Biomedical subjects

E Morgando

Publications and source records attributed to E Morgando.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2002

Risk factors for a first generalized tonic-clonic seizure in adult life.

To evaluate risk factors for a first generalized tonic-clonic seizure (GTCS) in adults (=15 years), we performed a multicenter, case-control study involving eleven first-referral neurological departments in north-western Italy. The study enrolled 278 patients with a first GTCS, and 556 age- and sex-matched hospital controls. Cases and controls were interviewed through a questionnaire (inter-rater and index-proxy agreement varied between 75% and 100% for the different questions). Risk factors significantly associated with a first GTCS were: severe head trauma (odds ratio 9.9; 95% confidence limits 2.0-67.1), siblings with seizures (5.7; 1.7-21.4), alcohol intake >50 grams/day (4.9; 3.1-7.9), history of stroke (3.8; 1.8-8.0), complications of delivery (2.7; 1.5-5.1), other relatives with seizures (2.4; 1.3-4.6), sleep deprivation (2.4; 1.4-4.1), low gestational age (1.9; 1.1-3.4), mild-moderate head trauma (1.8; 1.2-3.0), and low birth weight (1.6; 1.0-2.7). Genetic and late acquired factors and life habits are major risk factors for a first GTCS in adults, while pre- and perinatal events play only a minor role.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

A case-control study on alcohol and seizures: study design, protocol, and data collection. The ALCE (Alcohol and Epilepsy) Study Group.

We designed a multicenter case control study to evaluate whether chronic alcoholism and alcohol are risk factors for developing a first generalized tonic-clonic epileptic seizure. Cases were 278 patients (92 women, 186 men), with a first generalized tonic-clonic seizure (either idiopathic or symptomatic), matched to 556 controls for center, sex, age, and weekday of the seizure. Information on risk factors was obtained through a questionnaire. This paper focuses on the study design (selection of cases and choice of controls), the validity of the instruments for data collection, and the strategies of study conduction (interviews, use of proxy respondents). Inter-rater agreement was excellent for drinking status, patterns of drinking, and broad indicators of consumption (yes/no). Agreement was variable for the number of servings/week, but was excellent (r = 0.91) for a summary of daily alcohol intake.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Alcohol use is a risk factor for a first generalized tonic-clonic seizure. The ALC.E. (Alcohol and Epilepsy) Study Group.

We performed a multicenter case-control study to estimate whether chronic alcoholism and alcohol consumption are risk factors for developing a first generalized tonic-clonic seizure (GTCS). We studied 237 first-seizure patients (158 men, 79 women) matched to 474 hospital controls for center, sex, age (+/-5 years), and weekday of the seizure. The risk of first GTCS in alcoholics was greater than in non-alcoholics for men (odds ratio, 6.8; 95% confidence limits, 3.6-13.0) and women (6.8, 1.6-32.6). The odds ratio (both sexes) was 1.2 (0.8-1.8) for an average daily intake of absolute alcohol of 1 to 25 g/day and rose with the amount of alcohol consumed daily: 1.3 (0.8-2.1) for 26 to 50 g/day, 3.0 (1.7-5.4) for 51 to 100 g/day, 7.9 (2.9-21.9) for 101 to 200 g/day, and 16.6 (1.9-373.4) for >200 g/day. Our study provides evidence of a powerful association between alcohol use, alcoholism, and the first GTCS.

Alcohol Drinking↗

PubMed1995

Motor evoked potentials in the post-surgical follow-up of cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

Eighteen patients (6 female, 12 male; average age 51 years, range 37-79) with clinical and radiological evidence (MRI) of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) were examined. The subjects were divided into two groups depending on whether radiology indicated single level (9 patients) or multilevel (9 patients) compression of the cervical cord. All of the patients underwent surgical decompression. Seriate exam with trans-cranial magnetic stimulation was performed in double session before surgery, and 3 and 12 months after surgery. The follow-up study of these patients revealed a statistically significant neurophysiological improvement only in those patients with single-level compression. In these cases, the cervical cord pathology revealed by MRI signal hyperintensity in T2 may at least partially consist of an edematous component and/or an initial demyelinization that has still a chance of recovery. In patients with multilevel damage, the compression may cause irreversible lesions.

Adult↗

PubMed1973