Validity and Reliability of the Korean-Translated Version of the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale in Cerebellar Ataxia

Objective@#The International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS) is a semiquantitative clinical scale for ataxia that is widely used in numerous countries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity and reliability of the Korean-translated version of the ICARS. @*Methods@#Eighty-eight patients who presented with cerebellar ataxia were enrolled. We investigated the construct validity using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). We also investigated the internal consistency using Cronbach’s α and intrarater and interrater reliability using intraclass correlation coefficients. @*Results@#The Korean-translated ICARS showed satisfactory construct validity using EFA and CFA. It also revealed good interrater and intrarater reliability and showed acceptable internal consistency. However, subscale 4 for assessing oculomotor disorder showed moderate internal consistency. @*Conclusion@#This is the first report to investigate the validity and reliability of the Korean-translated ICARS. Our results showed excellent construct and convergent validity. The reliability is also acceptable.

The Impact of Impulsivity on Quality of Life in Early Drug-Naïve Parkinson's Disease Patients

OBJECTIVE: Impulse control disorders (ICDs) in Parkinson's disease (PD) are mostly related to dopamine replacement therapy (DRT); however, drug-naïve PD patients have also frequently experienced impulsivity. This phenomenon makes clinicians hesitate treating patients with DRT. In this study, we assessed the effect of impulsivity on quality of life (QOL) in drug-naïve PD patients. METHODS: Two hundred three newly diagnosed, nonmedicated PD patients were enrolled, and they received structured clinical interviews, physical examinations and validated questionnaires to evaluate motor and nonmotor symptoms and QOL. Impulsivity was evaluated using the Questionnaire for Impulsive-Compulsive Disorders in Parkinson's Disease-Rating Scale (QUIP-RS). RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients (18.7%) had impulsivity with QUIP-RS scores ≥ 1 and 4 patients (2.0%) were diagnosed with combined ICDs. Motor and nonmotor symptoms were significantly correlated with the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39 summary index. Female sex and QUIP-RS scores were also correlated with QOL in drug-naïve PD patients. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study showed that impulsivity negatively influences QOL in early drug-naïve PD patients. In addition, more severe motor and nonmotor symptoms were also associated with lower QOL. Such findings complicate treatment but provide valuable information for managing early PD.

Cardiovascular Autonomic Dysfunction in Mild and Advanced Parkinson's Disease

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to investigate cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) with mild to severe stages of motor symptoms and to compare cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction between drug-naïve and dopaminergic drug-treated groups. METHODS: This study included 188 PD patients and 25 age-matched healthy controls who underwent head-up tilt-testing, 24-h ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring and 24-h Holter monitoring. Autonomic function test results were evaluated among groups categorized by motor symptom severities (mild vs. moderate vs. severe) and treatment (drug-naïve or dopaminergic drug treatment). RESULTS: Orthostatic hypotension and supine hypertension were more frequent in patients with PD than in healthy controls. The frequencies of orthostatic hypotension, supine hypertension, nocturnal hypertension and non-dipping were not different among groups. Additionally, no significant differences were detected in supine BP, orthostatic BP change, nighttime BP, nocturnal BP dipping, or heart rate variabilities among groups. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction is not confined to moderate to severe PD patients, and starts early in the course of the disease in a high proportion of PD patients. In addition, dopaminergic drug treatments do not affect cardiovascular autonomic function.

Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Variability in Alzheimer's Disease

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Altered blood pressure (BP) and heart rate variations (HRVs) have been reported in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, it is unclear how these two manifestations are associated with AD. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate BP and heart rate variability in AD compared to that in normal controls, patients with subjective memory impairment (SMI), and patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). METHODS: Case-control comparisons were made among AD (n=37), MCI (n=24), SMI (n=17), and controls (n=25). All patients underwent clinical and neuropsychological assessments with 24-h ambulatory BP and Holter monitoring. RESULTS: Patients with AD had higher pulse pressures than those in other groups. In addition, AD patients experienced blunted nocturnal BP dipping associated with declining cognitive status. AD patients also had larger ranges of HRV in parasympathetic domains compared to other groups, especially at night. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that diurnal sympathetic and parasympathetic cardiac variability were significantly disturbed in mild cholinesterase-naive AD patients. This may be an indirect sign of disturbed integrity to the sleep-wake cycle in mild AD.

Acute Lacunar Infarction Adjacent to the Pre-existing Cerebral Microbleeds

No abstract available.

Japanese-B Virus Encephalitis With Biphasic Illness Pattern

Japanese-B virus encephalitis (JE), the most common human endemic and epidemic encephalitis, usually has a uniphasic illness with a variable outcome. A 49-year-old woman with cognitive dysfunction from JE had improved over 3 weeks. Brain MRI revealed multiple lesions in the bilateral thalamus, caudate nuclei and medial temporal lobe. Two weeks after discharge, the patient showed re-aggravation of the cognitive dysfunction and lapsed into coma. We report a patient with JE having showed biphasic illness pattern.

The Efficacy of GnRH Analogue on Pain Treatment after Laparoscopic Cystectomy of Endometrioma / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the efficacy of GnRH analogue on pain treatment after laparoscopic cystectomy of endometrioma. METHODS: During a 12-month period from March 2000 to February 2001 in Chonnam National University Hospital, Sixty five patients with ovarian cysts were diagnosed as endometrioma by clinical examination, ultrasonogram and serum CA 125 level. The laparoscopic cystectomy was performed and 65 consecutive women were biopsy-proved endometrioma. They were treated with GnRH analogue intramuscular injection every 4 weeks over a period of 6 months after operation. 10-point linear visual analogue scales for pelvic pain were completed pre- and post- treatment at 6 months and 12 months. RESULTS: A total of 96 endometriotic cysts (21 cysts were bilateral) were found in the 65 patients. 65 patients had a pain associated with endometriosis. 40 patients of them complained of a dysmenorrhea, 14 patients for dyspareunia, and 24 patients for non-menstrual pain. At preoperative, the mean pain score was 5.85 +/- 2.28 (mean +/- SD) for dysmenorrhea; for dyspareunia, 5.29 +/- 1.49; for non-menstrual pain, 5.33 +/- 2.10. At 6 months and 12 months, the mean pain score was 3.20 +/- 1.68 and 2.42 +/- 1.9 for dysmenorrhea; for dyspareunia, 3.71 +/- 1.73 and 3.57 +/- 1.79; for non-menstrual pain, 3.63 +/- 2.26 and 3.29 +/- 1.97. The mean pain score for pelvic pain decreased after combined treatment. CONCLUSION: The laparoscopic cystectomy of ovarian endometrioma is an effective treatment for pelvic pain and the combination therapy with GnRH analogue is more useful to relieving pelvic pain after operation.

Clinical Significance of Multiple Serum Tumor Markers in the Detection of Ovarian Carcinoma / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the possible role of 2 additional tumor markers to CA125 in discriminating between benign and malignant ovarian tumors. METHODS: Serum samples from 1,346 patients were obtained on seven days before operation. All patients underwent surgery for ovarian tumors. Serum levels of 3 tumor markers were compared to histology. Concentrations of tumor markers (CA125, CA72-4, CA19-9) were detected by enzyme immuno- or immunoradiometric assays. Normal range of these markers was defined as CA125

Simplified Submucosal Myomectomy by Operating Hysteroscopy on OPD Basis / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate possibility of simplified hysteroscopic operation instead of resectoscopic operation on OPD basis for sumucosal myoma with small pedicle. MATERIALS AND METHODS: On twenty five patients, who diagnosed submucosal myoma with small pedicle by sonohysterogram and diagnostic hysteroscopy, simplified hyteroscopic operations were performed on OPD. Used expanding media was normal saline. At first, pedicle was incised by hysteroscopic scissors and myoma mass was dissected by pushing of scope. After dissection of myoma mass, remained pedicle was cut by hysteroscopic scissors. The bleeding from cut pedicle site was controlled by bipolar coagulation. Cut myoma mass was removed to outside of uterus by ring forceps. However if removal of myoma mass is failed, let it in uterine cavity and it is removed at second-look hysteroscopy 1 month later after degeneration. RESULTS: On 1 of 25 patients, cutting of pedicle was failed due to fundal invisible pedicle on hysteroscopic view. On 20 of 24 patients, pedicles were completely cut. On 12 of these 20 patients, myoma masses were completely removed to outside of uterus by grasping forceps. However on remained 8 of 20 patients, myoma mass was removed easily on second-look hysteroscopy 1 month later due to shrinkage of mass. On 4 of 24 patients, pedicles were not cut completely due to large submucosal myoma. They were removed also easily on second-look hysteroscopy. Postoperative bleeding from cutting pedicle was surprisingly minimal in most cases and moderate bleeding was only in 3 cases. Severe bleeding case was not observed. Preoperative GnRH agonist therapy had not so big benefit due to these minimal to moderate postoperative bleeding. CONCLUSION: Therefore simplified hysteroscopic operation on OPD basis for submucosal myoma with small pedicle should be considered before resectoscopic operation, because this simplified hysteroscopic operation has many benefit economically and psychologically to patients on submucosal myoma with small pedicle. It is better that resectoscopic operation is performed in failed case of this simplified operation.

Oral Nicardipine Versus Intravenous Ritodrine for the Treatment of Preterm Labor / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to compare the efficacy and safety of oral nicardipine in acute therapy for preterm labor with those of parenteral ritodrine hydrochloride. METHODS: Patients between 24 and 34 weeks' gestation with documented preterm labor were randomly assigned to receive oral nicardipine (n=31) or intravenous ritodrine (n=32) as initial tocolytic therapy. Patients in the nicardipine group received a 40-mg loading dose and then 20 mg every 2 hours as needed to stop contractions (total 80 mg). Patients in the ritodrine group received a 0.05 mg/min as initial dose. The dose was increased at 15-minute intervals until uterine contractions were inhibited or side effects became intolerable. The maximum recommended dose was 0.35 mg/min. Patients could be switched to another tocolytic regimen if they continued to have contractions after 6 hours of therapy. The main outcome variables examined were failure of tocolysis, time to uterine contractions equal or less than 5 times per hour, time to uterine quiescence, time gained in utero, and frequency of adverse medication effects. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in maternal demographic characteristics between the groups. Successful tocolysis, defined as cessation of uterine contractons less than 6 hours from initial dose, was observed in 58.1% in the nicardipine group and 65.6% in the ritodrine group (P=.544). Among patients with successful tocolysis who responded with uterine quiescence within 6 hours, there was no significant difference in the time to uterine quiescence in the ritodrine group (P=.087). Time to uterine contractions equal or less than 5 times per hour from initial treatment showed no significant difference between the two groups with successful tocolysis (P=.097). The patients in the ritodrine hydrochloride group had more adverse side effects, mainly maternal tachycardia (P=.013) and nausea and/or vomiting (P=.006). CONCLUSION: Oral nicardipine was effective, safe, and well-tolerated tocolytic agent. Patients who received ritodrine hydrochloride were more likely to have adverse medication effects.