• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• 제3권2호
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• pp.128-135
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• 2001

Background : Tremor is uncommon manifestation of stroke. Therefore a few cases have been reported until now. There is still uncertainty about the characteristics of post-stroke tremor. Furthermore the pathogenesis and responsible structures of post-stroke tremor are not precisely known. We have recently experienced 34 cases of post-stroke tremor for the past 6 years. We analysed the clinical features and electrophysiologic findings of post-stroke tremor to evaluate the general characteristics and to analogize the possible pathogenetic mechanisms of post-stroke tremor. Methods : The clinical characteristics of post-stroke tremor were summarized in according to the onset time, involved body parts, types, tremor frequencies, neuroradiologic findings, and associated symptoms. The tremor frequencies were recorded by using a gyroscope. The spectral analysis of tremor frequencies were done automatically with Motus I soft ware. Results : Tremor onset were remarkably varied. Some patients showed a tremor appearing at the onset of a stroke and other patients showed delayed-onset tremor 10 years after a stroke. Tremor frequencies were also much varied. The range of hand tremor frequencies were from 1.5 to 12 Hz. Lesions were found in 31 cases(infarction 27, hemorrhage 4) on neuroimaging. In the cases of cerebral infarctions, 7 cases showed multiple small vessel diseases and 20 cases showed cerebral vessel lesions. The most commonly involved cerebral vessel lesion was the middle cerebral artery territory Several different clinical patterns of post-stroke tremor were identified. Conclusions : There are some evidences from the data summarized here to suggest that several pathogenetic mechanisms including central oscillators could be involved for the development of tremors and that tremor generating neural circuits could be more complex than previously suggested neural circuits.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.57-66
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• 2006

Ischemic stroke results from a transient or permanent reduction in cerebral blood flow that is restricted to the territory of a major brain artery. Thus, this study was performed to examine (1) the effects of swimming exercise on the improvement of muscle atrophy, and (2) exercise and HSP 70 expression in an ischemic stroke model induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion. The results of this study were as follows: One week after ischemic stroke was induced, changes appeared in the muscle weight of the gastrocnemius muscle due to muscle atrophy in the affected side. Group II showed statistically significant difference from group III eight weeks after ischemic stroke was induced. (p<.05). One week and eight weeks after ischemic stroke was induced there was significant decrease in the relative muscle weight of the gastrocnemius muscle in each group except Group IV, while there was statistically significant increase in group II eight weeks after ischemic stroke was induced, compared to group III (p<.05). For neurologic exercise behavior tests, Group II generally had the highest score, compared to other groups. In immunohistochemical observations, Group II showed a decrease in HSP 70. The above results suggest that swimming exercise improved muscle atrophy, changed the HSP 70 expression of ischemic stroke in rats, and contributed to the improvement of exercise function.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.223-244
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• 1997

Clinical observation was done on 290 cases of patients who were diagnosed as CVA with brain CT, TCD, MRI scan and clinical observation. They were hospitalized in the oriental medical hospital of Kyung-Won University from 1st January to 31st December in 1996. 1. The cases were classified into the following kinds : cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, and transient ischemic attack. The most case of them was the cerebr진 infarction. 2. There is no significant difference in the frequency of strokes in male and female. And the frequency of strokes was highest in the aged over 50. 3. In cerebral infarction the most frequent lesion was the territory of middle cerebral artery, and in cerebral hemorrhage the most frequent lesion was the basal ganglia. 4. The most ordinary preceding disease was hypertension, and the next was diabetes. 5. The rate of recurrence was high in cerebral infarction. 6. The frequency of strokes seems to have no relation to the season. 7. The cerebral infarction occurred usually in resting and sleeping, and the cerebral hemorrhage in acting. 8. The course of entering hospital, most patients visited this hospital as soon as CVA occurred. And the half of patient visited this hospital within 2 days after CVA attack. 9. In the cases of patients who were unconscious at the admission, the prognosis was worse than that of the alert patients. 10. The common symptoms were motor disability and verbal disturbance. 11. The average duration of hospitalization was 27.4 days, and in case of cerebral hemorrhage the duration was prolonged. 12. The average time to start physical therapy was 13.3rd day after stroke in cerebral infarction and it was 19.9th day after stroke in cerebral hemorrhage. 13. The common complications were urinary tract infection, pneumonia, myocardial infarction and so on. 15. At the time of entering hospital, in most cases the blood pressure was high, but blood pressure was well controlled at the time of discharge. 16. Generally reported, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia are usually found in cerebral infarction. But in this study, they were found more frequently in cerebral hemorrhage than in infarction. 17, In the most cases, western and oriental medical treatments were given simultaneously. 18. In acute or subacute stage, the methods of smoothening the flow of KI(順氣), dispelling phlegm(祛痰), clearing away heat(淸熱) or purgation(瀉下) were frequently used. And in recovering stage, the methods of replenishing KI(補氣), tonifying the blood(補血) or tranquilization(安神) were frequently used.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제50권4호
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• pp.370-376
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• 2011

Objective : Posttraumatic cerebral infarction (PTCI), an infarction in well-defined arterial distributions after head trauma, is a known complication in patients with severe head trauma. The primary aims of this study were to evaluate the clinical and radiographic characteristics of PTCI, and to assess the effect on outcome of decompressive hemicraniectomy (DHC) in patients with PTCI. Methods : We present a retrospective analysis of 20 patients with PTCI who were treated between January 2003 and August 2005. Twelve patients among them showed malignant PTCI, which is defined as PTCI including the territory of Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA). Medical records and radiologic imaging studies of patients were reviewed. Results : Infarction of posterior cerebral artery distribution was the most common site of PTCI. Fourteen patients underwent DHC an average of 16 hours after trauma. The overall mortality rate was 75%. Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) of survivors showed that one patient was remained in a persistent vegetative state, two patients were severely disabled and only two patients were moderately disabled at the time of discharge. Despite aggressive treatments, all patients with malignant PTCI had died. Malignant PTCI was the indicator of poor clinical outcome. Furthermore, Glasgow coma scale (GCS) at the admission was the most valuable prognostic factor. Significant correlation was observed between a GCS less than 5 on admission and high mortality (p<0.05). Conclusion : In patients who developed non-malignant PTCI and GCS higher than 5 after head injury, early DHC and duroplasty should be considered, before occurrence of irreversible ischemic brain damage. High mortality rate was observed in patients with malignant PTCI or PTCI with a GCS of 3-5 at the admission. A large prospective randomized controlled study will be required to justify for aggressive treatments including DHC and medical treatment in these patients.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.393-396
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• 2001

Objectives: We were to assess the effectiveness of combined therapy of Oriental Medicine and Western Medicine on acute stroke. Methods: We selected acute middle cerebral artery territory infarction subjects, within 3 days after stroke onset, who had never have any type of stroke history before. The subjects, admitted to department of Oriental Medicine, received combination therapy of western medical treatment including thrombolytic, anticoagulant, or antiplatelet agents and oriental medical treatment including acupuncture and herbs medication. The other subjects, admitted to department of Neurology, received only modern western medical treatment. The National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was checked at admission, 1 week and 2 weeks later to assess neurologic improvement. The Modified Barthel Index (MBI) was checked 1 week and 2 weeks after admission to motor function recovery. Results: Comparing the NIHSS between baseline and 1 week later, the combination therapy group showed more improvement than the single-treated with anticoagulants group. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups, comparing 1 week and 2 weeks later with the NIHSS and the MBI. Conclusions: Combination therapy have more beneficial effect on acute stage of stroke.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제46권3호
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• pp.226-231
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• 2009

Objective : We describe our clinical experiences and outcomes in patients who had thromboembolic complications occurring during endovascular treatment of intracerebral aneurysms with a review of the literature. The types of thromboembolic complications were divided and the treatment modalities for each type were described. Methods : Between August 2004 and March 2009 we performed endovascular embolization with Guglielmi detachable coils for 173 patients with 189 cerebral aneurysms, including ruptured and unruptured aneurysms at our hospital. Sixty-eight patients were males and 105 patients were females. The age of patients ranged from 22-82 years (average, 58.8 years). We retrospectively evaluated this group with regard to complication rates and outcomes. The types of thromboembolic complications were classified into the following three categories: mechanical obstruction, distal embolic stroke, and stent-induced complications, which corresponded to types I, II, and III, respectively. A comparison of the clinical results was made for each type of complication. Results : Only eight patients had a thromboembolic complication during or after a procedure (4.6%). Of the eight patients, two had a mechanical obstruction as the causative factor; the other three patients had distal embolic stroke as the causative factor. The remaining three patients had stent-induced complications. In cases of mechanical obstruction, recanalization occurred due to the use of intra-arterial thrombolytic agents in one of two patients. Nevertheless, a poor prognosis was seen. In the cases of stent-induced complications, in one of three patients in whom a thrombus developed following stent insertion, a middle cerebral artery territory infarct developed with a poor prognosis despite the use of wiring and an intra-arterial thrombolytic agent. In the cases of distal embolic stroke, all three patients achieved good results following the use of antiplatelet agents. Conclusion : Treatment for thromboemboic complications due to mechanical obstruction and stent-induced complications include antiplatelet and intra-arterial thrombolytic agents; however, this cannot guarantee a sufficient extent of effectiveness. Therefore, active treatments, such as balloon angioplasty, stent insertion, and clot extraction, are helpful.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.187-200
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• 2006

Objectives: Acupuncture has been applied in Asia for thousands of years, especially to rehabilitation after stroke. It has been reported that acupuncture increased cerebral blood supply and stimulated the functional activity of brain nerve cells shown by using brain imaging techniques. This study was to evaluate the effect of GB 34-GB 39 electro-acupuncture (EA) on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in stroke patients and normal volunteers using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Methods: The study procedure was divided into two parts: patients and volunteers studies. For the patients study, ten ischemic stroke patients (3 males, 7 females, mean age $68.5{\pm}8.9$ years old) were selected. Baseline brain SPECT was done with triple head gamma camera (MultiSPECT3, Siemens, USA) after intravenous administration of 1,110 MBq of $^{99m}Tc-ECD$. Fifteen-minute EA at GB 34 and GB 39 were applied on the affected limb. The same dose of $^{99m}Tc-ECD$ was injected during the EA, and the second set of SPECT images wasobtained. Using the computer software (ICON 7.1, Siemens, USA), 3 SPECT slices (upper, middle, lower) surrounding the brain lesion were selected and each slice was divided into 10-16 brain regions. Asymmetry indexes (AI) were analyzed in each brain region. We regarded over 10% changes of AI between before and after EA as significance. For the volunteers study, 10 healthy human volunteers (5 males, 5 females, mean age $28.1{\pm}6$ years old) were selected. In the resting state, $^{99m}Tc-ECD$ brain SPECT scans were performed. On the 7th day after the resting examination, 15 minute EA was applied at GB 34 and GB 39 on the right side of the subjects. Immediately after EA, the second SPECT images were obtained inthe same manner as the resting state. Significant increases and decreases of rCBF after EA were estimated by comparing their SPECT images with those of the resting state using paired t statistics at every voxel, which were analyzed by statistical parametric mapping with a threshold of p = 0.01, uncorrected (extent threshold: k=100 voxels). Results: In stroke patients, six of the eight (75%) had significantly increased perfusion in post-acupuncture scans compared to their baseline state. In normal volunteers, GB 34-GB GB EA increased rCBF in both hemispheres including right ventral posterior cingulate (Brodmann area (BA) 23), left superior temporal, anterior transverse temporal (BA 22, 41), left parastriate, peristriate (BA 18, 19), right occipitotemporal, angular (BA 37, 39), left rostral postcentral, caudal postcentral and preparietal (BA 2, 3, 5). However GB 34-GB 39 EA decreased rCBF in the right hemisphere including triangular and middle frontal lobes. Conclusions: The results demonstrated that OB 34-GB 39 EA increased cerebral perfusion in ischemic stroke patients and increased rCBF grossly in temporal lobes of normal volunteers. It is also suggested that there may be a correlation between the GB meridian and the territory of the middle cerebral artery.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.180-189
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• 2002

Background and Purpose : The hemiplegic upper extremity is affected in many stroke patients, and recovery is often poor. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) in enhancing the upper extremity motor and functional recovery of ischemic stroke patients. Subjects and Methods : Forty ischemic stroke patients (the upper extremity Fugl-Meyer motor scale (FM) score lower than 46, lesion location within middle cerebral artery territory) within 2 weeks of stroke onset were randomly allocated to either an EA group that received EA treatment or a control group that received only routine ward care. The EA was applied at Quchi-Shousanli (LI11-LI10), Waiguan-Hegu (TE5-LI4) points on the hemiparetic side six times per week for 4 weeks. The frequency of stimulation was 25-50Hz and the intensity was set at a level sufficient to induce muscle contraction. EA treatment was given for 30 minutes and all patients of both groups received standard rehabilitation program. Outcomes were assessed, in a blind manner, before treatment began and at 4 weeks after treatment, with the FM, the Motor Power score (MP) for shoulder/elbow, and the subsection of the Modified Barthel Index (MBI) for drinking/feeding/dressing upper body/grooming. Results : These 2 groups had comparable clinical characteristics, lesion location, lesion size, and pretreatment impairment scores. By the end of treatment, the EA group showed significantly more improvement than the control group in the subsection of the FM for shoulder/elbow/coordination (6.4 vs. 3.7; P=0.047) and the MP for shoulder/elbow (5.3 vs. 3.3; P=0.008). The subsection scores of the MBI for drinking/feeding/dressing upper body/grooming were not significantly different between two groups. No adverse effects due to treatment were found Conclusion : These results suggest that EA enhances the upper extremity motor recovery of acute stroke patients. However, this study failed to demonstrate any significant functional benefit related with upper extremity. Future study should be carried out in a larger sample size and use the functional outcome measure that is more specific and sensitive to the upper extremity.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제30권6호
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• pp.717-723
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• 2001

Objective : Subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH) is still one of the most serious disease with high morbidity and mortality in the neurosurgical field. Clipping of the aneurysmal neck is the gold standard of the surgical treatment of aneurysmal SAH. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of the postoperative angiography and to assess the risk factors related to the incomplete clipping. Materials and Methods : From July 1995 to June 1998, the pre- and postoperative angiography were performed in 50 patients among total 81 patients who have underwent the aneurysmal surgery. We reviewed the various contributing factors including age, sex, Hunt-Hess grade, Fisher grade and the premature rupture of aneurysm during operation retrospectively. Careful evaluation of pre- and postoperative angiography focusing on the size, shape, and remnant neck of the aneurysms and vasospasm was performed. According to the angiographic findings, the patients were divided into two groups ; a complete clipping group and an incomplete clipping group. The data were analyzed by using unpaired independent sample t test after F-test to compare the significance between two groups. Results : Incomplete clipping of aneurysms was found in 6(12%) patients through the evaluation of postoperative angiography. Among them, three cases were located on the middle cerebral artery territory. Whereas the patient age, sex, Hunt-Hess grade, and Fisher grade were not significant(p>0.05), an intraoperative premature rupture had a statistical significance(p<0.05). A severe vasospasm occurred in 24(48%) cases and one patient with anterior communicating aneurysm was reoperated due to residual sac. Conclusion : According to our experience, the surgeons' judgement is the most reliable factor in deciding the postoperative angiography. During the aneurysmal surgery, the premature rupture always disturbs a complete clipping of aneurysms. Therefore, the temporary clipping of parent arteries is considered essential for a successful clipping. We believe that the postoperative angiography has a role in decreasing the re-bleeding risk due to clip migration and an inaccurate clipping only in the selected cases.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.863-871
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• 2007

Objects : To gain better insights of East-west integrated treatment of ischemic stroke. We analyzed 89 patients with severe acute ischemic stroke who were admitted to the East-west integrated intensive care unit. Methods : Subjects enrollment was from the East-west integrated intensive care unit of Kyung Hee Medical Center from March 2006 to February 2007. Patients were admitted within 14 days after the onset of ischemic stroke. We assessed the subjects' general characteristics, risk factors, admitting routes and periods, diagnostic imaging, process of western treatment and Korean traditional treatment, complication and consequence. Results : The proportion of males was 50.6%, of females 49.4%, average age was male 66.0$\pm$10.3 and female 71.1$\pm$10.5. Average length of hospital stays was 19.5 days. Monthly admissions were highest in November and December. The admission route was through emergency room (61.8%) or ward (34.8%). Mean Glasgow coma scale score was 10.0$\pm$2.5, average time from symptom of onset to hospital admission was 2.3$\pm$2.2 days. Dominant ischemic vascular territory was middle cerebral artery (66.3%). Initial western treatment was argatroban (22.5%), urokinase (28.1%), and heparinization (38.2%). Distribution of Sasang constitution of So-yang to Tae-eum to So-eum was equal to 5.4 to 2.9 to 1.5. Major complications were observed in 40 (42.7%) patients. In hospital mortality was 12.4% (11 deaths), all of them caused by aggravation of neurological deficit and only 3 of them with major complications. There appears to be a significant positive relationship between length of hospital stay and occurrence of complications (P<0.05). After discharge from the ICU, 64 (71.9%) patients were improved, 11 (12.4%) patients had expired, and 14 (15.8%) patients were transferred. Conclusions : From this study, we suggest that patients with severe acute ischemic stroke should be treated with East-west integrated therapy for more favorable consequences and decreased mortality.