• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.107-115
• /
• 2008

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the effects of acupuncture applied at PC6 and SP4 points on heart rate variability (HRV) in normal subjects under mental stress Methods: 24 healthy male subjects were recruited and randomized to a treatment group (12 subjects) or a control group (12 subjects). Both groups performed a mental arithmetic stress test and then acupuncture needles were inserted on PC6 and SP4 for the study group. In the control group, they took sham acupuncture as a control. Heart rate variability (HRV) was measured during the whole study period by FM-150 (digital Holter ECG recorder). Results: In the both groups, low frequency (LF) power and ratio of low frequency to high frequency (LF/HF) was significantly increased after mental stress. Acupuncture induced significant decrease in low frequency (LF) power and ratio of low frequency to high frequency (LF/HF) which were increased after mental stress test. But sham acupuncture induced no changes. Results: In both groups, low frequency (LF) power and ratio of low frequency to high frequency (LF/HF) significantly increased after mental stress. Acupuncture induced significant decrease in low frequency (LF) power and ratio of low frequency to high frequency (LF/HF) which increased after mental stress test. In contrast, sham acupuncture induced no changes. Conclusions: Acupuncture on PC6 and SP4 could be useful to decrease sympathetic activity and balance autonomic nervous system for those who are under stress.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.43 no.5
• /
• pp.557-561
• /
• 2010

In the treatment of myasthenia gravis, thymectomy is generally accepted as the standard of therapy. For thymectomy, there have been various conventional open approaches including sternal splitting, but recently minimally invasive approaches have been increasingly applied. A 28-year-old man presenting with weakness of both hands and fatigability was diagnosed as having myasthenia gravis with thymic hyperplasia. He underwent a robot-assisted thymectomy with the 'da Vinci' surgical system. Through the right thoracic cavity, two thirds of the thymic gland was dissected, and the remainder was resected through the left; these procedures took, respectively, 1 hour and 30 minutes. The patient was discharged on the 8th postoperative day without complications. The minimally invasive approach with the 'da Vinci' surgical system is emerging as a popular choice and various advantages have been reported. Here we report the first successful case of robot-assisted thymectomy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.34 no.12
• /
• pp.937-943
• /
• 2001

Background: The aims of this study are to determine the predicting factors related with cardiovascular injuries in sternal fractures and to suggest the indication of emergency echocardiography. Material and Method: A retrospective review of the Ewha Womans University Mok-Dong Hospital trauma registry revealed 40 patients, that visited the hospital with a sternal fracture a over 5-year period. We analyzed 4 factors as predicting factors; 1) presence of restraint, 2) presence of associated injuries, 3) presence of a past medical history involving cardiovascular system, and 4) Revised Trauma Score(RTS). We, also, assessed the utility of conventional study methods involving cardiovascular injuries, such as ECG, chest X-ray, and enzyme level. Based on the methods, we inferred an indication for emergency echocardiography in sternal fractures. Result: Statistically significant predicting factors were the presence of a past medical history involving cardiovascular system and abnormal RTS on admission. Usage of emergency echocardiography depended upon the predicting factors and the results from conventional evaluations. We can now suggest the indications of emergency echocardiography in sternal fractures as 1) if more than two studies reveal abnormality without any significant predicting factors, and 2) if more than one study reveals abnormality with any significant predicting factors. Conclusion: The past medical history involving cardiovascular system and initial vital signs imply the presence of cardiovascular injuries in sternal fractures. And if needed, emergency echocardiography should be performed.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.201-211
• /
• 2016

Although the antioxidant and cardioprotective effects of NecroX-5 on various in vitro and in vivo models have been demonstrated, the action of this compound on the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation system remains unclear. Here we verify the role of NecroX-5 in protecting mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation capacity during hypoxia-reoxygenation (HR). Necrox-5 treatment ($10{\mu}M$) and non-treatment were employed on isolated rat hearts during hypoxia/reoxygenation treatment using an ex vivo Langendorff system. Proteomic analysis was performed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and non-labeling peptide count protein quantification. Real-time PCR, western blot, citrate synthases and mitochondrial complex activity assays were then performed to assess heart function. Treatment with NecroX-5 during hypoxia significantly preserved electron transport chain proteins involved in oxidative phosphorylation and metabolic functions. NecroX-5 also improved mitochondrial complex I, II, and V function. Additionally, markedly higher peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-$1{\alpha}$ ($PGC1{\alpha}$) expression levels were observed in NecroX-5-treated rat hearts. These novel results provide convincing evidence for the role of NecroX-5 in protecting mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation capacity and in preserving $PGC1{\alpha}$ during cardiac HR injuries.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.908-913
• /
• 2010

Bojungiki-tang is a traditional oriental medicine to boost the immune system. In this study, we investigated the effects of Bojungiki-tang by withdrawal of isolation of VRE colonization. Four cases of post-stroke patients with VRE colonization took Bojungiki-tang and continuously were followed up with stool cultures. After three times negative stool VRE, we withdrew isolation of VRE colonization. One case patient was diagnosed with VRE colonization in another hospital and had no withdrawal during that period. He was admitted to Kyung-hee University Oriental Medicine where he took Bojungiki-tang. After three times negative stool VRE, we withdrew isolation of the patient. These results demonstrate that Bojungiki-tang is effective on boosting immunity level. Further studies are needed to better characterize this protective effect of Bojungiki-tang.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.57-61
• /
• 2006

Objectives : With an assumption of traditional oriental medical theory, to evaluate the effect of tonification/sedation manipulative acupuncture on blood pressure in male normotensives. Methods : This study was a randomized cross-over trial. We enrolled healthy male normotensive subjects, and assigned them randomly to group A or group B. Group A received acupuncture therapy on Shen-Men (He-7) and Nei-Kuan (EH-6) with tonification-manipulation, while group B received it with sedation-manipulation. Blood pressure was assessed every ten minutes for 2 hours. After 3 days of washout period, the subjects were crossed over to the other manipulation, and the same procedures were performed. Results : We observed that blood pressure stimulated by the sedation-manipulation had a tendency to decrease compared to that by the tonification-manipulation. Conclusions : We suggest the sedation manipulation has more synergic effect with the inhibitory effects of Shen-Men and Nei-Kuan on the sympathetic nervous system than the tonification-manipulation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.43 no.6
• /
• pp.764-768
• /
• 2010

Phlebectasia of the venous system of the upper limb is very rare and it does not have a well-defined etiology. Phlebectasia means isolated fusiform or saccular dilatation of the venous system and isolated phlebectasia of the forearm may present as a painless cosmetic deformity or it may cause pain, decreased range of movement, compression on adjacent structures, bleeding, thrombosis and consumptive coagulopathy. We report here on a case of isolated phlebectasia of the forearm and we briefly review the relevant literature.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.48 no.2
• /
• pp.99-104
• /
• 2015

Background: We report our initial experiences of robot-assisted cardiac surgery using the da Vinci Surgical System. Methods: Between February 2010 and March 2014, 50 consecutive patients underwent minimally invasive robot-assisted cardiac surgery. Results: Robot-assisted cardiac surgery was employed in two cases of minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass, 17 cases of mitral valve repair, 10 cases of cardiac myxoma removal, 20 cases of atrial septal defect repair, and one isolated CryoMaze procedure. Average cardiopulmonary bypass time and average aorta cross-clamping time were $194.8{\pm}48.6$ minutes and $126.1{\pm}22.6$ minutes in mitral valve repair operations and $132.0{\pm}32.0$ minutes and $76.1{\pm}23.1$ minutes in myxoma removal operations, respectively. During atrial septal defect closure operations, the average cardiopulmonary bypass time was $128.3{\pm}43.1$ minutes. The median length of stay was between five and seven days. The only complication was that one patient needed reoperation to address bleeding. There were no hospital mortalities. Conclusion: Robot-assisted cardiac surgery is safe and effective for mitral valve repair, atrial septal defect closure, and cardiac myxoma removal surgery. Reducing operative time depends heavily on the experience of the entire robotic surgical team.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.179-184
• /
• 1989

The Marfans syndrome is a generalized connective tissue disease involving eye, musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular system, and inherited autosomal dominant with various expression type. The cardiovascular complications such as aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection, aortic regurgitation, mitral regurgitation and aortic dissection which usually occurs in previously normal sized aorta are poor prognostic factors. However, the aortic dissection which developed in patient with Marfan syndrome and aortic aneurysm was rare. We experienced one case of dissecting aneurysm in patient diagnosed as previous aoritc aneurysm, aortic regurgitation, and Marfan syndrome, receiving successful operation.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.39 no.6
• /
• pp.788-795
• /
• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to define and clarify the concept of 'resilience' in patients with cardiovascular diseases. Methods: A hybrid model was used to develop the concept of resilience. The model included a field study carried out in Cheonan, Korea. The participants in this study were 9 patients with cardiovascular diseases who underwent a percutaneous coronary intervention. Results: The concept of resilience was found to be a complex phenomenon having meanings in two dimensions: the personal-dispositional and interpersonal dimensions. Four attributes and seven indicators were defined. Conclusion: A resilient person was defined as one who has a positive attitude toward restoration, the power to reconstruct and control his/her disease (personal dimension), and support from a supportive system with supportive persons (interpersonal dimension). In the clinical setting, resilience plays an important role in managing the care plans of cardiovascular patients. Therefore, nurses who work closely with patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases should be aware of the attributes and indicators of resilience to enhance the resilience of their patients.