱 회기분석 결과 기관지경 검사 전의 P/F ratio만이 기관지경 검사 후 기관 삽관과 독립적으로 관련이 있었다(OR, 0.961; 95% CI, 0.924~0.999; p=0.047). 결 론: 급성 호흡부전 환자에서 기관지경 검사 시 저산소혈증의 악화를 방지하기 위해 비침습적 양압환기를 적용할 때 적절한 환자 선택이 중요하며, 중증 저산소혈증환자에서는 기관 삽관을 대비하여 검사 후 집중적인 감시가 필요할 것으로 사료된다.