• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.658-667
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• 2017

Objectives: This is a case report regarding the effect of Korean traditional medicine on vision disorder and quadriplegia in a patient with neuromyelitis optica. Methods: We treated a patient who was diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica with Korean traditional medicine, including acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal medicine (Gigugyanghyeol-tang gamibang) for 106 days. We evaluated the patient with the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) Grade, and Numeric Rating Scale-11 (NRS-11). Results: After treatment, the patient's symptoms were improved. The ISNCSCI scores increased from 42 to 66 in motor score, from 152 to 196 in sensory score, and from A to D in the ASIA impairment scale; the MBI score increased from 9 to 33, while the score of the MAS Grade decreased from I+ to I, and the NRS-11 scores of vision disorder, spasticity, and tingling decreased from 10 to 7, 3, and 2-3, respectively. Conclusions: Korean traditional medicine may be effective for treatment of vision disorder and quadriplegia in patients with neuromyelitis optica.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2006

Haloperidol is a classical neuroleptic drug that is still in clinical use and can lead to abnormal motor activity following repeated administration. However, there is little knowledge of how it triggers neuronal impairment. In this study, we report that it induced calcium ion influx via L-type calcium channels and that the elevation of calcium ions induced by haloperidol appeared to render hippocampal cells more susceptible to oxidative stress. Indeed, the level of cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the expression of pro-apoptotic Bax increased in response to oxidative stress in haloperidol-treated cells, and these effects were inhibited by verapamil, a specific L-type calcium channel blocker, but not by the T-type calcium channel blocker, mibefradil. These findings indicate that haloperidol induces calcium ion influx via L-type calcium channels and that this calcium influx influences neuronal fate.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.148-154
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• 2015

Background: Ginseng is known to have antiapoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. The present study investigated a possible role of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) in suppressing dopaminergic neuronal cell death and the cleavage of p35 to p25 in the substantia nigra (SN) and striatum (ST) using a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced Parkinson's disease mouse model. Methods: Ten-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were injected intraperitoneally with 30 mg/kg of MPTP at 24-h intervals for 5 d, and then administered KRG (1 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, or 100 mg/kg) once a day for 12 consecutive days from the first injection. Pole tests were performed to assess the motor function of the mice, dopaminergic neuronal survival in the SN and ST was evaluated using tyrosine hydroxylase-immunohistochemistry, and the expressions of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5), p35, and p25 in the SN and ST were measured using Western blotting. Results: MPTP administration caused behavioral impairment, dopaminergic neuronal death, increased Cdk5 and p25 expression, and decreased p35 expression in the nigrostriatal system of mice, whereas KRG dose-dependently alleviated these MPTP-induced changes. Conclusion: These results indicate that KRG can inhibit MPTP-induced dopaminergic neuronal death and suppress the cleavage of p35 to p25 in the SN and the ST, suggesting a possible role for KRG in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.525-532
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• 1998

The autism is a complex disorder, characterized language impairment, perceptual-motor difficulties, and social disturbance. The autistic children have hyperactivity, lack of communication' lack of cooperation, inappropriate patient/dentist interaction, so they require professionally recognized behavioral management technique during dental treatment such as behavior modification, phamacological agents, and general anesthesia. A behavior management technique can be chosen by factors such as the severity of autism and possible accompanying disabilities, degree of cooperation, oral and general conditions of children. A non-pharmacological behavior modification may be selected for the autistic children who are able to communicate with dentist with mild dental caries, without compromised medical history. In case of excessively hyperactive, destructive, antisocial, and/or severe communicative disorder, a sedation technic with chloral hydrate, hydroxyzine, midazolam or nitrous oxide gas might to be performed. General anesthesia is preferred for severe communicative and/or behavioral disorder, elder age, excessive dental care need, and living a remote area.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2006

This study aimed to compare movement patterns of shoulder joints between the right and left symmetry in stroke patients and control subjects. This study proposes use of the voluntary response index (VRI) calculated from quantitative analysis of surface electromyographic (sEMG) and motion data recorded during voluntary movement as a feeding task. The VRI is comprised of two numeric values, one derived from the total muscle activity recorded for the voluntary motor task (magnitude), and the other from the sEMG distribution across the recorded muscles with the similarity index (SI). Five stroke patients and five age-matched healthy controls were recruited. Feeding motion was performed using the provided spoon five times with rests taken on a chair in between tasks. EMG data were digitized and analyzed on the basis of the root mean square (RMS) envelope of activity. The average amplitude of responses was calculated. Responsiveness and clinically meaningful levels of discrimination between stroke patients and control for EMG magnitude and SI were determined. The similarity index of the results from two successive examinations of both sides apart for stroke patients and control subjects were .86 and .95 in motion analysis and .84 and .99 in electromyographic analysis. The SI of sEMG data and motion data was significantly correlated in stroke patients. The data suggest that SI is a sensitive program for comparing and analyzing the symmetry of muscle activity and motion in both sides. This analysis method has a clinical value in grading muscular activity and movement impairment after brain injury.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.43-46
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• 2020

The Shprintzen-Goldberg syndrome (SGS) is an extremely rare genetic disorder caused by heterozygous variant in SKI. SGS is characterized by neurodevelopmental impairment with skeletal anomaly. Recognition of SGS is sometimes quite challenging in practice because it has diverse clinical features involving skeletal, neurological, and cardiovascular system. Here we report a case of a 6-month-old boy who initially presented with developmental delay and marfanoid facial features including prominent forehead, hypertelorism, high arched palate and retrognathia. He showed motor developmental delay since birth and could not control his head at the time of first evaluation. His height was above 2 standard deviation score. Arachnodactyly, hypermobility of joints, skin laxity, and pectus excavatum were also noted. Sequencing for FBN1 was negative, however, a novel missense variant, c.350G>A in SKI was identified by sequential whole exome sequencing. To our knowledge, this is the first case with SGS with phenotypic features of SGS overlapping with those of the Marfan syndrome, diagnosed by next generation sequencing in Korea.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.429-435
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• 2006

The antidepressant effects of Cirsium japonicum compositae was investigated using open field test and forced swimming test. Total extract of Cirsium japonicum (CJ) was orally administered at dose of 20, 100, 300, 500 mg/kg bodyweight. Supplementation of CJ increased dose-dependently movement, rearing frequency and total turn angle in the center area of open field in mice. Treatment of Cirsium japonicum's extract (300 mg/kg, CJ) decreased immobile duration and increased mobile and strong mobile duration significantly; and it is comparable to that of imipramine and fluoxetine. These results indicate that CJ has antidepressant effect. Treatment of CJ did not induced any impairment in motor coordination and myorelaxation. These results indicate that the constituents or its complex of Cirsium japonicum could be a candidate of new antidepressant drug.

• Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.494-496
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• 2018

No previous reports have described a case in which deep brain stimulation elicited an acute mood swing from a depressive to manic state simply by switching one side of the bilateral deep brain stimulation electrode on and off. The patient was a 68-year-old woman with a 10-year history of Parkinson's disease. She underwent bilateral subthalamic deep brain stimulation surgery. After undergoing surgery, the patient exhibited hyperthymia. She was scheduled for admission. On the first day of admission, it was clear that resting tremors in the right limbs had relapsed and her hyperthymia had reverted to depression. It was discovered that the left-side electrode of the deep brain stimulation device was found to be accidentally turned off. As soon as the electrode was turned on, motor impairment improved and her mood switched from depression to mania. The authors speculate that the lateral balance of stimulation plays an important role in mood regulation. The current report provides an intriguing insight into possible mechanisms of mood swing in mood disorders.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.102-107
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• 2018

Purpose: This study examined the association between smoking and delayed neuropsychological sequelae (DNS) in acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Methods: Patients admitted to the medical center emergency department from March 2016 to March 2017 because of CO poisoning were examined retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups: DNS and Non-DNS group. Multiple factors were analyzed to explain DNS, which was assessed by motor disturbances, cognitive impairment, dysphagia, Parkinson-like syndromes, epilepsy, and emotional lability in CO poisoning. Results: A total of 120 patients were included. The factors related to DNS were smoking (pack-years) (p=0.002) and initial carbon monoxide-hemoglobin level (p=0.015). On the other hand, after multivariate logistic regression analysis, smoking (Odds ratio 1.07; 95% CI, 1.02-1.13; p=0.004) was the only factor associated with DNS. Conclusion: Smoking is a very reliable factor for predicting the occurrence of DNS. A history of smoking in patients who suffer from CO intoxication is important. If a patient smokes, treatment should be started actively and as soon as possible.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.61-70
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• 2019

Objective : Corpectomy of the first lumbar vertebra (L1) for the management of different L1 pathologies can be performed using either an anterior or posterior approach. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of a retroperitoneal extrapleural approach through the twelfth rib for performing L1 corpectomy. Methods : Thirty consecutive patients underwent L1 corpectomy between 2010 and 2016. The retroperitoneal extrapleural approach through the 12th rib was used in all cases to perform single-stage anterior L1 corpectomy, reconstruction and anterior instrumentation, except for in two recurrent cases in which posterior fixation was added. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used for pain intensity measurement and ASIA impairment scale for neurological assessment. The mean follow-up period was 14.5 months. Results : The sample included 18 males and 12 females, and the mean age was 40.3 years. Twenty patients (67%) had sensory or motor deficits before the surgery. The pathologies encountered included traumatic fracture in 12 cases, osteoporotic fracture in four cases, tumor in eight cases and spinal infection in the remaining six cases. The surgeries were performed from the left side, except in two cases. There was significant improvement of back pain and radicular pain as recorded by VAS. One patient exhibited postoperative neurological deterioration due to bone graft dislodgement. All patients with deficits at least partially improved after the surgery. During the follow-up, no hardware failures or losses of correction were detected. Conclusion : The retroperitoneal extrapleural approach through the 12th rib is a feasible approach for L1 corpectomy that can combine adequate decompression of the dural sac with effective biomechanical restoration of the compromised anterior loadbearing column. It is associated with less pulmonary complication, no need for chest tube, no abdominal distention and rapid recovery compared with other approaches.