• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.260-266
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• 2011

Objectives: We evaluated the association between common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT), brachialankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), carotid plaque, and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) as indicators of macroangiopathy and diabetic retinopathy as an indicator of microangiopathy in type 2 diabetic patients. Methods: We analyzed 605 type 2 diabetic patients registered at a public health center in Korea. Following overnight fasting, venous blood and urine samples were collected and analyzed. The CCA-IMT, levels of carotid plaque, baPWV, and ankle-brachial index (ABI) of the subjects were assessed. We used non-mydriatic fundus photography to diagnose diabetic retinopathy. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the association between macroangiopathy and diabetic retinopathy. CCA-IMT and baPWV were divided into tertiles: CCA-IMT, 0.39 to 0.65 mm, 0.66 to 0.78 mm, and 0.79 to 1.30 mm; baPWV, 9.9 to 15.8 m/s, 15.9 to 18.9 m/s, and 19.0 to 38.0 m/s. Results: The association between baPWV and diabetic retinopathy remained significant after adjustment, with an increasing odds ratio (OR) in the second tertile (OR, 2.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.27 to 4.55) and the third tertile (OR, 4.63; 95% CI, 2.33 to 9.21). No significant differences were observed in carotid plaque, PAD, and each tertile of CCA-IMT. Conclusions: BaPWV was associated with diabetic retinopathy, while CCA-IMT, carotid plaque, and PAD were not. This study suggests that the association between macroangiopathy and microangiopathy may be attributable to functional processes rather than structural processes within the vascular system.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2024

Purpose: The inflammatory response due to inflammatory cytokines, bacterial pathogens, and the altered lipoprotein metabolism in patients with periodontitis indicates that infection with periodontal anaerobic bacteria may influence atherogenesis in vitro and in vivo. We aimed to explore the effect of periodontitis concerning clinical and ultrasound markers of early atherosclerosis. Methods: In this case-control study, a total of 30 systemically healthy adults (15 with periodontitis and 15 without periodontitis) over 40 years of age were studied. Periodontitis was determined by measuring the clinical attachment level (CAL) and radiographic bone loss (RBL). Conventional cardiovascular risk factors, including body mass index, serum levels of total cholesterol (TCH), triglycerides (TG), and high-density and low-density lipoprotein (HDL and LDL, respectively) cholesterol were evaluated. Carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) was measured using ultrasonography. Results: The mean values of the CAL and carotid IMT were 5.02±0.9 mm and 0.084±0.01 cm vs. 1.6±0.61 mm and 0.072±0.02 cm in the periodontitis and healthy groups, respectively, reflecting statistically significant differences (P=0.001 and P=0.037, respectively). There were statistically significant differences in the serum levels of TCH, TG, and LDL between the 2 groups (P=0.017). The CAL and RBL were positively associated with carotid IMT and serum cholesterol levels, except for HDL, whereas tooth loss was not associated with any markers (P<0.05). Compared to the healthy group, participants with periodontitis exhibited 2.09 times higher odds (95% confidence interval, 1.22-3.59) of having subclinical atherosclerosis. Conclusions: The presence of periodontitis increased the risk of atherosclerosis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.9
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• pp.935-938
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• 2005

Purpose : The aim of the present study was to ascertain whether the increase of carotid intima-media thickeness(cIMT) as one of premature pathologic changes of atherosclerosis, was present in obese children compared to normal weight children. Methods : The obese group consisted of 21 obese/overweight(body mass index(BMI) above 85 percentile of age, sex standards) children and the control group of 11 normal weight children. None of the children had any chronic illnesses or previous medication history. We investigated the age, sex, height, weight, and systolic/diastolic blood pressure. We measured cIMT by ultrasonogram. In 19 of the obese group, we tested the serum glucose level, liver transaminase level, and cholesterol level etc. Results : The increase of cIMT in obese group did not achieved statistical significance(obese group vs. control group; 0.42 vs. 0.40 mm, P=0.0592). In addition, cIMT showed no significant correlation with any physical/laboratory variables including BMI(P=0.0585). Conclusion : To our knowledge, this is the first study to measure the cIMT in Korean children. Though the results approached statistical significance, we could not prove an increase of cIMT in obese children or an association between cIMT and BMI, due to the study's small sample size. In the future, larger and more extensive trials are needed.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SP
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• v.44 no.4 s.316
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• pp.86-92
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• 2007

A discrete dynamic model for tracking feature points in 2D images is developed. Conventional snake approaches deform a contour to lock onto features of interest within an image by finding a minimum of its energy functional, composed of internal and external forces. The neighborhood around center snaxel is a space matrix, typically rectangular. The structure of the model proposed in this paper is a set of connected vertices. Energy model is designed for its local minima to comprise the set of alternative solutions available to active process. Block on tracking is one dimension, line type. Initial starting points are defined to the satisfaction of indent states, which is then automatically modified by an energy minimizing process. The track is influenced by curvature constraints, ascent/descent or upper/lower points. The advantages and effectiveness of this layer approach may also be applied to feature points tracking of digital image whose pixels have one directional properties with high autocorrelation between adjacent data lines, vertically or horizontally. The test image is the ultrasonic carotid artery image of human body, and we have verified its effect on intima/adventitia starting points tracking.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.345-353
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• 2018

This study examined the associations of smoking, alcohol drinking habits and both with the carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in university students. This study was performed using a CAGE (test for alcohol: cutting down, annoyance by criticism, guilty feeling, and eye-openers) questionnaire, FTND (the Fagerstrom test for nicotine dependence) questionnaire, and CIMT of university students. No statistically significant differences were observed among the CIMT results according to each CAGE level classified into 3 groups. The results of CIMT according to the FTND smoking categorization showed that the smoking group was higher than nonsmoking group (P<0.01). A statistically significant difference was observed between the left and right CIMT regarding smoking and drinking (P<0.01). In the only drink risk group, the left CIMT (19.84 rank) showed a low-ranking. The CIMT on the left (42.38 rank) and right (42.81 rank) showed high scores in the group with only the risk of smoking (P<0.01). These results suggested that there are distinct differences in CIMT and relevant risk factors between smokers and drinkers, particularly among those with a high smoking status. This study had several limitations: the study population was small; the relatively young age of the study subjects; and limited of focus on smoking, drinking and CIMT. In conclusion, cigarette smoking significantly exacerbates the adverse effects and higher CIMT on the subclinical atherosclerosis risk in young adults, which underscores the importance of prevention and cessation of cigarette smoking in young adults.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.11
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• pp.1091-1096
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• 2007

Purpose : The of common carotid artery intima media thickness (IMT) is an acknowledged noninvasive marker for early atherosclerotic changes. We investigate whether common carotid IMT is different between obese and normal-weight children and also evaluate the relationships IMT with cardiovascular risk factors. Methods : We collected the clinical data (age, sex, pubertal stage, body mass index) and measured blood pressure, glucose, insulin, lipid profiles and adiponectin in 49 obese children (mean age, 12 years) and 24 nonobese children as controls. The control group was composed of 24 nonobese children of the same age, sex and pubertal stage. We measured the carotid IMT of all subjects by B-mode ultrasound with a 7.5-MHz linear transducer and analyzed. Results : Obese children demonstrated a significantly thicker intima media (mean, 0.34 mm, peak, 0.42 mm) compared to the control group (mean, 0.31 mm, peak, 0.38 mm, P<0.01). IMT was significantly correlated to the BMI (r=0.431, P<0.01), age (r=0.317, P<0.01), total cholesterol (r=0.377, P< 0.01), triglyceride (r=0.253, P<0.05) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (r=0.289, P<0.05). Serum adiponectin was significantly lower in obese children than in controls (11.2 ng/mL vs. 14.7 ng/mL, P<0.05) and negatively related with IMT (r=-0.267, P<0.05). Conclusion : Obesity is associated with increased carotid artery IMT in children. Our results suggest vascular changes in obesity seem to occur already in childhood and vascular ultrasonography may helpful for screening cardiovascular complications in obese children.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.452-452
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• 2005

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Emotion and Sensibility Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.125-127
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• 2007

심장질환과 혈관질환을 포함하는 심뇌혈관질환은 한국인 사망원인 1위이다. 대표적인 질환으로서의 뇌경색과 심근경색은 혈관이 막힌 후 6시간 이내에 뚫어주지 않으면 사망 또는 돌이킬 수 없는 상태에 이른다. 가족 중 이러한 환자가 있으면 환자가 사망할 때까지 수년간 환자 본인은 물론 가족 전체의 삶의 질이 크게 저하되며, 국내 심뇌혈관질환의 사회 경제적 비용은 5조 4천억원에 이른다. 따라서, 이와 같은 질환은 조기에 검출하는 것이 중요하다. 최근 경동맥 헐관벽 두께가 이러한 질환의 가능성과 상관성이 높다는 사실이 밝혀지면서 미국심장협회에서는 무증상이더라도 45세 이상이면 주기적으로 이 지표를 측정할 것을 권장함에 따라 이 분야의 연구가 전세계적으로 확산되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 경동맥의 내막과 중막 두께가 이러한 질환의 위험인자와 어떠한 상관성을 갖는지 밝힘으로써 궁극적으로는 삶의 질을 향상시키고자 한다.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.61-69
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• 2024

Hypogonadism is associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease. This study sought to describe the histomorphology of the left coronary arteries of the adult male rabbit following orchiectomy and subsequent testosterone administration. We included 20 adult male rabbits, divided into a baseline group (n=2), an interventional group subjected to castration only (n=6), an intervention group subjected to castration followed by testosterone injection (n=6), and a control group (n=6). Key variables under investigation were serum testosterone levels, the intima-media thickness of coronary arteries, smooth muscle cell density, and adventitial collagen fiber density. The mean coronary arteries' intimal medial thickness was significantly higher in the castrated group than in controls (0.488 mm and 0.388 mm, respectively), while the testosterone-injected group had a mean of 0.440 mm. Mean smooth muscle cell density was significantly lower in the castrated rabbits vs. controls (26.96% and 47.80%, respectively), this observation being reversed with testosterone injection (47.53%). Mean adventitial collagen fiber density was significantly higher in the castrated group than in controls (66.6% and 36.1%, respectively), with a marginal difference after testosterone injection (65.2%). This study demonstrates that castrationinduced hypogonadism causes morphological changes in the coronary arteries that are partly reversible using testosterone injections. These findings provide a morphological basis for understanding the role of testosterone in coronary arteries.

• Journal of health informatics and statistics
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2016

Objectives: Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the presence of carotid artery plaque are widely used as preclinical markers of atherosclerosis. Due to operator dependency in measuring CIMT, it is important to evaluate the reliability of measuring CIMT and plaque between centers in a multicenter study. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the inter-rater reliability of CIMT and plaque presence among three clinical centers of the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Etiology Research Center (CMERC). Methods: Twenty people without known cardiovascular disease (age 37-64) were enrolled during 2014-2015, and their left and right carotid arteries were examined repeatedly with ultrasonography for CIMT measurements at three clinical centers according to a predetermined protocol. Maximum and mean values of CIMT at distal common carotid artery were recorded. Plaque presence at a carotid artery was checked by an operator. The reliability of CIMT and carotid plaque presence was assessed using an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and kappa statistics, respectively. Results: Calculated ICC was 0.647 (95% CI: 0.487-0.779) for maximum CIMT, and 0.758 (95% CI: 0.632- 0.854) for mean CIMT. In Bland Altman plot, most observed values were distributed within mean difference ${\pm}1.96$ SD ranges. Kappa statistics of plaque presence between two centers were 0.304 (center 1 and 2), 0.507 (center 1 and 3), and 0.606 (center 2 and 3), respectively, while Fleiss kappa for overall agreement was 0.445. Conclusions: The inter-rater reliability of CIMT measurements among three clinical centers turned out to be high, and the agreement of measuring carotid plaque presence was fair.