Publications by authors named "Yong Lak Kim"
Background: The bispectral (BIS) index is a pharmacodynamic measure of the effect of anesthesia on the central nervous system. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between BIS index and predicted plasma concentration of propofol delivered by target controlled infusion (TCI) during emergence in children.
Methods: With approval of IRB, 30 patients (2-7 years) were included in this study.
Background: Glutamate transporters (excitatory amino acid transporters, EAAT) regulate extracellular concentrations of glutamate, a major excitatory neurotransmitter. We reported that acute ethanol exposure increases the activity of a major neuronal EAAT, EAAT3. This effect is consistent with the general inhibitory effect of acute alcohol toxicity in the central nervous system (CNS).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Displacement of the heart to expose posterior vessels during off-pump coronary artery bypass may cause hemodynamic derangement. The aims of this study were (1) to elucidate the hemodynamic changes during off-pump coronary artery bypass for the obtuse marginal branch (OM) of the left circumflex artery; and (2) to compare the hemodynamic changes caused by a deep pericardial suture technique with those caused by a vacuum-assisted apical suction device for displacement of the heart.
Methods: Hemodynamic changes during posterior vessel off-pump coronary artery bypass were studied in a prospective randomized manner.
Objective: To determine whether a phosphodiesterase type 3 inhibitor can improve hemodynamics during off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) of posterior vessels in patients on beta(1)-adrenoreceptor blockers.
Methods: Thirty patients scheduled for OPCAB of the obtuse marginal artery (OM), and taking atenolol 100 mg a day were randomized in a double-blind manner to receive either milrinone or placebo. Hemodynamic data were obtained after induction, before pericardial incision, during left anterior descending artery grafting, during OM grafting, and after removal of the stabilizer.
Background: Glutamate is a major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Glutamate transporters play a critical role in maintaining extracellular glutamate concentrations. We investigated the effects of ethanol on a neuronal glutamate transporter, excitatory amino acid transporter type 3 (EAAT3), and the role of protein kinase C (PKC) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3 K) in mediating these effects.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) with complete avoidance of aortic manipulation may further reduce perioperative morbidity in addition to the benefits achieved by avoiding cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegic arrest.
Methods: We prospectively analyzed 222 consecutive patients with multivessel disease who underwent OPCAB without aortic manipulation (group I), and compared them with 123 consecutive patients who underwent OPCAB using additional free arterial or saphenous vein grafts that were anastomosed on the ascending aorta (group II) and 76 consecutive patients who underwent on-pump conventional coronary artery bypass grafting (group III).
Results: No significant differences were noted in operative mortalities among the three groups (2/222, 3/123, and 2/76 in groups I, II, and III, respectively; p = NS).
Background: Use of bilateral skeletonized internal thoracic arteries (ITAs) in off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) retains several advantages that may eventually result in better patient outcomes. We compared the early results of OPCAB using bilateral ITAs as Y grafts with results of OPCAB using bilateral ITAs as in situ grafts.
Methods: A total of 223 consecutive patients who underwent OPCAB using bilateral skeletonized ITAs as Y grafts (group I, n = 113) or in situ grafts (group II, n = 110) were studied.