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Biomedical subjects

F Cirignotta

Publications and source records attributed to F Cirignotta.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Systemic arterial pressure and heart rate changes during migraine and cluster headaches: preliminary study.

In a case of common migraine and in two cases of cluster headache we monitored the arterial pressure and the heart rate by means of polygraphic recordings before, during and after headache attacks. During migraine attacks the arterial pressure did not show significant changes; the heart rate increased. During cluster attacks the arterial pressure increased with frequent hypertensive peaks; the heart rate on average slowed down and showed marked irregularities.

Adult↗

Hypnogenic paroxysmal dystonia: epileptic seizure or a new syndrome?

Five patients between the ages of 7 and 74 years presented with nocturnal episodes characterized by coarse, often violent movements of the limbs and by a tonic phase of variable duration. Seizures recurred every night or almost every night during slow wave (NREM) sleep and were not associated with electroencephalographic (EEG) abnormalities. Interictal EEGs were normal during both sleep and wakefulness. Carbamazepine treatment was effective in all patients. Uniform clinical behavior and EEG patterns indicate a distinct nosological entity whose pathophysiology is not yet understood.

Adult↗

Eating epilepsy.

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Eating↗

Epileptic seizures during card games and draughts.

This paper presents a case of epileptic seizures occurring during card games and draughts. The patient was a 26-year-old man who complained of "arrests of thought" while playing cards or draughts or solving mathematical problems. The attacks, which were very rare in other situations, had begun at the age of 14. Between the ages of 14 and 21 he had had occasional tonic-clonic seizures. Protracted EEG recording showed bursts of 3 Hz spike-wave discharges during the day. Such discharges were very much more frequent when the patient was playing cards of draughts and only these circumstances were subjectively experienced as lapses of consciousness. Various explanations can be advanced for this case.

Adolescent↗

Peripheral neuropathy due to gasoline sniffing - A case report.

A case of polyneuropathy in a 14-year-old boy, a chronic gasoline sniffer, is reported. Clinical and electromyographic examination showed a symmetrical motor involvement, mainly distally and in the lower limbs. A sural nerve biopsy showed only slight changes, both of axonal and demyelinating type. The role of gasoline toxic substances in the etiology of this rare polyneuropathy is discussed.

Adolescent↗

Epileptic seizures precipitated by eating.

The case of a mentally retarded 18-year-old girl who for 2 years has experienced epileptic seizures exclusively during meals is discussed. Polygraphic recordings have defined the electrical and clinical features of these seizures. None of the possible precipitating factors considered in other cases in the literature (chewing, swallowing, conditioned reflex, etc.) seems to be involved in this case. We hypothesize that in our patient the precipitating factor is the complete act of eating a meal, which involves the satisfaction of a basic drive.

Adolescent↗

Hypersomnia with periodic apneas in acquired micrognathia. A bird-like face syndrome.

We describe a syndrome characterized by acquired micrognathia, hypersomnia, and periodic apneas during sleep. Six patients affected with the syndrome underwent nocturnal and diurnal polygraphic recordings that demonstrated that during sleep there is an uninterrupted succession of apneas, primarily the obstructive type, analogous to those observed in Pickwickian syndrome. Simultaneous recording of pulmonary and systemic arterial pressure during sleep and repeated blood gas analyses have shown that as soon as the apneas appear there is a decisive increase in pulmonary and systemic pressure and serious alveolar hypoventilation. The hemodynamic and ventilatory changes are even more intense during rapid eye movement sleep. Tracheostomy, performed on five of our patients, is the only treatment producing complete clinical remission of the syndrome.

Adult↗