• 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.

• Journal of Korean Academic Society of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.4
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• pp.5-22
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• 1997

The purpose of the study was to development an information delivery system for the home nursing service, to demonstrate and to evaluate the efficiency of it. The period of research conduct was from September 1996 to August 31, 1997. At the 1st stage to achieve the purpose, Firstly Assessment tool for the patients with cerebral vascular disease who have the first priority of HNS among the patients with various health problems at home was developed through literature review. Secondly, after identification of patient nursing problem by the home care nurse with the assessment tool, the patient's classification system developed by Park (1988) that was 128 nursing activities under 6 categories was used to identify the home care nurse's activities of the patient with CAV at home. The research team had several workshops with 5 clinical nurse experts to refine it. At last 110 nursing activities under 11 categories for the patients with CVA were derived. At the second stage, algorithms were developed to connect 110 nursing activities with the patient nursing problems identified by assessment tool. The computerizing process of the algorithms is as follows: These algorithms are realized with the computer program by use of the software engineering technique. The development is made by the prototyping method, which is the requirement analysis of the software specifications. The basic features of the usability, compatibility, adaptability and maintainability are taken into consideration. Particular emphasis is given to the efficient construction of the database. To enhance the database efficiency and to establish the structural cohesion, the data field is categorized with the weight of relevance to the particular disease. This approach permits the easy adaptability when numerous diseases are applied in the future. In paralleled with this, the expandability and maintainability is stressed through out the program development, which leads to the modular concept. However since the disease to be applied is increased in number as the project progress and since they are interrelated and coupled each other, the expand ability as well as maintainability should be considered with a big priority. Furthermore, since the system is to be synthesized with other medical systems in the future, these properties are very important. The prototype developed in this project is to be evaluated through the stage of system testing. There are various evaluation metrics such as cohesion, coupling and adaptability so on. But unfortunately, direct measurement of these metrics are very difficult, and accordingly, analytical and quantitative evaluations are almost impossible. Therefore, instead of the analytical evaluation, the experimental evaluation is to be applied through the test run by various users. This system testing will provide the viewpoint analysis of the user's level, and the detail and additional requirement specifications arising from user's real situation will be feedback into the system modeling. Also. the degree of freedom of the input and output will be improved, and the hardware limitation will be investigated. Upon the refining, the prototype system will be used as a design template. and will be used to develop the more extensive system. In detail. the relevant modules will be developed for the various diseases, and the module will be integrated by the macroscopic design process focusing on the inter modularity, generality of the database. and compatibility with other systems. The Home care Evaluation System is comprised of three main modules of : (1) General information on a patient, (2) General health status of a patient, and (3) Cerebrovascular disease patient. The general health status module has five sub modules of physical measurement, vitality, nursing, pharmaceutical description and emotional/cognition ability. The CVA patient module is divided into ten sub modules such as subjective sense, consciousness, memory and language pattern so on. The typical sub modules are described in appendix 3.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.30 no.4 s.59
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• pp.697-707
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• 1997

This study was performed to estimate the quantity of the effects of tobacco price raise on the smoking rate, and the smoking attributable deaths in Korea. The data were collected by questionnaire survey from 538 male of male workers. The questionnaire contained items on age, sex, living place, status of education, smoking history, the intention to quit smoking when the tobacco price be raised. The questionnaire, were distributed to the offices of enterprises, hospitals, research centers, and public agencies and then collected. Data were analyzed by using the age specific smoking rate, relative risks of eight major smoking related diseases, vital statistics, and the population attributable risk of deaths of smoking males. On the other hand, the impact of the tobacco price raise on the population attributable risk of death due to smoking in Korea was estimated by applying the presumed smoking rate after the price raise. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The smoking rate of male white color workers in large cities was 59.5%. 2. The proportion of male smokers who has the intention to quit smoking when the tobacco price be raised was 61.5%. 3. The proportion of male smokers who has the intention to quit smoking if the price of tobacco be raised was proportional to the degree of increasing tobacco price. It is estimated that if the tobacco price were raised more than four times as now, the presumed smoking rate goes down as low as 26.7%. If the tobacco price be raised 20% each year, presumed smoking rate is 46.2%. 4. The number of attributable male death of smoking estimated by using 8 major smoking related diseases(lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, cerebrovascular disease, ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) was 25,863 death each year. That is 20.1% of total age over 20 male deaths. 5. f the tobacco price were raised more than four times as now and all smokers who has intention to quit smoking quits smoking, 12,336 lives, or 47.7% of smoking related deaths could be saved. 6. IF the actual practice rate of quitting smoking among male smokers with intention to stop smoking when the price of tobacco be raised is 10%, 25%, or 50%, then the expected decrease of death numbers when the tobacco price were raised more than four times as now can be 1,112, 3,483, 5,796 respectively.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.965-975
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• 1996

Background : Exogenous lipoid pneumonia is caused by inhalation or aspiration of animal, vegetable or mineral oil. Most cases are ascribed to aspiration of oil in laxatives or nose drops Petroleum, another pure hydrocarbon used as a base in various medications, is occasionally involved. Especially animal oil produces severe tissue inflammatory reaction, but most patients present with only abnormal chest X-ray and no specific clinical symptoms or signs. Method: Seven patients, 3 males and 4 females, with exogenous lipoid pneumonia, who was hospitalized or referred to pulmonary division at Samsung Medical Center from December 1994 10 July 1996, were included. They hadn a history of laking shark liver oil(so-called "squalene") for varying period of time. We reviewed clinical, radioloic and pathologic findings. Result: Patients look 7 to 30 capsules of "squalene" a day for at least one month to 5 years. Six cases had chronic disease such as diabetes, hypertension, or cerebrovascular accident. Respiratory symptoms of mild fever, cough and sputum were present in 3 cases and in 3 cases there was no clinical symptoms and signs but abnormal findings by chest X - ray. The major radiologic findings by simple chest X - ray and computed tomography consisted of consolidation, infiltration involving mainly right middle and both lower lobes, and ground-glass opacity. Five of six bronchoscopic examinations demonstrated both lipid droplets floating on the surface of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and Lipid-laden macrophages in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid or lung tissue. Follow-up chest X -ray showed improvement in 4 cases but no marked interval change in 3 cases after removal of exposure to "squalene". Conclusion: Shark liver oil can induce lipoid pneumonia in adults. In case of high clinical suspicion, confirmation of "squalene" use by careful history taking is required and bronchoscopy is helpful in diagnosis.