• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.599-610
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• 2013

This study was carried out to analyze the effect of a diet program for adult women on weight loss, BMI, eating habits, sleeping habits, health related indices. The subjects was 415 participants of the 10 weeks (20 time participation program). The data was collected by basic somatometry and HRV (Heart Rate Variability) / APG (Accelerated Plethysmograph) Analyzer. The average age, height, weight and BMI were 28.6 years, 162.1 cm, 62.8 kg and 23.9 $kg/m^2$, respectively. Their body types by BMI were under weight (1.2%), normal (45.8%), overweight (24.8%), mild obesity (22.7%) and obesity (5.5%). There were significant reductions of average weight (4.6 kg) and average BMI (1.75 $kg/m^2$) on the 10th week. There were positive changes in vascular age (50.4%), stress index (44.6%), fatigue index (43.9%), health index (54.5%) of the subjects during the program. There was a meaningful difference of the average variation for the vascular age, stress index, fatigue index, and health index between two groups; one improving the eating habit and the other did not (p<0.05), and also there was a meaningful difference of the average variation for the fatigue index in both groups improving the sleeping habit (p<0.05), but was not a meaningful difference of the average variation for the vascular age, stress index, and health index between two groups. There was a meaningful difference of the average variation for the vascular age, stress index, fatigue index, and health index between two groups improving both eating and sleeping habit (p<0.05). In conclusion, the weight loss program was effective on the weight loss and BMI reduction and health related indices.

• Journal of Naturopathy
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2021

Purposes: This study investigated how saliva cortisol, blood vessel health type, and blood vessel health index changed after forest bathing with subjects in the Samdasu Forest. Methods: After the forest bathing, we measured cortisol change in saliva and heart rate variability with subjects. Results: In the experimental group who took forest bathing for two hours in the Samdasu Forest, the stress cortisol content secreted in saliva decreased significantly compared to the control group (p<.05). Besides, the vascular age type significantly increased (p<.03), and the vascular age index significantly decreased (p<.032).There were no significant results in the control group. Conclusions: It is evaluated that forest bathing in Samdasu Forest in Jeju Island had the effect of reducing saliva cortisol and increasing blood vessel age.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.434-446
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• 2020

Objectives: The cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and ankle-brachial index (ABI) are non-invasive methods to evaluate cardiovascular disease and arteriosclerosis. This study investigated the relationship between CAVI, ABI, and factors related to arteriosclerosis. Methods: This study included 535 healthy adults who underwent health examinations in 2019. We analyzed the correlation between CAVI, ABI and clinical variables. Multiple regression analysis was performed on the independent clinical variables associated with CAVI and ABI. Results: The correlation analysis of CAVI showed that body mass index (BMI) and HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) had a negative correlation, and the other variables had a significant positive correlation. The correlation analysis with ABI on the right side showed that age, diastolic blood pressure (DBP), gender, and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) had a significant positive correlation, while HDL-C had a significant negative correlation. There was no statistical significance on the left. In the multiple regression analysis, DBP, age, BMI, gender, and HDL-C were proved to be independent factors in CAVI (right) (R²=0.365); DBP, age, gender, BMI, fasting blood sugar, and total cholesterol in CAVI (left) (R²=0.357); and age, gender, DBP, and systolic blood pressure in ABI (right) (R²=0.133). There were no statistically significant factors in ABI (left). It could be inferred that smoking and drinking are determinants that play an important role in CAVI. Conclusion: CAVI showed a high correlation with gender, age, and blood pressure. A significant correlation between CAVI and serum lipid values could be observed, but this showed a low correlation coefficient. ABI showed a high correlation with age and DBP. These results support the use of CAVI and ABI as primary diagnostic devices in medical treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.27-35
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• 2022

PURPOSE: A Mat Pilates exercise program and a stretching program were conducted for elderly women to determine how the two interventions affect their autonomic nervous system. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 20 elderly women over 65 who regularly used a welfare center located in C city of Chungnam. The subjects were assigned randomly to the following two groups: 10 people in the breathing and mat Pilates exercise program group (PG) and 10 people in the breathing and stretching program group (SG). RESULTS: The present study design is randomized controlled trial. Vascular age was decreased significantly in the PG (p < .05). The mean stress index was reduced significantly in the PG (p < .05), and the amount of change was significantly larger in the PG than in the SG (p < .05). The health index was significantly lower in the PG than the SG (p < .05), and the amount of change in the PG was significantly more prominent than in the SG (p < .05). CONCLUSION: The Mat Pilates program was effective in improving the vascular age, average stress index, and health index of elderly women. In particular, it was significantly more effective than the stretching exercise program in improving the average stress and health indices.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.126-137
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• 2002

Objective : There is accumulating data that cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, cerebro-vascular accident, coronary heart disease, relate to atherosclerotic changes. Increased serum levels of lipids could play a role in these circumstances. the SDPTG(the second derivative of photoplethysmogram waveform) is noninvasive methods for evaluating the pulse wave and is correlated with age and other risk factors for atherosclerosis. Methods : To study the effects of serum lipid levels on the SDPTG in the middle-age adults, data on serum lipid levels and the SDPTG were collected in 80 healthy middle age with varying serum lipid concentrations. Biological vascular age was assessed using the SDPTG. the SDPTG consists of an a, b, c, and d wave in systole and an e wave in diastole; an SDPTG aging index(Al) was calculated as (b-c-d-e)/a. Results : Serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, total lipid, phospholipid, HDL cholesterol levels were respectively and significantly correlated with SDPTG Al. Serum lipid levels and blood pressure are age-dependent and the SDPTG is blood pressure-dependent. Restricting analysis to age and blood pressure yield strong positive correlations between serum triglyceride, total lipid levels and SDPTG Al, but no correlations between serum total cholesterol, phospholipid levels and SDPTG Al. Conclusion : The results of this study suggest that preventive acupuncture programs or herbal medications for reducing serum lipid, especially triglyceride, levels in middle-age should include a evaluation of biological vascular aging with the second derivative of photoplethysmogram waveform.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.406-417
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: Pathophysiological changes of right ventricle (RV) after repair of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) are coupled with a highly compliant low-pressure pulmonary artery (PA) system. This study aimed to determine whether pulmonary vascular function was associated with RV parameters and exercise capacity, and its impact on RV remodeling after pulmonary valve replacement. Methods: In a total of 48 patients over 18 years of age with repaired TOF, pulmonary arterial elastance (Ea), RV volume data, and RV-PA coupling ratio were calculated and analyzed in relation to exercise capacity. Results: Patients with a low Ea showed a more severe pulmonary regurgitation volume index, greater RV end-diastolic volume index, and greater effective RV stroke volume (p=0.039, p=0.013, and p=0.011, respectively). Patients with a high Ea had lower exercise capacity than those with a low Ea (peak oxygen consumption [peak VO₂] rate: 25.8±7.7 vs. 34.3±5.5 mL/kg/min, respectively, p=0.003), while peak VO₂ was inversely correlated with Ea and mean PA pressure (p=0.004 and p=0.004, respectively). In the univariate analysis, a higher preoperative RV end-diastolic volume index and RV end-systolic volume index, left ventricular end-systolic volume index, and higher RV-PA coupling ratio were risk factors for suboptimal outcomes. Preoperative RV volume and RV-PA coupling ratio reflecting the adaptive PA system response are important factors in optimal postoperative results. Conclusions: We found that PA vascular dysfunction, presenting as elevated Ea in TOF, may contribute to exercise intolerance. However, Ea was inversely correlated with pulmonary regurgitation (PR) severity, which may prevent PR, RV dilatation, and left ventricular dilatation in the absence of significant pulmonary stenosis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.705-713
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• 2020

Arteriosclerosis is a disease in which blood circulation is impaired due to loss of elasticity as blood vessels become narrower, and is a potential cause of recently increasing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Carotid ultrasound is used as a predictor of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases by evaluating the degree of atherosclerosis. Therefore, this paper attempted to investigate the correlation between the increase in the thickness of the inner media and various clinical variables in carotid ultrasound. Patients with carotid ultrasound findings were classified into three stages: mild intima thickening, sclerosis, and significant stenosis. CAVI (Carotid Ankle Vascular Index: vascular age) data measured in the degree and physical characteristics of the carotid artery(gender, age, body mass index, blood pressure), blood test(total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, creatine phosphokinase, fasting blood sugar), and arteriosclerosis test were collected. It was confirmed that the carotid intima thickness was correlated with variables such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and BMI, and also correlated with the risk factors of cardiovascular disease as CAVI increased.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.399-407
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• 2012

To evaluate age and gender differences in the relation of cardiovascular risk factors, cognitive impairment, and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis from aged people using by a cross sectional method. Sixty-nine healthy elders living in the community who had not previously undergone carotid ultrasonography were included. We conducted life style surveys, and cognitive function tests including Korean-mini-mental state examination (K-MMSE) and clinical dementia rating-Korean. Various biomarkers from blood were assessed; fasting insulin-like growth factor-1, lipid-profile, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, total homocysteine, glucose, insulin, Homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) for insulin resistance index, vitamin B12, and folate level. Carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT), and plaques were measured using carotid ultrasonography and aortic ultrasonography, a valid index of atherosclerosis. For the elderly subjects (aged 65-82 years), cognition impairment was more prevalent in females while subclinical atherosclerosis was more prevalentin males. Increased C-IMT has been kept in males, and C-IMT shows increasing trend and the peak at about 80 year-old in females with increasing age. The significant correlations between C-IMT and many vascular risk factors including age, triglyceride, abnormal homocysteinein male, and K-MMSE, insulin, HOMA index and abnormal aortic ultrasonography in female were different in each gender, with the exception of homocysteine (p<0.05). This data suggests that there were differences of age and gender characteristics in terms of subclinical atherosclerosis, cognitive impairment and vascular risk factors in community-living elders. Further larger and longitudinal studies across entire age are required to better understand the effects of risk factors on subclinical atherosclerosis.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1303-1308
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• 2000

Objectives : It has been known that vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), as an endothelial cell-specific mitogen, induces angiogenesis, and possesses vascular permeability and procoagulant properties. Peritumoral brain edema(PTBE) is a common accompaniment of malignant gliomas. It results from microvascular extravasation of plasma and proteins through the interendothelial spaces. The correlation between pathological grading, PTBE, neovascularization, and the expression of VEGF were analyzed in 31 patients with astrocytic tumors. Methods : Astrocytic tumor samples(8 astrocytomas, 14 anaplastic astrocytomas, and 9 glioblastomas) from 31 patients( 21 males and 10 females : average age $37{\pm}24$ years) who underwent surgery were examined retrospectively for the expression of VEGF and CD31(microvasculature) immunohistochemically. The extent of PTBE was examined by using preoperative CT or MRI as an edema index(EI). In addition to VEGF and CD31, several causative factors including tumor size, histologic type were compared with EI. Results : Only one of 8 astrocytomas, and majority of high grade(21 of 23 anaplastic astrocytomas and glioblastomas) tumors demonstrated PTBE(p<0.05). The majority of high grade tumors showed higher expression of VEGF (p<0.01). High grade tumors showed even higher CD31 expression(p<0.05), however, there was no close correlation between expression of VEGF and CD31. The EI was increased significantly, just as VEGF(p<0.01), but CD31 expression was not correlated with high EI. Conclusion : These data suggest that VEGF expression is closely correlated with PTBE and histological grading in astrocytic tumors. Microvasculature(CD31) in tumors is highly correlated with histological grading, however, shows no correlation with the expression of VEGF and PTBE.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.102-107
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• 2022

South Korea will soon be a super-aged society, as more than 20.6% of its population will be 65 years and older by 2025. As of 2022, 17.5% of the total population in South Korea is 65 years and older, which exceeds the set threshold for an aged society, where more than 14% of the population is 65 years and older. The proportion of older subway construction workers has increased. Aging workers and their work stress negatively impact their workability. A previous study demonstrated that the stress index measured using the uBioMacpa measurement device (Macpa stress index) had a significant correlation with work stress in South Korea. The device tests vascular health and measures stress levels via Macpa signal analysis. In this study, the pulse waves of subway construction workers were measured using uBioMacpa to identify their stress levels. The stress levels were analyzed by age, years of service, job position, employment type, and work type. Herein, these statistics could not be easily represented by a normal distribution; therefore, the Kruskal-Wallis test, a nonparametric statistical method, was used for the analysis of data. The results showed that age, job position, employment type, and working type affected the Macpa stress index and the stress levels of workers increased with age. In terms of job position, technical engineers were more stressed than other workers because of their poor working environment. In terms of employment type, daily-wage workers were more stressed than other workers. In terms of working type, tunneling, waterproofing, and construction scored the highest Macpa stress indexes without any significant difference, whereas earthworks scored the lowest. Based on the analysis of Macpa stress index, safety and health management plans were proposed to reduce the stress levels of workers. Moreover, a manual for efficient stress management must be developed for subway construction workers.