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Neurophysiological studies of the genitourinary tract in normal subjects and in patients affected by impotence
S165 SEPs TO MEDIAN NERVE STIMULATION: A COMPArRATIVE STUDY DURING ELECIXIC AND MAGNETIC STIMULATION IN HEALTHY HUMANS. F. Zarola, M.D. P.M. Rossini (University
Caramia,
of Rome “Tor
R. Mariorenzi,
Vergata”,
M.T. Desiato
and
Rome, Italy)
Magnetic and electric cathodal stimulation of median nerve was performed in 10 healthy subjects, in order to compare somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) recorded at different levels of peripheral and central nervous system (Erb’s point, 7th cervical spinous process, scalp primary sensory areas contralateral and ipsilateral to the stimulated side). The use of magnetic stimulation in neurophysiological investigations has been widely developed owing to the observation that magnetic pulses scarcely affect pain receptors and sensory fibers. Comparison between sensory responses evoked by the two modalities with stimulus intensities able to induce MAPS of similar amplitude showed statistically significant differences in the amplitude of SEP components: Erb P9-N10 magnetic mean amplitude was 1.33 PV (SD = 0.8) vs. 3.05 /JV (SD = 1.42) for the electric one: ‘cervical’ N13 amplitudes were respectively 2.31 PV (SD = 1.41) and 2.35 pV (SD = 1.21), finally. N20-P25 complexes were respectively 2.8 cV (SD = 1.85) and 4.24 /JV (SD = 2.3). On the contrary, no substantial difference was found between ‘magnetic’ and ‘electric’ mean sensory central conduction times, the former being 5.32 msec (SD = 1.08) and the latter 5.30 msec (SD = 0.7). The nature and the origin of sensory pathways involved during magnetic stimulation of nerve trunks will be discussed.
NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF THE GENITOURINARY TRACT IN NORMAL SUBJECI3 AND IN PATIENTS AFFECTED BY IMPOTENCE. F. Zarola, R. Traversa, P.M. Rossini (University
R. Opsomer,
of Rome “Tor
Vergata”,
G. La Pera, F. Pesce and
Rome, Italy)
Sensory evoked potentials (SEPs) and sacral reflex latencies (SRL) to stimulation of the dorsal nerve of penis as well as
motor evoked potentials (MEPs) from bulbocavernosus (BC) muscle have been recorded in 25 healthy subjects and in 15 patients affected by a suspected neurological impairment of genitourinary tract (impotence and/or incontinence). The mean sensory central conduction time, measured as the latency interval between spinal response and scalp P40 wave has been calculated (mean 27 msec, range 23.5-30.4 msec). Mean total motor conduction time obtained during ‘relaxation’ and ‘contraction’ of BC muscle were respectively 28.0 (SD 2.6) and 22.5 (SD 2.7) msec. Latency of SRL ranged between 25 and 40 msec. Patients included in the experimental protocols were affected by: cerebral trauma; ‘psychogenic’ or ‘vascular’ impotence; herpetic myelitis; sacral root lesions; multiple sclerosis; diabetes. Obtained data have shown that, by using a combined protocol exploring central and peripheral afferent and efferent pathways, it is possible to define the site of lesions affecting cerebrospinal, root or nerve sensorimotor fibers subserving pelvic structures related to the genitourinary system.
EFFECT OF AET ON THE CONCENTRATION OF QFETOPROTEIN AND CEA IN PREGNANT WOMEN WITH EPILEPSY.
.?. &cc,
(University
S. Hajngek
of Zagreb,
and I. KuvaEiC
Zagreb,
Yugoslavia)
The authors followed the values of u-fetoprotein and CEA in pregnant women with partial epileptic attacks with elementary and complex symptomatology, with and without secondary generalization. The concentrations of u-fetoprotein and CEA in the serum were measured in the I, II and III trimester of the pregnancy, and during the III trimester in the amniotic fluid after amniocentesis. At the same time the measurement of the concentrations of antiepileptics in the blood was done with the EMIT method, as well as following of the clinical state of the patients, the EEG, and the basic biochemical parameters, and especially ammonia in patients who took VPA. In some patients the concentration of acetylcholinesterase was also determined.
Caramia,
of Rome “Tor
R. Mariorenzi,
Vergata”,
M.T. Desiato
and
Rome, Italy)
Magnetic and electric cathodal stimulation of median nerve was performed in 10 healthy subjects, in order to compare somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) recorded at different levels of peripheral and central nervous system (Erb’s point, 7th cervical spinous process, scalp primary sensory areas contralateral and ipsilateral to the stimulated side). The use of magnetic stimulation in neurophysiological investigations has been widely developed owing to the observation that magnetic pulses scarcely affect pain receptors and sensory fibers. Comparison between sensory responses evoked by the two modalities with stimulus intensities able to induce MAPS of similar amplitude showed statistically significant differences in the amplitude of SEP components: Erb P9-N10 magnetic mean amplitude was 1.33 PV (SD = 0.8) vs. 3.05 /JV (SD = 1.42) for the electric one: ‘cervical’ N13 amplitudes were respectively 2.31 PV (SD = 1.41) and 2.35 pV (SD = 1.21), finally. N20-P25 complexes were respectively 2.8 cV (SD = 1.85) and 4.24 /JV (SD = 2.3). On the contrary, no substantial difference was found between ‘magnetic’ and ‘electric’ mean sensory central conduction times, the former being 5.32 msec (SD = 1.08) and the latter 5.30 msec (SD = 0.7). The nature and the origin of sensory pathways involved during magnetic stimulation of nerve trunks will be discussed.
NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF THE GENITOURINARY TRACT IN NORMAL SUBJECI3 AND IN PATIENTS AFFECTED BY IMPOTENCE. F. Zarola, R. Traversa, P.M. Rossini (University
R. Opsomer,
of Rome “Tor
Vergata”,
G. La Pera, F. Pesce and
Rome, Italy)
Sensory evoked potentials (SEPs) and sacral reflex latencies (SRL) to stimulation of the dorsal nerve of penis as well as
motor evoked potentials (MEPs) from bulbocavernosus (BC) muscle have been recorded in 25 healthy subjects and in 15 patients affected by a suspected neurological impairment of genitourinary tract (impotence and/or incontinence). The mean sensory central conduction time, measured as the latency interval between spinal response and scalp P40 wave has been calculated (mean 27 msec, range 23.5-30.4 msec). Mean total motor conduction time obtained during ‘relaxation’ and ‘contraction’ of BC muscle were respectively 28.0 (SD 2.6) and 22.5 (SD 2.7) msec. Latency of SRL ranged between 25 and 40 msec. Patients included in the experimental protocols were affected by: cerebral trauma; ‘psychogenic’ or ‘vascular’ impotence; herpetic myelitis; sacral root lesions; multiple sclerosis; diabetes. Obtained data have shown that, by using a combined protocol exploring central and peripheral afferent and efferent pathways, it is possible to define the site of lesions affecting cerebrospinal, root or nerve sensorimotor fibers subserving pelvic structures related to the genitourinary system.
EFFECT OF AET ON THE CONCENTRATION OF QFETOPROTEIN AND CEA IN PREGNANT WOMEN WITH EPILEPSY.
.?. &cc,
(University
S. Hajngek
of Zagreb,
and I. KuvaEiC
Zagreb,
Yugoslavia)
The authors followed the values of u-fetoprotein and CEA in pregnant women with partial epileptic attacks with elementary and complex symptomatology, with and without secondary generalization. The concentrations of u-fetoprotein and CEA in the serum were measured in the I, II and III trimester of the pregnancy, and during the III trimester in the amniotic fluid after amniocentesis. At the same time the measurement of the concentrations of antiepileptics in the blood was done with the EMIT method, as well as following of the clinical state of the patients, the EEG, and the basic biochemical parameters, and especially ammonia in patients who took VPA. In some patients the concentration of acetylcholinesterase was also determined.