• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.28-30
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• 2013

A 66-year-old male with chronic alcoholism presented with tremor, gait disturbance, memory impairment, insomnia, decreased appetite, and confusion. The patient had been taking lithium daily for treatment of bipolar disorder. Brain CT showed no specific abnormality, and serum lithium and ammonia levels were 3.63 mEq/L (therapeutic range, 0.6~1.2 mEq/L) and $85{\mu}g/dL$ (reference range: $19{\sim}54{\mu}g/dL$), respectively. Therefore, the initial differential diagnosis included chronic lithium intoxication, hepatic encephalopathy, Wernicke encephalopathy, or alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Even with the provision of adequate hydration, the patient's neurologic status did not show improvement, so that lactulose enema, thiamine replacement, and continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) were started on the third admission day. By the fifth admission day he had made a rapid neurologic recovery, and was discharged on the 20th admission day. Therefore, CVVHDF might be a treatment for patients with chronic lithium intoxication, because, even if serum lithium concentration is normal, lithium concentration in the brain may be different from that of the serum.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.86-97
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• 1991

To obtain the basic data of prognosis of acute carbon monoxide(CO) intoxication, one hundred and sixteen cases of CO intoxication defined by carboxyhemoglobin(COHb) and admitted via emergency room of Yeungnam University Hospital from Oct. '85 to April' 89 have been clinically analyzed and evaluated, including delayed postanoxic encephalopathy(DPE) and the following results were obtained. 1. The ratio of male to female was 1:1.5 and mental state was drowsy mostly(26.2% of 116 cases) 2. The more disturbed the mental state, the more decreased was the arterial pH and $PaCO_2$, which may be the result of metabolic acidosis. 3. The early laboratory findings in patients of CO intoxication were as follows : leukocytosis-65.5%, increase of hematocrit-23.3%, hyperglycemia-19.8%, increase of GPT-19.8% increase of creatinine-0.9%, and glucosuria-12.1%. 4. The early findings of EKG were abnormal in 35.3% : change of rhythm-25.0%, abnormal ST segment-15.5% (change of rhythm and abonormal ST segment-5.2%) but the conduction disorder was not present. 5. The abnormal EEG above mild degree was 93.1%, of which moderate was most frequent(80.2%). 6. The incidence of DPE was 7.8% among all admitted CO patients. DPE cases had long duration of exposure time(8 hours), severe leukocytosis(20,000) and an abnormal EEG(MA).

• Toxicological Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.73-82
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• 2001

The incidence and distribution of necrotic and apoptotic neural cells, and activated astrocytes in the brain of rats intoxicated intra peritoneally with diisopropylfluorophosphate were investigated. Pyridostigmine bromide (0.1 mg/kg) and atropine methylnitrate (20 mg/kg) were pretreated intramuscularly 30 min and 10 min, respectively, prior to diisopropylfluorophosphate (4-10 mg/kg) administration. Diisopropylfluorophosphate induced severe limbic seizures, early necrotic and delayed apoptotic brain injuries, and rapid astrocytic responses. The necrosis, which was closely related to seizure intensity, was observed as early as 1 hr after intoxication predominently in hippocampal pyramidal cells, cerebellar Purkinje cells and neurons in pyriform/entorhinal cortices, showing malacia of neurophils. In contrast, apoptosis started to appear 12 hr after intoxication in neurons in thalamus, amygdala and neocortex, and ephendymal cells surrounding the 4th ventricle. Since marked apoptosis was induced in rats exhibiting relatively-low seizure intensity, the degree of necrosis and apoptosis was shifted to each type of injury according to the seizure intensity. Activated astrocytes, observed within 1 hr along the limbic system, were suggested to affect the neural injury patterns by producing high level of nitric oxide. However, the distribution of activated astrocytes was not in parallel with those of necrotic or apoptotic injuries, implying that the astrocytic responses resulted from seizure activity rather than neural injuries. Furthermore, astrocytes in malacic tissues disappeared during the severe limbic seizures. Therefore, it would be one of the cautionary notes on the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein in astrocytes as a biochemical marker of brain injuries following acute exposure to organophosphates.

• Journal of the Korean Child Neurology Society
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.204-207
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• 2017

Hyperornithinemia-hyperammonemia-homocitrullinuria syndrome (HHH syndrome) is a neurometabolic disorder with highly variable clinical severity ranging from mild learning disability to severe encephalopathy. Diagnosis of HHH syndrome can easily be delayed or misdiagnosed due to insidious symptoms and incomplete biochemical findings, in that case, genetic testing should be considered to confirm the diagnosis. HHH syndrome is caused by biallelic mutations of SLC25A15, which is involved in the urea cycle and the ornithine transport into mitochondria. Here we report a boy with spastic paraplegia and asymptomatic younger sister who have compound heterozygous mutations of c.535C>T (p.R179^*) and c.116C>A (p.T39K) in the SLC25A15 gene. We identified that p.T39K mutation is a novel pathogenic mutation causing HHH syndrome and that p.R179^*, which is prevalent in Japanese and Middle Eastern heritage, is also found in the Korean population.

• Clinical Nutrition Research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.169-176
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• 2023

Glucose transporter type 1 (GLUT1) deficiency syndrome (DS) is a metabolic brain disorder caused by a deficiency resulting from SLC2A1 gene mutation and is characterized by abnormal brain metabolism and associated metabolic encephalopathy. Reduced glucose supply to the brain leads to brain damage, resulting in delayed neurodevelopment in infancy and symptoms such as eye abnormalities, microcephaly, ataxia, and rigidity. Treatment options for GLUT1 DS include ketogenic diet (KD), pharmacotherapy, and rehabilitation therapy. Of these, KD is an essential and the most important treatment method as it promotes brain neurodevelopment by generating ketone bodies to produce energy. This case is a focused study on intensive KD nutritional intervention for an infant diagnosed with GLUT1 DS at Gangnam Severance Hospital from May 2022 to January 2023. During the initial hospitalization, nutritional intervention was performed to address poor intake via the use of concentrated formula and an attempt was made to introduce complementary feeding. After the second hospitalization and diagnosis of GLUT1 DS, positive effects on the infant's growth and development, nutritional status, and seizure control were achieved with minimal side effects by implementing KD nutritional intervention and adjusting the type and dosage of anticonvulsant medications. In conclusion, for patients with GLUT1 DS, it is important to implement a KD with an appropriate ratio of ketogenic to nonketogenic components to supply adequate energy. Furthermore, individualized and intensive nutritional management is necessary to improve growth, development, and nutritional status.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.16-23
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• 2004

Purpose: In this study, we tried to evaluate the clinical characteristics or circumstances that lead to unintentionally the delay in the diagnosis of intussusception or to the wrong direction that prevent the proper management early. Methods: All the patients of intussusception with delayed diagnosis in the department of pediatrics or emergency room at Gyeongsang National University Hospital from 1990 to 2003 were enrolled and reviewed retrospectively. Results: There were 8 boys and 6 girls and their median age was 8 months (range 2 months to 10 years). Their initial symptoms and signs were vomiting, seizure, diarrhea, lethargy, irritability, bloody stool, palpable abdominal mass, foul odor of urine and tachycardia. Clinical diagnosis or impressions at admission consisted of acute gastroenteritis, shigellosis and toxic encephalopathy, convulsive disorders, urinary tract infections, sepsis, abdominal mass and intestinal obstruction. Eight patients were luckily diagnosed due to the delayed manifestations of cyclic irritability or currant jelly stool. Six patients were not paid attentions for the possibilities of intussusception and diagnosed serendipitiously by the abdominal sonography or CT during the evaluation of the abdominal mass or distension. Only five of 14 cases (35.7%) were successfully managed by barium or air reductions. The other 9 cases needed surgical operations. Conclusion: Delayed diagnosis of intussusception arise when doctors initially diagnose the patients incorrectly due to the unusual presentations or when they overlook the newly arising symptoms or signs suggestive intussusception after the admission because they are ardently attached to the first impressions or initial clinical diagnosis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.247-254
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• 1999

Respiratory failure is the most serious manifestation and usual cause of death in acute organophosphate poisoning, and is common in acute cholinergic crisis. But the respiratory failure may appear suddenly in a patient who is recovering from the cholinergic crisis, even while receiving conventional therapy. These are case report of 37 years old male and 24 years old female with intermediate syndrome in organophosphate poisoning. The two patients ingested organophosphate(fenthion and mixture of DDVP with chlorpyrifos respectively) incidentally and in a sucide attempt respectively. After apparent recovery from the cholinergic crisis with a conventional therapy but before the expected onset of delayed polyneuropathy, the respiratory failure appeared suddenly with a muscular weakness, affecting predominantly the proximal limb muscles, neck flexors, territories of several motor cranial nerves. The two patients needed mechanical ventilatory support and recovery from the intermediate syndrome was complete in both patients, although one subsequently developed hypoxic encephalopathy. The clinical manifestation and electrophysiologic study support the clinical diagnosis of intermediate syndrome. The syndrome carries a risk of death. because of respiratory paralysis, if not recognized early and treated adequatedly. Prompt endotrachial intubation and mechanical ventilatory support is the cornerstone of treatment of the intermediate syndrome. Therefore, all patient should be observed in a hospital for up to 5 days after poisoning.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.628-640
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• 2017

Purpose: To describe the effectiveness of traditional Korean medicine (TKM) on the patients with secondary dementia (case 1: Rt. MCA infarction; case 2: traumatic subacute subdural hemorrhage and traumatic intracranial hemorrhage; case 3: delayed encephalopathy after carbon monoxide poisoning). Methods: We used a complete TKM treatment. The acupoints used were as follows: acupoints frequently used in hemiparesis (GV20, GV24, ST4, LI11, LI14, ST36, GB34, SP9, and LR3), and we used herbal medicine (補腎益腦湯加味, Boshiniknoe-tang-gami). The efficacy was evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Examination for Dementia Screening (MMSE-DS) and the Modified Barthel Index (MBI). Results: After treatment, the total MMSE-DS score was increased from 14 to 24 (case 1), 14 to 19 (case 2), and 0 to 17 (case 3). The total K-MBI was increased from 30 to 44 (case 1), 82 to 86 (case 2), and 30 to 86 (case 3) Conclusions: We suggest that TKM could positively influence cognition and improve activity of daily living (ADL). This study has limitations, so further studies are needed.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.103-111
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• 1985

Childhood epilepsy which has high prevalence rate and inception rate is one of the commonest problem encountered in pediatrician. In contrast with epilepsy of adult, in childhood epilepsy, more variable and varying manifestations are found because the factors of age, growth and development exert their influences in the manifestations and the courses of childhood epilepsy. Moreover epileptic children have associated problems such as physical and mental handicaps, psychologicaldisorders and learning disability. For these reasons pediatrician who deals with epileptic children experiences difficulties in making diagnosis and managing them. In order to improve understanding and management of childhood epilepsy, authors reviewed 103 cases of epileptic patients seen at pediatric department of Yeungnam University Hospital retrospectively. The patients were classified according to the type of epileptic seizure. Suspected causes of epilepsy, associated conditions of epileptic patients, age incidence and the findings of brain CT were reviewed. Large numbers of epileptic patients (61.2%) developed their first seizures under the age of 5. The most frequent type of epileptic seizure was generalized ionic-clonic, tonic, clonic seizure (49.5%), followed by simple partial seizure with secondary generalization (17.5%), simple partial seizure (7.8%), a typical absence (5.8%) and unclassified seizure (5.8%). In 83.5% of patients, we could not find specific cause of it, but in 16.5% of cases, history of neonatal hypoxia (4.9%), meningitis (3.9%), prematurity (1.9%), small for gestational age (1.0%), CO poisoning (1.0%), encephalopathy (1.0%), DPT vaccination (1.0%), cerebrovascular accident (1.0%) and neonatal jaundice (1.0%) were found, 30 cases of patients had associated diseases such as mental retardation, hyperactivity, delayed motor milestones or their combinations. The major abnormal findings of brain CT performed in 42 cases were cortical atrophy, cerebral infarction, hydrocephalus and brain swelling. This review stressed better designed classification of epilepsy is needed and with promotion of medical care, prevention of epilepsy is possible in some cases. Also it is stressed that childhood epilepsy requires multidisplinary therapy and brain CT is helpful in the evaluation of epilepsy with limitation in therapeutic aspects.