• Journal of The Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.437-448
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• 2018

Objective: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) requires time-dependent reperfusion therapy, and early recognition of AIS is important to patient outcomes. This study was conducted to identify the clinical features and risk factors of AIS patients that are missed during the early stages of diagnosis. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed AIS patients admitted to a hospital through the emergency department. AIS patients were defined as ischemic stroke patients who visited the emergency department within 6 hours of symptom onset. Patients were classified into two groups: an activation group (A group), in which patients were identified as AIS and the stroke team was activated, and a non-activation group (NA group), for whom the stroke team was not activated. Results: The stroke team was activated for 213 of a total of 262 AIS patients (81.3%), while it was not activated for the remaining 49 (18.7%). The NA group was found to be younger, have lower initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores, lower incidence of previous hypertension, and a greater incidence of cerebellum and cardio-embolic infarcts than the A group. The chief complaints in the A group were traditional stroke symptoms, side weakness (61.0%), and speech disturbance (17.8%), whereas the NA group had non-traditional symptoms, dizziness (32.7%), and decreased levels of consciousness (22.4%). Independent factors associated with missed stroke team activation were nystagmus, nausea/vomiting, dizziness, gait disturbance, and general weakness. Conclusion: A high index of AIS suspicion is required to identify such patients with these findings. Education on focused neurological examinations and the development of clinical decision tools that could differentiate non-stroke and stroke are needed.

• The Journal of the Korean life insurance medical association
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.12-14
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• 2014

Worldwide, stroke is the 2nd or 3rd leading cause of death and a major health problem. Recent advances in medical technology have significantly improved diagnosis and treatment strategies of ischemic stroke. The ischemic stroke subtype is an important determinant of mortality and long-term prognosis of patients. To estimate excess-risks of the ischemic stroke subtype, recently published article, Korean cohort study of stroke, was used as a source article. According to mortality analysis methodology from American academy of insurance medicine, the overall mortality ratio and excess death rate was the highest in patients with SOD, followed by those with CE. Calculated mortality ratio and excess death rate for subtype in this review are SOD, 920%/34‰; CE 267%/34‰; UI 209%/25‰; UM 190%/23‰; UN 188%/15‰; LAA 162%/15‰; LAC 117%/3‰.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.380-387
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• 2010

The ischemic penumbra represents part of the hypoperfused region associated with focal brain ischemia. A practical approach is to define this region as that portion of the ischemic territory that can potentially be salvaged by timely intervention. For the prevention and treatment of ischemic stroke, antithrombotic therapy is prescribed. But medication of antiplatelet agent is only validated as prevention effect. Cheonghyulgangki-tang has been used for cerebral apoplexy, hypertension, etc. In this case report, an acute ischemic stroke patient was treated with an antiplatelet agent named Plavix and Cheonghyulgangki-tang and remarkable reduction of ischemic portion in the brain CT was observed. The result of this case suggests that oriental medical therapy could be a safe and effective intervention in acute ischemic stroke.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.126-135
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• 2018

This study examined whether the difference in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) velocities can predict the prognosis of stroke and whether the prognostic impact differs among stroke subtypes. Transient ischemic attack (TIA) or acute ischemic stroke patients, who underwent a routine evaluation and transcranial Doppler (TCD), were included in this study. The MCA asymmetry index was calculated using the relative percentage difference in the mean flow velocity (MFV) between the left and right MCA: (|RMCA MFV-LMCA MFV|/mean MCA MFV)${\times}100$. The stroke subtypes were determined using the TOAST classification. Poor functional outcomes were defined as a mRS score ${\geq}3$ at 3 months after the onset of stroke. A total of 988 patients were included, of whom 157 (15.9%) had a poor functional outcome. Multivariable analysis showed that only the MCA asymmetry index was independently associated with a poor functional outcome. ROC curve analysis showed that adding the MCA asymmetry index to the prediction model improved the discrimination of a poor functional outcome from acute ischemic stroke (from 88.6% [95% CI, 85.2~91.9] to 89.2% [95% CI, 85.9~92.5]). The MCA asymmetry index has an independent prognostic value for predicting a poor short-term functional outcome after an acute cerebral infarction. Therefore, TCD may be useful for predicting a poor functional outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.1-7
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• 2007

Objectives : This study investigated stroke types, ischemic stroke subtypes, risk factors for stroke, stroke complications and Sasang constitutions in both sexes. Methods : 307 patients with acute stroke within 14 days onset were included, who were admitted to Kyunghee Oriental Medical Center from October 2005 to May 2007. Stroke types, ischemic stroke subtypes, risk factors for stroke, stroke complications and Sasang constitutions in both sexes were examined. Results : Mean age was higher among women than men (64.82${\pm}$10.21 years versus 62.18${\pm}$11.52 years for the 137 female and 170 male patients, respectively, p=0.037). There were no significant differences in stroke type, ischemic stroke subtypes, or stroke risk factors except smoking and Sasang constitutions. Current smoking was more frequent in male patients (p<0.001). Stroke complications, especially urinary tract infection (UTI), were significantly more common in women (p=0.002). Conclusion : Sex does not seem to influence stroke types, ischemic stroke subtypes, or stroke risk factors except current smoking and Sasang constitutions. UTI should be taken into consideration to manage female stroke patients. Smoking cessation is indicated to prevent stroke in men.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.168-171
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• 2018

Cannabis or marijuana is the most commonly used recreational drug after alcohol in the world, and usage is generally recognized as having few serious adverse effects. However, usage is restricted in South Korea. The report of ischemic stroke associated with cannabis is rare in literature. We present a case of a 47-year-old female patient with no underlying disease presenting with acute ischemic stroke after smoking cannabis in South Korea. The result for synthetic cannabinoid metabolites (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol) screening was positive. Absence of other vascular risk factors and drug screening results suggest a causal role of cannabis in this ischemic stroke case. The patient eventually progressed to brain death. The underlying mechanism, clinical manifestation, and imaging findings of cannabis-related stroke will be reviewed.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.131-134
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• 2018

Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) is well known for detecting the presence of hemorrhagic transformation, microbleeds and the susceptibility of vessel signs in acute ischemic stroke. But in some cases, it can provide the tissue perfusion state as well. We describe a case of a patient with hyperacute ischemic infarction that had a slightly hypodense, patchy lesion at the left thalamus on the initial SWI, with a left proximal posterior cerebral artery occlusion on a magnetic resonance (MR) angiography and delayed time-to-peak on an MR perfusion performed two hours after symptom onset. No obvious abnormal signals at any intensity were found on the initial diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). On a follow-up MR image (MRI), an acute ischemic infarction was seen on DWI, which is the same location as the lesion on SWI. The hypointensity on the initial SWI reflects the susceptibility artifact caused by an increased deoxyhemoglobin in the affected tissue and vessels, which reflects the hypoperfusion state due to decreasing arterial flow. It precedes the signal change on DWI that reflects a cytotoxic edema. This case highlights that, in some hyperacute stages of ischemic stroke, hypointensity on an SWI may be a finding before the hyperintensity is seen on a DWI.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.512-518
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• 2020

Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability in ischemic survivors who are suffering from motor, cognitive, and memory impairment. Previously, we have reported suppressing LPA₅ activity with its specific antagonist can attenuate acute brain injuries after ischemic stroke. However, it is unclear whether suppressing LPA₅ activity can also attenuate chronic brain injuries after ischemic stroke. Here, we explored whether effects of LPA₅ antagonist, TCLPA5, could persist a longer time after brain ischemic stroke using a mouse model challenged with tMCAO. TCLPA5 was administered to mice every day for 3 days, starting from the time immediately after reperfusion. TCLPA5 administration improved neurological function up to 21 days after tMCAO challenge. It also reduced brain tissue loss and cell apoptosis in mice at 21 days after tMCAO challenge. Such long-term neuroprotection of TCLPA5 was associated with enhanced neurogenesis and angiogenesis in post-ischemic brain, along with upregulated expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor. Collectively, results of the current study indicates that suppressing LPA₅ activity can provide long-term neuroprotection to mice with brain ischemic stroke.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.224-231
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this case study was to investigate three poor fibrinolytic responders with chronic ischemic stroke to acute exercise intensity and time. Methods: Three ischemic stroke patients (male) from the stroke center located at Busan metropolitan area in Republic of Korea volunteered at this study. They performed two single session exercises that were a VO2peak test and a single bout treadmill walking (70-75%HRpeak, 30 min, 50min). Fasting blood samples for determination of tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA) and Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) were obtained before, immediately after, 30min after acute exercise. SPSS 12.0 was used for analyzing of data and computing mean and standard deviation, and change rate was conducted between times. Results: In fibrinolytic activity according to the intensity and time of acute exercise, tPA change increased steadily during the recovery stage after the VO2peak in the cases, but PAI-1 activity showed different patterns among the cases. In a single bout treadmill walking (70-75%HRpeak, 30 min, 50min), tPA change increased between 30min and 50min. Conclusion: In conclusion, these results suggest that the exercise prescription for poor fibrinolytic responder with three male chronic ischemic stroke patients without motor disability recommend at 70-75%HRpeak, over 30min.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.343-351
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• 2001

Cerebral post-ischemic hyperperfusion has been observed at the acute and subacute periods of ischemic stroke. In the animal stroke model, early post-ischemic hyperperfusion is the mark of recanalization of the occluded artery with reperfusion. In the PET studios of both humans and experimental animals, early post-ischemic hyperperfusion is not a key factor in the development of tissue infarction and indicates the spontaneous reperfusion of the ischemic brain tissue without late infarction or with small infarction. But late post-ischemic hyperperfusion shows the worse prognosis with reperfusion injury associated with brain tissue necrosis. Early post-ischemic hyperperfusion defined by PET and SPECT may be useful in predicting the prognosis of ischemic stroke and the effect of thrombolytic therapy.