• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2019

Anhidrosis refers to the condition in which the body does not respond appropriately to thermal stimuli by sweating. Sweating plays an important role in maintaining the body temperature, and its absence should not be overlooked since an elevated body temperature can cause various symptoms, even leading to death when uncontrolled. The various neurological disorders that can induce anhidrosis make a detailed neurological evaluation essential. The medication history of the patient should also be checked because anhidrosis can be caused by various drugs. The tests available for evaluating sweating include the quantitative sudomotor axon reflex sweat test, thermoregulatory sweat test, sympathetic skin response, and electrochemical skin conductance. Pathological findings can also be checked directly in a skin biopsy. This review discusses the differential diagnosis and evaluation of anhidrosis.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.441-447
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• 2019

RAS gene mutations are frequently found in one third of human cancers. Affecting approximately 1 in 1,000 newborns, germline and somatic gain-of-function mutations in the components of RAS/mitogen-activated protein kinase (RAS/MAPK) pathway has been shown to cause developmental disorders, known as RASopathies. Since RAS-MAPK pathway plays essential roles in proliferation, differentiation and migration involving developmental processes, individuals with RASopathies show abnormalities in various organ systems including central nervous system. The frequently seen neurological defects are developmental delay, macrocephaly, seizures, neurocognitive deficits, and structural malformations. Some of the defects stemmed from dysregulation of molecular and cellular processes affecting early neurodevelopmental processes. In this review, we will discuss the implications of RAS-MAPK pathway components in neurodevelopmental processes and pathogenesis of RASopathies.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.155-160
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• 2021

The masticatory muscle disorder is the most common problem that patients with temporomandibular disorder often complain. For such complaints, treatment is directed towards reducing hyperactivity of muscles or effects of the central nervous system. However, if nonspecific occlusal change or pain persists, it is necessary to consider that muscle weakness might be the cause of the persistence of temporomandibular disorder. Stabilization of occlusion and improvement of the pain symptoms were achieved in both cases through the chewing gum exercise. This exercise may enable masticatory movements done in normal function by using muscle engram and achieve reinforcement of the masticatory muscles with balanced, simultaneous contacts of the teeth. In addition, it may be a viable method for treating temporomandibular disorders that do not respond well to conventional mandibular stabilization therapies.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.53-64
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• 2022

Three-dimensional cultures of human neural tissue/organlike structures in vitro can be achieved by mimicking the developmental processes occurring in vivo. Rapid progress in the field of neural organoids has fueled the hope (and hype) for improved understanding of brain development and functions, modeling of neural diseases, discovery of new drugs, and supply of surrogate sources of transplantation. In this short review, we summarize the state-of-the-art applications of this fascinating tool in various research fields and discuss the reality of the technique hoping that the current limitations will soon be overcome by the efforts of ingenious researchers.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.58-63
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• 2005

Objectives: REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD), characterized by excessive motor activity during REM sleep, is associated with loss of muscle atonia. In recent years, it has been reported that RBD has high co-morbidity with CNS disorders (especially, Parkinson's disease, dementia, multiple system atrophy, etc.). We aimed to assess differences in clinical and polysomnographic findings among RBD patients, depending on the presence or absence of central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Methods: The medical records and polysomnographic data of 81 patients who had been diagnosed as having RBD were reviewed. The patients were classified into two groups: associated RBD (aRBD, i.e., with a clinical history and/or brain MRI evidence of CNS disorder) and idiopathic RBD (iRBD, i.e., without a clinical history and/or brain MRI evidence of CNS disorder) groups. Twenty-one patients (25.9%) belonged to the aRBD group and 60 patients (74.1%) belonged to the iRBD group. The clinical characteristics and polysomnographic findings of the two groups were compared. Results: Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), i.e., PLMI (periodic limb movement index)>5, was observed more frequently in the aRBD group than in the iRBD group (p<0.001, Fisher's exact test). Also, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), i.e., RDI (respiratory disturbance index)>5, was found more frequently in the aRBD group (p=0.0042, Fisher's exact test). The percentages for slow wave sleep and sleep efficiency were significantly lower in the aRBD group than in the iRBD group. Conclusion: We found that 1 out of 4 RBD patients had associated CNS disorders, warranting more careful neurological evaluation and follow-up in this category of RBD. In this category of RBD patients, we also found more frequent PLMD and OSAS. These patients were also found to have lower slow wave sleep and sleep efficiency. In summary, RBD patients with associated CNS disorders suffer from more disturbed sleep than those without them.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.60-64
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• 2004

Background: Microglial cells, major immune effector cells in the central nervous system, become activated in neurodegenerative disorders. Activated microglial cells produce proinflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ and interleukin-$1{\beta}$(IL-$1{\beta}$). These proinflammatory mediators have been shown to be significantly increased in the neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzhimer's disease and Pakinson's disease. It was known that one of the neurodegeneration source is stress and it is important to elucidate mechanisms of the stress response for understanding the stress-related disorders and developing improved treatments. Because one of the neuropeptide which plays a main role in regulating the stress response is corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), we analyzed the regulation of NO release by CRH in BV2 murine microglial cell as macrophage in the brain. Methods: First, we tested the CRH receptor expression in the mRNA levels by RT-PCR. To test the regulation of NO release by CRH, cells were treated with CRH and then NO release was measured by Griess reagent assay. Results: Our study demonstrated that CRH receptor 1 was expressed in BV2 murine microglial cells and CRH treatment enhanced NO production. Furthermore, additive effects of lipopolysaccaride (LPS) and CRH were confirmed in NO production time dependantly. Conclusion: Taken together, these data indicated that CRH is an important mediator to regulate NO release on microglial cells in the brain during stress.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.259-268
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• 2015

People with auditory processing disorders(APD) do not exactly understand what they hear with normal hearing levels because of difficulties in the processing of auditory information in auditory nervous system. The purposes of this study are to investigate intervention strategies suggested by current literatures and to develop a guide map for APD intervention. The problem based intervention strategies are customized to the specific deficits of a subtype of Buffalo model and Bellis/Ferre model and general intervention strategies are recommended with compensatory strategy, auditory training, environmental modification and so on. Multidisciplinary team should determine and provide various intervention strategies to improve auditory capabilities of a child with APD intensively and persistently. APD intervention guide map is organized with four steps. It helps clinicians and teachers related with the intervention of APD find appropriate intervention strategies and process in order to reduce difficulties of a child with APD and a suspected APD.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.71-78
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• 2018

Nerve conduction study (NCS) is an electrophysiological tool to assess the overall function of cranial and peripheral nervous system, therefore NCS has been diagnostically helpful in the identification and characterization of disorders involving nerve roots, peripheral nerves, muscle and neuromuscular junction, and are frequently accompanied by a needle Electromyography. Furthermore, NCS could provide valuable quantitative and qualitative results into neuromuscular function. Usually, motor, sensory, or mixed nerve studies can be performed with using NCS, stimulating the nerves with the recording electrodes placed over a distal muscle, a cutaneous sensory nerve, or the entire mixed nerve, respectively. And these findings of motor, sensory, and mixed nerve studies often show different and distinct patterns of specific abnormalities indicating the neuromuscular disorders. The purpose of this special article is to review the neurophysiologic usefulness of NCS, to outline the technical factors associated with the performance of NCS, and to demonstrate characteristic NCS changes in the setting of various neuromuscular conditions.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.149-159
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• 2005

Purpose: To determine the extent and rate of prescription drug therapy, especially polypharmacy and the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication use in Korean elderly ambulatory patients based on an explicit criterion. Methods: Performed a retrospective study of 65 years or older ambulatory patients visiting a university hospital based clinic from January 2002 to April 2004. Study determined the patterns of drug prescription per Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification and the potentially inappropriate medication usage based on explicit Beers criteria. Results: Of the 4,042 elderly patients the mean number of prescription was $2.2{\pm}2.0$, which was similar between genders and all age groups within the elderly. 10.7% of patients were prescribed with more than 5 medications concurrently. The most frequently prescribed medication was the drugs used for treating nervous system diseases (44.3%), followed by alimentary tract/metabolism disorders (27.6%), cardiovascular disease (10.7%), blood/blood forming disorders (4.3%), respiratory disorders (6.5%), and musculoskeletal diseases (3.2%). A total of 511 elderly (13%) was prescribed with medication that met the criteria for=1 potentially inappropriate drugs for the elderly. This proportion was similar between genders and all age groups within the elderly. Among these 511 elderly patients the mean number of potentially inappropriate drugs prescribed was $5.1{\pm}3.3$ drugs. Potentially inappropriately prescribed drugs included amitriptyline (76 cases), diazepam (69 cases), ketorolac (57 cases), short acting nifedipine (44 cases), triazolam (38 cases), and hydroxyzine (38 cases). Conclusion: Potentially inappropriate drug prescribing in Korean ambulatory elderly patients are common. Education programs and interventions aimed at optimizing the prescribing and dispensing of the most appropriate drugs are needed.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.65-76
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• 1996

Natural sleep pattern and its physiology in childhood are much different from those in adulthood. Several aspects of clinical evaluation for sleepiness in childhood are more difficult than in adulthood. These difficulties are due to several factors. First, excessive sleepiness in childhood do not always develop functional impairments. Second, objective test such as MSLT may not be reliable since it is hard to be certain that the child understand instructions. Third, sleepiness in children is often obscured by irritability. paradoxical hyperactivity, or behavioral disturbances. Anseguently, careful clinical evaluation is needed for the sleepy children. Usual causes of sleepiness in children are the disorders that induce insufficient sleep such as sleep apnea syndrome, schedule disorder, underlying medical and psychiatric disorder, and so forth. After excluding such factors, we can diagnose the hypersomnic disorders such as narcolepsy, Kleine-Levin syndrome, and idiopathic central nervous system hypersomnia. Among the variety of those causes of sleepiness, I reviewed the clinical difference of narcolepsy and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in childhood compared with in adulthood. Recognition of the childhood narcolepsy is difficult because even severely sleepy children often do not develop pathognomic cataplexy and associated REM phenomena until much later. Since childhood narcolepsy give srise to many psychological, academical problem. Practicers should be concerned about these aspects. Childhood obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is different from adult obstructive sleep apnea syndrome too. Several aspects such as pathophysiology. clinical feature, diagnostic criteria, complication, management, and prognosis differ from those in the adult syndrome. An important feature of childhood obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is the variety of severe complications such as behavioral disorders, cognitive impairment, cardiovascular symptoms, developmental delay, and ever death. Fortunately, surgical interventions like adenotosillectomy or UPPP are more effective for Childhood OSA than adult form. CPAP is a "safe, effective, and well-tolerated" treatment modality too. So if early detection and proper management of childhood OSA were done, the severe complication would be prevented or ever cured.