• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.13 no.2 s.20
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• pp.149-155
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• 2007

Objective : Using a spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) model of essential hypertension, this study investigated whether electroacupuncture (EA) could reduce early stage hypertension by examining whether EA increased nitric oxide (NO) levels in plasma, which compensates for elevated blood pressure (BP). Methods : EA was applied to the acupoint, Baekhoe (GV20), and to a non acupoint in the tail at 10 Hz and an intensity of 1 mA for 10 minutes on the first and fourth day of the week for three weeks under isoflurane anesthesia. In conscious SHR and normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats, blood pressure was determined the day after EA treatment by the tail cuff method using an automatic BP monitoring system. We also measured NO concentration of blood serum in SHR and WKY. Results : Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were lower after 3 weeks of GV20 treatment than in non EA treated or non acupoint treated SHR rats. The NO level of plasma was significantly lower in hypertensive SHR than in normotensive WKY. EA prevented the augmentation of blood pressure, and also increased NO concentrations from $7.91{\pm}0.42$ ${\mu}M$ to $11.50{\pm}0.93$ ${\mu}M$ in SHR serum. Conclusions : We suggest that acupuncture may be an early intervention to delay the development of hypertension and enhance NO/NOS activity.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.213-218
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• 2006

Purpose : Nutcracker syndrome refers to compression of the left renal vein(LRV) between the aorta and superior mesenteric artery(SMA) that results in elevation of pressure in the LRV and development of collateral veins. It must be considered as a possible factor when hematuria or proteinuria occurs in a healthy child. The purpose of this study is to determine the time to spontaneous resolution in childhood nutcracker syndrome, and to observe whether this is affected by sex, age, proteinuria or initial ratio of peak velocity of LRV. Methods : We investigated 26 patients who were found to have spontaneous resolution by follow-up Doppler ultrasonography among 117 patients diagnosed with nutcracker syndrome by renal Doppler ultrasonography from May 2001 to December 2005. We determined the time to spontaneous resolution in childhood nutcracker syndrome, and observed whether the duration was affected by sex, age, proteinuria or initial ratio of peak velocity. Results : 26 patients(59%) achieved spontaneous resolution by 1.2 years(mean). The time to spontaneous resolution of childhood nutcracker syndrome in 26 patients was $16.71{\pm}9.99$ months(range 6.0-49.2). The time to spontaneous resolution was not affected by sex, age, proteinuria nor initial ratio of peak velocity of LRV. Conclusion : More than half of the patients who were diagnosed by renal Doppler ultrasonography achieved spontaneous resolution. The time to spontaneous resolution was not affected by sex, age, proteinuria nor initial ratio of peak velocity of LRV.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1262-1266
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• 2000

Objective : Flat back syndrome constitutes a syndrome complex characterized by the loss of normal lumbar lordosis. Various techniques of correction for flat back syndrome have been reported. Posterior extension osteotomy has certain drawbacks. Forceful hyperextension of the spine may result in vascular complications such as rupture of the aorta or the inferior vena cava and stretching of superior mesenteric artery, and pseudoarthrosis. We describe a rationale and technique of transvertebral posterior extension osteotomy to avoid complications of posterior extension osteotomy and to achieve an correction of 30 degrees of flat back syndrome. Method : A 63-year-old woman with degenerative lumbar kyphosis presented with low back pain, thigh pain, knee pain and walking difficulty. Transpedicular fixation from L1 vertebra to S1 vertebra was accomplished for lumbar degenerative kyphosis. After 6 months, the patient presented with flat back syndrome. A second operation was performed with transvertebral posterior extension osteotomy. Result : With short segemental fusion, early bone fusion and correction of 30 degrees were achieved. Conclusion : Transvertebral posterior extension osteotomy provide an 30-60 degrees of correction of flat back syndrome. This technique is considered to be good method for the revision of lumbar degenerative kyphosis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.319-327
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• 2004

This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of defibrotide on the development of the surgically induced reflux esophagitis, on gastric secretion, lipid peroxidation, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) accumulation, polymorphonuclear leukocytes adherence, superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide production in PMNs, scavenge of hydroxyl radical and hydrogen peroxide, cytokine (interleukin-1 ${\beta}$, tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$) production in blood, and intracelluar calcium mobilization in PMNs. Defibrotide did not inhibit the gastric secretion and not change the gastric pH. Treatment of esophagitis rats with defibrotide inhibited lipid peroxidation, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in the esophagus in comparison with untreated rats. Defibrotide significantly decreased the PMN adherence to superior mesenteric artery endothelium in a dose-dependent manner, Superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide production in $1{\mu}M$ formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine (fMLP)- or $0.1{\mu}g/ml$ N-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-activated PMNs was inhibited by defibrotide in a dose-dependent fashion. Defibrotide effectively scavenged the hydrogen peroxide but did not scavenge the hydroxyl radical. Treatment of esophagitis rats with defibrotide inhibited interleukin-1 ${\beta}$ production in the blood in comparison with untreated rats, but tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ production was not affected by defibrotide. The fMLP-induced elevation of intracellular calcium in PMNs was inhibited by defibrotide. The results of this study suggest that defibrotide may have partly beneficial protective effects against reflux esophagitis by the inhibition lipid peroxidation, PMNs accumulation, PMNs adherence to endothelium, reactive oxygen species production in PMNs, inflammatory cytokine production(i.e. interleukin-1 ${\beta}$), and intracellular calcium mobilization in PMNs in rats.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.11-24
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• 1971

Eighty-four cases of mitral commissurotomy were done in this department between October 1958 and September 1970. Therc wcre 54 males and 30 females. Six cases were under the age of 20 years. Prcoperativc embolization occurred in 9. 5% of the cases. consisting of 8. 3% cerebral and 1.2% peripheral embolization. Intraoperative and postoperative cmbolization occurred in 4.7% of the cases, with 1. 2% cerebral and 3.5% peripheral embolism. Two out of three postopeative embolism cases expired, one of which was caused by septic cerebral embolism due to valve vegetation nnd the other by mesenteric embolism. Atrial fibrillation was 1loted ill 43% of the case. Seventy closed mitral commissurotomy was done by left appendegeal approach with finger fracture method or Bailey's guillotine valvotome. Fourteen open mitral commissurotomy cases were done either by right side approach or median sternotomy, three of which were reoperation cases after blind mitral commissurotomy. One out of 14 cases were operated on with open mitral commissurotomy and concomitant open aortic valve bicuspidalization, This case expired due to severe serum hepatitis ten days after operation. Thirty-two per cent of valve calcification was noted during operation and one of which had marked vegetation on the valve cusps too. Operative mortality was 1.4% in blind mitral commissurotomy and 14% in open mitral commissurotomy. Over-all mortality in the entire series was 3.5%. One case among the blind commissurotomy cases expired during operation due to left inferior pulmonary vein laceration and death was caused in two open mitral commissurotomy cases by coronary artery airembolism. Three hospital death occurred in blind operation group, one due to coronary embolism, and two by hepatic failures. Three hospital death among open heart surgery cases were caused by hepatic failure in two and cerebral embolism in one cases. ln most of the survivors improved functional capacity and exercise lolerance were noted.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.146-152
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• 2020

Background Preoperative computed tomography angiography (CTA) of the abdominal wall vessels is used when planning free flap breast reconstruction (FFBR) because it provides a surgical road map which facilitates flap harvest. However, there are few reports on the effect of abnormal findings on the operative plan. Methods We conducted a retrospective study of all FFBRs performed at a tertiary referral center over a 6-year period (November 2011 to June 2017). One consultant radiologist reported on the findings. Details on patient demographics, CTA reports, and intraoperative details were collected. Results Two hundred patients received preoperative CTAs. Fourteen percent of patients (n=28) had abnormal findings. Of these findings, 18% were vascular anomalies; 36% tumorrelated and 46% were "miscellaneous." In four patients, findings subsequently prevented surgery; they comprised a mesenteric artery aneurysm, absent deep inferior epigastric (DIE) vessels, bilateral occluded DIE arteries, and significant bone metastases. Another patient had no suitable vessels for a free flap and the surgical plan converted to a pedicled transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap. The remaining incidental findings had no impact on the surgical plan or appropriateness of FFBR. More than one in 10 of those with abnormal findings went on to have further imaging before their operation. Conclusions CTA in FFBR can have a wider impact than facilitating surgical planning and reducing operative times. Incidental findings can influence the surgical plan, and in some instances, avoid doomed-to-fail and unsafe surgery. It is therefore important that these scans are reported by an experienced radiologist.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.263-273
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• 1999

The role of phospholipase $A_2\;(PLA_2)$ in acute lung leak induced by intestinal ischemia was investigated in association with neutrophilic respiratory burst. To induce lung leak, we generated intestinal ischemia for 60 min prior to the 120 min reperfusion by clamping superior mesenteric artery in Sprague-Dawley rats. Acute lung leak was confirmed by the increased lung leak index and protein content in bronchoalveolar fluid. These changes were inhibited by mepacrine, the non-specific $PLA_2$ inhibitor. The lung myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity denoting the pulmonary recruitment of neutrophils was increased by intestinal I/R, but decreased by mepacrine. Simultaneously, the number of leukocytes in bronchoalveolar fluid was increased by intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) and decreased by mepacrine. Gamma glutamyl transferase activity, an index of oxidative stress in the lung, was increased after intestinal I/R but decreased by mepacrine, which implicates that $PLA_2$ increases oxidative stress caused by intestinal I/R. The $PLA_2$ activity was increased after intestinal I/R not only in the intestine but also in the lung. These changes were diminished by mepacrine. In the cytochemical electron microscopy to detect hydrogen peroxide, intestinal I/R increased the generation of the hydrogen peroxide in the lung as well as in the intestine. Expression of interleukin-1 (IL-1) in the lung was investigated through RT-PCR. The expression of IL-1 after intestinal I/R was enhanced, and again, the inhibition of $PLA_2$ suppressed the expression of IL-1 in the lung. Taken together, intestinal I/R seems to induce acute lung leak through the activation of $PLA_2$, the increase of IL-1 expression associated with increased oxidative stress by neutrophilic respiratory burst.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.11
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• pp.804-811
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• 2014

The protease-activated receptor (PAR)-2 is highly expressed in endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells. It plays a crucial role in regulating blood pressure via the modulation of peripheral vascular tone. Although several mechanisms have been suggested to explain PAR-2-induced hypotension, the precise mechanism remains to be elucidated. To investigate this possibility, we investigated the effects of PAR-2 activation on N-type $Ca^{2+}$ currents ($I_{Ca-N}$) in isolated neurons of the celiac ganglion (CG), which is involved in the sympathetic regulation of mesenteric artery vascular tone. PAR-2 agonists irreversibly diminished voltage-gated $Ca^{2+}$ currents ($I_{Ca}$), measured using the patch-clamp method, in rat CG neurons, whereas thrombin had little effect on $I_{Ca}$. This PAR-2-induced inhibition was almost completely prevented by ${\omega}$-CgTx, a potent N-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker, suggesting the involvement of N-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels in PAR-2-induced inhibition. In addition, PAR-2 agonists inhibited $I_{Ca-N}$ in a voltage-independent manner in rat CG neurons. Moreover, PAR-2 agonists reduced action potential (AP) firing frequency as measured using the current-clamp method in rat CG neurons. This inhibition of AP firing induced by PAR-2 agonists was almost completely prevented by ${\omega}$-CgTx, indicating that PAR-2 activation may regulate the membrane excitability of peripheral sympathetic neurons through modulation of N-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels. In conclusion, the present findings demonstrate that the activation of PAR-2 suppresses peripheral sympathetic outflow by modulating N-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel activity, which appears to be involved in PAR-2-induced hypotension, in peripheral sympathetic nerve terminals.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.83-88
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• 2006

Orthostatic or postural proteinuria is a benign condition characterized by the presence of protein in urine samples collected in the upright position during the day and its absence in the supine position. Recently, nutcracker phenomenon has been documented as the source of postural proteinuria. The nutcracker phenomenon refers to compression of the left renal vein between the aorta and superior mesenteric artery, resulting in elevation of pressure in the left renal vein, leading to congestion of the left kidney and occasionally to collateral veins formation. Entrapment of the left renal vein is a cause of left-sided gross hematuria, ureteral and peripelvic varices, unexplained left flank pain and variable degrees of orthostatic proteinuria. We report the case of a 14-year-old girl with orthostatic proteinuria, diagnosed as having nutcracker syndrome by doppler sonography and MR angiography. Because daily protein excretion was more than 1.5 grams over 3 years of follow up, we decided to perform a renal biopsy which revealed moderate mesangial cell proliferation in all glomeruli.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.74-79
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• 2024

Purpose: To compare the Doppler sonographic findings of the left renal vein (LRV) of children diagnosed with nutcracker syndrome with and without orthostatic proteinuria. Methods: Fifty and 53 consecutive children with and without orthostatic proteinuria, respectively, underwent renal Doppler ultrasonography examinations. The peak velocity (PV) was measured at the hilar portion of the LRV and between the aorta and superior mesenteric artery. Renal Doppler ultrasonography findings and clinical data including urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPCR) were compared according to the presence or absence of orthostatic proteinuria. Results: Between the two groups, no significant differences were observed in terms of age or sex. The PV ratio between the aortomesenteric and hilar portions was 7.79±2.65 and 6.32±3.01 in children with and without orthostatic proteinuria, respectively (P=0.009). No significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of the UPCR in the first morning urine sample. However, the UPCR in the afternoon urine sample was significantly higher in children with orthostatic proteinuria than in those without orthostatic proteinuria (0.49±0.46 mg/mg vs. 0.11±0.04 mg/mg, P<0.001). Furthermore, the PV ratio between the aortomesenteric and hilar portions revealed a positive correlation with the ratio of UPCR of the afternoon to that of first morning urine samples (R=0.21, P=0.034). Conclusions: This study suggests that there can be a significant correlation of the PV ratio between the aortomesenteric and hilar portion of the LRV with orthostatic proteinuria in pediatric patients with nutcracker syndrome.