Radioiodinated oxytocin prepared by the lactoperoxidase method exhibited a substantial biologic activity in uterotonic assay of the rat uterus. 125I-oxytocin was bound to the uterine membrane particulate fraction, but the unlabelled oxytocin did not inhibit the binding of 125I oxytocin to the membrane fraction of rat uterus. Cold iodinated oxytocin, however, inhibited the 125I-oxytocin binding to the membrane fraction of rat uterus in proportion to its concentration. These results suggest that 125I-oxytocin is not a suitable radioligand for oxytocin receptor binding study.
Animal ; Binding Sites ; Cell Membrane/metabolism ; Female ; Iodine Radioisotopes/metabolism* ; Oxytocin/metabolism* ; Radioligand Assay ; Rats ; Receptors, Cell Surface/analysis* ; Uterus/metabolism*

BACKGROUND: Topiramate (TPM), a broad-spectrum antiepileptic drug, has recently been demonstrated to be effective as a monotherapeutic device for migraine prevention. We investigated the impact of TPM on cognition during migraine prevention. METHODS: Twenty-eight migraineurs were evaluated. They were instructed to take 25 mg of TPM per day, with 25 mg weekly increments to a maximum of 100 mg per day according to the therapeutic responsiveness. We assessed cognitive dysfunctions by spontaneous patient reports and several neuropsychological tests comparing the baseline and at 3 months during on-treatment. We also compared these tests to age, sex, education, clinical features of migraine, TPM dose, and global effectiveness. RESULTS: After 3 months of therapy, 21 patients undertook a follow-up neuropsychological test. Even though headache frequency, severity, and disability were significantly decreased in a follow-up period, there was a significant impairment in backward digit span (P=.006) and verbal fluency (P=.023). Thirteen patients (62%) showed an impaired backward digit span, and 11 patients (52%) exhibited an impaired verbal fluency. Five patients (24%) complained of symptoms associated with these impairments. Cognitive impairments were well correlated to the frequency of migraine attack, higher daily TPM dose, and global effectiveness. In six patients who showed the impairment of both items, TPM was withdrawn and their cognition was retested after 2 weeks. There was a significant improvement in these cognitive functions. CONCLUSIONS: TPM appears to exert a dose-related, strong negative influence on working memory and verbal fluency during migraine prevention. It can be related to drug tolerability.
Cognition ; Education ; Follow-Up Studies ; Headache ; Humans ; Memory, Short-Term ; Migraine Disorders* ; Neuropsychological Tests

Central neurogenic hyperventilation (CNH) is characterized by sustained tachypnea inspite of an elevated arterial PaO2, pH and a low arterial PaCO2. CNH is common in patients with brainstem injury accompanied by a decreased level of consciousness but this also has been described in some alert patients with an invasive brainstem tumor. We report one case with CNH resulting from a unilateral pontine infarction. His consciousness was clear, and CNH spontaneously disappeared without any medication.
Brain Stem ; Brain Stem Neoplasms ; Consciousness ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hyperventilation* ; Infarction* ; Tachypnea

BACKGROUND: Hemodynamic evaluation of the brain may be helpful for the identification of a risk of stroke in patients with middle cerebral artery (MCA) or internal carotid artery (ICA) steno-occlusive disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hemodynamic state in patients with steno-occlusive disease of ICA or MCA on the base of MRI/MRA and acetazolamide (ACZ)-challenged Tc-99m ECD brain perfusion SPECT findings. METHODS: An analysis of 68 patients who underwent MRI/MRA and ACZ-challenged Tc-99m ECD brain perfusion SPECT was performed. We divided these patients into two groups - MCA and ICA steno-occlusions. RESULTS: The cerebrovascular reserve (CVR) was impaired in 18 of 32 (56.3%) MCA disease patients (20 stenosis and 12 occlusions), and in 19 of 36 (52.8%) ICA disease patients (20 stenosis and 16 occlusion). The CVR was impaired in 22 of 28 (78.6%) occlusive patient, whereas in 15 of 40 (37.5%) stenotic patient (p< 0.01). The insular lesion was more commonly involved in the occlusion group (54%) than in the stenosis group (15%) (p< 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference in CVR between MCA and ICA steno-occlusion groups. Incidence of impaired CVR was higher in occlusion group than stenosis group.
Acetazolamide ; Brain* ; Carotid Artery, Internal* ; Cerebral Infarction ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Incidence ; Middle Cerebral Artery* ; Perfusion* ; Stroke ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

BACKGROUND: Hemodynamic evaluation of the brain may be helpful for the identification of a risk of stroke in patients with middle cerebral artery (MCA) or internal carotid artery (ICA) steno-occlusive disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hemodynamic state in patients with steno-occlusive disease of ICA or MCA on the base of MRI/MRA and acetazolamide (ACZ)-challenged Tc-99m ECD brain perfusion SPECT findings. METHODS: An analysis of 68 patients who underwent MRI/MRA and ACZ-challenged Tc-99m ECD brain perfusion SPECT was performed. We divided these patients into two groups - MCA and ICA steno-occlusions. RESULTS: The cerebrovascular reserve (CVR) was impaired in 18 of 32 (56.3%) MCA disease patients (20 stenosis and 12 occlusions), and in 19 of 36 (52.8%) ICA disease patients (20 stenosis and 16 occlusion). The CVR was impaired in 22 of 28 (78.6%) occlusive patient, whereas in 15 of 40 (37.5%) stenotic patient (p< 0.01). The insular lesion was more commonly involved in the occlusion group (54%) than in the stenosis group (15%) (p< 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference in CVR between MCA and ICA steno-occlusion groups. Incidence of impaired CVR was higher in occlusion group than stenosis group.
Acetazolamide ; Brain* ; Carotid Artery, Internal* ; Cerebral Infarction ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Incidence ; Middle Cerebral Artery* ; Perfusion* ; Stroke ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

BACKGROUND: Since 1992, we developed the technique for video endoscopic sympathectomy to treat palmar hyperhidrosis. It was soon proven to be a simple and effective therapy for essential hyperhidrosis. Compensatory hyperhidrosis, however, is the main cause of patient dissatisfaction after video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy. According to many authors, initial satisfaction rate was high(94-98%), but it was declined with time (66%) due to mainly to embarrassing side effects. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From January 1992 to February 1998, the thoracoscopic T2 sympathicotomy, T2 sympathectomy and T2-4 sympathectomy were performed in 315 patients suffering from Essential hyperhidrosis in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in the Respiratory Center of Yongdong Severance Hospital Seoul, Korea. Eighty-nine patients underwent T2 sympathicotomy, and Eighty-eight patients underwent division T2 sympathectomy. RESULT: All of the treated patients obtained satisfactory alleviation of essential hyperhidrosis. The global rate of compensatory sweating were ; 64.0% in T2 sympathicotomy, 73.8% in T2 sympathectomy and 87.8% in T2-4 sympathectomy. The rate of embarrassing or disabling compensatory sweating was significantly higher in T2 sympathicotomy 15.7%(14/89) and in T2 sympathectomy 32.8%(28/88) than in T2-4 sympathectomy 58.0%(80/138) with significancy in statistic analysis(p<0.05). Video- assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy is an effective minimally invasive and effective procedure. CONCLUSION: We suggest that the incidence and degree of compensatory hyperhidrosis was closely related to the extent of thoracic sympathectomy.
Humans ; Hyperhidrosis* ; Incidence ; Korea ; Respiratory Center ; Seoul ; Sweat ; Sweating ; Sympathectomy*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES : Acute ischemic stroke in the distribution of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) is known to be associated with vertigo, nystagmus, facial weakness, and gait ataxia. There have been few reports on deafness associated with the AICA infarction. Furthermore, previous neurological reports have not emphasized the inner ear as a localization of sudden deafness. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of deafness associated with the AICA infarction and the sites predominantly involved in deafness. MATERIALS AND METHOD : During two years we prospectively identified 12 consecutive patients with unilateral AICA infarction diagnosed by brain MRI. Pure tone audiogram, speech discrimination testing, stapedial reflex testing, and auditory brainstem responses were performed to localize the site of lesion in the auditory pathways. Electronystagmography was also performed to evaluate the function of the vestibular system. RESULTS :The most common affected site on brain MRI was the middle cerebellar peduncle (11). Four patients had vertigo and/or acute auditory symptoms such as hearing loss or tinnitus as an isolated manifestation from 1day to 2 months prior to infarction. Audiological testings confirmed sensorineural hearing loss in 11 (92%) patients, predominantly involved the cochlea in 6 and retrocochlear in 1. The other 4 patients had a severe to profound hearing loss most likely of cochlear origin. Electronystagmography demonstrated no response to caloric stimulation in 10 (83%) patients. CONCLUSIONS : In our series, sudden deafness was an important sign for the diagnosis of the AICA infarction. Audiological examinations suggest that sudden deafness in AICA infarction is usually due to dysfunction of the cochlea, resulting from ischemia to the inner ear.
Arteries* ; Auditory Pathways ; Brain ; Cochlea ; Deafness ; Diagnosis ; Ear, Inner ; Electronystagmography ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Gait Ataxia ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Hearing Loss, Sudden* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infarction* ; Ischemia ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Prospective Studies ; Reflex ; Speech Discrimination Tests ; Stroke ; Tinnitus ; Vertigo

Among the various side effects of anticonvulsant medication, the anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome (AHS) is underrecognized. This condition developed frequently with aromatic anticonvulsants, but with new antiepileptic drugs as well. We experienced three lamotrigine-induced AHS cases with symptoms such as fever, rash, leukopenia, eosinophilia and lymphadenopathy, which subsided after withdrawal of lamotrigine.
Anticonvulsants ; Eosinophilia ; Exanthema ; Fever ; Hypersensitivity* ; Leukopenia ; Lymphatic Diseases

BACKGROUND: Although hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) -100% oxygen at two to three times the atmospheric pressure at sea level-has a number of beneficial biochemical, cellular, and physiologic effects, it is intrinsically associated with the potential for producing mild to severe toxic effects. The contribution of the cellular adhesion molecules and macrophages in the renal oxygen toxicity is not well understood. Thus, we have investigated the toxic effect of HBO expressed by the analysis of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and infiltration of macrophages in rat kidney. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing about 250 g were exposed to HBO at 3 ATA of 100% O2 for 4 hours. The expression of ICAM-1 and infiltration of CD68-positive macrophages were serially observed by immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS: At 3 days after HBO exposure, CD68-positive macrophage counts were increased in glomeruli and tubulointerstitium of kidney. The expression of ICAM-1 was enhanced 1 day after HBO exposure and increased more for 3 days. There was a significant correlation between ICAM-1 expression and macrophage accumulation in the glomeruli. At 7 days after HBO, those alterations recovered to normal status. CONCLUSION: The 4-hour HBO exposure induced ICAM-1 expression and macrophage accumulation in the kidney and these change lasted for 3 days. Therefore, sustained activation of macrophages in renal oxygen toxicity may occur after prolonged (more than 4 hours) or repetitive exposures to HBO.
Animals ; Atmospheric Pressure ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1* ; Kidney* ; Macrophages ; Male ; Oxygen* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Low-dose topiramate (TPM) monotherapy has recently been found effective for seizure control in newly diagnosed epilepsy. In higher dosages, TPM has been associated with relatively high rates of adverse cognitive effects; similar side effects have been seen after rapid titration or polytherapy. However, its cognitive effects during low-dose monotherapy have not been established. We evaluated the cognitive effects of low-dose TPM compared with oxcarbazepine (OXC), a drug that does not appear to affect cognitive function. METHODS: Cognitive tests and subjective complaints of 30 patients with low-dose TPM monotherapy (50-200 mg/day) were retrospectively compared with those of 30 patients with OXC monotherapy at 1 year of medication. The two groups did not differ with respect to epilepsy-relevant variables, nor on baseline neuropsychological tests. RESULTS: The TPM group showed a significant difference in the performance of delayed word recall (P<0.05), backward digit span (P<0.01), and verbal fluency (P<0.05) compared with the OXC group. The TPM group showed worse performances of digit span and verbal fluency. The OXC group showed better performances of delayed word recall. The incidence of cognitive complaints was higher in the TPM group (50%) than in the OXC group (20%) (P<0.05). These cognitive effects shown in the TPM group were dose-related. The cognitive dysfunction was trivial with patients taking 50 mg/day TPM. CONCLUSIONS: Even at low-dose, TPM has a negative effect on working memory and verbal fluency compared with OXC. It can be demonstrated at 1 year of treatment.
Cognition ; Epilepsy* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Memory, Short-Term ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures