• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.753-758
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• 2003

The purpose of the present study was to establish the mechanism of the generation of atherosclerosis by analyzing the hemodynamic variables in the coronary artery where atherosclerosis occurs frequently. From the previous results, the stenosis phenomena due to atherosclerosis were related to not only biochemical reaction between blood and blood vessel but also the hemodynamic factors like flow separation and oscillatory wall shear stress. The present study aimed to investigate the causes of the generation and progression of atherosclerosis in the coronary artery. This study also aimed to develop the softwares which generate automatically three dimensional vascular models obtained by the angiogram images and the computer vision techniques. In the present study, the flow patterns for full three-dimensional hemodynamic characteristics were analyzed. To understand the three-dimensional hemodynamic characteristics, the wall shear stress distributions and secondary flows were investigated quantitatively.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.34 no.10
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• pp.893-899
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• 2010

A previous study showed that hemodynamics is correlated with stenosis in the coronary artery. The flow characteristics and the distributions of the hemodynamic wall parameters in the coronary artery are investigated under physiological flow condition. The present study also aims to establish the mechanism of the generation of atherosclerosis by analyzing the hemodynamic variables in the coronary artery where atherosclerosis frequently occurs. The stenosis phenomena due to atherosclerosis are related to not only the biochemical reaction between blood and blood vessels but also the hemodynamic factors sush as flow separation and oscillatory wall shear stress. As the bifurcated angle increases, the size of the recirculation area that appears in the cross section increases and disturbed flow is observed in this area. We speculate that this area is the starting point of atherosclerosis in the coronary artery.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.437-449
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• 2002

Coronary arteries are subjected to very different flow conditions compared to other arteries in systemic blood circulation. We Performed a computational fluid dynamic research to investigate influence of such flow conditions in coronary arteries on development and progress of atherosclerosis in the same. The results showed big differences in the flow field of the coronary artery compared to the abdominal and femoral arteries. The coronary artery showed higher wall shear stresses due to the small vessel diameter. On the other hand, it showed only one vortex distal to the stenosis throat during a whole pulse cycle. However. several vortices were observed in the abdominal and femoral arteries in both proximal and distal sides of the stenosis throat The wall shear stresses and extent of recirculation area were increased with impedance phase angle increasing toward more negative values. Therefore, cardiac contraction and the negative impedance phase angle as large as -110。 may induce a flow field that accelerates atherosclerosis.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.518-539
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• 2024

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) has emerged as a pivotal tool for diagnosing and risk-stratifying patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). Recent advancements in image analysis and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques have enabled the comprehensive quantitative analysis of coronary atherosclerosis. Fully quantitative assessments of coronary stenosis and lumen attenuation have improved the accuracy of assessing stenosis severity and predicting hemodynamically significant lesions. In addition to stenosis evaluation, quantitative plaque analysis plays a crucial role in predicting and monitoring CAD progression. Studies have demonstrated that the quantitative assessment of plaque subtypes based on CT attenuation provides a nuanced understanding of plaque characteristics and their association with cardiovascular events. Quantitative analysis of serial CCTA scans offers a unique perspective on the impact of medical therapies on plaque modification. However, challenges such as time-intensive analyses and variability in software platforms still need to be addressed for broader clinical implementation. The paradigm of CCTA has shifted towards comprehensive quantitative plaque analysis facilitated by technological advancements. As these methods continue to evolve, their integration into routine clinical practice has the potential to enhance risk assessment and guide individualized patient management. This article reviews the evolving landscape of quantitative plaque analysis in CCTA and explores its applications and limitations.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.384-392
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• 1987

The occlusive coronary artery disease presents a potential threat to a significant population in the United State. According to many case reports, the increasing incidence of coronary artery disease due to atherosclerosis is noted in Korean, recently. We experienced one case of coronary artery disease. He was a 68 year old male who had been suffered from hypertension since 1 5 years ago, and had intermittent conservative treatment at local clinic. He had been afflicted with severe chest pain on exertion, but this symptom was relieved on rest. Pre-operative EKG finding revealed no any other ischemic sign. Significant S-T segment depression was noted at lead II, aVF, V3, V4, and V5, and inverted T wave in V5 and V6 after Master`s test. Simple chest X-ray finding showed emphysematous field, bilaterally. Final pre-operative diagnosis was made by coronary angiogram, which showed almost 90% degree of occlusive lesion in the proximal part of left main coronary artery above the origin LAD artery. He was treated successfully by aorta-coronary saphenous vein graft under extra-corporeal circulation in May, 1987. He has been followed up with uneventful course.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.85 no.2
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• pp.297-307
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• 2024

Coronary artery disease (CAD) narrows vessel lumens at the sites of atherosclerosis, increasing the risk of myocardial ischemia or infarction. Early and accurate diagnosis of CAD is crucial to significantly improve prognosis and management. CT angiography (CTA) is a noninvasive imaging technique that enables assessment of vascular structure and stenosis with high resolution and contrast. Coronary CTA is useful in the diagnosis of CAD. Recently, the CAD-reporting and data system (CAD-RADS), a diagnostic classification system based on coronary CTA, has been developed to improve intervention efficacy in patients suspected of CAD. While the CADRAD is based on CTA, it includes borderline categories where interpreting the coronary artery status solely based on CTA findings may be challenging. This review introduces CTA findings that fall within the CAD-RADS categories that necessitate additional tests to decide to perform invasive coronary angiography and discusses appropriate management strategies.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2002.08a
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• pp.717-720
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• 2002

The present study is to evaluate the performances of flow velocity and wall shear stress in the stenosed coronary artery using human in vivo hemodynamic Parameters and computer simulation. Initial and follow-up coronary angiographics in the patients with angulated coronary stenosis are performed. Follow-up coronary angiogram demonstrated significant difference in the percent of diameter in the stenosed coronary between two groups ($Group\;1:\;40.3{\%},\;Group\;2:\;25.5{\%}$). Flow-velocity wave obtained from in vivo intracoronary Doppler ultrasound data is used for the boundary condition for the computer simulation. Spatial and temporal variations of flow velocity vector and recirculation area are drawn throughout the selected segment of coronary models. The WSS of pre- and post-intracoronary stenting are calculated from three-dimensional computer simulation. Then negative shear stresses area on 3D simulation we noted on the inner wall of the post-stenotic area before stenting. The negative WSS is disappeared after stenting. High spatial and temporal WSS before stenting fell into within physiologic WSS after stenting. This finding was prominent in Model 2. The present study suggest that hemodynamic forces exerted by pulsatile coronary circulation termed WSS might affect on the evolution of atherosclerosis within the angulated vascular curvature. The local recirculation area which has low or negative WSS, might lead to progression of atherosclerosis.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1313-1320
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• 2005

Stenosed coronary artery may play an important role in various coronary heart diseases. However, it has not been known how much stenosed coronary artery affects coronary circulation system, quantitatively. The present study developed a mathematical model for microcirculation in the left common coronary artery (LCCA) with adopting a previously measured morphological data and mechanical properties of the coronary vessels. We examine the effect of percent diameter stenosis on blood flow rate and shear stress for two cases. Case I comprised of one-stenosed element at $10^{th}$ order ($\%$ diameter stenosis are 10, 30, and 50, respectively). Case II consisted of completely occluded element at $10^{th}$ order (number of occluded elements are 0, 1, and 2 out of 8, respectively). As the level of stenosis becomes severe, the shear stress increases significantly but the flow rate reduction was relatively small. However, for the occluded case, there was linearly proportional reduction of flow rate according to number of occluded elements. Either such high shear stress associated with coronary artery stenosis or reduced flow rate due to occlusion may cause atherosclerosis and myocardial ischemia.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.297-305
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• 1979

Occlusive coronary artery disease presents a potential threat to a significant population in the United States. According to many case reports, the increasing incidence of coronary artery disease due to atherosclerosis is noted in Korean, recently. Operative vascular procedures have increased steadily in number over the past 20 years in the United States. There have been many isolated case reports about coronary artery surgery, but these had little clinical impact. Nowadays, major three coronary bypass surgery has developed principally at three cardiac centers in the United States since 1967. Among three coronary bypass operation, the aorta-coronary artery saphenous vein bypass graft was first demonstrated by Favolaro and Effler at the Cleveland Clinic in 1967. We experienced one case of coronary artery disease, which was treated successfully by aorta-coronary saphenous vein graft with mild hypothermia under extracorporeal circulation in May, 1977. Saphenous vein was removed from above the knee and was 2.5 mm in diameter. The left ventricle was not vented for the left ventricle was not overdistended. Temporary artificial pace-maker-Medtronic-was implanted for the prevention and treatment of post-operative arrhythmia and heart block in post-operative first day. He is a 57 year old male businessman who had been suffered from hypertension [200 mmHg in systolic pressure] since 4 years ago, who had intermittent conservative treatment at local clinic. He had been afflicted with severe chest pain with choking sensation for 50 days. This symptom was aggravated exposing cold weather, or cold water, but was respond to rest. Pre-operative ECG revealed no any other ischemic sign except sinus bradycardia. Significant S-T segment depression was noted at lead II, AVF after double 5 minutes exercise, indicating positive Master`s test. Serum cholesterol was slight elevated to 253 mg/dl. Final pre-operative diagnosis was made by coronary arteriogram, which showed about 1.0-cm segmental 90 % occlusive atherosclerotic lesion in the proximal part of right coronary artery above the origin of acute marginal artery. Left coronary artery revealed good patency and there was no collateral circulation between right and left coronary artery .Hospital course was not eventful. He was discharged with good result on the post-operative day. He has been free from chest pain for longer than 2 years. And also the arterial flow in the coronary bypass graft is auscultated with the pocket-sized ultrasonic velocity detector, which shows the patency of the coronary bypass graft good.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.257-268
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• 2002

Chronic infection and inflammation have recently been implicated as important etiologic agents of atherosclerosis. Several agents have been suggested as possible candidates including cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex vims type 1 (HSV-1), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Chlamydia pneumoniae, and Helicobacter pylori. We evaluated the relationship between cytornegalovirus infection and atherosclerosis by in situ hybridization and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We examined 23 subjects with atherosclerosis and 10 matched control subjects without atherosclerosis. CMV was detected by in situ hybridization in 60.9% (14/23) of aorta and 42.9% (9/21) of coronary arteries in subjects with atherosclerosis. It was also detected by PCR in 65.2% (15/23) of aorta and 52.4% (11/21) of coronary arteries. CMV was detected on areas showing early or advanced atheromatous changes. Cells morphologically identical to smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, lymphocytes, fibroblasts, and Schwann cells were positively reacted with the CMV probe. However. none of the cells to which the probe hybridized contained inclusion bodies, thus strongly suggesting that the arterial wall may be a site of CMV latency. This result Indicates that CMV may potentially play a direct or indirect role in the pathogenesis of human atherosclerosis.