The monitoring of heparin therapy is using almost aPTT assay. This study is compare to estimating aPTT therapeutic range using in vitro heparin-spiked sample and aPTT therapeutic range using in vivo heparin-treated sample. Normal pooled plasma was collected from 20 healthy representative individuals. 11 concentration of heparinized plasmas from 0 U/mL to 1.0 U/mL at intervals of 0.1 U/mL made by addition of heparin to normal pooled plasma were measured aPTT. The aPTT therapeutic range was performed through correlation analysis between heparin level 0.2 to 0.4 U/mL and aPTT. 30 plasmas from patients on heparin therapy were measured aPTT and anti-Xa activity. The aPTT therapeutic range was performed through correlation analysis between anti-Xa activity 0.3 to 0.7 U/mL and aPTT. The aPTT therapeutic range corresponded by heparin level-vs-aPTT value regression analysis was 60.7 to 102.4 seconds. The aPTT therapeutic range corresponded by anti-Xa activity-vs-aPTT value regression analysis was 85.3 to 147.5 seconds. The validation of heparin sensitivity using in-vitro heparin sample was not considered. The establishing aPTT therapeutic range is recommended anti-Xa activity using in-vivo sample.

Exaggerated blood pressure response during exercise has been found to increase the risk of future hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, cerebrovascular stroke, and CVD (cardiovascular disease) death. The aim of this study was to evaluate exercise capacity, cardiovascular factors in exaggerated blood pressure response during treadmill exercise testing. For research subjects, 72 subjects (normal blood response: 49 subjects, exaggerated blood response: 23 subjects) who received treadmill exercise test at J General Hospital were selected in this study. Exaggerated SBP (systolic blood pressure) response was defined as an SBP of 210 mmHg or greater during a maximal treadmill exercise test. The group with an exaggerated SBP response showed significantly higher values for RPP (rate pressure product) compared with the group with a normal SBP response. Subjects with METs (metabolic equivalents) had lower exaggerated SBP response than normal SBP response group. Subjects with recovery SBP had delayed exaggerated SBP response than normal SBP response group. Exaggerated SBP response to exercise is negative correlation with METs.

Serum hepatitis is still recognized as a major public health problem in many countries. The most common etiologies are acute viral hepatitis A and B, and hepatitis B virus (HBV) was known as the pathogen of serum hepatitis. since the HBV causes chronic hepatitis. HBV infection is hyperendemic in Korea. It is known that 8% and 1% of the Korean population is chronic carriers of HBV. The total number of 487 serum specimen (old people's home 190, causal ward-Daegu hope village 297) were collected at the laboratory of Department of Clinical Pathology of Daegu medical center. The laboratory tested the specimen to detect for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HBs using reverse passive hemag-glutination (RPHA) and passive hemagglutination (PHA) method between April, 2011 and June, 2011. In one-step test, HBsAg and anti-HBs of Humasis were used. The positive rate for HBsAg was 6.80% (33/487), and the rate in male was 6.93% (19/274) higher than that of female 6.57% (14/213). In the positive rate of HBsAg by age group, the highest positive rate group was in the group of 40-49 years in male (12.0%), and 50-59 years in female (17.65 %). The overall positive rate for anti-HBs was 42.70% (208/487), showing the higher positive rate of 43.80% in male (120/274) than that of 41.30% (88/213) in female. The highest positive rate of anti-HBs in age group was the 40-49 years group in male (52.00%) and the group of under 29 in female (66.67%).

It is a very important diagnosis and evalution of Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Korea where hepatitis B-virus is endemic. Protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II (PIVKA-II) appears to be a useful tumor marker. This study was purposed to investigate usefulness of PIVKA-II in the diagnosis and fallow-up after treatment of HCC. A total of 418 patients were included in 187 patients (44.7%) of HCC, 83 patients (19.9%) of liver cirrhosis, 74 patients (17.7%) of chronic hepatitis and 74 patients (17.7%) of other liver diseases with serum PIVKA-II levels by Hicatch PIVKA-II kit. PIVKA-II level were analysed for difference of groups and the comparison of treatment responses. The sensitivity and specificity of PIVKA-II in the diagnosis of HCC were 80.2%, 87.0% at the cut-off value of 40 mAU/mL. There were statistically significant difference between the HCC and other groups (p<0.001), before and after PIVKA-II levels after treatment in HCC (p<0.001). PIVKA-II can be used as a useful tumor marker for patients with HCC, especially early diagnosis in high risk groups, treatment response assesment and monitoring of recurrence.

It was confirmed that we got somewhat different results even though we performed same items with same methods from capillaries and venous blood of healthy 72 cases. Items which capillaries blood has higher value than venous blood are the numbers of erythrocyte, lymphocyte, basophil, hematocrit, MCHC and RDW. Total numbers of RBC (p<0.035), lymphocyte and basophil are shown statistically significance. Items which venous blood has higher value than capillary blood are the numbers of platelet (p<0.00) and neutrophil (p<0.01). Fallible items in clinics can be shown the numbers of RBC, platelet, lymphocyte and neutrophil because we got somewhat different results even though we performed same items with same methods from capillaries and venous blood, respectively. It is necessary to choose the clear criteria and normal value depends on clinical specimen as the number of platelets are measured with an abnormal value shown over 40% down. As normal difference according to each item and method is currently acceptable and applicable in clinics, it is considered that a new normal value depends on clinical specimen should be established and is to be useful positively in clinics.

Quercetin is one of the most distributed flavonoids in the plant kingdom and occurs naturally in a wide range of fruits and vegetables. This study was undertaken to determine whether quercetin exerts beneficial effect against necrotic and apoptotic cell death induced by hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O2$) in intestinal cells using the human-derived cultured T84 colonic epithelial cell line. Necrotic cell death was induced by exposing cells to 0.5 mM $H_2O_2$ for 2 h and apoptosis was induced by incubating cells in normal culture medium for 18 h following exposure of cells to 0.5 mM $H_2O2$ for 2 h. Cell viability was evaluated by the trypan blue exclusion assay and apoptosis was assessed by Hoechst 33258 staining and flow cytometry. $H_2O_2$ induced necrotic cell death in a time and dose-dependent fashion. Both necrotic and apoptotic cell deaths were not prevented by the antioxidants N,N'-diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine(DPPD) and Trolox, whereas both cell deaths induced by the organic hydroperoxide t-butylhydroperoxide (tBHP) were prevented by DPPD, suggesting that $H_2O_2$ induces cell death through a lipid peroxidation-independent mechanism. $H_2O2$-induced necrotic death was prevented by deferoxamine and 3-aminobenzamide, while the apoptotic cell death was not affected by these agents. Quercetin prevented both necrotic and apoptotic cell deaths induced by $H_2O_2$ in a dose-dependent manner. $H_2O_2$ caused activation of poly (ADP-ribose) polmerase (PARP), which was inhibited by deferoxamine, 3-aminobenzamide, and quercetin, but not DPPD. These results indicate that quercetin inhibits both necroticand apoptotic deaths of T84 cells. The anti-necrotic effect of quercetin may be attributed to its iron chelator activity rather than a direct $H_2O_2$ scavenging capacity and antioxidant. The present study suggests that quercetin may play a therapeutic role in the treatment of human gastrointestinal diseases mediated by oxidants.

Glycated hemoglobin ($HbA_{1c}$) is a most preferably used baseline of diabetes, implicating average blood glucose levels over a 2-3 month period of time. Recently the American Diabetes Association has recommended the $HbA_{1c}$ assay as one of the criteria for diabetes. Although some studies provide data with "estimated average glucose", by converting the $HbA_{1c}$ results from simple linear regression, the results are not applicable to whole diabetes. We compared the relationship between $HbA_{1c}$ and estimated average glucose by anemia degree of diabetic patients in Korea. The data from the 2008~2009 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used. Analysis was done for 1,257 diabetes subjects with $HbA_{1c}$ results. The distribution of subjects was 34.1% in 60's, 25.9% in 70's, 21,6% in 50's, showing that there was more than 80% in over 50's. To take a close look of the differences depending on the anemic degree, we applied WHO criteria (hemoglobin<13.0 in men and hemoglobin<12.0 in women) and divided anemia degree. The regression equation for A1c and estimated average glucose was $eAG_{mg/dL}=24.3{\times}A1c-32.0$ ($R^2=0.54$, p<0.001) in all subjects, $eAG_{mg/dL}=33.1{\times}A1c-96.1$ ($R^2=0.52$, p<0.001) in slight anemia ($11.0{\leq}$Hb<13.0 in men, $10.0{\leq}$Hb<12.0 in women), and $eAG_{mg/dL}=13.5{\times}A1c+34.9$ ($R^2=0.12$, p =0.075) in moderate anemia (Hb<11.0 in men, Hb<10.0 in women). The regression was not significant in moderate anemia. The relationship between HbA1c and eAG was lower correlation than ADAG study, and eAG showed lower value in all ranges among $HbA_{1c}$ 5~13%. Such as a korea where, there are many diabetic patients among the old aged and higher prevalence rate of anemia, we should be extra careful when we reflect eAG using $HbA_{1c}$ and need to establish criteria which can be applicable to koreans.

Animal models are important tools in thrombosis research and preclinical drug development. In recent studies, ferric chloride ($FeCl_3$) has been widely used to induce arterial thrombosis in a variety of species. The purpose of this study was to find an optimal concentration of $FeCl_3$ and validate this model suited better for thrombosis research. A small piece of filter paper, soaked in $FeCl_3$ solution (10, 20 or 35%, v/v, in distilled water) was topically applied on the carotid artery of SD rats to measure the time to occlusion (TTO) and thrombus weight (TW) to ascertain 35%, as an optimal $FeCl_3$ concentration ($8.63{\pm}0.92min$; p =0.000, $0.79{\pm}0.03mg/mm$; p =0.000, respectively). To validate this experimental model, Ginkgo biloba special extract EGb761 (5, 10 or 30 mg/kg) as a reference agent administered by peritoneal route for 1h prior to the induction of thrombosis, showed significantly delayed TTO in a dose dependent manner ($18.50{\pm}2.17$, $29.17{\pm}1.83$, and $38.00{\pm}1.79min$, respectively) and significantly reduced TW and repaired collagen fibre in the injured vessel compare to vehicle group. Our results provide a simple, reproducible and well controlled in vivo screening system to induce thrombosis in rats by the topical application of 35% $FeCl_3$ to assess the efficacy of the new anti-thrombotic agents.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common type of sleep apnea and is caused by obstruction of the upper airway. Since it is closely related to sleep parameter and body indices, the study was focused on the relationship with them. The results of polysomnography (PSG) in obstructive sleep apnea was done at ENT department of Ewha women university Mokdong hospital from March to September 2010 with 52 subjects (male 35, female 17). The leads were placed to measure electroencephalogram (EEG), electrooculogram (EOG), mandibular and anterior tibialis electromyogram (EMG), airflow in nasal and oral cavity, chest and abdominal breathing pattern, snoring sound and arterial oxygen saturation ($SpO_2$) level. From sleep parameter and body indices of adult obstructive sleep apnea compared to normal adult revealed that age (p<0.01) and snoring sound (p<0.05) were increased, stage 1 sleep (p<0.01) was increased, the deeper stages (3&4) of sleep (p<0.05) were reduced. Respiratory disturbance index (RDI) (p<0.01), mean $SpO_2$ (p<0.05) and lowest $SpO_2$ (p<0.01) were also decreased. The correlation analysis from sleep parameter and body indices of OSA showed the positive correlation with age (r=0.463, p<0.001), snoring sound (r=0.278, p<0.05), stage 1 sleep (r=0.391, p<0.01) and RDI (r=0.409, p<0.01), but showed the negative correlation with the deeper stages (3&4) of sleep (r=-0.307, p<0.05), mean $SpO_2$=(r=-0.274, p<0.05) and lowest $SpO_2$ (r=-0.392, p<0.01). This study proves that obstructive sleep apnea and indices have closed related.

This study was carried out to compare the histopathological differences of liver lesions in carbon tetrachloride ($CCI_4$), dimethylnitrosamine (DMN), thioacetamide (TAA) and bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced rats. $CCl_4$, DMN and TAA were administered intraperitoneally and conducted bile duct ligation for 4 weeks to induce hepatic fibrosis. Indices of liver cell injury (steatosis, hydropic degeneration, bile duct hyperplasia, hemorrhage & hemosiderin deposition), the extent of liver fibrosis (fibrotic area) and the rate of regeneration (number of PCNA-positive cells) were investigated in each group. Liver tissues were stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE), sirius red, prussian blue and immunostained with ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin (${\alpha}$-SMA), transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$ (TGF-${\beta}1$), proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and quantified using a computerized image analysis system. Liver cell steatosis was significantly increased in $CCl_4$ and TAA groups, and hydropic degeneration and bile duct hyperplasia were significantly increased in TAA and BDL groups when compared with that in normal control, respectively. Fibrosis area was significantly increased in all four groups, especially in $CCl_4$ group. Correlation between ${\alpha}$-SMA and TGF-${\beta}1$ expressions in four groups was good. Hemorrhage area in liver parenchyma was significantly increased in DMN group only when compared with that in normal control, while hemosiderin deposition area was significantly increased in TAA and BDL groups as well as DMN group. The Number of PCNA-positive cells was significantly increased in all four groups, especially in TAA group. These results indicate that the duration and methods of hepatotoxic drug treatment are very important factors to make plans for animal experimentation on the induction of hepatic fibrogenesis in rats.

Gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM) is likely to develop type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome after delivery. Infants of diabetic women have higher incidence of congenital malformations than those of non-diabetic women. This study was performed to determine elevation factors associated with increased blood glucose in 350 pregnant women. Subjects were examined in June, 2011 to September, 2011 in Geongnam province. Fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride levels were measured by Olympus AU 680, and their body mass index (BMI) calculated. The mean total cholesterol levels were 223.22 mg/dL, triglyceride 188.38 mg/dL, and fasting blood glucose 100.18 mg/dL. Serum glucose level was significantly higher in the age group of 40 years($109.51{\pm}16.26mg/dL$) than 20 years and 30 years. And increase in triglyceride(>250 mg/dL) was significantly related to high blood glucose level($110.83{\pm}24.78mg/dL$), and increase in BMI(>26) was significantly related to high blood glucose level($114.03{\pm}27.09mg/dL$). However, cholesterol levels were not significantly related to high blood glucose level. In conclusion, the significant elevation factors in relation to the glucose levels were age, triglyceride, and BMI.