• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.347-361
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• 2012

Limited studies are available concerning the effect of heavy metal exposure on cardiovascular diseases. As environmental pollution increases, food contamination, including heavy metal contamination of fish, also increases. However, researches based on the intake of heavy metals, cardiovascular disease, and fish intakes are inconclusive. We assessed an association of heavy metal exposure with cardiovascular disease and fish intake in a nationally representative group of general Korean adults. We used data from the combined 2008-2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), and analyzed the data of 5,139 Koreans who participated in KNHANES. All participants were older than 20 years, and were diagnosed with stroke, ischemic heart disease, or hypertension. The mean blood cadmium, lead concentration, and mercury concentration of subjects were $1.07{\pm}0.01{\mu}g/L$, $2.49{\pm}0.02{\mu}g/dL$, and $5.19{\pm}0.08{\mu}g/L$, respectively. We used the survey logistic regression model to account for the complex sample design of the cardiovascular disease risk in order to estimate the odds ratios (OR). After adjusting for age, education, income, alcohol, smoking, and BMI, the increase of serum cadmium in blood was associated with the increase in the prevalence of hypertension. Further, the increase in blood cadmium concentration was associated with the increase of both systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Although higher fish intakes were significantly associated with higher blood mercury concentration (p for trend < 0.0001), fish intakes did not affect either blood cadmium or lead concentration. Comparing the highest fish intake group with the lowest intake group, the OR of hypertension was 0.31 (95% CI: 0.19-0.59) in the crude model for total fish. However, these associations were no longer significant after the adjustment for potential confounding factors. In conclusion, cadmium in blood was associated with an increased risk of hypertension in the general Korean adult population. However, we found no evidence of a clear relationship between cardiovascular disease and frequency of fish consumption.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.11
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• pp.1239-1243
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• 2005

Purpose : Iron accumulation interferes with hepatic insulin extraction and affects insulin synthesis and secretion. The purpose of this study is to investigate the correlation between serum ferritin and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods : We compared the serum ferritin level among 18 patients in an impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) group, 36 in a type 1 diabetes group, eight in a type 2 diabetes group and 29 in a healthy control group. The correlation between serum ferritin levels and sex, body mass indices(BMI), blood pressure(BP), serum fasting sugar level and serum fasting insulin level were also analyzed. Results : The mean log ferritin were $1.33{\pm}0.32$(healthy control group), $1.63{\pm}0.19$(IGT group) and $1.90{\pm}0.30$(type 2 diabetes group). In the IGT group, log ferritin was higher than in the healthy control group(P=0.001). The log ferritin of the type 2 diabetes group was higher than that of the healthy control group(P=0.001). Comparing log ferritin to other factors, log ferritin had a significant positive correlation with body mass indices(P<0.001), systolic blood pressure(P=0.001), and fasting glucose(P=0.001), fasting insulin(P=0.002). Conclusion : Compared to the normal healthy group, serum ferritin concentrations were significantly higher in the IGT group and the type 2 diabetes group. The elevation of serum ferritin concentration may be a risk factor of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.32-36
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• 2013

Purpose: Chronic day-to-day symptoms of orthostatic intolerance are the most notable features of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). However, we have encountered patients with such symptoms and excessive tachycardia but with no symptoms during the tilt-table test (TTT). We aimed to investigate whether POTS patients with chronic orthostatic intolerance always present orthostatic symptoms during the TTT and analyze the factors underlying symptom manifestation during this test. Methods: We retrospectively examined patients who presented with POTS at the Gyeongsang National University Hospital between 2008 and 2011. Diagnosis of POTS was based on chronic day-to-day orthostatic intolerance symptoms as well as excessive tachycardia during the TTT. The patients were divided two groups depending on the presentation of orthostatic symptoms during the TTT. Clinical data and the results of the TTT were compared between these groups. Results: In 22 patients, 7 patients (31.8%) did not present orthostatic symptoms during the test. Diastolic blood pressure (BP) was significantly lower in the symptom-positive group. The head-up tilt resulted in a significant increase in diastolic BP in the symptom-negative group (P=0.04), while systolic BP had a tendency to decrease in the symptom-positive group (P=0.06). Conclusion: Significant patients with POTS did not present orthostatic symptoms during the TTT despite having chronic daily symptoms. This finding may be important for establishing definitive diagnostic criteria for pediatric POTS. Development of symptoms during TTT might be related to low diastolic BP and abnormal compensatory responses to orthostasis.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.191-197
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• 2000

Objectives : Risperidone is a new antipsychotic drug developed to overcome the therapeutic limitation of conventional antipsychotics. It responses to negative as well as positive symptoms by blocking both dopaminergic and serotonergic receptors, causing no significant side effects such as agranulocytosis and seizure. It is, however, not known whether it induces any serious cardiovascular side effects as evoked by other conventional antipsychotic drugs. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effect of risperidone on cardiovascular function, and to discuss the factors affecting the cardiovascular function. Methods : For 42 patients(22 males and 20 females) diagnosed as schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder or schizoaffective disorder according to the DSM-IV classification, the cardiovascular fuctions such as heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, PR interval, QRS interval and QT interval were successively checked before and after 2 weeks and 4 weeks risperidone administration. Furthermore, variables such as body weight, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale(BPRS), Clinical Global Impression(CGI), Extrapyramidal Symptom Rating Scale(ESRS), Anticholinergic Rating Scale(ARS), serum cholesterol level, serum triglyceride level, serum high-density-lipoprotein level, serum WBC, serum Hb, serum platelet level, prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time were also analyzed before and after 2 weeks and 4 weeks risperidone administration. Results : 1) Risperidone treatment resulted in a significantly decreased heart rate and increased QT interval after 4 weeks administration(p<0.005 respectively). 2) The scores of BPRS and CGI were significantly decreased after 2 weeks and 4 weeks risperidone administration as compared with baseline(p<0.001 respectively). The scores of ESRS and ASRS were significantly increased after 2 weeks and 4 weeks risperidone administration as compared with baseline(p<0.001 respectively). 3) There were positive correlations between heart rate after 4 weeks and total dose(P<0.05). Blood pressure was significantly(p<0.05) correlated with sex(higher in male) and significantly(p<0.05) positive correlated with body weight. QT interval was significantly(p<0.05) correlated with sex(longer in female) and smoking history(shorter in smokers). Conclusions : Risperidone could induce significant change in heart rate and Q-T interval. Therefore, the cardiovascular safety for risperidone should be reconsidered according to the duration and dosage increase.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.31 no.1 s.60
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• pp.59-71
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• 1998

To examine the association of hypertension with cluster of obesity, abnormal glucose and dyslipidemia in Korean urban population, we conducted this cross-sectional study among 3027 men and 2127 women age 20-85 years who visited a prevention center between May 1991 and June 1995 for a multiphasic health check at St. Mary's Hospital, Seoul. By the self-administered questionnaire, the informations of educational attainments, monthly income, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, and physical excercise level were obtained. Height, weight, and blood pressure were measured by a trained nurse. The fasting blood sugar (FBS), total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and triglyceride were tested by enzyme method. Low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol was calculated by 'total cholesterol - HDL cholesterol - triglyceride/5'. For testing the differences of cardiovascular risk factors between hypertension and normotension group, 1-test and $\chi^2$-test were performed. For the age adjusted odds ratios of hypertension in persons with obesity, abnormal glucose, and dyslipidemia compared with normal, logistic regression was performed by using SAS pakageprograme. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Age, weight, body mass index(BMI), blood glucose, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride of hypertension group in men and women were significantly higher than normotension group, but height and HDL cholesterol of hypertension group only in women significantly lower than normotension group. The frequency of obesity $(BMI\geq25kg/m^2)$, abnormal glucose $(\geq\;120mg/dl)$, hypercholesterolemia $(\geq\;240mg/dl)$, lower HDL cholesterol (<45 mg/dl in women only), higher LDL cholesterol $(\geq\;160mg/dl)$, and hyper hypertriglyceridemia $(\geq\;250mg/dl)$ in hypertension group of men and women were significantly higher than normotension group. 2. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were negatively correlated with hight, but positively with age, weight, BMI, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride in men and women. BMI was positively correlated with fasting blood sugar, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride but negatively with HDL cholesterol. 3. The age adjusted odds ratios of hypertension were as follows in men and women : among persons who were obese compared with those nonobese, 2.53 (95% Confidence Intervals [C.I.] 2.08-3.07) and 2.22 (95%C.I. 1.71-2.87): among persons who were abnormal glucose compared with those normoglycemic, 1.43 (95%C.I 1.13-1.82) and 2.01 (95%C.I 1.36-2.94): and among persons who were dyslipidemia (hypercholesterolemia or lower HDL cholesterol or higher LDL cholesterol or hypertriglyceridemia) compared with those normal lipid, 1.59 (95%C.I 1.30-1.95) and 1.51 (95%C.I 1.16-1.96). After combined more than one risk factor, the odds ratios were increased. Among persons with cluster of obesity, abnormal glucose, and dyslipidemia, the odds ratio of hypertension was 2.25 (95%C.I 1.47-3.37) in men and 3.02 (95%C.I 1.71-5.30) in women. In conclusion, it was suggested that hypertension was associated with cluster of obesity, abnormal glucose, dyslipidemia in this Korean urban population.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.137-144
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• 2016

Objectives: Several studies have revealed that systemic hypertension is strongly associated with cataractogenesis. However, the pathophysiology and treatment is often unclear. In this study, we evaluated the anti-cataractogenic effect of cinnamaldehyde (CA), a natural organic compound, in rats with fructose-induced hypertension. Methods: The rats were divided into six groups. For six weeks, the normal group received a suspension of 0.5% carboxy methyl cellulose (10 mL/kg/day, p.o.) while five other groups received a 10% (w/v) fructose solution in their drinking water to induce hypertension. By the end of the third week hypertension had been induced in all the animals receiving fructose. From the beginning of the fourth week to the end of the sixth week, one of those five groups (control) continued to receive only 10% (w/v) fructose solution, one group (standard) received ramipril (1 mg/kg/day, p.o.) plus 10% (w/v) fructose solution, and three groups (experimental) received CA at doses of 20, 30, and 40 mg/kg/day p.o., plus 10% (w/v) fructose solution. Blood pressure was measured weekly using a non-invasive blood pressure apparatus. After six weeks, the animals were sacrificed, and the anti-cataractogenic effects on the eye lenses were evaluated. Results: Administration of fructose elevated both the systolic and the diastolic blood pressures, which were significantly reduced by CA at all dose levels. In the control group, a significant increase in the malonaldehyde (MDA) level and decreases in the total protein, $Ca^{2+}$adenosine triphosphate (ATP)ase activity, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione levels, as compared to the normal group, were observed. Administration of CA at all doses significantly restored the enzymatic, non-enzymatic, antioxidants, total protein, and $Ca^{2+}$ATPase levels, but decreased the MDA level, as compared to the control group. Conclusion: The present study revealed that CA modulated the antioxidant parameters of the serum and lens homogenates in hypertension-induced cataractogenic animals.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.38-46
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• 2017

This research aimed to identify the correlation between the metabolic syndrome, which is one of the cardiovascular risk factors and emerging as an issue in the society, and the serum uric acid level. The research was conducted on a total of 1,444 patients who took a medical examination at a health examination center. The research subjects were composed of 977 men and 467 women. By conducting physical measurement and the blood test on the subjects, the research identified the correlation between the serum uric acid level and the metabolic syndrome and compared the number of the risk factors by dividing the class of the serum uric acid. The average level of serum uric acid was identified higher in men at $6.30{\pm}1.39mg/dL$ than $4.43{\pm}0.89mg/dL$ in women. Men had a correlation between age, waist size, systolic blood pressure, neutral fat, HDL-cholesterol, WBC count and ESR and the serum uric acid level (p<0.05), while women had a correlation between waist size, diastolic blood pressure level, neutral fat, HDL-cholesterol and ESR and the serum uric acid level (p<0.05). The number of the risk factors depending on the serum uric acid level increased as the serum uric acid level rose. The overall prevalence rate of the metabolic syndrome was higher in men at 17.4% than 10.2% in women. This showed that there is a statistically relevant relevance between the metabolic syndrome and the serum uric acid level, and the number of the risk factors of the metabolic syndrome will go up with an increase in the serum uric acid level.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.83-87
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• 2008

The fyn-related kinase (FRK) belongs to the tyrosine kinase family of protein kinases. Recent studies have shown that Frk affects pancreatic beta cell number during embryogenesis and promotes beta cell cytotoxic signals in response to streptozotocin. To investigate the genetic association between FRK polymorphisms and the risk of obesity in Korean population, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the FRK gene region were selected and analyzed. The body mass index (BMI) was calculated, and biochemical data (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, hemoglobin A1C, triglyceride, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein, and low density lipoprotein) of blood sample from each subject were also measured. One hundred fifty five healthy control and 204 overweight/obesity subjects were recruited. Genotype frequencies of six SNPs [rs6568920 (+8391G>A), rs3756772 (+56780A>G), rs3798234 (+75687C>T), rs9384970 (+68506G>A), rs1933739 (+72978G>A), and rs9400883 (+75809A>G)] in the FRK gene were determined by Affymetrix Targeted Genotyping Chip data. According to the classification of Korean Society for the Study of Obesity, control (BMI 18 to < 23) and overweight/obesity (BMI$\geq$23) subjects were recruited. For the analysis of genetic data, EM algorithm, SNPStats, Haploview, HapAnalyzer, SNPAnalyzer, and Helixtree programs were used. Multiple logistic regression analysis (codominant, dominant, and recessive models) was performed. Age and gender as covariates were adjusted. For biochemical data, Student's t test was used. The mean value of BMI in the control and overweigh/obesity groups was 21.1${\pm}$1.2 (mean${\pm}$SD) and 25.6${\pm}$2.0, respectively. All biochemical data of the overweight/obesity group were statistically significance, compared with the control group. Among six SNPs, two linkage disequilibrium (LD) blocks were discovered. One block consisted of rs1933739 and rs9400883, and the other comprised rs3756772 and rs3798234. One SNP (rs9384970, +68506G>A) showed an association with overweight/obesity in the codominant model (p=0.03). Interestingly, the AA genotype distribution in the overweight/obesity group (n=7, 3.5%) was higher than those in the control group (n=1, 0.6%), which is not found in either Japanese or Chinese subjects. Therefore, the AA genotype of rs9384970 may be a risk factor for development of obesity in Korean population. The results suggest that FRK may be associated with overweight/obesity in Korean population.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.1203-1210
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• 1997

This study was performed from March to June 1994 in ANsung Medical Center. We investigated serum components of 78 diabetics in the center, in addition to the nutrient intake status and anthrophometric status of 60 diabetics among them. We separated the latter into 2 groups(ⅰ) less tan 5 years of diabetic duration and ⅱ) more than 6 years of diabetic duration) and analyzed the clinical characteristics of each group. The results are as follows : \circled1 The average ages of male and female subjects were 57.1 and 58.9 years, respectively. The average diabetic duration of male subjects was 4.8 years and that of female subjects was 5.9 . The major occupational field of both male and female subjects was agriculture(33.3%, 36.1%). 50% of male and 75% of female subject's monthly incomes were less than 600, 000 won and 75% of male and 94.4% of female subjects had weekly food expense less than 40, 000 won. The nutrient intake status of the subjects was lower than RDA on the whole. There was no big differences between 2 the male groups of different diabetic duration , but calorie, protein , fat carbohydrate, phosphorus, iron and Vit B$_1$intakes of the above 6 year female group were appearently higher than those of the under 5 year female group (p<0.05). There were different intake tendencies between male and female subjects . For females. the longer the diabetic duration, the less intakes of calorie, protein , fat carbohydrate, phosphorus, iron Vit B$_1$, Vit B$_2$, and niacin were observed. Furthermore, the longer the diabetic duration in females , the more intakes of energy and nutrients, except Vit C were observed. Fasting blood glucose levels were 155mg/dl and 164mg/dl and Postprandial glucose levels were 242mg/dl and 247mg/dl for males and females respectively. Hb of both males and females , and Ht of males met the lower limit of normal status, The serum TG level was higher than normal , so that they seemed to suffer from hyperlipidemia ; their high HbAIC status indicated that the management of diabetes mellitus was poor. The total protein level of female subject was higher when compared with that of males(p<0.05). All subjects blood pressure were higher than normal , and the longer the diabetic duration, the higher was the blood pressure. The serum HDL-cholesterol levels of the above 6 year group male subjects were lower(p<0.05) than those of the under 5 year male group subjects, and the former group's systolic and diastolic blood pressures were higher than those of the latter(p<0.05). Levels of serum total protein, albumin and TG of the above 6 year female group were lower than those of the under 5 year female group(p<0.05). As the diabetic duration was extended, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels showed a tendency to increase, while Hb, Ht, total protein, albumin, and A/G, which represent the nutrients state of iron and protein, were inclined to decrease. This result showed that serum lipid components went bad. To summarize the results, the longer the diabetic duration, the worse were the male subjects nutrient intake status, but those of the female subjects were good. With respect to serum components and serum lipid subjects Fe, protein, nutrition status and serum lipid component got worse as the diabetic duration was extended , implying the possibility of diabetes mellitus complication grows.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.236-247
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of health program s on hypertension in a public health center located in Y-si. Most interesting were the effects on hypertension-related knowledge, self-care behavior, quality of life, and physiological parameters for hypertensive patients. Nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design was employed. A total of 48 patients with hypertension living in Y-si were assigned to either the experimental group (n=23) or the control group (n=25). The experimental group was provided with an 8-week health program on hypertension between August 31 and October 23 in 2015. Data were analyzed with SPSS/WIN 21.0 using descriptive statistics, ${\chi}^2$-test, Fisher's exact test, and t-test. The result indicated a significant difference between the experimental group and the control group with respect to the scores of hypertension-related knowledge (t=-3.76, p<.001), self-care behavior (t=-3.33, p=.002), physiological parameters, including systolic blood pressure (t=6.27, p<.001) and diastolic blood pressure (t=4.70, p<.001), total cholesterol levels (t=3.08, p=.003), and Abdominal circumference (t=2.52, p=.015). We conclude that the self-group program on hypertension has a significant effect on the change of hypertension-related knowledge and self-care behavior for hypertensive patients.