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Biomedical subjects

B B Gallagher

Publications and source records attributed to B B Gallagher.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Decreased serum ionized calcium and normal vitamin D metabolite levels with anticonvulsant drug treatment.

Alterations in vitamin D metabolism are generally thought to account for the hypocalcemia and osteopenia caused by long term treatment with anticonvulsant drugs. Regional variation in the incidence and severity of anticonvulsant drug-induced bone disease has been attributed to differences in sunlight exposure, with most reports coming from areas with limited sunshine or from institutionalized patients. Serum ionized calcium levels in 109 ambulatory adult epileptic outpatients receiving chronic anticonvulsant drug therapy in Georgia were decreased [4.73 +/- 0.02 (+/-SE) vs. 4.97 +/- 0.01 mg/dl; P less than 0.001). Immunoreactive PTH concentrations were increased (5.5 +/- 0.4 vs. 4.0 +/- 0.3 microliterEq /ml; P less than 0.005), while bone mineral content was reduced, averaging only 88.8% of the predicted normal values. Hypocalcemia and osteopenia occurred in spite of normal mean levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D. The indirect relationship between serum concentrations of antiepileptic drugs and the serum ionized calcium level, and the lack of correlation with vitamin D metabolite levels suggested that hypocalcemia was independent of the effect of the drugs on vitamin D metabolism. Bone biopsies revealed increased osteoid but normal calcification front formation, accelerated mineralization rate, and decreased mineralization lag time indicative of increased skeletal turnover, rather than osteomalacia.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Partial complex status epilepticus.

We studied the clinical features, ictal manifestations, and EEG phenomena of eight patients with partial complex status epilepticus documented by video/EEG. Age at the time of status was 18 months to 56 years. All patients had had previous seizures, and seven had previous episodes of status. In three patients, status consisted of confusion associated with continuous focal electrographic ictal activity. Five patients had confusion, aphasia, motor phenomena, or automatisms associated with recurrent partial electrographic seizures. Data from 17 previously reported cases were comparable with our 8 patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Pseudoseizures: diagnostic evaluation.

A prospective study of pseudoseizures using prolonged video-electroencephalographic (EEG) recording was carried out in 60 patients. Of 33 patients with episodes of uncertain mechanism, a diagnosis based on recorded episodes was made in 18 (55%). Twelve (36%) had pseudoseizures; 6 (18%) had epileptic seizures. Ten additional patients had epileptiform EEGs compatible with epilepsy. Of 27 patients with presumably uncontrolled epileptic seizures, 4 (15%) had recorded pseudoseizures. Prediction of the nature of the episode by the admitting neurologist was accurate in 67% of cases. Determination from observations of unit personnel and neurologists was correct in less than 80% of episodes. These data suggest that pseudoseizures occur frequently in patients being evaluated for epilepsy or suspected epilepsy. The clinical differentiation between epileptic seizures and pseudoseizures is often inaccurate. This differentiation is facilitated by prolonged video-EEG recording.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Metabolism, distribution and anticonvulsant properties of N,N'- dimethoxymethyl-phenobarbital in the rat.

The in vivo metabolism of N,N'-dimethoxymethyl phenobarbital (DMMP) and the anticonvulsant properties of its metabolites were studied in the rat. At 10 and 30 minutes after i.p. administration, DMMP (ethyl-1-14C) represented less than 3% of plasma radioactivity, whereas N-monomethoxymethyl phenobarbital (MMP) was 78 and 75%, respectively, phenobarbital (PB) 12 and 20%, apparent mephobarbital 6 and 2% and less than 5% of the radioactivity remained at the origin. Peak levels of MMP were reached at 30 minutes in liver and 60 minutes in plasma and brain. At 4 hours, MMP had declined to 7% in plasma and was not detected in brain while PB rose to 93% of total 14C in plasma and brain. SKF-525A blocked (90%) the in vivo conversion of DMMP to MMP and completely inhibited the formation of PB, apparent mephobarbital and unidentified polar metabolites. MMP after oral administration was effective against maximum electroshock seizures at a time when brain levels of PB derived from MMP were insufficient to account for the total observed protection. However, MMP appears less potent than PB against pentylenetetrazol seizures.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

The effects of 5,5-diphenylbarbituric acid on experimental seizures in rats: correlation between plasma and brain concentrations and anticonvulsant activity.

Diphenylbarbituric acid was administered by gavage to male albino Sprague-Dawley rats for evaluation of anticonvulsant activity and analysis of blood plasma and brain drug concentrations. A method for gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of blood plasma and brain for diphenylbarbituric acid is described. The drug was effective in the maximum electroshock test and as an antagonist to clonic seizures and death produced by pentylenetetrazol. Brain concentrations associated with 50 to 70% protection in the maximum electroshock seizure test were of the order of 2 to 6 mug/g of brain and are thus equal to values for phenobarbital in this test. Large doses of diphenylbarbituric acid (up to 2,800 mg/kg) failed to produce signs of neurotoxicity. The results of the present investigation continue to indicate that diphenylbarbituric acid exhibits promise as a potential antiepileptic agent.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Clinical evaluation of eterobarb, a new anticonvulsant drug.

Two clinical investigations of a new anticonvulsant, eterobarb, N,N' dimethoxymethyl phenobarbital (DMMP), were conducted in separate geographic regions. The drug has considerable efficacy in reducing the frequency of partial seizures, with and without secondary generalization, as well as generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Sedation did not appear to be as prominent with this barbiturate as it was with phenobarbital or primidone.

Adolescent↗