• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.836-845
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• 2005

Atherosclerosis, which is a degenerative vascular disease, is believed to occur in the blood vessels due to deposition of cholesterol or low density lipoprotein (LDL). Atherosclerotic lumen narrowing causes reduction of blood flow due to hemodynamic features. Several hypothetical theories related to the hemodynamic effects have been reported : high shear stress theory, low shear stress theory, high shear stress gradient theory, flow separation and turbulence theory, and high pressure theory. However, no one theory clearly explains, the causes of atherosclerosis. The objective of the present study was to investigate the mechanism of the generation of atherosclerosis. In the study, the database of Korean carotid and coronary arteries for geometrical and hemodynamic clinical data was established. The atherosclerotic sites were predicted by the computer simulations. The results of the computer simulation were compared with the in vivo experimental results, and then the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis by using the clinical data and several hypothetical theories were investigated. From the investigation, it was concluded carefully that the mechanism of the generation of atherosclerosis was related to the hemodynamic effects such as flow separation and oscillatory wall shear stress on the vessel walls.

• CELLMED
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.27.1-27.6
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• 2015

Literatures and experimental studies have shown that Prunella has an effect on anti-hypertension, however, its components are complicated, so that it is still difficult to clear the specific roles of its various components in blood pressure regulation in. So we decide to systematically study the anti-hypertension mechanism of Prunella. We integrated multiple databases and constructed molecular interaction network between the chemical constituents of Prunella Vulgaris and hypertension based on entity grammar systems model. The network has 262 nodes and 802 edges. Then we infer the interactions between chemical compositions and disease targets to clarify the anti-hypertension mechanism. Finally, we found Prunella could influence hypertension by regulating apoptosis, cell proliferation, blood vessel development and vasoconstriction, etc. Thus this study provides reference for drug development and compatibility, and also gives guidance for health care at a certain extent.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.260-268
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• 2003

Object : This study was undertaken to define the mechanism of GwakHyangJungGiSan-induced relaxation in rabbit common carotid artery contracted by agonists. Method : In order to investigate the effect of GwakHyangJungGiSan on rabbit's contracted vascular ring detached from common carotid artery, vascular ring intact or damaged endothelium was used for the experiment using organ bath. To analyze the mechanism of GwakHyangJungGiSan-induced relaxation, GwakHyangJungGiSan extract was infused into contracted vascular ring which had been pretreated by pretreatment of indomethacin(IM), tetraethylammonium chloride(TEA), $N{\omega}-nitro-L-arginine(L-NNA)$. Result : GwakHyangJungGiSan blocks an inflow of $Ca^{2+}$ and relaxes vascular ring by the action of Nitric oxide from endothelium. Consequently when GwakHyangJungGiSan is prescribed, a rise in blood pressure by the resistance of peripheral vessel may be controlled to some extent and so it is anticipated that hypertension, a disorder of blood flow from the vascular contraction and vascular disease will be treated well.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.196-203
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• 1989

Experimental studies were conducted to investigate the effect of Sagan-Tang on analgesic, sedative, antipyretic, isolated ileum and blood vessel and so on. The results of this investigation were summarized as follows; Analgesic action by the acetic acid stimulating method in mice were recognized. Prolonging action against the hypnotic duration induced by thiopental-Na was noted in mice. Antipyretic effect in typhoid vaccine febrile rats was recognized. Spontaneous motility of the isolated ileum of mice was suppressed and contractions of the isolated ileum of mice and guinea-pig induced by accetylcholine chloride, barium chloride and histamine were remarkably inhibited. Vaso-diating and hypotensive actions were recognized in rabbits. GOT and GPT activities in the serum of rats damaged by $CCl_4$ and galactosamine were decreased remarkably.

• Molecular Medicine Reports
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.3767-3774
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• 2019

The contractility of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) controls the lumen diameter of vessels, thus serving a role in regulating blood pressure and organ blood flow. Although arginases are known to have numerous effects in the biological activities of VSMCs, the effects of arginase II on the constriction of VSMCs has not yet been investigated. When conducting a natural products screen for an inhibitor against arginase, the present study identified that a relatively high concentration of resveratrol (RSV) exhibited arginase inhibitory activity. Therefore, the present study investigated whether RSV could regulate VSMCs contractions and the underlying mechanism. Arginase inhibition by RSV led to an increase in the concentration of the substrate L-Arg and an accompanying increase in the cytosol Ca2+ concentration [(Ca2+)c] in VSMCs. The increased [Ca2+]c induced by RSV and L-Arg treatments resulted in CaMKII-dependent MLC20 phosphorylation. The effects of RSV on VSMCs were maintained even when VSMCs were pre-treated with sirtinol, an inhibitor of Sirt proteins. In a vascular tension assay with de-endothelialized aortic vessels, vasoconstrictor responses, which were measured using phenylephrine (PE), were significantly enhanced in the RSV- and L-Arg-treated vessels. Therefore, although arginase inhibition has exhibited beneficial effects in various diseases, care is required when considering administration of an arginase inhibitor to patients with vessels endothelial dysfunction as RSV can induce vessel contraction.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.321-328
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• 1999

Pulmonary blood vessels with diameters of $200{\sim}400\;{\mu}m$ produce considerably more force in response to vasoconstrictor drugs than those which are either smaller or larger. We have therefore investigated whether or not hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) is more powerful in vessels of these diameters. We have also looked at the possibility that vessels from different regions of the lung respond differently. To do this we have grouped vessels according to their location within the lung as well as by size. We used a small vessel myograph (Cambustion AM10, Cambridge, UK) to study 208 preconstricted $(1\;{\mu}M\;PGF_{2{\alpha}})$ small pulmonary arteries $(300{\sim}800\;{\mu}m$ diameter when stretched to a tension equivalent to 25 mmHg transmural pressure) from 39 rats anaesthetized with 2% inspired halothane. A biphasic contraction was observed in response to hypoxia (ca. 25 mmHg $Po_2).$ The magnitudes of both the first, transient, phase (PT, peak tension) and of the second, sustained, phase (SST, steady state tension) were measured. The latter was measured 40 min after the start of hypoxia. The first phase was most pronounced in vessels with an average diameter of 423 ${\mu}m$ while the second phase was most pronounced in larger vessels (mean diameter 505 ${\mu}m).$ These maximal responses were all seen in vessels somewhat larger than reported by others. The responses of smaller vessels $(400{\sim}500\;{\mu}m)$ did not depend upon their location within the lung, but those of larger vessels $(600{\sim}700\;{\mu}m)$ showed regional differences. Those from the right lobe and those from the base of the lung gave the largest responses. It was especially noticeable that large vessels (631 ${\mu}m$ diameter) from the base of the right lung gave the biggest responses. Thus HPV seems to occur not in a uniform manner, dependent solely to the size of vessels, but it also depends to some degree on the region of the lung from which vessels have been taken. Furthermore, our results suggest that larger vessels, as well as smaller ones, may contribute significantly to HPV.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.107-120
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• 2010

Objectives : The aim of this study is to measure pulse waveforms by applying 5-level graded pressure, and selecting optimum pulse waveforms. Also to proposing the possibility of using AW(Area of the 1/3 upper height of h1) rate in respect to AT(Total Area) for risk assessment of hypertension or arteriosclerosis is another aim of the study. Methods : Pulse waveforms of normotensive were measured by 5-level graded pressure. The pulse waveforms well reflecting properties of blood vessel(having the largest h1) were selected for optimum pulse waveforms. Various parameters(h-parameter, t-parameter, and others) of optimum pulse waveforms were analyzed. AIx(Augmentation index) was calculated by height-parameters to assess arterial stiffness. The area rate of the 1/3 upper height for h1 in respect to total area was analyzed according to aging. Results : According to aging 1. in height-parameter, h2 and h3 were increased but h5 was decreased. 2. In time-parameter, t2, t3, and t5 were getting short. 3. Area of systolic period was increased, and that of diastolic period decreased. 4. AIx rose by aging. 5. AW was significantly increased despite no changes in AT. Conclusions : By analyzing optimum pulse waveforms of 5-level graded pressure method, we could complement weakness of single graded pressure method. Also, possibility of applying the AW rate to risk assessment of hypertension or arteriosclerosis was confirmed in normotensive population which might not be assessed by AIx.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.420-427
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• 2012

Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were orally administered with NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), which inhibits or blocks the production of nitric oxide from L-arginine in vascular endothelial cells and vessel tissue. We examined the effects of nitric oxide on some physiological changes such as blood pressure and heart rate, and confirms the apoptosis induced by the suppressed nitric oxide activity in the kidney. This study was performed to investigate correlation between the activities of nitric oxide and apoptosis by immunohistochemical changes of apoptotic control proteins with regulated chronic inhibition of nitric oxide. In the kidney from L-NAME-treated group, immunohistochemical reaction to the antigens of apoptosis inhibiting proteins such as bcl-2 and bcl-xL, exhibited a time-dependent reduction. The expression of apoptosis-inhibiting proteins such as bax and p53 increased expression in proportion to the duration of treatment. The most sensitive apoptosis regulating proteins to L-NAME were p53 in stimulation and bcl-2 in inhibition, respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Navigation and Port Research Conference
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• v.1
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• pp.429-434
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• 2006

It is naturally to be expected that occupational stress on seafarers has specific characters compared to workers engaged in other industries. Because the physical rigors of working and living at sea has been endured as a part of job. The purpose of this paper is to figure out physical changes on seafarers resulted from ordinary shipboard life on the ocean-going cargo vessel. To do this, we performed biochemical inspections testing blood and urine for 28 crews, and measured heart rate of officers engaging in some bridge duties. The tests showed that creatinine, uric acid, total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C of some crews fell down to level which could make a bad impact on human body. And the heart rate of deck officers had vibrated with rather wide amplitude whenever they have got some work-related psychological pressure.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.109-117
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• 2011

Assuming that photons absorbed by a vessel do not have acute variations, DC component reflect the basal blood volume (or diameter) before blood pulsation. Vascular stiffness and reflection is influenced by changes in basal blood volume (or diameter). This paper describes analysis of the characteristic variations of vascular stiffness, according to relative variations in DC components of the PPG signal (25-75%). For quantitative analysis, we have used parameters that were proposed previously, reflection and stiffness index, and the second derivative of PPG waveform, b/a and d/a. Significantly, the vascular stiffness and reflections were increased according to increase in DC component of the PPG signal for more than about 3% of baseline values. The systolic blood pressure were increased from $113.1{\times}13.18$ to $116.2{\times}13.319$ mmHg, about 2.76% (r = 0.991, P < 0.001) and the AC component of the PPG signal were decreased from $2.073{\times}2.287$ to $1.973{\times}2.2038$ arbitrary unit, about 5.09% (r = -0.993, P < 0.001). It is separated by DC median and correlation analysis was performed for analyzing vascular characteristics according to instantaneous DC variations. There are significant differences between two correlation coefficients in separated data.