The paper reports 4-years results of a pilot study concerning the influence of a stereotactic pallidotomy on somatosensory evoked potentials in idiopathic Parkinson's disease. Potentials were recorded through the scalp surface from sensorimotor cortex of both hemispheres. Amplitudes and latencies of early and late waves were compared before and after the surgery. The surgery was recommended after 4 years of L-dopa therapy when bradykinesia and rigidity of right leg led to gait difficulty and postural instability. The dominant features of the syndrome were accompanied by tremor, micrography, chorea and lower responsiveness to L-dopa. Following the surgery a clear improvement of motor activity was observed. Increase of 20-90 ms waves amplitudes and P45 latency prolongation of 6-11 ms appeared due to the attenuation of pallidal inhibition exerted upon the thalamo-cortical transmission and a new arrangement of a cortical motor program. These electrophysiological changes, correlated with a clinical amelioration, may indicate as a favourable prognosis for a patient. Five months after pallidotomy a slight decrease of amplitudes occurred in relation to the previous examinations. Four years after surgery increase of most amplitudes and latencies and reconfiguration of later waves were related to deterioration of clinical course and worsening of left-side signs. We believe that somatosensory evoked potentials change may be a sensible indicator of motor state in Parkinson's disease. As far as we know the present study is one of the first presentation of somatosensory evoked potentials after pallidotomy.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[The process of learning verbal material in patients with various damaged cerebral structures].

The results are described of a study of the process of verbal material learning and its recall after distraction in 20 patients with involuntary movements treated by thalamotomy, and in 20 epileptic patients treated by amygdalotomy and hippocampotomy. In both groups learning difficulties had been noted already before the operation. In postoperative tests these difficulties were found to have increased immediately after the surgical intervention in patients with lesions in the left cerebral hemisphere. On the other hand, late after the operation they were particularly pronounced after lesions placed in the right thalamus. Disturbances of material recall after distraction were shown in both groups independently of the side of the lesion.

Adult↗

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[Memories of doctor in medical education Adam Kunicki (1903-1989)].

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Education, Medical, Undergraduate↗

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[Ballism syndromes treated by cryothalamotomy].

Two cases of ballism of different aetiology and clinical manifestations are reported. One of them was a typical case of hemiballism with exceptionally violent hyperkineses leading to injuries to extremities. The syndrome developed after stroke. Cryothalamotomy caused regression of violent hyperkineses and made possible resuming of independent life. In another case, less certain with respect to aetiology, the patient had bilateral ballism with preponderance of the right side and with falling. Unilateral (left sided cryothalamotomy caused a significant improvement of contralateral hyperkineses and even of ipsilateral hyperkineses so that the patient could walk and eat. In most cases ballism requires surgical treatment with thalamotomy and in case of hemiballism this treatment makes possible complete regression of violent hyperkineses.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Effect of dehydrobenzperidol (DHB) on cortical and thalamic somatosensory evoked potentials in patients with muscle dystonia].

Investigations of somatosensory evoked potentials in patients with muscular dystonia meet with difficulties due to abnormal muscle tone and dyskinesia producing myogenic artifacts deforming potentials recorded after their evoking. For obtaining better conditions for recording of somatosensory evoked potentials single dose of DHB was used. Somatosensory evoked potentials were recorded before and after operations and during stereotactic thalamotomy of the complex of the VL nucleus in the thalamus. The authors report the results of investigations in the above mentioned three periods of treatment in hospital. The results suggest the hypothesis that DHB affects the cerebellofugal transmission organizing the proper muscle tone.

Adult↗