• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Near Infrared Spectroscopy Conference
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• 2001.06a
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• pp.4103-4103
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• 2001

The aim of this study was to examine whether near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is an acceptable tool to determine cholesterol and collagen in human atherosclerotic plaque without destruction of the analyzed areas and without danger the endothelial cells - three preconditions for the development of a NIR-heart-catheter. The questions were: Can the cholesterol and collagen content of the arterial intima be estimated with acceptable precision in vitro by NIRS despite the matrix inhomogeneity of the plaques and their anatomic variability\ulcorner How deep can such NIR radiation penetrate into arterial tissue without danger for endothelial cells\ulcorner Is this penetration sufficient for information on the lipid and collagen accumulation\ulcorner Using NIRS, cholesterol and collagen can be determined with acceptable precision in model mixtures and human aortic specimens (r=0,896 to 0,957). The chemical reference method was HPLC. The energy dose was 71 mW/$cm^{-2}$ using a fiber optic strand with a length of 1.5m and an optical window of d=4mm. This dose appears to be not dangerous for endothelial cells, It will be attenuated to 50% by a arterial tissue of about 170-$200\mu\textrm{m}$ thickness. The results are also acceptable using a thin coronary catheter-like fiber optic strand (d=1mm).

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.33 no.4 s.131
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• pp.343-351
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• 2002

Atherosclerosis is a progressive disease characterized by the accumulation of lipids and fibrous elements in the arteries. Monocyter/macrophages are involved in many aspects of the development of atherosclerotic plaques. It is known that the intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1) expressed preferentially on endothelial cells of atherosclerotic plaque, promotes local adhesion and transendothelial migration of monocytes, neutrophils, and lymphocytes. Using the human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cell line, we investigated the inhibitory effects of methanol extracts of 175 natural plants on ICAM-1/LFA-1 mediated cell adhesion. Eight kinds of methanol extracts of tested plants inhibited PMA-induces homotypic aggregationof HL-60 cells without cytotoxicity at the concentration of $6.25\;{\mu}g/ml$. They were divided two fractions of $CHCI_3$ and $H_2O$ to use solvent partition. Among them, $CHCI_3$ extract $(1.0\;{\mu}g/ml)$ of Saururus chinensis and Chloranthus japonicus singificantly inhibited aggregation of HL-60 cells without cytotoxicity, respectively.

• 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.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.134-137
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• 2008

Atherosclerosis is characterized by a chronic inflammatory disease, and chemokines play an important role in both initiation and progression of atherosclerosis development. Leukotactin-1 (Lkn-1/CCLl5), a new member of the human CC chemokine family, is a potent chemoattractant for leukocytes. Our previous study has demonstrated that Lkn-1/CCL15 plays a role in the initiation of atherosclerosis, however, little is currently known whether Lkn-1/CCL15 is associated with the progression of atherosclerosis. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in human coronary atherosclerotic lesions playa crucial role in the progression of atherosclerosis by altering the vulnerability of plaque rupture. In the present study, we examined whether Lkn-1/CCLl5 modulates MMP-9 release, which is a prevalent form expressed by activated macrophages and foam cells. Human THP-1 monocytic cells and/or human peripheral blood monocytes (PBMC) were treated with phorbol myristate acetate to induce their differentiation into macrophages. Foam cells were prepared by the treatment of THP-1 macrophages with human oxidized LDL. The macrophages and foam cells were treated with Lkn-1/CCL15, and the levels of MMP-9 release were measured by Gelatin Zymography. Lkn-1/CCL15 significantly enhanced the levels of MMP-9 protein secretion from THP-1 monocytic cells-derived macrophages, human PBMC-derived macrophages, as well as macrophage-derived foam cell in a dose dependent manner. Our data suggest that the action of Lkn-1/CCL15 on macrophages and foam cells to release MMP-9 may contribute to plaque destabilization in the progression of atherosclerosis.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.113-124
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• 2012

The oxidative modification of low density lipoprotein(LDL) has been implicated in the development of atherosclerosis. Oxidized LDL(oxLDL) is captured into macrophage and stimulates to form macrophage foam cell. And it can induce an inflammation and smooth muscle proliferation in atherosclerotic plaque. Objective : In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of Bupleuri radix(SH) on the foam cell formation, a critical initiation stage of atherosclerosis. Methods : To achieve the goal, we examined the effect of SH on LDL oxidation, nitric oxide production in RAW264.7, and the effect of SH on cupuric sulfate-induced cytotoxicity, LDH release, and macrophage activity. Results : SH inhibited the formation of oxidized LDL from native LDL in RAW264.7 cell culture, and decreased the release of LDH from cupric sulfate-stimulated RAW264.7 cell. In other experiments, SH activated RAW264.7 cell, and prolonged the survival time, and inhibited foam cell formation induced by oxLDL in Raw 264.7 cells. Conclusion : These results showed that SH might prevent atherosclerosis by controlling the early stages of foam cell formation.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1516-1519
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• 2004

I studied on the influence of Gi-Gong gymnastics in the live blood condition of women's shoulder measurement. The results are as follows: In the Erythrocyte Aggregation(4 women), the three women were not observed at all and one woman was observed a little, In the Rouleau(3 women), three women were not observed at all. In the Target Cells(3 women), the two women were not observed at all and one woman was observed a little. In the Ovalocytes (3 women), the one woman was not observed at all and two women were observed a little. And in the Poikilocytes (1 woman), one woman was observed a little, In the Cholesterol Crystals(3 women), the two women were observed a little and one woman was observed as things stand, In the Atherosclerotic Plaque(2 women), the two women were not observed at all. In the Chylous(3 women), the two women were observed a little and one woman was observed as things stand.

• 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.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.99-104
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• 2004

Objectives : To study the Live Blood Condition of chronic shoulder measurement. Methods : Twenty-one patients were studied. The observation items of the Live Blood Condition are the form's abnormality and cohesion of red blood cells, the abnormality of hemoglobin and the toxicity in plasma. Results : 1. The form's abnormality and cohesion of red blood cells observed were erythrocyte aggregation (8 persons), Rouleau (3 persons), target cells (7 persons), ovalocytes (3 persons), poikilocytes (2 persons). Double conditions observed were erythrocyte aggregation & target cells (3 persons), erythrocyte aggregation & poikilocytes (1 person), target cells & ovalocytes (l person). 2. The abnormality of hemoglobin and the toxicity in plasma observed were cholesterol crystals (5 persons), atherosclerotic plaque (3 persons), chylous (6 persons). 3. The form normality of red blood was generally observed in one woman. The normality of hemoglobin and the non-toxicity in plasma were generally observed in seven women. Conclusions : According to this study of the Live Blood Condition of women's shoulder measurement, these results suggest that the twenty-one patients evidence the conditions of extravasated blood and phlegm.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.22-31
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• 2021

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and it results in a high rate of death worldwide, with an increased prevalence with age despite advances in lifestyle management and drug therapy. Atherosclerosis is a chronic progressive inflammatory process, and it mainly presents with lipid accumulation, foam cell proliferation, inflammatory response, atherosclerotic plaque formation and rupture, thrombosis, and vascular calcification. Therefore, there is a great need for reliable therapeutic drugs or remedies to cure or alleviate atherosclerosis and reduce the societal burden. Ginsenosides are natural steroid glycosides and triterpene saponins obtained mainly from the plant ginseng. Several recent studies have reported that ginsenosides have a variety of pharmacological activities against several diseases including inflammation, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. This review focuses on describing the different pharmacological functions and underlying mechanisms of various active ginsenosides (Rb1,-Rd, -F, -Rg1, -Rg2, and -Rg3, and compound K) for atherosclerosis, which could provide useful insights for developing novel and effective anti-cardiovascular drugs.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2022.10a
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• pp.294-296
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• 2022

Atherosclerosis is a chronic vascular inflammatory disease in which plaque builds up in the arteries and impairs blood flow. This can lead to heart disease and stroke. Since most people do not have any symptoms until the artery is severely narrowed, early detection of atherosclerosis is critical. In this paper, in order to effectively detect atherosclerotic lesions in tube-shaped blood vessels, polar conversion is applied to MRI images based on the vessel center. We then propose a SE-LSTMNet model using continuous signal information for each angle of a polar coordinate image. The trained model showed classification performance of 0.9194 accuracy, 0.9370 sensitivity, 0.8796 specificity, 0.8700 F1 score, and 0.9719 AUC on the validation data.