• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.12
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• pp.1596-1600
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• 2002

A 23-month-old girl visited with chronic cough and her chest radiograph showed miliary tuberculosis. There was no neurological abnormality. But CSF findings showed WBC $22/mm^3$(lymphocyte 20%, neutrophil 80%) and positive result of polymease chain reaction(PCR) for M. tuberculosis. MR imaging showed multiple ring enhanced nodules and ovoid nonenhancing bright signal lesion on the cerebrum, cerebellar parenchyme, and left basal ganglia. Antituberculous chemotherapy was done and follow-up MR imaging was done after six months. One month after treatment, the number and size of nodules had decreased. Six months after treatment, the multiple enhanced nodules and leptomeningeal enhancement were not observed, and high signal intensity of genu portion of left internal capsule and posterior portion of putamen were decreased.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.43 no.1 s.133
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• pp.33-37
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• 2005

Eosinophil degranulation is considered to be a key effector function for the killing of helminthic worms and tissue inflammation at worm-infected lesion sites. However, relatively little data are available with regard to eosinophil response after stimulation with worm-secreted products which contain a large quantity of cysteine proteases. In this study, we attempted to determine whether the degranulation of human eosinophils could be induced by the direct stimulation of the excretory-secretory products (ESP) of Paragonimus westermani, which causes pulmonary paragonimiasis in human beings. Incubation of eosinophils for 3 hr with Paragonimus-secreted products resulted in marked degranulation, as evidenced by the release of eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EON) in the culture supernatants. Moreover, superoxide anion was produced by eosinophils after stimulation of the ESP. The ESP-induced EDN release was found to be significantly inhibited when the ESP was pretreated with protease inhibitor cocktail or the cysteine protease inhibitor, E-64. These findings suggest that human eosinophils become degranulated in response to P. westermani-secreted proteases, which may contribute to in vivo tissue inflammation around the worms.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.133-137
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• 1995

The author reviews current knowledge about what REM sleep is and where and how it is generated. REM sleep is the state in which our most vivid dreams occur. REM sleep is identified by the simultaneous presence of a desynchronized cortical EEG, an absence of activity in the antigravity muscles(atonia), and periodic bursts of rapid eye movements. Another characteristic phenomena of REM sleep are the highly synchronized hippocampal EEG of theta frequency and the ponto-geniculo-occipital(PGO) spike. All these phenomena can be explained in terms of changes in neuronal activity. Transection studies have determined that the pons is sufficient for generating REM sleep. Lesion studies have identified a small region in the lateral pontine tegmentum corresponding to lateral portions of the nucleus reticularis pontis oralis(RPO) and the region immediately ventral to the locus coeruleus, which is required for REM sleep. Unit recording studies have found a population of cells within this region that is selectively active in REM sleep. Cholinergic neurons of the giant cell field of pontine tegmentum(ETG), which is 'REM a sleep-on cells', has shown to be critically involved in the generation of REM sleep. Noradrenergic neurons of the locus coeruleus and serotonergic neurons of the dorsal raphe, which are called 'REM sleep-off cells', appear to act in a reciprocal manner to the cholinergic neurons. It is proposed that the periodic cessations of discharge of 'REM sleep-off cells' during REM sleep might be significant for the prevention of the desensitization of receptors of these neurons.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.136-143
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• 2002

Even though the nonketotic hyperglycemia is a metabolic disorder, it complicates hemichorea-hemiballism rarely. Moreover, generalized chorea-ballism associated with nonketotic hyperglycemia in diabetes mellitus is very rare, so it has not been reported in Korean literature. Although the precise pathophysiologic mechanisms of these disorders are still poorly understood, deficiency of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) in nonketotic hyperglycemia or reduced GABAnergic inhibition by striatal lesion may increase inhibitory output to subthalamic nucleus. These result loss of pallidal inhibition and produce contralateral hemichorea-hemiballism. The striatal lesions, such as transient ischemia with reactive astrocytosis or small amount of petechial hemorrhage, are related with changes of magnetic resonance image (MRI) findings presumably. We report a diabetic old woman who developed generalized chorea-ballismus as a very rare complication of nonketotic hyperglycemia. Her brain MRI showed high signal intensity in left lentiform nucleus and right pallidum on T1 weighted images and low signal intensity in bilateral putamen on T2 weighted images with highly enhanced corresponding lesions on T1 weighted enhancement images.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.429-434
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• 2019

A complicated case of echinococcosis with multiple organ involvement is reported in a 53-year-old businessman who frequently traveled overseas, including China, Russia, and Kazakhstan from 2001 to 2007. The patient was first diagnosed with a large liver cyst during a screening abdomen ultrasonography in 2011, but he did not follow up on the lesion afterwards. Six years later, dizziness, dysarthria, and cough developed, and cystic lesions were found in the brain, liver and lungs. The clinical course was complicated when the patient went through multiple surgeries and inadequate treatment with a short duration of albendazole without a definite diagnosis. The patient visited our hospital for the first time in August 2018 due to worsening symptoms; he was finally diagnosed with echinococcosis using imaging and serologic criteria. He is now on prolonged albendazole treatment (400 mg twice a day) with gradual clinical and radiological improvement. A high index of suspicion is warranted to early diagnose echinococcosis in a patient with a travel history to endemic areas of echinococcosis.

• Kosin Medical Journal
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.454-462
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• 2018

A 54-year-old man, suffering from severe headache and ophthalmoplegia after undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery was referred to a tertiary hospital. Computed tomography (CT) revealed soft tissue density lesions in the left sphenoid sinus. The internal carotid artery was shown to be occluded in brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans without any other cerebral lesion. Endoscopic view of left nasal cavity shows whitish hyphae in the ethmoid and the sphenoid sinuses. We diagnosed him with cavernous sinus syndrome caused by mucormycosis and conducted endoscopic sinus surgery to remove remaining lesions and decompress orbit and optic nerves. After the revision surgery the patient's headache and ophthalmoplegia were improved. However, multifocal cerebral infarctions were newly discovered in a postoperative CT scan. We experienced a case of mucormycosis of sphenoid sinus resulting in occlusion of internal carotid artery and multifocal cerebral infarction, and report it with a brief review of these disease entities.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.52-55
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• 2021

Complete surgical excision within a margin of normal healthy bone is the treatment of choice for intraosseous hemangioma. A 56-year-old man visited with complaints of a firm, mildly tender, immovable, and palpable mass on the right forehead (size: 1.5×1.5 cm). Non-contrast brain computed tomography performed preoperatively revealed a 1.5 cm heterogenous osteolytic lesion with suspected internal trabeculation in the right frontal bone. Under general anesthesia, a 2 cm transverse incision was made on the forehead skin rather than bicoronal incision. Full-thickness en bloc resection of the frontal bone including the mass was performed. The frontal bone was removed with care taken not to damage the frontal sinus mucosa. The frontal sinus was sealed with a collagen patch (Tachocomb) and a cranioplasty was performed using bone cement. At 6 months postoperative, a clean wound was confirmed without any complications, and there was no local recurrence. Surgical excision of intraosseous hemangioma in the frontal sinus bone can be performed via direct incision or the bicoronal approach. In this case, the direct incision approach was used to achieve smaller scars and faster recovery than the bicoronal approach.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.240-243
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• 2023

Metastasis of lung cancer to the skin is uncommon, presenting in 0.22% to 12% of lung cancer patients, and it is extremely rare for skin metastasis to be the first clinical manifestation of lung cancer. In the few cases where skin metastasis has been reported as the first sign of lung cancer, the patients were typically heavy smokers or had preexisting respiratory diseases and symptoms. This prompted clinicians to consider skin metastasis of a pulmonary malignancy. Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is a rare type of lung cancer that accounts for approximately 3% of lung cancers. LCNEC mainly metastasizes to visceral organs, such as the liver, bone, and brain, and it only shows metastasis to the skin in very rare cases. Herein, we report an unusual case of a metastatic skin lesion as the first sign of primary pulmonary LCNEC, in a 63-year-old woman with no pulmonary symptoms or personal history of smoking or pulmonary disease.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.36-40
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• 2024

Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episode (MELAS) syndrome is a maternally inherited mitochondrial disorder that usually affects the cerebral cortex and prevents high-energy demands from being met. Herein, we present the case of a male patient who rapidly developed multiple seizures, headaches, and altered mentality accompanied by severe metabolic acidosis and lactic acidosis. Initially, a brain imaging study confirmed stroke-like lesions (SLLs) only in the cerebellum. During follow-up, newly developed SLLs with lactic acidosis were observed in the basal ganglia (BG), cerebellum, and occipital lobe. The m.3243A>G variant had been found in the patient and MELAS was diagnosed, despite the BG and cerebellum being atypical locations for SLLs in MELAS. Since most cases of m.3243A>G variant MELAS show SLLs in the cerebral cortex, this case is unusual considering the location of the lesion. We emphasize that in the case of lactic acidosis accompanied by neurological symptoms, such as seizures, as in this case, MELAS should be included in the differential diagnosis, even if SLLs are observed in areas other than the cerebral cortex.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.1126-1135
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• 2000

Objectives : The goal of surgical management of cerebral arteriovenous malformation(AVM) is elimination of the lesion without development of new neurological deficits. To improve the management results of cerebral AVMs in the future, this article discusses about surgical complications of the AVM and their management. Material and Methods : During the past 18 years, 116 patients with cerebral AVMs were managed by surgery. Among these cases, 7 cases died, 7 cases developed new neurological deficits, 11 cases residual AVM and 5 cases intracerebral hematoma(ICH) after surgery. The author analyzes the causes of those complications and investigates the methods to minimized those complications based on the review of the literatures. Results : One stage removal of AVM and ICH in the poor neurological state were performed in 5 of 7 death cases. Subtotal removal of ICH followed by delayed AVM surgery after recovery is regard as one method to improve the outcome of patient with large ICH. Postoperative new neurological deficits developed owing to normal perfusion pressure breakthrough(NPPB) in 3, judgement error in 2, preoperative embolization in 1 and cortical injury in 1 case(s). Proper management of NPPB, accurate anatomical knowledge and physiological monitoring during operation, and well trained skill for embolization are regard as methods to minimize those complications. Residual AVMs after surgery were noticed in 11 cases, in which unintended 6 cases due to inaccurate dissection of peripheral margin of AVM, and intended 3 cases due to massive brain swelling during operation, 1 cases due to diffuse type and 1 case due to multiple type of AVM. Accurate dissection of peripheral margin of AVM and mild hypotension during operation may help to avoid this complication. Postoperative hemorrhage occurred in 3 cases due to rupture of the residual AVM and in 2 cases due to oozing from the AVM bed. Complete resection of AVM, complete control of bleeding points at AVM bed and mild hypotension during early postoperative period are the methods to avoid this complication. Conclusion : A precise but flexible therapeutic strategy and refined skill for endovascular, radiosurgical and microsurgical techniques are required to successful treatment of cerebral AVM. Adequate timing of AVM resection, accurate anatomical knowledge, proper management of NPPB and accurate dissection of peripheral margin of AVM are the key points for avoiding complications of the AVM surgery.