• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.67 no.3
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• pp.177-182
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• 2009

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a progressive, symptomatic, and ultimately fatal disorder for which substantial advances in treatment have been made during the past decade. This article reviews the recent advances in the field of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Epidemiology, genetics, treatment and prognosis will be the main focus of this update.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.245-252
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• 1990

To see the change of pulmonary arterial pressure after mitral valve replacement, postoperative cardiac catheterization and echocardiographies were performed in 12 patients of mitral valvular disease with pulmonary hypertension[systolic pulmonary arterial pressure>50 mm Hg]. The mean follow-up duration was 35.4[range: 15-47] months per patient. The following results were obtained. 1] Preoperative systolic pulmonary arterial pressure value of 66.17\ulcorner10.73mmHg decreased significantly to 29.17\ulcorner6.86mmHg postoperatively[p<0.01]. 2] Preoperative Pp/Ps value of 0.67\ulcorner0.13 decreased significantly to 0.28\ulcorner0.06 postoperatively[p<0.01]. 3] Preoperative PAWP value of 29.00\ulcorner4.02mmHg decreased significantly to 9.92\ulcorner4.27 mmHg postoperatively[p<0.01]. 4] Preoperative LAD value of 5.58\ulcorner1.20cm decreased significantly to 4.37\ulcorner0.67cm postoperatively [p<0.01]. In conclusion, pulmonary arterial hypertension secondary to mitral valvular disease could be reduced to normal range after successful mitral valve replacement.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.28-32
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• 2008

Pulmonary arterial thrombosis develops during hypercoagulable states, intra-arterial tumorous conditions, and congenital heart disease accompanied by pulmonary hypertension. Thrombosis in the main pulmonary arterial stump after pneumonectomy can also occur. Herein, we report a very rare case of pulmonary arterial thrombosis in a patient with pulmonary hypertension and a lung destroyed by tuberculosis. He presented with aggravated dyspnea without fever or purulent sputum. His chest computerized tomography scan showed left main pulmonary arterial thrombosis as a convex shape, with the ipsilateral distal arteries and arterioles showing parenchymal destruction. After excluding pulmonary thromboembolism and hypercoagulable disorders, we diagnosed pulmonary arterial thrombosis and treated him with an anticoagulant.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.196-201
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• 2014

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disease characterized by the vascular remodeling of the pulmonary arterioles, including formation of plexiform and concentric lesions comprised of proliferative vascular cells. Clinically, PAH leads to increased pulmonary arterial pressure and subsequent right ventricular failure. Existing therapies have improved the outcome but mortality still remains exceedingly high. There is emerging evidence that the seven-transmembrane G-protein coupled receptor APJ and its cognate endogenous ligand apelin are important in the maintenance of pulmonary vascular homeostasis through the targeting of critical mediators, such as Kr$\ddot{u}$ppel-like factor 2 (KLF2), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and microRNAs (miRNAs). Disruption of this pathway plays a major part in the pathogenesis of PAH. Given its role in the maintenance of pulmonary vascular homeostasis, the apelin-APJ pathway is a potential target for PAH therapy. This review highlights the current state in the understanding of the apelin-APJ axis related to PAH and discusses the therapeutic potential of this signaling pathway as a novel paradigm of PAH therapy.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.64 no.2
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• pp.125-132
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• 2008

Background: In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, the serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) are elevated and an increase of CRP is more exaggerated in the acute exacerbation form of COPD (AECOPD) than in stable COPD. Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a common complication of COPD. An increased level of CRP is known to be associated with the risk of systemic cardio-vascular disorders. However, few findings are available on the potential role of CRP in pulmonary arterial hypertension due to COPD. Methods: This study was performed prospectively and the study population was composed of 72 patients that were hospitalized due to AECOPD. After receiving acute management for AECOPD, serum CRP levels were evaluated, arterial oxygen pressure ($PaO_2$), was measured, and the existence of pulmonary arterial hypertension under room air inhalation was determined in the patients. Results: The number of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension was 47 (65.3%)., There was an increased prevalence of pulmonary arterial hypertension and an increase of serum CRP levels in patients with the higher stages of COPD (e.g., patients with stage 3 and stage 4 disease; P<0.05). The mean serum CRP levels of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and without pulmonary arterial hypertension were $37.6{\pm}7.4mg/L$ and $19.9{\pm}6.6mg/L$, respectively (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference of the mean values of $PaO_2$ between patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and without pulmonary arterial hypertension statistically ($77.8{\pm}3.6mmHg$ versus $87.2{\pm}6.0mmHg). Conclusion: We conclude that higher serum levels of CRP can be a sign for pulmonary arterial hypertension in AECOPD patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.122-128
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• 1993

This series compromised 31 patients with pulmonary hypertension of 282 patients of ventricular septal defect(VSD) who underwent operation at the department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in Chonnam University Hospital, from January, 1986 to December, 1991. Pulmonary hypertension was noted in 59 of 280 cases of VSD. Of them, 31 cases underwent cardiac catheterization on postoperative 8th to 77th month. Age at operation was ranged from 10 months to 29 years (mean 9.13 years). 17 patients were male and 14 patients were female. Results of follow-up studies were as follows: Cardiothoracic ratio was decreased from 0.59${\pm}$0.04 to 0.54${\pm}$0.03 (p=NS). Postoperative systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (PAPs), mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAPm), and systolic right ventricular pressure (RVPs) were decreased significantly (p<0.001). And also Rp/Rs was decreased from 0.37${\pm}$0.21 to 0.14${\pm}$0.06 (p<0.02). However, systemic arterial pressure (SAP), right atrial pressure (RAP), and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) were changed insignificantly. There were significant relations of follow-up period with the decrement of PAP(p<0.005). In contrary, ther were no relations between the decrement of PAP and the age at operation. These data suggested that the long-term hemodynamic changes remained to be determined in some of the patients, even though they Were asymptomatic, with pulmonary hypertension.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.50-57
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• 2008

Pulmonary hypertension is an increase in blood pressure in the pulmonary artery, pulmonary vein or pulmonary capillaries. Depending on the cause, pulmonary hypertension can be a severe disease with markedly decreased exercise tolerance and right-sided heart failure. Pulmonary hypertension can present as one of five different types: arterial, venous, hypoxic, thromboembolic, or miscellaneous. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with severe pulmonary hypertension is a rare disease. A 52-year-old man presented with a complaint of aggravating dyspnea. The mean pulmonary arterial pressure was 61.5 mmHg by Doppler echocardiogram. The patient was prescribed diuretics, digoxin, bronchodilator, sildenafil, bosentan and an oxygen supply. However, he ultimately died of cor pulmonale. Thus, diagnosis and early combination therapy are important.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.69-74
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• 2010

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is associated with significant cardiovascular morbidity and increased mortality. However, it was controversial whether obstructive sleep apnea syndrome could cause pulmonary hypertension. The controversy was resolved by several studies that have shown pulmonary hypertension in 20% to 40% of patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome without underlying other cardiopulmonary diseases and reductions in pulmonary arterial pressure in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome after treatment with nocturnal continuous positive airway pressure. Recent studies provide strong evidence for endothelial dysfunction in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and pulmonary hypertension. Endothelin-1 is a 21 amino acid peptide with diverse biologic activity such as highly potent vasoconstrictor and mitogen regulator that may play a key role in obstructive sleep ap-nea syndrome and pulmonary hypertension. Continuous positive airway pressure therapy is moderately effective in reducing pulmonary arterial pressure. Further researches are needed to assess the therapeutic efficacy of pharmacologic therapy with agents that inhibit the action of endothelin-1 in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome patients with pulmonary hypertension.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.132-138
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• 2000

Background: Inhaled nitric oxide therapy causes selective pulmonary vasodilation in congenital heart diseases with pulmonary hypertension. However discontinuation of inhaled nitric oxide therapy may be complicated by abrupt life-threatening rebound pulmonary hypertension(RPH) The purpose of this study was to prevent by comparing group I(without RPH n=13) and group II(with RPH n=6) to determine the risk factors involved inthe development of the RPH. Material and Method: Between Januarty 6, 1998 and April 14, 1999. we studied 19 consecutive children who were treated with inhaled nitric oxide for clinically significant pulmonary hypertension after an open heart surgery for congenital heart disease. the ratio of males and females was 12:7 ranging in age from 10 days to 6040 days(16 years) To identify the effects of nitric oxide between two groups we measured heart rate mean and systolic pulmonary arterial pressure mean and systolic systemic arterial pressure central venous pressure pH paO2/FiO2 and O2 saturation before and after the initiation and just before the withdrawal of the inhaled nitric oxide. result: In 6 of 19 patients(32%) withdrawal of inhaled nitric oxide caused RPH. In the two groups inhaled nitrix oxide decreased in pulmonary arterial pressure(PAP) without decreasing the systemic arterial pressure(SAP) and increased PaO2/FiO2 Compared with patients who had no RPH(group I) patients who had RPH(group II) were older in age (1204$\pm$1688 versus 546$\pm$1654 days p<0.05) received less nitric oxide therapy(34$\pm$18 versus 67$\pm$46 hours p<0.05) has shorter weaning process(5$\pm$3 versus 15一13 hours p<0.05) and received lowerconcentration of initial nitric oxide supply(11$\pm$8 versus 17$\pm$8 ppm p>0.05) and lower concentration just before the withdrawal nitric oxide(4.2$\pm$2.6 versus 5.6$\pm$2.6 ppm, p>0.05) Conclusion : We speculate that older age shorter of nitric oxide therapy shorter weaning process are the risk factors of RPH.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.142-150
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• 2006

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is often difficult to diagnose and challenging to treat. Untreated, it is characterized by a progressive increase in pulmonary vascular resistance leading to right ventricular failure and death. The past decade has seen remarkable improvements in therapy, driven largely by the conduct of randomized controlled trials. Still, the selection of most appropriate therapy is complex, and requires familiarity with the disease process, evidence from treatment trials, complicated drug delivery systems, dosing regimens, side effects, and complications. We tried to provide evidence-based treatment recommendations for physicians involved in the care of these complex patients. Due to the complexity of the diagnostic evaluation required, and the treatment options available, it is strongly recommended that consideration be given to referral of patients with PAH to a specialized center.