• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.7-16
• /
• 2023

Purpose: The objective of this study was to compare the outcome of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) between National Health Insurance(NHI) and Medical Aid(MA), before (2019) and during 2020 COVID-19 in Seoul. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study that used nationwide OHCA registry collected in 2019 and 2020. The participants were patients with medical etiology who lived in Seoul and were transferred by 119 ambulance in Seoul. It was classified into NHI and MA according to health insurance status. Main outcomes included survival rate and good neurological recovery. Results: A total of 2,888 patients (2,543 NHI and 345 MA) in 2019 and 2,949 patients (2,638 NHI and 311 MA) in 2020 were included. In 2020, the bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), was significantly lower in MA (25.7%) than in NHI (38.1%). Survival rate in the MA decreased from 11.6% in 2019 to 10.6% in 2020, while increased from 10.1% to 13.3% in NHI. The odds ratio of good neurological recovery were 0.47 (95%CI, 0.25-0.86) for the MA group compared with NHI during 2020 COVID-19. Conclusion: There were disparities in bystander CPR and good neurological recovery by health insurance status during COVID-19 pandemic. Public health interventions should strive to reduce disparity of MA group in OHCA.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.30 no.sup2
• /
• pp.221-227
• /
• 2001

Objective : The therapeutic impact of tumor resection in glioblastomas is poorly defined and still questionable. Therefore, we conducted the current study to verify the role of tumor resection in the treatment of these highly malignant tumors. Methods : A retrospective study was performed(1990-1999) to compare the treatment results of surgical resection plus radiotherapy(130 patients) with those of stereotactic biopsy plus radiotherapy(19 patients) in glioblastomas. Only adult patients with supratentorial, de novo glioblastoma located in one lobe were included. Survival time/rate was analysed with Kaplan-Meier method, and prognostic variables were obtained from the univariate log-rank test and the multivariate Cox's proportional hazards model. Results : The resection group and the biopsy group did not differ in terms of age, gender, duration of symptoms, presenting symptoms, tumor location, tumor side, tumor size, and the frequency of midline shift. Patients in the biopsy group more often were found to have worse preoperative Karnofsky performance status(KPS)(p=0.001). On univariate analysis, age, KPS, and tumor side were associated with survival(p=0.0053, 0.0001, and 0.0331 respectively). Median survival time and 1-year survival rate were also statistically improved by tumor resection ; resection group - 13 months and 61.2%, and biopsy group - 8 months and 19.7%, respectively(p=0.0001). In patients with midline shift of the tumor, resection was highly effective comparing to biopsy(p=0.0001), but in patients without midline shift, external beam radiation alone was as effective as tumor resection(p=0.0605). Other prognostic variables did not affect survival. On multivariate analysis after variable selection, survival was independently associated with KPS(p=0.001), but not the surgical resection(p=0.2837). Even in biopsy group with midline shift of the tumor, survival rate was not different from that seen after tumor resection(p=0.3505). Conclusions : Radiotherapy alone was as effective as tumor resection plus radiotherapy in patients without midline shift of the tumor. Although there was not statistically significant, tumor resection looked like effective in patients with midline shift. For supratentorial, lobar glioblastoma patients without mass effect of the tumor, biopsy with radiotherapy is one of rational treatment strategies. We consider that tumor resection should be performed in patients with pretreatment midline shift.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.38-45
• /
• 2014

Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring (INM) inspection has a very important role. While preserving the patient's neurological function be sure to safe surgery, neurological examination should thank. Cerebello pontine angle tumor surgery, especially in the nervous system is more important to the meaning of INM. In cochlear nerve, facial nerve, trigeminal nerve, which are intricate brain surgery, doctors are only human eye and brain to the brain that it is virtually impossible to distinguish the nervous system. They receives a lot of help from INM. In this paper, we examined six kinds broadly. First, the methods of spontaneous EMG and Free-running EMG, which can instantly detect a damage inflicted on a nerve during surgery. Second, methods of triggered EMG and direct nerve electrical stimulation, which directly stimulate a nerve using electricity to distinguish between nerves and brain tumors. Third, the method of knowing a more accurate neurologic status by informing neurological surgeons about Free-running EMG wave forms that are segmetalized into four. Fourth, three ways of knowing when a patient will be awaken from intraoperative anesthesia, which happens due to a weak anesthetic. Fifth, a method of understanding the structures of a brain tumor and a facial nerve as five dividend segments. Sixth, comparisons between cases normal facial nerve recovery and occurrence of a facial nerve paralysis during the postoperative course.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.70-73
• /
• 2014

Nonconvulsive status epilepticus usually presents with altered mentation without distinct manifestations of seizures. It may be related with various medical disorders. Hashimoto's encephalopathy is characterized by various neurological manifestations accompanied by high titers of anti-thyroid antibodies. Here, we report a patient with nonconvulsive status epilepticus caused by Hashimoto's encephalopathy who showed a dramatic response to steroids.

• Electronics and Telecommunications Trends
• /
• v.34 no.5
• /
• pp.48-57
• /
• 2019

As the super-aged society approaches rapidly, the number of people suffering from post-stroke and other neurological disorders is significantly increasing, where prompt and intensive rehabilitation is essential for such people to resume their physical activities in normal daily lives. To overcome the inherent limitations of manual physical therapy, various types of exoskeleton robots are being employed. However, the need of the hour is softer, thinner, lighter, and even stretchable systems for precisely monitoring the motion of each joint without restricting the patients' movements in rehabilitation tasks. In this paper, we discuss the technological trends and current status of emerging stretchable rehabilitation systems, in which sensors, interconnects, and signal-processing circuits are monolithically integrated within a single stretchable substrate attachable to the skin. Such skin-like stretchable rehabilitation devices are expected to provide much more convenient, user-friendly, and motivating rehabilitation to patients with neurological impairments.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.45 no.3
• /
• pp.371-379
• /
• 2021

Mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to the pathogenesis and prognosis of many common disorders, including neurodegeneration, stroke, myocardial infarction, tumor, and metabolic diseases. Ginsenosides, the major bioactive constituents of Panax ginseng (P. ginseng), have been reported to play beneficial roles in the molecular pathophysiology of these diseases by targeting mitochondrial dysfunction. In this review, we first introduce the types of ginsenosides and basic mitochondrial functions. Then, recent findings are summarized on different ginsenosides targeting mitochondria and their key signaling pathways for the treatment of multiple diseases, including neurological disorders, cancer, heart disease, hyperglycemia, and inflammation are summarized. This review may explain the common targets of ginsenosides against multiple diseases and provide new insights into the underlying mechanisms, facilitating research on the clinical application of P. ginseng.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.56 no.2
• /
• pp.121-129
• /
• 2014

Objectives : Patients with cervical ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) are susceptible to cord injury, which often develops into myelopathic symptoms. However, little is known regarding the prognostic factors that are involved in minor trauma. We evaluated the relationship between minor trauma and neurological outcome of OPLL and investigated the prognostic factors with a focus on compressive factors and intramedullary signal intensity (SI). Methods : A total of 74 patients with cervical myelopathy caused by OPLL at more than three-levels were treated with posterior decompression surgeries. We surveyed the space available for spinal cord (SAC), the severity of SI change on T2-weighted image, and diabetes mellitus (DM). The neurological outcome using Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scale was assessed at admission and at 12-month follow-up. Results : Among the variables tested, preoperative JOA score, severity of intramedullary SI, SAC, and DM were significantly related to neurological outcome. The mean preoperative JOA were $11.3{\pm}1.9$ for the 41 patients who did not have histories of trauma and $8.0{\pm}3.1$ for the 33 patients who had suffered minor traumas (p<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in the recovery ratios between those two groups. Conclusions : Initial neurological status and high intramedullary SI in the preoperative phase were related to poorer postoperative outcomes. Moreover, the patients with no histories of DM and larger SACs exhibited better improvement than did the patients with DM and smaller SACs. Although the initial JOA scores were worse for the minor trauma patients than did those who had no trauma prior to surgery, minor trauma exerted no direct effects on the surgical outcomes.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.63 no.2
• /
• pp.153-162
• /
• 2020

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most devastating conditions and many SCI patients suffer neurological sequelae. Stem cell therapies are expected to be beneficial for many patients with central nervous system injuries, including SCI. Adult stem cells (ASCs) are not associated with the risks which embryonic stem cells have such as malignant transformation, or ethical problems, and can be obtained relatively easily. Consequently, many researchers are currently studying the effects of ASCs in clinical trials. The environment of transplanted cells applied in the injured spinal cord differs between the phases of SCI; therefore, many researchers have investigated these phases to determine the optimal time window for stem cell therapy in animals. In addition, the results of clinical trials should be evaluated according to the phase in which stem cells are transplanted. In general, the subacute phase is considered to be optimal for stem cell transplantation. Among various candidates of transplantable ASCs, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are most widely studied due to their clinical safety. MSCs are also less immunogenic than neural stem/progenitor cells and consequently immunosuppressants are rarely required. Attempts have been made to enhance the effects of stem cells using scaffolds, trophic factors, cytokines, and other drugs in animal and/or human clinical studies. Over the past decade, several clinical trials have suggested that transplantation of MSCs into the injured spinal cord elicits therapeutic effects on SCI and is safe; however, the clinical effects are limited at present. Therefore, new therapeutic agents, such as genetically enhanced stem cells which effectively secrete neurotrophic factors or cytokines, must be developed based on the safety of pure MSCs.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.175-181
• /
• 1999

The prevalence of alcoholism among elderly population is reported to be high in rural areas in Korea. Chronic abuse of alcohol can lead to the development of vitamin B deficiency through inadequate intake, altered absorption and metabolism, and increased excretion. The present study was conducted to assess vitamin B1 and B2 status in seventeen alcohol dependent subjects who do not exhibit any clinical neurological symptoms. Vitamin B1 and B2 nutritional states were determined enzymatically by measurement of transketolase and glutathione reductase activities in erythrocytes, respectively. And dietary intakes of nutrients were determined by a 24-hr recall method. The mean percent activation of erythrocyte transketolase was significantly higher in alcoholics than in alcoholics than in control (p<0.05). The proportion of subjects with a low and borderline status of vitamin B1, was significantly higher in alcoholics than in control (p<0.05). The mean percent activation of erythrocyte glutathione reductase was not different between alcoholics and control. And the proportion of subjects with low and borderline status of Vitamin B2, was higher in alcoholics than in control (p<0.1). Vitamin B1 and B2 status were significantly decreased in alcoholics who were smoking cigarettes compared to non-smoking and non-alcoholic subjects(p<0.05). Whether vitamin supplementation improves the vitamin status of alcohol dependent subjects remains to be researched.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.33-40
• /
• 2001

Objective : Aneurysms of vertebral artery and its branches make up approximately 3% of all intracranial aneurysms. As the aneurysm have an intimate relationship with lower cranial nerves and medulla, surgical management of the aneurysms are one of the challenging neurosurgical problems. The authors analyzed the management outcomes for aneurysms arising from vertebral artery and its branches. Methods : At the authors' institution between May 1989 and Jan. 2000, 42 patients were treated with transcranial and endovascular surgery for aneurysms of vertebral artery and its branches. The medical records and neuroimaging studies of the patients were reviewed retrospectively. Results : Forty two patients were comprised of 28 female and 14 male patients aged from 26-80 year old(mean : 51.8). Of the 42 patients, 37 patients(88%) had subarachnoid hemorrhage. Of the 37 patients with subarachnoid hemorrahge, 35 patients(95%) were in good neurological status(Hunt Hess grade I-III), 2 patients(5%) in poor grade(H-H grade IV-V) before operation. Location of the aneurysm were 16 in vertebral artery, 12 in vertebro-PICA junction, and 14 in the peripheral PICA. Twenty nine patients were treated with transcranial surgery and 13 patients with endovascular surgery. The management outcome of the transcranial surgery was : Glasgow outcome scale(GOS) I and II ; 24, GOS III ; 2, GOS IV ; 1 and GOS V(death) ; 2. The causes of mortality related to transcranial surgery were rebleeding after failure in clipping in one and suspected brainstem infarct in one. Morbidity was attributed to vasospasm(3), lower CN palsy(7, including temporary dysfunction) and pseudomeningocele(1). The management outcome of the endovascular surgery was : Glasgow outcome scale(GOS) I-II ; 9, GOS III ; 1, GOS IV ; 1, and GOS V(death) ; 2. The causes of mortality related to endovascular surgery were sepsis from pneumonia(1) and vasospasm(1). There were one cerebellar infarct and one lateral medullary syndrome. Conclusion : Excellent and good surgical results can be expected in 80% of the patients with aneurysms of vertebral arery and its branches. The outcomes of endovascular surgery in treating vertebral artery aneurysm were satisfactory and endovascular surgery may offer a therapeutic alternative especially in vertebral dissecting aneurysm.