• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.719-731
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• 2009

Objectives : Stroke is the most common disabling neurological disease of adult life. The treatment and rehabilitation of stroke patients is an important and challenging area in the field of medicine. In Korea, a lot of stroke patients are treated using oriental medicine and there have been reports on their functional recovery. The aim of this study was to prove the therapeutic effect of oriental medicine on ischemic stroke. We also tried to identify characteristics of patients whose functional recovery was prominent and studied whether or not the use of fluids, anticoagulants, antiplatelets and neuroprotective agents increased the functional recovery of patients. Methods : We studied 794 patients within 2 weeks after first attack of ischemic stroke who were admitted to Kyung-Hee Oriental Medical Center from 1999 to 2000. Their maximum admission period was 60 days. Results : Motor power grade, NIHSS and MBI scores of patients improved during hospitalization significantly. Factors affecting functional recovery were admission period, motor power grade, NIHSS and MBI at admission. Age, waist-hip ratio and HDL cholesterol also affected functional recovery of patients. Whether or not fluids, anticoagulants, antiplatelets and neuroprotective agents were administered had nothing to do with functional recovery. Conclusion : Oriental medicine is effective for treatment and rehabilitation of ischemic stroke patients. When we manage stroke, we have to consider some important factors.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.3 s.71
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• pp.289-298
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• 2007

Objectives : Electrical acupoint stimulation (EAS) has been used to treat motor dysfunction of stroke patients with reportedly effective results. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of EAS with different frequencies in treating motor dysfunction of ischemic stroke patients. Methods : The subjects of this study were sixty-two ischemic stroke patients with motor dysfunction at Kyunghee Oriental Medicine Hospital who were hospitalized for one week to one month from onset. They were treated with 2Hz or 120Hz EAS for two weeks, and motor evoked potentials (MEP) were measured before and after EAS treatment. To compare the effect of 2Hz EAS with 120Hz, we measured latency, central motor conduction time (CMCT) and amplitude of MEP before and after EAS treatment. Results : After two weeks of treatment, we compared MEP data of the affected side between the 2Hz group and the 120Hz group. The 2Hz group showed more significant improvement than the 120Hz group in latency, CMCT and amplitude (P=0.008, 0.002, 0.002). In case of the affected side MEP data divided by normal side MEP data, the 2Hz group also showed improvement on latency, CMCT and amplitude with significant differences (P=0.003, 0.000, 0.008). Conclusions : These results suggest that low frequency EAS activates the central motor conduction system better than high frequency EAS, and it means that EAS with low frequency is more helpful for motor recovery after ischemic stroke than that with high frequency.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2012

Object : This is a study of ischemic stroke patients designed for comparison Combination therapy of western medical treatment and oriental medical treatment. and western medical treatments alone. Methods : 45 patients were diagnosed by Br-MRI scan as having suffered ischemic stroke. They had entered Kyung-Hee Medical hospital within ten days of attack, between March 2011 and October 2012. Patients were divided into two groups; a group treated with Combination therapy of western medical treatment and oriental medical treatment and other group treated with Western medical treatments. Scandinavian stroke scale and Motricity Index score was checked at admission, 2 weeks or 3 weeks later to assess neurologic improvement and motor function recovery. Results : Comparing the Scandinavian stroke scale and Motricity Index score between baseline and 2 or 3 weeks later, the combination therapy group and western medical treatment group had improved but there was no significance. Conclusions : Combination therapy have more beneficial effect on acute stage of stroke.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.1237-1247
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• 2019

Post-stroke oculomotor nerve palsy occurs more frequently than previously reported, but only a few studies of traditional Korean medicine treatments have been reported. The symptoms are severe and difficult to treat, and current treatments are high-cost, short-lasting, insufficient for shortening the therapeutic period and promoting better recovery, or involve the risk of post-operative over-correction or under-correction. Traditional Korean medicine treatments may be comparatively effective at lower cost and less harmful. Thus, we report three cases of post-stroke oculomotor nerve palsy treated with traditional Korean medicine.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2008

Purpose: Human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells(hATSCs) can be differentiated into multiple mesenchymal lineages, including bone, cartilage, and muscle. And growth hormone play important roles in the normal growth and development of the CNS. In this study, we explored whether the transplanted hATSCs and growth hormones could improve functional recoveries from rats with contusive spinal cord injury. Methods: We divided 30 female rats, which were subjected to a weight driven implant spinal cord injury, into 3 groups with 10 rats each; Group A as a control group, group B with hATSCs transplantation on injured region, and group C with hATSCs transplantation and GH administration for 7 days. Then, we researched their neurologic functional recoveries before and 2, 4, and 8 weeks after transplantation using Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor rating scale. And we checked Y-chromosome positive cells by FISH(Fluorescent in situ hybridization) to identify the survival of transplanted mesenchymal stem cells. Results: After 4 weeks of transplantation, the group B and group C showed significant improvement of neurologic function on BBB locomotor rating scale in comparison with the group A(Group A: $13.1{\pm}0.58$, Group B: $14.6{\pm}0.69$, Group C: $14.9{\pm}0.56$). Moreover, the group C displayed meaningful recovery of neurologic function after 8 weeks in comparison with group B (Group B: $15.7{\pm}0.63$, Group C: $16.5{\pm}1.14$). The group A, the control one, improved for 5 weeks after injury, and had no more recovery. On the other hand, Group B and C showed the improvement of neurologic function continuously for 9 weeks after injury. Conclusion: In this study, we found out that hATSCs transplantation have an effect on neurologic functional recovery of spinal cord injured rat and GH injection seems to bring the synergistic results on this good tendency.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.428-437
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• 2013

Objectives : The aim of this study was to examine if there is a significant correlation between the changes of Fire- and Heat- related symptoms and motor function recovery in acute cerebral infarction patients. Methods : We studied inpatients within a month after the onset of cerebral infarction who were admitted at Kyunghee University Medical Center from May 2011 to January 2013. We executed correlation analysis between Fire-heat pattern score and motricity index score at visit 1 and visit 2, and checked if there was a significant correlation between the changes of Fire-heat pattern score and changes of motricity index score. Also, we compared the changes of both scores in patients taking Fire-heat and non Fire-heat pattern prescriptions. Results : There was a significant correlation between the Fire-heat pattern score and Motricity index score at visit 1 and visit 2, and changes of Fire-heat pattern score showed significant correlation with changes of motricity index score. Patients taking Fire-heat pattern prescriptions showed significant change in Fire-heat pattern score after herb-medication treatment while patients taking non-Fire-heat prescriptions showed insignificant change in Fire-heat pattern score. Conclusions : This study provides evidence that taking a Fire-heat pattern prescription could be considered as a first line herb-medication treatment in acute cerebral infarction patients.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.63-73
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• 2013

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious condition associated with social and familial burden, as well as significant neurologic deficit. Despite the many advances in the treatment of spinal cord injury, a fundamental treatment for neurologic functional recovery has not yet been developed. In this article, we review two directions of development for spinal cord injury treatment: neuroprotective pharmacological agents and axon-regenerating cell therapy. We expect developments in these two to lead to improve functional recovery in patients with spinal cord injuries and to reduce burdens on society, as well as the patients' families.

• 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 The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.90-96
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• 2009

Purpose: This study explored and evaluated the systemic complications resulting from the bite of Korean venomous snake, focussing on hematologic and neurologic features. Methods: Medical records (demographic data, clinical measurements including laboratory results, severity score, and amount of antidote administration, and hospitalization course) of consecutive patients who presented with snakebites to two university teaching hospital during a 10-year period were retrospectively reviewed. Subgroup analysis was conducted for evaluations of anti-acetylcholine esterase administration in complicated victims. Results: The 170 patients displayed occurrence rates of hematologic and neurologic complications of 12.9% and 20.6%, respectively. Among 22 patients with hematologic complications, isolated thrombocytopenia was evident in eight patients (36.4%), prothrombin time (PT) / activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) prolongation in 11 patients (50.0%), and both in three patients (13.6%). The mean time to recovery was $4.5{\pm}1.8$ days for isolated thrombocytopenia, and $5.1{\pm}1.8$ days for PT and aPTT prolongation. Hematologic complications could occur suddenly 1?4 days after hospitalization. Among 35 patients with neurologic complications, dizziness was evident in 16 patients (45.7%), and diplopia / blurred vision in 19 patients (54.3%). The mean time to recovery was $3.4{\pm}0.6$ days in patients receiving anti-acetylcholine esterase and $6.9{\pm}1.8$ days in those not receiving anti-acetylcholine esterase (p=0.00). Conclusion: Occurrence rates of hematologic and neurologic complications following venomous snake bite differed as compared to other studies conducted in Korea. Onset of hematologic complications can occur rapidly days after admittance. Anti-acetylcholine esterase administration may be effective in treating neurologic complications.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.544-546
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• 2010

Paraplegia following spinal epidural anesthesia is extremely rare. Various lesions for neurologic complications have been documented in the literature. We report a 66-year-old female who developed paraplegia after left knee surgery for osteoarthritis under spinal epidural anesthesia. In the recovery room, paraplegia and numbness below T4 vertebra was checked. A magnetic resonance image (MRI) scan showed a spinal thoracic intradural extramedullary (IDEM) tumor. After extirpation of the tumor, the motor weakness improved to the grade of 3/5. If a neurologic deficit following spinal epidural anesthesia does not resolve, a MRI should be performed without delay to accurately diagnose the cause of the deficit and optimal treatment should be rendered for the causative lesion.