• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.58-63
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• 2005

Objectives: REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD), characterized by excessive motor activity during REM sleep, is associated with loss of muscle atonia. In recent years, it has been reported that RBD has high co-morbidity with CNS disorders (especially, Parkinson's disease, dementia, multiple system atrophy, etc.). We aimed to assess differences in clinical and polysomnographic findings among RBD patients, depending on the presence or absence of central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Methods: The medical records and polysomnographic data of 81 patients who had been diagnosed as having RBD were reviewed. The patients were classified into two groups: associated RBD (aRBD, i.e., with a clinical history and/or brain MRI evidence of CNS disorder) and idiopathic RBD (iRBD, i.e., without a clinical history and/or brain MRI evidence of CNS disorder) groups. Twenty-one patients (25.9%) belonged to the aRBD group and 60 patients (74.1%) belonged to the iRBD group. The clinical characteristics and polysomnographic findings of the two groups were compared. Results: Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), i.e., PLMI (periodic limb movement index)>5, was observed more frequently in the aRBD group than in the iRBD group (p<0.001, Fisher's exact test). Also, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), i.e., RDI (respiratory disturbance index)>5, was found more frequently in the aRBD group (p=0.0042, Fisher's exact test). The percentages for slow wave sleep and sleep efficiency were significantly lower in the aRBD group than in the iRBD group. Conclusion: We found that 1 out of 4 RBD patients had associated CNS disorders, warranting more careful neurological evaluation and follow-up in this category of RBD. In this category of RBD patients, we also found more frequent PLMD and OSAS. These patients were also found to have lower slow wave sleep and sleep efficiency. In summary, RBD patients with associated CNS disorders suffer from more disturbed sleep than those without them.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.5-11
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• 2017

The use of alcohol is associated with the development and worsening of sleep disorder. Alcohol is generally known to have a sedative effect, but it has an arousal or sedative effect depending on the timing and drinking dose and directly affects REM sleep physiology. Alcohol acts on the central nervous system (CNS) to interfere with the sleep-wake cycle and to affect sleep-related hormone secretion. In addition, the ingestion of alcohol pre-sleep is associated with deterioration and development of sleep related breathing disorders (SBD). The increase in resistance of the upper respiratory tract and the decrease in sensitivity of the CNS respiratory center and the respiratory muscles are major mechanisms of alcohol-induced SBD, and result in snoring or apnea in healthy men or aggravating apnea in patients with OSA. Sleep-related restless leg syndrome and circadian rhythm disorders are common in alcohol use disorder patients. This review provides an assessment of scientific studies that investigated on the impact of alcohol ingestion on nocturnal sleep physiology and sleep disorders.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.155-161
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• 1998

Mood disorder is a medical illness resulting from the disorder of CNS neurotransmission and its principal therapeutic tool is pharmacotherapy. Psychotherapeutic drugs for mood disorder have some clinical limitations which are due to no or partial response, decreased compliance for drug by the side effects, and delayed therapeutic effects. So, general hope of all clinicians that mood diorder will respond to a single psychotherapeutic agent may be the exception rather than the rule. Recently, combined drug treatments have become increasingly popular to overcome the clinical limitations of individual agent in mood disorder. Combined treatments are usually used for augmenting or initiating rapidly the effect of drug, and for treating different target symptoms or drug side effects. When combined treatments being tried, knowledge of the action mechanism, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics is crucial to cope with the possible adverse reactions of drugs.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.135-138
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• 2012

The pathophysiology of functional gastrointestinal disorder(FGID) is not completely understood, but the importance of the 'Brain-Gut Axis(BGA)' model in FGID is being increasingly recognized. The BGA model is a bidirectional, hard-wired and homeostatic relationship between the central nervous system(CNS) and the enteric nervous system(ENS) via neural, neurohormonal and neuroimmunological pathways. In addition, the BGA model would provide a rationale for the use of psychotropics on FGID. The authors experienced two cases in which duloxetine, a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, was effective in relieving FGID symptoms as well as psychiatric symptoms such as depression and hypochondriacal anxiety. Therefore we discuss the vignettes from the perspective of BGA theory. Duloxetine showed efficacy in these two patients by reducing visceral hypersensivity (bottom-up regulation) and by relieving depression and anxiety(top-down regulation).

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.371-380
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• 1998

Systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) is an autoimmune disease which may affect many different organs and disclose various clinical manifestations. Recently central nervous system(CNS) involvement has been recognized as an increasingly significant contributor to morbidity and mortality of SLE. The clinical manifestations of CNS-lupus are highly variable and range from mild cognitive dysfunction, movement disorder, headache, psychosis to life-threatening stroke and coma. Among the neuropsychiatric disorders encountered in patients with SLE, cerebrovascular disease has been a relatively rare complication. The diagnosis and management of CNS-lupus is difficult because of the lack of useful diagnostic methods. If cerebrovascular involvement is suspected, aggressive treatment such as high dose steroid, immunosuppressive therapy, plasma exchange may be required to reduce high mortality rate. We experienced 2 cases cerebrovascular dis eases occurring in SLE patients which presented with various neuropsychiatric manifestations. They were diagnosed as CNS-lupus by neuropsychiatric symptoms, brain MRI, and BEG, and showed good response to high dose steroid pulse therapy.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.29-41
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• 1993

A prevalence study was carried out on 847 CMD patients who had visited the Department of Oral Medicine in Pusan National University from 1990 to 1993. To obtain the same type of information, all subjects were interviewed and examined clinically using a standardized examination form, The ratio of women to men was about 3:1 and all subjects were divided into acute and chronic groups on the basis of 6 months of duration. Diagnostic groups consisted of muscle disorder, joint disorder and muscle-joint disorder. As related to gender, duration and diagnosis subjective and objective symptoms in CMD were studied. The obtained results were as follows : 1. Muscle-joint disorder had the highest percent, followed by muscle disorder and joint disorder. 2. The most common reasons for CMD treatment were pain, joint noise and limited opening, while headache and neckache were relatively often reported as associated symptoms and dizziness, ringing in the ears also reported as secondary CNS excitatory effects. 3. Pain was more ofter seen in women, acute group and muscle-related disorder groups (p<0.05, p<0.01). Noise was significantly frequent in chronic group and joint-related groups (p<0.01). 4. Analysis of contributing factors presented that macrotrauma was found frequently in men (p<0.05), and that muscle-related groups were more related to stress than joint disorder grop (p<0.05). 5. Hard end feel was seen significantly often in joint-related disorder group (p<0.05). On the other hand, soft end feel was frequent in muscle disorder. 6. Reciprocal clicks and crepitation increased with chronicity. Subjects with joint-related disorder groups significantly often reported all kinds of noises (p<0.01). 7. Tender muscles and joints were more often reported in women and chronic group. Whereas muscle-related disorder groups revealed significantly more tender muscles (p<0.01). joint-related disorder groups presented significantly more tender joints (p<0.01).

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.19-26
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• 2023

Autonomic dysfunction occurs frequently in multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Patients with either condition may present with autonomic symptoms such as bladder, sexual, cardiovascular, thermoregulatory, and gastrointestinal dysfunction, and fatigue, but autonomic symptoms that affect quality of life are underrecognized in clinical practice. The immunopathogenesis of MS has been considered to be associated with autonomic dysfunction. Applying appropriate treatment strategies for autonomic dysfunction is important to improve the quality of life of patients. Here we review autonomic dysfunction and how this is managed in patients with MS and NMOSD.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.64 no.3
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• pp.103-110
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• 2021

Inflammatory or immune-mediated demyelinating central nervous system (CNS) syndromes include a broad spectrum of clinical phenotype and different overlapping diseases. Antibodies against myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG-Ab) have been found in some cases of these demyelinating diseases, particularly in children. MOG-Ab is associated with a wider clinical phenotype not limited to neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, with most patients presenting with optic neuritis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) or ADEM-like encephalitis with brain demyelinating lesions, and/or myelitis. Using specific cell-based assays, MOG-Ab is becoming a potential biomarker of inflammatory demyelinating disorders of the CNS. A humoral immune reaction against MOG was recently found in monophasic diseases and recurrent/multiphasic clinical progression, particularly in pediatric patients. This review summarizes the data regarding MOG-Ab as an impending biological marker for discriminating between these diverse demyelinating CNS diseases and discusses recent developments, clinical applications, and findings regarding the immunopathogenesis of MOG-Ab-associated disorders.

• Journal of clinical neurology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.207-213
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• 2022

Background and Purpose Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a rare demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). We investigated the medical behaviors of experts in Korea when they are diagnosing and treating NMOSD. Methods An anonymous questionnaire on the diagnosis and treatment of NMOSD was distributed to experts in CNS demyelinating diseases. Results Most respondents used the 2015 diagnostic criteria for NMOSD and applied a cerebrospinal fluid examination, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and spine, and anti-aquaporin-4 antibody testing to all suspected cases of NMOSD. All respondents prescribed steroid pulse therapy as an first-line therapy in the acute phase of NMOSD, and 67% prescribed azathioprine for maintenance therapy in NMOSD. However, details regarding monitoring, the tapering period of oral steroids, second-line therapy use in refractory cases, management during pregnancy, and schedule of follow-up MRI differed according to the circumstances of individual patients. We analyzed the differences in response rates between two groups of respondents according to the annual number of NMOSD patients that they treated. The group that had been treating ≥10 NMOSD patients annually preferred rituximab more often as the second-line therapy (p=0.011) and had more experience with rituximab treatment (p=0.015) compared with the group that had been treating <10 NMOSD patients. Conclusions This study has revealed that NMOSD experts in Korea principally follow the available treatment guidelines. However, the differences in specific clinical practices applied to uncertain cases that have been revealed will need to be investigated further in order to formulate suitable recommendations.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.187-193
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• 2018

Sweet's syndrome also known as acute neutrophilic dermatosis is a multisystem inflammatory disorder characterized by fever, malaise, leukocytosis, and skin lesions. Sweet's syndrome affects multiple organs though only rarely does it affect the central nervous system (CNS) when it does it is called Neuro-Sweet disease (NSD). We report on a case study of a biopsy-proven NSD in a 50 year old man. Serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed repeated CNS involvement of Sweet's syndrome after a respiratory tract infection preceded it. On the MRI, T2 hyperintense lesions occurred at multiple sites and disappeared after steroid therapy.