• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.739-748
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• 2019

For recanalization of emergent large vessel occlusions (ELVOs), endovascular therapy (EVT) using newer devices, such as a stent retriever and large-bore catheter, has shown better patient outcomes compared with intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator only. Intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) is a major cause of acute ischemic stroke, the incidence of which is rising worldwide. Thus, it is not rare to encounter underlying ICAS during EVT procedures, particularly in Asian countries. ELVO due to underlying ICAS is often related to EVT procedure failure or complications, which can lead to poor functional recovery. However, information regarding EVT for this type of stroke is lacking because large clinical trials have been largely based on Western populations. In this review, we discuss the unique pathologic basis of ELVO with underlying ICAS, which may complicate EVT procedures. Moreover, we review EVT data for patients with ELVO due to underlying ICAS and suggest an optimal endovascular recanalization strategy based on the existing literature. Finally, we present future perspectives on this subject.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.38-58
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• 2004

The regain of independent ambulatory ability is a important goal in the rehabilitation program of hemiplegic patient. Not only the function of lower extremity muscles, but also trunk muscles which stabilize extremities and pelvis, are important factors in normal gait. Therefor, it is necessary to develop an effective program which can improve muscle strength and symmetric activity of trunk muscles. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of trunk muscle strengthening by forceful respiratory exercise on the gait asymmetry ratio in hemiplegic patient. 45 Hemiplegic patients due to stroke was randomized in 3 groups, forceful expiratory training(FET), forceful inspiratory training(FIT) and control group. In the experimental groups, ordinary physical therapy with forceful expiratory training and forceful inspiratory training for 20 minutes duration 3 times per week for 6 weeks were respectively performed. In the control group, only ordinary physical therapy was done. Before and after experiments, temporal-spatial gait parameters was measured in all patients. The data of 28 patients who carried out the whole experimental course were statistically analysed. The results of these experiment are as follows : 1. In comparison of difference of single support time asymmetry ratio among 3 groups, the FET group was significantly decreased than the control group (p<.05). 2. In comparison of difference of step length asymmetry ratio among 3 groups, the FIT group was significantly decreased than the control group (p<.05). Based on these results, it is concluded that the forced respiratory exercise program for 6 weeks can be improve the gait asymmetry ratio in hemiplegic patients. Therefore, the forced respiratory exercise is useful to improve the walking ability in hemiplegic patients. Since this study dealt only with the patients who could walk more than 3 meters in distance on floor independently, the further study for evaluating the influence of the forceful respiratory exercise on patients with acute stage stroke and also the development in various methods of use are expected.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.57-69
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• 2016

Objective: The purpose of this study was to systematically review the articles using accelerometer to measure activity of daily living of patients with stroke. Methods: Depending on selection criteria, 13 studies were searched for PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane library database from February 2014 to March 2014. A total of 331 papers were searched, and 13 of these were selected. Results: In studies of 13 selected, acute, subacute, and chronic patients with stroke were enrolled. The kind of accelerometer was uniaxial, biaxial, and triaxial, activity monitor. Measurement activities were mainly arm activity, walking activity, and attachment sites were also various depending on the measurement activities. A measured variable was the total number of activities, the movement speed of the patients, ratio between affected and non-affected, and motion analysis. The result indicated that significant correlation with the other assessment tools in all studies. Conclusions: Accelerometer will be applied with a tool for measuring activity of daily living of patients with stroke, depending on activities characteristics. Further, we need accelerometer studies to apply with a variety of assessment in clinical practice or community settings.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2016

Objectives: Objectives : This study is aimed to develop a Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) on acupuncture treatment for the patients with Post-stroke Urinary Retention; PSUR. Methods: Experts committee, consisting of stroke or methodology specialists, searched Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and 19 Korean medicine journals. The search terms were selected to screen the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or systematic reviews for the effectiveness of acupuncture on PSUR compared with placebo or conventional group. Levels of evidence and grades of recommendations were appraised based on Recommendations for Development of Clinical Practice Guideline in Korean Medicine. Results & Conclusions: 4 RCT were included to build the CPG. There was a strong evidence to support the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment for PSUR. The moderate evidence was presented that over 3 times a week of the acupuncture should be performed over 4 weeks on the acupoints, such as SP6, CV3, CV6, CV4, SP9, BL28, BL23, BL22, KI3 or BL67, for 15-30 minutes. 20-140Hz frequency and 10-20 minutes of treatment is suggested if electro-acupuncture treatment is performed with. It was also suggested that the procedure should begin at the acute stage just after the vital signs of the patients are stabilized. Finally, there was a moderate evidence to support safety of acupuncture treatment for PSUR.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.1081-1100
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• 2019

Objectives: This study is an overview of the meta-analysis and systematic review of randomized controlled trials investigating the clinical effectiveness and safety of pharmacopuncture for patients with stroke. Methods: Core electronic databases were searched from their inception to 21 May 2019. A measurement tool to assess systematic reviews (AMSTAR 2) was applied to screen high-quality studies. The results of these studies were summarized, and additional meta-analysis was conducted. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to evaluate the certainty of evidence. Results: Sixteen studies met eligibility criteria. Four were excluded owing to insufficiency of AMSTAR 2 or low data reliability. The finally selected 12 studies were about pharmacopuncture using either a single herb extract, such as Dengzhan xixin, Sanch, Ginkgo biloba, or Acanthopanax, or a mixture of herbs, such as Compound danshen, Shenxiong, Xingnaojing, or Mailuoning. Most of the patients were from China, with acute ischemic stroke. All the studies using a pharmacopuncture versus a non-pharmacopuncture design reported the significant superiority of pharmacopuncture on every outcome measure. On the other hand, in a few studies, pharmacopuncture was inferior to active control in improving neurological deficit. Few studies reported adverse events. Conclusions: It is difficult to apply the results of this study directly to Korea, because the level of evidence is generally low and the clinical settings and social acceptance of pharmacopuncture therapy differ in Korea and China. Further studies are warranted to confirm the domestic applicability of evidence generated in China and to create evidence that supports the domestic situation.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.929-933
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• 2012

This study was done to examine the prognosis according to onset and duration of treatment in acute ischemic cerebral infarction patients. We analysed NIHSS(National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale) score of acute ischemic cerebral infarction patients who visited department of Internal Korean Medicine, one medical center in Busan from January to December 2009. We divided patients into two groups by the initial time of treatment. Group A is admitted within 7 days, Group B is admitted from 7 to 14 days. We used NIHSS for functional recovery after 3 weeks later from admission day, and analyzed prognostic factor by analysis of covariance. All patients showed statistically significant improvement after 1week, 2weeks, 3weeks from admission, and between 1st week and 2nd week. However, there was no significant difference between 2nd week and 3rd week. NIHSS recovery score after 3weeks were analysed according to the timing of treatment. There was a statistically significant difference between two groups. The percentage of aggravated patients showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. This study suggests that earlier admission care has an effect on functional recovery of patients with acute ischemic cerebral infarction. Further research on the large scale and long-term follow up is required.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.326-330
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• 2007

Objective : Stroke is the most prevalent disease involving the central nervous system. Since medical modalities are sometimes ineffective for the acute edema following massive infarction, surgical decompression may be an effective option when medical treatments fail. The present study was undertaken to assess the outcome and prognostic factors of decompressive surgery in life threatening acute, severe, brain infarction. Methods : We retrospectively analyzed twenty-six patients (17 males and 9 females; average age, 49.7yrs) who underwent decompressive surgery for severe cerebral or cerebellar infarction from January 2003 to December 2006. Surgical indication was based on the clinical signs such as neurological deterioration, pupillary reflex, and radiological findings. Clinical outcome was assessed by Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). Results : Of the 26 patients, 5 (19.2%) showed good recovery, 5 (19.2%) showed moderate disability, 2 (7.7%) severe disability, 6 (23.1%) persistent experienced vegetative state, and 8 (30.8%) death. In this study, the surgical decompression improved outcome for cerebellar infarction, but decompressive surgery did not show a good result for MCA infarction (30.8% overall mortality vs 100% mortality). The dominant-hemisphere infarcts showed worse prognosis, compared with nondominant-hemisphere infarcts (54.5% vs 70%). Poor prognostic factors were diabetes mellitus, dominant-hemisphere infarcts and low preoperative Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score. Conclusion : The patients who exhibit clinical deterioration despite aggressive medical management following severe cerebral infarction should be considered for decompressive surgery. For better outcome, prompt surgical treatment is mandatory. We recommend that patients with severe cerebral infarction should be referred to neurosurgical department primarily in emergency setting or as early as possible for such prompt surgical treatment.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.1470-1479
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of Dampness-phlegm to blood lipid level and second reason of hyperlipidemia in acute stroke patients by case-control study. This study was done over 348 patients hospitalized in the Oriental Medical Hospital of Daejeon University of November 2006 to July 2008. Patients had been interviewed by residents and medical specialists who studied standard operation procedures in Fundamental Study for Syndrome of Oriental Medicine for Stroke. Study subjects consisted of 86 patients who distributed to Dampness-phlegm by medical specialist and discriminating program as the case I group, 157 patients who distributed to Dampness-phlegm by medical specialist or discriminating program as the case II group and 191 patients who distributed to Non-Dampness-phlegm by medical specialist and discriminating program as the control group. For the purpose of obtaining suitable result we analyzed blood lipid level of each group by univariate and multivariate logistic analysis. Dampness-phlegm was not significant correlated with increasing of Total cholesterol, Triglyceride and decreasing of HDL cholesterol. Dampness-phlegm was significant correlated with increasing LDL cholesterol and the independent predictors of hyperlipoproteinemia by multivariate logistic analysis. Dampness-phlegm was not significant correlated with diabetes melitus, liver disease, kidney disease, obesity and abdominal obesity. In this study, we demonstrated new relationship between Dampness-phlegm and LDL cholesterol. Based on these results, it is suggested that Dampness-phlegm would be the independent predictors of hyperlipoproteinemia. And more prospective studies are to be done with more clinical data.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.160-167
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation of Intima-Media Thickness of common carotid artery(CCA-IMT) and The Second Derivative of Photoplethysmogram Waveforms(SDPTG). 38 subjects with acute ischemic stroke were recruited from the patients admitted to Dong-Eui Medical Center from the June 2013 to January 2014. We assessed 38 patient's SDPTG data and CCA-IMT data by B Mode ultrasonography. then 38 subjects were divided into two groups by the CCA-IMT difference; CCA-IMT 〈 0.8 mm group(n=11), CCA-IMT $$\geq_-$$ 0.8 mm group(n=27). We analyzed their characteristics, risk factor, blood test result, life style by CCA-IMT difference. As a result, Age, Hypertension were significantly higher in the CCA-IMT $$\geq_-$$ 0.8 mm group then in the CCA-IMT < 0.8 mm group. Regular exercise were significantly higher in the CCA-IMT < 0.8 mm group then in the CCA-IMT $$\geq_-$$ 0.8 mm group. The result of Multiple regression analysis on the factors affecting the CCA-IMT was hypertension, total cholesterol, age. and The result of Pearson's Correlation analysis on CCA-IMT and SDPTG is that e/a ratio, SDPTG AI were respectively and significantly correlated with CCA-IMT. According to the analysis, the Relationship between CCA-IMT and SDPTG in Ischemic Stroke Patients were founded. We suggest that further investigation with larger and better controlled trials of the Relationship between CCA-IMT and SDPTG could contribute to better understand the effects of risk factors on atherosclerosis.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.902-910
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• 2007

Objective : Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma, a transcription factor in adipocyte differentiation, has important effects on insulin sensitivity, atherosclerosis, endothelial cell function and inflammation. Through these effects, PPAR-gamma2 might be involved with type 2 diabetes and vascular disease, including diabetic complications. Recently, it has been reported that the C161T polymorphism in the exon 6 of PPAR-gamma is associated with type 2 diabetes interacting with uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) gene, and is associated with acute myocardial infarction. We studied the association of this polymorphism with type 2 diabetes and its complications, such as retinopathy, ischemic stroke, nephropathy and neuropathy in Korean non-diabetic and type 2 diabetic populations. Methods : Three hundred and thirty eight type 2 diabetic patients (retinopathy: 64, ischemic stroke: 67, nephropathy: 39 and neuropathy: 76) and 152 healthy matched control subjects were evaluated. The PPAR-gamma C161T polymorphism was analyzed by PCR-RFLP. Results : PPAR-gamma C161T genotype and allele frequency did not show significant differences between type 2 diabetic patients and healthy controls (T allele: 17.0 vs. 14.5, OR= 1.21, P=0.3188). In the analysis for diabetic complications, T allele in diabetic nephropathy was significantly higher than controls (P=0.0358). T allele in the ischemic stroke patients was also higher than healthy controls, although it had no significance (P=0.1375). Conclusions : These results suggest that the C161T polymorphism of the PPAR-gamma gene might be associated with diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetes.