Three hundred and twelve children referred to an outpatient pediatric neurology clinic, with headache that lasted more than 3 months, were retrospectively reviewed. On average, the age of pain onset was 8.4 years. Migraine was diagnosed in 54% of these children and tension-type headache was found in 22% of those with chronic headache. Most children (85%) had common migraine, while classic and complicated migraine was found in only 8.8% and 5.3%, respectively. Brief headaches, lasting from seconds to a few minutes, were found in 5.1% of the children evaluated. In this subgroup, a high rate of epileptic EEG activity was found. Out of 110 children who had undergone computerized tomography, only one was pathological (posterior arachnoid cyst). Our results indicate that chronic and recurrent headache without accompanying neurological symptoms are usually benign and therefore in most cases neuroimaging is not indicated.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The value of EEG in children with chronic headaches.

To establish the usefulness of electroencephalography (EEG) as a diagnostic tool in the evaluation of headaches in children, we retrospectively reviewed the records of all children referred to our outpatient neuropediatric clinic because of recurrent headaches. Of 312 children, 257 (82%) underwent EEG tracings: 143 of the children who had had EEG recordings were diagnosed as migraineurs. In 31 (12%) of the children, the EEG revealed epileptic activity. The highest incidence of epileptic EEG activity was found amongst the children with very brief headaches. In 22 (8.6%) of the children, diffuse or focal slowing was detected. The group with migraine headache had a significantly higher incidence of slowing than the group with other types of headaches. There was no correlation between focal EEG abnormalities and brain radioimaging studies or clinical course. We conclude that despite the high incidence of epileptic abnormalities, the contribution of EEG to diagnosis and treatment in children with chronic headache is minimal, and should not be routinely prescribed in these children.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Jittery babies: a short-term follow-up.

Thirty-nine full-term babies, appropriate for gestational age, and otherwise healthy, were followed-up in our neurology clinic because of jitteriness, until complete resolution of symptoms and neurological findings. The babies were examined at 3 month intervals, and were classified according to the severity of their associated neurological findings, hypertonicity and increased tendon reflexes, into two groups: 'mild' (n = 24), and 'moderate-to-severe' (n = 15). The mean follow-up period was 13.5 months. In 81% of the study population, jitteriness and neurological findings disappeared before the age of 9 months. In only 11% did they persist beyond the age of 1 year. The mean time until disappearance of associated neurological findings was significantly shorter (5.5 months) in the mild group, compared to the moderate-to-severe group (9.5 months). Only one infant displayed motor delay and required physiotherapy.

Child, Preschool↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Infantile idiopathic myopathic carnitine deficiency: treatment with L-carnitine.

A series of 9 infants, ranging in age from 3 months to 5 years (average: 2 years), suffered from idiopathic myopathic carnitine deficiency presenting as hypotonia and motor delay. Secondary carnitine deficiency was eliminated by appropriate tests. Muscle carnitine concentration ranged from 2.3-7.1 nmol/mg non-collagen protein (NCP; average: 4.87 nmol/mg NCP; normal: 22 +/- 6 nmol/mg NCP). Lipid accumulation in muscle was observed in 2 of 8 patients. Therapy with L-carnitine (100 mg/kg/day in most patients) was given with clinical and laboratory follow-up 6 months later. In 7 of 9 patients, muscle tone and motor function improved. Muscle carnitine concentration increased to a range of 2.7-23.4 nmol/mg (average: 12.27 nmol/mg). In some patients the muscle carnitine content multiplied by a factor of 3-4, but carnitine concentration reached the normal range in only 2 patients. Most infants with idiopathic carnitine deficiency did benefit from 6 months of therapy; however, in order to achieve full recovery the duration of therapy should probably continue for longer periods, with a dose of not less than 100 mg/kg/day.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Furfural accumulation in stored orange juice concentrates.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Beverages↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Content and stability of alpha-tocopherol in fresh and dehydrated pepper fruits (Capsicum annuum L.).

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Capsicum↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Computerized tomography findings in pediatric patients with posterior fossa lesions.

The posterior fossa (PF) is a common site of lesions in the brain during childhood and infancy. Sixty pediatric patients with PF lesions shown on CT scans are presented. The most common lesions (48.4%) were intra-axial tumors, such as astrocytomas, medulloblastomas, and ependymomas. The tumors were relatively large at the time of diagnosis. The largest were medulloblastomas (mean maximal diameter 45.6 +/- 9.7 mm). Other abnormal findings of the PF were congenital anomalies, vascular lesions, hypoplasia and atrophy. A common approach to PF lesions is offered, emphasizing the variability, the incidence, and the different CT features of the lesions.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Induction of tolerance in adult guinea-pigs by two antigen dosage levels and by antigenic competition.

The effect of prior injection of increasing doses of dinitrophenylated bovine serum albumin (DNP-BSA) mixed in Freund's complete (FCA) or incomplete (IFA) adjuvants on the antibody response to a subsequent challenge with an optimal immunizing dose of DNP-BSA in FCA has been examined and compared with the effect of competition with the unrelated antigen bovine gamma-globulin (BGG). An unresponsive state was induced by pretreatments with either a minimal dose of antigen, a large antigen excess or a competitive mixture in FCA. The specificity of this unresponsiveness was ascertained by the normal response of pretreated animals to the unrelated antigen arsanilic-human albumin (ARS-HSA). Prior injection of either a minimal dose (0,2 mug), an antigen excess (20 mg) of DNP-BSA or an optimal dose (20 mug) of DNP-BSA mixed with an excess of BGG, incorporated in IFA, also induced a specific tolerance to DNP-BSA. The former treatment induced a low zone tolerance whereas both later treatments induced a high zone tolerance.

Animals↗