• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.85-93
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• 2014

Objectives : We compared with the effects of different parts (root head, root body and hairy root) of Angelica gigas Nakai (Angelicae Gigantis Radix, AG) with on middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)-induced ischemic rats, and on LPS-induced inflammatory response in BV2 microglia. Methods : The 30% ethanol and water extracts of different parts of AG were prepared. Each extract (50 and 100 mg/kg) was administrated intraperitoneally once in MCAO-induced ischemic rats. We measured infarction volumes by TTC staining, and investigated the expression of iNOS, Bax, Bcl-2 and caspase-3 by Western blot. BV2 cells were treated with each extract for 30 min, and then stimulated with LPS. The levels of NO was measured by Griess assay. The expression of iNOS, Cox-2 and proinflammatory cytokines ($TNF-{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$, and IL-6) were determined RT-PCR and Western blot. The phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and JNK MAPK was determined by Western blot. Results : Among different parts of AG, the 30% ethanol and water extracts of hairy root significantly decreased infarction volume in ischemic brains and inhibited the expression of iNOS, bax and caspase-3. The extracts of hairy root significantly inhibited LPS-induced production of NO, $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 in BV2 cells, and suppressed the expression of iNOS and COX-2. The hairy root extracts attenuated LPS-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and JNK MAPK in BV2 cells. Conclusions : Our results indicate that the root hairy of AG has a good neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects in ischemic stroke compared to other parts.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.206-215
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• 2013

A linear engine has advantages in terms of volume and weight, because there are no rotating parts. Thus, it is considered that linear engines might be suitable in hybrid vehicles. However, the linear engine has challenges in terms of the engine ignition timing and efficiency, so the engine has not been commercialized yet. In this study, the dynamic and combustion characteristics of the linear engine might be specified by various loads which are changed by conductance. The engine used in this experiment consists of two combustion chambers, four compressors, two linear alternators and a mover with a piston head and magnets. The way fuel is supplied in the experiment is by propane fuel being mixed with air in the carburetor, then being delivered into combustion cylinders via compressors. In the experiment, conductance is altered from 0.04 to 0.16mho, and the ignition timing is ahead by just 5.0mm from the maximum stroke. As a result of the experiment, frequency, stroke, input calories and maximum pressure are decreased when the conductance is increased. Meanwhile, IMEP, generation efficiency and electric power are increased when the conductance is increased. Therefore, it might confirm that high conductance generates more efficient electric power, but that thermal efficiency is the highest in the state of 0.08mho.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2015

The current scenario of the transportation sector reflects the urgent need to address issues such as depletion of traditional fuel reserves and ever growing pollution levels. Researchers around the world are focussing on alternatives as well as optimisation of currently employed devices to reduce the pollution levels generated by the commonly used fuels. One such optimisation involves the study of air flow within the intake manifolds of SI engines. It is a well-known fact that alterations in the air manifolds of engines have a significant impact on the engine performance parameters, fuel consumption and emission levels. Previous works have demonstrated the impacts of runner lengths, diameter, plenum volume, taper angle of distribution manifolds and other factors on in-cylinder fluid motion and engine performance. However, a static setup provides an optimal configuration only at a specific engine speed. This paper aims to investigate the variations in the same parameters on a four stroke, naturally aspirated single cylinder SI engine through varying the cross section design over the intake runner with the aid of Computational Fluid Dynamics. The system consists of segments that form the intake runner with projections on the inside that allow various permutations of the intake runner segments. The various configurations provide the optimised fluid flow characteristics within the intake manifold at specific engine speed intervals. The variations such as turbulence, air fuel mixing are analysed using the three dimensional CFD software FLUENT. The results can be used further for developing an automated or manually adjustable intake manifold.

• Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.98-104
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• 2023

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) in end-stage renal disease patients and its change after kidney transplantation (KT). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent KT between 2007 and 2018 at two tertiary centers. We analyzed 488 patients (median age, 53 years; 58% male) who had obtained echocardiography both before and within 3 years after KT. Conventional echocardiography and LV GLS assessed by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography were comprehensively analyzed. Patients were classified into three groups according to the absolute value of pre-KT LV GLS (|LV GLS|). We compared longitudinal changes of cardiac structure and function according to pre-KT |LV GLS|. RESULTS: Correlation between pre-KT LV EF and |LV GLS| were statistically significant, but the constant was not high (r = 0.292, p < 0.001). |LV GLS| was widely distributed at corresponding LV EF, especially when the LV EF was > 50%. Patients with severely impaired pre-KT |LV GLS| had significantly larger LV dimension, LV mass index, left atrial volume index, and E/e' and lower LV EF, compared to mildly and moderately reduced pre-KT |LV GLS|. After KT, the LV EF, LV mass index, and |LV GLS| were significantly improved in three groups. Patients with severely impaired pre-KT |LV GLS| showed the most prominent improvement of LV EF and |LV GLS| after KT, compared to other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Improvements in LV structure and function after KT were observed in patients throughout the full spectrum of pre-KT |LV GLS|.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.232-239
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• 2014

Purpose: Mitochondrial disease (MD) and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) are often associated with cardiomyopathy, but the myocardial variability has not been isolated to a specific characteristic. We evaluated the left ventricular (LV) mass by echocardiography to identify the general distribution and functional changes of the myocardium in patients with MD or DMD. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the echocardiographic data of 90 children with MD and 42 with DMD. Using two-dimensional echocardiography, including time-motion (M) mode and Doppler measurements, we estimated the LV mass, ratio of early to late mitral filling velocities (E/A), ratio of early mitral filling velocity to early diastolic mitral annular velocity (E/Ea), stroke volume, and cardiac output. A "z score" was generated using the lambda-mu-sigma method to standardize the LV mass with respect to body size. Results: The LV mass-for-height z scores were significantly below normal in children with MD ($-1.02{\pm}1.52$, P<0.001) or DMD ($-0.82{\pm}1.61$, P =0.002), as were the LV mass-for-lean body-mass z scores. The body mass index (BMI)-for-age z scores were far below normal and were directly proportional to the LV mass-for-height z scores in both patients with MD (R =0.377, P<0.001) and those with DMD (R =0.330, P=0.033). The LV mass-for-height z score correlated positively with the stroke volume index (R =0.462, P<0.001) and cardiac index (R =0.358, P<0.001). Conclusion: LV myocardial atrophy is present in patients with MD and those with DMD and may be closely associated with low BMI. The insufficient LV mass for body size might indicate deterioration of systolic function in these patients.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.90-97
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• 2016

Background: We have previously found that intra-peritoneal lidocaine instillation before pneumoperitoneum attenuates pneumoperitoneum-induced hypertension. Whether this procedure alters patient's hemodynamic status during operation should be determined for clinical application. This study elucidated the possible mechanism of the attenuation of the pneumoperitoneum-induced hypertension by intra-peritoneal lidocaine before pneumoperitoneum. Methods: Thirty-four patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) were randomly allocated into two groups. After induction of general anesthesia, 200 mL of 0.2% lidocaine (lidocaine group, n=17), or normal saline (control group, n=17) were sub-diaphragmatically instilled 10 minutes before pneumoperitoneum. The changes in systolic blood pressure, heart rate, central venous pressure, stroke volume, cardiac output, and systemic vascular resistance were compared between the groups. The number of analgesics used during post-operative 24 h was compared. Results: Systolic blood pressure was elevated during pneumoperitoneum in both groups (p<0.01), but the degree of elevation was significantly reduced in the lidocaine group than in the control (p<0.01). However, stroke volume and cardiac output were decreased and systemic vascular resistance was increased after induction of pneumoperitoneum (p<0.05) without statistical difference between two groups. The number of analgesics used was significantly reduced in the lidocaine group (p<0.01). Conclusion: These data suggest that intra-peritoneal lidocaine before pneumoperitoneum does not alter patient's hemodynamics, and attenuation of pneumoperitoneum-induced hypertension may be the consequence of reduced intra-abdominal pain rather than the decrease of cardiac output during pneumoperitoneum. Therefore, intra-peritoneal lidocaine instillation before pneumoperitoneum is a useful method to manage an intraoperative pneumoperitoneum-induced hypertension and to control postoperative pain without severe detrimental hemodynamic effects.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.149-154
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• 2006

Selective inhibition of phosphodiesterase (PDE) 5 opened a new therapeutic approach for cardiovascular disorders. Therefore, the effect of PDE5 inhibition on the cardiac function should thoroughly be defined. The purpose of the present study was to define the effects of sildenafil, a selective inhibitor of PDE5, on the atrial cGMP efflux, atrial dynamics, and the release of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). By perfusing rabbit left atria to allow atrial pacing, changes in atrial stroke volume and pulse pressure, transmural extracellular fluid translocation, cGMP efflux, and ANP secretion were measured. SIN-I, an NO donor and soluble (s) guanylyl cyclase (GC) activator, and C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), an activator of particulate (p) GC activator, were used. Sildenafil increased basal levels of cGMP efflux slightly but not significantly. Sildenafil in a therapeutic dose increased atrial dynamics (for atrial stroke volume, $2.84{\pm}1.71%$, n=12, vs $-0.71{\pm}0.86%$, n=21; p<0.05) and decreased ANP release ($-9.02{\pm}3.36%$, n=14, vs $1.35{\pm}3.25%$, n=23; p < 0.05), however, it had no effect on the SIN-1- or CNP-induced increase of cGMP levels. Furthermore, sildenafil in a therapeutic dose accentuated SIN-1-induced, but not CNP-induced, decrease of atrial pulse pressure and ANP release. These data indicate that PDE5 inhibition with sildenafil has a minor effect on cGMP levels, but has a distinct effect on pGC-cGMP- and sGC-cGMP-induced contractile and secretory function.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.1391-1398
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• 1992

The hypothesis tested is that shifts in pH, induced when a cardioplegic solution is oxygenated, can be detrimental. The object of this study is to evaluate the effect of the pH of the oxygenating cardioplegic solution on postischemic recovery in the isolated rat heart. Either 100% oxygen or 95% oxygen: 5% carbon dioxide was added to the cardioplegic solution[St. Thomas` Hospital No. 2] and determined postischemic recovery of isolated rat hearts after 2 hours and 3 hours of 20oC cardioplegic protected ischemia. Heart were arrested and reinfused every 30 minutes throughout the ischemic period with cardioplegic solution. When 100% oxygen was added, the pH of the cardioplegic solution increased from 7.8[no oxygen] to 8.5[100% oxygen] without any change in postischemic functional recovery. But when 95% oxygen ; 5% carbon dioxide was added, the pH of the cardioplegic solution reversely decreased to 6.84 in the 2-hour ischemic group and 6.73 in the 3-hour ischemic group, associated with improved postischemic functional recovery. After 2-hour ischemia, systolic pressure improved from 88.2$\pm$3.7%[no oxygen] and 88.7$\pm$3.8%[100% oxygen] to 96.6$\pm$1.8%[95% oxygen : 5% carbon dioxide], p<0.05, aortic flow from 43.3$\pm$3.1% and 38.4$\pm$10.6% to 74.5$\pm$5.0%, p<0.001, cardiac output from 55.5$\pm$4.6% and 47.4%$\pm$10.6% to 73.1$\pm$4.6%, p<0.05, stroke volume from 62.7$\pm$4.6% and 52.0$\pm$10.1% to 77.2$\pm$4.6%, p<0.05, and dP/dT from 59.3$\pm$7.2% and 56.7$\pm$7.6% to 78.9$\pm$4.6%, p<0.05. The infused amount of the cardioplegic solution during 2-hour ischemic period was similar in three groups. After 3-hour ischemia, cardiac output improved from 17.0$\pm$3.8%[no oxygen] to 45.9$\pm$7.5%[95% oxygen: 5% carbon dioxide], p<0.05, and stroke volume from 21.0$\pm$3.9%[no oxygen] to 50.1$\pm$6.6%[95% oxygen: 5% carbon dioxide], p<0.01. In conclusion, the St. Thomas` Hospital No. 2 cardioplegic solution should be oxygenated but with 95% oxygen: 5% carbon dioxide and not 100% oxygen because of the additive effect of a relatively "Acidotic" pH.t; pH.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.565-573
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• 2004

In this paper, we proposed a heart activity control model for simulation of the aortic sinus baroreceptor, which was the most representative baroreceptor sensing the variance of pressure in the cardiovascular system. And then, the heart activity control model composed electric circuit model of the cardiovascular system with baroreflex control and time delay sub-model to observe the effect of time delay in heart period and stroke volume under the regulation of baroreflex in the aortic sinus. The mechanism of time delay in the heart activity baroreflex control model is as follows. A control function is conduct sensing pressure information in the aortic sinus baroreceptor to transmit the efferent nerve through central nervous system. As simulation results of the proposed model, we observed three patterns of the cardiovascular system variability by the time delay. First of all, if the time delay over 2.5 second, aortic pressure and stroke volume and heart rate was observed non-periodically and irregularly. However, if the time delay from 0.1 second to 0.25 second, the regular oscillation was observed. And then, if time delay under 0.1 second, then heart rate and aortic pressure-heart rate trajectory were maintained in stable state.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.11-27
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• 1970

Cardiac output, plasma volume and renal plasma flow were determined to evaluate hemodynamic changes in 29 patients with cirrhosis of the liver. The results obtained were as follows. 1. The mean plasma volume was 3793+895ml and it was significantly higher than the normal controls. The mean blood volume ($5266{\pm}1222ml$) and blood volume per kg body weight ($95.7{\pm}23.41ml$) were also increased significantly. The mean plasma volume per kg body weight ($69.1{\pm}19.1ml$) showed increased tendency and the mean difference between blood volume and plasma volume per kg body weight ($26.4{\pm}7.05ml$) was in lower limit of normal range. 2. The mean cardiac output was $7708{\pm}2652ml/min$ and it was significantly increased. The mean cardiac index ($4924{\pm}1998ml/min/M^2$), stroke volume ($96.2{\pm}34.2ml/beat$), stroke index ($62.3{\pm}27.34ml/M^2$) and fractional cardiac index ($1.54{\pm}0.577$) were also increased significantly. The mean total -peripheral resistance was $1664{\pm}753.8\;dynes\;sec\;cm^{-5}M^2$ and it was significantly lower than the normal controls. 3. The mean renal plasma flow was $537{\pm}146.8ml/min/1.73M^2$ and it was normal to decreased tendency. The mean endogenous creatinine clearance ($66.7{\pm}23.0ml/min/1.73M^2$) was significantly decreased. Filtration fraction was variable, but it was slightly lower than normal in most cases. The mean renal fraction of cardiac output ($11.4{\pm}6.27%$) was relatively decreased. 4. Although renal plasma flow was normal or decreased in general, it was definitely diminished in patients with creatinine clearance less than $60ml/min/1.73M^2$, resistant ascites, and signs of azotemia (elevated BUN and serum creatinine). 5. Diminished glomrular filtration rate with low filtration fraction and decreased renal fraction of cardiac output observed strongly supported increased renal afferent arteriolar resistance. 6. Renal circulatory impairment preceded azotemia or oroliguria in cirrhosis. 7. Clinical findigns and liver function were not correlated with hemodynamic changes, except for esophageal varices associated with high cardiac output obsedved. 8. No definite correlation of renal hemodynamics with plasma volume or cardiac output was found.