Objectives : Yanggyuksanhwa-tang is a prescription used for cerebral infarction clinically. Methods : According to previous research data, the effect of Yanggyuksanhwa-tang on cerebral infarction, we induced cerebral infarction by middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) in rats, and the rats were administered Yanggyuksanhwa-tang. Results: Infarct area, infarct volume were measured, and the level of elements such as c-Fos, Bax and caspase-3 in penumbra of infarct were expressed by immunohistochemical staining. Conclusion : Yanggyuksanhwa-tang showed neuroprotective effect through preventing neuronal cell apoptosis.

Objectives : Transcranial Doppler (TCD) has been reported to be established as useful in detecting spasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage and to be probably useful in diagnosing stenosis or occlusion in intracranial arteries. In the detection of intracranial stenosis using TCD there have been reported some kinds of diagnostic criteria. This study was aimed to evaluate the accordance between TCD and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in detection of intracranial stenosis and to find out more accurate criteria for intracranial stenosis using TCD. Methods : Seventy-six stroke patients were evaluated by TCD and MRA. TCD criteria for middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis were used by 3 methods; ≥ 80cm/sec of mean velocity(Vm), ≥ 140 cm/sec of systolic velocity(Vs), and both. For stenosis of vertebral(VA) and basilar arteries(BA), the TCD criteria followed by 2 methods; ≥ 70 cm/sec of Vm and ≥ 100 cm/sec of Vs. The stenosis of intracranial artery in MRA followed by the interpretation of specialist in the department of radiology. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, diagnostic accuracy and kappa agreement were calculated in each criteria of TCD compared with the result of MRA. Results : The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, diagnostic accuracy and kappa agreement using ≥ 80cm/sec of Vm for MCA stenosis were 55.6%, 81%, 34.5%, 91.0%, 77.1%, and 0.293, respectively. Using 140 cm/sec of Vs, those were 44.4%, 92.0%, 50.5%, 90.2%, 84.7%, 0.380, and using both criteria those were 44.4%, 95.0%, 61.5%, 90.5%, 87.3%, 0.445, respectively. Those using ≥ 70 cm/sec of Vm for VA and BA stenosis were 71.4%, 93.7%, 26.3%, 99.0%, 93.0%, 0.186 and using ≥ 100 cm/sec of Vs those were 71.4%, 97.3%, 45.5%, 99.1%, 96.5%, 0.539, respectively. Conclusion : These results suggested that for the diagnosis of MCA stenosis using TCD we should use the criteria of both ≥ 80cm/sec of Vm and 140 cm/sec of Vs, and for the VA and BA stenosis we adapt the criteria of ≥ 70 cm/sec of Vm.

Objectives : Uwhangchungsimwon (UC) is one of the famous herbal medicine frequently used for stroke, hypertension, and atherosclerosis, etc. Therefore, we intended to examine if UC could have therapeutic effect on arterial stiffness by assessing Cardio-Ankle Vascular lndex (CAVI). Methods : We enrolled 38 healthy male subjects (28±4.41 years old) and divided them into two groups (UC and control group). The UC group (N=22) were treated with 1 pill of UC and monitored by CAVI every hour for 6 hours. The control group(N=16) did not receive any medicine and were also monitored by CAVI the same manner as the UC group. In both group, we also assessed each subject's Yin-Yang pattern score by the diagnostic scoring system. In analysis, we compared the difference of CAVIs between the UC and the control group considering subject's Yin-Yang pattern. Results : There was no significant difference in the change of CAVI between the UC and the control group. After excluding Yang-pattern subjects in both group, however, we could observe that CAVI decreased significantly 5 hours after UC administration compared with the corresponding CAVI in the control group (P=0.025). In the repeated measure analysis, the between-subjects effect had statistical significance (P=0.035). Conclusion : According to these results, we suggest that UC have therapeutic effect on arterial stiffness especially after taking oriental medical diagnosis into consideration.

Objectives : This study was prepared for investigating the clinical features of stroke patients. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 102 patients who were admitted to Department of Internal Medicine, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung-Won University with a diagnosis of stroke from Jan. 1, 2004 to Dec. 31, 2004. Results : Ischemic stroke(include TIA, 82.4%) was more common than hemorrhagic stroke(17.6%). The incidence in male was 41.2%, in female was 17.6% and the most prevalent age group is over-sixties. Cerebral infarction was most frequently noticed in lacunar-infarction and hemorrhage in putamen. Hypertention, the most preceding diseases, followed by diabetes mellitus and CVA. The rate of recurrence was 27.45%. Cerebral infarction and cerebral hemorrhage was much occurred after rising. The most patients visited the hospital within 24 Hours. The most common symptoms in admission time were motor weakness and speech disorder. The complication was mostly mental disorder. Conclusion : Our study on CVA patients was similar to previous studies from 1994 to 2003. In most cases, western and oriental treatment and medicine were given synthetically.

Objectives and methods : The Euibujipsung is the one of the huge-scale encyclopedias about Oriental Medicine. To investigate the most frequently used acupoints for hemiparesis after stroke, we used Euibujipsung CR-ROM database with several key words concerned with motor weakness (半身不遂 不遂不隨 癱瘓 中臟 中腑 風痱, etc.). Results : In the result, we found five popular acupoints (GV20, LI11, LI15, ST36 and GB39), and four meridians (Stomach, Gall bladder, Large intestine and Small intestine). We also found that the Yang meridians were cited more frequently than the Yin. Conclusion : Therefore we think that these findings can give further ideas to clinical practice and research fields for stroke rehabilitation in Oriental medicine.

Objectives : This study was aimed to assess the distribution of Sasang constitution(SC) in acute stroke patients. Methods : We assessed the type of SC of acute stroke patients in the oriental medical hospitals of 3 universities located in metropolitan region from October 2005 to October 2006 by Questionnaire for the Sasang Constitution Clssification II(QSCCII). We investigated general characteristics, stroke type, blood test results, alcohol drinking, smoking and dietary preferences according to SC. Results : 236 subjects were included into the final analysis. 1. This study showed that the proportion of So-yang was highest of all constitutions(45.3%). And the body weight, body mass index, the waist circumference(WC), the hip circumference(HC), and the WC/HC ratio recorded the significantly high result in Tae-eum. 2. In the TOAST classification, SVO was the major type occupying 81.7% in the total subjects. 3. In Tae-eum, total cholesterol, triglyceride and 2 hours postprandial plasma glucose level were the highest and fasting glucose was significantly highest of all constitutions. Conclusion : From this study, we could roughly seize the distribution of Sasang constitution in acute stroke patients. For the further research, it seems to be necessary to construct fundamental databases for stroke by increasing the number of patients and by analyzing delicate characteristics of each constitution type.

Objectives : The purposes of this study were to investigate that a blepharospasm means the presymptom of stroke based on the traditional hypothesis in the oriental medicine and to compare a blepharospasm with warning signs of stroke in the western medicine. Methods : In the time period Oct. 2005 to Oct. 2006, 409 patients with a first-ever stroke admitted in the department of Internal Medicine of Kyungwon University In-cheon Oriental Medical Hospital, Kyunghee University Oriental Medical Hospital, Dongguk Il-san Oriental Medical Hospital were included. Patients were hospitalized within 14 days after the onset of stroke. Stroke patients were interviewed by residents who studied standard operation procedures in Fundamental Study for Standardization and Objectification of Differentiation and Pattern Identification of Syndrome of Oriental Medicine for Stroke. A questionnaire was completed by a question-and-answer form between patients and residents after explanation details to patients and the agreement of patients. Results : Age, care of patients or grandson, diabetes mellitus, and smoking were higher among cerebral infarction group, while smoking was higher among hemorrhage group. Female, young age, hyperlipidemia, hypertension in the family history and fat body in waist-hip ratio were higher among patients undergoing the blepharospasm before stroke onset. And the incidence of blepharospasm was lower in patients who dislike the fast food. Finally, when we compared a blepharospasm with warning signs of stroke in the western medicine, the incidence of blepharospasm in this study were the most frequent. Conclusion : In this study, the incidence of blepharospasm in patients before stroke onset was more frequent than that of warning signs in the western medicine. But more data from prospective cohort studies should be collected to be accepted that the blepharospasm is the presymptom of stroke as like warning signs in the western medicine.

Objectives : This study was aimed to investigated the relationship between warning signs and stroke subtype in acute stroke patients. Methods : From Oct. in 2005 to Oct. in 2006, 409 acute stroke patients were included. Patients were hospitalized within 14 days after the onset of stroke in DongGuk University International Hospital, Kyungwon University In-cheon Oriental Medical Hospital, Department Cardiovascular and Neurologic Diseases(Stroke center) Kyung Hee University Oriental hospital. We investigated general characteristics, stroke subtype, and warning signs(facial spasm, neck stiffness). Results : Hemorrhagic stroke had more facial spasm than ischemic stroke. (odds ratio 3.60) Small vessel occlusion had more neck stiffness than others. (odds ratio 2.03) Conclusion : To acquire more concrete conclusions on warning signs, we need further and large scale of prospective researches.

Objective : This study was aimed to investigated the warning signs and its relationship with the other characteristics in acute stroke patients. Methods : Three-hundred sixty three acute stroke patients were recuited in the oriental medical hospitals of 3 universities located in metropolitan region from October in 2005 to October in 2006. We evaluated their stroke type with brain MRI, their waring signs, and general characteristics such as age, sex, past history, risk factor, etc. Result : Of the 363 patient, 138(38%) patients were experience of warning signs. The frequency of Stress were found more in experience of warning signs than none of them. Warning signs were more common in Large Artery Atherosclerosis than in the other etiology. Conclusion : Although a concrete conclusion can hardly be drawn from this study, it reminds physicians of the importance of warning signs which their patients appeal. For the further investigation, it seems to be necessary to construct fundamental databases for stroke by increasing the number of patients and by examination into the etiology and location.