PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C W Lai

Publications and source records attributed to C W Lai.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Imaging studies in neonatal herpes simplex encephalitis.

Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) is the most common form of sporadic encephalitis in man and usually results in death or permanent neurologic deficit. Neonatal HSE does not show the characteristic anatomic localization in the temporal lobe observed in adults and in older children which suggests that the disease process is different in this age group. The abnormalities observed with radionuclide brain imaging and computed tomography (CT) are more diffuse and bilateral. The clinical outcome of the disease is highly dependent on early institution of therapy. Therefore, early diagnosis is critical. Knowledge of neonatal HSE imaging patterns may alert the clinician to the proper diagnosis.

Brain↗
PubMed1984

Tricyclic-induced electroencephalogram abnormalities and plasma drug concentrations.

In a double-blind study of 34 randomly assigned depressed inpatients, antidepressant-induced electroencephalogram (EEG) abnormalities were compared in amitriptyline-treated versus bupropion-treated patients. Drug-free baseline EEGs plus one or more repeat EEGs under pharmacokinetic steady state conditions were obtained. Of the 34 patients, eight developed EEG abnormalities. Seven were on amitriptyline and one was on bupropion (chi 2 = 13.77, df = 3, p less than 0.01). All but one of the amitriptyline-treated patients with EEG abnormalities had plasma concentrations above its therapeutic range (150 to 250 ng/ml), whereas all with normal EEGs were within or below this range.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Repeated self-induced syncope and subsequent seizures. A case report.

A patient with an unusual "compulsion" to induce syncope over a period of years by bilateral compression of the carotid arteries subsequently had recurrent seizures. The EEG showed patterns typical of cerebral ischemia during the syncope and epileptogenic foci in both temporal lobes after sleep deprivation. It is difficult to distinguish between seizure and syncope associated with involuntary movements when making a differential diagnosis. We hypothesize that the frequent self-induced ischemic insult to the brain caused a cicatrix to develop, which in turn caused the frequent seizure disorder; and that because this ischemia functioned as a stimulus to the reward site in the limbic system, the patient repeatedly induced it.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Convergence spasm.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Eye Movements↗
PubMed1982

Convulsive syncope in blood donors.

Syncope with and without convulsion was studied in unselected blood donors in a community blood center. Convulsive syncope occurred in 0.03% of all blood donors and was more commonly observed when nursing personnel were alerted to its possible occurrence. It was more common in men. Although tonic extensor spasm was the most common convwithout convulsion was studied in unselected blood donors in a community blood center. Convulsive syncope occurred in 0.03% of all blood donors and was more commonly observed when nursing personnel were alerted to its possible occurrence. It was more common in men. Although tonic extensor spasm was the most common convwithout convulsion was studied in unselected blood donors in a community blood center. Convulsive syncope occurred in 0.03% of all blood donors and was more commonly observed when nursing personnel were alerted to its possible occurrence. It was more common in men. Although tonic extensor spasm was the most common convulsive movement, other complex convulsive phenomena occurred, some simulating epileptic seizure. No statistical difference in changes of pulse or blood pressure was found between subjects with convulsive versus nonconvulsive syncope. Similarly, no difference was found between subjects with tonic spasm and those with other convulsive phenomena, nor between those with "early" and those with "delayed" reactions. Marked individual variation may exist in the susceptibility of the central nervous system to ischemia. Some individuals appear to be predisposed to development of seizures in situations of global cerebral ischemia such as occur in hypotension and bradycardia.

Blood Donors↗
PubMed1982

Hemiplegic migraine in childhood: diagnostic and therapeutic aspects.

Focal neurologic deficits, particularly hemiplegia, are occasionally observed in the pediatric migrainous population during the headache attack and are often mistaken for other neurologic or neurosurgical conditions. Clues to the correct diagnosis, illustrated by three patients in this report are: (1) rapid spontaneous recovery from the acute neurologic deficit, (2) striking electroencephalographic abnormalities, frequently consisting of focal slow waves during the acute stage, with rapid resolution, (3) significant past history of recurrent episodes, and (4) positive family history of migraine. Review of previously reported cases indicates that cerebral arteriography in the acute stage should be avoided if the clinical syndrome is typical. Preliminary results of prophylactic treatment with propranolol are encouraging; smaller dosage than those previously recommended sometimes can be effective.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Syncope problem solved by continuous ambulatory simultaneous EEG/ECG recording.

In a case of repeated syncope of abrupt onset and questionable origin, we utilized the continuous ambulatory cassette recorder to document simultaneous electroencephalography/electrocardiography (EEG/ECG) changes. Recording during a spontaneous episode established the cardiogenic origin. Problems in differential diagnosis of syncope and seizure are discussed. With this new instrument, if the initial event in ECG abnormality (as in the present case), further cardiologic study is indicated. If epileptiform EEG activity is primary, neurologic investigation is the direction to pursue; if there is nonepileptiform EEG slowing without ECG abnormality, diagnosis of syncope of noncardiac origin (e.g., hypotension, hypoglycemia) should be considered.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Blindness of cerebral origin in acute intermittent porphyria. Report of a case and postmortem examination.

Sudden permanent blindness of cerebral origin, in addition to severe abdominal pain, hypertension, convulsions, and peripheral neuropathy developed in a 21-year-old woman, a victim of acute intermittent porphyria. Findings of the pathological examination of the brain showed extensive infarction in both occipital lobes. The pathological changes were consistent with anoxia. We discuss and review the literature of the possibility of "vasospasm" of both posterior cerebral arteries. Follow-up studies with serial EEG showed either focal epileptogenic activity or diffuse slow waves. The most consistent epileptic discharges were found in the occipital regions. The favorable response to the treatment of seizures with carbamazepine in this patient might encourage further clinical trials.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Warm your contrast.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prospective randomised study of effect of octreotide on rebleeding from oesophageal varices after endoscopic ligation.

Up to a third of patients have early rebleeding from oesophageal varices after endoscopic variceal ligation. Octreotide infusion is effective for control of variceal bleeding. We investigated the efficacy of octreotide infusion as an adjunct to endoscopic variceal ligation to prevent early rebleeding from varices. 100 consecutive patients admitted with endoscopically confirmed oesophageal varices and active bleeding or signs of recent haemorrhage were randomly assigned endoscopic variceal ligation alone or octreotide (50 micrograms intravenous bolus injection followed by intravenous infusion at 50 micrograms per h for 5 days) plus endoscopic variceal ligation. Three patients in each group were excluded. Bleeding was controlled in 44 of 47 patients who received variceal ligation alone and in 45 of 47 who received combined treatment (p = 1.0). Recurrent bleeding was documented in 18 (38% [24-52]) patients who received variceal ligation alone and in four (9% [3-21] who received combined treatment (p = 0.0007). The relative risk of rebleeding was lower (0.22 [0.08-0.60]) in the combined therapy group. Ten patients in the variceal ligation group and one in the combined therapy group required balloon tamponade for massive haematesis and haemodynamic instability (p = 0.0039). The in-hospital and 30-day mortality rates were higher in the variceal ligation group than in the combined therapy group (19 vs 9% and 23 vs 11%), but the differences did not reach significance. The relative risks of in-hospital (0.5 [0.04=5.3]) and 30-day (0.45 [0.17-1.2]) mortality were lower in the combined therapy group. Octreotide significantly reduces recurrent bleeding and the need for balloon tamponade in patients with variceal haemorrhage treated by endoscopic variceal ligation.

Adolescent↗