Focused ultrasound-mediated suppression of chemically-induced acute epileptic EEG activity

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder, which is attributed to uncontrollable abnormal hyper-excitability of neurons. We investigated the feasibility of using low-intensity, pulsed radiation of focused ultrasound (FUS) to non-invasively suppress epileptic activity in an animal model (rat), which was induced by the intraperitonial injection of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>After the onset of induced seizures, FUS was transcranially administered to the brain twice for three minutes each while undergoing electroencephalographic (EEG) monitoring. An air-backed, spherical segment ultrasound transducer (diameter: 6 cm; radius-of-curvature: 7 cm) operating at a fundamental frequency of 690 KHz was used to deliver a train of 0.5 msec-long pulses of sonication at a repetitive rate of 100 Hz to the thalamic areas of the brain. The acoustic intensity (130 mW/cm²) used in the experiment was sufficiently within the range of safety guidelines for the clinical ultrasound imaging. The occurrence of epileptic EEG bursts from epilepsy-induced rats significantly decreased after sonication when it was compared to the pre-sonication epileptic state. The PTZ-induced control group that did not receive any sonication showed a sustained number of epileptic EEG signal bursts. The animals that underwent sonication also showed less severe epileptic behavior, as assessed by the Racine score. Histological analysis confirmed that the sonication did not cause any damage to the brain tissue.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results revealed that low-intensity, pulsed FUS sonication suppressed the number of epileptic signal bursts using acute epilepsy model in animal. Due to its non-invasiveness and spatial selectivity, FUS may offer new perspectives for a possible non-invasive treatment of epilepsy.</p

Neurocutaneous Melanosis Presenting as Chronic Partial Epilepsy

BACKGROUND: Neurocutaneous melanosis (NCM) is a rare neurocutaneous syndrome characterized by the presence of multiple congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN) and the proliferation of melanocytes in the central nervous system, usually involving the leptomeninges. Chronic partial epilepsy as a sole manifestation is rare in NCM. CASE REPORT: A 32-year-old man suffering from chronic partial epilepsy presented with multiple CMN on his trunk and scalp. Brain MRI demonstrated a focal lesion in the right amygdala that was consistent with interictal epileptiform discharges in the right temporal region on electroencephalography (EEG). An anterior temporal lobectomy was performed, and the pathology investigation revealed numerous melanophages in the amygdala. The patient was seizure-free after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: We report a patient with NCM presenting as chronic partial epilepsy who was successfully treated by anterior temporal lobectomy.ope

The First Case of X-linked Alpha-thalassemia/Mental Retardation (ATR-X) Syndrome in Korea

Mutation of the ATRX gene leads to X-linked alpha-thalassemia/mental retardation (ATR-X) syndrome and several other X-linked mental retardation syndromes. We report the first case of ATR-X syndrome documented here in Korea. A 32-month-old boy came in with irritability and fever. He showed dysmorphic features, mental retardation and epilepsy, so ATR-X syndrome was considered. Hemoglobin H inclusions in red blood cells supported the diagnosis and genetic studies confirmed it. Mutation analysis for our patient showed a point mutation of thymine to cytosine on the 9th exon in the ATRX gene, indicating that Trp(C), the 220th amino acid, was replaced by Ser(R). Furthermore, we investigated the same mutation in family members, and his mother and two sisters were found to be carriers

A Fatal Case of Intravascular Coagulation After Bee Sting Acupuncture

Bee stings can cause severe adverse reactions, leading to anaphylaxis, cardiovascular collapse, and death. In some cases, bee venom also induces disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). However, to our knowledge, there has been no fatal case of intravascular coagulation accompanied by anaphylaxis caused by bee sting acupuncture. Here, we report a fatal case of a 65-year-old woman with DIC, following anaphylactic shock after bee sting acupuncture. This case emphasizes that practitioners should consider anaphylaxis followed by coagulation abnormalities when a patient's vital signs are unstable after bee sting acupuncture

CDX1 and CDX2 Expression in Intestinal Metaplasia, Dysplasia and Gastric Cancer

Intestinal metaplasia (IM) has been regarded as a premalignant condition. However, the pathogenesis of IM is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of CDX1 and CDX2 in the formation of IM and the progression to dysplasia and gastric cancer (GC). A total of 270 subjects included 90 with GC, dysplasia and age- and sex-matched controls. Real-time PCR (RT-PCR) was performed with body specimens for CDX1 and CDX2. The expression of CDX2 was significantly higher in H. pylori positive group than H. pylori negative group (P = 0.045). CDX1 and CDX2 expression increased proportional to the IM grade of the body (P < 0.001). CDX2 expression was significantly higher in incomplete type of IM than in complete type (P = 0.045). The expression of CDX1 in dysplasia group was significantly higher than in the control group (P = 0.001); in addition, CDX1 and CDX2 in cancer group was significantly higher than control group (P < 0.001, and P < 0.001, respectively). Aberrant expression of CDX1 and CDX2 correlated with H. pylori infection and grade of IM in the body. Furthermore, the results suggest that CDX1 and CDX2 play a role in the progression to GC and dysplasia