Cognitive Function and Neuropsychological Comorbidities in Children with Newly Diagnosed Idiopathic Epilepsy

BACKGROUND: In this study, we aimed to identify cognitive function and neuropsychological comorbidities in children with newly diagnosed idiopathic epilepsy. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 97 antiepileptic drug-naïve children (9.7 ± 2.9 years; 54 males and 43 females) with newly diagnosed idiopathic epilepsy, all of whom underwent a neuropsychological battery. The battery consisted of the Korean Wechsler Intelligence Scale, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Rating Scale, ADHD Diagnostic System, Children's Depression Inventory, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children. We investigated association between scores of the neuropsychological battery and epilepsy classification, lateralization of interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) on electroencephalography (EEG), and variables related to seizures. RESULTS: Thirteen patients (14.3%) had ADHD symptoms. Three patients (4.1%) had depressive symptoms, and 9 (12.3%) had anxiety symptoms. Patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) had significantly lower full-scale intelligence and performance intelligence quotient scores than patients with idiopathic localization-related epilepsy (ILRE) (89.0 ± 17.6 vs. 96.3 ± 14.8; P = 0.030 and 88.9 ± 16.3 vs. 97.0 ± 16.4; P = 0.016, respectively). Patients with ILRE having unilateral IEDs had significantly higher full-scale intelligence quotient scores than patients with ILRE having bilateral IEDs and patients with IGE (99.9 ± 12.2 vs. 93.7 ± 16.1 vs. 89.0 ± 17.6; P = 0.039, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that idiopathic epilepsy may be accompanied by various neuropsychological comorbidities even at initial diagnosis. Patients with IGE and ILRE having bilateral IEDs on EEG appear more likely to be at high risk of decreased cognitive function.

Psychiatric Symptoms in Teachers from Danwon High School after Exposure to the Sinking of the Motor Vessel Sewol

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to describe the psychiatric symptoms in the teachers from Danwon High School who were exposed to the sinking of the Motor Vessel Sewol. METHODS: Data were collected from 32 teachers who underwent psychiatric interventions by 16 volunteer psychiatrists for 3 months after the sinking of the Motor Vessel Sewol. RESULTS: The most commonly diagnosed clinical diagnosis in the teachers were normal reaction, acute stress disorder and adjustment disorder. Psychiatric symptoms including anxiety, depressed mood and sleep disturbances were also observed. CONCLUSION: In the acute aftermath of the Sewol Ferry sinking on April 16, 2014, psychiatrists volunteered to provide professional psychiatric interventions to Danwon High School teachers. These results suggest the importance of crisis intervention focused on the teachers who are exposed to disasters. The implications for future research and interventions are discussed.

The Major Elements of Psychological Assessment and Intervention for Children and Adolescents after a Disaster: A Professional Delphi Preliminary Survey

OBJECTIVES: This study attempted to evaluate the usefulness and direction of development of post-traumatic assessment and interventions based on the opinions of psychiatrics and disaster and trauma-related experts using the Delphi survey technique. METHODS: In-depth individual interviews served as the pre-survey and were followed by Delphi primary and secondary surveys. Specialists in child and adolescent mental health, psychological support professionals specialized in disasters and related practitioners with experience of disasters in Korea completed a set of questionnaires and participated in focus group interviews and in-depth individual interviews on post-traumatic assessment and intervention. RESULTS: We found that the following issues have a significant impact on the interventions after disasters: the proper time of the initial interview in the event of a disaster, assessment notices, aged assessment services, mandatory enforcement measures, scale screening and treatment intervention elements, symptoms degree classification, intervention standardization, the use of a levelled program, care unit environment, and operation plan. CONCLUSION: This study proposed effective mental health intervention measures and has implications for the development of evaluation treatment protocols after disasters.

Charles Bonnet Syndrome Following Trans-Sphenoidal Adenomectomy without Optic Nerve Atrophy

Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS) can develop after trans-sphenoidal adenomectomy (TSA); however, the neural mechanisms remain unknown. Sensory deprivation and releasing phenomenon are both hypothetical explanations for this condition; however, there is no definite evidence that strongly supports either supposition. We report the first case of CBS after TSA without optic nerve atrophy. Postoperatively, the patient's vision seemed to be relatively well preserved, apart from the left-side hemianopsia in the right eye. Distinctive visual hallucinations only appeared when his eyes were closed, and these responded to quetiapine in a dose-dependent manner. Dose dependent change in colors and formation of hallucination was reported. Two weeks after quetiapine initiation, the patient's CBS was completely resolved. This unique case suggests that blocking sensory input from the periphery is more critical than neural damage of the bottom-up connection to the visual association cortex. In addition, quetiapine should be considered as a specific treatment for CBS.

Misdiagnosis of Talar Body or Neck Fractures as Ankle Sprains in Low Energy Traumas

BACKGROUND: The talus has a very complex anatomical morphology and is mainly fractured by a major force caused by a fall or a traffic accident. Therefore, a talus fracture is not common. However, many recent reports have shown that minor injuries, such as sprains and slips during sports activities, can induce a talar fracture especially in the lateral or posterior process. Still, fractures to the main parts of the talus (neck and body) after ankle sprains have not been reported as occult fractures. METHODS: Of the total 102 cases from January 2005 to December 2012, 7 patients had confirmed cases of missed/delayed diagnosis of a talus body or neck fracture and were included in the study population. If available, medical records, X-rays, computed tomography scans, and magnetic resonance imaging of the confirmed cases were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. RESULTS: In the 7-patient population, there were 3 talar neck fractures and 4 talar body fractures (coronal shearing type). The mechanisms of injuries were all low energy trauma episodes. The causes of the injuries included twisting of the ankle during climbing (n = 2), jumping to the ground from a 1-m high wall (n = 2), and twisting of the ankle during daily activities (n = 3). CONCLUSIONS: A talar body fracture and a talar neck fracture should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with acute and chronic ankle pain after a minor ankle injury.

Psychosocial Interventions for Children and Adolescents after a Disaster: A Systematic Literature Review (1991–2015)

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this systematic literature review is to analyze the psychosocial interventions for children and adolescents after disasters. METHODS: We conducted a review of the extant research literature from 1991 to 2015 via a comprehensive search of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL, PubMed and PsyclNFO databases. The keywords employed in this research included: ‘child’, ‘adolescent’, ‘youth’, ‘disaster’, ‘posttraumatic’, ‘psychosocial’, ‘therapy’ and ‘intervention’. The researchers followed the PRISMA guidelines. A total of 850 articles were screened for their eligibility and fifty-nine were found to meet the study criteria. The final data analysis was performed based on the disaster type, study design, type of intervention, sample size, age, school grade, number of sessions, setting of intervention delivery, providers, approach and parent involvement. RESULTS: Countries worldwide have experienced various kinds of disasters, including earthquakes, hurricanes, vessel accidents, tornados, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, war, fire, terrorism, and traffic accidents. The types of psychosocial intervention that were conducted after these disasters included: psychological first aid, psychological debriefing, psychoeducation, trauma focused cognitive behavior therapy, eye movement desensitization reprocessing, prolonged exposure therapy, group play therapy and arts therapy, project interventions, school-based interventions and web-based interventions. CONCLUSION: The findings of the systematic literature review suggest that an appropriate psychosocial intervention could be utilized as evidence-based mental health treatment for children and adolescents after disasters.

Acute Hyponatremia With Seizure and Mental Change After Oral Sodium Picosulfate/Magnesium Citrate Bowel Preparation

Sodium picosulfate/magnesium citrate (Picolight Powder), which is used as a bowel preparation for the colon and the rectum, can cause a severe electrolyte imbalance like hyponatremia. When hyponatremia gets severe or occurs rapidly, it can lead to death due to associated complications. We have experienced a case of hyponatremia associated with seizure and loss of consciousness in a 76-year-old woman, who took sodium picosulfate/magnesium citrate as a bowel preparation for colonoscopy. She was taking thiazide and synthroid for the treatment of hypertension and hypothyroidism, respectively, and she had other underlying medical conditions such as a history of seizure and dementia. Following the diagnosis of hyponatremia, we used an intravenous injection of 3% NaCl to normalize the sodium level in her serum, and her associated symptoms soon disappeared.

Peritonitis Due to Leuconostoc Species in a Patient Receiving Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis / 계명의대학술지

Leuconostoc species are gram-positive cocci and they are rarely pathogenic in human. Leuconostoc infections are commonly associated with immunocompromised status and indwelling medical devices include intravenous catheter, tracheostomy, endotracheal intubation and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. Clinical isolates of Leuconostoc were frequently misidentified, usually as viridans streptococci, but they possess inherent resistance to vancomycin despite sensitivity to most other antibiotics. We present a case of Leuconostoc peritonitis in patients receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). A 48-year-old man with hypertensive nephropathy has been treated with peritoneal dialysis, developed peritonitis due to Leuconostoc species. The peritonitis was poorly responded to empirical antibiotics. He was successfully treated with intraperitoneal administration of ampicillin. The dialysis catheter was left in place, and continued to function. To our knowledge, this is the first case of Leuconostoc peritonitis reported in Korea.

Relationship between Internet Game Addiction and Psychiatric Symptoms in a Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinic

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between internet game addiction and psychiatric symptoms. METHODS: A total of 447 adolescents who were recruited from a child and adolescent psychiatric clinic of university hospital completed a self-report questionnaire consisting of Korean Internet Addiction Self-scale (K-scale), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Korean-Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale (K-ARS), and Adolescent Happiness Index (AHI). They were classified into three internet user groups, non-addicted group (below or equal to 94), potential risk group (95 to 107) and high risk group (above or equal to 108) according to K-scale total score. RESULTS: Significant mean differences in BDI, BAI, K-ARS, and AHI scores were observed among the three groups. The BDI, BAI and K-ARS scores showed positive correlation with K-score. The AHI score showed negative correlation with K-score. CONCLUSION: Findings of this study suggest that depression, anxiety, inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, and happiness are associated with internet game addiction.

Successful Schooling Rate and Satisfaction of the Inpatient Hospital School Participants among the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Inpatients in the Closed Ward

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this report is to identify the utilization of hospital school service during hospitalization among patients in their childhood and adolescence with psychiatric disorders. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical record of child and adolescent psychiatric who were hospitalized during March 2009 through October 2012. We compared the one-year successful schooling and outpatient follow up rate between users and nonusers of the inpatient hospital school service. The hospital schooling experiences of the users were investigated upon follow-up visits to the outpatient clinic. RESULTS: Sixty-three students received hospital school service during hospitalization among total 122 child and adolescent inpatients. Hospital school participants showed a significantly higher school reentry rate (61.9%) than non-participants (40.7%). However, there was no difference on follow up rate between the two groups. More than 60% of the 22 interviewed participants expressed an above-average level of satisfaction about hospital school service. CONCLUSION: Many patients with mental illness experience difficulty in receiving school education during treatment. That induces deterioration in disease, academic failure, poor social skills, low self-esteem, economic difficulties, and future job opportunities. The results of this study emphasize the importance of hospital school service and offer useful guidance for hospital school operation.

Left Ventricular Myxoma Leading to Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction / 대한내과학회지

Cardiac myxoma is the most common primary cardiac tumor, but ventricular myxoma accounts for only 5% of the cases. We report a case of a 62-year-old woman with a left ventricular myxoma emerging from the ventricular side of the mitral valve that led to left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. The patient complained of chest discomfort and dyspnea. A mobile intracardiac mass was seen on echocardiography. The mass was excised and confirmed to be a myxoma by histopathological examination. She was discharged from the hospital without complications and remains asymptomatic.

The effects of influenza vaccination

BACKGROUND:Influenza is a respiratory infectious disease with high morbidity and relatively high mortality which occurs every winter. Therefore, influenza vaccination is recommended annually for high risk groups. However, the vaccination rate is not very high. It is well known that influenza vaccination prevents influenza, and some reports show partial preventive effects for the common cold. Therefore, the authors implemented this study to find out the preventive effects of influenza vaccination for influenza and the common cold. METHODS: The study period was six months from October 1997 to March 1998, and the subjects were chosen from those who visited seven Family Practice Clinics and two Family Practice Outpatient Departments of University Hospital. The vaccination group composed of those who received influenza vaccination during the period and the control group was those who did not receive the vaccination with age difference +/-3 years and of same gender. The study was done by a survey questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 8.0 and chisquare test, t-test, and logistic regression was implemented RESULTS: The number of vaccination group was 223, the number of control group was 214, and the total subjects were 437 persons. Influenza occurred in 4 persons(1.8%) for the vaccination group, and 12 persons(5.6%) for the control group which showed significant difference(p=0.032). The common cold occurred in 69.1% of vaccination group and in 71.0% of control group with no difference. However, the duration of the common cold was 6.0 days for the vaccination group which was slightly shorter than 7.5 days for the control group(p=0.088), and the frequency of the common cold was 1.49 times for the vaccination group and 1.84 times for the control group(p=0.033). Logistic regression analysis showed that the relative risk of influenza for the vaccination group was 0.261(p=0.032), which meant 73.9% protective effect for influenza, but not for the common cold. CONCLUSIONS: Influenza vaccination can protect people from influenza, but did not protect them from common cold. However, it can lessen the frequency and duration of the common cold.

A study on muscle tension level of headache patients and controls by using EMG biofeedback

No abstract available.