Investigation of the Possibility of Applying Protection Motivation Theory in Consumers’ Changes by Fipronil Egg Contamination

This study examined the effects of response-facilitating factors(Food-related Knowledge, Response-Efficacy, and Self-Efficacy) and response-inhibiting factors(Severity, Vulnerability, and Consumer Stress) on the consumer’ behavior intention based on protection motivation theory, which explains the behavioral change to protect oneself. This study was conducted to reduce the customers’ concerns regarding food safety accidents and introduce ways to make them more interested in food safety. A sample of 225 adults over 19 years of age was collected in February 2018 through a self-administered questionnaire. The results of the cognitive mediation process of protective motivation theory showed that the consumers’ knowledge and self-efficacy which are response-facilitating factors, positively influence the behavioral intention. Severity and consumer stress were response-inhibiting factors. On the other hand, response-efficacy, which is a response-facilitating factor, and vulnerability, which is a response-inhibiting factor, did not influence the behavioral intention. Therefore, severity and consumer stress are response-inhibiting factors. The results were analyzed as a result of a behavioral change to protect oneself from food safety accidents. The applicability of the theory of protection motivation on the topic of food safety was also confirmed.

Preventive Effects of the Angiotensin-II Receptor Blocker on Atrial Remodeling in an Ischemic Heart Failure Model of Rats

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It is widely known that angiotensin-II receptor blockers (ARBs) have reverse remodeling effects in atrium. Although atrial fibrillation is frequent in ischemic heart failure clinically, experiments to demonstrate ARB's effects on atrial remodeling in a heart failure model are rare. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A heart failure model and a sham-operated group were formed in 25 Sprague-Dawley male rats of roughly 260 g in weight. Ischemic heart failure models were obtained via ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. In the ARB group, 30 mg/kg of losartan was administrated over a day for 4 weeks. Echocardiography was performed to measure left ventricle ejection fraction and left atrial diameter (LAD) at the baseline and 4 weeks after the operation. 4 weeks later, histologic and immunohistochemical evaluation were performed. RESULTS: Groups were divided into the sham group, heart failure group, and heart failure-ARB group. We maintained 5 rats in each group for 4 weeks after operation. The decrease of left ventricular ejection fraction in the heart failure-ARB group was less than that in the heart failure group (p=0.023). The increase of LAD in the heart failure-ARB group was less than that in the heart failure group (p=0.025). Masson's trichrome stain revealed less fibrosis in the heart failure-ARB group. Immunohistochemical stain and western blot for connexin 43 showed less expression in the heart failure-ARB group. CONCLUSION: In the ischemic heart failure model of rats, structurally and histologically, the ARB, losartan, has atrial reverse-remodeling effects. However, electrically, its role as an electrical stabilizer should be studied further.

Comparison of Ventricular Dyssynchrony According to the Position of Right Ventricular Pacing Electrode: A Multi-Center Prospective Echocardiographic Study

BACKGROUND: Conventional pacemaker implantation induces left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony, which might affect the LV function. We sought to evaluate the impact of different right ventricular (RV) pacing sites on the LV dyssynchrony and performance. METHODS: Comprehensive echocardiographic evaluation including the atrio-ventricular, inter- and intra-ventricular dyssynchrony based on M-mode, conventional Doppler and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) was done before and immediately after (< 7 days) pacemaker implantation. For the LV performance, LV ejection fraction, longitudinal peak systolic velocity at the mitral annulus (S') annular or mean longitudinal velocity of the 6 basal segments (Sm) were used. These results were compared with those of 15 age matched controls. RESULTS: A total of 79 patients (48 females, mean age 63 +/- 12 years) underwent RV pacing at the apex (n = 45, group I) or the septum (n = 34, group II). After pacemaker implantation, the QRS duration was significantly increased in both groups, but the change was greater in group I (57.1 +/- 28.3 versus 32.8 +/- 40.5 msec). Both the S' and Sm were lower in pacing groups than those in controls and Sm was significantly higher in group II (4.2 +/- 1.0 versus 4.9 +/- 1.3 m/sec) than group I despite a similar LV ejection fraction. The aortic pre-ejection time and septal to posterior wall motion delay in patients with pacemaker were longer compared to normal controls, but there were no significant differences. Both the TDI velocity and strain analysis showed no difference of the dyssynchrony indices between the two groups, despite a higher tendency of Doppler strain dyssynchrony indices in the RV apical pacing group compared to those of the control. CONCLUSION: Despite the marked increase of the QRS duration after pacing, M-mode, Doppler and TDI failed to demonstrate any difference according to the pacing sites. The long-term effect of the longitudinal contraction being less affected and a smaller increase of the QRS duration in the RV septal pacing group needs to be confirmed in a longitudinal follow-up study.

Usual Dose of Simvastatin Does Not Inhibit Plaque Progression and Lumen Loss at the Peri-Stent Reference Segments after Bare-Metal Stent Implantation: A Serial Intravascular Ultrasound Analysis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of a usual dose of simvastatin (20 mg/day) on plaque regression and vascular remodeling at the peri-stent reference segments after bare-metal stent implantation. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated serial intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) findings in 380 peri-stent reference segments (184 proximal and 196 distal to the stent) in 196 patients (simvastatin group, n = 132 vs. non-statin group, n = 64). Quantitative volumetric IVUS analysis was performed in 5-mm vessel segments proximal and distal to the stent. RESULTS: IVUS follow-up was performed at a mean of 9.4 months after stenting (range, 5 to 19 months). No significant differences were observed in the changes in mean plaque plus media (P&M) area, mean lumen area, and mean external elastic membrane (EEM) area from post-stenting to follow-up at both proximal and distal edges between the simvastatin and non-statin group. Although lumen loss within the first 3 mm from each stent edge was primarily due to an increase in P&M area rather than a change in EEM area, and lumen loss beyond 3 mm from each stent edge was due to a combination of increased P&M area and decreased EEM area, no significant differences in changes were observed in P&M, EEM, and lumen area at every 1-mm subsegment between the simvastatin and non-statin group. CONCLUSIONS: A usual dose of simvastatin does not inhibit plaque progression and lumen loss and does not affect vascular remodeling in peri-stent reference segments in patients undergoing bare-metal stent implantation.

Relationship between the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level and clinical outcome after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute myocardial infarction / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study examined the relationship between the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level and clinical outcome after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: Between January 2006 and December 2007, 867 patients (age, 62.6+/-12.5 years; males, 71%) undergoing a 1-year follow- up after PCI for AMI were divided into five groups according to the LDL-C level: or =160 mg/dL. RESULTS: Smoking (63%), hypertension (46%), and diabetes mellitus (28%) were common risk factors. The history of ischemic heart disease decreased as the LDL-C level increased (p=0.036). Patients with lower LDL-C levels had lower creatinine clearance and higher high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels. The rate of in-hospital complications after PCI declined with increases in the LDL-C level, except in patients with LDL-C >160 mg/dL (linear p=0.010). There was no correlation between the LDL-C level and the 30-day or 1-year clinical outcome after PCI. After multivariate adjustment, independent predictors of the 1-year mortality after PCI were left ventricular ejection fraction, hsCRP, age, and creatinine clearance. CONCLUSIONS: Higher LDL-C levels were related to fewer in-hospital complications, but there was no correlation between the LDL-C level and long-term clinical outcome after PCI in Korean patients with AMI.

Efficacy of Triple Anti-Platelet Therapy Including Cilostazol in Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients Undergoing Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Triple anti-platelet therapy is known to prevent restenosis after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. However, there is little available data concerning the efficacy of triple anti-platelet therapy for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We analyzed 528 consecutive patients with AMI undergoing DES implantation between Nov 2005 and Apr 2008. We compared clinical outcomes in the triple anti-platelet therapy (group I, n=413: cilostazol combined with aspirin and clopidogrel for at least one month) and dual antiplatelet therapy groups (group II, n=115: aspirin and clopidogrel). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics. However, ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and use of TAXUS(R) stents were more common (70.9% vs. 55.7%, p=0.002; 83.5% vs. 73.0%, p=0.011) in Group I. Group I had lower incidences of cardiac death, 6-month target lesion revascularization (TLR), and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) compared to Group II (1.7% vs. 5.7%, p=0.022; 5.7% vs. 11.5%, 0.035; 7.9% vs. 16.0%, p=0.011). On subgroup analysis, the incidence of 6-month TLR was lower among patients with American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) B2 or C lesions and non-STEMI (6.0% vs. 14.9%, p=0.012; 4.3% vs. 19.1%, p=0.002) in Group I compared to those in Group II. The rates of bleeding complications were no different between the two groups. On multivariate analysis, Killip III or IV and triple anti-platelet therapy were independent predictors of 6-month MACCE {hazard ratio (HR)=3.382; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.384-8.262, HR=0.436; 95% CI=0.203-0.933}. CONCLUSION:Triple anti-platelet therapy is safe and efficacious, and it prevents TLR in patients with AMI, especially those with complex lesions and non-STEMIs.