• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.42-44
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• 2019

Hashimoto's encephalopathy (HE) is a rare and underdiagnosed neuropsychiatric illness. We present the case of a 17-year-old girl who was admitted to a tertiary-care psychiatric center with acute onset psychosis and fever. Her psychotic symptoms were characterized by persecutory and referential delusions, as well as tactile and visual hallucinations. Her acute behavioral disturbance warranted admission and treatment in a psychiatric setting (risperidone tablets, 3 mg/day). She had experienced an episode of fever with a unilateral visual acuity defect approximately 3 years before admission, which was resolved with treatment. Focused clinical examination revealed an enlarged thyroid, and baseline blood investigations, including thyroid function test results were normal. Abnormal laboratory investigations revealed elevated anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) and anti-thyroglobulin (anti-TG) levels (anti-TPO of 480 IU/mL; anti-TG of 287 IU/mL). Results of other investigations for infection, including cerebrospinal fluid examination, electroencephalography, and brain magnetic resonance imaging were normal. She was diagnosed with HE and was treated with intravenous corticosteroids (methylprednisolone up to 1 g/day; tapered and discontinued after a month). The patient achieved complete remission of psychotic symptoms and normalization of the anti-thyroid antibody titers. Currently, at the seventh month of follow-up, the patient is doing well. This case highlights the fact that in the absence of well-defined clinical diagnostic criteria, a high index of suspicion is required for early diagnosis of HE. Psychiatrists need to explore for organic etiologies when dealing with acute psychiatric symptoms in a younger age group.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.675-696
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• 2019

Objective: This study was aimed at evaluating the effect and clarifying the treatment period of Korean medicine treatment for cerebral infarction. Method: This study was carried out on patients with hemiplegia who were hospitalized in the Department of Korean Internal Medicine of Jecheon Korean Medicine Hospital of Semyung University from June 2014 to May 2019. A retrospective study was performed on 253 patients who were diagnosed with cerebral infarction by brain CT or nuclear magnetic resonance imaging. Results and Conclusion: 1. Korean medicine treatment has a significant effect on improving the movement disorder and daily life independence of cerebral infarction. 2. In the group that started Korean medical treatment within one month after the onset of cerebral infarction, with the exception of MMSE-K, the indicators related to the movement disorder and daily life independence showed significant effect. 3. MMSE-K showed no statistically significant change in any of the patient groups. 4. Within three months after the onset date, the longer the period of treatment with Korean medicine, the better the symptom improvement of upper extremity movement disorder. 5. The longer the hospital stays, the better the symptom improvement of the lower extremity movement disorder. 6. The combination of Korean and Western medicine did not affect liver or kidney function.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.295-303
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• 2021

Idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus (INPH) is considered a potentially treatable neurological disorder by shunt surgery and characterized by a triad of symptoms including gait disturbance, cognitive impairment and urinary dysfunction. Although disorders of white matter are generally viewed as the principal pathological features of INPH, analysis of cortical features are important since the destruction of neural tracts could be associated with cortical structural changing. The aim of the study was to determine whether there was any relationship between gait parameter and structural features of cerebral cortex in INPH patients. Gait parameters were measured as follows: step width, toe in/out angle, coefficient of variation (CV) value of stride length, CV value of stride time. After obtaining individual brain MRI of patients with INPH and hemispheric cortical surfaces were automatically extracted from each MR volume, which reconstructed the inner and outer cortical surface. Then, cortical thickness, surface area, and volume were calculated from the cortical surface. As a result, step width was positively correlated with bilateral postcentral gyrus and left precentral gyrus, and toe in/out was positively correlated with left posterior parietal cortex and left insula. Also, the CV value of stride length showed positive correlation in the right superior frontal sulcus, left insula, and the CV value of stride time showed positive correlation in the right superior frontal sulcus. Unique parameter of cerebral cortical changes, as measured using MRI, might underline impairments in distinct gait parameters in patients with INPH.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.127-131
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• 2021

Autosomal recessive spinocerebellar ataxia 20 (SCAR20; OMIM #616354) is a recently described disorder that is characterized by ataxia, intellectual disability, cerebellar atrophy, macrocephaly, coarse face, and absent speech. It is caused by loss-of-function mutations in SNX14. To date, all cases with homozygous pathogenic variants have been identified in consanguineous families. This report describes the first Korean cases of SCAR20 family caused by homozygous variants in SNX14. Two siblings were referred to our clinic because of severe global developmental delay. They presented similar facial features, including a high forehead, long philtrum, thick lips, telecanthus, depressed nasal bridge, and broad base of the nose. Because the older sibling was unable to walk and newly developed ataxia, repeated brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed at the age of 4 years, revealing progressive cerebellar atrophy compared with MRI performed at the age of 2 years. The younger sibling's MRI revealed a normal cerebellum at the age of 2 years. Whole-exome sequencing was performed, and homozygous variants, such as c.2746-2A>G, were identified in SNX14 from the older sibling. Sanger sequencing confirmed homozygous SNX14 variants in the two siblings as well as a heterozygous variant in both parents. This report extends our knowledge of the phenotypic and mutational spectrum of SCAR20. We also highlight the importance of deep phenotyping for the diagnosis of SCAR20 in individuals with developmental delay, ataxia, cerebellar atrophy, and distinct facial features.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2022

Salmonella meningitis is rare yet poses causes significant neurological morbidity in children. Infants, especially those under 3 months of age, and those with immunocompromised states, such as malignancy, malaria, and human immunodeficiency virus infection, are at increased risk for developing Salmonella meningitis. Herein, we describe a case of Salmonella meningitis in a previous healthy 8-year-old girl who presented with high fever, vomiting, and altered mental status. Group D Salmonella species were isolated in cerebrospinal fluid culture, and no abnormal findings were noted in brain magnetic resonance imaging. Immunoglobulin levels and lymphocyte subset counts were within the normal ranges, and no genetic mutation responsible for primary immunodeficiency disease was detected by next-generation sequencing. The patient's condition improved rapidly with third-generation cephalosporin, and no complications or sequalae developed. Nontyphoidal Salmonella can cause meningitis in immunocompetent children and can be successfully treated with early administration of antibiotics.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.42-48
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• 2023

Background: With recent advances in cardiac surgery through minimal access, mini-thoracotomy has emerged as an excellent alternative for cardiac myxoma resection. This study analyzed the surgical results of this approach, focusing on postoperative cerebral embolism and tumor recurrence. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 64 patients (mean age, 56.0±12.1 years; 40 women) who underwent myxoma resection through mini-thoracotomy from October 2008 to July 2020. We conducted femoral cannulation and antegrade cardioplegic arrest in all patients. Patient characteristics and perioperative data, including brain diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) findings, were collected. Medium-term echocardiographic follow-up was performed. Results: Thirteen patients (20.3%) had a history of preoperative stroke, and 7 (11.7%) had dyspnea with New York Heart Association functional class III or IV. Sixty-one cases (95.3%) had myxomas in the left atrium. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass and cardiac ischemic times were 69.0±28.6 and 34.1±15.0 minutes, respectively. Sternotomy conversion was not performed in any case, and 50 patients (78.1%) were extubated in the operating room. No early mortality or postoperative clinical stroke occurred. Postoperative DWI was performed in 32 (53%) patients, and 7 (22%) showed silent cerebral embolisms. One patient underwent reoperation for tumor recurrence during the study period; in that patient, a genetic study confirmed the Carney complex. Conclusion: Mini-thoracotomy for cardiac myxoma resection showed acceptable clinical and neurological outcomes. In the medium-term echocardiographic follow-up, reliable resection was proven, with few recurrences. This approach is a promising alternative for cardiac myxoma resection.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.91-96
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• 2023

Infection with enterovirus (EV) 71 is usually associated with hand-foot-and-mouth disease and herpangina. The most frequent neurologic complication is brainstem encephalitis. A 30-month-old boy visited the pediatric emergency department with fever, lethargy, and abnormal eye contact. His mental status was slightly drowsy. On hospitalization day 2, the patient experienced respiratory arrest with apnea. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed bilateral symmetric T2-high signal lesions without enhancement in the posterior aspect of the brainstem and left medial temporal lobe. Electroencephalography was indicative of diffuse cerebral dysfunction with diffuse high amplitude and irregular delta activities. He underwent a gene study and was diagnosed with myoclonic epilepsy with ragged red fibers syndrome. We report a case of EV 71 brainstem encephalitis by polymerase chain reaction for nasopharyngeal aspirates and feces with rapid progression within one day of fever without the manifestation of throat and skin lesions because of his underlying mitochondrial disease.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.1289-1300
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• 2022

Background: The purpose of this study was to report the improvement of a patient with one-and-a-half syndrome, vertigo, and paresthesia caused by acute primary pontine hemorrhage (PPH) after a combination treatment of traditional Korean and Western medicine. Case report: A 51-year-old female with one-and-a-half syndrome, vertigo, and paresthesia after PPH was treated with Korean medicine, including herbal medication, acupuncture, and moxibustion, and Western medicine, including medication and rehabilitation therapy during hospitalization. Her progress was evaluated by checking for changes in symptoms with the extraocular muscle (EOM) function test, numeral rating scale (NRS), and follow-up brain computed tomography scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). After 41 days of treatment, the EOM movement was improved, leaving limited abduction of the left eye. The NRS scores for vertigo and paresthesia decreased from 10 to 5 and from 10 to 3, respectively. Improvement was noted in hematoma in MRI, but a new ischemic lesion was also discovered. Conclusion: This case reports the clinical course of one-and-a-half syndrome and suggests that a combined therapy of traditional Korean and Western medicine can be useful for PPH patients with one-and-a-half syndrome, vertigo, and paresthesia. However, studies of larger populations are required.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.115-121
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• 2013

A 67 year-old Taeeumin(太陰人) female patient with Thalamic pain Syndrome(Dejerine-Roussy Syndrome) was treated. She was suffering from rt. side numbness, pain and weakness, rt. facial palsy, dizziness, dysarthria and lassitude. She was diagnosed as Cerebral lacunar infarction(Lt. thalamus) by Brain MRI(Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and adminstered Yeoldahanso-tang(熱多寒少湯). After taking Yeoldahanso-tang(熱多寒少湯), her symptoms had improved. Result suggest that Yeoldahanso-tang(熱多寒少湯) is an effective for Taeeumin Thalamic pain Syndrome. Though, results support a role for oriental medical treatment for Cerebrovascular Accident(CVA) connected Sasang Constitution, further research into the effectiveness of oriental medical treatments for CVA connected Sasang Constitution is needed.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.105-107
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• 2015

Pancreatic cancer is commonly presented with distant metastasis. However metastasis to central nervous system (CNS) of pancreatic cancer was rarely reported. 79-years-old man was hospitalized with sudden onset right arm dysesthesia and weakness. In brain magnetic resonance imaging, multifocal high signal intensity lesions in cerebral and cerebellar cortices were observed. Leptomeningeal and parenchymal enhanced lesions were also noted in contrast-enhanced T1 images suggesting a metastasis from the pancreatic cancer. Stroke like manifestation of CNS metastasis of pancreatic cancer is extremely rare. Careful history taking and evaluation should be performed to find the origin of the sudden neurologic deficit.