• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.55-62
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate the effects of an aqueous extract from Buddleja officinalis Maxim (ABO) on vascular dysfunction in low-density lipoprotein receptor deficient (LDLr KO) mice. Methods : Present study showed that LDLr KO mice were fed a high fat diet consisting of 60 kcal% fat, with or without 200 mg/day/kg ABO of diet, for 14 weeks. Results : High fat diet-LDLr KO mice were treated with ABO were completely normalized by lowering glucose. ABO reduced intima/media thickness in a high fat diet-LDLr KO mice without affecting plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels. ABO caused endothelium-dependent relaxation in the acetylcholine-precontracted aorta of high fat diet-LDLr KO mice. ABO increased eNOS expression, while decreased cell adhesion molecules expression in high fat diet-LDLr KO mice. Conclusions : In conclusion, chronic treatment with ABO improved hyperglycemia and endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation as well as exhibited anti-inflammatory effect in diabetic atherosclerotic mouse model, independent of effects on plasma lipids.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.819-825
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• 2002

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of sea tangle extracts on the excretion of neutral steroids and bile acid in diabetic rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed on AIN-76 based experimental diets containing methanol extracts (2%, w/w) or water extracts (4%, w/w) of sea tangle for 4 weeks. And then they were induced to be diabetic by receiving streptozotocin (45 mg/kg BW) intramuscularly. The dried fecal weight was increased significantly in water extracts group compared with control group. The fecal content of cholesterol was higher in extracts groups of sea tangle than in control group. But there was no significant difference in fecal excretion of cholesterol between methanol and water extracts groups. The fecal excretion of coprostanol was increased significantly in water extracts group compared with the control group. The fecal excretion of bile acid was increased significantly in sea tangle extracts groups compared to the control group. These data suggest that dietary supplementation of sea tangle extracts might reduce the incidence of atherosclerosis through increasing the excretion of neutral steroids.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.41-46
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• 2000

We experienced the case of familiar hypercholesterolemia with multiple xanthomas which was treated by combined surgical and medical therapy. He was 26-year-old male patient of familiar hypercholesterolemia with multiple xanthomas in 22 sites on whole body, and was treated by 17 surgical excisions of the xanthomas and by medical therapy of the hypercholesterolemia. There was a normal healing process of the surgical wounds. Continual postoperative medical therapy of the hypercholesterolemia was done. There was no recurrence of the symptoms during more than 13 months of follow-up. But the serum level of the cholesterol was not lowered significantly, so we are treating him with drug therapy. Familial hypercholesterolemia is caused by a specific disorder of lipid metabolism, and is characterized by increased LDL cholesterol, tendon xanthomas, coronary disease associated with autosomal dominant transmission. Xanthomas usually appear in the second decade of life with familiar hypercholesterolemia which may have high risk for premature coronary atherosclerosis, which might be prevented with early diagnosis and medical treatment. So, orthopedic surgeons do not only excise the xanthomatosis surgically but also can diagnose the underlying hypercholesterolemia.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.396-404
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• 2007

Increased oxidative stress contributes to the progression of atherosclerosis. We measured serum antioxidant mineral concentrations, capacities of serum antioxidant enzymes and fasting lipid profile in 97 male patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and 21 male controls. Nutrient intake was assessed by the semi-quantitative food frequency method. CAD patients were divided into single-vessel disease (SVD, n=66) and multi-vessel disease (MVD, n = 31) groups on the coronary angiography. The ratio of serum LDL- to HDL-cholesterol elevated with an increasing number of diseased vessels compared to the control (control < SVD < MVD, p < 0.05). Patients with SVD and MVD had higher levels of serum lipoprotein (a) than the control (p < 0.05). The mean intake of carbohydrate, protein and cholesterol was higher in MVD patients and the intakes of vitamins C and E were lower in MVD and SVD patients than in the control (p < 0.05). Serum copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) levels were higher in MVD and SVD patients than in the control (Cu: control $75.8{\pm}5.07$, SVD $99.2{\pm}2.90$, MVD $100.1{\pm}2.32{\mu}g/dL$, p<0.01; Zn: $76.8{\pm}5.36$, $119.0{\pm}5.95$, $129.1{\pm}2.70{\mu}g/dL$, p < 0.01). And the ratio of Zn to Cu was higher in SVD and MVD patients than in the control (control $0.78{\pm}0.06$, SVD $0.88{\pm}0.05$, MVD $0.99{\pm}0.04$, P < 0.05). The activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) was lower in MVD than in SVD and the control (control $35.13{\pm}1.34$, SVD $35.30{\pm}1.01$, MVD $31.00{\pm}1.04 U/mg$ protein, p < 0.05). The ratio of the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) to GSH-Px was higher in MVD than in control and SVD (p < 0.05). In groups with CAD, serum Cu and Zn concentrations and their ratio were changed compared to the control. GSH-Px activity was decreased and the ratio of SOD to GSH-Px was increased in the patients with MVD. The balances between the activities of SOD and GSH-Px should also be considered a risk factor in CAD patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.855-862
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• 2000

배경: 에스트로겐이 동맥경화증의 진행을 억제하고 예방하는데 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 알려졌으나 그 기전은 아직 명확하지 않다. 본연구에서는 에스트로겐이 혈관의 확장에 중요한 역할을 하고 있는 nitric oxide와 동맥경화에 어떠한 영향을 미치는지를 알아보고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법: 뉴질랜드종 웅성 가토 40마리를 실험동물로 하여 정상식이군(ND), 정상식이와 0.02ig의 estradiol-2 patch 투여군(END), 0.5% 콜레스테롤 투여군(CD), 0.5% 콜레스테롤 투여와 0.02 $\mu\textrm{g}$의 estradiol-2 patch 투여군 (ECD)의 네군으로 나누어 12주간 실험을 하여 혈중 estradiol-2, nitric oxide, cholesterol 등을 측정하고 흉부동맥과 복부동맥의 동맥경화 병변을 관찰하였다. 결과: 혈중 estradiol-2의 농도는 ED, ECD 군에서 ND, CD 군보다 의의 있게 높았다. (p<0.0001). 혈중 nitric oxide 농도는 정상 대조군 (ND)을 제외한 나머지 세군(END, CD, ECD)에서 모두 의의 있게 감소하였다.(p<0.001). 혈중 콜레스테롤은 총콜레스테롤, LDL콜레스테롤, HDL 콜레스테롤은 CD, ECD의 두 군에서 모두 증가하였으나 의의는 없었다(p<0.05). 혈중 콜레스테롤과 중성지방의 농도는 에스트로겐에 의한 영향이 관찰되지 않았다. 흉부 및 복부동맥의 동맥경화 병변은 ND군과 END군에서는 발생하지 않았으나 콜레스테롤을 투여한 CD군과 ECD군의 두 군에서 현저하게 발생하였으며 혈관별 발생정도의 차이는 없었다. 에스트로겐에 의한 병변의 발생 차이는 관찰되지 않았다. 광학현미경상 동맥경화병변은 거의 지방을 탐식한 대식구의 증식으로 이루어졌었으며, 괴사나 섬유화 병변은 관찰되지 않았다. 전자현미경상에서는 내피세포의 광범위한 손상이 관찰되었다. 병리학적으로 에스트로겐에 의한 영향은 인정하기 어려웠다. 결론: 고지방식은 혈중 nitric oxide의 생산을 크게 저하 시키며, 그 원인으로는 지방의 과산화에 의한 내피세포의 손상때문인 것으로 추정된다. 또한 estradiol-2 patch 처치에 의해서 nitric oxide가 감소된 것은 그이유를 설명하기 곤란하나 성차이 및 에스트로겐의 투여방법에 의한 어떤 영향이 있었을 것으로 추측된다. 피부를 통한 에스트로겐의 투여는 혈중 콜레스테롤이나 중성지방의 농도에 영향을 주지 못했으며, 동맥경화의 진행에도 영향이 없었다. 에스트로겐의 동맥경화에 주는 영향에 대해서는 지속적이고 광범위한 연구가 더 필요할 것으로 사료된다.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.198-204
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• 2011

Target herbal ingredient (THI) is an extract made from two herbs, Scutellariae Radix and Platycodi Radix. It has been developed as a treatment for metabolic diseases such as hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, and hypertension. One component of these two herbs has been reported to have anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperlipidemic, and anti-obesity activities. However, there have been no reports about the effects of the mixed extract of these two herbs on metabolic diseases. In this study, we investigated the metabolic effects of THI using a diet-induced obesity (DIO) mouse model. High-fat diet (HFD) mice were orally administered daily with 250 mg/kg of THI. After 10 weeks of treatment, the THI-administered HFD mice showed reduction of body weights and epididymal white adipose tissue weights as well as improved glucose tolerance. In addition, the level of total cholesterol in the serum was markedly reduced. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of the metabolic effects of THI in vitro, 3T3-L1 cells were treated with THI, after which the mRNA levels of adipogenic transcription factors, including C/$EBP{\alpha}$ and $PPAR{\gamma}$, were measured. The results show that the expression of these two transcription factors was down regulated by THI in a dose-dependent manner. We also examined the combinatorial effects of THI and swimming exercise on metabolic status. THI administration simultaneously accompanied by swimming exercise had a synergistic effect on serum cholesterol levels. These findings suggest that THI could be developed as a supplement for improving metabolic status.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.10 no.7
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• pp.268-275
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• 2010

Coronary artery calcium scores(CACS) has been used as surrogate marker for coronary atherosclerosis. We evaluated 1042 patients who visited the Department of Health Promotion Center in Chonnam National University Hospital and had a test of the CACS from January 2006, to December 2008. This study was performed to evaluate the relation of the CACS with Cadiovascular disease(CVD) risk factors and FRS. CACS and FRS was a significant difference between the group whose calcium score was 0 and the group whose calcium scores were 1 in case of men 2.38(95% CI, 1.83-3.11), women 2.12(95% CI, 1.03-4.35). The age-and sex-adjusted odds ratios for predictor of CVD risk factors to women with age was 1.10(95% CI, 1.06-1.15), HDL-cholesterol was 2.38(95% CI, 1.04-5.44), Fasting plasma glucose was 2.89(95% CI, 1.16-7.21), to men with age was 1.11(95% CI, 1.08-1.14), LDL-cholesterol was 2.12(95% CI, 1.28-3.50), gamma-GTP was 1.73(95% CI, 1.17-2.55), Diabetes mellitus medication was 3.92(95% CI, 1.73-8.89). The CACS seems to be a siginificant factor to evaluate the CVD risk factors.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.136-145
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• 2010

Objectives: Electroacupuncture according to Voll (EAV) has been used to quantify the skin's electrical resistance and conductance over acupuncture points that, based on traditional Chinese medicine, represent the state of health or disease of the organ or tissue. However, it doesn't have enough objective data yet, so the purpose of this study was to aid in the use of EAV in analysis of cerebrovascular disease risk factors. Methods: This study researched the clinical statistics of 216 cases: cerebrovascular attack (CVA) group 43, control group 173. We measured control meridian points (CMP) on hands and feet and the cardio ankle vascular index (CAVI) which represents atherosclerosis severity, and sex, age, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and obesity. The data were then analyzed by t-test, chi-square test and logistic regression. Results: Between the CVA and control groups, there were not statistically significant differences in CMP. However, logistic regression analysis of the presence of CVA, mean of CMP heart and lung, sex, age, DBP (diastolic blood pressure), and HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol showed that the risk of CVA was 1.1 times increased with CMP heart (p=0.002), in men was 4.12 times higher than in women (p=0.001), 1.09 times higher with age (p=0.000), 1.04 times higher with DBP (p=0.045), while was lower by 0.924 times with CMP lung (p=0.005) and 0.957 times with HDL cholesterol (p=0.006). Conclusion: Although there were not clear evidence or mechanisms about EAV, this study showed that if we study EAV further, we may be able to apply EAV as an objective instrument of oriental medicine in cerebrovascular disease.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.65-69
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• 2008

The roots of Brassica campestris ssp rapa were extracted with 80% aqueous MeOH, and the concentrated extract was partitioned with EtOAc, n-BuOH and $H_2O$. From the EtOAc fraction, three compounds were isolated through the repeated silica gel and octadecyl silica gel (ODS) column chromatography. From the results of spectroscopic data including NMR and MS, the chemical structures of the compounds were determined as caulilexin C (1), indoleacetonitrile (2) and arvelexin (3). The arvelexin (3) has been isolated from this plant for the first time. Compounds 1, 2 and 3 showed inhibitory activity on human Acyl CoA: cholesterol. transferase 1 (hACAT1) by $54.6{\pm}6.0%$, $69.2{\pm}4.7%$ and $68.6{\pm}3.7%$, and on human Acyl CoA: cholesterol transferase 2(hACAT2) by $4.8{\pm}13.4%$, $45.6{\pm}4.8%$ and $39.5{\pm}4.3%$, respectively, at 100 ${\mu}g/ml$.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.285-291
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• 2009

The aim of the present study was undertaken to investigate the association between diagnostic indices of metabolic syndrome(MetS) with carotid intima-media thickness using ultrasonography. The participants in the study were 315 male employees without carotid atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular disease. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute. Written informed consent for the participants in this study was obtained from all individuals. Anthropometric parameters and biochemical characteristics were done using each specific equipments and the NCEP-ATP III criteria were used to define MetS. They were examined by B-mode ultrasound to measure the carotid intima-media thickness(carotid IMT) at the near and far walls of common carotid and bifurcation(bulb). The mean carotid IMT was $0.739{\pm}0.137\;mm$ and it's thickness significantly increased with the increase in age. Also, amounts of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, triglyceride and fasting glucose were significantly increased with the increase in age. Carotid IMT were significantly correlated with BMI(r=0.170, p=0.004), systolic(r=0.148, p=0.011) and diastolic blood pressure(r=0.123, p=0.036) and HDL-cholesterol(r=-0.164, p=0.005). On multiple logistic regression analysis for the diagnostic indices of MetS, carotid IMT were significantly associated with blood pressure(OR=4.220, p<0.01) and MetS(OR=1.301, p<0.05). The results indicate that blood pressure and MetS are important risk factors for carotid atherosclerosis.