• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• 제26권6호
• /
• pp.487-492
• /
• 2003

This study investigated the effects of extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MFs) on the sensitivity of seizure response to bicuculline, picrotoxin and NMDA in mice. The mice were exposed to either a sham or 20 G ELF-MFs for 24 hours. Convulsants were then administered i.p. at various doses. The seizure induction time and duration were measured and lethal dose ($LD_{50$}) and convulsant dose ($CD_{50}$) of the clonic and tonic convulsion were calculated. The analysis of glutamate, glycine, taurine and GABA of mouse brain was accomplished by HPLC. The mice exposed to ELF-MFs showed moderately higher $CD_{50}.{\;}LD_{50}$ and onset time on the bicuculline-induced seizure. However, the ELF-MFs did not influence them in the NMDA and picrotoxin-induced seizures. After the exposure to MFs exposure, the glutamate level was increased and GABA was decreased significantly in NMDA and picrotoxin-induced seizure. The level of glutamate and GABA were not changed by MFs in bicuculline-induced seizure. These results suggest that ELF-MFs may alter the convulsion susceptibility through GABAergic mechanism with the involvement of the level of glutamate and GABA.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
• /
• 제38권2호
• /
• pp.141-146
• /
• 2006

Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) has been proposed as a possible way to improve the control of refractory epilepsy. We report the effects following VNS treatment in patients with refractory epilepsy. Seventeen patients with a mean age of 12.8 years, ranging from 5 to 29 years, underwent the implantation of vagal nerve stimulation (Cyberonics, Houston, TX). We reviewed the clinical findings before and after VNS in seizure frequency, number of antiepileptic drugs (AED), and quality of life (QOL). All of the patients had intractable seizures, eleven of the patients had additional medical complications, three had hippocampus atrophy, one had encephalomalacia, five had encephalitis, one had pachygyria, and one had schizencephaly. Thirteen patients had symptomatic partial epilepsies, three patients had Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and one had cryptogenic partial epilepsy. The mean follow up duration was 35 months. The mean reduction of seizure frequency compared with baseline before VNS was 26.1% after 3 months (p<0.005), 41.9% after 6 months (p<0.001), 46.9% after 1 year (p<0.001), and 53% at the latest follow-up (p<0.001). Twelve patients showed an improvement of QOL such as mood, language, alertness, expression, and motor function. The most common side effects were transient hoarseness or voice change or cough, which was detected in six patients (35%) and wound infection in one patient (5%). This study has shown a good anti-seizure effect of VNS, decrease in seizure frequency and improvements in QOL. We concluded that VNS is a beneficial therapy in refractory epilepsy with a non-resectable epileptic focus. Further studies should be focused on the prediction of unresponsiveness and the adjustment of VNS parameters for maximum efficacy in patients with various medical histories.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• 제24권3호
• /
• pp.134-137
• /
• 2000

Spontaneous bursting activity was studied in rat thalamocortical slices using extracellular field potential recording to test the potential utilization of ginsenoside Rb$_1$ in controlling overactivated neural systems. In order to induce bursting activity, slices were perfused with Mg$\^$2+/-free artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF). Two major types of spontaneous bursting activity, simple thalamocortical burst complexes (sTBCs) and complex thalamocortical burst complexes (cTBCs), were recorded in Mg$\^$2+/ -free ACSF. Ginsenoside Rb$_1$ selectively suppressed cTBCs. Duration and occurrence rate of cTBCs were reduced by 87.3${\pm}$10.2% and 85.3${\pm}$ 14.7% in the presence of 90 ${\mu}$M ginsenoside Rb$_1$ respectively, while amplitude and intraburst frequency were slightly changed by ginsenoside Rb$_1$. In contrast, ginsenoside Rb$_1$was much less effective in reducing duration and occurrence rate of sTBCs. We also tested effects of ginsenoside Rb$_1$ on bursting activity in the presence of a GABA$\sub$A/ receptor antagonist, bicuculline methiodide (BMI). Ginsenoside Rb$_1$ had no effect in suppressing BMI-induced bursting activities. These results suggest that ginsenoside Rbi may be useful in controlling seizure-like bursting activity under pathological conditions.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• 제51권10호
• /
• pp.1090-1095
• /
• 2008

목적: 소아 간질 환자에서 장기적인 신장의 변화 및 그에 영향을 미치는 인자들에 대해 연구하고자 하였다. 방법: 1996년 1월부터 2003년 12월까지 부산대학병원 소아과에서 처음으로 간질 진단을 받은 577명 중 최소 3년 이상 항경련제를 복용한 148명(남아 82명, 여아 66명)을 대상으로 전향적 연구를 시행하였다. 항경련제 복용 시작부터 매년 신장 측정을 하였고 성별, 경련의 형태, 간질의 원인, 항경련제 복용 전 경련 횟수, 경련 조절, 단일 및 복합약물요법, 항경련제 복용 전 신장, 복용시작 나이, 복용 기간과 같은 인자들에 따라 복용 전과 최종 방문시의 신장의 변화를 SDS를 구하여 비교 분석하였다. 결 과: 대상 환아의 항경련제 복용 시작 시 평균 연령은 6.69세였고, 평균 복용 기간은 5.76년이었다. 항경련제 복용 전의 평균 신장 SDS는 -0.059였고 복용 후에는 0.101이었다(P=0.09). 복용 전 경련 횟수가 1개월에 1회 미만인 군(P=0.09), 단일 약물군(P=0.06)에서는 신장 SDS가 증가하였으나 통계적인 유의성은 보이지 않았다. 또 복용 후에 경련 조절이 잘 되었던 군(P=0.04), 복용 전의 신장 SDS가 (-)인 군(P=0.001)과 복용 기간이 6년 미만인 군(P=0.02)에서는 신장의 SDS가 유의한 증가를 보였다. 그 외의 군에서는 항경련제 복용 전과 복용 후 평균 신장 SDS에 유의한 차이가 발생하지 않았다. 결론:정상 경구 식이를 하는 소아 간질 환자에서 항경련제 투여 후 신장 성장은 통계적으로 유의하게 증가하지 않았다. 하지만 경련 조절이 잘 되는 군과 항경련제 치료 기간이 짧았던 군에서 신장 성장이 유의하게 증가하였다.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• 제50권11호
• /
• pp.1097-1103
• /
• 2007

목 적 : 급성 증후성 경련이란 일시적인 중추 신경계 또는 전신적인 병태생리의 변화와 밀접히 연관되어 발생하는 경련으로 이와 달리 특별한 유발 인자 없이 발생하는 경련은 비유발성 경련으로 분류한다. 급성 증후성 경련이 추후에 비유발성 경련으로 이행할 수 있다는 문헌은 다수 보고되고 있으나 증후성 경련에서 비유발성 경련의 이행에 영향을 미치는 관련 인자들에 대한 자료는 미비한 실정이다. 이에 본 논문에서는 증후성 경련으로 입원한 환아들을 대상으로 지속적인 추적 관찰을 통해 비유발성 경련과 관련된 인자들에 대해 후향적으로 조사하였고, 이러한 관련 인자들과 비유발성 경련 이행 여부에 관해 통계적인 분석을 통해 그 유의성을 알아보고자 하였다. 방 법 : 급성 증후성 경련으로 진단된 환아들을 대상으로 최소 1년간의 추적 관찰을 통해 비유발성 경련으로의 이행 여부를 후향적으로 조사하였고, 이에 따른 관련 인자로써 호발 연령, 성별, 가족력, 경련의 유형, 발달 정도 등을 포함하여 다양한 원인들을 분류하고 뇌파 검사 및 뇌영상 검사 등의 결과를 조사하여 비유발성 경련과의 관계를 통계적으로 분석하였다. 결 과 : 급성 증후성 경련에서 비유발성 경련으로 이행하는 경우는 2-6세에 가장 호발하고 성별에 따른 차이는 없으며 뇌증과 중추 신경계 감염이 많은 원인을 차지한다. 비유발성 경련으로 이행하는 경우의 관련 인자로는 간질 지속 상태를 동반한 경우와 부분 발작의 경우에 통계적으로 유의한 차이를 보이며, 이외에 뇌파 검사와 뇌 영상검사에서 이상 소견을 보이는 경우에도 비유발성 경련으로 이행하는 데 있어 통계적으로 유의한 값을 보였다. 그러나 성별, 경련성 질환의 가족력, 발달 정도, 경련시의 각성 상태 등의 인자들과 비유발성 경련의 관계에는 통계적인 유의성을 갖지 못하였다. 결 론 : 급성 증후성 경련 환아들의 비유발성 경련 이행에 따른 관련 인자로는 경련의 지속 시간, 경련의 유형, 이상 뇌파 소견 및 이상 뇌 영상검사 소견을 들 수 있다. 따라서 이러한 인자들에 해당하는 경우에는 급성 증후성 경련의 치료 후에도 지속적인 추적 관찰을 통해 향후 발생할 수 있는 비유발성 경련에 대한 적절한 검사와 대처가 필요하다고 생각된다.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• 제57권9호
• /
• pp.384-395
• /
• 2014

Febrile seizure (FS) is the most common seizure disorder of childhood, and occurs in an age-related manner. FS are classified into simple and complex. FS has a multifactorial inheritance, suggesting that both genetic and environmental factors are causative. Various animal models have elucidated the pathophysiological mechanisms of FS. Risk factors for a first FS are a family history of the disorder and a developmental delay. Risk factors for recurrent FS are a family history, age below 18 months at seizure onset, maximum temperature, and duration of fever. Risk factors for subsequent development of epilepsy are neurodevelopmental abnormality and complex FS. Clinicians evaluating children after a simple FS should concentrate on identifying the cause of the child's fever. Meningitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis for any febrile child. A simple FS does not usually require further evaluation such as ordering electroencephalography, neuroimaging, or other studies. Treatment is acute rescue therapy for prolonged FS. Antipyretics are not proven to reduce the recurrence risk for FS. Some evidence shows that both intermittent therapy with oral/rectal diazepam and continuous prophylaxis with oral phenobarbital or valproate are effective in reducing the risk of recurrence, but there is no evidence that these medications reduce the risk of subsequent epilepsy. Vaccine-induced FS is a rare event that does not lead to deleterious outcomes, but could affect patient and physician attitudes toward the safety of vaccination.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• 제59권4호
• /
• pp.155-164
• /
• 2016

Cognitive impairment associated with childhood-onset epilepsy is an important consequence in the developing brain owing to its negative effects on neurodevelopmental and social outcomes. While the cause of cognitive impairment in epilepsy appears to be multifactorial, epilepsy-related factors such as type of epilepsy and underlying etiology, age at onset, frequency of seizures, duration of epilepsy, and its treatment are considered important. In recent studies, antecedent cognitive impairment before the first recognized seizure and microstructural and functional alteration of the brain at onset of epilepsy suggest the presence of a common neurobiological mechanism between epilepsy and cognitive comorbidity. However, the overall impact of cognitive comorbidity in children with epilepsy and the independent contribution of each of these factors to cognitive impairment have not been clearly delineated. This review article focuses on the significant contributors to cognitive impairment in children with epilepsy.

• Neonatal Medicine
• /
• 제16권1호
• /
• pp.10-17
• /
• 2009

The immature neonatal brain is susceptible to the development of seizures. Seizures occur in 1% to 5% of infants during the neonatal period. Neonatal seizures are most commonly associated with serious acute illnesses, such as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, birth trauma, metabolic disturbances, or infections. Thus, newborn infants with seizures are at risk for neonatal death and survivors are at risk for neurologic impairment, developmental delay, and subsequent epilepsy. Experimental data have also raised concerns about the potential adverse effects of the currently used anticonvulsants in neonates on brain development. Therefore, in the management of neonatal seizures, confirmatory diagnosis and optimal, but shorter, duration of anticonvulsant therapy is essential. Nevertheless, there has been substantial progress in understanding the developmental mechanisms that influence seizure generation and responsiveness to anticonvulsants. The currently used therapies have limited efficacy and the treatment of neonatal seizures has not significantly changed in the past several decades, This review includes an overview of current approaches to the treatment of neonatal seizures.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• 제62권7호
• /
• pp.269-273
• /
• 2019

Purpose: There is limited data on the use of perampanel in children under 12 years of age. We evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of adjunctive perampanel treatment in children under 12 years of age with refractory epilepsy. Methods: This retrospective observational study was performed in Kyungpook National University Hospital from July 2016 to March 2018. A responder was defined as a patient with ${\geq}50%$ reduction in monthly seizure frequency compared with the baseline. Adverse events and discontinuation data were obtained to evaluate tolerability. Results: Twenty-two patients (8 males, 14 females) aged 3.1-11.4 years (mean, $8.0{\pm}2.5years$) were included in this study. After an average of 9.2 months (range, 0.5-19 months) of follow-up, 15 patients (68%) showed a reduction in seizure frequency, including 5 patients (23%) with seizure freedom. The age at epilepsy onset was significantly lower (P=0.048), and the duration of epilepsy was significantly longer (P=0.019) in responders than in nonresponders. Nine patients (41%) experienced adverse events, including somnolence (23%), respiratory depression (9%), violence (4.5%), and seizure aggravation (4.5%). The most serious adverse event was respiratory depression, which required mechanical ventilation in 2 patients (9%). Eight patients (36%) discontinued perampanel due to lack of efficacy or adverse events. Three out of 4 patients (75%) who discontinued perampanel due to adverse events had an underlying medical condition. Conclusion: Perampanel offers a treatment option for refractory epilepsy in children. Adjunctive treatment with perampanel requires special consideration in those with underlying medical conditions to prevent serious adverse events.

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