• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.313-320
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• 2014

Objective : The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the technical feasibility and clinical efficacy of emergent carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) for acute stroke due to athero-thrombotic occlusion of the cervical internal carotid artery (ICA). Methods : Review of medical records identified 17 patients who underwent emergent CAS for treatment of athero-thrombotic occlusion of the cervical ICA with acute stroke between 2009 and 2013. Eleven patients (64.7%) presented with concomitant intracranial artery occlusion, which was treated primarily by mechanical thrombectomy after CAS. Results : Successful revascularization of the cervical ICA with emergent CAS was achieved in all patients. After CAS, intracranial recanalization with Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction ${\geq}2b$ flow was achieved in four of the 11 patients (36.4%). The overall recanalization rate (cervical ICA and intracranial artery) was 10 of 17 patients (58.8%). Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage occurred in two patients (11.8%), resulting in death. Ten patients (58.8%) showed improvement (decrease in NIHSS score of ${\geq}4$ points) at seven days after recanalization. Nine patients (52.9%) showed a favorable outcome ($mRS{\leq}2$) at the last follow-up. A favorable outcome ($mRS{\leq}2$) was obtained in four of the six patients with isolated cervical ICA occlusion (4/6, 66.7%) and five of 11 patients with intracranial tandem occlusion (5/11, 45.5%). Conclusion : Emergent CAS for acute stroke due to athero-thrombotic occusion of the cervical ICA showed a good technical feasibility and favorable clinical outcome.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.60 no.6
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• pp.627-634
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• 2017

Objective : Few studies have reported the outcome of mechanical thrombectomy with Solitaire stent retrival (MTSR) in subtypes of acute ischemic stroke. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and result of MTSR in acute cardioembolic stroke. Methods : Twenty consecutive patients with acute cardioembolic stroke were treated by MTSR. The angiographic outcome was assessed by thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (TICI) grade. TICI grade 2a, 2b, or 3 with a measurable thrombus that was retrieved was considered as a success when MTSR was performed in the site of primary vessel occlusion, and TICI grade 2b or 3 was considered as a success when final result was reported. Clinical and radiological results were compared between two groups divided on the basis of final results of MTSR. Persistent thrombus compression sign on angiogram was defined as a stenotic, tapered arterial lumen whenever temporary stenting was performed. The clinical outcomes were assessed by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 3 months. Results : The failure rate of MTSR was 20% (4/20) and other modalities, such as permanent stenting, were needed. Final successful recanalization (TICI grade 2b or 3) was 80% when other treatments were included. The rate of good outcome ($mRS{\leq}2$) was 35% at the 3-month follow-up. Failure of MTSR was significantly correlated with persistent thrombus compression sign (p=0.001). Conclusion : Some cases of cardioembolic stroke are resistant to MTSR and may need other treatment modalities. Careful interpretation of angiogram may be helpful to the decision.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.119-125
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• 2008

Background: Cerebral blood vessels are innervated by sympathetic nerves from the superior cervical ganglia (SCG), and these nerves may influence the cerebral blood flow. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of superior cervical sympathetic ganglion block in rats that were subjected to focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Methods: Eighty male Sprague-Dawley rats (270-320 g) were randomly assigned to one of two groups (the ropivacaine group and a control group). In all the animals, brain injury was induced by middle cerebral artery (MCA) reperfusion that followed MCA occlusion for 2 hours. The animals of the ropivacaine group received $30{\mu}l$ of 0.75% ropivacaine, and their SCG. Neurologic score was assessed at 1, 3, 7 and 14 days after brain injury. Brain tissue samples were then collected. The infarct ratio was measured by 2.3.5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeled (TUNEL) reactive cells and the cells showing caspase-3 activity were counted as markers of apoptosis at the caudoputamen and frontoparietal cortex. Results: The death rate, the neurologic score and the infarction ratio were significantly less in the ropivacaine group 24 hr after ischemia/reperfusion injury. The number of TUNEL positive cells in the ropivacaine group was significantly lower than those values of the control group in the frontoparietal cortex at 3 days after injury, but the caspase-3 activity was higher in the ropivacaine group than that in the control group at 1 day after injury. Conclusions: The study data indicated that a superior cervical sympathetic ganglion block may reduce the neuronal injury caused by focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, but it may not prevent the delayed damage.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.34-46
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• 2007

Objectives: This study was to assess characteristics in acute stroke patients according to Sasangconstitution (SC). Methods : We assessed the type of SC of acute stroke patients in $2^{nd}$ Department of Internal Medicine at KyungHee University Oriental Hospital from October 2005 to September 2006. Each subject's SC type was confirmed when the result of QSCC II+ was in accordance with the opinion of the Sasangconstitutional medicine specialist. We investigated general characteristics, stroke type, blood test results, alcohol drinking, smoking and dietary preferences according to SC. Results: 108 subjects were included in the final analysis. This study showed that out of the total patients, the proportion of So-yang to Tae-eum to So-eum was equal to 5.5 to 3.5 to 1. Especially, men were higher proportion So-yang while women recorded a more significant ratio of Tae-eum. Also, the BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, and WC/HC ratio recorded significantly high results. The result indicated that even though the Tae-eum let on the highest numerical value in the aspect of their past history and the final diagnosis, no significant difference was revealed according to SC. The ratio of cerebral infarction to cerebral hemorrhage was 9 to 1. SVO, LAA, SUE are the 3 types of cerebral infarction classified by TOAST; SVO ranked the highest while SUE ranked the lowest in all constitutions. The blood test result displayed that averages of both TL and the T-chol were the highest in Tae-eum while that of hematocrit in So-yangand that of HDL-chol in So-eum. However, there was no significant difference. There were no significant differences classified by gender or by SC in the aspect of the alcohol drinking and smoking history. The majority of So-yang and Tae-eum demonstrated a preference for meat while So-eum and So-yang displayed high preferences for sea food. Conclusions : With respect to these results. we could observe the general disposition of various characteristic distributions according to SC of acute stroke patients. For further research in this field. it seems necessary to construct fundamental databases for the prevention and treatment of stroke by increasing the number of patients observed and by analyzing delicate characteristics of each constitution type.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.321-327
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• 2015

Objective : To determine whether the use of contrast enhancement (especially its extent) predicts malignant brain edema after intra-arterial thrombectomy (IAT) in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods : We reviewed the records of patients with acute ischemic stroke who underwent IAT for occlusion of the internal carotid artery or the middle cerebral artery between January 2012 and March 2015. To estimate the extent of contrast enhancement (CE), we used the contrast enhancement area ratio (CEAR)-i.e., the ratio of the CE to the area of the hemisphere, as noted on immediate non-enhanced brain computed tomography (NECT) post-IAT. Patients were categorized into two groups based on the CEAR values being either greater than or less than 0.2. Results : A total of 39 patients were included. Contrast enhancement was found in 26 patients (66.7%). In this subgroup, the CEAR was greater than 0.2 in 7 patients (18%) and less than 0.2 in the other 19 patients (48.7%). On univariate analysis, both CEAR ${\geq}0.2$ and the presence of subarachnoid hemorrhage were significantly associated with progression to malignant brain edema (p<0.001 and p=0.004), but on multivariate analysis, only CEAR ${\geq}0.2$ showed a statistically significant association (p=0.019). In the group with CEAR ${\geq}0.2$, the time to malignant brain edema was shorter (p=0.039) than in the group with CEAR <0.2. Clinical functional outcomes, based on the modified Rankin scale, were also significantly worse in patients with CEAR ${\geq}0.2$ (p=0.003) Conclusion : The extent of contrast enhancement as noted on NECT scans obtained immediately after IAT could be predictive of malignant brain edema and a poor clinical outcome.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.58 no.5
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• pp.419-425
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• 2015

Objective : Acute vertebrobasilar artery occlusion (AVBAO) is a devastating disease with a high mortality rate. One of the most important factors affecting favorable clinical outcome is early recanalization. Mechanical thrombectomy is an emerging treatment strategy for achieving a high recanalization rates. However, thrombectomy alone can be insufficient to complete recanalization, especially for acute stroke involving large artery atheromatous disease. The purpose of this study is to investigate the safety and efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy in AVBAO. Methods : Fourteen consecutive patients with AVBAO were treated with mechanical thrombectomy. Additional multimodal treatments were intra-arterial (IA) thrombolysis, balloon angioplasty, or permanent stent placement. Recanalization by thrombectomy alone and multimodal treatments were assessed by the Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (TICI) score. Clinical outcome was determined using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) at 7 days and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 3 months. Results : Thrombectomy alone and multimodal treatments were performed in 10 patients (71.4%) and 4 patients (28.6%), respectively. Successful recanalization (TICI 2b-3) was achieved in 11 (78.6%). Among these 11 patients, 3 (27.3%) underwent multimodal treatment due to underlying atherosclerotic stenosis. Ten (71.4%) of the 14 showed NIHSS score improvement of >10. Overall mortality was 3 (21.4%) of 14. Conclusion : We suggest that mechanical thrombectomy is safe and effective for improving recanalization rates in AVBAO, with low complication rates. Also, in carefully selected patients after the failure of recanalization by thrombectomy alone, additional multimodal treatment such as IA thrombolysis, balloons, or stents can be needed to achieve successful recanalization.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.105-113
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• 2016

Purpose: Susceptibility vessel sign (SVS) on gradient echo image, which is caused by MR signal loss due to arterial thrombosis, has been reported in acute middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction. However, the reported sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy of SVS have been variable. Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) is a newly developed MR sequence. Recent studies have found that SWI may be useful in the field of cerebrovascular diseases, especially for detecting the presence of prominent veins, microbleeds and the SVS. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic values of SWI for the detection of hyperacute MCA occlusion. Materials and Methods: Sixty-nine patients (37 males, 32 females; 46-89 years old [mean, 69.1]) with acute stroke involving the MCA territory underwent MR imaging within 6 hours after the symptom onset. MR examination included T2, FLAIR (fluid-attenuated inversion recovery), DWI, SWI, PWI (perfusion-weighted imaging), contrast-enhanced MR angiography (MRA) and contrast-enhanced T1. Of these patients, 28 patients also underwent digital subtraction angiography (DSA) within 2 hours after MR examination. Presence or absence of SVS on SWI was assessed without knowledge of clinical, DSA and other MR imaging findings. Results: On MRA or DSA, 34 patients (49.3%) showed MCA occlusion. Of these patients, SVS was detected in 30 (88.2%) on SWI. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy of SWI were 88.2%, 97.1%, 96.8%, 89.5% and 92.8%, respectively. Conclusion: SWI was sensitive, specific and accurate for the detection of hyperacute MCA occlusion.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.137-152
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• 1998

Acute complications of diabetes mellitus were diminished after Banting and Best discovered insulin. But chronic complications of diabetes mellitus have been increased. The main complications of diabetes mellitus are diabetic retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic neuropathy, diabetic foot lesion and macrovascular complication. These complications can result in renal failure, loss of sight, cerebral infarction and myocardial infarction. So it is very difficult to treat the complications of diabetes mellitus. In oriental medicine, the transformations(傳變症) of Sogal(消渴) are edema, carbuncle, loss of sight and so on. The comparative study between the trcmsformations(傳變症) of SogaI(消渴) and the complications of diabetes mellitus has come to the following conclusions. 1. In oriental medicine, diabetic retinopathy was expessed as loss of sight and the treament of diabetic retinopathy should be started at an early stage, to prevent vitreous hemorrhage and traction retinal detachment. 2. In oriental medicine. diabetic nephropathy was expressed as edema and the treatment should be started at an early stage of renal injury when the protein comes from urine.3. Symmetrical distal polyneuropathy is the main part of diabetic neuropathy and it was expressed as weakness of the lower limbs and pain of joints in the symptoms of Haso(下消). In Oriental medicine, acupuncture and herb medicine which effect is SopungHwalHyul can treat polyneuropathy. 4. Chief macrovascular complications are coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular disease, The cause of macrovascular complication is atherosclerosis. So the method of treating atherosclerosis should be studied in oriental medicine. 5. Diabetic foot were expressed as carbuncle and its main causes are decreasing perfusion of fool, diabetic neuropathy and infection. So these causes should be studied in oriental medicine. 6. The complications of diabetes mellitus afe very similar to the transfonnatiuns of Sogal(消渴).The control of blood glucose is indispensable to prevent and delay the complication of diabetes mellitus.

• The Journal of Korean Oriental Chronic Disease
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.39-45
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• 2005

Objectives It is the case study of a critically ill patient with cerebral infarction and acute edematous change at femur due to a hematoma, of whom taken care with herb medicine according to the diagnosis of SCM(Sasang Constitutional Medicine). Methods The syndrome of the patient was diagnosed as a superficial disease of Taeumin. So after the on-set of the femoral edema, Jowiseungchung-tang added Castanea mollissima(Gunyul) and Maladera castanea(Jejo) was used. And we checked the change of the circumferencial size her thigh and followed up the sonography. Results and conclusions The therapy was significantly effective, and the edema was rapidly absorbed. The circumferential size was 83cm at on-set time, but got smaller to 57cm almost same to the healthy side of her thigh, and there was no more hematoma or systemic hemorrhagic sign on the body.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.63-68
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• 2005

Objective: The purpose of this case study is to show a case of early neurological recovery from stroke by recannalization. Methods: The patient was admitted from 12 July, 2004 to 26 July, 2004. The patient received Herb-Medication and Acupuncture Therapy. Brain MRI and Tc-99m HM-PAO brain SPECT was used to diagnose and prognose. Results: The patient fully recovered within a few hours. She was diagnosed as acute infarction in Lt. BG by using brain MRI. Tc-99m HM-PAO brain SPECT showed focal increased perfusion at Lt. BG. Conclusions: We suggest that the important thing to recovery from stroke is recannalization of cerebral arteries in early stage.