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The diagnostic value of nerve conduction velocity in uremic neuropathy
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motor responses obtained by means of direct stimulation of the roots. We present 2 audio-visual programs in which the clinical, neuroradioiogical and neurophysiological aspects are described in detail, as well as notes on the surgical technique relating to this pathology. We maintain that the employment of somatosensory and motor EPs offers a valid aid whether in the pre-operative diagnostic phase, quantifying neuronal pain and providing useful information concerning lesions, or in the intra-operative phase, demonstrating the restoration of viable conduction in the centre of the lesion, or also in the postoperative phase documenting the clinical evolution of the disease.
GANGLIOSIDE GMI IN BOXERS FOR PREVENTING SEQUELAE OF CRANIOTRAUMA. L. Pastena
undertaken a study of the anamnestic and clinical features of all the children who during 1986, have shown these discharges in drowsy EEG. We studied 37 patients who showed, for the first time, RSW complexes on the E E G at the mean age of 3.4 years. We have seen the persistence of the paroxysmic EEG activity to the mean age of 5.0 years. We have seen that all the children showed febrile seizures. Every child who had RSW complexes in drowsiness developed no form of epilepsy and went on showing this E E G activity despite adminstration of anticonvulsant therapy. We underline the importance, in diagnostic and prognostic terms, of discovering an EEG record of the peculiar activity, in a child with febrile seizures and describe the features of RSW complexes, that permit a differential diagnosis with benign myoclonic epilepsy in infants and "transient petit mal discharges'.
RATIONALE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CONTROLLED RELEASE FORM OF VALPROATE.
(Universit~i 'La Sapienza', Rome, Italy) A. Perre~ J. Barre, P. Loiseau and J. Necciari Twenty boxers who stopped fighting on advice from the medical profession after being knocked out were studied with EPs, mapping of the E E G and axial tomography. Alterations of E E G (local theta activity or delta activity) were present in all subjects prior to treatment with GMI (forty mg pro die for twenty days). After this period EPs and E E G mapping were repeated. Statistical comparison of the E E G maps shows a faster recovery after GMI treatment.
THE DIAGNOSTIC VALUE O F NERVE CONDUCTION VELOCITY IN UREMIC NEUROPATHY. C Peizhi (Beijing Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China) This article reports the measurement of nerve conduction velocity (NCV) in 18 uremic patients who had neither subjective complaints nor objective findings of peripheral neuropathy. Among them were 16 cases receiving hemodialysis and 2 cases about two months after kidney transplantation. The hemodialysis group consisted of 11 males and 5 females, their age ranged from 20 to 39 years. Sixteen normal individuals, matched for age and sex, were selected as the control group. The results showed the motor distal latency of NCV of median nerve in uremic patients was not prolonged, but the amplitude was significantly decreased (p < 0.01). SNCV was decreased (p < 0.01), though the amplitude was normal. Motor distal latency of posterior tibial nerve in uremic patients was also not prolonged, SNCV was apparently decreased, although the amplitude remained unchanged. In 2 cases after successful kidney transplantation, SNCV and MNCV were all within normal limits.
THE PROGNOSTIC VALUE OF RUDIMENTARY SPIKE-WAVE COMPLEXES IN FEBRILE CONVULSIONS. A. Pelliccia, F. Giannotti and G. Trasatti (University of Rome, Rome, Italy) "Hypnagogic hypersynchrony" appears between 6 and 8 months and can be found up to 2-3 years of age. This activity, sometimes resembling the patterns of "petit mal epilepsy" was first described by Gibbs and Gibbs in 1950 ("pseudo petit real discharges"). }laving often found this "bouffres" of "rudimentary spike-wave" (RSW) complexes in children who did not subsequently develop an epileptic syndrome, we have
(Paris, Cr6teil, Bordeaux and Montpellier, France) The disintegration of plain or enteric coated tablets of valproate (VPA), whether it be early or late, occurs in a short space of time. This leads to brief and marked peak concentrations. Since V P A half life is relatively short, these peaks result in wide fluctuatins of blood levels after repeated administration of conventional tablets. Moreover, because of the saturable binding of VPA, its level/dose relation is not linear; opposite curvilinear level/dose relations are more pronounced for free (active) drug than for total VPA. Furthermore, saturable VPA metabolism accounts for level-dependent metabolic pathways of the drug, both quantitatively and qualitatively. Finally high concentrations of VPA may increase the free fraction of combined drugs, possibly resulting in some side effects. It appeared of interest to develop a controlled release (CR) form of VPA which could produce more uniform plasma levels. However several requirements must be taken into consideration. For instance 500 mg CR tables should be easy to swallow, thanks to a small size; they should not be enteric coated (otherwise the digestive absorption would begin too late in the small intestine); their bioavailability should be close to that of conventional tablets. The CR form of VPA (Chrono tablets) developed by SANOFILABAZ fulfils these requirements. Owing to a sustained, very prolonged and total digestive absorption, Chrono tablets bring about a suppression of peak concentrations and stable VPA plasma levels.
THE LENNOX-GASTAUT SYNDROME. T. Pinto, M. Albuquerque, L. Vilanova and C.J.R. Campos (Escola Paulista de Medicina, S~o Paulo, Brazil) Twelve patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome are presented. The mean age was 1.5 years (1 month to 7 years old). Males were more frequently affected than females (3:1). Given the symptomatic character of the syndrome, 41.7% followed West's syndrome. The most common seizures were: myoclonic (10/12); axial tonic (6/12); partial (5/12); atonic (5/12); typical absence (4/12) and tonic-clonic (3/12). Following seizure onset 83.4% had slow mental development. Abnormal neurological examination was found in 100%: pyramidal disorders (33.4%), microcephaly (25%) and slow mental development (41.6%). 83.3% presented irregular, diffuse slow spike-wave discharges (2-2.5 Hz) and 16.7% a multifocal pattern in the EEG. We noticed a high frequency of myoclonic seizures, the possibility of appearance of several different clinical patterns and a superposition with other syndromes.
motor responses obtained by means of direct stimulation of the roots. We present 2 audio-visual programs in which the clinical, neuroradioiogical and neurophysiological aspects are described in detail, as well as notes on the surgical technique relating to this pathology. We maintain that the employment of somatosensory and motor EPs offers a valid aid whether in the pre-operative diagnostic phase, quantifying neuronal pain and providing useful information concerning lesions, or in the intra-operative phase, demonstrating the restoration of viable conduction in the centre of the lesion, or also in the postoperative phase documenting the clinical evolution of the disease.
GANGLIOSIDE GMI IN BOXERS FOR PREVENTING SEQUELAE OF CRANIOTRAUMA. L. Pastena
undertaken a study of the anamnestic and clinical features of all the children who during 1986, have shown these discharges in drowsy EEG. We studied 37 patients who showed, for the first time, RSW complexes on the E E G at the mean age of 3.4 years. We have seen the persistence of the paroxysmic EEG activity to the mean age of 5.0 years. We have seen that all the children showed febrile seizures. Every child who had RSW complexes in drowsiness developed no form of epilepsy and went on showing this E E G activity despite adminstration of anticonvulsant therapy. We underline the importance, in diagnostic and prognostic terms, of discovering an EEG record of the peculiar activity, in a child with febrile seizures and describe the features of RSW complexes, that permit a differential diagnosis with benign myoclonic epilepsy in infants and "transient petit mal discharges'.
RATIONALE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CONTROLLED RELEASE FORM OF VALPROATE.
(Universit~i 'La Sapienza', Rome, Italy) A. Perre~ J. Barre, P. Loiseau and J. Necciari Twenty boxers who stopped fighting on advice from the medical profession after being knocked out were studied with EPs, mapping of the E E G and axial tomography. Alterations of E E G (local theta activity or delta activity) were present in all subjects prior to treatment with GMI (forty mg pro die for twenty days). After this period EPs and E E G mapping were repeated. Statistical comparison of the E E G maps shows a faster recovery after GMI treatment.
THE DIAGNOSTIC VALUE O F NERVE CONDUCTION VELOCITY IN UREMIC NEUROPATHY. C Peizhi (Beijing Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China) This article reports the measurement of nerve conduction velocity (NCV) in 18 uremic patients who had neither subjective complaints nor objective findings of peripheral neuropathy. Among them were 16 cases receiving hemodialysis and 2 cases about two months after kidney transplantation. The hemodialysis group consisted of 11 males and 5 females, their age ranged from 20 to 39 years. Sixteen normal individuals, matched for age and sex, were selected as the control group. The results showed the motor distal latency of NCV of median nerve in uremic patients was not prolonged, but the amplitude was significantly decreased (p < 0.01). SNCV was decreased (p < 0.01), though the amplitude was normal. Motor distal latency of posterior tibial nerve in uremic patients was also not prolonged, SNCV was apparently decreased, although the amplitude remained unchanged. In 2 cases after successful kidney transplantation, SNCV and MNCV were all within normal limits.
THE PROGNOSTIC VALUE OF RUDIMENTARY SPIKE-WAVE COMPLEXES IN FEBRILE CONVULSIONS. A. Pelliccia, F. Giannotti and G. Trasatti (University of Rome, Rome, Italy) "Hypnagogic hypersynchrony" appears between 6 and 8 months and can be found up to 2-3 years of age. This activity, sometimes resembling the patterns of "petit mal epilepsy" was first described by Gibbs and Gibbs in 1950 ("pseudo petit real discharges"). }laving often found this "bouffres" of "rudimentary spike-wave" (RSW) complexes in children who did not subsequently develop an epileptic syndrome, we have
(Paris, Cr6teil, Bordeaux and Montpellier, France) The disintegration of plain or enteric coated tablets of valproate (VPA), whether it be early or late, occurs in a short space of time. This leads to brief and marked peak concentrations. Since V P A half life is relatively short, these peaks result in wide fluctuatins of blood levels after repeated administration of conventional tablets. Moreover, because of the saturable binding of VPA, its level/dose relation is not linear; opposite curvilinear level/dose relations are more pronounced for free (active) drug than for total VPA. Furthermore, saturable VPA metabolism accounts for level-dependent metabolic pathways of the drug, both quantitatively and qualitatively. Finally high concentrations of VPA may increase the free fraction of combined drugs, possibly resulting in some side effects. It appeared of interest to develop a controlled release (CR) form of VPA which could produce more uniform plasma levels. However several requirements must be taken into consideration. For instance 500 mg CR tables should be easy to swallow, thanks to a small size; they should not be enteric coated (otherwise the digestive absorption would begin too late in the small intestine); their bioavailability should be close to that of conventional tablets. The CR form of VPA (Chrono tablets) developed by SANOFILABAZ fulfils these requirements. Owing to a sustained, very prolonged and total digestive absorption, Chrono tablets bring about a suppression of peak concentrations and stable VPA plasma levels.
THE LENNOX-GASTAUT SYNDROME. T. Pinto, M. Albuquerque, L. Vilanova and C.J.R. Campos (Escola Paulista de Medicina, S~o Paulo, Brazil) Twelve patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome are presented. The mean age was 1.5 years (1 month to 7 years old). Males were more frequently affected than females (3:1). Given the symptomatic character of the syndrome, 41.7% followed West's syndrome. The most common seizures were: myoclonic (10/12); axial tonic (6/12); partial (5/12); atonic (5/12); typical absence (4/12) and tonic-clonic (3/12). Following seizure onset 83.4% had slow mental development. Abnormal neurological examination was found in 100%: pyramidal disorders (33.4%), microcephaly (25%) and slow mental development (41.6%). 83.3% presented irregular, diffuse slow spike-wave discharges (2-2.5 Hz) and 16.7% a multifocal pattern in the EEG. We noticed a high frequency of myoclonic seizures, the possibility of appearance of several different clinical patterns and a superposition with other syndromes.