The Effect of an Upper Limb Rehabilitation Robot on Hemispatial Neglect in Stroke Patients

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of an upper limb rehabilitation robot therapy on hemispatial neglect in stroke patients. METHODS: Patients were randomly divided into an upper limb rehabilitation robot treatment group (robot group) and a control group. The patients in the robot group received left upper limb training using an upper limb rehabilitation robot. The patients sat on the right side of the robot, so that the monitor of the robot was located on the patients' left side. In this position, patients could focus continuously on the left side. The control group received conventional neglect treatment, such as visual scanning training and range of motion exercises, administered by occupational therapists. Both groups received their respective therapies for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week for 3 weeks. Several tests were used to evaluate treatment effects before and after the 3-week treatment. RESULTS: In total, 38 patients (20 in the robot group and 18 in the control group) completed the study. After completion of the treatment sessions, both groups showed significant improvements in the Motor-Free Visual Perception Test 3rd edition (MVPT-3), the line bisection test, the star cancellation test, the Albert's test, the Catherine Bergego scale, the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Korean version of Modified Barthel Index. The changes in all measurements showed no significant differences between the two groups. CONCLUSION: This present study showed that the upper limb robot treatment had benefits for hemispatial neglect in stroke patients that were similar to conventional neglect treatment. The upper limb robot treatment could be a therapeutic option in the treatment of hemispatial neglect after stroke.

Mechanism by which periodontitis may contribute to atherosclerosis / 대한치주과학회지

No abstract available.

Abnormal Relaxation Responses to C-type Natriuretic Peptide in Aorta and Pulmonary Artery of Rats with Congestive Heart Failure

BACKGROUND: C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), secreted from endothelial cells, dilates the vessel and increases the renal excretion of sodium and water. Plasma CNP level is not elevated in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF), but the myocardial content of CNP is increased, suggesting paracrine or autocrine role of CNP. We studied to compare the effect of ANP and CNP on vasorelaxation in CHF rat model. METHODS: Coronary artery ligation was performed in Sprague Dawley rats, resulting in CHF (n=5) and they were fed with ordinary chow for 10 weeks. After measuring hemodynamics, aorta and pulmonary artery were incised and studied in organ chamber to measure the isotonic force to KCl and to observe the relaxation response to atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), and CNP in vessels precontracted with phenylephrine. Normal Sprague Dawley rats (n=5) were used as control. RESULTS: There were no difference in vasorelaxation responses to ANP between control and CHF rats. The response to CNP was significantly impaired in both aorta and pulmonary artery of CHF rats compared to control rats.

Echocardiographic Characteristics of Normally Functioning CarboMedics and St.Jude Medical Mitral Valve

BACKGROUND: CarboMedics and St.Jude Medical bileaflet valves are in widespread use but few noninvasive studies about the two types of valves were performedd. The aim of this study was to assess the characterisics of the normally functioning CarboMedics and St.Jude Medical prosthesis in the mitral position. METHODS: Patients with normally functioning CarboMedics and St.Jude Medical valve in the mitral position were included. They underwent transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography 7 to 14days after mitral valve replacement. With the use of color flow Doppler transesophageal echocardiography, we measured the length, width, and area of maximal physiologic regurgitation and by using 2-D transesophageal echocardiography, we measured the opening and closing angles of the bileaflet valves and we tried to elucidate whether spontaneous echo contrast is present in the left atrium. RESULTS: 31 pateints underwent mitral valve replacement with CarboMedics and 10 patients with St.Jude Medical. The length of maximal physiologic regurgitation ranged from 11mm to 44mm in carboMedics mitral valve and from 12mm to 36mm in St.Jude Medical mitral valve. The area ranged from 0.19cm2to 3.48cm2in CarboMedcs and from 0.58cm2to 4.49cm2in CarboMedics and The mean opening and closing angles are 83.2(+/-1.1)degrees, 22.3(+/-1.3)degrees in CarboMedics and 86.5(+/-1.2)degrees 26.2(+/-3.2)degrees in St.Jude Medical. Spontaneous echo contrast was positive in 66% of patients, of whom patioents with atrial fibrillation showed nuch higher revalence of SEC than patients with sinus rhythm. CONCLUSION: These finding valve will give us a reference valvue for the evaluation of prosthetic valve function in mitral position.

The Effect of Heart Rate on Aortic Valve Area Calculated by Continuity Equation

BACKGROUND: Recent investiogations have shown that aortic valve area derived by continuity equation as well as Gorlin formula varied with transvalvular volume flow rate. This study was designed to investigate the effect of heart rate on aortic valve area calculated by continuity equation. METHODS: We studied 10 patients of with cath-proven aortic stenosis. Patients underwent echocardiography recording during right atrial pacing with 80, 100 and 120 beats/min. Flow rate and continuity equation valve area were obtained at each heart rate by doppler echocardiography. RESULTS: Transvalvular flow rates were 194+/-30 ml/sec, 208+/-38 ml/sec and 200+/-39 ml/sec with pacing at 80, 100 and 120 beats/min respectively, and there was no significant change in flow rate with heart rate. Aortic valve areas derived by continuity equation were 0.77+/-0.14cm2, 0.81+/-0.14cm2and 0.86+/-0.15cm2with pacing at 80, 100 and 120 beats/min. There was signifcant increase in aortic valve area between heart rate 120 and 100 beat/min(p=0.02), and between heart rate 120 and 80 beas/min([=0.003). there was no significant change in aortic valve area between heart rate 100 and 80 beat/min. CONCLUSION: Although there was no significant change in transvalvular flow rate with heart rate increase, aortic valve area derived by continuity equation significantly increased with increased heart rate. This relation should be considered when interpretion continuity equation valve area in aortic stenosis.

Measurement of Aortic Valve Area by Simplified Continuity Equation in Aortic Stenosis With Atrial Fibrillation

BACKGROUND: When aortic stenosis is associated with atrial fibrillation, estimation of the aortic valve area(AVA) by continuity equation refuires averaging of 8-12 beats of LVOT-TVI and AV-TVI to calculate mean LVOT-TVI and mean AV-TVI. Since this method labour intensive, we therefore propose a new simplified method. METHODS: We studied 9 patients of aortic stenosis with atrial fibrillation. We recorded LVOT velocity and aortic valve velocity in 4-chamber view and measure the LVOT area in the parasternal long axis view. We measured RR interval(RR) and diastolic filling time(DFT) of preceding beat in ECG recorded simultaneously. AVA(mean)was defined as the aortic valve area calculated from the mean LVOT-TVI and mean AV_TVI of 10 veats by using continuity equation. AVA)RR), AVA(DFT), AVA(rTT) and AVA-rDDFT) were defined as the aortic valve area calculated from the 1 beat of LVOT-TVI and AV_TVI normalized by RR, DDFT, rRR and rDFT respectively. 20 sets of AVA(mean), AVA(RR), AVA(DFT),AVA(rTT) and AVA(DFT) were calculated in each patient and their means and standard deviations are compared. RESULTS: 1) R values of the correlation of RR, DFT, rTT, rDFT is 0.87, 0.87, 0.89 with LVOT-TVI and 0.91, 0.93, 0.94 with AV-TVI. 2) Averages of AVAs are AVA(mean) 0.76+/-0.35cm2, AVA(rRR) 0.75+/-0.04cm2, AVA(RR) 0.76+/-0.11cm2, AVA(DFT) 0.82+/-0.35cm2, AVA(rRR) 0.75+/-0.15cm2, AVA(rDFP) 0.76+/-0.10cm2. 3) Averages of AVAs showed no significant difference. Standard deviation of AVA(mean) was significantly smaller than other new AVAs(p<0.01). THe standard deviation of AVA(rDFT) was significantly smaller than that of AVA(RR), AVA(DFT) and AVA(RR)(p=0.35, p=0.05,p=0.008). CONCLUSION: When aortic stenosis is associated with atrial fibrillation, newly derived AVA(rDFT) could be more easily calculated compared to conventional AVA(mean) and was also a reproducibe and precise estmate of aortic valve area.

Acute Hemodynamic Effects of Sublingual Captopril in Regurgitant Valvular Heart Disease

BACKGROUND: Many Studies regarding hemodynamic changes by various vasodilators, such as nitroprusside, nifedipine, and hydralazine have been reported, however little data are available upon acute hemodynamic change due to captopril, an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor especially in chronic regurgitant valvular heart disease. Therefore the aim of this study is to evaluate the acute hemodynamic effects of sublingual captopril in patients with regurgitant valvular heart diseases. METHODS: Among the 9 patients enrolled in this study, 5 patients mitral regurgitation, 2 had aortic regurgitation, and 2 had both. Five had patients were male and 4 were female. Before, 15 minutes and 30 minutes after administration of 25mg of captopril via sublingual route, forward cardiac output was measured three times using Swan-Ganz catheter. Right and left cardiac catheterization were also done at each phase and measurement of pulmonary capillary wedge pressures, pulmonary artery pressures, right atrial pressures, aortic pressures, left ventricular pressures were done. RESULTS: 1) Heart rate, pulmonary capillary wedge pressures, cardiac output and cardiac indices left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, diastolic and mean aortic pressures, and diastolic pulmonary artery pressure showed no significant change after administration of sublingual captopril. 2) Systolic aortic pressure decreased significantly from basal value(130+/-35) to 15 minute value(126+/-39). 3) Systemic vascular resistance at 15 minute showed significant reduction as compared with basal value(from 1743+/-551 to 1642+/-491). Pulmonary vascular resistance at 30 minutes(254+/-193) was significantly lower than basal value(282+/-229). CONCLUSIONS: Reductions of systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance occurred relatively rapidly, however, acute effects on cardiac output and pulmonary capillary wedge pressures were not evident. Clinical implication of sublingual captopril in patients with regurgitant valvular heart diseases is worth evaluationg by more extensive hemodynamic studies.

Eisenmenger Syndrome in Adult: Clinical Feature and Natural History

BACKGROUND: Eisenmenger syndrome is a complication of heart dease with left-to-right shunt in which the pulmonary arterial pressure is increased due to increased pulmonary vascular resistance and the shunt directions becomes bidirectional or reversed at the level of atria, ventricies, or great arteries. Corrective surgery is impossible unless there is substantial reactive change pulmonary vascular resistance. METHOD: To identify clinical and hemodynamic features and observe natural history of adult patients with Eisenmenger syndrome, a retrospective clinical study was done on 61 patients(male:female=39:22) with Eisenmenger syndrome who were admitted to Seoul National University Hospital from September, 1979 to A piril, 1989, and were confirmed after cardiac catheterization and angiography. RESULTS: VSD was most freguent underlying defect(31 cases, 51%), followed by PDA(12 cases, 20%), ASD(9 cases,15%) and Combined lesion(9 cases, 15%). The average age was 27.3 years with the peak incidence in third decades. Effort intolerance(96.7%), palpitation(75.4%), hemoptysis(19.7%), and syncope(8.2%) were common symptoms, and cyanosis(62.3%), clubbing(63.9%) and increased heart sound were freguently(86.9%) observed. The mean pressure of the pulmonary artery and the total pulmonary vascular resistance were markedly elevated with the mean value of 76.7+/-14.2mmgHg and 29.3+/-12.HU respectively, 4 of the 19 patients who were given 100% oxygen inhalation showed reversibility of the pulmonary vascular resistance. During follow up(mean:40+/-29 months), Complications include infective endocarditis(1 case), brain abcess(2 case), atrial fibrillation(3 case), acute renal failure(1 case) and gout(2 case). 6 patients(10%) died during medical follow-up period(mean:40+/-29 months). Congestive heart failure and pulmonary infarction after cardiac catheterization including one postoprative death were causes of death. CONCLUSION: VSD, ASD, and PDA were common underlying defects of adult Eisenmenger syndrome. Complication was not uncommon and the common cause of death was congestive failure. The prognosis of the patients with Eisenmenger syndrome may not be so dismal as has been thought, though the exact survival to be determined.

Effect of Superoxide Dismutase and Catalase on the Reduction of Postischemic Myocardial Dysfunction and the Extent of Myocardial Necrosis in Experimental Myocardial Infarct

BACKGROUND: To evaluvate the hypothesis that reperfusion injury and reperfusion arrhythmia could be caused by oxyzen free redicals and that prolonged myocardial dysfunction could be induced by oxyzen free redical. METHODS: Experimnetal model of anesthetized open chest dogs was used. Coronary artery was occluded for 60 minutes and reperfusion was performed 4 hours. In 5 dogs, superoxide dismutase and catalase were infused concomitantly 15 minutes after coronary occlusion to 15 minutes after reperfusion. In 9 dogs, 0.9% saline was infused instead of free redical scavengers. Hemodynamic parameters such as heart rate, left ventricular peak systolic pressure, end-diastolic pressure, peak positive dP/dt, and peak negative dP/dt were analysed. Infarct size was estimated by the unstained area in nitroblue tetrazolium staining and risk area was calculated from the unstained area after methylen blue infusion. Regional systolic function was observed in systolic thickening of ischemic area by echocardiogram. RESULTS: 1) Reperfusion arrhythmia occurred in 67% of control group and in 50% of drug treated group. 2) Systolic hemodynamic parameters such as peak systolic pressure, peak positive dP/dt showed no difference between control and drug-treated group. 3) Diastolic parameters such as end-diastolic pressure and peak negative dP/dt were not different in two groups. 4) Regional systolic parameter measured by systolic thickening in ischemic area improved after reperfusion and continued to be better in drug treated group than in control group. 5) Infarct size, risk area, ratio of infarct size to risk aera were not different in two groups. CONCLUSION: Superoxide dismutase and catalase showed no effect in reducing the infarct size in anesthetized open chest canine model with 60 minutes of coronary occlusion 4 hours of reperfusion. However, postischemic prolonged myocardial dysfunction tended of improve-after reperfusion in drug treated group.

Follow-up Results of Percutaneous Pulmonic Balloon Valvuloplasty in Adult with Pulmonic Stenosis

Percutaneous pulmonic balloon valvuloplasty(PPV) was performed in 23 patients with moderate to severe degree of pulmonary stenosis(PS) from March, 1986 to May, 1991. The patients were 26.4 years old, range from 15-44, and 13 of them were males. 19 patients of them had valvular stenosis and the other 4 patients had combined combined stenosis with infundibular stenosis. Associated cardiac defects were atrial septal defect(ASD) in 3 patient, patient foramen ovale(PFO) in two patients, and patent ductus arteriosus(PDA) in one patient. Transpulmonic peak systolic pressure gradient(big up tri, openP) decreased from 88.6+/-34.2mmHg to 31.2+/-21.3mmHg after PPV(p0.05). The sum of amplitudy of R wave in V1 and that of S wave in V6 in ECG(R1+S6) represents the degree of rigth ventricular hypertrophy. The ECG was followed-up for 15.3months(6~29months) in 11 patients and R1+S6 at pre PPV and at follow-up were 15.9+/-9.1mm and 9.3+/-4.1mm(p<0.01). In summary PPV can achieve very good short-term and long-term results in relieving moderate to severe pulmonic stenosis in adult.

A Study on Coronary Sinus Occlusion Pressure and the Effect of Coronary Sinus Occlusion on Left Ventricular Function

In order to observe the effect of coronary sinus occlusion on left ventricular function, coronary sinus was occluded for 2 minutes using Swan-Ganz catheter in 9 mongrel dogs. The change in gross findings of heart was observed, and coronary sinus pressure, LV pressure, LV dp/dt, and ECG were recorded throughout the experiment. The coronary sinus occlusion pressure(CSOP) rised slowly reaching to the plateau at the 32+/-6th beat and at 11.5+/-3.5 seconds after coronary sinus occlusion, with the pressure 95.4+/-24.7mmHg in systole and 35.9+/-21.3mmHg in end-diastole. End-diastolic CSOP was different significantly from LV end-diastolic pressure(LVEDP; 6.8+/-3.3mmHg). The veins of left ventricle were congested immediately after coronary sinus occlusion, followed by the dilation of coronary sinus and coronary arteries, and the dilation of left ventricle with visible decrease in its contractility. Above changes recovered slowly after the release of coronary sinus occlusion. LV peak systolic pressure, LV peak dp/dt, and LV peak negative dp/dt were decreased, and relaxation time constant was prolonged significantly 30 seconds after coronary sinus occlusion, and they recovered to those of preocclusion period 30 seconds after release of coronary sinus occlusion. LVEDP was increased significantly 30 seconds after coronary sinus occlusion and returned to that of preocclusion period immediately after release of coronary sinus occlusion. heart rate was decreased 1 minute after coronary sinus occlusion and returned to that of preocclusion period immediately after release of coronary sinus occlusion. As a result, there was significant difference between end-diastolic CSOP and LVEDP in the experiment with mongrel dogs, and it should be reevaluated to estimate LVEDP by end-diastolic CSOP in man. Left ventricular systolic and diastolic function was impaired transiently after coronary sinus occlusion lasting more than 30 seconds.

A Case of Right Sided Aortic Arch Causing Superior Vena Cava Syndrome

Right sided aortic arch is commonly accompanied by congenital heart disease, but abnormally originated left subvlavian artery can be acompression of trachea or esophagus by ducturs arteriosus or ligamentum arteriosus. But right sided aortic arch compressing superior vena cava has not been reported in Korea.We exerienced a case of right sided aortic arch with left subclavian artery compressing the superior vena cava, resulting in superior vena cava syndrome. So we report this case with brief review of literature.

Properties of Dual AV Nodal Pathways in Patients with Paroxysmal AV Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia

Anterograde and retrograde conduction properties of dual AV nodal pathways were analyzed in 15 patients having no accessory pathway and showing dual AV nodal pathways during extrastimulation. Four patients in whom the supraventricular tachycardia of common type (common type SVT) was induced during electrophysiological study were classified into group A. The remained 11 patients in whom the common type SVT was not induced were classified into group B. There was a history of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia(PSVT) in all of group A but none of group B. Among the properties of dual AV nodal pathways, effective refractory period (ERP) of anterograde fast pathway (FP) and retrograde FP were not different in both group. Maximal AH interval of anterograde slow pathway (SP) was significantly shorter in group A than in group B (P<0.01). In group A, all patients had intact ventriculoatrial (VA) conduction, but in group B, 5 patients had no VA conduction. The paced atrial cycle length producing Wenckebach block (WBCL) and the paced ventricular cycle length producing retrograde VA block (VABCL) were significantly shorter in group A the in group B (p<0.05). There were two patients showing retrograde dual AV nodal pathways. The common type SVT was not induced in both of them probably due to long ERP of retrograde FP. In conclusion, in patients with anterograde dual AV nodal pathways, the occurrence of common type SVT is highly related to anterograde slow pathway refractoriness (WBCL) and retrograde fast patway refactoriness (VABCL).

Preoperative and Postoperative Echocardiographic Findings in Atrial Septal Defect

Preoperative and postoperative echocardiography were performed in 33 patients with isolated ostium secondum atial septal defect(ASD), confirmed by right heart catheterization and operation at Seoul National University Hospital from November 1980 to June 1982. The ratio of right ventricular enddiastolic dimension to leftventricular enddiastolic dimension(RVED/LVED) was compared to the pattern of interventricular septum, before and after operation. In patients with persistent paradoxical septal motion during 2wks after operation, repeated echocardiograms were performed upto 9 months, postoperatively. The results obtained are as follows: 1) The ratio of RVED/LVED in patients with ASD, was 0.95+/-0.35(mean+/-standard deviation), which was significantly larger than that of 14 normal subjects(p<0.005). 2) There was statistically correlation between the ratio of pulmonary blood flow to systemic blood flow(QP/QS) and the ratio of RVED/LVED(r=0.44, p<0.025). 3) Thirty three patients were divided into 3 groups according to the pattern of intervent ricular septal motion.(Group "M": Patients with normal septal motion, Group "B": Patients with paradoxical type B septal motion, Group "A": Patients with paradoxical type A septal motion) Preoperatively, the ratio of RVED/LVED was 0.68+/-0.28 in Group "N" (N=9), and 0.88+/-0.23 in Group B (N=9) and 1.14+/-0.34 io Group "A" (N=15). In Group "A, the ratio of RVED/LVED was significantly larger than of Group "N" (p<0.005). Postoperatively, the ratio of RVED/LVED was 0.51+/-0.13 in Group "N" (n=23), and 0.68+/-0.15 in Group "B" (n=7), and 0.79+/-0.14 in Grop "A" (n=3). In Group "A" and Group "B, the ratio of RVED/LVED was significantly larger than that of Group "N" (p<0.005, p<0.01). 4) Postoperative RVED index(18.9+/-4.9) was significantly decreased, compared with preoperative RVED index(27.6+/-8.9) (p<0.005). But there was no significant change in LVED index, before and after operation. 5) Among 10 patients with persistent paradoxical septal motion, repeated echocardiograms were performed in 5 patients. Interventricular septal motion was normalized in 4 out of 5 patients. Thus the ratio of RVED/LVED has significant correlation with QP/QS and the pattern of interventricular septal motion. These results suggest the evidence that interventricular septal motion is determined by septal position at enddiastiole.