• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.147-157
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• 2021

Coronary microembolization (CME) is associated with cardiomyocyte apoptosis and cardiac dysfunction. Puerarin confers protection against multiple cardiovascular diseases, but its effects and specific mechanisms on CME are not fully known. Hence, our study investigated whether puerarin pretreatment could alleviate cardiomyocyte apoptosis and improve cardiac function following CME. The molecular mechanism associated was also explored. A total of 48 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into CME, CME + Puerarin (CME + Pue), sham, and sham + Puerarin (sham + Pue) groups (with 12 rats per group). A CME model was established in CME and CME + Pue groups by injecting 42 ㎛ microspheres into the left ventricle of rats. Rats in the CME + Pue and sham + Pue groups were intraperitoneally injected with puerarin at 120 mg/kg daily for 7 days before operation. Cardiac function, myocardial histopathology, and cardiomyocyte apoptosis index were determined via cardiac ultrasound, hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and hematoxylin-basic fuchsin-picric acid (HBFP) stainings, and TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining, respectively. Western blotting was used to measure protein expression related to the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) pathway. We found that, puerarin significantly ameliorated cardiac dysfunction after CME, attenuated myocardial infarct size, and reduced myocardial apoptotic index. Besides, puerarin inhibited cardiomyocyte apoptosis, as revealed by decreased Bax and cleaved caspase-3, and up-regulated Bcl-2 and PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β pathway related proteins. Collectively, puerarin can inhibit cardiomyocyte apoptosis and thus attenuate myocardial injury caused by CME. Mechanistically, these effects may be achieved through activation of the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β pathway.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.185-195
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• 2018

Purpose: To investigate factors related to cardio-cerebrovascular disease and groups disadvantaged by it in Korean middle-aged women, using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Methods: The present study was conducted with 1,627 middle-aged women, aged 40 to 64 years, who participated in the 7th (2016) Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Results: Cardio-cerebrovascular disease among middle-aged women was associated with quality of life, menopause, diabetes mellitus, body mass index, and family history of hypertension. The incidence of cardio-cerebrovascular disease in middle-aged women was found to be the most prevalent in women who have entered menopause, have a family history of hypertension, and have a body mass index greater than $30.0kg/m^2$. Conclusion: This study classifies the subjects according to the risk level of each disadvantaged group for cardio-cerebrovascular disease prevention and management in middle-aged women. The results provide evidence to support a tailored cardio-cerebrovascular disease prevention and management program based on the related factors of disadvantaged groups and to establish strategies in educational and practical aspects.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1225-1237
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Unhealthy dietary behaviors constitute one of risk the factors for chronic and cardiovascular diseases, which are prevalent in middle-aged and older populations. Milk and dairy products are high-quality foods and important sources of calcium. Calcium protects against osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. Therefore, this study investigated the association of milk and dairy product consumption with cardio-cerebrovascular disease incidence in middle-aged and older Korean adults. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Data were derived from the Ansan-Anseong cohort study, and a total of 8,009 individuals aged 40-69 years were selected and followed up biennially. Cox proportional hazard models were used to examine the association of milk and dairy product consumption with cardio-cerebrovascular disease incidence. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up period of 96.5 person-months, 552 new cases of cardio-cerebrovascular disease were documented. Milk consumers (< 1 serving/day) exhibited a 23% lower risk of cardio-cerebrovascular disease incidence than non-milk consumers (hazard ratio [HR], 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.61-0.97; P for trend = 0.842). High yogurt consumption was associated with a 29% lower incidence risk (≥ 0.5 servings/day vs. none: HR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.53-0.96; P for trend = 0.049), whereas high ice cream consumption was associated with a 70% higher risk of cardio-cerebrovascular disease incidence (≥ 0.5 servings/day vs. none: HR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.01-2.88; P for trend = 0.070). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that less than one serving of milk and high yogurt consumption are associated with a lower cardio-cerebrovascular disease risk in the middle-aged and older populations.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.143-155
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• 2023

Percutaneous coronary intervention and acute coronary syndrome are both closely tied to the frequently occurring complication of coronary microembolization (CME). Resveratrol (RES) has been shown to have a substantial cardioprotective influence in a variety of cardiac diseases, though its function and potential mechanistic involvement in CME are still unclear. The forty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups randomly: CME, CME + RES (25 mg/kg), CME + RES (50 mg/kg), and sham (10 rats per group). The CME model was developed. Echocardiography, levels of myocardial injury markers in the serum, and histopathology of the myocardium were used to assess the function of the cardiac muscle. For the detection of the signaling of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB along with the expression of pyroptosis-related molecules, ELISA, qRT-PCR, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting were used, among other techniques. The findings revealed that myocardial injury and pyroptosis occurred in the myocardium following CME, with a decreased function of cardiac, increased levels of serum myocardial injury markers, increased area of microinfarct, as well as a rise in the expression levels of pyroptosis-related molecules. In addition to this, pretreatment with resveratrol reduced the severity of myocardial injury after CME by improving cardiac dysfunction, decreasing serum myocardial injury markers, decreasing microinfarct area, and decreasing cardiomyocyte pyroptosis, primarily by blocking the signaling of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB and also reducing the NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Resveratrol may be able to alleviate CME-induced myocardial pyroptosis and cardiac dysfunction by impeding the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and the signaling pathway of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.313-318
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Dietary pattern and its association with cardio-cerebrovascular disease have not been studied in Baoji city by now. This study was aimed to identify the dietary patterns among Chinese adults in Baoji, and explore the association between these dietary patterns and cardio-cerebrovascular disease. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 4,968 participants were included in this study at 12 counties. With multistage stratified random sampling and semi quantitative food frequency questionnaire, the prevalence of cardio-cerebrovascular disease and dietary intake were investigated in 2013. We used factor analysis to establish dietary patterns. RESULTS: A total of 4,968 participants over 15 years old were included in this study. Five dietary patterns were identified in Baoji: protein, balanced, beans, prudent, and traditional patterns. The protein dietary pattern mainly included animal and plant proteins and was negatively associated with hypertension as well as stroke. The balanced pattern included carbohydrates, protein, and fat and was negatively associated with hypertension as well as stroke. The beans pattern was mainly beans and beans products and was negatively associated with hypertension. The prudent pattern only included staple foods and pickled vegetables and was positively associated with hypertension as well as coronary heart disease. The traditional pattern was representative of local Baoji traditional recipes and was positively associated with hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: The protein, balanced, and beans dietary patterns showed many protective effects on cardio-cerebrovascular disease. Based on these results, Baoji city residents should be encouraged to choose protein, balanced, and beans dietary patterns and abandon prudent and traditional patterns to prevent incidence of hypertension, coronary heart disease, and stroke.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.335-345
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• 2022

Pyroptosis is an inflammatory form of programmed cell death that is linked with invading intracellular pathogens. Cardiac pyroptosis has a significant role in coronary microembolization (CME), thus causing myocardial injury. Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) has powerful cardioprotective effects. Hence, this study aimed to identify the effect of Tan IIA on CME and its underlying mechanism. Forty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly grouped into sham, CME, CME + low-dose Tan IIA, and CME + high-dose Tan IIA groups. Except for the sham group, polyethylene microspheres (42 ㎛) were injected to establish the CME model. The Tan-L and Tan-H groups received intraperitoneal Tan IIA for 7 days before CME. After CME, cardiac function, myocardial histopathology, and serum myocardial injury markers were assessed. The expression of pyroptosis-associated molecules and TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB/NLRP3 cascade was evaluated by qRT-PCR, Western blotting, ELISA, and IHC. Relative to the sham group, CME group's cardiac functions were significantly reduced, with a high level of serum myocardial injury markers, and microinfarct area. Also, the levels of caspase-1 p20, GSDMD-N, IL-18, IL-1β, TLR4, MyD88, p-NF-κB p65, NLRP3, and ASC expression were increased. Relative to the CME group, the Tan-H and Tan-L groups had considerably improved cardiac functions, with a considerably low level of serum myocardial injury markers and microinfarct area. Tan IIA can reduce the levels of pyroptosis-associated mRNA and protein, which may be caused by inhibiting TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB/NLRP3 cascade. In conclusion, Tanshinone IIA can suppress cardiomyocyte pyroptosis probably through modulating the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB/NLRP3 cascade, lowering cardiac dysfunction, and myocardial damage.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate influences of drinking, smoking, and obesity indices on cardio-cerebrovascular disease risk factors in Korean young men. Methods: The subjects were 234 young men, aged 20 to 39 years. Body mass index (BMI), percent body fat (PBF), body fat mass (kg), and waist hip ratio (WHR) were measured as obesity indices. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), fasting blood sugar (FBS), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were measured as cardio-cerebrovascular disease risk factors. The data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis using SAS 9.4. Results: Statistically significant factors were BMI for SEP; age, degree of drinking, body fat mass for DBP; WHR for TC; WHR and age for TG; age, degree of smoking and PBF for HDL-C; WHR, age and degree of smoking for LDL-C. Conclusion: Factors identified in this study need to be considered in cardio-cerebrovascular disease prevention programs for young men.

• Journal of Korean Academic Society of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.144-153
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to find out the relationship between health concern, knowledge of cardio-cerebrovascular disease, and health-promoting behaviors among the elderly in the community. Method: The subjects of the study were 142 senior citizens aged 65 years or older in Cheongju-si, Chungcheong-do. Data were collected using structured questionnaires that included questions on the general characteristics, health concerns, knowledge of cardio-cerebrovascular disease, and health-promoting behaviors. The collected data were analyzed by the statistical program SPSS 20.0. The frequencies, percentages, averages, and standard deviations of the collected data were analyzed using a t-test, ANOVA, Mann Whitney U test, and Pearson's correlation coefficient, basing on the purpose of the study. The Scheffe test was carried out as a posteriori test. Result: The elderly were found to have a high health concern, but their knowledge of cardio-cerebrovascular disease was low, and their health-promoting behaviors were above the intermediate level. There was a significant positive correlation between each variable, which means that the higher the health concern was, the more knowledge an individual had of cardio-cerebrovascular disease, and the more health-promoting behaviors one had. Conclusion: This suggests that the elderly in the community should be encouraged to engage in the actions that promote their health by raising their level of health concern and awareness of diseases through health education, basing on their individual characteristics.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.12 no.7
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• pp.327-336
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• 2014

This study aims to identify factors to affect regular utilization status of medical care in cardio-cerebrovascular patients. The research selected 770 cardio-cerebrovascular patients among surveyees from the Korea Health Panel 2010. We analyzed states of medical care utilization using descriptive statistics. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the main factors associated with regular utilization status of medical care in cardio-cerebrovascular patients. In result, the significant factors associated with regular utilization status of medical care in cardio-cerebrovascular patients were age, education level, household income level. CCI, presence or absence of high risk drinking, and presence or absence of obesity. There's a high probability that patients aged between 60 and 69, equal to and higher than those of high school graduate in education level, upper middle class in household income, the higher CCI, absence of high risk drinking, presence of obesity utilize medical care services more regularly. Therefore, it is necessary to develop effective program and individualized approach for patients using lesser periodical medical care and patients with high risk drinking problem. In the future, these findings can be used an important data for healthcare policy and assessment.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.37-55
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to provide basic data for improving the response capacity of 119 EMS systems by analyzing the effects of particulate matter on cardio-cerebrovascular and respiratory symptoms in the pre-hospital stage. Methods: We examined 46,389 patients who transferred to the hospital with complaints of cardiopulmonary arrest and cardio-cerebrovascular and respiratory symptoms by 119 ambulances in Incheon from 2016 to 2018. Results: The probability of 119 emergency dispatch for patients with cardiopulmonary arrest increased 2.8-4.0% from the day of symptom onset until two days before hospital presentation as particulate matter 10㎛ or less in diameter(PM₁₀) increased by 10㎍/㎥ (OR=1.028; 95% CI=1.014-1.041, p=0.000, lag 0), (OR=1.040; 95% CI=1.024-1.056, p=0.000, lag 1), (OR=1.032; 95% CI=1.016-1.049, p=0.000, lag 2). Meanwhile, emergency dispatch increased 3.6-6.1% for PM_2.5 in creased by 10㎍/㎥ (OR=1.046; 95% CI=1.024-1.068, p=0.000, lag 0), (OR=1.061; 95% CI=1.035-1.088, p=.000, lag 1), and (OR=1.036; 95% CI=1.010-1.063, p=0.006, lag 2). Conclusion: Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) who respond to 119 calls should rapidly and accurately evaluate patients and provide professional emergency care by identifying the characteristics of the vulnerable groups relative to particulate matter size. To prevent the occurrence and exacerbation of symptoms caused by particulate matter, EMTs should be prepared and equipped with a response system for high particulate matter in the EMS system.