• Applied Microscopy
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.59-76
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• 1994

Fine structure of the distal femoral epiphysis of growing mouse was studied by electron microscopy. The first morphological evidence of developing secondary center of ossification in the distal femoral epiphysis was found at newborn mouse. Ossification center was in the form of multiple foci of calcification and its cells were represented by remnant of degenerated cells within large lacunae that were separated by mineralized cartilaginous septa. Endochondral ossification beneath the articular cartilage proceeded in a less orderly manner than metaphyseal endochondral ossification. Columns of hypertrophied chondrocytes were not distinctly parallel to intercellular mineralized septa in all direction. Hypertrophied chondrocytes in the inner zone of the epiphseal center of ossification showed disintegrated. Resorption of mineralized cartilaginous septa was undertaken by perivascular cells and multinucleated chondroclasts. Resorption of the calcified cartilage was restricted to the region of ruffled border of the chondroclast. Growth along the metaphyseal side of the epiphyseal center of ossification was different from that along the articular surface. As the secondary center expanded toward the metaphyseal side, many vascular buds penetrated unmineralized cartilaginous septa and invaded viable chondrocytes. Many hypertrophied chondrocytes bodering the metaphyseal side of bone center remained viable after they became embedded in mineralized cartilaginous septa. This result suggested that the hypertrophied.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제45권1호
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• pp.22-31
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• 2021

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and it results in a high rate of death worldwide, with an increased prevalence with age despite advances in lifestyle management and drug therapy. Atherosclerosis is a chronic progressive inflammatory process, and it mainly presents with lipid accumulation, foam cell proliferation, inflammatory response, atherosclerotic plaque formation and rupture, thrombosis, and vascular calcification. Therefore, there is a great need for reliable therapeutic drugs or remedies to cure or alleviate atherosclerosis and reduce the societal burden. Ginsenosides are natural steroid glycosides and triterpene saponins obtained mainly from the plant ginseng. Several recent studies have reported that ginsenosides have a variety of pharmacological activities against several diseases including inflammation, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. This review focuses on describing the different pharmacological functions and underlying mechanisms of various active ginsenosides (Rb1,-Rd, -F, -Rg1, -Rg2, and -Rg3, and compound K) for atherosclerosis, which could provide useful insights for developing novel and effective anti-cardiovascular drugs.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제63권2호
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• pp.48-51
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• 2020

Background: The etiopathogenesis of late preterm (LPT) birth is undetermined. Placental histopathology, which reflects an adverse intrauterine environment and is reportedly associated with preterm labor and neonatal morbidities, has not been studied in LPT infants. Purpose: We investigated placental pathological lesion as markers of an adverse intrauterine environment during LPT labor. Methods: This retrospective case-control study compared placental histopathological and clinical variables between LPT and term neonates. Placental variables included chorioamnionitis, funisitis, hemorrhage, abruption, infarction, calcification, and syncytial knots. Maternal variables included age, substance abuse, pregnancyassociated diabetes mellitus and hypertension, duration of rupture of membrane, antibiotic use, and magnesium sulfate, whereas, those of neonates included gestational age, birth weight, race, sex, and Apgar scores. Standard statistical proedures were applied to analyze the data. Results: Chorioamnionitis (50% vs. 17.8%, P<0.001) and funisitis (20% vs. 4.4%, P=0.002) were more common in term infants. Placental infarction rate was insignificantly higher in LPT infants (25.6% vs. 14.3%, P=0.08). The mothers in the LPT group were older (30.4 years vs. 28.1 years, P=0.05; odds ratio [OR], 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.998-1.12, P=0.056) and more often suffered from hypertension (28.9 vs. 12.9 %, P=0.02), and received magnesium sulfate (48.9 vs. 20%, P< 0.001; OR, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.12-7.29, P<0.05). Duration of rupture of membrane was higher in term infants (13.6 hours vs. 9.1 hours, P<0.001). Chorioamnionitis (OR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.13-0.79; P<0.05) was associated with a lower risk of LPT delivery. Conclusion: Placental infection is not a risk factor for LPT births. There is a nonsignificant predominance of vascular anomalies in LPT placentas. Higher maternal age, magnesium sulfate therapy, and maternal hypertension are clinical risk factors for LPT labor.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제44권3호
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• pp.197-207
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• 2011

Background: In cardiac surgery, especially in the reconstruction of vascular structures and intracardiac defects, glutaraldehyde has usually been used as the reagent for fixing porcine or bovine pericardial tissues. But the well-known problem of calcification or cytotoxicity of glutaraldehyde motivates the search for a replacement. The aim of this study is to investigate the physical, mechanical, and biochemical characteristics of bovine pericardial tissues fixed with genipin, which is known to be a less toxic and more natural fixing reagent. Materials and Methods: Bovine pericardial tissues were fixed with different concentrations and conditions of glutaraldehyde and genipin. To determine the physical, mechanical, and biochemical differences among different concentrations and conditions, we divided the tissue into 18 groups by concentration, the addition of organic solvents, and the timing of adding the organic solvents, and compared the characteristics of each group. Results: Tensile strength, physical activity, and thermal stability tests revealed that the tissues fixed with glutaraldehyde were better with regard to mechanical strength and biochemical durability. However, the difference was not significant statistically. Conclusion: Genipin can be used as an alternative crosslinking agent for pericardial tissue, considering given its physical, mechanical, biochemical characteristics and low cytotoxicity comparable to glutaraldehyde. However, further studies are needed on the immune reaction and the long term changes in genipin-fixed tissues in the human body.

• 대한지역사회영양학회지
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• 제16권6호
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• pp.762-770
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• 2011

Osteoprotegerin (OPG) plays a core role in bone reformation by antagonizing the effect of receptor activator of nuclear factor ${\kappa}$-B ligand (RANKL), and mediates vascular calcification in cardiovascular disease patients. Thus, we aimed to examine the relationship between serum OPG levels and cardiovascular factors and inflammatory markers in metabolic syndrome patients (MS). This cross-sectional study included 96 men who visited the diet clinic between May and July 2011. Patients were classified into 2 groups based on NCEP-ATP guidelines: normal and with MS (n = 50 and 46, respectively). Physical measurements, biochemical assay were measured. Serum OPG and IL-6, diponectin and hs-CRP were assessed. MS were aged $50.02{\pm}10.85$ years, and normal patients $52.07{\pm}9.56$ years, with no significant differences. Significant differences were not observed in BMI between the 2 groups. Moreover, significant differences were not observed in serum OPG, however, the serum OPG level ($4.41{\pm}1.86pmol/L$) differed significantly between an overweight MS (BMI > 25) and normal patients. OPG was correlated to age (r = 0.410, p = 0.000), HDL-cholesterol (r = 0.209, p = 0.015), and log adiponectin (r = 0.175, p = 0.042). Multiple regression analyses using the enter method showed that age (${\beta}$ = 0.412, p = 0.000) and BMI (${\beta}$ = 0.265, p = 0.000) considerably affected OPG. In conclusion, out study showed that serum OPG levels are correlated with cardiovascular risk factors, such as BMI, HDL-cholesterol and adiponectin in MS and adiponectin, suggesting that serum OPG has potential as a cardiovascular disease indicator and predictor.

• Journal of Korean Medical Science
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• 제33권53호
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• pp.322.1-322.14
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• 2018

Background: Osteoprotegerin (OPG) plays protective roles against the development of vascular calcification (VC) which greatly contributes to the increased cardiovascular events in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The present study aimed to find the non-traditional, kidney-related cardiovascular risk factors correlated to serum OPG and the effect of serum OPG on the arterial stiffness measured by brachial ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in patients with the pre-dialysis CKD. Methods: We cross-sectionally analyzed the data from the patients in whom baPWV and the serum OPG were measured at the time of enrollment in a prospective pre-dialysis CKD cohort study in Korea. Results: Along with traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as age, diabetes mellitus, pulse pressure, and baPWV, non-traditional, kidney-related factors such as albuminuria, plasma level of hemoglobin, total $CO_2$ content, alkaline phosphatase, and corrected calcium were independent variables for serum OPG in multivariate linear regression. Reciprocally, the serum OPG was positively associated with baPWV in multivariate linear regression. The baPWV in the 3rd and 4th quartile groups of serum OPG were higher than that in the 1st quartile group after adjustments by age, sex and other significant factors for baPWV in linear mixed model. Conclusion: Non-traditional, kidney-related cardiovascular risk factors in addition to traditional cardiovascular risk factors were related to serum level of OPG in CKD. Serum OPG level was significantly related to baPWV. Our study suggests that kidney-related factors involved in CKD-specific pathways for VC play a role in the increased secretion of OPG into circulation in patients with CKD.

• 대한영상의학회지
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• 제83권4호
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• pp.958-964
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• 2022

폐 상피양 혈관 내피종은 경계성 또는 저등급 악성의 드문 혈관성 종양이며 그 예후를 예측하기는 어렵다. 이 논문에서는 다발성 폐결절이 있는 47세 무증상 여성에서 7년의 추적 기간 동안, 초기 검사에서 크기가 크고 높은 ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose 흡수를 보이는 결절은 크기가 증가하는 진행을 보였고, 1 cm 미만의 대부분의 작은 결절은 말초 가장자리 석회화 또는 결절 석회화와 함께 자발적인 퇴행을 보여주었다. 환자는 폐 상피양 혈관내피종으로 진단되었으며 크기가 커진 결절에 대해 수술적 절제술을 받았다. 이 사례는 한 개인에서 질병의 진행과 퇴행이 동시에 나타난 혼합적인 반응을 보여준다는 점에서 주목할 만하며 이 논문을 통해 예후를 예측하는 데 도움이 될 수 있겠다.

• The Korean journal of internal medicine
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• 제39권1호
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• pp.148-159
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• 2024

Background/Aims: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of denosumab treatment in severe chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients with osteoporosis. We also investigated whether the treatment affects the coronary artery calcifications. Methods: Twenty-seven postmenopausal women with Stage 3b-4 CKD and osteoporosis were enrolled. Twenty patients received denosumab plus calcium carbonate and vitamin D, and seven controls received calcium carbonate and vitamin D for 1 year. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring computed tomography were performed before and after treatment. Hypocalcemic symptoms and serum calcium levels were evaluated. Results: After 1 year of treatment, the percent changes of femur neck (3.6 ± 3.2% vs. -0.7 ± 4.4%, p = 0.033) and total hip (3.4 ± 3.8% vs. -1.9 ± 2.1%, p = 0.001) bone mineral density (BMD) were significantly increased in the denosumab treated group compared to the control group. However, the percent change of lumbar spine BMD did not differ between two groups (5.6 ± 5.9% vs. 2.7 ± 3.9%, p = 0.273). The percent change of bone alkaline phosphatase was significantly different in the denosumab-treated group and control group (-31.1 ± 30.0% vs. 0.5 ± 32.0%, p = 0.027). CAC scores did not differ between groups. No hypocalcemic events occurred in both groups. Conclusions: If carefully monitored and supplemented with calcium and vitamin D, denosumab treatment for 1 year provides significant benefits in patients with Stage 3b-4 CKD and osteoporosis. However, denosumab treatment did not affect coronary artery calcifications in these patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제40권3호
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• pp.180-192
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• 2007

배경: 최근 이종 심장 이식에서 이종항원 및 항체로 인한 초급성 또는 급성 거부반응이 중 또는 대구경의 혈관이나 판막에서는 일어나지 않는다는 보고들이 있다. 이는 이런 부위에서 이종 항원의 발현이 다른 부위보다 낮고 내피세포에 미치는 전단력이 크기 때문인 것으로 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 이들 보고를 바탕으로 돼지-염소 모델에서 중 또는 대구경의 혈관에 해당하는 경동맥을 이용한 이종 동맥 이식을 시행하고 정해진 기간 경과 후 이식편을 적출하여 이종 이식 혈관의 생체 내 중, 장기 개통성 및 조직병리학적 변화 양상을 관찰하여 이종 혈관 이식의 생체 내 장기 적합성을 알아보고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법: 10쌍의 돼지-염소 조합을 실험군으로 하여 1주, 1개월, 3개월, 6개월 및 12개월의 정해진 기간으로 나누어 각 기간마다 2마리의 돼지에서 양측 경동맥을 채취하여 얻은 4개의 경동맥편을 다른 처리를 하지 않고 $-70^{\circ}C$에서 보존한 후 2마리의 염소의 양측 경동맥에 각각 이식하였다. 보존 기간은 2일에서 7일로 대부분 7일 이내에 동물 실험을 시행하였다. 이식 후 주기적인 도플러 초음파 검사로 개통성을 평가하였고, 정해진 기간이 경과한 후에 염소에서 이식된 혈관 도관을 적출하여 관찰한 후 hematoxylin-eosin과 Masson's trichrome 염색을 시행하였다. 또한 T 임파구 표식자와 von Willebrand factor에 대한 면역화학염색을 시행하였다. 결과: 실험군 중 1주와 1년으로 정해진 2마리의 염소가 실험 과정과는 무관한 이유로 사망하였고, 나머지 8마리가 실험 종료시점까지 생존하였다. 생존한 8마리의 염소 가운데 3개월로 지정된 염소에서 일측 경동맥의 폐색이 발견되었으나 나머지 염소에서는 혈관의 개통성이 잘 유지되었으며, 동맥류를 형성한 이식편은 없었다. 정해진 기간 별로 적출하여 관찰하였을 때 혈관 문합부위는 잘 보존되어 있었고, 석회화는 관찰되지 않았다. 조직학적 검사에서 이식편의 혈관 내피세포는 이식 1주 후에는 소실되어 있었고, 1개월째에는 수용체인 염소의 내피세포로 재세포화 되는 양상을 보였다. 중막 및 외막에도 염증반응과 함께 수여자의 섬유아세포 및 근섬유아세포가 침윤되는 양상을 보였다. 재내피세포화 과정은 양측 문합 부위에서 시작하여 이식된 혈관의 중간 부위로 진행되는 양상이었으며, vWF에 대한 면역조직화학 염색을 통해 이식 후 1개월에 이식편의 전체에 걸쳐 재내피세포화가 이루어졌음을 관찰할 수 있었다. 신생 내막의 비후와 외막의 염증반응이 이식 후 3개월까지 심하였으나 그 이후에는 감소된 양상을 보였다. 이식 편에서 T 임파구 표식자인 CD3 양성인 세포들의 비율은 매우 낮았다. 결론: 신선 동결된 이종 동맥은 조직학적으로 이종 면역 반응에 큰 영향을 받지 않고 생체 내에서 장기 개통성을 유지하였다.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제43권1호
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• pp.11-19
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• 2010

배경: 현재 사용되는 다양한 이식편 중 상업적으로 이용 가능한 이종조직도관은 조직의 석회화, 섬유화, 염증 및 면역반응에 의한 조직 손상 등 조직변형이 발생하는 문제점을 가지고 있다. 본 연구에서는 높은 압력에 노출되는 대동맥부위의 이종판막도관을 조직보존방법에 따라 비교해 보고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법: 돼지로부터 채취한 이종대동맥판막도관을 신선 냉동보존 및 무세포화 냉동보존으로 처리한 후 염소의 대동맥에 이식하였다. 생존기간에 따라 각각 2마리씩의 단기 생존(100일 미만) 및 장기 생존한 염소에서 이식했던 판막도관을 추출하여 조직학적 변화를 관찰하였다. 결과: 신선 냉동보존 군은 각각 31일, 40일, 107일, 411일 생존하였고, 무세포화 냉동보존 군은 각각 5일, 40일, 363일, 636일 생존하였다. 이중 단기 생존한 모든 염소는 문합 부위의 파열로 사망하였다. 신선 냉동보존 군에서는 침윤한 염증세포가 주로 호중구인 반면, 무세포화 냉동보존 군에서는 주로 림프구가 관찰되었다. 석회화, 섬유화, 혈전 형성 등의 빈도는 두 군간에 차이가 없었다. 결론: 두 가지 처리법으로 이종대동맥판막도관을 보존 후 장기 생존 유도가 일부에서 가능하였다. 두 군에서 모두 심각한 조직변성이 발생하여 이종도관을 적절히 보존 처리할 수 없었던 것으로 관찰되었다. 향후 개선된 보존법이나 변형된 판막도관 처리법의 개발 등의 실험연구에 기초자료로 가치가 있다고 판단된다.