• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.57 no.11
• /
• pp.472-478
• /
• 2014

Kawasaki disease (KD), an acute vasculitis that primarily affects young children, is the most common acquired paediatric cardiovascular disease in developed countries. While sequelae of arterial inflammation in the acute phase of KD are well documented, its late effects on vascular health are increasingly unveiled. Late vascular dysfunction is characterized by structural alterations and functional impairment in term of arterial stiffening and endothelial dysfunction and shown to involve both coronary and systemic arteries. Further evidence suggests that continuous low grade inflammation and ongoing active remodeling of coronary arterial lesions occur late after acute illness and may play a role in structural and functional alterations of the arteries. Potential importance of genetic modulation on vascular health late after KD is implicated by associations between mannose binding lectin and inflammatory gene polymorphisms with severity of peripheral arterial stiffening and carotid intima-media thickening. The changes in cholesterol and lipoproteins levels late after KD further appear similar to those proposed to be atherogenic. While data on adverse vascular health are less controversial in patients with persistent or regressed coronary arterial aneurysms, data appear conflicting in individuals with no coronary arterial involvements or only transient coronary ectasia. Notwithstanding, concerns have been raised with regard to predisposition of KD in childhood to accelerated atherosclerosis in adulthood. Until further evidence-based data are available, however, it remains important to assess and monitor cardiovascular risk factors and to promote cardiovascular health in children with a history of KD in the long term.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.39-44
• /
• 2019

[Purpose] Weight loss can reduce obesity-induced arterial stiffening that is attributed to decreased inflammation. Angiopoietin-like protein 2 (ANGPTL2) is a pro-inflammatory adipokine that is upregulated in obesity and is important in the progression of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of dietary modification on circulating ANGPTL2 levels and arterial stiffness in overweight and obese men. [Methods] Twenty-two overweight and obese men (with mean age of 56 ± 2 years and body mass index of 28.6 ± 2.6 kg/m²) completed a 12-week dietary modification program. We measured the arterial compliance and β-stiffness index (as the indices of arterial stiffness) and serum ANGPTL2 levels before and after the program. [Results] After the 12-week dietary modification, body mass and daily energy intake were significantly reduced. Arterial compliance was significantly increased and β-stiffness index was significantly decreased after the 12-week dietary modification program. Serum ANGPTL2 levels were significantly decreased. Also, the changes in arterial compliance were negatively correlated with the changes in serum ANGPTL2 levels, whereas the changes in β-stiffness index were positively correlated with the changes in serum ANGPTL2 levels. [Conclusion] These results suggest that the decrease in circulating ANGPTL2 levels can be attributed to the dietary modification-induced reduction of arterial stiffness in overweight and obese men.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.59-68
• /
• 2005

Background and purpose: Cardiovascular disease will undoubtedly rise along with the aging of the 'baby-boom' generation. The purpose of this study is to find the new index of the cardiovascular aging. Methods: The effects of aging on the heart and the arterial system are surveyed in the point of structure and function. Results: Arterial stiffening is due to the fatiguing effects of periodic stress on the arterial wall and is the main reason for increasing pulse wave velocity. The systolic hypertension is caused by the early return of wave reflection. The increased after-load by the arterial change leads to the development of left ventricular hypertrophy. The reduction in left ventricular compliance cause the impairments of the diastolic function. In contrast to the lower limb, aging effect in the upper limb are almost due to the ascending aortic pressure wave and the reflected wave from the lower limb. Conclusion: We have the following points. (1) The change of physiological pulse pattern by age can be explained by the early returning of reflected wave. (2) The atrial pulse in old age are generated by the left ventricular hypertrophy.