Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M Georgesco.
The conduction velocity of the ulnar, median and peroneal nerves was studied in 21 patients with a severe form of spinal muscular atrophy. They were slower than normal in 16 cases, particularly when the median nerve was studied. The diagnosis criteria of spinal muscular atrophy are discussed according to these data.
Thirty-nine human skeletal muscle biopsies from 24 individuals were classified as normal, neuropathic, or myopathic muscle according to classical clinical observations and histopathological properties of the muscles. The content in myosin light chains (LC) of each muscle sample was analyzed by means of a new technique of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis that gives an improved discrimination, involving isoelectrofocusing of the muscle homogenate for the first dimension and successive migration in a urea-containing gel for the second dimension. Four different LC patterns have been observed in the normal muscles; these four patterns and three different ones have been observed in the pathological muscles. No apparent correlation exists between the myosin LC content and the histochemical fiber typing. It is concluded that the myosin LC are apparently not a useful marker to detect the normality or the pathology of human muscle.
In 26 babies, from 1 day to 3 months old, the somatosensory scalp potentials (SEPs) were evoked by electrical stimulation of the tibialis posterior nerve. No reproducible response in any location was obtained in 6 cases. In the other 20 cases, the initial wave was positive in 18 cases, with a peak latency at about 35 msec (P36) but the initial latency differed according to the location of the electrodes on the midline and to the baby. In a systematic topographical study, P36 was found to be variable in its distribution and its latency without correlation, whether with the baby's age, size, physiological state or intensity of stimulation. Our results are compared with SEPs obtained from the lower limb in adults and from the upper limb in children.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
The study of the recovery cycle of the H reflex of the soleus, in constant pool, was made on 88 normal men of different ages. The recurrent inhibition has been demonstrated in most of the adults and elderly subjects. In young children, there were powerful inhibitory mechanisms, among which the Renshaw inhibition can be isolated.
The particular value of clinical, radiological and electromyographical features is compared in 42 patients with motor deficit related to cervicarthrosic myelopathy or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The initial onset of the disease was identical (motor deficit and long tracts pathways involvement). Three different groups were identifyed according to the evolution: -- Group I: (13 cases): true lateral amyotrophic sclerosis which were not operated on. -- Group II (10 cases): myelopathy called "cervicarthrosic" because of radiological findings which were operated on but had the same steady worsened course as a lateral amyotrophic sclerosis. -- Group III (19 cases): cervical myelopathy which had surgery. The operation brought about stabilization or fairly good recovery over the 18 months following at least. From a clinical aspect, the "Lhermitte sign" or objective sensitive deficit are strongly significant for cervical myelopathy. On the contrary, diffuse fasciculations specially in the tongue seem to be mostly found in lateral amyotrophic sclerosis, whereas they are restricted into the paralysed area in cervical myelopathy. Electromyographic examination is decisive: simple activity with high frequency motor units (increased amplitude and polyphasic waves) or "preponderant potentials" into a cranial nerve territory or three segments of the lower limbs are frequently found in lateral amyotrophic sclerosis. These electromyographic features are less significant in the upper limbs. The neuroradiological findings lonely cannot assert definitely the cervicarthrosic origin of the myelopathy but visualize the conflicting situation between the spinal cord and the cervical canal and allow to choose the surgical procedure.
Twenty-four patients with recent and acute spinal cord lesions were examined. The somatosensory cerebral evoked potential (SEP) following stimulation of the peroneus communis nerve tested spinal conduction, whereas the H reflex showed spinal excitability belowe the lesion. After complete spinal cord section, the SEP was always abolished and the H reflex was absent in most cases tested in the first 24 hours. Into other patients, the recruitment curve and the recovery cycle of the H reflex displayed some abnormalities which progressively disappeared. With partial lesions, SEP could occasionally be altered. Some abnormalities of the H reflex recovery cycle, of the same type as those seen in the late stage of complete sections, were also observed. These data give nre information on the physiopathology of spinal shock; they lead to the distinction of several evolutionary stages after acute spinal lesions and also have prognostic disgnificance.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
The motor conduction velocity (MCV) and various parameters of the Hoffman reflex were studied in 55 diabetics compared to a control population of the same age. In the diabetics there were statistically significant alterations of the MCV, the Hmax/Mmax ratio and the H index, which are closely connected. These changes were more precise when there were clinical signs of neuropathy (absence of the Achilles reflex) but they still existed in the absence of signs. The older the diabetics, the more the electro-physiological parameters were altered. However, the H index is abnormal earlier than the Hmax-Mmax ratio or the MCV. Changes in the excitability cycle to double shock involve mainly phase IV of secondary facilitation and may be related to central disturbances.
Myotonic seizures with apnea are alarming but temporary incidents occurring during curaization of a myotonic patient. Experience with regional curaization in myotonia shows that it is induced only by suxamethonium and it is only an exaggeration of the fasciculations produced by this compound. In contrast, however, competitive curare compounds have no effect on myotonia. The myotonic seizure, which is specific to myotonia, is radically different from the other respiratory accidents common to muscular dystrophies.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.