• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.47-55
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• 2010

Purpose : To evaluate the geometry of carotid artery by assessing the images of contrast-enhanced MR angiography (CE-MRA) and interrelationships between the geometry of carotid artery and clinical factors. Materials and Methods : 216 consecutive patients who performed supraaortic CE-MRA with fast spoiled gradient-echo imaging were included. Their medical records were reviewed for variable information including risk factors predictive of generalized atherosclerotic disease (age, hypertension (HTN), diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidema, and smoking), sex, body weight, height, and body mass index (BMI). We reviewed the CE-MRA with carotid origin (3 types), carotid artery tortuosity, angle of internal carotid artery bifurcation, the type of aortic arch branching, and the presence of the coiling of carotid artery. Results : Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that significantly contributed clinical backgrounds for carotid origin were the age and the BMI. With an increase of age at 1, the probability that the type of carotid origin become from type 1 to type 2 was 0.9 times (p=0.004) in right carotid artery (RCA), 0.9 times (p = 0.031) in left carotid artery (LCA), 0.9 times that are likely to be type3 from type 2 (p<0.001) in RCA and 0.9 times in LCA (p=0.009). Increase in BMI at 1 increased odds of becoming type 2 as 1.1 times (p = 0.067) in RCA, 1.1 times (p=0.009) in LCA and increased chance of becoming type 3 as 1.2 times (p = 0.001) in RCA, 1.2 times (p=0.003) in LCA. Mean value of right and left carotid tortuosity were $240.9{\pm}69.0^{\circ}$and $154.4{\pm}55.0^{\circ}$, respectively. Conclusion : The BMI, age, sex and presence of HTN affects the geometry of carotid arteries, the site of origin and tortuosity of carotid artery specifically.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.208-214
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• 2000

Objectives : Face-to-face interviews were conducted to investigate the relationship between blood pressure and the impairment of cognitive function in rural elderly (N=932) aged 60-64 in Dalsung County, April to September in 1996 Methods : Impairment of cognitive function was defined as a score of less than 23 by the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSEK). Blood pressure was measured once in each subject using a portable automatic sphygmomanometer. Results : By univariate logistic regression on males, no category of systolic blood pressure bore statistical significance. Groups with diastolic blood pressures of, less than 80 mmHg, 90-94 mmHg, and more than 95mmHg had odds ratios of more than one compared with the reference group (80-89 mmHg). This was most significant in the group with blood pressures lower than 80 mmHg, which had a statistically significant odds ratio of 1.68 (95% confidence interval CI; 1.02-2.75). No category of blood pressure was statistically significant in females. Multivariate logistic regression for males, with adjustment for age, educational attainment, smoking, alcoholic drinking, body mass index, atherosclerotic disease, and antihypertensive medication use, did not alter the odds ratios significantly in terms of systolic blood pressure. However, the group with diastolic blood pressure of less than 80 mmHg had an increased odds ratio of 2.01 (95% CI; 1.15-3.52) compared with the reference group. In females, systolic blood pressure did not alter the odds ratio, but the group with a diastolic blood pressure of less than 80 mmHg had a statistically significant odds ratio of 0.57 (95% CI; 0.37-0.89). Conclusions : These results suggest that the relationship between blood pressure and cognitive function status is stronger diastolic than systolic blood pressure and that there is a complex relationship between blood pressure and cognitive function by sex.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.7 s.80
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• pp.1071-1079
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of the feeding physiological activity substance in feral peach(Prunus Persica Batsch var. davidiana Max.) extract intake on the improvement of the lipid compositions, apolipoprotein and blood pressure level in spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHR, Wistar strain, male) fed the experimental diets for 33 days. Concentrations of total cholesterol, triglyceride(TG), LDL-cholesterol, free cholesterol and atherosclerotic index in serum were significantly lower in the feral peach extract intake groups[groups 5g% Ex.(basal diet+feral peach 5.0g% extract), 10g% Ex.(basal diet+feral peach 10.0g% extract)] than those in the group Control(basal diet+water). In the ratio of HDL-cholesterol concentration to total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol concentration, feral peach 5.0g%, 10.0g% extract intake groups(group 5g% Ex. and 10g% Ex.) were higher percentage than in the group Control. However, concentrations of total cholesterol and TC in liver and brain were significantly lower in the groups 5g% Ex. and 10g% Ex. than those in the group Control. But the concentrations of apolipoprotein (Apo) A-I and Apo A-II in serum were significantly higher in the feral peach 5.0g% and 10.0g% extract intake groups(5g% Ex. and 10g% Ex.) than in the control group. However, concentrations of Apo C-II, Apo C-III, Apo E and ratio of Apo B to Apo A-I in serum were fairly reduced in the groups 5g% Ex. and 10g% Ex. than in the control group. The levels of systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly lower in feral peach 5g% Ex. and 10g% Ex. groups than control group. However, no significance was found in the effect of among the groups(groups 5g% Ex. and 10g% Ex.). From these results, physiological activity substance in feral peach(Prunus persica Batsch var. davidiana Max.) extracts were effective on the improvement of the lipid compositions and cardiovascular heart disease, hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats. And particularly, feral peach extracts were more effective as a therapeutic regimen for the control of blood pressure in hypertension.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1407-1414
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• 2012

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is an effective regimen that has been found to prevent these diseases in postmenopausal women. However, HRT is accompanied by an increased risk of unfavorable outcomes. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Eisenia Bicyclis extract on lipids in ovariectomized rats. Fifty 7-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups: sham-operated rats (SHAM), ovariectomized rats (OVX-CON), and ovariectomized rats that were treated with Eisenia bicyclis extracts. The extract-treated diets were fed to the rats for 6 weeks after operation. Antioxidant effects were measured by DPPH free radical scavenging activity. Antioxidant activity of the ethanol extract increased in a dose-dependent manner and was about 55.9% in a concentration of 100 ${\mu}g/ml$. We measured the total cholesterol content, triglyceride content, HDL-cholesterol content, LDL-cholesterol content, atherosclerotic index, cardiac risk factor in serum, and anti-platelet aggregation and blood rheology. The total cholesterol and triglyceride concentration in serum increased for the OVX-control group, but supplementation with the E. bicyclis extract caused these factors to decrease. Notably, the serum LDL-cholesterol concentration in the OVX-EB200 group was significantly lower than the OVX-CON group. In addition, the blood passage times in rats that received the E. bicyclis extract were more rapid than the times in the untreated group (OVX-CON). Microscopic evaluation revealed that whole blood passed more smoothly through the microchannels in rats in the E. bicyclis extract supplement groups. Our results clarified the effects of E. bicyclis extract on serum lipid content in ovariectomized rats, and consequently we expect positive effects from providing E. bicyclis extract to postmenopausal women with cardiovascular disease.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.10
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• pp.787-791
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• 2001

Coronary artery aneurysm is a rare disorder. It is defined as abnormal dilatation of coronary artery with diameter exceeding 1.5 times the adjacent normal segments. The incidence of coronary aneurysm is 2.6% in Caucasians and 0.25% in Asians. Over half of the former were associated with atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. However, 70 percents of the latter were nonobstructive coronary artery aneurysms. Coronary artery fistula is a rare disorder. It has been identified in only 0.2% of routine cardiac angiographic studies conducted over a 10-year period. The clinical spectrums are various, asymtomatic, asymptomatic murmur, dyspnea on exertion, fatigue, and congestive heart failure. The right coronary artery (56%) and left coronary artery(36%) are mainly involved in the origin site of congenital coronary artery fistula. The draining site of fistula are right ventricle(39%), right atrium(33%), and pulmonary artery(20%) and so on. This 54 years-old woman had intermittent chest tightness and an abnormal mediastinal shadow on chest roentgenogram and chest C-T examination, which was diagnosed as a mediastinal mass such as teratoma. We performed the operation under left anterolateral thoracotomy for mass excision. However, we knew the mass had the pulsating arterial blood flow through a fine needle puncture of the mass and that it was attached to the left ventricle. We believed the excision of mass on beating heart would be very dangerous. Therefore, we closed the wound without excising the mass. After several days, we performed an echocardiography and coronary angiography, We knew it was cardiac tumor. Incidentally, the patient had a tortuous coronary fistula from the right coronary artery to pulmonary trunk. Using cardiopulmonary bypass with moderate systemic hypothermia, the mass was resected and the fistula was clipped with surgical clips. Pathology of the specimen was a giant coronary arterial aneurysm.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.790-798
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• 1999

Background: As the early outcome after coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG) has been stabilized, neurologic complication has now become one of the most important morbidity. The aim of this study was to find out the risk factors associated with the neurologic complications after CABG. Material and Method: In 351 patients who underwent CABG, the incidence and features of neurologic complications, with associated perioperative risk factors, were retrospectively reviewed. Neurologic complication was defined as a new cerebral infarction confirmed by postoperative neurologic examination and radiologic studies, or delayed recovery of consciousness and orientation for more than 24 hours after the operation. Result: Neurologic complications occurred in 18 patients(5.1%), of these nine(2.6%) were diagnosed as having new cerebral infarctions(stroke). Stroke was manifested as motor paralysis in four patients, mental retardation or orientation abnormality in four, and brain death in one. Statistical analysis revealed the following variables as significant risk factors for neurologic complications by both univariate and multivariate analyses: cardiopulmonary bypass longer than 180 minutes, atheroma of the ascending aorta, carotid artery stenosis detected by Duplex sonography, and past history of cerebrovascular accident or transient ischemic attack. Age over 65 years, aortic calcification detected by simple X-ray, and intraoperative myocardial infarction were significant risk factors by univariate analysis only. Neither the severity of carotid artery stenosis nor technical modifications such as cannulation of the aortic arch or single clamp technique, which were expected to affect the inciden e of neurologic complications, had significant relationship with the incidence. Conclusion: This study confirmed the strong association between neurologic complications after CABG and atherosclerosis of the arterial system. Therefore, to minimize the incidence of neurologic complications, systematic evaluation focused on atherosclerotic lesions of the arterial system followed by adequate alteration of operative strategy is needed.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.10-15
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• 2005

Purpose: Recently the role of vitamins, folate in particular, has been emphasized in the maintenance of health. Folate deficiency is known to give rise to developmental delay, immature vascular disease, neural tube defect, acute leukemia, atherosclerotic vascular disease, delivery defects, breast cancer, and particularly gastrointestinal neoplasia. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is an essential enzyme in folate metaboism, and influences DNA synthesis and DNA methylation. Generally, folate deficiency is associated with gastrointestinal neoplasms. The amino-acid- changing and enzyme-activity-reducing nucleotide polymorphism (766C$\rightarrow$T/ Ala222Val) has been described in the MTHFR polymorphism and leads to low enzyme activity that may reduce the capacity of DNA methylation and possibly uracil mis-incorporation into DNA. These processes may be critical in the oncogenic transformation of human cells, especially in colorectal carcinomas. We investigated the relationship between the MTHFR polymorphism in gastric cancer and the tumor site, the smoking history, and the alcoholic history. Materials and Methods: Ninety-six (96) individuals with gastric cancer and 287 healthy persons were analyzed. Blood sampling was performed, PCR-RFLP was analyzed, and MTHFR polymorphism genotypes of C/C, C/T, and T/T were obtained and analyzed statistically for their correlation. Results: In the gastric cancer group there were 69 ($72\%$) males and 27 ($28\%$) females. There were also 58 cases ($60\%$) involving the gastric lower body, 20 cases ($21\%$) the gastric mid-body, and 18 cases ($19\%$) the gastric upper body. In the control group there were 169 ($59\%$) males and 118 ($41\%$) females. Among the gastric cancer, 56 ($61\%$) smoking patients, 40 ($39\%$) non-smoking patients, 45($47\%$) alcoholic patients, 51 ($53\%$) non-alcoholic patients. In the gastric cancer group, MTHER polymorphisms were C/C in 18 ($19\%$) cases, C/T in 59 ($61\%$) cases, T/T in 19 ($20\%$) cases. In the control group polymorphisms were C/C 116 ($40\%$) cases, C/T 103 ($36\%$) cases, and T/T 68 ($24\%$) cases (P=0.045). In cases of lower gastric body cancer, polymorphisms were C/C in 16 ($24\%$) C/C in 16 ($24\%$) cases and C/T or T/T in 42 ($72\%$) cases. In cases of upper and mid-body cancer, polymorphisms were C/C in 2 ($5\%$) cases and C/T or T/T 36 ($95\%$) cases (P=0.006). In the non-smoking patient group, polymorphisms were C/C in 5 (12%) cases and C/T or T/T in 35 ($88\%$) cases. In the smoking patient group, C/C in 13 ($23\%$) cases and C/T or T/T in 43 ($77\%$) cases (P=0.189). In the non-alcoholic patient group, polymorphisms were C/C in 6 ($12\%$) cases and C/T or T/T in 45 ($88\%$) cases. In the alcoholic patient group, polymorphisms were C/C in 12 ($26\%$) cases and C/T or T/T in 33 ($74\%$) cases (P=0.063) Conclusion: MTHFR polymorphisms are associated with gastric cancer and tumor site, but not with smoking and alcohol drinking.