• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.713-720
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to propose a new measurement method for accurate measurement of vessel diameter in computed tomography angiography(CTA). CTA test was performed after non-ionic iodine contrast agent was flowed at a constant rate to self-maded perfusion phantom. After obtaining raw data, images were reconstructed with multi-planar reconstruction(MPR) and maximal intensity projection(MIP). Diameters of vascular models were measured for each technique. Relative and conventional measurements were then compared. The mean diameter of the vascular model was closer to the actual measurement when relative measurement was used compared to that when conventional measurement was used both in MPR and MIP. Relative measurements of MPR and MIP were closer to actual measurement than those of conventional measurement (34% VS, 24%, p<0.05). The relative measurement method proposed in this study was closer to the actual measurement than the conventional measurement method. However, both test methods were still larger than actual results. Therefore, further study of relative measurement method is needed using this study as basic data.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.570-582
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• 2020

Purpose: Obesity is a risk factor for various adult diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardio-cerebrovascular disease, and cancer. With an increasing obesity population worldwide, the prevention of obesity with natural components has emerged as an alternative health care strategy. Ramulus mori (Sangzhi, RM) is widely used as a traditional herbal medicine in East Asia. It contains various phytochemicals, including stilbenes and 2-arylbenzofurans. In this study, we compared the anti-obesity effects of RM extracts and its major stilbene components (mulberroside A [MSA] and oxyresveratrol [ORT]) in high fat diet (HFD)-fed obese mice. Methods: Five week-old, male C57BL/6J mice were grouped into 7 experimental groups: normal diet (ND), HFD, HFD + 1% RM water extracts (MW), HFD + 0.1% MSA, HFD + 1% RM ethanol extracts (ME), HFD + 0.1% ORT, and HFD + 1% Garcinia cambogia extracts (GC) as a positive control. All mice were fed experimental diet for 13 weeks. Results: Compared to the HFD group, total body weight and weekly body weight gain were significantly decreased in the ME, ORT, and GC groups. Glucose tolerance level was significantly decreased in all experimental groups, whereas plasma insulin level was decreased in MSA, ME, ORT and GC groups. Plasma glucose, triglyceride (TG), and total cholesterol levels were significantly decreased, whereas high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were increased in the MSA, ORT, and GC groups. Hepatic TG accumulation was also significantly decreased in the MSA, ME, ORT, and GC groups. Adipose tissue weight and size of adipocytes were significantly decreased in the MSA, ME and ORT groups, and were comparable to values obtained in the GC group. The levels of adiponectin and SREBP1c mRNA expressions were increased in the ORT and GC groups. Conclusion: These results indicate that ME, ORT and MSA exert significant anti-obesity effect, and have the potential to be developed as a weight control ingredient of functional foods.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.967-983
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• 2020

Objective: This study was performed to investigate the effect of Acanthopanax sessiliflorum Cheonghyeol plus (ASCP) on NF-κB and MAPK signaling and vascular adhesion factors associated with dyslipidemia in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Methods: We measured the scavenging activity of DPPH radical and ABTS radical by ASCP in HUVECs. We measured the protein expression levels of NF-κB, IκBα, ERK, JNK, and p38 after treatment of HUVECs with TNF-α. We measured the expression levels of MCP-1, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 mRNA and of MCP-1, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 biomarkers after treatment of HUVECs with TNF-α. Results: The DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity of ASCP increased in a concentration-dependent manner. NF-κB, IκB, ERK, p38 protein expression levels decreased following ASCP treatment at all concentrations compared to untreated control HUVECs. JNK protein expression levels decreased in ASCP-treated HUVECs compared to untreated controls at concentrations of 100 ㎍/mL. MCP-1 mRNA expression level decreased with ASCP treatment ≥200 ㎍/mL compared to the control. ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 mRNA expression levels decreased at all concentrations compared to the control. MCP-1 protein expression level was reduced compared to the control at concentrations ≥200 ㎍/mL, ICAM-1 protein expression level was reduced compared to the control at concentrations ≥100 ㎍/mL, and VCAM-1 protein expression level was reduced at all concentrations. Conclusions: These results suggest that ASCP has an antioxidative and hypolipidemic effect and that ASCP could treat and prevent dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, and cardio-cerebrovascular diseases.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.479-492
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• 2020

Background: As the prevalence of hypertension is increasing in Korea, the government is seeking policy actions to manage patients with hypertension more efficiently. In this paper, we aimed to identify factors associated with the use of medical care at hospitals among outpatients with hypertension. Methods: We analyzed a total of 15,040 cases of 3,877 outpatients with hypertension obtained from the Korea Medical Panel database from 2010 to 2016. The dependent variable was whether a patient with hypertension visited a hospital or not; and independent variables were the patient's various socio-demographic, health-related, and heath-status characteristics. We conducted a generalized linear mixed model analysis with logit link for all the cases and then conducted it stratified by gender. Results: As a result of a multivariable analysis, women were less likely than to visit at a hospital (odds ratio [OR], 0.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.32-0.61) and people aged 65 years and older than those aged less than 65 years (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.57-0.89). Residents in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam were more likely than those in than Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon, and Jeju to visit a hospital (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.05-1.86). The likelihood of visiting a hospital was high in people belonging to a group of: the highest level of annual household income (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.30-2.29); Medical care aid recipients (OR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.34-2.83); people having three or more complex chronic diseases (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.19-2.11); people having diabetes (OR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.41-2.32); or people having ischemic heart disease or cerebrovascular disease (OR, 6.80; 95% CI, 5.28-8.76). Also, we found that factors associated with the use of medical care at hospitals among outpatients with hypertension differed between genders. Conclusion: A variety of factors seem to be associated with the use of medical care at hospitals among outpatients with hypertension. Future research needs to find a way to help patients with hypertension visit an appropriate medical institution between clinics and hospitals.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.60-74
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• 2021

The purpose of this research was to determine the degree of awareness of early symptoms of stroke and myocardial infarction in adults diagnosed with hypertension and diabetes, and to analyze factors related to unawareness. Raw data from the 2017 Community Health Survey were utilized. A total 12,277 adults older than 40 years were included in analysis finally. The early symptom awareness rates of stroke and myocardial infarction were 53.6% and 46.8%, respectively. Logistic analysis was performed to assess factors associated with unawareness of early symptom of stroke and myocardial infarction. After correcting for socio-demographic variables, education for the management of hypertension, recognition of blood pressure level and HbA1c level were significantly related to stroke early symptom unawareness on multivariate analysis. (Education for the management of hypertension, recognition of blood pressure level and HbA1c level were significantly related to the unawareness of early stroke symptoms even after socio-demographic variables were corrected in multivariate analysis.) Recognition of blood pressure level and HbA1c level were also significantly associated with unawareness of early symptoms of myocardial infarction. Therefore, it is required to interventions and strategies to improve the level of awareness of early symptoms of cardio-cerebrovascular disease, such as accelerating promotion and strengthening education for high-risk groups who must manage both hypertension and diabetes.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.67-75
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• 2022

Medical information is variously generated not only from medical devices but also from electronic devices. Recently, related convergence technologies from big data collection in healthcare to medical AI products for patient's condition analysis are rapidly increasing. However, there are difficulties in applying them because of independent developmental procedures. In this paper, we propose an intelligent hospital information system (iHIS) model to simplify and integrate research, development and application of medical AI technology. The proposed model includes (1) real-time patient data management, (2) specialized data management for medical AI development, and (3) real-time monitoring for patient. Using this, real-time biometric data collection and medical AI specialized data generation from patient monitoring devices, as well as specific AI applications of camera-based patient gait analysis and brain MRA-based cerebrovascular disease analysis will be introduced. Based on the proposed model, it is expected that it will be used to improve the HIS by increasing security of data management and improving practical use through consistent interface platformization.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.515-525
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• 2022

Background: The incidence of ischemic cerebrovascular disease is increasing in recent years and has been one of the leading causes of neurological dysfunction and death. Ginsenoside Rg1 has been found to protect against neuronal damage in many neurodegenerative diseases. However, the effect and mechanism by which Rg1 protects against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) are not fully understood. Here, we report the neuroprotective effects of Rg1 treatment on CIRI and its possible mechanisms in mice. Methods: A bilateral common carotid artery ligation was used to establish a chronic CIRI model in mice. HT22 cells were treated with Rg1 after OGD/R to study its effect on [Ca²⁺]_i. The open-field test and poleclimbing experiment were used to detect behavioral injury. The laser speckle blood flowmeter was used to measure brain blood flow. The Nissl and H&E staining were used to examine the neuronal damage. The Western blotting was used to examine MAP2, PSD95, Tau, p-Tau, NOX2, PLC, p-PLC, CN, NFAT1, and NLRP1 expression. Calcium imaging was used to test the level of [Ca²⁺]_i. Results: Rg1 treatment significantly improved cerebral blood flow, locomotion, and limb coordination, reduced ROS production, increased MAP2 and PSD95 expression, and decreased p-Tau, NOX2, p-PLC, CN, NFAT1, and NLRP1 expression. Calcium imaging results showed that Rg1 could inhibit calcium overload and resist the imbalance of calcium homeostasis after OGD/R in HT22 cells. Conclusion: Rg1 plays a neuroprotective role in attenuating CIRI by inhibiting oxidative stress, calcium overload, and neuroinflammation.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.65 no.6
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• pp.816-824
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• 2022

Objective : Emergency superficial temporal artery to middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) anastomosis in patients with large vessel occlusion who fails mechanical thrombectomy or does not become an indication due to over the time window can be done as an alternative for blood flow restoration. The authors planned this study to quantitatively measure the degree of improvement in cerebral perfusion flow using perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after bypass surgery and to find out what factors are related to the outcome of the bypass surgery. Methods : For a total of 107 patients who underwent emergent STA-MCA bypass surgery with large vessel occlusion, the National Institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS), modified Rankin score (mRS), infarction volume, and hypoperfusion area volume was calculated, the duration between symptom onset and reperfusion time, occlusion site and infarction type were analyzed. After emergency STA-MCA bypass, hypoperfusion area volume at post-operative 7 days was calculated and analyzed compared with pre-operative hypoperfusion area volume. The factors affecting the improvement of mRS were analyzed. The clinical status of patients who underwent emergency bypass was investigated by mRS and NIHSS before and after surgery, and changes in infarct volume, extent, degree of collateral circulation, and hypoperfusion area volume were measured using MRI and digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Results : The preoperative infarction volume was median 10 mL and the hypoperfusion area volume was median 101 mL. NIHSS was a median of 8 points, and the last normal to operation time was a median of 60.7 hours. STA patency was fair in 97.1% of patients at 6 months follow-up DSA and recanalization of the occluded vessel was confirmed at 26.5% of patients. Infarction volume significantly influenced the improvement of mRS (p=0.010) but preoperative hypoperfusion volume was not significantly influenced (p=0.192), and the infarction type showed marginal significance (p=0.0508). Preoperative NIHSS, initial mRS, occlusion vessel type, and last normal to operation time did not influence the improvement of mRS (p=0.272, 0.941, 0.354, and 0.391). Conclusion : In a patient who had an acute cerebral infarction due to large vessel occlusion with large ischemic penumbra but was unable to perform mechanical thrombectomy, STA-MCA bypass could be performed. By using time-to-peak images of perfusion MRI, it is possible to quickly and easily confirm that the brain tissue at risk is preserved and that the ischemic penumbra is recovered to a normal blood flow state.

• The Journal of the Institute of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.119-129
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• 2023

Sleep apnea causes various secondary disease such as hypertension, stroke, myocardial infarction, depression and cognitive impairment. Early detection and continuous management of sleep apnea are urgently needed since it causes cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. In this study, wearable device for monitoring respiration during sleep using PVDF film was developed to detect vibration through trachea caused by breathing, which determines normal breathing and sleep apnea. Variables such as respiration rate and apnea were extracted based on the detected breathing sound data, and a noise reduction algorithm was established to minimize the effect even when there is a noise signal. In addition, it was confirmed that irregular breathing patterns can be analyzed by establishing a moving threshold algorithm. The results show that the accuracy of the respiratory rate from the developed device was 98.7% comparing with the polysomnogrphy result. Accuracy of detection for sleep apnea event was 92.6% and that of the sleep apnea duration was 94.0%. The results of this study will be of great help to the management of sleep disorders and confirmation of treatment by commercialization of wearable devices that can monitor sleep information easily and accurately at home during daily life and confirm the progress of treatment.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.167-177
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• 2023

Background: Pressure injuries are localized areas of damage to the skin and/or underlying tissue, usually over a bony prominence due to pressure. Cerebrovascular disease increases the risk of pressure injuries due to the immobility caused by physical paralysis. The general approach to managing a patient with pressure injuries should include pain relief, the treatment of the infection, optimizing nutritional intake, proper positioning, and contamination prevention. Nonetheless, the duration of treatment for pressure injuries varies from person to person. Case report: An 80-year-old female intracerebral hemorrhage patient developed a pressure injury. To improve the injury faster, a Radix Astragali pharmacoacupuncture solution was applied to the pressure sore. The pressure injury's width, length, and depth was assessed using a ruler, and the exudate amount and tissue types were assessed. The treatment was performed for 35 days. The rate at which the size of the pressure sore lessened increased since the Radix Astragali pharmacoacupuncture solution was applied to the pressure sore. In addition, the tissue type of the pressure injury improved, and the exudates decreased. There was no significant difference in the Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing Tool 3.0, since the Radix Astragali pharmacoacupuncture solution was applied to the pressure injury. Conclusion: This clinical case study suggests that the Radix Astragali pharmacoacupuncture solution might be effective in speeding up the healing of pressure injuries.