• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.12-19
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• 2001

Objective : Albumin is a very useful drug for the improving of cerebral blood volume and the oncotic effect in cerebral ischemia or cerebral vasospasm. The purpose of this study was to examine the morphological and neurological effect of albumin therapy on reperfusion injury following transient focal cerebral ischemia. Materials and Methods : 18 Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 270-320g were used. The ischemia model was produced by 2-hour period of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion with a poly-L-lysin coated intraluminal suture. The agent(20% human serum albumin[HSA]) or control solution(NaCl 0.9%) was administered intravenously at a dosage of 1% of body weight immediate after reperfusion following a 2-hour period occlusion. Neurological function was evaluated by the postural reflex and the forlimb placing test during occlusion(at 60 min) and daily for 3 days thereafter. The brain was perfusion-fixed, and infarct volumes and brain edema were measured. Results : The HSA significantly improved the neurological score in treated group. The rats of albumin treatment group showed significantly reduced total infarct volume(by 34%) and brain edema(by 81%) compared with salinetreated rats. Conclusion : HSA showed a substantial effect on the transient focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury model. These results may indicate its usefulness in treating reperfusion injury patients after thrombolysis treatment for the thrombo-embolic major cerebral artery occlusions.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.294-299
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• 2008

Objective : To evaluate the clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes of the patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy associated with athetoid cerebral palsy. Methods : The authors reviewed the clinical and neurodiagnostic findings, surgical managements and outcomes in six consecutive patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy associated with athetoid cerebral palsy who had been treated with surgical decompression and fusion procedures between January 1999 and December 2005. The mean age of the 6 patients (four women and two men) at the time of surgery was 42.8 years (range, 31-55 years). The mean follow-up period was 56.5 months (range, 17-112 months). The neurological outcome was evaluated before and after operations (immediately, 6 months after and final follow-up) using grading systems of the walking ability, brachialgia and deltoid power. Results : At immediate postoperative period, after 6 months, and at final follow-up, all patients showed apparent clinical improvements in walking ability, upper extremity pain and deltoid muscle strength. Late neurological deterioration was not seen during follow-up periods. There were no serious complications related to surgery. Conclusion : Surgical decompression and stabilization in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy associated with athetoid cerebral palsy have been challenging procedure up to now. Our results indicate that early diagnosis and appropriate surgical procedure can effectively improve the clinical symptoms and neurological function in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy and athetoid cerebral palsy, even in those with severe involuntary movements.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.523-527
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• 2012

Objective : The incidence of spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) is rare. Patients with SSEH, however, present disabling neurologic deficits. Clinical outcomes are variable among patients. To evaluate the adequate treatment method according to initial patients' neurological status and clinical outcome with comparison of variables affecting the clinical outcome. Methods : We included 15 patients suffered from SSEH. Patients were divided into two groups by treatment method. Initial neurological status and clinical outcomes were assessed by the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale. Also sagittal hematoma location and length of involved segment was analyzed with magnetic resonance images. Other factors such as age, sex, premorbid medication and duration of hospital stay were reviewed with medical records. Nonparametric statistical analysis and subgroup analysis were performed to overcome small sample size. Results : Among fifteen patients, ten patients underwent decompressive surgery, and remaining five were treated with conservative therapy. Patients showed no different initial neurologic status between treatment groups. Initial neurologic status was strongly associated with neurological recovery (p=0.030). Factors that did not seem to affect clinical outcomes included : age, sex, length of the involved spinal segment, sagittal location of hematoma, premorbid medication of antiplatelets or anticoagulants, and treatment methods. Conclusion : For the management of SSEH, early decompressive surgery is usually recommended. However, conservative management can also be feasible in selective patients who present neurologic status as ASIA scale E or in whom early recovery of function has initiated with ASIA scale C or D.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.281-285
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• 2006

Objective : The tethered cord syndrome results in progressive neurological deficits. Although it may remain controversial, many physicians recommend definitive surgery to untether the cord as soon as this condition is identified. We retrospectively evaluate the pre-operative and post-operative course of 38 tethered cord patients with spinal dysraphism in an attempt to learn the natural history of the disease and to determine the effectiveness of the surgical treatment. Methods : The medical records, operation notes and radiographs were evaluated. The follow up period ranged from 4 months to 12 years with a mean follow-up of 28.6 months. Twenty-seven patients were younger than 15 years of age. Results : At presentation, 26 of the patients were asymptomatic. In three of 11 adult symptomatic patients, their neurological deficits worsened after trauma or exercise. Improvement of motor strength was documented in two out of 5 patients. Five of nine patients with bladder symptoms improved, however, none had a complete return of their bladder function. Conclusion : Childhood patients were less symptomatic than the adult patients. Adult patients showed progression of their symptoms that were not improved even after the operation in most of the cases. Asymptomatic tethered spinal cord can be symptomatic as time passes by and even at an old age. Future research should be focused on the operative methods to prevent the delayed deterioration after surgery, rather than on the usefulness of preventive surgery in asymptomatic patients.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.904-915
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• 2021

This study is a case report of Korean medicine treatment for a patient with quadriplegia and impaired cognition as neurological sequelae after ingestion of herbicides. A 59-year-old man with toxic encephalopathy and hypoxic encephalopathy after the ingestion of herbicides was treated with acupuncture, Hyulbuchuko-tang mixed with Ondam-tang-gami (血府逐瘀湯合溫膽湯加味), cupping, moxibustion, and rehabilitation. Clinical symptoms were measured with the Manual Muscle Test (MMT), Korean Mini Mental Status Exam (K-MMSE), Functional Independence Measure (FIM), and Modified Barthel Index (MBI). After three months of treatment, clinical symptoms improved. The motor function improved (MMT on both sides, Gr. 3+F/4G→Gr. 4-G~4G/4+G), cognition improved (K-MMSE, 13→21), and ADL (Activities of Daily Living) scores also improved (FIM 41→74; MBI 20→63). Korean medical treatment could effectively treat neurological sequelae after ingestion of herbicides in this case.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.23 no.11
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• pp.1397-1406
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• 2019

In everyday mobile phone calls between the disabled and non-disabled people due to neurological impairment, the communication accuracy is often hindered by combining the accuracy of pronunciation due to the neurological impairment and the pronunciation features of the disabled. In order to improve this problem, the limiting method is MEMS (micro electro mechanical systems), which includes an induction line that artificially corrects difficult vocalization according to the oral characteristics of the language impaired by improving the word of out of vocabulary. mechanical System) Microphone device improvement. S/W improvement is decision tree with invert function, and improved matrix-vector rnn method is proposed considering continuous word characteristics. Considering the characteristics of H/W and S/W, a similar dictionary was created, contributing to the improvement of speech intelligibility for smooth communication.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.359-370
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• 2022

Purpose: Physical therapists are required to properly choose the most appropriate treatment for each patient within the framework of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF model). The aims of this study were to determine whether neurological physical therapists in clinical settings in South Korea know about the ICF model and to investigate the current trends of outcome measures (OMs) used by them. Methods: Two hundred and one physical therapists who worked with patients with neurological disorders participated in this study. The survey was conducted via e-mail and asked about commonly used OMs and the considerations for selecting OMs. Results: All physical therapists involved in this study responded completely, and 45.8% of participants learned about the ICF model, while 37.3% understood the detailed information related to the ICF model. The rest of the participants did not know or just heard about the ICF model. The most frequently used tools at the body function/structure level were the Range of Motion (98%), Manual Muscle Test (97%), Berg Balance Scale (83.1%), and Modified Ashworth Scale (70.6%) when allowing repetition. At the activity level, the 10-meter walk test (71.1%), 6-minute walk test (54.2%), and Functional Ambulatory Category (43.3%) were used, while the Activity-Specific Balance Confidence Scale (23.9%) was used at the participation level. There was a positive relationship between the number of tools used and years of work, as well as the level of understanding of the ICF model. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that it is necessary to learn the ICF model in a clinical setting. In addition, the medical system needs to be modified to encourage physical therapists in South Korea to use proper OMs within the ICF model.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2014

Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPSs) are a group of rare inherited metabolic diseases caused by deficiency of lysosomal enzymes. MPSs are clinically heterogeneous and characterized by progressive deterioration in visceral, skeletal and neurological functions. The aim of this article is to review the treatment of MPSs, the unmet needs of current treatments and vision for the future including recent clinical trials. Until recently, supportive care was the only option available for the management of MPSs. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), another potentially curative treatment, is not routinely advocated in clinical practice due to its high risk profile and lack of evidence for efficacy. From the early 2000s, enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) was approved and available for the treatment of MPS I, II and VI. ERT is effective for the treatment of many somatic symptoms, particularly walking ability and respiratory function, and remains the mainstay of MPS treatment. However, no benefit was found in the neurological symptoms because the enzymes do not readily cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). In recent years, intrathecal (IT) ERT, substrate reduction therapy (SRT) and gene therapy have been rapidly gaining greater recognition as potential therapeutic avenues. Although still under investigation, IT ERT, SRT and gene therapy are promising MPS treatments that may prevent the neurodegeneration not improved by ERT.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2007

Vertigo is an illusion of rotation, which results from an imbalance within the vestibular system. This review focuses on two common presentations of spontaneous vertigo: acute prolonged spontaneous vertigo and recurrent spontaneous vertigo. Common causes of acute prolonged spontaneous vertigo include vestibular neuritis, labyrinthitis, and brainstem or cerebellar stroke. The history and detailed neurological/neurotological examinations usually provide the key information for distinguishing between peripheral and central causes of vertigo. Brain MRI is indicated in any patient with acute vertigo accompanied by abnormal neurological signs, profound imbalance, severe headache, and central patterns of nystagmus. Recurrent spontaneous vertigo occurs when there is a sudden, temporary, and largely reversible impairment of resting neural activity of one labyrinth or its central connections, with subsequent recovery to normal or near-normal function. Meniere's disease, migrainous vertigo, and vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI) are common causes. The duration of the vertigo attack is a key piece of information in recurrent spontaneous vertigo. Vertigo of vascular origin, such as VBI, typically lasts for several minutes, whereas recurrent vertigo due to peripheral inner-ear abnormalities lasts for hours. Screening neurotological evaluations, and blood tests for autoimmune and otosyphilis are useful in assessment of recurrent spontaneous vertigo that are likely to be peripheral in origin.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.8
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• pp.560-567
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• 2008

The importance of lipids in cell signaling and tissue physiology is demonstrated by the many CNS pathologies involving deregulated lipid metabolism. One such critical metabolic event is the activation of phospholipase $A_2$ ($PLA_2$), which results in the hydrolysis of membrane phospholipids and the release of free fatty acids, including arachidonic acid, a precursor for essential cell-signaling eicosanoids. Reactive oxygen species (ROS, a product of arachidonic acid metabolism) react with cellular lipids to generate lipid peroxides, which are degraded to reactive aldehydes (oxidized phospholipid, 4-hydroxynonenal, and acrolein) that bind covalently to proteins, thereby altering their function and inducing cellular damage. Dissecting the contribution of $PLA_2$ to lipid peroxidation in CNS injury and disorders is a challenging proposition due to the multiple forms of $PLA_2$, the diverse sources of ROS, and the lack of specific $PLA_2$ inhibitors. In this review, we summarize the role of $PLA_2$ in CNS pathologies, including stroke, spinal cord injury, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Multiple sclerosis-Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and Wallerian degeneration.