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Biomedical subjects

S Blom

Publications and source records attributed to S Blom.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Effects of amobarbital and methohexital on epileptic activity in mesial temporal structures in epileptic patients. An EEG study with depth electrodes.

Bilateral intracarotidal Amytal (amobarbital) tests for evaluation of speech and memory function were performed during preoperative evaluation of 30 patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. In 8 of these patients (16 tests), having partial complex epilepsy, EEG was recorded with depth electrodes, implanted bilaterally in anterior mesial temporal structures. The EEGs during 13 tests could be quantified with regard to spike activity. A rapid increase in spike frequency was observed ipsilateral to the injection in all tests but one. No seizure activity or clinical seizures were provoked. This previously unnoticed effect of amobarbital could be due to a direct excitatory effect of the drug on epileptic temporal neurones or, alternatively, to a release of interictal inhibition, exerted upon these neurons by other structures. In 4 patients, the effect was compared with that of methohexital, another barbiturate known to have excitatory effects upon epileptic activity.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1984

Preoperative and postoperative memory testing of epileptic patients.

The present paper has four main objectives. First, it proposes a general theoretical orientation of memory functions as a basis for the research to be discussed. This framework is functionalistic/interactionistic in nature, in that memory is seen as an interaction between available cognitive capabilities of the individual and specific demands of the situation in which the individual is to remember a certain set of materials. Secondly, on the basis of this framework certain methodological requirements are discussed. These considerations take into account the need for a proper analysis of the to-be-remembered (TBR) information and those cognitive functions involved in remembering the TBR information presented. Thirdly, a preoperative and postoperative memory test is presented. This was designed on the basis of the theoretical and methodological considerations mentioned. Data from one such ongoing study is presented, taking into account various measures of memory functions; immediate free recall, final free recall, final cued recall, serial recall, final final free recall, short-term memory and long-term memory capacity as measured by the Tulving & Colotla [1] lag measure, primacy, asymptote and recency effects, and semantic memory. Finally, on the basis of the experience from this memory test a few aspects of memory testing in epileptic patients are suggested for future research.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Effects of intravenous progesterone infusions on the epileptic discharge frequency in women with partial epilepsy.

Earlier work showed that in a group of women suffering from partial epilepsy, there is a decrease in seizure frequency during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Moreover, iv progesterone infusions decrease the discharge frequency from penicillin epileptic foci in cats, when given in doses that reach plasma concentrations as observed during pregnancy. In the present study, iv progesterone infusions, reaching plasma concentrations as during the luteal phase, were given to 7 women with partial epilepsy. The inclusion criterion was that they should have more than one epileptic discharge per 5 min on an ordinary EEG . A 6 h EEG-registration was made. Blank and progesterone solutions were infused for 2 h respectively and the progesterone infusion was followed by a 2 h EEG recording period. 4 of the 7 patients showed a significant decrease in spike frequency during the infusion. In the patients not showing this effect, the plasma progesterone binding capacity was high. The 2 patients with the most marked progesterone effect had low progesterone binding capacity and no antiepileptic treatment. Somnolence during the test might also have influenced the results in 2 of the patients.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1983

Gaucher disease--Norrbottnian type. Neurodevelopmental, neurological, and neurophysiological aspects.

Neurodevelopmental, neurological and neurophysiological aspects of the Norrbottnian type of Gaucher disease (type III) were studied in 22 patients. The findings were related to clinical stages and to whether or not the patients had been splenectomized. Neurological abnormalities were mainly found in splenectomized patients who had passed the first decade of life. The EEG findings were not diagnostic for the disease, but changes were more common in the advanced stages and among splenectomized patients. The patterns of development of neurological and neurophysiological features indicate that CNS deposition of glucosylceramide increases after splenectomy, and favor a restrictive attitude towards surgery.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Artificial respiration by phrenic nerve stimulation (diaphragm pacing) in patients with cervical cord and brain stem lesions.

In patients who are dependent upon respirators because of paralysis of respiratory muscles, pacemakers for electrical stimulation of the phrenic nerves, leading to contractions of the diaphragm, are available. We have implanted such diaphragm pacers in ten selected patients with partial or total respiratory insufficiency of central nervous origin. Preoperatively, transcutaneous phrenic nerve stimulation in the neck was undertaken with simultaneous fluoroscopy of the diaphragm and quantitative studies of ventilation and blood gases. Phrenic nerve stimulators were implanted bilaterally in eight and unilaterally in two patients. One patient died 3 weeks postoperatively from pneumonia, the remaining patients are entirely independent of respirator at a mean follow-up time of 20 months. Postoperative studies showed sufficient ventilation with diaphragm pacing in both sitting and recumbent body position. Their quality of life has improved. They still require permanent supervision and help with activities of daily life but all except one live in their homes. They can talk and some of them even attend school.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Benign epilepsy of children with centrotemporal EEG foci: a follow-up study in adulthood of patients initially studied as children.

A group of patients with benign epilepsy of children with centrotemporal EEG foci, consisting of 40 patients reported 10 years ago, has been reinvestigated. Thirty-seven of these patients were reinvestigated. They were 26-34 years old (mean, 29 years). The observation time from the first seizure was 13-27 years (mean, 21 years). Thirty-six patients had been seizure free for 14-23 years (mean, 18.5 years); 32 patients had stopped medication 5-22 years ago (mean, 18.5 years); and 5 patients had had problems in obtaining their drivers' licenses. No epileptic discharges were found in those 24 patients who volunteered for a new EEG study. The conclusion is drawn that this common seizure disorder in children has a good long-term prognosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Polyneuropathies - neurophysiological diagnostic points.

A survey of clinical neurophysiological methods of importance in the diagnosis of polyneuropathies is given. Electromyography (EMG) is essential and should be performed in all four extremities. If the EMG findings with concentric needle electrodes are equivocal, fibre density determination with single fibre electrodes can give useful information. The various methods of determining conduction velocities in motor and sensory nerve fibres are described. Recent advances in the examination of function in sensory fibres are presented, particularly microneurography and psychophysical methods. The applicability of the methods with regard to the age of the patient is discussed.

Child↗
PubMed1981

Familial amyloidosis with polyneuropathy - type 1. A neurophysiological study of peripheral nerve function.

Twenty-four consecutive patients with familial amyloidosis with polyneuropathy (type 1), who were at different stages of the disease were investigated. The purpose was to report the electrophysiological features and to compare them with those found in other generalized neuropathies; 12 cases were familiar and 12 cases were sporadic. The diagnosis was confirmed by examining the occurrence of amyloid substance in rectal or skin biopsies or both. Single fiber EMG with fiber density determination showed signs of collateral innervation, prominent in advanced cases, and a disturbance of neuromuscular function similar to that of progressive spinal motorneuron disease. Action potentials from afferent fibers were not obtained in 91% of the nerves in the lower and 49% of the nerves in the upper extremities. When sensory or motor or slightly subnormal. The neurophysiological findings indicate a symmetrical axonal degeneration, starting in the legs. Familial amyloidosis with polyneuropathy should be suspected in cases of rapidly progressing polyneuropathy of axonal type with onset in middle age, irrespective of whether they are hereditary or not.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Simple febrile convulsions. A prospective incidence study and an evaluation of investigations initially needed.

A prospective epidemiological study of the incidence of simple febrile convulsions (FC) was performed in a northern Swedish county. The yearly incidence was 700/100 000. The children with FC were re-examined three years later. The pre- and perinatal complications were significantly more common in the group of children with FC than in a randomly collected group of controls. The value of an extensive investigation program is discussed. Between six months and five years of age the children with FC can be separated from those with other cerebral diseases causing epileptic seizures by recording a thorough history followed by a somatic and neurological physical examination and a determination of acute blood glucose. In children less than six months of age and in children in which meningitis or encephalitis cannot be ruled out, a lumbar puncture and a blood culture should be performed. If the onset of the convulsion has been after five years of age, if the seizures are partial or have a duration of more than 30 minutes, or if signs of cerebral disease are found, the examination should be supplemented with EEG and relevant investigations. There is no need for an extensive routine program of investigations in the care of children with FC.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Benign epilepsy of children with centro-temporal EEG foci. Discharge rate during sleep.

The discharge rate (the number of spikes/min) was determined in the awake state and during different stages of induced sleep in 17 children with "benign epilepsy of childhood with centro-temporal EEG foci". Ten patients had seizures only during sleep. The discharge rate of Rolandic spikes was significantly higher during sleep than during the awake state, and 5 patients had Rolandic discharges only during sleep. For diagnostic purposes, EEG recordings during sleep are indicated when children suspected of having this seizure type have a normal EEG when awake. Brief induced sleep is usually adequate. REM sleep was not studied.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Benign epilepsy of children with centrotemporal EEG foci. A study of incidence rate in outpatient care.

The incidence rates of epileptic seizures and epileptic seizures with centrotemporal (Rolandic) discharges were found to be 134/100,000 and 21/100,000, respectively. These were determined in an epidemiological study in a population consisting of 52,252 children aged 0-15 years in a county in the northern part of Sweden. Epileptic seizures with Rolandic discharges represented about 16% of all the epileptic seizures (febrile convulsions not included). They were four times more common than classic petit mal with 3/sec spike-and-wave activity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Benign epilepsy of childhood with centrotemporal EEG foci: a genetic study.

Nineteen probands with benign epilepsy of childhood and centrotemporal EEG foci (rolandic discharges), 36 of their full parents, and 34 full siblings were included in a genetic study. In these sibships (excluding probands), 15% (5/34) had seizures and rolandic discharges, and 19% (6/32) had rolandic discharges alone. Of the full parents, 11% (5/38) had seizures in chilhood but none in adult life. Only 1 parent (3%) of 36 had rolandic discharges. There was no differnence with sex. The results were tested against different genetic hypotheses and indicate that an autosomal dominant gene with age-dependent penetrance is responsible for the EEG trait.

Adolescent↗