• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제55권3호
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• pp.152-155
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• 2014

Dural ateriovenous fistula (DAVF) at the craniocervical junction is rare. We report a patient presenting with brainstem dysfunction as an uncommon onset. Brainstem lesion was suggested by magnetic resonance image study. Angiogram revealed a DAVF at a high cervical segment supplied by the meningeal branch of the right vertebral artery, with ascending and descending venous drainage. Complete obliteration of the fistula was achieved via transarterial Onyx embolization. Clinical cure was achieved in the follow-up period; meanwhile, imaging abnormalities of this case disappeared. Accordingly, we hypothesize that a brainstem lesion of this case was caused by craniocervical DAVF, which induced venous hypertension. Thus, venous drainage patterns should be paid attention to because they are important for diagnosis and theraputic strategy.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.80-82
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• 2005

Background: Idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD) is closely related to Lewy body pathology. Pathological changes in medullar oblongata and pontine tegmentum have been reported in patients with subclinical motor symptom. Vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) is mediated by vestibular nuclei in lower brainstem and reflects the function of lower brainstem. The purpose of our study is to estimate the lower brainstem function in IPD patients. Methods: Ten patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease underwent VEMP test. The patients were divided into Hohn-Yahr (H-Y) stage I (unilateral motor involvement) group and H-Y stage II or more severe (bilateral motor involvement) group. VEMP results were compared between groups using Mann-Whitney U test. Results: Among patients, 6 patients showed abnormal VEMP (unilateral abnormality 2, bilateral abnormalities 4). Between H-Y stage I group and H-Y II,III group, there was no statistical difference in the results of VEMP. Conclusions: We concluded that the lower brainstem dysfunction reflected in VEMP could occur in IPD regardless of the progression of the disease.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제51권11호
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• pp.1136-1139
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• 2008

The genitourinary tract and gastrointestinal system are interdependent but share the same embryological origin, pelvic region, and sacral innervation. Although children with voiding disturbances often present with bowel dysfunction, this coexistence was considered coincidental until recently. However, it is now accepted that dysfunction in emptying of both systems is interrelated. Afferent impulses carrying sensory information are transmitted through the spinal cord and brainstem toward several cortical and subcortical areas, resulting in conscious control of the bladder and bowel. Alteration in these afferent pathways can result in dysfunction, including urinary and fecal incontinence. Distal gastrointestinal tract problems such as constipation might induce an inhibitory rectovesical reflex that interferes with normal voiding. Therefore, lower urinary tract function seems to be closely associated with distal gastrointestinal tract function.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.9-14
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• 2012

The relationship between central nervous system (CNS) and enuresis has not been sufficiently elucidated despite the presence of several circumstantial evidences. Contrary to common belief, polysomnographic sleep analysis revealed that the disturbance of arousal rather than deep sleep was responsible for enuresis. Subsequent studies confirmed depressed sympathetic tone and retarded brainstem reflex indicating abnormal arousal threshold in enuretics. In accordance with the bladder-brain dialogue, chronic stimulation of bladder may modify the brainstem function elevating arousal threshold. Epidemiological studies have suggested the association between enuresis and various psychosomatic disorders like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which has shown the abnormal brainstem reflex similar to enuresis. Taken together, CNS is assumed to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of enuresis. Psychological assessment is vital to understand the psychodynamic effect of enuresis. Studies have shown that the prevalence of psychological problems was higher in enuretic children and externalization of the symptoms was usually found. Several explanations have been brought up regarding the development of enuresis and psychological problems. Enuresis may cause psychological problems and vice versa. Otherwise, both may be associated with other variables, such as socioeconomic status (SES).

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.75-79
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• 2005

Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) have been known to useful in documenting abnormality in patients with various vestibular disorders but the studies of VEMP in stroke patients are rare. We recorded VEMP in 17 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke in the brainstem lesions. All patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging and we compare VEMP results with the lesion documented by brain imaging. VEMP were defined to be abnormal when they were very asymmetrical (one is 2 times of more as large as the other), or absent in one side. VEMP abnormalities were found in 71%(12/17) of acute infarction patients with brainstem lesions. Most abnormalities found in the ipsilateral side of the lesion(9/12) but abnormalities in contralateral side of lesion were found in 25%(3/12) of patients.VEMP would be considered a useful complementary neurophysiological tool for the evaluation of brainstem dysfunction in acute stroke patients.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.91-96
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• 2023

Enterovirus (EV) 71은 무균성 뇌수막염 환자로부터 처음 분리된 이후로 주로 수족구병으로 나타났으며 소아에서 전형적인 피부 발진, 구강 병변 및 발열을 동반한다. 피부 발진은 수포성으로 손과 발에 영향을 미치고 수포가 없는 반구진 양상일 수도 있으며 특히 어린 소아 및 유아에서는 팔꿈치, 무릎 그리고 엉덩이를 침범할 수도 있다. EV 71 감염으로 인한 신경학적 합병증은 매우 드물지만 주로 뇌간 뇌염으로 나타난다. 대근육 운동 발달 지연 이외에 건강했던 30개월 된 남아가 발열, 혼수 증상으로 내원하였고 입원 후 무호흡 및 호흡 정지 증상이 동반되어 뇌척수액 검사 및 뇌 MRI, 뇌파검사를 하였다. 검사 결과 뇌간 뇌염 및 미만성 대뇌 기능 장애가 확인되었고 비인두도말 및 대변 검체에서 EV 71이 검출되었으며 유전자 검사에서 myoclonic epilepsy with ragged red fiber syndrome이 확인되었다. 저자들은 기저미토콘드리아 질환으로 인해 인후 및 피부 발진의 증상 없이 발열 하루 만에 빠르게 진행되는 EV 71 감염으로 인한 뇌간 뇌염 1예를 보고하는 바이다.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제57권6호
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• pp.264-270
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• 2014

Purpose: Acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE) is a fulminant disease of the brain characterized by bilateral thalamic lesions, and is prevalent among children in East Asia. The prognosis of ANE is usually poor with a high mortality rate and neurological sequelae. This study aimed to delineate the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of ANE. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 399 pediatric patients with encephalitis who were admitted to Samsung Medical Center from December 1998 to March 2011. We enrolled ten patients (11 cases) with ANE and analyzed their demographic, clinical, and neuroimaging data. The location and extent of the brain regions were checked based on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, T1-, and T2-weighted imaging findings; the presence of contrast enhancement, restricted diffusion, and hemorrhage. Results: Ten patients were identified, including one patient with two episodes. The median age of onset was 1.5 years (0.4-8.4 years). The mortality rate was 40%, and only 30% of patients survived without neurological sequelae. The definite involvement of the brainstem on brain magnetic resonance imaging was significantly correlated with mortality (P =0.04). Conclusion: Broad and extensive brainstem involvement suggested the fulminant course of ANE. Early diagnosis of ANE before brainstem involvement, through careful identification of symptoms of brain dysfunction, may be the best way to achieve better neurological outcomes.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• 제44권3호
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• pp.123-126
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• 2019

Vestibular schwannoma, also known as acoustic neuroma, is a rare benign brainstem tumor surrounding the vestibular division of the 8th cranial nerve. The presenting symptoms are hearing loss, tinnitus, and dizziness. Unabated growth can compress 5th (trigeminal nerve) and 7th (facial nerve) cranial nerve, which can cause nerve dysfunction such as orofacial pain, sensory abnormalities, or trigeminal neuralgia. We report a 51-year-old woman who presented with orofacial dysesthesia on her left side of the face with abnormal findings on 5th cranial nerve and 8th (vestibulocochlear nerve) cranial nerve examination. Brain magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed cerebellopontine angle tumor. She was referred to a neurosurgeon and diagnosed with vestibular schwannoma.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제53권12호
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• pp.994-999
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• 2010

Purpose: Mitochondrial dysfunction can present with various symptoms depending on the organ it has affected. This research tried to analyze the ophthalmologic symptoms and ophthalmologic examination (OE) results in patients with mitochondrial disease (MD). Methods: Seventy-four patients diagnosed with mitochondrial respiratory chain complex defect with biochemical enzyme assay were included in the study. They were divided into 2 groups based on the OE results by funduscopy and were analyzed on the basis of their clinical features, biochemical test results, morphological analysis, and neuroimaging findings. Results: Thirty-seven (50%) of the 74 MD patients developed ophthalmologic symptoms. Abnormal findings were observed in 36 (48.6%) patients during an OE, and 16 (21.6%) of them had no ocular symptoms. Significantly higher rates of prematurity, clinical history of epilepsy or frequent apnea events, abnormal light microscopic findings in muscle pathology, diffuse cerebral atrophy in magnetic resonance imaging, and brainstem hyperintensity and lactate peaks in magnetic resonance spectroscopy were noted in the group with abnormal OE results. Conclusion: Although the ophthalmologic symptoms are not very remarkable in MD patients, an OE is required. When the risk factors mentioned above are observed, a more active approach should be taken in the OE because a higher frequency of ocular involvement can be expected.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.33-40
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• 2001

Objective : Aneurysms of vertebral artery and its branches make up approximately 3% of all intracranial aneurysms. As the aneurysm have an intimate relationship with lower cranial nerves and medulla, surgical management of the aneurysms are one of the challenging neurosurgical problems. The authors analyzed the management outcomes for aneurysms arising from vertebral artery and its branches. Methods : At the authors' institution between May 1989 and Jan. 2000, 42 patients were treated with transcranial and endovascular surgery for aneurysms of vertebral artery and its branches. The medical records and neuroimaging studies of the patients were reviewed retrospectively. Results : Forty two patients were comprised of 28 female and 14 male patients aged from 26-80 year old(mean : 51.8). Of the 42 patients, 37 patients(88%) had subarachnoid hemorrhage. Of the 37 patients with subarachnoid hemorrahge, 35 patients(95%) were in good neurological status(Hunt Hess grade I-III), 2 patients(5%) in poor grade(H-H grade IV-V) before operation. Location of the aneurysm were 16 in vertebral artery, 12 in vertebro-PICA junction, and 14 in the peripheral PICA. Twenty nine patients were treated with transcranial surgery and 13 patients with endovascular surgery. The management outcome of the transcranial surgery was : Glasgow outcome scale(GOS) I and II ; 24, GOS III ; 2, GOS IV ; 1 and GOS V(death) ; 2. The causes of mortality related to transcranial surgery were rebleeding after failure in clipping in one and suspected brainstem infarct in one. Morbidity was attributed to vasospasm(3), lower CN palsy(7, including temporary dysfunction) and pseudomeningocele(1). The management outcome of the endovascular surgery was : Glasgow outcome scale(GOS) I-II ; 9, GOS III ; 1, GOS IV ; 1, and GOS V(death) ; 2. The causes of mortality related to endovascular surgery were sepsis from pneumonia(1) and vasospasm(1). There were one cerebellar infarct and one lateral medullary syndrome. Conclusion : Excellent and good surgical results can be expected in 80% of the patients with aneurysms of vertebral arery and its branches. The outcomes of endovascular surgery in treating vertebral artery aneurysm were satisfactory and endovascular surgery may offer a therapeutic alternative especially in vertebral dissecting aneurysm.