• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 2015

Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is used to non-invasively estimate the severity of arteriosclerosis by measuring arterial stiffness. Increased arterial stiffness measured by PWV stands for progressive arteriosclerosis and is caused by atherosclerotic risk factors. This study is focused on how brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is related to the leading risk factors for arteriosclerosis or atherosclerosis. Subjects were 114, 69 males and 45 females who are in 60's and had baPWV test for acute stroke. The results are as follows: the group with increased arterial stiffness showed significant increase in HbA1c, total cholesterol, BSBP (brachial artery systolic blood pressure), BDBP (brachial artery diastolic blood pressure), CSBP (central artery systolic blood pressure), CDBP (central artery diastolic blood pressure), augmentation index (AIx) and diabetes mellitus. Correlation analysis between baPWV and atherosclerotic risk factor showed significant relationship in age, HbA1c, LDL cholesterol, BSBP, BDBP, CSBP, CDBP and augmentation index. baPWV was independently related to age and BSBP in multiple linear regression analysis. The group with increased arterial stiffness was independently related to BDBP in multiple logistic regression analysis. This study might be meaningful in evaluating the relationship between arterial stiffness and atherosclerotic risk factor in a new way, and be helped to make various studies for cardiovascular disease.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.166-174
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• 2017

The bacterial cells located within the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) outnumber the host's cells by a factor of ten. These human digestive-tract microbes are referred to as the gut microbiota. During the last ten years, our understanding of gut microbiota composition and its relation with intra- and extra-intestinal diseases including risk factors of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) such as atherosclerosis and metabolic syndrome, have greatly increased. A question which frequently arises in the research community is whether one can modulate the gut microbial environment to 'control' risk factors in CVD. In this review, we summarized promising intervention methods, based on our current knowledge of intestinal microbiota in modulating CVD. Furthermore, we explore how gut microbiota can be therapeutically exploited by targeting their metabolic program to control pathologic factors of CVD.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.131-140
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• 2019

Background: The purposes of this study were to evaluate the appropriateness of the stage migration of stage IIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the seventh edition of the tumor, node, and metastasis classification for lung cancer to stage IIB lung cancer in the eighth edition, and to identify prognostic factors in patients with eighth-edition stage IIB disease. Methods: Patients with eighth-edition stage IIB disease were subclassified into those with seventh-edition stage IIA disease and those with seventh-edition stage IIB disease, and their recurrence-free survival and disease-specific survival rates were compared. Risk factors for recurrence after curative resection were identified in all included patients. Results: Of 122 patients with eighth-edition stage IIB NSCLC, 101 (82.8%) had seventh-edition stage IIA disease and 21 (17.2%) had seventh-edition stage IIB disease. Nonsignificant differences were observed in the 5-year recurrence-free survival rate and the 5-year disease-specific survival rate between the patients with seventh-edition stage IIA disease and those with seventh-edition stage IIB disease. Visceral pleural invasion was a significant risk factor for recurrence in patients with eighth-edition stage IIB NSCLC. Conclusion: The stage migration from seventh-edition stage IIA NSCLC to eighth-edition stage IIB NSCLC was appropriate in terms of oncological outcomes. Visceral pleural invasion was the only prognostic factor in patients with eighth-edition stage IIB NSCLC.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.292-302
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• 2011

Adipocytokines (adiponectin, leptin and resistin) are known to play a major role in development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and intervention program is effective in reducing CVD risk factors. However, intervention program to improve the CVD risk factors including adipocytokines has been less studied. This study investigated the effects of 12-weeks worksite intervention program on cardiovascular risk factors, adipocytokines and nutrients intakes in industrial workers. 157 industrial male workers (32 metabolic syndrome (MS) subjects, 125 healthy subjects using age-matched stratified random sampling) received 5 face-to-face counseling based on their health profiles. Anthropometry, biochemical parameters and nutrients intakes were measured. The diagnosis of MS was adapted from modified NCEP-ATP III criteria (2001) and Asia-Pacific definition criteria (2000) for waist circumference (WC). After the intervention program, WC, BMI, SBP, insulin, leptin and intakes of total energy and fiber were significantly decreased (p < 0.05), while adiponectin was significantly increased (p < 0.05) in MS subjects. The WC, BMI, SBP, total cholesterol, LDL and HDL-cholesterol, HbA1c, leptin and intakes of total energy, protein and fat were significantly decreased (p < 0.05) and adiponectin was significantly increased (p < 0.05) in normal subjects. Multiple linear regression revealed that adiponectin was positively correlated with HDL-cholesterol (p < 0.01). Leptin was positively correlated with WC (p < 0.01), and resistin was positively correlated with HbA1c (p < 0.05) and intakes of total energy (p < 0.05), and negatively correlated with HDL-cholesterol (p < 0.05). The results of the 12 weeks intervention showed a positive impact on adipocytokines and nutrients intakes of industrial workers to reduce cardiovascular risk factors. Further research is needed to verify a tailored long-term worksite intervention program including adipocytokines as a protective factor for the CVD.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.106-112
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• 2001

In view of the effect of factor Ⅶ as a risk factor for essential hypertension, we investigated the length (I/D) polymorphism at position 323 promoter region and exon 8-Msp I RFLP of the human factor Ⅶ gene in the Korean patients with essential hypertension and normal controls. There were no significant differences in the allele, genotype and haplotype frequencies of these polymorphisms between normotensive and essential hypertensive subjects. The significant linkage disequilibrium was however, detected between two polymorphic sites. The Msp I RFLP and I/D polymorphism were also significantly associated with plasma triglyceride (TG) levels. Therefore, our results suggest that the significant association between two genetic variations in the human factor Ⅶ gene and plasma TG level may reflect the potential role of human factor Ⅶ gene as one of the genetic components for cardiovascular risk.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.255-259
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• 2003

Mutations in the factor Ⅴ gene are major risk markers for venous thrombosis. Several factors for blood coagulation have been related with cardiovascular disease. Ⅰ investigated genotype distribution for three mutations (G1691 A, A2379G and G2391 A) of the factor Ⅴ gene in the Korean population. Genotype frequencies were examined by polymerase chain reaction in 135 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and 116 healthy subjects. For the G1691A mutation (factor Ⅴ

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.86-96
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• 2012

The high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) as one of the typical acute phase reactants is used for predictive factor of the cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus. In addition, there are claims that must be included as factors of metabolic syndrome. This research examined the relationship between the concentration of hs-CRP in blood and risk factors of the metabolic syndrome by gender, and the rates of metabolic syndrome depending on the hs-CRP level based on the general public who took the comprehensive medical check-up at Chonbuk National University Hospital in the Jeonbuk province. The subjects aged 17-87 years were participated, and 2,000 people were included as the final subjects except the persons with more than 10 mg/L of the hs-CRP of blood level. The hs-CRP concentrations increased according to the number of risk factors of metabolic syndrome in both men and women. In regards to the risk ratio of metabolic syndrome based on hs-CRP level in blood according to gender, the risk ratio increased by 3.07 times in male and 4.55 times in female intermediate risk group and 3.60 times in male and 6.15 times in female high risk group compared to hs-CRP low risk group. As a result, there was a proportional relation between hs-CRP level and the occurrence of metabolic syndrome, and it occurs more frequently among women than men.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.163-170
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• 2017

Background: The absence of atrial contraction (AC) after the maze procedure has been reported to cause subsequent annular dilatation and to increase the risk of embolic stroke. We hypothesized that the lack of AC could increase the risk of permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation in patients undergoing the maze procedure. Methods: In 376 consecutive patients who had undergone a cryo-maze procedure and combined valve operation, recovery of AC was assessed at baseline and at immediate (${\leq}2$ weeks), early (${\leq}1$ year, $4.6{\pm}3.8$ months), and late (>1 year, $3.5{\pm}1.1$ years) postoperative stages. Results: With a median follow-up of 53 months, 10 patients underwent PPM implantation. Seven PPM implants were for sinus node dysfunction (pauses of $9.6{\pm}2.4$ seconds), one was for marked sinus bradycardia, and two were for advanced/complete atrioventricular block. The median (interquartile range) time to PPM implantation was 13.8 (0.5-68.2) months. Our time-varying covariate Cox models showed that the absence of AC was a risk factor for PPM implantation (hazard ratio, 11.92; 95% confidence interval, 2.52 to 56.45; p=0.002). Conclusion: The absence of AC may be associated with a subsequent risk of PPM implantation.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.237-247
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of cardiocerebrovascular disease prevention program on cardiovascular risk factors and quality of life in the elderly. A non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. Participants were 44 elderly who registered at the public health center. The experimental group(n=22) received the cardiocerebrovascular disease prevention program for the elderly 8 times. There were significant differences in the systolic blood pressure(t=-2.419, p= .020), diastolic blood pressure(t=-2.226, p= .031), blood glucose(t=-2.071, p= .045) and quality of life(t=2.511, p= .016) between the experimental group and the control group. The results suggest that cardiovascular disease prevention program can be an effective strategy to reduce cardiovascular risk factors and improve the quality of life of the elderly.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.262-268
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• 2014

Background: The development of diagnostic techniques and an awareness of health examinations can bring about an early diagnosis of lung cancer. However, appropriate postoperative management and adjuvant chemotherapy remain under debate in postoperative therapeutic strategy. The present study was conducted to assess the clinicopathologic factors that influence recurrence and prognosis after complete resection of lung cancer. Methods: The present study analyzed 62 patients with lung cancer who underwent complete resection of diagnosed adenocarcinoma between 1994 and 2007. In addition to conventional factors, which include staging factor and histological evaluation, the present study also performed univariate and multivariate analyses to consider claudin, a cell adhesion molecule, as a prognostic factor by immunohistochemical staining. Results: There was no correlation between conventional factors, including lymphatic and vascular invasion, and recurrence. However, there was a significant correlation between high expression of claudin 4 and cancer recurrence. In particular, there was a correlation between high expressions of claudin 1, 4, and 5 and a reduction of disease-free survival. Conclusion: Increased expressions of claudin 4 were negative prognostic factors in adenocarcinoma of the lung and thus could be used to identify high-risk patients for adjuvant chemotherapy, even if they had early-stage lung cancer. The present findings collectively suggest that consideration of claudin as a prognostic factor in the active postoperative treatment in patients at high risk will lead to better therapeutic outcomes with fewer side effects.