• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.195-200
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• 2015

This study conducted a comprehensive health examination center in healthy adult subjects 47 people in the 30-55 age carotid ultrasound and a blood test and measurement physique is located in Gyeonggi Province in 2014, was analyzed in the same group between gender and age of the person hip circumference was higher than the 40s and 50s(p<0.05). Carotid ultrasound results showed differences in the 30s and 50s (p<0.05). CIMT and BMI, in CIMT showed a positive correlation with hip circumference (p<0.05). In addition, blood pressure and systolic blood pressure in the CIMT showed a positive correlation (p<0.05). In conclusion, in this study, we demonstrated a correlation between metabolic syndrome risk factor in carotid IMT, and continue to research needed for the diagnosis of diseases of the metabolic syndrome factor fusion research is utilizing ultrasound for a more qualitative disease diagnosis.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.119-130
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• 2013

Objectives : Diabetes mellitus is the leading cause for vascular complications such as atherosclerosis. The present study is to investigate whether Doinseunggi-tang (DST) improves diabetic vascular dysfunction in type II diabetes. Methods : The db/db mice were treated with high fat/high cholesterol diet and DST (200 mg/kg/day) for 8 weeks. Results : DST significantly lowered blood glucose and systolic blood pressure. In addition, DST also markedly decreased total plasma cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL-cholesterol, whereas increased the HDL-cholesterol. Vascular relaxation of aortic rings by acetylcholine or SNP was ameliorated by DST in a dose-dependent manner. Damage of vascular intima and hypertrophic of media was improved by DST. Immunohistological study revealed that DST attenuated the increase of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and ET-1 expression in thoracic aorta. Conclusions : Taken together, DST suppressed hyperglycemia and diabetic vascular dysfunction in type II db/db mice. The present data suggests that Doinseunggi-tang may be prevent a development of diabetic atherosclerosis.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.149-156
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• 2000

Atherosclerosis is emerging as one of the major causes of death in Korea as well as Western societies. In the present study; hypocholesterolemic and antiatherogenic effects of the ethanol extract of Allium victorialis Makino was investigated using the conventional rabbit and the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP)-transgenic mouse model. Hypercholesterolemia was induced by feeding high cholesterol diet to the animals for 30 days and they were then fed with high cholesterol diet containing 0.5% of the A. victorialis extract for additional 30 (or 40) days. In the experiment using rabbits, treatment with the A. victorialis extract significantly decreased plasma total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, triglyceride levels and lipid peroxidation compared to those in the control group. Total cholesterol contents in the liver and the heart were also significantly decreased. Lipid staining of the aorta isolated from the rabbits showed that treatment with the A. victorialis extract decreased formation of atheromatous plaques on the intima of the aorta. In the experiment employing CETP transgenic mouse model, treatment with the A. victorialis extract decreased the levels of plasma total cholesterol and the tissue triglyceride levels in the heart. These results demonstrated that the ethanol extract of A. victorialis lowered serum cholesterol levels, tissue lipid contents and accumulation of cholesterol in the artery.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.271-280
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• 2020

Hypertension has been approved to cause disharmony between the heart and kidney such as cardiac hypertrophy and kidney dysfunction. In traditional oriental medicine Paeo-tang (PET) has been shown to have effects on blood circulation improvement. However, the beneficial effect of PET on hypertension remains unknown. In this study, we investigated that PET attenuates blood pressure and improves cardiovascular and renal function in NG-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME) rat model. Hypertensive rat models were induced by the administration of L-NAME (40 mg/kg/day) and then PET (50 or 100 mg/kg/day) or Olmetec was treated for 2 weeks. PET treatment significantly suppressed the systolic blood pressure and decreased intima-media thickness in the thoracic aorta. PET ameliorated endothelium-dependent and independent vascular relaxation in the L-NAME-induced vascular dysfunction. PET ameliorated the functional decline in the kidney such as albumin and blood urea nitrogen in plasma. These results demonstrated that PET possesses protective effects against L-NAME-induced hypertension.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.325-333
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• 2003

Fine structural characteristics of the heart tube and its cardiac muscle cells in spider, Araneus ventricosus are investigated by both of scanning and transmission electron microscopes. The heart tube of the spider is extended mid-dorsally along the anterior part of the abdomen, and is consisted of the thin outer layer of connective tissue (epicardium) and the thick muscle layer (myocardium). The myocardium in the spider has a typical fanlike spiral structure toward anterior part put across between the muscle fibers. Therefore, it did not give rise to the intima, and muscle cells are in direct contact to the hemolymph. The heart tube appeared to be three pairs of ostia and numerous hemocytes accumulated at the inner surface of the myocardial layer. Among several kinds of the hemocytes, the oenocytoids are the most predominant hemocytes accumulated along the myocardial folds which stretched toward heart lumen. The heart muscle cells are cross striated, branched, and multinucleated. They contain a lot of mitochondria, which provide for the continuous energy demands of the heart. Thread-like ganglion on the dorsal side of the heart tube gives off axons that innervate the heart muscle cells.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.845-854
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• 2006

Objectives : This study aimed at investigating whether aqueous extract of Radix et Rhizoma Rhei (AR) ameliorates renal and vascular complications in diabetic rats. Methods : The experiment operated for 6 weeks. The rats were divided into 4 groups: normal group, diabetic group (control group), diabetic group treated with AR (100 mg/kg/day) for the last 3 weeks, and diabetic group treated with AR (200 mg/kg/day) for the last 3 weeks. Results : There were no significant changes in the renal functional parameters by treatment of AR in the diabetic rats. Aorta segment in the diabetic rats revealed a thickening of intima and media, which was ameliorated by treatment with AR. The aortic expression level of endothelin-1 was also significantly attenuated by treatment with AR. Conclusions : Treatment with AR could not ameliorate renal functional defects, but improved vascular complication in diabetic rats.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.71-78
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• 2020

The plant Dendropanax morbifera Léveille is effective folk medicines for the treatment of several conditions, such as infectious diseases, skin diseases, and other illnesses. Although the inhibitory effects of D. morbifera on the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) have been shown in our previous study, its effects in vivo remain to be elucidated. In this study, we aimed to investigate the protective effects of the extracts from D. morbifera (EDM) on neointimal hyperplasia of rat carotid artery and explore the underlying mechanisms. We observed that the ratio of intima to media thickness (I/M) was significantly decreased in the EDM-treated groups by ~80% compared to that of the control. The expression of Ki-67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen was decreased by ~70% in the EDM-treated groups compared to that of the control. In addition, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)2 and MMP9 significantly reduced in the neointimal layer of the EDM-treated groups. Moreover, the decreased levels of contractile phenotypic markers of VSMCs, such as α-smooth muscle actin, myocardin, and smooth muscle-myosin heavy chain, were successfully restored by EDM treatment. Furthermore, the levels of synthetic phenotypic markers, cellular retinal binding protein 1 and connexin 43 were also restored to normal levels. These results suggest that EDM inhibits vascular neointimal hyperplasia induced by balloon injury in rats via phenotypic modulation of VSMCs. Therefore, EDM may be a potential drug candidate for the prevention of restenosis.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.177-186
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• 2005

The foregut epithelium of the last instar larva in the scarab beetle, Allomyrina dichotoma was observed with electron microscopes. The foregut epithelium of the scarab beetle larva is composed of a single-layered squamous absorptive cell. The luminal surface of the epithelium is covered with cuticular intima. The free surface of the squamous cell has a irregular array of microvilli 'brush border', while cell membrans close to the basal lamina are infolded and a lot of mitochondria are concentrated in those processes. The cytoplasm in the epithelial cells is well developed nucleus, mitochondria. And the basal region of cell contains large lipid-, protein droplets and numerous glycogen granules. The basal lamina is located between the basal membrane and muscle bundle, providing barrier between the epithelium and the hemolymph. The epithelium is surround by the subepithelial space and muscles. The subepithelial space, which is composed of fibrous connective tissue is innervated by many tracheoles and axon.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.244-250
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• 2014

Background: Panax ginseng has distinct and impressive health benefits, such as improved blood pressure and immune system functioning. Rg3-enriched Korean Red Ginseng (REKRG) isolated from Korean Red Ginseng contains a high percentage of Rg3. Methods: In this study, we examined the effects of REKRG on endothelial cell nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activation and adhesion molecules in endothelial cells and vascular function in rats. Results: REKRG dose-dependently increased eNOS phosphorylation and nitric oxide (NO) production in endothelial cells. In addition, REKRG markedly inhibited the tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$)-mediated induction of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expressions in endothelial cells. REKRG improved endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in the Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rat and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) compared with controls. Furthermore, REKRG treatment for 6 weeks increased serum NO levels and reduced the mean aortic intima-media thickness compared with controls. Conclusion: Taken together, these results suggest that REKRG increased vascular function and improved immune system functioning. Therefore, REKRG is a very useful food for preventing or improving various cardiovascular diseases.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.120-126
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• 2017

Background: The present study investigated the effect of ginseng berry hot water extract (GBx) on blood flow via the regulation of lipid metabolites and blood coagulation in rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Methods: Sixty rats were divided into five groups in descending order of body weight. Except for the control group, the other four groups were fed a HFD containing 45% kcal from fat for 11 wk without GBx. GBx groups were then additionally treated by gastric gavage with GBx dissolved in distilled water at 50 (GBx 50) mg/kg, 100 (GBx 100) mg/kg, or 150 (GBx 150) mg/kg body weight for 6 wk along with the HFD. To investigate the effects of GBx on rats fed a HFD, biochemical metabolite, blood coagulation assay, and histological analysis were performed. Results: In the experiments to measure the serum levels of leptin and apolipoprotein B/A, GBx treatment attenuated the HFD-induced increases in these metabolites (p < 0.05). Adiponectin and apolipoprotein E levels in GBx-treated groups were significantly higher than the HFD group. Prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time were increased in all GBx-treated groups. In the GBx-treated groups, the serum levels of thromboxane $A_2$ and serotonin were decreased and concentrations of serum fibrinogen degradation products were increased (p < 0.05). Moreover, histomorphometric dyslipidemia-related atherosclerotic changes were significantly improved by treatment with GBx. Conclusion: These results suggest the possibility that GBx can ameliorate blood flow by decreasing intima-media thickness via the regulation of blood coagulation factors related to lipid metabolites in rats fed a HFD.