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Biomedical subjects

E Motta

Publications and source records attributed to E Motta.

35 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Contribution to the clinical polymorphism in Huntington's disease].

A family is described in which closely consanguineous parents had Huntington chorea and in their son a severe hypertonic-hypokinetic syndrome with pellagra-like cutaneous changes was present. In two generations of the family in 6 subjects involuntary movements and gait disorders were reported.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Hepatitis B virus markers in peripheral blood mononuclear cells].

Recent studies have shown tropism of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The consequences of this phenomenon and their clinical use are not yet clear, however. Seventy-nine patients were studied between March 1989 and October 1990. Sixty-nine patients had chronic liver disease with histological evaluations, and 10 were vaccinated for HBV. The following markers were determined: serum: HBsAg, HBeAg, anti-HBe, antitotal-HBc, anti-HBs, anti-HCV, HBV-DNA; lysated PMBC cells: HBsAg, HBeAg. Hepatic tissue: HBsAg, HBcAg. Four groups were formed according to serology. Group I--positive HBsAg patients (n = 25) HBsAg was observed in the lysated of PBMC in 19 (76%) of the patients. HBeAg in PBMC was detected in 8 (32%), all of them showed evidence of viral replication (presence of HBcAg and/or HBV-DNA in the serum HBcAg in the tissue). Group II--antitotal HBc/anti-HBs positive (n = 14), HBsAg in PBMC was found in 5 (36%) and HBeAg in 1 (7.0%). In this patient replication markers in the serum and in the tissue (HBV-DNA, HBcAg) was also present. Three patients out of 9 anti-HBs positive had HBsAg in PBMC. Group III--seronegative patients for HBV. HBsAg was present in PBMC in 2 (6.6%) of the patients, but was absent in all of them. There was concomitant presence of HBsAg in MN and the hepatic tissue in 1 patient. Replication markers were not observed in the group. Group IV--10 asymptomatic individuals vaccinated for HBV. Except anti-HBs in serum, no other HBV marker could be identified in serum or in PBMC.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Usefulness of gadolinium in MRI evaluation of non surgically treated herniated disk.

PURPOSE: The rationale for the use of Gadolinium (Gd) in the MRI evaluation of non surgically treated herniated disk is based on the known presence of inflammatory granulation tissue and neoangiogenesis which plays an important role in both pain and the spontaneous resorption of the hernia. THE AIM: of this study was to determine the usefulness of Gd in MRI examination for detecting the inflammatory reaction around the discal hernia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight patients (mean age 45 years; range 20-70 years) with non surgically treated herniated disk were evaluated with MRI between January 2000 and July 2004. T2w-FAST-SE sagittal and T1w-SE transaxial and sagittal images were acquired before and after the administration of Gd. RESULTS: Twenty out of 22 patients with acute sciatic pain (symptoms =/< 40 days) showed significant peri-hernial enhancement which facilitated the differential diagnosis with other extradural lesions, such as synovial cysts (2/22 cases), as well as the correct definition of the extension of discal hernia in the spinal canal. In the remaining 16 with chronic sciatic pain (symptoms > 6 months) the discal hernia did not show peri-hernial enhancement. CONCLUSIONS: In MRI evaluation of the herniated disk, peri-hernial enhancement is correlated with inflammatory reaction around the hernia which is associated with acute symptoms. The absence of peri-hernial enhancement in chronic herniated disk is due to the poorly vascular fibrotic tissue. Therefore, peri-hernial enhancement facilitates the differential diagnosis in uncertain cases and represents a reliable prognostic index of response to non-surgical therapy and of the possible spontaneous resorption of discal hernia.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Humoral immunological reactivity in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis].

In a group of 37 children with SSPE serum protein and cerebrospinal fluid electrophoresis was done (in 34 and 25 cases respectively) determining immunoglobulins in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid in all 37 cases. The obtained results demonstrated a lack of correlation between the changes observed in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid. The most frequent change in the serum was a rise in alpha 2 globulin level (85%) and reduced IgA level (58%), while in the cerebrospinal fluid a rise in gamma globulins (92% of cases) and IgG (100%) was observed most frequently. A comparison of these results with past history of measles, with the clinical course of SSPE and with the survival time of the children showed no correlations. Measles antibodies were determined in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid in 37 children, and the determinations, were repeated several times in the serum of all children and in the cerebrospinal fluid of 9 children. Measles antibodies were found in the serum in all children and in the cerebrospinal fluid in 21 children (57%). The highest titres of antibodies above 1:32 in the cerebrospinal fluid were demonstrated in children with measles at the age up to 2 years. The prognosis was worst in children with acute onset of the disease preceded frequently by cranial injury or infection, with a high serum antibody level and absence of antibody in the cerebrospinal fluid.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Isolated temporary pharyngeal paralysis in childhood. Viral neuroinfection with a mild course?].

The authors describe a boy aged 14 years who had identical signs as those described in 1976 in cases of isolated temporary pharyngeal paralysis (Edin et al). In this syndrome Sullivan and Carlson (1976) observed a rise in the titre of antibodies to Herpes simplex virus, and Nussey (1977) found in it infection caused by Coxsackie type A9 virus. In the presently reported case full serological and virological investigations were not done.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[T3, T4 and TSH serum levels in patients on long-term treatment for epilepsy].

The serum T3, T4 and TSH concentrations were assessed by RIA method in 25 (14 females, 11 males) long-term treated (mean treatment duration 12.8 years) epileptic patients. The mean serum T3, T4 and TSH levels were lower than in control group according to clinical picture of epilepsy and treatment applied. The lowest mean serum TSH concentration was in patients with known aetiology of epilepsy. Patients with tonic-clonic seizures had lower serum levels of all hormones measured in comparison with the patients with partial seizures. Mean serum T3, T4 and TSH levels were low in patient group receiving valproic acid. The lowest mean TSH serum concentration as compared to control group was in the patients treated with phenytoin. None of the epileptic patients developed clinical symptoms of hypothyreoidism.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Serum ACTH levels in patients treated for epilepsy].

In 27 epileptic patients (16 females and 11 males) aged 23-61 years, the serum ACTH levels were estimated by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The men serum ACTH level in epileptic patients was lower than in control group. In epileptic patients there were differences depending on the course of epilepsy and treatment applied. There were lower mean serum ACTH levels in patients with earlier age of epilepsy onset, frequent seizures and generalized discharges in eeg records. Lower serum ACTH amounts were found in patients with long-term treatment with phenytoin and polytherapy applied. It may be supposed that in patients long-term treated because of epilepsy the hormonal disturbances involve not only adrenal cortex but also higher parts of neuroendocrinological system.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Serum levels of vitamin B12 in epileptic patients treated with carbamazepine].

In 21 epileptic patients (11 females and 10 males) aged 18-55 years on carbamazepine (CBZ) therapy the serum levels of vitamin B12 were measured. Mean serum level of vitamin B12 in epileptic patients was in the same range as compared to the values in healthy subjects. However, there were differences depending on the drug dose, treatment duration and course of epilepsy. The mean serum level of vitamin B12 was lower in epileptic patients with earlier age of disease onset, frequent seizures and with higher drug dose (above 600 mg/d). In patients treated longer than 15 years the vitamin B12 serum level amounted to 65 per cent of the values in control group.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[A case of coexistence of hypophyseal adenoma and epileptic seizures].

A case of hypophyseal adenoma with epileptic seizures in a man aged 61 years is reported. The generalized seizures developed 21 years earlier, and partial complex seizures 2 years before the diagnosis of adenoma. The patient had two sons, one died of suprasellar tumour, the other one has generalized and partial complex seizures.

Adenoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Depression in epileptic patients with and without history of suicidal attempts: preliminary report].

Depression is a significant problem in epilepsy. Suicides occur in epileptic patients five times more often than in general population. Material included 34 epileptics with 76 suicidal attempts and 24 patients with no history of suicide. Psychical state was studied with Beck Depression Inventory and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. In the group with suicidal attempts 65% of patients had depression (54.5% of them had major depression) and in group without suicide attempts depression was noted in 54% (23% with major depression). Patients with depression were divided into two groups: group I with suicidal attempts and group II without history of suicide. In group I more patients were alcohol abusers (50% vs 31%), more were treated because of epilepsy longer than 10 years (59% vs 46%) and more had tonic-clonic seizures (82% vs 46%). In group I, 54% of patients were on polytherapy (more than half of them with fenobarbital). In group II, 31% of epileptics were on polytherapy (no one with fenobarbital). Major depression was significantly more frequent in epileptics with suicidal attempts. The severity of depression may influence the risk of suicide. Major depression may be associated with late age of onset of epilepsy, longer treatment duration, tonic-clonic seizures, polytherapy (mainly with fenobarbital) and alcohol abuse.

Adult↗