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Biomedical subjects

M Billiard

Publications and source records attributed to M Billiard.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Daytime sleep characteristics and their relationships with night sleep in the narcoleptic patient.

Thirty-six narcoleptic patients with overwhelming sleep episodes, cataplexy, and sleep onset REM (SOREM) episodes were recorded for 34 continuous hours in the laboratory starting at 2200 h and ending at 0800 h a day and a half later. There were 94 SOREM and 60 sleep onset NREM (SONREM) episodes. While SONREM episodes were evenly distributed across daytime, SOREM episodes peaked between 0800 and 1000, 1200 and 1400, and 1600 and 1800 h. The ratio of SOREM to SONREM episodes was at its highest level between 1200 and 1400 h. Correlation coefficients between night 1 and night 2 for total sleep time (TST) and percentages of sleep stages were all positive and significant, whereas between daytime and each night, they were significant for percentages of stages 1, 2, and REM. Sleep-stage distribution across the last 24 h of continuous recording indicated that although TST levels were higher than that typical of normal subjects, REM sleep and slow wave sleep followed the same circadian distribution as that observed in normal subjects. The results are interpreted as evidence that the daytime sleep of narcoleptic patients is modified, similar to their night sleep, and that SOREM episodes are influenced by a time-of-day effect which culminates between 1200 and 1400 h.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

[Narcolepsy].

First described as a separate entity by Gelineau in 1880 and later considered as a symptom, narcolepsy has eventually been recognized as a disease on clinical and polygraphic grounds. Its prevalence stays between 0.04 and 0.06 percent. Age at onset varies from 5 to 50 with a peak in the second decade. Clinical symptoms include excessive daytime somnolence, overwhelming daytime sleep episodes, attacks of cataplexy, hypnagogic hallucinations, sleep paralysis and disturbed nocturnal sleep; sleep onset REM episodes are the main polygraphic feature. Natural history varies with the different symptoms. Excessive daytime somnolence never subsides completely. Cataplexy may disappear spontaneously. Hypnagogic hallucinations and sleep paralysis are not present in all patients and tend to be more transitory. A positive diagnosis of narcolepsy requires a minimum of one major symptom, daytime sleep episodes or cataplexy, together with documented sleep onset REM episodes. Prolonged polygraphic recordings or multiple sleep latency test are of special interest in difficult cases. Clinical variants can be grouped under three headings, incomplete, symptomatic and associated narcolepsies. The etiology of narcolepsy is not well understood. However the discovery of natural animal models of narcolepsy, mainly dogs, has prompted genetic, pharmacological and biochemical studies. The breeding of narcoleptic canine colonies has led to the evidence of a possible autosomal recessive model of inheritance in some species. Pharmacological and neurochemical analysis has shown an imbalance between monoaminergic and cholinergic mechanism. In man, extensive family studies suggest either a two-threshold multifactorial model of inheritance or a dominant mode of inheritance and immunologic studies have recently shown a strong association between HLA-DR2 and narcolepsy. Assays of CSF biogenic amines suggest a decreased bioavailability of dopamine to explain sleepiness and an imbalance between monoamines and acetylcholine to explain cataplexy. A disturbance of circadian rhythms has not been evidenced in narcoleptics. Treatment is still purely symptomatic. Amphetamines and tricyclic antidepressants have been extensively used. However they are not free of side-effects hence the need for alternative treatments.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Narcolepsy. Clinical features and aetiology.

Narcolepsy is not a rare disease. Age of onset varies from childhood to the 5th decade. Evidence for a genetic basis stems from the overall rate of narcolepsy and/or disorder of excessive somnolence among first degree relatives. The clinical features include overwhelming episodes of sleep, excessive daytime somnolence, hypnagogic hallucinations, disturbed nocturnal sleep; manifestations of dissociated REM sleep inhibitory process, cataplexy and sleep paralysis; and a special polygraphic pattern: the sleep onset REM episode. Not all symptoms are necessarily present at the onset or even during the course of narcolepsy. Excessive daytime somnolence never disappears completely while other symptoms may. Narcolepsy is a disabling condition. Its aetiology is still poorly understood but the use of natural animal models, namely dogs and horses, has been an important contribution in the areas of genetic, pharmacological and direct neurochemical analysis. Treatment of excessive daytime somnolence is still primarily based upon CNS stimulants while treatment of cataplexy and other related symptoms rests on chlorimipramine. However, new treatments are being tested, which could be of significant value.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

[Diminished regional cerebral blood flow during the intercritical period in temporal lobe epilepsy].

Hemisphere and regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) were determined during interictal periods by intravenous Xenon 133 in 43 patients considered to have "temporal" epilepsy and presenting complex partial attacks with altered consciousness and lateralized EEG anomalies predominant in the temporal region. Brain scans were normal in all cases. Three subgroups were differentiated according to EEG and polygraphic examinations during sleep; temporal epilepsy with left or right EEG anomalies, with asynchronous bilateral EEG anomalies, with alternating labile unilateral EEG anomalies. Measurements of CBF were compared with those of normal subjects (n = 13) of comparable age and with those of epileptic patients with cerebral lesions on CT scan (n = 4). In epileptics with left EEG anomalies CBF was diminished by about 25 p. 100 in the left temporal region and from 15 to 22 p. 100 in other regions of the ipsi- and contralateral hemisphere. In epileptics with right EEG anomalies CBF was diminished by 20 p. 100 in the right temporal region but not on the left. CBF in the third group was comparable to that of normal subjects. In epileptics with abnormal CT scans the reduction in CBF could be correlated with EEG and CT scan findings. Studies were also conducted to determine variations in reactivity to CO2 in the areas with reduced flow, during ictal and interictal periods. Results emphasize the value of CBF measurements for investigation of epileptic foci. The importance of areas of reduced blood flow as a parameter of severity and course is discussed, as well as their pathophysiological significance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

[Brain stem auditory evoked potentials in "alcoholic epilepsy"].

BAEPs were studied in a group of subjects suffering from 'alcoholic epilepsy.' Results were then compared with data from normal subjects and chronic alcoholics without epilepsy. The latency for peak V and the inter-peak latencies (I-III, III-V, I-V) were significantly longer in the 'alcoholic epilepsy' group than in the control group. This increase of neural transmission time in the brain-stem auditory pathways was less important in the 'chronic alcoholics without epilepsy' group than in the alcoholic epilepsy group.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

[Auditory evoked brain stem potentials and ischemic pathology of the vertebrobasilar system].

Brain stem auditory evoked potentials in subjects with transient ischemic attacks of the vertebro-basilar system and a high "vascular index" (based on clinical and paraclinical criteria) show an abnormal elevation of the intervals I-III, III-V and I-V compared to the values obtained in normal subjects under the same conditions. In subjects with functional signs of vertebro-basilar ischemic attacks without an abnormal "vascular index", the intervals I-III and I-V are slightly raised, however the interval III-V is not significantly modified. These results stress the value of recording early auditory evoked potentials in the objective evaluation of transient ischemic attacks of the vertebro-basilar system.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

[All-night polygraphic recordings in the child with suspected epileptic seizures, in spite of normal routine and post-sleep deprivation EEGs (author's transl)].

Normal standard EEGs and normal or borderline EEGs after sleep deprivation in children with one or several suspected epileptic seizures are relatively frequent. All-night polygraphic recordings were performed on 31 children, aged 3-11, who fall into this category, in order to demonstrate epileptiform activity. Three of the recordings were normal, whereas 8 were borderline and 20 showed unequivocal epileptiform activity. The rate of sleep activation is discussed according to the types of epilepsies, the age at the first seizure, the frequency of the seizures, and the position of the seizures within the sleep-waking cycle.

Child↗
PubMed1981

[Electrophysiological aspects of alcoholic epilepsy (author's transl)].

Two types of neurophysiological investigations (standard EEG and polygraphic recording of sleep) were performed on a group of subjects suffering from 'alcoholic epilepsy'. Results were then compared with data from normal subjects and chronic alcoholics without epilepsy. Epileptic patterns on standard EEG are rare. They are increased by sleep. Both the alteration of basal activity in wakefulness and the organization of sleep point to a dysfunction of the CNS. The role of chronic alcoholic intoxication in epileptic seizures could be explained through the slowly decreasing biochemical cerebral action after withdrawal, rather than by a local or diffuse effect in the CNS level.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

[Hypersomnia].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

[Nycterohemeral variations of growth hormone and prolactin in 6 Parkinson's sufferers treated with bromocriptine (author's transl)].

Secretions of GH and of PRL studied over a period of 24 hours in 6 untreated Parkinson's patients showed slight changes. The normal secretion of PRL in the female shows no nocturnal increase in the male. The secretion of GH linked to sleep is identified in the male and not in the female. These variations related to sex are interpreted as an increase in those normally found in the adult and facilitated by age. Bromocriptine given continuously at a dose of 10 to 20 mg/day for periods of 20 days to 6 months, results in suppression or a marked decrease in the 24-hour secretion of PRL. It has virtually no effect upon the secretion of GH. These results show that the dopaminergic regulation of PRL is preserved in Parkinson's disease.

Aged↗
PubMed1978

[Monoamine metabolites and cyclic nucleotides in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with bismuth or mercury poisoning].

The central metabolism of dopamine, serotonin, cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP was studied by use of the probenecid test in three patients with bismuth encephalopathy and in one patient with mercury encephalopathy. The accumulation of HVA and of cGMP in the cerebrospinal fluid was depressed during the acute phase of bismuth encephalopathy with severe hyposomnia, while it was increased in a patient with regression of clinical symptoms and normal in a patient with more advanced recovery. The patient with chronic mercury poisoning showing a severe cerebellar ataxia and rigidity had an almost complete suppression of HVA accumulation and an increase of cGMP accumulation. No pronounced differences of 5-HIAA and cAMP behavior were found. It is concluded that the central metabolism of dopamine and of cGMP is severely affected in bismuth and mercury encephalopathies.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

[Effect of piribedil on nocturnal sleep (author's transl)].

Piribedil, a dopamine agonist, was administered to 5 normal male subjects for two weeks. During the first two nights there was a reduction of about 17 p. 100 in paradoxical sleep (PS) and an increase of about 13 p. 100 in slow sleep II. There was a 15 p. 100 increase in PS during the third night. This increase is maintained for 8 nights in 3 subjects and 13 nights in 2 subjects. Other sleep parameters were not altered. Piribedil appears to give the impression of satisfactory sleep by reducing the subjective period before falling asleep. Piribedil also diminishes the remembrance of dreams.

Adult↗