• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.41 no.6
• /
• pp.1245-1254
• /
• 2020

Introduction: The aim of this study was to report the effect of Korean medicine treatments on a stroke patient with acute cerebral infarction. Method: A 63-year-old male with anterior and middle cerebral artery infarction had symptoms of dizziness and disorientation. The patient was treated with Korean medicine therapy, including the herbal medicine "Sunghyuangjunggi-san-gamibang." Treatment progress was assessed using the Korean version of the Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI) and the Korean dizziness handicap inventory (K-DHI). Results: After 14 days of treatment, the K-DHI score decreased from 78 to 7 and the K-MBI score increased from 18 to 24. The patient's main symptoms were improved after the treatment, and no side effects were observed. Conclusion: Korean medicine treatment, including Sunghyuangjunggi-san, might be a recommended therapeutic option for dizziness and disorientation in stroke patients.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.210-219
• /
• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate if double inversion recovery (DIR) imaging can have a role in the evaluation of brain ischemia, compared with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) imaging. Materials and Methods: Sixty-seven patients within 48 hours of onset, underwent MRI scans with FLAIR, DWI with b-value of 0 (B0) and $1000s/mm^2$, and DIR sequences. Patients were categorized into four groups: within three hours, three to six hours, six to 24 hours, and 24 to 48 hours after onset. Lesion-to-normal ratio (LNR) value was calculated and compared among all sequences within each group, by the Friedman test and conducted among all groups, for each sequence by the Kruskal-Wallis test. In qualitative assessment, signal intensity changes of DIR, B0, and FLAIR based on similarity with DWI and image quality of each sequence, were graded on a 3-point scale, respectively. Scores for detectability of lesions were compared by the McNemar's test. Results: LNR values from DWI were higher than DIR, but not statistically significant in all groups (P > 0.05). LNR values of DIR were significantly higher than FLAIR within 24 hours of onset (P < 0.05). LNR values were significantly different between, before, and after six hours onset time for DIR (P = 0.016), B0 (P = 0.008), and FLAIR (P = 0.018) but not for DWI (P = 0.051). Qualitative analysis demonstrated that detectability of DIR was higher, compared to that of FLAIR within 4.5 hours and six hours of onset (P < 0.05). Also, the DWI quality score was lower than that of DIR, particularly relative to infratentorial lesions. Conclusion: DIR provides higher detectability of hyperacute brain ischemia than B0 and FLAIR, and does not suffer from susceptibility artifact, unlike DWI. So, DIR can be used to replace evaluation of the FLAIR-DWI mismatch.

• Korean Circulation Journal
• /
• v.52 no.4
• /
• pp.280-287
• /
• 2022

Several studies have shown the benefit of complete revascularization (CR) over culprit-only percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) and multivessel disease (MVD). Nevertheless, optimal strategy to select targets for non-culprit PCI has not been clarified. In this paper, we critically discuss and compare the safety and efficacy of different strategies for CR in patients with STEMI and MVD using a Bayesian network meta-analysis including all previous randomized controlled trials (RCTs). In Bayesian network meta-analysis of 13 RCTs, culprit-only PCI was associated with higher risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), compared with angiography-guided or fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided CR strategies. However, there was no significant difference between angiography-guided and FFR-guided CR strategies in the risk of MACE and its individual components including all-cause death, cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI), and revascularization. These evidence support that both angiography-guided and FFR-guided complete revascularization strategies would be reasonable treatment option in patients with STEMI and MVD. If the non-culprit lesion is severe on visual assessment, angiography-guided PCI can be considered. If the non-culprit lesion is intermediate in severity or unclear based on visual assessment, FFR-guided strategy can be used as a reliable and objective tool, providing similar benefits with less stents compared with an angiography-guided strategy. Further RCT is needed to evaluate direct comparison between angiography-guided and FFR-guided CR strategies in patients with STEMI and MVD. Ongoing FRAME-AMI trial (NCT02715518) will provide more evidence regarding this issue.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.92-96
• /
• 2014

Dabigatran is the first oral direct thrombin inhibitor approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Because dabigatran is excreted mainly by the kidneys, serum levels of dabigatran can be elevated to a supratherapeutic range in patients with renal failure, predisposing to emergent bleeding. We describe the case of a 66-year-old man taking dabigatran 150 mg twice daily for atrial fibrillation and cerebral infarction who presented with hematochezia and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Laboratory evaluation showed a hemoglobin level of 6.3 g/dL, platelets of $138,000/mm^3$, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) of 10 s, and an international normalized ratio (INR) of 8.17. Colonoscopy showed a bleeding anal fissure. Hemostasis was provided by hemoclips and packed red blood cells and fresh frozen plasma were transfused. Since then, there was no further hematochezia, however, bleeding including oral mucosal bleeding, hematuria, and intravenous site bleeding persisted. At presentation, his serum creatinine was 4.96 mg/dL (baseline creatinine, 0.9 mg/dL). Dabigatran toxicity secondary to acute kidney injury was presumed. Because acute kidney injury of unknown cause was progressing after admission, he was treated with hemodialysis. Fresh frozen plasma transfusion was provided with hemodialysis. At 15 days from admission, there was no further bleeding, and laboratory values, including hemoglobin, partial thromboplastin time, and prothrombin time were normalized. He was discharged without bleeding. After 2 months, he undergoes dialysis three times per week and no recurrence of bleeding has been observed.

• Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.85-95
• /
• 2023

BACKGROUND: The prognostic utility of follow-up transthoracic echocardiography (FU-TTE) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is unclear, specifically in terms of whether changes in echocardiographic parameters in routine FU-TTE parameters are associated with cardiovascular outcomes. METHODS: From 2010 to 2017, 162 patients with HCM were retrospectively enrolled in this study. Using echocardiography, HCM was diagnosed based on morphological criteria. Patients with other diseases that cause cardiac hypertrophy were excluded. TTE parameters at baseline and FU were analyzed. FU-TTE was designated as the last recorded value in patients who did not develop any cardiovascular event or the latest exam before event development. Clinical outcomes were acute heart failure, cardiac death, arrhythmia, ischemic stroke, and cardiogenic syncope. RESULTS: Median interval between the baseline TTE and FU-TTE was 3.3 years. Median clinical FU duration was 4.7 years. Septal trans-mitral velocity/mitral annular tissue Doppler velocity (E/e'), tricuspid regurgitation velocity, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and left atrial volume index (LAVI) at baseline were recorded. LVEF, LAVI, and E/e' values were associated with poor outcomes. However, no delta values predicted HCM-related cardiovascular outcomes. Logistic regression models incorporating changes in TTE parameters had no significant findings. Baseline LAVI was the best predictor of a poor prognosis. In survival analysis, an already enlarged or increased size LAVI was associated with poorer clinical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in echocardiographic parameters extracted from TTE did not assist in predicting clinical outcomes. Cross-sectionally evaluated TTE parameters were superior to changes in TTE parameters between baseline and FU at predicting cardiovascular events.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
• /
• v.42 no.5
• /
• pp.347-353
• /
• 2008

Purpose: Cortical reorganization has an important role in the recovery of stroke. We analyzed the compensatory cerebral and cerebellar perfusion change in patients with unilateral cerebral infarction using statistical parametric mapping (SPM). Materials and Methods: Fifty seven $^{99m}TC-Ethylene$ Cystein Diethylester (ECD) cerebral perfusion SPECT images of 57 patients (male/female=38/19, mean age=$56{\pm}17\;years$) with unilateral cerebral infarction were evaluated retrospectively. Patients were divided into subgroups according to the location (left, right) and the onset (acute, chronic) of infarction. Each subgroup was compared with normal controls (male/female=11/1, mean age=$36{\pm}10\;years$) in a voxel-by-voxel manner (two sample t-test, p<0.001) using SPM. Results: All 4 subgroups showed hyperperfusion in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex, but not in the contralateral cerebral cortex. Chronic left and right infarction groups revealed hyperperfusion in the ipsilateral primary sensorimotor cortex, meanwhile, acute subgroups did not. Contralateral cerebellar hyperperfusion was also demonstrated in the chronic left infarction group. Conclusion: Using $^{99m}Tc-ECD$ SPECT, we observed ipsilateral cerebral and contralateral cerebeller hyperperfusion in patients with cerebral infarction. However, whether these findings are related to the recovery of cerebral functions should be further evaluated.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.32 no.11
• /
• pp.1017-1022
• /
• 1999

Background: An increasing number of elderly are referred for open heart surgeries(OHS). These patients are assumed to have significantly increased morbidity and mortality because of compromised functional reserves in their vital organs. We reviewed the results of OHS patients who were 70 years old or older. Material and Method: Thirty six consecutive septuagenarians underwent OHS from 1995 to 1997. Operations were coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG) in 26 including 3 left main surgical angioplasty, valve replacement in 7, MVR+CABG in 2, and ASD closure+TAP in 1. Statistical tests were carried out to compare survivor group with nonsurvivor group in respect to risk factors including NYHA functional class, LVEF, emergent operation, IABP support, CPB/ACC time, ventilator time cardiac index, ICU stay and hospital stay for operative mortality. Result: Operative mortality rate and postoperative complication were 16%(6/36) and 50%(18/36). One-year and 3-year actuarial survival rates were 76%. Nine patients(25%) had major complications including third-degree A-V block(2), respiratory failure(1), stroke(3), renal failure requiring dialysis(3) and postoperative hemorrhage(2). The causes of death were pneumonia(1), bleeding(1), acute renal failure(1), low cardiac output(1), third-degree A-V block(1), and ventricular tachycardia(1). The univariate analysis of mortality shows that NYHA class IV, LVEF<40%, lesser values for C.I, and longer time for ventilatory support were associated with the risk factors(p value=0.03, 0.001, 0.007, and 0.014). The emergent operation, CPB/ACC time, IABP support, ICU stay and hospital stay were not significant. Conclusion: We conclude that cardiac operation can be performed in septuagenarians with acceptable outcomes when done in patients with normal to moderately depressed left ventricular function and adequate functional reserves in their vital organs.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.91-101
• /
• 2011

Perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (pMRI) is a special technique for evaluation of blood flow. Exogenous pMRI methods which are dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) use an intravenous bolus injection of paramagnetic contrast agent. In contrast, an endogenous pMRM method which is arterial spin labeling (ASL) use diffusible blood in body. In order to scan pMRI in human, technical optimizations are very important according to disease conditions. For examples, DSC is popularly used in patients with acute stroke due to its short scan time, while DSC or DCE provides the various perfusion indices for patients with tumor. ASL is useful for children, women who are expected to be pregnant, and in patients with kidney diseases which are problematic in nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF). Perfusion MRI does not require any injection of radioisotopes. We expect that demand for perfusion MRI will be higher in evaluating drug efficacy and other treatment effects.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.279-297
• /
• 2021

Purpose: Various changes in nutrition, metabolism, immunity, and psychological status occur through multiple mechanisms after gastrectomy. The purpose of this study was to predict disease status after gastrectomy by analyzing diseases pattern that occur or change after gastrectomy. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using nationwide claims data. Patients with gastric cancer who underwent gastrectomy or endoscopic resection were included in the study. Eighteen target diseases were selected and categorized based on their underlying mechanism. The incidence of each target disease was compared by dividing the study sample into those who underwent gastrectomy (cases) and those who underwent endoscopic resection for early gastric cancer (controls). The cases were matched with controls using propensity score matching. Thereafter, Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate intergroup differences in disease incidence after gastrectomy. Results: A total of 97,634 patients who underwent gastrectomy (84,830) or endoscopic resection (12,804) were included. The incidence of cholecystitis (P<0.0001), pancreatitis (P=0.034), acute kidney injury (P=0.0083), anemia (P<0.0001), and inguinal hernia (P=0.0007) were higher after gastrectomy, while incidence of dyslipidemia (P<0.0001), vascular diseases (ischemic heart disease, stroke, and atherosclerosis; P<0.0001, P<0.0001, and P=0.0005), and Parkinson's disease (P=0.0093) were lower after gastrectomy. Conclusions: This study identifies diseases that may occur after gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.18 no.7
• /
• pp.565-568
• /
• 2017

Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease characterized by dry mouth and neutropenia. Although it does not commonly involve the central nervous system, Sjogren's syndrome sometimes affects small vessels through microangiopathic alterations. A 34-year-old woman was hospitalized for left upper quadrantanopia and a tingling sensation in the left hemibody. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed acute infarction in the right posterior cerebral artery territory. In laboratory tests, antinuclear (FANA2+) and anti-DNA antibodies (anti-SS-A (Ro)) were detected. Salivary gland scintigraphy revealed moderately decreasedexcretion of saliva. Based on these findings, we concluded she had Sjogren's syndrome. As in this patient, large vessel involvement in Sjogren's syndrome is far less common. Furthermore, it is difficult to administer antiplatelet drugsto patients with thrombocytopenia in Sjogren's syndrome. This is a case of the patient with Sjogren's syndrome that involved thrombocytopenia and large vessel invasion who was treated with antiplatelet drugs and hydroxychloroquine.