• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.13-26
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• 2005

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac rhythm disturbance, which carries significant cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The medical treatment for AF is cumbersome and unsatisfactory, which has highlighted the need to develop alternative treatments for AF. The recent discovery that AF is often initiated by atrial ectopic beats has resulted in treatments designed to target the ectopic sources, particularly those within the pulmonary veins. Building on the pioneering work of Cox et al., a recent reported series demonstrated the feasibility of treating patients undergoing cardiac surgery for other structural heart diseases with limited, left-atrial ablation lesion sets using alternative energy sources. As less complex modifications of the Maze procedure have been developed, a number of energy sources have been introduced to create of electrically isolating lesions within the atria. These sources have been used both endocardially in arrest heart procedures as well as epicardially in a beating heart setting. This review summarizes the recent advances in surgery for AF that will aid in the development of an effective, minimally invasive surgical procedure to cure patients with AF.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.310-312
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• 2012

Cytochrome $b_5$ is involved in the reduction of methemoglobin back to hemoglobin, thereby maintaining normal function of the blood to carry oxygen around. Congenital abnormal condition of this enzyme causes a rare disease called methemoglobinemia. At least 4 different retropseudogenes are reported so far for cytochrome $b_5$. However, type III pseudogene has attracted most attention because it contains open reading frame in its structure. Although there is no evidence yet if this pseudogene is actually expressed in the cell or the blood the possibility of its expression needs to be elucidated. We have isolated type III pseudogene by polymerase chain reaction and cloned into pGEX-4T-1 expression vector followed by SDS-PAGE. Protein was expressed and the size of the expressed protein was 28 kDa as expected in its genetic code. This result also shows that the protein is not harmful for the viability of the microorganism. This study may contribute to the genetic diagnosis of cardiac diseases, possibly caused by cytochrome $b_5$.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.22-29
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• 1987

From Sep. 1978 to Aug. 1986, 44 cases of Fontan operation were performed at Seoul National University Hospital. 1] The diagnoses were TA in 13 [38.6%], UVH in 21 [47.79`], DORV in 3 [6.8%], TGA in 2 [4.5%] and C-ECD with DORY in 1[2.3%]. 2] There were 20 operative deaths [44.5%]. 3] The operative risk factors were early date of operation between 1978 and 1983, young age below 3 years old, direct atriopulmonary anastomosis without roofing, and postoperative high CVP above 25cmH,O. But the relation between operative mortality and various cardiac diseases was absent. 4] survived patients were followed from 1 to 54 months except 3 patients who were lost to follow up. 16 patients were in functional class I and 1 in class II, 2 of the above 17 patients were reoperated due to residual right to left shunt. In remained 4 patients, 3 patients persisted cyanosis after operation and 1 patients died 1 month postoperatively due to pulmonary embolism. 5] As 4 result, the Fontan procedure can be done with a good result for tricuspid atresia and other complex lesions. The operative mortality can be reduced further with a correct anatomical diagnosis preoperatively, rigid operative criteria to pulmonary vascular resistance, direct atriopulmonary anastomosis with roofing, and use of `Venous Assist Device` postoperatively in low cardiac output patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.613-619
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• 1993

As developing surgical techniques and postoperative cares, a pneumonectomy is a relatively popular surgical method in disease which is not treated completely with other type of pulmonary resection, but a postpneumonectomy complication is a life-threatening serious problem if it occurred. We performed one hundred twenty-five cases of pneumonectomy for treatment of various causes of pulmonary diseases in Kosin Medical College during about ten years, and we experienced 41 cases of postoperative complications in 29 patients, so we analyzed them. The most common complication is an empyema thoracis in 13 cases[10.4%], of which one case combined with bronchopleural fistula died on early postoperative day. Of them except one case, the early postoperative empyema thoracis[within 30 days] were 6 cases, and the late postoperative empyema thoracis[above 30 days] were 6 cases. The main etiologic pathogens were a staphylococcus in early postoperative empyema and a streptococcus in late postoperative empyema, but the most cases were mixed infections with pseudomonas, klebsiella, acinectobacter, and candida. The treatment of postoperative empyema thoracis were that 4 cases were treated with open drainage using chest tube, 7 cases with Clagett`s operation, and 1 case with thoracoplasty. The next common complication was a postoperative serious respiratory insufficiency in 7 cases. And the other complications were massive postoperative bleeding in 5 cases, of which 2 cases advanced to occurrence of postoperative empyema thoracis, and wound disruption in 4 cases, cardiac arrhythmia in 3 cases, contralateral pneumothorax and pneumonia in each of 2 cases, esophagopleural fistula in 1 case. The postoperative deaths were 9 cases[7.2%] of 125 cases, the causes of death were respiratory insufficiency in 6 cases, sepsis in 2 cases, and cardiac arrhythmia in 1 case.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.221-225
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• 2015

This study evaluated the effects of alfaxalone (3 mg/kg, intravenously) on echocardiographic examination in healthy dogs using echocardiography. Six adult Beagle dogs were used for this study. Left ventricular dimensions with systolic indexes, trans-blood flow at all cardiac valvular annulus and trans-mitral tissue Doppler values were measured from routine transthoracic echocardiography. Although the changes were not statistically significant, heart rate, left ventricular end-systolic diameter, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, peak velocities of tricuspid A-wave and transpulmonic flow were increased after alfaxalone induction, while systolic blood pressure, fractional shortening, left ventricular ejection fraction, peak velocities of mitral E-wave, mitral A wave, tricuspid E-wave, transaortic flow and medial e'-, a'- and s'-peaks decreased after alfaxalone induction. No dogs showed hypoxemia during sedation, regardless of intubation and oxygen supply. Although alfaxalone showed mild cardiovascular depression, this protocol could be a good alternative sedative protocol for echocardiographic examination in healthy dogs because the cardiovascular depression was statistically and clinically insignificant. However, further studies in dogs with heart diseases should be conducted to confirm these findings after alfaxalone induction.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.130-134
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• 2005

Lithium is mainly prescribed for manic and depressive disorder, also frequently prescribed for the other diseases such as migraine, cluster headache, alcoholism, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. An acute lithium intoxication occurs in cases of patients ingesting large amount lithium at a time, a chronic lithium intoxication occurs in patients on chronic lithium therapy. Acute or chronic lithium poisoning occurs frequently in case of patients on chronic lithium therapy ingesting larger dose than prescribed. Manifestations of lithium poisoning are various. It is possible nervous, cardiovascular, renal, gastrointestinal and endocrine systems to be involved. Due to intracellular high concentration, mortality rate is high in acute lithium intoxication patients on chronic lithium therapy. We report a case of acutely intoxicated 40-year-old male on chronic lithium therapy. His chief complaints were deterioration and high fever. On his arrival to an emergency department, he was in cardiac arrest. He restored return of spontaneous circultion (ROSC) 5 minutes later after cardiopulmonary cerebral resuscitation (CPCR) and referred to department of internal medicine for hemodialysis. Vigorous treatment was given to the patient, but he was expired at 4th hospital day.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.482-487
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• 1990

The leading cause of death in patients with chronic renal failure is cardiovascular diseases. The problems relevant to cardiac surgery in these patients are occurring more frequently with a growing number of patients at risk. Among these, important risk factors related to uremic patients undergone open heart surgery are fluid and electrolytes imbalance, coagulopathy, increased susceptibility to infection. Since 1968 when Lansing and colleagues reported the first successful aortic valve replacement in patients with chronic renal failure and infective endocarditis, there have been increasing reports of the cardiopulmonary bypass surgery in chronic renal failure patients with acceptable perioperative morbidity and mortality From Jan. 1988 to Nov. 1989 we have experienced four uremic patients necessitating open heart surgery ; one needing a coronary artery bypass graft and the other 3 needed cardiac valve replacement. Based on our observations we would like to suggest followings 1]Intraoperative ultrahemofiltration during C-P bypass thought to be an excellent means for the control of hyperkalemia and fluid balance. 2] The immediate postoperative application of peritoneal dialysis instead of hemodialysis is beneficial in controlling fluid and electrolyte imbalance. 3]The cause of one early postoperative death was not associated to renal failure, rather it was the result of an accidental rupture in the right ventricular wall.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.177-185
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• 2023

The excessive inflammatory response induced by myocardial infarction exacerbates heart injury and leads to the development of heart failure. Recent studies have confirmed the involvement of multiple transcription factors in the modulation of cardiovascular disease processes. However, the role of KLF9 in the inflammatory response induced by cardiovascular diseases including myocardial infarction remains unclear. Here, we found that the expression of KLF9 significantly increased during myocardial infarction. Besides, we also detected high expression of KLF9 in infiltrated macrophages after myocardial infarction. Our functional studies revealed that KLF9 deficiency prevented cardiac function and adverse cardiac remodeling. Furthermore, the downregulation of KLF9 inhibited the activation of NF-κB and MAPK signaling, leading to the suppression of inflammatory responses of macrophages triggered by myocardial infarction. Mechanistically, KLF9 was directly bound to the TLR2 promoter to enhance its expression, subsequently promoting the activation of inflammation-related signaling pathways. Our results suggested that KLF9 is a pro-inflammatory transcription factor in macrophages and targeting KLF9 may be a novel therapeutic strategy for ischemic heart disease.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.722-725
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• 1999

Background: To secure a rapid and safe approach which is at the same time cosmetically appealing, we employed the right anterolateral thoracotomy incision for repair of atrial septal defects and valvular heart diseases in the adult. Material and method: Between October 1989 and June 1998, 44 adult patients underwent open heart surgery through right anterolateral thoracotomy at our institution. Operative time, cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross clamp time, blood loss until chest tube removal, length of ICU stay, days to discharge, and survival were compared with those that received cardiac surgery via conventional sternotomy. Result: No significant differences were observed between the two groups. There was no death and no additional morbidity directly related to this approach. Cosmetically satisfying results were obtained with safety using the right anterolateral thoracotomy approach. Conclusion: Our data show that the right anterolateral thoracotomy approach is a safe alternative to conventional median sternotomy as it offers excellent exposure and aesthetically more acceptable wounds while not adding on to the operative risks.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.11-15
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• 1983

Left ventricular volume would be useful in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with various heart diseases. So we measured left ventricular volume index using gated blood pool nuclear cardiac angiography which was easy to perform, non-invasive, and capable of repetitive studies. These left ventricular volume indices were compared with left ventricular volumes by quantitative cardiac cine-angiography and the results were as follows, 1. The correlation coefficient between left ventricular volume indices and left ventricular volumes was 0.829 (p<0.001). 2. The correlation coefficient between left ventricular volume indices and absolute left ventricular volumes which were obtained by measurement of cardiac output of patients. 3. There were good correlation in intraobserver and interobserver analysis.