• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.46 no.3
• /
• pp.276-284
• /
• 2020

Objectives: This study was conducted to identify the effects of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 on hospital visits in the Incheon area over the period of 2016-2018. Methods: We applied correlation analysis and Poisson regression to perform the analysis using cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease data from the National Health Insurance Service and the daily average PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 from the Korea Environment Corporation adjusting for time lag. Results: When the daily average PM₁₀ concentration increased by 10 ㎍/㎥, the number of cardiovascular disease patients were 1.002 times higher (95% CI [Confidence Interval]; 1.000-1004) in Ganghwa County. As the daily average PM_2.5 concentration increased by 10 ㎍/㎥, the number of cardiovascular disease patients were 1.012 times higher (95% CI; 1.008-1.016) in Ganghwa County. As the daily average PM₁₀ concentration increased by 10 ㎍/㎥, the respiratory disease patients were 1.003 times (95% CI; 1.002-1.004) higher in Gyeyang and Michuhol Counties. As the PM_2.5 concentration increased by 10 ㎍/㎥, the respiratory disease patients were 1.003 times higher (95% CI; 1.002-1.005) in Bupyeong County. Conclusions: In some parts of the Incheon area there was a correlation between the number of patients with respiratory and cardiovascular conditions and the concentration of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.235-248
• /
• 2018

Ursolic acid (UA) is a natural triterpene compound found in various fruits and vegetables. There is a growing interest in UA because of its beneficial effects, which include anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-apoptotic, and anti-carcinogenic effects. It exerts these effects in various tissues and organs: by suppressing nuclear factor-kappa B signaling in cancer cells, improving insulin signaling in adipose tissues, reducing the expression of markers of cardiac damage in the heart, decreasing inflammation and increasing the level of anti-oxidants in the brain, reducing apoptotic signaling and the level of oxidants in the liver, and reducing atrophy and increasing the expression levels of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase and irisin in skeletal muscles. Moreover, UA can be used as an alternative medicine for the treatment and prevention of cancer, obesity/diabetes, cardiovascular disease, brain disease, liver disease, and muscle wasting (sarcopenia). In this review, we have summarized recent data on the beneficial effects and possible uses of UA in health and disease managements.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.92-98
• /
• 2002

Objective : To estimate the burden of cardiovascular disease attributable to the total suspended particulates (TSP) and sulfur dioxide ($SO_2$) in Korea using the YLD (years lived with disability) measurement. Methods : Congestive heart failure(CHF) and myocardial infarction (MI) were chosen as the main cardiovascular diseases whose causes are attributable to the TSP and $SO_2$ levels. In order to calculate the YLD (years lived with a disability), the following parameters in the formula were estimated. : the incidence rate, the case fatality rate, The expected duration of a disability and the average age of onset were estimated. The expected duration of a disability and the average age of onset were calculated using the DISMOD method, as developed by the GBD researchers. The burden of cardiovascular disease due to TSP and $SO_2$ was estimated using the number of years that the patient lived with a disability. Results : The VLD of the CHF due to the TSP and $SO_2$ was attributed to the TSP (94.4 person-year) and $SO_2$ levels (35.0 person-year). The YLD of the ME due to the TSP and $SO_2$ was attributed to the TSP (148.4 person-year) and $SO_2$ levels(27.6 person-year). Conclusion : The YLD method employed in this study was appropriate for quantifying the burden of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, it would provide a rational basis for planning a national health policy regarding the disease burden of the risk factors in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.34 no.5
• /
• pp.702-711
• /
• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship among perceived stress, ways of coping, and health promoting behaviors in patients with chronic cardiovascular disease(CCVD). Method: Data was collected by questionnaires from 436 patients with CCVD in a General Hospital in Seoul. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression. Result: The health promoting behavior showed a significant positive correlation with self-efficacy and social support. Also, the health promoting behavior showed a significant negative correlation with perceived stress and symptoms of stress. The stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that the most powerful predictor of health promoting behaviors was symptoms of stress. Conclusion: A combination of symptoms of stress, social support, self-efficacy, and perceived stress account for 41% of the variance in health promoting behaviors of patients with CCVD. Data from this study suggest that symptoms of stress, social support, ways of coping, and perceived stress are significant influencing factors on health promoting behaviors of patients with CCVD.

• Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.505-507
• /
• 2018

Clozapine may be associated with cardiovascular adverse effects including QTc prolongation and, more rarely, with myocarditis and pericarditis. Although rare, these latter cardiovascular adverse effects may be life-threatening and must be immediately recognized and treated. Several cases of clozapine related-pericarditis have been described and often it has a subtle and insidious onset with symptoms that may be often misdiagnosed with psychiatric manifestations (e.g. anxiety, panic or somatization) leading to a delayed correct diagnosis with potential fatal consequences. In the present report we describe the case of a 27-year-old girl with schizoaffective disorder taking long acting aripiprazole and valproate who developed a sudden onset clozapine-related pericarditis during titration phase that resolved with immediate clozapine discontinuation and indomethacin administration. We underline the importance of an early diagnosis of clozapine-related pericarditis and the need to have monitoring protocols to prevent this potentially fatal adverse effect especially when polypharmacy is administered to patients taking clozapine.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.158-172
• /
• 2021

Background: Metabolic syndrome has been known as a risk of cardiovascular disease. Meanwhile, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is used as a predictor of cardiovascular disease. In this paper, we aimed to investigate the association between hs-CRP and metabolic syndrome. Method: A total of 7,633 were chosen as the study population from the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey dataset (2016-2017). Our dependent variable was whether an individual had metabolic syndrome or not, and the independent variable of interest was hs-CRP which was categorized into three groups. The chi-square tests and hierarchical logistic regression analyses reflecting survey characteristics were conducted. All analyses were stratified by gender. Results: According to the adjusted model with all covariates, compared to individuals having the low risk of hs-CRP, those having its average risk were more likely to have metabolic syndrome in men (odds ratio [OR], 1.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-1.76) and women (OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.33-2.16). Individuals having the high risk was not significantly different in men; however, they were more likely to have metabolic syndrome in women (OR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.28-3.23). Conclusion: In an upcoming aging society, it is important to reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome to improve population health. This study suggests that hs-CRP may be used as a marker of the risk of metabolic syndrome in a gender-specific way, thereby contributing to enhancing awareness of the risk of metabolic syndrome among the general public.

• Korean Circulation Journal
• /
• v.52 no.8
• /
• pp.576-592
• /
• 2022

Acute heart failure is associated with high mortality and frequent rehospitalization, resulting in enormous healthcare costs and declining physical function, activities of daily living, and quality of life. Cardiac rehabilitation has been recommended as one of the non-pharmacologic treatments for patients with heart failure. However, much of the evidence for cardiac rehabilitation interventions reported to date has been limited to chronic heart failure. In recent years, the effectiveness of rehabilitation intervention in patients with acute heart failure has been reported, led by the Rehabilitation Therapy in Older Acute Heart Failure Patients (REHAB-HF) trial. This review overviews the recent evidence of rehabilitation in patients with acute heart failure.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.428-432
• /
• 2010

A 67 years old male patient was admitted with back pain that had recurred from 6 months previously. Eleven years previously, he underwent stent grafting at the descending thoracic aorta for a chronic Stanford type B aortic dissection. The preoperative computed tomography showed aortic dissection from the origin of the left subclavian artery to the bifurcation of the abdominal aorta, and there was a type I endoleak at the proximal portion of the stent graft and aneurysmal dilatation of the descending aorta. A hybrid endovascular repair was successfully performed, and this involved debranching and rerouting the aortic arch vessels under extracorporeal cardiopulmonary bypass and then this was followed 13 days later by stenting in the ascending aorta, the aortic arch and the descending aorta. The postoperative computed tomography showed complete exclusion of the type I endoleak. After discharge, he has been followed up for 8 months without any problems.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.247-257
• /
• 2022

Background and Objectives: Although human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) can be efficiently differentiated into cardiomyocytes (CMs), the heterogeneity of the hiPSC-CMs hampers their applications in research and regenerative medicine. Retinoic acid (RA)-mediated signaling pathway has been proved indispensable in cardiac development and differentiation of hiPSC toward atrial CMs. This study was aimed to test whether RA signaling pathway can be manipulated to direct the differentiation into sinoatrial node (SAN) CMs. Methods and Results: Using the well-characterized GiWi protocol that cardiomyocytes are generated from hiPSC via temporal modulation of Wnt signaling pathway by small molecules, RA signaling pathway was manipulated during the differentiation of hiPSC-CMs on day 5 post-differentiation, a crucial time point equivalent to the transition from cardiac mesoderm to cardiac progenitor cells in cardiac development. The resultant CMs were characterized at mRNA, protein and electrophysiology levels by a combination of qPCR, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, and whole-cell patch clamp. The results showed that activation of the RA signaling pathway biased the differentiation of atrial CMs, whereas inhibition of the signaling pathway biased the differentiation of sinoatrial node-like cells (SANLCs). Conclusions: Our study not only provides a novel and simple strategy to enrich SANLCs but also improves our understanding of the importance of RA signaling in the differentiation of hiPSC-CMs.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.50 no.6
• /
• pp.386-392
• /
• 2017

Objectives: Refugees resettled in the US may be at risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, little is known about CVD-related issues among Karen refugees who have migrated to the US from the Thai-Myanmar border. The purpose of this study was to examine CVD-related health beliefs and lifestyle issues among Karen refugees resettled in the US. Methods: Karen refugees resettled in the US from the Thai-Myanmar border (n=195) participated in a survey study on health beliefs related to CVD, salt intake, physical activity (PA), and smoking in the fall of 2016. Results: A high-salt diet, physical inactivity, and smoking were major lifestyle problems. Participants who adhered to a low-salt diet considered themselves to be susceptible to CVD. Most participants did not engage in regular PA. Regular PA was associated with less perceived susceptibility to CVD and greater perceived benefits of a healthy lifestyle for decreasing the likelihood of CVD. Conclusions: Each refugee population may require individualized strategies to promote PA and a healthy diet. Future studies should develop health education programs that are specifically designed for Karen refugees and evaluate such programs. In addition to health education programs on healthy lifestyle choices, tobacco cessation programs seem to be necessary for Karen refugees. At the same time, it is important to foster strategies to increase the utilization of preventive care among this population by promoting free or reduced-fee resources in the community to further promote their health.