• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.237-237
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• 2002

Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) was a marker in diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis. The CPK abnormality could be induced by intake of HMG CoA reductase inhibitors (statins). The objective of this study was to estimate the incidence rate of CPK abnormality by each statin. (omitted)

• Interdisciplinary Bio Central
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.2.1-2.3
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• 2009

There is evidence that cholesterol in the brain plays an important role in the neurotransmitter release. A decrease of the cholesterol level severely hampers the activity of the membrane fusion machinery, thereby inhibiting the release. Meanwhile, the results from several clinical studies suggest that a low cholesterol level is linked to the dysfunction of some brain activities. Because the neurotransmitter release underlies the basic brain function, the combined results lead to a testable hypothesis that the cholesterol-lowering drugs may inhibit the neurotransmitter release at the synapse. Such inhibition of the release could result in impaired brain function for a limited group of people. A molecular basis for the hypothesis is discussed.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2022

Dyslipidemia in nephrotic syndrome (NS) is often characterized by marked increases in the levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and other lipoproteins, such as very low-density lipoprotein, intermediate-density lipoprotein, and lipoprotein(a). It has been suggested that impaired catabolism of lipoproteins and cholesterol is mainly due to decreased lipoprotein lipase and hepatic lipase activity, and increased biosynthesis of lipoproteins in the liver. The management strategies for dyslipidemia in patients with NS consist of lifestyle modification, lipid-lowering agents represented by statins, second-line agents such as fibrates and bile acid sequestrants, and lipid apheresis. Compared with dyslipidemia in adult NS patients, whose risks of atherosclerotic disease and progressive renal injury are considered high, clinical data on dyslipidemia in pediatric NS patients are limited. Therefore, it is necessary to pay more attention to the evaluation and management of dyslipidemia in pediatric patients with NS in clinical practice.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.131-134
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• 2023

Here, we present a case of a 56-year-old man with acute myocardial infarction. The patient underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) at the left main bifurcation and mid-left anterior descending artery using drugeluting stents. Four months after the PCI, the patient was readmitted for cardiac arrest. Coronary angiography (CAG) revealed stent thrombosis in the left main-to-proximal left anterior descending artery and in-stent restenosis in the left main-to-proximal left circumflex artery. We performed balloon angioplasty at the left main to mid-left anterior descending artery and left main to proximal left circumflex artery stents; subsequently, blood flow was fully restored. However, contrast agent extravasation was observed outside the mid-portion of the left main artery to the proximal left anterior descending artery stent, indicating the presence of a coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) outside the stent. After guideline-directed medical therapy with dual antiplatelet agents and high-intensity statins, follow-up CAG revealed near-resolution of the CAA, absence of stenotic lesions, and good blood flow.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1337-1344
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• 2019

Osteoporosis is characterized by a reduction in bone mass and typically manifests as an increase in fractures. Because this disease is common in elderly populations and lifespans are rapidly increasing, the incidence of osteoporosis has also grown. Most drugs currently used for osteoporosis treatment target osteoclasts in the bone tissue to prevent absorption. However, these medications also cause certain side effects and, furthermore, cannot increase bone mass. Thus, in order to control osteoporosis, regenerative medicine that utilizes adult stem cells and osteoblasts has been extensively studied. Statins, also known as 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, are cholesterol-lowering drugs that have been widely prescribed for cardiovascular diseases. Interestingly, recent studies have reported the beneficial effects of various statins on bone formation via the activation of osteoblasts. Thus, the current study investigated the effects of seven statin-family drugs on osteoblast activity during osteogenic differentiation using adult stem cells from human periosteal tissue. Specifically, statin effects on alkaline phosphatase activity, an early marker of bone cell differentiation, and on calcium deposit, a late marker of bone cell differentiation, were assessed. The results demonstrate that some statins (for example, pitavastatin and pravastatin) have a weak but positive effect on bone formation, and the findings therefore suggest that statin treatments can be a novel modulator for osteogenic differentiation and regenerative medicine using periosteal stem cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.247-256
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• 2018

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins) are widely used drugs for lowering blood lipid levels and preventing cardiovascular diseases. HMG-CoA reductase is a key enzyme to control the biosynthesis of cholesterol. We have tested HMG-CoA reductase-inhibitory activity on the flavonoids of 98 species in vitro. The anti-hypercholesterolemic activities of flavonoids were studied using an HMG-CoA reductase assay equipped with a 96-well UV plate. This assay was based on the spectrophotometric measurement of the decrease in absorbance, which represents the oxidation of NADPH by the catalytic subunit of HMG-CoA reductase in the presence of the substrate HMG-CoA. Among the clinically available statins, pravastatin was used as a positive control. Among the tested compounds, kuraridin, morin and sophoraflavanone G showed strong inhibition activities. In particular, morin and sophoraflavanone G inhibited HMG-CoA reductase by 45.0% and 54.6% at a concentration of $10{\mu}g/ml$, and the $IC_{50}$ values were calculated to $13.31{\mu}g/ml$ and $7.26{\mu}g/ml$ respectively.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.103-112
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• 2012

Performance of coronary angiography for exact diagnosis and treatments of cardiovascular disease have been increased recently and it also brings increase of the contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) referred from increasing use of radiological contrast agents. The variation of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is an indicator of CIN, which is known to increase when renal function is decreased. Therefore, this study was to evaluate the affecting factors including concomitant drug on variation of eGFR of patients who underwent coronary angiography according to the conditions of renal function. Medical records of 66 patients were evaluated retrospectively and the patients underwent coronary angiography or angioplasty with nonionic and isotonic contrast media (iodixanol) at Chungnam national university hospital from 1 Jan 2008 to 30 Jul 2010. Patients group was divided into 2 groups; the patients in stages 3-4 chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the patients in stage 2 CKD. Each group was researched about the effect of concomitant drug and clinical characteristics on eGFR variation. The change of eGFR was compared among baseline and 2 or 3 day after coronary angiography. In results, the eGFR variation in group over age 75 was significantly decreased after radiological contrast agents exposure (p $$\leq_-$$ 0.05). The eGFR variation in anemia was significantly decreased after radiological contrast agents exposure in stage 2 CKD (p > 0.05). The eGFR variation in group under $HbA_{1c}$ 6.5% was significantly decreased after radiological contrast agents exposure in stages 3-4 CKD (p $$\leq_-$$ 0.05). The eGFR variation by taking statins, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, calcium channel blockers and nitroglycerin was increased after radiological contrast agents exposure in stage 2 CKD (p $$\leq_-$$ 0.05). The eGFR variation by using of diuretics was significantly decreased after radiological contrast agents exposure in stages 3-4 CKD (p $$\leq_-$$ 0.05). The eGFR variation by taking statins, nitroglylcerin was increased after radiological contrast agents exposure in stages 3-4 CKD(p > 0.05). The eGFR variation in group over contrast dosage 150 ml was significantly decreased after radiological contrast agents exposure in stages 3-4 CKD (p $$\leq_-$$ 0.05). Therefore, when undergoing coronary angiography, contrast dosage should be minimized less than 150 ml, and diuretics should be restricted as possible in stages 3-4 CKD. Patients over age 75 require special attention to prevent CIN, and if patients undergo coronary angiography in stages 3-4 CKD, $HbA_{1c}$ is also requried to maintain below 6.5% to prevent CIN.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2008

Dyslipidemia is the multiple lipid metabolic disorders which is one of the high risk factors for the atherosclerotic diseases. It increases the morbidity and mortality and therefore, must be treated with antilipidemic agents. HMG-Co A reductase inhibitors (statins), one of many antidyslipidemic agents, have shown to be significant improvement from the various cholesterol levels. Especially, data from many comparative trials suggest that rosuvastatin is more effective than atorvastatin among many other statins. The aims of this study were to evaluate the efficacy and safety between rosuvastatin and atorvastatin in the treatment of Korean patients with dyslipidemia. Currently the Korean Society of Lipidology and Atherosclerosis based on the Korean health screening data suggests that Korean patients with dyslipidemia should be treated by the target cholesterol levels according to the Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines of the US National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP-ATP III). We reviewed retrospectively all medical histories of the total 392 dyslipidemic patients with atorvastatin or rosuvastatin from June 1st, 2004 to August 31st, 2006 in Chungbuk National University Medical Center. Patients were classified as total 4 groups by the NCEP-ATP III Guidelines. The numbers of enrolled patients were each 5 mg atorvastatin (n=34), 10 mg atorvastatin (n=148), 5 mg rosuvastatin (n=94) and 10 mg rosuvastatin (n=82). In comparison between groups, rosuvastatin groups in the lowering LDL-C had better efficacies, and the results were each 22% (5 mg atorvastatin), 33.3% (10 mg atorvastatin), 35% (5 mg rosuvastatin) and 41.3% (10 mg rosuvastatin) with the dose relationship (P=0.000). Rosuvastatin groups also have shown to be more significantly reducing Total Cholesterol levels compared to atorvastatin groups with the no dose relationship (P=0.000). In the lowering of non-HDL cholesteroles, rosuvastatin groups showed significantly better efficacies than atorvastatin with the dose-relationship (P=0.000). Each medication groups did not demonstrate the differences in the changing of HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels (P=0.096, 0.309, respectively). In conclusion, rosuvastatin was better efficacious than atrovastatin in reducing LDL-C Total Chol, and Tg. Therefore, rosuvastatin is a good antilipidemic agents for Korean patients with dyslipidemia and it can use to minimize the morbidity and mortality related to the cardiovascular diseases in Korean.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1615-1624
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• 2013

The aims of this study were to investigate and confirm the occurrence and distribution patterns of blood lipid lower agents (BLLAs) in Nakdong river basin (mainstream and its tributaries). 4 (atorvastatin, lovastatin, mevastatin and simvastatin) out of 5 statins and 2 (clofibric acid and zemfibrozil) out of 3 fibrates were detected in 29 sampling sites and simvastatin (>50%) was predominant compound followed by atorvastatin, lovastatin and clofibric acid. The total concentration levels of BLLAs on April, August and November 2009 in surface water samples ranged from ND~25.7 ng/L, ND~18.8 and ND to 38.8 ng/L, respectively. The highest concentration level of BLLAs in the mainstream and tributaries in Nakdong river were Goryeong and Jincheon-cheon, respectively. The sewage treatment plants (STPs) along the river affect the BLLAs levels in river and the BLLAs levels decreased with downstream because of dilution effects.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.193-201
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• 2018

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a novel fibrotic mediator, which is considered to mediate fibrosis through extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis in diabetic cardiovascular complications. Statins have significant immunomodulatory effects and reduce vascular injury. We therefore examined whether fluvastatin has anti-fibrotic effects in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and elucidated its putative transduction signals. We show that advanced glycation end products (AGEs) stimulated CTGF mRNA and protein expression in a time-dependent manner. AGE-induced CTGF expression was mediated via ERK1/2, JNK, and Egr-1 pathways, but not p38; consequently, cell proliferation and migration and ECM accumulation were regulated by CTGF signaling pathway. AGE-stimulated VSMC proliferation, migration, and ECM accumulation were blocked by fluvastatin. However, the inhibitory effect of fluvastatin was restored by administration of CTGF recombinant protein. AGE-induced VSMC proliferation was dependent on cell cycle arrest, thereby increasing G1/G0 phase. Fluvastatin repressed cell cycle regulatory genes cyclin D1 and Cdk4 and augmented cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p27 and p21 in AGE-induced VSMCs. Taken together, fluvastatin suppressed AGE-induced VSMC proliferation, migration, and ECM accumulation by targeting CTGF signaling mechanism. These findings might be evidence for CTGF as a potential therapeutic target in diabetic vasculature complication.