No abstract available.
Eczema, Dyshidrotic* ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome* ; Immunization, Passive* ; Immunoglobulins*

BACKGROUND: A few studies have revealed increased levels of certain cytokines in patients with ischemic stroke. Cytokine changes have not been studied in patients with transient ischemic attack(TIA). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the temporal profile of the inflammatory response in patients with vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI) and to compare the inflammatory response between TIA and infarction through analyzing serum interleukin(IL)-6 and IL-10. METHODS: We serially measured the serum levels of IL-6 and IL-10 in 14 patients with VBI, 12 patients with vertebrobasilar territoy infarction, and 21 patients with lacunar infarction at the timing of admission, at 1 day after symptom onset, and at 5 day after symptom onset. Cytokines were measured by sandwich ELISA method. RESULTS: The IL-6 level obtained at day 1 was significantly elevated compared with the normal control group in patients with TIA (p<0.05). The IL-6 level at day 1 was the highest in patients with VBI. The level of IL-10 in patients with VBI was significantly higher than normal group at all time points(p<0.05). The IL-10 level at the timing of admission was the highest in patients with VBI. But the serum levels of IL-6 and IL-10 between VBI and vertebrobasilar territory and lacunar infarction groups did not show any differences. CONCLUSION: These findings show that pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in serum are elevated in patients with TIA. These results suggest that cytokine cascade occurs in TIA.
Cytokines ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Infarction ; Interleukin-10* ; Interleukin-6* ; Stroke ; Stroke, Lacunar ; Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency*

BACKGROUND: A few studies have revealed increased levels of certain cytokines in patients with ischemic stroke. Cytokine changes have not been studied in patients with transient ischemic attack(TIA). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the temporal profile of the inflammatory response in patients with vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI) and to compare the inflammatory response between TIA and infarction through analyzing serum interleukin(IL)-6 and IL-10. METHODS: We serially measured the serum levels of IL-6 and IL-10 in 14 patients with VBI, 12 patients with vertebrobasilar territoy infarction, and 21 patients with lacunar infarction at the timing of admission, at 1 day after symptom onset, and at 5 day after symptom onset. Cytokines were measured by sandwich ELISA method. RESULTS: The IL-6 level obtained at day 1 was significantly elevated compared with the normal control group in patients with TIA (p<0.05). The IL-6 level at day 1 was the highest in patients with VBI. The level of IL-10 in patients with VBI was significantly higher than normal group at all time points(p<0.05). The IL-10 level at the timing of admission was the highest in patients with VBI. But the serum levels of IL-6 and IL-10 between VBI and vertebrobasilar territory and lacunar infarction groups did not show any differences. CONCLUSION: These findings show that pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in serum are elevated in patients with TIA. These results suggest that cytokine cascade occurs in TIA.
Cytokines ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Infarction ; Interleukin-10* ; Interleukin-6* ; Stroke ; Stroke, Lacunar ; Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency*

Adult-onset metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is very rare with a combination of cognitive and behavioral symptoms and peripheral polyneuropathy. A 47-year-old man was admitted due to memory impairment, gait disturbance, dysarthria and personality changes for a period of 3 years. The arylsulfatase A level in his leukocytes was decreased. A brain MRI showed bilateral symmetrical demyelination but nerve conduction velocities (NCV) were normal. We report a very rare case of adult-onset MLD with normal NCV.
Behavioral Symptoms ; Brain ; Cerebroside-Sulfatase ; Demyelinating Diseases ; Dysarthria ; Gait ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; Leukodystrophy, Metachromatic* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Memory ; Middle Aged ; Neural Conduction* ; Polyneuropathies

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical utility of the Korean Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition (K-WISC-IV) and General Ability Index (GAI) in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHODS: The GAI and Full Scale IQ (FSIQ) in K-WISC-IV were compared for a group of 79 children with ADHD and 234 normal children. The mean differences within each group were testified by the t-test and Cohen's d. The Wechsler's descriptive classifications for each GAI and FSIQ score were analyzed in the children with ADHD. Additionally, the critical value for the difference between the means of the FSIQ and GAI was calculated in the normal children. RESULTS: The score on the GAI was higher than that on the FSIQ in the children with ADHD, with a mean difference of 2.19 points. The implications of these findings are discussed regarding the cognitive characteristics of the children with ADHD. According to Wechsler's descriptive classification, the application of the GAI showed a lower (7.59%), equal (61.65%) or higher (60.76%) prevalence of ADHD compared to the application of FSIQ. CONCLUSION: The implications of these findings are discussed regarding the cognitive characteristics of the children with ADHD. The GAI reflecting the attention and behavioral problems in children with ADHD could be utilized as an alternative global intelligence estimate that considers their potential for development.
Child ; Classification ; Humans ; Intelligence* ; Prevalence ; Problem Behavior

We describe a patient with metronidazole-induced reversible encephalopathy characterized by dizziness, dysar- thria and ataxia. Brain T2 weighted magnetic resonance images(MRI) show increased signal intensities of the dentate nucleus of the cerebellum. Both neurological signs and abnormalities on MRI resolved dramatically with discontinuation of metronidazole.
Ataxia ; Brain ; Brain Diseases ; Cerebellar Nuclei ; Cerebellum ; Dizziness ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Metronidazole

No abstract available.
Arteries* ; Humans ; Quadriplegia*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the cerebral hemodynamic changes during interictal period in patients with epilepsy, we investigated changes in cerebral blood flow velocities by transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD). METHODS: Blood flow velocities and pulsatility indecies were measured in both anterior cerebral arteries, middle cerebral arteries, posterior cerebral arteries, internal carotid arteries, and basilar artery using TCD in 21 patients with epilepsy and 21 age and sex matched normal adults. We also evaluated the effects of seizure type, seizure frequency, EEG findings, and anticonvulsant medication on cerebral blood flow velocities. RESULTS: The blood flow velocities of cerebral arteries were decreased in patients, but the pulsatility indecies weren't different. Cerebral blood flow velocities were influenced by seizure type, EEG findings, or anticonvulsant medication. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that cerebral blood flow velocities might be decreased during interictal period in patients with epilepsy, and suggests that TCD is an useful method for the investigation of the cerebral hemodynamic changes in epilepsy.
Adult ; Anterior Cerebral Artery ; Basilar Artery ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Cerebral Arteries ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy* ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Posterior Cerebral Artery ; Seizures ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial

PURPOSE: The cerebral inflammatory reactions accompanied with epilepsy could play a role in intervening the possible changes of cerebral molecular structure during or after seizure. This study was intended to examine how much proinflammatory cytokines like interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha are expressed in animal model with seizures of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy and how their concentration in serum changes on the basis of phase, so that it could determine possible association between the development of epileptic seizures and the expression of cytokines. METHODS: Twenty Sprague-Dawley rats as experimental group had kainic acid (KA) administered intraperitonealy, and then, their behavioral patterns were monitored and recorded. In 4 and 24 hours after KA was administered, their bloods were taken respectively to determine the concentration of cytokines. The serum concentrations of IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha were measured by means of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The concentrations of IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha were compared with controls, and also the phased variations of their concentration were determined. RESULTS: All rats in experimental group revealed various behaviors and seizure reactions. The serum concentrations of IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha taken from rats in 4 and 24 hours after KA administration were more significantly increased than controls respectively (p<0.01). There was no significant variation in concentration of IL-1beta and IL-6 based on time phase, but there was significantly higher concentration of TNF-alpha in serum taken in 24 hours after KA administration than in 4 hours (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results show that seizure activity causes the elevation of proinflammatory cytokines and activates inflammatory reactions.
Animals ; Cytokines* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epilepsy ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe ; Interleukin-1beta* ; Interleukin-6* ; Interleukins ; Kainic Acid ; Models, Animal ; Molecular Structure ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seizures* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

The sense of taste is generally regarded as less important compare with vision and hearing. However, gustatory disorder considerably diminish the pleasures of life. The causes of taste disorder are various, and can occur during different pharmacologic treatment. We report a case of reversible ageusia induced by clopidogrel medication.
Ageusia* ; Hearing ; Humans ; Taste Disorders