• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.161-168
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• 2009

The carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is an early structural marker of the atherosclerotic process and is the only non-invasive test that is currently recommended by the American Heart Association for evaluation of the risk. However, use of this parameter has a limitation because it assumes uniform thickness throughout the blood vessel, whereas atherosclerosis is a focal phenomenon that is confined to intima. In fact, plaque can be found along the atherosclerotic blood vessels even though its value is unknown. The aim of this study is to analyze the carotid plaque and IMT in the stroke patients. We investigated the patients with ischemic stroke, who were admitted to the department of neurology at the Stroke Special Hospital from January to March 2008. After the carotid IMT and plaque were assessed by B-mode ultrasonography, IMT and carotid plaque to risk variables (age, sex) were analyzed. The distribution of CCA IMT was significantly different in terms of age (p = 0.004). Likewise, the distribution of carotid plaque was also significantly different in terms of age (p = 0.006). Carotid plaque was 69 and 92% in normal and abnormal CCA IMTs respectively. The results showed that the CCA IMT was closely associated with carotid plaque.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.465-472
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• 2023

In predicting vascular disease, this study attempted to identify changes in the carotid intima-media thickness in patients who underwent carotid artery ultrasonography and hematological tests and to find out the effect of risk factors on the expression of atherosclerotic plaque. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 469 healthy adults who visited the hospital for the purpose of medical examination and performed carotid artery ultrasonography. As a result, carotid intima-media thickness, age, body mass index, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and glucose were analyzed as significant predictors of atherosclerotic plaque (p<0.001). The risk ratio was calculated based on the cut off value of the risk factors of the atherosclerotic plaque determined through ROC curve analysis, followed by 8.06 times the carotid intima-media thickness, 7.53 times the age, 3.97 times the waist circumference and 2.02 times the glucose. Therefore, in this study it was possible to prepare a Korean standard for clinical risk factors that affect the presence of absence of atherosclerotic plaque and observation of carotid artery ultrasonography is thought to help diagnose or predict cardiovascular disease early.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.299-320
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• 2009

한중 맥진기 관련 학술 교류와 맥진기 수출을 위한 전략으로 중국의 광주중의약대학 중의사를 대상으로 맥진과 맥진기에 대한 인식을 조사하여 보고하는 바이다. 임상에서 가장 중요하게 생각하고 활용도가 높은 전통적인 병증으로 장부병증과 팔강병증으로 나타났으며, 한방 진단방법 중 가장 중요하게 생각하고 활용하는 방법으로 문진과 맥진으로서, 그 이유는 진단 효율성과 환자와의 상담으로 나타났다. 또한 임상에서 한방 진단기기의 중요한 이유로는 측정기술과 데이터의 신뢰를 들었으며, 중요하지 않다고 생각하는 이유로는 측정기술과 데이터의 신뢰성 부족과 전통적인 진단법을 보조하기엔 적합하지 못함을 들었다. 진단방법 중에서 맥진의 중요도와 활용도는 75%가 가장 높게 나타났고, 맥진법 중에서 가장 잘 활용하는 부위는 촌구맥진법으로 나타났다. 촌구 맥진시 가장 중요하게 생각하는 요소는 환자의 자세와 손목 높이와 촌관척 부위였으며, 단안(單按)과 총안(總按)의 순서는 총안(總按)후 단안(單按)이 단연 우수하였다. 임상의 중요 맥상으로는 부침(浮沈)을 들었으며, 맥상 형성 기전과 표준화 연구에 가장 적합한 연구 방법론은 위수형세론에 입각한 문헌 연구와 병증별 맥상에 대한 임상 데이터 구축으로 나타났다. 그리고 대표적인 노인 특유의 맥상은 미세약맥이었으며, 그 이유는 노화로 인한 체력저하와 기혈부족을 들었다. 그리고 맥진기와 연계하는 만성 생활습관병 병증지표 연구개발에 가장 적합하다고 판단되는 병증 체계는 장부병증이었으며, 질병은 고혈압과 동맥경화증으로 나타났다. 또한 임상에서의 활용도와 유의성이 높은 맥진기로써의 주된 기능으로는 오장육부 상태 진단을 들었으며, 맥진기의 임상적인 활용도를 높일 수 있는 현대적인 임상 분야는 심혈관 질환이 가장 높게 나타났다. 맥진기 개발에 선행되어야 할 기반연구로는 촌관척 부위 찾기의 기준 확립과 임상 변증과의 관계 확립으로 나타났으며, 제공 받고자 하는 맥상 정보구성은 환자의 맥상명과 맥상 정도와 환자의 맥상에 따른 병증명 제시로 나타났으며, 제공되는 병증 서비스로는 장부병증이 가장 높게 나타났다.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.213-217
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• 2007

LPS induces the synthesis of several inflammatory cytokine, chemokine, NO and inflammation in the liver of rats. The purpose of this study was to investigate the preventive effects of Rubus coreanum Miquel (RCM) In lipid metabolism. RCM of 100 mg/kg concentration was intraperitoneally administered into rats at dose of 1.5ml/kg for 20 days. On the day 21, 1.5ml/kg of LPS was injected 4 hours before anesthetization. We examined the lipid-related functions by measuring the levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), total lipid (TL), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in serum and malondialdehyde(MDA) in liver tissue. The results showed that LPS treatment increased the values of TG, TC, TL and MDA, decreasing that of HDL-C. But RCM pretreatment decreased the high values of TG, TC, TL and MDA to the low values and increased the low value of HDL-C to the high value. These results suggested that RCM could be used as the potential candidate for the lipid metabolism natural supplement.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.289-298
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• 2009

Effects of Nattokinase fibrinol (NKF), defined as a fibrinolytic product, on fibrinolytic and atherogenetic markers were studied for healthy adults (20-31 years old), who is smoking more than 20 cigarettes per day. Subjects were divided into 29 for NKF group and 10 for placebo group in a short term study. They were given 2 tablets of NKF (4,000 unit) or placebo tablet and thereafter blood samples were collected at 0, 2, 4 hr prerid. For a 4-week long term study, 15 subjects for NFK group and 10 subjects for placebo group were supplemented one tablet of each NKF (2,000 unit) and placebo per day, respectively. Blood samples were collected at 0, 1, 2, 4 weeks later. The short-term experimental trial showed that NKF remarkably increased fibrinolytic activity at 2hr after consumption, which was maintained up to 4 hr, relative to that of placebo, while NKF reduced the euglobulin clot lysis time (ECLT) and retarded the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), as compared to placebo group. NKF supplementation for 4 weeks elevated fibrinolytic activity, shortened ECLT and retarded aPTT. Furthermore, NKF supplementation increased anti-atherogenic index by decreasing triglyceride (TG) and elevating high-density lipiprotein (HDL)-cholesterol. These results indicate that NKF supplementation for short term or long term might have beneficial effects on preventing and treating cardiovascular disease by increasing fibrinolytic activity and improving atherogenic markers such as hyperlipidemia.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.177-184
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• 1996

Between 1987 and 1994, 21 patients were treated surgically for aortic aneurysm involving the thoracoabdominal aorta. There were 11 males and 10 females, and their age ranged from 20 to 67 years old and mean age was 41.5 years. Many complained of back pain, chest pain or discomfort, and flank pain, but three patients were asymptomatic. 15 patients had chronic dissection (71.4%) and 6 had nondissecting fusiform or saccular aneurysm(28.5%), and of those 15 patients with chronic dissection, 6(28.5%) had atherosclerosis assniated with hypertension, 5 (23.8%) were Martian syndrome, and 2 (9.5%) were associated with pregnancy. The diameter of an aneurysm ranged from 6cm to 12cm, and their extent was classified as type I in 7(33.3%), type II in 8(38.1%), type III in 3(14.3%), and type IV in 3(14.3%) patients based on Crawford classification for TAA . Diseased aorta was replaced with artificial vascular graft in all but one patient. In whom the aortic tear site due to pseudoaneurysm was closed by primary suture. For the spinal cord protection during the operation, we used partial cardiopulmonary bypass (FV-FA or PA-FA bypass) in 12 patients (57.1%), Biopump (LA-FA bypass) in 4(19.0%), total circulartory arrest and CPB in 2 (9.5%), Gott's heparinized shunt in 1(4.7%), and simple aortic cross clamping in 2 (9.5%). The most common complication after the operation was hoarseness due to unilateral vocal cord palsy which onured in 5 patients (23.8%), and the next common complication was wound infection in 4 patients(19.0%), paraplegia in 2 patients (9.5%), chylothorax in 1 patient(4.7%). The hospital mortality rate was 9.5% (2deaths), and there was no late death. Our experience shows that the graft replacement of TAAA had reasonable rate of mortality, low rate of serious complication, and provided good post operative state of the pati nts, and since the thoracoabdominal aortic operation is not a high risky procedure anymore, we recommend a radical operation for the indicated patients.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.207-213
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• 2005

The severity of carotid Intima-media thickness (IMT) is an Independent predictor of atherosclerosis which causes transient cerebral ischemia, stroke, and coronary events such as myocardial Infarction. The IMT consists of Intima thickness (IT) and media thickness (MT). However, the Individual clinical significance of IT and MT has not been well studied. We devised a method of measuring IT, MT, and IMT using B-mode ultrasound Image processing technique for the diagnosis of atherosclerosis. To inspect the clinical significance of IT, MT, and IMT, one hundred forty-four consecutive patients (mean age; 57 years old, 72 males) were underwent common carotid artery scanning using high-resolution ultrasound. Results showed that, the IT (p<0.05), MT (p<0.05) as well as IMT (p<0.01) of patients with atherosclerotic disease were significantly thicker than that of the patients without atherosclerotic disease. Patients with hyperiension showed significantly thicker IT (p<0.01), MT (p<0.001), and IMT (p<0.001). However, only IT was thicker in patients with smoking (p<0.01). The IT (r=0.374, p=0.001), MT (r=0.433, p=0.000), and IMT (r=0.479, p=0.000) showed positive correlation with age. The coefficients of determination ($r^2$) were estimated to be $92.4\%$ for IMT and MT, $49.1\%$ for IMT and IT, and $27.4\%$ for IT and MT. This result suggests that the Intima layer of the carotid artery has a different physiology with the media layer.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1595-1599
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• 2012

Cell cycle activation and progression in vascular proliferative disease represent potent therapeutic targets. Luteolin, which occurs as glycosylated forms in celery, green pepper, perilla leaf, and camomile tea, has demonstrated antimutagenic, antitumorigenic, antioxidant, and antiinflammatory properties. In this study, we investigated the effect of luteolin on the proliferation of primary cultured rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells induced by 5% fetal bovine serum. Luteolin at concentrations of 5, 20, and $50{\mu}M$ significantly inhibited this proliferation by 29.6, 50.8, and 83.1%, respectively. The incorporation of $[^3H]$-thymidine into DNA was also inhibited by 25.8, 57.6, and 81.0%, respectively. Flow cytometry analysis of DNA content revealed that FBS-inducible cell cycle progression was blocked by luteolin. Luteolin showed no cytotoxicity in VSMCs in this experimental condition according to WST-1 assays. Luteolin may represent a potential anti-proliferative agent for treatment of angioplasty restenosis and atherosclerosis.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.619-624
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• 2005

Patency of the radial artery plays an important role in the survival of radial forearm fasciocutaneous free flap and artery conduit of coronary artery bypass graft procedure. Even though Allens' test has been used for evaluating the patency of radial artery, the studies on the correlations between risk factors for atherosclerosis and histopathologic findings of radial arteries are rare, until now. Therefore, the authors investigated the correlations between these two factors, and tried to estimate the feasibility of the radial artery in high-risk groups for artherosclerosis. The risk factors for atherosclerosis and lipid profiles were investigated in 38 patients by history taking, physical examinations and blood analysis. And 38 cases of segments of vessel were harvested during the elevation of the flap. The degrees of vessel medial sclerosis were estimated by R values(by Kobayashi and colleagues) that is the median value between the thickness of the intima and that of the media. The measured mean R value was $0.210{\pm}0.05$. Thirty one cases belonged to Grade I(R<0.25), 7 cases belong to Grade II(0.25

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.11 no.10
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• pp.507-516
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to identify physical activity levels of the basic livelihood security recipients elderly women, to investigate relation between cardiovascular disease risk factors and sacrcopenia based on the levels, and to develop physical activity programs for healthy life of the elderly. The subjects of this study were 134 old females with $71{\pm}6.67$ years old who used senior centers in K-gu. The authors used the International Physical Activity Questionnaire for investigating the physical activity levels of the elderly, measuring their physical activity levels for seven days on average and classifying them into two groups, the Low Physical Activity (n=77) and the Moderate Physical Activity (n=57) groups based on the levels. Blood pressure, waist measurement, TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, TG, Glucose, and atherogenic index (AI) were measured as the cardiovascular disease risk factors; percent body fat, appendicular skeletal muscle mass, total muscle mass, and skeletal muscle index were measured as factors related to sarcopenia. Independent samples t-Test was conducted to analyze differences on the two groups based on the physical activity levels, with ${\alpha}=.05$ the as significance level. According to the results, HDL (p=.017) were higher and AI (p=.007) was lower; percent body fat (p=.008) was lower, and ASM (p=.000), total muscle mass (p=.000), and SMI (p=.001) were higher. In conclusion, moderate intensity physical activities rather than low intensity ones may have positive effects on the cardiovascular disease risk factors and sarcopenia levels, and participation in regular physical activities with at least moderate intensity by various methods may be needed for prevention of illness and healthy life of the elderly.