Biomedical subjects

Lineu Corrêa Fonseca

Publications and source records attributed to Lineu Corrêa Fonseca.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

[Basal ganglia calcification on computed tomography: clinical characteristics in 25 patients].

Twenty-five patients presenting basal ganglia calcification were assessed. This finding comprised 0.68% of all skull CT scan carried out during the period. Two patients were neurologically asymptomatic and 23 presented a variety neurological disorders--headache (7 patients), stroke (5 patients), extrapyramidal syndromes (2 patients), tumor (2 patients), epilepsy (1 patient), mental retardation (1 patient), dementia (1 patient), cranial trauma (1 patient), other neurological conditions (3 patients)--or were asymptomatic from the neurological point of view (2 patients). Findings in the CT scan other than the basal ganglia calcification were observed in 15 (60%) patients. There was a clinical-CT scan correlation in these cases but not in those in which the basal ganglia calcification was an isolated finding. This study highlights the fact that basal ganglia calcification is often a nonspecific finding on CT scan and that it may not be possible to establish a clinical-pathological correlation between them.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Autonomic seizures and autonomic status epilepticus in early onset benign childhood occipital epilepsy (Panayiotopoulos syndrome).

To study clinical and EEG features of children with ictal vomiting and no underlying brain lesions (Panayiotopoulos syndrome). The subjects were 36 children aged 2-13 years. The onset of seizures occurred between 1 and 5 years of age. Fourteen children (38.8%) had a single seizure. Fourteen children (38.8%) had autonomic status epilepticus. Impairment of consciousness was reported in 30 (83.3%) children, eye deviation in 10 (27.7%) other autonomic symptoms and head deviation in 9, generalization in 8, visual symptoms in one child, and, speech arrest or hemifacial motor symptoms in 8 cases. The EEG showed occipital spikes or spike-wave complexes in 27 (75.0%) children, blocked by opening of the eyes in 8 (22.2%) cases. Nine patients (25%) also had rolandic spikes and 3 had extraoccipital spikes. Six (16.6%) patients had normal EEG. No clinical differences were observed between patients having occipital or extraoccipital spikes. In children only with autonomic seizures, the spikes are predominantly occipital but blockage by opening of the eyes is a less frequent feature. In some children there is an overlapping of different focal childhood idiopathic syndromes.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

[Transient cognitive impairment during generalized or diffuse epileptiform EEG discharges].

Epileptiform EEG discharges (EED) are a frequent finding in people with epilepsy, and may occur in other clinical conditions. Formal testing during EEG recording may demonstrate transitory cognitive impairment (TCI). Thirty patients (27 with epilepsy) with generalized or diffuse EED on a previous examination were studied. The interaction between EED and cognitive tasks was evaluated on subsequent EEG. The numbers of correct or incorrect answers were compared with the occurrence or absence of EED. Results were analyzed by non parametric tests. TCI was characterized in 43.3% of the patients. In 23.3% the EED were rare and it was not possible to evaluate the occurrence of TCI. The findings confirm that otherwise subclinical EED may be accompanied by TCI. There is a need of research to evaluate the relevance of TCI and to determine when EED should be treated.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

[Idiopathic childhood occipital epilepsies: clinical and electroencephalographic features in 63 children].

UNLABELLED: We studied clinical-EEG features of 63 children, age range of 2-14 years, with occipital epileptiform activity in the EEG, with epileptic seizures and no evidences of brain damage. Age at onset was between 1-12 years. In 15 cases the seizures last for more than 30 min up to 6 h. Seizures occurred during sleep in 28 children. Autonomic symptoms were apparent in 25, head deviation in 24 and hemiconvulsion or generalization in 17 cases. Ten children reported visual symptoms. In 14 children the seizures were exclusively generalised convulsions. Spikes were observed in 27 cases and spike and slow-wave complex in 36. Discharges blocking by eyes opening were confirmed in 15 cases. Somatosensory evoked spikes by foot stimulation were observed in 9.5% cases. The cases were classified in the following idiopathic epileptic syndromes: early-onset occipital -- Panayiotopoulos-type (EOO), 32 cases; late-onset occipital -- Gastaut type (LOO), 8; rolandic epilepsy in 7. CONCLUSION: EOO occurred more frequently than LOO. Idiopathic occipital syndromes diagnosis was possible in 63.4% of the cases.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Somatosensory evoked potential and EEG in children with focal idiopathic epilepsies with and without evoked spikes by tapping of the feet or hands.

The characteristics of SEP cortical components were studied in 40 children with focal idiopathic epilepsies of childhood. Twenty children had focal idiopathic epilepsies and evoked spikes (FIE-ES) on the EEG and 20 had benign focal epilepsy of childhood with centrotemporal spikes (CTE) but without evoked spikes (ES). These data were compared with those of a control group of 20 normal children. N35 high-amplitude component was more frequent in the CTE group than in the control group (p < 0.001). P98 showed high amplitude in 50% of the children of FIE-ES group, and in none of the CTE and control groups (p < 0.001). The P98 high amplitude component was more common in the FIE-ES group than in the other groups, and so was the N35 high amplitude component in the CTE group. Lateralization of high-amplitude components of N35 in the CTE group and of P98 in FIE group was not correlated with lateralization of epileptiform activity and evoked spikes. Based on our findings, there are SEPs cortical component differences in childhood focal idiopathic epilepsies according to occurrence or absence of ES.

Electroencephalography↗

PubMed2004

[Knowledge and attitude toward epilepsy among health area students].

Several studies in different countries show a lack of knowledge about epilepsy with consequent prejudice and discrimination to epileptic patients. We aim to evaluate knowledge and attitudes of health area junior and senior students. Simple self-administered questionnaires were applied to 290 junior students and to 274 senior students. Senior students had more familiarity, better knowledge about etiology and had a more positive perception about anticonvulsant medication. Positive attitudes about work were more common among senior students. Although, significant percentage of students had a lack of knowledge about epilepsy. A third of the respondents could use improper and potentially harmful measures during a seizure. Actions directed to increment the knowledge and attitudes of health area students could improve the quality of life of patients with epilepsy.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

[Somatosensory evoked potential in children with evoked spikes by tapping of the feet or hands on electroencephalogram].

OBJECTIVE: To study the characteristics of Somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) cortical components in children with evoked spikes (ES) on EEG. METHOD: The children were aged 7-12 years, had normal neurological examination and neuropsychomotor development, and did not present signs/symptoms of CNS lesions. Data were compared within a group of 20 "normal" children. RESULTS: The amplitude of the cortical components N75 and P98, obtained by posterior tibial nerve stimulation, was higher in ES groups as compared with the normal group. CONCLUSION: High amplitude SEP (N75 and P98) has higher values in the group of children with ES than in the normal group. The exact mechanism involved in the genesis of ES and high amplitude SEP is not clear yet. A possible mechanism would be focal cortical hyperexcitability related to functional activity. No difference was observed in SEP components in children with ES considering occurrence or not of epilepsy. Therefore, SEP does not bring elements to distinguish between the groups suffering or not epilepsy.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed2004

[School performance in children with benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes].

Neuropsychological implications of benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes-rolandic spikes (BECTS) have not been adequately investigated. The aim of this study was to compare the results in a school performance test of patients with BECTS and normal age-matched controls. A total of 20 children with BECTS and 20 normal controls were submitted to anamnesis, clinical evaluation, Raven test, school performance test (SPT), digital electroencephalogram and quantitative electroencephalogram analysis. Comparing with normal controls, children with BECTS showed significantly lower SPT results, especially in reading test. There was an association between the higher number of rolandic spikes and inferior performance in SPT reading test. These findings suggest that discharges may be a factor in the genesis of lower performance in reading test in children with BECTS.

Anticonvulsants↗

PubMed2004

Benign focal epilepsy of childhood: epileptic seizure during somatosensory evoked potential: a case report.

A 6-year-old girl with a history of partial seizures had parietal spontaneous spikes, and high-voltage paroxysms, evoked by tapping of the hands and feet, in the parietal contralateral region during the electroencephalogram. The girl underwent a somatosensory evoked potential study, when she had a seizure, with tonic contraction rising of the right leg then followed by clonic jerks of the right leg, version of the head to the right, followed by a tonic contraction of the ipsilateral arm with flexion at the elbow. The seizure lasted 20-30 seconds. We believe this is the first description of a seizure during a somatosensory evoked potential procedure.

Audiometry, Evoked Response↗