OBJECTIVE: To examine the synergistic effects of both computer-assisted cognitive rehabilitation (CACR) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on cognitive function in patients with stroke. METHODS: The current double-blind, sham-controlled study enrolled a total of 11 patients who were newly diagnosed with stroke. The patients of the tDCS group (n=6) completed sessions of the Korean computer-assisted cognitive rehabilitation program five times a week for 30 minutes a session during a mean period of 18.5 days concomitantly with the anodal tDCS over the bilateral prefrontal cortex combined with the CACR. The patients of the control group (n=5) also completed sessions of the sham stimulation during a mean period of 17.8 days. Anodal tDCS over bilateral prefrontal cortex (F3 and F4 in 10-20 EEG system) was delivered for 30 minutes at an intensity of 2 mA. Cathode electrodes were applied to the non-dominant arm. All the patients were evaluated using the Seoul Computerized Neuropsychological Test (SCNT) and the Korean Mini-Mental State Examination. RESULTS: Mann-Whitney U test revealed a significant difference between the two groups. The patients of the tDCS group achieved a significant improvement in the post/pre ratio of auditory continuous performance test and visual continuous performance test on the SCNT items. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the concomitant use of the tDCS with CACR to the prefrontal cortex may provide additional beneficial effects in improving the cognitive dysfunction for patients with stroke.
Arm ; Electrodes ; Electroencephalography ; Humans ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Pilot Projects* ; Prefrontal Cortex* ; Rehabilitation* ; Seoul ; Stroke*

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a space occupying lesion which is composed of myofibroblasts, plasma cells, and lymphocytes. IMT of the maxillary sinus is rare and its etiology is unknown. We present a case of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor occurring in the right maxillary sinus of a 57-year-old woman. Radiologically, this tumor was interpreted as malignant neoplasm. On histologic examination, bundles of spindle cells were admixed with inflammatory cells including mature plasma cells and lymphocytes. On the basis of the immunohistochemical findings and ultrastructural features, we recognized that the intervening spindle cells were myofibroblasts. We discussed etiology and prognostic factors of this tumor.
Female ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Maxillary Sinus* ; Middle Aged ; Myofibroblasts* ; Plasma Cells

OBJECTIVE: To compare the voice onset time (VOT) differences of Korean stops in the initial and intervocalic positions between the aphasic patients with peculiarities of aspiration and a control group. METHOD: We examined 15 aphasic patients (nine males, six females) who had suffered a stroke (average age 49.7 years) and 15 healthy controls (average age 47.4 years). An aphasia examination was made by an aphasia battery of three standard tests and VOT was analyzed instrumentally. Stop consonants in the initial and intervocalic position were measured to categorize them according to aphasia types, place of articulation, and manner of articulation. RESULTS: VOT of the aphasic patients with peculiarities of aspiration had a greater difference than that of the controls, indicating that the temporal non-coordination between the laryngeal adjustment and oral articulators of aphasic patients happens due to the VOT of stops in the initial and intervocalic positions (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: VOT of stop consonants in the initial position produced by aphasic patients tends to be proportional to their breathing. It can cause glottal width and make aphasic patients' VOT duration longer. Lastly, the method to measure the VOT of aphasic patients is more significant for the types of phonation than for the places of articulation, and makes it possible to induce abnormal VOT.
Aphasia ; Dental Articulators ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Male ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Phonation ; Respiration ; Stroke ; Voice

No abstract available.
Diarrhea* ; Korea*

Glutamate is an amino acid neurotransmitter capable of producing widespread receptor-mediated neuronal excitation. In this experiment, we examined the effect of saline, monosodium glutamate (MSG), phenylalanine and MSG-phenylalanine treatment on TH immunoreactivity in area postrema (AP) of medulla oblangata. An immunocytochemical method was used to visualize catecholaminergic neurons in the AP. Damage of TH neurons in the AP of adult Sprague-Dawley rats was induced by injection of MSG (4 mg/g bw) and was decreased by administration of MSG following phenylalanine treatment (15 mg/g bw). We conclude that phenylalanine protect from the neuroexcitotoxic effect of systemic glutamate.
Adult ; Animals ; Area Postrema* ; Glutamic Acid ; Humans ; Neurons ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Phenylalanine* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sodium Glutamate*

Langerhans cell histiocytosis is a rare disease entity in which various tissue are infiltrated by proliferating histiocytes. Involvement of alimentary tract is rare (<5%), especially in the stomach. Only seven cases of gastric Langerhans cell histiocytosis have been reported in Enlglish literature. Diabetes insipidus is the most common endocrinologic complication. We report a case of Langerhans cell histiocytosis involving stomach and pituitary stalk. The diagnosis of gastric Langerhans cell histiocytosis and diabetes insipidus was based on gastric mucosal biopsy specimen from a Korean man with suspicious hypertrophic gastric folds of gastric body, water deprivation test and sella MRI.
Biopsy ; Diabetes Insipidus ; Diagnosis ; Histiocytes ; Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pituitary Gland ; Rare Diseases ; Stomach ; Water Deprivation

We found that one phrase should be corrected.

The purpose of this study is to delineate the pattern of reorganization of cortical language areas using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) after rehabilitation therapy in patients with aphasia. Six right-handed aphasic patients were investigated. Causes of aphasia were intracerebral hemorrhages of the left basal ganglia in 3 patients, cerebral infarction of the left MCA in 2, and surgical resection of the frontotemporal lobes to control intractable epilepsy in 1. An auditory sentence completion task was used to activate brain language areas during the fMRI. Three patients with left frontal lesions showed activation in the right inferior frontal lobes while performing language tasks, whereas the other 3, whose lesions located at subcortical areas, showed activation in the bilateral frontal and temporal lobes. Our results demonstrated the differences in interhemispheric reorganization of the language network depending on the location of the lesion in aphasic patients. While the patients with subcortical lesion showed tendency of bilateral frontal activation, those with cortical lesion showed activation of the right frontal lobe.
Adult ; Aphasia/*pathology/physiopathology ; Cerebral Cortex/*pathology ; Female ; Human ; *Language ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Age

OBJECTIVE: To investigate neuroradiological and neurophysiological characteristics of patients with dyskinetic cerebral palsy (CP), by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), voxel-based morphometry (VBM), diffusion tensor tractography (DTT), and motor evoked potential (MEP). METHODS: Twenty-three patients with dyskinetic CP (13 males, 10 females; mean age 34 years, range 16-50 years) were participated in this study. Functional evaluation was assessed by the Gross Motor Functional Classification System (GMFCS) and Barry-Albright Dystonia Scale (BADS). Brain imaging was performed on 3.0 Tesla MRI, and volume change of the grey matter was assessed using VBM. The corticospinal tract (CST) and superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) were analyzed by DTT. MEPs were recorded in the first dorsal interossei, the biceps brachii and the deltoid muscles. RESULTS: Mean BADS was 16.4+/-5.0 in ambulatory group (GMFCS levels I, II, and III; n=11) and 21.3+/-3.9 in non-ambulatory group (GMFCS levels IV and V; n=12). Twelve patients showed normal MRI findings, and eleven patients showed abnormal MRI findings (grade I, n=5; grade II, n=2; grade III, n=4). About half of patients with dyskinetic CP showed putamen and thalamus lesions on MRI. Mean BADS was 20.3+/-5.7 in normal MRI group and 17.5+/-4.0 in abnormal MRI group. VBM showed reduced volume of the hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus. In DTT, no abnormality was observed in CST, but not in SLF. In MEPs, most patients showed normal central motor conduction time. CONCLUSION: These results support that extrapyramidal tract, related with basal ganglia circuitry, may be responsible for the pathophysiology of dyskinetic CP rather than CST abnormality.
Basal Ganglia ; Cerebral Palsy* ; Classification ; Deltoid Muscle ; Diffusion ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging ; Dystonia ; Evoked Potentials, Motor ; Extrapyramidal Tracts ; Female ; Hippocampus ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Neuroimaging ; Parahippocampal Gyrus ; Putamen ; Pyramidal Tracts ; Thalamus

OBJECTIVE: To investigate neuroradiological and neurophysiological characteristics of patients with dyskinetic cerebral palsy (CP), by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), voxel-based morphometry (VBM), diffusion tensor tractography (DTT), and motor evoked potential (MEP). METHODS: Twenty-three patients with dyskinetic CP (13 males, 10 females; mean age 34 years, range 16-50 years) were participated in this study. Functional evaluation was assessed by the Gross Motor Functional Classification System (GMFCS) and Barry-Albright Dystonia Scale (BADS). Brain imaging was performed on 3.0 Tesla MRI, and volume change of the grey matter was assessed using VBM. The corticospinal tract (CST) and superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) were analyzed by DTT. MEPs were recorded in the first dorsal interossei, the biceps brachii and the deltoid muscles. RESULTS: Mean BADS was 16.4+/-5.0 in ambulatory group (GMFCS levels I, II, and III; n=11) and 21.3+/-3.9 in non-ambulatory group (GMFCS levels IV and V; n=12). Twelve patients showed normal MRI findings, and eleven patients showed abnormal MRI findings (grade I, n=5; grade II, n=2; grade III, n=4). About half of patients with dyskinetic CP showed putamen and thalamus lesions on MRI. Mean BADS was 20.3+/-5.7 in normal MRI group and 17.5+/-4.0 in abnormal MRI group. VBM showed reduced volume of the hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus. In DTT, no abnormality was observed in CST, but not in SLF. In MEPs, most patients showed normal central motor conduction time. CONCLUSION: These results support that extrapyramidal tract, related with basal ganglia circuitry, may be responsible for the pathophysiology of dyskinetic CP rather than CST abnormality.
Basal Ganglia ; Cerebral Palsy* ; Classification ; Deltoid Muscle ; Diffusion ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging ; Dystonia ; Evoked Potentials, Motor ; Extrapyramidal Tracts ; Female ; Hippocampus ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Neuroimaging ; Parahippocampal Gyrus ; Putamen ; Pyramidal Tracts ; Thalamus