[Bipolar thoracic electrocardiographic derivations in non-Q myocardial infarct. Study using echocardiography and myocardial scintigraphy]. / Le derivazioni elettrocardiografiche toraciche bipolari nell'infarto miocardico non-Q. Studio con ecocardiochimografia e scintigrafia miocardica.

The Authors investigated the sensitivity of the ecg thoracic derivations of Condorelli in detecting non-Q myocardial infarction demonstrated by 2-D echocardiography and 201-TL scintigraphy. This technique showed a good reliability, allowing a useful diagnostic approach.

The effectiveness of oral midazolam as a hypnotic compared with lorazepam.

A double-blind closed sequential scheme study was carried out in 82 patients with insomnia to compare the hypnotic effectiveness of 15 mg midazolam and 1 mg lorazepam. Pairs of randomized patients were treated on one and the same night with midazolam or lorazepam, respectively. Eight parameters were recorded for each member of the pair. The time taken to fall asleep, the duration of sleep and the overall assessment of response showed that midazolam was significantly superior to lorazepam: the number of awakenings and evaluation by the patient verged on statistical significance. Both drugs were equal for the quality of sleep, dreams and the patient's condition on awakening. No side-effects were observed in any of the patients.

[Contribution to our knowledge of the Landau and Kleffner "acquired aphasia with epilepsy" syndrome]. / Contributo alla conoscenza della sindrome "afasia acquisita con epilessia" di Landau e Kleffner.

The Authors describe a case of aphasia acquired in childhood together with epilepsy (syndrome of Landau and Kleffner) and treated for seven years. The patient had simple and complex partial attacks, motor dysphasia, frequent and heavy headache, and electroencephalographic paroxysmal anomalies with multifocal distribution. While the disease evolved with regression of disphasia and epilepsy, the EEG alterations persisted. In view of similar cases reported in the literature and the present treatment the Authors feel that syndrome is an inflammatory disease, its evolution being slow. The results of neuroradiological investigations support such hypothesis. The prognosis is poor (anomalies of speech persisted in 2 out of 3) and further studies are essential. A systematic use of cerebral biopsy is suggested.

[Reading epilepsy crises]. / Contributo alla conoscenza delle "crisi epilettiche da lettura".

The authors describe two cases of "reading epilepsy" followed for nine and seven years respectively. In the first case the seizures consisted in an alexic aura followed by secondary tonic clonic convulsion; in the second case the seizures consisted in jaw clenching followed by loss of consciousness. In both patients neuroradiological studies including C.T. were negative and in both the seizures were controlled by anti-epileptic treatment. Clinical and electro encephalographic features tended to differ in the two cases and the authors review the literature on the subject. These observations led to recognise three groups of reflex epilepsy as follows: the first group includes focal secondary generalised seizures with parieto-occipital spikes and spikes and waves in parieto-occipital lobes; the second group includes seizures starting with jaw clenching corresponding with bursts of posterior sharp-waves; the third group consists of endogenous cases which can not be included in the other two groups.

Madopar HBS and the decompensated phase of Parkinson disease.

The most important current problem in the treatment of Parkinson disease in the so-called L-dopa long-term-treatment syndrome. We present here the results of our experience with Madopar HBS in the treatment of two groups of patients suffering from L-dopa long-term treatment syndrome. In the first study we replaced the standard Madopar with Madopar HBS. In the second study, after identifying the most disabling "off" periods, we added Madopar HBS to the previous treatment in such a way as to control these "off" phases. Our study suggests that Madopar HBS is useful in reducing typical fluctuation phenomena in the majority of patients.