• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.440-450
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• 2004

Objectives: Uwhangchungsim-won(UC) has been used in the treatment of a wide variety of conditions including stroke, hypertension, arterosclerosis, autonomic imbalance, and mental instability, in Korean traditional hospitals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of DC on cerebral hemodynamics and to determine the appropriate dosage. Methods: We studied changes in hyperventilation-induced cerebrovascular reactivity and mean blood flow velocity of the middle cerebral arteries(MCAs) were studied by means of transcranial Doppler ultrasound. Changes in mean blood pressure, pulse rate and expiratory CO2(PECO2) were observed using Cardiocap TM/5. Six healthy young volunteers who were administrated with full doses of DC for group A, and half doses for group B. Six other healthy subjects comprised the control group. The evaluation was performed during basal condition, and repeated at 20, 40, 60, 120, and 180 minutes after administration. Results: Increases of cerebrovascular reactivity and mean blood flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery in group A were significantly different compared with group B and the control group (p<0.1). Mean blood pressure, pulse rate and expiratory CO2 did not change during the observation and were not different among these three groups. We observed that in cerebrovascular reactivity induced hyperventilation, group A was most effective at 40 minutes after administration, and its effectiveness lasted for 120 minutes. Conclusions: This study provides evidence for UC, in full doses, as an agent for dilation of the cerebral arteriols to increase hyperventilation-induced cerebrovascular reactivity as a consequence of faster recovery of blood flow velocity.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.95-108
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• 2009

Objectives: Uwhangchungsim-won (DC) has been used in various medical fields such as stroke, hypertension, atherosclerosis, autonomic imbalance and mental instability, etc. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of UC on cerebral hemodynamics and estimate the appropriate dose of UC. Methods: We studied changes of hyperventilation-induced cerebrovascular reactivity and mean blood flow velocity of middle cerebral arteries (MCA) using transcranial Doppler. We observed the changes of mean blood pressure, pulse rate and expiratory CO2 using S/5 Compact Anesthesia Monitor from 10 healthy young volunteers who were administered UC twice a day in the 1 st section and then once a day in the 2nd section. Results: Mean blood pressure tended to decrease at 1 hour and pulse rate tended to decrease at 2 hours after second administration. After 2 hours, mean blood pressure rose to state before administration, but pulse rate maintained from 2 hours to 4 hours. The changes were not statistically significant. Cerebral blood flow velocity in middle cerebral artery was not statistically significant after second administration. Cerebrovascular reactivity increased from 2 hours to 4 hours after second administration. Conclusions: This study provides that administration of UC twice a day is more effective on hyperventilation-induced cerebrovascular reactivity than administration of UC once a day.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2004

Cerebral vasoreactivity is an index of autoregulation of cerebral perfusion, and can be measured using functional images such as Xe CT, SPECT and PET in reponse to hypercapneic stimulus. In order to measure cerebral $CO_2$ vasoreactivity in routine TCD study conveniently and reliably, we devised a method of rebreathing into closed volume of reservoir bag as a hypercapneic stimulus, and applied it to 44 healthy volunteers. As a hypercapneic stimulus, we applied fitting mask connected with closed reservoir bag for about 90 seconds, and mean blood flow velocity(MBFV) and pulsatility index(PI) were evaluated at proximal middle cerebral arteries(MCA) of 50-55 mm depth, before and after the hypercapneic stimulus. Age affected the MFV and PI value showed significant and the MFV was 56.45(SD=9.75)cm/sec, while PI was 0.406(SD=0.089). As age increases the flow velocity decreased significantly whereas PI value increased(P<0.05). The vasoreactvity significantly decreased with age(P<0.05). The decrease of cerebral blood flow quantity and cerebral blood flow velocity is not only because of increase of diameter of cerebrovascular resulting from aging, but the resistance increase of small blood vessel resulting from the increase of PI & RI value is regarded. We suppose that the rebreathing method is a reliable and convenient technique as a hypercapneic stimulus in determining cerebral $CO_2$ vasoreactivity. The rebreathing method could be non-invasive and useful methods in estimation of the cerebrovascular reactivity and could be applied to the basal and follow-up evaluation of the cerebrovascular reserve of the ischemic stroke patients.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.87-103
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• 2023

Backgrounds and objectives: Cardiotonic Pills^® (CP) are used for vascular diseases such as coronary diseases, atherosclerosis, and cerebral infarction. This study aimed to determine the transient effects of CP on cerebrovascular CO₂ reactivity (CVR) and erythrocyte deformability in normal subjects. Methods: This study had a crossover design and included 10 participants who were randomly allocated to 2 groups. The experimental group was given CP with water, while the control group was given only water. CVR was measured by hyperventilation-induced CVR of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) using transcranial Doppler (TCD). Erythrocyte deformability was measured using a Rheoscan-D microfluidic ektacytometer. All measurements were performed prior to and 1, 2, and 3 hours after CP or water administration. Blood pressure and heart rate were also measured before and after administration. Results: CP significantly improved CVR 3 hours after administration in the experimental group compared to the control group (p = 0.042). The corrected blood flow velocity at partial pressure of end-tidal carbon dioxide (PETCO₂) = 40mmHg (CV40) was also significantly improved 2 and 3 hours after administration in the CP group compared to the control group (p = 0.036 and p = 0.021, respectively). CP significantly improved erythrocyte deformability 3 hours after administration in the experimental group compared to the control group (p = 0.027). Mean heart rate and mean blood pressure showed no change. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that CP increases CVR and erythrocyte deformability. These results suggested that CP improves cerebral microcirculation which provide evidence for the future use of CP for prevention of ischemic stroke and neurodegenerative diseases.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.164-175
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• 2021

Objectives: The LI11 (Quchi) acupuncture point has always been included in the Seven acupoints for stroke; however, additional LI11 acupuncture research is needed. In this study, the effect of LI11 acupuncture on cerebral blood flow of the anterior cerebral arteries (ACA) and middle cerebral arteries (MCA) was investigated. Method: This study included 10 healthy young male subjects. Cerebral blood flow velocity and cerebrovascular reactivity were measured using transcranial Doppler sonography. Changes in hyperventilation-induced carbon dioxide (CO₂) reactivity and modified ACA and MCA blood flow velocity at 40 mmHg (CV40), blood pressure, and heart rate were observed before and after LI11 acupuncture treatment. Results: A statistically significant increase in contralateral anterior cerebral artery CO₂ reactivity (p=0.036) and decrease in contralateral middle cerebral artery CV40 (p=0.047) were observed. No significant difference in mean blood pressure was shown. A statistically significant increase in heart rate occurred after LI11 acupuncture; however, it was not clinically significant as there were negligible changes in the heart rhythm. Conclusions: LI11 acupuncture treatment could improve cerebral blood flow velocity. These results might be explained by regulating endothelium-dependent vessel dilation in the anterior cerebral artery region. Trial registration: This trial has been registered with Clinical Research Information Service, a service of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: KCT0004494 (retrospectively registered). https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/search_result_st01.jsp?seq=15359

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.1 s.61
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• pp.115-122
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• 2005

Background and objective: Gastrodiae Rhizoma (GR), the rhizoma of Gastrodia elata BL., is one of the popular drugs to treat headache, dizziness, blackout, numbness of limbs, hemiplegia, facial paralysis, dysphrasia, and infantile convulsions. It has been reported that it provides an antihypertensive effect and lowers cerebrovascular resistance in animal experiments. However, there has been no data about these effects with human subjects. In this study, the author examined the effect of Gastrodiae water extracts on blood pressure and cerebrovascular reactivity in human subjects. Methods: We selected 16 normal volunteers, who were divided into 2 groups: Gastrodiae extract administration group and placebo (creamy powder) group. Using transcranial Doppler ultrasound, we monitored changes of mean flow velocity and breath-holding induced CO2 reactivity of middle cerebral artery in both groups. Mean blood pressure, heart rate and PETCO2 were measured using Compact Anesthesia Monitor. In both groups, all evaluation was performed during basal condition, and repeated at 30, 60, and 90 min after administration. Results: Gastrodiae extract decreased CO2 reactivity after administration, reaching the lowest level at 90 minutes $(-29.1\%\;vs.\;basal\;level)$, which showed significant difference compared with the placebo group (p = 0.004). In the placebo group, the pulse rates tended to decrease over time (at 90 minute, $-5.2\%$ vs. basal level) while in the Gastrodiae group the values showed nearly no change, which showed significant difference between both groups (p = 0.036). However, the changes of mean blood pressure and mean flow velocity did not show significant difference between both groups. Conclusion : This study demonstrated that Gastrodiae extract significantly decreased breath-holding induced CO2 reactivity. This result suggests that the clinical effect of Gastrodiae extract might be caused by increasing cerebral blood flow via dilation of cerebral resistant vessels instead of antihypertensive effect.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.582-595
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• 2022

Objectives: To investigate the effects of acupuncture at GV20 and EX-HN1 on cerebral blood flow (CBF) velocity and cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) in the middle cerebral arteries (MCA) and anterior cerebral arteries (ACA) and to compare the effects to acupuncture at GV20. Methods: The study was a randomized, crossover trial that included 10 healthy men aged 20 to 29 years who underwent acupuncture treatment four times with a washout period of one week. The CBF velocity and CVR were measured by transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD) on both MCAs at the first and second visits, and both ACAs at the third and fourth visits. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups (A and B) before the first and third visits. Group A received two phases of acupuncture intervention at a single GV20 point and a combination of GV20 and EX-HN1 acupoints. Group B received the same interventions, but in the reverse order. Results: The increase in CO₂ reactivity was significantly higher for the combination acupoints of GV20 and EX-HN1 than for the GV20 single acupoint in both MCAs (Right: 136 to 178, p=0.017; Left: 127 to 191, p=0.017) and ACAs (Right: 133 to 158, p=0.013; Left: 122 to 168, p=0.025). No significant change was noted in the corrected velocity at PETCO₂ 40 mmHg, blood pressure, or heart rate. Conclusions: The findings suggest that improvement of the CBF in the MCA and ACA after GV20 acupuncture increases when acupuncture is also performed at EX-HN1. These results clinically support the combined use of EX-HN1 and GV20 to treat disorders of MCA and ACA circulation.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.3 s.67
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• pp.38-50
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• 2006

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Korean ginseng (KG), Korean red ginseng (KRG) and fermented Korean red ginseng (FKRG) extracts on cerebral hemodynamics and to compare distinction of each extract. Methods: Ten healthy male volunteers $(26.0{\pm}1.8yrs)$ participated in the study according to double-blind and cross-over protocols. Each volunteer was blindly administered 500mg of KG, KRG, FKRG extract or placebo (Dextrin). Blinded researchers measured changes of hyperventilation-induced cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR), mean blood flow velocity (MBFV) of middle cerebral arteries (MCAs) and corrected blood flow velocity at $P_{ETCO2}=40mmHg$ (CV40) using transcranial Doppler ultrasound (DWL Co., Germany). Researchers also observed changes of mean blood pressure (MBP), pulse rate (PR) and expiratory $CO_2$ using S/5 Collector (Datex-Ohmeda Co., Finland). The evaluation was performed at basal condition, and repeated at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 hours after administration. Results: MBFV and CV40 in the KRG group tended to rise at I hour after administration, while those of the FKRG group tended to rise at 2 hours after administration. CVR increased significantly after 1 hour in the KRG group (p=0.009) and after 2 hours in the FKRG group (p=0.035), respectively. The KG group showed increasing tendency at 4 hours after administration. No group showed significant difference from the placebo in changes of MBP and PR. Conclusions: It is suggested that KG, KRG and FKRG extracts have effects of enhancing CVR and thus of increasing cerebral blood flow in human subjects.