• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.85 no.2
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• pp.308-326
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• 2024

A comprehensive evaluation of cardiac function includes information in relation to cardiac output and systemic venous return. The heart is composed of four chambers: two atria and two ventricles, each with its own unique mechanical function. These four cardiac chambers, their valves, and the pulmonary circulation system are inter-related as they preload or afterload on each other. Cardiac dysfunction is a failure of global cardiac function, resulting in typical clinical manifestations. To investigate the underlying cause of cardiac dysfunction, a step-by-step evaluation of cardiac blood flow tracks is necessary. In this context, imaging markers showing details of the cardiac structures have an important role in assessing cardiac function. An image-based evaluation allows for investigation of function in terms of individual cardiac components. Evaluation of cardiac function using cardiac CT has recently been validated. This review aimed to discuss cardiac CT-based imaging markers for comprehensive and detailed cardiac function assessment.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.23
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• pp.10267-10272
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• 2015

To evaluate the value of combined detection of serum CEA, CA19-9, CA24-2, AFP, CA72-4, SCC, TPA and TPS for the clinical diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT) cancer and to analyze the efficacy of these tumor markers (TMs) in evaluating curative effects and prognosis. A total of 573 patients with upper GIT cancer between January 2004 and December 2007 were enrolled in this study. Serum levels of CEA, CA19-9, CA24-2, AFP, CA72-4, SCC, TPA and TPS were examined preoperatively and every 3 months postoperatively by ELISA. The sensitivity of CEA, CA19-9, CA24-2, AFP, CA72-4, SCC, TPA and TPS were 26.8%, 36.2%, 42.9%, 2.84%, 25.4%, 34.6%, 34.2% and 30.9%, respectively. The combined detection of CEA+CA199+CA242+CA724 had higher sensitivity and specificity in gastric cancer (GC) and cardiac cancer, while CEA+CA199+CA242+SCC was the best combination of diagnosis for esophageal cancer (EC). Elevation of preoperative CEA, CA19-9 and CA24-2, SCC and CA72-4 was significantly associated with pathological types (p<0.05) and TNM staging (p<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that CA24-2 was significantly correlated with CA19-9 (r=0.810, p<0.001). The levels of CEA, CA19-9, CA24-2, CA72-4 and SCC decreased obviously 3 months after operations. When metastasis and recurrence occurred, the levels of TMs significantly increased. On multivariate analysis, high preoperative CA72-4, CA24-2 and SCC served as prognostic factors for cardiac carcinoma, GC and EC, respectively. combined detection of CEA+CA199+CA242+SCC proved to be the most economic and practical strategy in diagnosis of EC; CEA+CA199+CA242+CA724 proved to be a better evaluation indicator for cardiac cancer and GC. CEA and CA19-9, CA24-2, CA72-4 and SCC, examined postoperatively during follow-up, were useful to find early tumor recurrence and metastasis, and evaluate prognosis. AFP, TPA and TPS have no significant value in diagnosis of patients with upper GIT cancer.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.273-282
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• 2013

The present study was designed to investigate the cardioprotective effects of Korean Red Ginseng extract (KRG) on isoproterenol (ISO)-induced cardiac injury in rats, particularly in regards to electrocardiographic changes, hemodynamics, cardiac function, serum cardiac enzymes, components of the myocardial antioxidant defense system, as well as inflammatory markers and histopathological changes in heart tissue. ISO (150 mg/kg, subcutaneous, two doses administered at 24-hour intervals) treatment induced significant decreases in P waves and QRS complexes (p<0.01), as well as a significant increase in ST segments. Moreover, ISO-treated rats exhibited decreases in left-ventricular systolic pressure, maximal rate of developed left ventricular pressure ($+dP/dt_{max}$) and minimal rate of developed left ventricular pressure ($-dP/dt_{max}$), in addition to significant increases in lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase and creatine kinase activity. Heart rate, however, was not significantly altered. And the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase were decreased, whereas the activity of malondialdehyde was increased in the ISO-treated group. ISO-treated group also showed increased caspase-3 level, release of inflammatory markers and neutrophil infiltration in heart tissue. KRG pretreatment (250 and 500 mg/kg, respectively) significantly ameliorated almost all of the parameters of heart failure and myocardial injury induced by ISO. The protective effect of KRG on ISO-induced cardiac injury was further confirmed by histopathological study. In this regard, ISO treatment induced fewer morphological changes in rats pretreated with 250 or 500 mg/kg of KRG. Compared with the control group, all indexes in rats administered KRG (500 mg/kg) alone were unaltered (p>0.05). Our results suggest that KRG significantly protects against cardiac injury and ISO-induced cardiac infarction by bolstering antioxidant action in myocardial tissue.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.284-293
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• 2018

Objectives: Thymoquinone (TQ) is one of the active ingredients of herbal plants such as Nigella sativa L. (NS) which has beneficial effects on the body. The beneficial effects of TQ on the cardiovascular system have reported. This study aimed to investigate the effect of TQ on cardiac fibrosis and permeability, serum and tissue concentration of inflammatory markers and oxidative stress status in chronic lipopolysaccharide exposure in male rats. Methods: Seventy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups as follows: (1) control; (2) LPS (1 mg/kg/day); (3-5) LPS + TQ with three doses of 2, 5 and 10 mg/kg (n=14 in each group). After 3 weeks, serum and cardiac levels of $IL-1{\beta}$, $TNF-{\alpha}$ and nitric oxide (NO) metabolites, and cardiac levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), total thiol groups, catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, permeability of heart tissue (evaluated by Evans blue dye method) and myocardial fibrosis were determined, histologically. Results: LPS administration induced myocardial and perivascular fibrosis and increased cardiac oxidative stress (MDA), inflammatory markers and heart permeability, while, reduced anti-oxidative enzymes (SOD and CAT) and the total thiol group. Administration of TQ significantly attenuated these observations. Conclusion: TQ improved myocardial and perivascular fibrosis through suppression of chronic inflammation and improving oxidative stress status and can be considered for attenuation of cardiac fibrosis in conditions with chronic low-grade inflammation.

• The Journal of the Korean life insurance medical association
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• v.21
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• pp.11-18
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• 2002

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.247-258
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• 2010

The objective of this research was to evaluate the relationships of preoperative (Pre-OP) levels of hematological and biochemical indices to perioperative variables in patients that underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). Pre-OP levels of hematological factors [total white blood cells (T-WBC), erythrocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit, glycohemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), or platelet] were negatively or positively related with biochemical indices [alanine aminotransferase (ALT), bilirubin, glucose, fructosamine, triglyceride, and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL)]. Pre-OP levels of hematological factors and biochemical indices were negatively or positively correlated with echocardiographic variables. Pre-OP level of HbA1c had a relationship with C-reactive protein. Pre-OP levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), ALT, HDL, glucose, fructosamine, or blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were positively or negatively associated with Pre-OP levels of cardiac markers (brain natriuretic peptide, troponin-I, creatine kinase isoenzyme 2, or CRP). Pre-OP levels of hematological factors (excepting T-WBC) related with operation time (OPT), postoperative mechanical ventilation time (POMVT), intensive care unit-period (ICU-period) or hospitalization. Pre-OP levels of AST, ALT, bilirubin, triglyceride, HDL, low dwensity lipoprotein, fructosamine, or BUN were positively or negatively correlated with OPT, graft numbers, POMVT, ICU-period or hospitalization. Retrospective this study reveals that Pre-OP levels of hematological and biochemical markers are associated with echocardiographic variables, several cardiac markers and postoperative outcomes, suggesting that Pre-OP levels of hematological and biochemical markers may be useful predictors for the diagnosis and prognosis of coronary artery disease.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.1743-1746
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• 2013

Background and Purpose: Cardiac myxoma is a major primary heart tumor which often causes unexpected symptoms or sudden death. This present study was designed to investigate its clinical pathological features and biological behavior. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the clinical pathologic and immunohistochemical features of 66 cases with cardiac myxoma was conducted. Results: In 66 patients with cardiac myxoma, 61 cases had involvement of the left atrium, one case in both the right ventricular and left atria. The female: male ratio was 2.7:1. Patients had symptoms of blood flow obstruction and systemic alterations with performance of arterial embolization. Tumors were spherical, lobulated or irregular in shape, and soft and brittle. Immunohistochemical markers of vimentin and CD34 in tumor cells were positive. Conclusion: Cardiac myxoma always exists in the left atrium and is more common in women, with diverse clinical manifestations and pathomorphism. Although proliferative activity and the recurrence rate are low, in addition to thorough surgical resection, strengthened review is important for young patients.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.61-69
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation on pro- and anti-inflammatory markers in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). ACS patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and took medicine during phase II of rehabilitation were recruited for study. Subjects were divided into two groups; exercise group (EX, n=21) and a non-exercise group (non-EX, n=13). Supervised exercise program in hospital consisted of treadmill and bicycle exercise was performed three times per week for 6 weeks. Patients of EX received individual counseling, including knowledge of heart disease, risk factor modification, and physical training. Cardiopulmonary fitness, body composition, and biochemical blood factors were analyzed before and after experiment. There was no significant difference in serum levels of hs-CRP and TGF-${\beta}1$ between groups, and between time intervals. But there was a significant decrease in serum levels of IL-18 (P<.001). And there was a significant increase in ratio of IL-18 to IL-10 (P<.01) and serum levels of IL-10 (P<.001). After cardiac rehabilitation, there was significant increase in exercise duration (P<.001), maximal oxygen uptake ($VO_{2peak}$; P<.001) and decrease in submaximal rate-pressure product (sRPP; P<.05) in EX. In conclusion, exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation during phase II in patients with ACS after PCI decreased serum IL-18 (pro-inflammatory) content and ratio of IL-18 to IL-10 in serum (highly related with disease recurrence), and increased serum IL-10 (anti-inflammatory) content. In addition, it led to improved cardiopulmonary fitness.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.263-271
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• 2009

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are one of the most cause of death around the world and fields of interest for cardiac stem cells. Also, current use of terminally differentiated adult cardiomyocytes for CVDs has limited regenerative capacity therefore any significant cell loss may result in the development of progressive heart failure. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) derived from blastocyst-stage embryos spontaneously have ability to differentiate via embryo-like aggregates (endoderm, ectoderm and mesoderm) in vitro into various cell types including cardiomyocyte. However, most effective molecule or optimized condition which can induce cardiac differentiation of hESCs is rarely studied. In this study, we developed both spontaneous and inductive cardiomyocyte-like cells differentiation from hESCs by treatment of induced-factors, 5-azacytidine, BMP-4 and cardiogenol C. On the one hand, spontaneous and inductive cardiomyocyte-like cells showed that cardiac markers are expressed for further analysis by RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry. Interestingly, BMP-4 greatly improved homogeneous population of the cardiomyocyte-like cells from hESCs CHA15 and H09. In conclusion, we verified that spontaneously differentiated cells showed cardiac specific markers which characterize cardiac cells, treated extrinsic factors can manage cellular signals and found that hESCs can undergo differentiation into cardiomyocytes better than spontaneous group. This finding offers an insight into the inductive factor of differentiated cardiomyocytes and provides some helpful information that may offer the potential of cardiomyocytes derived from hESCs using extrinsic factors.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.1299-1305
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• 2010

Cardiac troponin-I (cTnI), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), and C-reactive protein (CRP) are routine cardiac markers for the diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. Recently, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) has garnered attention as a marker of heart failure. This study was retrospectively designed to investigate the relationships between preoperative BNP, other cardiac markers levels and perioperative parameters in seventy-four adult patients that underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) and to assess its usefulness for predicting postoperative outcomes. Preoperative levels of BNP, cTnI, CK-MB, and CRP had significantly positive or negative correlations with echocadiographic parameters. There were significantly positive relationships between BNP, cTnI, CK-MB, and CRP concentration. Postoperative mechanical ventilation time had a positive correlation to preoperative levels of cTnI, CK-MB, and CRP, while ICU-staying period had a positive correlation with BNP, cTnI and CK-MB. These results reveal that a preoperative level of BNP is a good predictor and that its combination with cTnI, CK-MB, and CRP might be useful for diagnosis and comprehensive risk stratification of patients with coronary heart diseases, as well as prognosis of perioperative outcomes in OPCAB patients.