• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.58 no.6
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• pp.550-553
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• 2015

A 67-year-old male presented with left temporal hemianopsia and left hemiparesis. A contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance image revealed a $4.5{\times}3.5{\times}5.0cm$ rim-enhancing mass with central necrosis and associated edema located in the left occipital lobe. Of positron emission tomography and abdominal computed tomography, a 9-cm mass with poor enhancement was found in the right hepatic lobe. Craniotomy and right hemihepatectomy was performed. The resected specimen showed histological features and immunochemical staining consistent with a metastatic neuroendocrine tumor (NET). Four months later, the tumors recurred in the brain, liverand spinal cord. Palliative chemotherapy with etoposide and cisplatin led to complete remission of recurred lesions, but the patient died for pneumonia. This is the first case of a metastatic brain NET originating from the liver. If the metastatic NET of brain is suspicious, investigation for primary lesion should be considered including liver.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.310-313
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• 2016

Intracranial tuberculous subdural empyema (ITSE) is extremely rare. To our knowledge, only four cases of microbiologically confirmed ITSE have been reported in the English literature to date. Most cases have arisen in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis regardless of trauma. A 46-year-old man presented to the emergency department after a fall. On arrival, he complained of pain in his head, face, chest and left arm. He was alert and oriented. An initial neurological examination was normal. Radiologic evaluation revealed multiple fractures of his skull, ribs, left scapula and radius. Though he had suffered extensive skull fractures of his cranium, maxilla, zygoma and orbital wall, the sustained cerebral contusion and hemorrhage were mild. Eighteen days later, he suddenly experienced a general tonic-clonic seizure. Radiologic evaluation revealed a subdural empyema in the left occipital area that was not present on admission. We performed a craniotomy, and the empyema was completely removed. Microbiological examination identified Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tuberculosis). After eighteen months of anti-tuberculous treatment, the empyema disappeared completely. This case demonstrates that tuberculosis can induce empyema in patients with skull fractures. Thus, we recommend that M. tuberculosis should be considered as the probable pathogen in cases with posttraumatic empyema.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.348-352
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• 2014

High-flow vertebral arteriovenous fistulas (VAVF) are rare complications of cervical spine surgery and characterized by iatrogenic direct-communication of the extracranial vertebral artery (VA) to the surrounding venous plexuses. The authors describe two patients with VAVF presenting with ischemic presentation after C1 pedicle screw insertion for a treatment of C2 fracture and nontraumatic atlatoaxial subluxation. The first patient presented with drowsy consciousness with blurred vision. The diffusion MRI showed an acute infarction on bilateral cerebellum and occipital lobes. The second patient presented with pulsatile tinnitus, dysarthria and a subjective weakness and numbness of extremities. In both cases, digital subtraction angiography demonstrated high-flow direct VAVFs adjacent to C1 screws. The VAVF of the second case occurred near the left posterior inferior cerebellar artery originated from the persistent first intersegmental artery of the left VA. Both cases were successfully treated by complete occlusion of the fistulous portion and the involved segment of the left VA using endovascular coil embolization. The authors reviewed the VAVFs after the upper-cervical spine surgery including C1 screw insertion and the feasibility with the attention notes of its endovascular treatment.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.794-805
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• 2017

Purpose: Interface pressure is a factor that contributes to the occurrence of pressure injuries. This study aimed to investigate interface pressure at common sites of pressure injury (occipital, gluteal and peritrochanteric areas), to explore the relationships among risk factors, skin condition and interface pressure, and to identify risk factors influencing interface pressure. Methods: A total of 100 patients admitted to the intensive care unit were enrolled at a tertiary teaching hospital in Korea. Interface pressure was recorded by a scanning aid device (PalmQ). Patient data regarding age, pulmonary disease, Braden Scale score, body mass index, serum albumin, hemoglobin, mean blood pressure, body temperature, and oxygen saturation were included as risk factors. Data collected from July to September 2016 were analyzed using binary logistic regression. Results: The mean interface pressure of the occipital, gluteal, and right and left peritrochanteric areas were 37.96 (${\pm}14.90$), 41.15 (${\pm}16.04$), 53.44(${\pm}24.67$), and 54.33 (${\pm}22.80$) mmHg, respectively. Predictive factors for pressure injuries in the occipital area were age ${\geq}70$ years (OR 3.45, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.19~9.98), serum albumin deficit (OR 2.88, 95% CI: 1.00~8.26) and body temperature ${\geq}36.5^{\circ}C$ (OR 3.12, 95% CI: 1.17~8.17); age ${\geq}70$ years (OR 2.81, 95% CI: 1.10~7.15) in the right peritrochanteric area; and body temperature ${\geq}36.5^{\circ}C$ (OR 2.86, 95% CI: 1.17~6.98) in the left peritrochanteric area. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that old age, hypoalbuminemia, and high body temperature may be contributory factors to increasing interface pressure; therefore, careful assessment and nursing care of these patients are needed to prevent pressure injury. Further studies are needed to establish cutoff values of interface pressure for patients with pressure ulcers.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.190-194
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• 2015

Blunt cerebrovascular injury is defined as a vertebral or carotid arterial structural wall injury resulting from nonpenetrating trauma. Complete traumatic internal carotid artery occlusion is very rare condition accounting for 0.08~0.4 0f all trauma patients and believed to be associated with the greatest risk of ischemic stroke reported in 50~90% in a few small series. A 55-year-male was admitted with drowsy mentality and severe headache after a fall down accident. Brain computed tomography showed a subdural hematoma at the both frontal area with a fracture of the occipital skull bone. Two days after admission, he suddenly complained with a right side hemiparesis of motor grade 2. Brain magnetic resonance diffusion demonstrated multiple high flow signal changes from the left frontal and parietal lesion. Computed tomographic angiogram (CTA) revealed absence of the left ICA flow. Trans femoral cerebral angiography (TFCA) showed complete occlusion of the left internal carotid artery (ICA) at ophthalmic segment in the left ICA angiogram and flows on the left whole hemispheric lesions through the anterior communicating artery in the right ICA angiogram. We decided to conduct close observations as a treatment for the patient because of acute subdural hematoma and sufficient contralateral cerebral flow by perfusion SPECT scan. Two weeks after the accident, he was treated with heparin anticoagulation within INR 2~4 ranges. He recovered as the motor grade 4 without another neurologic deficit after 3 months.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Emotion and Sensibility Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.109-112
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in the brain activation evoked by music arranged in major and minor key used with an identical motion film during the fMRI testing. A part of the audio-visual combinations composed by Iwamiya and Sano were used for the study stimuli. This audio- visual clip was originally developed by combining a small motion segment of the animation "The Snowman" and music arranged in both major and minor key from the original jazz music "Avalon" rewritten in a classical style. Twenty-seven Japanese male graduate and undergraduate students participated in the study. Brain regions more activated by the major key than the minor key when presented with the identical motion film were the left cerebellum, the right fusiform gyrus, the right superior occipital, the left superior orbito frontal, the right pallidum, the left precuneus, and the bilateral thalamus. On the other hand, brain regions more activated by the minor key than the major key when presented with the identical motion film were the right medial frontal, the left inferior orbito frontal, the bilateral superior parietal, the left postcentral, and the right precuneus. The study showed a difference in brain regions activated between the two different stimulus (i.e., major key and minor key) controlling for the visual aspect of the experiment. These findings imply that our brain systematically generates differently in the way it processes music written in major and minor key(Supported by the User Science Institute of Kyushu University, Japan and the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation).

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.148-156
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• 2008

Objective : Although cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) is effective in patients with panic disorder, its the-rapeutic mechanism of action in the brain remains unclear. This study was performed to investigate regional blood flow changes associated with successful completion of CBT in drug-naive patients with panic disorder. Method : The regional blood flow in 4 patients with panic disorder was compared to that in 11 healthy controls before and after a 12-week group CBT using $^{99m}Tc$-ECD SPECT imaging. Psychopathology was assessed using Panic Disorder Severity Scale. Data were analyzed using software for statistical parametric mapping (SPM2). Results : Before CBT, significantly decreased blood flow was found in the parietal and occipital area in panic patients than normal volunteers. In all the patients who showed remission after CBT, increased blood flow was detected in the right cingulate gyrus, left lingual gyrus, and left superior parietal lobule, whereas decreased blood flow was seen in the left inferior temporal gyrus. Conclusion : These results suggested that CBT is effective for panic disorder and change the activity of cingulate gyrus and left temporal gyrus, a part of the brain areas associated with fear in panic disorder.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.176-178
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• 2009

Traumatic brainstem hemorrhage after blunt head injury is an uncommon event. The most frequent site of hemorrhage is the midline rostral brainstem. The prognosis of these patients is poor because of its critical location. We experienced a case of traumatic brainstem hemorrhage. A 41-year-old male was presented with drowsy mentality and right hemiparesis after blunt head injury. Plain skull radiographs and brain computerized tomography scans revealed a depressed skull fracture, epidural hematoma, and hemorrhagic contusion in the right parieto-occipital region. But, these findings did not explain the right hemiparesis. T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) image of the cervical spine demonstrated a focal hyperintense lesion in the left pontomedullary junction. Brain diffusion-weighted and FLAIR MR images showed a focal hyperintensity in the ventral pontomedullary lesion and it was more prominent in the left side. His mentality and weakness were progressively improved with conservative treatment. We should keep in mind the possibility of brainstem hemorrhage if supratentorial lesions or spinal cord lesions that caused neurological deficits in the head injured patients are unexplainable.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.127-130
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• 1995

A 34 year old male patient visited to our neuro-pain clinic with symtoms of a left frontal headache, eyeball throbbing and occipital pain. Two days after the first visit to our clinic. pain was aggrevated and the skin eruption appeared on the left forehead. He was diagnosed as raving Herpes Zoster Opthalmicus(HZO). We performed stellate ganglion block(SGB), but pain did not subsid. So a continuous cervical epidural block was perfomed(CCEB) and it could relieve the pain promptly. In this case, VAS(visual analogue scale) was diminished from 10 to 3 and the skin eruption was healed 24 days after the treatment with CCEB and SGB. We experienced that CCEB is more effective rather than intermittent SGB in intractable HZO. CCEB should be considered to the treatment of choice in patients with HZO.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.23-26
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• 2023

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common skin cancer. Ultraviolet radiation exposure and genetic predisposition are known to be the most important etiological factors. Multiple BCC is often associated with genetic familial conditions such as BCC syndrome, basal cell nevus syndrome. We present a case of 54-year-old female who had multiple BCC that had reoccurred. She was completely cured after receiving radio-chemotherapy for leukemia 16 years ago. She had multiple lesions (scalp, left thigh, right popliteal fossa, and right buttock), and had underwent wide excisions of all lesions. All biopsies revealed BCC. Six years later, she had also multiple lesions; left forehead, frontal vertex scalp, parietal vertex scalp, right occipital scalp, and lower abdomen. We performed wide excision. Histopathological examination revealed BCC. She had no signs of any BCC associated syndrome. We report a rare case of nonsyndromic multiple BCC that reoccurred at the new site.