• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1615-1624
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• 2013

The aims of this study were to investigate and confirm the occurrence and distribution patterns of blood lipid lower agents (BLLAs) in Nakdong river basin (mainstream and its tributaries). 4 (atorvastatin, lovastatin, mevastatin and simvastatin) out of 5 statins and 2 (clofibric acid and zemfibrozil) out of 3 fibrates were detected in 29 sampling sites and simvastatin (>50%) was predominant compound followed by atorvastatin, lovastatin and clofibric acid. The total concentration levels of BLLAs on April, August and November 2009 in surface water samples ranged from ND~25.7 ng/L, ND~18.8 and ND to 38.8 ng/L, respectively. The highest concentration level of BLLAs in the mainstream and tributaries in Nakdong river were Goryeong and Jincheon-cheon, respectively. The sewage treatment plants (STPs) along the river affect the BLLAs levels in river and the BLLAs levels decreased with downstream because of dilution effects.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.78 no.3
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• pp.281-285
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• 2015

Statins lower the hyperlipidemia and reduce the incidence of cardiovascular events and related mortality. A 60-year-old man who was diagnosed with a transient ischemic attack was started on acetyl-L-carnitine, cilostazol, and rosuvastatin. After rosuvastatin treatment for 4 weeks, the patient presented with sudden onset fever, cough, and dyspnea. His symptoms were aggravated despite empirical antibiotic treatment. All infectious pathogens were excluded based on results of culture and polymerase chain reaction of the bronchoscopic wash specimens. Chest radiography showed diffuse ground-glass opacities in both lungs, along with several subpleural ground-glass opacity nodules; and a foamy alveolar macrophage appearance was confirmed on bronchoalveolar lavage. We suspected rosuvastatin-induced lung injury, discontinued rosuvastatin and initiated prednisolone 1 mg/kg tapered over 2weeks. After initiating steroid therapy, his symptoms and radiologic findings significantly improved. We suggest that clinicians should be aware of the potential for rosuvastatin-induced lung injury.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.136-142
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• 2017

Background: Dementia is one of important social and economic healthcare issues in the aging age. Therefore, it signifies to analyze the relationship between chronic disease or cardiovascular drug use and the incidence of dementia to establish a basis for increasing or preventing the risk of dementia. The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between the prevalence of chronic diseases and the use of cardiovascular drugs in patients diagnosed with dementia. Methods: In this study, we used data from sample of elderly patients from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. We analyzed by logistic regression analysis with age, gender, and medication as covariates. KCD-7 was used to diagnosis of the disease, and drugs were analyzed using ATC codes and Korean standardized drug classification codes. Results: A total of 1,276,331 patients were analyzed in the sample of the elderly population, of which 532,075 (41.7%) were male and 744,256 (58.3%) were female. The patients have the higher risk of dementia in the older, women, and lower socioeconomically status. Cerebral infarction and ischemic heart disease increases risk of dementia. Patients taking statins, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin II receptor antagonists (ARB) showed low incidence of dementia. Conclusion: This study has been shown that ACEI, ARB, and statin drugs may associate with lower incidence of Alzheimer's and other dementia except vascular dementia.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.103-111
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• 2009

Objectives: To investigate the possibility of GamiSamgieum (SGMX) as a combination therapy with statins on hyperlipidemia using an animal model. Methods: Forty eight ICR mice (male) were divided into six groups of eight mice each: naive, induced, Lipitor 5 mg/kg, Lipitor 5 mg/kg plus SGMX 100 mg/kg, Lipitor 10 mg/kg, and Lipitor 10 mg/kg plus SGMX mg/kg treatment group. Hyperlipidemia was induced by feeding a purified high fat diet for all groups (except naive) along with treatment of drugs for 6 weeks, and then biological parameters were examined on the last experiential day. Results: Lipitor treatment lowered total cholesterol and increased HDL-cholesterol compared to the induced group with no statistical significance. However, co-treatment of SGMX with Lipitor revealed synergic effects on total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol significantly (P < 0.05) in both. SGMX co-treatment also significantly protected liver tissues from the oxidative stress in liver tissues (P < 0.05) and augmented inhibitory effect of Lipitor against fat accumulation in the body. Conclusion: These results indicate the possibility of that SGMX can be used for patients having hyperlipidemia as a combination therapy with statin drugs.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.87-93
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• 2005

Coronary artery disease (CAD) has been increasing during the last decade and is the one of major causes of death. The management of patients with coronary artery disease has evolved considerably. There are two main strategies in the management of CAD, complementary, not competitive, each other; the pharmacologic therapy to prevent and treat CAD and the percutaneous coronary Intervention (PCI) to restore coronary flow. Antiplatelet drugs and cholesterol lowering drugs have central roles in pharmacotherapy. Drug eluting stent (DES) bring about revolutional changes in PCI. In the management of patients with 57 segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (AMI), there has been a debate on the better strategy for the restoration of coronary flow. Thrombolytic therapy is widely available and easy to administer, whereas primary PCI is less available and more complex, but mote complete. Recently published evidences in the pharmacologic therapy including antiplatelet and stalin, and PCI including DES and reperfusion therapy in patients with ST segment elevation AMI were reviewed.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.206-216
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• 2009

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (Statins) are potent inhibitors of cholesterol biosynthesis. Cholesterol-lowering therapy using statins significantly reduces the risk of coronary heart disease. Various discovery of statins as bone anabolic agents has spurred a great deal of interest among both basic and clinical bone researchers. In-vitro and some animal studies suggest that statins increase the bone mass by enhancing bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2)-mediated osteoblast expression. Clinical and animal test results of statins focusing on the prevention and treatment of bone fractures was collected. Three independent literature searches were performed by using from January 1, 2002 to September 2008 for clinical and animal test results. Search term included statins, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, pleiotropic effects, fracture, osteoporosis and clinical and animal test. No consensus has been reached whether clinical use of statins has beneficial effects on bone health, partly due to lower statin concentrations because of first-pass metabolism by the liver. Experimental use of statins as stimulators of bone formation suggests that they may have widespread applicability in the field of orthopaedics. With their combined effects on osteoblasts and osteoclasts, statins have the potential to enhance resorption of synthetic materials and improve bone ingrowth. In conclusion, The use of statins in the prevention and treatment of bone fractures requires further study. But observational studies suggest that statins for decreasing bone fractures including osteoporosis have to be considered local direct administration like transdermal or subcutaneous type over oral adminstration.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.95-99
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• 2018

An innovative, simple, and rapid assay method based on liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of eight statin drugs in human urine. A simple sample clean-up procedure using the "dilute and shoot" (DAS) approach enabled a fast and reliable analysis. The influence of the dilution factor was investigated to ensure detectability and reduce the matrix effect. Chromatographic separation was performed on a Phenomenex Kinetex C18 column ($50{\times}3.0mm$ i.d., $2.6{\mu}m$) using an elution gradient of mobile phase A composed of 0.1% acetic acid, and mobile phase B composed of acetonitrile, at a flow rate of 0.35 mL/min. Quantitation was performed on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer operated in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode using electrospray ionization in positive ion mode. The total chromatographic run time was 15 min. The method was validated for selectivity, sensitivity, recovery, linearity, accuracy, precision, and stability. The present method was successfully applied to the analysis of Rosuvastatin in urine samples after oral administration to healthy human subjects.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.473-481
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• 2019

Statins are a class of lipid-lowering drugs commonly used in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. However, statin therapy presents many limitations, which have led to an increased interest in non-drug therapies, such as probiotics, to improve blood cholesterol levels. Indeed, probiotic strains such as Lactobacillus acidophilus have been found to improve blood lipid profiles, especially in reducing total cholesterol and LDL-C levels. In this study, we established a high-cholesterol rat model and studied the effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus administration alone or in combination with rosuvastatin. We were able to show that Lactobacillus exerts a cholesterol-lowering effect. Additionally, we observed that when administered together, rosuvastin and Lactobacillus exert a combined cholesterol-lowering effect. Altogether, our data advocate for the possibility of establishing probiotics as non-drug supplements for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia.

• Archives of Obesity and Metabolism
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2023

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic disease that is not well known or diagnosed in Korea. This disease is associated with persistently high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), which increase the risk of coronary artery disease at a young age. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are important; however, there are no global consensus diagnostic criteria. In Korea, the Dutch Lipid Clinic Network diagnostic criteria, and the Simon Broome diagnostic criteria were used for diagnosis of FH according to the agreement announced at the Korean Society of Lipid and Atherosclerosis (KSoLA) in 2022. Recently, the absence of coronary artery calcification has been considered a good prognostic factor, even among patients with very high LDL-C levels who are considered to be at high risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. We describe throughout this paper the diagnosis and treatment of FH in a young male without coronary artery calcification.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.112-123
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• 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.