Imaging Evidence of Basal Ganglia Pathology in Hemi choreoballistic Movement of the Patient with Nonketotic Hyperglycemia: Case Report with Serial Follow Up of Neuroimages

The mechanism of chorea underlying nonketotic hyperglycemia was controversial. Serial follow up of brain MRI, 99mTc-ECD SPECT, and 18F-FDG PET in conjunction with clinical observation was done to clarify the pathologic localization. From the functional neuroimages, according to the clinical improvement, the relevant pathology was localized on the lentiform nucleus, mainly on the putamen. In caudate, the mismatch between glucose metabolism and blood flow was observed during and after choreoballistic movement which suggested an important cue to understand the pathogenesis of chorea.

Effect of Ischemic Neuronal Insults on Amyloid Precursor Protein Processing

BACKGROUND: In spite of the different pathogenesis and exclusive respect in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD), recent epidemiological and pathological studies indicates that ischemic stroke have an important role in the pathogenesis of both VaD and AD. However, the association of ischemic stroke and AD on the cellular and molecular level is still unknown. We evaluated the effect of ischemic neuronal insult on the regulation of amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing. METHODS: We used an in vitro model of cerebral ischemia (oxygen-glucose deprivation, OGD) to evaluate the effect of ischemic insult on the amyloidogenic and non-amyloidogenic pathways using human neuroblastoma cell line, SH-SY5Y, and primary cultured cells of Tg2576 APP transgenic mouse. RESULTS: Ischemic insult significantly increased the beta amyloid (A beta) production in the primary cultured cells of Tg2576 APP transgenic mice (p<0.001). A disintegrin and metalloprotease 10 (ADAM 10), a candidate of alpha-secretase, was markedly increased in the early stage of ischemic insult (up to 2 hours of OGD, p<0.001; 4 hours of OGD, p<0.05), which was followed by the decreased level of ADAM 10 expression in a later stage (p<0.001). However, the protein and mRNA expression of beta-site cleavage enzyme (BACE) and BACE activity were not significantly different between the group of ischemic insult and control. By contrast, the activity of gamma-secretase was significantly increased after 4 hours of ischemic insult, as compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the ischemic neuronal insults increase the production of A beta via activation of the amyloidogenic pathway, which may link the role of ischemic insults to the pathogenesis of AD.

Chorea Following Acute Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

The clinical cases of 6 patients suffering with chorea after acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning were reviewed. There were 2 men and 4 women, and the age at onset ranged from 11 to 60 (mean 33.0) years. All the patients except one were associated with mild delayed CO encephalopathy. The latency period between CO poisoning and the onset of chorea was 10 to 30 (mean 21.7) days. The duration of chorea after CO poisoning was 14 to 90 (mean 39.8) days. The brain CT findings were bilateral low- density lesions in the basal ganglia and/or in the white matter of the cerebral cortex, and there was no correlation between the lesion sites on the imagings and the development of chorea. Neuroleptic agents alleviated the chorea and the patients did not relapse after neuroleptic agents were halted.

Apoptosis of Surrounding Neurons by Brain tumor

BACKGROUND: As brain tumor cells are immunologically active, they release various factors like a cytokine, growth factor and express a death domain on their surfaces. Accordingly they support proliferation, vascularity, invasiveness and maintain immune privileged sites. However, the relationship between tumor cells and surrounding neuron cells have been rarely reported in tumor patients with epilepsy that inhibitory neuron cells have been lost around peritumoral sites. This study was designed to address that tumor cells directly damage neuron cells. METHODS: Using LDH assay and special stain, we investigated whether or not cultured supernatants of astrocytoma cells induce the damage of neuron cells. RESULTS: The neuron cells were killed by tumor cells supernatant and increased by pretreatment of neuron cells supernatant and lysates. Protein extracted tumor cells supernatant also damage neuron cells. It was proved by Annexin-PI stain and DNA fragmentation that neuronal death by tumor cells was apoptosis. The more malignant tumor cells, the more neuronal death was induced and the more their cytokines were expressed. In comparison with various cytokine expressions in tumor cells, it can be assumed that the released protein from tumor cells was associated with TNF (tumor necrosis factor)-alpha. CONCLUSIONS: Brain tumor cells are active processing cells that they recognize surrounding normal neuron cells, release death factors and induce apoptosis of neuron cells. Released death factors are related toTNF-alpha. (J Korean Neurol Assoc 19(3):266~277, 2001)

Carbon monoxide poisoning: systemic manifestations and complications

Carbon monoxide (CO) has the toxic effects of tissue hypoxia and produces various systemic and neurological complications. The main clinical manifestations of acute CO poisoning consist of symptoms caused by alterations of the cardiovascular system such as initial tachycardia and hypertension, and central nervous system symptoms such as headache, dizziness, paresis, convulsion and unconsciousness. CO poisoning also produces myocardial ischemia, atrial fibrillation, pneumonia, pulmonary edema, erythrocytosis, leucocytosis, hyperglycemia, muscle necrosis, acute renal failure, skin lesion, and changes in perception of the visual and auditory systems. Of considerable chinical interest, severe neurological manifestations may occur days or weekes after acute CO poisoning. Delayed sequelae of CO poisoning are not rare, usually occur in middle or older, and are clinically characterized by symptom triad of mental deterioration, urinary incontinence, and gait disturbance. Occasionally, movement disorders, particularly parkinsonism, are observed. In addition, peripheral neuropathy following CO poisoning usually occurs in young adults.

Acute Bacterial Meningitis: Causative Organisms, Clinical Characteristics and Prognosis

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of basic epidemiological information on bacterial meningitis in children and adults in Korea. Therefore, more research is needed to investigate the causative organisms, clinical manifestations, and prognosis in Korean children and adults. METHODS: We analyzed retrospectively 148 medical records with final diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. The diagnosis of bacterial meningitis was based on culture-positive cases. RESULTS: Out of a total 148 patients, 71 were children and 77 were adults. In the children with community acquired meningitis, infection-related meningitis was the most common predisposing factor (23.3%). In adults, otitis media was the most common (21.7%). There were more frequent seizures in children than adults (38.1%, 17.1%, p50 years), seizure (p<0.05), and mental change (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Although a causative organism is not documented, we believe that our study will help to properly treat acute bacterial meningitis in children and adults regardless if it is community acquired or nosomial.

Regulation of Fas and FasL mRNA expression in human astrocytoma cell lines by cytokines

Fas-mediated apoptosis is one of the major mechanisms of programmed cell death. Fas is a transmembrane protein of the nerve growth factor/tumor necrosis factor(TNF-alpha) receptor family which signals apoptotic cell death in susceptible target cells when it reacts with Fas ligand(FasL) or anti-Fas antibody. FasL, which belongs to TNF family, is mainly expressed on the surface of activated T lymphocytes and induces apoptosis of Fas-bearing cell. Astrocytoma is the most common brain tumor, which is usually fatal in its malignant form. Astrocytoma appears to progress without any significant impedance from the immune system, even if intratumoral T cell infiltrations are usually found. In the brain, it has been suggested that astrocytoma cells may potentially deliver a death signal to Fas-bearing cells which include infiltrating leukocytes as well as, paradoxically, astrocytoma cells themselves. In this study, we show that all of the astrocytoma cell lines express both Fas and FasL, which is confirmed by reverse transcription-PCR. Pre-exposure to IFN-gamma, IL-1 and TNF-alpha were found to augment the expression of Fas and FasL. These findings suggest that FasL-induced apoptosis by astrocytoma cells may play a significant role in both the immunosuppression and the regulation of tumor growth within the central nervous system. And also cytokines might play a role in the induction of Fas and FasL in astrocytoma cells.

The Therapeutic Effect of Azathioprine in Four Patients with Idiopathic Hypertrophic Pachymeningitis

Idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis is a rare inflammatory disease of unknown origin in which the recurrence is frequently observed despite an initial response to steroid therapy. Four patients, two men and two women aged 63 to 67 years, with severe headaches were evaluated by a brain MRI, and two patients were evaluated by follow up MRI receiving azathioprine therapy. All patients were given initial oral prednisolone 60mg or steroid pulse therapy followed by oral prednisolone and azathioprine therapy. Four patients improved with prednisolone but became steroid depen-dent. Azathioprine therapy permitted a reduction of the corticosteroid which may lead to clinical and radiological improvement. At present, high dose corticosteroid therapy is the treatment of choice, followed by immunosuppressive agents, such as azathioprine, if necessary. Further long-term follow-up studies of these patients are needed to clarify the outcome of this rare disease.

The Therapeutic Effect of Azathioprine in Four Patients with Idiopathic Hypertrophic Pachymeningitis

Idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis is a rare inflammatory disease of unknown origin in which the recurrence is frequently observed despite an initial response to steroid therapy. Four patients, two men and two women aged 63 to 67 years, with severe headaches were evaluated by a brain MRI, and two patients were evaluated by follow up MRI receiving azathioprine therapy. All patients were given initial oral prednisolone 60mg or steroid pulse therapy followed by oral prednisolone and azathioprine therapy. Four patients improved with prednisolone but became steroid depen-dent. Azathioprine therapy permitted a reduction of the corticosteroid which may lead to clinical and radiological improvement. At present, high dose corticosteroid therapy is the treatment of choice, followed by immunosuppressive agents, such as azathioprine, if necessary. Further long-term follow-up studies of these patients are needed to clarify the outcome of this rare disease.

Delayed-onset Movement Disorders after Carbon Monoxide Intoxication

BACKGROUND: Presently, it is well known that there are neurological and systemic complications after carbon monox-ide (CO) intoxication. Until recently, delayed-onset movement disorders after CO intoxication were rarely reported. We analyzed 32 patients with delayed onset movement disorders after CO intoxication. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 242 patients admitted to the Yonsei University Medical Center from January 1986 to December 1996 due to CO intoxication. Patients were analyzed with respect to movement disorders, onset, latency, and radiological findings. RESULTS: Among the 242 patients of CO intoxication, 32 (13.2%) patients had delayed-onset movement disorders. Of these, 23 (71.9%) had parkinsonism, 5 (15.6%) had dystonia, 3 (9.4%) had chorea, and 1 (3.1%) had myoclonus. The mean age of the patients was 46.66 +/-16.91 years. Among the 4 patients with CO intoxication occuring at age 17 or younger (Childhood group), 2 had parkinsonism and 2 had focal dystonia. The mean age of the Childhood group was 1 7 . 7 5 +/-6.99 years. Among the 28 patients with CO intoxication occuring at age 18 or older (Adult group), 21 (75%) had parkinsonism, 3(10.7%) dystonia, 3(10.7%) chorea, and 1(3.6%) myoclonus. Among the 3 patients with dystonia in the Adult group, 1 had focal dystonia and 2 had segmental dystonia. The mean age of the adult group was 50.79 +/-1 3 . 4 6 years. The mean latency between CO intoxication and the onset of movement disorders was 27.20 +/-27.94 weeks in the Childhood group and 9.60 +/-14.97 weeks in the Adult group. The mean latency between CO intoxication and the onset of movement disorders was 6.44 +/-6.76 weeks in parkinsonism, 41.76 +/-27.99 weeks in dystonia, 4.0 weeks in chorea, and 8.0 weeks in myoclonus. The mean latency in dystonia was longer than in the others. Among the 23 patients who underwent brain computed tomography, 12 (52.2%) had abnormal findings. Low density lesions were found in the globus pallidus (13.0%), cerebral white matter (13.0%), and both globus pallidus and cerebral white matter (17.4%). One (14.3%) patient showed cortical atrophy while another patient showed both cortical atrophy and low density in cerebral white matter. CONCLUSIONS: The development of a delayed-onset movement disorder after CO intoxication is not rare. In our research, the radiological findings of patients with delayed-onset movement disorders after CO intoxication were inconsistant. The findings revealed no correlations with the various types of delayed-onset movement disorders.

Comparison of Clinical Feature, CSF Cytology, Neuroimaging, and CSF Biochemical Marker in Leptomeningeal Metastasis

Background: It is important to make the accurate diagnosis of leptomeningeal metastasis(LM) because the institution of appropriate therapy may produce symptomatic improvement, prevent neurologic deterioration, and prolong survival. To evaluate the appropriate diagnostic methods of LM, we conducted the comparison of diagnostic yield in each diagnostic method and analyzed factors influencing the diagnostic results. METHODS: We analyzed 62 patients of LM with following inclusion criteria: positive CSF cytology, or abnormal neuroimaging, or elevated CSF biochemical marker, or characteristic clinical symptom and abnormal routine CSF examination. RESULTS: Primary cancer of LM was following; lung cancer 21, lymphoma 15, stomach cancer 13, breast cancer 9, rhabdomyosarcoma 2, bladder cancer 1, and colon cancer 1. The positive yield in the diagnosis of LM was 54.5% in CSF cytology, 55.9% in neuroimaging, 62.5% in CSF biochemical marker. As each diagnostic method was combined, the positive yield was increased to 86.4-88.5% with the highest in combination of CSF cytology with neuroimaging. The relationship between CSF cytology and neuroimaging is complementary in the diagnosis of LM (p=0.01). In positive group of CSF cytology, the count of CSF WBC was higher than in negative group (p=0.026), and clinical feature revealed a tendency of combined cerebral and cranial symptom than isolated symptom. The interval from the diagnosis of primary cancer to diagnosis of LM was most prolonged in breast cancer with a mean of 38.2 month. CONCLUSIONS: Combination of each diagnostic method increases the diagnostic yield, and CSF cytology and neuroimaging must be performed with each other.

Clinical manifestations and complications in carbon monoxide intoxication

Background ; Carbon Monoxide is colorless, ordorless, highly toxic gas produced by fire and by motor vehicles and appliances which use carbon-based fuels. In Korea, since coals were the main domestic fuel for cooking and for heating the floor, many cases of carbon monoxide intoxication have occurred annually. Until now, systemic complications & clinical manifestations as well as neurologic complications following carbon monoxide poisoning have rarely been reported. METHODS: I have researched systemic complications and clinical manifestations including neurologic complications from 1986 to 1997. I reviewed retrospectively medical records of 188 admitted patients to the Yonsei Medical Center due to carbon monoxide intoxication, and analyzed them according to the neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory, urogenital, dermatological and other systems. RESULTS: 1)The number of the admitted patients due to CO intoxication to Yonsei Medical Center between 1986 and 1997 has decreased compared to that between 1976 and 1981. 2)In this study, the cause of CO intoxication were furnaces in 170 cases(93.9%), fire accidents in 2 cases(1.1%), gas boilers in 2 cases(1.1%), LPG gas in 1 case(0.55%) and propan gas in 1 case(0.55%) in order. 3)Systemic complications and clinical manifestations after CO intoxication were 167(88.8%) nervous , 59(31.4%) musculoskeletal, 56(29.8%) respiratory, 49(26%) dermatologic, 44(23.4%) cardiovascular, 30(16.0%) genitourinary and 9(4.8%) other complications. Other systemic complications as well as neurological complications were not rare. 4)The clinical manifestations of neurological complications were decreased mental status(drowsy in 57 cases(30.3%), stupor in 63 cases(33.5%), semicoma in 33 cases(17.6%), coma in 13 cases(6.9%), alert in 22 cases(11.7%), focal sign related to the stroke in 16 cases (7.4%), incontinence in 22 cases(11.7%), seizure in 4 cases(2.4%), psychiatric behavior in 4 cases(2.4%), peripheral neuropathy in 4 cases(2.4%), bracheal plexopathy in 4 cases(2.4%), and torticollis in 1 case(0.5%). Delayed neurologic sequelae were akinetic mutism in 13 cases(76.5%), mental deterioration in 6 cases(35.3%), incontinence in 6 cases(35.3%), psychiatric behavior in 3 cases(17.6%), speech disturbance in 2 cases(11.8%), involuntary movement in 2 cases(11.8%), and depression in 1 case(5.9%) in order. 5)Cardiovascular complications showed tachycardia in 47 cases(28.3%), ischemic heart disease in 34 cases(18.6%), right bundle branch block in 6 cases(3.6%), left axis deviation in 4 cases(2.4%), atrial fibrillation in 3 cases(1.8%), sinus arrhythmia in 2 cases(1.2%), premature atrial contraction in 1 case(0.6%), premature ventricular contraction in 1 case(0.6%), primary atrio-ventricular block in 1 case(0.6%), prolonged QT in 1 case(0.6%). 6)Pulmonary complications were pneumonia in 23 cases(13.1%), pulmonary edema in 22 cases(12.6%), pneumonia with pulmonary edema in 3 cases(1.7%), and atelectasis, pulmonary hemorrhage, empyema, pleurisy in each 1 case(0.6%). 7)Azotemias were 26 cases(14.2%), clinically confirmed acute renal failures were 4 cases(2%) 8)Rhabdomyolysis was not rare as 63 cases(33.5%) compared to the previous report. 9)Dermatologic complications were erythema with bullae in 21 cases(11.9%), erythema without bullae in 14 cases(7.9%), bullae only in 10 cases(5.6%), laceration in 3 cases(1.65%), and ulceration in 1 case(0.55%). Conclusion ; We must consider other systemic manifestations as well as neurological symptoms in patients with CO intoxication since those are not infrequent in Korea.

The onset of ischemic stroke in the coronary heart disease patients

BACKGROUND: Coronary heart disease (CAD) has been known to be a risk factor of ischemic stoke. But, in our country, there has been no systematized study about the incidence of ischemic stroke (IS) after CAD, influencing factors and interval to ischemic stroke . So there is a possibility of different result from previous studies in other countries. METHODS: In this study, we analyzed the stroke influencing factors, interval and stroke type of 2192 CAD patients composed of myocardial infarction (MI) (554 patients) and angina pectoris (1638 patients) who admitted Yonsei university Severance hospital since 1992 Jan. to 1994 Dec. through 3 year follow up. RESULTS: After 3 year follow up of 2192 CAD patients, total 40 cases of ischemic stroke (including transient ischemic attack) developed. Among total CAD patients, influencing factors of IS were atrial fibrillation (p<0.001) and ejection fraction lower than 55 % (p=0.034). Especially atrial fibrillation was the most powerful influencing factor (odds ratio=7.8201, 95 % confidence interval=2.9281-20.8854). IS occurrence was most frequent up to 1 year after diagnosis of CAD(60 % of IS cases), especially highest frequency was demonstrated up to 1 month (50 % of the IS cases within 1 year). This pattern was same to all CAD types. There were not any differences of incidence and interval to IS between acute MI and angina pectoris patients. In MI (554 patients) patients 2.5 % (14 cases) incidence of IS was demonstrated for 3 years and influencing factors of IS occurrence were age (p=0.044) and atrial fibrillation (p=0.004). The outstanding treatment of minimizing IS occurrence was not demonstrated. In angina pectoris (1638 patients) patients, 1.6 % (26 cases) incidence of IS was demonstrated for 3 years and influencing factors of IS occurrence were 1) atrial fibrillation (p=0.0031), 2) Diabetes mellitus (p=0.0058) 3) left ventricular hypertrophy (p=0.0057) 4) hypertension (p=0.0228). There was not an outstanding treatment which let IS occurrence minimalized in sta.

Clinical characteristics of meningitis in adults

The meningitis occur within a closed anatomic space, so they have many similar clinical features and characteristic CSF abnormalities. But the temporal profile of many meningitis is distinctive from aseptic meningitis with spontaneous remission to bacterial or tuberculous meningitis with fatal outcome without treatment. Therefore early accurate differential diagnosis is required. The development of diagnostic tools and treatment, and increase of immunodeficient state and resistant pathogens have changed the distribution of main pathogens of meningitis from the past. Therefore we analyzed 241 medical records with final diagnosis as 'infectious meningitis' to evaluate the distribution of pathogens in Korea and any differential points of clinical, laboratory, and radiologic, profile according to etiology. 1. The etiologic distributions were followings, Aseptic meningitis in 100 patient(41.5%), tuberculous meningitis in 58 patients(24.1%), bacterial meningitis in 48 patients(19.9%), and fungal in 16 patients(6.6%). 2. The intense seasonal occurrence was noted in aseptic meningitis with summer. 3. Fever and headache were noted in almost all patients Altered mental status were noted in 39.6% of bacterial meningitis, 53.41% of tuberculous meningitis but not in fungal and aseptic meningitis. Meningeal irritation signs were noted in less patients(25%) with fungal meningitis but in more with aseptic, bacterial or tuberculous meningitis m 52-66.7%. Most of all focal neurologic signs were present in bacterial or tuberculous meningitis. 4. Many immunocompromized patients had fungal meningitis, three of which showed normal CSF leukocyte counts And it pointed up the importance of intensive etiologic evaluation in immunodeficient patients with clinically suspected symptoms of meningitis. 5. CSF findings at admission were following. CSF leukocytes were mean 206-258/yL in aseptic, tuberculous or fungal meningitis. But in bacterial meningitis leukocyte counts were greater than 1,000/mL in mom than half of patients. The differential counts of leukocytes were monocyte predominant except in bacterial meningitis. The reductions of CSF sugar were noted in bacterial, tuberculous, or fungal meningitis. Characteristically all patients with extremely low CSF sugar(less than 10mg/dL) had bacterial meningitis. 6. The most frequent pathologic findings in neuroimaging study were hydrocephalus(20patients: 9.1%) and meningeal enhancement(19patient,: 8.6%). Small enhancing mass(8patients: 3.6%.) and focal infarction(8patients: 3.6%) were noted less frequently. These abnormal radiologic findings were noted in 2 patients(2.0%) with aseptic meningitis, 15 patients(38.7%) with bacterial meningitis, 29 patients(50.0%) with tuberculous meningitis and 5 patients(35.7%) with fungal meningitis.

Cerebral infarction in young adults

Young adult stroke is not rare disease and have diverse causes. We studied 135 young adults aged 15 - 45 years who had been admitted to Severance Hospital with a diagnosis of cerebral infarction from January 1990 to June 1995. The results are as follows. 1. The diverse causes of earshot infarction in young adults have been found in most patients(88.2%). The major causes of cerebral infarction in young adults were atherosclerosis(32.6%) and cardioembolism(32.6%). The causes were significantly different between younger(15 - 30 years old) and older(31 - 45 years old) patients. 2. The major risk factors of atherosclerotic cerebral infarction were hypertension(29 patients), smoking(14 patients), and hyperlipidemia(11 patients). 3. The major causes of cardioembolism were valvular heart disease(21 patients) and prosthetic valve(I0 patients). The mitral valve prolapse was discovered only in one patient. 4. Fourteen patients had non-atherosclerotic vasculopathies. The moyamoya disease was the most common cause of them. 5. The other causes of cerebral infarction were found in 17 patients and the major causes were alcohol intoxication and postoperative thromboembolism. 6. The cerebral infarction occurred mostly in the carotid artery territory(95 patients) and the distribution of the involved vascular territory was not different between younger and older age groups. 7. The clinical outcomes were good in most patients (86, 7%). From the above results, we demonstrated that young adults with cerebral infarction had various causes and showed favorable clinical outcomes. We also found that the causes of cerebral infarction varied between younger and older groups. Our findings suggest that careful and thorough case-by-ease evaluation may be mandatory to clarify the causes of cerebral infarction in young adults.

Spinal dural enhancement in spontaneous intracranial hypotension on MRI

Recently with the development of magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) techniques, many reports of radiologic findings in spontaneous intracranial hypotension(SIH) have been reported. However in our review, the pachymeningeal changes within spinal canal secondary to SIH are not reported. In SIH, same mechanisms of it might act in the intraspinal space, which cause pachymeningeal changes of spinal dura and clinical features of spinal involvement. We reports four cases of SIH, in which MRI of the brain and spine reveals diffuse symmetric pachymeningeal enhancement. This is the first report of the spinal images in SIH.

Delayed-onset movement disorders after static brain lesions

We studied 55 patients with static brain lesions who developed delayed-onset movement disorders. Of these, 29(52.7%) had pakinsonism, 17(30.9%) dystonia, 6(10.9%) chorea, 2(3.6%) tremor, and I(I.8%) myoclonus. The precipitating insults included carbon mono-oxide, poisoning in 32(58.2%), 6(10.9%), encephalitis in 5(9.1%)head injury, stoke and hypoxia, in 6(10.9%) patients each. Among the four Patients with initial insult occurring at age 2years or younger(infant group), all had dystonia. Distribution of dystonia was focal in one(25%), segmental in two(50%), and unilateral in one patient(25%). The mean latency between the original injury and the onset of movement disorder was 378.03+277.13 weeks. Among the 11 patient initial insults occurring between ages 5 and 17(childhood group), 7 had dystonia, 3 parkinsonism, 1chorea. The distribution of dystonia was focal in one, segmental in five, and unilateral in one patient; the mean latency between the original injury and the onset of movement disorder was 91.3+,230.1 weeks. Among the 40patients with initial insults occurring at ages 23 or older (adult group), 26(65.0%) had parkinsonism, 6(15.0%) dystonia, 5(12.5%) chorea, 2(5.0%) tremor, 1(2.5%) myoclonus. The distribution of dystonia in patient was focal in two(33.0%), and segmental in four(67.7%) patients. The mean latency of movement disorder onset in the 40 patients, of the adult group was 17.25+43.67weeks. Brain injury at a young age was associated with a longer latency to onset of subsequent movement disorder. Among the 45 initial brain computed tomography, 28 (62.2%) had abnormal findings; 14(31.1%) low density lesion in the basal ganglia, 7(15.6%) low density lesions in the cerebral white matter, 2(4.4%) low density lesion in the cerebral white matter and basal ganglia, and 5(l1.1%) cortical atrophy. Seventeen (37.8%) had normal neuroimaging finding. Many, but not all, patients had lesionon on brain imaging, but there was no clear correlation between the sites of damage on imaging and the clinical manifestation.

Metastatic brain tumors: clinical aspects and prognosis

Metastatic brain parenchymal tumors are among the most important cause of death in patients with cancer, but many physicians didn't have any efforts to treat of metastatic tumors because of their poor responses of treatment. With the recent development of MR techniques, we could diagnose and treat them earlier. Recently many reports for prognostic factors of metastatic brain parenchymal tumors led to assume a more active attitude toward the diagnosis and treatment. We analysed 250 cases of metastatic brain parenchymal tumors diagnosed with the brain CT scan or MRI scan at Yonsei University, Severance Hospital from January, 1992 to December, 1995 and following results were obtained. 1. Metastatic brain parenchymal tumors are found in 254 cases(38.5%) of all intracranial neoplasms. 2. The most common primary tumor is lung cancer(154 cases, 61.6%) followed by breast cancer (30 cases, 12%), GI cancer (15 cases, 5.6%) in the order and melanoma (11.9%), rectal cancer (11.3%), lung cancer (8.6%) exhibit relatively high rate of intraparenchymal metastasis in the order. 3. The most common presenting symptom and sign is headache(52.8%) followed by motor deficit (32.4%), nausea and vomiting(21.6%). 4. Metastatic brain parenchymal tumors are detected simultaneously (73 cases, 28.8%), precociously (9 cases, 3.6%), after (153 cases, 61.2%) diagnosis of the primary tumor. Interval between the diagnosis of primary tumor and development of intracerebral metastasis is short in lung cancer (15.2 month) and long in breast cancer (43.1 month), nasopharyngeal cancer (51 month). In radiologic findings, the lesions were located in supratentorial areas in 186 cases, and in infratentorial in 36 cases. Ring type(63.6%) in enhancement is more than nodular type (33.2%). 5. Hemorrhages are found in 15 cases (7.6%) and calcifications in 2 cases. Density of lesions are hypodense(72.8%) than hyperdense on CT scan and high signal intensity in T1, or T2 weighted image of MRI are 66.7% and 88.9%. 6. Treatments for metastatic brain parenchymal tumors are conventional adiation therapy(165 cases, 66%), surgery(22 cases, 8.8%), gamma knife surgery (19 cases, 7.6%) in the order and there were 36 cases(14.4%) who didn't have any treatment. There are 132 cases(58.2%) who alive and 118 cases(47.2%) who dead. 7. Good predilicting findings in prognosis of metastatic brain parenchymal tumors are single lesion and supratentorial location. However, there are no significant value between prognosis and interval primary-to-metastasis, age, type of primary cancer, type of presenting symptom, size of edema.

Paroxysmal kinesigenic choreoathetosis

Paroxysmal kinesigenic choreoathetosis (PKC) is characterized by short paroxysms of focal or generalized involuntary movement induced by sudden movements, and is a well-known disease in the neurologic literature, but only 4 cases have been reported in Korea. The purpose of the presentation is to clarify the clinical features of PKC in Korea. We clinically analyzed 20 patients with PKC between 1986 and 1994 at Yongdong Severance Hospital, Yonsei Medical Center, with a minimum of a 1 to 2 year follow-up period. There were 14 men and 6 women. The age at onset of the condition ranged from 8 to 17 years (mean, 13.1 years). Six patients (30%) had a family history of the condition and the mode of inheritance was suggestive of an autosomal recessive pattern. The involuntary movements seemed to be dystonic rather than choreoathetonic upon a mild attack, and the paroxysms were precipitated by sudden movements. The attacks occurred on one or both sides, and were often associated with dysarthria, upward gaze and sensory aura. Consciousness was never lost. Their duration were usually 10 to 30 seconds, and never more than two minutes. All laboratory tests including electroencephalographic and neuroimaging studies showed no abnormality. All patients responded well to diphenylhydantoin. PKC is not rare in Korea and has a benign course.

The Prognostic Significance of Infection in Acute Stroke: Preliminary study

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Infection is one of the common complications of acute stoke. However, it's characteristics and prognostic significance have not yet been sufficiently studied. METHOD: We prospectively investigated the frequency of infection and the conditions prone to develop it, and the influence of infection on patients prognosis in acute stroke. We assessed each patient with modified National Institute of Health (NIH) stroke scale immediately after the admission(NIH-0), at the hospital day 1(NIH-1), 3(NIH-3), 7(NIH-7), at the discharge(NIH-d). The degree of improvement was evaluated by improvement ratio([NIH-0-NIH-d]/NIH-0). RESULT: One hundred and twenty five patients were enrolled. Twenty-eight patients (22.4%) were infected during admission. Pneumonia(23), UTI(10), sepsis(4), URI(2), aseptic meningitis(1) and FUO(1) were developed in that order of frequency. Using indwelling instruments and poor initial neurological status were factors prone to develop infection. Mean NIH-0 score was 26.50 in patients with infection, and 8.13 in those without infection(p<0.05). There were significant differences in the improvement ratio between infected and non-infected patients both at the 7th hospital day(-0.64 vs. 0.28) and at the discharge (-0.016 vs. 0.27). CONCLUSION: About one fifth of acute stroke patients were infected during their admissions. Infection, especially pneumonia, was significantly correlated with the poor prognosis. The prevention and the appropriate control of infection may improve neurologic outcomes in stroke patients.