• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2004

Background: Infective endocarditis shows higher operative morbidity and mortality rates than other cardiac diseases. The vast majority of studies on infective endocarditis have been made on aortic endocarditis, with little attention having been paid to infective endocarditis on the mitral valve. This study attempts to investigate the clinical aspects and operative results of infective endocarditis on the mitral valve. Meterial and Method: The subjects of this study consist of 23 patients who underwent operations for infective endocariditis on the mitral valve from June 1995 to May 2003. Among them, 2 patients suffered from prosthetic valvular endocarditis and the other 21 from native valvular endocarditis. The subjects were evenly distributed age-wise with an average age of 44.8$\pm$15.7 (11∼66) years. Emergency operations were performed on seventeen patients (73.9%) due to large vegetation or instable hemodynamic status. In preoperative examinations, twelve patients exhibited congestive heart failure, four patients renal failure, two patients spleen and renal infarction, and two patients temporary neurological defects, while one patient had a brain abscess. Based on the NYHA functional classification, seven patients were determined to be at Grade II, 9 patients at Grade III, and 6 patients at Grade IV. Vegetations were detected in 20 patients while mitral regurgitation was dominant in 19 patients with 4 patients showing up as mitral stenosis dominant on the preoperative echocardiogram. Blood cultures for causative organisms were performed on all patients, and positive results were obtained from ten patients, with five cases of Streptococcus viridance, two cases of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, and one case each of Corynebacteriurn, Haemophillis, and Gernella. Operations were decided according to the AA/AHA guidelines (1988). The mean follow-up period was 27.6 $\pm$23.3 (1 ∼ 97) months. Result: Mitral valve replacements were performed on 43 patients, with mechanical valves being used on 9 patients and tissue valves on the other 4. Several kinds of mitral valve repair or mitral valvuloplasty were carried out on the remaining 10 patients. Associated procedures included six aortic valve replacements, two tricuspid annuloplasty, one modified Maze operation, and one direct closure of a ventricular septal defect. Postoperative complications included two cases of bleeding and one case each of mediastinitis, low cardiac output syndrome, and pneumonia. There were no cases of early deaths, or death within 30 days following the operation. No patient died in the hospital or experienced valve related complications. One patient, however, underwent mitral valvuloplasty 3 months after the operation. Another patient died from intra-cranial hemorrhage in the 31st month after the operation. Therefore, the valve-related death rate was 4.3%, and the valve-related complication rate 8.6% on mid-term follow-up. 1, 3-, and 5-year valve- related event free rates were 90.8%, 79.5%, and 79.5%, respectively, while 1, follow-up. 1, 3-, and 5-year valve- related event free rates were 90.8%, 79.5%, and 79.5%, respectively, while 1, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 100%, 88.8%, and 88.8%, respectively. Conclusion: The findings suggest that a complete removal of infected tissues is essential in the operative treatment of infectious endocarditis of the mitral valve. It is also suggested that when infected tissues are completely removed, neither type of material nor method of operation has a significant effect on the operation result. The postoperative results also suggest the need for a close follow-up observation of the patients suspected of having brain damage, which is caused by preoperative blood contamination or emboli from vegetation, for a possible cerebral vascular injury such as mycotic aneurysm.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.57-71
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• 1994

I investigated actual conditions of smoking of teenagers who were randomly chosen middle and high school students. 1. Juvenile smoking 1) Parents' opinions of juvenile smoking Most parents do not want their children to smoke after growth : 88.6% of fathers (middle school students: 88.9%, high school students: 88.4%) and 95.1% of mothers (middle school students: 93.4%, high school students :95.5%). 2) Teenagers' opinions of smoking after growth The rate of students who will smoke after growth is 10.8% (middle school students: 12.0%, high school students: 9.9%): students in agricultural areas show the higher rate than those in cities. 3) Parents' opinions of their children's smoking now 1.5% of fathers want their children to smoke now (middle school students: 1.3%, high school students: 1.6%) and 1.1% of mothers do (middle school students: 0.6%, high school students: 1.5%). This shows that most parents do not want their children to smoke now. 4) Students' opinions of their friends' smoking now Students who want their friends smoke now cover 7.8% (middle school students: 7.1%, high school students: 8.4%). This rates are higher than those of parents shown in (3). And more high school students and more girl students gave the positive reponse than middle school boy and girl students, respectively. 5) Students' views of smoking "Look like an adult" covers the rate of 4.0% (boy: 7.8%, girl:3.6%) 6.7% of middle school students have this view, while 3.7% of high school students have. 16.1% of students had an experience of smoking during the last one year (boy: 29.9%, girl: 8.6%): this shows that the rate of the boy students is more than 3 times greater than that of the girl students and high students who experienced smoking last year covers 20.2%, while middle school students shows 10.9%. 6) Actual conditions of students' smoking The present rate of students' smoking is 22.4% (boy:38.3%, girl:13.8%): the rate of boy students is greater than that of girl students. Students who smoke more than pack of cigarettes a day cover 8.2% (boy: 17.5%, girl: 3.2%): 5.2% of middle school students (boy:11.4%, girl: 2.1%) smoke more than one pack while 10.7% of high school students do (boy:21.5%, girl: 4.2%). This shows that the rate of boy students' smoking is greater than that of girl students' smoking. 7) The rate of smoking of students' parents 75.4% of fathers (city: 74.5%, agricultural area:75.9%) smoke: and more than a half (62.4%) smoke more than a pack cigarettes a day. On the other hand, the rate of smoking mothers is 5.2%(city: 4.3%, agricultural area: 7.3%): the rate is higher in agricultural areas. 8) Opinions of smoking population in the future 61.4% of students answered that smoking population will increase, while 27.0% have the opinion that smoking population will decrease. 2. Opinions of the effects of smoking on health 1) Have you heard that smokers are likely to suffer from tuberclosis? 78.3% of students said yes (boy: 80.8%, girl: 76.4%): it is shown that the rate of boys is greater than that of girls. 2) Have you heard that smokers are likely to get out of endurance? 76.6% of students (boy: 69.3%, girl: 49.7%) answered yes: it is shown that the rate of boys is greater than that of girls. 3) Have you heard that heart-beats get fast when one smokes? 32.5% of students (boy: 35.5%, girl: 30.9%) answered yes: 32.2% in cities(boy: 33.0%, girl: 31.8%) and 33.5% in agricultural areas(boy: 41.8%, girl: 28.8%): and 28.7% middle students and 35.5% of high school students answered yes. 4) Have you heard that smokers are likely to have heart-diseases? 35.1% of students (boy: 34.0%, girl: 34.1%) answered yes: 35.3% in cities (boy: 37.2%, girl: 34.2%) and 36.7% in agricultural areas (boy: 39.0%, girl: 33.9%): 34.8% of middle school students and 35.4% of high school students. 5) Have you heard that smokers are likely to have a lung cancer? 91.4% of students (boy: 93.2%, girl: 89.9%) answered yes: 90.35% in cities and 94.2% in agricultural areas. 6) Have you heard that the life of smokers gets shorter? 94.3% of students (boy:94.6%, girl: 92.2%) answered yes. 7) Have you heard that pregnant smokers will deliver a baby with low birth weight? 29.6% of students (boy: 29.8%, girl: 29.4%) answered yes: the rates of boys and girls almost the same. 8) Have you heard that one feels calm when one smokes? 80.1% of students (boy: 81.8%, girl: 79.2%) answered yes: boys and girls showed almost the same rate. 3. Preventive measures Smoking people continued to increase all over the world because smoking not only mitigated emotional uneasiness such as loneliness, nervousness and so on, but also could be very helpful from the social perspective. This was so because they did not consider harmful effects of smoking on health, and victims. However, because any -one can have physical disorders caused by smoking, people should always keep in mind the following preventive measures. 1) Doctors or teachers should set an example of giving up smoking. Informing patients or students of harmful effects of smoking to persuade their family and relatives not to smoke. 2) Through mass media like newspapers, periodicals or broadcasting, to make people know harmful effects of smoking and not smoke. 3) To prohibit selling teenagers cigarette by law. 4) To prohibit smoking in public places like work places, offices, lecture rooms, recreation rooms, buses, trains and so on. 5) To decrease the rate of life insurance for non-smokers as in foreign countries and to give a warming of the harmful effects on cigarette packets or ads.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.554-565
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• 2002

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of raw Cassia tora L. powder added-diets on reducing cadmium accumulation in rats. The experimental animals were Sprague-Dawley family(♂, 4 weeks) which was classified into normal group CN, compared group CS, Cd-added group Cl and groups C2, C3, C4 in which 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% of the Cassia tora L. powder are added, respectively. The growth rate and food efficiency ratio, and the amounts of accumulated cadmium in rats for S weeks were measured and analyzed. The results are as follows; 1. The rates of weight gain decreased in the order of C3>C2>C4>Cn>Cs>Cl groups, and Cl group to which only cadmium water had been fed was the lowest among them. The correlation between groups Cl and C3 was significantly different at the 1% level. 2. Food efficiency ratio(FER) decreased in the order of C3>C2>Cs>Cn>C4>Cl, and the FERs of C3, C2, CS, CN and C4 are greater than that of Cl by 22.87, 19.59, 18.54, 14.20 and 13.17%, respectively. 3. As for the Cassia tora L. powder-added groups, the amounts of cadmium accumulated in organs and tissues, that is, the brain, heart, spleen, liver, lungs, testicles. kidney, femoral muscle and leg bones were 0.45 $\pm$ 0.04 to 0.83$\pm$0.04, 1.68$\pm$0.02 to 2.16$\pm$0.02, 3.26$\pm$0.05 to 4.62$\pm$0.27, 37.52$\pm$0.09 to 47.71$\pm$0.73, 1.07$\pm$0.10 to 1.66$\pm$0.04, 1.04$\pm$0.06 to 1.24$\pm$0.08, 36.79$\pm$0.20 to 39.61 $\pm$0.53, 0.87$\pm$0.02 to 1.00$\pm$0.02 and 0.65$\pm$0.17 to 1.27 $\pm$ 0.06 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g, respectively. 4. The accumulated Cd content for C4 was the lowest among Cassia tora L. powder-added groups. When the results for C4 are compared with those for Cl, it is observed that each cadmium content accumulated in the brain, heart spleen, liver, lungs, testicles, kidney. femoral muscle and leg bones is dropped by 49.03, 22.56, 36.02, 35.75, 41.75, 36.20, 37.00, 22.77 and 56.67 %, respectively. On the other hand. the accumulated Cd content increased in the order of brain

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.33-41
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• 2019

Purpose : To evaluate the effectiveness of Jaw-tracking(JT) technique in Intensity-modulated radiation therapy(IMRT) and Volumetric-modulated arc therapy(VMAT) for radiation therapy of esophageal cancer by analyzing volume dose of perimetrical normal organs along with the low-dose volume regions. Materials and Method: A total of 27 patients were selected who received radiation therapy for esophageal cancer with using $VitalBeam^{TM}$(Varian Medical System, U.S.A) in our hospital. Using Eclipse system(Ver. 13.6 Varian, U.S.A), radiation treatment planning was set up with Jaw-tracking technique(JT) and Non-Jaw-tracking technique(NJT), and was conducted for the patients with T-shaped Planning target volume(PTV), including Supraclavicular lymph nodes(SCL). PTV was classified into whether celiac area was included or not to identify the influence on the radiation field. To compare the treatment plans, Organ at risk(OAR) was defined to bilateral lung, heart, and spinal cord and evaluated for Conformity index(CI) and Homogeneity index(HI). Portal dosimetry was performed to verify a clinical application using Electronic portal imaging device(EPID) and Gamma analysis was performed with establishing thresholds of radiation field as a parameter, with various range of 0 %, 5 %, and 10 %. Results: All treatment plans were established on gamma pass rates of 95 % with 3 mm/3 % criteria. For a threshold of 10 %, both JT and NJT passed with rate of more than 95 % and both gamma passing rate decreased more than 1 % in IMRT as the low dose threshold decreased to 5 % and 0 %. For the case of JT in IMRT on PTV without celiac area, $V_5$ and $V_{10}$ of both lung showed a decrease by respectively 8.5 % and 5.3 % in average and up to 14.7 %. A $D_{mean}$ decreased by $72.3{\pm}51cGy$, while there was an increase in radiation dose reduction in PTV including celiac area. A $D_{mean}$ of heart decreased by $68.9{\pm}38.5cGy$ and that of spinal cord decreased by $39.7{\pm}30cGy$. For the case of JT in VMAT, $V_5$ decreased by 2.5 % in average in lungs, and also a little amount in heart and spinal cord. Radiation dose reduction of JT showed an increase when PTV includes celiac area in VMAT. Conclusion: In the radiation treatment planning for esophageal cancer, IMRT showed a significant decrease in $V_5$, and $V_{10}$ of both lungs when applying JT, and dose reduction was greater when the irradiated area in low-dose field is larger. Therefore, IMRT is more advantageous in applying JT than VMAT for radiation therapy of esophageal cancer and can protect the normal organs from MLC leakage and transmitted doses in low-dose field.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.7
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• pp.559-569
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• 2004

The CarboMedics mechanical valve has been reported to show acceptable valve-related complication rates. The aim of this study is to evaluate our clinical experience with the CarboMedics valve. Material and Method: Between August 1988 and September 1999, we implanted 1,144 CarboMedics valves in 850 patients (aortic 179; mitral 385; double-valve 234; tricuspid 52). The mean age was 44.5 $\pm$ 12.5 years. Follow-up was completed in 95.2% and median follow-up period was 7.9 years (6753 patient-years). Result: The overall hospital mortality rate was 3.4% and the mortality rate for each group was 1.7% for aortic group, 2.6% for mitral group, 4.7% for double-valve group, and 9.6% for tricuspid group, Tricuspid group showed significantly higher mortality rate than aortic and mitral group (p〈0.05). The actuarial survival at 10 years was 87.1 $\pm$ 2.6%, 88.9 $\pm$ 1.7%, 82.4 $\pm$ 2.9%, and 77.5 $\pm$ 7.0% for aortic, mitral, double, and tricuspid valve group, respectively. Age and tricuspid valve replacement were significant risk factors for long-term survival in multivariate analysis (p 〈 0.05). Freedom from valve thrombosis at 10 years was 99.4 $\pm$ 0.6%, 98.2 $\pm$ 0.8%, 99.2 $\pm$ 0.8%, and 87.6 $\pm$ 0.5% for aortic, mitral, double and tricuspid valve group. Tricuspid valve group showed significantly higher rate of valve thrombosis (p 〈 0.05). Conclusion: Long-term results of our experience demonstrated that CarboMedics valve showed acceptable incidence of valve-related complications. However, tricuspid valve replacement showed higher rate of early mortality and valve thrombosis than other valve replacement groups.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.467-475
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to assess doses to ¹⁸F-FDG, a radioactive drug, during PET examinations, to alleviate anxiety about radiation in patients and carers, to minimize the indiscriminate examination progress caused by medical institution personnel and space clearance problems, and health examination. The dose assessment was measured using a thermo-fluorescent dosimeter (TLD) and an electronic personal dosimeter (EPD) at the location of the cervical (hypothyroid), thorax (heart), and lower abdomen (breeding line) which are the three highest tissue areas of the radiation tissue weighting. In addition, spatial dose rates and radioactivity in urine were measured using GM counters and ion boxes. The results are as follows: First, the personal dosimeter TLD was measured 0.0425±0.0277 mSv in the cervical region, 0.0440±0.0386 mSv in the thorax and 0.0485±0.0436 mSv in the lower abdomen, with little difference in the heart dose depending on radiation sensitivity. The EPD was measured at 0.942±0.141 mSv/h immediately after the cervical position, and 0.192±0.031 mSv/h after 120 minutes. Immediately after the thorax position, 0.516±0.085 mSv/h, 120 minutes later 0.128±0.040 mSv/h. Immediately after the lower abdomen position, 0.468±0.091 mSv/h, and after 120 minutes 0.105±0.021 mSv/h were measured. The spatial dose rate at the GM counter was measured immediately at 0.041±0.005 mSv/h, 120 minutes later at 0.014±0.002 mSv/h. The radioactivity in urine using ion chamber was measured at 0.113±0.24 MBq/cc after 60 minutes and 0.063±0.13 MBq/cc after 120 minutes. As a result, ¹⁸F-FDG should be administered, dose re-evaluated two hours after the PET test is completed, and caregivers should be avoided. In addition, it is deemed necessary to provide patients and carers with sufficient explanations and expected values of exposure dose to avoid reckless testing. It is hoped that the data tested in this study will help patients and families relieve anxiety about radiation, and that the radiation workers' exposure management system and institutional improvements will contribute to the development of medical radiation.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.539-546
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• 2009

The effect of hemorrhage on the electroencephalogram(EEG) was investigated in fifteen mixed-breed dogs anesthetized with ketamine, propofol and isoflurane. Animals were randomly allocated to three groups (n = 5) by anesthetic agents; group 1 (ketamine 5 mg/kg, IV), group 2 (propofol $156\;{\mu}g$/kg/min, IV) and group 3 (isoflurane 2.0% end-tidal concentration). Medetomidine ($40\;{\mu}g$/kg, IM) was used in all dogs as a preanesthetic agent. Recording electrode for EEG was positioned at CZ. EEG, heart rate, systolic/diastolic blood pressure, $pCO_2$, $pO_2$ and blood pH were measured before anesthesia, after anesthesia and after every bleedings. Three bleedings were accomplished by drawing blood through the femoral artery catheter at a rate of 7 ml/kg (10% of total blood volume) for 10 minutes. In the course of hemorrhage, a systolic/diastolic pressure continuously decreased in all groups. The $pCO_2$ values and heart rates were increased in all groups. The $pO_2$ values were most significantly increased in group 1 compared with those in other groups. The pH values were not significantly changed. On statistical analysis of EEG, there was no significant changes in group 1 and 3. But in group 2, band 3, 4 and 7 were significantly altered after 2nd and 3rd bleeding. Power alterations of band 3, 4 and 7 were thought to be related with hemorrhage over 20% of total blood volume in group 2. In conclusion, the regulation of infusion rate would be considered when a dog, anesthetized with propofol, bleed over 20% of total blood volume.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.199-207
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• 1996

Ischemic myocardial damage is inevitable to cardiac surgery. Myocardial damage after initiation of reperfusion through the coronary arteries is one of the most important determinants of a successful surgery. Adenosine is a potent vasodilator, and is also known to induce rapid cardioplegic arrest by its property of antagonizing cardiac calcium channels and activating the potassium channel. Thus, we initiated this study with adenosine to improve postischemic recovery in the isolated rat heart. We tested the hypothesis that adenosine could be more effective than potassium in inducing rapid cardiac arrest and enhancing postischemlc hemodynamic recovery. Isolated rat hearts, connected to the Langendorff appratus, were perfused with Krebs-Henseleit buffer and all hearts were subjected to arrest for 60 minutes. Three groups of hearts were studied according to the composition of cardioplegic solutions : Group A (n=10), adenosine 10mmo1/L+potassium free modified St. Thomas cardioplegia : Group B (n=10), adenosine 400mo1/L+S1. Thomas cardioplegia:Group C(control, n=10), St. Thomas cardioplegia. Adenosine-treated groups (group A & B) resulted in more rapid cardiac arrest than control group (C) (p< 0.01). There was greater improvement in recovery of coronary blood flow at 20 and 30 minutes of reperfusion in group A and at 20 minutes in group B when compared with control group(p<0.01). Recovery of systolic blood pressure at 10 minutes after reperfusion in group A and B was significantly superior to that in group C (p<0.01). Recovery of dp/dt at 10 minute after reperfusion in group A was also significantly superior to group C (p<0.05). Group A and B showed better recovery rates than control group in aortic blood flow, cardiac output, and heart rate, but there were no statistical differences. CPK levels of coronary flow in group A were significantly low (p< 0.01). We concluded that adenosine-enriched cardioplegic solutions have better effects on rapid cardiac arrest and postischemic recovery when compared with potassium cardioplegia.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.265-285
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• 2004

Objectives: The acute toxic effects of pesticide are well known. Concern has also been expressed that long-term exposure may result in damage to the central nervous system. This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that central nervous system symptoms might occur due to pesticide exposure. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, first, cumulative exposure index (CEI) was estimated. Neurologic symptoms (Q-16 questionnaire) for 541 farmers (exposed to pesticides) were compared with 119 non-exposed persons in spraying season nine rural areas in Korea. Results: The pesticides poisoning rates for last 3 months were 67.2% for orchard farmers, 55.3%for dry field farmers, and 20.5% for husbandry farmers, respectively, showing significant difference (p<0.001). Compared with non-exposure group, exposure groups (especially, orchard farmers) reported significantly more neurologic symptoms and had a higher overall neurological symptoms score (p<0.001). Factors related to the positive neurological symptoms (answers "yes" to six or more of Q-16 questionnaire) adjusted for age, sex, education level, smoking and alcohol drinking were type of farming (OR 3.08, 95% CI 1.50-6.30 in orchard farmers vs non-exposure group), CEI (OR 2.75, 95% CI 1.12-6.78 in Q3 vs Q1), past poisoning (OR 1.97, 95% CI 1.21-3.20 vs normal), current mild poisoning (OR 3.03, 9500 CI 1.47-6.22 vs normal) and current moderate poisoning (OR 6.34, 95% CI 3.03-13.25 vs normal), respectively. Conclusions: These results suggest that long-term exposure to pesticides appears to be associated with subtle changes in the central nervous system.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.715-723
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• 2000

Background : Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) affects systemic blood pressure and cardiac function. The development of cardiovascular dysfunction including the changes of systemic blood pressure and cardiac rhythm, suggests that recurrent hypoxia and arousals from sleep may increase a sympathetic nervous system activity. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy has been found to be an effective treatment of OSAS. However, only a few studies have investigated the cardiovascular and sympathetic effects of CPAP therapy. We evaluated influences of nasal CPAP therapy on the cardiovascular system and the sympathetic activity in patients with OSAS. Methods : Thirteen patients with OSAS underwent CPAP therapy and were monitored using polysomnography, blood pressure, heart rate, presence of arrhythmia and the concentration of plasma catecholamines, before and with CPAP therapy. Results: The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was significant1y decreased (p<0.01) and the lowest arterial oxygen saturation level was elevated significantly after applying CPAP (p<0.01). Systolic blood pressure tended to decrease after CPAP but without statistical significance. Heart rates during sleep were not significantly different after CPAP. However, the frequency and number of types of arrhythmia decreased and sinus bradytachyarrhythmia disappeared after CPAP. Although there was no significant difference in the level of plasma epinephrine concentration, plasma norepinephrine concentration significantly decreased after CPAP (p<0.05). Conclusion : CPAP therapy decreased the apnea-hypopnea index, hypoxic episodes and plasma norepinephrine concentration. In addition, it decreased the incidence of arrhythmia and tended to decrease the systemic blood pressure. These results indicate that CPAP may play an important role in the prevention of cardiovascular complications in patients with OSAS.