Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to W Horyd.
Visually evoked potentials were studied in a group of ten patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. In all cases the results indicated an impairment of the optical system in relationship to the individual phase of the disease. This examination technique is a valuable aid in the early diagnosis and observation of the course of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.
For 200 epileptics treated over a prolonged period of time, the development of the repeatedly recorded EEG findings were compared with the data of the clinical course of the disease. Statistically important correlations were found with regard to the interruption of the fits and the normalisation of the EEG pictures as well as the progressive clinical course and the intensification of the EEG anomalies. These correlations, however, are only true of about 30 per cent of the cases. In the other courses, the EEG findings can only be used as elements of the complex analysis under consideration of further factors such as age, degree of severity of the cerebral lesion, and especially of the clinical symptoms.
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 authors studied the dynamics of EEG changes in 27 patients treated with L-dopa. The records obtained before treatment were compared with those made during treatment and with the clinical manifestations. In 8 cases the EEG pattern was normal before treatment and 6 of them improved (three-fourths of this subgroup). In 19 cases the EEG pattern was abnormal and 10 of them improved (about 50%). Some intensification of temporal episodic complexes in EEG records was observed during treatment without concomitant changes of clinical manifestations. In 2 cases with slowed down background activity in initial records psychic disturbances of hallucinatory obnubilation type developed requiring withdrawal of treatment. This psychotic reaction was characterized in EEG with increased intensity of generalized slowing down of EEG activity.
The authors report the results of EEG monitoring lasting many hours with cassette recording and with interpretation after reproduction on monitor screen. The Medilog 9000 System Oxford was used for that purpose. The group comprised 32 verified cases of epilepsy and 19 cases of seizures with unestablished aetiology. In epileptics the method made possible determination of the actual frequency of seizures and their clinico electroencephalographic qualification. In the remaining group of 18 patients the epileptic character of their seizures was demonstrated in 3 cases, in 9 cases the mechanism of these seizures varied, sometimes they were neurotic vasovagal. In 6 cases the monitoring failed to provide sufficient data. These results demonstrate a highly usefulness of cassette EEG monitoring in neurological practice, especially in case of seizures. A valuable supplementation of these investigations are records monitored by television, which make possible establishing of a more close correlation between clinical symptoms and EEG findings.
The analysis is reported of the frequency of epileptic seizures in 125 cases of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE). Sporadic, periodic and recurrent seizures were isolated. Seizures developed in 42% of cases, mostly in the II phase of the disease. The most serious clinical problem are difficulties in the differentiation between involuntary movements of the type of complex moyclonia and atonic-myoclonic seizures. In the electrophysiological evaluation of use may be finding in EEG of triphasic sharp waves and spike-wave complexes, apart from generalized periodic discharges characteristic for SSPE. A greater possibility of differentiation between epileptic seizures and involuntary movements is opened by monitoring examination or 24-hour EEG recording.
The results of 634 determinations of visual evoked potentials in 110 cases of SSPE are presented. The determinations were repeated many times in successive stages of the disease and were compared with findings obtained during eye fundus examinations. A statistically significant correlation was found between these potentials and changes in the fundus involving the optic disc and macula, and increasing abnormalities of the potentials in successive stages of the disease with their complete disappearance in the last stages. Visual evoked potential determination is regarded by the authors as a valuable diagnostic factor in early stages of the disease and as an additional source providing information about the degree of visual system damage with progression of the pathological process.
The analysis of clinical features of groups of patients with frequent and rare epileptic seizures showed that the mean age of the first seizure, the mean age at the time of examination, and the mean duration of the disease were not significantly different in both studied groups. In the group with frequent seizures a significantly more frequent presence of features indicating serious organic brain damage was found (more frequent occurrence of known aetiological factors, more cases of posttraumatic epilepsy, psychic and neurological abnormalities). In group C changes in the background activity in EEG were also more frequent. The analysis of pharmacological treatment showed a more frequent application of polytherapy in group C. On the other hand, the mean levels of antiepileptic drugs in the serum and the mean doses of these drugs for kg of body mass were not significantly different in both groups. In about 40% of patients in both groups the prescribed drugs failed to reach the levels generally regarded as therapeutic (slightly more frequently in the group with rare seizures). This was true mainly of PHT since about 81% of patients in both groups failed to reach the therapeutic level of the drug (10 ug/ml). The likely causes of this fact were: too low doses prescribed (55% of the patients were given doses below the generally recommended), lower bioavailability of PHT (27% of patients had no therapeutic level of the drug in the serum, despite doses exceeding 5 mg/kg); or drug interaction. This requires elucidation in further studies.
In 101 patients treated for epilepsy electroencephalographic and scintigraphic investigations were carried out. In 93 cases the results of EEG investigations were abnormal, in 8 normal. Scintiscanning demonstrated presence of focal pathological changes in 20 cases, in 81 cases the scans were normal. The highest proportion of concordant results was obtained in cases with focal EEG changes -- 50% while in all cases of symmetrical seizure activity in EEG the scientiscans were normal. The combination of both methods increases the possibility of early diagnosis in cases with symptomatic epilepsy.
Visual potentials induced with a checker pattern were studied in a group of patients with damage to the visual pathways at different levels, and were compared with similar potentials in 10 adult subjects without diseases. A statistically significant prolongation of latency of the main deflections (N1, P max and N2) was observed in the group of 14 patients with optic nerve damage, while in 10 patients with lesions above the chiasma different, often normal responses were obtained. High-grade deformity of visual potentials was observed in 2 cases of visual agnosia. The study of visual evoked potentials may be in the opinion of the authors, useful in cases of damage to the optic nerve, retina and cortical visual centres.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.