Reduction of the Nailfold Capillary Blood Velocity in Cigarette Smokers / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoking causes cardiovascular disease and activates markers of endothelial dysfunction or injury. We investigated the nailfold capillary blood velocity (NCV) in cigarette smokers compared to non-smokers. METHODS: Forty-eight men (eighteen non-smokers and thirty smokers) were recruited. We measured NCV using nailfold capillary microscopy and exhaled carbon monoxide (ECO) concentration three times (before smoking; NCV0min and ECO0min, and after smoking; NCV5min, ECO5min, NCV30min, and ECO30min), in a condition of fasting in the case of smokers. In non-smokers, the same measurements were taken without smoking. Additionally, personal cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking history were acquired by a self-administrated questionnaire. RESULTS: Mean age, waist circumference, ECO0min, ECO5min, and ECO30min was higher and NCV5min and NCV30min were significantly lower in smokers compared to non-smokers. Total smoking years were negatively correlated with NCV5min. Average pack of the daily smoking, total pack-years, as well as total smoking years were also negatively correlated with NCV30min by regression analysis. After adjustment of significantly different variables, NCV30min was significantly lower in smokers. In the subgroup analysis, the interleukin-6 level was significantly increased in subjects with a long period of cigarette smoking compared with non-smokers. CONCLUSION: Reduction of NCV in smokers is associated with personal smoking history, not with body composition or certain oxidative stress markers.

Evaluation of Macular Circulation in Patient with Diabetic Maculopathy using Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope(SLO)

In the condition of diabetic retinopathy, the vascular changes are localized primarily in the retinal capillaries and are presumed to promote angiogenesis. To investigate the change of retinal blood flow velocities and morphological parameters in diabetic retinopathy, we measured perifoveal capillary blood velocities(v) and the size of foveal avascular zones(FAZ). Thirteen patients with diabetic maculopathy and nine healthy volunteers were included in this study. The scanning laser technique in conjunction with an image analysing system were used to assess the morphological and hemodynamic changes in diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic maculopathy group showed a slower capillary blood velocity than normal group(2.44+/-0.39mm/sec vs2.75+/-0.61 mm/sec, p>0.18). The foveal avascular zone was significantly larger in diabetic maculopathy group than in normal group(313.5+/-64.6micrometervs. 238.9+/-93.8micrometer, p<0.05). This results indicate that the retinal microcirculation is altered in diabetic patients compared with healthy subjects. These alterations may be due to the change of the capillary wall and blood viscosity in diabetic patients. The determination of these parameters can be utilized in monitoring the progress of diabetic maculopathy.