• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제56권2호
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• pp.80-85
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• 2013

Purpose: Febrile seizures (FS) are seizures that occur between the age of 6 and 60 months, but its pathophysiology still is not fully understood. There is limited information about the correlation between levels of selenium and leptin with FS. This study aimed to determine the relationship between serum levels of selenium and leptin in children with FS. Methods: This case-control study was conducted in a University Hospital in Shahrekord, Iran, in 2011. The serum levels of selenium and leptin of 25 children with simple febrile seizure (case group) were compared with 25 febrile children without seizure (control group) in acute phase and after three months. The levels of serum selenium and leptin were measured by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method, respectively. Results: In acute phase, the mean serum level of selenium in case and control groups were $95.88{\pm}42.55$ and $113.25{\pm}54.43{\mu}g/dL$, respectively, and difference was not significant (P=0.415), but after three months, this level had a significant increase in both groups (P<0.001). In acute phase, the mean serum leptin level in case and control groups were $0.94{\pm}0.5$ and $0.98{\pm}0.84$ ng/mL, respectively, but difference was not significant (P=0.405). After three months, serum leptin level had no significant change in both groups (P=0.882). Conclusion: These observations suggest that serum levels of selenium and leptin have not specific relation with FS but overllay is lower, however, further study is recommended. Also selenium level in stress and acute phase was significantly lower than recovery phase.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제50권7호
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• pp.694-697
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• 2007

발작성 운동이상증(Paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia, PKD)은 경련성 발작과 구분해야 하는 드문 신경질환으로써 1940년에 Mount와 Reback에 의해 발작성 무도무위증(paroxysmal dystonic choreoathetosis)란 용어로 처음 보고되었으며 1967년 Kertesz에 의해 처음으로 발작성 운동이상증(Dyskinesia)으로 명명 되어졌다. PKD는 아동기에서 성인기 초에 호발하며 가족성 우성 유전으로도 나타날 수 있고 chromosome 16p11.2-q12.1, 16q13-q22.1, 2q32-36과 관계 있다는 보고가 있다. 증상은 대부분 수 초 이내 멈추나 드물게 5분 이상 지속되는 경우도 있다. 증상 발현 전에 감각 이상 등의 전구 증상이 동반되는 경우가 있으며 의식소실은 동반되지 않는다. 치료는 carbamazepne, phenytoin, valproic acid, clonazepam 등의 항경련제를 투여하는데 일부에서는 oxycarbazepine이나 levodopa를 투여하기도 한다. 저자들은 한 가족의 세명의 형제에서 나타난 발작성 이상운동증을 경험하고 항경련제(Oxcarbamazepine or Carbamazepine)를 통한 좋은 치료성적을 거두었기에 보고하는 바이다.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.40-45
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• 2017

Epilepsy is a brain disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by recurrent and unpredictable seizures that are usually controlled with antiepileptic/anticonvulsive drugs. However, most antiepileptic drugs produce various side effects such as tolerance and sedation. Thus, there is a growing interest for alternative anticonvulsive drugs, preferably from natural or herbal sources. In this study, we evaluated the anticonvulsive effects of Rehmannia glutinosa (RG). The anticonvulsive effect of RG extract was evaluated using electroshock- and chemical-induced seizure tests in mice. To identify its probable mechanism of action, the effects of RG extract on $Cl^-$ influx was measured in vitro. We found that RG extract has anticonvulsive effects against electroshock-induced seizures, as indicated by an increased seizure threshold in mice. The RG extract also decreased the percentage of seizure responses induced by the GABAergic antagonist, pentylenetetrazole. These results suggest that the anticonvulsive effects of RG extract are mediated through a GABAergic mechanism. In support of this mechanism, our in vitro test showed that RG extract increases intracellular $Cl^-$ influx. Furthermore, RG extract did not show sedative and/or muscle relaxant effects in the open-field and rota-rod tests. Altogether, these results confirm that RG extract could be a herbal anticonvulsant and a potential alternative for clinical use.

• 센서학회지
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.19-24
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• 2011

Brain disorders such as epilepsy is a condition that affects an estimated 2.7 million Americans, 50,000,000 worldwide, approximately 200,000 new cases of epilepsy are diagnosed each year. Of the major chronic medical conditions, epilepsy is among the least understood. Scientists are conducting research to determine appropriate treatments, such as the use of drugs, vagus nerve stimulation, brain stimulation, and Peltier chip-based focal cooling. However, brain stimulation and Peltier chip-based stimulation processes cannot effectively stop seizures. This paper presents simulation of a novel heat enchanger network(HEN) technique designed to stop seizures by using a neural cooling probe to stop focal and spontaneous seizures by cooling the brain. The designed probe was composed of a U-shaped tube through which cold fluid flowed in order to reduce the temperature of the brain. The simulation results demonstrated that the neural probe could cool a 7 $mm^2$ area of the brain when the fluid was flowing atb a velocity of 0.55 m/s. It also showed that the neural cooling probe required 23 % less energy to produce cooling when compared to the Peltier chip-based cooling system.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.15-20
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• 2014

Background: Triphasic waves are one of the electroencephalographic patterns that can be usually seen in metabolic encephalopathy. The aim of this study is to compare the clinical and electrophysiologic profiles between patients with and without triphasic waves in metabolic encephalopathy, and reassess the significance of triphasic waves in metabolic encephalopathy. Methods: We recruited 127 patients with metabolic encephalopathy, who were admitted to our hospital. We divided these admitted patients into two groups; those with and without triphasic waves. We analyzed the difference of duration of hospitalization, mortality rate during admission, Glasgow Coma Scale, severity of electroencephalographic alteration, and presence of acute symptomatic seizures between these two groups. Results: Of the 127 patients with metabolic encephalopathy, we excluded 67 patients who did not have EEG, and 60 patients finally met the inclusion criteria for this study. Patients with triphasic waves had more severe electroencephalographic alterations, lower Glasgow Coma Scale, and more acute symptomatic seizures than those without triphasic waves. After adjusting the clinical variables, Glasgow Coma Scale and acute symptomatic seizures were only significantly different between patients with and without triphasic waves. Conclusions: We demonstrated that patients with triphasic waves in metabolic encephalopathy had more significant impairment of the brain function.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.98-101
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• 2009

목적: 본 증례 보고는 드물게 보고되고 있는 간질 발작과 동반된 견관절 전방 불안정성에서 발견되는 골병변을 기술하고 고빈도의 재발 요인을 파악하고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법: 저자들은 전간 발작과 동반된 2례의 재발성 전방 탈구를 경험하였으며 본 증례 통하여 일반적인 재발성 견관절 탈구에 준하여 치료하면서 정기적으로 경과를 관찰하였다. 결과: 본 두 증례에서 수술의 경과는 전간 발작의 조절 여부에 따라 경과가 결정됨을 알 수 있었다. 즉 간질 조절이 잘된 환자에서는 안정성을 유지할 수 있었으나 발작이 조절되지 않은 전방 불안정성의 경우 결국 재발성 탈구가 유발되게 되었다. 결론: 전간 발작과 동반된 견관절 불안정성에서 재발 방지를 위해서는 경련 조절이 필수적인 인자임을 인지하게 되었다.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• 제2권1호
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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.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.301-309
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• 2018

Statins mediate vascular protection and reduce the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases. Recent work indicates that statins have anticonvulsive effects in the brain; however, little is known about the precise mechanism for its protective effect in kainic acid (KA)-induced seizures. Here, we investigated the protective effects of atorvastatin pretreatment on KA-induced neuroinflammation and hippocampal cell death. Mice were treated via intragastric administration of atorvastatin for 7 days, injected with KA, and then sacrificed after 24 h. We observed that atorvastatin pretreatment reduced KA-induced seizure activity, hippocampal cell death, and neuroinflammation. Atorvastatin pretreatment also inhibited KA-induced lipocalin-2 expression in the hippocampus and attenuated KA-induced hippocampal cyclooxygenase-2 expression and glial activation. Moreover, AKT phosphorylation in KA-treated hippocampus was inhibited by atorvastatin pretreatment. These findings suggest that atorvastatin pretreatment may protect hippocampal neurons during seizures by controlling lipocalin-2-associated neuroinflammation.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제41권6호
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• pp.387-390
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• 2007

Objective : To determine the presentation, incidence, and risk factors of seizures in patients treated for brain tumors. Methods : One hundred patients who consecutively underwent a craniotomy for the treatment of supratentorial brain tumors were assessed. The pathologies of the patients enrolled in the study included glioma [n=56], meningioma [n=31], metastatic brain tumor [n=7], primary central nervous system lymphoma [n=4], and central neurocytoma [n=2]. Anti-epileptic drugs [AEDs] were administered to all patients for up to six months after the surgery. Pre-defined variables for outcome analysis included tumor grade and location, extent of tumor resection, number of seizures, age at tumor diagnosis, adjuvant therapy, medication and radiological abnormalities. Results : Thirty patients [30%] presented at least a single episode of seizure at the time of admission. Five of these patients [16.7%] developed the seizure during the follow-up period. Newly developed seizure was noticed in six out of seventy patients [8.6%] without prior seizure. Histopathology was malignant gliomas in 10 and supratentorial meningioma in one. Early seizure developed only in two patients. Conclusion : Compared with patients without seizure, patients with seizure at the time of admission showed younger age [p=0.003], a higher portion of low-grade glioma [p=0.001], tumor location in the frontal and temporal lobes [p=0.003] and cortical involvement [p=0.017]. Our study suggestes that tumor progression is considered a significant risk factor for seizure development in glioma patients.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제56권3호
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• pp.237-242
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• 2014

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical features and outcomes of pediatric cavernous malformation (CM) in the central nervous system. Methods : Twenty-nine pediatric patients with supratentorial CM underwent microsurgical excision. In selected cases, transparent tubular retractor system (TTRS) was used to reduce retraction injury and intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) was held to preserve functioning cortex. Patients' demographics and symptoms were reviewed and surgical outcomes were discussed. Results : The main initial clinical manifestations included the following : seizures (n=13, 45%), headache (n=7, 24%), focal neurological deficits (n=3, 10%), and an incidental finding (n=6, 21%). Overt hemorrhage was detected in 7 patients (24%). There were 19 children (66%) with a single CM and 10 (34%) children with multiple CMs. In 7 cases with deep-seated CM, we used a TTRS to minimize retraction. In 9 cases which location of CM was at eloquent area, IONM was taken during surgery. There was no major morbidity or mortality after surgery. In the 29 operated children, the overall long-term results were satisfactory : 25 (86%) patients had no signs or symptoms associated with CMs, 3 had controllable seizures, and 1 had mild weakness. Conclusion : With the assistance of neuronavigation systems, intraoperative neuromonitoring, and TTRS, CMs could be targeted more accurately and excised more safely. Based on the satisfactory seizure outcome achieved, complete microsurgical excision in children is recommended for CMs presenting with seizures but removal of hemosiderin-stained areas seems to be unnecessary.