• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.7
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• pp.672-677
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• 2007

Purpose : To assess the prevalence and characteristics of headache comorbidity with epilepsy in children and adolescents in a specialty epilepsy clinic. Methods : Two hundred twenty nine consecutive patients attending the Chosun University Hospital Pediatric Epilepsy Clinic (mean age $10.0{\pm}4.1\;years$, range 4-17, M:F ratio 1.1:1.0) were interviewed with a standardized headache questionnaire. Headache was classified according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd Edition and epilepsy was classified according to the International League Against Epilepsy. Disability was assessed using pediatric migraine disability assessment (PedMIDAS). Results : Of the 229 epilepsy patients, 86 (37.6%) had co-morbid headache. Of the headache patients, 64 (74.4%) had migraine (65.6%- migraine without aura, 20.3% - migraine with aura, 14.1% - probable migraine). The mean headache frequency was $7.2{\pm}8.4$ per month, mean duration was $2.2{\pm}4.0$ hours, mean severity was $5.2{\pm}2.2$ out of 10, and mean PedMIDAS score was $13.0{\pm}35.4$. The proportion of females was not higher in epilepsy with headache patients (48.8%) compared to epilepsy patients alone (48.0%). In the patients with migraine, 48.4% had complex partial seizures, 17.2% had simple partial seizures, and 34.4% had generalized seizures (P=0.368). A postictal association of migraine was reported in 18.8% with 17.2% reporting a preictal headache, and 7.8% reporting an ictal headache. Conclusion : The prevalence of headache in pediatric epilepsy is higher than that in general pediatric population, suggesting a co-morbidity of headache in epilepsy patients with migraine being the most frequent headache disorder. Altered cerebral excitability resulting in an increased occurrence of spreading depression may explain the headache comorbidity with epilepsy. Further studies are needed to assess the etiology of this co-morbidity as well as assess the frequency, duration, severity and disability response to antiepileptic drugs.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.107-118
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• 2007

Background : It is well known that non-rapid eye movement(NREM) sleep activates the occurrence of interictal epileptiform discharges(IED) in many epileptic syndromes. We performed this study to assess the effect of NREM sleep on IED in epileptic patients with organic brain lesions. Materials and Methods : We analyzed awake and sleep electroencephalopathy(EEG) recorded simultaneously after partial sleep deprivation in 50 patients. We calculated the awake and sleep spike index (ASI and SSI, spikes/epoch), and the percentage increase of ASI and SSI during sleep. Results : In the 50 patients, the IEDs were recorded exclusively during the awake state in 1 (2%) patient, and during the sleep state in 13(26%) patients. The SSI was higher in 44 (88%) patients, and the ASI was higher in 5 (10%) patients. The mean ASI and the SSI in patients with organic brain lesions were $0.058{\pm}0.121$ and $0.148{\pm}0.187$, and it was $0.081{\pm}0.150$ and $0.174{\pm}0.226$ in patients without organic brain lesions. There were significant increases in the spike index (P<0.05) during NREM sleep in both groups (n=36), but no significant difference in the percent increase of spike index (P>0.05). Conclusion : The IEDs were activated significantly during NREM sleep both in patients with and without organic brain lesions, but there were no differences in the degree of activation in both groups. The activating effect of NREM sleep was not correlated with clinical factors such as, frequent nocturnal seizures, frequent generalized tonic clonic seizures, type of epilepsy and taking anticonvulsants. We conclude that the routine EEG used to evaluate epileptiform discharges in epileptic patients should include sleep recordings after partial sleep deprivation.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.511-522
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• 1999

The Leydig cell found within the interstitium of the testis is important in the spermatogenesis. The differentiation of Leydig cell, even though relatively well known in animals, is not fully elucidated yet in human. In the present study, human fetal testes ($14\sim27$ weeks) obtained from artificially induced abortions legally without gross malformations were studied using light and transmission electron microscopy to make clear the differentiation process of Leydig cells in humans. Leydig cells could be classified as 4 types: fusiform, light, dark, and degenerating cells. The most immature cell was the fusiform cells found frequently at 14 weeks, which seemed to differentiate successively into light and dark cells. Light cells were most frequently found at 17 weeks and dark cells at 24 weeks. Light cells were found to have mitochondria and smooth endoplasmic reticuli (sER) most prominently than any other cell types. The lumen of sER became to be expanded with age. Some electron-dense inclusions were observed in the mitochondrial matrix of the dark cells. Lipid droplets found more in light cells than dark cells were most prominent at 16 weeks and gradually decreased after 20 weeks. Glycogen particles were rich in dark cells. Degenerating cells were most frequently found at 27 weeks. From the results, it is suggested that Leydig cells in human fetal testes undergo similar differentiation process af in animals.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.549-556
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• 2009

Purpose : To assess parental knowledge and understanding of epilepsy including social stigma and evaluate the effects of educational programs on parents in an epilepsy camp. Methods : We conducted an epilepsy camp on August 23-24, 2008, at Gyeongsan. Twenty families with an epileptic child each participated in the camp. We performed a survey before and after the camp to obtain data concerning parental understanding of epilepsy and the effects of the camp-based educational programs on the parents. The data were analyzed with SPSS 14.0 using frequency analysis. Results : The parents were sufficiently knowledgeable about epilepsy before the camp, and their knowledge and understanding of epilepsy improved further after the camp. Both perceived stigma and enacted stigma against epilepsy were found in 30.0% of the parents. The perceived stigma decreased to 15.0% after the camp. Conclusion : This study suggests that social approaches such as epilepsy camps are effective in improving parental knowledge and understanding about epilepsy as well as decreasing their perceived social stigma.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.463-468
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• 1996

본 연구는 간질 병소의 국소화에 있어 발작기 및 발작간 뇌스캔의 정확도를 알아보고 발작기 뇌 스캔에서 나타나는 간질 확산이 정확한 간질 병소를 국소화 하는데 어떠한 영향을 미치는가에 대하여 알아보고자 하였다. 15명의 복잡 부분 발작 환자를 대상으로 하였으며, 간질 병소의 최종적인 국소화는 두피 및 발작 뇌파, 피질 뇌파, 자기 공명 영상, 임상양상 및 병리 소견을 종합한 근거로 하였다. 발작기 뇌스캔은 뇌파상 발작 중 또는 환자가 aura를 호소할 때 Tc-99m HMPAO 20mCi(740 MBq)를 정맥주입후 시행하였으며 발작간 뇌스캔은 발작기 뇌스캔 후 3일 이내 임상적으로 발작 증상이 없는 기간에 시행하였다. 간질 병소는 우측 측두엽이 8예, 좌측 측두엽이 6예, 측두엽 이외의 기원이 1예 였다. 발작기 뇌스캔상, 모두 11예(73.3 %)에서 단발성 또는 다발성 섭취 증가가 간질 병소 및 간질확산 부위에서 관찰되었으며, 간질 병소에만 국한된 섭취 증가는 4예(26.7%)에 불과 하였다. 발작간 뇌스캔에는 모두 11예(73.3 %)에서 간질 병소에만 섭취가 감소되었다. 자기 공명 영상에서는 8예(53.3 %)에서 hippocampal sclerosis를 포함한 간질 병소가 확인되었다. 본 연구로 복잡 부분 발작 환자에서, 간질 확산이 발작기 뇌 스캔 중 자주 관찰됨을 알 수 있었으며, 이러한 간질 확산에 따른 다발성 방사능 섭취가 발작기 뇌스캔상, 간질 병소의 국소화에있어 한계가 있음을 결론 내릴 수 있었다.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.10
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• pp.1251-1262
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• 2002

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to assess and compare the stress of mothers and fathers in families with epileptic children, and to assess contributing factors to their stress. Methods : We used a family stress survey with 35 questionnaires to obtain data concerning the parents' perceived stress. Data were analyzed with SPSS 8.0 program using Pearson correlation coefficient, oneway ANOVA, and multiple range test. Results : The parents' stress level seemed not so high and there was no significant difference in stress level between mothers and fathers. There was no significant correlation between most demographic variables of the parents and parents' stress level. But the time of bringing epileptic children correlates positively with the stress level. Oneway ANOVA showed the differences of parents' stress level according to the education institution, seizure type, number of antiepileptic drugs, and the combined disabilities of the sufferer. Conclusion : The results of present study indicate that the stress level in the families with epileptic children may be influenced by some treatment-related characteristics of epileptic children such as seizure type, number of antiepileptic drugs, combined disabilities and the raising method of hospital expenses.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.405-408
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• 1997

랫트는 간질에 높은 감수성을 나타내기 때문에 간질의 연구에 실험실 모델로 많이 이용된다. 그러나 간질의 피낭유충을 랫트에 감염시킨 다음 랫트의 분변에서 충란을 검출해보면 충란의 검출률은 100%에 훨씬 못미쳐서 실험의 설계에 어려움을 겪는 경우가 흔하다. 이 연구에서는 우리나라에서 많이 사육되고 있는 4가지 스트레인(Sprague-Dawley, Fisher 344, the spontaneously hypertensive rats 그리고 Wistar-Kyoto)의 암 수 랫트에 간질의 피낭유충을 경구적으로 접종하고 분변검사와 부검을 실시하여 감염여부를 확인하였다. 충체회수율은 랫트의 성과 스트레인 간에 유의성 있는 차이를 보였는데 Sprague-Dawley계의 랫트가 가장 높은 충체회수율을 보였으며 평균 충체회수율은 암컷보다 수컷에서 높았다. 이 연구의 결과는 간질에 관한 연구 특히 간질구충제의 효능을 검정하는 시험에 유용한 지침이 될 것으로 사료된다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.73-76
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• 2002

간질은 대뇌 신경세포의 순간적인 제어되지 않는 과도한 전기방출로 인하여, 발작적으로 몸의 경련이나, 기타 신경증상 등이 몸으로 표출되는 현상으로 이것이 반복되어 나타나는 현상이다. 간질 진단에 필수적으로 사용되는 뇌파에 혼합된 미지의 성분들로부터 각각의 독립적인 성분으로 분리하는 독립성분분석(ICA)을 적용하여 간질 발작파를 분리하고, 발생위치를 추정하였다. 본 연구에서는 부분발작 환자를 대상으로 간질 발작파가 나타나는 뇌파 신호(18개 채널)에 독립성분분석을 적용하여 18개의 독립성분으로 분리하였다. 또한 발작파(예파(sharp), 극파(spike), 예파와 서파를 동반한 극서파(sharp and slow complexes))가 나오는 간질 발작파의 유형을 분리하였다. 2차원 topological map을 이용하여 발작파의 발생위치를 나타내어 간질 진단에 독립성분분석이 적용될 수 있음을 나타내었다.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.16-29
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• 1994

1. 현재 보편적으로 참고가 되는 간질 환자의 운전 면허 허용의 기준과 관련 법규등을 요약하면 표-5와 같다. 2. 아직 어떤 국가에서는 간질환자의 차량운전을 무경련 기간에 상관없이 금하고 있으나, 대다수의 국가에서는 일정한 기간의 무경련의 존재가 면허 허용의 중요한 기준으로 삼고 있으며, 대략 1년간의 기간을 요구하고 있다. 그러나 간질은 그 특징상 1년 혹은 2년의 무경련후에도 경련이 발생될 수 있어 1년간의 무경련으로 면허 발급을 허가는 제도는 더 연구하여 보완할 필요가 있다. 3. 수면시 간질, 전구증상이 있는 복합 부분 간질, 단순 운동성 간질, 특수한 여건이나 자극에서 생기는 경련환자에게 선택적으로 운전면허 허용은 장시간 운전, 고속 운전, 심리적 육체적 과로상태에서 운전을 하는 경우 기존 경련을 심하게 유발하거나, 평소와 다른 상황에서 경련이 생길 수 있어 이런 환자들에게 일괄적으로 면허를 허용하기 보다는 세밀하게 분석하여 개인별로 판별하여야 하는 것이 바람직하다. 4. 환자의 능동적이고 성실한 경련보고와 아울러 경련발생 가능성이 높아 의사의 운전중단 처방을 수용하고 따르는 협조적인 환자의 자세가 매우 중요한데, 현재까지 환자의 성실한 경련보고와 의사의 조치에 대한 환자의 적극적인 수용자세가 해결되지 않고 있다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.403-406
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• 1991

A 32-year old housewife, living in Seoul, recognized incidentally a painless mass at the left chest wall. During later 3 months, she experienced spontaneous swelling and regression of the mass repeatedly for 4 times. Surgical resection showed a granuloma at anterior serratus muscle containing a nearly matured adult of Fasciola species without vitellaria and uterus. This is the l1th human fascioliasis and the first extra-abdominal infection reported in Korea.