• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.46-52
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• 2019

Pimobendan has inotropic and vasodilating effects on cardiovascular system, and pentoxifylline is known to decrease blood viscosity and improve blood flow to the heart. This study investigated the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics following oral administration of pimobendan-pentoxifylline powder mixture in dogs. Eight healthy dogs were included and were divided into control (n = 4) and experimental (n = 4) groups. Vehicle powder and pimobendan-pentoxifylline powder mixture (pimobendane 0.25 mg/kg, pentoxifylline 15 mg/kg) were administrated orally to control and experimental groups, respectively. Plasma samples and measurement of echocardiographic indices were obtained for 24 hours following administration. Pimobendan and pentoxifylline concentrations were investigated using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer (LC-MS) assay. The elimination half-life ($T_{1/2}$) were $2.65{\pm}1.42hours$ for pimobendan and $0.29{\pm}0.23hours$ for pentoxifylline. The time to reach maximum concentration ($T_{max}$) were $1.08{\pm}0.72hours$ for pimobendan and $0.29{\pm}0.14hours$ for pentoxifylline. The maximum blood concentration ($C_{max}$) were $2.83{\pm}1.50ng/mL$ for pimobendan and $1184.33{\pm}932.37ng/mL$ for pentoxifylline. Among echocardiographic indices, fractional shortening (FS), left ventricular internal diameter at end systole (LVIDs), and pre-ejection period (PEP) showed significant changes at 1-4 hours after the administration of pimobendan-pentoxifylline powder mixture. No adverse effects were observed during the investigation. This study demonstrates that pimobendan-pentoxifylline powder mixture can be used to control cardiovascular diseases in dogs.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.9 no.8
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• pp.260-267
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to find out how underwater rehabilitation exercises affect physical fitness and blood lipids for 10 weeks and provide basic data to help prevent middle-aged women from cardiovascular diseases. The subjects of this study were middle-aged women living in Seoul, Korea. The underwater rehabilitation exercise was performed for 1 week and 3 times for 10 weeks, and the exercise time was 60 minutes for 1 time including the warm up, the main exercise and the cool down. The exercise intensity was set at 60-70% of the heart rate reserve calculated from the pre-exercise test. The measurement variables were physical fitness and blood lipid. In the data processing, descriptive statistics were presented for each measurement item and a 2-way RGRM ANOVA was conducted to examine the interaction effects between groups. The results have shown significant interaction effects in physical fitness(Flexibility, Cardiorespiratory Endurance, Muscular Endurance) and the blood lipids(TG, TC, HLD-C, LDL-C). This study found that the 10-week underwater rehabilitation exercise program of middle-aged women increased physical fitness level and decreased and increased blood lipid, which could be an effective and convergent program to prevent and reduce cardiovascular disease.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.53 no.10
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• pp.693-707
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: Inherited arrhythmia (IA) is a more common cause of sudden cardiac death in Asian population, but little is known about the genetic background of Asian IA probands. We aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and analyze the genetic underpinnings of IA in a Korean cohort. Methods: This study was conducted in a multicenter cohort of the Korean IA Registry from 2014 to 2017. Genetic testing was performed using a next-generation sequencing panel including 174 causative genes of cardiovascular disease. Results: Among the 265 IA probands, idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (IVF) and Brugada Syndrome (BrS) was the most prevalent diseases (96 and 95 cases respectively), followed by long QT syndrome (LQTS, n=54). Two-hundred-sixteen probands underwent genetic testing, and 69 probands (31.9%) were detected with genetic variant, with yield of pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant as 6.4%. Left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly lower in genotype positive probands (54.7±11.3 vs. 59.3±9.2%, p=0.005). IVF probands showed highest yield of positive genotype (54.0%), followed by LQTS (23.8%), and BrS (19.5%). Conclusions: There were significant differences in clinical characteristics and genetic yields among BrS, LQTS, and IVF. Genetic testing did not provide better yield for BrS and LQTS. On the other hand, in IVF, genetic testing using multiple gene panel might enable the molecular diagnosis of concealed genotype, which may alter future clinical diagnosis and management strategies.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.81-87
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• 2007

Objectives : The distressed personality (type-D) pattern, consisting of negative affectivity and social inhibition, has been shown by Denollet et al. For measuring the Type D characteristics, Denollet has devised the 14 item Type D scale (DS14). In the present study, this instrument was translated into Korean. The reliability and validity of the Korean DS14 was pilot tested. Methods : Preliminary version of the total 17-item DS14 scale was translated into Korean. 372 controls that did not have any coronary heart diseases (CHD) were randomly sampled in Seoul and Gyeonggi province. Preliminary Korean version was applied to controls and 14 items were finally selected to maximize reliability of the scale. We compared the distribution of type-D personality among the normal controls, hypertensive patients, and the CHD patients. Results : 7 of 10 items in social inhibition were selected and final 14-item version was made. The internal consistency of negative affectivity (0.817) and social inhibition (0.797) were high. In addition, the prevalence of type-D personality in the CHD patients group was significantly higher than normal controls. Conclusion : These findings suggest that Korean version of DS14 is a valid tool for measuring the type D characteristics. Type-D characteristics can be suggested to predict adverse prognosis in patients with CHD.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 2002

Background: To evaluate the efficiency of surgical treatment in patients with cardiac valvular and arterial involvement of Behcet's syndrome. Material and Method: 12 patients underwent surgical treatment due to the valvular heart diseases and the various arterial diseases associated with Behest's syndrome over 7 years; 6 with valvular heart disease, 1 with annuloaortic ectasia, 1 with ascending aortic aneurysm, 4 with pseudoaneurysms in abdominal aorta(n=2), carotid artery(n=1), and popliteal artery(n=1). All 12 patients had received valvular replacement(n=6) and the artificial(n=5) or autologous(n=1) graft interposition. We followed the results of these surgical treatments. Result: Operations were technically successful in all 12 patients and peri-operative complication was not demonstrated. However, 10 patients had recurrences; 6 with valvular dehiscence, 3 with pseudoaneurysm at anastostomosis site, and 1 with aorto-duodenal fistula. The duration of recurrence was 1 to 55 months(mean: 15.7$\pm$ 16.2 months). 7 patients underwent the second operation and among them, 4 patients showed repeated recurrences. Overall, 5 patients died 2 to 25 months after the operation(mean: 13.6 months), because of the bleeding at the anastomosis site Five patients did not present recurrence after the first(n=2) or the second operation(n=3) and their follow up duration was 5 to 60 months(mean: 45.8$\pm$41.7 months). Five patients received immune-suppressive therapy after the first(n=2) and second operation(n=3). Three did not shown recurrence for the 13, 29 and 33 months. Conclusion: Post-operative prognosis of arterial manifestation of Behcet's syndrome was not encouraging and if possible, other treatment strategy should be considered.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.346-352
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• 2007

Background: Pulmonary hypertension is one of the cardiovascular complications of in COPD. However, a diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension requires an invasive test, such as right heart catheterization. NT-proBNP is a cardiac hormone that is elevated when a cardiac volume or pressure overload is present. It was hypothesized that NT-proBNP might play a role in detecting of pulmonary hypertension in COPD patients. Method: The 31 COPD patients, who underwent all of NT-proBNP, echocardiography, and spirometry in Seoul National University Bundang Hospital during the period from November 2003 to July 2005, were retrospectively analyzed. Result: Of the 31 COPD patients, 9 patients had pulmonary hypertension. A significant positive correlation was observed between the NT-proBNP and pulmonary arterial pressure (r=0.589, p=0.002). However, there was no significant correlation observed between the $FEV_1$ and NT-proBNP and $FEV_1$ and pulmonary arterial pressure. Conclusion: NT-proBNP might indicate the presence of pulmonary hypertension in COPD patients.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.337-344
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• 2011

Purpose: To report our experience of gastrointestinal operations performed in neonates including low birth weight infants and to evaluate their clinical characteristics. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent neonatal gastrointestinal surgery or had necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) or inguinal hernia from January 2008 to December 2010 at Pusan National University School of Medicine. Results: The main disease was anorectal malformation and male patients were dominant. Twenty four patients (19.2%) had one or more associated anomalies including hydronephrosis and congenital heart disease. Eighteen patients (43.9%) of anorectal malformation had other anomalies. Seventy six percent of NEC cases were very low birth weight infants. Concerning mean days of full enteral feeding after operation, NEC patients needed 30.8 days, which was the longest period. Overall mortality of operation (except NEC and inguinal hernia operation) was 1.6%. The mortality of NEC with surgical treatment was 18.8%. The direct bilirubin in the operation group was significant higher than in the non-operation group in NEC patients. Conclusion: The morbidity and mortality after neonatal gastrointestinal surgery were excellent. The direct bilirubin in the operation group was significant higher than in the non-operation group in NEC.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.341-352
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• 2012

It is well established that excessive sodium intake is related to a higher incidence of chronic diseases such as hypertension, stroke, coronary heart disease, cardiovascular disease and gastric cancer. Although the upper limit of the current sodium intake guideline by WHO is set at 2,000 mg/day for adults, sodium intake of Koreans is well over 4,700 mg/capita/day implying an urgent need to develop and implement sodium intake reduction policy at the national level. This study investigated the cost-effectiveness of the sodium intake reduction policy, for the first time, in Korea. Analyses were performed using most recent and representative data on national health insurance statistics, healthcare utilization, employment information, disease morbidity/mortality, etc. The socioeconomic benefits of the policy, resulting from reduced morbidity of those relevant diseases, included lower medical expenditures, transportation costs, caregiver cost for inpatients and income losses. The socioeconomic benefits from diminished mortality included reductions in earning losses and welfare losses caused by early deaths. It is estimated that the amount of total benefits of reducing sodium intake from 4.7 g to 3.0 g is 12.6 trillion Korean Won; and the size of its cost is 149 billion Won. Assuming that the effect of sodium intake reduction would become gradually evident over a 5-year period, the implied rate of average return to the sodium reduction policy is 7,790% for the following 25 years, suggesting a very high cost-effectiveness. Accordingly, development and implementation of a mid-to-long term plan for a consistent sodium intake reduction policy is extremely beneficial and well warranted.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 2002

Hypertension is an important public health problem because it increases the risk of stroke, angina, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and end-stage renal disease. If it is not actively treated, morbidity and mortality increase with hypertension-induced complications and quality of life decreases. This study was to evaluate the use of antihypertensive drugs and blood pressure changes and to compare algorithms chosen (or the 1st and 2nd line therapy of hypertension based on the JNC VI recommendations. The medical charts of 222 patients with essential hypertension at St. Vincent's Hospital in Suwon from January 1997 to January 2000 were reviewed retrospectively. Data collection and analysis included baseline BP underlying diseases and complications, administered antihypertensives, BP changes, changes of antihypertensive regimen, and adverse effects with treatments. As results, the higher BP the patients had, the more frequent they had target organ damages and clinical cardiovascular diseases. Mean duration to reduce blood pressure less than 140/90 mmHg was 8 weeks in $85.3\%$ of the patients. The rate of control in BP was $82.4\%$ at 6 months. The major antihypertensive drugs prescribed were calcium channel blockers $(61.8\%)$ , ACE inhibitors $(19.1\%),\;\beta-blockers\;(13.7\%)$ and diuretics $(5.3\%)$ as the 1st-line monotherapy. The methods of treatment used as the 1st-line therapy were monotherapy$(59\%)$ and combination therapy $(41\%)$. Blood pressure change was significantly greater for combination therapy than monotherapy$(-26.2\pm21.4\;vs.\;-18.56\pm16.7$ mmHg for systolic blood pressure; P<0.003, $-16.9\pm13.2\;vs.\;-9.2\pm12.8$ mmHg for diastolic blood pressure; p<0.001). When blood pressure was not completely controlled with the first antihypertensive selected, the 2nd line therapy had 4 options: addition of 2nd agent from different class; $66.2\%$, substitution with another drug, $21.9\%$ increase dose $11.9\%$ continue first regimen $27.9\%$ Calcium channel blockers were the most frequently prescribed agents. This was not comparable to the JNC VI guideline which recommended diuretics and $\beta-blockers$ for the 1st-line therapy. Most of patients achieved the goal BP and maintained it until 6 months, but the remaining patients should be controlled more tightly to improve their BP with combination of life style modification, patient education, and pharmacotherapy.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.46-54
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• 2017

Objectives: Domestic violence is related to many psychiatric diseases, such as depression, anxiety disorder, and PTSD. Heart rate variability (HRV) is an index of autonomic control of the heart and is related to cardiovascular and emotional disorders. Although there have been some studies on the effects of domestic violence on women's mental health, relatively little information is available on HRV in this population. The aim of this study is to investigate demographic data, psychological features, and HRV in female victims of domestic violence and difference between Korean and foreign female victims. Methods: A total of 210 female victims of domestic violence (166 Korean women and 44 foreign women) were recruited for this study. Psychological symptoms were measured using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D), and Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). HRV measures were assessed by time-domain and frequency-domain analyses. Results: The mean score of HAM-A was 13.81, that of HAM-D was 12.92, and that of IES-R was 33.61 ; there were no significant differences between Korean and foreign women in these measures. In HRV time domain analyses, approximate entropy (ApEn) was significantly increased in foreign women compared to the Korean women. The square root of the mean of the sum of the squares of differences between adjacent NN intervals (RMSSD) was significantly decreased in foreign women compared to Korean women. There were no significant differences in the other HRV variables between Korean and foreign women. Conclusion: Female victims of domestic violence in Korea are associated with depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms. The physiologic factors of a female victim's nationality could be related to higher ApEn and lower RMSSD in foreign female victims. These findings have important implications for future study to study the relationships among ethnic and environmental factors and HRV variables.