• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.69-75
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• 2006

In the present study, the author tried to investigate whether four oriental medical prescriptions named, jawan-chihyosan (CHS), gwaru-jisiltang (GJT), and several single compounds, kaempferol, coumarin, betaine and ursolic acid significantly affect mucin release from cultured hamster tracheal surface epithelial (HTSE) cells. Confluent HTSE cells were metabolically radiolabeled with 3H-glucosamine for 24 hrs and chased for 30 min in the presence of CHS, GJT, kaempferol, coumarin, betaine and ursolic acid, respectively, to assess the effect of each agent on 3H-mucin release. Possible cytotoxicities of each agent were assessed by measuring lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) release. Additionally, total elution profiles of control spent media and treatment sample (CHS and GJT) through Sepharose CL-4B column were analysed and effect of CHS and GJT on MUC5AC mRNA expression in cultured HTSE cells were investigated. The results were as follows : (1) CHS and GJT significantly stimulated mucin release from cultured HTSE cells, with significant cytotoxicity , (2) CHS and GJT chiefly stimulated the 'mucin' release and did not affect significantly the release of the other releasable glycoproteins with less molecular weight than mucin. This result suggests that the three herbal prescriptions specifically stimulate the release of mucin ; (3) CHS and GJT significantly increased the expression levels of MUC 5AC mRNA. This result suggests that the three herbal prescriptions can affect the synthesis of mucin at gene level in cultured HTSE cells ; (4) Kaempferol and coumarin did not affect mucin release, however, betaine and ursolic acid stimulated mucin release. All the agents did not show significant cytotoxicity. We suggest that the effects of CHS and GJT, betaine and ursolic acid should be further investigated and it is of great value to find, from oriental medical prescriptions, novel agents which have the effective expectorant or mucoregulative effect on mucin secretion from airway goblet cells.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.sup1
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• pp.55-60
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• 2001

Objective : The purpose of the present study was to examine neurologic changes, fusion rate and degree of kyphosis from the surgical results of those patients who underwent multi-level anterior interbody fusion and internal fixation. Methods : Among 63 cases of the patients who received multi-level anterior interbody fusion and internal fixation in 5 years between 1995 to 1999 at the neurosurgery department, we performed a retrospective study in 52 cases that could be followed up with dynamic view imaging ; the results were compared and analyzed. The analysis was based on the results of history taking, physical findings and radiologic findings, and Odom criteria were used to classify those cases with neurologic changes. Results : Among those 52 cases in whom the follow-up was possible for at least a year and dynamic view imaging was possible, bone fusion was seen in 93% of the trauma cases and 95% in the non-trauma cases and overall bone fusion was observed in 94% of the cases. Bone fusion was seen in 93% of the autobone cases, 95% of the allobone cases, and 94% of the Mesh cases. Radiologic changes were observed by comparing the lateral view after surgery ; kyphosis was seen in 53% of the autobone cases, in 70% of the allobone cases, and in 35% of Mesh cases ; in 45% and 60% of the non-trauma cases and trauma cases, respectively ; and in 55% of the 2 level fusion cases and 46% of the 3 level fusion cases. Neurologic changes classified according to Odom criteria showed excellent result in 48% of all the cases, good in 23%, fair in 4%, and poor in 25%. Conclusion : Even those cases with multi-level fusion, a high fusion rate could be obtained by performing anterior interbody fusion and internal fixation ; those cases with kyphosis were related more with the presence or absence of posterior compartment injury rather than the fusion level ; and those trauma cases showed not much difference in the fusion rate compared with non-trauma cases but had a high possibility of kyphosis.

• Journal of Korean Society of Spine Surgery
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.169-174
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• 2018

Study Design: Case report. Objectives: We report a case of pure epidural cavernous hemangioma located at the thoracolumbar spine in a 53-year-old woman that mimicked a neurogenic tumor on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Summary of Literature Review: A pure spinal epidural cavernous hemangioma without bony involvement is a very rare lesion about which limited information is available in the literature. Materials and Methods: A 53-year-old woman visited our clinic for hypoesthesia with a tingling sensation in the left anterolateral thigh that had begun a month ago. No other neurologic symptoms or signs were present upon a neurologic examination. MRI from an outside hospital showed a $2.0{\times}0.5cm$ elongated mass at the T11-12 left neural foramen. The tumor was completely removed in piecemeal fashion. Results: The histopathologic examination revealed a cavernous hemangioma, which was the final diagnosis. The outcome was favorable in that only operation-related mild back pain remained, without any neurologic deficits, after a postoperative follow-up of 2 years and 3 months. No recurrence was observed on MRI at 2 years postoperatively. Conclusion: Pure epidural spinal cavernous hemangioma is very rare, and it is very difficult to differentiate from other epidural lesions. However, we believe that it should be included in the differential diagnosis of spinal epidural tumors due to its favorable prognosis.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.147-154
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• 2022

The clinical severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in children is usually mild. Most of the affected patients completely recovered from COVID-19 before being released from approximately 7-day quarantine. However, children with comorbidities are at risk of more severe disease and adverse outcomes. We report three cases of COVID-19-affected adolescents with underlying chronic respiratory difficulty due to neurologic diseases who showed sudden clinical aggravations at the time of discharge, even after full clinical improvement. Patient 1 is a 17-year-old boy with Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy who had cardiopulmonary arrest 9 days after the initial COVID-19 symptoms. Patient 2 is a 17-year-old girl with intracerebral hemorrhage with infarction in bed-ridden status who had cardiopulmonary arrest 11 days after the initial symptoms. Patient 3 is a 12-year-old boy with intraventricular hemorrhage with hydrocephalus in bed-ridden status who showed multiorgan failure 10 days after the initial symptoms. Remdesivir, dexamethasone, and empirical antibiotics were administered with mechanical ventilation and intensive unit care. Among the three patients, two (patients 1 and 3) were alive, and one (patient 2) expired. Clinicians caring for adolescents with chronic neurologic and/or pulmonary disease should keep in mind that these patients could have sudden deterioration after recovery from the acute phase of COVID-19 around or after the time of discharge.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.381-384
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• 2010

Spinal epidural hematoma (SEH) causing acute myelopathy is rare. The usual clinical presentation of a SEH is sudden severe neck or back pain that progresses toward paraparesis or quadriparesis, depending on the level of the lesion. Recent studies have shown that early decompressive surgery is very important for patient's recovery. We experienced five patients of cervico-thoracic epidural hematomas associated with neurologic deficits that were treated successfully with surgical intervention.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.166-167
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• 2014

Subdural hemorrhage (SDH) can manifest various neurologic symptoms. However, SDH presenting with only hand weakness has rarely been reported. We report two SDH cases with only hand weakness mimicking peripheral neuropathy. Since SDH can present with hand weakness only, we suggest the clinicians to do a careful history taking and recommend a CT scan in the elderly patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.807-810
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• 1995

The recommended approach for dumbell trmor is a one-stage removal by a team work of both neurosurgeons & thoracic surgeons. Recently we removed a case of dumbell tumor in a 69 years old woman with standard posterolateral thoracotomy and concomitant laminectomy as single stage operation. Postoperative course was uneventful and there were no postoperative neurologic signs.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.9
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• pp.957-963
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• 2009

Neonatal seizures are the most common and distinctive clinical sign of prenatal and/or neonatal brain disorders. Newborn infants with seizures are at risk of mortality and survivors at risk for neurologic impairment, developmental delay, and subsequent epilepsy. Fifteen reports on neonatal seizures in Korea from 1983 to 2009 were analyzed. A total of 731 neonatal seizure cases were reported. Day of seizure onset, etiology, type of seizures, electroencephalogram findings, and outcomes were analyzed. It is necessary to establish a basic report for a future nationwide study of neonatal seizures.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.453-455
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• 2005

Two young women were brought to the Emergency room with generalized tonic and clonic seizures. Seizure developed seven and ten days after delivery respectively without the clinical signs of pre-eclampsia throughout the pregnancies. Magnetic resonance(MR) image of the brain showed characteristically symmetrical abnormal signals in the parietal and occipital regions. After several days of medical treatment, they were discharged without neurologic sequelae and follow-up MR images taken three months after discharge showed complete disappearance of the previous abnormal signals.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2014

Occipito-atlanto-axial subluxation is a type of high cervical injury. Misdiagnosis of this instability might cause several complications, including neurologic deficits. A radiologic evaluation must be performed and specific parameters that imply cervical instability must be confirmed. Full understanding of these parameters may prevent not only delayed diagnosis but also unexpected complication. We report a case of delayed detection of a cervical instability and emphasize the role of proper diagnosis.