• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.49-58
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• 2008

Objective The purpose of this case-control study was done to examine the relationship among the acute brain infarction, silent brain infarction and blood lipids. Methods We compared the components of blood lipids among acute brain infarction patients group (n=99), silent brain infarction patients group(n=101) and controls group (n=153). The analysis of the data was done by Frequency Analysis, one-way ANOVA, Post Hoc Test(Duncan), Pearson's Correlation. Results The results were as follows. High density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-Chol) was significantly lower in patients of acute brain infarctions group. The blood levels of total cholesterol(T-Chol) was significantly higher in patients of silent brain infarctions. A study on the relationship among the significant variables ; In T-Chol and HDL-Chol, DM(No=0, Yes=1) and Age, they had positive correlation each other. Between Sex(Female=0, Male=1) and HDL-Chol, Age and HDL-Chol, DM and HDL-Chol, they had negative correlation each other. Conclusions These results suggest that low HDL-Chol may be risk factor of acute brain infarction.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.2 s.62
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• pp.77-84
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• 2005

Objectives: Chunghyul-dan is a combinatorial herbal medicine, and previous studies reported it had therapeutic effects for microangiopathy, which is a major part. in the progression of stroke, as well as having anti-hypertensive, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidative, and anti-inflammatory activities, Therefore, we examined the inhibitory effect of Chunghyul-dan on stroke occurrence in patients with silent brain infarction. Methods: We prescribed Chunghyul-dan at 600 mg a day to patients with silent brain infarction confirmed by brain MRI, and monitored stroke occurrence, drug compliances, and adverse effects for 1 year, We then performed follow-up brain MRI to detect new vascular lesions after 1 year of Chunghyul-dan medication. As for the subjects lost to follow-up, we assessed their prognosis after 1 year by telephone. Results: There were twenty-one subjects who were treated with Chunghyul-dan for more than 1 year, None of them experienced new clinical syndromes characterized by rapidly developing clinical symptoms and signs of focal and at times global loss of brain function, which could be accompanied with evidence of stroke occurrence, or any adverse effects during the Chunghyul-dan medication period. These results might be explained by various biochemical effects of Chunghyul-dan on microangiopathy, which is closely related with cell cycle progression, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, vascular inflammation, and oxidative damage. Of the 10 subjects lost to follow-up, six were reached; two of them had stroke occurrence. Conclusions: We suggest Chunghyul-dan could be useful for prevention of stroke occurrence in patients with silent brain infarction by preventing the progression of microangiopathy. Further study with a randomized controlled trial is needed to confirm this suggestion.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.850-862
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• 2007

Background : Cerebrovascular disease is a major cause of death and disability in adults. Silent cerebral infarction (SCI) portends more severe cerebral infarction or may lead to insidious progressive brain damage resulting in vascular dementia. Known cardiovascular risk factors, such as arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, hyperlipidemia and ischemic heart disease may increase the risk of SCI. This study was designed to evaluate the risk factors of SCI in an apparently normal adult population. Methods : We divided 340 neurologically normal adults (mean age=59.90$\pm$8.30, men:women = 146:194) who underwent brain computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the Stroke Medical Center in Daejeon University Oriental Medicine Hospital in two groups, Silent inf. and Controls,and analyzed risk factors of SCI by interview, physical examination and blood test. Risk factors of SCI were assessed by interview, physical examination and blood test. We performed Pearson's chi-square test and two-sample t-test for univariate analysis and multiple logistic regressions for multivariate analysis to evaluate risk factors of SCI. Results : Old age, diabetes mellitus, and high lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were associated with SCI on univariate analysis. Diabetes mellitus was demonstrated to be an independent risk factor for SCI on multivariate analysis. Conclusions : Advanced age, diabetes mellitus, and LDH levels are associated with SCI.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.243-256
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• 2012

Objectives : This clinical study was done to examine metabolic syndrome (MS) and plasma homocysteine (HCY) level in patients with silent lacunar infarction (SLI) and in normal controls. Methods : A total of 154 patients, who were over 20 years of age and visited the stroke prevention check-up center of a university hospital from December 2006 to December 2010, were examined by brain CT or brain MRI, and classified into two groups. We compared the components of MS and HCY levels between patients with SLI (n=74) and normal controls (n=80). Modified ATP III definition was used for diagnosis of MS while Korean standard for waist circumference was used. Results : Prevalence of MS was significantly higher in the SLI group than the normal group. HCY was also significantly higher in the SLI group than the noraml, and the odds ratio (OR) for SLI, comparing high HCY level (${\geq}10{\mu}mol/L$) with low HCY level ($<10{\mu}mol/L$), was 3.64 (95% confidence interval (CI); 1.81-7.29, p<.0001). However, there was no correlation between MS and HCY in the SLI group. Prevalence of diabetes and hypertension (HT) was higher in the SLI group than the normal group, but there was no significant difference in blood lipids level between the SLI and normal groups. Of note, HT itself was enough to be an independent risk factor for SLI (OR; 4.58, 95% CI; 1.91-11.01, p=0.001). Body mass index, waist circumference, waist-hip ratio and visceral fat area were significantly higher in the SLI than normal group, and visceral fat area was enough to be an independent risk factor for SLI (OR; 2.41, 95% CI; 1.04-5.59, p=0.040). Conclusions : SLI is shown to have significant correlation with HCY and prevalence of MS, however there is no relationship between HCY and prevalence of MS in patients with SLI.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2013

Polyamines, putrescine, spermidine and spermine, are ubiquitous in living cells and are essential for eukaryotic cell growth. These polycations interact with negatively charged molecules such as DNA, RNA, acidic proteins and phospholipids and modulate various cellular functions including macromolecular synthesis. Dysregulation of the polyamine pathway leads to pathological conditions including cancer, inflammation, stroke, renal failure and diabetes. Increase in polyamines and polyamine synthesis enzymes is often associated with tumor growth, and urinary and plasma contents of polyamines and their metabolites have been investigated as diagnostic markers for cancers. Of these, diacetylated derivatives of spermidine and spermine are elevated in the urine of cancer patients and present potential markers for early detection. Enhanced catabolism of cellular polyamines by polyamine oxidases (PAO), spermine oxidase (SMO) or acetylpolyamine oxidase (AcPAO), increases cellular oxidative stress and generates hydrogen peroxide and a reactive toxic metabolite, acrolein, which covalently incorporates into lysine residues of cellular proteins. Levels of protein-conjuagated acrolein (PC-Acro) and polyamine oxidizing enzymes were increased in the locus of brain infarction and in plasma in a mouse model of stroke and also in the plasma of stroke patients. When the combined measurements of PC-Acro, interleukin 6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were evaluated, even silent brain infarction (SBI) was detected with high sensitivity and specificity. Considering that there are no reliable biochemical markers for early stage of stroke, PC-Acro and PAOs present promising markers. Thus the polyamine metabolites in plasma or urine provide useful tools in early diagnosis of cancer and stroke.