• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.835-840
• /
• 2008

Acupuncture has long been contended to be effective in an ischemic stroke. A real-time monitoring of glutamate, an excitotoxin in the process of ischemic neuronal damage, in the striatum is tried in a rat model of global ischemia. Global ischemia was induced by the 11 vessel occlusion method for 10 minutes, during which acupuncture stimulation on GB34 and GB39 points was executed. Glutamate release in the rat striatum was monitored 256 times per second using real-time amperometric biosensor. Real time measurement data of 10 minutes prior to the induction of ischemia served as baseline data. Data acquisition continued for 30 minutes after the initiation of reperfusion. Peak concentration of glutamate release along with incidentally measured EEG and cerebral blood flow was compared between cases with and without acupuncture stimulation. Peak concentration of glutamate lowered when acupuncture stimulation was executed. A real time monitoring system of 11 vessel-occlusion induced global ischemia model was successfully established. The effect by acupuncture on acute global ischemia was successfully observed in this real-time monitoring setting, which may be one of the neuroprotective mechanism of acupuncture.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.63 no.5
• /
• pp.607-613
• /
• 2020

Objective : Spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage is a life-threatening disease, and non-lesional spontaneous intraparenchymal hemorrhage (nIPH) and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) are the leading causes of spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage. Only a few studies have assessed the association between prior physical activity or triggering events and the occurrence of nIPH or aSAH. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of specific physical activities and triggering events in the occurrence of nIPH and aSAH. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed 824 consecutive patients with spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage between January 2010 and December 2018. Among the 824 patients, 132 patients were excluded due to insufficient clinical data and other etiologies of spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage. The medical records of 692 patients were reviewed, and the following parameters were assessed : age, sex, history of hypertension, smoking, history of stroke, use of antiplatelet or anticoagulation agents, season and time of onset, physical activities performed according to the metabolic equivalents, and triggering event at onset. Events that suddenly raised the blood pressure such as sudden postural changes, defecation or urination, sexual intercourse, unexpected emotional stress, sauna bath, and medical examination were defined as triggering events. These clinical data were compared between the nIPH and aSAH groups. Results : Both nIPH and aSAH most commonly occurred during non-strenuous physical activity, and there was no significant difference between the two groups (p=0.524). Thirty-two patients (6.6%) in the nIPH group and 39 patients (8.1%) in the aSAH group experienced triggering events at onset, and there was a significant difference between the two groups (p=0.034). The most common triggering events were defecation or urination in both groups. Conclusion : Specific physical activity dose no affect the incidence of nIPH and aSAH. The relationship between the occurrence of intracranial hemorrhage and triggering events is higher in aSAH than nIPH.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.26 no.12
• /
• pp.1367-1375
• /
• 2016

Cilostazol is known to be a selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase III and is generally used to treat stroke. Our previous findings showed that cilostazol enhanced capillary density through angiogenesis after focal cerebral ischemia. Angiogenesis is an important physiological process for promoting revascularization to overcome tissue ischemia. It is a multistep process consisting of endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and tubular structure formation. Here, we examined the modulatory effect of cilostazol at each step of the angiogenic mechanism by using human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs). We found that cilostazol increased the migration of HBMECs in a dose-dependent manner. However, it did not enhance HBMEC proliferation and capillary-like tube formation. We used a cDNA microarray to analyze the mechanisms of cilostazol in cell migration. We picked five candidate genes that were potentially related to cell migration, and we confirmed the gene expression levels by real-time PCR. The genes phosphoserine aminotransferase 1 (PSAT1) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein ${\beta}$ ($C/EBP{\beta}$) were up-regulated. The genes tissue factor pathway inhibitor 2 (TFPI2), retinoic acid receptor responder 1 (RARRES1), and RARRES3 were down-regulated. Our observations suggest that cilostazol can promote angiogenesis by promoting endothelial migration. Understanding the cilostazol-modulated regulatory mechanisms in brain endothelial cells may help stimulate blood vessel formation for the treatment of ischemic diseases.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.36 no.5
• /
• pp.316-320
• /
• 2003

Background: The detection of circulating microemboli by transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) has the potential to select the patients with high risk for future symptomatic brain embolism. We prospectively evaluated the positive rate and the frequency of microembolic signals (MES) before and after the heart valve surgery (HVS). Material and Method: Fifty in-patients with heart valve disease were enrolled in this study. Patients with history of previous stroke or heart valve surgery were excluded. Two unilateral TCD monitoring sessions were peformed from middle cerebral artery for 1-hour, before and after HVS. Result: Mechanical Heart valves were implanted in 28 patients, tissue valves were implanted in 10 patients, and remaining 12 patients received mitral valve repair. Positive rate of MES was significantly increased after HVS (50%), compared to that of before HVS (8%, p=0.00). There was no relation between MES after HVS and intensity of anticoagulation, cardiac rhythm, patients' age, and history of hypertension. The positive rate of MES after implantation of mechanical heart valve (71.4%) was significantly higher than those after implantation of tissue valve or mitral valve plasty (p=0.002). Conclusion: Positive rate of MES was increased significantly after the implantation of HVS. The changes of MES in those with mechanical prosthesis may be related to the increased risk or embolism after Hvs.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.275-280
• /
• 2005

Hyperlipidemia is one of the major factors causing the atherosclerosis of coronary arteries and well-documented modifiable risk factors of stroke, especially of the ischemic type. For Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus sufferers, if blood sugar is appropriately maintained, lipid and lipoprotein are normal, but if blood sugar is inappropriately maintained or clinical Diabetic nephropathy induces metabolic disorder of lipid, then Total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels go up and high density lipoprotein levels go down. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of treatment with Ojeok-san and to observe the changes in Fasting Blood Sugar(FBS), 2 Hours Postprandial Blood Sugar(PP2h), Haemoglobin A1c(HbA1c), Total Cholesterol(T-Chol) and Triglyceride(TG). After the treatment, Fasting Blood Sugar decreased from 149mg/dl to 89mg/dl. 2 Hours Postprandial Blood Sugar decreased from l85mg/dl to 110mg/dl. Haemoglobin A1c decreased from 6.3% to 5.7%. Total Cholesterol decreased from 268mg/dl to 217mg/dl. And Triglyceride decreased from 438mg/dl to 265mg/dl. These results support a role for oriental medical therapy in treating Diabetic Hyperlipidemia. Further case studies of herbal treatment of this ailment are needed.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.43-56
• /
• 2005

Objectives : The acupuncture has been used as treatment of disease in the oriental medicine. In this study, it was investigated at had an effects of Heart JEONGGYEOK(心正格) of SAAM five evolutive phase acupuncture techniques(舍岩五行鑛法) for appling deficiency in the heart induced by experimental focal ischemia. Materials and methods : The focal ischemia was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion for 2hours. The groups divided into 6 groups, normal(intactness group), control(no therapy group after ischemia-induced), AT1(reinforcing acupoint of Heart JEONGGYEOK : acupuncture therapy group at LR1, HT9 after ischemia-induced), AT2(reinforcing acupoint of Kidney JEONGGYEOK : acupuncture therapy group at LU8, KI7 after ischemia-induced) AT3(combination of reinforcing acupoint of Heart JEONGGYEOK and Kidney JEONGGYEOK : acupuncture therapy group at LR1, HT9, LU8, KI7 after ischemia-induced) AT4(reinforcing and reducing acupoint of Heart JEONGGYEOK : acupuncture therapy group at LR1, HT9, HT3, KI10 after ischemia-induced), AT4(reinforcing and reducing acupoint of Heart JEONGGYEOK : acupuncture therapy group at LRI, HT9, HT3, KI10 after ischemia-induced). Acupuncture therapy was carried out during 3 weeks after focal ischemia-induced. Eight-arm radial maze was used for the behavioral task and neuropretective effect of acupuncture therapy was observed by Cresyl violet, AchE, ChAT-stain. Results : The error rate in the eight-arm radial maze task was significantly decreased in AT3 group on 3days, in AT1 and AT4 groups on 4days, in AT3 and AT4 groups on 5days compared to the control group. The rate of correct choice was significantly increased AT4 group compared to the control group. The density of neurons in the hippocampal CA1 were significantly increased in all experiment groups, AT1, AT2, AT3 and AT4 groups compared to the control group. The density of AchE in the hippocampal CA1 was significantly increased in AT4 group compared to the control group. The density of ChAT in the hippocampal CA1 were significantly increased in AT1 and AT3 group compared to the control group. Conclusions : These results suggest that reinforcing and reducing acupoint of Heart JEONGGYEOK could be used as a medication for controlling the stroke by deficiency in the heart.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.105-113
• /
• 2016

Purpose: Susceptibility vessel sign (SVS) on gradient echo image, which is caused by MR signal loss due to arterial thrombosis, has been reported in acute middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction. However, the reported sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy of SVS have been variable. Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) is a newly developed MR sequence. Recent studies have found that SWI may be useful in the field of cerebrovascular diseases, especially for detecting the presence of prominent veins, microbleeds and the SVS. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic values of SWI for the detection of hyperacute MCA occlusion. Materials and Methods: Sixty-nine patients (37 males, 32 females; 46-89 years old [mean, 69.1]) with acute stroke involving the MCA territory underwent MR imaging within 6 hours after the symptom onset. MR examination included T2, FLAIR (fluid-attenuated inversion recovery), DWI, SWI, PWI (perfusion-weighted imaging), contrast-enhanced MR angiography (MRA) and contrast-enhanced T1. Of these patients, 28 patients also underwent digital subtraction angiography (DSA) within 2 hours after MR examination. Presence or absence of SVS on SWI was assessed without knowledge of clinical, DSA and other MR imaging findings. Results: On MRA or DSA, 34 patients (49.3%) showed MCA occlusion. Of these patients, SVS was detected in 30 (88.2%) on SWI. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy of SWI were 88.2%, 97.1%, 96.8%, 89.5% and 92.8%, respectively. Conclusion: SWI was sensitive, specific and accurate for the detection of hyperacute MCA occlusion.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.92-96
• /
• 2014

Dabigatran is the first oral direct thrombin inhibitor approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Because dabigatran is excreted mainly by the kidneys, serum levels of dabigatran can be elevated to a supratherapeutic range in patients with renal failure, predisposing to emergent bleeding. We describe the case of a 66-year-old man taking dabigatran 150 mg twice daily for atrial fibrillation and cerebral infarction who presented with hematochezia and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Laboratory evaluation showed a hemoglobin level of 6.3 g/dL, platelets of $138,000/mm^3$, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) of 10 s, and an international normalized ratio (INR) of 8.17. Colonoscopy showed a bleeding anal fissure. Hemostasis was provided by hemoclips and packed red blood cells and fresh frozen plasma were transfused. Since then, there was no further hematochezia, however, bleeding including oral mucosal bleeding, hematuria, and intravenous site bleeding persisted. At presentation, his serum creatinine was 4.96 mg/dL (baseline creatinine, 0.9 mg/dL). Dabigatran toxicity secondary to acute kidney injury was presumed. Because acute kidney injury of unknown cause was progressing after admission, he was treated with hemodialysis. Fresh frozen plasma transfusion was provided with hemodialysis. At 15 days from admission, there was no further bleeding, and laboratory values, including hemoglobin, partial thromboplastin time, and prothrombin time were normalized. He was discharged without bleeding. After 2 months, he undergoes dialysis three times per week and no recurrence of bleeding has been observed.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.32 no.7
• /
• pp.567-577
• /
• 2022

Recently, the prevalence of ischemic diseases, such as ischemic heart disease, cerebral ischemia, and peripheral arterial disease, has been continuously increasing due to the aging population. The current standardized treatment for ischemic diseases is reperfusion therapy through pharmacotherapy and surgical approaches. Although reperfusion therapy may restore the function of damaged arteries, it is not effective at restoring the function of the surrounding tissues that have been damaged due to ischemia. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a new treatment strategy that can safely and effectively treat ischemic damage and restore the function of surrounding tissues. To overcome these limitations, stem cell-based therapy to regenerate the damaged region has been studied as a promising strategy for ischemic vascular diseases. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be isolated from diverse tissues and have been shown to be promising for the treatment of ischemic disease by regenerating damaged tissues through immunomodulation, the promotion of angiogenesis, and the secretion of various relevant factors. Moreover, new approaches to enhancing MSC function, such as cell priming or enhancing transplantation efficiency using a 3D culture method, have been studied to increase stem cell therapeutic efficacy. In this review, we provide various strategies by which MSCs are used to treat ischemic diseases, and we discuss the challenges of MSC transplantation, such as the differentiation, proliferation, and engraftment of MSCs at the ischemic site.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.67 no.4
• /
• pp.385-396
• /
• 2024

Previously, we reported the concept of a cloud-based telemedicine platform for patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) at local emergency rooms in rural and medically underserved areas in Gangwon state by combining artificial intelligence and remote consultation with a neurosurgeon. Developing a telemedicine ICH treatment protocol exclusively for doctors with less ICH expertise working in emergency rooms should be part of establishing this system. Difficulties arise in providing appropriate early treatment for ICH in rural and underserved areas before the patient is transferred to a nearby hub hospital with stroke specialists. This has been an unmet medical need for decades. The available reporting ICH guidelines are realistically applicable in university hospitals with a well-equipped infrastructure. However, it is very difficult for doctors inexperienced with ICH treatment to appropriately select and deliver ICH treatment based on the guidelines. To address these issues, we developed an ICH telemedicine protocol. Neurosurgeons from four university hospitals in Gangwon state first wrote the guidelines, and professors with extensive ICH expertise across the country revised them. Guidelines and recommendations for ICH management were described as simply as possible to allow more doctors to use them easily. We hope that our effort in developing the telemedicine protocols will ultimately improve the quality of ICH treatment in local emergency rooms in rural and underserved areas in Gangwon state.