• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.135-141
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• 2006

We were to assess clinical effectiveness, safety and usefulness of Kyejibokryung-hwan (KBH), which has been used for Er-hyul similar with vascular or neurologic disorders causing sensory or motor abnormalities. This study is a retrospective single case series. Two hundred ninety five patients were treated with KBH for various neuropathies in our hospital. Of them, 120 cases were excluded because of insufficient medical records or failure to follow up; the remaining 175 were included in the analysis. There were 18 patients with sensory abnormalities and 28 with motor abnormalities after stroke. Of peripheral type, there were 14 with diabetic neuropathy, 12 with carpal tunnel syndrome, 41 with spinal radiculopathies, and 62 with idiopathic neuropathies, for which the effectiveness was assessed as 55.6%, 21.4%, 64.3%, 83.3%, 45.0%, and 56.5%, respectively. Adverse effects including indigestion or diarrhea were seen in 3.4% of the total patients. Taking the effectiveness and the safety together into consideration, the usefulness was assessed as 55.6%, 21.4%, 64.3%, 83.3%, 45.0%, and 54.8% for treating post-stroke sensory and motor abnormalities, diabetic neuropathy, carpal tunnel syndrome, spinal radiculopathies, and idiopathic neuropathies, respectively. In conclusion, we suggest that KBH is a useful herbal medicine for various neuropathies, especially of sensory type.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.41-49
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• 2011

Objective : Stroke is the most common disabling neurological disease of adult life. And some part of the clinical symptoms and signs are correlated to the post stroke complication. This study was to analyze the therapeutic effect of the East-West collaborative treatment, especially on the motor power and the clinical symptoms and signs improvement of ischemic stroke patients. Method : For 2 weeks as possible, we observed the patients with acute ischemic stroke receiving East-West collaborative treatment. We assessed the patients using Motricity Index (MI) and the changes of clinical symptoms and signs three times at seven-day intervals. At the end of the study, we compared the results. Result : Motricity Index of patients changed from 71.55 to 76.03 (upper limb) and 73.05 to 79.42 (lower limb), respectively. Some items of clinical symptoms and signs showed the statistically significant result. Especially, the urination and defecation symptoms improved obviously. Conclusion : The East-West collaborative treatment has an effect on motor power and clinical symptoms and signs improvement of acute ischemic stroke patients.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.16-23
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• 2011

Object : The purpose of this study is to observe the changes of symptoms and signs diagnosised by differentiation of the pattern identification in stroke patients. Methods : Seventy subjects were recruited from patients with stroke within ten days of onset. We chose twenty-nine subjects diagnosised as same differentiation of the pattern identification, and who had at least on follow up session. We had investigated change of symptoms and signs diagnosised by differentiation of the pattern identification. Results : There were five symptoms and signs (thick fur, dry fur, difficult defecation, heat vexation and aversion to heat, normal pulse) and ten (heavy-headedness, frequency of defecation, hard defecation, feel heavy, slippery pulsem, dry mouth, bitter taste in the mouth, feel lazy, look lazy) symptoms and signs that were statistically significant improved in fire-heat patterns and dampness-phlegm pattern, respectively. Conclusions : This study provides evidence that collaborative treatment is effective in improving some symptoms and signs in acute ischemic stroke patients diagnosised by fire-heat pattern and dampness-phlegm pattern. Further studies with larger scale, longer observation period would be required.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.13-23
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• 2012

Object : The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between left ventricular hypertrophy and Dampness-Phlegm diagnosis in cerebral infarction patients. Methods : Among 227 of the total recruited patients, 59 patients were diagnosed as left ventricular hypertrophy. We assessed their general characteristics, risk factors, lab findings and Korean medical diagnosis. We compared the assessed variables between left ventricular hypertrophy group and non left ventricular group. We analyzed the relationship between left ventricular hypertrophy and risk factors. And we also analyzed the relationship between left ventricular hypertrophy and dampness-phlegm diagnosis. Results : 1. The rate of left ventricular hypertrophy in female patients was larger than the rate of male patients. 2. There were more patients finally diagnosed hypertension in left ventricular hypertrophy group. 3. According to the analysis about the rate of Dampness-phlegm related Index for Pattern Identification by left ventricular hypertrophy, Sallow complexion and obesity were significantly higher in the left ventricular hypertrophy than in the non left ventricular hypertrophy group. 4. In multivariate analysis, Dampness-phlegm group showed close relationship with left ventricular hypertrophy. Conclusions : According to the analysis, significance between dampness-phlegm diagnosis diagnosed group and left ventricular hypertrophy were clarified. These results can be utilized in the future as a basic material to be used for diagnosis and management of dampness-phlegm diagnosis on cardiovascular diseases.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.569-577
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• 2010

Background & Objectives : Yellow fur on the tongue is known to be associated with prognosis of disease in oriental medicine. Higher ratios of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL) & total cholesterol (TC) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL) are associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between cardiovascular disease index and yellow fur - oriental medical index - in stroke patients over 60 years old. Methods & Subjects : Among 802 of the recruited patients(434 male, 368 female), 340 were yellow fur group(209 male, 131 female). We assessed their general characteristics and risk factors. We compared the cardiovascular disease index between yellow fur and non-yellow fur groups by sex. Results : On the General Characteristics males have yellow fur more often than females. In cardiovascular disease index, the male yellow fur group showed higher ratios of TC/HDL(atherogenic index), (TC-HDL)/HDL, LDL/HDL and higher LDL and showed lower HDL than the non-yellow fur group. In female patients, there were no differences between the two groups about cardiovascular disease index. There were more patients diagnosed with Fire & Heat in the male yellow fur group, and Dampness & Phlegm in the male non-yellow fur group. The male yellow fur group eat fast food more than the non-yellow fur group. Conclusions : The results indicated that yellow fur may be associated with a high risk of cardiovascular disease. We can thus use yellow fur on the tongue as a cardiovascular disease index in male stroke patients over 60 years old.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.3 s.63
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• pp.228-238
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• 2005

Objectives : We conducted a randomized, double-blinded clinical trial to assess the anti-hypertensive effect of Ginseng and to know the difference of the effect according to it's growing districts md species by 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurement (ABPM). Methods : We allocated 96 hypertensive patients enrolled in this trial to Korean ginseng(KG), American ginseng (AG), Chinese ginseng (CG), and Korean red ginseng (KRG) groups by randomization. Each subject was administered 4.5mg/day of encapsulated ginseng for 4 weeks. We assessed anti-hypertensive effect, blood pressure variability using ABPM and toxicity by blood chemistry before and after treatment. We also evaluated changes of symptoms due to hypertension and adverse effect in all groups at the first visit, 2 weeks later and 4 weeks later. Results : Blood pressure after treatments showed significant decrease of systolic blood pressure (sBP) in the CG-group (p<0,05) and diastolic blood pressure (dBP) in the KRG-group (p<0.05). However, there were no significant changes of sBP (or dBP) after treatment in the other groups and no significant difference in changes of BP between before and after treatment among the 4 groups. Blood pressure variability in the CG-group showed significant decrease after treatment but not in the KRG-group. Symptoms such as headache or neck stiffness and heating sensation due to hypertension improved significantly in all groups, especially in the KRG-group. A3l patients had no adverse effect after treatment and there was no liver or kidney toxicity. Conclusions : CG and KRG seem to have anti-hypertensive effects, but there was no significantly different effect depending on growing district and species of Ginseng.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.32-40
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• 2011

Objective : The aim of this study was to examine Differences of overall characteristics depending on Symptom Severity in Acute Stroke Patient Method : We studied hospitalized patients within 10days after their ictus who were admitted at Kyunghee University Oriental Medical Center from May 2011 to October 2011. We compared the general characteristics of acute stroke patient according to Scandinavian Stroke Scale score Result : The patient who had mild severity show significant difference for FBS, PP2, Homocysteine, Exercise, Tongue color, Mouth dryness, Chest discomfort, Constipation, Stool hardness. Conclusion : The above result contribute to predict severity of stroke symtoms according to risk factor and general condition of patients. Also, After occurrence of stroke, We will can block worsening of symptoms progression. Further studies will be needed to observation of follow up studies about progression of stroke among acute stroke patients with a serious disability.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2008

Objectives : We questioned whether the tongue diagnosis is effective for judging seriousness of cerebrovascular accidents. This study is about the relationship between tongue diagnosis and National Institute of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS) in acute stroke patients. Methods : 738 subjects were recruited from the patients admitted to the department of internal medicine at Kyung-Hee University oriental medical center, Kyung-Hee University East-West Neo Medical Center, Kyungwon university Incheon oriental medical center, Kyungwon university Songpa oriental medical center and DongGuk university Ilsan oriental medical center from April 2007 to August 2008. We looked at the tongue as in three dimensions of tongue color, tongue fur color and tongue body. And, we calculated NIHSS means according to the subtypes of three dimensions. Results : 1. In the Tongue color, from the most commom to least common colors were pale red, red, pale, bluish purple, and ect. The NIHSS mean score of red is significantly higher than pale and pale red. 2. In the Tongue fur color, white fur was the most common, and then yellow fur, etc. There is no significant difference among three subtypes in the NIHSS mean score. 3. In the Tongue body, etc. is the most common, followed by teeth-marked tongue, enlarged tongue, blood patchy tongue, and mirror tongue. The NIHSS mean score of teeth-marked tongue is significantly lower than blood patchy tongue and mirror tongue. Conclusions : The tongue color and the tongue body are useful indexes for judging seriousness of cerebrovascular accidents presented by NIHSS. But in our study, the tongue fur color was not useful. Further study is necessary on the tongue fur.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 2008

Objectives : This study was conducted as part of the national project to standardize stroke diagnosis in Korean medicine. In this study, we assessed what categories of stroke diagnosis these three most common risk factors of cerebro-vascular attack(CVA), hypertension(HTN), diabetes mellitus(DM) and hyperlipidemia(HL) fall into. Also we looked into stroke subtypes and its diagnosis in Korean medicine. Methods : 806 patients with acute stroke from 5 universities(Kyung-Hee University oriental medical center, Kyung-Hee University East-West Neo Medical Center, Kyungwon university Incheon oriental medical center, Kyungwon university Songpa oriental medical center and DongGuk university Ilsan oriental medical center) across the country were involved from April, 2007 til August, 2008. We had data of 482 patients to be analyzed and diagnosed by a Korean medicine training doctor and a professor. Results : All three major stroke risk factors were diagnosed as being dampness-phlegm pattern, but no significant difference was observed except in hyperlipidemia patients. Stroke subtypes such as hemorrhage and infarction showed no significant difference in this study. Conclusions : This study provides evidence that hyperlipidemia can be diagnosed as dampness-phlegm by Korean medicine. Further studies with various subtypes of stroke patients are required to prove solid evidence with other stroke risk factors.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.40-45
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• 2008

Meniere's disease is characterized by intermittent episodes of vertigo lasting from minutes to hours, with fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus, and aural pressure. The primary histopathological correlate is endolymphatic hydrops, but its etiology is still disputed. Several medical therapies have been offered to patients with this disease since 1961 that the first report had been given by Prosper Meniere. Some will be helpful for relieving the symptoms but there is still no absolutely effective treatment to cure the disease. One male patient with Meniere's disease was hospitalized in Kyung-Hee medical center, and we treated him with oriental medical therapies. The treatment was effective to relieve his symptoms, and they had been successfully controlled until he was discharged from hospital. The result suggests that the oriental medical therapy is safe and helpful to patients with Meniere's disease, so we reported this case.