The history of studies in biology regarding reactive oxygen species (ROS) is approximately 40 years. During the initial 30 years, it appeared that these studies were mainly focused on the toxicity of ROS. However, recent studies have identified another action regarding oxidative signaling, other than toxicity of ROS. Basically, it is suggested that ROS are reactive, and degenerate to biomolecules such as DNA and proteins, leading to deterioration of cellular functions as an oxidative stress. On the other hand, recent studies have shown that ROS act as oxidative signaling in cells, resulting in various gene expressions. Recently ROS emerged as critical signaling molecules in cardiovascular research. Several studies over the past decade have shown that physiological effects of vasoactive factors are mediated by these reactive species and, conversely, that altered redox mechanisms are implicated in the occurrence of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases ROS is a collective term often used by scientist to include not only the oxygen radicals($O2^{-{\cdot}},\;{^{\cdot}}OH$), but also some non-radical derivatives of oxygen. These include hydrogen peroxide, hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and ozone (O3). The superoxide anion ($O2^{-{\cdot}}$) is formed by the univalent reduction of triplet-state molecular oxygen ($^3O_2$). Superoxide dismutase (SOD)s convert superoxide enzymically into hydrogen peroxide. In biological tissues superoxide can also be converted nonenzymically into the nonradical species hydrogen peroxide and singlet oxygen ($^1O_2$). In the presence of reduced transition metals (e.g., ferrous or cuprous ions), hydrogen peroxide can be converted into the highly reactive hydroxyl radical (${^{\cdot}}OH$). Alternatively, hydrogen peroxide may be converted into water by the enzymes catalase or glutathione peroxidase. In the glutathione peroxidase reaction glutathione is oxidized to glutathione disulfide, which can be converted back to glutathione by glutathione reductase in an NADPH-consuming process.

Purpose: In the treatment of aortic aneurysm, endovascular stent-graft application has become an established method of treatment. To observe the outcomes of the procedure as the size change of aneurysm in relation with endoleak, a retrospective analysis was done for the consecutive cases who undertook the procedure. Materials & Method: Stent-graft was applied to the aortic aneurysm in 33 patients. The location of the aneurysm was thoracic in 11 patients and abdominal in 22 patients. CT angiographic was done for the follow-up evaluation to analyze the aneurysm size and the presence of endoleak. Results: Technical success rate was 97% (32/33). The primary success rate without endoleak was 84% (28/33). The secondary success was 90% (30/33). During the follow-up period of 3 months to 7years and 6months in 26 patients, a secondary endoleak developed in 5 cases. Post-implantation syndrome developed in 17 cases (51%). Among the 14 cases with follow-up imaging data for size, endoleak was negative in 10 cases. The aneurysm decreased in 5 cases, stable in size in 4 cases and enlarged in one case (10%).Among the 4 cases with endoleak positive, the aneurysm enlarged in two cases (50%). Conclusion: In the stent-graft application for aortic aneurysm, there is high chance of decrease of aneurysm size in those cases with endoleak negative. However, the aneurysm may increase and eventually rupture in the cases with en do leak positive. Close observation with CT angiography is necessary for the evaluation for the presence of endoleak and size change.

The object of this study is to develop a mathematical model of the hemodialysis system including the mechanism of solute kinetics, water exchange and also cardiovascular dynamics. The cardiovascular system model used in this study simulates the short-term transient and steady-state hemodynamic responses such as hypotension and disequilibrium syndrome (which are main complications to hemodialysis patients) during hemodialysis. It consists of a 12 lumped-parameter representation of the cardiovascular circulation connected to set-point models of the arterial baroreflexes, a kinetic model (hemodialysis system model) with 3 compartmental body fluids and 2 compartmental solutes. We formulate mathematically this model in terms of an electric analog model. All resistors and most capacitors are assumed to be linear. The control mechanisms are mediated by the information detected from arterial pressoreceptors, and they work on systemic arterial resistance, heart rate, and systemic venous unstressed volume. The hemodialysis model includes the dynamics of urea, creatinine, sodium and potassium in the intracellular and extracellular pools as well as fluid balance equations for the intracellular, interstitial, and plasma volumes. Model parameters are largely based on literature values. We have presented the results on the simulations performed by changing some model parameters with respect to their basal values. In each case, the percentage changes of each compartmental pressure, heart rate (HR), total systemic resistance (TSR), ventricular compliance, zero pressure filling volume and solute concentration profiles are represented during hemodialysis.

The objective of the present study is to visualize the steady and pulsatile flow fields in a branching model by using a high-resolution PIV system. A bifurcated flow system was built for the experiments in the steady and pulsatile flows. Harvard pulsatile pump was used to generate the pulsatile velocity waveforms. Conifer powder as the tracing particles was added to water to visualize the flow fields. CCD cameras($1K{\times}1K$(high resolution camera) and $640{\times}480$(low resolution camera)) captured two consecutive particle images at once for the image processing of several cross sections on the flow system. The range validation method and the area interpolation method were used to obtain the final velocity vectors with high accuracy. The results of the image processing clearly showed the recirculation zones and the formation of the paired secondary flows from the distal to the apex of the branch flow in the bifurcated model. The results also indicated that the particle velocities at the inner wall moved faster than the velocities at the outer wall due to the inertial force effects and the helical motions generated in the branch flows as the flow proceeded toward the outer wall. Even though the PIV images from the high resolution camera were closer to the simulation results than the images from the low resolution camera at some locations, both results of the PIV experiments from the two cameras generally agreed quite well with the results from the computer simulations. Therefore, instead of using the expensive stereoscopic PIV or 3D PIV system, the three-dimensional flow fields in a bifurcated model could be easily and exactly investigated by this study.