ABSTRACT
Valproic acid-induced hyperammonemic encephalopathy (VHE) is a very rare but serious complication. Discontinuation of valproic acid is the first and critical step for treatment. VHE can occur in people with normal liver function, despite normal doses and serum levels of valproic acid, therefore it is very hard to predict. Recently, we experienced a case of VHE. Here we will present the clinical, laboratory and electroencephalography findings in this patient.
Subject(s)
Humans , Electroencephalography , Epilepsy , Liver , Status Epilepticus , Valproic AcidABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Fos, the protein product of c-fos gene, has been known to be rapidly expressed in neurons following various external and internal stimuli and this protein expression has been used as a neural activation marker in many fields. This experiment was performed to examine the afferent pathway of the lateral semicircular canals following sinusoidal acceleration. MATERIALS & METHODS: To stimulate the lateral semicircular canals, animals received rotary stimulation for 90 minutes with 2.0Hz sinusoidal acceleration. Thirty minutes after stimulation, the subjects were sacrificed and their brainstems were processed for immunohistochemistry to detect Fos expression. RESULTS: Fos proteins were strongly expressed in the superior, dorsal medial vestibular and inferior vestibular nuclei. However, there was no expression in the lateral and ventral portion of medial vestibular nuclei. CONCLUSION: This finding suggested that the afferent pathway from peripheral vestibular end-organ can be successfully mapped by detection of Fos expression and Fos is an useful neural activity marker in the vestibular system.
Subject(s)
Animals , Acceleration , Afferent Pathways , Brain Stem , Genes, fos , Immunohistochemistry , Neurons , Semicircular Canals , Vestibular NucleiABSTRACT
The parotid tumor which presents as solid and cystic mass on computed tomography, shows hot uptake on technetium-99m scan and oxyphilic oncocytic cells and intermingled lymphocytes on fine needle aspiration usually suggests Warthin's tumor. We have treated a patient with such preoperative findings of Warthin's tumor. However, the pathologic diagnosis of the surgical specimen was mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma.
Subject(s)
Humans , Biopsy, Fine-Needle , Diagnosis , Lymphocytes , Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone , Parotid GlandABSTRACT
Fos, the protein product of c-fos gene, has been known to be rapidly expressed in neurons following various external and internal stimuli. This experiment was performed to determine whether off-axis centripetal acceleration cause a proper stimulation to the otolith organ and the afferent neural pathway from the otolith organ can be mapped by detection of expressed Fos protein. Therefore we performed on-axis and off-axis centripetal acceleration stimulation to experimental animals and investigated Fos expression immunohistochemically. In results, there were no expression of Fos protein following on-axis centripetal acceleration, whereas in the medial, descending vestibular nuclei and y-group of the off-axially stimulated animal, we could find strong expression of Fos protein.
Subject(s)
Animals , Rats , Acceleration , Brain Stem , Genes, fos , Neural Pathways , Neurons , Otolithic Membrane , Vestibular NucleiABSTRACT
Sudden deafness is not rare but its pathophysiology has not been fully determined and treatment is controversial at present. About concerning factors for the recovery of sudden deafness, various studies have been done, but there are still many unknown things. The probability of recovery from sudden deafness depends on many factors. To evaluate hearing recovery and prognostic factors we studied 65 patients treated with bed rest, steroid, vasodilator, plasma expander, vitamines from March 1988 to October 1995 at our department. Data were statistically examined and we present a model for calculating the probability of patient recovery based on the combined effects of risk factors determined for these variables. Interrelationships among the prognostic factors and their relative importance in predicting hearing recovery are discussed.