• Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.202-211
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• 2022

BACKGROUND: This study aims to investigate normal changes throughout aging of the heart in cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in healthy volunteers. While type 2 diabetes mellitus is a frequent finding in the elderly population, also the influence of this circumstance in otherwise healthy persons is part of our study. METHODS: In this prospective single-center trial, 75 healthy subjects in distinct age groups and 10 otherwise healthy diabetics were enrolled. All subjects underwent functional, flow sensitive, native T2- and T1-mapping in a 1.5T CMR scanner. RESULTS: No differences in right and left ventricular ejection fractions were observed between aging healthy groups. Bi-ventricular volumes lowered significantly (p<0.001) between the age groups. There was also a significant decrease in myocardial T1 values, aortic distensibility, and left ventricular peak diastolic strain rates. There were no differences in T2 mapping and the other deformation parameters. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus had lower end-diastolic volume indexes; all the other measurements were comparable. CONCLUSIONS: Aging processes in the healthy heart involve a decrease in ventricular volumes, with ejection fractions remaining normal. Stiffening of the myocardium and aorta and a decrease in T1 values are potential indications of age-related remodeling. Type 2 diabetes mellitus seems to have no major influence on aging processes of the heart.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.36-43
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• 2020

Background: Tacrolimus, a calcineurin inhibitor, is an immunosuppressant used in post-transplantation maintenance therapy. The drug has a narrow therapeutic range and requires periodic therapeutic drug monitoring. Although many studies have reported the effects of intrapatient variability of tacrolimus on survival, rejection, and complications in renal transplant recipients, very few studies have reported these effects in liver transplant recipients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of intrapatient variability of tacrolimus on clinical outcomes after liver transplantation. Methods: Intrapatient variability was calculated using individual, averaged tacrolimus concentrations. Patients were divided into two groups according to their median variability value: high-variability and low-variability groups. The rate of deviation from the therapeutic range, incidence of acute rejection, post-transplant diabetes, incidence of infection, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) after transplantation were compared between the groups. Results: Of the total patients (n=82), the high-variability group (n=41) exhibited significantly greater deviation from the therapeutic range (65.92% vs. 56.84%; p<0.001). There was no significant difference in acute rejection or post-transplantation diabetes incidence or eGFR; however, the number of infection in the first 6 months was significantly lower in the low-variability group (0.4 vs. 0.9 times; p=0.039). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the number of infection significantly increased as intrapatient variability increased (p=0.015). Conclusion: High intrapatient variability in tacrolimus concentrations was strongly associated with an increased frequency of deviation from the suggested therapeutic range and an increased number of infection.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.20-27
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• 2011

Hovenia dulcis Thunb (HDT) has been known folk medicine and has been used as therapeutic drug in the treatment of liver disease. Also it has been used as a detoxifying agents for alcoholic poisoning and promoting diuresis. However, there has not been any study on therapeutic effect of Hovenia dulcis extract on $CCl_4$ induced liver and kidney damage in rats. In this study, we report on therapeutic effects of Hovenia dulcis extract on $CCl_4$ induced liver and kidney damage in rats. Rats were divided into four groups of eighteen animals. Control group (DW) was administrated with distilled water 2.5 mL/kg per peritonial administration and then $CCl_4$ group (CCl) was administrated $CCl_4$ 2.5 mL/kg per peritonial administration, $CCl_4$+HDT extract group ($CCl_4$+HDT) was administrated HDT extrat (100 mg/kg) after $CCl_4$ 2.5 mL/kg administration, $CCl_4$+Silymarin group ($CCl_4$+Sily) was administrated Silymarin (50 mg/kg) after $CCl_4$ 2.5 mL/kg administration. The complete blood cell (CBC) count of RBC, WBC, PCV, Hb, MCH, MCV, MCHC and blood chemistry profile of AST, ALT, GGT, ALP, Total choloesterol, Tryglyceride, Total bilirubin, Amylase, Glucose, BUN, Creatinine, Lipase and pathologic changes were observed for 7 days after administration of D.W., $CCl_4$, $CCl_4$+HDT extract, $CCl_4$+Silymarin. The results are as follows : 1. RBC and PCV were significantly (p < 0.01) increased in all groups compared to D.W. but hemoglobin, MCH, MCV and MCHC were not showed significant difference during experimental periods. 2. AST, ALT, T-cholesterol, T-bilirubin, TG were significantly (p < 0.05) increased in all groups on day 3 compared to D.W. and were normal on day 7. 3. ALP was significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in $CCl_4$+HDT group on day 3 but Amylase was not showed significant difference during experimental periods. 4. BUN was significantly (p < 0.05) increased in $CCl_4$ group on day 7, but $CCl_4$+HDT group and $CCl_4$+Sily group were normal. Creatninie was significantly (p < 0.05) increased in $CCl_4$ group on day 3 and normal on day 7 but $CCl_4$+HDT group and $CCl_4$+Sily group were not showed significant difference during experimental periods.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.89-100
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• 2019

Background: Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is associated with high morbidity and mortality, particularly among immunocompromised patients, such as lung transplant recipients. Voriconazole, the first-line therapy for IA, shows a non-linear pharmacokinetic profile and has a narrow therapeutic range. Careful and appropriate administration is necessary, primarily because it is used for critically ill patients; however, the clinical usefulness of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) has not been sufficiently verified. Therefore, in this study, we validated the safety and efficacy of voriconazole TDM in lung transplant recipients receiving only voriconazole for IA treatment. Methods: The electronic medical records of lung transplant recipients (${\geq}19$ years of age) administered only voriconazole for > 7 days for treatment of IA from June 1, 2013 to May 31, 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Among the 54 patients, 27 each were allocated to TDM and non-TDM groups, respectively. There were no significant differences in patient characteristics between the two groups except for ICU-hospitalization status. Of the TDM group patients, 81.5% needed adjustment of voriconazole dosage because the levels were out of target range. Comparison of two groups showed that treatment response was higher throughout treatment and switching rates of second-line agents were significantly lower in the TDM group, but it was insufficient to confirm safety improvements through voriconazole TDM. Conclusions: Considering that the treatment response tended to be higher and the rates of switching to second-line antifungal agents were lower in the TDM group, voriconazole TDM may increase the therapeutic effect on IA in lung transplant patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.46-64
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• 2003

Therapeutic angiogenesis is the controlled induction or stimulation of new blood vessel formation to reduce unfavourable tissue effects caused by local hypoxia and to enhance tissue repair. Therapeutic ultrasound can be considered as a physical agent to deliver therapeutic angiogenesis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of therapeutic ultrasound after muscle contusion injury by observed immunoreactivity of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) that plays an important role in angiogenesis and substance-P in pain transmission. Ultrasound irradiation(1MHz, $1W/cm^2$, continuous mode, treatment time 5 min) was applied through water submersion technique to 1 limb daily by kept off 5cm from muscle belly of gastrocnemius. The result of this study were as follows. 1. In morphological observation, there were no significant changes excepts of 7 days. At 7 days, granular tissue viewed abundantly in control group. In other groups, general feature were increased interspace of muscle fiber; centronucleated muscle fiber; collapsed of muscle and nerve tissue; appeared inflammatory cell. 2. The VEGF was expressed in interspace of muscle fiber. Especially, at 7 days in experimental group, VEGF was showed in connective tissue surrounding gastrocnemius muscle. 3. The VEGF was higher expressed in experimental group at 2 and 3 days, but in control group at 7 days. These data suggest therapeutic ultrasound enhanced production of VEGF in the early day relatively, therefore stimulated angiogenesis in the skeletal muscle induced contusion injury. Also therapeutic ultrasound may stimulate pain relief by diminish of substance-P in dorsal horn of spinal cord.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.9-25
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of therapeutic ultrasound after muscle contusion injury by observed immunoreactivity of substance-P that plays an important role in pain transmission. Ultrasound irradiation(1MHz, 1W/$cm^{2}$ continuous mode, treatment time 5 min) was applied through water submersion technique to 1 limb daily by kept off 5cm from muscle belly of gastrocnemius. The result of this study were as follows. 1. The substance-P was expressed in lamina I and II of dorsal horn of spinal cord, also in lamina IV and around of central cannel of spinal cord. Experimental group was lower expressed than control group with the exception of 1 days. 2. The substance-P immunoreactivity was decreased for 5 days together in lumbar and sacral region of all groups, expecially experimental group was rapidly. These data suggest therapeutic ultrasound may stimulate pain relief by diminish of substance-P in dorsal horn of spinal cord.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.223-230
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• 2007

Low power laser and neuromuscular electrical stimulation have been utilized in many clinical applications for the treatment of musculoskeletal lesion. This study was to investigate the effects of low power He-Ne IR laser and neuromuscular electrical stimulation on the change of the serum biochemical components in experimentally induced muscle injured rats. The twenty Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly assigned to the 4 groups: the normal group (n=5), the control group (n=5), the low power laser irradiation group (LLI) (n=5) and the neuromuscular electrical stimulation group (NMES) (n=5). The experimentally induced muscle injury was induced by the subcutaneous injection of a 0.1 ml Freund's Complete Adjuvant into the right hind paw and calf muscles in control, LLI and NMES groups. The LLI group was irradiated with He-Ne IR laser for 5 minutes every day during 10 days. Also, the NMES group was electrically stimulated 15 minutes every day during 10 days. The normal and control groups were not received with any therapeutic intervention. The authors performed tests which were the concentration of the serum biochemical components to detect the effects of therapeutic interventions. The results were as follows: 1. The level of the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was significantly decreased in the LLI and NMES groups compare to the control group. 2. The level of the serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was significantly decreased in the LLI and NMES groups compare to the control group. 3. The level of the serum creatine kinase (CK) was significantly decreased in the LLI and NMES groups compare to the control group. From the results, we could come to the conclusion that low power laser and neuromuscular electrical stimulation could be accelerating healing processes of skeletal muscle injury and further clinical work will be required.

• Journal of Korean Medical Science
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• v.33 no.43
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• pp.268.1-268.11
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• 2018

Background: We aimed to compare the therapeutic efficacy of prolonged macrolide (PMC), corticosteroids (CST), doxycycline (DXC), and levofloxacin (LFX) against macrolide-unresponsive Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) pneumonia in children and to evaluate the safety of the secondary treatment agents. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of patients with MP pneumonia hospitalized between January 2015 and April 2017. Macrolide-unresponsiveness was clinically defined with a persistent fever of ${\geq}38.0^{\circ}C$ at ${\geq}72$ hours after macrolide treatment. The cases were divided into four groups: PMC, CST, DXC, and LFX. We compared the time to defervescence (TTD) after secondary treatment and the TTD after initial macrolide treatment in each group with adjustment using propensity score-matching analysis. Results: Among 1,165 cases of MP pneumonia, 190 (16.3%) were unresponsive to macrolides. The proportion of patients who achieved defervescence within 48 hours in CST, DXC, and LFX groups were 96.9% (31/33), 85.7% (12/14), and 83.3% (5/6), respectively. The TTD after initial macrolide treatment did not differ between PMC and CST groups (5.1 vs. 4.2 days, P = 0.085), PMC and DXC groups (4.9 vs. 5.7 days, P = 0.453), and PMC and LFX groups (4.4 vs. 5.0 days, P = 0.283). No side effects were observed in the CST, DXC, and LFX groups. Conclusion: The change to secondary treatment did not show better efficacy compared to PMC in children with macrolide-unresponsive MP pneumonia. Further studies are needed to guide appropriate treatment in children with MP pneumonia.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.819-827
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• 1994

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of 50% buckwheat diet on the body weight, organ weight, urine albumin, urine glucose, plasma glucose and plasma lipid in normal rats and diabetic rats treated with streptozotocin(STZ). The food intake, body weight, the level of urine glucose in diabetic buckwheat groups were not significantly different with diabetic control group. The level of urine albumin was lower in raw and steam buckwheat group than in the diabetic control group. Compared to the normal control group, liver and kidney weights were heavier in the diabetic groups. Pancreas weight was heavier diabetic buckwheat groups than in normal and diabetic control groups. Fasting plasma glucose level of diabetic buckwheat groups significantly decreased by 18-37% compared with the diabetic control group. Plasma triglyceride level of diabetic buckwheat groups significantly decreased by 34-50% compared with the diabetic control group. Plasma total cholesterol level of diabetic buckwheat groups decreased by 15-27% compared with the diabetic control group. The level of HDL-cholesterol was not affected by buckwheat diet. These results indicate that buckwheat is an effective therapeutic regimen for the control of metabolic derangements in diabetics.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.107-113
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• 2005

Purpose:In an attempt to predict the interpersonal differences of therapeutic response to antipsychotic drugs on pharmaco-genetic bases, this study was designed to investigate the relationship between the therapeutic response to antipsychotic drugs and Taq I A dopamine $D_2$ receptor polymorphism in schizophrenic patients. Methods:The subjects were 158 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia(DSM-IV). The therapeutic response to antipsychotic drugs was evaluated using the Treatment Response Scale(TRS) retrospectively. Patients were divided into two groups, dopamine receptor antagonist responders, and serotonin-dopamine antagonist responders. The patients' Taq I A dopamine $D_2$ receptor polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction(PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism(RFLP). Results:The dopamine receptor antagonist responders had the A1 allele in significantly higher incidences (${\chi}^2$(1)=4.875, p=0.027, two-tailed). No significant difference was found among the serotonin-dopamine antagonist responders between those with or without the A1 allele. Conclusions:The patients with the A1 allele responded better to dopamine receptor antagonists than those with no A1 allele. Based on these results, it is suggested that the pharmacological effect of dopamine receptor antagonists can be predicted depending on the presence of the A1 allele in schizophrenic patients.