As, until now, many studies have failed to establish the clinical effect of numerous neuroprotectives, antithrombotic therapy must be emphasized as one of critical options among limited treatment strategies in acute ischemic stroke. Based on the accumulating evidences that platelets and coagulating proteins play an important role in the thrombus formation, antiplatelets and anticoagulants are served as antithrombotics. Recently, major advances have been made in understanding the effects of antiplatelets and anticoagulants. Large randomized clinical trials have highlighted the effectiveness and safety of early and continuous antiplatelet therapy in reducing atherothrombotic stroke recurrence. Urgent anticoagulation has been used often to prevent early recurrent stroke and to improve neurological outcomes, however, its formal use in acute stroke has been the subject of debate even in cardioembolic stroke. That's because anticoagulants also increase the risk of fatal or disabling intracranial hemorrhage and it is difficult to monitor proper anticoagulation. Although early administration of anticoagulants should be considered to prevent the secondary injury and the propagation of thrombosis in patients with atherothrombotic stroke, more evidences are needed especially in patients with infractions secondary to large artery thrombosis or cardioembolism. This review discusses recent advances related to antithrombotic strategies and putative neuroprotectives.
Anticoagulants ; Arteries ; Blood Platelets ; Humans ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; Proteins ; Recurrence ; Stroke ; Thrombosis

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to describe the ischemic stroke subtypes and risk factors in young Korean adults, focusing mainly on traditional risk factors and management of ischemic stroke. Methods: The study patients were the fi rst-ever acute cerebral ischemic infarction age 49 years or below admitted to the Kyung Hee University Medical Centre from September 2003 to June 2009, with ischaemic stroke patients >50 years as control. The stroke subtypes was categorized according to Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment classifi cation. The traditional risk factors of ischemic stroke were examined. For those known to have hypertension and diabetes prior to onset of stroke, their adherence to treatment of hypertension and diabetes was also assessed. Results: Close to half of the patients ≤49 years were due to premature atherosclerosis from small vessel occlusion and large artery atherosclerosis. The most common risk factor in declining order was hypertension, smoking, dyslipidemia and obesity. On logistic regression analysis, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obesity were strongly associated with small vessel occlusion. In patients who were known to have hypertension and diabetes prior to the onset of stroke, the younger patients were less adherent to the treatment as primary prevention than the older stroke patients. Conclusion: This study suggests that premature atherosclerosis from small vessel occulusion is the most common cause of ischaemic stroke among young adults in Korea. Non-adherence to primary preventive treatment of hypertension and diabetes is common.

PURPOSE: Segmental parenchymal excretion delay on Tc-99m DISIDA scan is caused by intrahepatic bile duct obstruction. However, the diagmostic value for intrahepatic bile duct obstruction is unknown. We conducted this study to assess the positive predictive value of segmental excretiom delay for the diagnosis of intrahepatic bile duct obstruction, and additional benefit over other noninvasive radiologic studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 43 patients (48 scans) Who showed segmental parenchymal excretion delay on Tc-99m DISIDA scan. The results of abdominal CT or ultrasonography, which was done within 1 month of Tc-99m DISIDA scan, were compared with scintigraphic findings. RESULTS: The etiology of segmental parenchymal excretion delay was determined by ERC or PTC in 31 scans, and follow-up studies in 13 scans. No causes were identified in 4 scans. The positive predictive value of segmental parenchymal excretion delay for intrahepatic bile duct obstruction was 92% (44/48). On the other hand, 13% (5/38) of CT and 28% (5/18) of ultrasonography were normal. In 18% (7/38) of CT and 17% (3/18) of ultrasonography, only intraheipatic bile duct dilatation was noted without any diagnostic findings of intrahepatic bile duct obstruction. CONCLUSION: Segmental parenchymal excretion delay on Tc-99rn DISIDA scan had a high positive predictive value for the diagnosis of intrahepatic bile duct obstruction. Tc-99m DISIDA scan may be useful for the diagnosis of intrahepatic bile duct obstruction, especially in patients with nondiagnostic CT or ultrasonography. The diagnostic usefulness need to be confirmed by further prospective studies. KW: Tc-99m DISIDA, Segmental parenchymal excretion delay, Intrahepatic bile duct obstruction.
Bile Ducts ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Diagnosis ; Dilatation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand ; Humans ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND & PURPOSE: The ocular torsion (OT) and tilt of the subjective visual vertical (SVV) are sensitive brainstem signs and helps us to localize lesion. We calibrated the degree of OT, SVV tilt and head tilt to investigate their characteristics and temporal profiles in patients with brainstem lesion. METHODS: We selected 15 patients with acute brainstem stroke. We took serial fundus photographs and body pictures in upright position at various times after the stroke. We also determined the deviations of patient's SVV. The data measurement for this investigation ranged from day 2 to day 47. RESULTS: Eight of ten patients with lateral medullay infarction showed ipsiversive tilt of SVV and OT. Among four patients with pontine infarction, one showed ipsiversive tilt and three contraversive. One patient with midbrain hemorrhage showed cotraversive tilt. The resolution of OT and the tilt of SVV in medullary lesions occurred over the periods ranging from 7 days to more than 47 days and was slower in patients with upper brainstem lesion than lower brainstem lesion. The directions of head tilt in our patients, especially with medullary lesions, were rather different from the previous reports. CONCLUSION: The vestibular dysfunction by the brainstem lesions disturbs the eye and head stabilization and also distorts the perception of the subjective vertical in space. The direction of OT and the tilt of SVV is ipsiversive in lower brainstem lesion and contraversive in upper brainstem lesion. But head tilt is contraversive in most lower brainstem lesion as well as upper brainstem lesion. Large-grouped study for the direction of head tilt is thought to be needed. These signs are compensated in the course of clinical recovery.
Brain Stem Infarctions* ; Brain Stem* ; Head* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infarction ; Mesencephalon ; Stroke

No abstract available.
Infarction*

No abstract available.
Aged ; Alcohol-Induced Disorders, Nervous System/etiology/*pathology ; Alcoholism/complications/*pathology ; Cerebellum/*pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*methods ; Male ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spinocerebellar Degenerations/*etiology/*pathology

Parry-Romberg syndrome(Progressive hemifacial atrophy), described in the last century by Parry(1825) and Romberg(1846), is a very rare disorder characterized by a slowly progressive and self-limited unilateral(rarely bilateral) atrophy of the faces affecting variably the skin, subcutaneous fat tissues, musculature, connective tissue, cartilage and bones. And this disorder is usually accompanied by contralateral Jacksonian epilepsy, trigerminal neuralgia, and changes in the eyes and hair. The onset is slow and progressive, starting at 5-15 years of age and lasting from 2-10 years, ending with the face being "burned out". There are a few cases of this disease which presented during the neonatal period. This disorder seems to affect females more than males, and its etiology and incidence has yet to be determined. Trauma, infection with a slow virus, sympathetic dysfunction, immunological abnormality and cranial vascular malformation are proposed causes. No typical or consistent neuropathologic findings occur. No specific treatment for the syndrome exists; however, various reconstructive surgical procedures can have in reasonably good cosmetic effects, as well as antiinflammatory or immunosuppressive treatment. We report a case of Parry-Romberg syndrome, which was presented at 1 month of age, and has progressd to contralateral hemiparesis.
Atrophy ; Cartilage ; Connective Tissue ; Epilepsy ; Facial Hemiatrophy* ; Female ; Hair ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn* ; Male ; Neuralgia ; Paresis ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Vascular Malformations

BACKGROUND: The interest of medicine was moved from disease treatment to disease prevention and health promotion. Especially, there has been marked increased interest in health promotion recently. Perception and health behaviors held or acquired during medical training can influence the acceptance and prevention strategies. This exploratory study surveyed medical and non-medical student to assess both preventive health behaviors and perception, to find relations of personal behaviors and corresponding perception. METHODS: This survey were conducted 140 medical students and 131 non-medical students in one big city. Data were obtained by self-reported questionnaire. Weschler survey was adapted to assess perception toward preventive behavior, and Fantastic lifestyle was adapt,ed to assess health behavior. RESULTS: Among the questionnaire of perception of preventive behavior, quitting cigarette smoking ranked highest frequency as very important in medical student. In non-medical student, use seat-belt is ranked highest frequency. Mean score of FANTASTIC lifestyle is 29.98 in medical student, 28.86 in non-medical. The result show significant relationship between st,udent-reported behavior and corresponding perception in 6 qestionnaire that is eat breakfast, moderate or no alcohol use, eliminate smoking, use seat belt, limit coffee, get seven hours sleep. CONCLUSIONS: In comparing medical and non-medical students, health perception and health behavior were no significant difference. Overall, the result indicated that the preponderance of respondents that is engaging in health behaviors are high in health perception.
Breakfast ; Coffee ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Health Behavior* ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Life Style ; Seat Belts ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Students, Medical

A 42 year-old male with a history of multidrug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis suddenly developed massive hemoptysis. Embolization of a bronchial artery branch and the collateral systemic arteries did not resolve the recurrent bleeding. Spiral computerized tomography(spiral CT) of the chest showed contrast enhanced nodules within a large cavity at the left lower lobe in the arterial phase suggesting a Rasmussen aneurysm. A pulmonary angiogram showed abnormal vascular nodules at that site. Coils were deployed at both the proximal and distal vessels of this aneurysmal sac for embolization. Transcatheter arterial embolization is a safe and effective means of controlling bleeding from this pulmonary arterial pseudoaneurysm. Here we report a case of a Rasmussen aneurysm diagnosed by spiral CT, which was successfully treated by pulmonary arterial embolization with a coil.
Aneurysm* ; Aneurysm, False ; Arteries ; Bronchial Arteries ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Hemoptysis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Male ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Thorax ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

Brunners gland adenoma is a benign epithelial tumor of the duodenum originating from submucosal Brunners gland. This is an extremely rare entity that account for only 10.6% of benign duodenal tumor, which are themselves relatively rare, representing 0.008% of all surgical and autopsy specimens. The clinical manifestation are nonspecific gastrointestinal complaints, such as bloating or epigastric pain, and the tumor gives rise to melena or anemia, due to the ulceration or erosion of the tumor. The diagnosis is usually made by radiologic studies and gastroduodenal endoscopy which can also provide definitive treatment. The aim of treatment is complete removal of the lesion and exclude malignancy. We report on 4 cases of Brunners gland adenoma which was confirmed by operation or endoscopic polypectomy.
Adenoma* ; Anemia ; Autopsy ; Diagnosis ; Duodenum ; Endoscopy ; Melena ; Ulcer