• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.345-351
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• 2016

Objective: This clinical study reports on the effectiveness of traditional Korean medicine on a patient with diplopia and eye-movement impairment caused by brain-stem infarction.Method: A patient with diplopia and eye-movement impairment caused by brain-stem infarction was treated with herbal medicine (Bogan-san), acupuncture, and moxibustion. We used the visual analogue scale (VAS) of diplopia and measured the patient's eye-movement range to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment.Results: The diplopia VAS decreased and eye-movement range improved after treatment with traditional Korean medicine.Conclusion: This clinical study suggests that traditional Korean medicine could greatly contribute to the treatment of diplopia and eye-movement impairment caused by brain-stem infarction.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.29-41
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• 2003

Clinical observation was made on 52 cases of Stroke that were confined through brain CT, MRI scan. The Stroke cases wee classified into the following kinds cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, cerebellar or brain stem infarction, cerebellar or brain stem hemorrhage. And among the 52 cases of Stroke cerebral infarction was noticed in 75.00%, cerebral hemorrhage in 11.54%, cerebellar or brain stem infarction in 9.52%, cerebellar or brain stem hemorrhage in 3.85%. The ratio between males and females was 1.74:1 in the whole groups of Stroke and most cases were over 60 of age. As the time of hospitalization, most patients hospitalized from 1 day after stroke to 7 days after stroke. And as the course of hospitalization, most patients hospitalized first. Among the preceding disease at the onset of Stroke hypertention was noted in 32.69%, and deabetes mellitus or heart problem was noted frequently(15.39%). Electrocardiography findings were as follows: The normal was noted in 53.85%, the abnormal in 46.15%. And as the abnormal, left ventricular hypertrophy was noted in 17.54%. The predisposing factors or conditions at the onset of brain infarction were usually initiated during the time of sleeping and those of brain hemorrhage chiefly during the time of exercising like overwork or walking etc. It was noted that smoking a pack of cigarette showed highest disease rate(33.33%) among the average of smoking amount of one day in case of man. Prior to attack, the most chiefly complain was dyspnea or discomfort on chest region. And 30.70% of patients had no previous sign. There were a large number of recurrent cases. The first attack was noted in 71.15%, the 2nd attack in 23.08%, the 3rd attack in 5.77%.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.729-738
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• 2000

Objective : We examined patients admitted to Dong Eui University Oriental Medical Hospital from 1st January to 31st December in 2000. We studied 110 cases of patients who were diagnosed as Brain stem(pons, mid brain, medullar) infarction with brain CT, MRI scan, MR Angiography. Methods : We analyzed patients into sex, age, onset time, invasion lesion, past and family history, risk factor, abnormal vital sign for early 2 weeks, prodromal symptoms, symptoms at entry, progress and incidental symptoms at acute stage, complications, the state of condition at discharge, demonstrations, herb medications, western and oriental medical cooperation and admission period. Results : Our study was similar to existing studies in the distribution of sex, age, past and family history and risk factors. But there was some differences in the prodromal symptoms, symptoms at entry progress and incidental symptoms at acute stage, and the state of condition at discharge. Conclusions : Our study shows the brain stem infarction patients differed from other cerebrovascular accident patients in the symptoms. We hoped that our study would be further studied in western and oriental medicine.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.263-269
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• 2001

Monoplegia is the paralysis of either the upper or lower limb. Monoplegia is commonly caused by an injury to the cerebral cortex; it is rarely caused by an injury to the internal capsule, brain stem, or spinal cord. Most cerebral cortex is derived from the occlusion of a brain cortex blood vessel due to thrombus or embolus. According to motor homunculus, lower limb monoplegia occurs from limited damage to the most upper part of the primary motor area(Brodmann's area 4, located in precentral gyrus). Clinically, lower limb monoplegia due to brain cortical infarction is commonly misunderstood as monoplegia due to spinal injury because the lesion is situated at the most upper part of precentral gyrus. We had many difficulties in finding lesion on brain CT, but we diagnosed two patients correctly by using an MRI, who have lower limb monoplegia due to brain cortical infarction oriental treatment.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.467-476
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• 2013

Objective : This study aimed to evaluate the hypotheses that administration routes [intra-arterial (IA) vs. intravenous (IV)] affect the early stage migration of transplanted human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs) in acute brain infarction. Methods : Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=40) were subjected to photothrombotic infarction. Three days after photothrombotic infarction, rats were randomly allocated to one of four experimental groups [IA group : n=12, IV group : n=12, superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) group : n=8, control group : n=8]. All groups were subdivided into 1, 6, 24, and 48 hours groups according to time point of sacrifice. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) consisting of T2 weighted image (T2WI), $T2^*$ weighted image ($T2^*WI$), susceptibility weighted image (SWI), and diffusion weighted image of rat brain were obtained prior to and at 1, 6, 24, and 48 hours post-implantation. After final MRI, rats were sacrificed and grafted cells were analyzed in brain and lung specimen using Prussian blue and immunohistochemical staining. Results : Grafted cells appeared as dark signal intensity regions at the peri-lesional zone. In IA group, dark signals in peri-lesional zone were more prominent compared with IV group. SWI showed largest dark signal followed by $T2^*WI$ and T2WI in both IA and IV groups. On Prussian blue staining, IA administration showed substantially increased migration and a large number of transplanted hBM-MSCs in the target brain than IV administration. The Prussian blue-positive cells were not detected in SPIO and control groups. Conclusion : In a rat photothrombotic model of ischemic stroke, selective IA administration of human mesenchymal stem cells is more effective than IV administration. MRI and histological analyses revealed the time course of cell migration, and the numbers and distribution of hBM-MSCs delivered into the brain.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.252-264
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• 2005

This concerns three patients diagnosed as lateral medullary infarction from cerebral infarction of the brain stem and hospitalized. They were diagnosed and treated for 手足??(paralysis of extremities), 痺症(bi syndrome), 麻木(numbness), 不仁(akinesia), 眩暈(Vertigo) through Oriental Medicine. Improvement in both sense disorder and motor disorder was seen and is therefore reported here. To detect symptoms of a brain stem disorder clinically, pathological symptoms must be isolated and the patient must be screened through radiological and neorological examination. If this is properly and carefully done from the first stage, and according to this diagnosis, with the cycle of the disease considered, a treatment plan can be laid. Modem Medicine offers easy diagnosis for cerebro-vascular disease, but the treatment is less effective than that offered by Oriental Medicine. This report is given with a plea for further research and more reportage of clinical cases of cerebro-vascular disease treated through Oriental Medicine.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.402-407
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• 2005

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown potential for cardiac repair following myocardial injury, but this approach is limited by their poor viability after transplantation. To reduce cell loss after transplantation, we introduced the fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) gene ex vivo before transplantation. The isolated MSCs produced colonies with a fibroblast-like morphology in 2 weeks; over 95% expressed CD71, and 28% expressed the cardiomyocyte-specific transcription factor, Nkx2.5, as well as ${\alpha}$-skeletal actin, Nkx2.5, and GATA4. In hypoxic culture, the FGF-2-transfected MSCs (FGF-2-MSCs) secreted increased levels of FGF-2 and displayed a threefold increase in viability, as well as increased expression of the anti-apoptotic gene, Bcl2, and reduced DNA laddering. They had functional adrenergic receptors, like cardiomyocytes, and exposure to norepinephrine led to phosphorylation of ERK1/2. Viable cells persisted 4 weeks after implantation of $5.0{\times}10^5$ FGF-2-MSCs into infarcted myocardia. Expression of cardiac troponin T (CTn T) and a voltage-gated $Ca^{2+}$ channel (CaV2.1) increased, and new blood vessels formed. These data suggest that genetic modification of MSCs before transplantation could be useful for treating myocardial infarction and end-stage cardiac failure.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.278-283
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• 2001

Objective : Massive cerebral infarction could be accompanied by severe brain swelling and death secondary to transtentorial herniation. Approximately 10% to 15% of middle cerebral artery infarctions are associated with this phenomenon. However, the effectiveness and timing of decompressive surgery are still controversial. In this study, we present our results on the effect of decompressive craniectomy in life threatening cerebral infarction. Method : We retrospectively analyzed 15 patients who underwent decompressive craniectomy for massive cerebral infarction from January 1997 to April 1999. Surgical indication was based on the clinical signs such as neurological deterioration, pupillary reflex, and radiological findings. Clinical outcome was assessed by Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). Results : All 15 patients(five men, ten women ; mean age, 52.3 years ; right 11, left 4) were treated with wide craniectomy and duroplasty. The average time interval between onset of symptom and surgical decompression was 2.9 days. Clinical signs of uncal herniation(anisocoria, or fixed and dilated pupils) were presented in 13 of 15 patients. Mean Glasgow coma scale(GCS) was 12.4 points on admission, 8.1 points on preoperative state and 11.8 points postoperatively. Overall outcomes were favorable in 5 cases(Glasgow outcome scale : GOS I, II), unfavorable in 6 cases(Glasgow outcome scale : GOS III, IV) and dead in 4 cases. Conclusion : Early decompressive craniectomy before brain stem compression is considered as an effective lifesaving procedure for massive cerebral infarction unresponsive to aggressive medical therapy.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.163-170
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• 2020

Objective : Milk fat globule-epidermal growth factor VIII (MFG-E8) may play a key role in inflammatory responses and has the potential to function as a neuroprotective agent for ameliorating brain injury in cerebral infarction. This study aimed to determine the role of MFG-E8 in brain injury in the subacute phase of cerebral ischemia in a rat model. Methods : Focal cerebral ischemia was induced in rats by occluding the middle cerebral artery with the modified intraluminal filament technique. Twenty-four hours after ischemia induction, rats were randomly assigned to two groups and treated with either recombinant human MFG-E8 or saline. Functional outcomes were assessed using the modified Neurological Severity Score (mNSS), and infarct volumes were evaluated using histology. Anti-inflammation, angiogenesis, and neurogenesis were assessed using immunohistochemistry with antibodies against ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba-1), rat endothelial cell antigen-1 (RECA-1), and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)/doublecortin (DCX), respectively. Results : Our results showed that intravenous MFG-E8 treatment did not reduce the infarct volume; however, the mNSS test revealed that neurobehavioral deficits were significantly improved in the MFG-E8-treated group than in the vehicle group. Immunofluorescence staining revealed a significantly lower number of Iba-1-positive cells and higher number of RECA-1 in the periinfarcted brain region, and significantly higher numbers of BrdU- and DCX-positive cells in the subventricular zone in the MFG-E8-treated group than in the vehicle group. Conclusion : Our findings suggest that MFG-E8 improves neurological function by suppressing inflammation and enhancing angiogenesis and neuronal proliferation in the subacute phase of cerebral infarction.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.1291-1296
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• 2002

Blood circulation of brain is divided into two major categories; anterior one from carotid artery and posterior one from vertebrobasilar artery. In stroke patients, it is important to diagnose which is involved, because there is many difference in the aspects of clinical menifestations and prognosis, especially in the acute stage. In some cases of vertebrobasilar infarction, such as Wallenberg's syndrome, charicteristic cranial nerve signs, eye movement disorders and cerebellar signs are appeared. And in Dejerine's syndrome, only pure motor or sensory defecits can be appeared without any brainstem signs. So It shoud be differenciated by Brain MRI from those of the cerebral hemisphere lesions. And in the cases that nausea, vomitting and dysphagia are the first menifestations, it is frequently misdiagnosed as internal medical disease, causing appropriate treatment delayed. In this case report, we are to describe the clinical menifestations and progresses of two cases of brainstem infarctions, review previously published case reports about them and compare them to our cases. The first is Dejerine's syndrome i.e. medial medullary infarction, the second is Wallenberg's syndrome i.e. lateral medullary infarction. Simultaneously we are to investigate the oriental medical approach in the bran stem infarctions.