Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Am J Obstet Gynecol 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY. Electronic address:

Background: Maternal race may be an important risk factor for postpartum readmissions and associated adverse outcomes.

Objective: To determine the association of race with serious complications during postpartum readmissions.

Study Design: This repeated cross sectional analysis utilized the National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project from 2012 to 2014. Read More

Int J Epidemiol 2019 Feb 19. Epub 2019 Feb 19.

Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.

Background: Globally, access to healthcare and diagnostic technologies are known to substantially impact the reported birth prevalence of congenital heart disease (CHD). Previous studies have shown marked heterogeneity between different regions, with a suggestion that CHD prevalence is rising globally, but the degree to which this reflects differences due to environmental or genetic risk factors, as opposed to improved detection, is uncertain. We performed an updated systematic review to address these issues. Read More

Nat Commun 2019 Feb 19;10(1):651. Epub 2019 Feb 19.

Institute of Molecular Biosciences, NAWI Graz, University of Graz, Graz, 8010, Austria.

Ageing constitutes the most important risk factor for all major chronic ailments, including malignant, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. However, behavioural and pharmacological interventions with feasible potential to promote health upon ageing remain rare. Here we report the identification of the flavonoid 4,4'-dimethoxychalcone (DMC) as a natural compound with anti-ageing properties. Read More

J Cardiol 2019 Mar;73(3):191-197

Division of Cardiology, Severance Cardiovascular Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Cardiovascular Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Background: Ticagrelor has been widely accepted in clinical practice for treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), however its clinical safety and efficacy have not been revealed sufficiently in Asian populations.

Methods And Results: Among a total 20,270 patients (age <75 years) with AMI undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention who received dual antiplatelet therapy for at least 30 days, clinical outcomes at 1 year were assessed from the database of Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service in Korea between 2013 and 2014. Ticagrelor showed a significant effect on reduction of all-cause death [stabilized inverse probability of treatment weighted (sIPTW)-adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0. Read More

Hypertension 2019 Jan 19;73(1):52-59. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo

Lifetime risk (LTR) provides an absolute risk assessment during the remainder of one’s life. Few studies have focused on the LTRs of stroke and coronary heart disease (CHD), categorized by fine blood pressure in Asian populations. We aimed to assess it using a large database of a meta-analysis with the individual participant data. Read More

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Washington, District of Columbia.

Background: Although the prevalence of extrahepatic manifestations of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been reported from Western countries, their prevalence in East Asian countries is not well known.

Aim: To perform a systematic review to quantify the prevalence of selected extrahepatic manifestations of HCV among patients from East Asia.

Methods: Medline, CINAHL, EMBASE, Cochrane and country-specific databases were reviewed according to standard guidelines for meta-analyses. Read More

Circ J 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

New Oyama Municipal Hospital.

Background: SYMPLICITY HTN-Japan is a prospective, randomized, controlled trial comparing renal denervation (RDN) with standard pharmacologic therapy for treatment of uncontrolled hypertension (HTN). Methods and Results: Patients enrolled had uncontrolled HTN, defined as office systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥160 mmHg and 24-h ambulatory SBP ≥135 mmHg, on ≥3 antihypertensive drugs of maximally tolerated dose for at least 6 weeks prior to enrollment. Randomization was 1:1 to RDN or maintenance of current medical therapy (control). Read More

JAMA Cardiol 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California.

Importance: Statins decrease mortality in those with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), but statin adherence remains suboptimal.

Objective: To determine the association between statin adherence and mortality in patients with ASCVD who have stable statin prescriptions.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This retrospective cohort analysis included patients who were between ages 21 and 85 years and had 1 or more International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes for ASCVD on 2 or more dates in the previous 2 years without intensity changes to their statin prescription who were treated within the Veterans Affairs Health System between January 1, 2013, and April 2014. Read More

PLoS One 2019 12;14(2):e0211957. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

Division of Cardiology, Severance Cardiovascular Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.

The early identification and prevention of dementia is important for reducing its worldwide burden and increasing individuals' quality of life. Although several dementia prediction models have been developed, there remains a need for a practical and precise model targeted to middle-aged and Asian populations. Here, we used national Korean health examination data from adults (331,126 individuals, 40-69 years of age, mean age: 52 years) from 2002-2003 to predict the incidence of dementia after 10 years. Read More

Adv Exp Med Biol 2019 ;1118:1-28

Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) disproportionately affects African Americans (AAs) and Hispanics, who are more likely to have AD than non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs) and Asian Americans. Racial disparities in AD are multifactorial, with potential contributing factors including genetics, comorbidities, diet and lifestyle, education, healthcare access, and socioeconomic status. Interestingly, comorbidities such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease also impact AAs. Read More

Int J Cardiol 2019 Feb 1. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, China.

Cardiac troponin is a sensitive and specific biomarker for acute myocardial injury and has been used in the diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes, and has emerged as a tool for identifying high risk individuals for primary preventive therapy. Recent evidence has emerged indicating that high-sensitivity cardiac troponin assays, which allow robust detection of very low troponin concentrations, could detect subclinical injury in asymptomatic patients. On 24 March 2018, a group of cardiologists from the Asia Pacific region convened to review the data and discuss the potential utility of high-sensitivity troponin I (hsTnI) in the risk assessment of cardiovascular disease in the general population. Read More

Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann 2019 Mar 11;27(3):163-171. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kindai University, Osaka, Japan.

Purpose: We performed antegrade thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair via the ascending aorta in selected high-risk patients scheduled for open surgery, in whom an iliofemoral or abdominal aortic approach was not feasible. We present our initial experience with this approach.

Methods: Of 16 consecutive patients who underwent antegrade endovascular aneurysm repair via the ascending aorta at our institution, 3 had an emergency intervention for rupture and 3 had an urgent intervention for impending rupture or complicated aortic dissection. Read More

Asian-Australas J Anim Sci 2019 Jan 3. Epub 2019 Jan 3.

Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Local Animal Genetic Resource Conservation and Bio-Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui 230036, China.

Objective: Mutations in low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), which encodes a critical protein for cholesterol homeostasis and lipid metabolism in mammals, are involved in cardiometabolic diseases, such as familial hypercholesterolemia in pigs. Whereas microRNAs (miRNAs) can control LDLR regulation, their involvement in circulating cholesterol and lipid levels with respect to cardiometabolic diseases in pigs is unclear. We aimed to identify and analyze LDLR as a potential target gene of SSC-miR-20a. Read More

Chonnam Med J 2019 Jan 25;55(1):54-61. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.

Rivaroxaban has emerged as a potential alternative to warfarin for the prevention of thromboembolism in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, there has been concern for the risk of major bleeding, especially in Asian patients. We investigated the efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban compared to warfarin in Korean real world practice. Read More

J Ethnopharmacol 2019 Feb 6;235:133-140. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Minhang Branch, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address:

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Radix Scutellariae (RS), the dried root of Scutellariae baicalensis Georgi, known as a herbal medicine in several Asian countries including China, has been widely used to treat inflammation, hypertension, cardiovascular disease as well as cancer. The total flavonoid aglycone extracted (TFAE) was extracted by ethyl acetate and this extraction methodology was optimized and obtained the protection of Chinese patents.

Aim Of The Study: To investigate the underlying mechanism of the chemotherapeutic effects of TFAE in inducing autophagy and apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Read More

Crit Care 2019 Feb 8;23(1):36. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, USA.

Background: The Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) Maastricht Treaty for Nomenclature in Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS) established consensus nomenclature and abbreviations for ECLS to ensure accurate, concise communication.

Methods: We build on this consensus nomenclature by layering a framework of precise and efficient abbreviations for cannula configuration that describe flow direction, number of cannulae used, any additional ECLS-related catheters, and cannulation sites. This work is a consensus of international representatives of the ELSO, including those from the North American, Latin American, European, South and West Asian, and Asian-Pacific chapters of ELSO. Read More

Eur J Clin Invest 2019 Feb 8:e13079. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Clinical Nutrition Research Centre (CNRC), Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and National University Health System.

Background: The importance of ectopic fat deposition and physical fitness in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and beta cell dysfunction in non-obese Asians is not known.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study and measured insulin sensitivity (M value; 4-h hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp), insulin secretion rate (3-h mixed meal tolerance test with oral minimal modelling), percent body fat, visceral adipose tissue, intramyocellular and intrahepatic lipid contents (magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy), cardiorespiratory fitness (VO max; graded exercise test) and habitual physical activity (short International Physical Activity Questionnaire) in 60 healthy non-obese Asian subjects (BMI=21.9±1. Read More

J Occup Health 2019 Feb 7. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Department of Public Health, Shiga University of Medical Science, Shiga, Japan.

Objectives: Worksite-based programs present a simple and effective approach to facilitate weight reduction in employees. Despite the importance of 1-year weight loss maintenance, studies have generally focused on the short-term effects of weight reduction programs. In addition, little is known about the long-term weight maintenance outcomes in Asian populations. Read More

Acta Derm Venereol 2019 02 8. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Department of Dermatology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan.

The epidemiology of depression in patients with psoriasis has not been well defined in the Asian population. This study evaluated the epidemiological features of, and risk factors for, depression among patients with psoriasis in Taiwan. A nationwide population-based cross-sectional study was undertaken using the National Health Insurance Research Database. Read More

Curr Obes Rep 2019 Feb 7. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Metabolic Diseases and Allied Specialties, Fortis-C-DOC Hospital for Diabetes, B-16, Chirag Enclave, New Delhi, India.

Purpose Of Review: Obesity has increased in South Asian countries that are still grappling with undernutrition. In this review, we highlight the characteristics of obesity, its relation to morbidities, and its management in South Asians. A literature search was conducted using relevant search engines and based on key words focusing on obesity in South Asians. Read More

Cardiovasc J Afr 2019 Jan 16;30:1-9. Epub 2019 Jan 16.

Sanofi-Aventis, Midrand, South Africa.

The International Cholesterol Management Practice Study (ICLPS) South Africa investigated achievement of European Society of Cardiology (ESC)/European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) guideline low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) targets in real-world clinical practice. Demographic data, clinical characteristics, cardiovascular risk factors, lipid-modifying medications, lipid values and investigator's assessment of cardiovascular risk were recorded for 396 patients on stable lipid-modifying therapy. Most (98. Read More

Am J Cardiol 2019 Jan 25. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Department of Cardiology, Osaka Police Hospital, Osaka, Japan. Electronic address:

Clinical outcomes of the real-world Asian nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients treated with DOAC and the incremental bleeding risk of add-on antiplatelet therapy to direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are still to be investigated. We conducted a single-center prospective observational registry of NVAF patients treated with DOACs: the DIRECT registry (UMIN000033283). All patients with NVAF (N = 2216) who were users of dabigatran (N = 648), rivaroxaban (N = 538), apixaban (N = 599), or edoxaban (N = 431) from June 2011 to November 2017 were enrolled (71. Read More

Mayo Clin Proc 2019 Feb;94(2):225-235

Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, Korea; Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom; Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom. Electronic address:

Objective: To assess the effects of body mass index (BMI) variability on the incidence of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF), stroke, cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, and CV outcomes in a general Asian population.

Patients And Methods: Data from the National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening cohort in Korea were used: 171,324 patients without AF were included, and BMI measurements occurred biennially from January 1, 2002, through December 31, 2009. Patient outcomes were followed through 2013. Read More

Environ Int 2019 Apr 28;125:51-57. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Purpose: Few previous studies have investigated the association between urban green space and cardiovascular disease (CVD) within Asian populations. We aimed to determine the relationship between amount of green space in the residential environment and CVD within a large general Asian population in this population-based longitudinal study.

Methods: The study population consisted of 351,409 participants aged over 20 years extracted from the National Health Insurance Service National Sample Cohort. Read More

Circ J 2019 Jan 30. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Cardiovascular Center, The Tazuke Kofukai Medical Research Institute, Kitano Hospital.

Background: Using the normal values for the East Asian population, we evaluated age- and body size-adjusted left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD) and its prognostic impact in a hospital-based population in Japan. Methods and Results: We retrospectively analyzed data obtained from 4,444 consecutive patients who had undergone both transthoracic echocardiography and electrocardiography at Kitano Hospital in 2013. Those who presented with a history of previous episodes of myocardial infarction and severe or moderate valvular disease or with low ejection fraction (<50%) were excluded from the analysis. Read More

Oncologist 2019 Jan 29. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Background: NUT carcinoma is a rare aggressive disease caused by fusion, and upregulation plays a key role in the pathogenesis. Here, we report on the clinicopathological characteristics of Korean patients with NUT carcinoma and the in vitro efficacy of MYC-targeting agents against patient-derived NUT carcinoma cell lines.

Materials And Methods: Thirteen patients with NUT carcinoma were evaluated for p53, C-MYC, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), HER2, and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) by immunohistochemistry. Read More

Asian J Surg 2019 Jan 25. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Department of Pathology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea.

Clin Exp Nephrol 2019 Jan 28. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Yaizu City Hospital, Yaizu, Shizuoka, Japan.

Background: Greater variability in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is associated with mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, the association between eGFR variability and cardiovascular (CV) mortality and/or end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in the CKD population is not very clear. This study aimed to clarify whether such an association exists. Read More

PLoS One 2019 25;14(1):e0211210. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Penang General Hospital, Penang, Malaysia.

It remains widely perceived that early-onset Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) in children and adolescents is rare and clinically distinct from Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). We studied the challenges of classifying subtypes of early-onset diabetes using clinical features and biomarkers, and management of these patients. We reviewed retrospectively the record of patients < 25 years old who attended the diabetes clinic in Penang General Hospital, Malaysia between 1st December 2012 and 30th June 2015. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Jan;98(4):e14130

Medical Genetics Center, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo.

Introduction: As a member of B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) gene family, BCL-2 associated X (BAX) is important for cell apoptosis. In this work, we investigated the association of BAX promoter DNA methylation with coronary heart disease (CHD) in Han Chinese.

Methods: A SYBR green-based quantitative methylation specific PCR (qMSP) was used to test BAX methylation levels in 959 CHD cases and 514 controls. Read More

Asian J Endosc Surg 2019 Jan;12(1):7-18

Academic Committee of Japan Society for Endoscopic Surgery, Japan.

In Japan, the first endoscopic surgery, a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, was performed in 1990. Since then, the operative procedure has been standardized, and the safety and usefulness of endoscopic surgery have been evaluated. In accordance with the social acceptance of endoscopic surgery as a less-invasive surgery, the number of endoscopic procedures has been increasing in all surgical domains. Read More

J Geriatr Cardiol 2018 Dec;15(12):732-737

Department of Cardiology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Early Prediction and Intervention of Acute Myocardial Infarction, Center for Cardiovascular Translational Research, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China.

Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann 2019 Mar 23;27(3):233. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

1 Department of Anesthesiology, Salamanca University Hospital, Salamanca, Spain.

Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann 2019 Jan 23:218492319827669. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

2 Department of Cardiology, Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital, Okinawa, Japan.

Korean J Radiol 2019 Feb;20(2):190-204

Congenital Heart Disease Study Group Member of the Asian Society of Cardiovascular Imaging, Taiwan.

Optimal performance of pediatric cardiothoracic computed tomography (CT) is technically challenging and may need different approaches for different types of CT scanners. To meet the technical demands and improve clinical standards, a practical, user-friendly, and vendor-specific guideline for pediatric cardiothoracic CT needs to be developed for children with congenital heart disease (CHD). In this article, we have attempted to describe such guideline based on the consensus of experts in the Asian Society of Cardiovascular Imaging CHD Study Group. Read More

Hum Genet 2019 Feb 22;138(2):199-210. Epub 2019 Jan 22.

Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.

In this study, we investigated low-frequency and rare variants associated with blood pressure (BP) by focusing on a linkage region on chromosome 16p13. We used whole genome sequencing (WGS) data obtained through the NHLBI Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) program on 395 Cleveland Family Study (CFS) European Americans (CFS-EA). By analyzing functional coding variants and non-coding rare variants with CADD score > 10 residing within the chromosomal region in families with linkage evidence, we observed 25 genes with nominal statistical evidence (burden or SKAT p < 0. Read More

Nat Commun 2019 01 22;10(1):376. Epub 2019 Jan 22.

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, The Charles Bronfman Institute for Personalized Medicine, New York, 10029, NY, USA.

Many genetic loci affect circulating lipid levels, but it remains unknown whether lifestyle factors, such as physical activity, modify these genetic effects. To identify lipid loci interacting with physical activity, we performed genome-wide analyses of circulating HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in up to 120,979 individuals of European, African, Asian, Hispanic, and Brazilian ancestry, with follow-up of suggestive associations in an additional 131,012 individuals. We find four loci, in/near CLASP1, LHX1, SNTA1, and CNTNAP2, that are associated with circulating lipid levels through interaction with physical activity; higher levels of physical activity enhance the HDL cholesterol-increasing effects of the CLASP1, LHX1, and SNTA1 loci and attenuate the LDL cholesterol-increasing effect of the CNTNAP2 locus. Read More

Circulation 2019 Jan 22. Epub 2019 Jan 22.

Medicine, McMaster University, Canada.

Background: Strokes were significantly reduced by the combination of rivaroxaban plus aspirin compared with aspirin in the COMPASS Trial. We present detailed analyses of stroke by type, predictors, and antithrombotic effects in key subgroups.

Methods: Participants had stable coronary artery or peripheral artery disease and were randomly assigned to receive aspirin 100 mg once daily (n=9126), rivaroxaban 5 mg twice daily (n=9117) or rivaroxaban 2. Read More

Indian J Med Res 2018 Nov;148(5):531-538

Department of Foods Nutrition & Dietetics Research, Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, Chennai, India.

Dietary carbohydrates form the major source of energy in Asian diets. The carbohydrate quantity and quality play a vital function in the prevention and management of diabetes. High glycaemic index foods elicit higher glycaemic and insulinaemic responses and promote insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes (T2D) through beta-cell exhaustion. Read More

Cancer Manag Res 2019 9;11:561-571. Epub 2019 Jan 9.

School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia,

Background: Celecoxib has previously been shown to be effective in reducing recurrent colorectal adenomas, but its long-term effects are unknown. In addition, safety issues are of major concern. Therefore, we examined the efficacy and safety of celecoxib as a chemopreventive agent along with its posttreatment effect. Read More

Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann 2019 Jan 21:218492319826438. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Kimitsu Chuo Hospital, Kisarazu, Chiba, Japan.

A 74-year-old female with caseous calcification of the mitral annulus and interstitial pneumonia was admitted with stroke due to calcific emboli. Computed tomography revealed an oval calcification with homogeneous density in and scattered calcification under the posterior mitral annulus, which was detected for the first time. Computed tomography performed during treatment for pneumonia and stroke showed changes in the shape and density of the caseous calcification; however, scattered calcification under the mitral annulus persisted. Read More

Front Genet 2018 4;9:680. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, Wynnewood, PA, United States.

Brugada syndrome (BrS) is a heritable disease that results in sudden cardiac death. In the exome/genomic era, certain reported pathogenic variants in some genetic diseases have been reclassified as benign owing to their high frequency in some ancestries. In the present study, we comprehensively reassessed all previously reported pathogenic variants of BrS. Read More

Stroke 2019 Feb;50(2):321-327

Department of Epidemiology and Nutritional Sciences Program (A.D.), University of Washington, Seattle, WA.

Background and Purpose- Dietary sodium reduction with concurrent increase in potassium intake is a current public health priority to reduce risk of cardiovascular events. This study explored associations between the spot urine sodium-to-potassium ratio and cardiovascular events in the MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) longitudinal cohort. Methods- The MESA is a prospective cohort study of 6814 adults from 4 ethnic groups (European-, Asian-, African- and Hispanic-American) with a mean age of 62 (±10. Read More

Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann 2019 Mar 19;27(3):157-162. Epub 2019 Jan 19.

1 Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Saiseikai Utsunomiya Hospital, Tochigi, Japan.

Background: The aims of this study were to evaluate the on-pump beating-heart technique of coronary artery bypass in patients with acute myocardial infarction and left main disease, and to retrospectively compare the early postoperative results with those of conventional on-pump arrested-heart coronary surgery.

Methods: Eighty-five patients with acute myocardial infarction caused by left main disease, who underwent emergency surgery between January 1998 and April 2017 at Saiseikai Utsunomiya Hospital, were enrolled in this study. Of these patients, 56 were evaluated using propensity-matched analysis. Read More

J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2019 Jan 19. Epub 2019 Jan 19.

Department of Cardiology, Asklepios Klinik St. Georg, Hamburg, Germany.

Background: Dextrocardia with situs inversus is a rare cardiac positional anomaly. Catheter ablation procedures performed in this set of patients have not been sufficiently reported.

Methods: A total of 10 patients with dextrocardia and situs inversus who received catheter ablation for supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) were included from a cohort of over 20 000 cases of catheter ablation for SVT in three centers from 2005 to 2016. Read More

Heart 2019 Jan 19. Epub 2019 Jan 19.

National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore.

Objective: Ethnic differences in the prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in heart failure (HF) remain unclear. We compared the prevalence and clinical correlates of AF among different ethnicities in an Asian-Pacific population with HF.

Methods: Patients with validated HF were prospectively studied across Singapore and New Zealand (NZ). Read More

Dent Med Probl 2018 Oct-Dec;55(4):419-424

Department of Oral Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland.

The aim of the study was to review the current literature on the role of vitamin D in dentistry. The term vitamin D is defined as a group of compounds which are cholesterol derivatives with a similar chemical structure. It is produced in the human body and passes through many stages of synthesis. Read More

Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann 2019 Feb 15;27(2):98-104. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

5 Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research, Pondicherry, India.

Background: Growing teratoma syndrome is a rare phenomenon seen in nonseminomatous germ cell tumors after chemotherapy, where the tumor grows paradoxically despite normalization of tumor markers. It has been found in various locations, most commonly, the retroperitoneum in association with metastatic disease. The occurrence of growing teratoma syndrome in a mediastinal primary is very rare and there are only a few reports in the literature. Read More

JAMA Netw Open 2018 Sep 7;1(5):e182136. Epub 2018 Sep 7.

Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Connecticut.

Importance: New US health care payment models have increasingly incentivized health care systems to promote health and reduce health care spending at the population level, with Medicare beneficiaries representing one of the largest populations affected by new payment models. Identifying novel strategies to promote health and reduce health care spending is necessary.

Objective: To assess whether the overall well-being of a population is associated with health care spending for people 65 years of age or older. Read More