• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.35-42
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• 2008

Purpose: Alterations in the structure and function of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are important in cardiovascular disease and maintaining chronic hypertension. Chronic hypertension is associated with changes in vascular smooth muscle tone. The spontaneous or myogenic tone of a blood vessel reflects the ability to adapt smooth muscle tone to changes in transmural pressure. However, the intracellular signaling mechanisms involved in myogenic tone are not fully understood. Methods: Here, we investigated the relationship between mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) in isometric contraction and enzymatic activity using muscle strips from rats made hypertensive with aldosterone-analogue deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) salts. Results: Changes in myogenic tone and intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) were different after physiological salt solution (PSS) in normotensive and hypertensive rats. The myogenic tone and quiescent phosphorylation induced by the PSS treatment were inhibited by 10 ${\mu}$M PD098059, an extracellular-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) inhibitor, and 10 ${\mu}$M wortmannin, an inhibitor of PI3K, in hypertensive rats. Conclusion: The development of DOCA-induced hypertension is associated with altered isometric contractions and $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ via changes in activation of ERK1/2 and PI3K after DOCA-salt treatment. Therefore, ERK1/2 and PI3K activity affect hypertension and may be suitable targets for physical therapy in cardiovascular disease.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.63-69
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• 2013

Objective: To assess the effect of vitamin D administration on the skin blood flow response to occlusion and heat. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Twenty age matched subjects; 10 who had diabetes and 10 who were controls were administered 4,000 IU of vitamin D3 for 3 weeks at breakfast. The function of the endothelial cells was evaluated in 2 ways; first, the response to 4 minutes of vascular occlusion of the skin was measured with a laser Doppler flow meter. Second, the skin blood flow response to local heat at 42 degrees C for 6 minutes was examined. Results: The results of the experiments showed that the blood flow response to heat was reduced after 3 weeks administration of vitamin D in the subjects with diabetes and in the control subjects (p<0.05). The response to occlusion was not significantly different within each group before and after vitamin D administration, but the group with diabetes had a significantly lower blood flow response to occlusion than did the controls (p<0.05). Conclusions: Acute doses of vitamin D may impair nitric oxide production and reduce blood flow to tissue during stressors in people with diabetes.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.8
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• pp.749-762
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• 2020

The migration, dedifferentiation, and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are responsible for intimal hyperplasia, but the mechanism of this process has not been elucidated. WD repeat domain 1 (WDR1) promotes actin-depolymerizing factor (ADF)/cofilin-mediated depolymerization of actin filaments (F-actin). The role of WDR1 in neointima formation and progression is still unknown. A model of intimal thickening was constructed by ligating the left common carotid artery in Wdr1 deletion mice, and H&E staining showed that Wdr1 deficiency significantly inhibits neointima formation. We also report that STAT3 promotes the proliferation and migration of VSMCs by directly promoting WDR1 transcription. Mechanistically, we clarified that WDR1 promotes the proliferation and migration of VSMCs and neointima formation is regulated by the activation of the JAK2/STAT3/WDR1 axis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.27-35
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• 2022

PURPOSE: A Mat Pilates exercise program and a stretching program were conducted for elderly women to determine how the two interventions affect their autonomic nervous system. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 20 elderly women over 65 who regularly used a welfare center located in C city of Chungnam. The subjects were assigned randomly to the following two groups: 10 people in the breathing and mat Pilates exercise program group (PG) and 10 people in the breathing and stretching program group (SG). RESULTS: The present study design is randomized controlled trial. Vascular age was decreased significantly in the PG (p < .05). The mean stress index was reduced significantly in the PG (p < .05), and the amount of change was significantly larger in the PG than in the SG (p < .05). The health index was significantly lower in the PG than the SG (p < .05), and the amount of change in the PG was significantly more prominent than in the SG (p < .05). CONCLUSION: The Mat Pilates program was effective in improving the vascular age, average stress index, and health index of elderly women. In particular, it was significantly more effective than the stretching exercise program in improving the average stress and health indices.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.303-315
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• 2008

- Abstract - Objectives: The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of depression and identify its related factors among an urban elderly. Methods: The data for this study were obtained from 333 men and 514 women, aged 65-79 years who participated in '2007 community health survey' in Donggu, Gwangju metropolitan city. Their depressive symptoms were measured by Korean version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D). Results: The mean CES-D score (mean±S.D) for all subjects was 7.68±0.31. The mean CES-D score was significantly greater in the women (9.09±0.43) than in the men (5.51±0.39) (p<0.001). The prevalence rates of possible depression (CES-D score ≥16), probable depression (CES-D score≥21), and definite depression (CES-D score≥25) were 8.1%, 5.4%, and 3.9% in men, respectively. The prevalence rates of possible depression, probable depression, and definite depression were 19.5%, 11.1%, and 7.2% in women, respectively. Existence of spouse (no/yes), education level (no/high school or higher), health security system (medical aid/national health insurance), self-reported health status (poor/good), vascular risk factors (present/absent) proved to be statistically significant related factors of depression. Conclusions: This study suggests that a systematic effort and attention to support for elderly people living alone, low educational level, medical aid, poor self-reported health status and vascular risk factors should be promoted to reduce the incidence of depression.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.316-322
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• 2012

Objectives: Abdominal obesity increases mortality and morbidity from cardiovascular disease and there is a possibility that smoking effects obesity. However, previous studies concerning the effects of smoking on obesity are inconsistent. The objective of this study was to examine whether smoking is positively related to abdominal obesity in men with type 2 diabetes. Methods: Subjects consisted of 2197 type 2 diabetic patients who visited Huh's Diabetes Center from 2003 to 2009. Indices of abdominal obesity were defined as visceral fat thickness (VFT) measured by ultrasonography and waist circumference (WC). Overall obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI). Results: Statistically significant differences in WC and VFT by smoking status were identified. However, there was no statistical difference in BMI according to smoking status. Means of WC and VFT were not significantly higher in heavy smokers and lower in mild smokers. Compared to nonsmokers, the BMI confounder adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval for VFT in ex-smokers and current-smokers were 1.70 (1.21 to 2.39) and 1.86 (1.27 to 2.73), respectively. Conclusions: Smoking status was positively associated with abdominal obesity in type 2 diabetic patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.4257-4260
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• 2015

Background: Uterine papillary serous tumors are rarely seen and behave aggressively. Our aim was to evaluate uterine papillary serous tumors arising from polyps. Materials and Methods: Clinicopathological data of patients with uterine serous cancer arising from a polyp at the Gynecological Oncology Department of Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. Results: We analyzed patients according to FIGO 2009 staging system as stage 1A and higher than stage 1A (3 and 6, respectively). All the patients were postmenopausal. Mean CA-125, CA-19.9 and CA15.3 levels were elevated in higher than stage 1A group. However we did not find a statistical difference between age, parity, polyp size, CA-125, CA-15.3, CA-19.9 and CEA levels. Lympho-vascular space invasion (LVSI) showed predictivity for advanced disease (p=0.025). Conclusions: The histopathologic nature of uterine serous carcinoma is a unique entity. LVSI is a prognosticator for defining an advanced stage uterine papillary tumor.

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.8 no.11
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• pp.1777-1784
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was Changes of body composition and vascular flexibility check according to Pilates Mat exercise in elderly Women and in future, Exercise programs for seniors health promotion as evidence when tried to utilize. Female 30 elderly patients classified into the control group and the exercise group, who was conducted Pilates Mat exercise was gradually intensity applied for 60 minutes, three times per 1week, a total of 12 weeks. The following were result the study. Body composition showed statistically significant increased(p<.01) in skeletal muscle and body fat rates was decreased(p<.01), and there was no statistically significant difference in body fat mass. Vascular flexibility showed systolic pressure was statistically significant decreased(p<.01) and peripheral pulse pressure were statistically significant decreased(p<.01), and there was no statistically significantly difference in diastolic pressure and aorta pulse pressure. As a result of all these, it was judged that a positive effect for body composition, and vascular flexibility after pilates mat exercise in 12 weeks.

• The Korean journal of internal medicine
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.1160-1168
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• 2018

Background/Aims: The Republic of Korea is a country where the hemodialysis population is growing rapidly. It is believed that the numbers of treatments related to vascular access-related complications are also increasing. This study investigated the current status of treatment and medical expenses for vascular access in Korean patients on hemodialysis. Methods: This was a descriptive observational study. We inspected the insurance claims of patients with chronic kidney disease who underwent hemodialysis between January 2008 and December 2016. We calculated descriptive statistics of the frequencies and medical expenses of procedures for vascular access. Results: The national medical expenses for access-related treatment were 7.12 billion KRW (equivalent to 6.36 million USD) in 2008, and these expenses increased to 42.12 billion KRW (equivalent to 37.67 million USD) in 2016. The population of hemodialysis patients, the annual frequency of access-related procedures, and the total medical cost for access-related procedures increased by 1.6-, 2.6-, and 5.9-fold, respectively, over the past 9 years. The frequency and costs of access care increased as the number of patients on hemodialysis increased. The increase in vascular access-related costs has largely been driven by increased numbers of percutaneous angioplasty. Conclusions: The increasing proportion of medical costs for percutaneous angioplasty represents a challenge in the management of end-stage renal disease in Korea. It is essential to identify the clinical and physiological aspects as well as anatomical abnormalities before planning angioplasty. A timely surgical correction could be a viable option to control the rapid growth of access-related medical expenses.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.563-569
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• 2020

Purpose: The vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in mature animals have implicated to play a major role in the progression of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis. This study aimed at optimizing the protocol in culturing primary VSMCs (pVSMCs) from rat thoracic aorta and investigating the effect of cellular zinc (Zn) deficiency on cell proliferation of the isolated pVSMCs. Methods: The thoracic aorta from 7-month-old Sprague Dawley rats was isolated, minced and digested by the enzymatic process of collagenase I and elastase, and then inoculated with the culture Dulbecco Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) at 37℃ in an incubator. The primary cell culture morphology was observed using phase-contrast microscopy and cellular Zn was depleted using Chelex-100 resin (extracellular zinc depletion only) or 3 µM N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-pyridinylmethyl)-1,2-ethanediamine (TPEN) (extracellular and intracellular zinc depletion). Western blot analysis was used for the detection of SM22α and calponin as smooth muscle cell marker proteins and von Willebrand factor as endothelial cell marker protein to detect the culture purity. Cell proliferation by Zn depletion (1 day) was measured by MTT assay. Results: A primary culture protocol for pVSMCs from rat thoracic aorta was developed and optimized. Isolated cultures exhibited hill and valley morphology as the major characteristics of pVSMCs and expressed the smooth muscle cell protein markers, SM22α and calponin, while the endothelial marker von Willebrand factor was hardly detected. Zn deprivation for 1 day culture decreased rat primary vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and this pattern was more prominent under severe Zn depletion (3 µM TPEN), while less prominent under mild Zn depletion (Chelexing). Conclusion: Our results suggest that cellular Zn deprivation decreased pVSMC proliferation and this may be involved in phenotypic modulation of pVSMC in the aorta.