Biomedical subjects

A Covacich

Publications and source records attributed to A Covacich.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1976

Further observations on carbamazepine plasma levels in epileptic patients. Relationships with therapeutic and side effects.

Plasma levels of carbamazepine, phenytoin and phenobarbital were monitored weekly over a period of 9 weeks in 20 epileptic patients unresponsive to treatment. No attempts were made to modify phenytoin and/or phenobarbital plasma levels; emphasis was on achieving carbamazepine plasma levels of 4 to 10 mug per milliliter. A remarkable drop in seizure frequency was attained within 2 to 3 weeks of monitoring, with carbamazepine plasma and concentrations within the desired range. Children disposed of the drug faster than adults. No effects of phenytoin and phenobarbital on carbamazepine plasma levels could be observed, while phenobarbital on carbamazepine plasma levels fluctuated remarkably without any relationship to carbamazepine levels. Transient leukopenia was present in most of the patients, while a significant reversible drop in red blood cells was observed in eight patients. The data reported confirm that with a careful monitoring of drug plasma levels, carbamazepine may exert a definite passive effect on seizure frequency in epileptic patients poorly responsive to therapy.

Adult↗

PubMed1976

[The influence of noise on the human central nervous system (author's transl)].

We studied the effects of the road noise on the central nervous system in a group of 40 normal adult subjects. The neurophysiological research included the following parameters: acoustic and visual evoked cortical potentials, percentage of EEG desynchronization, contingent negative variation (CNV) and sleep-EEG. The results showed in every subject a reduction of the amplitude of the acoustic evoked potential recorded during the road noise as against to that one we recorded during normal silence. This fact, also in contrast to the stability of the visual evoked potential during the road noise and the normal silence, permitted to verify the existence of a neuronal occlusion phenomenon interesting the evocative acoustic stimulus when the noise is provided at the same time. The study of the EEG desynchronization during the road noise compared to that one during the normal silence did not give any statistically difference. The study of the CNV gave analogous results. Only if we complete the research with the study of the base-personality of every subject by the Rorschachtest, we found significant differences among the neurphysiological parameters as the EEG desynchronization and the CNV during the normal silence and the noise in relation to the different levels of anxiety and endotensivity of every subject.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

PubMed1975

Soradic ulcerative mutilating acropathy with imbalance of free amino acids in the cerebrospinal fluid.

A case of sporadic ulcerative mutilating acropathy is described. Muscle biopsy showed signs of neurogenic atrophy. Motor nerve conduction velocity was slightly reduced. The muscles of the foot were completely unresponsive to electric stimulation of both femoral nerves. The content of free amino acids in serum and cerebrospinal fluid was determined by ion exchange chromatography, and compared with a control group. While in serum no significant changes were found, in CSF most amino acids showed great alterations, mainly consisting in an increase. It is suggested that the primary disturbance may be located in the spinal nerve roots.

Adult↗

PubMed1975