• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.56 no.12
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• pp.526-533
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• 2013

Purpose: Obesity is an important risk factor for hypertension in adolescents. We investigated the relationship of obesity-related indices (body mass index [BMI], waist-to-height ratio [WHR], and body fat percentage [%BF]) with blood pressure and the hemodynamic determinants of blood pressure in Korean adolescents. Methods: In 2008, 565 adolescents, aged 12-16 years, were examined. The %BF of the participants was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Echocardiography and brachial artery pulse tracing were used to estimate the stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), total vascular resistance (TVR), and total arterial compliance (TAC). Results: We noted that BMI, WHR, and %BF were positively correlated with systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). The positive correlation between BMI and blood pressure (SBP and DBP) persisted after adjustment for WHR and %BF. However, after adjustment for BMI, the positive associations between blood pressure (SBP and DBP) and WHR as well as %BF, were not noted. With regard to the hemodynamic factors, BMI, but not WHR and %BF, was an independent positive factor correlated with SV and CO. TVR had an independent negative association with BMI; however, it was not associated with WHR or %BF. Moreover, we noted that BMI, WHR, and %BF did not affect TAC. Conclusion: In Korean adolescents, BMI had an independent positive correlation with SBP and DBP, possibly because of its effects on SV, CO, and TVR. WHR and %BF are believed to indirectly affect SBP and DBP through changes in BMI.

• International Journal of Control, Automation, and Systems
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• v.5 no.6
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• pp.643-651
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• 2007

The various blood pressure simulators have been proposed to evaluate and improve the performance of the automatic sphygmomanometer. These have some problems such as the deviation of the actual blood pressure waveform, limitation in the blood pressure condition of the simulator, or difficulty in displaying the blood flow. An improved simulator using disturbance observer is proposed to supplement the current problems of the blood pressure simulator. The proposed simulator has an artificial arm model capable of feeding appropriate fluids that can generate the blood pressure waveform to evaluate the automatic sphygmomanometer. A controller was designed and thereafter, simulation was performed to control the output signal with respect to the reference input in the fluid dynamic model using the proposed proportional control valve. To minimize the external fluctuation of pressure applied to the artificial arm, a disturbance observer was designed on the plant. A hybrid controller combined with a proportional controller and feed-forward controller was fabricated after applying a disturbance observer to the control plant. Comparison of the simulations between the conventional proportional controller and the proposed hybrid controller indicated that even though the former showed good control performance without disturbance, it was affected by the disturbance signal induced by the cuff. The latter exhibited an excellent performance under both situations.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.40-43
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• 2012

Recent genomewide association studies of large samples have identified genes that are associated with blood pressure. The Global Blood Pressure Genetics (Global BPgen) and Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genome Epidemiology (CHARGE) consortiums identified 14 loci that govern blood pressure on a genomewide significance level, one of which is $CASZ1$ confirmed in both Europeans and Asians. $CASZ1$ is a zinc finger transcription factor that controls apoptosis and cell fate and suppresses neuroblastoma tumor growth by reprogramming gene expression, like a tumor suppressor. To validate the function of $CASZ1$ in blood pressure, we decreased $Casz1$ mRNA levels in mice by siRNA. $Casz1$ siRNA reduced mRNA levels by 59% in a mouse cell line. A polyethylenimine-mixed siRNA complex was injected into mouse tail veins, reducing $Casz1$ mRNA expression to 45% in the kidney. However, blood pressure in the treated mice was unaffected, despite a 55% reduction in $Casz1$ mRNA levels in the kidney on multiple siRNA injections daily. Even though $Casz1$ siRNA-treated mice did not experience any significant change in blood pressure, our study demonstrates the value of $in$ $vivo$ siRNA injection in analyzing the function of candidate genes identified by genomewide association studies.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1505-1511
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• 2004

Inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity is one of the common antihypertensive methods functioned by drugs such as captopril, lisinopril and enalapril to serve as inhibitors of ACE. This study was designed to compare the effects of enalapril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and GLM002, an oriental medicine, on tail systolic pressure, aorta and plasma properties in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) after 4 weeks of treatment. During the treatment, blood pressure was depressed to normal in GLM002 and enalapril groups. The treatments of enalapril and GLM002 were discontinued in 4 weeks. One week after the treatment stop, systolic blood pressure was smoothly increased in both groups; the increment of blood pressure was slightly greater in GLM002-SHR, but the increment of plasma ACE activity was proportionately similar in each group. In the aspects of the triglyceride, HDL and total cholesterol level, those levels were slightly different among each group. We also conducted clinical dosage of GLM002 to the patients who have mild and severe hypertension for approximately 7 weeks. Clinical treatments also showed remarkable efficiencies on blood pressure (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure), complete blood count (CBC) routine, differ count (NEUTRO, LYM, MONO, EOS and BASO) and R-chemistry. We conclude that GLM002, like already proven enalapril, plays a role as an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, and can be suggested as a drug candidate for curing hypertension.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.31 no.3 s.62
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• pp.384-394
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• 1998

In order to investigate the effect of the urinary excretion of sodium and potassium on the change on blood pressure over 3 years, 668 adolescents aged 13 years living in Kangwha area were investigated in a longitudinal follow-up study. Two measurements were taken on each blood pressure (diastolic, systolic) and the average of the two readings was used in the analysis. Sodium and potassium intake were estimated by the determination of those electrolytes in 24hr urine. The mixed model regression analysis was used to identify the effect of urinary sodium and potassium on the change of blood pressure after controlling for BMI of each age. On simple bivariate analysis no relationship was found between urinary sodium excretion and systolic or diastolic blood pressure among both male and female, however, a significant positive association between urinary potassium excretion and systolic blood pressure among male. The results of mixed regression analysis showed that the body mass index (BMI) were more influential that urinary electrolytes among this study subjects. It suggested that risk factors observed from the adults, may not be identical with that of the growing aged population. After control of the BMI and age, significant association between sodium and diastolic BP among male, and association between potassium and systolic BP among female, were found. In summary, the results indicate that growth has been more influential than dietary factor on blood pressure for growing aged population.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.181-189
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• 2003

Background : Patient, family, society and country are badly damaged by stroke (CVA : cerebrovascular accident). To reduce sequelae and return rapidly to society, treatment in the acute stage is very important. In many studies on purgation therapy (下法) used in acute stages of stroke, the changes of blood pressure, pulse and so on before and after purgation therapy were reported. However, the changes in the human body according to the day elapsed after defecation were not reported, so study was needed to confirm such changes. Methods : Seventy-six patients were studied. We observed forty-three patients at acute stroke and thirty-three patients at convalescent stroke. To confirm the importance of regular defecation in stroke patients, we analyzed blood pressure according to the day elapsed after defecation. Results : The following result were obtained. 1. In stroke group, compared with the day after defecation, the mean blood pressure of the third day after defecation increased. It increased the most in the acute stroke group. 2. Especially in stroke and acute stroke groups, compared with the second day after defecation, the mean systolic blood pressure of the third day after defecation increased significantly. 3. In the infarction group, compared with the day after defecation, the mean blood pressure of the third day after defecation increased. It increased the most in the acute infarction group. 4. Especially, in the infarction and acute infarction groups, compared with the second day after defecation, the mean systolic blood pressure of the third day after defecation increased significantly. Conclusion : In stroke patients, regular defecation is important, so we think that purgation therapy (下法) is needed in stroke patients over the third day elapsed after defecation. We think that the bowel movement control in acute stroke patients is more important than in convalescent stroke patients.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.167-173
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• 2004

Objective : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical effect of the non-pharmacological anti-hypertension method, acupuncture, for hypertensive patients. Methods : 26 patients diagnosed with hypertension were each treated by one of three methods: an anti-hypertension drug(adalat soft capsule), venepuncture, and acupuncture. In cases of rising blood pressure, patients were treated by their one of the three methods, and blood pressure was measured at regular intervals. Result : As for the group of acupuncture treated patients on Young-gol(ling-gu) and Gang-ap-hyul(jiang-ya-xue), readings dropped 18.0mmHg in systolic blood pressure and 6.50mmHg in diastolic blood pressure. This was a greater effect than that seen in the venepuncture treated patients. Blood pressure checked one hour after acupuncture treatment showed a greater difference than blood pressure checked after thirty minutes. Conclusion : Safe reductions in blood pressure were observed through the non-pharmacological method of acupuncture on Young-gol(ling-gu) and Gang-ap-hyul(Jiang-ya-xue).

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.606-611
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• 2004

In East-South Asia it has been known that Korean ginseng(Panax ginseng) increases blood pressure, whereas American ginseng(Panax quinquefolius) doesn't. This study was designed to find out if Korean ginseng really could increase blood pressure comparing with American ginseng. Double-blind randomized controlled trials on blood pressure and pulse rate of Korean ginseng and American ginseng in Koreans and Chineses was performed. There was no significant difference on blood pressure and pulse rate between Korean ginseng and American ginseng in both Koreans and Chineses by repeated-measures ANOVA. It was revealed that Korean ginseng does not increase blood pressure. Maybe the concept that Korean ginseng increases blood pressure is concerned with commercial interests dealing with American Ginseng.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.385-392
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• 2013

Although several studies have assessed the influence of the glycemic index on body weight and blood pressure among adults, limited evidence exists for the pediatric age population. In the current study, we compared the effects of low glycemic index (LGI) diet to the healthy nutritional recommendation (HNR)-based diet on obesity and blood pressure among adolescent girls in pubertal ages. This 10-week parallel randomized clinical trial comprised of 50 overweight or obese and sexually mature girls less than 18 years of age years, who were randomly assigned to LGI or HNR-based diet. Macronutrient distribution was equivalently prescribed in both groups. Blood pressure, weight and waist circumference were measured at baseline and after intervention. Of the 50 participants, 41 subjects (include 82%) completed the study. The GI of the diet in the LGI group was $42.67{\pm}0.067$. A within-group analysis illustrated that in comparison to the baseline values, the body weight and body mass index (not waist circumference and blood pressure) decreased significantly after the intervention in both groups (P = 0.0001). The percent changes of the body weight status, waist circumference and blood pressure were compared between the two groups and the findings did not show any difference between the LGI diet consumers and those in the HNR group. In comparison to the HNR, LGI diet could not change the weight and blood pressure following a 10-week intervention. Further longitudinal studies with a long-term follow up should be conducted in this regard.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.119-124
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• 1997

Chronic hypertension is associated with impaired endothelial function such as reduced synthesis/release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor(EDRF, nitric oxide) and increased synthesis/release of endothelium-derived contracting factor(EDCF) including prostaglandin endoperoxide($PGH_2$) , superoxide anion both in animals and in humans. We have previously shown that ginsenosides lower the blood pressure and enhance the release of nitric oxide(NO) from endothelial cells in the rat aorta of the normotensive rats. The aim of the present study is to examine whether in vivo treatment of spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHRs) with protopanaxatriol ginsenosides(PPT) reduces the blood pressure and improves endothelial function in the isolated thoracic aorta of SHR. In addition, the contractile response to $PGH_2$ and superoxide anion in the aorta treated with PPT was assessed. SHRs at the age of 16 weeks were savaged with PPT(30 mg/kg/ day) for 2 weeks and systolic blood pressure was measured by the tail-cuff method. Whereas blood pressure was significantly increased in SHRs by 5.4 mmHg during this period of treatment, treatment of SHRs with PPT blocked the elevation of blood pressure. Endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine was significantly increased in the PPT-treated animals. $PGH_2$- and oxygen-derived free radical-induced contractions were significantly suppressed in aortic rings without endothelium from PPT-treated SHR. These findings indicate that PPT reduces the blood pressure of SHR, which may be associated with either increase of NO release or by antagonizing superoxide anion and PGH2 in the aortic smooth muscle.