Cluster headache attacks can be successfully treated with oxygen. We report four patients with episodic cluster headache were treated with oxygen therapy from one or two oxygen concentrators. Oxygen therapy with two oxygen concentrators seems to be effective in reduction or cessation of pain of cluster headaches. Patients expressed excellent satisfaction to oxygen therapy with two oxygen concentrators. Oxygen concentrators can be considered as an effective and safe alternative of oxygen cylinder for patients with cluster headache.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective patient data collection and investigator survey. PURPOSE: To investigate patterns of opioid treatment for pain caused by spinal disorders in Korea. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Opioid analgesic prescription and adequacy of consumption measures in Korea have markedly increased in the past decade, suggesting changing patterns in pain management practice; however, there is lack of integrated data specific to Korean population. METHODS: Patient data were collected from medical records at 34 university hospitals in Korea. Outpatients receiving opioids for pain caused by spinal disorders were included in the study. Treatment patterns, including opioid types, doses, treatment duration, outcomes, and adverse drug reactions (ADRs), were evaluated. Investigators were interviewed on their perceptions of opioid use for spinal disorders. RESULTS: Among 2,468 analyzed cases, spinal stenosis (42.8%) was the most common presentation, followed by disc herniation (24.2%) and vertebral fracture (17.5%). In addition, a greater proportion of patients experienced severe pain (73.9%) rather than moderate (19.9%) or mild (0.7%) pain. Oxycodone (51.9%) and fentanyl (50.8%) were the most frequently prescribed opioids; most patients were prescribed relatively low doses. The median duration of opioid treatment was 84 days. Pain relief was superior in patients with longer treatment duration (≥2 months) or with nociceptive pain than in those with shorter treatment duration or with neuropathic or mixed-type pain. ADRs were observed in 8.6% of cases. According to the investigators' survey, "excellent analgesic effect" was a perceived advantage of opioids, while safety concerns were a disadvantage. CONCLUSIONS: Opioid usage patterns in patients with spinal disorders are in alignment with international guidelines for spinal pain management. Future prospective studies may address the suitability of opioids for spinal pain treatment by using appropriate objective measurement tools.
Analgesics, Opioid ; Chronic Pain ; Data Collection ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; Fentanyl ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Korea* ; Medical Records ; Nociceptive Pain ; Outpatients ; Oxycodone ; Pain Management ; Prescriptions ; Prospective Studies ; Research Personnel ; Retrospective Studies* ; Spinal Diseases ; Spinal Stenosis ; Spine

An 18-year-old left-handed male harbored intractable medial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) underwent fractionated gamma knife surgery (GKS) instead of open surgery, considering the mental retardation and diffuse cerebral dysfunction. GKS treatment parameters were: target volume, 8.8 cm3; total marginal dose, 24 Gy in 3 fractionations at the 50% isodose line. The patient has been free from seizures since 9 months after GKS, with notable improvement in cognitive outcome. Fractionated GKS could be considered as a safe tool for seizure control and neuropsychological improvement in patients with MTLE.
Adolescent ; Epilepsy ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe* ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability ; Male ; Radiosurgery* ; Seizures ; Stereotaxic Techniques ; Temporal Lobe*

An 18-year-old left-handed male harbored intractable medial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) underwent fractionated gamma knife surgery (GKS) instead of open surgery, considering the mental retardation and diffuse cerebral dysfunction. GKS treatment parameters were: target volume, 8.8 cm3; total marginal dose, 24 Gy in 3 fractionations at the 50% isodose line. The patient has been free from seizures since 9 months after GKS, with notable improvement in cognitive outcome. Fractionated GKS could be considered as a safe tool for seizure control and neuropsychological improvement in patients with MTLE.
Adolescent ; Epilepsy ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe* ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability ; Male ; Radiosurgery* ; Seizures ; Stereotaxic Techniques ; Temporal Lobe*

We made a mistake in our recently published article.

We investigated the efficacy and tolerability of various anticholinergics in Korean children with non-neurogenic overactive bladder (OAB). A total of 326 children (males:females= 157:169) aged under 18 yr (mean age 7.3+/-2.6 yr) who were diagnosed with OAB from 2008 to 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. The mean duration of OAB symptoms before anticholinergic treatment was 16.9+/-19.0 months. The mean duration of medication was 5.6+/-7.3 months. Urgency urinary incontinence episodes per week decreased from 1.9+/-3.1 to 0.4+/-1.5 times (P<0.001). The median voiding frequency during daytime was decreased from 9.2+/-5.4 to 6.3+/-4.2 times (P<0.001). According to 3-day voiding diaries, the maximum and average bladder capacity were increased from 145.5+/-66.9 to 196.8+/-80.3 mL and from 80.8+/-39.6 to 121.8+/-56.5 mL, respectively (P<0.001). On uroflowmetry, maximum flow rate was increased from 17.6+/-8.4 to 20.5+/-8.2 mL/sec (P<0.001). Adverse effects were reported in 14 (4.3%) children and six children (1.8%) discontinued medication due to adverse effects. Our results indicate that anticholinergics are effective to improve OAB symptoms and tolerability was acceptable without severe complications in children.
Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cholinergic Antagonists/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Constipation/etiology ; Dizziness/etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive/*drug therapy

No abstract available.
Brain ; Brain Abscess ; Lateral Sinus Thrombosis ; Otitis ; Otitis Media ; Petrositis ; Transverse Sinuses

No abstract available.
Brain ; Brain Abscess ; Lateral Sinus Thrombosis ; Otitis ; Otitis Media ; Petrositis ; Transverse Sinuses

BACKGROUND: Simian virus 40 (SV40), a polyomavirus, was discovered as a contaminant of a human polio vaccine in the 1960s. It is known that malignant mesothelioma (MM) is associated with SV40, and that the virus works as a cofactor to the carcinogenetic effects of asbestos. However, the reports about the correlation between SV40 and MM have not been consistent. The purpose of this study is to identify SV40 in MM tissue in Korea through detection of SV40 protein and DNA. METHODS: We analyzed 62 cases of available paraffin-blocks enrolled through the Korean Malignant Mesothelioma Surveillance System and performed immunohistochemistry for SV40 protein and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for SV40 DNA. RESULTS: Of 62 total cases, 40 had disease involving the pleura (64.5%), and 29 (46.8%) were found to be of the epithelioid subtype. Immunostaining demonstrated that all examined tissues were negative for SV40 protein. Sufficient DNA was extracted for real-time PCR analysis from 36 cases. Quantitative PCR of these samples showed no increase in SV40 transcript compared to the negative controls. CONCLUSIONS: SV40 is not associated with the development of MM in Korea.
Asbestos ; DNA ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Korea ; Mesothelioma ; Pleura ; Poliomyelitis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polyomavirus ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Simian virus 40 ; Viruses

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) and human papillomavirus (HPV) DNAs were found in abnormal quality semen, early abortus and female genital tissues. It was suggested that they might cause male infertility and miscarriages. This study was performed to determine the detection rate of these viruses in the semen and to assess the relationship between the presence of virus and male factor infertility and recurrent miscarriages. Sixty-three of 99 recruited male were included in this study according to the completeness of follow-up and the sample availability. Fourteen male with normal reproductive capacity were allocated to control group, 15 male with abnormal results in semen analysis were grouped as male factor infertility (MF) group, and 34 male whose spouses have had history of repeated spontaneous abortions were designated as repeated miscarriage (RM) group. AAV and HPV were detected in semen by polymerase chain reaction. The detection rate of AAV in the MF infertility group and RM group was 60.0% and 50.0%, respectively, while 14.3% in the control group (p < 0.05). However, the differences in the detection rate of HPV were not statistically significant among groups. These results suggest that AAV could be related to repeated miscarriages and male infertility.
Abortion, Habitual ; Abortion, Spontaneous ; Dependovirus ; DNA ; Female ; Fertilization ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infertility ; Infertility, Male ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pregnancy ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Spouses ; Stress, Psychological ; Viruses