• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.333-338
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• 2011

Black ginseng (BG) has been widely used as herbal treatment for improving physiological function. In order to investigate the neuroprotective action of this herbal medicine, we examined the influence of BG on the learning and memory of rats using the Morris water maze, and we studied the effects of BG on the central cholinergic system and neural nitric oxide synthesis in the hippocampus of rats with neuronal and cognitive impairment. After middle cerebral artery occlusion was applied for 2h, the rats were administered BG (100 or 400 $mgkg^{-1}$, p.o.) daily for 2 weeks, followed by training and performance of the Morris water maze test. The rats with ischemic insults showed impaired learning and memory on the tasks. Treatment with BG produced improvement in the escape latency to find the platform. Further, the BG groups showed a reduced loss of cholinergic immunoreactivity and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d)-positive neurons in the hippocampus compared to that of the ISC group. These results demonstrated that BG has a protective effect against ischemia-induced neuronal and cognitive impairment. Our results suggest that BG might be useful for the treatment of vascular dementia.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.97-101
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• 2011

Objective : It is technically difficult to treat wide-necked intracranial aneurysms by the endovascular method. Various tools and techniques have been introduced to overcome the related technical limitations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the radiologic and clinical results of widenecked intracranial aneurysm treatment using the endovascular method. Methods : Fifteen aneurysms in 15 patients were treated by the endovascular method from October 2009 to August 2010. Seven patients presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), seven patients had unruptured aneurysms, and one patient had an intracerebral hemorrhage and intraventricular hemorrhage due to an incompletely clipped aneurysm. The mean dome-to-neck ratio was 1.1 (range, 0.6-1.7) and the mean height-to-neck ratio was 1.1 (range, 0.6-2.0). We used double microcatheters instead of a stent or a balloon for the first trial. When we failed to make a stable coil frame with two coils, we used a stent-assisted technique. Results : All aneurysms were successfully embolized. Eleven aneurysms (73%) were embolized by the double microcatheter technique without stent insertion, and four aneurysms (27%) were treated by stent-assisted coil embolization. One case had subclinical procedure-related intraoperative hemorrhage. Another case had procedure-related thromboembolism in the left distal anterior cerebral artery. During the follow-up period, one patient (7%) had a recanalized aneurysmal neck 12 months after coil embolization. The recurrent aneurysm was treated by stent-assisted coil embolization. Conclusion : We successfully treated 15 wide-necked intracranial aneurysms by the endovascular method. More clinical data with longer follow-up periods are needed to establish the use of endovascular treatment for wide-necked aneurysm.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.846-851
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• 2015

This neurological damage accelerates the infection reaction of cells and apoptosis at the time of reperfusion after ischemia occurs. BCL-2/BCL-2 allogeneic begeminum has a function of suppressing the apoptosis of cells, and thus it is inferred that the susceptibility of cells to apoptosis is determined by the amount of allogeneic begeminum present which is determined based on the amount of BAX. Ischemia was induced in SD mice by occluding the common carotid artery for 5 minutes, after which blood was re-perfused. NEES was applied to acupuncture points, at 12, 24, and 48 hours post-ischemia on the joksamri, Hapgok. Protein expression was investigated through BAX antibody immuno-reactive cells in the cerebral nerve cells and Western blotting. The results were as follows: In the present study as well, as a result of observation of the change in the number of the BAX reaction cells after the inducement of GI, there was the aspect of most of the BAX reaction cells being observed in the corpus striatum area of the GI group 24 hours after the inducement of ischemia. This revealed the same results as those of previous studies in which the change in the number of BAX reaction cells occurred in all areas while ischemia was in progress. The change in the expression of BAX protein after 24 hours showed that there was a very significant reduction in the NEES group compared to the GI group (p<.01). As a result, a greatest amount of change in the number of BAX immunoreactive cells related to apoptosis 24 hours after ischemia appeared in the NEES group. This study that ischemia increases the expression of BAX that induces apoptosis. Thus, it is determined that ischemia is the main cause of the apoptosis of neurons, and this study reveals that low frequency needle electrode electrical stimulation has the effect of blocking the apoptosis of neurons by reducing protein related to the apoptosis of cells that has increased after ischemia has occurred.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.188-192
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• 2004

Takayasu's arteritis is a chronic inflammatory disease, involving mainly the aorta and its main branches, which can cause stenosis or occlusion. It involves the bracheocephalic, carotid, subclavian, vertebral, and renal, as well as the coronary and pulmonary arteries. The clinical manifestations range from asymptomatic to catastrophic, with dizziness, hypertension, claudication, cerebral infarction, chest pain and dyspnea. Takayasu's arteritis involving the pulmonary arteries, but not the aorta and its main branches, is very rare. Herein, a case of isolated pulmonary Takayasu's arteritis combined with pulmonary thromboembolism, and hyperthyroidism is reported, with a review of the literature.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.67 no.1
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• pp.52-58
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• 2009

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (PAVM) is a rare pulmonary vascular anomaly due to an abnormal communication between the pulmonary artery and vein. The most common presenting symptom is a dyspnea on exertion related to this right-to-left shunt. If left untreated, PAVM has been known to result in serious complications. Incomplete pulmonary capillary network can be the cause of cerebral abscesses and other noninfectious neurological complications, such as stroke and transient ischemic attacks due to paradoxic embolism Transcatheter embolotherapy, using coils or balloons, has replaced surgical resection as the treatment of choice for PAVM. However, the risk of device embolization has limited the use of coil embolotherapy, while the size of PAVM is huge. Recently, Amplatzer$^{(R)}$ Vascular Plug has been proposed as an alternative endovascular occlusion device for arteriovenous malformation. We report a case of 81-year-old male patient with a giant PAVM, which was successfully treated by transcatheter embolotherapy using the Amplatzer$^{(R)}$ Vascular Plug.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.367-373
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• 2004

Evaluated the hyperacute embolic effects of triolein and oleic acid in cat brains by using MR image and electron microscopy. In fat embolism, free fatty acid is more toxic than neutral fat in terms of tissue damage. T2-Weighted imaging, diffusion-weighted imaging, and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted imaging were performed in cat brains after the injection of triolein (group 1, n=8) or oleic acid (group 2, n=10) into the internal carotid artery. MR image were quantitatively assessed by comparing the lesions with their counterparts on T2-weighted images, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps, and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images. Electron microscopic findings in group 1 were compared with those in group 2. Qualitatively, MR images revealed two types of lesions. Type 1 lesions were hyperintense on diffusion-weighted images and hypointense of ADC maps. Type 2 lesions were isointense or mildly hyperintense on diffusion-weighted images and isointense on ADC maps. Quantitatively, the signal intensity rations of type 1 lesions in group 2 specimens were significantly higher on T2-weighted images (P=.013)/(P=.027) and lower on ADC maps compared with those of group 1. Electron microscopy of type 1 lesions in both groups revealed more prominent widening of the perivascular space and swelling of the neural cells in groups 1. MR and electron microscopic data on cerebral fat embolism induced by either triolein or oleic acid revealed characteristics suggestive of both vasogenic and cytotoxic edema in the hyperacute stage. Tissue damage appeared more severe in the oleic acid group than in the triolein group.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.204-212
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• 2020

This study aimed to investigate the effect of traditional Korean medical treatments on a stroke patient with gait disturbance, cognitive impairment, dysuria, and dysphagia. A 78-year-old female with chronic middle cerebral artery infarction had symptoms of gait disturbance, cognitive impairment, dysuria, and dysphagia. After being treated with Korean medicine therapies, including acupuncture and herbal medicine, the patient's symptoms were significantly improved. During all the treatments, Indices including manual muscle test, functional ambulation category, functional independence measuring, mini-mental state examination-K, global deterioration scale, pelvic symmetry, functional ambulation profile used to evaluate her symptoms indicated improvement in her symptoms, without any side effects. Traditional Korean medical treatments, such as acupuncture and herbal medicine, can be considered to be effective therapies for a stoke patient who has symptoms of gait disturbance, cognitive impairment, dysuria, and dysphagia.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.85-85
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• 2001

Sam-Hwang-Sa-Shim-Tang(SHSST), a traditional Chinese medicine, composed of Rhei rhizoma, Scutellaria radix, and Coptidis rhizoma were used in the several disease including hypertension, constipation, and hemorrhage. In the present study, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of SHSST and its ingredients on the ischemia/ reperfusion-induced brain injury was evaluated in the rat brain. Ischemia was induced by intraluminal occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery for 120 min and reperfusion was continued for 22 h. SHSST (450 mg/kg), Rhei rhii oma (100 mg/kg), Coptidis rhizoma (100 mg/kg), and Scutellaria radik (100 mg/kg) were orally administered twice, promptly prior to reperfusion and 2 h after the repefusion. Total infarction volume in the ipsilateral hemisphere of ischemia/ reperfusion rats was significantly lowed by the treatments of SHSST (39.2%) and Scutellaria radix (66.5%). However, Coptidis rhizoma did not show any significant effects on the total infarct volume. The inhibiting effect of Scutellaria radix on the total infarct volume was more potent than that of SHSST. In addition, Scutellaria radix significantly inhibited myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, an index of neutrophil infiltration in ischemic brain tissue. However, there was marked mismatch between total infarct volume and MPO activity in the Scutellaria radix-treated rats. Our findings suggest that Scutellaria radix as an ingredient of SHSST plays a protective role in ischemia-induced brain injury by inhibiting neutrophil infiltration. The effects of Rhei rhizoma on transient brain ischemia-induced neuronal injury are under study.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.40-44
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• 2015

Cases of incomplete Kawasaki disease (KD), wherein the patient does not fulfill the full diagnostic criteria for KD, are often detected in infants younger than 6 months of age. The clinical manifestations in infants with incomplete KD may resemble other infectious diseases, including meningitis. For this reason, clinicians may have difficulty differentiating incomplete KD from other infectious diseases in this population. Various neurological features are associated with KD, including aseptic meningitis, subdural effusion, facial nerve palsy, cerebral infarction, encephalopathy, and reversible corpus callosum splenial lesions on magnetic resonance imaging. We report a case of a 5-month-old girl with incomplete KD, associated with cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis and an epidural fluid collection. Echocardiography indicated dilatation of the main coronary arteries. The girl made a complete recovery, with resolution of both the epidural fluid collection and coronary artery aneurysms. In this case, the child is well, and showed normal developmental milestones at the 7-month follow-up.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.94-98
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• 2017

Background: Intraoperative monitoring during carotid endarterectomy is crucial for cerebral protection. We investigated the results of carotid endarterectomy under dual monitoring with stump pressure and electroencephalography. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 50 patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy between March 2010 and February 2016. We inserted a temporary shunt if the stump pressure was lower than 35 mm Hg or if any intraoperative change was observed on electroencephalography. Results: Seventeen (34%) patients used a temporary shunt, and the mean stump pressure was 26.8 mm Hg in the shunt group and 46.5 mm Hg in the non-shunt group. No postoperative mortality or bleeding occurred. Postoperatively, there were 3 cases (6%) of minor stroke, all of which took place in the shunt group. A comparison of the preoperative and the intraoperative characteristics of the shunt group with those of the non-shunt group revealed no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups (p<0.01). Conclusion: Dual monitoring with stump pressure and electroencephalography was found to be a safe and reliable monitoring method with results comparable to those obtained using single monitoring. Further study should be performed to investigate the precise role of each monitoring method.