• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.77-81
• /
• 2004

The loss of neurons and synaptic contacts following cerebral ischemia may lead to a synaptic plastic modification, which may contribute to the functional recovery after a brain lesion. Using synapsin I and GAP-43 as markers, we investigated the neuronal cell death and the synaptic plastic modification in the rat hippocampus of a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model. Cresyl violet staining revealed that neuronal cell damage occurred after 2 h of MCAO, which progressed during reperfusion for 2 weeks. The immunoreactivity of synapsin I and GAP-43 was increased in the stratum lucidum in the CA3 subfield as well as in the inner and outer molecular layers of dentate gyrus in the hippocampus at reperfusion for 2 weeks. The immunoreactivity of phosphosynapsin was increased in the stratum lucidum in the CA3 subfield during reperfusion for 1 week. Our data suggest that the increase in the synapsin I and GAP-43 immunoreactivity probably mediates either the functional adaptation of the neurons through reactive synaptogenesis from the pre-existing presynaptic nerve terminals or the structural remodeling of their axonal connections in the areas with ischemic loss of target cells. Furthermore, phosphosynapsin may play some role in the synaptic plastic adaptations before or during reactive synaptogenesis after the MCAO.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.252-254
• /
• 2007

Image fusion is fast catching attention as Wagner pointed out in his 2006 version of the recent progress and development presented at the annual meeting of Society of Nuclear Medicine. Prototypical fusion of bone scan and radiograph was already attempted at in 1961 when Fleming et al. published an article on strontium-85 bone scan. They simply superimposed dot scan on radiograph enabling simultaneous assessment of altered bone metabolism and local bone anatomy. Indeed the parallel reading of images of bone scan and radiography, CT, MRI or ultrasonography has been practiced in nuclear medicine long since. It is fortunate that recent development of computer science and technology along with the availability of refined CT and SPECT machines has permitted us to open a new avenue to digitally produce precise fusion image so that they can readily be read, exchanged and disseminated using internet. Ten years ago fusion was performed using Bresstrahlung SPECT/CT and it is now achievable by PET/CT and SPECT/CT software and SPECT/CT hardware. The merit of image fusion is its feasibility of reliable assessment of morphological and metabolic change. It is now applicable not only to stationary organs such as brain and skeleton but also to moving organs such as the heart, lung and stomach. Recently, we could create useful fusion image of cardiac SPECT and 64-channel CT angiograph. The former provided myocardial metabolic profile and the latter vascular narrowing in two patients with coronary artery stenosis and myocardial ischemia. Arterial stenosis was severe in Case 1 and mild in Case 2.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.111-117
• /
• 2007

Temporary occlusion of the parent artery or feeding artery is an useful method in microsurgery for cerebrovascular diseases. The advantages of the temporary clipping for intracranial aneurysm surgery have already been proven by many experimental and clinical reports. Currently, there are two methods of temporary clipping: 1) intermittent clipping, 2) continuous clipping. In many previous studies, the intermittent, repeated clipping technique was reported to reduce ischemic damage to the brain, but it is still debated. On the other hand, a comparison of the histological changes on the arterial wall between each clipping method has not been sufficiently reported yet. So the authors performed experimental temporary clipping on the common carotid and femoral arteries of about 25 rats using the Sugita temporary mini-clip. The specimens were divided into two major groups and seven subgroups: Group I (I-1, I-2, I-3, I-4, intermittent clippings for 5 minutes were done once, twice, three times, and few times), and Group C (C-10, C-15, C-20, continuous clippings for 10, 15, 20 minutes, respectively). The reperfusion time after the temporary clipping was the same as the clipping duration. Under light microscope, the histological findings by Hematoxylin-Eosin staining were examined in all specimens, which were obtained at each time interval after temporary clipping. Then the histological changes of the arterial walls by two different methods were compared with the normal specimen. The results suggest that intermittent temporary clipping is less damaging on the arterial wall than single continuous clipping.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.107-114
• /
• 2008

Objectives : The aim of this study is to investigate the association between obesity indices(body mass index, weight, waist-hip ratio and waist circumference) in adolescents and the carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT) in early adulthood. We also wanted to identify the best predictor for C-IMT among these obesity indices. Methods : This study used community-based prospective cohort study, known as the Kangwha Study, and the data we used were from subjects who were 16-years old in 1996 (defined as "adolescence") and 25 years-old in 2005 (defined as "early adulthood"). The 256 subjects (113 men and 143 women) who were used for analysis participated in both follow-ups, and they underwent B-mode ultrasonography of the carotid arteries at the early adulthood follow-up. Obesity indices were defined as the body mass index, weight, waist-hip ratio and waist circumference. The C-IMT was defined as the mean of the maximal IMT of each common carotid artery. The C-IMT and obesity indices associations were evaluated via multivariable regression, logistic regression and the receiver-operator characteristic curve analyses. Results : In men, all the obesity indices in adolescence were showed to have statistically significant positive association with C-IMT in early adulthood. However, no such relationship was showed in women. On multiple regression and logistic regression analysis, the waist-hip ratio showed the biggest relationship with the C-IMT among the 4 obesity indices. However, there were no statistical significant differences and no best predictor was found. For the women, the obesity incidences and C-IMT showed no relationships. Conclusions : This study suggested that obesity in adolescence was related to an increase C-IMT in healthy young Korean men.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.29 no.8
• /
• pp.1113-1120
• /
• 2000

Objectives : Despite advance in the surgical treatment of the intracranial aneurysm, we have to be surgical complication. The aim of this report is to evaluate the complication and its management in intracranial aneurysm operation. Methods : We reviewed our exprience with interesting cases of surgical complication of intracranial aneurysm : 1) rebleeding, 2) intra-operative premature rupture, 3) missed aneurysm in angiography, 4) vasospasm. Results : The risk of rebleeding was not related to the patients' initial comdition, but all other intracranial complications occurred significantly more often in patients graded poor compared with patients in good clinical condition. Rebleeding before early surgery remains as major cause of unfavorable outcome. The causes of intraoperative premature ruptures were as follows : 1) dural opening and arachnoid opening(8.3%), 2) hematoma removal(12.5%), 3) brain retraction(16.7%) 4) aneurysm dissection(62.5%). The double suction technique and primary hemostasis using a small piece of cotton or temporary clip resulted in good outcome even in cases with premature rupture. The incidence of missed aneurysm in angiography occurred in 10%. The causes were as thrombosed aneurysm, vasospasm on feeder artery. The most common missed aneurysm is also the most common aneurysm(anterior communicating artery aneurysm). The repeated angiography were documented in missed aneurysm. Balloon angioplasty is superior topapaverine for treatment of proximal vessel vasospasm by viture of a more sustained effect on the vessel. Papaverine can be useful as an adjunct to ballon angioplasty and also for the treatment of distal vessels that are not accessible for ballon angioplasty. Conclusion : The minimization of the complications and active treatment can reduced the mortality and morbidity of ruptured aneurysm patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.34 no.7
• /
• pp.547-551
• /
• 2001

The effects of deep hypothermia and circulatory arrest during aortic arch reconstruction are associated with potential neurologic and myocardial injury. We describe a surgical technique that two patients underwent a modified Norwood procedure without circulatory arrest and myocardial ischemia. One was 13-day-old female patient, weighing 3.1kg, having a variant of hypoplastic left heart syndrome and another was 38-day-old male patient, weighing 3.4 kg, diagnosed Taussig-Bing anomaly with severe aortic arch hypoplasia, coarctation of the aorta, and subaortic stenosis. The arterial cannula was inserted in innominate artery directly. During Norwood reconstruction, regional high-flow perfusion into the inominate artery and coronary perfusion were maintained and there were no neurologic, cardiac, and renal complications in two patients. This technique may help protect the brain and myocardium from ischemic injury in patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome or other arch anomalies including coarctation or interruption.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.113-122
• /
• 2011

Several studies have reported a relation between serum levels of uric acid and a wide variety of cardiovascular conditions. But, the relationship between serum levels of uric acid and coronary artery disease (CAD) is still controversial. The present study was retrospectively designed to investigate whether CAD can be stratified by the level of uric acid and there are the relationships between preoperative levels of uric acid and perioperative biochemical markers in fifty-adult patients that underwent coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG) and twenty-normal subjects. They were divided into the control, the unstable angina (UA-group) and the myocardial infarction group (MI-group). In preoperative levels of uric acid, the MI-group was higher than control and the UA-group. The MI-group had significantly higher correlations than the UA-group between preoperative levels of uric acid and left ventricular ejection fraction, cardiac markers (creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase and brain natriuretic peptide), renal markers (blood urea nitrogen and creatinine) or total leukocyte levels. At postoperative periods, the MI-group had higher relationships of uric acid with aspartate aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen or creatinine levels. Although there was not statistically significant, the UA-group tended to have higher correlation coefficients than the MI-group between preoperative levels of uric acid and intensive care unit-stay (ICU), or postoperative mechanical ventilation time. These results reflect that increased levels of serum uric acid may be a tool for the diagnosis of coronary heart disease and may be considered as a good predictor in assessing the cardiac and renal functions in patients with myocardial infarction or unstable angina at the preoperative period. However, further studies should be performed in a large patient population.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.25 no.12
• /
• pp.1508-1515
• /
• 1992

Between 1975 and 1992, forty five patients with trachea stenosis received tracheoplasty for relief of obstruction. The causes of airway problem are brain contusion[19 cases, 40%], cerebrovascular disease[3 cases, 7%], drug intoxication[8 cases, 18%], psychotic problem[2 cases, 4%], trachea tumor[3 cases, 7%], adult respiratory distress syndrome[9 cases, 20%] and direct trauma[1 case, 2%]. Direct causes of trachea stenosis were complications of tracheostomy[36 cases, 80%], complications of nasotracheal intubation[5 cases, 11%], tumor[3 cases, 6%] and trauma[1 case, 2%]. Thirty one patients underwent the sleeve resection and end-to-end anastomosis. Five patients performed a wedge resection and end-to-end anastomosis. Forteen patients received the Montgomery T-tube for relief of airway obstruction. Four patients have done simple excision of granulation tissue. Two, subglottic stenosis patients were received Rethi procedure[anterior division of cricoid cartilage, wedge partial resection of lower thyroid cartilage and Montgomery T-tube molding] and the other subglottic stenosis patient underwent permanent trachea fenestration. Including cervical flexion in all patients postoperatively, additional surgical techniques for obtain tension-free anastomosis were hyoid bone release technique in two cases, and hilar mobilization, division of inferior pulmonary ligament and mobilization of pulmonary vessel at the pericardium were performed in one case. Cervical approach was used in 39 cases, cervicomediastinal in 12 cases and transthoracic in one case. Complications of tracheoplasty were formation of granulation tissue at the anastomosis site[3 cases], restenosis[9 cases], trachea-innominate artery fistula[2 cases], wound infection[2 cases], separation of anastomosis[2 cases], air leakage[3 cases], injury to a recurrent laryngeal nerve[temporary 8 cases, permanent 2 cases] and hypoxemia[1 case]. Surgical mortality for resection with primary reconstruction was 6.7%, with one death due to postoperative respiratory failure and two deaths due to tracheo-innominate artery fistula.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.73-77
• /
• 2018

Purpose: The prefrontal lobe, supplementary motor area, cerebellum, and basal ganglia are activated during gait. In addition, gait is controlled by nerves, such as the corticospinal tract (CST) and corticoreticular pathway (CRP). In this study, the presence of an injury to the CST and CRP was identified by diffusion tensor imaging and the characteristics of the gait pattern were investigated according to inferior cerebral artery infarction. Methods: One patient and six control subjects of a similar age participated. A 69-year-old female patient had an injury to the left basal ganglia, insular gyrus, corona radiata, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and postcentral gyrus due to an inferior cerebral artery infarction. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data was acquired 4 weeks after the stroke. The kinematic and spatio-temporal parameters of gait were collected using a three-dimensional gait analysis system. Results: On 4 weeks DTI, the CST and CRP in the affected hemisphere did not show injury to the affected and unaffected hemisphere. Gait analysis showed that the cadence of spatio-temporal parameter was decreased significantly in the patient. The angle of the knee joint was decreased significantly in the affected and unaffected sides compared to the control group. Conclusion: The results of diffusion tensor imaging showed that although the patient was evaluated to be capable of an independent gait, the quality and quantity of gait might be reduced. This study could help better understand the gait ability analysis of stroke patients and the abnormal gait pattern of patients with a brain injury.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.281-286
• /
• 2002

In this study, blood flow in a carotid artery supplying blood to the human's brain has been numerically simulated to find out how the blood flow affects the genesis and the growth of atherosclerosis and arterial thrombosis. Velocity Profiles and hemodynamic parameters have been investigated for the carotid arteries with three different stenoses under physiological flow condition. Blood has been treated as Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluid. To model the shear thinning properties of blood for non-Newtonian fluid, the Carreau-Yasuda model has been employed. The result shows that the wall shear stress(WSS) increases with the development of stenosis and that the wall shear stress in Newtonian fluid is highly evaluated compared with that in non-Newtonian Fluid. Oscillatory shear index has been employed to identify the time-averaged reattachment point and this point is located farther from the stenosis for Newtonian fluid than for non-Newtonian fluid The wall shear stress gradient(WSSG) along the wall has been estimated to be very high around the stenosis region when stenosis is developed much and the WSSG peak value of Newtonian fluid is higher than that of non-Newtonian fluid.