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Biomedical subjects

H G Boddie

Publications and source records attributed to H G Boddie.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Remacemide hydrochloride as an add-on therapy in epilepsy: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of three dose levels (300, 600 and 1200 mg/day) in a Q.I.D. regimen.

Remacemide hydrochloride is a low-affinity, non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor channel blocker, under investigation in epilepsy. This double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre study assessed the safety and efficacy of remacemide hydrochloride or placebo, as adjunctive therapy, in 252 adult patients with refractory epilepsy who were already taking up to three antiepileptic drugs (including an enzyme-inducer). Patients were randomized to one of three doses of remacemide hydrochloride (300, 600 or 1200 mg /day) or placebo Q.I.D., for up to 15 weeks. An increasing percentage of responders (defined as a reduction in seizure frequency from baseline of > or =50%) was seen with increasing remacemide hydrochloride dose. At 1200 mg /day, 23% of patients were responders compared with 7% on placebo. This difference was significant (P = 0.016), as was the overall difference between treatments (P = 0.038). Adverse events: dizziness, abnormal gait, gastrointestinal disturbance, somnolence, diplopia and fatigue were mild or moderate in severity. Carbamazepine and phenytoin plasma concentrations were well controlled and maintained within target ranges, with no evidence of improved seizure control due to increases in the concentrations of these drugs. A dose-dependent, significant, increase in responders following adjunctive remacemide hydrochloride compared with placebo was observed. Remacemide hydrochloride was well tolerated.

Acetamides↗

Investigation of a female manifesting Becker muscular dystrophy.

Females manifesting Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) are even more rarely observed than for the allelic condition Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The male proband has typical BMD with greatly raised CK activity and a myopathic muscle biopsy. His mother experienced walking difficulties from 35 years of age and has a myopathy with marked calf hypertrophy, a raised CK, and a myopathic muscle biopsy. Dystrophin analysis was undertaken on both the proband and his mother. Immunoblotting showed a protein of normal size but of reduced abundance in both. Immunocytochemical analysis in the proband indicated that the majority of the fibres showed weak dystrophin labelling and in his mother both dystrophin positive and dystrophin negative fibres were present. Non-random X inactivation at locus DXS255, was observed in DNA isolated from peripheral lymphocytes of the mother. Neither extended multiplex PCR performed on DNA from the proband nor analysis of lymphocyte derived mRNA showed a structural alteration in the dystrophin gene suggesting that an unusual mutation was responsible for BMD in this family.

Adult↗

A comparison of the effects of controlled-release levodopa (Madopar CR) with conventional levodopa in late Parkinson's disease.

In this multicentre study a controlled-release formulation of levodopa and the decarboxylase inhibitor benserazide (Madopar CR) was evaluated in patients with Parkinson's disease exhibiting dose-related fluctuations in motor performance in response to conventional levodopa preparations. The effect of Madopar CR, with or without conventional levodopa/benserazide, on the proportion of time spent "on", "off" or "intermediate" was compared with that of previous conventional levodopa/decarboxylase inhibitor therapy. Evaluation of the two periods of optimum therapy was based on both patient diary data and investigator opinion. Forty seven patients completed the study but full patient diaries were available for only 37. The mean optimum total daily dosage of conventional Madopar was 820 mg taken in a mean of 6.4 doses, compared with a mean optimum daily dosage of combined Madopar CR and conventional Madopar of 1088 mg, taken in a mean of 5.2 doses. Conventional Madopar was taken in addition to Madopar CR in all but eight patients. Madopar CR was felt to be advantageous in 83% and disadvantageous in 11% of patients completing the study. Considering the 37 patients for whom diary data were available, Madopar CR therapy resulted in an increase in the mean time spent "on" (p = 0.016) and a decrease in the mean time spent "off" (p = 0.029) compared with conventional Madopar alone. Individually 25 out of 37 had an increase in "on" time and 19 out of 37 experienced a decrease in "off" time. Thus Madopar CR was found to be beneficial in a significant proportion of patients experiencing fluctuations in response to conventional levodopa.

Adult↗

Chronic muscle contraction headache: the importance of depression and anxiety.

Seventy consecutive patients presenting with a clinical diagnosis of chronic muscle contraction headache over a two-year period were evaluated for depression and anxiety scores, along with other possible aetiological factors in this form of headache. Fifty-five of these patients (33 from a hospital neurology clinic and 22 from a local general practice) completed a double-blind study to evaluate flupenthixol 0.5 mg twice daily, diazepam 5 mg twice daily and placebo as prophylactic agents. Patients evaluated in the hospital neurology clinic had more frequent headaches of longer duration, higher analgesic consumption and higher depression, but no higher anxiety scores than those in general practice. Flupenthixol and diazepam were both significantly superior to placebo in reducing headaches and analgesic consumption. The trend was for flupenthixol to be superior to diazepam without reaching statistical significance. Flupenthixol was significantly better than diazepam and placebo in the reduction of Hamilton depression scores. This effect was independent of the effect on headache and analgesic reduction.

Adolescent↗

Polyradiculoneuropathy associated with heroin abuse.

Neurological complications of heroin addiction have occurred only sporadically in the United Kingdom. We report the case of a young female patient who developed an acute polyradiculoneuropathy when she recommended intravenous heroin after four years abstinence. Another possible aetiological factor was a preceding flu-like illness but, after full investigations, we concluded that heroin abuse was the most likely cause of the neurological symptoms.

Adult↗

The clinical and surgical feature in 40 patients with primary cerebellar ectopia (adult Chiari malformation).

This paper reports 40 patients with primary cerebellar ectopia investigated in the University of Manchester departments of neurology and neurosurgery over the five years, 1968-1973. A review of the clinical and surgical findings showed that (a) pain of varying type was the most common symptom, (b) four main clinical groups could be recognized--syringomyelia, paraparesis, cerebellar syndrome and 'raised pressure' syndrome and (c) surgical decompression of the posterior fossa and upper cervical spine resulted in improvement in over 70 per cent of patients with a small incidence of post-operative complications. It should be emphasised that primary cerebellar ectopia is not uncommon and is an important syndrome in its own right. It is often not accompanied by syringomyelia and in these patients the diagnosis can be difficult without supine myelography.

Adult↗

Removal of catecholamine-secreting chemodectoma. The use of neuroleptanaesthesia, adrenergic blockade and sodium nitroprusside.

A case of catecholamine-secreting chemodectoma of the neck in a 47-year-old male who also had temporal lobe epilepsy is described. Details of presentation, diagnosis and successful treatment are given. He was fully alpha blocked with phenoxybenzamine and given neuroleptic drugs but his blood pressure rose to dangerous levels when the tumour was handled and did not respond to intravenous phentolamine. Sodium nitroprusside was successfully used to achieve blood pressure control.

Blood Pressure↗

Myasthenia gravis: clinical and histological features in relation to thymectomy.

The clinical and thymic histological features of 23 patients who underwent thymectomy for myasthenia gravis have been examined and compared. Eighty-two per cent of patients with a non-neoplastic gland containing numerous germinal centres improved postoperatively, whereas 83% of patients with a non-neoplastic gland containing no germinal centres deteriorated or died. Glands with only slight involution and containing numerous germinal centres were more commonly seen in young female patients. The evidence relating thymic histological appearances with the postoperative progress of patients with myasthenia gravis is reviewed.

Adolescent↗

Episodic encephalopathy associated with thyroid disorders.

Two patients with a thyroid disorder and an associated episodic encephalopathy are reported. The relationship between Hashimoto's thyroiditis, myxoedema, and neurological disease is considered, and the evidence for such disorders being due either to an underlying autoimmune process or that the encephalopathy is a direct result of the thyroid disorder is discussed.

Adult↗