• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.9
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• pp.966-971
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• 2006

Purpose : 'Programming' describes the process that stimulus at a critical period of development has lifelong effects. The fact that low birth weight links to the risk of elevated blood pressures in adult life is well known. This study aims to examine whether this link is evident in the newborn by investigating the relationship of the intrauterine growth indices and neonatal blood pressure(BP). Methods : We studied 127 neonates who were born at Ewha Womans' Hospital and their mothers enrolled our cohort study during pregnancy. Data on the mothers and details of the birth records were tracked and collected from medical charts. Neonatal BP was measured within 24 hours after birth. Results : Neonatal SBP was positively correlated to intrauterine growth indices; birth weight(BW)(r=0.4), head circumference(HC)(r=0.4), and birth height(r=0.3). However, an inverse relationship existed, between HC/BW ratio and neonatal SBP(r=-0.4). After adjusting for the baby's sex, maternal BP, and gestational age, neonatal SBP still associated with intrauterine growth indices. SBP was 7 mmHg higher in the highest BW group(${\geq}90percentiles$) compared to the lowest group(<10 percentiles). On the other hand, SBP was 17 mmHg lower in the highest HC/BW group(${\geq}90percentiles$) compared in the lowest group(<10 percentiles). Conclusion : This study could not find the evidence that intrauterine growth retardation affect on elevated neonatal BP. It suggests that the initiating events of BP programming may occur during postnatal growth period. To identify the critical starting period that intrauterine growth retardation leads to elevated BP, a study tracking BP changes from birth to childhood is required.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.267-273
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• 2002

Background: We performed a phase IV clinical trial to examine the usefulness of a continuous infusion of nicardipine hydrochloride to control hypertension in patients with acute aortic dissection. material and Method: Systolic/diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate were monitored before and after the intravenous administration of nicardipine in 31 patients with aortic diseases. The period of nicardipine administration in each patient was from 3 to 14 days. Efficacy was evaluated by determining the average amount of blood pressure reduction on the 3rd day of drug administration. The dosage of another antihypertensive agent was slowly tapered down, and ultimately replaced by the test drug. Result: 28 patients were diagnosed as acute aortic dissection, 2 patients as rupture of the aortic arch aneurysm, and 1 patient as traumatic aortic rupture. Mean age was 53.9 $\pm$ 14.9(29~89) years, and 21 patients(67.7%) were male. 14 patients(32.3%) had complications associated with underlying aortic disease: aortic insufficiency in 7, hemopericardium in 6, acute renal failure in 1, paraplegia in 1, lower extremity ischemia in 1, and hemothorax in 1. The time needed to reach the target blood pressure was within 15 minutes in 16, from 15 to 30 minutes in 10, from 30 to 45 minutes in 3 and from 45 to 60 minutes in 2, and their baseline average systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressures(mmHg) were 147$\pm$23, 82.3$\pm$ 18.6, and 104 $\pm$ 18, respectively. Average systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressures(mmHg) on the third day of nicardipine infusion were 119$\pm$ 12, 69$\pm$9, and 86$\pm$8, and they all showed statistically significant decrease(p<0.05). The average systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure(mmHg) after the discontinuation of the nicardipine infusion were 119 $\pm$ 15, 71 $\pm$ 14, and 86$\pm$ 13, respectively. No significant difference was observed between the average pressures measured on the third day and those measured after the discontinuation of the nicardipine infusion, and no definite side effects were observed during the study period. Conclusion: Nicardipine hydrochloride was both effective and safe at controlling blood pressure in patients with acute aortic dissection.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.7
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• pp.769-776
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• 2006

Purpose : Pulse wave velocity(PWV) and ankle brachial index(ABI) are not only noninvasive methods used to assess arterial stiffness in adults, but also useful, simple ways to estimate the severity of hypertension, end stage renal disease and atherosclerosis in adults. But there are few studies on PWV and ABI in adolescents and children. In this study, hypertensive adolescents were compared to normal individuals to find out the usefulness of PWV as the index of progress in the disease. Methods : 413 teenagers were divided into three groups. The first group consisted of adolescents that only had hypertension(Group 1 : 23 teenagers). The second group consisted of the adolescents who had hypertension with obesity(Group 2 : 17 teenagers), and the last group was the normal subjects(Group 3 : 328 teenagers). Weight, height and body mass index were measured. Simultaneous measurements of systolic, diastolic and average blood pressure were obtained from the four extremities. PWV, ABI, ejection time and preejection period were also measured. Results : Right brachial-ankle PWV was significantly higher in both group 1 and group 2 compared with group 3, and significantly higher in group 2 compared with group 1. Likewise, left brachial-ankle PWV also showed significantly higher values in both group 1 and group 2 compared with group 3, and also higher values in group 2 compared with group 1. Positive correlations were found between the systolic, diastolic, average blood pressure and PWV. There were also positive correlations between the blood pressure and weight, body mass index. Conclusion : Higher PWV was demonstrated in adolescents with essential hypertension compared to normal subjects. Follow-up study is needed to evaluate the progress.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.205-213
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• 2002

Objective : Whether exposure to chronic noise induces an increase in blood pressure, or the development of hypertension, has not been established. A cohort study was performed to identify the effects of chronic noise exposure on blood pressure. Methods : 530 males working at a metal manufacturing factory in Busan, Korea were enrolled for the study. They were monitored for 9 consecutive years, from 1991 to 1999, with an annual health check-up. The subjects were divided into 4 groups, which were determines by noise level categories(NLC) according to noise intensity ; NLC-I: office workers, exposed to noise a level below 60dB(A) ; NLC-II: field technical supporters or supervisors, frequently exposed to workplace noise, wearing no hearing protection device; NLC-III: workers, exposed to workplace noise below 85dB(A), wearing ear plugs or muffs; NLC-IV: workers, exposed to workplace noise over 85 dB(A), wearing both ear plugs and muffs. Results : After controlling possible confoundens, such as baseline age, smoking, alcohol intake, exercise, family history of hypertension, systolic(SBP) of diastolic blood pressure(DBP) and changes in BMI (body mass index), the pooled mean for the systolic blood pressures, over the duration of the study period, were 3.8mmHg, 2.0mmHg and 1.7mmHg higher in NLC-IV, NLC-III NLC-II groups, respectively, than in the NLC-I group. There were no significant differences in the diastolic blood pressures between the groups. Conclusion : This study suggests that chronic noise exposure increases systolic blood pressure independently, among male workers.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.2 s.82
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• pp.218-222
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and pulse transit time (PPT). Apparently healthy 233 subjects had been enrolled in the health promotion center of the Pusan National University Hospital from Jan. 29 to Feb. 26, 2004. They had no previous history of diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia. Subjects were categorized according to tertiles of hsCRP level [Group 1: first tertile $(0.01\;{\sim}\;0.02\;mg/dl)$, Group 2: second tertile $(0.03\;{\sim}\;0.05\;mg/dl)$, Group 3: third tertile $(0.06\;{\sim}\;0.12\;mg/dl)$, and Group 4: Fourth tertile $(0.13\;{\sim}\;16.8\;mg/dl)$]. PTT body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol (T-C), LDL-cholesterol(LDL-C), blood sugar (BS), systolic blood pressure (sBP) and diastolic blood pressure (dBP) were significantly different among hsCRP groups (p<0.05). HsCRP is positively related with BMI, tryglyceride (TG), LDL, sBP and dBP (p<0.05), and negatively related with PTT and HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) (p<0.05). PTT is significantly negatively related with hsCRP, T-C, TG, LDL-C, BS, dBP and sBP (p<0.05). The hsCRP and PTT were related before controlling BMI, T-C, LDL-C, sBP, and dBP, but not related after conkolling. The relationship between hsCRP and PTT depends on cardiovascular disease risk factors.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.264-279
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• 2011

Objectives: The aims of this study were to evaluate the effect of a metabolic syndrome management program on participants enrolled in a public health center program in, Seoul, Korea for 6 months and to analyze the changes in their life habits and risk factors for treating their metabolic syndrome. Methods: Participants enrolled in a metabolic syndrome program at a public health center and answered questionnaires. Their waist circumference and, blood pressure were measured and their blood was tested. Based on the results, the participants were classified into 3 groups. Then, the center provided a metabolic syndrome management intervention program for the individual groups and analyzed the changes in participants' life habits and risk factors after 6 months. Results: After the intervention, the active group, showed improved physical activity, increased eating habits by 0.7 points, and decreased drinking and smoking; however, these results were not statistically significant. As for the Participants' overall health status, all groups positively changed a statistically significant result. In regard to the change in risk factors for metabolic syndrome in the active group, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and triglyceride levels were, statistically significantly decreased, meanwhile, an increase was found in HDL cholesterol level, waist measurement, and anteprandial glucose level; but the result were not statistically significant. Their review rate was 19.0%; 29.4% in the active group, 19.0% in motivating group A, and 14.5% in motivating group B. Conclusions: Participants showed changes in some life habits and risk factors, a result still far from the program's goal to improve residents' health status (improved living habits and variations in risk factors); thus, it is necessary to supplement this program for better performance.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.18-29
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• 2000

호흡기 바이러스 감염은 모든 연령층의 천식에 상당한 영향을 미치는 데 영아에서 RSV는 천명을 야기하고 대부분 일시적이나 재발성 일수도 있다. 어릴 때 바이러스 감염은 면역체계 형성에 영향를 미쳐 알러지와 천식의 위험을 완하할 수있다고 한다. 또한 소아와 성인 천식에서 RV같은 감기 바이러스는 천식의 급성 증상을 유발한다. 호흡기 바이러스 감염에 대한 면역반응이, 기관지로 부터 바이러스 제거 기능외에 기도수축과 호흡기 증상에 관여한다고 한다. 이러한 변화가 일어나는 기전은 호흡기 바이러스가 proinflammatory 사이토카인과 매개체 생성을 유도하는 능력과 연관성이 있는 것 같고 이들이 상하기도 호흡기 증상 및 기도반응 변화에 관여하는 것으로 생각된다. 호흡기 바이러스 감염에 대한 면역반응을 요약하면 바이러스 감염으로 상피세포, 내피세포, 과립백혈구가 활성화되며, 상피세포는 사이토카인, 키모카인, 매개체들을 분비하여 항 면역 반응를 주도하다. 이와 같은 상피세포와 다른 기관지 세포들의 조기 활성화로 내피 세포에 유착분자 표현을 증가시켜 백혈구 동원 증가 및 혈관 투과성을 증가시켜 부종과 분비물을 증가시킨다. 바이러스 또는 바이러스 유발 사이토카인에 의해 활성화된 과립 백혈구, 대식세포, T세포들도 기도염증 증가, 기도폐쇄를 야기하고 기도반응을 증가시킨다. 세포독성 임파구에 의한 바이러스 감염세포의 분해, TGF-$\beta$ IL-10 같은 사이토카인에 의해 부분적으로 염증억제, 기도 remoldeling에 의한 기도구조의 재생등이 바이러스 감염후 기관지 기능의 지속적 변화를 결정한다. 끝으로 천식환자에서 RV 감염의 병인에 관한 기본적 문제는 RV감염이 정상인에서는 경한 증상을 나타내는 데 천식환자에서는 왜 심한 임상증상을 나타내는지 아직 완전히 밝혀지지 않았다. 항 바이러스에 대한 면역반응이 천식환자에서 손상되었는지 또는 천식환자에서 RV감염에 의한 중증의 임상증상은 어떤 다른 세포가 관여하는지? 이들에 대한 답은 기도염증이 천식에서 어떻게 조절되는지 또한 바이러스 감염에 의한 악화된 증상을 어떻게 치료할 것인가에 대한 방향을 제시해줄 것이다.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.123-132
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• 2013

Purpose : We report the results of the various parameters of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and CSF flow study of the cervical spinal cord using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging techniques. Materials and Methods: Intramedullary FA and MD were measured in the gray matter and posterior cord of the white matter and both lateral cords of the white matter at the C2-3, C4-5, C5-6 spinal levels. For the CSF flow study, velocity encoding was obtained at the C2-3, C4-5, C5-6 spinal levels. Results: There was a significant difference of the FA and MD between the white matter and gray matter (p < 0.05). The FA of the gray matter was significantly different according to the cervical spinal cord levels (p < 0.05). Otherwise, the FA and MD parameters were not significantly different (p > 0.05). The mean peak systolic velocity and mean peak diastolic velocity were $5.18{\pm}2.00cm/sec$ and $-7.32{\pm}3.18cm/sec$, respectively from C2 to C6 spinal cords. There was no significant difference in these velocities among the cervical spinal cord (p > 0.05). Conclusion: This basic information about DTI and CSF dynamics of the cervical spinal cord may be useful for assessing cervical spinal cord abnormalities using MR imaging.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.187-194
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• 2018

Eritadenine (EA), derived from Lentinus edodes (LE), reduced low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglyceride (TG), and phospholipids in bloods, and fatty acid depositions in animals and humans. Previously, we reported that EA inhibited angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity in vitro. Now, we report that EA reduced blood pressures in spontaneous hypertension rats (SHR). EA-containing LE mycelial culture enzyme extract (EA-LEMSCEE) was prepared from LE mycelial solid cultures and the hot-water extract of LE fruit bodies. Both EA and EA-LEMSCEE inhibited ACE activity in immortalized human umbilical endothelial cells (EA.hy926). EA-LEMSCEE treatments (7.5 mg/kg, 22.5 mg/kg) significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure in SHR. At five weeks of treatment, EA-LEMSCEE treatment significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure, similar to the positive control (captopril, CP; 4 mg/kg) treatment. In addition, the LEMSCEE without EA decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressures compared to the control, but not significant. EA-LEMSCEE decreased renin and ACE activities, and angiotensin II (Ang II) contents in SHR compared to the control. After five weeks of treatment, the effect of EA-LEMCEE was similar to that of CP. These results indicate that EA and EA-LEMSCEE reduce blood pressure by inhibiting the renin and ACE activity of SHR. Furthermore, these results imply that EA or EA-LEMSCEE could be used as an antihypertension agent in humans.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.123-133
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• 2003

Objectives: To examine the association between serum gamma-glutamyltransferase(GGT) activity level and blood pressure, serum lipids in the male residents of rural area, we analyzed cross-sectionally the data of 379 male health examinees aged 40 years and older from rural areas in Gyeongsangnam-do prefecture in Korea. Methods: Blood pressure and concentration of serum lipids were compared between high and low level of serum GGT activity by t-test or Wilcoxon rank sum test. Possible confounding effects of age, body mass index and coffee drinking were adjusted by analysis of covariance. Results: Adjusted values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure were higher in the group of high level of serum GGT activity in non-drinkers(P=0.055 and P=0.074 respectively) and drinkers(P=0.284 and P=0.398) of alcohol. Adjusted serum total cholesterol level was also higher in the group of high level of serum GGT activity in non-drinkers(P=0.052) but not in drinkers(P=0.981) of alcohol. In serum triglyceride, adjusted level was significantly higher in the group of high level of serum GGT activity in both non-drinkers(P=0.035) and drinkers(P=0.002) of alcohol. Conclusions: These results suggest the association of serum GGT activity and serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, or blood pressure in non-drinkres of alcohol.