Neurologie et psychiatrie最新文献

The beta-glycerophosphatase (GP), p-nitrophenyl phosphatase (PNFP) and beta-glucuronidase (BG) activities in four neocortical rabbit areas have been determined in six successive electrocorticographic stages of postnatal ontogenetic development of epileptic reactivity. The lysosomal enzyme activity decreases gradually from rabbits aged 1 day to adult ones and is similar within the four neocortical areas. The activity of the three lysosomal enzymes is not parallel. Statistically significant decreases in beta-glycerophosphatase activity are present in rabbits at the age of 30 days versus adult age in all the areas investigated while beta-glucuronidase is higher at the same developmental stage only in beta retrosplenial (III) and motor (II) areas. Correlation of the electrophysiological and biochemical data cannot provide explanation for the particular phenomena of the epileptogenic reactivity in rabbit cerebral neocortex.

A polygraphic study on resistance to extinction of the somatic (EMG), autonomic (finger plethysmogram, galvanic skin reaction, respiration) and EEG (acoustic-evoked potential and EEG-blocking reaction) components of the orienting reaction elicited by a repetitive auditory stimulus was performed in 67 chronic alcoholics and in 70 matched normal subjects (control group). The study showed a significantly lower resistance to extinction of the orienting reaction in alcoholics than in control normal subjects. The severity of this extinction disturbance depended on the patients' age, type of alcoholism, alcohol consumption intensity and chronicity, as well as the type of resting EEG.

Data collected from 34 countries (out of 41 and Bucharest) representing 76.17% population of the country (i.e. 17, 232, 817 inhabitants) involve 4424 definite MS cases (2397 females and 2027 males with a F/M ratio 1.18:1). On the prevalence day (July 1, 1984, the mean prevalence) rate was established at 25.7% population and a mean incidence rate 1.78 % (1980-1984). By adding the results from other previous two studies, including the capital Bucharest (898 MS cases) and a county (162 MS cases) (prevalence day January 1, 1977) we could modify the prevalence rate up to 30%.

Using an original method--the Biohertzmetry--the level of hertzian waves capture at body surface was measured in 20 patients with traumatic paraplegia. A statistically significant decrease of the hertzian waves capture level in the toes in comparison with the proximal area has been noted in 12 patients with complete spinal cord lesion. In patients presenting an open or cicatricial decubitus ulcer, at scar level, in the surrounding skin area with modified colour--and even in a contiguous few millimeters large skin strip normally coloured,--a marked decrease of the level of hertzian waves capture in comparison with the healthy skin ares situated off the decubitus ulcers has been pointed out. Thus, the method used permitted to reveal the alterations of the tissue trophicity--including those undetectable with the naked eye--and to make an estimation of the degree of mortification of the tissues and a delimitation of the reduced trophicity area.

In this second part we present our clinical neurological observations in the other 8 cases: 5 presenting systemic vasculitis of cryoglobulinemic etiology, and 3 with polyarteritis nodosa with central and peripheral neurological manifestations.

The purpose of the study was to reconsider the somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) morphology in case of thermalgic versus proprioceptive sensory loss. The study was carried out on 70 inpatients affected by uni- or bilateral dissociated sensory disorders and on 45 normal controls. The median or tibial nerves were stimulated (at wrist or ankle), the stimulus intensity being adjusted to elicit a visible muscle response with liminal pain. SEPs were measured with regard to 7 negative components parameters (latency, amplitude) and statistically compared in the three groups. Results show that the initial SEP components (N18, N30, N70) are specifically affected in case of proprioceptive and the late components (N150, N220, N340) in case of thermalgic sensory disorders (N150 having an intermediate position). The intergroup differences were statistically significant. The results are thought to be used in clinical diagnosis.

The authors present the effects of acupuncture in 50 patients showing discopathic pain. It is concluded that acupuncture treatment favours the reduction of drug consumption, and, implicitly, of iatrogenic pathology.

This study presents particular clinical manifestations in 7 patients with autoiMmune diseases: rheumatoid purpura with right crural nerve paresis (1 case), Stevens-Johnson syndrome with encephalomyeloradicular syndrome (1 case) and left Wallenberg syndrome (1 case), rheumatoid arthritis with right parieto-occipital syndrome (1 case) and Gowers local panatrophy (1 case), systemic lupus erythematosus with confusional state and meningeal syndrome (1 case) and left ictal hemiplegia (1 case). The importance of neurological clinical manifestations at the onset or during the evolution of the autoimmune diseases is emphasized.

The Scale for Assessing Severity of the Psychopathology in Children (SSPC) is intended to measure the overall psychosocial impairment caused to children and adolescents by psychic disorders. The scale contains 3 items (number of impaired areas of psychosocial functioning and duration of the modifications of child's behaviour; decrease of school performances below the expected level according to IQ; subjective distress caused by the psychic disorder either to the child or to the family leading to call for medical help) defining a single dimension. Each item is scaled on four degrees of impairment and described behaviourally in a detailed way. The total score summed over the 3 items corresponds to four levels of severity of the psychopathology. Interrater reliability, sensitivity to change and concurrent validity of the SSPC are examined over three studies.