• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제62권3호
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• pp.272-287
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• 2019

The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway coordinates the metabolic activity of eukaryotic cells through environmental signals, including nutrients, energy, growth factors, and oxygen. In the nervous system, the mTOR pathway regulates fundamental biological processes associated with neural development and neurodegeneration. Intriguingly, genes that constitute the mTOR pathway have been found to be germline and somatic mutation from patients with various epileptic disorders. Hyperactivation of the mTOR pathway due to said mutations has garnered increasing attention as culprits of these conditions : somatic mutations, in particular, in epileptic foci have recently been identified as a major genetic cause of intractable focal epilepsy, such as focal cortical dysplasia. Meanwhile, epilepsy models with aberrant activation of the mTOR pathway have helped elucidate the role of the mTOR pathway in epileptogenesis, and evidence from epilepsy models of human mutations recapitulating the features of epileptic patients has indicated that mTOR inhibitors may be of use in treating epilepsy associated with mutations in mTOR pathway genes. Here, we review recent advances in the molecular and genetic understanding of mTOR signaling in epileptic disorders. In particular, we focus on the development of and limitations to therapies targeting the mTOR pathway to treat epileptic seizures. We also discuss future perspectives on mTOR inhibition therapies and special diagnostic methods for intractable epilepsies caused by brain somatic mutations.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.248-258
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• 2005

The challenging task of classifying the fibro-osseous(FO) lesions has been previously attempted but only in the past 15 years has the entire spectrum of diversity been appreciated. For the clinicians, it is hard to clearly diagnose the lesions before operations. The purpose of this study was to review the literature about fibro-osseous lesions of the jaws and to analyse our clinical cases. As the results of the review of clinical features, radiography and histopathologic findings of sixteen cases of fibro-osseous lesions, we could elucidate diagnostic aids for treatment of benign FO lesion in jaws. Six patients involving fibrous dysplasia complained the facial swelling and facial asymmetry. The radiographic features of the lesions showed ground-glass radiopacity mostly and the histologic findings showed typically Chinese character-shaped trabeculae without osteoblastic rimming in the fibrous stroma. Six patients with ossifying fibroma were notified as swollen buccal cheek state. Their radiographic findings showed cortical expanded radiolucent lesion with sclerotic defined border, which was contrast to the normal adjacent bone. The lesions showed variant radiolucent lesions. Histological findings were revealed as cellular fibrous stroma with woven bones, variable patterns of calcifications. Three patients with cemental dysplasia didn't have specific complaints. Well circumscribed radiopaque lesions on mandibular molar area were observed. Cementum-like ossicles with fibrous stroma were found on microscopic findings. A osteoblastoma case with jaw pain was found. The radiographic feature was a mottled, dense radiopacity with osteolytic border on mandibular molar area. Under microscopy trabecule of osteoid with vascular network were predominantly found. Numerous osteoblast cells with woven bone were found. These clinical, radiographic and microscopic findings of benign fibrous-osseous lesions would suggest diagnostic criteria for each entity of FO lesions.

• 대한핵의학회지
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.23-32
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• 2001

목적: CD의 발작간기 SPECT소견과 병리적 등급에 따른 MRI와 SPECT의 비교분석을 통하여 SPECT의 CD에 대한 진단적 유용성을 알아보고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법: 수술 후 병리소견에서 CD로 진단된 16명의 환자를 대상으로 하였다. 모든 환자에서 수술 전에 발작간기 및 발작기 Tc-99m ECD SPECT를 시행하였으며 T1과 T2-강조의 MRI를 얻었고 2명의 환자에서 3차원 MRI를 얻었다. 병리적 등급은 조직학적 소견에 따라 1등급에서 3등급으로 나누었다. SPECT와 MRI에서 혈류양상과 뇌피질의 모양, 병변의 위치, 병리적 등급에 따른 서로간의 일치성을 분석하였고 각각의 검사에서 일치하지 않는 병변은 보이는 검사를 토대로 다시 재분석을 하였다. 결과: SPECT와 MRI에서 각각 38개와 27개의 병변이 관찰되었다. 발작간기 SPECT의 35개 병변은 다양한 소견을 보였는데 26개(74.3%)에서 혈류감소를 보였고 그 외 7개(20.0%)에서 혈류증가와 2개(5.7%)에서 이소성 회백질을 보였다. 정상혈류를 좌여 SPECT에서 위음성을 보인 1개의 병변은 MRI를 통해 분열뇌증임을 확인하였다. 반대로 SPECT에서는 뇌혈류 이상소견을 보였으나 MRI에서는 정상고견을 보였던 병변은 12개로 이중 4개는 SPECT결과를 토대로 MRI를 재검토한 결과 CD를 발견할 수 있었고 나머지 8개는 구조적 이상소견을 발견할 수 없었다. 26개의 병변은 SPECT와 MRI 모두에서 일치하였다. 병리적 등급에 따른 비교에서 두 가지 신경영상검사에서 일치한 병변은 등급이 낮을수록 증가하였고(G1, 75%; G2, 65% ; G3, 50%), SPECT에서만 이상소견을 보인 병변은 등급이 높을수록 증가하였다(G1, 20%; G2, 40%; G3, 50%). MRI에서만 이상소견을 보인 병변은 1등급에서만(5%) 관찰되었다. 결론: CD는 발작간기 SPECT에서 혈류감소, 혈류증가, 이소성 회백질, 위음성 등의 다양한 혈류소견을 보이지만 대부분 혈류감소로 나타나며 MRI와 병행시 간과되었던 병변을 찾는데 도움을 줄 수 있고 병리적 등급이 높을수록 SPECT에서 MRI보다 진단적 유용성을 가졌다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제18권9호
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• pp.1202-1206
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• 2008

본 연구에서 정상적인 baboon의 흉선조직 및 폐조직에서 HLA-DR과 PGP9.5항원에 대한 반응성을 나타내는 수지상세포 형태의 세포가 축적되는 것을 보았다. 하지만, 이런 세포들은 baboon 이 BPD즉 폐이형성증에 걸리게 되면 사라진다는 것을 확인하였다. 그리고 140일 제태기간보다 125일 제태 기간을 보낸 미성숙 baboon이 HLA-DR을 가지는 세포가 더 많아 진다는 것을 관찰할 수 있었고 이로 인해 BPD동물모델을 구축하는데 125일 제태 기간을 보낸 동물이 훨씬 적합하다는 것을 알았다. 또한 bombesin의 항체인 2A11을 처리한 baboon (125d-14d/PRN)의 폐조직에서는 정상수준의 HLA-DR positive세포들이 관찰되었다. 더욱이, Baboon의 흉선으로부터 분리한 thymocyte로 bombesin에 대한 chemotaxis를 수행한 결과 세포이동 반응성을 보였다. 이러한 결과들은 생체 내 BLP들을 차단하면 BPD에 의해 야기된 폐이형성증을 막을 수 있고 2A11항체가 수동 면역제로 폐이형성증을 치료할 수 있는 치료제로써의 가능성을 제시하는 것이다.

• 대한장애인치과학회지
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.41-44
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• 2018

본 증례에서는 MAS 환자의 치과적인 특성에 관하여 논하였다. 본 환아는 현재 특히 하악 우측골의 팽융과 안면 비대칭 소견을 보이고 있었으며 치아의 교모, 변위, 맹출 지연, 맹출 경로 이상 등의 특징을 보이고 있었다. MAS 환자들에게서는 이러한 증상뿐 아니라 앞서 언급되었던 치아 우식에 이환될 위험성을 높이는 다른 여러 증상들이 발현될 수 있다. 따라서 환아에게 해당 증상이 발생할 수 있음을 보호자에게 설명하였고, 주기적인 관찰을 시행하고 있다. 결론적으로 MAS 환자에서 가장 중요한 것은 정기적인 검진이며, 이러한 검진 과정에서 임상적인 증상들이 나타난다면 치과의사의 교정치료나 충치치료 등의 적절한 개입이 필요하고 환자에게도 교육의 중요성이 더욱 강조된다. 장기적인 검진은 본 환아의 병소에 대한 이해를 높일 것이고 치료 결과의 질을 높여줄 것이라고 판단된다. 소아의 파노라마 방사선 사진 판독 시 치아와 주변 골조직의 주의 깊은 관찰이 동반된다면 이러한 질환의 조기 진단에 도움이 될 것이다.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제10권5호
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• pp.235-242
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• 2006

Cortical malformation-associated epileptic seizures are resistant to conventional anticonvulsant drugs. Relatively little research has been conducted on the effects of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) on seizure activity in a rat model of dysplasia. We have used rats exposed to methylazoxymethanol acetate (MAM) in utero, an animal model featuring nodular heterotopia, to investigate the effects of ethosuximide (ETX) in the dysplastic brain. Pilocarpine was used to induce acute seizure in MAM-exposed and age-matched vehicle-injected control animals. Field potential recordings were used to monitor the amplitude and number of population spikes, and paired pulse inhibition in response to stimulation of the commissural pathway. Pharmaco-resistance was tested by measuring seizure latencies after pilocarpine administration (320 mg/kg, Lp.) with and without pre-treatment with ETX. Pre-treatment with 300 mg of ETX significantly prolonged the latency to the status epilepticus (SE) in both control and MAM-treated groups. Pre-treatment with ETX 100mg and ETX 200 mg had little effect in MAMexposed rats. However, ETX 200 mg prolonged the latency to the SE in control groups. Spontaneous field potential and secondary after-discharges were higher for MAM-treated rat in comparison with control rats injects with ETX. The main findings of this study are that acute seizures initiated in MAM-exposed rats are relatively resistant to standard ETX assessed in vivo. These data suggest that ETX do not prolong seizure latencies in MAM-rats exposed to pilocarpine.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• 제43권6호
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• pp.596-599
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• 2009

A 24 year-old female presented for a $^{99m}Tc$-methylene diphosphonatae (MDP) whole body bone scan due to chronic pain in the bilateral lower extremities that has aggravated since 2002. She was diagnosed with Camurati-Engelmann disease (CED) based on the clinical and radiological findings in 2002, and she re-visited our institute to evaluate disease status at this time. CED is a rare autosomal dominant type of bone dysplasia characterized by progressive cortical thickening of long bones, and narrowing of medullary cavity, and thus presents with typical clinical symptoms and signs such as chronic pain in the extremities, muscle weakness, and waddling gait. On the $^{99m}Tc$-MDP bone scan performed to evaluate disease status, intense increased uptake was seen in the skull, facial bones, bilateral scapulae, bilateral long bones, and bilateral pelvic bones, which clearly demonstrated the extent of CED involvement.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.83-88
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• 2021

Treatment guidelines for postnatal cytomegalovirus (pCMV) infection in preterm have not been established yet. Neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, hepatitis, colitis, and sepsis-like disease are among the clinical manifestations, which range from moderate to serious. We present a case of autopsy diagnosed as pCMV infection in a premature infant delivered at gestational age of 24 weeks and 5 days. On the 7th and 14th days of birth, urinary CMV polymerase chain reaction samples were negative, ruling out congenital CMV infection. However, autopsy examination revealed that the patient had disseminated pCMV infection. CMV inclusion bodies were found in the majority of tissues, including the lung, liver, pancreas, breast, kidney, and adrenal gland, but not the placenta. The thymus exhibited significant cortical atrophy and T-cell immunodeficiency, possibly induced by dexamethasone treatment for bronchopulmonary dysplasia or by pCMV infection itself. If dexamethasone treatment is extended or high doses are considered, it may be beneficial to test the CMV infection status to prevent aggravation of infection. This case demonstrates that, despite the low prevalence, pCMV infection should be considered a differential diagnosis in preterm if other conditions or etiology cannot justify clinical deterioration.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제56권7호
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• pp.275-281
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• 2013

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most common type of medically intractable epilepsy in adults and children, and mesial temporal sclerosis is the most common underlying cause of TLE. Unlike in the case of adults, TLE in infants and young children often has etiologies other than mesial temporal sclerosis, such as tumors, cortical dysplasia, trauma, and vascular malformations. Differences in seizure semiology have also been reported. Motor manifestations are prominent in infants and young children, but they become less obvious with increasing age. Further, automatisms tend to become increasingly complex with age. However, in childhood and especially in adolescence, the clinical manifestations are similar to those of the adult population. Selective amygdalohippocampectomy can lead to excellent postoperative seizure outcome in adults, but favorable results have been seen in children as well. Anterior temporal lobectomy may prove to be a more successful surgery than amygdalohippocampectomy in children with intractable TLE. The presence of a focal brain lesion on magnetic resonance imaging is one of the most reliable independent predictors of a good postoperative seizure outcome. Seizure-free status is the most important predictor of improved psychosocial outcome with advanced quality of life and a lower proportion of disability among adults and children. Since the brain is more plastic during infancy and early childhood, recovery is promoted. In contrast, long epilepsy duration is an important risk factor for surgically refractory seizures. Therefore, patients with medically intractable TLE should undergo surgery as early as possible.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제29권9호
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• pp.1195-1203
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• 2000

Objective : To confirm the efficacy of functional hemispherectomy and peri-insular hemispherotomy on treatment of intractable epilepsy. Materials & Methods : From April 1997 to February 1999, we performed 1 functional hemispherectomy and 6 peri-insular hemispherotomy in 7 consecutive patients. These procedures result in completely disconnected hemisphere while maintaining the disconnected portion of the hemisphere intact within the surgical cavity. The indications were hemimegalencephaly in 2 cases, infarction with encephalomalacia in 2, Sturge-Weber syndrome in 1, hemiconvulsion hemiplegia epilepsy syndrome in 1, cortical dysplasia with leptomeningeal cyst in 1. Mean follow-up is 15.8 months(range 8-28 months). Results : Among 7 patients, 1 patient died immediately after peri-insular hemispherotomy. Five patients became seizure free with reduced doses of medications. One patient developed rare disabling seizure with medication. In 6 patients, there were improvements in the function of the hemiparetic limbs in the postoperative phase. A 3-year-old boy with infarction and encephalomalacia died few hours after surgery due to postoperative hypothermia. Two patients required shunt after surgery. Two patients developed postoperative brain swelling but were successfully managed with conservative care. Conclusion : In conclusion, functional hemispherectomy and peri-insular hemispherotomy may provide substantial seizure control in selected cases of young hemiplegic patients with intractable epilepsy.