• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2018

Purpose: Glufosinate ammonium poisoning can cause seizures, even after a symptom-free period. This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between serum neuron specific enolase (NSE) level and the occurrence of seizures in patients with acute glufosinate ammonium poisoning. Methods: For this retrospective observational study, data from patients diagnosed with acute glufosinate ammonium poisoning were collected between January 2016 and June 2016. Serum NSE was measured within 2 hours of arrival at the emergency department. The patients were divided into a seizure group and a non-seizure group. Results: The seizure group included eight of the 15 total patients (53.3%). The serum NSE level was significantly higher in the seizure group than in the non-seizure group ($32.4{\pm}11.9ng/mL$ vs. $19.5{\pm}5ng/mL$, p=0.019). The amount of glufosinate ingested and initial and peak serum ammonia levels were significantly higher in the seizure group than in the non-seizure group. There was no significant difference in the area under the curve of the serum NSE level or the initial and peak serum ammonia levels in terms of predicting the occurrence of seizures. Conclusion: In acute glufosinate poisoning, initial serum NSE levels may help in prediction of seizures.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.196-198
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• 2008

Objective : Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has been used in epilepsy patients refractory to standard medical treatments and unsuitable candidates for resective or disconnective surgery. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of VNS to patients who had refractory result to epilepsy surgery and patients with post-traumatic epilepsy. Methods : We analyzed the effect of VNS in 11 patients who had undergone previous epilepsy surgery and patients with intractable post-traumatic epilepsy associated with brain injury. All patients underwent VNS implantation between October 2005 and December 2006. Results : We evaluated seizure frequency before and after implantation of VNS and maximum follow up period was 24 months. In the first 6 months, 11 patients showed an average of 74.3% seizure reduction. After 12 months, 10 patients showed 85.2% seizure reduction. Eighteen months after implantation, 9 patients showed 92.4% seizure reduction and 7 patients showed 97.2% seizure reduction after 24 months. Six patients were seizure-free at this time. Conclusion : We conclude that the VNS is a helpful treatment modality in patients with surgically refractory epilepsy and in patients with post-traumatic epilepsy due to severe brain injury.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.27-30
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• 2000

Reflex epilepsies are distinct but not clearly understood clinical entity. Various cerebral activities induced by simple stimulation including visual, auditory, somatosensory stimulation, as well as diverse functional tasks such as reading, calculation, complex thinking are believed to be seizure-inducing factors. We experienced two patients whose seizures were readily precipitated by complex, strenuous thinking. Both patients was teen-aged boy at the onset of seizure(13, and 15 years of age each) with normal physical and mental growth. Although first seizure was precipitated by watching TV and playing puzzles in each patient, initial diagnosis was idiopathic generalized epilepsy, possibly juvenile myoclonic epilepsy( JME). For the first few years, seizures were infrequent but mostly precipitated by the tasks needs concentration such as playing computer games, decision-making, mathematics, reading, or during the examination. EEG revealed various thinking process including reading hard books, drawing complex figure, complex calculation induced epileptic discharges even if it usually needs certain period of concentration. Phenytoin, valproic acid, clonazepam, vigabatrin, and lamotrigine sometimes abated their seizures but none of these made them seizure-free. Complex reflex epilepsy induced by thinking was proposed to be a separate type of epilepsy or a variant of JME. Age, sex, stereotypic seizure-inducing factors, clinical course, and refractory epilepsies in these patients highly suggested this type of epilepsy as a variant of JME but its refractoriness and unique provocation still needs more speculation.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.12
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• pp.1559-1570
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• 2002

Purpose : There has been no exact answer to the question of when to discontinue antiepileptic drugs(AEDs) in children with well-controlled epilepsy for a long period. This study is about the risk factors of relapse after withdrawal of AEDs in seizure(Sz)-free patients to show a guideline for discontinuation of AEDs. Methods : One hundred and sixty-nine children were diagnosed as epileptic at the Pediatric Dept. of Kyung-Hee Univ. between 1993 to 1998, in whom AEDs had been withdrawn after at least two years of Sz-free period. Univariate analysis using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and multivariate analysis using Cox-proportional hazard model were performed for sixteen risk factors. Results : Forty-nine of the 169 patients(28.9%) had recurrence of Szs. The mean follow-up after withdrawal of AEDs was 4.1 years, mean treatment period was 4.1 years, and the mean Sz-free period was 3.3 years. Factors associated with an increased risk of relapse were young age at onset, symptomatic Sz, Sz type in West and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, neurologic deficit, longer Sz-controlling period, shorter total treatment period, number of AEDs used(more than one drug), age at withdrawal of AEDs, and Sz-free period less than two years in univariate analysis using Kaplan-Meier mothod. From multivariate analysis, the factors indicating a significantly higher relapse risk were pre-treatment period after first Sz attack, Sz-controlling period, Sz-free period, number of AEDs used, neurologic abnormalities. Conclusion : For epileptic children who were Sz-free for more than two years, and were more than six-years-old, the discontinuation of AEDs should be considered positively, according to age of onset, Sz type, age at withdrawal of AEDs, total treatment period, Sz-controlling period, number of AEDs used, etiology, neurologic deficit, and the wishes of the patients and the their parents.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.12
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• pp.1346-1349
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• 2008

Reflex seizures induced by micturition are rare, and there have been few reports on ictal electroencephalogram (EEG) findings. Here, we report a 7-year-old boy with secondarily generalized partial seizures induced by micturition. The seizures occurred every time he urinated. A few seconds after micturition begun, he toppled down with hand automatism followed by a secondarily generalized tonic posture and loss of consciousness. Ictal video-EEG recording during urination was performed. An ictal EEG demonstrated a polyspike wave discharge onset from the left frontotemporal region, with rapid spread to the right frontotemporal region. He was treated with the antiepileptic drug valproate sodium, which improved seizure control. He remained seizure-free until the last followup for a period of 2 years.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.1001-1007
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• 2000

Objective : We analysed diverse clinical features of the cavernous angioma. Also, we report the experience in differ-ent methods of the management and their results. Method : Data from 80 patients who were confirmed pathologically or diagnosed radiologically between Jan. 1990 and Sept. 1998 at our hospital were analysed. Variable factors that were examined were : clinical features, effects of treatment, and complications. Results : There were 47 male and 33 female patients. The age at the first presentation was from 3 to 57(mean 34.1) years old. Clinical features were seizure in 28 cases(38%), bleeding in 24 cases(32%), neurologic deficits in 12 cases(16%), headache in 10 cases(14%), and six incidental cases. The locations of lesion were cerebral and cerebellar hemisphere in 45 cases(56.2%), brainstem, basal ganglia, and thalamus in 32 cases(40%), multiple in 3 cases (3.8%). Seizure was common at the third decade and occurred frequently with the cavernous angioma in temporal (43%) or frontal lobe(39%). Bleeding was frequent after the third decade with peak at the fourth decade and had high incidence in brainstem or thalamus. The gamma-knife radiosurgery was done in 47 cases. Rebleeding occurred in 3 cases, but it was within postradiosurgery 1 year. Symptomatic radiation change occurred in 2 cases of 8 radiation change on MRI. On follow-up MRI, no evidence of rebleeding was found in 30 cases. Also, The lesion size was decreased in 3 cases. Resection was performed in 23 cases ; total 20, subtotal 2, partial 1. Postoperative complication occurred in 6 cases(26.1%). After surgery, 7(63.6%) of 11 seizure patients had outcome of seizure-free. Subclinical rebleeding occurred in one of two subtotal resected cases. In 11 patients, conservative management was done. There was neither rebleeding nor symptom aggravation during follow-up period of mean 17.2 months. Conclusion : The solution for prevention of rebleeding is complete removal of the lesion located at noneloquent area or accessible region, especially for the patients who presented symptoms or intractable seizure. However, the Gamma knife radiosurgery is considered when the lesions are located at eloquent area or when severe postoperative morbidity is expected.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.107-110
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• 2011

Purpose: There have been few case reports regarding treatment plans for long-term, neglected scalp defects and calvarial defects with subdural abscess. The purpose of this case report is to present our experience with a free latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap for scalp and calvarial defects and to discuss flap options in comparison with a literature review. Methods: A 60-year-old man who fell down from a four-story-height that resulted in a craniotomy in 1979; he visited our outpatient clinic for a chronic, purulent scalp and calvarial defects with unidentified artificial bone. The artificial bone was removed by a neurosurgeon and reconstructed with a free latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap. The deep temporal artery was used as a recipient artery. The postoperative flap status was excellent until the 6th day post-operation when the patient experienced a seizure, and an arterial insufficiency occurred at the flap probably due to an arterial spasm. Emergency exploration with arterial re-anastomosis was performed and the flap status was stabilized. Results: Complete wound healing was achieved after 3 weeks without infectious and systemic postoperative complications. During the 6 month follow-up period, there were no complications. Conclusion: We suggest the latissimus dorsi myocutaneous free flap as a good treatment option for a chronic, purulent, complicated scalp with calvarial defect, as a well as treatment for an acute traumatic defect.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.187-191
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• 2006

Purpose : Malformation of cortical development(MCD) constitutes an important etiology of intractable epilepsy and is considered an indication for surgical treatments, though their efficacy is limited and variable depending on MCD's location or distribution. Ketogenic diets are widely known to be effective, but as little study has been made concerning their efficacy on epilepsy with MCD, we evaluated the efficacy of ketogenic diets on MCD patients compared with that of epileptic surgery, which is more invasive. Methods : We performed retrospective studies and analyse on 30 patients with MCD diagnosed by brain MRI and treated with ketogenic diets for intractable epilepsy since 1998, checking decreases in their seizure episodes after starting the diets. Results : Cortical dysplasia was observed in 24(80.0 percent) patients as the most common type of MCD. Also, MCD was observed in unilateral hemisphere most commonly, in 23(76.7 percent) patients; it was observed in both hemispheres in 7(23.3 percent) patients. Nine(30.0 percent) out of 30 patients became seizure-free after starting ketogenic diets, and 14(46.7 percent) patients experienced 50 percent seizure reductions as well. Age of starting the diet or the duration of epilepsy period before starting showed no statistical relationship with the efficacy of the diet. Though the younger the patient and the longer the treatment the more effective the diet seemed to be, there was no statistical correlation between them. The location of MCD showed no significance neither. Conclusion : Considering various limits and invasiveness of surgical treatment, a ketogenic diet could be a good tool in treating children with intractable epilepsy with MCD.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 2014

This study aimed at investigating the content and meaning of royal garden(宮苑) sightseeing event in Pyoam Gang, sehwang's "Hogayugeumwongi" As the research method, descriptive research method was used, which is to consider and interpret the content and meaning in the historical records. Research results are summarized as follows. 1. "Hogayugeumwongi", which recorded the event that the King personally guided and explained the palace to the vassals, is a very precious historical records in Korean landscape gardening cultural history. Such thing is unprecedented in Joseon Dynasty as well as China. 2. The person who recorded this event was famous for shi seo hwa samjeol in the time, and the point that he was Pyoam, who was appreciated as 'the head(總帥) of artistic and literary circles(藝苑)', adds more value to the future generations. 3. The characteristic of this sightseeing event was to praise the vassals' labor, who contributed to the completion of Kyujanggak, to establish King Jongjo's direct rule in the early period of seizure of power, and eojin(御眞) dosa(圖寫), etc., which expressed the King's dignity. Jongjo utilized Geumwon, a forbidden place in the palace, to give a special privilege to the vassals' effort, who took a great part in realizing his political ideal. 4. One of sightseeing lines toward the backyard of Changdeok Palace could be identified. Though the sightseeing lines toward the backyard were not fixed, however this might be the best sightseeing line which Jongjo intentionally chose to enjoy that day's flavor of autumn. 5. The characteristic of this event was informal and somewhat extemporary 'sightseeing'. Therefore, it is considered, that day's event was relatively private and free 'play(遊)', while 'sanghwaeojoyeon(賞花漁釣宴)', which Jongjo gave to the vassals middle after his reign, was a royal 'banquet', which prepared frames, such as event holding time and form, qualification for participation, e.g. flower viewing, fishing, writing poems, etc. This research has a significance that it considered the content and meaning in historical records including the front and the rear context that "Hogayugeumwongi" was written through the consideration of related historical materials. "Hogayugeumwongi" can be utilized as a material for storytelling with regard to royal garden sightseeing in future as a valuable cultural content, also, follow-up study on this is necessary.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.73-94
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• 2022

Florence is the cradle of the Italian Renaissance. It is the result of a combination of medieval humanists' exploration of ancient Greek and Roman knowledge and culture, the leadership of great monarchs and priests, patronage of the Medici family, etc., free-thinking and creativity of artists, and critical consciousness and cultural needs of citizens. However, the Florentine Renaissance could not have blossomed unless the Medici family had collected ancient manuscripts and translations, and built libraries to preserve and provide literature. Based on this logical basis, this study outlined the Florentine renaissance and historic libraries, analyzed the collection and composition of favorite books of the Medici family, and traced the architectural characteristics and metaphors of the Medici libraries, The San Marco Library (Michelozzo Library), Library of Badia Fiesolana, and the San Lorenzo Library (Laurentian Library) were the priming and birthplace of the Florentine Renaissance despite of many difficulties, including earthquake, fire, restoration, transfer, seizure, and closure. In particular, the San Marco Library, which was opened in 1444 based on the financial support of Cosimo de' Medici, Michelozzo's design, and Niccoli's private collections was the first common library in the Renaissance period. And the architectural highlight of the Laurentian Library, which opened in 1571 under the leadership of Giulio (Papa Clemente VII), is Michelangelo's staircase, which symbolizes 'from ignorance to wisdom', and the real value of the content is the ancient manuscripts and early printed books, which were collected by the humanist Niccoli and the Medici family. In short, when discussing the Florentine Renaissance, Medici's collection and historic libraries are very important points. The reason is that the ancient collections were not stuffed products, but syntactic semiotics, and the libraries are telescopes that view the history of human knowledge and culture and microscopes that create knowledge and wisdom. If records dominate memories, libraries accumulate records. Therefore, long breathing and time capsule strategies are also required for the development and preservation of retroactive books in domestic libraries with a relatively long history.