Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

N Milligan

Publications and source records attributed to N Milligan.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

The effect of intravenous aminophylline on essential tremor.

AIMS: The effects of intravenous aminophylline (375 mg) or placebo (saline) were studied in 10 patients with benign essential tremor. METHODS: This was a single-blind crossover study. Patients received aminophylline by i.v. infusion over 15 min or saline at least 1 week apart. Tremor was measured by a peizoresistive accelerometer at 15 min intervals predose and up to 2 h. Plasma theophylline concentrations were measured by h.p.l.c. RESULTS: Tremor power was significantly greater following aminophylline (5.67-6.2 Hz) than placebo (5.6-5.9 Hz). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that intravenous aminophylline potentiates benign essential tremor when given acutely by the intravenous route in the doses required to achieve therapeutic benefits in asthma.

Adolescent↗

Acute effects of intravenous phenytoin on the frequency of inter-ictal spikes in man.

Phenytoin was administered intravenously to six adult epileptic patients in doses ranging from 500--1000 mg (equivalent to 5.6 mg/kg--20 mg/kg body weight). A significant decrease in the frequency of inter-ictal spikes in the EEG was seen and this effect was most marked 10--20 min after the infusion, when the mean spike count was reduced to 27% (s.d. 17%) of the control (P less than 0.05). In one subject the decrease in inter-ictal spikes coincided with a decrease in fit frequency. Adverse reactions affecting the vestibular system occurred in three patients at doses of 15--20 mg/kg. No cardiovascular complications were observed in any subject. The overall results suggest that doses of 7.5--10 mg/kg would be sufficient to significantly reduce the frequency of inter-ictal spikes in the EEG.

Adult↗

Absorption of diazepam from the rectum and its effect on interictal spikes in the EEG.

Rectal administration of several different preparations of diazepam to a group of adult volunteer patients with epilepsy produced variable rates of absorption. Peak serum concentrations following 10 mg, 20 mg, and 30 mg of diazepam solution were achieved between 13-60 min, 10-120 min, and 30-90 min respectively. An experimental diazepam "solid solution" suppository was found to have significantly better absorption characteristics compared with the commercially available Valium suppository. Diazepam solution 20 mg was administered rectally in 10 adult epileptic patients with frequent spontaneous interictal spikes in their EEGs. A highly significant reduction in spike frequency was seen compared with placebo. The effect was most marked 10-20 min after administration of diazepam, when the mean spike count fell to 39 +/- 35 SD percent of the control value (p less than 0.01), and this corresponded with a mean serum diazepam level of 210 +2- 125 ng/ml.

Adolescent↗

Methods of assessment of antiepileptic drugs.

Epilepsy is a symptom with protean manifestations and as such it is a difficult disease in which to carry out a therapeutic trial. The methods available to research workers for the assessment of new antiepileptic drugs are hampered by the fact that epilepsy is a fluctuant condition. Although it is a chronic disorder open to study using cross-over trials and within-patient comparisons, accurate assessment cannot be easily made at any one point in time. Research workers are therefore automatically placed at a time factor disadvantage and this is especially so for those searching for quick methods of evaluating new compounds. The need for a quick and reliable method of assessing a new antiepileptic drug has long been appreciated. This article will discuss the methods currently available and we will begin by considering the most commonly used method of assessment with particular reference to some of the problems involved in conducting a controlled clinical trial in epilepsy.

Anticonvulsants↗

Rectal diazepam in the treatment of absence status: a pharmacodynamic study.

Rectal administration of diazepam is highly effective in terminating absence status as judged by reduction of spike-wave activity in the EEG. Pharmacokinetic studies indicate that diazepam can have antiepileptic properties at serum levels well below those previously reported as being necessary to achieve a therapeutic effect.

Adult↗

Conjugal disharmony: a hitherto unrecognised cause of strokes.

Two women of reproductive age suffered strokes. Neither was taking oral contraceptives, and investigations showed no other causal factors. The radiological findings were characteristic of traumatic internal carotid artery occlusion, but neither patient gave a history of trauma. Only after further inquiry into the patients' social circumstances did it emerge that each had survived an attempt at strangulation by her husband. Such a cause of stroke in young women should be considered when other causes of carotid artery occlusion cannot be identified.

Adult↗

The gifted child.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Behavior↗