• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.56-62
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• 2009

Objectives: We tried to clarify the relationship between lifestyle and plasma homocysteine concentration. We analyzed the data of patients with acute ischemic stroke from the Hanbang stroke registry supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of Korea. Methods: 458 subjects were recruited from the patients admitted to the Internal Medical Department of Kyunghee University oriental medical center, Dongguk University Ilsan oriental medical center, Kyungwon University Songpa oriental medical center and Kyungwon University Incheon oriental medical center from April 2007 to August 2008. We divided the subjects into four groups by quartiles of plasma homocysteine concentrations and compared the first and last quartile groups. Results: 1. In univariate analysis, the high homocysteine concentration group showed higher rate of older age, male gender, smoking, drinking and lower values in vitamin B12, folic acid, creatinine than the control group with statistical significance. 2. In multivariate analysis, older age, male gender smoking and folic acid showed a close relationship with statistical significance (each OR=3.620, OR=4.218, OR=3.558, OR=0.789). Conclusions: According to the analysis, the relationship between high homocysteine concentration and smoking in patients with acute ischemic stroke were clarified. We hope to standardize and establish criteria on homocysteine in Korea by large epidemiological survey. These study results could be utilized in the future as a basis material.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.2 s.62
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• pp.77-84
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• 2005

Objectives: Chunghyul-dan is a combinatorial herbal medicine, and previous studies reported it had therapeutic effects for microangiopathy, which is a major part. in the progression of stroke, as well as having anti-hypertensive, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidative, and anti-inflammatory activities, Therefore, we examined the inhibitory effect of Chunghyul-dan on stroke occurrence in patients with silent brain infarction. Methods: We prescribed Chunghyul-dan at 600 mg a day to patients with silent brain infarction confirmed by brain MRI, and monitored stroke occurrence, drug compliances, and adverse effects for 1 year, We then performed follow-up brain MRI to detect new vascular lesions after 1 year of Chunghyul-dan medication. As for the subjects lost to follow-up, we assessed their prognosis after 1 year by telephone. Results: There were twenty-one subjects who were treated with Chunghyul-dan for more than 1 year, None of them experienced new clinical syndromes characterized by rapidly developing clinical symptoms and signs of focal and at times global loss of brain function, which could be accompanied with evidence of stroke occurrence, or any adverse effects during the Chunghyul-dan medication period. These results might be explained by various biochemical effects of Chunghyul-dan on microangiopathy, which is closely related with cell cycle progression, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, vascular inflammation, and oxidative damage. Of the 10 subjects lost to follow-up, six were reached; two of them had stroke occurrence. Conclusions: We suggest Chunghyul-dan could be useful for prevention of stroke occurrence in patients with silent brain infarction by preventing the progression of microangiopathy. Further study with a randomized controlled trial is needed to confirm this suggestion.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.3 s.71
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• pp.207-215
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• 2007

Objectives : The objective of this study was to assess whether there were sex differences in stroke types, risk factors, warning signs, and stroke complications among patients with first-ever stroke. Methods : Six-hundred seventy six patients with first-ever stroke were recruited at the Department Cardiovascular and Neurologic Diseases (Stroke center) of KyungHee University Oriental Hospital, DongGuk University International Hospital, and Kyungwon University In-cheon Oriental Medical Hospital from September 2005 to June 2007. Patients were hospitalized within 28 days after the onset of stroke. We investigated their stroke types, ischemic stroke subtypes by TOAST classification, risk factors, warning signs, stroke complications, general characteristics such as age, sex, etc. Results : Overall, 347 patients were male and 279 female. Compared with males, female patients were significantly older (mean age 67.3${\pm}$1.1 versus 62.4${\pm}$1.6 years) (P=0.000). We did not find significant sex differences in stroke types or ischemic stroke subtypes by TOAST classification. History of hypertension was significantly more frequent in female than male patients (P=0.000). Among stroke complications, urinary tract infection was significantly more frequent in female than male patients (P=0.003). Among warning signs, blepharospasm was significantly more frequent in female than male patients (P=0.006). Conclusions : Knowledge of sex differences of stroke patients can help us gain better insights on the characteristics of stroke patients. We need further and larger scale research to acquire more concrete conclusions on this theme.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.578-585
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• 2010

Objectives : Coldness of hands and feet has been regarded to be associated with blood circulation. This study was performed to assess the correlation between erythrocyte deformability and coldness of hands and feet. Methods : 145 patients who had taken an erythrocyte deformability test were selected for this study among hospitalized patients within 4 weeks after their cerebral infarction at the Internal Medical Department at Kyunghee Oriental Medical Center from August 2008 to August 2009. We divided the selected patients into two groups, with and without of coldness of hands and feet groups. The two groups were compared on risk factors for atherosclerosis and examined for variables including erythrocyte deformability. Results : 1. On demographic variables of the patients, only body mass index was significantly lower in the coldness of hands and feet group than the control group. There was no significant difference of the rate of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, ischemic heart disease, smoking, drinking and carotid artery stenosis between the two groups. 2. According to blood test, the coldness of hands and feet group showed significantly lower erythrocyte deformability index than the control group. 3. Body mass index and erythrocyte deformability index showed a close relationship with coldness of hands and feet in multivariate analysis. Conclusions : The correlation between the erythrocyte deformability and coldness of hands and feet in cerebral infarction patients were decreased erythrocyte deformability participated in the mechanism of coldness of hands and feet.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.107-115
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• 2008

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the effects of acupuncture applied at PC6 and SP4 points on heart rate variability (HRV) in normal subjects under mental stress Methods: 24 healthy male subjects were recruited and randomized to a treatment group (12 subjects) or a control group (12 subjects). Both groups performed a mental arithmetic stress test and then acupuncture needles were inserted on PC6 and SP4 for the study group. In the control group, they took sham acupuncture as a control. Heart rate variability (HRV) was measured during the whole study period by FM-150 (digital Holter ECG recorder). Results: In the both groups, low frequency (LF) power and ratio of low frequency to high frequency (LF/HF) was significantly increased after mental stress. Acupuncture induced significant decrease in low frequency (LF) power and ratio of low frequency to high frequency (LF/HF) which were increased after mental stress test. But sham acupuncture induced no changes. Results: In both groups, low frequency (LF) power and ratio of low frequency to high frequency (LF/HF) significantly increased after mental stress. Acupuncture induced significant decrease in low frequency (LF) power and ratio of low frequency to high frequency (LF/HF) which increased after mental stress test. In contrast, sham acupuncture induced no changes. Conclusions: Acupuncture on PC6 and SP4 could be useful to decrease sympathetic activity and balance autonomic nervous system for those who are under stress.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.428-437
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• 2013

Objectives : The aim of this study was to examine if there is a significant correlation between the changes of Fire- and Heat- related symptoms and motor function recovery in acute cerebral infarction patients. Methods : We studied inpatients within a month after the onset of cerebral infarction who were admitted at Kyunghee University Medical Center from May 2011 to January 2013. We executed correlation analysis between Fire-heat pattern score and motricity index score at visit 1 and visit 2, and checked if there was a significant correlation between the changes of Fire-heat pattern score and changes of motricity index score. Also, we compared the changes of both scores in patients taking Fire-heat and non Fire-heat pattern prescriptions. Results : There was a significant correlation between the Fire-heat pattern score and Motricity index score at visit 1 and visit 2, and changes of Fire-heat pattern score showed significant correlation with changes of motricity index score. Patients taking Fire-heat pattern prescriptions showed significant change in Fire-heat pattern score after herb-medication treatment while patients taking non-Fire-heat prescriptions showed insignificant change in Fire-heat pattern score. Conclusions : This study provides evidence that taking a Fire-heat pattern prescription could be considered as a first line herb-medication treatment in acute cerebral infarction patients.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.494-500
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• 2008

Ginseng has been traditionally used to recover vital energy from Qi deficiency in oriental countries. Recent reports suggested that ginseng could regulate blood pressure (BP), but much controversy still remain. Therefore, we intended to assess the anti-hypertensive effect of some ginseng species on Koreans and Chinese. This is a randomized, double blinded controlled clinical trial. The study subjects were recruited from the mild hypertensive patients who belonged prehypertension(120/80 to 139/89 mmHg) and stage I hypertension (140/90 to 159/99 mmHg) in Korea and China. After assigning the subjects into a Korean, a Chinese, and an American ginseng group by randomization, we prescribed ginseng with the dose of 4.5 g per a day for 4 w. To assess the anti-hypertensive effect, we compared the mean of systolic and diastolic BP between before and after ginseng medication by 24 h Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitor (24 h ABPM). We also monitored adverse effect and laboratory findings to secure the subjects' safety. There were 64 subjects treated with Korean ginseng, 58 treated with Chinese ginseng, and 64 treated with American ginseng. All of the ginseng species reduced subjects' BP. Especially, Korean and Chinese ginseng showed more excellent effects. The secondary analysis on the subjects' nationality revealed that all of the ginseng species showed more significant anti-hypertensive effect in Chinese than in Koreans. We suggest ginseng could be useful for mild hypertension regardless of its species. And it would be safe within the dosage of 4.5 g per a day.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1 s.69
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• pp.224-236
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• 2007

Background : Chunghyul-dan is a combinatorial herbal medicine; previous studies reported it had therapeutic effects for microangiopathy, a major part in the progression of small vessel disease, as well as having anti-hypertensive, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidative, and anti-inflammatory activities. Therefor, we examined the inhibitory effect of Chunghyul-dan on stroke recurrence in patients with small vessel disease. Methods : We prescribed Chunghyul-dan at 600 mg a day to patients with small vessel disease, and monitored stroke recurrence, drug compliances, and adverse effect for 1 year. We then performed follow-up brain MRI to find new vascular lesions after 1 year of Chunghyul-dan medication. For the subjects lost to follow-up, we assessed their prognosis after 1 year by telephone. Results : There were 73 subjects treated with Chunghyul-dan for 1 year; new vascular events were found in 3. Of the 85 subjects lost to follow-up, fifty four could be contacted, and eight of them had stroke recurrence. One year of Chunghyul-dan medication reduced the odds ratio of stroke recurrence by 75% compared to the subjects lost to follow-up and the rate increased to 88%, when adjusted for other relevant risk factors for stroke recurrence. These reductions were much higher than those of aspirin and other kinds of conventional anti-platelets. There was no adverse effect in any of the study subjects. Conclusions : We suggest Chunghyul-dan could be useful for inhibition of stroke recurrence. Further study with a randomized controlled trial is needed to confirm this suggestion.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 2006

Objectives : Uwhangchungsimwon (UC) is one of the famous herbal medicine frequently used for stroke, hypertension, and atherosclerosis, etc. Therefore, we intended to examine if UC could have therapeutic effect on arterial stiffness by assessing Cardio-Ankle Vascular lndex (CAVI). Methods : We enrolled 38 healthy male subjects (28±4.41 years old) and divided them into two groups (UC and control group). The UC group (N=22) were treated with 1 pill of UC and monitored by CAVI every hour for 6 hours. The control group(N=16) did not receive any medicine and were also monitored by CAVI the same manner as the UC group. In both group, we also assessed each subject's Yin-Yang pattern score by the diagnostic scoring system. In analysis, we compared the difference of CAVIs between the UC and the control group considering subject's Yin-Yang pattern. Results : There was no significant difference in the change of CAVI between the UC and the control group. After excluding Yang-pattern subjects in both group, however, we could observe that CAVI decreased significantly 5 hours after UC administration compared with the corresponding CAVI in the control group (P=0.025). In the repeated measure analysis, the between-subjects effect had statistical significance (P=0.035). Conclusion : According to these results, we suggest that UC have therapeutic effect on arterial stiffness especially after taking oriental medical diagnosis into consideration.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.8-15
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• 2011

Objectives : The aim of this study was to examine the Differences of symptom improvement depending on correspondance of Herb medicine with Oriental Medical Diagnosis in Acute Stroke Patient. Methods : We studied hospitalized patients within 10days after their ictus who were admitted at Kyunghee University Oriental Medical Center from May 2011 to October 2011. We compared the improvement of MI and SSS score between Correspondance group(n=9) and Non-correspondance group(n=13). Results : The patients who had corresponding herb medicine with Oriental Medical Diagnosis show much improvement of MI score, but there is no significant difference. There is no significant difference on improvement of SSS score, between Correspondance and Non-correspondance. Conclusion : This study provides evidence that correspondance of herb medicine with Oriental Medical Diagnosis is important to improve the symptoms of acute stroke.