• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.403-412
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• 2022

Hypoxia leads to significant cellular stress that has diverse pathological consequences such as cardiovascular diseases and cancers. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are one of regulators of the adaptive pathway in hypoxia. We identified a hypoxia-induced miRNA, miR-34c, that was significantly upregulated in hypoxic human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and in murine blood vessels on day 3 of hindlimb ischemia (HLI). miR-34c directly inhibited BCL2 expression, acting as a toggle switch between apoptosis and autophagy in vitro and in vivo. BCL2 repression by miR-34c activated autophagy, which was evaluated by the expression of LC3-II. Overexpression of miR-34c inhibited apoptosis in HUVEC as well as in a murine model of HLI, and increased cell viability in HUVEC. Importantly, the number of viable cells in the blood vessels following HLI was increased by miR-34c overexpression. Collectively, our findings show that miR-34c plays a protective role in hypoxia, suggesting a novel therapeutic target for hypoxic and ischemic diseases in the blood vessels.

• International Journal of Vascular Biomedical Engineering
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2004

Catheters are used to measure translesional pressure gradients in the stenosed coronary arteries. Uses of catheters during coronary angioplasty cause flow obstructions. A narrowed flow cross section with catheter effectively introduced a tighter stenosis than the enlarged residual stenoses after balloon angiplasty. Catheters in blood vessels cause pressure gradient rise and blood flow drop during the measurements. In this study, three dimensional computer simulations are conducted to investigate the flow blockage effects due to the catheter obstructions during the coronary angioplasty. The computer simulation models are generated by the data, which are measured by coronary angiogram, and the blood is treated as non-Newtonian fluid. The velocity, pressure, and wall shear stress variations are observed for the estimate of damages of blood vessel. This study is also extended to investigate the effects of stenotic vessel size, and shape and catheter size and location.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.1923-1929
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• 2003

The present study investigated the microcirculation of blood in the left common artery (LCCA). In order to develop a mathematical model for microcirculation in LCCA, the present study adopted preexisted set of measured morphological data on anatomy, mechanical properties of the coronary vessels, viscosity of blood, the basic laws of physics, and the appropriate boundary conditions. In this study, the statistical distribution of blood pressure, blood flow, and blood volume in the LCCA were determined based on the anatomical branching pattern of the coronary arterial tree and the statistical data of blood vessel dimensions. Our calculations were in good agreement with the previous studies. The present results showed that the mean longitudinal pressure drop profile was function of the vessel order numbers. It was found that the normalized pressure drop was a logarithmic function of the compliance.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.360-366
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• 2008

Purpose: Botulinum toxin type A(BoTA) can block the release of vasoconstriction cotransmitters as well as acetylcholine in nerve terminal. The authors observed that BoTA increases flap survival by preventing sympathetic collapse of peripheral vessels. Methods: 10 Sprague Dawley rats were divided into control(n=5), and BoTA group(n=5). $3{\times}10cm$ sized random pattern cutaneous flaps were elevated on the dorsal side in both groups. In BoTA group, BoTA was injected into the flap via intradermal to subdermal route, 7 days before the flap elevation. Flap survival rates (survival area/total area) were measured 7 days after the elevation. Cutaneous blood flow was measured in proximal, middle and distal compartments of the flap using laser Doppler flowmetry initially, preoperatively, at immediate postoperation, and 7 days after flap elevation, respectively. Histological examination was performed 7 days after the flap elevation. The number and shape of the vessels were evaluated under microscope. Results: Mean flap survival was $53.18{\pm}6.58%$ in control group and $93.79{\pm}6.06%$ in BoTA group, displaying statistically significant difference(p=0.0008, p<0.05). In the control group, blood flow to the middle and distal compartments of the flap decreased significantly immediately after flap elevation. In the BoTA group, blood flow to the middle compartment did not decrease(p=0.002) and slightly decreased in the distal compartment(p=0.001). Cutaneous blood flow was significantly higher in all compartments of the flap in BoTA group than in control group, 7 days after the flap elevation. In histopathologic examination, greater number of vessels were noted in the BoTA group than in the control group. Conclusion: Botulinum toxin A can increase the survival of the random pattern cutaneous flap in rats by preventing the sympathetic collapse of peripheral vessels.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.519-525
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• 2010

Purpose: Of various effects of relaxin, we assumed that anti-fibrotic effects, neovascularization effects and vasodilatation effects of relaxin might enhance the survival rate of skin flap. In the current study, we used adenovirus expressing relaxin genes to examine whether these genes could enhance the survival rate of a skin flap. Methods: A total of 30 Sprangue-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: RLX group (10; relaxin virus injected group), CTR group (10; no gene coded virus injection group), and PBS group (10; PBS injected group). Each group was intradermally injected with the virus ($10^7$ PFU) and PBS 48 hours before and immediately before the flap elevation. A distally based flap $3{\times}9\;cm$ in size was elevated on the dorsal aspect of each rat. Following this, a flap was placed in the original location and then sutured using a #4-0 Nylon. A surviving area of the flap was measured and then compared on postoperative days 3, 7 and 10. Using a laser Doppler, the amount of blood flow was measured. On postoperative day 10, tissues were harvested for histologic examination and the number of blood vessels was counted. Results: There was a significant increase in the area of the flap survival in the RLX group on postoperative days 3 and 7. The Doppler measurement also showed significantly increased blood flow immediately after the operation and on postoperative days 7 and 10. The number of blood vessels was significantly greater in the RLX group in the tissue harvested on postoperative day 10. The VEGF concentration was significantly higher in the RLX group than others in the tissues harvested on postoperative day 10. Conclusion: Following an analysis of the effects of relaxin-secreting adenovirus on the survival of a flap, the surviving area of the flap and the blood flow also increased. A histopathology also showed an increase in the number of blood vessels and the concentration of VEGF.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.1513-1520
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to compare cerebral blood flow between hyperlipidemic patient group and normal healthy aldult group using transcranial doppler ultrasonography(TCD). I investigated cerebral blood flow of 63 hyperlipidemic patients and 42 healthy adults. To evaluate the cerebral blood flow, I measured the systolic peak velocity(Vs) and mean flow velocity(Vm) of the milddle cerebral artery(MCA), anterior cerebral artery(ACA), posterior cerebral artery(PCA), basilar artery(BA), internal carotid artery(ICA) in the two groups using TCD. In normal healthy adults, subjects showed a decerease in Vs and Vm with advancing in age. There was a significant difference in the Vm of ICA. There was no significant differences in the Vm of ACA and ICA. In normal healthy adults, females showed high velocities of all examined vessel. There was a significant difference in the Vs of ICA. There was a significant differences in the Vm of MCA and ICA. Normal healthy adults higher than hyperlipidemic patients in the Vs of MCA, ACA, PCA. There was no significant difference in the Vs of all exmined vessels. Hyperlipidemic patientsincrease higher than normal healthy adults in the Vm of ACA. There was a significant difference in the Vs of BA. In the patients aged under 50's, normal healthy adults higher than hyperlipidemic patients in the Vs and Vm except BA. But there was no significant difference in all exmined vessels. In the patients aged over 50's, hyperlipidemic patients higher than normal healthy adults in all examined vessel expect PCA. There was a significant difference in the Vs of BA and ICA. And hyperlipidemic patients higher than that normal healthy adults in all exmined vessels. There was a significant difference in BA and ICA. In this study, visible differences in blood flow between hyperlipidemic patient group and normal healthy aldult group were shown. However, these results do not come up to the previous values that were reported and known worldwide.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.399-407
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• 2024

Angiogenesis is the process by which new blood vessels form from existing blood vessels. This phenomenon occurs during growth, healing, and menstrual cycle changes. Angiogenesis is a complex and multifaceted process that is important for the continued growth of primary tumors, metastasis promotion, the support of metastatic tumors, and cancer progression. Impaired angiogenesis can lead to cancer, autoimmune diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and delayed wound healing. Currently, there are only a handful of effective antiangiogenic drugs. Recent studies have shown that natural marine products exhibit antiangiogenic effects. In a previous study, we reported that the hexane extract of H. fusiformis (HFH) could inhibit the development of new blood vessels both in vitro and in vivo. The aim of this study was to describe the inhibitory effect of chloroform extracts of H. fusiformis on angiogenesis. To investigate how chloroform extract prevents blood vessel growth, we examined its effects on HUVEC, including cell migration, invasion, and tube formation. In a mouse Matrigel plug assay, H. fusiformis chloroform extract (HFC) also inhibited angiogenesis in vivo. Certain proteins associated with blood vessel growth were reduced after HFC treatment. These proteins include vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal transduction kinase, and serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT). These studies have shown that the chloroform extract of H. fusiformis can inhibit blood vessel growth both in vitro and in vivo.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.542-547
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• 2014

Background Abdominal wall free flaps are used most frequently in autologous breast reconstruction, and these flaps require intact and robust deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) vessels. Pfannenstiel incisions are often present during preoperative visits for breast reconstruction and could potentially signal compromised blood supply to the lower abdominal wall. In this study, we compared the number of DIEP vessels between patients with and without Pfannenstiel incisions undergoing autologous breast reconstruction. Methods A retrospective review of medical records was performed for patients with (study) and without (control) Pfannelstiel incisions (n=34 for each group) between June 2010 and July 2013. In addition to patient demographics, number of caesarian sections, and outcomes of free flap reconstruction, abdominal wall vasculature was compared using the preoperative computed tomography angiographic data between the groups. For each patient, vessels measuring greater than 1 mm were counted and divided into four sections of the lower abdominal wall. Results The mean number of perforator vessels was 10.6 in the study group and 11.4 in the control group, which was not statistically different (P=0.575). Pfannenstiel incisions with history of repeat caesarian sections were not associated with decreased number of perforator vessels. Conclusions Pfannenstiel scars are associated with neither a change in the number of DIEP vessels nor decreased viability of a free transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous and DIEP flap. Lower abdominal free flaps based on DIEP vessels appear safe even in patients who have had multiple caesarian sections through Pfannenstiel incisions.

• Korea-Australia Rheology Journal
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 2009

Atherosclerosis is a disease that narrows, thickens, hardens, and restructures a blood vessel due to substantial plaque deposit. The geometric models of the considered stenotic blood flow are three different types of constriction of cross-sectional area of blood vessel; 25%, 50%, and 75% of constriction. The computational model with the fluid-structure interaction is introduced to investigate the wall shear stresses, blood flow field and recirculation zone in the stenotic vessels. The velocity profile in a compliant stenotic artery with various constrictions is subjected to prescribed physiologic waveform. The computational simulations were performed, in which the physiological flow through a compliant axisymmetric stenotic blood vessel was solved using commercial software ADINA 8.4 developed by finite element method. We demonstrated comparisons of the wall shear stress with or without the fluid-structure interaction and their velocity profiles under the physiological flow condition in the compliant stenotic artery. The present results enhance our understanding of the hemodynamic characteristics in a compliant stenotic artery.

• CELLMED
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.30.1-30.4
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• 2012

Traditional Chinese medicine classifies peripheral nerve impairment as paralysis and arthromyodynia, and considers that it is the result of defects of meridians and vessels, QI and blood, bones and muscles. Huangqi (Astragalus) Guizhi (Cassia Twig) Wuwu Tang, as a Qi invigorating formula, is usually used to improve peripheral nerve impairment. In recent years, some scholars have conducted research into Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) treatment with Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Tang and certain values of this treatment approach have been identified. CIPN is a type of blood-arthralgia Zheng in traditional Chinese medicine theory. In this review, we will discuss the treatment of CIPN with Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Tang according to blood-arthtalgia Zheng.