Even though the optimum sampling methods for invasive pests are very important in newly invaded areas, the standard sampling unit of Ricania shantungensis is still undeveloped in persimmons. Among all developmental stages of R. shantungensis, the egg has close relationship between its density and subsequent tree damage. Thus, this study was conducted to suggest an optimum sampling unit for R. shantungensis eggs in persimmons based on characteristics of its within-tree distribution pattern. The within-tree distribution pattern was characterized with 60 persimmon trees by cutting 12 branches at three vertical levels (low, middle, and high) in four horizontal criteria (east, west, south, and north) per tree. The sampling units were determined based on coefficient of variation (CV) and coefficient of determination (r2) calculated from egg mass numbers per 10 cm from the tip within a branch. In numbers of R. shantungensis egg masses, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) horizontally, but significant (P < 0.05) difference vertically. More R. shantungensis eggs were found on terminal branches of each trunk. The 60 cm from the tip of branches in the terminal positions of each trunk was selected as the optimum sampling unit for R. shantungensis in persimmons because this unit has the lowest CV value and more than 0.9 of r2 value. Even though the optimum sample number per tree should be determined field-specifically, it would be acceptable to sample two or three branches by considering this pests’ recognizable damage level. This small sampling unit could make the sampling of R. shantungensis become more economical, precise, and consistent in persimmon fields.

Background: This study compares the long-term clinical outcomes between two different treatment strategies: percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) versus medical therapy (MT) for chronic total occlusion (CTO) in multi-vessel disease (MVD) patients. Methods: The study data obtained from the CTO registry of Korea University Guro Hospital (KUGH), Seoul, South Korea. This trial is a single-center, prospective, all-comer registry designed to reflect “real world” practice since 2004. the study population has been divided into two groups: the CTO-PCI group having 233 patients and the CTO-MT group having 230 patients. A propensity score matching (PSM) analysis had performed to adjust for confounding factors. Results: Following PSM, the two groups comprised the matched individuals from 336 pairs (total N=272 patients). The baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics were well-balanced between the two groups. Up to a 5-year clinical follow-up by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, the primary endpoint, as defined as the composite of all-cause death or myocardial infarction (MI), occurred more in the CTO-MT group (32.6%) than in the PCI group (2.3%), as did all-cause death (2.3% vs. 8.4%, P=0.042) and MI (4.3% vs. 0.0%, P= 0.023). Target vessel revascularization (TVR) at CTO lesions still occurred more in the CTO-PCI group than in the CTO-MT group (38.3% vs. 6.8%, P=0.009). Conclusions: PCI is shown as a reasonable treatment option compared to MT for CTO lesions in MVD patients; TVR risk is still higher, although.

Background/Aims: Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), as measured by maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), is an important independent predictive factor of cardiovascular outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). However, it is unclear whether conventional equations for estimating CRF are applicable to patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).Methods: This study included 521 patients with HFpEF (EF ≥ 50%) whose CRF was directly measured by cardiopulmonary exercise test using a treadmill. We developed a new equation (Kor-HFpEF) for half of the patients in the HFpEF cohort (group A, n = 253) and validated it for the remaining half (group B, n = 268). The accuracy of the Kor-HFpEF equation was compared to that of the other equations in the validation group.Results: In the total HFpEF cohort, the directly measured VO₂max was significantly overestimated by the FRIEND and ACSM equations (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and underestimated by the FRIEND-HF equation (<i>p</i> <0.001) (direct 21.2 ± 5.9 mL/kg/min; FRIEND 29.1 ± 11.8 mL/kg/min; ACSM 32.5 ± 13.4 mL/kg/min; FRIEND-HF 14.1 ± 4.9 mL/kg/min). However, the VO₂max estimated by the Kor-HFpEF equation (21.3 ± 4.6 mL/kg/min) was similar to the directly measured VO₂max (21.7 ± 5.9 mL/kg/min, <i>p</i> = 0.124), whereas the VO₂max estimated by the other three equations was still significantly different from the directly measured VO₂max in group B (all <i>p</i> < 0.001).Conclusions: Traditional equations used to estimate VO₂max were not applicable to patients with HFpEF. We developed and validated a new Kor-HFpEF equation for these patients, which had a high accuracy.

Background Exercise capacity is known to be an independent predictor of cardiovascular events and mortality. However, most previous studies were based on Western populations. Further study is warranted for Asian patients according to ethnic or national standards. We aimed to compare prognostic values of Korean and Western nomograms for exercise capacity in Korean patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methods In this retrospective cohort study, we enrolled 1,178 patients (62 ± 11 years; 78% male) between June 2015 and May 2020, who were referred for cardiopulmonary exercise testing in our cardiac rehabilitation program. The median follow-up period was 1.6 years. Exercise capacity was measured in metabolic equivalents by direct gas exchange method during the treadmill test. The nomogram for exercise capacity from healthy Korean individuals and a previous landmark Western study was used to determine the percentage of predicted exercise capacity. The primary endpoint was the composite of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; all-cause death, myocardial infarction, repeat revascularization, stroke and hospitalization for heart failure). Results A multivariate analysis showed that the risk of primary endpoint was more than double (hazard ratio [HR], 2.20; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10–4.40) in the patients with lower exercise capacity (< 85% of predicted) by Korean nomogram. The lower exercise capacity was one of the strong independent predictors along with left ventricular ejection fraction, age, and level of hemoglobin. However, the lower exercise capacity by Western nomogram could not predict the primary endpoint (HR, 1.33; 95% CI, 0.85–2.10). Conclusion Korean patients with CVD with lower exercise capacity have higher risk of MACE. Considering inter-ethnic differences in cardiorespiratory fitness, the Korean nomogram provides more suitable reference values than the Western nomogram to determine lower exercise capacity and predict cardiovascular events in Korean patients with CVD.