Epidemiological studies of Parkinson disease (PD) have found an inverse correlation between cigarette smoking and the risk of developing PD, which suggests that nicotine has a protective effect. Results from animal models of PD are conflicting, raising questions about a protective potential of nicotine. In this study, mice were pretreated with low-dose nicotine before MPTP administration, and examined to determine a neuroprotective potential of nicotine. The schedule of nicotine administration was selected to simulate the future human trials using this putative neuroprotective agent. Male C57Bl/6 mice were pretreated with nicotine for 5 days (0.2 mg/kg/d, i.p.). After the 5-day-pretreatment with nicotine only, nicotine and MPTP (30 mg/kg/d, i.p.) were co-administered for 1 to 5 consecutive days. The total dose of nicotine, 0.2 mg/kg/d for 6 to 10 days, is the lowest one ever studied. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemical staining of the nigral sections was performed. Over the experimental period, there was a significant reduction in the TH-positive cells. In the nicotine-MPTP group, the degree of TH neuron depletion was reduced at days 4 and 5 of co-administration. These findings suggest that the nicotinic neurotransmission on the dopaminergic neurons are promising targets for neuroprotective therapy of PD.
1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine ; Animals ; Appointments and Schedules ; Dopaminergic Neurons ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Models, Animal ; Neurons ; Nicotine ; Parkinson Disease ; Smoking ; Synaptic Transmission ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase

We review the effect of methylphenidate, focusing on Osmotic-controlled Release Oral delivery System (OROS) methylphenidate, on cardiovascular system, appetite and growth, sleep, tic, epilepsy, psychiatric and rare adverse events. Although OROS methylphenidate has side effects including increased heart rate or blood pressure, decreased appetite, delayed sleep onset, emergence or aggravation of tics, withdrawal or changes in mood, these effects appeared to be minimal in impact or difficult to distinguish from risk to untreated population and tended to be improved by dose adjustment or drug discontinuation. However, in subjects with underlying cardiac problems, uncontrolled epilepsy, previous psychotic episode, clinicians should pay attention and balance the risk and benefit.
Appetite ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular System ; Epilepsy ; Heart Rate ; Methylphenidate ; Tics

We review the effect of methylphenidate, focusing on Osmotic-controlled Release Oral delivery System (OROS) methylphenidate, on cardiovascular system, appetite and growth, sleep, tic, epilepsy, psychiatric and rare adverse events. Although OROS methylphenidate has side effects including increased heart rate or blood pressure, decreased appetite, delayed sleep onset, emergence or aggravation of tics, withdrawal or changes in mood, these effects appeared to be minimal in impact or difficult to distinguish from risk to untreated population and tended to be improved by dose adjustment or drug discontinuation. However, in subjects with underlying cardiac problems, uncontrolled epilepsy, previous psychotic episode, clinicians should pay attention and balance the risk and benefit.
Appetite ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular System ; Epilepsy ; Heart Rate ; Methylphenidate ; Tics

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Meningogenic labyrinthitis is a common cause of acquired profound sensorineural hearing loss in childhood. Obliterated cochlea is one of the most challenging problems in cochlear implantation because it limits the insertion of active electrodes. The aims of this study were to review the surgical findings of meningitic deaf children and to compare their speech performance with that of congenitally deaf children of the matching age group (n=20). MATERIALS AND METHOD: Of the 104 children who had implants, 18 (17.3%) were deafened by meningitis. Operative and high resolution CT (HRCT) findings were reviewed retrospectively with medical records. Speech feature discrimination test was performed to evaluate speech performance. RESULTS: Seventeen out of 18 patients (94%) required drilling of the ossified bones at surgery. HRCT findings suggested ossification within the basal turn of 67% (71% sensitivity). Speech perception was tested for in ten cases. In 5 of the ten cases, complete insertion of electrodes was not possible. There were no significant differences in speech feature discrimination between congenital deaf children and meningitic deaf children. Speech perception was not related to the number of the electrodes inserted. CONCLUSION: Most (94%) of postmeningitic deaf children had ossification. When the number of inserted active electrodes was more than 10, the number itself had no influence on the speech performance. Postmeningitic deaf children with ossified cochlear could obtain comparable benefit from having implants as much as non-meningitic children.
Child* ; Cochlea ; Cochlear Implantation* ; Cochlear Implants* ; Deafness ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Ear, Inner ; Electrodes ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Humans ; Labyrinthitis ; Medical Records ; Meningitis ; Retrospective Studies ; Speech Perception

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Successful management of malignant tumors involving temporal bone depends on the early identification and the localization of the primary tumor, and adequate management of the tumor. However, a large proportion of the cases are complicated with long standing chronic middle ear disease, early diagnosis and initiation of appropriate management are delayed in such cases. Based on the reviews of the literature and on our experiences from a small series of cases, treatment results following surgery with radiation and the basic principles of the management of malignant tumor involving the temporal bone are described. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nine patients with malignancies of the middle ear and mastoid operated between 1984 and 1996 in Seoul National University Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. The follow up period was from 3 months to 9 years and median follow up was 1 year. RESULTS: Subtotal temporal bone resection was performed in all cases and subsequent radiation therapy was followed in 7 cases. The most frequent pathologic type was squamous cell carcinoma in 7 cases. Recurrence was detected in 3 cases, one case died postoperatively without recovery and one case died of CO poisoning 3 month postoperatively. Remaining 4 cases were followed without recurrence from 1 year to 8.5 years postoperatively. Three year disease-free survival rate was 42%. CONCLUSION: En-bloc subtotal temporal bone resection and subsequent radiation therapy are recommended treatment modalities of malignancies of the temporal bone in the absence of petrous apex involvement.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Disease-Free Survival ; Ear, Middle ; Early Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mastoid ; Poisoning ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Temporal Bone*

BACKGROUND: The primary goal of the treatment of the malignancies of the external auditory canal (EAC) is to remove the primary tumor without recurrence and with maximal preservation of function. En-bloc resection with sufficient safety margin will reduce the recurrence rate, and partial temporal bone resection can achieve preservation of hearing and the facial nerve function when the tumor is confined to the EAC. OBJECTIVES: Authors reviewed the results of partial temporal bone resection for the malignancies of the EAC performed during the last 15 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight patients with malignancies of the EAC operated between 1982 and 1997 in Seoul National University Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. Partial temporal bone resection was performed in all cases and subsequent radiation therapy was followed in 4 cases. The duration of mean follow-up was 3 years and 6 months with the range of 4 months to 14 years. RESULTS: Seven out of 8 patients showed no evidence of recurrence during the follow-up period. One patient with squamous cell carcinoma showed local recurrence and it was treated with surgical resection. Five year disease-free survival rate was 86%. CONCLUSION: Malignant tumors of the EAC with the minimal involvement of surrounding structures can be successfully controlled using partial temporal bone resection with preservation of facial nerve and auditory function.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Disease-Free Survival ; Ear Canal* ; Facial Nerve ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hearing ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Temporal Bone*