• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.437-445
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• 2018

${\alpha}$-Iso-cubebene (ICB) is a dibenzocyclooctadiene lignin contained in Schisandra chinensis (SC), a well-known medicinal herb that ameliorates cardiovascular symptoms, but the mechanism responsible for this activity has not been determined. To determine the role played by ICB on the regulation of vascular tone, we investigated the inhibitory effects of ICB on vascular contractile responses by adrenergic ${\alpha}$-receptor agonists. In addition, we investigated the role on myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation and cytosolic calcium concentration in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). In aortic rings isolated from C57BL/6J mice, ICB significantly attenuated the contraction induced by phenylephrine (PE) and norepinephrine (NE), whereas ICB had no effects on KCl (60 mM)-induced contraction. In vasculatures precontracted with PE, ICB caused marked relaxation of aortic rings with or without endothelium, suggesting a direct effect on VSMC. In cultured rat VSMC, PE or NE increased MLC phosphorylation and increased cytosolic calcium levels. Both of these effects were significantly suppressed by ICB. In conclusion, our results showed that ICB regulated vascular tone by inhibiting MLC phosphorylation and calcium flux into VSMC, and suggest that ICB has anti-hypertensive properties and therapeutic potential for cardiovascular disorders related to vascular hypertension.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2015

Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Cannabis Fructus on exercise capacity and cognitive function in chronic hypoperfusion induced vascular dementia rat model. Methods Vascular dementia rat models were induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion through bilateral common carotid arteries occlusion (BCCAO). All rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal group; control group; CF I group (feeding Cannabis Fructus 100 mg/kg); CF II group (feeding Cannabis Fructus 300 mg/kg). In order to study the effects of oral administration of Cannabis Fructus on vascular dementia rat models, corner turn test, hole board test, radial arm maze test, passive avoidance test were taken and Acetylcholine (ACh) activity, Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, serum of Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein level were measured. Also histological findings of the liver, kidney, brain and the change of Tau immunoreactive neurons in hippocampus were observed. Results CF I and CF II showed significant improvement in corner turn test, hole board test, radial arm maze test, passive avoidance test, Acetylcholine (ACh) activity, Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, the serum of Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein level and the change of Tau immunoreactive neurons in hippocampus. CF I showed more significant effect than CF II in these tests. However in histological observations of the liver and kidney both CF I and CF II showed glomerular injury and hepatotoxicity. Conclusions These results suggest that Cannabis Fructus was helpful in improving exercise capacity and cognitive function on Chronic hypoperfusion induced Vascular Dementia rats. However Cannabis Fructus affects the liver and kidney, therefore suggest that this is an area for further study.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.43-56
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• 2018

Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the basis for developing the herbal decoction that may help promote healthy blood vessels in accordance with the basic principles of Korean medicinal materials. Methods: In this study, we investigated the vascular relaxation effects of fifty herbal decoctions on vascular response in isolated thoracic aorta of phenylephrine-preconracted rats. Results: The results of identify the vascular relaxation effect of fifty herbal decoctions provided by Korea Institute of Korean Medicine, twenty-one herbal decoctions showed vascular relaxation effects. Among them, four herbal decoctions, Mahwang-tang (麻黃湯), Samchulgeonbi-tang (參朮健脾湯), Cheonwangbosim-dan (天王補心丹), and Socheonglyong-tang (小靑龍湯), with showed significantly concentration-dependent vasodilation was examined. Vascular relaxation level are $84.02{\pm}4.70$, $79.39{\pm}13.9$, $51.26{\pm}12.56$, and $54.73{\pm}15.8%$, respectively (P<0.05, 0.01, and 0.001). Conclusions: Thus these results provide a basic data for the treatment of the impairment of vascular function and blood pressure in traditional Oriental medicine.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.8
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• pp.771-780
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• 2018

Angiogenesis must be precisely controlled because uncontrolled angiogenesis is involved in aggravation of disease symptoms. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) signaling is a key pathway leading to angiogenic responses in vascular endothelial cells (ECs). Therefore, targeting VEGF/VEGFR-2 signaling may be effective at modulating angiogenesis to alleviate various disease symptoms. Oleanolic acid was verified as a VEGFR-2 binding chemical from anticancer herbs with similar binding affinity as a reference drug in the Protein Data Bank (PDB) entry 3CJG of model A coordination. Oleanolic acid effectively inhibited VEGF-induced VEGFR-2 activation and angiogenesis in HUVECs without cytotoxicity. We also verified that oleanolic acid inhibits in vivo angiogenesis during the development and the course of the retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) model in the mouse retina. Taken together, our results suggest a potential therapeutic benefit of oleanolic acid for inhibiting angiogenesis in proangiogenic diseases, including retinopathy.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.555-558
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• 2009

Purpose: The high success rate of free flap transfers is well documented in previous literature, and is possible due to the early detection of vascular compromise and timely reoperation. We specifically analyzed the operative results of immediate and delayed reconstruction with free transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous(TRAM) flap respectively in order to reveal its distinctive features on timing and causes of vascular compromise. Methods: The senior author operated on 158 patients, 161 cases of free TRAM flap for breast reconstruction. 51 patients underwent delayed reconstruction, whilst immediate reconstruction was performed in the other 107 patients. All patients were monitored every 3 hours for the first 3 days. We reviewed medical records of all patients, and tested statistical significance with the Fisher's test. Results: Reoperation was performed in 20 cases, but the cases include hematoma with bleeding focus and arterial anastomosis site rupture due to abrupt arm abduction. We performed reoperation in 15 cases of suspicious vascular compromise. Flap compromise was noticed mostly within 24 hours, but not longer than 72 hours. Venous compromise was dominant by 11 cases (73.3%). There was difference in the timing of flap compromise between immediate and delayed reconstruction. All the cases of delayed reconstruction did not show signs of vascular compromise after 12 hours postoperatively. On the other hand, cases of vascular compromise were observed until 72 hours postoperatively in cases of immediate reconstruction. Conclusion: Delayed reconstruction showed vascular compromise within 12 hours postoperatively, while immediate reconstruction showed compromised until the 3rd postoperative day. If more aggressive monitoring is maintained during this period, we believe salvage of flaps may be increased with more efficiency.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.128-135
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• 2008

Purpose: As the care of surgical patients becomes increasingly complex and catheter-based techniques are more frequently applied, the pattern of iatrogenic vascular injuries may be increasing. Major vascular injuries can jeopardize a patient's life or limb survival. The purpose of this study was to examine the current etiology and prognosis for iatrogenic vascular injuries. Methods: We reviewed medical records of 29 cases of iatrogenic vascular injury that were treated Seoul National University Bundang Hospital between October 2003 and October 2008. We studied clinical variables including demographics, cause of injury, clinical presentations, management and prognosis. Results: The mean age was 60.8 years (range: 25-86), and the male to female ratio was 1.9 : 1. The causes of injuries were operation related complication in 18 cases (62.1%), endovascular intervention and diagnostic angiography in 11 cases (37.9%). The types of vascular injury were partial severance in 14 cases, pseudoaneurysm in 8, arteriovenous fistula (AVF) in 3, thrombosis in 2, complete severance in 2. Especially, device related complication including percutaneous closing device were occurred in 9 and the others came from inadvertent physician's procedure. Primary repair were done in 12 cases, end-to-end anastomosis in 5, interposition graft in 4, ligation in 2, patch angioplasty in 1, peudoaneurysm excision and arteriorrhaphy in 1, hematoma evacuation in 1, and endovascular repair in 3. There were 2 cases of mortality, one of them due to hemorrhagic shock and the other due to septic shock. Conclusion: Proper selection of treatment modalities should be important to have better outcome according to the type of injury as well as anatomical location. Each physician should be familiar to new device as well as patient's topographical feature. Immediate referral to vascular specialist is also essential to reduce morbidity.

• Vascular Specialist International
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.103-108
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• 2018

Purpose: Surgery is the most common risk factor for pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients with a recent venous thromboembolism (VTE). This study reviewed clinical outcomes of preoperative inferior vena cava filter (IVCF) use in patients with acute VTE during abdominal-pelvic cancer or lower extremity orthopedic surgeries. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 122 patients with a recent VTE who underwent IVCF replacement prior to abdominal-pelvic cancer or lower extremity orthopedic surgery conducted between January 2010 and December 2016. Demographics, clinical characteristics, postoperative IVCF status, risk factors for a captured thrombus, and clinical outcomes were collected for these subjects. Results: Among the 122 study patients who were diagnosed with acute VTE in the prior 3 months and underwent preoperative IVCF replacement, 70 patients (57.4%) received abdominal-pelvic cancer surgery and 52 (42.6%) underwent lower extremity orthopedic surgery. There were no perioperative complications associated with IVCF in the study population and no cases of symptomatic PE postoperatively. A captured thrombus in the filter was identified postoperatively in 16 patients (13.1%). Logistic regression analysis indicated that postoperative anticoagulation within 48 hours significantly reduced the risk of a captured thrombus (odds ratio [OR], 0.28; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.08-0.94; P=0.032). Conclusion: A captured thrombus in preoperative IVCF was identified postoperatively in 16 patients (13.1%). Postoperative anticoagulation within 48 hours reduces the risk of captured thrombus in these cases.

• Vascular Specialist International
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.88-93
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to compare surgical revisions and balloon angioplasty after surgical thrombectomy on thrombosed dialysis access as a first event. Materials and Methods: Records of patients undergoing creation of arteriovenous grafts (AVGs) at the Gachon University Gil Medical Center between March 2008 and February 2016 were reviewed. Among them, patients who underwent treatment on first-time thrombotic occlusion after AVG creation were identified. Outcomes were primary, primary-assisted, and secondary patency. The patency was generated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and patency rates were compared by log-rank test. Results: A total of 59 de novo interventions (n=26, hybrid interventions; n=33, surgical revisions) for occlusive AVGs were identified. The estimated 1-year primary patency rates were 47% and 30% in the surgery and hybrid groups, respectively. The estimated primary patency rates were not different between the two groups (log-rank test, P=0.73). The Kaplan-Meier estimates of 6 and 12 months for primary-assisted patency rates were 68% and 57% in the surgery group and 56% and 56% in the hybrid group. The Kaplan-Meier estimates of 12 and 24 months secondary patency rates were 90% and 71% in the surgery group and 79% and 62% in the hybrid group. There were no differences in the estimated primary-assisted and secondary patency rates between the two groups. Conclusion: Our results showed no significant difference between the two groups in terms of primary patency (P=0.73), primary-assisted patency (P=0.85), and secondary patency (P=0.78). However, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty can give more therapeutic options for both surgeons and patients.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.309-319
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• 2023

Bamboo culm is in the form of a tube/pipe, composed of internodes which are bounded by a partition/diaphragm (node). Anatomically, bamboo is composed of vascular bundles and parenchyma ground tissue. One of the constituents of vascular bundles is fibers that are grouped to form a fiber sheath. The anatomical structure of the nodes and internodes is thought to influence the strength of bamboo strips, including tensile strength. This study aimed to determine the characteristics of vascular bundles (distribution and fiber percentage) and their effects on the density and tensile strength of Gigantochloa apus bamboo strips with and without nodes. The bamboo culms were divided into three parts (outer, middle, and inner) along the radial direction. The results showed that the distribution of vascular bundles and percentage of fiber sheaths decreased significantly from the outer to the inner layer. This also had a significantly decreased density and tensile strength. Furthermore, the number of vascular bundles (in the transverse plane) was greater in the internodes than in the nodes. Anatomically, the orientation of the vascular bundles at irregular nodes is observed in the radial and tangential planes, where the direction is not only in the axial direction, but also in the radial and tangential directions. This caused the tensile strength of the G. apus bamboo strips to be lower at the nodes than at the internodes.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.1021-1033
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• 2021

Objective: To assess the expression of vascular normalization genes in different molecular subtypes of breast cancer and to determine whether molecular subtypes with a higher vascular normalization gene expression can be identified using dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). Materials and Methods: This prospective study evaluated 306 female (mean age ± standard deviation, 50 ± 10 years), recruited between January 2014 and August 2017, who had de novo breast cancer larger than 1 cm in diameter (308 tumors). DCE MRI followed by IVIM DWI studies using 11 different b-values (0 to 1200 s/mm²) were performed on a 1.5T MRI system. The Tofts model and segmented biexponential IVIM analysis were used. For each tumor, the molecular subtype (according to six [I-VI] subtypes and PAM50 subtypes), expression profile of genes for vascular normalization, pericytes, and normal vascular signatures were determined using freshly frozen tissue. Statistical associations between imaging parameters and molecular subtypes were examined using logistic regression or linear regression with a significance level of p = 0.05. Results: Breast cancer subtypes III and VI and PAM50 subtypes luminal A and normal-like exhibited a higher expression of genes for vascular normalization, pericyte markers, and normal vessel function signature (p < 0.001 for all) compared to other subtypes. Subtypes III and VI and PAM50 subtypes luminal A and normal-like, versus the remaining subtypes, showed significant associations with K^trans, k_ep, v_p, and IAUGC_BN90 on DEC MRI, with relatively smaller values in the former. The subtype grouping was significantly associated with D, with relatively less restricted diffusion in subtypes III and VI and PAM50 subtypes luminal A and normal-like. Conclusion: DCE MRI and IVIM parameters may identify molecular subtypes of breast cancers with a different vascular normalization gene expression.