• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.688-694
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• 1986

Takayasu`s disease is an arteritis of unknown etiology involving larger elastic arteries such as aorta and its branches, pulmonary arteries and rarely coronary arteries. Especially, aortic root involvement with the valvular leaflets has been reported in several cases of Takayasu`s arteritis. Recently we have experienced one case of Takayasu`s arteritis involving left subclavian artery, descending aorta, left renal artery and multiple valvular leaflets. The patient was 33 year-old female and admitted with complaints of cough, dyspnea and general weakness. Aortogram revealed extensive type of arteritis showing dilatation of ascending aorta, segmental narrowing of thoracic aorta and Riolan`s anastomosis. Double valve replacement [mitral and aortic valve] and tricuspid valve annuloplasty were performed. The patient made an excellent postoperative recovery and has shown striking improvement in cardiac status, NYHA functional class II eight months after operation.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.187-193
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• 2000

Fifteen adult Korea Jin-do dogs were studied by echocardiography to obtain the basic data of the imaging planes and normal references ranges to the aorta and pulmonary artery internal dimension. Measurements of aortic root internal dimension(AOID) and right pulmonary artery internal dimension (RPAID) were made at modified pulmonary arteries level short-axis view and left ventricular outflow tract long-axis view. The aortic root internal dimension and right pulmonary artery internal dimension at modified pulmonary arteries level short-axis view were 18.7$\pm$1.3mm (mean$\pm$SD) and 10.1$\pm$0.8mm, respectively. And RPAID/AOID was 0.5$\pm$0.1mm. The aortic root internal dimension and right pulmonary artery internal dimension at left ventricular outflow tract long-axis view were 19.3$\pm$1.6 mm and 10.7$\pm$1.3mm, respectively. And RPAID/AOID was 0.5$\pm$0.1mm. These results indicate that modified pulmonary arteries level short-axis view is useful planes to examine the aortic root and pulmonary arteries, and aortic root internal dimension is significantly higher(40~50%)than the right pulmonary artery internal dimension. Therefore measurements of aortic root internal and right pulmonary artery internal dimension can be used for monitoring dilation of pulmonary artery.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.87-93
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• 2002

The present study was aimed to examine the role of endothelium in the relaxant effect of hawthorn fruit extract of Crataegus pinnatifida in four different types of rat arteries, posterior cerebral communicating artery, right descending coronary artery, common carotid artery, and aorta. In $9,11-dideoxy-11{\alpha}$, $9{\alpha}-epoxy-methanoprostaglandin$ $F_{2{\alpha}}$ (U46619)-preconstricted arterial rings except for aorta, the extract produced endothelium-independent relaxations with similar potency. This relaxation was unaffected by pretreatment with $100\;{\mu}M\;N^G-nitro-L-arginine$ methylester (L-NAME, the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor), $3\;{\mu}M$ 1H-[l,2,4]oxadiazolo$[4,2-{\alpha}]$quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, the guanylate cyclase inhibitor), or $10\;{\mu}M$ indomethacin (the cyclooxygenase inhibitor). Putative $K^+$ channel blockers (charybdotoxin plus apamin or glibenclamide) did not affect the extract-induced relaxation in cerebral or coronary artery rings. In contrast, in rat aortic rings the extract produced significantly smaller relaxant response in endothelium-denuded rings than that in endothelium-intact rings. Pretreatment with L-NAME or ODQ abolished the extractinduced endothelium-dependent aortic relaxation, whilst indomethacin $(3\;{\mu}M)$ had no effect. The present results indicate that hawthorn fruit extract possesses a vasorelaxing effect in cerebral, coronary and carotid arteries and this effect is independent of the presence of a functional endothelium. However, the extract-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation in rat aorta was mediated through endothelial nitric oxide and cyclic GMP-dependent mechanisms, suggesting that active components in the extract may act on endothelium to stimulate release of nitric oxide in large conduit arteries of the rats.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.340-343
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• 1997

We experienced a female patient with intramural hematoma of the aorta. This patient had a severe anterior chest pain radiating to interscapular area with choking sensation. CT revealed a intramural hematoma of the thoracic aorta and a part of the abdominal aorta but there was no evidence of intimal tearing. We did the eme gency operation under hypothermic circulatory arrest and retrograde cerebral perfusion. Ascending aorta was replaced and coronary artery bypass graft was done because of intimal tearing of the ostium of right coronary artery. She was discharged without any significant complication. We reported this case with consideration about necessity of emergency operation for intramural hematoma of the thoracic aorta.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.68-71
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• 2013

A 67-year-old female patient was treated with conventional total arch replacement and insertion of a stented elephant trunk (SET) graft into the descending thoracic aorta for acute DeBakey type I aortic dissection at one time. She had been treated with right coronary artery stent insertion for acute myocardial infarct 4 days earlier, and at that time, she was diagnosed with acute DeBakey type I aortic dissection from the ascending aorta to the suprarenal artery based on trans-esophageal echocardiography and aorta computed tomography. Through a median sternotomy, we inserted the SET graft through the opened aorta to the descending aorta. We also performed anastomosis between the proximal stented graft and the distal aortic arch, and then performed total arch replacement. For acute DeBakey type I aortic dissection, we report total arch replacement with insertion of a SET graft as a combination of conventional surgery and the interventional technique.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.506-514
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• 1986

Coarctation of aorta is rather common congenital cardiovascular defect in the western countries, but it is known to be rare in Korea. And no coarctation of Aorta has been reported and operated upon during early infancy in Korea. During 4 months period from May 1984 to September 1984, four small infants of coarctation of aorta were seen and treated surgically by subclavian flap aortoplasty in Guro Hospital, Korea University. All infants were male, ranging from 7 days to 54 days old [mean 29 days], weighing between 3.2 Kg and 5.0 Kg [mean 4.1 Kg], and all were in congestive heart failure. Examination of the femoral artery pulse gave in all cases clues to the diagnosis. By Two dimensional echocardiogram, detail anatomical features as well as the diagnosis were revealed and associated anomalies, for example, ventricular septal defect could be seen. Besides one case of isolated coarctation of aorta, other three infants had associated VSD. The 3 patients with VSD were treated by pulmonary artery banding in addition to aortoplasty. The postoperative course were smooth in all patients. In conclusion, coarctation of aorta may not be so rare in Korea as we thought previously. The importance of femoral pulse examination can not be overemphasized for the diagnosis. As we experienced, two-dimensional echocardiography in most cases can substitute those invasive examinations such as angiography and catheterization which carry difficulty and risk in infants.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.104-110
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• 1985

The anomalous systemic arterial supply to the lung without sequestration is an uncommon congenital anomaly characterized by the presence of a part of lung tissue which supplied by an aberrant artery from the aorta or its branch and normal communication with the normal bronchial tree, and it was reported by Huber in 1777 first. It differs from bronchopulmonary sequestration in having normal bronchial communication from the remainder lung and normal lung histology. We experienced a case of anomalous systemic arterial supply to the lung without sequestration, which was confirmed preoperatively. The patient was 16 year old male and came to us with complaints of mild fever and profuse sputum with coughing. Chest film showed a ring-like soft tissue shadow in Rt. middle lung field. Aortogram revealed an aberrant artery originated from abdominal aorta at 12th thoracic vertebral level and supplying a part of Rt. lower lobe of lung. At. the time of operation, an aberrant systemic artery which originated from the abdominal aorta supplying the Rt. lower lobe was noted, and the bronchial communications were normal. After division and ligation of the aberrant artery, Rt. lower lobectomy was performed The postoperative courses were uneventful and the patient was discharged with good condition.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.404-410
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• 1987

An 18-day-old male neonate with hypoplastic left heart syndrome underwent surgical intervention by modification of the Norwood procedure on September 23, 1986. Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a serious congenital cardiac anomaly that has a fatal outlook if left untreated. Included in this anomaly are [1] aortic valve atresia, and hypoplasia of the ascending aorta and aortic arch, [1] mitral valve atresia or hypoplasia, and [3] diminutive or absent left ventricle. Patent ductus arteriosus is essential for any survival, and there is usually a patent foramen ovale. Coarctation of the aorta is frequently associated with the lesion.z With a limited period of cardiopulmonary bypass, deep hypothermia, and circulatory arrest, the ductus arteriosus was excised. The main pulmonary artery was divided immediately below its branches, and the distal stump of the divided pulmonary artery was closed with a pericardial patch. The aortic arch was incised, and a 1 5mm tubular Dacron prosthesis was inserted between the main pulmonary artery and the aortic arch. A 4mm shunt of polytetrafluoroethylene graft was established between the new ascending aorta and the right pulmonary artery to provide controlled pulmonary blood flow. Following rewarming, the heart started to beat regularly, but the patient could not be weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass. At autopsy, the patient was found to have hypoplasia of the aortic tract complex with mitral atresia and aortic atresia. A secundum atrial septal defect was noted. Right atrial and ventricular hypertrophy was present, and the left ventricle was entirely absent. Although unsuccessful in this case report, continuing experience with hypoplastic left heart syndrome will lead to an improvement in result.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.584-590
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• 2000

Natural products are one of the useful source of cardiovascular drugs, in particular, when they have antioxidant activity. Gagaminine, an alkaloid isolated from the roots of Cynanchum wilfordi Hemsley, has been reported to potently inhibit the aldehyde oxidase activity ({TEX}$IC_{50}${/TEX}=0.8$\mu$M) and reduce lipid peroxidation. However, the effect of gagaminine on vascular smooth muscle has not yet been investigated. In the present study, we examined whether gagaminine relaxes vascular smooth muscle by isometric tension study. In order to observe its relaxation effect on the arteries, conductivel vessel (rat thoracic aorta) and resistance vessel (pig coronary artery) were purposely used. Results indicated that gagaminine relaxed in a concentration-dependent manner $\alpha$-adrenoceptor agonist, phenylephrine (PE)-induced contraction of rat aorta. Pretreatment with gagaminine inhibited PE-induced contraction, noncompetitively. {TEX}$Ca^{2+}${/TEX}-induced contraction was significantly diminished by gagaminine. In pig coronary artery, gagaminine relaxed thromboxane receptor (U 46619)-mediated contraction in dose-dependent manner. Pretreatment with gagaminine also reduced the maximum contraction induced by KCl. These observations strongly suggest that agagminnine relaxes vascular smooth muscle, irrespective of both resistance and conductive artery. We demonstrate that gagaminine, a potent natural antioxidant, has a significant vasodilatory effect and its action mechanism van be ascribed at least in part to {TEX}$Ca^{2+}${/TEX} antagonistic action as evidenced by inhibition {TEX}$Ca^{2+}${/TEX}-induced contraction (rat aorta) and KCl-induced contraction (porcine artery). Furthermore, neither $\alpha$ -adrenoceptor nor thromboxane receptor seems responsible for the relaxation of gagaminine.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2003

SMAS(Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome) is a disease caused by a chronic obstruction of the duodenum(transverse portion), which is hardly detectable. However, it is known that when the superior mesenteric artery and abdominal aorta form a narrow angle, that the transverse portion of the duodenum is pressed down between the superior mesenteric artery and the abdominal aorta, and that this can lead to obstruction of the duodenum. Measuring this angle is a complicated job using conventional angiography, and results often turns out to be inaccurate. In addition, no attempt has been made to determine the value of this angle in Koreans. In this study, we conducted abdominal CT angiography using MIP(maximum intensity projection) on patients with no clinical evidence of SMAS in order to determine the angle at which the superior mesenteric artery branches from the abdominal aorta by using PC based software(Rapidia ver. 1.2) for the image reconstruction. Accordingly, we found that the mean angle between the abdominal aorta and the superior mesenteric artery was $50.05{\pm}15.87^{\circ}$ on average, and that the angle in men($53.64{\pm}16.57^{\circ}$) is higher than in women($46.46{\pm}14.98^{\circ}$). We hope that the angles determined by our study will serve as an important indicator for detecting SMAS.