Platelet derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB is one of the most potent vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferative factors, and abnormal VSMC proliferation by PDGF-BB plays an important role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of YP 12, a newly synthesized obovatol derivative, on the proliferation of PDGF-BB-stimulated rat aortic VSMCs. The anti-proliferative effects of YP 12 on rat aortic VSMCs were examined by direct cell counting and by using [3H] thymidine incorporation assays. It was found that YP 12 potently inhibited the growth of VSMCs. The pre-incubation of YP 12 (1-4 μM)significantly inhibited the proliferation and DNA synthesis of 25 ng/ml PDGF-BB-stimulated rat aortic VSMCs in a concentration-dependent manner. In accordance with these findings, YP 12 revealed blocking of the PDGF-BB-inducible progression through G0/G1 to S phase of the cell cycle in synchronized cells. Whereas, YP 12 did not show any cytotoxicity in rat aortic VSMCs in this experimental condition by WST-1 assay. These results also show that YP 12may have potential as an anti-proliferative agent for the treatment of restenosis and atherosclerosis.

This study was performed to investigate the induction of experimental atherosclerosis in rats and inhibitory effects of aloe vera on progression of atherosclerosis in rats. A dose range finding study of cholesterol and vitamin D₂ for the induction of atherosclerosis and studies on the subchronic effect of aloe vera and on the chronic effect of aloe vera were carried out. A total of 3-week old 125 male rats of Sprague-Dawley were divided into 25 groups and fed with the diet containing cholesterol (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0%) and vitamin D₂ (500, 5000, 50000 and 500,000 IU/100 g) for 4 weeks. 35 male rats were divided into 7 groups and fed with the diet containing aloe vera with 1.0% of cholesterol and 50,000 IU/100 g of vitamin D₂ for 4 weeks. 200 male rata were divided into 5 groups and fed with cholesterol and vitamin D₂ for 6 and 12 months. Growth, clinical and pathological changes of rats in the three experiments were observed. The results were as follows: 1. In the dose-range finding study, feed intake, feed efficiency ratio and weight gain were significantly decreased and relative liver, heart, kidney and stomach weight to body weight were increased in all of the feed groups containing 500,000 IU/100 g of vitamin D₂. Serum biochemical values of total cholesterol, high-density lipiprotein cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol), triglyceride, calcium, inorganic phosphorous and chloride of male rats in treated groups. The aorta and coronary artery of rats in all of the diet group containing 500,000 IU/100 g of vitamin D₂ showed typical atheroaclerotic lesions. 2. Male rats fed with the diet containing aloe vera with 1.0% cholesterol and 50,000 IU/100 g of vitamin D₂ for 6 and 12 months did not show significant difference of diet intake and weight gain, and relative organ weight. The level of serum HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride recovered to the normal range by the aloe vera ingestation. 3. The aorta showed irregular appearence in the tunics intima with swelling, necrosis and calcification. The aorta of rat fed aloe vera diet showed no pathological lesions such as atherosclerosis of aorta. Aloe vera could have a helpful effect of vitamin D₂ and cholesterol induced atherosclerosis in rats. Long-term supplementation of aloe vera may slow down the process of experimental atherosclerosis in rats have effects on the development of atherosclerosis.

본 연구는 건강검진을 목적으로 내원하여 경동맥초음파를 실시한 113명을 대상으로 하였다. 경동맥의 내중막 두께는 심혈관 질환 및 뇌혈관 질환과 유의한 상관관계를 보이는 것으로 알려져 있다. 임상에서 선별 검사로 많이 이용되고 있는 경동맥 초음파를 이용하여 경동맥 내중막 두께와 체질량지수, 허리둘레, 혈청 지질수치, 공복 혈당, 당화혈색소, 혈압등이 갖는 연관 관계에 대하여 알아보고자 하였다. 경동맥초음파상 IMT두께가 0.8 mm 이상을 비정상으로 간주하고 죽상경화증(atherosclerosis)의 유무를 평가하였으며, 혈청검사를 통하여 지질학적 수치 및 공복혈당수치, 당화혈색소를 분류하여 상관관계를 알아보았다. 그 결과 허리둘레(p=.022), 저밀도 콜레스테롤(p=.004), 공복혈당수치(p=.019), 당화혈색소 수치(p=.002)가 죽상경화증(at herosclerosis을 일으키는 예측인자로 분석되었다. ROC 곡선 분석에서 허리둘레에서 민감도 87.80%(95% CI : 73.8-95.9), 특이도 41.67%(95% CI : 30.2-53.9), 저밀도 콜레스테롤에서 민감도 78.05%(95% CI : 62.4-89.4), 특이도 50.00%(95% CI : 38.0-62.0 공복혈당에서 민감도 73.11%(95% CI : 57.1-85.8), 특이도 61.11 (95% CI : 48.9-72.4)), 당화혈색소에서 민감도 82.93%(67.9-91.8), 특이도 43.06%(31.4-55.3)를 나타내었다. 로지스틱 회귀분석에서 죽상경화증(atherosclerosis) 발생위험성은 허리둘레(WC)>76 cm에서 0.248배, 저밀도 콜레스테 롤(LDL-C)≥124 mg/dL에서 3.475배, 당화혈색소(HbA1C)>5.4%에서 0.618배로 나타났다. 향후 심뇌혈관질환의 효과적인 일차예방 역할을 위해 다수의 대상자를 대상으로 혈액검사수치를 고려하여 혈관의 추적관찰이 용이한 경동맥초음파를 통한 전향적연구가 필요할 것으로 사료 된다.

High-resolution magnetic resonance (HR-MR) imaging in intracranial atherosclerotic disease poses a greater challenge in the neurologic fields. Because a high in-plane resolution and a high signal-to-noise ratio are required for vessel wall imaging. HR-MR can depict the morphologies of atherosclerotic plaques, arterial walls, and surrounding structures in the intracranial and cervical carotid arteries. HR-MR also can be observed with traditional luminal evaluation. Differentiating vulnerable from stable plaques and characterizing atherosclerotic plaques are vital parts of the early diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of stroke with atherosclerosis. HR-MR is the most important and popular vessel wall imaging technique for directly evaluating the vascular wall and intracranial artery disease. Intracranial artery atherosclerosis, dissection, moyamoya disease, vasculitis, and reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome also can be diagnosed and differentiated by using HR-MR. Here, we review the radiologic features of intracranial artery disease and vertebral artery dissection on HR-MR.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of Cordyceps militaris extract supplementation on the improvement of blood glucose, lipid compositions and hepatic functional enzyme activities in the serum of streptozotocin(STZ, 50 mg/kg BW, IP injection)-induced diabetic rats fed the experimental diets for 5 weeks. The concentrations of blood glucose and lipid compositions(total cholesterol, β-lipoprotein, free cholesterol, cholesteryl ester, triglyceride and phospholipid) and atherosclerotic index in serum were significantly lower in the DM+CM group than in the DM group, whereas the ratio of HDL-cholesterol concentration to total cholesterol in the DM+CM group were higher than in the DM group. The activities of hepatic functional enzymes(aminotransferase, LDH and ALP) in serum were lower in the Cordyceps militaris extract administration group(group DM+CM) than in the hyperglycemic DM group. The results shown above suggested that Cordyceps militaris extract supplementation effectively improves blood glucose and atherosclerosis in the serum of diabetic rats.