Wonjae Lee, Sun-Hwa Kim, Yisik Kim, Seung-Ho Hur, Seok Kyu Oh, Sang-Hyun Kim, Young Jin Choi, Namho Lee, Seung-Hwan Lee, Byung Ryul Cho, Dong-Kie Kim, Sang Wook Lim, Tae-Jin Youn, In-Ho Chae
{"title":"Effectiveness and Safety of CENTUM™, an Everolimus-Eluting Stent, in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease: A Prospective Multi-Center Observational Study.","authors":"Wonjae Lee, Sun-Hwa Kim, Yisik Kim, Seung-Ho Hur, Seok Kyu Oh, Sang-Hyun Kim, Young Jin Choi, Namho Lee, Seung-Hwan Lee, Byung Ryul Cho, Dong-Kie Kim, Sang Wook Lim, Tae-Jin Youn, In-Ho Chae","doi":"10.4070/kcj.2024.0400","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.2024.0400","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>CENTUM is a biodegradable everolimus-eluting stent comprising a cobalt-chromium open-cell stent platform. In this prospective trial, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of CENTUM™ in a clinical setting.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A prospective, single-arm, multi-center observational registry was designed to assess the clinical outcomes after CENTUM implantation in all-comers who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention. The primary endpoint was a composite of cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and target lesion revascularization at 12 months. The secondary endpoints included stent thrombosis and other clinical events (all-cause death, myocardial infarction, stroke, target vessel revascularization, and bleeding).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Total 490 patients were enrolled, and 451 completed the study. The mean age was 67.1 years, and 52.8% of the patients presented with acute coronary syndrome. The primary endpoint was observed in 1.11% of the patients. Definite/probable stent thrombosis was observed in 0.44% of the patients, whereas total clinical events recorded was 4.43%.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>CENTUM was effective and safe at 12 months in all patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention. Our findings support the broader application of CENTUM in patients with coronary artery disease.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>Clinical Research Information Service Identifier: KCT0009898.</p>","PeriodicalId":17850,"journal":{"name":"Korean Circulation Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145225544","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Junho Hyun, Seung-Ah Lee, Sang Eun Lee, Jung Ae Hong, Min-Seok Kim, Jae-Joong Kim
{"title":"Withdrawal of Spironolactone for Heart Failure With Improved Ejection Fraction: An Open-Label, Pilot, Randomized Controlled Trial (With-HF Trial).","authors":"Junho Hyun, Seung-Ah Lee, Sang Eun Lee, Jung Ae Hong, Min-Seok Kim, Jae-Joong Kim","doi":"10.4070/kcj.2025.0052","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.2025.0052","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>The optimal strategy for the maintenance or discontinuation of evidence-based medication is unclear in heart failure (HF) patients with improved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). We tested the feasibility and safety of withdrawing mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) in this population.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This is an open-label, prospective, randomized controlled pilot trial including HF patients whose LVEF improved from ≤35% to ≥50% after guideline-directed medical therapy. While testing withdrawal of MRA, other medications were maintained. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients showing deteriorations in LVEF by ≥10% at 6-month follow-up. The secondary endpoints were numerical changes in echocardiographic parameters, changes in blood natriuretic peptide levels, and adverse clinical events relevant to HF.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We randomly assigned 62 HF patients with improved LVEF to the withdrawal or continuation groups. Two (6.7%) patients in the withdrawal group and one (3.2%) patient in the continuation group showed deterioration in LVEF by ≥10% at 6 months; one of the 2 patients in the withdrawal group who showed a decline in LVEF had LVEF of less than 50% at follow-up. Re-initiation of MRA did not occur in any patients. Compared with baseline, echocardiographic parameters, including LV end-diastolic volume index, global longitudinal strain, and natriuretic peptides, were similar at follow-up in both groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>MRA withdrawal was associated with a low risk of significant deterioration of cardiac function in HF patients with improved LVEF of ≥50%. MRA withdrawal may be feasible and safe in this population.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04367051.</p>","PeriodicalId":17850,"journal":{"name":"Korean Circulation Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144742389","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Beyond Age Limits: Revisiting Rhythm Control Strategy for Atrial Fibrillation in Elderly Patients.","authors":"Yeji Kim, Jong-Il Choi","doi":"10.4070/kcj.2025.0098","DOIUrl":"10.4070/kcj.2025.0098","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":17850,"journal":{"name":"Korean Circulation Journal","volume":" ","pages":"624-625"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12270834/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144333432","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cutaneous Wounds and the Risk of Infective Endocarditis: A New Time-Sensitive Causal Pathway?","authors":"Sung-Hee Shin","doi":"10.4070/kcj.2025.0165","DOIUrl":"10.4070/kcj.2025.0165","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":17850,"journal":{"name":"Korean Circulation Journal","volume":"55 7","pages":"653-654"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12270831/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144591574","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Peter Pin-Sung Liu, Huai-Ren Chang, Huei-Kai Huang, Jin-Yi Hsu, Carol Chiung-Hui Peng, Kai-Ming Chang, Ching-Hui Loh, Jih-I Yeh
{"title":"The Association Between Cutaneous Wounds and Infective Endocarditis: A Nationwide Self-Controlled Case Series Study in Taiwan.","authors":"Peter Pin-Sung Liu, Huai-Ren Chang, Huei-Kai Huang, Jin-Yi Hsu, Carol Chiung-Hui Peng, Kai-Ming Chang, Ching-Hui Loh, Jih-I Yeh","doi":"10.4070/kcj.2024.0306","DOIUrl":"10.4070/kcj.2024.0306","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>We aim to investigate whether disruption of the skin defense in the form of cutaneous wounds may increase the incidence rate (IR) of infective endocarditis (IE) in the general population.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We performed a retrospective population-based study using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Database from 2013 to 2022. Self-controlled case series (SCCS) was used to investigate the time-sequential association between cutaneous wounds and IE. Adult patients with both cutaneous wounds (exposure) and IE (outcome) in the database were included in the study. Conditional Poisson regression was used to calculate the adjusted IR ratios (aIRRs) of IE during the 4 weeks following wounds to that of the baseline period within the same individuals.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We enrolled 3,241 eligible patients for SCCS analysis. The risks of IE were elevated in the second week (aIRR, 2.16; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-4.35; p value=0.032) after a treated traumatic wound. The risks of IE were elevated in the first (aIRR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.17-2.09; p value=0.002) and second (aIRR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.19-2.10; p value=0.002) after a treated non-traumatic wound.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Both traumatic and non-traumatic cutaneous wounds are associated with an increased risk of IE within the first 2 weeks after treatments among the general population in Taiwan. Clinicians should be vigilant for symptoms or signs associated with IE in these patients to avoid delays in diagnosis and treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":17850,"journal":{"name":"Korean Circulation Journal","volume":" ","pages":"640-652"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12270825/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144029637","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Min Sun Kim, Seonhye Gu, Sun-Hyung Kim, Ki Man Lee, Bumhee Yang, Hyun Lee
{"title":"Influenza Vaccination Trends and Associated Factors Among Middle-aged Working Adults With an Elevated Cardiovascular Risk in Korea.","authors":"Min Sun Kim, Seonhye Gu, Sun-Hyung Kim, Ki Man Lee, Bumhee Yang, Hyun Lee","doi":"10.4070/kcj.2024.0316","DOIUrl":"10.4070/kcj.2024.0316","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>The development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in middle-aged working groups can be a major contributor to disability-adjusted life years. However, information regarding the current trends in influenza vaccination within this demographic group remains scarce. Thus, we aimed to investigate the recent 11-year trends in influenza vaccination and related factors among these populations in Korea.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Of 42,879 individuals aged 40-64 years enrolled in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2010 and 2021, 35,323 were included. We investigated the yearly trend of influenza vaccination rate according to ASCVD risk and factors associated with being unvaccinated in the elevated ASCVD risk group (ASCVD risk score: ≥7.5%).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among the 35,323 participants, 20,392 (57.7%) were classified into the elevated ASCVD risk group. Over the 11 years, the vaccination rate was significantly higher in the elevated ASCVD risk group than in the low ASCVD risk group (33.8% vs. 25.3%, p<0.001). Factors associated with the unvaccinated status in the elevated ASCVD risk group included younger age (<50 years; adjusted odds ratio, 1.61; 95% confidence interval, 1.31-1.98), male sex (1.43; 1.16-1.76), current smoker status (1.41; 1.13-1.76), residence in an urban area (1.19; 1.01-1.41), and having higher education (1.3; 1.04-1.64).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>One in 3 middle-aged working adults with an elevated risk of ASCVD received the influenza vaccination. Although the influenza vaccination rate was higher in participants with an elevated ASCVD risk than in those with low ASCVD risk, the vaccination rate was relatively unsatisfactory.</p>","PeriodicalId":17850,"journal":{"name":"Korean Circulation Journal","volume":" ","pages":"626-636"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12270833/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144007299","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ji Woong Roh, Oh-Hyun Lee, Yongcheol Kim, Seok-Jae Heo, Eui Im, Deok-Kyu Cho
{"title":"Diastolic Hyperemia-Free Ratio in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease: A Prospective Observational Study.","authors":"Ji Woong Roh, Oh-Hyun Lee, Yongcheol Kim, Seok-Jae Heo, Eui Im, Deok-Kyu Cho","doi":"10.4070/kcj.2024.0351","DOIUrl":"10.4070/kcj.2024.0351","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>Diastolic hyperemia-free ratio (DFR), an alternative to fractional flow reserve (FFR) for the assessment of intermediate coronary artery stenosis, helps reduce patients' time, and inconvenience. However, the validation data for DFR and FFR are lacking. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of DFR and FFR and to assess the effective decision making for revascularization using their values.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Patients subjected to an invasive physiological study for intermediate coronary artery stenosis at a single center in South Korea between August 2022 and January 2024 were prospectively recruited. We evaluated the correlation between DFR and FFR measurements and the diagnostic accuracy of DFR ≤0.89 to predict FFR ≤ 0.80. We also compared the correlation for each coronary artery.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 324 intermediate coronary stenotic lesions from 300 patients were evaluated using DFR and FFR values simultaneously. There was a strong linear relationship between DFR and FFR (r = 0.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.76-0.84; p < 0.001). The diagnostic accuracy of the DFR was 92.0% in predicting FFR ≤0.80. When compared separately for each coronary artery, all vessels showed a strong linear relationship with no statistical differences between any of the vessels (p=0.641). There was also a strong linear relationship between DFR and distal coronary pressure/aorta pressure (r=0.93; 95% CI, 0.91-0.94; p<0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>There was a strong correlation between DFR and FFR and a high diagnostic accuracy rate of DFR compared to FFR. Good diagnostic performance of DFR was also observed in each coronary artery.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05421169.</p>","PeriodicalId":17850,"journal":{"name":"Korean Circulation Journal","volume":" ","pages":"600-610"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12270830/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144006386","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hyun-Jae Kang, JuMee Wang, Eun Joo Cho, Hack-Lyoung Kim, Chan Joo Lee, Jae Hyoung Park, Jeehoon Kang, Jon Suh, Ki Hong Choi, Seung-Yul Lee, Jong-Il Choi, Il-Young Oh, Ungjeong Do, Seung Young Roh, Sang-Ho Jo, Jin Wi, Dae-Hwan Bae, Mi-Hyang Jung, Chan Seok Park, Chi Young Shim, Min-Kyung Kang, Mi-Na Kim, Jang-Whan Bae
{"title":"Addressing Cardiovascular Diseases Challenges in South Korea: Strategies to Improve Outcomes.","authors":"Hyun-Jae Kang, JuMee Wang, Eun Joo Cho, Hack-Lyoung Kim, Chan Joo Lee, Jae Hyoung Park, Jeehoon Kang, Jon Suh, Ki Hong Choi, Seung-Yul Lee, Jong-Il Choi, Il-Young Oh, Ungjeong Do, Seung Young Roh, Sang-Ho Jo, Jin Wi, Dae-Hwan Bae, Mi-Hyang Jung, Chan Seok Park, Chi Young Shim, Min-Kyung Kang, Mi-Na Kim, Jang-Whan Bae","doi":"10.4070/kcj.2024.0385","DOIUrl":"10.4070/kcj.2024.0385","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) pose a significant public health challenge in South Korea. This paper attempts to assess the current status of major cardiovascular risk factors and representative CVDs, and proposes policies and strategies to improve CVDs outcomes. It addresses key issues related to hypertension, dyslipidemia, ischemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, sudden cardiac death, heart failure and valvular heart disease. The high-priority strategies for improving CVDs outcomes include raising public awareness, emphasizing prevention, ensuring equitable access to care, increasing investment in CVDs research, enhancing healthcare provider education, and incentivizing care for high-risk patients care. To implement those strategies, this paper proposes policies for both government and academic societies.</p>","PeriodicalId":17850,"journal":{"name":"Korean Circulation Journal","volume":" ","pages":"557-583"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12270827/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144011052","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Erratum: Correction of Figures in the Article \"<i>UPF1</i> Alleviates Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury by Regulating <i>SMURF2</i>-Mediated Ubiquitination Degradation of <i>FOXA2</i>\".","authors":"Aixin Li, Peng Li, Chunling Mu, Dong Li, Keyan Chen, Zhaoguang Liang","doi":"10.4070/kcj.2025.0997","DOIUrl":"10.4070/kcj.2025.0997","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This corrects the article on p. 305 in vol. 55, PMID: 39962965.</p>","PeriodicalId":17850,"journal":{"name":"Korean Circulation Journal","volume":"55 7","pages":"655-657"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12270832/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144591575","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}