• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.159-174
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• 2007

Pharmacology of Korean Red ginseng gives us unique possibility to develop new class of antiepileptic drugs today and to improve one's biological activity. The chemical structures of ginsenosides (GS) have some principal differences from well-known antiepileptic new generation drugs. The antiepileptic effect of GS was also demonstrated in all models of epilepsy in rats (young and adult), which have studied, in all models of epilepsy including status epilepticus (SE), induced by lithium - pilocarpine. In our experiments in rats new evidences on protective effects were exerted as a result of premedication by GS. Pre-treatment of several GS could induce decrease of the seizures severity and brain structural damage (by MRI), neuronal degeneration in hippocampus. Wave nature of severity of motor seizures during convulsive SE was observed during lithium-pilocarpine model of SE in rats (the first increase of seizures was 30 min after the beginning of SE and the second - 90 min after. The efficacy of treatment on SE by ginsenoside as expected was observed after no less 3 weeks by daily GS i.p. administration. It is blocked SE or significantly decrease the severity of seizures during SE. The implication of presented data is that combination of ginsenosides from Korean Red ginseng and ginseng cell culture Dan25 that could be applied for prevention of epileptical status development. However, a development of optimal ratio of different ginsenosides $(Rb_1$ Rc, Rg, Rf,) should consummate in the new antiepileptic drug development.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.93-98
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• 2009

Objective: Although prophylactic antiepileptic drug (AED) use in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a common practice, lack of uniform definitions and guidelines for seizures and AEDs rendered this prescription more habitual instead of evidence-based manner. We herein evaluated the incidence and predictive factors of seizure and complications about AED use. Methods: From July 1999 to June 2007, data of a total of 547 patients with aneurysmal SAH who underwent operative treatments were reviewed. For these, the incidence and risk factors of seizures and epilepsy were assessed, in addition to complications of AEDs. Results: Eighty-three patients (15.2%) had at least one seizure following SAH. Forty-three patients (79%) had onset seizures, 34 (6.2%) had perioperative seizures, and 17 (3.1%) had late epilepsy. Younger age (< 40 years), poor clinical grade, thick hemorrhage, acute hydrocephalus, and rebleeding were related to the occurrence of onset seizures. Cortical infarction and thick hemorrhage were independent risk factors for the occurrence of late epilepsy. Onset seizures were not predictive of late epilepsy. Moreover, adverse drug effects were identified in 128 patients (23.4%) with AEDs. Conclusion: Perioperative seizures are not significant predictors for late epilepsy. Instead, initial amount of SAH and surgery-induced cortical damage should be seriously considered as risk factors for late epilepsy. Because AEDs can not prevent early postoperative seizures (< 1 week) and potentially cause unexpected side effects, long-term use should be readjusted in high-risk patients.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2009

Seizures are the most common clinical manifestation of a neurologic insult during the neonatal period. Neonatal seizures continue to present a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge to pediatricians because the recognition and classification of neonatal seizures remains problematic, particularly when clinicians rely only on clinical criteria. Neonatal seizures can permanently disrupt neuronal development, induce synaptic reorganization, alter plasticity, and "prime" the brain to increased damage from seizures later in life. Since neonatal seizures, particularly status epilepticus, predict an increased risk for later epilepsy and other neurologic sequelae, accurate diagnoses are needed for aggressive antiepileptic drug use. The present review summarizes the pathophysiology, etiology, and diagnosis of neonatal seizures.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.68-71
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• 2014

The occurrence of CRPS after a snake bite was very rare, only two cases were reported worldwide. Here we report a case that the 44-year-old female patient bitten by snakes CRPS type 1 was treated consecutive intravenous regional block, lumbar sympathectomy and antiepileptic drug therapy, also discuss the possible pathophysiology.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.175-183
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• 1998

To consider current concepts of epilepsy further, the brief review begins with a discussion of what is epilepsy, discribes multifactorial nature of epileptic disorders, and ends with a presentation of current classifications. A combination of the standard antiepielptic drugs(AEDs) may be necessary to treat intractable seizures, but no studies have been done to indicate an optimal combination. The new AEDs provide alternative choices, but questions remain about the optimal timing and manner of administration. AEDs selection must individualized, no drug of choice can be named for all patients.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.250-254
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• 2005

Burns due to epileptic seizures are commonly deep and usually require operative treatment. The purpose of this study is to identify the characteristics of burned epileptic patients that could lead to the development of preventive programs to reduce the incidence of burn injuries. We analyzed epidemiological data for 34 patients acutely burned due to epileptic seizure admitted retrospectively. There were 15 male and 19 female subjects. The age distribution was from 6 years to 70 years with the mean age of 42.7 years. Seizures usually occurred while carrying out daily domestic chores. Scalding burns were the most common(38.2%) and most burns were above deep second degree(94.1%). The most common seizure type was generalized tonic-clonic, followed by absence and complex partial. The seizure mostly occurred in the morning because the therapeutic blood level of antiepileptic drugs was decreased extremely at that time by stopping drug arbitrarily or taking inadequately. So more frequent follow-ups at the neurology outpatient clinics for epileptics should be strictly reinforced to maintain the adequate therapeutic blood levels of antiepileptic drugs and fire protective implements should be prepared in the house.

• Speech Sciences
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.221-232
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• 2007

Topiramate (TPM) is a new antiepileptic drug characterized by a clinical effective reduction in seizure frequency and it represents a useful drug effective in a wide range of epileptic patients. Known side effects are represented by weight loss, hypohidrosis, anorexia, sedation, nephrolithiasis, cognitive complaints and language disorders. This study is to examine acoustic characteristics of patients with TPM. 15 patients were assessed through a Computerized Speech Lab (CSL) applied before the beginning of therapy with TPM and 3 months after medication had been stabilized. Tests had been chosen to assess voice onset time (VOT), total duration (TD), vowel formants, loudness, pitch, speaking rate, and articulation patterns. We compared the data from patients and healthy volunteers. The statistical analysis of the results did not show changes in acoustic tests, except for TD which was increased. The increase of the TD is evaluated as a deterioration of fluency. Our results suggest that patients with TPM did not experience acoustic speech changes except that fluency was declined. Unlike previous studies, the medication of TPM has nothing to do with speech problems in patients with epilepsy.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.63-68
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• 2006

Gabapentin, 1-(aminomethyl-1-cyclohexyl)acetic acid, is anew antiepileptic drug related to ${\gamma}-aminobutyric$ acid(GABA) currently being introduced in therapy worldwide. The bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of gabapentin capsules were examined in 22 volunteers who received a single oral dose in the fasting state by randomized balanced $2{\times}2$ crossover design. After dosing, blood samples were collected for a period of 24 hours and analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). Time course of plasma gabapentin concentration was analyzed with non-compartmental and compartmental approaches. $WinNonlin^{(R)}$, the kinetic computer program, was used for compartmental analysis. One compartment model with first-order input, first-order output with no lag time and weighting by $1/(predieted\;y)^2$ was chosen as the most appropriate pharmacokinetic model for the volunteers. The major pharmacokinetic parameters $(AUC_{0-24hr},\;AUC_{inf},\;C_{max}\;and\;T_{max})$ and other parameters $(K_a,\;K_{el},\;V_d/F\;and\;Cl/F)$ of $Gapentin^{TM}$ (test drug) and $Neurontin^{TM}$ (reference drug) were estimated by non-compartmental analysis and compartmental analysis. The 90% confidence intervals of mean difference of logarithmic transformed $AUC_{0-24hr}\;and\;C_{max}$ were $log(0.9106){\sim}log(1.l254)\;and\;log(0.8521){\sim}log(1.0505)$, respectively. It shows that the bioavailability of the test drug is equivalent with that of the reference drug. There was no statistically significant difference between the two drugs in all pharmacokinetic parameters.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.451-458
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• 2020

Post-stroke epilepsy (PSE) slows the recovery process and reduces the quality of life of stroke survivors. Antiepileptic drugs are empirically prescribed to prevent PSE. However, the long-term use of antiepileptic drugs increases the risk of atherosclerosis, and up to 25% of patients have drug-resistant epilepsy. Herein, We report a patient with PSE who was treated with Korean medicine including Jingansikpungtang-gagambang and Uwhangchungsimwon. A 51-year-old patient had a past medical history of cerebral infarction that occurred in 2014. His first seizure occurred in January 2020 and he was diagnosed with PSE through a brain magnetic resonance imaging. The patient had a partial seizure with secondary generalization. After the initiation of taking Korean medicine, both the rate of progression to generalized seizures and the frequency of seizures was progressively and significantly reduced. This case report suggests that Korean medicine-based treatment may be safe and effective for PSE.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.71-77
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• 2015

Purpose: Acute endosulfan poisoning is rare but causes significant morbidity and mortality. The aim of our study is to describe complications and features of seizure and determine factors associated with mortality in acute endosulfan poisoning. Methods: Twenty-eight adult patients with acute endosulfan poisoning admitted to our emergency department during a 15-year period were studied retrospectively. The clinical features of seizure, use of antiepileptic drugs during seizure, and hospital courses were evaluated. Clinical factors between survived group and non-survived group were compared for identification of factors associated with mortality. Results: Of the 28 patients with endosulfan poisoning, 4 patients (14.3%) died and 15 (53.6%) patients developed generalized tonic-clonic seizure. Thirteen patients (46.4%) and 5 patients (17.9%) progressed to status epilepticus (SE) and refractory status epilepticus (RSE), respectively. SE and RSE were associated with mortality. Almost all significant complications including shock, acute renal failure, hepatic toxicity, rhabdomyolysis, and cardiac injury developed in SE and RSE patients. Conclusion: SE and RSE were important contributors to death in endosulfan poisoning. Emergency physicians treating endosulfan poisoning should make an effort not to progress seizure following endosulfan poisoning to SE and RSE using a rapid and aggressive antiepileptic drug.