• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.182-198
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• 2005

Object : This study was designed to research whether the protection and inhibitory effects of cardiovascular diseases in L-NAME induced rat or ECV 304 cell lines through the Cell morphological pattern, Tunel assay, LDH activity, heart rate, blood pressure and immunohistochemistric analysis by Boonsimgieum water extract Methods : Nitric oxide(NO) play an important role in normal and pathophysiological cells including as a messenger molecule, neurotransmitter, microbiocidal agent, or dilator of blood vessels and artheriosclerosis, hypertension, myocardial infarction, respectively. Endothelial cell products can modulate the magnitude of a response to a vasoconstrictor, as evinced by the greater constriction after endothelium removal or NO synthesis blockade. To investigate that Boonsimgieum in the potential contribution of the levels of nitric oxide generated by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and the mechanisms of protection against NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), human ECV 304 cells, which normally do not express eNOS, were expressed by L-NAME. L-NAME stimulated rat or cells were found to be resistant to injury and delayed death following the Boonsimgieum. Inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis abolished the protective effect against L-NAME, thrombin and collagen exposure. Interestingly, such effects have been observed during stimulation with agents such as phenylephrine and KCl on L-NAME mediate rats, were damaged by the NOS inhibitor L-NAME. Result : As the result of this study, In group, the anti-apoptosis and necrosis in the cardiovascular system have a potential capacity for prevented, protected and treating the diseases of cardiovascular system, against the necrosis of rat and ECV 304 cells with Caspase 3 and calpain expression by L-NAME is promoted. Conclusion : these results demonstrate neuroprotective and memory enhancing effects of ZIBU, suggesting its beneficial actions for the treatment of AD.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.295-304
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• 2008

Background: Various experimental trials for the development of bioprosthetic devices are actively underway, secondary to the limited supply of autologous and homograft tissue to treat cardiac diseases. In this study, porcine bioprostheses that were treated with glutaraldehyde (GA), ethanol, or sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) were examined with light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy for mechanical and physical imperfections before implantation, Material and Method: 1) Porcine pericardium, aortic valve, and pulmonary valve were examined using light microscopy and JEM-100CX II transmission electron microscopy, then compared with human pericardium and commercially produced heterografts. 2) Sections from six treated groups (GA-Ethanol, Ethanol-GA, SDS only, SDS-GA, Ethanol-SDS-GA and SDS-Ethanol-GA) were observed using the same methods. Result: 1) Porcine pericardium was composed of a serosal layer, fibrosa, and epicardial connective tissue. Treatment with GA, ethanol, or SDS had little influence on the collagen skeleton of porcine pericardium, except in the case of SDS pre-treatment. There was no alteration in the collagen skeleton of the porcine pericardium compared to commercially produced heterografts. 2) Porcine aortic valve was composed of lamina fibrosa, lamina spongiosa, and lamina ventricularis. Treatment with GA, ethanol, or SDS had little influence on these three layers and the collagen skeleton of porcine aortic valve, except in the case of SDS pre-treatment. There were no alterations in the three layers or the collagen. skeleton of porcine aortic valve compared to commercially produced heterografts. Conclusion: There was little physical and mechanical damage incurred in porcine bioprosthesis structures during various glutaraldehyde fixation processes combined with anti-calcification or decellularization treatments. However, SDS treatment preceding GA fixation changed the collagen fibers into a slightly condensed form, which degraded during transmission electron micrograph. The optimal methods and conditions for sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) treatment need to be modified.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.263-269
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• 1997

From April 1987 to May 1996, 13 infants underwent a Norwood operation for complex congenital heart diseases including hypoplastic left heart syndrome (n : 7), mitral stenosis with small VSD and subaortic stenosis (n : 1), mitral atresia with ventricular septal defect, coarctation of aorta, and subaortic stenosis (n = 1), interrupted aortic arch with ventricular septal defect and subaortic stenosis (n : 1), tricuspid atresia with transposition of the great arteries (n = 1), and complex double-inlet left ventricle (n : 2). All patients without hypoplastic left heart syndrome were associated wit hypoplasia of ascending aorta and arch. Age at operation ranged from 3 days to 8.7 months (mean 60.6 $\pm$ 71.6 days, median 39 days). The operative mortality( < 30 days) was 46% (6 patients). Late mortality was 15% (2 patients). All operative deaths occured during the Erst 24 hours after the operation as a result of cardiopulmonary bypass weaning failure (5 patients) and sudden hemodynamic instability postoperatively (1 patient). Late death was due to aspiration pneumonia in two cases. There are 5 long-term survivals (39%). Three of them have undergone a two-stage repair with a modified Fontan operation in two and total cavopulmonary shunt in one at 12, 17, 4.5 months after Norwood procedure with no mortality. Two patients have entered a three-stage repair strategy by undergoing a bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt at 3 and 5.5 months after initial operation with 1 operative death. The actuarial survival rate for all patients at the first-stage operation, including hospital deaths and ate death was 30.8% at 1 year. In conclusion, the operative mortality of Norwood operation was relatively high compared to other operation for major cardiac anomalies, continuing experience will lead to an improvement in result.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.345-349
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• 2010

Good health-related quality of life is regarded as the goal of elderly residential care. Treatment for breast cancer produces side effects that diminish functional capacity and quality of life among survivors. Tai-Chi exercise offers the benefits of fitness and health. Tai-chi has been claimed to generate beneficial effects with respect to a wide range of diseases. The object of this research is to evaluate the effects of tai chi exercise on shoulder joint movement and cardiovascular function in elderly breast cancer patients. The subjects were 40 patients residing in B metropolitan city, who had undergone surgery for breast cancer within 2 months. They underwent post-operative radiotherapy and an anti-cancer chemical treatment. They practiced tai-chi exercise for 60 min a day, four times a week for 12 weeks under the direction of a special tai-chi instructor. Shoulder joint movement and heart rate, were measured before and after the experiment. The results were as follows; Shoulder joint movement, including flexion, extention, adduction and abduction, significantly increased (p<0.05) after treatment, and heart rates significantly decreased after treatment (p<0.05). From the results, Tai-Chi exercise was shown to be extremely effective in improving shoulder joint movement and heart rate in elderly breast cancer patients. Further study is needed in this area.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.610-617
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• 1995

Sleep apnea occurs in approximately 50% of patients with acromegaly, and sleep apnea is associated with increased cardiovascular diseases and mortality. In view of these findings, sleep apnea may be a factor in the increased incidence of cardiovascular deaths in acromegaly patients. We experienced a case of active acromegaly patient, 54-yr-old man, associated with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, congestive heart failure with dilated cardiomyopathy and serious cardiac arrhythmias. He was treated for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, diagnosed by overnight polysomnography, with nasal continuous positive airway pressure(CPAP) for 4 months, which successfully controlled his loud snoring, sleep apnea, nocturnal hypoxemia and apnea-related symptoms. And also he was treated for underlying acromegaly and cardiac complications with bromocriptine and cardiogenic drugs for 4 months, but still had elevated growth hormone(GH) and insulin like growth factor-1(IGF-1) levels and serious cardiac arrhythmias. We describe our experience about the effect of CPAP treatment in an active acromegaly patient associated with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and cardiac complications with review of literature.

• Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.85-95
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• 2023

BACKGROUND: The prognostic utility of follow-up transthoracic echocardiography (FU-TTE) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is unclear, specifically in terms of whether changes in echocardiographic parameters in routine FU-TTE parameters are associated with cardiovascular outcomes. METHODS: From 2010 to 2017, 162 patients with HCM were retrospectively enrolled in this study. Using echocardiography, HCM was diagnosed based on morphological criteria. Patients with other diseases that cause cardiac hypertrophy were excluded. TTE parameters at baseline and FU were analyzed. FU-TTE was designated as the last recorded value in patients who did not develop any cardiovascular event or the latest exam before event development. Clinical outcomes were acute heart failure, cardiac death, arrhythmia, ischemic stroke, and cardiogenic syncope. RESULTS: Median interval between the baseline TTE and FU-TTE was 3.3 years. Median clinical FU duration was 4.7 years. Septal trans-mitral velocity/mitral annular tissue Doppler velocity (E/e'), tricuspid regurgitation velocity, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and left atrial volume index (LAVI) at baseline were recorded. LVEF, LAVI, and E/e' values were associated with poor outcomes. However, no delta values predicted HCM-related cardiovascular outcomes. Logistic regression models incorporating changes in TTE parameters had no significant findings. Baseline LAVI was the best predictor of a poor prognosis. In survival analysis, an already enlarged or increased size LAVI was associated with poorer clinical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in echocardiographic parameters extracted from TTE did not assist in predicting clinical outcomes. Cross-sectionally evaluated TTE parameters were superior to changes in TTE parameters between baseline and FU at predicting cardiovascular events.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.253-264
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• 2012

Nesfatin-1 is a recently discovered anorexigenic peptide which is distributed in several brain areas implicated in the feeding and metabolic regulation. Recently, it has been reported that nesfatin-1 is expressed not only in brain, but also in peripheral organs such as digestive organs, adipose tissues, heart, and reproductive organs. Nesfatin-1 is markedly expressed in the pancreas, stomach and duodenum. Eventually, the nesfatin-1 expression in the digestive organs may be regulated by nutritional status, which suggests a regulatory role of peripheral nesfatin-1 in energy homeostasis. Nesfatin-1 is also detected in the adipose tissues of humans and rodents, indicating that nesfatin-1 expression in the fat may regulate food intake independently, rather than relying on leptin. In addition, nesfatin-1 is expressed in the heart as a cardiac peptide. It suggests that nesfatin-1 may regulate cardiac function and encourage clinical potential in the presence of nutrition-dependent physio-pathologic cardiovascular diseases. Currently, only a few studies demonstrate that nesfatin-1 is expressed in the reproductive system. However, it is not clear yet what function of nesfatin-1 is in the reproductive organs. Here, we summarize the expression of nesfatin-1 and its roles in brain and peripheral organs and discuss the possible roles of nesfatin-1 expressed in reproductive organs, including testis, epididymis, ovary, and uterus. We come to the conclusion that nesfatin-1 as a local regulator in male and female reproductive organs may regulate the steroidogenesis in the testis and ovary and the physiological activity in epididymis and uterus.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.350-354
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• 1979

The incidence of congenital aortic valvular stenosis has been known rare, and approximately 3-6% of congenital heart diseases. Recently, we experienced 1 case of congenital aortic valvular stenosis, and which was corrected surgically under extracorporeal circulation successfully. A 11 years old male pt. was admitted to N.M.C. because of dyspnea, dizziness, chest pain and episode of syncope. An auscultation, harsh systolic murmur [Gr. IV/VI] was noted at aortic area and also palpable strong thrill. ECG showed LVH c strain pattern and suspicious LVH finding in simple chest P-A film. In Lt. cardiac catheterization, abrupt pressure change [110mmHg] between LV & Aorta was noted across the aortic valve. And aortic insufficiency was absent, well visualized both coronary arteries and suspicious bicuspid aortic valve in aortography. Valve form was bicuspid, large one was noncoronary cusp and another cusp was Rt. & Lt. coronary cusp which was interpositioned rudimentary commissure. Central aortic orifice was about 5ram in diameter. Valvulotomy was done along the fusioned commissure between noncoronary cusp and Rt. & Lt.coronary cusp, and then short incision was added between Rt. coronary cusp & Lt. coronary cusp. Immediate postoperative course smooth but unknown cardiac arrest was noted in POD second day. Complete recovery was done without sequelae by resuscitation. After operation, clinical symptoms were subsided but systolic murmur [Gr. II/VI] was audible at aortic area, diastolic murmur was absent. ECG showed still remained LVH but much decreased R wave voltage in Lt. precordial leads. Simple chest P-A showed no interval changes compared to preop film. Control Lt. heart catheterization revealed still remained pressure gradient [40ramrig] between LV & Aorta. But much decreased pressure gradient compared to preop pressure gradient [110mmHg].

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.179-187
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• 2010

There is now growing evidence that psoriasis, like other inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, is a systemic disorder that is associated with enhanced atherosclerosis and risk of coronary artery disease. Erythrodermic psoriasis is a severe form of psoriasis that can be challenging to treat, and carries with it substantial morbidity and an increased risk of mortality compared with other forms of psoriasis. We experienced a case of an erythrodermic psoriasis patient with heart disease. The patient was suffering from whole body erythema, scale, edema and pain. She was admitted to the hospital, and herbal medication, acupuncture, herbal wet dressing and herbal ointment were applied. After 10 days, her edema and pain were remarkably improved, and the patient was discharged and treated through the outpatient clinic. Almost all symptoms were improved after approximately 3 months. We suggest that herbal medicines can be a choice for severe psoriasis patients and can also be helpful for cardiovascular disease.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.693-701
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• 1992

Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary bypass[CPB] has been associated with a wide variety of hematologic derangements, including a transient deformation and hemolysis of red blood cells[RBCs], which is supposed to be due to mechanical trauma and/or metabolic alterations. Since membrane integrity is, in part, maintained by energy requiring process, inadequate function of erythrocyte glycolytic pathway, which is inevitalble during CPB, may cause depletion of high energy phosphate pool and result in hemolysis. The authors performed an investigation to assess whether administration of Fructose-l, 6-diphsphate [FDP], which has been known to enhance intracellular glycolytic activities, could counteract erythrocyte hemolytic events caused by CPB. Sixty pateints with cyanotic congenital heart diseases, who underwent open heart surgery under CPB longer than 60 minutes, were randomly divided into two groups depending on whether use of FDP[Group FDP] or not[Group Control]. The age, sex, CPB time, preoperative hemoglobin level, disease entities were all similar[Table 1], and membrane type oxygenators were used in all patients. In Group, FDP, a dose of 250mg/kg body weight of FDP was administered by intravenous dripping every 12 hours from the morning of the operation to postoperative 48 hours, To demonstrate the degree and pattern of hemolysis of erythrocyte, reticulocyte count, indirect /direct bilirubin, haptoglobin, plasma hemoglobin, lactate dehydrogenase were measured every 12 hours from the time of cessation of CPB to 48 hours and RBC morphologic study, osmotic fragility test were done every 24 hours. All parameters revealed less hemolytic in group FDP [Fig. 1~5], though the differences between two groups were not significant, except plasma hemoglobin, lactate dehydrogenase changes. A pattern of sequential changes of plasma hemoglobin, lactate deh-ydrogenase showed the highest level at the time of CPB stop and abrupt decrease in following 24 hours in both groups, and statistically significant differences were demonstrated in group FDP at least for the first 12 hours postoperatively[p<0.05]. The authors conclude that they can expect the benificial effect of FDP on the maintenance of membrane stability of RBC probably by energy enhancement during the shock status of CPB, but FDP could not completely prevent the damaging effect on RBC by cardiopulmonary bypass