• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.122-126
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• 2014

Coronary vasospasm is one of the fatal complications that may occur in patients undergoing open heart surgery. To date, however, there are not many cases in this series and no definite pathophysiology has been documented. We experienced a case of coronary artery vasospasm after atrial septal defect (ASD) surgery and then successfully treated it with both transbrachial intraaortic balloon pump and percutaneous cardiopulmonary support. Only several hours after ASD surgery, the patient exhibited the cardiovascular collapse, the ST-segment elevation, followed by ventricular fibrillation and normal coronary angiography findings. It is important to make a differential diagnosis of coronary artery vasospasm in patients presenting with ST-segment elevation who had no notable coronary artery diseases. This case indicates that clinicians should be aware of the possibility that the coronary artery vasospasm may also occur in patients undergoing ASD surgery.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2015

This article is a study on palpitation of which disease cause, disease mechanism and formulas were analyzed with reference to annotations on "Shanghanlun" and "Jinkuiyaolue". And the scope of modern diseases related with palpitation was drawn by research on clinical papers. The source books are "Zhujieshanghanlun" and "Jinkuiyaoluefanglun" and the clinical papers are searched in China Academic Journals(CAJ) of China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI). 13 clauses in "Shanghanlun" and 9 clauses in "Jinkuiyaolue" and 12 formulas are related with palpitation. Disease mechanisms of palpitation were classified as yang deficiency, yin deficiency, qi deficiency, blood deficiency, retained fluid, cold, etc and these days, qi stagnation, phlegm turbidity, blood stasis and fire heat are also considered as disease mechanisms. Modern diseases related with palpitation are arrhythmia(extrasystole, atrial fibrillation, bradycardia, tachycardia, sick sinus syndrome, atrioventricular block), vascular diseases(arterial occlusion, phlebothrombosis, Buerger's disease, coronary artery disease, vasculitis), blood pressure disorder(hypertension, hypotension) and heart diseases such as heart failure, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, myocarditis, cardiomyopathy, pericardial effusion. And diseases related with psychological change(cardiac neurosis, anxiety neurosis, neurosis, depression, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism), pyrexia, anemia, drug intoxication, etc are also related with palpitation. Zhen Wu Tang showing an efficacy in dilating blood vessels and strengthening cardiac function, Wuling Powder with diuretic effect and Fried Glycyrrhizae Decoction acting on the ${\beta}$ receptor are applied to heart failure in different ways. Fried Glycyrrhizae Decoction(308 cases), Zhen Wu Tang(154), Wuling Powder(54), Xiao Chaihu Tang(34), Sini San(20) are reported to have been clinically applied to cardiovascular diseases and Zhen Wu Tang and Wuling Powder mainly applied to heart failure, Fried Glycyrrhizae Decoction, Lizhong Wan, Sini San and Zhen Wu Tang chiefly applied to arrhythmia related diseases. This study focuses on the general research and consideration on clinical applications and is a preliminary study to understand relations between Korean Medicine's symptoms and categories of modern diseases.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 2007

Objectives: Our previous studies have clearly demonstrated that the scavenging activity of reactive oxygen species (ROS), protective effect of lipid peroxidation (LPO), and inhibition of cytochrome P450 isozymes (CYPs) from the Circium japonicum aqua-acupuncture solution (CJAS). But, Circium japonicum water extracted solution (CJWS) was weakly reported in cardiovascular diseases such as oxidative stress-mediated atherosclerosis or its value evaluated. Methods: CJWS was assessed to determine the mechanism of its scavenging activity of ROS and inhibitory effect of CYP 2E1. Results: CJWS exhibited a concentration-dependent scavenger of DPPH and superoxide anions radicals using different assay systems. In addition, CJWS showed dose-dependent free radical scavenging activity, including hydroxyl radicals, peroxynitrite, and nitric oxide. The CJWS was also found to be effective in protecting rat liver homogenate against LPO. Futhermore, the CJWS showed significant inhibition of CYP 2E1 induced by pyrazol in a rat liver microsome. Conclusion : ROS and CYPs may play a role in several diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and heart failure. Our study demonstrated that the CJWS has excellent scavenging activity of ROS. Hence, it is worthwhile to investigate the potential effectiveness of CJWS in preventing oxidative stress-mediated cardiovascular diseases.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.289-294
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• 1983

The report is concerned to our experience of 12 cases of open heart surgery under the extracorporeal circulation at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Chosun University Hospital during the period between Nov, 1979 and April, 1983. 1. There were 4 cases of congenital anomaly and 8 cases of acquired heart disease. 2. There were 6 male and 6 female patients with a mean age of 20 years. [range 9 to 33 years]. 3. The cases induced 2 ventricular septal defect, 2 atrial septal defects and 8 acquired valvular heart diseases. 4. The surgical managements were 2 primary repair for atrial septal defect and 2 patch closure for ventricular septal defect, 1 triple valve replacement [AVR MVR TVR], 1 aortic valve replacement, 4 double valve replacement [AVR MVR] and 2 open mitral commissurotomy for pure mitral stenosis. 5. The average cardiopulmonary bypass time was 61.5 minutes for congenital heart disease and 201.4 minutes for acquired valvular heart disease and the average aortic cross clamping time was 36.75 minutes for the former and 165.6 minutes for the latter. 6. Postoperatively, there were 1 Alopecia, 1 Electric burn and 1 wound infection as complication. 7. Overall operative mortality was 8.3%. 7. All patients received valve replacement were recommended anticoagulation with persantin.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.280-287
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• 1986

Between March 1978 and August 1985, 29 cases at various congenital heart diseases were reoperated because of remnant shunt of residual anomalies at Seoul National University Hospital. They were consisted of 10 cases of Tetralogy, 4 simple VSD, 6 complicated VSD. 3 partial ECD, and 5 other rare congenital anomalies. The interval between the initial and the second procedure ranged from 1 day to 122 months [mean; 26.9 months]. In 4 cases of them, the second procedure was done during initial hospitalization within 3 weeks post-operatively. The primary operation intended to be corrective surgery except four whose primary operation was palliative or exploratory one even though it was done with extracorporeal circulation. The indication for second operation was mainly residual shunt or valvular obstruction due to patch detachment or inadequate relief of stenotic lesion. Others were paravalvular leak, valvuloplasty failure, prosthetic valve failure, and inadequate primary diagnosis. Four patients were dead [14.3%]; three complicated VSD`s and one Tetralogy. There were 7 cases of nonfatal complication with subsequent improvement except one [diffuse cerebral dysfunction].

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.211-216
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• 2007

Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and peripheral vascular diseases that are complicated by atherosclerosis and a thromboembolism. An increased level of plasma homocysteine develops from a genetic defect in the of enzyme for the homocysteine metabolism or a vitamin deficiency. Hyperhomocysteinemia has direct toxic effect on the vascular endothelium and causes damages to the antithrombotic action of vascular endothelial cells. Most cases of hyperhomocysteinemia are asymptomatic, but cardiopulmonary or cerebrovascular incidents developin rare cases. In the case of a thromboembolism with an unknown cause, hyperhomocysteinemia should be considered in a differential diagnosis. The authors report a case of pulmonary thromboembolism in a patient with hyperhomocysteinemia with a review of the relevant literature.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.385-393
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• 2014

Purpose: The aim of this study is to examine the effects of egg consumption and suggest proper guidelines for consumption of eggs by determining the relationship between eggs and cholesterol. Methods: Literature review was conducted on the relationship between nutritional, functional properties of eggs and serum cholesterol, as well as cardiovascular disease. Results: Eggs, which are a good protein food with complete amino acid composition, contain vitamin A, riboflavin, vitamin $B1_2$, folic acid, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, calcium, iron, choline, selenium, ${\beta}$-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, etc. However the egg yolk has a high cholesterol content, which is associated with chronic diseases, including heart disease and hypertension. As a result, its intake is subject to regulation. Outbreak of heart disease by yolk intake can show different results depending on the characteristics of the subjects, amount of egg intake, and the implications of other foods eaten. It is difficult to determine whether eggs are beneficial, as they are the main supplying source for other major nutritive elements as well. Several research studies insist that when cholesterol intake increases by 100 mg, the level of serum cholesterol increases by 2.2~4.5 mg/dL and when serum cholesterol increases by 1%, the risk of heart disease increases by 2%. This indicates that a large intake of eggs can increase the risk of heart disease. Although the cholesterol of egg yolk and serum cholesterol are correlated, it is insufficient to conclude that only cholesterol and not other components are related to heart disease. In fact, other components in egg such as various unsaturated fatty acids and phospholipids could be related as well. Rather than concluding egg as a 'good' or 'bad' food according to its cholesterol content, it is important to define egg as a part of dietary patterns. Conclusion: Generalizing an indiscriminate and uniform amount of egg intake for all seems inadequate. However, patients with diabetes or heart disease should pay particular attention to the amount of egg intake. As for the norm, eating egg with vegetables as a substitute for other animal products seems beneficial.

• Endocrinology and Metabolism
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.485-492
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• 2018

Background: Increasing evidence supports interplay between aldosterone and parathyroid hormone (PTH), which may aggravate cardiovascular complications in various heart diseases. Negative structural cardiovascular remodeling by primary aldosteronism (PA) is also suspected to be associated with changes in calcium levels. However, to date, few clinical studies have examined how changes in calcium and PTH levels influence cardiovascular outcomes in PA patients. Therefore, we investigated the impact of altered calcium homeostasis caused by excessive aldosterone on cardiovascular parameters in patients with PA. Methods: Forty-two patients (mean age $48.8{\pm}10.9$ years; 1:1, male:female) whose plasma aldosterone concentration/plasma renin activity ratio was more than 30 were selected among those who had visited Severance Hospital from 2010 to 2014. All patients underwent adrenal venous sampling with complete access to both adrenal veins. Results: The prevalence of unilateral adrenal adenoma (54.8%) was similar to that of bilateral adrenal hyperplasia. Mean serum corrected calcium level was $8.9{\pm}0.3mg/dL$ (range, 8.3 to 9.9). The corrected calcium level had a negative linear correlation with left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD, ${\rho}=-0.424$, P=0.031). Moreover, multivariable regression analysis showed that the corrected calcium level was marginally associated with the LVEDD and corrected QT (QTc) interval (${\beta}=-0.366$, P=0.068 and ${\beta}=-0.252$, P=0.070, respectively). Conclusion: Aldosterone-mediated hypercalciuria and subsequent hypocalcemia may be partly involved in the development of cardiac remodeling as well as a prolonged QTc interval, in subjects with PA, thereby triggering deleterious effects on target organs additively.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.657-665
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• 2008

Objectives : The objective of this study was to assess the effect of acupuncture applied at the ST36 point on blood pressure and endothelial dependent vasodilation in hypertensive patients. Methods : 24 hypertensive patients were recruited and randomized to a study group (12 subjects) or a control group (12 subjects). Both groups took FMD (endothelial-dependant, flow-mediated dilation) measurement and then acupuncture needles were inserted at ST36 for the study group. In the control group, they took sham acupuncture as a control. FMD was rechecked after 10-min acupuncture treatment. Blood pressure was measured before and after acupuncture treatment. Results : FMD increased significantly in the study group after acupuncture (9.5${\pm}$2.0% to 11.1${\pm}$2.2%), but not in the control group. In both groups, there were no changes in blood pressure and heart rate. Conclusions : Acupuncture on ST36 appears to improve endothelial dysfunction of hypertensive patients and this might result from inducing activation of endothelium-derived nitric oxide.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.161-166
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• 2014

Ginseng is widely used for its promising healing and restorative properties as well as for its possible tonic effect in traditional medicine. Nowadays, many studies focus on purified individual ginsenoside, an important constituent in ginseng, and study its specific mechanism of action instead of whole-plant extracts on cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Of the various ginsenosides, purified ginsenosides such as Rb1, Rg1, Rg3, Rh1, Re, and Rd are the most frequently studied. Although there are many reports on the molecular mechanisms and medical applications of ginsenosides in the treatment of CVDs, many concerns exist in their application. This review discusses current works on the countless pharmacological functions and the potential benefits of ginseng in the area of CVDs. Results: Both in vitro and in vivo results indicate that ginseng has potentially positive effects on heart disease through its various properties including antioxidation, reduced platelet adhesion, vasomotor regulation, improving lipid profiles, and influencing various ion channels. To date, approximately 40 ginsenosides have been identified, and each has a different mechanism of action owing to the differences in chemical structure. This review aims to present comprehensive information on the traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of ginseng, especially in the control of hypertension and cardiovascular function. In addition, the review also provides an insight into the opportunities for future research and development on the biological activities of ginseng.