• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.93-98
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• 2012

Micro-computed tomography (microCT) is an important tool for preclinical vascular imaging, with micron-level resolution. This non-destructive means of imaging allows for rapid collection of 2D and 3D reconstructions to visualize specimens prior to destructive analysis such as pathological analysis. Objectives. The aim of this study was to suggest a method for ex vivo, postmortem examination of stented arterial segments with microCT. And ex vivo evaluation of stents such as bare metal or drug eluting stents on in-stent restenosis (ISR) in rabbit model was performed. The bare metal stent (BMS) and drug eluting stent (DES, paclitaxel) were implanted in the left or right iliac arteries alternatively in eight New Zealand white rabbits. After 4 weeks of post-implantation, the part of iliac arteries surrounding the stent were removed carefully and processed for microCT. Prior to microCT analysis, a contrast medium was loaded to lumen of stents. All samples were subjected to an X-ray source operating at 50 kV and 200 ${\mu}A$ by using a 3D isotropic resolution. The region of interest was traced and measured by CTAN analytical software. Objects being exposed to radiation had different Hounsfield unit each other with values of approximately 1.2 at stent area, 0.12 ~ 0.17 at a contrast medium and 0 ~ 0.06 at outer area of stent. Based on above, further analyses were performed. As a result, the difference of lengths and volumes between expanded stents, which may relate to injury score in pathological analysis, was not different significantly. Moreover, ISR area of BMS was 1.6 times higher than that of DES, indicating that paclitaxel has inhibitory effect on cell proliferation and prevent infiltration of restenosis into lumen of stent. And ISR area of BMS was higher ($1.52{\pm}0.48mm^2$) than that of DES ($0.94{\pm}0.42mm^2$), indicating that paclitaxel has inhibitory effect on cell proliferation and prevent infiltration of restenosis into lumen of stent. Though it was not statistically significant, it showed that the extent of neointema of mid-region of stents was relatively higher than that of anterior and posterior region in parts of BMS as showing cross-sectional 2-D image. suggest that microCT can be utilized as an accessorial tool for pathological analysis.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.1-6
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• 2017

Stents are widely used as the most common method of treating coronary artery disease with implants in the form of a metal mesh. The blood flow is normalized by inserting a stent into the narrowed or clogged areas of the human body. In this study, the mechanical characteristics of a stent are investigated according to the variations of its design parameters by the Taguchi method and finite element analysis. A stent model of the Palmaz-Schatz type was used for the analysis. In the analysis, an elasto-plastic material model was adopted for the stent and a hyper-elastic model was used for the balloon. The main interest of this study is to investigate the effects of the design parameters which reduce the possibility of restenosis by adjusting the recoil amount. A Taguchi orthogonal array was constructed on the model of the stent. The thickness and length and angle of the slot were selected as the design parameters. The amounts of radial recoil and longitudinal recoil were calculated by finite element analysis. The statistical analysis using the Taguchi method showed that optimizing the shape of the stent could reduce the possibility of restenosis. The optimized shape showed improvements of recoil in the radial and longitudinal directions of ~1% and ~0.1%, respectively, compared to the default model.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.151-157
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• 1999

The GafChromic film was used for the dosimetry of a balloon angio catheter filled with the radioisotope HO-166 for endovascular irradiation. The balloon angio catheter was 2 cm long and 3 mm in diameter when inflated. The isotope, Ho-166, was produced by the neutron bombardment using the research reactor in Korea Atomic Energy Research Insititute. Co-60 teletherapy beam was used for making H-D curve for the Gaf-Chromic film. The film dosimetry was measured with a videodensitometer. The radial dose distribution indicated that the absorbed dose dropped to about 20% of the surface dose at the 1 mm away from the balloon surface and at 5 mm position the dose decreased to below 1% of the surface dose. The result also shows that with the specific activity of Ho-l66, 250 mCi/ml it takes 230 seconds to deliver 1200 cGy to the region where is 1mm away from the balloon surface. The concentric isodose curves were also presented. The Ho-166 is an another alternative for endovascualr irradiation to prevent restenosis after PTCA (Percutaneous Trans Coronary Angioplasty)

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.322-326
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• 2011

Objective : Stenting of symptomatic intracranial stenosis has recently become an alternative treatment modality. However, urgent intracranial stenting in patients with intracranial stenosis following a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor stroke is open to dispute. We sought to assess the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of urgent intracranial stenting for severe stenosis (>70%) in TIA or minor stroke patients. Methods : Between June 2009 and October 2010, stent-assisted angioplasty by using a balloon-expandable coronary stent for intracranial severe stenosis (>70%) was performed in 7 patients after TIA and 5 patients after minor stroke (14 stenotic lesions). Technical success rates, complications, angiographic findings, and clinical outcomes were retrospectively analyzed. Results : Stenting was successful in all 12 patients. The mean time from symptom onset to stenting was 2.1 days (1-8 days). Post-procedural angiography showed restoration to a normal luminal diameter in all patients. In-stent thrombosis occurred in one patient (n=1, 8.3%), and was lysed with abciximab. No device-related complications, such as perforations or dissections at the target arteries or intracranial hemorrhaging, occurred in any patient. The mortality rate was 0%. No patient had an ischemic event over the mean follow-up period of 12.5 months (range, 7-21 months), and follow-up angiography (n=7) revealed no significant in-stent restenosis (>50%). Conclusion : Urgent recanalization with stenting is feasible, safe, and effective in patients with TIA or acute minor stroke with intracranial stenosis of ${\geq}$ 70%.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.429-434
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• 2005

Lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC) induces vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and migration, which has been proposed to initiate the intimal thickening in coronary atherosclerotic lesions. Berberine is an alkaloid in Berberis aquifolium and many other plants. Recently, it has been shown to have beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system, such as anti-hyperglycemic and cholesterol-lowering activity. In this study, we investigated its effects on lysoPC-induced VSMC proliferation and migration. Berberine inhibited lysoPC-induced DNA synthesis and cell proliferation in VSMCs, as well as migration of the lysoPC-stimulated VSMCs. It also inhibited the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) and reduced transcription factor AP-1 activity and the lysoPC-induced increases in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). These results indicate that the inhibitory effects of berberine on lysoPC-stimulated VSMC proliferation and migration are attributable to inhibition of ROS generation and hence of activation of the ERK1/2 pathway. This suggests that berberine has potential in the prevention of atherosclerosis and restenosis.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.44 no.7
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• pp.362-367
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• 2007

Stent is a tiny structure made with either ceramic coating and/or bare metal. Being approximately $1{\sim}2 mm$ in diameter, it consists of holes, slots, or void space and is designed to cover entire medical lesions. Stent implantation into patients' arteries has been practiced for a little more than a decade in order to widen the blocked artery. The adoption of the stent has significantly improved the efficacy when compared with the previous medical practice by balloon angioplasty alone. Yet better biomedical performance of the stent is being demanded in order to eliminate the still existing problem of artery restenosis, which means the artery becomes narrowed again. Recent literature survey shows researches on ceramic coatings onto the stent surface, or material design to improve the mechanical response of the stent. This study focuses more on the material design and mechanical analysis. The results showed that the void configuration within the stent affects the mechanical response significantly. The rectangular shape was found to yield expansion at a relatively lower pressure than the elliptical slot for a slotted tube stent. The present results, when combined with research on coating at the stent surface, may provide stents with improved bio-medical performance.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.178-183
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• 2010

Medical metal stents inserted to patients with a cardiovascular disease associated with coronary artery system have relatively increased the survival rate. The development of new stents is, however, urgently required due to restenosis and late thrombosis generated in metal stents. To solve these problems, the biodegradable polymers such as poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA), poly(L-lactide)(PLLA), and poly ($\varepsilon$-caprolactone)(PCL) were mixed with alpha lipoic acid (ALA), which is well known to inhibit the proliferation of neointimal hyperplasia. Subsequently, the ALA-loaded polymers were coated on stainless steel by electrospray. The drug-eluting behaviors from the coated polymers were investigated according to kinds and concentrations of polymers, spray rates, and kinds of solvents. The drug-eluting rate from PCL with the lowest glass transition temperature was the fastest among three polymers and followed by PLGA and PLLA. The surface roughness increased as the spray rate was increased and also the drug-eluting rate was affected by kinds of solvents with different boiling point. It is expected that drug-eluting stent (DES) coated with ALA-loaded polymers can be applied practically for clinical applications by controlling the behavior of drug release.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.98-103
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the absorbed dose to the coronary artery segment from various sized balloon angio catheters. The liquid form of Ho-166 was produced at the KAERI by (n, ${\gamma}$ ) reaction. We used GafChromic film for the estimation of the absorbed dose by beta particles. The exposed films were read using a videodensitometer. Several film exposures were made with varying irradiation times and activities. A modified micrometer was used for the measurement of the absorbed dose distribution near the balloon surface. Four balloons of coronary catheters evaluated were 30 m long and 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0 mm in diameter. All doses are plotted in units of Gy/min/GBq/ml as a function of radial distance in mm from the surface of balloon. The absorbed dose rate was 0.86, 1.01, 1.11 and 1.24 Gy/min/GBq/ml at a balloon surface for various balloon diameter 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0 mm respectively. Using a vacuum pump, the air in the balloon was evacuated prior to instillation of the Ho-166 source. By removing air bubbles in the balloon, the absorbed dose distribution was more uniform.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.4 s.249
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• pp.291-300
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• 2005

One-stage repair of aortic arch anomalies and intracardiac defects through median sternotomy has been recently adopted by many institutions since it is known to be safer than the staged repair. The early and midterm results of the one-stage repair of aortic arch anomalies and intracardiac defects were retrospectively evaluated. Material and Method: 45 patients who underwent one-stage repair of aortic arch anomalies and intracardiac defects performed by one surgeon from January 1996 to July 2003 were included in this retrospective study. The median age of repair was 16 days (range, 3 days$\~$23.7 months) and the mean weight was $3.62\;\pm\;1.30 kg$. Thirty one $(68.9\%)$ had coarctation and 14 $(31.1\%)$ had interrupted aortic arch. Associated intracardiac anomalies were VSD in 31 patients (VSD group), TGA or Taussig-Bing anomaly in 10 (TGA group), and others in 4 (ASD in 1, aortopulmonary window 1, truncus arteriosus 1, aortic and mitral stenoses 1, miscellaneous group). The arch obstruction was repaired with end-to-side anastomosis in 23 patients and end-to-end anastomosis in 22. Result: Overall postoperative hospital mortality was $22.2\%\;(10/45);\;16.1\%$ (5/31) in VSD group, $40\%$ (4/10) in TGA group, and$25\%$ (1/4) in miscellaneous group. There was no mortality in VSD group since 1998, and the mortality in TGA group has remarkably reduced since technical modification for coronary transfer was adopted $(75\%\;vs\;16.7\%)$. There was no postoperative seizure or other neurological complications. Postoperative aortic restenosis occurred in 5 patients $(5/35,\;14.3\%)$. Two patients underwent balloon aortoplasty with successful results. There was no reoperation. There was one late death caused by pneumonia 5 months after the operation. Two-year actuarial survival rate including operative death was $72.9\%$. Conclusion: The operative mortality of one-stage repair has been reduced with time and aortic restenosis rate was also acceptable. We concluded that this procedure is a reproducible procedure for aortic arch anomalies associated with intracardiac defects.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.12 no.7
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• pp.273-283
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• 2012

Drug-eluting stents (DES) have significantly reduced in-stent restenosis, compared to bare-metal stents (BMS). However, there remains concern for the increased risk of stent thrombosis (ST) associated with DES. The present study sought to evaluate the incidence, clinical characteristics and outcome of ST in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) during a 1-year follow-up. 80 patients who developed ST were divided into 2 groups according to stent type: group I (DES-ST, n = 57 ) and group II (BMS-ST, n = 23 ). There were no differences between group I and II in the overall incidence of ST (2.7% vs. 4.3%, p=0.064) and in the incidence of each type of ST: acute ST (8.8% vs. 2.3%), subacute ST (50.9% vs. 60.9%), late ST (19.3% vs. 8.7%), and very late ST (21.1% vs. 17.4%) (p=0.605). Predictors of 1-year mortality were the occurrence of ST (OR 8.12, 95% CI 2.83-23.61, p<0.001), left ventricular ejection fraction<40% (OR 6.41, 95% CI 2.42-16.96, p<0.001), and age${\geq}$75 years (OR 4.98, 95% CI 1.95-12.74, p=0.001).