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Biomedical subjects

J V Partanen

Publications and source records attributed to J V Partanen.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

Divergent development of autonomic and peripheral somatic neuropathies in NIDDM.

There is no information on the mutual occurrence and the development of autonomic and peripheral somatic neuropathies based on long-term follow-up of patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). We investigated the relation between the changes in autonomic function values and electrodiagnostic values, and the relation between the occurrence of autonomic neuropathy and peripheral somatic polyneuropathy in a group of patients with newly diagnosed NIDDM (n = 133, aged 45-65 years) at baseline and 5 and 10 years later. Parasympathetic autonomic neuropathy was diagnosed on the basis of heart rate variability during deep-breathing and sympathetic autonomic neuropathy on the basis of fall in systolic blood pressure while changing from supine to standing. Polyneuropathy was diagnosed on the basis of both clinical criteria and electrodiagnostic studies (nerve conduction velocity and response-amplitude values). In 10 years 36 patients died, mainly from cardiovascular causes. Altogether 78 patients completed the study. At 10 years, parasympathetic autonomic neuropathy was diagnosed in 61.3% of those with polyneuropathy and 66.7% of those without. Likewise, the frequency of sympathetic autonomic neuropathy was similar in those with polyneuropathy (21.9%) and those without (26.5%). The respective figures for combined (both parasympathetic and sympathetic) autonomic neuropathy were 10.0% and 18.8%. The worsening of parasympathetic and sympathetic autonomic function values was not related to the worsening in electrodiagnostic results with time. In conclusion, the development of autonomic and peripheral somatic neuropathies was divergent in patients with NIDDM suggesting different pathophysiological processes for these neuropathies.

Autonomic Nervous System Diseases↗

Blocking of EEG alpha activity during visual performance in healthy adults. A quantitative study.

The reactivity of the electroencephalogram was studied in a group of 54 healthy adults (23 women and 31 men, aged 23-80 years). The amplitude ratio between the situation with eyes closed and that with eyes open (EC/EO ratio) was calculated from quantitative parameters for each subject. The whole group was further divided into two subgroups according to age (younger than 60 and older than 60 years). In the temporo-occipital bipolar derivations (T6-O2, T5-O1), a negative correlation was found between alpha amplitude ratio and age in the whole group and especially in the subjects older than 60 years.

Adult↗

Biochemical and clinical studies on epileptic patients during two phase I trials with the novel anticonvulsant taltrimide.

Taltrimide (2-phthalimidoethanesulphon-N-isopropylamide), a lipophilic derivative of taurine and a potent anticonvulsant in animal studies, was administered in daily doses of 1 and 2 g for 2 weeks with an interval of 2.5 months in 2 phase I clinical trials to 9 drug-resistant epileptic patients. Seizures and EEG were recorded, and routine laboratory studies conducted. Concentrations of antiepileptic drugs in plasma, of amino acids in urine and plasma, and contents of amino acids, homovanillic acid (HVA), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and cyclic nucleotides in the cerebrospinal fluid were determined. Although no clinical or neurophysiological effects were observed, an increase in the cerebrospinal fluid contents of HVA and cyclic nucleotides and changes in the concentrations of antiepileptic drugs and amino acids were found. The concentrations of HVA correlated with those of 5-HIAA and also with those of the main active metabolite of taltrimide. Biochemical changes due to taltrimide treatment resembled only partly those found after taurine treatment.

Adult↗

Does an ACTH derivative (Org 2766) prevent deterioration of EEG in Alzheimer's disease?

Seventy-seven patients with Alzheimer's disease were submitted to a double-blind no cross-over study of the effect of a synthetic ACTH4-9 analog (Org 2766) on the EEG. The quantitative EEG power spectrum analysis with 22 Org 2766 and 22 placebo treated patients showed no improvement which could be related to the Org 2766 medication (6 months, 40 mg daily), either comparing the successive EEG sessions or comparing the drug treated group with the placebo treated group. The placebo treated group showed a decrease of power in the beta band after 4 and 6 months and an increase of theta after 6 months, which is regarded as a sign of deterioration of the EEG in advancing disease. These changes did not occur in the Org 2766 treated group. However, a subgroup analysis of 9 Org 2766 treated patients and 9 placebo treated patients without other CNS drugs during the study did not reveal consistent differences between the groups after 4 and 6 months of therapy. We believe that Org 2766 does not have a long-term protecting effect on the EEG.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

Quantitative analysis of occipital EEG in different stages of Alzheimer's disease.

EEG frequency analysis by Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) was studied in different stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD), defined according to the neuropsychological test score. It was observed that in mild AD the percentage power of the theta band, the ratio of powers in the alpha and theta bands and the mean frequency (range 1.46-20.02 c/sec) differed significantly from the old healthy controls. The percentage power of the alpha band, the occipital peak frequency and the ratio of powers in the alpha and delta bands decreased linearly in different stages of AD. These variables did not differ significantly in mild AD from the control values. Distinct slowing of the occipital peak frequency and distinct accentuation of the percentage power of the delta band occurred in advanced AD. Slowing of the dominant occipital rhythm and accentuation of the diffuse irregular slow waves, which are usually regarded as the main EEG criteria for AD, do not describe mild but advanced disease.

Aged↗

Prolonged cortical somatosensory evoked potential latencies in progressive myoclonus epilepsy.

In 9 mildly affected and 7 severely affected patients with progressive myoclonus epilepsy, we observed a distinct slowing in the short-latency median nerve SEP components N 19 (5.2% and 24.7%), P 22 (14.6% and 37.1%) and N 30 (4.8% and 17.1%, respectively). The P 22-N 30 amplitude increased in mild but decreased again in severe disease. These findings are indicative of mild affection of the peripheral and spinal sensory connections, and more severe involvement of the thalamocortical pathways. In controls, a clear correlation between the height and the latency of the N 19 and P 22 components was observed. We also often observed a small additional negative SEP component adjoining the P 22 component.

Adult↗

End-plate spikes in electromyography are fusimotor unit potentials.

Spontaneous negative-positive potentials (NPPs) in electromyography were often activated by movement of the needle electrode or by tetanic stimulation. Coactivation of NPPs was sometimes observed in voluntary effort. Circulatory arrest or hyperventilation had no consistent effect. These facts and the differences of firing of NPPs from usual ectopic firing patterns indicate that NPPs are not driven by ectopic activity of motor axons. Instead, the firing of NPPs is similar to activity of muscle spindle afferents during fusimotor drive. We believe that NPPs are action potentials of intrafusal muscle fibers driven by gamma motor neurons.

Action Potentials↗

EEG and computed tomography in the investigation of patients with senile dementia.

Fifty-six patients with senile dementia of Alzheimer type and 84 normal elderly people were examined by EEG and computed tomography. In discriminant function analysis of the computed tomography indexes the highest discriminant function coefficient was for width of the third ventricle. Using computed tomography, the groups were correctly classified for 84% of the subjects. In discriminant function analysis of the EEG variables the highest discriminant function coefficient was for dominant occipital rhythm; the groups were correctly classified for 86% of the subjects. In discriminant function analysis of the width of the third ventricle, an index of cortical atrophy, the dominant occipital rhythm, age and sex, the width of the third ventricle had the highest discriminant function coefficient; the groups were correctly classified for 90% of the subjects.

Aged↗

Fibrillation potentials after muscle injury in humans.

To study the occurrence and firing pattern of fibrillation potentials, electromyographic recordings were made on 43 patients after a small muscle injury caused by conchotome biopsy or intramuscular injection. The fibrillation potential sequences were manually evaluated from paper records. At 6 to 7 days after the muscle biopsy, most subjects showed fibrillation potentials with gradually increasing or decreasing discharge intervals of 70 to 3,200 msec. Several irregular fibrillation patterns were observed 9 or more days after biopsy. Fibrillation potentials appear to be generated by at least three mechanisms in humans.

Action Potentials↗

The influence of height, age and gender on the interpretation of median nerve SEPs.

Median nerve SEPs were studied in 120 normal subjects. Highly significant correlations with height and age were found for all SEP peak latencies, but not for the interpeak latency N19-N13. A significant gender difference was found for N13 and N19 peak latencies, the males having longer latencies. No sex-related correlations in central conduction time could be shown. It is emphasized that reliable SEP interpretation should include simultaneous height, age and gender corrections.

Adult↗

Pattern-reversal VEP and cortical SEP latency prolongations in epilepsy.

Twenty ambulatory outpatients with generalized tonic-clonic seizures with primary generalized discharges and photoconvulsive response on electroencephalogram (EEG) and 11 ambulatory outpatients with partial complex seizures with or without secondary generalization were studied with pattern-reversal light-emitting diode (LED) stimulator visual evoked potential (VEPs) and short-latency median nerve cortical somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs). The patients with primary generalized epilepsy had significantly prolonged latencies of VEP components P2 and N3 and SEP component P22. The patients with partial epilepsy had significantly prolonged latency of VEP component N3. It is concluded that both functional and structural factors may cause a slowing of central impulse conduction.

Adolescent↗

Visual evoked potentials, brainstem auditory evoked potentials, and quantitative EEG in Baltic progressive myoclonus epilepsy.

Visual and brainstem auditory evoked potentials (VEP and BAEP, respectively) and quantitative EEG were studied in 16 patients with Baltic progressive myoclonus epilepsy (PME). The study demonstrated significantly delayed VEP latencies but normal amplitudes in Baltic PME. BAEPs showed slight but significant prolongation in central conduction time. Quantitative EEG revealed diminution of beta and alpha activity and accentuation of theta and delta activity. The slowing in VEP latencies is suggested to be due to impaired synaptic transmission and to reflect dopaminergic dysfunction in Baltic PME. We conclude that there is a multimodal disturbance in sensory projections to cortical areas in Baltic PME. The results give further evidence that nondemyelinating disorders--but with synaptic transmission defects--can produce changes in evoked potentials. The changes in epileptic brain are not confined to hyperexcitable epileptic neurons, but more widespread electrophysiological phenomena are produced.

Adolescent↗