• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제38권5호
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• pp.331-337
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• 2005

Objective : The purpose of this study is to identify correlations between diffusion tensor imaging[DTI] and motor improvement by quantifying and visualizing the corticospinal tract on DTI to predict motor impairment in patients with hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage[ICH]. Methods : Fifteen normal subjects and 7 patients with hypertensive ICH were examined and the latter were treated surgically. DTI was performed with a 3.0 T MRI. The region of interest[ROI] from the posterior limbs of both internal capsules was measured on a fractional anisotropy[FA] map, and the ratios of ROIs were calculated. Tractography, 3-dimensional DTI was then constructed. Motor impairment was assessed on admission and 2weeks after stroke by the Motricity Index[MI]. The FA ratio, tractography and score on MI were analyzed for correlations. Results : The FA ratio from the initial DTI did not show a linear correlation with motor impairment. However, after 2weeks, patients with high FA ratios showed high degrees of motor recovery, regardless of the initial severity, and patients with low FA ratios showed low recovery rates. Otherwise, a relationship between the amount of hematoma and the degree of motor recovery could not be determined. On tractography, injury of the corticospinal tract could be visualized and estimated 3-dimensionally. Conclusion : FA ratio analysis and tractography constructed from DTI may be useful in understanding corticospinal tract injury and in predicting the recovery from motor impairment in patients.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제41권2호
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• pp.194-203
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• 2020

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the gait patterns of cerebellar infarction patients with those of corticospinal tract stroke patients through a follow-up of patients with ataxic gait due to cerebellar infarction and corticospinal tract stroke. Methods: We investigated two cases of patients with cerebellar infarction and two cases each of acute or chronic corticospinal tract stroke who were hospitalized at Wonkwang University Gawangju Medical Center from September 1, 2017 to February 15, 2020 based on medical records and gait analyses. The spatiotemporal gait parameters of each patient were measured three times at 2-week intervals except those of the chronic corticospinal tract stroke patients, which were measured twice at a 1-month interval. Results: Spatiotemporal gait parameters, which include velocity, cadence, step length, stride length, and single support, were consistently increased in the cerebellar infarction patients in comparison to the corticospinal tract stroke patients. The stance phase was decreased in all the patients. Conclusions: The cerebellar infarction patients' gait spatiotemporal parameters were found to consistently improve. Moreover, gait analysis can be used to effectively measure improvement of ataxic gait.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.78-80
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• 2015

Purpose: Many studies have attempted to elucidate the motor recovery mechanisms of stroke. In the current study, we report on a patient with infarction who showed recovery of an injured corticospinal tract (CST), using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Methods: A 20-year-old male presented with severe paralysis of the left extremities following an infarction in the right corona radiate and basal ganglia. The patient showed good motor recovery as much as being able to manipulate object using his left hand and could walk independently on stairs at 9 months after onset. Results: At 1 month after onset, the right CST showed decreased fiber volume due to the partial injury at the level of the corona radiate, and no (motor evoked potential) MEP was evoked from the right hemisphere. By contrast, the results at 9 months showed increased fiber volume of the right CST and the amplitude of MEP had improved to normal range on TMS. Conclusion: These results suggest that the severely injured right CST and MEP amplitude had been recovered during 9 months. Therefore, this result has important implications for brain plasticity and brain rehabilitation in patients with infarction.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.216-219
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• 2014

Purpose: We presented with a patient with traumatic brain injury who showed a transcallosal ipsilateral motor pathway from unaffected motor cortex to affected extremities, as evaluated by diffusion tensor tractography (DTT). Methods: One patient and six age-matched normal subjects were enrolled. A 42-year-old left hemiparetic male who suffered from brain injury by motor vehicle accident 9 years ago showed a leukomalactic lesion in the right corona radiata and parieto-temporal lobe. His left extremities were completely paralyzed initially, but recovered slowly over 2 years. At the time of the evaluation, he was able to grasp and release an object, and to walk with spastic gait pattern. DTT was performed using 1.5 T with a Synergy-L Sensitivity Encoding head coil. DTT was obtained with termination criteria of FA <0.2 and an angle change > $45^{\circ}c$. Results: The motor tracts of the unaffected (left) hemisphere of the patient and control subjects originated from the motor cortex and descended along the known corticospinal tract without any transcallosal tract. By contrast, the tract of the affected (right) hemisphere originated from the left premotor cortex, descended through the left corona radiata, and then crossed the mid-portion of the corpus callosum. The tract then descended through the known corticospinal tract pathway to the right medulla. Conclusion: We conclude that the transcallosal ipsilateral motor pathway from the unaffected hemisphere appeared to contribute to the motor recovery in this patient.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제31권6호
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• pp.358-362
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• 2019

Purpose: We investigated the difference in injury of the corticospinal tract (CST) and the spinothalamic tract (STT) in patients with putaminal hemorrhage, using diffusion tensor tractography (DTT). Methods: Thirty one consecutive patients with PH and 34 control subjects were recruited for this study. DTT scanning was performed at early stage of PH (7-63 days), and the CST and STT were reconstructed using the Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Brain (FMRIB) Software Library program. Injury of the CST and STT was defined in terms of the configuration or abnormal DTT parameters was more than 2 standard deviations lower than that of normal control subjects. Results: Among 31 patients, all 31 patients (100%) had injury of the CTS, whereas 25 patients (80.6%) had injury of the STT: the incidence of CST injury was significantly higher than that of STT (p<0.05). In detail, 20 (64.5%) of 31 patients showed a discontinuation of the CST in the affected hemisphere; in contrast, 14 patients (45.2%) of 31 patients showed a discontinuation of the STT in the affected hemisphere. Regarding the FA value, 6 (19.4%) of 31 patients and 2 (6.4%) of 31 patients were found to have injury in the CST and STT, respectively. In terms of the fiber number, the same injury incidence was observed in 11 patients (35.5%) in both the CST and STT. Conclusion: The greater vulnerability of the CST appears to be ascribed to the anatomical characteristics; the CST is located anteriorly to the center of the putamen compared with the STT.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제34권6호
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• pp.326-331
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• 2022

Purpose: The stroke patients have gait dysfunction due to impaired neural tracts; corticospinal tract (CST), corticoreticular pathway (CRP), and vestibulospinal tract (VST). In this study, we investigated characteristics of gait pattern according to the injury aspect of the neural track in a stroke patient. Methods: One patient and six control subjects of similar age participated. A 19-year-old male patient with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage on right basal ganglia, thalamus, corona radiata and cerebral cortex due to arteriovenous malformation rupture. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data was acquired 21 months after the stroke. Kinematic and spatio-temporal parameters of gait were collected using a three-dimensional gait analysis system. Results: On 21 months DTI, the CST and CRP in affected hemisphere showed severe injury, in contrast, the VST in affected hemisphere showed intact integrity. Result of gait analysis, walking distance and speed were significantly decreased in a patient. The stance rate of unaffected lower limb, the swing rate of affected lower limb and the duration of double stance significantly increased compared with normal control. The knee and hip joint angle were significantly decreased in a patient. Conclusion: We found recovered independent gait ability may be associated with unimpaired VST in a patient with severe injury in CST and CRP.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제55권5호
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• pp.267-272
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• 2014

Objective : Differentiation of demyelination in white matter from axonal damage can be determined using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). In this study using meningioma patients an attempt was made to evaluate the relationship between preoperative weakness and the changes of diffusion parameters in the corticospinal tract (CST) using DTI. Methods : Twenty-six patients with meningioma were enrolled in this study. Eleven of them suffered from objective motor weakness and were classified as Group 1. The remaining 15 patients did not present motor weakness and were classified as Group 2. Fiber tractography and CST diffusion parameters were obtained using DTIStudio. The ratios (lesion side mean value/contralateral side mean value) of CST diffusion parameters were compared with 1.0 as a test value using a one-sample t-test. Results : In Group 1, fractional anisotropy (FA), tensor trace (TT), and radial diffusivity (RD, ${\lambda}2$ and ${\lambda}3$) of the CST were significantly different between two hemispheres, but axial diffusivity (AD, ${\lambda}1$) of the CST was not significantly different between two hemispheres. In Group 2, FA and ${\lambda}3$ of CST did not differ significantly between the hemispheres. In Group 2, TT, ${\lambda}1$, and ${\lambda}2$ of CST in the ipsilateral hemisphere were significantly higher than those of the unaffected hemisphere. However, the differences were small. Conclusion : Motor weakness was related to a low FA and high TT resulting from increased RD of the CST fibers. CST diffusion changes in patients with weakness are similar to those for demyelination.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.73-77
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• 2018

Purpose: The prefrontal lobe, supplementary motor area, cerebellum, and basal ganglia are activated during gait. In addition, gait is controlled by nerves, such as the corticospinal tract (CST) and corticoreticular pathway (CRP). In this study, the presence of an injury to the CST and CRP was identified by diffusion tensor imaging and the characteristics of the gait pattern were investigated according to inferior cerebral artery infarction. Methods: One patient and six control subjects of a similar age participated. A 69-year-old female patient had an injury to the left basal ganglia, insular gyrus, corona radiata, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and postcentral gyrus due to an inferior cerebral artery infarction. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data was acquired 4 weeks after the stroke. The kinematic and spatio-temporal parameters of gait were collected using a three-dimensional gait analysis system. Results: On 4 weeks DTI, the CST and CRP in the affected hemisphere did not show injury to the affected and unaffected hemisphere. Gait analysis showed that the cadence of spatio-temporal parameter was decreased significantly in the patient. The angle of the knee joint was decreased significantly in the affected and unaffected sides compared to the control group. Conclusion: The results of diffusion tensor imaging showed that although the patient was evaluated to be capable of an independent gait, the quality and quantity of gait might be reduced. This study could help better understand the gait ability analysis of stroke patients and the abnormal gait pattern of patients with a brain injury.

• PNF and Movement
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• 제12권3호
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• pp.143-150
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• 2014

Purpose: The corticospinal tract (CST) is known to be an important pyramidal tract for walking and motor function. However, very little is known about the functional role of the CST in the recovery of motor function. In the current study, we investigated the relation between the CST and motor function in chronic hemiparetic stroke patients. Methods: Fifty-four patients and 20 normal subjects were recruited. The Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) was used in measurement of the walking ability. We classified patients into three groups according to the ability to walk independently: group A, patients who could not walk independently (FAC: 0-2); group B, patients who could walk independently (FAC: 3); and group C, patd walk functionally (stairs and uneven surfaces, FAC 4-5). The Motricity Index (MI) was used to measure the motor function of the affected upper and lower extremities (maximum score: 100). The fractional anisotropy (FA) value, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value, and fiber volume of the CST were used for the diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters. Results: In terms of the CST of the unaffected hemisphere, the FA value of group A was significantly lower than that of normal controls (p <0.05). The fiber volume of group C was significantly higher than that of normal controls (p <0.05). In contrast, the ADC values of all patient groups and the control group did not show any difference (p >0.05). In terms of lower MI and total MI, significant differences were observed between all patient groups (p <0.05). In addition, significant differences in terms of the upper MI scores were observed between groups A and C and between groups B and C (p <0.05); however, no significant difference was observed between groups A and B (p>0.05). Conclusion: The increased fiber volume of the CST in the unaffected hemisphere appears to be related to functional walking ability in chronic stroke patients. This result would be useful for elucidation of the neural recovery mechanism of walking and the investigation of new modalities for the recovery of walking following a stroke with CST injury.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제52권1호
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• pp.99-104
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• 2009

목 적 : 편마비를 가진 뇌성마비 환아에서 확산 텐서강조영상을 이용한 3차원 피질척수로 영상의 이상 소견의 유형과 임상적인 소견과의 일치도를 알아보기 위하여 연구를 시행하였다. 방 법 : 2003년 3월부터 2007년 8월까지 영남대학교 의과대학 부속병원 소아과 및 재활의학과에서 확산 텐서강조영상 검사를 시행했던 편마비를 가진 뇌성마비 환아 13예를 대상으로 FACT기법을 사용하여 피질척수로의 3차원 신경섬유로 영상을 재구성하여 분석하였다. 기본 관심영역은 전 뇌교, 두 번째 관심영역은 전 수질을 통과하는 피질척수로로 설정하여 두 부위를 동시에 통과하는 신경섬유로를 최종 관심 신경섬유로로 하였다. 분할비등방도와 각의 종료 기준은 각각 0.3과 70도로 하였다. 결 과 : 삼차원 피질척수로 영상에서 이상 소견으로는 피질척수로의 단절과 신경섬유의 양적 감소, 피질척수로의 무형성, 횡뇌량 신경섬유 그리고 비정상적인 피질척수로의 재구성 등의 유형이 있었으며 전체 13예 중 피질척수로의 단절이 10예(76.9%), 신경섬유의 양적 감소가 8예(61.5%)에서 관찰되었다. 피질척수로의 무형성은 3예(23.1%)에서 관찰되었고 횡뇌량 신경섬유로는 2예(15.4%), 비정상적인 피질척수로의 재구성은 4예(30.8%)에서 관찰되었다. 임상적인 소견과 3차원 피질척수로의 이상소견이 일치되는 예가 13예 중 11예(84.6%)였다. 결 론 : 확산 텐서강조영상을 이용한 3차원 피질척수로 영상은 다양한 이상 소견과 임상적인 소견과의 높은 일치도를 보여 편마비 뇌성마비의 진단과 치료에 매우 유용한 검사로 사용될 수 있다고 생각된다. 그러나 향후 검사법의 표준화 등 보완을 요하는 연구가 더 필요하다고 생각된다.