S Podnar — Page 2 | PubMed Health

PubMed1996

Mechanically evoked bulbocavernosus reflex and pudendal somatosensory responses in children.

Electrophysiological investigations of sacral functions are unpleasant and as such rarely performed in children. A novel approach is presented: bulbocavernosus reflex and pudendal cortical somatosensory evoked potentials were studied on mechanical stimulation of the penis and compared with their electrically evoked counterparts in 21 (5-14 years old) boys. An electromechanical hammer was used and only surface electrodes applied. Children preferred mechanical stimulation which also evoked reliable responses in more boys. Reflex responses on mechanical stimulation were found to be of longer latency, however no latency differences between cortical evoked responses to either stimulation were found. We suggest the use of mechanical stimulation in uroneurophysiological testing of children.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1993

Lithium and peripheral nervous system function in manic-depressive patients.

INTRODUCTION: Lithium salts are widely used in treatment of affective disorders, but lithium may cause electrophysiologically detectable changes in peripheral nervous system even with lithium concentrations within recommended therapeutic limits. The risk of lithium treatment against other risks to peripheral nervous system in psychiatric patients with affective psychoses was tested in our study. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Electrophysiologic parameters of motor and sensory peripheral nerve fibre function were measured in two age-matched groups of psychiatric patients (20 lithium-treated and 20 affective psychotic patients without lithium treatment) and a group of 20 healthy age-matched volunteers. RESULTS: Lower amplitudes of M waves (p < 0.015) and sensory nerve action potentials (p < 0.020) on stimulation of the median nerve have been found in both groups of patients. On peroneal nerve stimulation lower M wave amplitudes have been found only in the group of lithium-treated patients (p < 0.055). No significant differences in conduction parameters of motor and sensory fibres were demonstrated. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate subclinical involvement of motor and sensory axons in affective-psychotic patients, which is only slightly more pronounced in lithium-treated patients. We suggest that lithium (within therapeutic plasma concentrations) is just one among the factors leading towards minor axonopathy in psychiatric patients.

Adult↗