Publications by authors named "Sang Kun Lee"

Background And Purpose: The magnetic resonance images (MRIs) ability of lesion detection in epilepsy is crucial for a diagnosis and surgical outcome. Using automated artificial intelligence (AI)-based tools for measuring cortical thickness and brain volume originally developed for dementia, we aimed to identify whether it could lateralize epilepsy with normal MRIs.

Methods: Non-lesional 3-Tesla MRIs of 428 patients diagnosed with focal epilepsy, based on semiology and electroencephalography findings, were analyzed.

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  • * Among 232 probands, 66 individuals (28.4%) had genetic diagnoses and 12 (5.2%) had non-genetic causes, highlighting the challenges faced in diagnosing those with probable genetic origins or early symptom onset.
  • * The research emphasizes that integrating sequencing methods not only improves diagnostic accuracy but also facilitates better health management strategies, including surveillance and personalized planning for affected adults.
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  • - Researchers studied the genetic backgrounds of 31 patients with cryptogenic new-onset refractory status epilepticus (cNORSE) to understand its unclear causes.
  • - These patients showed higher polygenic risk scores for traits linked to autoimmune diseases when compared to controls, indicating a genetic predisposition.
  • - Specific genetic variants were found to be more prevalent in genes active in the central nervous system and immune cells, suggesting a common genetic link between cNORSE and other autoimmune conditions.
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  • - The study investigates the role of routine blood parameters in predicting epilepsy outcomes, alongside conventional methods like imaging and EEG.
  • - Analyzing data from 1782 patients over three years, the research found significant correlations between certain clinical factors (like age and gender) and seizure outcomes, with a modest improvement in prediction accuracy when blood tests were included.
  • - Key blood markers such as fibrinogen and bilirubin showed some prognostic value, suggesting they could help enhance our understanding of epilepsy and treatment resistance.
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Background: Cryptogenic new-onset refractory status epilepticus (cNORSE) currently lacks comprehensive knowledge regarding its clinical dynamics, prognostic factors and treatment guidance. Here we present the longitudinal clinical profiles, predictive factors for outcomes and the optimal duration of immunotherapy in patients with cNORSE.

Methods: This retrospective secondary endpoint analysis investigated patients with cNORSE identified from a prospective autoimmune encephalitis cohort at a national referral centre in Korea.

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Among patients with epilepsy, 30-40% experience recurrent seizures even after adequate antiseizure medications therapies, making them refractory. The early identification of refractory epilepsy is important to provide timely surgical treatment for these patients. In this study, we analyze interictal electroencephalography (EEG) data to predict drug refractoriness in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) who were treated with monotherapy at the time of the first EEG acquisition.

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Objective: Leucine-rich glioma-inactivated 1 (LGI1)-antibody encephalitis (LGI1e), the major form of autoimmune encephalitis (AE) presented with memory loss and faciobrachial dystonic seizure, commonly develops in aged population. Hematologic aging is often accompanied by clonal hematopoiesis (CH), a phenomenon in which specific mutations accumulate, potentially leading to autoimmune disorders or malignancies. Our research aimed to investigate the connection between clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) and LGI1e.

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  • Fungal infections have high rates of illness and death, but current diagnostic tests aren't very effective, prompting the exploration of advanced techniques like nanopore amplicon metagenomic sequencing.* -
  • In this study involving 84 samples from 73 patients, a comparison was made between conventional fungal assays and sequencing results, revealing that sequencing was more effective in detecting rare fungi and had a shorter turnaround time.* -
  • Overall, the study found that nanopore amplicon sequencing not only led to faster results (almost 5 days quicker) but also identified more uncommon fungal infections than traditional methods, highlighting its potential for clinical use.*
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  • A study assessed the 1-year treatment of nilotinib in patients with autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxia (ADSCA), focusing on treatment efficacy and safety.
  • Although the average ataxia severity, measured by the SARA score, did not significantly improve for the overall group, 62.5% of participants were considered 'responsive' based on score improvements.
  • Serum proteomic analysis identified specific proteins that may help predict which patients are likely to respond to nilotinib, suggesting potential pathways for improving treatment strategies for ADSCA.
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  • The study focuses on using gene panel sequencing to identify genetic causes of epilepsy in adult patients, as previous studies primarily concentrated on children, highlighting the genetic basis of the condition especially in syndromic cases.
  • Researchers sequenced the genes of 92 adults with specific epilepsy-related criteria and found that 13% had pathogenic variants linked to various epilepsy-related genes, with a notable emphasis on the MTOR gene.
  • The results suggest that gene panel sequencing can provide significant insights for adult epilepsy patients, particularly those with intellectual or developmental disabilities, thus improving diagnosis and treatment strategies.
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A post hoc analysis of data from Asian patients included in the study BIA-2093-304 was conducted to evaluate the long-term safety/tolerability and efficacy of adjunctive eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL) in adult Asian patients with refractory focal seizures. Part I was a randomized controlled trial, in which patients received ESL (800 or 1200 mg once daily [QD]) or placebo, assessed over a 12-week maintenance period. Patients completing Part I could enter two open-label extension periods (Part II, 1 year; Part III, ≥2 years), during which all received ESL (400-1600 mg QD).

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  • GGC repeat expansions are linked to various progressive neurological disorders, specifically neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease (NIID), prompting a study on their prevalence and clinical features in Koreans.
  • The research involved two cohorts: one from Seoul National University Hospital where patients with specific MRI signs underwent genetic testing, and another from the Korea Biobank that analyzed whole-genome data from nearly 4,000 individuals for repeat counts.
  • Findings revealed that 17.8% of the SNUH cohort had NIID, and the Korea Biobank analysis identified potential NIID patients, highlighting the relationship between repeat count variations and disease symptoms in a Korean population.
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Objective: This study aimed to assess the treatment compliance, patterns, healthcare resource utilization (HCRU), and costs of anti-epilepsy drugs (AEDs) as the first add-on therapy in patients with epilepsy.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective population-based cohort study using Korean National Health Insurance claims data from 2016 to 2020. Patients with epilepsy who newly received AED add-on therapy were identified and followed for up to 12 months to evaluate persistence, adherence, treatment patterns, HCRU, and costs.

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Purpose: In our previous study, we developed an assay system to evaluate antisocial maltreating behavior of conspecific mice using a perpetrator-victim paradigm. We also generated a mouse model for the maltreating behavior by mimicking child maltreatment or abuse. Here, we further investigate the antisocial behavior using anti-aggressive and antipsychotic drugs.

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Seizure aggravation in women with epilepsy (WWE) tends to occur at two specific times during the menstrual cycle: the perimenstrual phase and the ovulation period. Antiseizure drugs (ASDs), especially those that induce enzymes, can accelerate the metabolism of hormones in oral contraceptives, rendering them less effective. Estrogen in contraceptive pills increases the metabolism of lamotrigine.

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The resective epilepsy surgery can be the effective procedure to get seizure-free outcome in these drug resistant epilepsy (DRE) patients. Class I evidence firmly establishes the superiority of epilepsy surgery over medical treatments in both seizure control and quality of life for DRE patients. For the effective identification of optimal surgical candidates, it's essential to understand the prognostic factors of epilepsy surgery based on the surgical methods employed.

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Purpose: Febrile seizures at a young age can provoke late-onset temporal lobe epilepsy. Since recent evidence has suggested that the gut microbiome affects central nervous system pathology across the blood-brain barrier, we hypothesized that febrile seizures alter the composition of the gut microbiome to provoke epilepsy.

Methods: Third-generation C57BL/6 mice were separated into two groups (n = 5 each), and hot air was applied to only one group to cause febrile seizures.

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Epilepsy is a neurological disorder in which the brain is transiently altered. Predicting outcomes in epilepsy is essential for providing feedback that can foster improved outcomes in the future. This study aimed to investigate whether applying spectral and temporal filters to resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) signals could improve the prediction of outcomes for patients taking antiseizure medication to treat temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE).

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Objective: Despite the suggested topiramate serum level of 5-20 mg/L, numerous institutions have observed substantial drug response at lower levels. We aim to investigate the correlation between topiramate serum levels, drug responsiveness, and adverse events to establish a more accurate and tailored therapeutic range.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data collected between January 2017 and January 2022 at Seoul National University Hospital.

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Introduction: Ovarian teratoma is a common occurrence in patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis (NMDARe), and its removal is crucial for a favorable prognosis. However, the initial pathogenesis of autoimmunity in the encephalitic teratoma remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the genomic landscape and microscopic findings by comparing NMDARe-associated teratomas and non-encephalitic control teratomas.

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Objective: To evaluate the long-term efficacy, safety, and tolerability of adjunctive perampanel for the treatment of patients with refractory focal-onset seizures (FOS), with or without focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures (FBTCS), from the Asia-Pacific region.

Methods: Study 335 (NCT01618695) was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase III study. Patients aged ≥12 years with refractory FOS who completed the Core Study could enter an open-label extension (OLEx) Phase (6-week Conversion and ≥46-week Maintenance Period).

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  • This study investigates the effectiveness of nanopore sequencing for 16S rRNA analysis in diagnosing brain abscesses compared to traditional culture methods.
  • The researchers analyzed pus samples from 27 patients and found that 16S sequencing identified a significantly higher proportion of anaerobic bacteria (75%) and polymicrobial infections (40%) than culture (32% and 8%, respectively).
  • The findings suggest that 16S sequencing is a more sensitive and faster method for detecting pathogens, including rare ones, aiding in the diagnosis of space-occupying lesions in patients with brain abscesses.
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Purpose: Early-life stress can cause brain inflammation and affect social behavior in adulthood. In humans, maltreated (abused or neglected) children often exhibit antisocial behavior, including violent and sadistic behavior, in adulthood. However, it is unknown whether maltreatment behavior occurs in rodents.

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  • Several cases of MOG antibody-associated encephalitis have been linked to COVID-19 infections, with one patient experiencing severe neurological symptoms post-COVID-19.
  • The patient's symptoms included focal status epilepticus, auditory hallucinations, and incoherent speech, but brain imaging showed no specific abnormalities.
  • Diagnosis was confirmed through cerebrospinal fluid analysis and specific antibody testing, leading to treatment with immunotherapy drugs like intravenous immunoglobulin and rituximab.
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  • Telemedicine, especially in neurology (termed teleneurology), has gained traction during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on treating epilepsy and autoimmune encephalitis.
  • Limited studies indicate video clinics are effective for managing seizures, while smartphone assessments for epilepsy have proven accurate, particularly in rural areas.
  • The review provides evidence supporting the safety and effectiveness of telemedicine for these conditions and proposes tentative guidelines for its use based on current Korean medical law.
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