• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.768-771
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• 2008

The use of IVUS provides information about the lumen and arterial wall, the location and extent of atherosclerotic plaque and the state of the arterial wall after PCi. The use of IVUS after insertion of an intracoronary stent has currently increased, while conflicting evidence exists concerning the long-term benefits of IVUS. We report here on a case of surgical removal of an entrapped and fractured IVUS catheter during insertion of intracoronary stents, and we include a review of the relevant literature.

• 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.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.55-62
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate the effects of an aqueous extract from Buddleja officinalis Maxim (ABO) on vascular dysfunction in low-density lipoprotein receptor deficient (LDLr KO) mice. Methods : Present study showed that LDLr KO mice were fed a high fat diet consisting of 60 kcal% fat, with or without 200 mg/day/kg ABO of diet, for 14 weeks. Results : High fat diet-LDLr KO mice were treated with ABO were completely normalized by lowering glucose. ABO reduced intima/media thickness in a high fat diet-LDLr KO mice without affecting plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels. ABO caused endothelium-dependent relaxation in the acetylcholine-precontracted aorta of high fat diet-LDLr KO mice. ABO increased eNOS expression, while decreased cell adhesion molecules expression in high fat diet-LDLr KO mice. Conclusions : In conclusion, chronic treatment with ABO improved hyperglycemia and endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation as well as exhibited anti-inflammatory effect in diabetic atherosclerotic mouse model, independent of effects on plasma lipids.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.81 no.5
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• pp.1204-1209
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• 2020

Cases of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma of the thoracic aorta are rare, and usually present with embolic events, renovascular hypertension, or back pain. Mural-based undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas that present as ruptured saccular aneurysms are extremely rare and are difficult to differentiate from mycotic aneurysms or penetrating atherosclerotic ulcers. Herein, we report a case of histopathologically proven undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma arising from the wall of the descending thoracic aorta that manifested as a mass after thoracic endovascular aortic repair for the treatment of a ruptured saccular aneurysm. We present findings obtained by CT and PET to provide helpful information for the accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment of future cases.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.9
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• pp.695-698
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• 2003

Celiac artery aneurysms are rare, their incidence being reported as only 4％ of all visceral artery aneurysms. Atherosclerosis and medial degenerative changes are recognized main pathogenesis. They are usually asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally, but the mortality rate of ruptured celiac artery aneurysm is approximately 80％. So one should give an aggressive surgical aid to the patients. We report 2 cases of celiac artery aneurysm which were successfully treated by elective aneurysmorrhaphy and anerysmectomy with aortoceliac bypass graft.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2018.05a
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• pp.79-81
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• 2018

혈관내 초음파(Intravascular Ultrasound, IVUS)는 혈관 내벽의 단면을 보여주는 검사 방법으로 관상 동맥 내의 내강, 죽상 경화반, 그리고 혈관벽의 변화에 관한 직접적이고 구체적인 정보를 제공한다. 본 논문에서는 IVUS 영상에서 내막과 외막을 추출하고 각 막의 지름을 자동적으로 추출하는 방법을 제안한다. 제안된 방법은 IVUS 영상에 Histogram Equalization 기법을 적용하여 명암 대비를 강조한 후에 퍼지 이진화 기법과 평균 이진화 기법을 각각 적용하여 내막과 외막을 추출하기 위해 이진화한다. 이진화된 내막과 외막의 각 영역 중에서 혈관내 초음파 영상 중심에서 가장 큰 영역의 정보를 이용하여 라벨링 기법을 적용하여 내막과 외막 영역을 추출하고 각 막의 지름을 계산한다. 제안된 방법을 IVUS 영상을 대상으로 실험한 결과, 내막과 외막의 지름이 비교적 정확히 추출되는 것을 실험을 통하여 확인하였다.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.226-233
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• 2016

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) apoptosis has been identified in various vascular diseases, including atherosclerosis and restenosis after angioplasty, and has been known to precipitate atherosclerotic plaque instability and rupture. Oxysterols are known as inducers of apoptosis in VSMC, and 7-ketocholesterol (7KC) is the major nonenzymically formed oxysterol in atherosclerotic lesions. The precise mechanism underlying VSMC apoptosis is still poorly understood. In this study, we investigated whether 7KC causes apoptosis, and characterized its apoptotic mechanisms in primary cultured rat aortic VSMC. Cell viability was assessed by MTT assay and trypan blue assay. Apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, immunoprecipitation, and Western blot analyses. 7KC markedly decreased the VSMC viability in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, and increased the production of 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE), a major end-product of lipid peroxidation, which also decreased the VSMC viability. Pretreatment with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine, a well-known reagent of lipid peroxidation-derived aldehydes, significantly restored the 7KC-decreased viability of VSMC. Furthermore, HNE, as well as 7KC, reduced the level of total Akt, a major mediator of cell survival. The 7KC-decreased level of total Akt was significantly restored by pretreatments with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine and N-acetylcysteine. Lactacystin, a proteasome inhibitor, protected VSMC against apoptosis and Akt degradation, but did not inhibit HNE production. In the immunoprecipitation assay, 7KC increased HNE-modified Akt. From the results, it seems that, in atherosclerotic lesions, 7KC induces HNE production in VSMC, and this HNE binds to Akt, proceeding to proteasomal degradation of Akt, through which mechanism the atherosclerotic plaque instability may be facilitated.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.81-87
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• 2009

Purpose : We sought to evaluate enhancement of plaque with gadolinium-based contrast agent by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in comparison with histopathology, namely lipid-rich and macrophage-rich components that were two representative characteristics of plaque vulnerability using atherosclerotic rabbit aorta in order to determine which histopathologic component is relevant to the enhancement. Materials and Methods : New Zealand white rabbit (n=4, weight 3.0 to 3.5 kg, all male) was used for animal model of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerotic aortic lesions were induced by high-cholesterol diet and double balloon injury. T1-weight axial images were acquired before and after gadolinium-based contrast agent using a 3-T MRI. MR images and the matched histopathological sections (n=35) were divided into 4 quadrants or 3 (n=130). Enhancement ratio (ER, ER=SIpost/SIpre) on MRI was calculated for each quadrant and compared with histopathology in regard to lipid-rich and macrophage-rich areas. Results : Lipid-rich quadrants were 72 and fibrous quadrants were 58. The number of quadrants which had macrophage-rich areas was 105 and that of quadrants which did not have macrophage-rich areas was 25. ER was significantly higher in lipid-rich quadrants than in fibrous quadrants (mean ER 2.25c$\pm$0.41 vs. 2.72$\pm$0.65, p=0.013). ER poorly correlated with macrophage-rich areas when lipid-component was controlled (correlation coefficient -0.203, p=0.236). Conclusion : Lipid-rich plaques showed stronger enhancement than fibrous plaques using a standard gadolinium-based extracellular contrast agent. Macrophage infiltration did not correlate with degree of enhancement. Further study is warranted that account for optimal time of imaging after contrast injection using various plaque models from early to advanced stages and all possible parameters associated with contrast enhancement.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.12 no.10
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• pp.349-356
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• 2012

In the diagnosis of coronary artery atheromatous plaque, Cardiac computed tomography (Cardiac Computed Tomographic Angiography: CCTA) compared with IVUS(Intravascular Ultrasound: IVUS) investigate the diagnostic accuracy, Interested in CCTA atheromatous plaque in computed tomography values (Hounsfield Unit: HU) try to find out. From April 2006 to August 2008 among coronary artery disease(Coronary Artery Disease: CAD) patients with confirmed or suspicious of CAD by CCTA performed atherosclerotic plaques and found 200 patients who underwent IVUS were enrolled. 200 patients who underwent CCTA and IVUS results from the 476 plaque was found, IVUS results of the soft plaque(n; 84), fibrous plaque(n; 63), mixed plaque (n; 97), calcific plaque(n; 232). The results are classified according to the IVUS plaque in HU in the soft plaque : $53.8{\pm}10.5$, fibrous plaque : $108.1{\pm}20.0$, mixed plaque : $371.2{\pm}113.1$, and calcific plaque : $731.0{\pm}160.4$. CCTA had sensitivity of 97% and confidence interval of 95.0-98.3. This study that is the diagnosis of coronary atheromatous plaque for using CCTA, we confirm the high sensitivity and the confidence interval Based on IVUS results CCTA atheromatous plaque with HU in the analysis could be classified to characterize in the treatment of patients with CAD is expected to help.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.187-193
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• 2016

In this study, we performed the carotid artery ultrasound targeting 140 subjects who have conducted to evaluate the changes in intima-media thickness(IMT) and plaque correlated with the presence or absence of a hematological test of the carotid artery. Considering that the IMT thickness more than 1mm is abnormal based on the carotid artery ultrasound to assess the presence or absence of plaque, and examined the correlation by classifying the blood lipid value and the fasting blood glucose level through the serum test. Consequently, the fasting blood glucose level is being analyzed as independent predictors of causing dental plaque(p=0.033), cut off value was determined as 126 mg/dL(sensitivity 56.25%, specificity 68.38%) in ROC curve analysis. Furthermore, the odds ratio appeared 1.01 times the value in the Logistic regression. Therefore, it seemed that the necessity to prospective studies in a number of subjects are considered, and also taking into account a number of blood test values along with the sonography of the carotid artery as a valuable part for effective primary prevention and follow-up observation of the cardiac and brain vascular disease is highly recommended.