• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.100-104
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• 2019

Shone complex is a rare congenital disorder that involves 4 obstructive lesions of the left heart, as follows: parachute mitral valve, supravalvular mitral ring, subaortic stenosis, and coarctation of the aorta. Incomplete forms with 2 or 3 of these lesions in adult patients have been rarely reported in the literature, meaning that insufficient general data exist concerning the surgical strategy and clinical follow-up. Herein, we report the case of a 31-year-old woman with a diagnosis of incomplete form of Shone complex with parachute mitral valve and coarctation of the aorta who underwent successful single-stage surgical repair.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.615-624
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• 2003

Vascular smooth muscle relaxation is modulated by an increase in cGMP subsequent to nitric oxide (NO) production by endothelial cells. The effects of cAMP and cGMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors were investigated in phenylephrine-precontracted rat aorta rings by using the specific inhibitors of PDE I, III, IV and V as relaxing agents (calmodulin-activated PDE inhibitors, IBMX and $W_7$, type I; cAMP-specific PDE inhibitors, milrinone, type IV; Ro 20-1724, type III and cGMP-specific PDE inhibitor, zaprinast, type V). All the PDE inhibitors produced a concentration-dependent relaxation in the ring with intact endothelium (+E). Except for milrinone, all the PDE inhibitors-induced relaxations were inhibited by removal of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$, $N^G$-nitro-L-arginine, $N^G$-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, methylene blue (MS) or nifedipine. The specific PDE I and PDE IV inhibitors both produced endothelium-independent relaxations which were inhibited by MS in -E rings. However, zaprinast had no effect in -E rings. Except for milrinone, sodium nitroprusside (a NO donor)-induced relaxation was significantly augmented by all PDE inhibitors in +E rings. The results suggest that I) the vasorelaxant properties of IBMX, $W_7$, Ro 20-1724 and zaprinast are dependent on endothelium or on interaction with $Ca^{2+}$ regulation, 2) each PDE is differently distributed in vascular tissues (endothelial and smooth muscle cells), 3) the vasodilations of PDE inhibitors are due to the increase of cAMP and cGMP formation through inhibition of cAMP- and cGMP-PDE and 4) the vasodilation action of milrinone does not involve in endothelial-cyclic nucleotide system.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.361-365
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• 2009

Effects of quercetin, a kind of flavonoids, on the vasodilating actions were investigated. Among the mechanisms for quercetin-induced vasodilatation in rat aorta, the involvement with the $Ca^{2+}$ activated $K^+$ ($K_{Ca}$) channel was examined. Pretreatment with NE ($5\;{\mu}M$) or KCl (60 mM) was carried out and then, the modulation by quercetin of the constriction was examined using rat aorta ring strips (3 mm) at $36.5^{\circ}C$. Quercetin (0.1 to $100\;{\mu}M$) relaxed the NE-induced vasoconstrictions in a concentrationdependent manner. NO synthesis (NOS) inhibitor, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine acetate (L-NMMA), at $100\;{\mu}M$ reduced the quercetin ($100\;{\mu}M$)-induced vasodilatation from $97.8{\pm}3.7%$ (n=10) to $78.0{\pm}11.6%$ (n=5, p<0.05). Another NOS inhibitor, L-NG-nitro arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), at $10\;{\mu}M$ also had the similar effect. In the presence of both $100\;{\mu}M$ L-NMMA and $10\;{\mu}M$ indomethacin, the quercetin-induced vasodilatation was further attenuated by $100\;{\mu}M$ tetraethylammonium (TEA, a $K_{Ca}$ channel inhibitor). Also TEA decreased the quercetin-induced vasodilatation in endothelium-denuded rat aorta. Used other $K_{Ca}$ channel inhibitors, the quercetin-induced vasodilatation was attenuated by $0.3\;{\mu}M$ apamin (a SK channel inhibitor), but not by 30 nM charybdotoxin (a BK and IK channel inhibitor). Quercetin caused a concentration-dependent vasodilatation, due to the endotheliumdependent and -independent actions. Also quercetin contributes to the vasodilatation selectively with SK channel on smooth muscle.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.180-191
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• 1990

A comparison was made of the effects of selective ${\alpha_1}-adrenoceptor$ agonist phenylephrine and selective ${\alpha_2}-adrenoceptor$ agonist clonidine on endothelium-containing and endothelium-denuded rings of the rat aorta. In the case of phenylephrine, removal of endothelium increased sensitivity 2.5 fold at $EC_{50}$ level and maximum contractive response 1.4 fold. In the case of clonidine, which gave only 15% of maximum contractive response given to phenylephrine on endothelium-containing rings, removal of the endothelium increased sensitivity 5.6 fold at $EC_{50}$ level and maximum contractive response 5 fold, which was about 55% of that given by phenylephrine. In endothelium-denuded ring, phenylephrine-induced contraction tended to be more increased in tonic contraction than in phasic contraction as compared to that in endothelium-containing ring, while clonidine-induced contraction was monophasic and was increased only in tonic contraction. In the calcium-free solution or in the presence, of verapamil, contraction stimulated by clonidine was almost abolished while that stimulated by phenylephrine produced only phasic contraction. The depression of sensitivity to these agonists in rings with endothelium appeared to be due to the vasodepressor action of endothelium derived relaxing factor (EDRF), because hemoglobin, a specific blocking agent of EDRF, abolished this depression. It is unlikely that the endothelium-dependent relaxation was due to stimulation of release of EDRF, because clonidine did not produce endothelium-dependent relaxation in 5-hydroxytryptamine-precontracted ring even when its contractile action was blocked by the ${\alpha_1}-adrenoceptor$ antagonist, prazosin. When the efficacy of phenylephrine was reduced to about the initial efficacy of clonidine by pretreatment with dibenamine, the contraction-response curves for phenylephrine became very similar to the corresponding curves obtained for clonidine before receptor inactivation. In the dibenamine-treated rings, contraction of phenylephrine was abolished in calcium-free solution or in the presence of verapamil like that obtained for clonidine before receptor inactivation. These results suggest that EDRF spontaneously released from endothelium depress contraction more profoundly in a case of an agonist with low efficacy and the phenylephrine-induced contraction was totally dependent on extracellular calcium as was that obtained for clonidine when the efficacy of phenylephrine was reduced to that of clonidine by irreversible inactivation of ${\alpha_1}-adrenoceptor$ with dibenamine.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.4 no.6
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• pp.463-469
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• 2000

It has been well known that 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) has an excitatory effect on vascular smooth muscle due to causing membrane depolarization by blocking $K^+-channel$. However, we observed that 4-AP had an inhibitory effect on the mesenteric artery of rat. Therefore, we investigated the mechanism of 4-AP-induced vasorelaxation. The mesenteric arcuate artery and its branches were isolated and cut into ring. The ring segment was immersed in HEPES-buffered solution and its isometric tension was measured. 4-AP $(0.1{\sim}10\;mM)$ induced a concentration-dependent relaxation, which was unaffected by NO synthase inhibitor, $N^G-nitro-L-arginine$ methylester $(100\;{\mu}M)$ or soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor, methylene blue $(100\;{\mu}M).$ Glibenclamide $(100\;{\mu}M)$, ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channel blocker, did not exert any effect on the 4-AP-induced vasorelaxation. 4-AP relaxed the sustained contraction induced by 100 mM $K^+$ or $Ca^{2+}$ ionophore, A23187 $(100\;{\mu}M)$ in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, 4-AP significantly decreased the phasic contractile response to norepinephrine in the absence of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$. However, 4-AP did not block the $^{45}Ca$ influx of rat aorta. From the above results, we suggest that 4-AP may not block the $Ca^{2+}$ influx through $Ca^{2+}-channel,$ but act as a nonspecific vasorelaxant in arterial smooth muscle.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.1142-1144
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• 1997

A case of fatal hematemesis due to an aberrant right subclavian arterioesophageal fistula which is a rare complication of the vascular ring is presented. A 42-year-old man with multiple injury by traffic accident presented severe upper gastrointestinal bleeding and was taken emergent operation. He was keeping tracheostomy tube and nasogastric tube for 7 weeks. We could find an aberrant right subclavian arterioesophageal fistula through left thoracotomy which was made by irritation of the prolonged nasogastric ube. We carried division of the aberrant right subclavian artery and fistulectomy. He was doing well postoperatively. But massive bleeding occurred at the fifth postoperative day. We performed emergent reoperation at CCU and found the tear point on the suture site of the aorta, which might be developed due to irritation of the chest tube andfor infection of the surrounding tissues. He was expired at the 8th postoperative day due to ischemic brain damage.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.175-180
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• 1978

A rare form of tetralogy of Fallot, in which large ventricular septal defect was located at subpulmonary position rather than beneath a well developed crista supraventricularis was operated in this Department. This case satisfied the criteria for the diagnosis of tetralogy of Fallot, having large ventricular septal defect beneath the aortic valve with overriding of aorta, pulmonary stenosis and right ventricular hypeFtrophy. The operation was done through a median sternotomy using cardiopulmonary bypass. A vertical right ventriculotomy was extended to the pulmonary valve ring. Pulmonary and aortic valve were adjacent to each other, in contrast to the situation of classic tetralogy of Fallot. Pulmonary valvulotomy was done and ventricular septal defect was closed. with Teflon, and right ventricular outflow tract was reconstructed with woven Dacron covered by pericardial patch after minimal resection of septal band. The post-operatiove courses was uneventful except wound infection. The patient was discharged 15 days after open heart surgery.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.6-13
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• 2011

Bolus intravenous injection of adenosine resulted the temporal decrease of systemic blood pressure and heart rate in the anesthetized rats. Adenosine also resulted the persistent decrease of contractility and heart rate in the isolated spontaneously beating rat right atria. Both of the above inhibition effets of adenosine were increased by the pretreatment of NBI (nitrobenzylthioinosine), whitch is an adenosine transport inhibitor, but decreased by the pretreatment of 8- phenyltheophy1line, which is an adenosine antagonist. In isolated thoracic aorta ring segment of normotensive rats, intact rings were relaxed by adenosine ($42.3{\pm}8.7%$) and ATP ($85.9{\pm}15.8%$) in the concentration of $10^{-4}M$, but rubbed rings were relaxed by adenosine ($35.2{\pm}1.9%$) and ATP ($11.3{\pm}9.0%$) in $10^{-4}M$. After pretreatment of L-NAME (N-Nitro-Larginine methyl ester), which is an NO inhibitor, adenosine-induced relaxation was not affected, but ATP-induced relax ation was significantly inhibited (P<0.01). Meanwhile, adenosine resulted almost same as vasorelaxation in isolated thoracic aorta of SHR comparing to those of normotensive rats. But, vasodilation responses of ATP in intact rings of SHR are significantly inhibited comparing to those of normotensive rats. Adenosine-induced relaxation is attenuated after 8-phenyltheophylline pretreatment, but increased after NBI pretreatment. However, ATP-induced relaxations are not affected by 8-phenyltheophylline or NBI pretreatment. These results suggested that the hypotensive effects of adenosine was due to the decrease of contractile force and heart rate through the A1 receptor and vasodilation are mediated by A2 receptor of the vascular smooth muscle. And, the heart protective and vasodilation effects of adenosine might suggest that it would be useful in the acute treatment of coronary artery disease.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.329-335
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• 2016

Objectives: Safranal is a pharmacologically active component of saffron and is responsible for the unique aroma of saffron. The hypotensive effect of safranal has been shown in previous studies. This study evaluates the mechanism for the vasodilatory effects induced by safranal on isolated rat aortas. Methods: To study the vasodilatory effects of safranal (0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 mM), we contracted isolated rat thoracic aorta rings by using $10^{-6}-M$ phenylephrine (PE) or 80-mM KCl. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was used as a control. The vasodilatory effect of safranal was also evaluated both on intact and denuded endothelium aortic rings. Furthermore, to study the role of nitric oxide and prostacyclin in the relaxation induced by safranal, we incubated the aortic rings by using L-NAME ($10^{-6}M$) or indomethacin ($10^{-5}M$), each for 20 minutes. Results: Safranal induced relaxation in endothelium-intact aortic rings precontracted by using PE or KCl in a concentration-dependent manner, with a maximum relaxation of more than 100%. The relaxant activity of safranal was not eliminated by incubating the aortic rings with L-NAME ($EC_{50}=0.29$ vs. $EC_{50}=0.43$) or with indomethacin ($EC_{50}=0.29$ vs. $EC_{50}=0.35$), where $EC_{50}$ is the half maximal effective concentration. Also, the vasodilatory activity of safranal was not modified by endothelial removal. Conclusion: This study indicated that relaxant activity of safranal is mediated predominantly through an endothelium-independent mechanism.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.14-21
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• 2013

Background: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are known to be related to cardiovascular diseases. Many studies have demonstrated that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors have beneficial effects against ROS. We investigated the antioxidant effect of captopril and enalapril in nitric oxide mediated vascular endothelium-dependent relaxations. Materials and Methods: Isolated rabbit abdominal aorta ring segments were exposed to ROS by electrolysis of the organ bath medium (Krebs-Henseleit solution) after pretreatment with various concentrations (range, $10^{-5}$ to $3{\times}10^{-4}$ M) of captopril and enalapril. Before and after electrolysis, the endothelial function was measured by preconstricting the vessels with norepinephrine ($10^{-6}$ M) followed by the cumulative addition of acetylcholine (range, $3{\times}10^{-8}$ to $10^{-6}$ M). The relevance of the superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide scavenging effect of captopril and enalapril was investigated using additional pretreatments of diethyldithiocarbamate (DETCA, 0.5 mM), an inhibitor of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase, and 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (3AT, 50 mM), an inhibitor of catalase. Results: Both captopril and enalapril preserved vascular endothelium-dependent relaxation after exposure to ROS in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.0001). Pretreatment with DETCA attenuated the antioxidant effect of captopril and enalapril (p<0.0001), but pretreatment with 3AT did not have an effect. Conclusion: Both captopril and enalapril protect endothelium against ROS in a dose-dependent fashion in isolated rabbit abdominal aortas. This protective effect is related to superoxide anion scavenging.