• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.267-276
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• 2018

Objective : The beneficial effect of hypothermia after hemicraniectomy in malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction has been controversial. We aim to investigate the safety and clinical efficacy of hypothermia after hemicraniectomy in malignant MCA infarction. Methods : From October 2012 to February 2016, 20 patients underwent hypothermia (Blanketrol III, Cincinnati Sub-Zero, Cincinnati, OH, USA) at $34^{\circ}C$ after hemicraniectomy in malignant MCA infarction (hypothermia group). The indication of hypothermia included acute cerebral infarction >2/3 of MCA territory and a Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score <11 with a midline shift >10 mm or transtentorial herniation sign (a fixed and dilated pupil). We retrospectively collected 27 patients, as the control group, who had undergone hemicraniectomy alone and simultaneously met the inclusion criteria of hypothermia between January 2010 and September 2012, before hypothermia was implemented as a treatment strategy in Dong-A University Hospital. We compared the mortality rate between the two groups and investigated hypothermia-related complications, such as postoperative bleeding, pneumonia, sepsis and arrhythmia. Results : The age, preoperative infarct volume, GCS score, National institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, and degree of midline shift were not significantly different between the two groups. Of the 20 patients in the hypothermia group, 11 patients were induced with hypothermia immediately after hemicraniectomy and hypothermia was initiated in 9 patients after the decision of hypothermia during postoperative care. The duration of hypothermia was $4{\pm}2days$ (range, 1 to 7 days). The side effects of hypothermia included two patients with arrhythmia, one with sepsis, one with pneumonia, and one with hypotension. Three cases of hypothermia were discontinued due to these side effects (one sepsis, one hypotension, and one bradycardia). The mortality rate of the hypothermia group was 15.0% and that of the control group was 40.7% (p=0.056). On the basis of the logistic regression analysis, hypothermia was considered to contribute to the decrease in mortality rate (odds ratio, 6.21; 95% confidence interval, 1.04 to 37.05; p=0.045). Conclusion : This study suggests that hypothermia after hemicraniectomy is a viable option when the progression of patients with malignant MCA infarction indicate poor prognosis.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.428-432
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• 2010

Objective : An effective intervention has not yet been established for patients with acute occlusion of the internal carotid artery (ICA). The aim of our study was to investigate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of emergent stent placement of carotid artery to improve neurologic symptoms and clinical outcome. Methods : Of 84 consecutive patients with severe ICA stenosis who were admitted to our institution from March 2006 to May 2009, 10 patients with acute ICA occlusion (11.9%) underwent emergency carotid artery stent placement. We reviewed their records for neurologic outcome using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, before and at 7 days after stent placement; clinical outcome using the modified Rankin Scale score (mRS) and Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS); frequency of procedure-related complications; and recurrence rate of ipsilateral ischemic stroke within 90 days. Results : Carotid lesions were dilated completely in all patients. Median NIHSS scores before emergency stent placement and at 7 days were 16.6 and 6, respectively, showing significant improvement. Eight patients (80%) had favorable outcomes (mRS score 0-2 and GOS 4-5). Complications occurred in two patients (20%): stent insertion failed in one and an intracerebral hemorrhage occurred in the other. Ipsilateral ischemic stroke did not recur within 3 months. Conclusion : Emergency carotid artery stent placement can improve the 7-day neurologic outcome and the 90-day clinical outcome in selected patients with acute cerebral infarction.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.43-52
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• 2007

Objective : The purpose of this study is to present the epidemiological data on stroke patients admitted to Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Kang-Nam Korean Medicine Hospital Kyunghee University and comparison to past stroke patient studies. Methods : Research was conducted by surveys and charting of patients with a stroke admitted to Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion Gang-Nam Korean Medicine Hospital Kyunghee University from Jan. 1. 2005 to Dec. 31. 2006. Results : There was 2.3 times more cerebral infarction than cerebral hemorrhage and 1.5 times more female patients. Older patients showed more infarction than hemorrhage. Patient range was mostly in the 70year old range. Preceding diseases were hypertension>diabetes>hyperlipidemia. Gait condition improved during hospitalization. Most patients were admitted after 61 days of stroke onset and hospitalization period exceeded 71days. 76% of patients received treatment from other medical facilities before admittance. Most patients came from western medicine hospitals. Triglyceride levels were high at 32.3% at the time of admittance. The most common symptom in admission time was headache. Conclusion : Acute stroke patients decreased, long term patients increased, and patients who came from other medical facilities increased.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.224-229
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• 2007

Objective : Despite improvement of therapeutic regimen, incidence of stroke increases and it remains a leading cause of death. Our study aims at offering variable data on recurrent strokes. Methods : There were 59 patients who admitted from Jan. 2002 to Dec. 2004 due to recurrent strokes. A retrospective longitudinal cohort study was done. Results : Four-hundred-seventy five patients, diagnosed with acute stroke, experienced 491 strokes in 3 years, and there were 75 recurrent strokes [15.3%] in 59 patients. These 59 patients were included in the study. First hemorrhagic cases [H] were 19 [32%], and the first infarction cases [I] were 40 [68%]. Subsequent strokes after first stroke were as follows : $H{\to}H$ 14 [23.7%] cases, $H{\to}I$ 5 [8.5%], $I{\to}H$ 8 [13.6%], $I{\to}I$ 32 (54.2%]. A Cox regression analyses showed that the first type of stroke was a significant factor to the second stroke as follows : if one has had a hemorrhagic stroke, the possibility of second hemorrhagic attack ($H{\to}H$ attack) increase 3.2 times than ischemic type and in ischemic stroke [$I{\to}I$ attack] 3.6 times increased incidence of second ischemic attack. Conclusion : The recurrence rate of stroke was 12.4% [59 of 475 patients]. If the first stroke is hemorrhage or infarction, the next stroke would have high potentiality of hemorrhage, or infarction. The possibility of same type in second stroke Increase over 3 times. In $H{\to}H$ group, the time interval between first and second stroke was shorter and the age of onset was earlier than in $I{\to}I$ group. Moreover, the infarction was more frequent than hemorrhage in multiple strokes. There was a correlation in lacunar type infarction between first and second attack.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.763-768
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• 2007

Objectives : This study aimed to clarify the difference in blood homocysteine levels of acute cerebral infarction patients categorized by Sasang constitutional medicine. Methods : The subjects were recruited from patients admitted to the Oriental Internal Medical Department at Kyunghee Medical Center between October 2005 and May 2007, who were classified as small vessel occlusion (SVO) patients according to the Trial of ORG 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST). The general characteristics along with total homocysteine levels were recorded and analyzed according to Sasang constitutional medicine. Results : A total of 151 patients were included in the trial. The prevalence of constitution was, in order, Soyangin, Taeumin, and Soeumin. No statistical significance was noted for any characteristic except body weight. There was no significant difference in blood homocysteine levels between constitutions. Conclusion : This study investigated the difference in blood homocysteine levels of acute cerebral infarction patients categorized according to Sasang constitutional medicine. Due to many limitations, the correlation between homocysteine levels and Sasang constitution was not clarified. Nevertheless, this study is significant in that it examined the largest study group to date in Oriental Medicine research history on the relation between stroke patients' homocysteine and Sasang constitution, and can be utilized in future as a basic material. Further research on the subject is needed.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.323-331
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• 2011

We evaluated clinical usefulness of Arterial spin labeling perfusion MR imaging on the acute ischemic cerebral infarction patients through this study. We compared 22 patients who were done with DSC imaging and ASL imaging in admitted emergency room with acute ischemic cerebral infarction, with 36 normal comparison persons (DSC image on 21persons, ASL images on 15persons). Siemens Magnetom Verio 3.0T with 12 channel head coil was used for this study. DSC image obtained 4 maps(rCBV, rCBF, rMTT, TTP) through post-processing. For qualitative analysis we compared the area of lesion macro-diagonal with the size of diffusion weighted MR image for rMTT, TTP, rCBF, rCBV, ASL maps. For Quantitative analysis we analyzed significant correlations between less than 3 cm infarction group and normal comparison group using mean relative value of flowing image with Mann-Whitney U test. TTP(95.5%) and rCBF(95.5%) maps showed high recognition rate in qualitative analysis for >3cm infarction group. The rCBF and rCBV map tests were highly related with final stage stroke areas. Mean relative value of infarction group showed a significant correlations in quantitative analysis(p<0.05). As a conclusion, arterial spin labeling image showed high lesion recognition rate in the >3cm infarction group. Mean relative values in quantitative evaluation were used for reference data. If we do more sustainable researches, ASL image will be useful for an early diagnosis of cerebral infarction, determination of the range of ischemic pneumbra and effective treatments.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.32-34
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• 2014

A 77-year-old man developed acute vertigo and unsteady gait. Neurological examination revealed spontaneous left-beating nystagmus in the primary position. He fell to the left when walking without support. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an acute infarction involving the right parieto-temporal lobe. Although the vertigo and unsteady gait are most often associated with vestibular disorders involving the infratentorial structures, those may occur in cerebral infarction of the parieto-temporal lobe.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.741-750
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• 2007

Objective : This study investigated the relationship between diet and lifestyle and Sasang constitution (SC) in acute stroke patients. Methods : From October 2005 to March 2007, 379 acute stroke patients were included. Patients were hospitalized within 14 days after the onset of stroke at DongGuk University International Hospital, Kyungwon University In-cheon Oriental Medical Hospital or Department Cardiovascular and Neurologic Diseases (stroke center), Kyung Hee University Oriental hospital. We assessed the type of SC of acute stroke patients by Questionnaire for Sasang Constitution Classification II (QSCC II). We investigated general characteristics, stroke types, dietary preferences (meat, sea food, fast food, alcohol drinking, coffee and green tea drinking) and lifestyle (smoking, exercise) according to SC. Results : This study showed that out of the total patients, the proportion of So-yang to Tae-eum to So-eumwas equal to 2.6 to 2 to 1. Of note, this study showed a higher proportion in age of So-eum & weight of Tae-eum. The ratio of cerebral hemorrhage to cerebral infarction was 1 to 9. SVO, LAA, SUE are the 3 types of cerebral infarction classified by TOAST; SVO ranked the highest while SUE ranked the lowest in all constitutions. There were no significant differences between So-yang and Tae-eum in the aspect of the preference for meat, but the majority of So-eum displayed high preferences for seafood. In the aspect of alcohol drinking and smoking history, So-yang recorded significantly bigger proportion while So-eum & Tae-eum patients represented a bigger proportion than So-yangin the aspect of no exercise habits. Conclusion : According to the result above, we could observe the general disposition of various characteristic distributions according to SC of acute stroke patients. Also, we could observe a relationship between diet and lifestyle and Sasang constitution (SC) in acute stroke patients. Further studies will be needed to better understand the relationship between diet and lifestyle and Sasang constitution (SC) in acute stroke patients.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.116-123
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• 2003

Purpose : The present study was undertaken to evaluate the usefulness of cerebral diffusion (DWI) and perfusion MR imaging (PWI) in rabbit models with hyperacute cerebral ischemic infarction. Materials and Methods : Experimental cerebral infarction were induced by direct injection of mixture of Histoacryl glue, lipiodol, and tungsten powder into the internal cerebral artery of 6 New-Zealand white rabbits, and they underwent conventional T1 and T2 weighted MR imaging, DWI, and PWI within 1 hour after the occlusion of internal cerebral artery. The PWI scan for each rabbit was obtained at the level of lateral ventricle and 1cm cranial to the basal ganglia. By postprocessing using special imaging software, perfusion images including cerebral blood volume (CBV), cerebral blood flow (CBF), and mean transit time (MTT) maps were obtained. The detection of infarcted lesion were evaluated on both perfusion maps and DWI. MTT difference time were measured in the perfusion defect lesion and symmetric contralateral normal cerebral hemisphere. Results : In all rabbits, there was no abnormal signal intensity on T2WI. But on DWI, abnormal high signal intensity, suggesting cerebral infarction, were detected in all rabbits. PWI (rCBV, CBF and MTT map) also showed perfusion defect in all rabbits. In four rabbits, the calculated square of perfusion defect in MTT map is larger than that of CBF map and in two rabbits, the calculated size of perfusion defect in MTT map and CBF map is same. Any rabbits do not show larger perfusion defect on CBF map than MTT map. In comparison between CBF map and DWI, 3 rabbits show larger square of lesion on CBF map than on DWI. The others shows same square of lesion on both technique. The size of lesion shown in 6 MTT map were larger than DWI. In three cases, the size of lesion shown in CBF map is equal to DWI. But these were smaller than MTT map. The calculated square of lesion in CBF map, equal to that of DWI and smaller than MTT map was three. And in one case, the calculated square of perfusion defect in MTT map was largest, and that of DWI was smallest. Conclusion : DWI and PWI may be useful in diagnosing hyperacute cerebral ischemic infarction and in e-valuating the cerebral hemodynamics in the rabbits.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.60 no.6
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• pp.654-660
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• 2017

Objective : Mechanical thrombectomy is increasingly being used for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. The population over 80 years of age is growing, and many of these patients have acute infarction; however, these patients are often excluded from clinical trials, so the aim of this study was to compare the functional outcomes and complication rates in very elderly patients (age ${\geq}80$ years) and aged patients (60-79 years) treated with mechanical thrombectomy. Methods : Between January 2010 and June 2015, we retrospectively reviewed 113 senior patients (over 60 years old) treated at our institution for acute ischemic stroke with mechanical thrombectomy. They were divided into a very elderly (${\geq}80$ years) and aged (60-79 years) group, with comparisons in recanalization rates, complications, death and disability on discharge be reported. Results : The mean age was 70.3 years in the aged group and 83.4 years in the very elderly group. Elderly patients had higher rates of mechanical thrombectomy failure than the younger group (40% vs. 14%; odds ratio [OR] 4.1; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4-11.9; p=0.012). Results from thrombolysis in cerebral ischemia and modified Rankin scale at discharge were worse in the older group (p=0.005 and 0.023 respectively). There were no differences in mortality rate or other complications, but infarction progression rates were significantly higher in the very elderly group. (15% vs. 2.2%; OR 8.0; 95% CI 1.2-51.7; p=0.038). The majority (92.3%) of the patients who failed in aged group were not successful after several trials. However, in half (4 of 8) of the very elderly group, the occlusion site could not be accessed. Conclusion : Patients older than 80 years of age undergoing mechanical thrombectomy for acute infarction were more difficult to recanalize due to inaccessible occlusion sites and had a higher rate of infarction progression, However, mortality and other complications were similar to those in younger patients.