• Journal of Photoscience
• /
• 제9권2호
• /
• pp.530-533
• /
• 2002

We present a case of The Miller Fisher Syndrome (MFS), showing a remission during a recently developed noninvasive therapy. Two weeks after an appearance of cough and fever, a 35 years old Japanese male developed diplopia, ataxia and numbness of his fingers and toes. He was diagnosed as MFS, and a fixed dose of prednisolone acetate (60mg/day) was administered for 3 months, but little improvement was observed. In addition to this administration, we tried 20 minutes of Photic Feedback (PFB) treatment daily for 40 days. The PFB system detects brain waves from the subject's forehead, and extracts alpha waves by the band-pass filter with a center frequency set at 10.0Hz. It also simultaneously modulates the augmentation of a red light-emitting diode, corresponding with the amplitudes of the extracted alpha waves. In this treatment, this adjusted photic stimulation was given to the subject's closed eyes, resulting in the effective alpha enhancement by photic driving response. The numbness increased during each of PFB treatment, but the symptoms started to improve gradually after 10 days. Other symptoms disappeared after 40 days. CD20 levels increased with this treatment. This case suggests that the PFB treatment may speed the natural remission of MFS. This treatment may be worth considering in patients who suffer polyneuropathy.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
• /
• 제4권2호
• /
• pp.125-132
• /
• 2002

Objectives : Although the diagnosis of hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies (HNPP) is important for correct prognostic evaluation and genetic counseling, the diagnosis is frequently missed or delayed. Our main aim on undertaking this study was to characterize the electrodiagnostic features of HNPP. Material and Methods : Clinical, electrophysiologic and molecular studies were performed on Korean HNPP patients with 17p11.2 deletion. The results of electrophysiologic studies were compared with those of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A (CMT1A) patients carrying 17p11.2 duplication. Results : Eight HNPP (50 motor, 39 sensory nerves) and six CMT1A (28 motor, 16 sensory nerves) patients were included. The slowing of sensory conduction in nearly all nerves and the distal accentuation of motor conduction abnormalities are the main features of background polyneuropathy in HNPP. In contrast to CMT1A, where severity of nerve conduction slowing was not different among nerve groups, HNPP sensory nerve conduction was more slowed in the median and ulnar nerves than in the sural nerve (p<0.01), and DML was more prolonged in the median nerve than in the other motor nerves (p<0.01). TLIs were significantly lower in HNPP than in the normal control and CMT1A patients for the median and ulnar nerves (p<0.01), and were also significantly reduced for the peroneal nerve (p<0.05) compared with those of the normal controls. Conclusion : The distribution and severity of the background electrophysiologic abnormalities are closely related to the topography of common entrapment or compression sites, which suggests the possible pathogenetic role of subclinical pressure injury at these sites in the development of the distinct background polyneuropathy in HNPP.

• 생물정신의학
• /
• 제6권2호
• /
• pp.219-226
• /
• 1999

Objectives : The aims of this study were to evaluate changes in plasma superoxide dismutase(SOD) activities in alcohol depedence, to find out variables to influence on the SOD activities, and finally to identify the correlation of SOD activities with the alcohol-associated cognitive disorders. Methods : For 24 male alcoholics and 21 healthy male controls, plasma SOD activities were measured by spectrophotometry on 1-2 wks after alcohol withdrawal. Structured interviews and laboratory tests were also performed. Results : 1) Upon comparing SOD activities between controls and alcoholics, the SOD activities were significantly(p<0.01) lower in alcoholics($0.308{\pm}0.140$ units/mL) than in healthy controls($0.313{\pm}0.086$ units/mL). 2) Upon comparing SOD activities according to the presence of alcohol-related cognitive disorders, the SOD activities were significantly(p<0.05) lower in alcoholics with cognitive disorders($0.247{\pm}0.049$ units/mL) than in alcoholics without cognitive disorders($0.317{\pm}0.148$ units/mL). 3) Upon comparing SOD activities according to the presence of alcoholic polyneuropathy or alcohol withdrawal seizure, the SOD activities showed no significant differences between alcoholics with polyneuropathy or epilepsy and those without. 4) Upon analyzing variables influencing on the SOD activities in alcoholics, the SOD activities had the negative correlation with hemoglobin(${\gamma}=-0.433$) and severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms(${\gamma}=-0.375$). 5) Upon comparing variables according to the presence of alcohol-related cognitive disorders, the occurrence of alcoholic polyneuropathy(p<0.05) and blood phosphorus concentrations(p<0.01) were significantly higher in alcoholics with cognitive disorders than those without. 6) Upon analyzing an association between SOD activities and variables in alcoholics with cognitive disorders, the SOD activities were positively correlated with the onset age(${\gamma}=0.995$), and negatively correlated with the severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms(${\gamma}=-0.996$). Conclusions : Lower SOD activities in alcohol dependence suggested alcohol-associated cognitive disorders and alcohol withdrawal symptoms might be caused by oxidative stress.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• 제58권5호
• /
• pp.194-198
• /
• 2015

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a chronically progressive or relapsing symmetric sensorimotor disorder presumed to occur because of immunologic antibody-mediated reactions. To understand the clinical courses of CIDP, we report variable CIDP courses in children with respect to initial presentation, responsiveness to medical treatment, and recurrence interval. Four patients who were diagnosed with acute-onset and relapsing CIDP courses at Severance Children's Hospital, Seoul, Korea, were enrolled in this retrospective study. We diagnosed each patient on the basis of the CIDP diagnostic criteria developed in 2010 by the European Federation of Neurological Societies/Peripheral Nerve Society Guidelines. We present the cases of four pediatric patients diagnosed with CIDP to understand the variable clinical course of the disease in children. Our four patients were all between 8 and 12 years of age. Patients 1 and 2 were diagnosed with acute cerebellar ataxia or Guillain-$Barr{\acute{e}}$ syndrome as initial symptoms. While patients 1 and 4 were given only intravenous dexamethasone (0.3 mg/kg/day) for 5 days at the first episode, Patients 2 and 3 were given a combination of intravenous immunoglobulin (2 g/kg) and dexamethasone (0.3 mg/kg/day). All patients were maintained with oral prednisolone at 30 mg/day, but their clinical courses were variable in both relapse intervals and severity. We experienced variable clinical courses of CIDP in children with respect to initial presentation, responsiveness to medical treatment, and recurrence interval.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
• /
• 제6권1호
• /
• pp.20-25
• /
• 2004

Background and Objectives: The proximal and distal nerve segments are preferentially involved in acquired demyelinating polyneuropathies (ADP). This study was undertaken in order to assess the usefulness of motor evoked potential (MEP) and somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) in the detection of the proximal nerve lesion in ADP. Methods: MEP, SSEP and conventional NCS were performed in 6 consecutive patients with ADP (3 AIDP, 3 CIDP). MEP was recorded from abductor pollicis brevis and abductor hallucis using magnetic stimulation of the cortex and the cervical/lumbar spinal roots. SSEP were elicited by stimulating the median and posterior tibial nerves. Latency from cortex and cervical/lumbar roots, central motor conduction time (CMCT), EN1-CN2 interpeak latency were measured for comparison. Results: MEP was recorded in 24 limbs (12 upper and 12 lower limbs) and SSEP in 24 limbs (12 median nerve, 12 posterior tibial nerve). F-wave latency was prolonged in 25 motor nerves (25/34, 73.5%). Prolonged CML and PML were found in 41.7% (10/24) and 45.8% (11/24), respectively. Interside difference (ISD) of CMCT was abnormally increased in the upper extremity, 66.7% (4/6 pairs) in case of CML-PML. EN1-CN2 interpeak latency was abnormally prolonged in one median nerve (1/10) and LN1-P1 interpeak latency was normal in all posterior tibial nerves. Conclusions: MEP and SSEP may provide useful information for the proximal nerve and root lesion in ADP. MEP and SSEP is supplemental examination as well as complementary to conventional NCS.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• 제32권2호
• /
• pp.122-126
• /
• 2015

Polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal gammopathy, and skin changes (POEMS) syndrome is a monoclonal plasma cell disorder. Patients with POEMS syndrome also have various clinical manifestations including generalized edema, pleural effusion, ascites, papilledema, and sclerotic bone lesions. These manifestations can lead to a misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis. We recently experienced a 51-year-old male patient with POEMS syndrome whose sclerotic bone lesion was misdiagnosed as malignant bone metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma. We reassessed the patient and found polyneuropathy, hepatosplenomegaly, hypothyroidism, partial hypopituitarism, immunoglobulin G lambda-type monoclonal gammopathy, hypertrichosis, ascites, and multiple sclerotic bone lesions, all of which led us to a diagnosis of POEMS syndrome. Treatment with thalidomide and dexamethasone resulted in clinical and radiological improvement. The patient has remained in remission after peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.

• 대한한의학회지
• /
• 제19권2호
• /
• pp.137-152
• /
• 1998

Acute complications of diabetes mellitus were diminished after Banting and Best discovered insulin. But chronic complications of diabetes mellitus have been increased. The main complications of diabetes mellitus are diabetic retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic neuropathy, diabetic foot lesion and macrovascular complication. These complications can result in renal failure, loss of sight, cerebral infarction and myocardial infarction. So it is very difficult to treat the complications of diabetes mellitus. In oriental medicine, the transformations(傳變症) of Sogal(消渴) are edema, carbuncle, loss of sight and so on. The comparative study between the trcmsformations(傳變症) of SogaI(消渴) and the complications of diabetes mellitus has come to the following conclusions. 1. In oriental medicine, diabetic retinopathy was expessed as loss of sight and the treament of diabetic retinopathy should be started at an early stage, to prevent vitreous hemorrhage and traction retinal detachment. 2. In oriental medicine. diabetic nephropathy was expressed as edema and the treatment should be started at an early stage of renal injury when the protein comes from urine.3. Symmetrical distal polyneuropathy is the main part of diabetic neuropathy and it was expressed as weakness of the lower limbs and pain of joints in the symptoms of Haso(下消). In Oriental medicine, acupuncture and herb medicine which effect is SopungHwalHyul can treat polyneuropathy. 4. Chief macrovascular complications are coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular disease, The cause of macrovascular complication is atherosclerosis. So the method of treating atherosclerosis should be studied in oriental medicine. 5. Diabetic foot were expressed as carbuncle and its main causes are decreasing perfusion of fool, diabetic neuropathy and infection. So these causes should be studied in oriental medicine. 6. The complications of diabetes mellitus afe very similar to the transfonnatiuns of Sogal(消渴).The control of blood glucose is indispensable to prevent and delay the complication of diabetes mellitus.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
• /
• 제16권1호
• /
• pp.8-14
• /
• 2014

Background: Early detection of neuropathy may prevent further progression of this complication in the diabetic patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of early neuropathic complication in patients with newly diagnosed type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Methods: Nerve conduction studies (median, ulnar, posterior tibial, peroneal, and sural nerves) were performed for 49 type 1 (27 males, mean $14.1{\pm}7.5$ years) and 40 type 2 (27 males, $42.0{\pm}14.1$ years) diabetic patients at onset of diabetes. Children with age at onset under 4 years and adults over 55 years were excluded to eliminate the aging effect and the influence of obstructive arteriosclerosis. Neuropathy was defined as abnormal nerve conduction findings in two or more nerves including the sural nerve. Results: Mean HbA1c level was $12.6{\pm}3.3%$ for type 1 and $10.5{\pm}2.9%$ for type 2 diabetes. The prevalence of neuropathy was 12.2% for type 1, and 35.0% for type 2 diabetes, respectively. There were significant trends in the prevalence of neuropathy with increasing age (p<0.05). The effect of the mean level of glycosylated hemoglobin on the prevalence of polyneuropathy at onset of diabetes was borderline (p=0.0532). Neither sex of the patients nor the type of diabetes affected the neurophysiologic abnormalities at the diagnosis. Conclusions: Even in a population with diabetes at the diagnosis, the prevalence of subclinical neuropathy was not low. Neuropathy has been significantly associated with increasing age indicating the possibility of longer duration of undetected diabetes among them, especially in type 2 diabetes.

• 대한물리치료과학회지
• /
• 제6권3호
• /
• pp.9-24
• /
• 1999

Guillain-Barre syndrome(GBS) is one of the common motor unit diseases and defined as acute postinfectious polyneuropathy, It is not known most effective medical intervention for GBS, but generally benefits from an intensive physical therapy program. In this report, hydrotherapy was applied for a patient with GBS to improve muscle power and functional abilities. Two weeks later, the patient's functional abilities, muscle power, and physical endurance were improved without complications. Since the hydrotherapy does not load maximally to the patient with GBS, the patient can exercise himself actively for the maximal tolerance. It is the reason of fast recovery. In summary, the hydrotherapy is important to the patient with GBS and it must apply to these patients more frequently.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제57권4호
• /
• pp.295-297
• /
• 2015

We report the case of 57-year-old woman diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease and lumbar disk herniation (LDH). She had left leg weakness and foot numbness, foot deformity (muscle atrophy, high arch, and clawed toes). The lumbar spine MRI showed LDH at L4-5. Additionally, electrophysiology results were consistent with chronic peripheral motor-sensory polyneuropathy (axonopathy). In genetic testing, 17p11.2-p12 duplication/deletions characteristic of CMT disease were observed. We confirmed the patient's diagnosis as CMT disease and used conservative treatment.