Publications (21)43.74 Total impact
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Article: Cerebral Sinovenous Thrombosis Associated With Mastoiditis Due to Recurrent Otitis Media.
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ABSTRACT: Cerebral sinovenous thrombosis (CSVT) in childhood is a rare reported. In this era of widespread antibiotic use for acute otitis media, the incidence of otogenic CSVT has markedly declined but has not been completely prevented. The current therapies for CSVT include anticoagulation, thrombolysis, hydration, surgery, and supportive care that were based on adult studies, pediatric case studies, and expert opinion. We describe the case of a 3-year-old boy who presented with manifestations of CSVT associated with mastoiditis secondary to otitis media. He completed a 3-month course of combination antibiotic and anticoagulation therapy; the CSVT was recanalized, and the mastoiditis had partially improved.American journal of therapeutics 09/2012; -
Article: Hypoxic-ischemic retinal injury in rat pups.
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ABSTRACT: Visual loss associated with brain damage, especially hypoxic-ischemic (HI) encephalopathy, is the most common cause of visual impairment in children in developed countries. We hypothesized that HI insults can cause long-term damage in immature eyes. In postnatal day 7 rat pups, HI was induced by unilateral common carotid artery ligation followed by hypoxia. Retina damage was assessed by electroretinography (ERG) and cell counting. Neuronal injury and astrogliosis were evaluated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase nick-end labeling, cleaved caspase 3, ED1, and glial fibrillary acidic protein immunostaining. We observed rapid and persistently extensive injuries in the ganglia cell layer (GCL), inner plexiform layer, and inner nuclear layer (INL) in ipsilateral retinas after HI injury, corresponding to the marked alteration in ERG. HI insult caused prominent microglial and Műller cell activation in ipsilateral inner retinas. Neuronal death in the GCL and INL after HI injury was mainly apoptotic, involving caspase-dependent pathways. Our study demonstrated the first evidence of HI retinal damage at both the pathological and functional level using the Vannucci model in neonatal rats. Because retinal damage is often associated with HI injury, it is important to demonstrate that a particular neuroprotective strategy effectively preserves the retina in addition to the brain.Pediatric Research 06/2012; 72(3):224-31. · 2.70 Impact Factor -
Article: Nasal septal abscess in an immunocompetent child.
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ABSTRACT: Nasal septal abscess is defined as a collection of pus between the cartilage or the bony septum and the overlying mucoperichondrium or mucoperiostium. Appropriate management of a nasal septal abscess requires prompt diagnosis, adequate surgical drainage, and parenteral administration of antibiotics. This can prevent the potentially dangerous spread of infection and development of severe functional and cosmetic sequelae. Incidence of nasal septal abscess is rare, and most reports involve adults who had experienced nasal trauma. Herein, we report a case of nasal septal abscess caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a healthy immunocompetent child.Pediatrics & Neonatology 06/2012; 53(3):213-5. · 0.75 Impact Factor -
Article: Unusual clinical course in pediatric Tolosa-Hunt syndrome.
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ABSTRACT: We report on a 7-year-old immunocompetent boy initially presenting with right-sided frontal cephalalgia, painful ophthalmoplegia, and ptosis for 1 month. Initial cerebrospinal fluid analysis produced normal results. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an inflammatory pseudotumor of the right cavernous sinus after intravenous gadolinium administration, indicating a rare idiopathic inflammatory disorder of the cavernous sinus, i.e., Tolosa-Hunt syndrome. Ptosis and cephalalgia resolved after steroid treatment, although right-sided ophthalmoplegia remained. Breakthrough headache, associated with signs of meningeal irritation, developed 6 weeks later. Follow-up contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed no enhancing cavernous soft tissue mass. A further lumbar puncture disclosed central nervous system infection with Staphylococcus saprophyticus. After 6 weeks of vancomycin, the headache resolved completely, and neuroimaging produced normal results. A diagnosis of Tolosa-Hunt syndrome should be rendered cautiously, because the etiology may involve a rare but not "idiopathic" infection. Moreover, if clinical signs are not fully responsive to steroid treatment, the underlying problems should receive careful investigation.Pediatric Neurology 06/2011; 44(6):471-4. · 1.52 Impact Factor -
Article: Identifying Ga-67 uptake in brown adipose tissue with SPECT/CT.
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ABSTRACT: A 10-year-old boy complained of pain around his right hip for 3 weeks. He underwent Ga-67 scintigraphy to evaluate possible bone or joint infection. There was no pathologic Ga-67 uptake near the right hip; however, there was symmetrical Ga-67 uptake in his right and left upper chest. An immediate SPECT/CT scan showed radiotracer uptake in bilateral supraclavicular and subclavicular areas corresponding to the low-attenuation regions on CT as the common locations containing brown adipose tissue. Ga-67 uptake in brown adipose tissue is unusual. Integrated SPECT/CT is helpful for identifying this physiological Ga-67 uptake.Clinical nuclear medicine 12/2009; 34(12):964-6. · 3.92 Impact Factor -
Article: Tc-99m HMPAO brain SPECT imaging in children with acute cerebellar ataxia.
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ABSTRACT: We prospectively evaluated consecutive cases of acute cerebellar ataxia in children to identify brain perfusion SPECT features associated with acute cerebellar ataxia and to correlate the brain SPECT findings to clinical severity and prognosis. Among the 10 consecutive children with acute cerebellar ataxia, 7 had abnormal Tc-99m HMPAO brain SPECT findings (4 cerebellar hypoperfusion, 5 unilateral cortical and/or subcortical hypoperfusion, and 1 unilateral cortical hyperperfusion), in contrast to no abnormalities disclosed by CT or MR imagings. Furthermore, the extent of brain perfusion SPECT abnormalities correlated significantly with the clinical severity and the recovery time of cerebellar ataxia. Sixty percent of children with acute cerebellar ataxia had cortical and/or subcortical involvement, which implied the wider involvement of acute cerebellar ataxia than what has been thought. The present data suggest that Tc-99m HMPAO brain SPECT is a sensitive modality for providing prognostic information in childhood acute cerebellar ataxia.Clinical nuclear medicine 01/2009; 33(12):841-4. · 3.92 Impact Factor -
Article: Rolipram, a phosphodiesterase type IV inhibitor, exacerbates periventricular white matter lesions in rat pups.
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ABSTRACT: Periventricular white matter injury is the leading cause of cerebral palsy in premature infants for which no effective treatments are available. Our previous studies have demonstrated that pharmacological activation of the cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) signaling pathway, before hypoxic-ischemia protected against neuronal injury in neonatal rats. We examined whether rolipram, a phosphodiesterase type IV inhibitor, treatment after hypoxic-ischemia is protective against white matter injury in neonatal rats. Rats were exposed to hypoxia-ischemia (HI) on P7 and then treated with daily injections of various doses of rolipram (P7-P11). Immunohistochemical staining for myelin basic protein, ED1, glial fibrillary acidic protein, CREB and O1 were examined on P11. We found that the periventricular white matter and deep cortical lesions were exacerbated by rolipram administration after HI injury. The lesions in the rolipram-treated group also showed increased astrogliosis and increased CREB phosphorylation in the activated microglia and astrocytes. Furthermore, the rolipram-posttreated HI group had markedly depleted preoligodendrocytes in the ipsilateral hemisphere, which may be related to decreased preoligodendrocytes proliferation after rolipram treatment per se. These data suggest that rolipram treatment after hypoxic-ischemia is not protective; in contrast, rolipram may exacerbate hypoxic-ischemic white matter injury in neonatal rat brains.Pediatric Research 05/2008; 64(3):234-9. · 2.70 Impact Factor -
Article: Adult Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis in Southern Taiwan: epidemiologic trends and prognostic factors.
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ABSTRACT: The clinical features of 22 adult patients with Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis, retrospectively collected over a 16-year period, were reviewed. Otopharyngeal infection, haematogenous spread and cranial neurosurgery continue to be the predominant routes of infection. Most patients acquired the infection in the community, and predisposing underlying conditions are common. The proportion of S. pneumoniae meningitis compared to all microorganisms causing meningitis in adults declined dramatically from 17% in the first 8 study years to 4% in the last 8 study years. However, all penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae strains were found in the second half of the study period, accounting for 25% of these episodes. The overall mortality rates for the first and second halves of the study period were 43% and 63%, respectively. Third-generation cephalosporins were the antibiotics of choice for the treatment of S. pneumoniae meningitis in this study, however, the emergence of resistant strains may create a therapeutic challenge in the future. To avoid treatment failure, early diagnosis, careful monitoring of the clinical course and the choice of appropriate antibiotics according to the in vitro antimicrobial susceptibilities, are necessary.Journal of Clinical Neuroscience 02/2005; 12(1):32-5. · 1.25 Impact Factor -
Article: Seizures complicating infantile and childhood bacterial meningitis.
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ABSTRACT: In this study, 116 patients, at least 1 month of age but younger than 5 years, were identified with culture-proven bacterial meningitis. A comparison was made between the clinical data of the patients with and without seizures during hospitalization. Seizures during acute bacterial meningitis accounted for 47% (55/116) of the episodes. Time interval between the onset of bacterial meningitis and that of seizures was 1 to 20 days (mean, 4 days). Twelve of these 55 patients had one or more afebrile seizures after completing the treatment. At follow-up of at least 1 year after completing treatment, 26 patients had good outcomes, whereas the other 29 patients had poor outcomes. A strong correlation between the findings of abnormalities through neuroimaging and the occurrence of seizures during hospitalization was observed. The long-term outcomes of patients with infantile and childhood bacterial meningitis, who had seizures during the acute phase of bacterial meningitis, were worse than the outcomes of those who did not have such seizures. No child developed late seizures unless there were acute seizures. Factors associated with seizures during acute bacterial meningitis include disturbed consciousness on admission, abnormal neuroimaging findings, and low glucose and high concentration of total proteins in cerebrospinal fluid.Pediatric Neurology 10/2004; 31(3):165-71. · 1.52 Impact Factor -
Article: Predictive factors and long-term outcome of respiratory failure after Guillain-Barré syndrome.
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ABSTRACT: To analyze predictive factors and long-term recovery in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) who are in need of mechanical ventilation. In this 15-year retrospective study, 77 adult patients were identified with GBS. A comparison was made between the clinical data from patients who required mechanical ventilation and those who did not. Furthermore, the therapeutic outcomes of those 25 patients in need of mechanical ventilation during hospitalization at 1 year were determined using a modified Barthel index. A score below 12 was defined as a poor outcome, whereas a score of 12 or more was good. The study revealed 32% of patients (25/77) in need of respiratory support during hospitalization. At a follow-up of 1 year among the 25 ventilated patients, 7 patients (28%) had normal or minor signs and symptoms, 6 had unassisted gait, 3 had assisted gait, 6 were wheelchair- or bed-bound, and 3 died. The cause of death was septicemia with septic shock in all 3 cases. Factors that predict respiratory failure in the study GBS patients were disability grade on admission and areflexia. Those ventilated patients who had low maximal inspiratory pressure (PImax) (<14.5 cmH2O) and maximal expiratory pressure (PEmax) (<13.5 cmH2O) values at the time of intubation and the presence of complications after mechanical ventilation inevitably had worse outcomes than those who had not. If low values of PImax and PEmax at intubation were detected, aggressive respiratory management, which might include tracheostomy to allow more efficient bronchial clearing, and prevention of complications caused by prolonged course of mechanical ventilation are essential to maximize the potential for survival.The American Journal of the Medical Sciences 06/2004; 327(6):336-40. · 1.39 Impact Factor -
Article: Bacterial meningitis in infants: the epidemiology, clinical features, and prognostic factors.
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ABSTRACT: This 16-year (1986-2001) retrospective study enrolled 80 infantile patients (aged, 30-365 days old) with culture-proven bacterial meningitis. The most prevalent pathogens were Salmonellaspecies, Streptococcus (S.) agalactiae, Escherichia (E.) coli, and Haemophilus (H.) influenzae, accounting for about 59% of the episodes. Meningitis caused by Salmonella species, E. coli and H. influenzae occurs more often in the older infants, while that caused by S. agalactiae occurs more often in young infants. Our study revealed a decrease in the proportion of Salmonella meningitis from 27% in the first 8 years to 9% in the second 8 years with E. coli replacing Salmonella species as the leading pathogen of this disease during the second period. Overall mortality rate for both periods of time was 11%. However, if we take those with undesirable poor outcomes into account, 43% of patients could be considered treatment failures. The study also reveals a high prevalence of neurological complications when this disease is caused by H. influenzae, S. pneumoniae, and Salmonella species. Stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed that only initial changing levels of consciousness (P = 0.006) were independently associated with treatment failure. The most frequent neurological complications associated with this disease included subdural empyema, hydrocephalus, cerebral infarctions, and seizures. Because therapeutic regimens may require attention to the eradication of bacterial pathogen but also the neurological complications, early diagnosis and choice of appropriate antibiotics are essential to increasing the possibility of survival.Brain and Development 05/2004; 26(3):168-75. · 2.12 Impact Factor -
Article: Infection of cerebrospinal fluid shunts: causative pathogens, clinical features, and outcomes.
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ABSTRACT: This retrospective chart review describes the clinical features, pathogens, and outcomes of 46 patients with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt infections collected over 16 years. The overall CSF shunt infection rate was 2.1%, broken down into 1.7 and 9.3% in adult and pediatric groups, respectively. Fever and progressive consciousness disturbance were the most clinical features in the adult patient group, whereas disturbance of consciousness and abdominal symptoms and signs were the two most common clinical features in the pediatric patient group. The most frequently isolated microorganisms were of the Staphylococcus spp., including Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase negative Staphylococcus, which accounted for 47% of the episodes. Furthermore, increases in polymicrobial and Gram-negative bacilli infections were observed in our study. Due to the high proportion of oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus spp. and polymicrobial infections, we recommend initial empirical antibiotics with both vancomycin and a third-generation cephalosporin for cases in which the causative bacteria has not been identified or for which the results of antimicrobial susceptibility tests are not available. For patients who develop smoldering fevers, progressive disturbed consciousness, seizures, or abdominal fullness after ventriculoperitoneal shunt procedures, CSF shunt infections should be suspected. Although some infections have been managed successfully with antimicrobial therapy alone, the timely use of appropriate antibiotics according to antimicrobial susceptibility testing and the removal of the shunt apparatus are essential for successful treatment.Japanese journal of infectious diseases 05/2004; 57(2):44-8. · 1.49 Impact Factor -
Article: A clinical and electrophysiologic survey of childhood Guillain-Barré syndrome.
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ABSTRACT: In this 16-year (1986-2001) retrospective study, 23 childhood patients were identified with Guillain-Barré syndrome. According to clinical and electrophysiologic findings, 18 patients manifested acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, 2 had Miller Fisher syndrome, 1 had axonal forms, and 2 were unclassified. Seasonal preponderance was evident in 39% of patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome, developing the disease in the winter (November to January) with upper respiratory infection the most frequent preceding event. The most common manifestation was limb weakness, with various degrees of motor weakness in 22 patients. Bulbar involvement was the most common cranial palsy, and it was evident in 30% of the episodes. Only one of these progressed to mechanical ventilation during hospitalization. Altogether, approximately 61% of the episodes exhibited sensory symptoms. At a follow-up of 1 year or more, 20 patients recovered and 3 had residua. Furthermore, no fatality occurred in our study. Our study also demonstrates that the clinical course of childhood Guillain-Barré syndrome has a shorter recovery time as compared with an adult patient group. Therapeutic outcome is favorable for patients who receive prompt treatment.Pediatric Neurology 03/2004; 30(2):86-91. · 1.52 Impact Factor -
Article: Neonatal bacterial meningitis in southern Taiwan.
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ABSTRACT: To determine the epidemiologic trends, prognostic factors, and therapeutic results of neonatal bacterial meningitis, 60 neonatal patients with culture-proven neonatal bacterial meningitis were enrolled in this study. To compare changes over time, the appearance of disease among the patients was divided into two equal periods (1986-1993 and 1994-2001). Group B streptococci were the most common causative pathogens, accounting for approximately 32% of the episodes. Escherichia coli, the next most common pathogen, was more frequently observed in the second period. Seventy-seven percent of gram-negative bacilli isolates were resistant to ampicillin. Moreover, oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus and ampicillin-resistant group B streptococci strains occurred in the second periods as late-onset neonatal bacterial meningitis. The overall mortality rates for the first and second study period were 17% and 8%, respectively. However, if individuals with poor outcomes were taken into account, 38% of patients were considered treatment failures. Significant prognostic factors included the presence of seizures, thrombocytopenia, and high cerebrospinal fluid protein and low cerebrospinal fluid glucose concentration. Although the mortality rate was significantly reduced in the second period, there has been increasing incidence of the emergence of resistant strains presenting a therapeutic challenge. The presentation in neonatal bacterial meningitis might be nonspecific, and blood culture results were negative in 45% of the episodes. Early diagnosis, choice of appropriate antibiotics, and correction of metabolic derangement are essential to improving outcomes.Pediatric Neurology 11/2003; 29(4):288-94. · 1.52 Impact Factor -
Article: Long-term prognosis for Guillain-Barré syndrome: evaluation of prognostic factors and clinical experience of automated double filtration plasmapheresis.
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ABSTRACT: Sixty patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), aged 16-83 years, have been identified over a period of 7 years. Of 60 patients, 30 received the double filtration plasmapheresis (DFP), 4 received intravenous immunoglobulin, and the other 26 received supportive care only. Therapeutic outcomes at 1 year were determined using a modified Barthel index. At a follow-up of 1 year or longer, 31 patients (52%) had recovered, 24 (40%) had residua, and 5 (8%) had died. According to the statistical analysis, disability at the nadir and electrophysiological signs significantly influenced the long-term outcomes. Complications associated with DFP procedures included physiologic change, technique-related complications, and vascular access-related complications. None of our patients had fatal complications related to DFP treatment. Contrary to the established belief that the disease has a favorable outcome, several hospital-treated patients may still die or present residua even several months after the onset of symptoms. Because disability at the nadir influences the outcomes, early diagnosis and choice of appropriate treatment, which might include DFP, to prevent further neurological deficits, are essential to maximize the potential for survival.Journal of Clinical Apheresis 02/2003; 18(4):175-80. · 1.93 Impact Factor -
Article: Tuberculous meningitis in infancy.
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ABSTRACT: The lack of specific symptoms and signs in patients with tuberculous meningitis makes early diagnosis difficult. To our knowledge, there has been no report in the literature focusing on tuberculous meningitis patients younger than 1 year of age. In this report, we reviewed the clinical features and laboratory findings of seven infants with tuberculous meningitis encountered during a 15-year period. All patients had fever, cough, and alternation of consciousness at presentation. Five patients had bulging anterior fontanel, and five had generalized tonic-clonic seizures. The purified protein derivative skin test was positive in six patients. Six patients had hyponatremia. All seven patients had abnormal cerebrospinal fluid findings, and six of them demonstrated cell counts less than 500 cells/mm(3) with lymphocytic predominance. Brain sonography examination revealed hydrocephalus in all seven patients. Therefore we conclude that antituberculosis therapy should be promptly initiated in any young infant with a clinical impression of meningitis in the context of cerebrospinal fluid white cell count of less than 500 cells/mm(3) and lymphocytic predominance, hyponatremia, and hydrocephalus.Pediatric Neurology 11/2002; 27(4):262-6. · 1.52 Impact Factor -
Article: Maternal deprivation stress exacerbates cognitive deficits in immature rats with recurrent seizures.
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ABSTRACT: Maternal deprivation is stressful for the neonate. The aim of this study was to investigate the short- and long-term effects of maternal separation on recurrent seizures in the developing brain. Rats were divided into four groups according to whether the rat pups were treated with maternal deprivation from postnatal day 2 (P2) to P9 or neonatal seizures induced by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) from P10 to P14. Rats in the control group received saline i.p. injection from P10 to P14; rats in the isolation group underwent daily separation from their dams from P2 to P9; rats in the PTZ-treated group were subjected to PTZ-induced recurrent seizures from P10 to P14; rats in the isolation plus PTZ-treated group were subjected to maternal deprivation from P2 to P7 followed by serial seizures from P10 to P14. In addition, subsets of rats at P15 were killed and the brains assessed for acute neuronal degeneration. Visual-spatial memory test using the Morris water maze task was performed at P80. After testing, the hippocampus was evaluated for histologic lesions and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-responsive element-binding protein phosphorylation at serine-133 (pCREBSer-133), an important transcription factor underlying learning and memory. All rats given PTZ developed recurrent seizures. After PTZ administration, rats with a history of maternal deprivation had more intense impairment than did rats with maternal deprivation and neonatal seizures than those without deprivation. Neuronal degeneration was most prominent in the rats exposed to maternal deprivation plus recurrent seizures. Rats receiving maternal deprivation or PTZ-induced recurrent seizures exhibited only spatial deficits, but no morphologic changes in the hippocampus. However, rats with maternal deprivation plus PTZ-induced recurrent seizures exhibited worse visual-spatial learning compared with rats with either isolation or PTZ-induced recurrent seizures alone. The levels of pCREBSer-133 may play a role in the decrease in the hippocampus from the rats subjected to maternal deprivation and/or PTZ-induced recurrent seizures, as compared with rats exposed to vehicle-control saline. These results indicate that repeated maternal deprivation can exacerbate long-term cognitive deficits resulting from neonatal seizures. In addition, impaired phosphorylation of CREBSer-133. Repeated maternal deprivation stress has synergistic effects with recurrent seizures in inducing neurologic damage in the developing brain.Epilepsia 11/2002; 43(10):1141-8. · 3.96 Impact Factor -
Article: Pentylenetetrazol-induced recurrent seizures in rat pups: time course on spatial learning and long-term effects.
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ABSTRACT: Recurrent seizures in infants are associated with a high incidence of neurocognitive deficits. Animal models have suggested that the immature brain is less vulnerable to seizure-induced injury than is that in adult animals. We studied the effects of recurrent neonatal seizures on cognitive tasks performed when the animals were in adolescence and adulthood. Seizures were induced by intraperitoneal injection of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) for 5 consecutive days, starting from postnatal day 10 (P10). At P35 and P60, rats were tested for spatial memory by using the Morris water maze task. In adulthood, motor performance was examined by the Rotarod test, and activity level was assessed by the open field test. Seizure threshold was examined by inhalant flurothyl. To assess presence or absence of spontaneous seizures, rats were video recorded for 4 h/day for 10 consecutive days for the detection of spontaneous seizures. Finally, brains were examined for histologic evidence of injury with cresyl violet stain and Timm staining in the supragranular zone and CA3 pyramidal cell layers of the hippocampus. PTZ-treated rats showed significant spatial deficits in the Morris water maze at both P35 and P60. There were no differences in seizure threshold, motor balance, or activity level during the open field test. Spontaneous seizures were not recorded in any rat. The cresyl violet stain showed no cell loss in either the control or experimental rats. PTZ-treated rats exhibited more Timm staining in the CA3 subfield. However, the control and experimental rats showed similar Timm staining within the supragranular zone. Our findings indicate that recurrent PTZ-induced seizures result in long-term cognitive deficits and morphologic changes in the developing brain. Furthermore, these cognitive deficits could be detected during pubescence.Epilepsia 07/2002; 43(6):567-73. · 3.96 Impact Factor -
Article: Aminophylline exacerbates status epilepticus-induced neuronal damages in immature rats: a morphological, motor and behavioral study.
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ABSTRACT: Adenosine is an endogenous modulator that has an inhibitory effect on neuronal activity. The aim of this work was to investigate the role of aminophylline, an adenosine receptor antagonist, on the long-term effects of status epilepticus (SE) in the developing brain. Four groups of rats at the postnatal age of 12 days were intraperitoneally administered with saline, aminophylline (50 mg/kg), lithium-pilocarpine (Li-PC) (3 mEq/kg-60 mg/kg), and Li-PC plus aminophylline, respectively. The four groups were tested for spatial memory using the Morris water maze task at P80 and motor performance by the Rotarod test at P100. The brains were then analyzed with cresyl violet stain for histological lesions and evaluated for mossy fiber sprouting with the Timm stain. At the acute stage, all rats subjected to Li-PC developed SE and no seizures were elicited in the saline-treated or aminophylline-treated rats. The seizure duration was longer in the Li-PC plus aminophylline group (346.9+/-32.7 min) as compared with that in the Li-PC group (265.2+/-9.8 min). The difference of mortality was not significant. Rats without seizures exhibited no motor imbalance, spatial deficits, or morphological changes. The rats with Li-PC-induced SE demonstrated spatial memory deficits without motor incoordination or morphological changes. However, the rats subjected to Li-PC plus aminophylline exhibited motor impairment and morphological changes, including neuronal cell loss in CA1 area and increased mossy fiber sprouting in CA3 area. In addition, the rats of Li-PC plus aminophylline had greater spatial memory deficits than that seen in rats with Li-PC. We concluded that an adenosine receptor antagonist, such as aminophylline, had synergistic effects on the SE-induced long-term deficit of cognition and motor performance in the developing brain. The present study may provide experimental evidence and lead to novel therapeutic interventions.Epilepsy Research 06/2002; 49(3):218-25. · 2.29 Impact Factor -
Article: Aminophylline aggravates long-term morphological and cognitive damages in status epilepticus in immature rats.
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ABSTRACT: Here, we investigated whether aminophylline, an adenosine receptor antagonist used usually as a treatment for premature apnea, had synergistic effects on status epilepticus in the developing brain. On postnatal day 14 (P14), four groups of rats intraperitoneally received saline, aminophylline, lithium--pilocarpine (Li-PC), and Li-PC plus aminophylline, respectively. Subsequently, the Morris water maze task was performed at P80. The brains were then analyzed with cresyl violet stain for histological lesions and evaluated for mossy fiber sprouting with the Timm stain. No seizures were elicited in the saline-treated or aminophylline-treated rats. Both the Li-PC-treated and aminophylline plus Li-PC-treated rats exhibited seizures and there was no significant difference in mortality between the two groups. More interestingly, as in adulthood (P80), aminophylline aggravated the spatial deficits and histological damages seen in Li-PC-treated rats. In summary, this present study suggests that the use of adenosine receptor antagonists, such as aminophylline, exacerbates seizure-induced damage in the developing brain.Neuroscience Letters 04/2002; 321(3):137-40. · 2.11 Impact Factor
Top co-authors
Top Journals
Institutions
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2012
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VGHKS Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital
Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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2002–2011
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Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
- • Department of Neurology
- • Division of Pediatric Neurology
Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan
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2004
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Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital
Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan -
National Sun Yat-sen University
Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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