• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• 제36권2호
• /
• pp.101-108
• /
• 2003

Antiplatelet aggregation, anticoagulant and lipid-lowering drugs are clinically widely used for secondary preventive purpose in the cardiovascular patients, but there is no primary preventive agents to prevent these diseases. With the aim of developing effective primary agents for cardiovascular diseases, we tried to formulate an optimized mixture of natural plants extract containing Theae sinensis, Camelliae sinensis, Vitis vinifera, Gingko folium and curcuminoids from Curcuma longa and to evaluate its anti-thrombotic and anti-hypercholesterolemic effects in vivo. The inhibitory effect of curcuminoids on vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration were also investigated in vitro. in the animal experiments treated with hyperlipidemic diet, oral treatment of curcuminoids and natural plants extracts mixture (100 mg/kg) into male Sprague Dawley rats for 7 week simultaneously inhibited platelet aggregation as well as improved lipid profile in the blood. Compared to control group, both of curcuminoids-treated and mixture-treated groups revealed significantly decrease of total cholesterol (24.4%, 28.6%), free cholesterol (25.1%, 24.0%), cholesterol ester (14.6%, 29.0%), LDL-cholesterol (27.0%, 32.0%) and triglyceride (15.0%, 31.0%), respectively. However, both groups showed increase of HDL-cholesterol (46.6% and 51.5%) . In particular, atherogenic index of curcuminoids and mixture treatment group was significantly decreased to 47.0% and 56.0%, respectively. Furthermore, oral treatment of curcuminoids and mixture significantly inhibited collagen-induced platelet aggregation (21.1% and 29.1%, respectively), compared to control group. The anti-thrombotic values of mixture was almost similar to that of aspirin treatment (100 mg/kg) group. These results suggest that the oral treatment of curcuminoids-based natural plant extract mixture improved cardiovascular conditions in hyperlipidemic rats.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제42권11호
• /
• pp.747-754
• /
• 2019

The incidence of atherosclerosis is higher among patients with several autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It is well documented that innate immune cells including macrophages and dendritic cells sense lipid species such as saturated fatty acids and oxidized low-density lipoprotein and produce pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. However, whether a hyperlipidemic environment also impacts autoimmune T cell responses has been unclear. Among $CD4^+$ T cells, Th17 and follicular helper T (Tfh) cells are known to play pathogenic roles in the development of hyperlipidemia-associated autoimmune diseases. This review gives an overview of the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which dysregulated lipid metabolism impacts the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, with specific emphasis on Th17 and Tfh cells.

• Nutritional Sciences
• /
• 제7권4호
• /
• pp.214-217
• /
• 2004

Dietary intervention and simvastatin is beneficial in the prevention cardiovascular diseases by lowering plasma lipid levels. Endothelial dysfunction is associated with coronary artery disease and its risk factors and is reversed by dietary intervention. It has been suggested that hyperlipidemia contributes to the development of atherosclerosis by increasing inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression via intimal thickening. Statins treatment has been found to decrease iNOS expression and atherogenensis in animal models. We hypothesized that dietary intervention and simvastatin therapy could decrease plasma nitric oxide in hypercholesterolemic patients, which would suggest the opportunity for modulation of iNOS expression through the use of statins in a clinical situation. We measured the plasma levels of nitrite and nitrate (NOx) in 19 hyperlipidemia patients. The subjects were under dietary intervention following simvastatin therapy for 12 weeks. As a result, the plasma level of NOx, stable metabolites of nitric oxide (NO), saw a two-fold elevation in hyperlipidemic patients as compared to normal levels. Although 12 weeks of dietary intervention did not lower NOx levels, subsequent 12-week simvastatin (10 mg/day) treatment, along with dietary intervention, lowered NOx levels significantly. This NOx reduction, induced by simvastatin therapy, positively correlated with lowered coronary risk factors (r=0.40, p=0.02). It indicated that simvastatin therapy decreases plasma NOx levels by, perhaps, decreasing iNOS expression or activity leading to the attenuation of the development of neointima.

• 보건행정학회지
• /
• 제23권2호
• /
• pp.112-123
• /
• 2013

Background: Under the risk of financial sustainability of National Health Insurance, Korean government attempted a series of regulations over pharmaceutical prices. The first price-cut was implemented to the hyperlipidemial treatments, and the prices of statins were reduced on 15th, April in 2009. The purposes of this study are 1) to investigate the impact of this price-cut on pharmaceutical expenditure, and 2) to identify the factors associated with drug-switch among statins. Methods: Using the national patients sample data, this study conducted time series analysis on the expenditures, prices, and volumes of statin drugs. To understand the factors associated with drug-switch, the multinomial logit model was analyzed at the patients level. Results: The results of time series analysis demonstrated that the price-cut of hyperlipidemic medicines did not lead to the reduced expenditure, suggesting the increased volume was the major cause. The multinomial logit analysis identified the switch of healthcare provider as the significant factor that was highly associated with drug-switch, implying the physicians' preference was the major motivation of drug-switch. Conclusion: Without control of utilization, price regulation itself could not reduce pharmaceutical expenditure. This suggests that the pharmaceutical regulations should be implemented on the basis of understanding of provider behaviors. The findings of this study will form the first step for further empirical studies.

• 한국임상약학회지
• /
• 제23권4호
• /
• pp.316-321
• /
• 2013

Purpose: Atorvastatin, a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor is widely prescribed in hyperlipidemic patients and telmisartan, an angiotensin receptor blocker is frequently used in the treatment of hypertension. Both drugs are substrates of organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP) expressed in basolateral membrane in the liver, and undergo high first pass metabolism. Therefore, OATP-mediated hepatic uptake is important for disposition and metabolism of these drugs. The present study was designed to investigate the pharmacokinetic interactions between atorvastatin and telmisartan in rats. Method: Young adult SD rats were divided into three groups (n=6, each) and atorvastatin (10 mg/kg) and telmisartan (4 mg/kg) were orally given alone and together. Heparinized blood was serially taken and plasma concentrations of both drugs were measured using HPLC-MS/MS. Pharmacokinetic parameters of two drugs were calculated. Results: No significant pharmacokinetic change was found except a delay of time to peak of telmisartan when administered with atorvastatin. Each drug at the present dosage seemed to be insufficient to alter the pharmacokinetic parameters of its counterpart drug. Conclusion: Conclusively, co-administration of atorvastatin and telmisartan may lead to negligible clinical consequences.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• 제26권3호
• /
• pp.215-219
• /
• 1996

Active component was sought among three herb medicines, which are used in combination as a traditional medicine prescribed for patients with hyperlipidemia related diseases. Antihyperlipidemic effect of this remedy has previously been shown model by the authors on the animal model. Hyperlipidemia was induced on male Wistar rats by keeping them on high lipid diet for one week, as previously described by the authors. Blood lipid profile was verified on these rats by measuring total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL). Then, the diet was changed to normal. At the same time, methanol extracts of Scutellaris baicalensis Georg.(radix), Coptidis japonica Makino(rhizoma) or Rhei koreanum Nakai(rhizoma) were given on daily basis, and changes in the blood lipid profile were monitored for 4 weeks. Methanol extract of Scutellaris baicalensis Georg. significantly reduced the TC value, implying the in vivo antihyperlipidemic effect.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• 제18권1호
• /
• pp.172-178
• /
• 2009

Fermented ginseng (FG) is an ethanol extract of ginseng radix processed with $\beta$-galactosidase. It was hypothesized that FG may exert anti-hyperlipidemic and anti-diabetic activities through modulating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in HepG2 human hepatoma cells. In this study, we showed that AMPK phosphorylation was stimulated by FG. These effects were abolished by pretreatment with an AMPK inhibitor, compound C. In addition, FG regulated the expression of genes associated with lipogenesis and lipolysis, thus causing suppression of hepatic triglyceride accumulation. In vivo study using db/db mice, FG reduced fasting plasma glucose, HbAlc, and insulin resistance index, when compared to diabetic control. FG also increased the phospho-AMPK and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) expressions in liver and skeletal muscle, respectively. In liver, expressions of lipogenic gene were decreased whereas expressions of lipolytic genes were induced, when compared to diabetic control. Taken together, we may suggest that FG ameliorates hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia through activation of AMPK and could be developed as a health functional food or therapeutic agent for type 2 diabetic patients.

• 대한한방내과학회지
• /
• 제30권4호
• /
• pp.772-779
• /
• 2009

Object : In the present study, we investigated the obesity and blood parameters between Qi-deficiency and Fire/Heat pattern identification/syndrome differentiation (PI/SD) in acute stroke patients. Materials and Methods : A total of 391 stroke patients within 7 days after onset were consecutively recruited from 12 hospitals across South Korea from Nov. 1st, 2006 to Jun. 31st, 2009. They were diagnosed as Fire/Heat or Qi-deficiency among five PI/SD subtypes by two independent stroke experts. We investigated the differences of obesity and blood characteristics between Fire/Heat and Qi-deficiency by statistical analyses. Results : In male subjects, obesity was significantly associated with Fire/Heat PI/SD. The averaged mean BMI ($24.13kg/m^2$) and waist circumference(89.34cm) of the Fire/Heat group were higher than those of the Qi-deficiency group ($22.60kg/m^2$ and 83.43 cm, respectively). The number of obese patients was larger in the Fire/Heat group than in the Qi-deficiency group (p = 0.001). Hyperlipidemia was also related with Fire/Heat. However, obesity was not associated with PI/SD in female subjects where the number of hyperlipidemic patients was higher in the Qi-deficiency group. Among blood parameters, the levels of triglycerides and fasting blood sugar were higher in the Fire/Heat group compared with the Qi-deficiency group in male subjects. However, total cholesterol of the Qi-deficiency group was higher than in the Fire/Heat group among female subjects. Conclusion : This study shows that obesity and hyperlipidemia are significantly difference between Qi-deficiency and Fire/Heat. We suggests that PI/SD may be associated with clinical characteristics and large population study between PI/SD and clinical characteristics including blood parameters are needed.

• 대한한의학회지
• /
• 제26권2호
• /
• pp.77-84
• /
• 2005

Objectives: Chunghyul-dan is a combinatorial herbal medicine, and previous studies reported it had therapeutic effects for microangiopathy, which is a major part. in the progression of stroke, as well as having anti-hypertensive, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidative, and anti-inflammatory activities, Therefore, we examined the inhibitory effect of Chunghyul-dan on stroke occurrence in patients with silent brain infarction. Methods: We prescribed Chunghyul-dan at 600 mg a day to patients with silent brain infarction confirmed by brain MRI, and monitored stroke occurrence, drug compliances, and adverse effects for 1 year, We then performed follow-up brain MRI to detect new vascular lesions after 1 year of Chunghyul-dan medication. As for the subjects lost to follow-up, we assessed their prognosis after 1 year by telephone. Results: There were twenty-one subjects who were treated with Chunghyul-dan for more than 1 year, None of them experienced new clinical syndromes characterized by rapidly developing clinical symptoms and signs of focal and at times global loss of brain function, which could be accompanied with evidence of stroke occurrence, or any adverse effects during the Chunghyul-dan medication period. These results might be explained by various biochemical effects of Chunghyul-dan on microangiopathy, which is closely related with cell cycle progression, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, vascular inflammation, and oxidative damage. Of the 10 subjects lost to follow-up, six were reached; two of them had stroke occurrence. Conclusions: We suggest Chunghyul-dan could be useful for prevention of stroke occurrence in patients with silent brain infarction by preventing the progression of microangiopathy. Further study with a randomized controlled trial is needed to confirm this suggestion.

• 대한한의학회지
• /
• 제28권1호통권69호
• /
• pp.224-236
• /
• 2007

Background : Chunghyul-dan is a combinatorial herbal medicine; previous studies reported it had therapeutic effects for microangiopathy, a major part in the progression of small vessel disease, as well as having anti-hypertensive, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidative, and anti-inflammatory activities. Therefor, we examined the inhibitory effect of Chunghyul-dan on stroke recurrence in patients with small vessel disease. Methods : We prescribed Chunghyul-dan at 600 mg a day to patients with small vessel disease, and monitored stroke recurrence, drug compliances, and adverse effect for 1 year. We then performed follow-up brain MRI to find new vascular lesions after 1 year of Chunghyul-dan medication. For the subjects lost to follow-up, we assessed their prognosis after 1 year by telephone. Results : There were 73 subjects treated with Chunghyul-dan for 1 year; new vascular events were found in 3. Of the 85 subjects lost to follow-up, fifty four could be contacted, and eight of them had stroke recurrence. One year of Chunghyul-dan medication reduced the odds ratio of stroke recurrence by 75% compared to the subjects lost to follow-up and the rate increased to 88%, when adjusted for other relevant risk factors for stroke recurrence. These reductions were much higher than those of aspirin and other kinds of conventional anti-platelets. There was no adverse effect in any of the study subjects. Conclusions : We suggest Chunghyul-dan could be useful for inhibition of stroke recurrence. Further study with a randomized controlled trial is needed to confirm this suggestion.