• Journal of The Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.509-518
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• 2018

Objective: The evidence that hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy is more effective for improving the acute neuropsychological status (ANS) of carbon monoxide poisoning than normobaric oxygen (NBO) therapy is not convincing. This is because the levels of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) do not correlate with the clinical severity of carbon monoxide poisoning and there is no universally accepted severity scale of carbon monoxide poisoning. This paper suggests a new scale for the clinical and neurological severity of carbon monoxide poisoning, called the ANS, and assesses the effect of HBO therapy for each level of ANS compared to NBO therapy. Methods: A total of 217 patients who had been hospitalized because of carbon monoxide poisoning from January 2009 to July 2013 were studied. ANS was suggested as a new severity scale of carbon monoxide poisoning considered in the Glasgow Coma Scale, acute neuro-psychologic signs and symptoms, or cardiac ischemia on the initial medical contact. HBO therapy is indicated in those who have a loss of consciousness, seizure, coma, abnormal findings on a neurological examination, pregnancy, persistent cardiac ischemia, level of COHb >25%, or severe metabolic acidosis (pH <7.2). The end point is the day of discharge, and recovery is defined as a normal neuro-psychological status without any sequelae. Results: The levels of troponin T and creatinine increased significantly with increasing ANS score. In the moderate to severe group (ANS 2 and 3), the recovery rate was significantly higher when treated with HBO therapy than with NBO therapy (P=0.030). On the other hand, the development of delayed neuro-psychological sequelae (DNS) did not correlate with any level of ANS, type of oxygen therapy, or recovery on discharge. Conclusion: In the moderate to severe poisoned group, HBO therapy is more effective for improving the ANS from carbon monoxide poisoning than NBO therapy. On the other hand, the development of DNS of HBO therapy is no more preventable than with NBO therapy. Although the level of ANS is low, the patient needs to be provided with sufficient information and a follow-up visit is recommended for any abnormal symptoms because the ANS does not correlate with the development and degree of DNS.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.158-163
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• 2001

Clinical symptoms of acute stroke include loss of consciousness, aphasia, dysphagia, hemiplegia, without urination or defecation, headache, dizziness, chest discomfort, etc. As methods of oriental medical treatment at acute stroke state, acupuncture, fumigating, emetic, sternutatory therapy etc. were known. We treated a 69-year-old female patient who was unconscious after acute stroke with acupuncture and herbal medicine. Also, we chose Croton seed (Crotonis Fructus) Tansy (Artemisiae Argi Folium)-hwan for treatment and fumed it on the patient's nose once a day. After 7 days of treatment with fumigating therapy, we observed improvement in consciousness on the Glasgow coma scale, and other symptoms (aphasia, dysphagia, hemiplegia, without urination or defecation)

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.62 no.2
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• pp.43-47
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• 2019

Hyperammonemia can be caused by several genetic inborn errors of metabolism including urea cycle defects, organic acidemias, fatty acid oxidation defects, and certain disorders of amino acid metabolism. High levels of ammonia are extremely neurotoxic, leading to astrocyte swelling, brain edema, coma, severe disability, and even death. Thus, emergency treatment for hyperammonemia must be initiated before a precise diagnosis is established. In neonates with hyperammonemia caused by an inborn error of metabolism, a few studies have suggested that peritoneal dialysis, intermittent hemodialysis, and continuous renal replacement therapy (RRT) are effective modalities for decreasing the plasma level of ammonia. In this review, we discuss the current literature related to the use of RRT for treating neonates with hyperammonemia caused by an inborn error of metabolism, including optimal prescriptions, prognosis, and outcomes. We also review the literature on new technologies and instrumentation for RRT in neonates.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.252-257
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• 2010

Objective : Barbiturate coma therapy (BCT) is a useful method to control increased intracranial pressure (IICP) patients. However, the complications such as hypotension and hypokalemia have caused conditions that stopped BCT early. The complications of low dose BCT with $Bispectral^{TM}$ index (BIS) monitoring and those of high dose BCT without BIS monitoring have been compared to evaluate the efficacy of low dose BCT with BIS monitoring. Methods : We analyzed 39 patients with high dose BCT group (21 patients) and low dose BCT group (18 patients). Because BIS value of 40-60 is general anesthesia score, we have adjusted the target dose of thiopental to maintain the BIS score of 40-60. Therefore, dose of thiopental was kept 1.3 to 2.6 mg/kg/hour during low dose BCT. However, high dose BCT consisted of 5 mg/kg/hour without BIS monitoing. Results : The protocol of BCT was successful in 72.2% and 38.1% of low dose and high dose BCT groups, respectively. The complications such as QT prolongation, hypotension and cardiac arrest have caused conditions that stopped BCT early. Hypokalemia showed the highest incidence rate in complications of both BCT. The descent in potassium level were $0.63{\pm}0.26$ in low dose group, and $1.31{\pm}0.48$ in high dose group. The treatment durations were $4.89{\pm}1.68$ days and $3.38{\pm}1.24$ days in low dose BCT and high dose BCT, respectively. Conclusion : It was proved that low dose BCT showed less severe complications than high dose BCT. Low dose BCT with BIS monitoring provided enough duration of BCT possible to control ICP.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.31-35
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• 2013

Acute organophosphate intoxication is important because of its high morbidity and mortality. The mortality is still high despite the use of atropine as specific antidotal therapy and oximes for reactivation of acetylcholinesterase. Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase by organophosphate can cause acute parasympathetic system dysfunction, muscle weakness, seizure, coma, and respiratory failure. Acute alteration in conscious state or a coma, which may occur following organophosphate intoxication, is an indication of severe intoxication and poorer prognosis. This acute decline in conscious state often reverses when the cholinergic crisis settles; however, it may be prolonged in some patients. We report on a case of a 60-year-old male who showed prolonged decline in conscious state due to of Central Nervous System (CNS) toxicity after a suicide attempt with organophosphate.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.26-39
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• 1996

The literatual study on the therapy for clearing away heat with apoplexy therapy, the result were obstained as follows. 1. In apoplexy therapy, therapy for clearing away heat is used excessive heart - fire by overacting of the five emotions, liver fire, deficiency of kidney - fluid, wind - heat. 2. The fire of aetiology of apoplexy is used therapy for clearing away eat, in aspect of viscera and bowels, divied into heart - fire, liver - fire, deficiency fie of kidney yin, wetness - phlegm of spleen heat. The treatment is clear away heart - fire, clear away liver - fire, clear away spleen - heat and sthenic water. 3. Symptom of excessiveness symptom - complex is used therapy for clearing away heat that are fever, flushed face, halitosis, heart burn, easy anger, apoplestic stroke, unconsciouness, trismus, paralysis, constipation, red tongue with yellow coat, taut - smooth pulse or full - rapid pulse and symptom of insufficiency symptom - complex that are dizziness, tinitus, blurring of vision, deficiency sleeping, dreaminess, lassitude of the loins and legs, hemiplegia, red tongue with white coat or thin - yellow coat taut - thready - rapid pulse. 4. Therapy for norish vital essence - clearing away heat is availed in excessive fire caused by deficiency of yin of the liver and kidney, therapy for break through phlegm - clearing away heat in stagnant heat therapy for waking up a patient from unconsciousness - clearing away heat in yang type sthenia - syndrom of coma of apoplexy involving viscera and bowels. 5. Commonly used recipes of therapy for clearing away heat are Yang gyolksan(凉膈散), Bang pongtongseongsan(防風通聖散), Sotongseongsan(小通聖散), Jibodan(至寶丹), Supungsungisan(搜風順氣散), Woowhangchengshimwhan(牛黃淸心丸), Chengungsekgong(川芎石膏湯), Samwhatang(三化湯) etc in excessiveness symptom- complex, and are Yukmijiwhangweon(六味地黃元), Jiwhangtang(地黃湯), Palmiji whangtang(八味地黃湯), Samultanggagam(四物湯加減) etc in insufficiency symptom - complex.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.304-306
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• 2021

Objectives: We report on a patient who showed mild bradykinesia due to injury of the corticofugal tract (CFT) from the secondary motor area following direct head trauma, which was demonstrated on diffusion tensor tractography (DTT). Case summary: A 58-year-old male patient underwent conservative management for subarachnoid hemorrhages caused by direct head trauma resulting from a fall from six-meter height at the department of neurosurgery of a local hospital. His Glasgow Coma Scale score was 3. He developed mildly slow movements following the head trauma and visited the rehabilitation department of a university hospital at ten weeks after the fall. The patient exhibited mild bradykinesia during walking and arm movements with mild weakness in all four extremities (G/G^-). Results: On ten-week DTT, narrowing of the right CFT from the supplementary motor area (SMA-CFT), and partial tearing of the left SMA-CFT, left CFTs from the dorsal premotor cortex (dPMC-CFT) and both corticospinal tracts (CSTs) at the subcortical white matter were observed. Conclusion: This case demonstrated abnormalities in both CSTs (partial tearing at the subcortical white matter and narrowing), both SMA-CFTs (narrowing and partial tearing) and left dPMC-CFT. We believe our findings suggest the necessity of assessment of the CFTs from the secondary motor area for patients with unexplained bradykinesia following direct head trauma.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.885-892
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• 2016

Few studies have reported the effects of traditional Korean medical (TKM) therapy in patients with traumatic brain hemorrhage. The patient was a 93-year-old female who was unconscious after a traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and was not a candidate for any surgical treatment because of her age. We treated her with acupuncture and herbal medicine. After 28 days of treatment, we observed an improvement in consciousness on the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and in other symptoms (aphasia, weakness in both legs, and headache).

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.262-270
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• 2015

Objective : Long-term oral anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy has been used with increasing frequency in the elderly. These patients are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality from expansion of intracranial hemorrhage. We conducted a single-center retrospective case control study to evaluate risk factors associated with outcomes and to identify the differences in outcome in traumatic brain injury between preinjury anticoagulation use and without anticoagulation. Methods : A retrospective study of patients who underwent craniotomy or craniectomy for acute traumatic cerebral hemorrhage, between January 2005 and December 2014 was performed. Results : A consecutive series of 50 patients were evaluated. The factors significantly differed between the two groups were initial Prothrombin Time-International Normalized Ratio, initial platelet count, initial Glasgow Coma Scale score, and postoperative intracranial bleeding. Mean Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score were similar between the two groups. In the patient with low-energy trauma only, no significant differences in GOS score, postoperative bleeding and many other factors were observed. The contributing factors to postoperative bleeding was preinjury anticoagulation and its adjusted odds ratio was 12 [adjusted odds ratio (OR), 12.242; p=0.0070]. The contributing factors to low GOS scores, which mean unfavorable neurological outcomes, were age (adjusted OR, 1.073; p=0.039) and Rotterdam scale score for CT scans (adjusted OR, 3.123; p=0.0020). Conclusion : Preinjury anticoagulation therapy contributed significantly to the occurrence of postoperative bleeding. However, preinjury anticoagulation therapy in the patients with low-energy trauma did not contribute to the poor clinical outcomes or total hospital stay. Careful attention should be given to older patients and severity of hemorrhage on initial brain CT.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.126-129
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• 2005

Valproic acid (VPA) is used in the management of a variety of conditions including simple and complex absence seizure disorder. bipolar disorder, and migraine prophylaxis. Clinical manifestation of VPA overdose vary in severity from mild confusion and lethargy to severe coma and death. The treatment of VPA toxicity is mainly supportive. There is no specific antidote, nor are there specific guidelines for the management of VPA intoxication. Anecdotal reports describe the efficacy of naloxone and L-carnitine, but the data are insufficient to make strong conclusions. Various techniques of extracoporeal therapy for the management of VPA toxicity have been described, but none has prevailed as standard therapy. We report a patient with VPA overdose who was successfully treated with hemoperfusion with activated charcoal and L-carnitine. VPA levels of the patient was more than 1,000 ${\mu}g$/ml and was normalized after 3 times hemoperfusion. The patient was injected with L-carnitine by maximum 600 mg/kg/day for 5days without complications.