Objective: To investigate the action observation effects of functional electrical stimulation (FES) on the communication between motor cortex and muscle through corticomuscular coherence (CMC) analysis. Methods: Electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyogram (EMG) of 27 healthy, nonathlete subjects were measured during action observation, FES, and action observation with FES, which lasted for 7sper session for 10 times. All trials were repeated for 30 times. Simultaneously measured EEG raw data and rectified EMG signals were used to calculate CMC. Only confidence limit values above 0.0306 were used for analysis. CMC was divided into three frequency domains, andthe grand average coherence and peak coherence were computed. Repeated ANOVA was performed to analyze the coherence value difference for each condition’s frequency band. Results: CMC showed significant differences in peak coherence and average coherence between the conditions (p<0.05). Action observation application with FES in all frequency band showed the highest peak and average coherence value. Conclusions The results of this study are assumed to be the combination of increased eccentric information transfer from the sensory-motor cortex by action observation and an increased in concentric sensory input from the peripheral by the FES, suggesting that these are reflecting the sensorimotor integration process.

Purpose: Optic nerve sheath meningocele is a very rare condition; if the optic nerve is pressed, visual function can deteriorate. We report a patient with optic nerve sheath meningocele treated with optic nerve sheath fenestration.Case summary: We report a 15-month-old male who visited the outpatient clinic due to an orbital tumor in the left eye found by accident. He had no proptosis or relative afferent pupillary defect, and fundus examination revealed a left optic disc pit. On fat-suppressed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), there was a well-defined 13.5 × 12.7 mm cystic lesion located at the superotemporal aspect of the left optic nerve within the optic nerve sheath. The optic nerve was compressed and displaced inferomedially. Once the diagnosis had been confirmed as optic nerve sheath meningocele, optic nerve sheath fenestration was performed under general anesthesia to relieve optic nerve compression. The compressed left optic disc returned to normal after surgery and the size of the meningocele shrunk to 11.7 × 10.9 mm on MRI. However, it re-expanded to almost the same size as that preoperatively 10 months later. Conclusions We report a case of optic nerve sheath meningocele with an optic disc pit treated with optic nerve sheath fenestration, which has not been reported previously in the Republic of Korea. Because the effect of optic nerve sheath fenestration could be temporary, it is necessary to conduct regular checkups given the possibility of deterioration of visual function.

Objective: To investigate the action observation effects of functional electrical stimulation (FES) on the communication between motor cortex and muscle through corticomuscular coherence (CMC) analysis. Methods: Electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyogram (EMG) of 27 healthy, nonathlete subjects were measured during action observation, FES, and action observation with FES, which lasted for 7sper session for 10 times. All trials were repeated for 30 times. Simultaneously measured EEG raw data and rectified EMG signals were used to calculate CMC. Only confidence limit values above 0.0306 were used for analysis. CMC was divided into three frequency domains, andthe grand average coherence and peak coherence were computed. Repeated ANOVA was performed to analyze the coherence value difference for each condition’s frequency band. Results: CMC showed significant differences in peak coherence and average coherence between the conditions (p<0.05). Action observation application with FES in all frequency band showed the highest peak and average coherence value. Conclusions The results of this study are assumed to be the combination of increased eccentric information transfer from the sensory-motor cortex by action observation and an increased in concentric sensory input from the peripheral by the FES, suggesting that these are reflecting the sensorimotor integration process.

It has been known that O-linked beta-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) modification of proteins plays an important role in transcription, translation, nuclear transport and signal transduction. The increased flux of glucose through the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP) and increased O-GlcNAc modification of protein have been suggested as one of the causes in the development of insulin resistance. However, it is not clear at the molecular level, how O-GlcNAc protein modification results in substantial impairment of insulin signaling. To clarify the association of O-GlcNAc protein modification and insulin resistance in rat primary adipocytes, we treated the adipocytes with O-(2-acetamido-2deoxy-D-glucopyranosylidene)amino-N-phenylcarbamate (PUGNAc), a potent inhibitor of O-GlcNAcase that catalyzes removal of O-GlcNAc from proteins. Prolonged treatment of PUGNAc (100 micrometer for 12 h) increased O-GlcNAc modification on proteins in adipocytes. PUGNAc also drastically decreased insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose (2DG) uptake and GLUT4 translocation in adipocytes, indicating that PUGNAc developed impaired glucose utilization and insulin resistance in adipocytes. Interestingly, the O-GlcNAc modification of IRS-1 and Akt2 was increased by PUGNAc, accompanied by a partial reduction of insulin-stimulated phosphorylations of IRS-1 and Akt2. The PUGNAc treatment has no effect on the expression level of GLUT4, whereas O-GlcNAc modification of GLUT4 was increased. These results suggest that the increase of O-GlcNAc modification on insulin signal pathway intermediates, such as IRS-1 and Akt2, reduces the insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of IRS-1 and Akt2, subsequently leading to insulin resistance in rat primary adipocytes.
Acetylglucosamine/*analogs & derivatives/metabolism/pharmacology ; Adipocytes/*metabolism ; Animals ; Deoxyglucose/pharmacokinetics ; Glycosylation ; Immunoprecipitation ; *Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Monosaccharide Transport Proteins/metabolism ; Oximes/*pharmacology ; Phenylcarbamates/*pharmacology ; Phosphoproteins/*metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases/*metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins/*metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Subcellular Fractions/metabolism ; beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidase/antagonists & inhibitors

Sheehan's syndrome is postpartum hypopituitarism due to the necrosis of the pituitary gland. Usually, it is the result of severe hypotension caused by massive hemorrhage during or after delivery. A 40-year-old woman who had been performed cesarean section delivery was complicated by hemorrhage due to uterine atony. After transfusion and hysterectomy, she is gradually recovering her general condition. On 16th day after operation, she visited emergency room in critical condition with nausea, vomiting, and general weakness and laboratory finding was hyponatremia. So, we medicated her with hydrocortisone and thyroxine. Sheehan's syndrome should be considered in the differential diagnosis of hyponatremia in the early postpartum period.
Adult ; Cesarean Section ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Hypoglycemia ; Hyponatremia ; Hypopituitarism* ; Hypotension ; Hysterectomy ; Nausea ; Necrosis ; Pituitary Gland ; Postpartum Hemorrhage* ; Postpartum Period* ; Pregnancy ; Thyroxine ; Uterine Inertia ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: Proliferation, differentiation, and survival of hippocampal dentate granule cells have been reported to be influenced by epileptic seizures in rodent epilepsy models. However, most studies have been done in adult rat models. This study was designed to investigate hippocampal dentate granule cell neurogenesis after pilocarpine-induced seizures in young mice. METHODS: Fifteen male ICR mice at postnatal day 21 were divided into pilocarpine-treated (n=7) and control (n=8) groups. Seizures were chemically induced by intraperitoneal injection of pilocarpine (300 mg/kg). Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU, 50 mg/kg) was subsequently administered once a day for 6 consecutive days, starting at 24 hours after pilocarpine or saline treatment. We then examined BrdU-positive cells in the hippocampal dentate gyrus by immunohistochemistry and by double-labeled immunofluorescence with confocal microscopy. RESULTS: After pilocarpine administration, every seizure behavior was grade 3 or more. Quantitative analysis revealed that BrdU-positive cells were significantly increased in the pilocarpine-treated group compared to control (230.5+/-59.5 vs. 148.6+/-40.0, P<0.001). The majority of these mitotic cells were differentiated into neurons. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that mitotic activity in the hippocampal dentate gyrus was enhanced after pilocarpine-induced seizures in young mice, and the majority of BrdU-positive cells showed the phenotypic differentiation to neuronal cells.
Adult ; Animals ; Bromodeoxyuridine ; Dentate Gyrus ; Epilepsy ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Neurogenesis ; Neurons ; Pilocarpine ; Rats ; Rodentia ; Seizures

PURPOSE: We sought to predict the future incidence and health expenditures of cataract surgery in the Republic of Korea. METHODS: From 2011 to 2015, National Health Insurance claims data were used to estimate the incidence and prevalence changes of cataract surgery according to demographic characteristics (year, sex, residence, and age). Based on the above results and changes in future population distribution, we estimated the incidence of cataract surgery by 2030. Considering the cost of cataract surgery from 2011 to 2015, we also predicted future health expenditures for cataract surgery. RESULTS: A total of 2,236,107 eyes of 1,591,176 patients underwent cataract surgery from 2011 to 2015. The total number of operated eyes per year increased, from 427,729 to 492,700 (+15%), and the number of patients increased from 306,710 to 346,056 (+12%) from 2011 to 2015. The cost of cataract surgery reimbursed by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) increased from 408,307,530,900 won ($360 million) to 449,334,367,080 won ($399 million) (+9%). The future prevalence of cataract surgery was predicted to reach 562,003 in 2030 from 346,056 in 2015. The cost of cataract surgery is expected to increase from 449 billion won ($399 million) in 2015 to 641 billion won ($570 million) in 2030. CONCLUSIONS: Cataract surgery and medical expenses will increase due to social aging. Therefore, we need policies to secure medical resources and expand insurance indications.
Aging ; Cataract ; Demography ; Health Expenditures ; Humans ; Incidence ; Insurance ; National Health Programs ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea

PURPOSE: To analyze the incidence and prevalence of exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and to predict the future AMD populations and health expenditures of intravitreal ranibizumab injection. METHODS: From 2010 to 2014, the National Health Insurance claims data were used to estimate the incidence and prevalence change of exudative AMD, according to demographic characteristics (year, sex, residence, and age). Based on the above results and changes in future population distribution, we estimated the AMD population by 2030. Considering the cost of Intravitreal ranibizumab injection from 2010 to 2014, we predicted the future health expenditure for AMD. RESULTS: The incidence and prevalence of exudative AMD increased from 14.04 and 295.11 per 100,000 populations in 2010 to 14.25 and 580.71 in 2014, respectively. The prevalence rate was higher in men and showed a large increase over 70 years of age. The ranibizumab was prescribed 13 times per person in average, and the amount consumed increased as the number of insurance coverage increased from 2013. Future AMD populations are predicted to reach 557,007 in 2030 from 146,871 in 2014. As a result, the cost of intravitreal ranibizumab injection is expected to increase from 83.6 billion won in 2014 to 171.7 billion won in 2030. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in medical expenses for AMD is expected due to social aging. Therefore, we need policies to secure medical resources and expand insurance indications.
Aging ; Demography ; Health Expenditures ; Humans ; Incidence ; Insurance ; Insurance Coverage ; Korea ; Macular Degeneration ; Male ; National Health Programs ; Prevalence ; Ranibizumab

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a malignant soft tissue tumor which shows skeletal muscle differentiation. Leptomeningeal metastasis can occur as a late complication, but currently there are no reports that have documented the cytologic features in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). We report a case of metastatic alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma diagnosed in the CSF of a 28-year-old male who was originally diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma on the neck, and that went through systemic therapy. The tumor was positive for anaplastic lymphoma kinase, but progressed despite additional therapy with crizotinib. The CSF specimen revealed small round cells, large atypical cells with abundant cytoplasm and eccentric nuclei, and cells with horseshoe-shaped nuclei. These cytologic findings were in agreement with previous literature and well-correlated with histopathology. This is the first report to document the cytologic feature of rhabdomyosarcoma in CSF. In many cases it is difficult to perform ancillary tests in a CSF specimen and cytopathologists should be aware of the cytomorphologic characteristics to avoid misdiagnosis.
Adult ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Cytoplasm ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Errors ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Phosphotransferases ; Rhabdomyosarcoma ; Rhabdomyosarcoma, Alveolar

The recent, unprecedented advancement in neuroscience has led to new discoveries about the human brain and its function. Yet at the same time, it has spurred novel ethical and regulatory issues, and the field of neuroethics has emerged as an interdisciplinary endeavor to address these issues.Across the globe, extensive efforts have been underway to achieve the integration of neuroscience and Neuroethics, with active engagement not only from academia but also from the government, the public, and industry. However, in some countries, integrating neuroscience and neuroethics has proved to be a particularly challenging task. For example, in South Korea, the government has primarily driven the integration effort, and only a small group of researchers is properly trained for conducting an interdisciplinary evaluation of ethical, legal, social, and cultural implications (ELSCI) of neurotechnology. On the basis of the last few years of experience pursuing a government-funded neuroethics project in South Korea, we developed a new operational framework to provide practical guidance on ELSCI research. This framework consists of the X, Y, and Z axes; the X-axis represents a target neurotechnology, the Y-axis represents different developmental stages of the technology, and the Z-axis represents ELSCI issues that may arise from the development and use of the neurotechnology. Here we also present a step-by-step workflow to apply this matrix framework, from organizing a panel for a target neurotechnology to facilitating stakeholder discussion through public hearings. This framework will enable meaningful integration of neuroscience and neuroethics to promote responsible innovation in neuroscience and neurotechnology.