• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.425-427
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• 2024

This study presents a preliminary exploration into the effect of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) on the cerebellum in individuals with cerebellar atrophy. Over a three month-long period, nine subjects received a 4.5g of KRG daily, with assessments including the ARS, ADAS-Cog, and FDG-PET/CT scans. Results revealed a notable improvement in ataxia and cognitive function without a significant correlation between them. PET/CT scans and SUVR analyses supported these findings, showing an increase in cerebellar glucose uptake after KRG intake. These outcomes suggest a potential pleiotropic effect of KRG on cerebellar function.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.237-244
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• 2016

Purpose: This case report examines the influence of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) combined with a dynamic neuromuscular stabilization approach on balance in patients with cerebellar atrophy. Methods: The target subject of this case report was a 34-year-old woman who was informed of the purpose of this research and voluntarily agreed to participate in it. The case report conformed to research ethics based on the Helsinki Declaration. The target subject was confirmed to have cerebellar atrophy from an unknown cause in 2009 and was diagnosed with slight ataxia. At that time, she could carry out daily activities without physical therapy. On May 19, 2015, she suffered both a subdural hemorrhage (SDH) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in a traffic accident. She was urgently moved to the emergency room and managed by nonsurgical treatment, and then, the cerebellar atrophy and ataxia gradually deteriorated. To evaluate the patient's balance capacity before and after intervention, the trunk impairment scale (TIS), trunk impairment scale (OLST) during eye-closing/opening, timed up and go test (TUG), and visual analogue scale (VAS) were conducted. The PNF intervention program was executed for 30 min, four times a week, for three weeks. Results: The TIS and OLST during eye-closing/opening were improved by as much as a point, by 8.15 s and 6.21 s, respectively, after applying the PNF program. TUG and VAS decreased by 1.33 s and 3 points, respectively, after intervention. According to the result, the OLST during eye-closing/opening and VAS improved remarkably in comparison with those before intervention. Conclusion: As the final result of the case report, PNF intervention combined with DNSA more effectively improved the static balance capacity, such as the OLST during eye-closing/opening and VAS, compared to the dynamic balance capacity. In addition, the intervention duration and period of the exercise program are recommended to be more than 1 h a day for four weeks considering the learning ability of a patient with cerebellar atrophy.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.127-131
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• 2021

Autosomal recessive spinocerebellar ataxia 20 (SCAR20; OMIM #616354) is a recently described disorder that is characterized by ataxia, intellectual disability, cerebellar atrophy, macrocephaly, coarse face, and absent speech. It is caused by loss-of-function mutations in SNX14. To date, all cases with homozygous pathogenic variants have been identified in consanguineous families. This report describes the first Korean cases of SCAR20 family caused by homozygous variants in SNX14. Two siblings were referred to our clinic because of severe global developmental delay. They presented similar facial features, including a high forehead, long philtrum, thick lips, telecanthus, depressed nasal bridge, and broad base of the nose. Because the older sibling was unable to walk and newly developed ataxia, repeated brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed at the age of 4 years, revealing progressive cerebellar atrophy compared with MRI performed at the age of 2 years. The younger sibling's MRI revealed a normal cerebellum at the age of 2 years. Whole-exome sequencing was performed, and homozygous variants, such as c.2746-2A>G, were identified in SNX14 from the older sibling. Sanger sequencing confirmed homozygous SNX14 variants in the two siblings as well as a heterozygous variant in both parents. This report extends our knowledge of the phenotypic and mutational spectrum of SCAR20. We also highlight the importance of deep phenotyping for the diagnosis of SCAR20 in individuals with developmental delay, ataxia, cerebellar atrophy, and distinct facial features.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.286-291
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• 2000

Behcet's disease is a systemic disease affecting multiple organs including the central nervous system. Neuro-Behcet's disease was regarded as relatively rare, but thanks to the development of diagnostic tools, more and more cases are being reported. We are reporting a case of neuro-Behcet's disease in which the patient displayed paraparesis, dysarthria and involuntary tremor as neurologic symptoms. The patient's brain MRI showed cerebellar atrophy, and a spinal cord MRI failed to reveal any significant lesions. The patient experienced a couple of fever attacks during hospitalization, which were managed adequately by herbal medicines. Her main neurological symptoms such as paraparesis were, however, grossly unchanged at discharge.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.151-155
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• 2001

SCA 1 is an autosomal dominant disorder. The phenotypic manifestations of SCA 1 are not specific, and thus, the diagnosis of SCA 1 rests on molecular genetic testing. The number of CAG repeats ranges from 6-44 in normal alleles and from 39-81 repeats in disease-causing alleles(chromosomal locus 6p22-23). The main clinical features of SCA 1 are ataxia, dysarthria, ophthalmoparesis, extrapyramidal signs without retinal degeneration. A 24-year-old woman with suspected family history presented with progressive cerebellar ataxia, dysarthria, ptosis, titubation and general weakness. Brain MRI revealed a moderate cerebellar atrophy. A genomic polymerase chain reaction(PCR) analysis showed 66 repeats at the SCA 1 locus.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.246-251
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• 2017

In this study, a 54-year-old female woman diagnosed as Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) presented diplopia with other symptoms - gait disturbance, ataxia, sleep apnea, dysuria. She had been cared with Korean medical treatment - Herbal medicine, acupuncture, bee venom acupuncture, electroacupuncture, cupping, moxa. Notable improvement was observed in diplopia expressing time and Unified Multiple System Atrophy Rating Scale (UMSARS). For MSA patient with no typical treatment indispensable, Korean medical treatment may be effective.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.102-110
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• 2012

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a sporadic progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized clinically by various combinations of parkinsonian, autonomic, cerebellar, or pyramidal signs and pathologically by cell loss, gliosis, and ${\alpha}$-synuclein-positive glial cytoplasmic inclusions in several brain and spinal cord structures. This is a clinical report about a 69-year-old female who had MSA treated by oriental medical treatment and evaluated by Unified Multiple System Atrophy Rating Scale (UMSARS). The patient was treated with herb medicine Chungsimyeonj-aeumgami(淸心蓮子飮加味), acupuncture, moxibustion and cupping. After treatment, the patient's symptoms improved meaningfully and the score decreased in UMSARS Part I, II. This suggests that oriental medical treatment could be effective to improve MSA patients' symptoms. It is necessary to have more observations and many cases of patients with MSA.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.1042-1051
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• 2018

Objectives: This study evaluates the effect of Korean medicine in a patient with multiple system atrophy-C (MSA-C). Methods: A patient diagnosed with MSA-C was treated with herbal medicine (Boyangwhano-tang hap Yeokgan-san), acupuncture, and moxibustion for 8 weeks. Clinical improvements were evaluated by the unified MSA rating scale (UMSARS) and the scale for the assessment and rating of ataxia (SARA). Results: Improvements in the total scores of UMSARS Part I, II, and IV and SARA were observed after Korean medicine treatments. However, there were no improvements to the urinary and autonomic dysfunctions. Conclusions: Korean medicine treatment may be an effective treatment for a degenerative, progressive disease like MSA-C.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.119-122
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• 2018

Neurogenic weakness, ataxia and retinitis pigmentosa (NARP) syndrome is a rare maternally inherited mitochondrial disorder. Radiologic findings in NARP syndrome are varied; they include cerebral and cerebellar atrophy, basal ganglia abnormalities, and on rare occasions, leukoencephalopathy. This article describes an extremely rare case of NARP syndrome mimicking mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS).

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.31-44
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• 2021

The purpose of this case report is to describe the effectiveness of Korean medicine in the treatment of gait disturbance in advanced stage multiple system atrophy-cerebellar type (MSA-C). This inpatient was treated with herbal medicine, acupuncture, pharmaco-acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, and chuna therapy. The gait disturbance was assessed by Unified Multiple System Atrophy Rating Scale(UMSARS), Tinnetti test, and 16m walking spatial features. After treatment, UMSARS Part I score was enhanced, decreasing from 29 to 24, Part II score from 34 to 18. Tinetti test score increased from 7 to 20. Gait stride length increased and width decreased. This study suggests that Korean medical treatment could be an effective treatment for delaying the progress of gait disturbance in advanced-stage MSA-C patients.