• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.718-723
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• 2008

Background: The advances in surgical techniques, anesthesia management, perfusion methodology and postoperative intensive care have markedly decreased the mortality and cardiac morbidity of patients who undergo heart surgery over the past 2 decades. Nevertheless, it is well recognized that cardiac surgery carries a substantial risk for central nervous system complications. This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of subclinical cerebrovascular lesions in the head and neck by performing magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), and we investigated the clinical course of patients who had abnormal lesion seen on head and neck MRA. Material and Method: The subjects were 107 patients (71 men and 36 women ranging in age from 21 to 83 years) who were scheduled for cardiac surgery under nonemergency conditions between October 2005 and June 2008. Informed consent was obtained before the MRA. The carotid arteries, intracranial arteries and brain parenchyme were examined for subclinical cerebrovascular lesions by performing MRA. We reviewed the patients' medical records and MR findings to evaluate the prevalence of neurologically high risk patients and their clinical course. Result: The overall prevalence of neurologically high risk patients was 15.7% (17 patients). Among these patients, 11 patients had ischemic heart disease and 6 patients had valvular heart disease. Only 2 patients had a history of cerebrovascular disease. The clinical courses of 14 patients (13.1%) were changed according to their MRI findings. Conclusion: The prevalence of subclinical cerebrovascular disease in patients who were scheduled for cardiac surgery was higher than was expected. MR angiography was of value to identify these patients.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.53 no.7
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• pp.425-451
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• 2023

Most patients with heart failure (HF) have multiple comorbidities, which impact their quality of life, aggravate HF, and increase mortality. Cardiovascular comorbidities include systemic and pulmonary hypertension, ischemic and valvular heart diseases, and atrial fibrillation. Non-cardiovascular comorbidities include diabetes mellitus (DM), chronic kidney and pulmonary diseases, iron deficiency and anemia, and sleep apnea. In patients with HF with hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy, renin-angiotensin system inhibitors combined with calcium channel blockers and/or diuretics is an effective treatment regimen. Measurement of pulmonary vascular resistance via right heart catheterization is recommended for patients with HF considered suitable for implantation of mechanical circulatory support devices or as heart transplantation candidates. Coronary angiography remains the gold standard for the diagnosis and reperfusion in patients with HF and angina pectoris refractory to antianginal medications. In patients with HF and atrial fibrillation, longterm anticoagulants are recommended according to the CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores. Valvular heart diseases should be treated medically and/or surgically. In patients with HF and DM, metformin is relatively safer; thiazolidinediones cause fluid retention and should be avoided in patients with HF and dyspnea. In renal insufficiency, both volume status and cardiac performance are important for therapy guidance. In patients with HF and pulmonary disease, beta-blockers are underused, which may be related to increased mortality. In patients with HF and anemia, iron supplementation can help improve symptoms. In obstructive sleep apnea, continuous positive airway pressure therapy helps avoid severe nocturnal hypoxia. Appropriate management of comorbidities is important for improving clinical outcomes in patients with HF.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.1055-1064
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• 2020

Objective: To assess the incremental prognostic value of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in comparison to a clinical risk model (Framingham risk score, FRS) and coronary artery calcium score (CACS) for future cardiac events in ischemic stroke patients without chest pain. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 1418 patients with acute stroke who had no previous cardiac disease and underwent CCTA, including CACS. Stenosis degree and plaque types (high-risk, non-calcified, mixed, or calcified plaques) were assessed as CCTA variables. High-risk plaque was defined when at least two of the following characteristics were observed: low-density plaque, positive remodeling, spotty calcification, or napkin-ring sign. We compared the incremental prognostic value of CCTA for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) over CACS and FRS. Results: The prevalence of any plaque and obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) (stenosis ≥ 50%) were 70.7% and 30.2%, respectively. During the median follow-up period of 48 months, 108 patients (7.6%) experienced MACE. Increasing FRS, CACS, and stenosis degree were positively associated with MACE (all p < 0.05). Patients with high-risk plaque type showed the highest incidence of MACE, followed by non-calcified, mixed, and calcified plaque, respectively (log-rank p < 0.001). Among the prediction models for MACE, adding stenosis degree to FRS showed better discrimination and risk reclassification compared to FRS or the FRS + CACS model (all p < 0.05). Furthermore, incorporating plaque type in the prediction model significantly improved reclassification (integrated discrimination improvement, 0.08; p = 0.023) and showed the highest discrimination index (C-statistics, 0.85). However, the addition of CACS on CCTA with FRS did not add to the prediction ability for MACE (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Assessment of stenosis degree and plaque type using CCTA provided additional prognostic value over CACS and FRS to risk stratify stroke patients without prior history of CAD better.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.1367-1375
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• 2016

Cilostazol is known to be a selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase III and is generally used to treat stroke. Our previous findings showed that cilostazol enhanced capillary density through angiogenesis after focal cerebral ischemia. Angiogenesis is an important physiological process for promoting revascularization to overcome tissue ischemia. It is a multistep process consisting of endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and tubular structure formation. Here, we examined the modulatory effect of cilostazol at each step of the angiogenic mechanism by using human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs). We found that cilostazol increased the migration of HBMECs in a dose-dependent manner. However, it did not enhance HBMEC proliferation and capillary-like tube formation. We used a cDNA microarray to analyze the mechanisms of cilostazol in cell migration. We picked five candidate genes that were potentially related to cell migration, and we confirmed the gene expression levels by real-time PCR. The genes phosphoserine aminotransferase 1 (PSAT1) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein ${\beta}$ ($C/EBP{\beta}$) were up-regulated. The genes tissue factor pathway inhibitor 2 (TFPI2), retinoic acid receptor responder 1 (RARRES1), and RARRES3 were down-regulated. Our observations suggest that cilostazol can promote angiogenesis by promoting endothelial migration. Understanding the cilostazol-modulated regulatory mechanisms in brain endothelial cells may help stimulate blood vessel formation for the treatment of ischemic diseases.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 1992

The quantitatively measured local myocardial perfusion rates with microspheres are used as an objective indicator of even distribution of cardioplegic solution, and the efficacy of the retrograde right atrial route of cardioplegia is evaluated in hearts with various levels of coronary arterial obstruction. After initial antegrade cardioplegia under the median sternotomy and aortic cannulation, 60 hearts from anesthetized New Zealand white rabbits are divided in random order as normal group [ligated left main coronary artery ; MA, MR] and diagonal group [ligated proximal diagonal artery ; LA, LR]. Half of each group [N=10] are perfused with antegrade cardioplegia[A] under the pressure of 100 cmH2O and the other half with retrograde right atrial route[R] under the pressure of 60 cmH2O[St. Thomas cardioplegic solution mixed with measured amount of microspheres]. The myocardium is subdivided into segments as A[atria], RV[right ventricle]. S[septum], LV[normally perfused left ventricular free wall], ROI[ischemic myocardium of left ventricular free wall]. LV and RQI are further divided into N[subendocardium] and P[subepicardium]. The resulting local myocardial perfusion rates and N /P of each group are compared with Wilcoxon rank sum test. The weight of the hearts is 5.94$\pm$0.66g, and there are no statistically significant dif-ferences[p>0.05, ANOVA] between six compared group. The mean flow rate[F: ml /g / min] of MR group is comparable with MA group[p>0.05], but in N and L group, there are significantly depressed F with right atrial route of cardioplegia, which means elevated perfusion resistance with this route. In spite of no significant differences in delivered doses of microsphere[DEL] between compared groups[p>0.05, ANOVA], there are significantly depressed REC and NF in hearts with right atrial cardioplegia which suggests increased requirement of cardioplegic solution with this route. The interventricular septum shows poor perfusion with right atrial route of cardioplegia without obstruction of supplying coronary arteries. But, with obstruction of coronary artery supplying septum as in M group, the flow rate is superior with right atrial route of infusion. The left ventricular free wall perfusion rates of every RQI with R route are superior to that of A route[p<0.05]. But, in LV segments, there are unfavorable effects of right atrial cardioplegia in L group, although the subendocardial perfusion is well maintained in N group. The LV free wall of left main group shows depressed perfusion rates with antegrade route as compared with RQI segments of diagonal group. But, by contraries, there are increased perfusion rates and superior N /P ratio with retrograde right atrial route. It implies more effective perfusion with right atrial route of cardioplegia in more proximal coronary arterial obstruction[i.e., M group as compared with L group]. As a conclusion, all region of ischemia have superior perfusion rates with right atrial car-dioplegia as compared with antegrade route, and especially excellent results can be obtained in hearts with more proximal obstruction of coronary arteries which would otherwise result in more severe ischemic damage. But, the depressed perfusion rates of the segments with normal coronary artery in hearts with coronary arterial obstruction may be a problem of concern with right atrial cardioplegia and needs solution.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 1993

We have anlayzed the polar maps of dipyridamole stress/rest $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI SPECT and compared the quantitated perfusion defects of dipyridamole stress polar map and the findings of coronary angiography in 56 pateints with coronary artery diseases. We performed the same day dipyridamole stress-rest myocardial SPECT, reconstructed the polar maps according to Cedars-Sinai method and quantitated perfusion detects of total myocardium and the territory of each artery, comparing the polar maps of patients with normal files. Stenosis more than 50 percent was considered significant and myocardial ischemic score was calculated as summed score of percents of main coronary arteries. Positive concordance of myocardial SPECT with coronary angiography were 82.6% with left anterior descending artery (LAD), 85.7% with left circumflex artery (LCx) and 78.6% with right coronary artery (RCA). Perfusion defect of SPECT polar map and the stenosis of coronary artery showed the contingency phi of 0.55 (p<0.0001) with total atreries, 0.38 (p = 0.016) with LAD, 0.50 (p<0.0001) with LCx and 0.40 (p = 0.007) with RCA. Dipyridamole stress percent defect of polar map was correlated with myocardial ischemic score with Spearman's rho of 0.47 (p = 0.001) in total arteries, 0.48 (p=0.001) in LAD, 0.56 (p < 0.001) in LCx and 0.38 (p=0.002) in RCA. These findings revealed that defect of the dipyridamole stress myocardial $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI SPECT and the percent extent of this defect were related with significant artery stenosis of individual arteries and the degree of stenosis. We thought that we could use the defects in the polar map of dipyridamole stress $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI SPECT for the quantification of myocardiasl perfusion decrease.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.517-527
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• 2022

This study aimed to compare changes in cognitive function, depression and ability to perform activity of daily living (ADL) in patients with dementia, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and ischemic stroke (IS) and to identify factors associated with changes in instrumental ADL. A total of 86 patients (dementia=30, MCI=32, and IS=24) were included to analyse cognitive function, depression, and basic and instrumental ADL obtained at the time of diagnosis and 1 year after baseline. Repeated measures analysis of variance and multiple linear regression were used. A significant group by time interaction was found in executive function (p=.037) and instrumental ADL (p=.023) across groups. The MCI group has little change in executive function and instrumental ADL from the baseline to 1 year after diagnosis while other two groups showed changes with the dementia group showing declines and the group of IS having improvement in these factors over time. Changes in executive function(p=.030) and basic ADL (p<.001) explained 26.9% in the variance of changes in instrumental ADL. These findings showed a different changing pattern in executive function during the first year after diagnosis of dementia, MCI, and IS which have cognitive changes as their main symptoms, probably leading to a different changing pattern in instrumental ADL. Healthcare professionals should routinely assess for executive function and instrumental ADL problems and intervene to maintain and improve these functional outcomes immediately after disease.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.1875-1885
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• 2021

Objective: Central nervous system involvement in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been increasingly reported. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the incidence of radiologically demonstrated neurologic complications and detailed neuroimaging findings associated with COVID-19. Materials and Methods: A systematic literature search of MEDLINE/PubMed and EMBASE databases was performed up to September 17, 2020, and studies evaluating neuroimaging findings of COVID-19 using brain CT or MRI were included. Several cohort-based outcomes, including the proportion of patients with abnormal neuroimaging findings related to COVID-19 were evaluated. The proportion of patients showing specific neuroimaging findings was also assessed. Subgroup analyses were also conducted focusing on critically ill COVID-19 patients and results from studies that used MRI as the only imaging modality. Results: A total of 1394 COVID-19 patients who underwent neuroimaging from 17 studies were included; among them, 3.4% of the patients demonstrated COVID-19-related neuroimaging findings. Olfactory bulb abnormalities were the most commonly observed (23.1%). The predominant cerebral neuroimaging finding was white matter abnormality (17.6%), followed by acute/subacute ischemic infarction (16.0%), and encephalopathy (13.0%). Significantly more critically ill patients had COVID-19-related neuroimaging findings than other patients (9.1% vs. 1.6%; p = 0.029). The type of imaging modality used did not significantly affect the proportion of COVID-19-related neuroimaging findings. Conclusion: Abnormal neuroimaging findings were occasionally observed in COVID-19 patients. Olfactory bulb abnormalities were the most commonly observed finding. Critically ill patients showed abnormal neuroimaging findings more frequently than the other patient groups. White matter abnormalities, ischemic infarctions, and encephalopathies were the common cerebral neuroimaging findings.

• The Journal of Dong Guk Oriental Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.115-129
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• 2000

The cause that the increase of animality fat intakes, under exercise, fatness, adding the stress, advanced age etc., the occurrence rate of the circulation system disease has been increased. And the thrombosis importantly came to the front as the risk factor of these circulation system's disease. Nowadays, the ischemic disease has especially discussed, for example the angina or myocardial infarction, originated in thrombosis that came from the platelet aggregation. In the western medicine, as the cure and prevention, using the aspirin or ticlopidine for platelet aggregation suppressant. But in the , the curing method must be used properly according to the pectoralgia or heartache's kind, state, grade. The platelet do not attache to the normal hemangioendothelial cell. But when it stimulated by endothelium peronia and so on, it attache to the injury endothelium or rise aggregation between the platelet. On this time, it secrete the platelet aggregation inducer as like ADP, thromboxane A2 from the inside of platelet. So it has first defensive function through the aggregation augment that prevent the celerity consumption of blood. But the activation of abnormal platelet occur the platelet grume and thrombogenesis. So it bring up the occlusive angiosis, so to speak, cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, arterial sclerosis. In oriental medicine, the thrombosis in the category of blood stasis and this blood stasis present the generalise or local blood circulation disturbance that generated by all kinds of pathological fact or blood stream retention accompanying with a series of syndrome. As the syndrome, stabbing pain fixed at certain region, squamous and dry skin, fullness and pain of the chest and hypochondrium, firmness and fullness of the lower abdomen, black stool, dark purple tongue or with ecchymoses and petechiae etc.. has been created. And it becomes the pathopoiesis cause that the convulsion and palpitation, severe palpitatiion, tympanites, the symtom complex with a mass or swelling in the abdomen, insanity, stricken by wind etc.. Moreover, it used the drugs for invigorating blood circulation and eliminating blood stasis or drugs for removing blood stasis for all kinds of syndrome through the blood stasis. And the drugs for activating the blood circulation, such as Salviae Radix, Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Persicae Semen, Achyranthis Radix, Cnidii Rhizoma, Carthami Flos are used for that. And it is used to the herbs of insects that has strong effect about the disintergrating blood stasis such as Hirudo, Scolopendrae Corpus, Buthus, Lumbricus etc.. On this study, It used Geijibokryunghwan(GBH) and the consisting herbs to investigate the influence of platelet aggregation about drugs that used to improvement various symptoms created by the thrombosis in oriental medicine. GBH formula has as formula recorded in the , action of 'eleminating the evil and not impairment of healthy energy' and 'promoting the flow of QI and cold and heat, so used for the expel blood stasis herbs from the ancient. Therefore we investigated the restraint effect of GBH and the consisting herbs about the platelet agregation induced to the ADP, AA or collagen. The conclusion is following. 1. When it added the aggregation inducer after that it added GBH and individual consisting herbs in the PRP, GBH showed the (+) inhibition effect on the platelet aggregation and it showed the (+) inhibition effect in the individual consisting herbs as like Paeoniae Radix and Moutan Cortex Radicis. 2. It showed the (+), (+,++) inhibition effect on the platelet aggregation in Paeoniae Radix Hoelen, Paeoniae Radix Moutan Cortex Radicis, Hoelen Moutan Cortex Radicis etc. 3. In the aggregation inhibition activating on the difference of density, GBH showed strong inhibition effect to the aggregation state induced to collagen, and it showed the inhibition effect in the individual consisting herbs as like Paeoniae Radix and Moutan Cortex Radicis about the aggregation induced by the collagen. 4. It showed the strong inhibition effect about the aggregation induced by the collagen in Paeoniae Radix Hoelen, Paeoniae Radix Moutan Cortex Radicis, Hoelen Moutan Cortex Radicis etc Like this, as confirm GBH and the individual consisting herb's inhibition effect of platelet aggregation, We considerated that GBH and the individual consisting herbs have practical applicational value of clinical trial in the thrombosis caused by platelet aggregation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.172-178
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• 1997

We present a etrospective analysis of arterial embolectomies performed at the Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital. During the period of March 1987 Feburary 1996 twenty-six patients underwent embolectomies, eighteen patients were male and eight patients were female, mean age of patients was 56.8 years. Rest pain was the chief complaint in 24 patients, the remaining two patients complained of long term history of claudication after recovery of acute symtoms. But only 10 patients had sensBrylmotor symtoms. Heart was the most common source of embolization and frequent predisposing factor of embolism was ischemic heart disease in 8 cases and valvular heart disease in 11 cases. The sites of embolization were upper extremities artery in 6 cases, saddle embolism in 2 cases, lower extremities artery in 18 cases and the most common site of embolism was femoral artery in 1 1 cases. Preoperative angiography was taken in the diagnosis and planning of the embolectomy in 1) patients while in the other patient p eoperative angiography was not taken. Only two cases were operated within the golden period of 6 hours and other cases were operated in more than 6 hours after embolization. In all patients, the Fogarty embolectomy catheter was used without bypass surgery via bachial ateriotomy in the embolism of upper extremities artery, bilateral groin approaches in the saddle embolism and transfemoral approach in the embolism of lower extremities artery. However 3 patients were re-operated via transpopliteal approach in the distal poplitiotibial embolism. Eighteen patients received perioperative anticoagulation therapy by heparin or fraxiparine and wafarin was used in 17 patients at the time of discharge and the indication of anticogulation was patients of valvular heat disease andfor atrial fibrillation, peripheral artery atherosclerosis and recurrent embolism. Postoperative results of the embolectomy were as follows: fouteen pateints had excellent results, five cases had symtom improvement after re-operation, B. K. amputation in 1 case who had severe atherosclerosis of lower extremities, recurrent embolism in 1 case and death in 2 cases the cause of death were acute renal failure and cerebral artery embolism, respectively. The complications of the embolectomy were reperfusion syndrome, pseudoaneurysm and intimal dissection in one case each. Conclusively the problems of embolism is delayed diagnosis and increasing number of old aged patient who had suffered from ischemic heart diease. Preoperative angiography was not always needed for embol ectomy. Selective anticoagulation therapy can decrease incidence of re-embolism. In the distal poplitiotibial embolism, embolectomy of tibial artery was difficult.