• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.82-91
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• 2020

Electroencephalography (EEG) produces time-series data of neural oscillations in the brain, and is one of the most commonly used methods for investigating both normal brain functions and brain disorders. Quantitative EEG analysis enables identification of frequencies and brain activity that are activated or impaired. With studies on the structural and functional networks of the brain, the concept of the brain as a complex network has been fundamental to understand normal brain functions and the pathophysiology of various neurological disorders. Functional connectivity is a measure of neural synchrony in the brain network that refers to the statistical interdependency between neural oscillations over time. In this review, we first discuss the basic methods of EEG analysis, including preprocessing, spectral analysis, and functional-connectivity and graph-theory measures. We then review previous EEG studies of brain network characterization in several neurological disorders, including epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder. Identifying the EEG-based network characteristics might improve the understanding of disease processes and aid the development of novel therapeutic approaches for various neurological disorders.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.565-570
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• 2010

Purpose : To verify the efficacy and safety of lamotrigine (LTG) monotherapy in newly diagnosed children with epilepsy. Methods : We prospectively enrolled 148 children who had undergone LTG monotherapy at our institution between September 2002 and June 2009. Twenty-nine patients were excluded: 19 due to incomplete data and 10 were lost to follow up. The data of the remaining 119 patients was analyzed. Results : We enrolled 119 pediatric epilepsy patients (aged 2.8-19.3 years; 66 males and 53 females) in this study. Out of 119 patients, 29 (25.2%) had generalized epilepsy and 90 (74.8%) had partial epilepsy. The responses of seizure reduction were as follows: Seizure freedom (no seizure attack for at least 6 months) in 87/111 (78.4%, n=111) patients; partial response (reduced seizure frequency compared to baseline) in 13 (11.7%) patients; and persistent seizure in 11 (9.9%) patients. The seizure freedom rate was in 81.6% in patients with partial seizure (75.9% for complex partial seizure and 90.9% for benign rolandic epilepsy) and 44.8% in patients with generalized epilepsy (30.0% for absence seizure, 35.7% for juvenile myoclonic epilepsy patients, and 100.0% for idiopathic generalized epilepsy patients). Adverse reactions were reported in 17 (14.3%) patients, and 8 patients (6.7%) discontinued LTG because of rash and tic. No patient experienced severe adverse reaction such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Conclusion : LTG showed excellent therapeutic response and had few significant adverse effects. Our findings report may contribute in promoting the use of LTG monotherapy in epileptic children.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.47-50
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• 2017

Concentrations of cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate were measured by performing radioimmunoassay of the cerebrospinal fluid of 68 dogs diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy or inflammatory, degenerative, or non-neurological disease. No steroid concentration differences were found among diagnoses. Dehydroepiandrosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate concentrations were higher in males than in females and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate decreased with increasing age. No sex or age effects were observed on cortisol or hormone ratios. Although limited to a relatively small sample, our results show sex- and age-dependent variations in these neurosteroid concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid. The role of such variations in the pathophysiology of the dog brain warrants further investigation.

• Journal of the Korean Child Neurology Society
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.280-283
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• 2018

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is recommended for patients with epileptic seizures to rule out an underlying focal lesion. However, abnormalities in idiopathic generalized epilepsy, including childhood absence epilepsy, cannot usually be identified using brain imaging modalities such as MRI. Peri-ictal MRI abnormalities have been most commonly reported secondary to status epilepticus and are rarely observed in patients with focal seizures and generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Transient peri-ictal MRI abnormalities in absence epilepsy are extremely rare. A five-year-old girl presented with a three-day history of absence seizures that persisted despite continued treatment with sodium valproate. Electroencephalography showed bursts of generalized 3-Hz spike-and-wave discharges, during and after hyperventilation. Abnormal cortex thickening in the left perisylvian region was detected on T2-weighted brain MRI, and cortical dysplasia or a tumor was suspected. The patient started treatment with lamotrigine and was seizure-free after one month. The abnormal MRI lesion was completely resolved at the two-month follow-up. We report on a patient with childhood absence epilepsy and reversible brain MRI abnormalities in the perisylvian region. To our knowledge, this is the first report of transient MRI abnormalities after absence seizures. Transient peri-ictal MRI abnormalities should be considered for differential diagnosis in patients with absence seizures and a focal abnormality on brain MRI.

• The Journal of Korea Assosiation for Disability and Oral Health
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.51-55
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• 2013

Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is a severe form of childhood epilepsy that is defined by generalized multiple type seizures, slowness of intellectual growth, and a specific EEG disturbance. Children affected might previously have infantile spasms or underlying brain disorder but etiology can be idiopathic. LGS seizures are often treatment resistant and the long term prognosis is poor. A 14-year-3-month old, 20.5 kg girl with LGS was scheduled for dental treatment under general anesthesia. The patient presented with multiple caries and heavy calculus. General anesthesia was induced and maintained with inhalation agent, Sevoflurane. And caries treatment, scaling, subgingival curretage were performed. LGS patients usually have poor oral hygiene due to mental retardation and have high risk of seizure during dental treatment. In dental treatment under general anesthesia for LGS, it must be considered of seizure control during peri-operative period. Also periodic recall check, instruction of oral hygiene must be performed.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.659-664
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• 2006

Purpose : To evaluate the morbidity and mortality of children with status epilepticus(SE) as an initial seizure and to compare these according to age groups. Methods : The 78 cases(38 cases <2 years and 38 cases ${\geq}2$ years) with SE as an initial seizure admitted to the Chonnam national university hospital from Jan. 2000 to Jan. 2004 were reviewed. Developmental profiles, laboratory findings, etiologies and seizure types of SE and outcomes were compared in between two age groups, under and over 2 years. Results : SE occurred predominantly in less than 5 years old. Febrile causes were the most common, which is significantly more in those under 2 years than over 2 years(P<0.05). whereas idiopathic and acute symptomatic causes were more common in those over 2 years(P<0.05). Generalized tonic-clonic seizures was the most common type. The mortality rate was 6.4 percent(5 cases : 1 case <2 years and 4 cases ${\geq}2$ years). The estimated occurrence of epilepsy after SE was 24.4 percent(19 cases : 8 cases <2 years and 11 cases ${\geq}2$ years). The neurologic sequelae after SE in cases that had developed normally before SE(62 cases : 32 cases <2 years and 30 cases ${\geq}2$ years) were observed in 20 cases(32.3 percent), and were more frequent over 2 years(21.9 percent vs. 43.3 percent, P<0.05). Conclusion : In this study death was less common and the neurologic sequelaes of SE as an initial seizure were less severe in children under 2 years of age. The reason seemed to be the difference in the etiology of SE with age.