• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.387-393
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• 2023

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of a modified surgical procedure for the treatment of varicose veins. Methods: This retrospective analysis was conducted on lower extremities with symptomatic great saphenous vein (GSV) incompetence that underwent stripping from the groin to the knee, with preservation of the superficial epigastric vein (SEV), between January 2015 and April 2022. Follow-up assessments were performed using Doppler ultrasound, Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS), and the Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire (AVVQ) at 6 and 12 months after surgery. Results: The study included 179 limbs from 120 patients (47 men and 73 women). The mean patient age was 56.5 years (range, 20-78 years), and the distribution of preoperative Clinical-Etiology-Anatomy-Pathophysiology clinical classes was 8% C0-C1, 88% C2, and 4% C3-C6. The preoperative diameter of the saphenofemoral confluence averaged 6.9 mm (range, 2.7-15.8 mm). After a mean postoperative follow-up period of 24 months, evidence of neovascularization around the stump of the saphenofemoral junction (SFJ) was observed in 2 limbs (1.1%). Additionally, varicose vein recurrence was found in 1 limb (0.6%) and was associated with an incompetent thigh perforator. At postoperative follow-up, both VCSS and AVVQ scores were significantly lower than the preoperative scores. Conclusion: Modified surgical treatment of GSV incompetence, involving preservation of the SEV and stripping of a short segment up to the knee, demonstrated favorable clinical results in terms of postoperative complication rate, neovascularization rate around the SFJ stump, varicose vein recurrence rate, and improvement in lower extremity symptoms.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.900-907
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• 2020

Objective: To investigate the predictive value of intraplaque neovascularization (IPN) for cardiovascular outcomes. Materials and Methods: We evaluated 217 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) (158 men; mean age, 68 ± 10 years) with a maximal carotid plaque thickness ≥ 1.5 mm for the presence of IPN using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography. We compared patients with (n = 116) and without (n = 101) IPN during the follow-up period and investigated the predictors of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including cardiac death, myocardial infarction, coronary artery revascularization, and transient ischemic accident/stroke. Results: During the mean follow-up period of 995 ± 610 days, the MACE rate was 6% (13/217). Patients with IPN had a higher maximal thickness than those without IPN (2.86 ± 1.01 vs. 2.61 ± 0.84 mm, p = 0.046). Common carotid artery-peak systolic velocity, left ventricular mass index (LVMI), and ventricular-vascular coupling index were significantly correlated with MACE. However, on multivariate Cox regression analysis, increased LVMI was independently related to MACE (p < 0.05). The presence of IPN could not predict MACE. Conclusion: The presence of IPN was related to a higher plaque thickness but could not predict cardiovascular outcomes better than conventional clinical factors in patients with CAD.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.474-483
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• 2019

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a pivotal role in pathologic ocular neovascularization and vascular leakage via activation of VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2). This study was undertaken to evaluate the therapeutic mechanisms and effects of the tetrapeptide Arg-Leu-Tyr-Glu (RLYE), a VEGFR2 inhibitor, in the development of vascular permeability and choroidal neovascularization (CNV). In cultured human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs), treatment with RLYE blocked VEGF-A-induced phosphorylation of VEGFR2, Akt, ERK, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), leading to suppression of VEGF-A-mediated hyper-production of NO. Treatment with RLYE also inhibited VEGF-A-stimulated angiogenic processes (migration, proliferation, and tube formation) and the hyperpermeability of HRMECs, in addition to attenuating VEGF-A-induced angiogenesis and vascular permeability in mice. The anti-vascular permeability activity of RLYE was correlated with enhanced stability and positioning of the junction proteins VE-cadherin, ${\beta}$-catenin, claudin-5, and ZO-1, critical components of the cortical actin ring structure and retinal endothelial barrier, at the boundary between HRMECs stimulated with VEGF-A. Furthermore, intravitreally injected RLYE bound to retinal microvascular endothelium and inhibited laser-induced CNV in mice. These findings suggest that RLYE has potential as a therapeutic drug for the treatment of CNV by preventing VEGFR2-mediated vascular leakage and angiogenesis.

• Fibers and Polymers
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.219-223
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• 2005

Water-soluble chitin (WSC) was prepared by carefully deacetylating chitins to about $50\%$ of N-acetyl content. Topical formulations based on WSC were prepared and their effects on wound healing were evaluated on a rabbit ear model. Full-thickness, open skin wounds were made on the ears of rabbits and WSC ointments were embedded in the open wounds. The application of WSC ointments significantly accelerated wound healing and wound contraction. The areas of epithelial-ization and granulation tissues in WSC ointment group are remarkably larger than those in control group (no treatment) and in placebo group (treated with ointment-base materials). A large number of grown granulation tissues including dense fibroblast deposition were observed under the thickened epithelium of the wound treated with WSC ointments. The number of inflammatory cells in WSC ointment group was significantly decreased compared with those in control and placebo groups, indicating that WSC would give low stimuli to wounds and prevent excessive scar formation. Neovascularization was the most prominent in WSC ointment group. Wound contraction in WSC ointment group was much larger than those in control and placebo groups. Overall results demonstrate that the topical formulation based on WSC is considered to become an excellent dressing as a wound healing assistant.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.77-81
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• 1993

The clinical evaluation was done in eight eyes of four patients with bilateral branch retinal vein occlusion. The onset of age was from 36 to 65 years, and three patients were women. Hypertension was the most common associated systemic disease. Retinal neovascularization was complicated in six eyes, and five eyes had vitreous hemorrhage. The vitrectomy was performed in three eyes. We believe that branch retinal vein occlusion associated with hypertension should be followed carefully in the fellow eyes.

• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.540-567
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• 2003

Metabolic disease such as diabetes, which is caused by stress or imbalanced diet, has been increasing. A diabetic tend to suffer from a delay or difficulty of wound healing. The extract of SHIKON (SK), that is the root of Lithospermun erythrorhison, has been reported to have an effect on healing for normal wound, but has never studies for intractable wound so far. Therefore we examined the effect of SK extract on wound healing with healing impaired mouse model. Full-thickness round wounds were created on the backs of db/db mice and applied SK, and we observed neovascularization and collagen synthesis, distribution of apoptotic cells, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)- positive cells in granulation tissue. After two weeks, a number of capillary vessel and collagen synthesis were increased in SK-treated wounds. Infiltration of VEGF-positive neutrophils was also seen in the wound, besides apoptotic fibroblasts and endothelial cells were appeared in the granulation tissue. After three weeks, the wound closed completely with SK-treated but not in control. These results suggest that SK enhanced neovascularization by VEGF and this kind of apoptosis process makes the scar smooth. In this study, it is obvious that SK also accelerates healing of intractable wound.

• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.11
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• pp.637-642
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• 2014

Sulodexide is a mixed glycosaminoglycan composed of heparin and dermatan sulfate. In this study, the anti-angiogenic effect of sulodexide was investigated using an oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) mouse model. The retinas of sham-injected OIR mice (P17) had a distinctive central area of nonperfusion, and this area was significantly decreased in sulodexide-injected mice. The number of neovascular tufts measured by SWIFT_NV and mean neovascular lumen number were significantly decreased in sulodexide-injected mice. Hyperbaric oxygen exposure resulted in increased levels of VEGF, MMP-2 and MMP-9, and when mice were treated with sulodexide, a dose-dependent reduction in VEGF, MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels was observed. Our results clearly demonstrate the anti-angiogenic effect of sulodexide and highlight sulodexide as a candidate supplementary substance to be used for the treatment of ocular pathologies that involve neovascularization.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.22-30
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• 2001

This study was attempted to investigate the anti-tumor and anti-metastatic effects of Sobokchukeotang(SBCT) and Kamisobokchukeotang(KSBCT). Cytotoxicity against various cancer cell lines, anti-adhesion, pulmonary colonization, anti-angiogenesis, and T/C% were evaluated. SBCT and KSBCT exhibited no cytotoxicity against HT-1080, A549, SK-OV-3, B16-F10 and SK-Mel-2 cell lines. In inhibitory effect on DNA topoisomerase I, the $IC_{50S}$ were shown $250-500{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ of SBCT and $62.5-125{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ of KSBCT respectively. In the in vivo experiments, SBCT(135.98%) and KSBCT(151.92%) apparently increased the life span of mice bearing sarcoma-180. KSBCT significantly inhibited the adhesion of HT-1080 to complex extracellular matrix in a dose-dependent manner in contrast to SBCT. In pulmonary colonization assay by B16-F10, a number of colonies in the lungs were decreased more significantly in KSBCT group than those in SBCT group. In vitro neovascularization and CAM assay, angiogenesis was more significantly inhibited in KSBCT-treated group than in SBCT- treated group. Above results suggests that KSBCT is more effectively applied to prevention and treatment of cancer than SBCT.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.212-218
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• 2019

This study evaluates the drug delivery and biocompatibility of latanoprost imbedded disk in rabbit eye by assessing pharmacokinetics (PK), clinical signs, and histopathologic findings. During 84 days of experimental period, 48 New Zealand Rabbit (NZW) eyes were divided into control group which received no treatment and test material group which latanoprost were implanted intrasclerally. Pharmacokinetic assessment was performed to evaluate the drug delivery for 3 months. For biocompatibility, clinical signs were observed and histopathological analysis was done at 3 months post-operatively. The concentration of latanoprost in the iris tissue was maintained during the experimental period and the highest level of latanoprost was found at 4 weeks. However, the latanoprost was not found in the aqueous humor. Macroscopically, there was no evidence of clinical signs except for temporary hyperemia, neovascularization and edema immediately after surgery. On histopathological examination, there were no abnormal findings such as hyperemia, neovascularization, and edema in the eye tissues. The latanoprost imbedded disks has effectively released the drug into the adjacent tissue with high compatibility. Therefore, this study suggests that the drug delivery system with intrascleral latanoprost imbedded implants might be a novel approach as a treatment option for glaucoma.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.137-144
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• 2002

Background: Hemoptysis is an often alarming presenting symptom and VEGF is a major regulator of both normal and abnormal angiogenesis, including many inflarrunatory diseases. In this report the clinical significance of the serum VEGF level in patients with hemoptysis was investigated. Methods: Thirty-two patients with hemoptysis were evaluated. The estimated amount of hemoptysis, etiology and serum VEGF level was examined at admission and bronchial angiography was performed in 22 patients. In order to objectify the neovascularization status, one point for the presence of the A-V shunt, hypervascularity, vascular tortuosity was designated for a total of 0-3 points. Results: Mean quantity of hemoptysis was $172.4{\pm}270.4ml$. The mean angiographic neovascularization score was $1.23{\pm}0.75$. The serum VEGF level correlated with the quantity of hemoptysis(r=0.524, p=0.002) and with the angiographic neovascularization score(r=0.441, p=0.04). Using the standard diagnostic criterion for massive hemoptysis, the serum VEGF level of patients with massive hemoptysis($642.4{\pm}545.6$ pg/ml, n=13) was found to be higher than that of patients with non-massive hemoptysis($394.6{\pm}225.8$ pg/ml, n=19) (p=0.069). Conclusion: Regardless of the etiology, the serum VEGF may contribute to abnormal neovascularization in patients with hemoptysis. Therefore, it is suggested that serum VEGF measurements may help in predicting a massive hemoptysis.