Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M Maffini.
Concentration of dopamine and serotonin metabolites (HVA and 5-HIAA) in the CSF was evaluated before and after pharmacological treatment in 19 patients with different neuropsychiatric diseases. In every case a reciprocal modification of the two metabolites occurred after treatment. The result supports the hypothesis of a functional balance between the monoaminergic systems in the central nervous system.
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The efficacy and safety of oral vigabatrin (VGB) as add-on therapy in the long-term treatment of poorly controlled epilepsy were evaluated in 19 patients with complex partial seizures, either with or without secondary generalization. The study was run with a single-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design, and included 2 months of placebo and 13-15 months of treatment with VGB, at doses ranging from 1 to 4 g/day. Of the 14 patients who completed the trial, 2 were seizure free, in 5 seizure frequency dropped by more than 75% and in another 5 by more than 50% with respect to baseline. The decrease in seizure frequency in the group as a whole was significant at all observation points of the trial. Three patients were not entered into the long-term phase due to lack of improvement (an increase in seizure frequency was observed in one of them), and 2 were excluded later because improvement disappeared leading to unauthorized changes in comedication. Side effects were mild and never caused discontinuation of treatment. In conclusion, VGB showed a remarkable efficacy and safety in the long-term treatment of complex partial seizures.
As a preliminary approach to an epidemiological investigation of Huntington's disease, the authors report the incidence of admissions of these patients to both Neurological and Psychiatric Departments in Genoa and surrounding region from 1930 to 1977. The number of patients (84 cases) and their family history (225 cases of Chorea in the ancestors) suggest a prevalence of Huntington's disease remarkably higher (about 28 cases out of 100,000 inhabitants) than it is usually estimated. Further studies are however required to assess the distribution of the disease in the whole population of the region.
A 20-year-old epileptic patient developed hypertension during CBZ treatment, without any demonstrable etiological factor. After CBZ discontinuation, a gradual normalization of blood pressure values was observed. The authors discuss the possible role of ADH in the production of this unfrequent side effect.
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The authors have administered a test of intelligence (WAIS) and a test of attention (Color Naming) to a group of patients affected by chronic schizophrenic impairment. The scores give shape to a picture of mental deterioration, especially characterized by a decrease of attentive power. This results validates the possibility of a neuropsychological approach to the etiopatogenesis of schizophrenia and supports the hypothesis that an impairment of mental synthesis power may explain both clinical and psychometric features of the disease.
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