• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.1044-1050
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• 2006

The Korean genuine medicine, 'Gigukjihwangtanggami (GJT)' has long been used clinically for hypertension and various cerebrovascular diseases. However, experimental study has been carried out very little. Recently cytokines involved in the regulation of inflammatory reactions and immune responses may play an important role in the pathogenesis of cerebral infarction (CI). The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of GJT on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and anti-inflammatory cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCS) stimulated with lipopolysaccaride (LPS) from Cl patients. The amount of tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}\;(TNF-{\alpha}),\;interleukin-1{\beta}\;(IL-1{\beta})$, IL-6, IL-8, IL-4 and IL-10 in PBMC culture supernatant was significantly increased in the LPS treated cells compared to unstimulated cells. GJT inhibited the production of $TNF-{\alpha},\;IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and IL-8 induced by LPS. The maximal inhibition rate of the $TNF-{\alpha},\;IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and IL-8 production by pretreatment of GJT (1 mg/ml) was $57.32{\pm}2.5%$ (p.0.05), $42.02{\pm}3.5%$ (p.0.05), $40.02{\pm}2.3%$ (p.0.05) and $48.02{\pm}3.1$, (p.0.05), respectively. In the Other hand, GJT increased the production of IL-4 and IL-10. The maximal increase rate of the IL-4 and IL-10 production by pretreatment of GJT (1 mg/ml) was $42.4{\pm}3.3%$ (p.0.05) End $56.4{\pm}2.9%$ (p.0.05), respectively. Taken together, these results indicate that GJT Ray have regulatory effects on the cytokine production and suggest that GJT might use clinically for the treatment of CI.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.873-878
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• 2019

Cerebrovascular disease is one of the three major causes of death in Korea. Since these diseases are associated with atherosclerosis, the diagnosis of atherosclerotic factors should be presented. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between brachial-ankle arterial pulse wave velocity, cerebral artery vascular stenosis, blood pressure, obesity, and abdominal obesity by age group. The significance of cerebral artery stenosis and age group. The risk factors of atherosclerosis, such as blood pressure, obesity, and abdominal obesity, were significant in all age groups. When the pulse wave velocity of the brachial-ankle artery was increased, the cerebral artery stenosis was distributed in 57.3% of the total test subjects. If the arterial stiffness is suspected during the measurement of the pulse wave velocity of the brachial ankle artery, We recommend suspected vascular stenosis and perform a cerebral artery angiography. It is suggested that the data will be used as a baseline data for similar studies after evaluating the significance of blood pressure, obesity, and abdominal obesity as risk factors of atherosclerosis.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.25-39
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Lonicera Japonica Thunberg (LJT) on the inflammatory factor expression associated with atherosclerosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Methods: After treatment with LJT in HUVEC which is treated with TNF-α, we measured the expression levels of biomarkers (MCP-1, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, KLF2, and eNOS), mRNA (CCL2, ICAM1, VCAM1, KLF2, and NOS3), and the proteins (MCP-1, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, KLF2, eNOS, ERK, JNK, and p38). Results: 1. Compared to the control, LJT significantly reduced MCP-1 and VCAM-1 levels at concentrations of 100, 200, and 400 ㎍/ml and ICAM-1 expression at 200 and 400 ㎍/ml compared to the control. It increased KLF2 levels at all three concentrations, but not significantly, while eNOS expression was significantly increased at 400 ㎍/ml. 2. LJT was seen to significantly reduce the expression of CCL2, ICAM1, and VCAM1 mRNA at concentrations of 100, 200, and 400 ㎍/ml compared to the control. In contrast, significantly increased KLF2 and NOS3 mRNA levels were observed at 400 ㎍/ml and at 200 and 400 ㎍/ml, respectively. 3. Compared to the control, LJT significantly reduced the protein expression of MCP-1 and VCAM-1 at 200 and 400 ㎍/ml and of ICAM-1 at 400 ㎍/ml. In addition, it increased both KLF2 and eNOS protein levels at 200 and 400 ㎍/ml. Although LJT did not have an effect on ERK expression in comparison with the control, it significantly reduced JNK levels at 200 and 400 ㎍/ml and p38 levels at 400 ㎍/ml. Conclusions: These results suggest that LJT has an effect on the inhibition of inflammatory factor expression associated with atherosclerosis in HUVECs which could contribute to the prevention of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

• 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 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.

• 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.

• 한국노년학
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.645-656
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to address the current status of hospital-based home care(HBHC). We analyzed the data on HBHC from national electronic data information of Health Insurance Review Agency. Beside, we surveyed 75 hospital-based home care agency. In 2006, 20,343 elderly(64.0% from all HBHC user) used 333,889 visits(76.8%from all visits). Medical diagnosis was composed of circulatory disease including cerebrovascular diseases 41.3%, endocrine system disease including Diabetes mellitus 10.4%, neoplasm 9.7%. Some of subjects used HBHC in excess of maximum covered 8 visits a month by National Health Insurance, decubitus 7.0%, the cancer 5.4%, the diabetes 2.5%, the hypertension 1.1%, and the stroke 0.9%. This results will contribute to expand the coverage of hospital-based home care by National Health Insurance. There was distribution difference in medical diagnosis and nursing intervention between HBHC and Public health center-based home care(PBHC) subjects. Therefore, HBHC subjects had more severe medical diagnosis, and were intervened more injections, examinations, than PBHC subjects. These differences must be considered to set up functional role among the three types of home visit care.

• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.28-42
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• 2023

Background and Purpose: We investigated the correlation between the deep distribution of white matter hyperintensity (WMH) (dWMH: WMH in deep and corticomedullary areas, with minimal periventricular WMH) and a positive agitated saline contrast echocardiography result. Methods: We retrospectively recruited participants with comprehensive dementia evaluations, an agitated saline study, and brain imaging. The participants were classified into two groups according to WMH-distributions: dWMH and dpWMH (mainly periventricular WMH with or without deep WMH.) We hypothesized that dWMH is more likely associated with embolism, whereas dpWMH is associated with small-vessel diseases. We compared the clinical characteristics, WMH-distributions, and positive rate of agitated saline studies between the two groups. Results: Among 90 participants, 27 and 12 met the dWMH and dpWMH criteria, respectively. The dWMH-group was younger (62.2±7.5 vs. 78.9±7.3, p<0.001) and had a lower prevalence of hypertension (29.6% vs. 75%, p=0.008), diabetes mellitus (3.7% vs. 25%, p=0.043), and hyperlipidemia (33.3% vs. 83.3%, p=0.043) than the dpWMH-group. Regarding deep white matter lesions, the number of small lesions (<3 mm) was higher in the dWMH-group(10.9±9.7) than in the dpWMH-group (3.1±6.4) (p=0.008), and WMH was predominantly distributed in the border-zones and corticomedullary areas. Most importantly, the positive agitated saline study rate was higher in the dWMH-group than in the dpWMH-group (81.5% vs. 33.3%, p=0.003). Conclusions: The dWMH-group with younger participants had fewer cardiovascular risk factors, showed more border-zone-distributions, and had a higher agitated saline test positivity rate than the dpWMH-group, indicating that corticomedullary or deep WMH-distribution with minimal periventricular WMH suggests embolic etiologies.