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Background@#and Purpose Epidemiological data on narcolepsy are rare in South Korea.We aimed to provide an overview of the burden of narcolepsy and its temporal trend in South Korea. @*Methods@#Patients with narcolepsy were identified by their registration in the Rare and Intractable Disease (RID) register and the Health Insurance Review and Assessment database.Individuals registered in the RID program with the code V234 were considered as having ‘definite narcolepsy’, while those who claimed health insurance with G47.4 as the primary diagnostic code were considered as having ‘probable narcolepsy’. We estimated the annual prevalence, incidence, and medical costs of narcolepsy between 2010 and 2019. @*Results@#The prevalence of definite narcolepsy was 8.4/100,000 in 2019, peaking at 32.0/100,000 in those aged 15–19 years. The prevalence was higher in males, with a relative risk of 1.72. The prevalence has increased over the past 6 years, with an average annual growth rate (AAGR) of 12.2%. The prevalence of probable narcolepsy was 10.7/100,000 in 2019. The incidence of definite narcolepsy increased up to 1.3/100,000 in 2019 with an AAGR of 7.1%. Annual medical expenditure for definite narcolepsy gradually increased up to 4.1 billion KRW in 2019, with a compound annual growth rate of 11.9%. @*Conclusions@#This study has provided the first nationwide estimates for narcolepsy in South Korea. The prevalence of diagnosed narcolepsy in South Korea was at the low end of the range of narcolepsy prevalence rates reported for other countries. However, the prevalence and incidence have been steadily increasing over the past decade.
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Objectives@#In South Korea, a significant number of patients with obstructive sleep apnea have benefited from the insured continuous positive pressure for sleep apnea as of 2018. However, there is limited information on public awareness of sleep apnea syndrome in the country. A nationwide survey was conducted to evaluate the current status of public awareness on the diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea. @*Methods@#We conducted an online survey using structured questionnaires on symptoms and knowledge of diagnosis and treatment modalities for sleep apnea. A total of 4,000 participants aged 21 to 69 were proportionally allocated according to the residential area, gender, and age group. @*Results@#The STOP questionnaire, a screening tool for sleep apnea, revealed that 1,044 (21.6%) scored ≥2 points, 327 (8.1%) scored ≥3 points, and 64 (1.6%) scored 4 points. However, only 19 of the 1,044 patients were being treated for sleep apnea, and 13 had been using continuous positive airway pressure. For the diagnosis of sleep apnea, 1,318 participants (33.0%) responded that polysomnography was necessary. For sleep apnea treatment, 1,954 (48.9%) participants responded that lifestyle modification was the treatment of choice, while 1,036 (25.9%) chose continuous positive pressure. @*Conclusions@#Although one-fifth were at high risk for sleep apnea, this disorder is still underestimated. Therefore, publicity and support are needed to improve public awareness of sleep apnea.
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Several medications are approved to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Korea including nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, remdesivir, and regdanvimab. There is potential drug-drug interaction between antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and the medications used to treat COVID-19. Several AEDs such as phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, and primidone are strong cytochrome P450 inducers and can inhibit the drugs used for COVID-19. Particularly, these drugs are contraindicated with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid®). There is a weaker drug-drug interaction between the AEDs and remdesivir. No significant interaction has been reported between the AEDs and molnupiravir. Pharmacokinetic interactions of the AEDs are important in effective management of COVID-19 in patients with epilepsy.
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Objective@#Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) emit less blue light than traditional light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and we previously found that early-night OLED light exposure (LE) delays the melatonin phase by less than LED at a color temperature of 4,000 K. As a follow-up study, we investigated the effects of OLED and LED at a different color temperature (3,000 K) on melatonin profile, sleep, and vigilance. @*Methods@#24 healthy subjects (27.5±5.1 years) were exposed to three light conditions [OLED, LED, and dim light (DL)] from 17:30 to 24:00, in a random order and with a 1-week interval. Saliva samples for melatonin were taken every hour from 18:00 to 24:00. Polysomnography (PSG) and a psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) were performed. @*Results@#Melatonin onset time was significantly delayed under OLED and LED compared with DL, with no significant difference between OLED and LED. The mean melatonin level at 24:00 under LED was lower than that under DL, but there was no significant difference between OLED LE and DL. The percentage of slow wave sleep (N3) in LED was significantly lower than in OLED. @*Conclusion@#Exposure to light in the evening can suppress melatonin secretion late at night and disturb deep sleep, and those effects are slightly worse under LED than OLED.
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Melatonin and cortisol are clinically important for diagnosing sleep and mood disorders.We developed and validated a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/ MS) assay for simultaneous measurement of salivary melatonin and cortisol concentrations according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Additionally, we compared the LC-MS/MS assay with immunoassays, ELISA (Direct Salivary Melatonin Elisa EK-DSM, Bühlmann Laboratories AG, Schönenbuch, Switzerland) and electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (Cortisol II, Roche, Mannheim, Germany), using 121 saliva samples. The LC-MS/MS assay exhibited good performance in terms of linearity, precision, accuracy, limit of detection, lower limit of quantification, extraction recovery, carry-over, and matrix effect. The LC-MS/MS assay and immunoassays showed strong correlation (Pearson’s r = 0.910 for melatonin, r = 0.955 for cortisol), but demonstrated a significant mean bias of 23.2% (range 54.0–143.7%) for melatonin and 48.9% (range 59.7–184.7%) for cortisol. Our LC-MS/MS assay provided more sensitive and reliable salivary melatonin and cortisol quantification results compared with immunoassays.
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Objective@#Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) emit less blue light than traditional light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and we previously found that early-night OLED light exposure (LE) delays the melatonin phase by less than LED at a color temperature of 4,000 K. As a follow-up study, we investigated the effects of OLED and LED at a different color temperature (3,000 K) on melatonin profile, sleep, and vigilance. @*Methods@#24 healthy subjects (27.5±5.1 years) were exposed to three light conditions [OLED, LED, and dim light (DL)] from 17:30 to 24:00, in a random order and with a 1-week interval. Saliva samples for melatonin were taken every hour from 18:00 to 24:00. Polysomnography (PSG) and a psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) were performed. @*Results@#Melatonin onset time was significantly delayed under OLED and LED compared with DL, with no significant difference between OLED and LED. The mean melatonin level at 24:00 under LED was lower than that under DL, but there was no significant difference between OLED LE and DL. The percentage of slow wave sleep (N3) in LED was significantly lower than in OLED. @*Conclusion@#Exposure to light in the evening can suppress melatonin secretion late at night and disturb deep sleep, and those effects are slightly worse under LED than OLED.
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Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a rare inflammatory demyelinating disease. Anti-aquaporin-4 antibodies serve as a specific biomarker, while other factors including antecedent infection may also play a role in the development of NMOSD. Abnormal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings such as leukocytosis with concentration >50/mm3 are one of the characteristics of NMOSD, but these were not specific for identifying other infective neurological diseases. Here we describe a rare case of NMOSD with CSF findings suggestive of bacterial meningomyelitis.
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Background@#and Purpose: Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) emit less blue light than traditional light-emitting diodes (LEDs), but the effects of OLED light exposure (LE) on melatonin and sleep have not been evaluated. @*Methods@#Twenty-four healthy subjects (age 26.9±5.7 years; including 18 females) with the intermediate chronotype were exposed to three different light conditions [4,000 K 150 lux OLED LE, 4,000 K 150 lux LED LE, and dim light (DL) at <10 lux] for 6.5 h from 17:30 to 24:00, in a random order and with a 1-week interval. Participants entered the unit for the experiment at 16:00, and their daylight was measured by actigraphy from 8:00 to 16:00 during each session. Saliva samples for melatonin were taken every hour from 18:00 to 24:00. Sleep was monitored by polysomnography, and vigilance was evaluated by psychomotor vigilance test upon awakening. @*Results@#Melatonin onset occurred at 21:11±01:24, 21:20±01:19, and 21:36±01:16 in the DL, OLED, and LED conditions, respectively. Melatonin onset was significantly delayed under LED LE compared to DL (p=0.007) but did not differ under OLED LE (p=0.245). Melatonin suppression, sleep parameters, and vigilance were similar among the three light conditions. The accumulated amount of daytime light in each session was negatively correlated with the melatonin onset time under the DL (rho=-0.634, p=0.002) and OLED (rho=-0.447, p=0.029) conditions, not under the LED condition (p=0.129). @*Conclusions@#Melatonin onset under OLED LE was not significantly delayed compared to DL.Exposure to sufficient daylight may advance melatonin onset even when a subject is exposed to OLED LE in the evening.
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Background@#and PurposeSleep disturbance is common in patients with primary headache disorders. We were interest in whether poor sleep quality affects patients directly or via increases in the frequency and severity of headaches. To that end, we investigated the direct and indirect effects of sleep quality on the headache-related impact among patients with primary headache disorders. @*Methods@#We analyzed migraine and tension-type headache (TTH) in patients included in the headache registry of our headache clinic from October 2015 to May 2018. We collected information on the headache frequency, severity, and psychological status. Sleep quality and headache-related impact were measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Headache Impact Test-6, respectively. We performed path analyses with headache frequency and severity as covariates to determine the direct effect of sleep quality on the headache-related impact, and the indirect effects mediated by increases in the headache frequency and severity. @*Results@#This study included 915 patients: 784 with migraine and 131 with TTH. Worse sleep quality was independently associated with greater headache-related impact in both patients with migraine and those with TTH. Path analysis revealed a direct effect (β=0.207,p<0.001) of sleep quality and an indirect effect mediated by headache frequency and severity (β=0.067, p=0.004) on the headache-related impact in migraine. In TTH, only direct effects of sleep quality on the headache-related impact were significant (β=0.224, p=0.004). @*Conclusions@#We suggest that poor sleep quality can directly increase the headache-related impact in both patients with migraine and TTH as well as indirectly by increasing the headache frequency and severity in patients with migraine.
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OBJECTIVES: Night shift workers suffer from sleep and daytime disturbances due to circadian misalignment. To investigate the role of environmental light in daytime sleep following 12 h-night shift work. METHODS: We enrolled 12 h-shift female nurses working at one university-affiliated hospital (n=10, mean age 26.6 years, shift work duration 3.8 years). This is a cross-over study to compare sleep between under light exposure (30 lux) and in the dark (<5 lux) following 12 h-night duty. Two sessions of experiments were underwent and the interval between sessions was about a month. Psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) had performed on awakening from sleep at each session and sleep-wake pattern had been monitored by actigraphy throughout the study period. Daytime sleep was also compared with night sleep of age-and gender matched daytime workers (n=10). RESULTS: Sleep parameters and PVT scores were not different between two light conditions. Activities during sleep seemed to be more abundant under 30 lux condition than in the dark, which was not significant. Compared to night sleep, daytime sleep of shift workers was different in terms of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Three shift workers showed sleep onset REM sleep and first REM sleep period was the longest during daytime sleep. CONCLUSIONS: Unexpectedly, daytime sleep of 12 h night shift workers was well-maintained regardless of light exposure. Early occurrence of REM sleep and shorter sleep latency during daytime sleep suggest that shift workers meet with misalignment of circadian rhythm as well as increased homeostatic sleep pressure drive.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Actigraphy , Circadian Rhythm , Cross-Over Studies , Polysomnography , Sleep, REMABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Significant benefit of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) for restless legs syndrome (RLS) has been demonstrated. However, clinical indicators to expect treatment response of RLS are not clarified. The aim of this study is to find out determinant factors to predict treatment outcome of FCM. METHODS: We enrolled consecutive 108 patients with RLS who visited sleep clinic and received FCM from April 2016 to November 2017. Obtained data were detailed history including international restless legs scale (IRLS) and questionnaires, comorbid diseases, medication. Complete blood cell count, serum iron, ferritin, and total iron-binding capacity were sampled before and after treatment. Treatment response was assessed about four weeks after FCM administration. Patients with more than 40% decrease on IRLS were classified into the responders. RESULTS: 99 patients (mean 54.5 y and 79 females) were included. 58 patients (58.6%) were classified to be responders. There were substantial differences in post-treatment IRLS and symptom reduction rate between responders (7.4±6.4, 77.5±18.6%) and non-responders (29.7±8.7, 7.4±10.3%). No significant differences were found in demographics, baseline IRLS, sleep, and mood status between two groups. Serum ferritin and transferrin saturation was significantly lower in responders (37.6 ng/mL, 25.0%) than non-responders (55.1 ng/mL, p=0.014 and 36.5%, p=0.001). Patients with a history of gastrectomy (n=8) showed an excellent response to FCM (83.8% of symptom reduction). Comorbid lumbosacral radiculopathy had lower response rate (29.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Peripheral iron compromised state and gastrectomy history may indicate good response to intravenous FCM in patients with RLS. Patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy tend to be poor responders to intravenous FCM.
Subject(s)
Humans , Blood Cell Count , Demography , Ferritins , Gastrectomy , Iron , Radiculopathy , Restless Legs Syndrome , Transferrin , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The dream recall and sleep of patients with rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) were not sufficiently studied. We hypothesized that RBD patients have frequent dream recall with poor sleep quality, and investigated the relationship between the dream recall frequency and sleep quality in RBD patients compared to controls. METHODS: We analyzed 81 drug naïve patients [RBD (+), 64.6±8.3 y, 57 males] and 81 age and gender matched patients with sleep disturbances without RBD [RBD (−), 63.7±7.3 y, 57 males]. All completed Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), insomnia severity index (ISI), Epworth sleepiness scale and Beck depression inventory. The 5-point rating scale was used to categorize dream recall frequency of most recent month (0=never, 4=very frequent). RESULTS: In RBD (+), dream recall frequency was much higher [frequent dreaming, 77.2% vs. 35.4%], and subjective sleep quality was much better [PSQI, 6.36±3.26 vs. 8.71±4.69]. Insomnia severity was much less in RBD (+) (ISI, 9.13±5.86) than RBD (−) (12.43±7.62). No significant differences were found in sleep parameters except lower N2 sleep % in RBD (+). The relationship between dream recall frequency and sleep was not significant in RBD (+), yet, a positive correlation was noted in RBD (−). CONCLUSIONS: RBD (+) had better sleep quality despite higher frequency of dream recall compared to RBD (−). Also dream recall was not related to their sleep quality in RBD (+), which suggests that RBD patients may have different sleep perception about their sleep and sleep quality.
Subject(s)
Humans , Depression , Dreams , REM Sleep Behavior Disorder , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders , Sleep, REMABSTRACT
Arterial dissection is an important cause of stroke. We report two cases of isolated posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) dissection diagnosed by high-resolution vessel-wall MRI (HRVW-MRI). One subject complained of abrupt-onset vertigo and headache, and the other subject had headache, vertigo, and Horner syndrome. Conventional MRA showed only focal dilatation of the PICA, but HRVW-MRI revealed intramural hematoma and double-lumen contour in the PICA, suggesting arterial dissection. We suggest that the use of HRVW-MRI should be considered when diagnosing isolated PICA dissection in a PICA infarct with an unknown cause.
Subject(s)
Arteries , Dilatation , Headache , Hematoma , Horner Syndrome , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Pica , Stroke , VertigoABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To characterize sleep of subjects with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) with insomnia compared to OSA without insomnia in terms of polysomnography (PSG) and cardiopulmonary coupling (CPC) analysis. METHODS: Subjects with OSA (apnea-hypopnea index, AHI > or =5 /h, n=200) were enrolled and divided into subjects OSA with insomnia (OSA-I) and subjects with OSA only (OSA-O). OSA-I complained of difficulty falling and/or staying asleep at an initial interview in clinic. We compared demographics including mood states, daytime sleepiness, PSG, and CPC parameters between groups, and performed correlation analyses between PSG and CPC parameters for each group. RESULTS: Female ratio was higher in OSA-I than OSA-O. OSA-I were older and slimmer than OSA-O. OSA-O were much drowsier (Epworth Sleepiness Scale 10.0 vs. 6.8). However, mood states were not different between two groups. OSA-I showed significantly longer sleep latency and lower sleep efficiency than OSA-O. Despite of higher arousal index (AI) and AHI of OSA-O, wakefulness after sleep onset was greater in OSA-I. There was no significant difference of CPC parameters between two groups after adjustment of AHI. In correlation analyses, low frequency coupling and high frequency coupling duration were associated with AHI, AI, and lowest SaO2 in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: OSA-I demonstrated more fragmented sleep architecture and disruptive sleep in spite of lower sleep-disordered breathing related distress than OSA-O. CPC analysis is unable to differentiate sleep patterns of OSA subjects with or without insomnia. It is needed to explore factors causing fragmented sleep architecture and disruptive sleep rather than respiratory disturbances in OSA subjects complaining of insomnia.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Arousal , Demography , Polysomnography , Sleep Apnea Syndromes , Sleep Apnea, Obstructive , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders , WakefulnessABSTRACT
Acardiac twin is a rare anomaly that occurs 1% in monochorionic twins and 1 in 35,000 pregnancies overall. Acardiac twin, also known as twin-reversed arterial perfusion (TRAP) sequence, involves a "pump" or donor twin perfusing a recipient or "acardiac" twin through vascular (usually arterial-arterial and venous-venous) anastomoses. Perinatal mortality rate for the pump twin has been reported to be 50~75%, mainly as a result of polyhydramnios, preterm labor, and congestive heart failure. Therefore, occlusion of the circulation to the acardiac twin has been recommended to improve perinatal outcome of the pump twin. Radiofrequency ablation of the acardiac twin effectively protects the pump twin from high-output cardiac failure and death. We report our experience in the treatment of patients with TRAP sequence using radio frequency ablation to stop perfusion to the acardiac twin.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Pregnancy , Fetus , Heart Failure , Obstetric Labor, Premature , Perfusion , Perinatal Mortality , Polyhydramnios , Pregnancy, Twin , Tissue Donors , Umbilical CordABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate efficacy and safety of local injection of potassium chloride (KCl) and methotrexate (MTX) in the treatment of cornual pregnancy. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all cases of cornual pregnancy treated conservatively from 2005 through August 2007. Eight cases were identified and two cases were heterotopic interstitial pregnancy. All cases were managed with local injection of KCl or methotrexate under ultrasound guidance and 2 cases were treated with intra-muscular injection of MTX in combination. After the procedure all cases with cardiac activity was confirmed to be aborted by ultrasound. Also serial follow-up sonographic examination and serum beta-hCG measurement were performed. RESULTS: The mean initial beta-hCG level was 53,331.6 mIU/mL and ranged from 14,332 mIU/mL to 125,721 mIU/mL. Mean gestational age was 48.3 days from 40 to 65 days. All cases were aborted successfully and follow up beta-hCG were declined abruptly. Two cases of heterotopic pregnancy resulted in successful deliveries at full term. CONCLUSION: Cornual resection or hysterectomy should no longer be the first line of treatment for hemodynamically stable patients with cornual pregnancy. They can be successfully treated through local injection of MTX or KCl by ultrasound guidance.
Subject(s)
Humans , Pregnancy , Follow-Up Studies , Gestational Age , Hysterectomy , Methotrexate , Potassium , Potassium Chloride , Pregnancy, Heterotopic , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
Endometriosis is a common disease in women of reproductive age, intestinal involvement has been estimated to occur in 3% to 37% of women with endometriosis, in rectosigmoid colon, appendix, ileum and cecum, in order of decreasing frequency. On the other hand, endometriosis of the small bowel, especially symptomatic small bowel involvement, is very unusual. Endometriosis is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction, and preoperative diagnosis is very difficult. It should be considered in the differential diagnosis of women of reproductive age who present with symptoms of obstruction. The definitive treatment includes resection of the involved segment with primary anastomosis. We report a 34-year-old woman following up infertility and ovarian endometrioma. She had nausea, vomiting and low abdominal pain who was operated on acute intestinal obstruction. Pathologic finding was endometriosis involving the ileum, cecum, appendix We present the case with a brief review of literature.
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Abdominal Pain , Appendix , Cecum , Colon , Diagnosis, Differential , Endometriosis , Hand , Ileum , Infertility , Intestinal Obstruction , Nausea , VomitingABSTRACT
Monoamniotic twin pregnancies are relatively rare, but perinatal mortality is high about 30-70%. The major cause of fetal death is cord accident, congenital anomalies, twin-twin transfusion syndrome, and intrauterine growth restriction. Especially cord entanglement occurs; perinatal mortality is about 50%. So the active management of monoamniotic twins to reduce the complication of cord entanglement is important. This is a case of monoamniotic twin pregnancy with cord entanglement and both fetuses survival by elective cesarean section at 32+4 weeks after medical amnioreduction and intensive fetal surveillance.