• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.155-160
• /
• 2010

Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) allows measurement of blood flow velocity to be made from the basal intracerebral vessels. Blood flow velocity in TCD is highly affected not only by blood vessel diameter, blood flow volume, blood viscosity, but also age and sex. Therefore, the study is focused on the correlation between TCD measurement index and sex/age. Subjects were 214 (male 147, famale 67) who had TCD for headache and stroke evaluations at Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital neurology department from December 2009 to April 2010. Sex did not show significant differences with mean flow velocity (MFV), peak systolic flow velocity (PSFV), end diastolic flow velocity (EDFV), pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI) in middle cerebral artery (MCA). Although age also did not show significant differences with MFV and PSFV, EDFV has statistically decreased with age, and PI and RI has statistically increased with age. In addition, age showed significant correlation with MFV, EDFV, PI and RI, but not with PSFV. Therefore, TCD is definitely correlated with age and sex, so that those influencial factors must be considered when being tested.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.103-112
• /
• 2018

Pathological laughing and crying (PLC) is a condition defined by relatively uncontrollable episodes of laughter, crying or both. PLC is an uncommon symptom usually caused by cerebral lesions. Midbrain involvement causing PLC is extremely unusual and the exact mechanism by which this condition develops is poorly understood. We recently experienced a 51-year-old woman who were diagnosed as PLC after midbrain infarction. She was treated by acupuncture, pulsed electromagnetic therapy (PEMT). After 6 weeks treatment, Pathological Laughter and Crying Scale (PLACS), Korean version of the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (K-SARA) are decreased and Korean version of Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI) is increased. Treatment of traditional Korean Medicine could be effective for stoke rehabilitation including post-stroke PLC. And we have considered mechanism of PLC associated with midbrain lesion, dysfunction of cortex-thalamus-hypothalamus-basal ganglia-mesencephalon and faciorespiratory nuclei pathways, cerebro-ponto-cerebellar pathways and damaged serotonergic neurotransmission can cause this based on recent neurobiology of emotion. To define exact mechanism and find effective treatment, further studies are needed.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.265-275
• /
• 2006

In the developing brain, capillaries are differentiated and matured into the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which is composed of cerebral endothelial cells, astrocyte end-feet, and pericytes. Since the BBB regulates the homeostasis of central nervous system (CNS), the maintenance of the BBB is important for CNS function. The disruption of the BBB may result in many brain disorders including brain tumors. However, the molecular mechanism of BBB formation and maintenance is poorly understood. Here, we summarize recent advances in the role of oxygen tension and growth factors on BBB development and maintenance, and in BBB dysfunction related with brain tumors.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.45 no.5
• /
• pp.599-609
• /
• 2021

Ginseng has long been considered as an herbal medicine. Recent data suggest that ginseng has antiinflammatory properties and can improve learning- and memory-related function in the central nervous system (CNS) following the development of CNS neuroinflammatory diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, cerebral ischemia, and other neurological disorders. In this review, we discuss the role of ginseng in the neurovascular unit, which is composed of endothelial cells surrounded by astrocytes, pericytes, microglia, neural stem cells, oligodendrocytes, and neurons, especially their blood-brain barrier maintenance, anti-inflammatory effects and regenerative functions. In addition, cell-cell communication enhanced by ginseng may be attributed to regeneration via induction of neurogenesis and angiogenesis in CNS diseases. Thus, ginseng may have therapeutic potential to exert cognitive improvement in neuroinflammatory diseases such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease.

• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.172-175
• /
• 2023

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a part of our lives now and we have no more effective way of coping than a vaccine. COVID-19 is a disease that causes severe thrombosis outside the respiratory tract. Vaccines also protect us in this respect, but in some rare cases, thrombosis has been found to develop after vaccination (much less frequently than COVID-19). What was interesting in our case was that it showed how a disaster could happen under three factors that predispose to thrombosis. A 65-year-old female patient with disseminated atherosclerosis was admitted to the intensive care unit with complaints of dyspnea and dysphasia. In the evening of the day, the patient had the vaccination 2 weeks ago, she had active COVID-19. On examination, lower extremity pulses could not be detected. The patient's imaging and blood tests were performed. Multiple complications such as embolic stroke, venous and arterial thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and pericarditis were observed in the patient. This case may give consideration to anticoagulant therapy studies. We give effective anticoagulant therapy in the presence of COVID-19 in patients at risk of thrombosis. Can anticoagulant therapy be considered after vaccination in patients at risk of thrombosis such as disseminated atherosclerosis?

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.83 no.2
• /
• pp.444-449
• /
• 2022

Most cardiac tumors are metastases, and primary cardiac tumors are rare; even among primary cardiac tumors, primary cardiac neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are extremely rare. Herein, we report a case of a patient presenting a left atrial mass without past medical history. Because of the location and movement of the mass, as well as the patient's cerebral infarction episode, the mass was initially suspected to be a thrombus. However, the mass was surgically diagnosed as NET.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.102-108
• /
• 2016

Mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episode (MELAS) syndrome is one of mitochondrial encephalopathy. As the early clinical manifestations can be variable, it is important to suspect the disease, especially in patients with multiple organ dysfunctions. A boy was diagnosed with epilepsy when he was 9 years old. Two years later, severe headache and blurred vision developed suddenly. On examination, left homonymous hemianopsia was detected with corresponding cerebral parenchymal lesions in right temporo-occipito-parietal areas. MELAS syndrome was confirmed by genetic test, which showed m.3243 A>G mitochondrial DNA mutation. Multivitamins including coenzyme Q10 were added to anticonvulsant. He experienced 4 more events of stroke-like episodes over 5 years, but he is able to perform normal daily activities. A 13-year-old boy was brought to the hospital due to suddenly developed respiratory arrest and asystole associated with pneumonia. Past medical history revealed that he had multiple medical problems such as epilepsy, failure-to-thrive, optic atrophy, and deafness. He has been on valproic acid as an anticonvulsant which was prescribed from local clinic. He recovered after the resuscitation, but his cognition and motor function were severely damaged. He became bed-ridden. He was diagnosed with MELAS syndrome by brain MRI, muscle biopsy, and clinical features. Genetic test did not reveal any mitochondrial gene mutation. Four years later, he expired due to suddenly developed severe metabolic acidosis combined with hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic coma. The clinical features of MELAS syndrome are variable. Early diagnosis before the presentation to the grave clinical course may be important for the better clinical outcome.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.57 no.5
• /
• pp.342-349
• /
• 2015

Background : Higher reperfusion rates have been established with endovascular treatment for acute ischemic stroke patients. There are limited data on the comparative performance of mechanical thrombectomy devices. This study aimed to analyse the efficacy and safety of the stent retriever device (Solitaire stent) by comparing procedure time, angiographic outcome, complication rate and long term clinical outcome with previous chemical thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy using penumbra system. Method : A retrospective single-center analysis was undertaken of all consecutive patients who underwent chemical thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy using Penumbra or Solitaire stent retriever from March 2009 to March 2014. Baseline characteristics, rate of successful recanalization (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score 2b-3), symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage, procedure time, mortality and independent functional outcomes ($mRS{\leq}2$) at 3 month were compared across the three method. Results : Our cohort included 164 patients, mechanical thrombectomy using stent retriever device had a significant impact on recanalization rate and functional independence at 3 months. In unadjusted analysis mechanical thrombectomy using Solitaire stent retriever showed higher recanalization rate than Penumbra system and chemical thrombolysis (75% vs. 64.2% vs. 49.4%, p=0.03) and higher rate of functional independence at 3 month (53.1% vs. 37.7% vs. 35.4%, p=0.213). In view of the interrelationships between all predictors of variables associated with a good clinical outcome, when the chemical thrombolysis was used as a reference, in multiple logistic regression analysis, the use of Solitaire stent retriever showed higher odds of independent functional outcome [odds ratio (OR) 2.62, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.96-7.17; p=0.061] in comparison with penumbra system (OR 1.57, 95% CI 0.63-3.90; p=0.331). Conclusion : Our initial data suggest that mechanical thrombectomy using stent retriever is superior to the mechanical thrombectomy using penumbra system and conventional chemical thrombolysis in achieving higher rates of reperfusion and better outcomes. Randomized clinical trials are needed to establish the actual benefit to specific patient populations.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.28-36
• /
• 1998

Background : Yang-do-rack is frequently used in diagnosing syndromes in oriental medical hospital, but there has been few clinical report on Yang-do-rack. So we intended to find out the relationship among Yang-do-rack, general characteristics and the differentiaion of syndromes in acute stroke patients. Materials and Methods : In this study we selected the subjects who were hospitalized from March 1, 1998 to July 31. 1998 at the department of circulatory internal medicine at college of oriental medicine, in Kyung-Hee University, diagnosed acute cerebral infarction or hemorrhage within 7 days after onset time. We checked Yang-do-rack scores with Autonomic Nervous System YORAK (Sord Medicom co. Ltd, Korea) and calculated the scores of each diffentiation of syndroms. Resuts : 1. In left leg meridian, there was more numerical value male than female on LF1, LF2, LF4, LF6. The value of LF1, LF3, LF4, LF5 was getting lower as the score of heat-transformation syndrom(火熱證) increased. 2. In left arm meridian, there was more numerical value male than female on LH2, LH5. The value of LH1, LH3, LH5 was getting lower as the score of exuberance of Yang due to deficiency of Yin syndrom(陰虛陽亢證) increased. 3. In right leg meridian, there was more numerical value male than female on RF1, RF2, RF4, RF6. The value of RF3, RF5 was getting lower as the score of heat-transformation syndrom(火熱證) increased and RF4 as the score of exuberance of Yang due to deficiency of Yin syndrom(陰虛陽亢證) increased. 4. In right arm meridian, the value of RH1 was getting lower as the score of exuberance of Yang due to deficiency of Yin syndrom(陰虛陽亢證) increased. These results show that the Yang-do-rack diagnosis could offer supplemental help for diffrentiation of syndroms in acute stroke patient.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.25-41
• /
• 2005

Objectives : Bambusae Caulis in Liquamen(BCL) has been used to medication for early stroke in the Oriental Medicine. So this study was planned to investigate the effects of BCL on the focal ischemia-induced by intraluminal filament insertion in the rats. Materials and methods: The focal ischemia was induced by Intraluminal Filament insertion into middle cerebral artery. BCL herbal acupuncture at ST36 was carried out during 3 weeks after focal ischemia-induced. Eight-arm radial maze was used for the behavioral task and neuroprotective effect of BCL acupuncture was observed by Cresyl violet, AchE, ChAT-stain Results : The error rate in the eight-arm radial maze task was significantly decreased in BCL1(0.89mg/kg) herbal acupuncture group compared to control group on 3,4,5days, compared to saline acupuncture group on 3,5days. The rate of correct choice was significantly increased in saline acupuncture, BCL1 herbal acupuncture group, BCL2(0.089mg/kg) herbal acupuncture groups compared to control group. The density of neurons in the hippocampal CA1 was the most increased in BCL1 herbal acupuncture group compared to the others. The density of AchE in the hippocampal CA1 was significantly increased in BCL1 herbal acupuncture, BCL2 herbal acupuncture groups compared to control group, and in BCL2 herbal acupuncture groups increased compared to saline acupuncture, control groups. The density of ChAT in the hippocampal CA1 was significantly increased in BCLl herbal acupuncture group compared to saline acupuncture, control groups. Conclusions : These results suggest that BCL herbal acupuncture could be used as a medication for controlling the early stroke.