• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.173-180
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• 1998

Thrombogenesis and atherosclerosis are mainly caused by platelet aggregation, blood coagulation, and hyperlipidemia. Platelet aggrelation, activated platelet thromboplastin time (APTT) were measured as indexes of blood coagulation and lipid contents in the subjects who have taken red ginseng products (e.g. water extract, tea, drink etc.) for 4 to 5 years. The platelet aggregation in the red ginseng-taking group was significantly decreased, as compared with the non-red ginseng-intaking group, when platelets were stimulated by 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml of collagen (P<0.01). The atherogenic index and the ratio of triglyceride to HDL-cholesterol in blood, the risk factors of atherosclerosis, were decreased in the subjects of ginseng group, compared with that in control group. APTT was also prolonged to greater extent in ginseng group than in control group. These results suggest that long-term intake of ginseng products may help to prevent the risks of thrombogenesis and atherosclerosis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.399-407
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• 2012

To evaluate age and gender differences in the relation of cardiovascular risk factors, cognitive impairment, and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis from aged people using by a cross sectional method. Sixty-nine healthy elders living in the community who had not previously undergone carotid ultrasonography were included. We conducted life style surveys, and cognitive function tests including Korean-mini-mental state examination (K-MMSE) and clinical dementia rating-Korean. Various biomarkers from blood were assessed; fasting insulin-like growth factor-1, lipid-profile, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, total homocysteine, glucose, insulin, Homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) for insulin resistance index, vitamin B12, and folate level. Carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT), and plaques were measured using carotid ultrasonography and aortic ultrasonography, a valid index of atherosclerosis. For the elderly subjects (aged 65-82 years), cognition impairment was more prevalent in females while subclinical atherosclerosis was more prevalentin males. Increased C-IMT has been kept in males, and C-IMT shows increasing trend and the peak at about 80 year-old in females with increasing age. The significant correlations between C-IMT and many vascular risk factors including age, triglyceride, abnormal homocysteinein male, and K-MMSE, insulin, HOMA index and abnormal aortic ultrasonography in female were different in each gender, with the exception of homocysteine (p<0.05). This data suggests that there were differences of age and gender characteristics in terms of subclinical atherosclerosis, cognitive impairment and vascular risk factors in community-living elders. Further larger and longitudinal studies across entire age are required to better understand the effects of risk factors on subclinical atherosclerosis.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.193-199
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• 2013

This study was performed to report the effect of coffee enema among detoxification Therapy on atherosclerosis. Russian patient was treated by coffee enema, acupuncture, herbal medicines, exercise, cupping, korean physical therapy, chuna manipulation treatment and moxibustion. The state of patient was measured by Infrared Thermography, Blood Vessel Stasis Test and Minnesota Nicotine Withdrawal Scale. After treatments, both feet temperature were increased. And index of indicating the occlusion of the lower body was improved. Also, Minnesota Nicotine Withdrawal Scale scores were improved. It means the patient was successful at non-smoking during hospitalization. These results suggests that atherosclerosis was improved. According to above results, coffee enema was effective to improve the atherosclerosis. More studies should be followed.

• Journal of Korea Association of Health Promotion
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.12-27
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• 2006

"본 논문은 대한내과학회지 2006년 제70권 제3호에 실렸던 논문으로 대한내과학회 편집위원회의 승인을 득하고 본 협회지에 게재함. Background : Diabetes mellitus is a major independent risk factor for atherosclerosis. In recent years non-invasive high resolution B-mode ultrasound methods have been developed to measure the intima-media thickness(IMT) of the carotid artery as an indicator for early atherosclerosis. Itis known that obesity plays a role in the development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and it has also been reported that not only the amount but also the distribution of body fat is important. This study investigated the relationship between obesity and the development of carotid atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetic patients. Methods: Carotid IMT was measured by ultrasound B-mode imaging in 144 patients with type 2diabetes mellitus. All subjects underwent assessment for the degree and distribution of obesity, the presence of coronary artery disease risk factors, and the presence of diabetic complications. Resuts: Carotid IMT was increased in the abdominal obese group defined by waist circurference. However, there was no significant difference in carotid TMT between the non-obese group and obese group as defined by body mass index, waist to hip ratio, and total body fat percent measured by bio electrical impedance analysis. There were positive correlations between carotid IMT and age, duration of diabetes, systolic blood pressure, and waist circumference. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed the variable that interacted independently with carotid IMT was age in type 2 diabetic patients. Carotid IMT was significantly increased in type 2 diabetic patients with macrovascular complications and microvascvlar complications .Conclusion: This study suggested that abdominal obesity rather than general obesity was associated with carotid atherosclerosis reflected by increment of carotid IMT in type 2 diabetic subjects.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2024

Purpose: The inflammatory response due to inflammatory cytokines, bacterial pathogens, and the altered lipoprotein metabolism in patients with periodontitis indicates that infection with periodontal anaerobic bacteria may influence atherogenesis in vitro and in vivo. We aimed to explore the effect of periodontitis concerning clinical and ultrasound markers of early atherosclerosis. Methods: In this case-control study, a total of 30 systemically healthy adults (15 with periodontitis and 15 without periodontitis) over 40 years of age were studied. Periodontitis was determined by measuring the clinical attachment level (CAL) and radiographic bone loss (RBL). Conventional cardiovascular risk factors, including body mass index, serum levels of total cholesterol (TCH), triglycerides (TG), and high-density and low-density lipoprotein (HDL and LDL, respectively) cholesterol were evaluated. Carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) was measured using ultrasonography. Results: The mean values of the CAL and carotid IMT were 5.02±0.9 mm and 0.084±0.01 cm vs. 1.6±0.61 mm and 0.072±0.02 cm in the periodontitis and healthy groups, respectively, reflecting statistically significant differences (P=0.001 and P=0.037, respectively). There were statistically significant differences in the serum levels of TCH, TG, and LDL between the 2 groups (P=0.017). The CAL and RBL were positively associated with carotid IMT and serum cholesterol levels, except for HDL, whereas tooth loss was not associated with any markers (P<0.05). Compared to the healthy group, participants with periodontitis exhibited 2.09 times higher odds (95% confidence interval, 1.22-3.59) of having subclinical atherosclerosis. Conclusions: The presence of periodontitis increased the risk of atherosclerosis.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.467-476
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• 2010

Object : The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation of atherosclerosis risk factors and pulse wave velocity (PWV) of carotid-femoral artery with Sasang constitution. This study also aimed to investigate the relationship between PWV and risk factors of atherosclerosis, including serum cholesterol and homosisteine, hs-CRP. Methods : We enrolled 160 patients without experience strokes who visited our hospital for a medical examination from January 1, 2008 to April 30, 2010 except patients whose body constitutions were undetermined according to QSCCII. We investigated the correlation between serum cholesterol values, blood pressure, body mass index(BMI), homosistein, hs-CRP and PWV. Pearson's correlation and partial correlation analysis were applied to examine the relationship between PWV and risk factors of atherosclerosis. Result : Among the 160 subjects, 54 were Taeumin, 54 were Soyangin, and 52 were Soeumin. The prevalences of high BMI (P-value <0.01), high hs-CRP(P-value <0.05), and high PWV(P-value <0.05) of Taeumin were higher than those of the other constitutions. PWV of carotid-femoral artery was significantly different among the three constitutional groups(Taeumin: $8.12{\pm}1.64m/sec$, Soyangin: $7.48{\pm}1.16m/sec$, Soeumin: $7.49{\pm}1.12m/sec$)(P-value <0.05). This research has show a statistical significance between the average amount of carotid-femoral artery PWV that is higher in Taeumin. Age factor of Taeumin was the effective determinant of the increase of mean PWV of carotid-femoral arteries. Conclusions : There were significant differences in the prevalence of atherosclerosis according to Sasang constitution. This study showed that atherosclerosis was more prevalent in Taeumin. Therefore, according to our results, risk of atherosclerosis was higher in Taeumin than among other constitutions.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.54-58
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• 2009

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with several cardiovascular diseases. However, the mechanisms are not completely understood. The measure of common carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) has been extensively used as an early marker of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that early signs of atherosclerosis are present in patients with OSA and correlate with OSA severity Methods: Eleven male patients with OSA were studied by using full standard overnight polysomnography and high-definition echo-tracking device to measure intima-media thickness and carotid artery diameter. Eight healthy volunteers matched for age and sex were studied by portable respiratory monitoring device. All participants were free of hypertension, diabetes, and were not on any medications. Patients with OSA were naive to treatment. Results: All patients and normal controls were male. There was no significant difference of age between patients and controls ($48.4{\pm}8.85$ and $48.0{\pm}9.77$). Significant differences existed between control subjects and patients with mild to moderate and severe OSA (apnea-hypopnea index, $1.51{\pm}1.15$ and $38.51{\pm}19.13$ respectively) in intima-media thickness ($0.59{\pm}0.064$ and $0.93{\pm}0.16$; P=0.0023), and carotid diameter ($5.79{\pm}0.44$ and $6.47{\pm}0.51$; P=0.0227). Multivariate analyses showed that the apnea-hypopnea index correlated independently with intima-media thickness and carotid diameter (r=0.79, P=0.0008, and r=0.47, P=0.0482). Conclusions: Middle-aged patients with OSA who are free of overt cardiovascular diseases have early signs of atherosclerosis, which further supports the hypothesis that OSA plays an independent role in atherosclerosis progression.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.203-212
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• 2003

Objective : As a link in chain of research to confirm the oriental medical prescription which has the anti-atherosclerosis effects, this research evaluated the effects on the macrophage-related factors by using KanghwalSokdantang(KS). Methods : In order to perform this research, we have evaluated the effects on the oxLDL formation from the macrophages, the nitric oxide formation, and the oxidation of macrophages. Thus, with this evaluation, we have investigated the applicapability on the artherosclerosis. Results : KanghwalSokdantang has showed a noticeable reduction of protein oxidation in the process of oxLDL formation, has remarkably restrained phospholipid peroxidation, an index to estimated the phospholipid oxidation and reduction that are formed in the process of macrophage's oxLDL formation, and has increased the nitrite concentration noticeably in the LDL-dealing macrophages. By increasing the survival rate of macrophages, KanghwalSokdantang has restrained the cellular damages. KanghwalSokdantang is ineffective on the LDH outflow from damaged cells. $1{\mu}g/ml$ KanghwalSokdantang sample has increased acid phosphatase activity remarkably. Conclusion : KanghwalSokdantang has the possibility to be used in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis, which is formed by the oxLDL formation of macrophages.

• Experimental and Molecular Medicine
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• v.50 no.12
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• pp.13.1-13.12
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• 2018

We aimed to explore whether changes in circulating levels of miRNAs according to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) or prediabetes status could be used as biomarkers to evaluate the risk of developing the disease. The study included 462 patients without T2DM at baseline from the CORDIOPREV trial. After a median follow-up of 60 months, 107 of the subjects developed T2DM, 30 developed prediabetes, 223 maintained prediabetes and 78 remained disease-free. Plasma levels of four miRNAs related to insulin signaling and beta-cell function were measured by RT-PCR. We analyzed the relationship between miRNAs levels and insulin signaling and release indexes at baseline and after the follow-up period. The risk of developing disease based on tertiles (T1-T2-T3) of baseline miRNAs levels was evaluated by COX analysis. Thus, we observed higher miR-150 and miR-30a-5p and lower miR-15a and miR-375 baseline levels in subjects with T2DM than in disease-free subjects. Patients with high miR-150 and miR-30a-5p baseline levels had lower disposition index (p = 0.047 and p = 0.007, respectively). The higher risk of disease was associated with high levels (T3) of miR-150 and miR-30a-5p ($HR_{T3-T1}=4.218$ and $HR_{T3-T1}=2.527$, respectively) and low levels (T1) of miR-15a and miR-375 ($HR_{T1-T3}=3.269$ and $HR_{T1-T3}=1.604$, respectively). In conclusion, our study showed that deregulated plasma levels of miR-150, miR-30a-5p, miR-15a, and miR-375 were observed years before the onset of T2DM and pre-DM and could be used to evaluate the risk of developing the disease, which may improve prediction and prevention among individuals at high risk for T2DM.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.217-221
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• 2014

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine whether school-aged children with Kawasaki disease (KD) have an increased risk for early atherosclerosis. Methods: The study included 98 children. The children were divided into the following groups: group A (n=19), KD with coronary arterial lesions that persisted or regressed; group B (n=49), KD without coronary arterial lesions; and group C (n=30), healthy children. Anthropometric variables and the levels of biochemical markers, including total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), apolipoprotein A, apolipoprotein B, homocysteine, highsensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and brachial artery stiffness using pulse wave velocity were compared among the three groups. Results: There were no significant differences in blood pressure and body index among the three groups. Additionally, there was no sex-specific difference. Moreover, the levels of triglyceride, HDL-C, apolipoprotein A, and hs-CRP did not differ among the three groups. However, the levels of total cholesterol (P =0.018), LDL-C (P =0.0003), and apolipoprotein B (P =0.029) were significantly higher in group A than in group C. Further, the level of homocysteine and the aortic pulse wave velocity were significantly higher in groups A and B than in group C (P=0.0001). Conclusion: School-aged children after KD have high lipid profiles and arterial stiffness indicating an increased risk for early atherosclerosis.