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Biomedical subjects

M Fredj

Publications and source records attributed to M Fredj.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

[MRI of cerebral cortical dysgenesis].

PURPOSE: Cortical cerebral dysgenesis is a heterogeneous disorder of cortical development and organization. It is well known by neuropathologists and is becoming more important in the clinical setting, mainly due to MRI. Our purpose is to report the MRI features of cortical dysplasia in 30 patients and to propose a simple classification with review of the literature. PATIENTS AND METHODS: It is a retrospective study of the MRI features of 30 cases of cortical dysgenesis. All patients were evaluated by electroencephalography and brain MRI using T1 and T2 weighted, inversion recovery T1 weighted, FLAIR and MPR 3D sequences with multiplanar reformations. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients were referred to the neurology department because of refractory epilepsy and one patient for mental retardation. Our patients were distributed in 4 groups: diffuse forms represented by agyria-pachygyria (4 cases), polymicrogyria (one case), and nodular heterotopias (5 cases), local bilateral forms represented by bilateral polymicrogyria (11 cases), unilateral forms represented by hemi-megalencephaly (one case), and focal cortical forms found in eight cases. CONCLUSION: Neuroblast migration disorders are better known, mainly due to high resolution MRI techniques that by the quality of multiplanar study and a better differentiation between gray and white matter, allow a more precise diagnosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

[A new case report of spinal cord compression secondary to beta-thalassemia].

Extramedullary hematopoiesis is an unusual cause of spinal cord compression. We report the case of a 39-year-old man who presented symptoms of progressive dorsal spinal cord compression. Hemogramm showed erythrocytosis with microcytosis. Hemoglobin electrophoresis revealed heterozygous beta-thalassemia. Diagnosis of extramedullary hematopoiesis was based on magnetic resonance imaging findings. Radiological and therapeutic options in this rare condition are briefly discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

[Cerebral tuberculomas].

We report eight cases of brain tuberculoma. The clinical presentation was polymorphous: partial epilepsy (n=4), headache (n=3), hemiplegia (n=1), meningitis (n=1), cerebellar syndrome (n=1). Six patients also had pulmonary tuberculosis, one had tuberculosis of the genital organs, and one had HIV co-infection. The brain CT scan and MRI were highly contributive to diagnosis and follow-up. Despite good compliance with an anti-tuberculosis regimen for at least 14 months, the course was favorable in only six patients. Adjunction of corticosteroids led to radiological improvement. Assessment of cell immunity demonstrated a diminished immunomodulator ratio. Cerebral tuberculoma should be searched for in patients with unexplained neurological manifestations and several intracerebral lesions, particularly if pulmonary or visceral tuberculosis and/or immunodepression is part of the clinical picture.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1999

[Neurological manifestations indicative of brucellosis].

Eight patients presented neurological signs secondary to Brucella infection. The clinical presentation was a meningoencephalitis in three cases, a meningoencephalomyelitis in one case, an epiduritis with spinal cord compression in one case, an acute polyradiculoneuritis in two cases and a chronic polyradiculoneuritis in one case. Acoustic nerve was impaired in seven cases. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis revealed a lymphocytic meningitis and a high protein concentration in all cases. The agglutination test titers were elevated in the serum and in the CSF of seven patients (> or = 1/80) and two patients respectively. Brucella melitensis culture was disclosed in the blood of one patient and in the CSF of two patients. Three patients were treated by the association cycline and rifampicin whereas a tritherapy including cycline, rifampicin and TMP-SMZ was used in the other cases. Outcome was favorable in seven cases. This study outlines the polymorphism of neurological manifestations due to brucellosis, even in familial cases and this diagnostic must be especially done in Middle East and South Mediterranean countries.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1999

[Polyneuropathy due to glue-sniffing intoxication. Report of a case].

We report a case of a 24 years old female who presented a glue sniffing neuropathy. Symptoms began with progressive weakness which initially involves the lower extremities. Neurological examination noted a decreased Achille reflexes. Nerve conduction studies showed a slowing nerve conduction velocities, a delayed F waves and distal latencies and diffuse nerve conduction blocks. The disease continued to worsen beyond two weeks after stopping intoxication with persistent evidence of ongoing demyelination. 40 days later we have noted an improvement in nerve conduction velocities and in conduction blocks, neuropathy is the most frequent glue sniffing complications, there is a clinic and electric improvement of the polyneuropathy after stopping intoxication.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Unverricht-Lündborg disease: clinical and electrophysiologic study of 19 Maghreb families].

We describe clinical, electrophysiological and genetic features in 44 patients with Unverricht-Lündborg disease from 19 families living in North African countries (Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco). The mean age of patients was 25.3 years; mean age was at onset 11.3 years. The disease began more frequently with seizures (91 per cent) or myoclonus (80 p. 100) than ataxia (16 p. 100). Subsequently myoclonus and generalized seizures were present in all patients, cerebellar signs were absent in four cases. EEG findings included normal background activity (90 p. 100), spontaneous fast generalized spikes (93 p. 100) and photosensitivity (70 p. 100). Antiepileptic polytherapy (clonazepam and/or phenobarbital and/or valporic acid) was used in 84 per cent of cases. Antiepileptic drugs were more effective in controlling epileptic seizures (less than one seizure/month in 60 p. 100) than myocloni which persisted daily in 64 p. 100 of cases. Mean duration of the disease was 13.5 years. One patient died of status epilepticus. Consanguinity was noted in 17 families (first degree in 15 families). Linkage to chromosome 21q 22.3 was confirmed in 11 families. We noted an inter and intrafamilial variability of clinical signs and disease course.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

[Familial multiple sclerosis: study of 2 cases of a northern African family].

We report two cases of multiple sclerosis (MS) beginning in a mother and her daughter at 40 years of age. The diagnosis of MS was certain for both patients (Poser et al., 1983). Clinical features, evolution and response to treatment are comparable in both cases. Cerebral and medullar cord MRI and/or CT Scan showed characteristic lesions of demyelination on periventricular white matter, corpus callosum and brainstem.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Spinal cord compression in bone fluorosis. Apropos of 4 cases].

The authors report four cases of spinal cord compression (three at cervical level and one at dorsal level) due to vertebral osteosclerosis secondary to chronic fluoride intoxication. Roentgenograms showed typical diffuse densification of vertebral bodies, calcifications of bony insertions of many ligaments, discs and interosseous membranes. Urinary fluoride was markedly increased in two cases. In the other two cases the bone biopsy was suggestive of skeletal fluorosis. Spinal computed tomography showed severe cord compression due to posterior osteophytes. Good improvement was observed after surgical decompression in one case. Fluorosis was described as a consequence of endemic exposure to high fluoride content in soil and natural ground water in North Africa. Fluorotic myelopathy was due to bone excrescences mainly affecting the spine.

Bone Diseases↗
PubMed1995

[Claude syndrome caused by mesencephalic infarction: 2 cases].

Paramedian midbrain infarcts limited to the oculomotor nerve fibers are uncommon. We studied 2 cases where the clinical syndrome included a third cranial nerve palsy and a contralateral cerebellar ataxia. The CT scan disclosed a paramedian midbrain tegmental infarct, so that it is possible to term our two cases Claude's syndrome. The oculomotor nerve fascicular palsies were complete in one case and limited to the extraocular muscles in the second case. The selective involvement of oculomotor function suggests intraaxial fascicular organisation of the third cranial nerve in the brainstem.

Cerebellar Ataxia↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Childhood diabetic neuropathy: a clinical and electrophysiological study.

Clinical diabetic neuropathy in childhood is rare, but electrophysiological involvement of the peripheral nerve is more frequent. We assessed clinically and electrophysiologically the peripheral nervous system of 69 children and adolescents suffering from diabetes mellitus (DM). The mean age of the patients was 12.8 years and the mean age at onset of DM was 6.8 years with a mean disease duration of 6.3 years. Seven patients (10%) had clinical neuropathy of which ankle jerk reflex abolition was the most frequent sign. Twenty patients (29%) had a neurophysiological neuropathy prevalently affecting the lower limbs. Peripheral neuropathy was correlated with patient age, older age at onset, duration of DM, height and poor glycaemic control.

Action Potentials↗