• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.322-333
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction are 2 of the independent predictors for cardiovascular disease, while Acanthopanax senticosus Harms (ASH) is a traditional medicinal plant that can improve cardiovascular health. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of the fruit of ASH on vascular function in apparently healthy subjects. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design, consisting of healthy adults with at least 2 of the following 3 conditions: borderline high blood pressure (BP; 120 mmHg ≤ systolic BP ≤ 160 mmHg or 80 mmHg ≤ diastolic BP ≤ 100 mmHg), smoking (≥10 cigarettes/day), and borderline blood lipid levels (220 ≤ total cholesterol ≤ 240, 130 ≤ low density lipoprotein cholesterol ≤ 165, or 150 ≤ triglyceride ≤ 220 mg/dL). Randomly assigned 76 subjects who received a placebo or 2 doses of ASH fruit (low, 500 mg/day; high, 1,000 mg/day) completed the intervention. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), flow-mediated dilation, carotid intima-media thickness, and BP were measured both at baseline and following the 12-week intervention. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) phosphorylation was assessed by western blotting. RESULTS: Compared with the placebo group, the low-dose group showed more significant changes after the 12-week intervention period in terms of systolic BP (0.1 vs. -7.7 mmHg; P = 0.044), baPWV (31.3 vs. -98.7 cm/s; P = 0.007), and the ratio of phospho-eNOS/eNOS (0.8 vs. 1.22; P = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that ASH fruit extract at 500 mg/day has the potential to improve BP and arterial stiffness via endothelial eNOS activation in healthy adults with smoking and the tendency of having elevated BP or blood lipid parameters.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.64-69
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• 1999

Background : Syncope was defined as transient loss of consciousness and postural tone. The mechanisms of changes in cerebral hemodynamics during syncope have not been fully evaluated. Transcranial Doppler Ultrasonography can continuously monitor the changes in cerebral hemodynamics during head-up tilt (HUT). TCD could reveal the different patterns of changes in cerebral hemodynamics during syncope. Syncope without hypotension or bradycardia could be detected by TCD. We investigated the changes in cerebral blood flow velocity during HUT using TCD in 33 patients with a history of recurrent syncope or presyncope of unknown origin. Methods & Results : The positive responses were defined as presyncope or syncope with hypotension, bradycardia, or both. During HUT without isoproterenol infusion, there were a $86{\pm}23%$ drop in DV and a $41{\pm}34%$ drop in SV in 5 patients with positive reponses, and mean changes in those were less than 10% in patients with negative reponses (p=.00, p=.00). During HUT with isoproterenol infusion, TCD showed a $80{\pm}18%$ drop in diastolic velocity in 14 patients with positive reponses, and a $47{\pm}10%$ drop in that in patients with negative reponses (p=.00), however the change in systolic velocity did not differ. TCD showed three patterns during positive responses; loss of all flow, loss of end diastolic flow, and a decrease in diastolic velocity. Loss of consciousness occurred in the patients with loss of all flow or end-diastolic flow during positive reponses. Conclusions : TCD shows different patterns of changes in cerebral hemodynamics during HUT. TCD can be used to investigate the pathophysiology of neurocardiogenic syncope.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.135-143
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• 2013

The clip-type pulsimeter equipped with a Hall sensor has a permanent magnet attached in the "Chwan" position to the center of a radial artery. The clip-type pulsimeter is composed of a hardware system measuring voltage signals. These electrical bio-signals display pulse rate, non-invasive blood pressure, respiratory rate, pulse wave velocity (PWV), and spatial pulse wave velocity (SPWV) simultaneously measured by using the radial artery pulsimeter, the electrocardiograph (ECG), and the photoplethysmograph (PPG). The findings of this research may be useful for developing a oriental-western biomedical signal storage device, that is, the new and fusion patient monitor, for a U-health-care system.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.143-149
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• 2021

In order to predict and prevent the disease of the abdominal aorta, which is the largest artery in the human body and the most common aneurysm, the normal arterial blood flow operation should be considered. To this end, we are trying to solve problems that may arise in the future by executing FSI based on the data obtained from 4D flow MRI. However, to match the similarity between the 4D flow MRI flow and the FSI flow, correlation was used in previous papers, but the correlation did not show the degree of agreement. Therefore, in this paper, we analyzed the correlation between the 4D flow MRI flow velocity of the human abdominal aorta and the two-way FSI flow velocity in which the three physical properties used for the aortic FSI were added to the CT abdominal aorta 3D model and the interclass correlation coefficient. As a result, the physical property M2 showed the highest similarity in correlation and intraclass correlation coefficient, and this property is intended to be helpful in the future study of the abdominal aortic two-way FSI flow rate.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.449-457
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• 2013

In this study, we performed a numerical analysis to investigate the effect of rotation on the blood flow and arterial wall behavior by using the FSI (fluid-structure interaction) technique. The geometry of the artery included 50% stenosis at the center. To simulate the rotational effect, 2-6 rps of axial velocity was applied to the arterial model. A spiral wave and asymmetric flow occurred due to the stenosis and axial rotation both in the rigid body model and in the FSI model. However, the arterial wall motion caused periodic and transient blood flow changes in the FSI model. The FRZ (fluid recirculation zone) decreased in the FSI model, which is a known predictor for the formation and vulnerability of plaque. Therefore, it is observed that arterial wall motion also influences the generation of the FRZ.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.943-951
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to analyze the physiological effects of non-elastic corset on women's health and pain through measuring the clothing pressure, subjective pressure sensation, blood velocity and metabolism. 5 women in their twenties were picked as our subjects, their average size being 85cm at bust girth, 69 cm at waist girth. With the subjects each wearing a corset, we are testing in artificial environment with a treadmill according to the planned exercise procedures. The average pressure of the corset is 0.938 kPa (maximum 3.006 kPa at 45 degree front bowing), which is 10.2 times higher than the control group, averaging from 9.3 times higher at resting, 11.4 times at walking, 11.1 times at running. The effect of corset pressure on the physiological responses of the body is increased more when exercise than when resting. Clothing pressure increased in the order of the postures: sitting > standing with 45 degree bowing > standing. They experienced a high level of tighten discomfort of 5.6 in the scale of 1.0 to 7.0 due to the high pressure of the corset when resting, after intense exercise the level increased to 6.0, while without corset the level increased 1.7 to 2.2. With corset on, the blood circulation did not increase even though when the body exercised and blood flow became unbalanced making great gaps between both at the right and left finger tips. Perspiration of chest and back decreased 37.3% when wearing corset; 27.5% at resting, 56.7% at walking, 25.8% at running, and 39.0% at recovery. With corset on oxygen consume and metabolism increased 9.0%, 7.9%, respectively, which means the corset makes the body uncomfortable. Lung volume exchange VE decreased almost 4.1~7.3% with corset on and $VCO_2/VO_2$, RER and total volume in lung, VT also decreased too, which means the digestion of stomach and lung function are inhibited due to the high corset pressure.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.221-226
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• 2016

Since arterial disease in the upper extremity is less common than that in the lower extremity, experimental and numerical investigations related to upper extremity have been rarely performed. We created a three-dimensional model of the arteries, larger than approximately 1 mm, in a Korean adult's left hand (from brachial to digital arteries), from 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. For the first time, a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamic method was employed to investigate blood flow velocity, blood pressure variation, and wall shear stress (WSS) on this complicated artery system. Investigations were done on physiological blood flows near the branches of radial and deep palmar arch arteries, and ulnar and superficial palmar arch arteries. The flow is assumed to be laminar and the fluid is assumed to be Newtonian, with density and viscosity properties of plasma.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.57 no.9
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• pp.403-409
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• 2014

Purpose: Although high morning blood pressure (BP) is known to be associated with the onset of cardiovascular events in adults, data on its effects in children with hypertension are limited. Our retrospective study aimed to define the clinical characteristics of children with morning hypertension (MH) and to determine its associated factors. Methods: We reviewed 31 consecutive patients with hypertension, confirmed by the ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). We divided these patients into 2 groups: the MH group (n=21, 67.7%), morning BP above the 95th percentile for age and height (2 hours on average after waking up) and the normal morning BP group (n=10, 32.3%). We compared the clinical manifestations, laboratory results, and echocardiographic findings including left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) between the groups. Results: The early/atrial (E/A) mitral flow velocity ratio in the MH group was significantly lower than that in the normal morning BP group. In addition, LV mass was higher in the MH group than in the normal morning BP group, although the difference was not statistically significant. The age at the time of hypertension diagnosis was significantly higher in the MH group than in the normal morning BP group (P =0.003). The incidence of hyperuricemia was significantly higher in the MH group than in the normal morning BP group. Conclusion: Older patients and those with hyperuricemia are at higher risk for MH. The rise in BP in the morning is an important factor influencing the development of abnormal relaxation, as assessed by echocardiography. Clinical trials with longer follow-up periods and larger sample sizes are needed to clarify the clinical significance of MH.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.212-218
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• 2010

Korean red ginseng (KRG) has been shown to enhance endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in experimental animals; however, little is known about its pharmacological effects on vascular stiffness in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial was carried out to determine whether KRG has beneficial effects on arterial stiffness, cardiovascular risk factors such as plasma lipid profiles and blood pressure (BP), and Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) activity. Twenty patients (mean age, 62.5 years) with stable angina pectoris were given KRG (2.7 g/day) and a placebo alternatively for 10 weeks. Blood biochemical analysis and pulse wave velocity (PWV) recording were performed on day 0 and after the completion of each treatment. ROCK activity was assessed based on the level of phospho-$Thr^{853}$ in the myosin-binding subunit of myosin light chain phosphatase, determined by Western blot analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. KRG significantly decreased the systolic BP, brachial ankle PWV, and heart femoral PWV in the patients (all p<0.05), but did not significantly alter the serum lipid profiles, including triglycerides and total, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. The ROCK activity tended to decrease (p=0.068) following KRG treatment. The placebo did not significantly alter any of the variables. In conclusion, KRG decreased systolic BP and arterial stiffness, probably via the inhibition of ROCK activity, in patients with CAD, but had a neutral effect on serum lipid profiles. Our data suggest that KRG has a therapeutic effect on CAD.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.81-87
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• 2021

Background: Artificial grafts such as polyethylene terephthalate (Dacron) and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) are used for various cardiovascular surgical procedures. The compliance properties of prosthetic grafts could affect hemodynamic energy, which can be measured using the energy-equivalent pressure (EEP) and surplus hemodynamic energy (SHE). We investigated changes in the hemodynamic energy of prosthetic grafts. Methods: In a simulation test, the changes in EEP for these grafts were estimated using COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS. The Young modulus, Poisson ratio, and density were used to analyze the grafts' material properties, and pre- and post-graft EEP values were obtained by computing the product of the pressure and velocity. In an in vivo study, Dacron and ePTFE grafts were anastomosed in an end-to-side fashion on the descending thoracic aorta of swine. The pulsatile pump flow was fixed at 2 L/min. Real-time flow and pressure were measured at the distal part of each graft, while clamping the other graft and the descending thoracic aorta. EEP and SHE were calculated and compared. Results: In the simulation test, the mean arterial pressure decreased by 39% for all simulations. EEP decreased by 42% for both grafts, and by around 55% for the native blood vessels after grafting. The in vivo test showed no significant difference between both grafts in terms of EEP and SHE. Conclusion: The post-graft hemodynamic energy was not different between the Dacron and ePTFE grafts. Artificial grafts are less compliant than native blood vessels; however, they can deliver pulsatile blood flow and hemodynamic energy without any significant energy loss.