Cochlear implantation in a patient with grand mal epilepsy.

A case is reported in which a Nucleus 22 channel intracochlear implant was used to treat a deaf Hungarian woman (aged 37 years) with a 34-year history of grand mal (GM) epilepsy maintained on carbamazepine-diazepam combination therapy who had not benefited from conventional hearing aids. Pre-operative electrical stimulation of the acoustic nerve, however, exhibited a good nerve function with no evidence of abnormal waveforms in the electroencephalogram (EEG). Successful intracochlear insertion of the 22 electrode resulted in a 40 dB hearing improvement at frequencies 250-2000 Hz in the implanted ear with no signs of pathologic wave activity at either the previously recognized epileptic focus (fronto-precentral region) or indeed, in other regions of the brain at use of the implant. We conclude that intracochlear implantation per se is not a hazardous intervention in patients with fronto-precentral epileptic foci.

Treatment of chronic pain syndromes with transcutaneous iontophoresis of vinca alkaloids, with special regard to post-herpetic neuralgia.

Successful treatment of 35 post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) patients by means of transcutaneous iontophoresis of Vincristine is reported. This technique, based on transganglionic regulation--a novel neurobiological principle discovered by Csillik and Knyihár-Csillik-, alleviated pain in both fresh and inveterated PHN cases. Statistical analysis of the results excludes a placebo-like action.

Lithium treatment of aggressive children and the EEG.

Electroencephalograms (EEG-s) of 44 children aged 6.3--15.4 years were examined at the baseline and 3 months later with two different doses of lithium. Lithium levels in serum in group I. ranged from 0.08 mmol/l to 0.33 mmol/l (mean: 0.23 mmol/l SD: 0.105), and in group II. ranged from 0.40 mmol/l to 0.84 mmol/l (mean: 0.555 mmol/l SD: 0.116). These children represent as Conduct Disorder. EEG-s were correlated across treatment groups with behavioural ratings, ratings of untoward effects, reaction time and different dosages of medication. In the group I. alpha-recovery time after-eye closing and percentage time of alpha activity in 60 s decreased at unchanged mean alpha frequency. In the group II. both alpha recovery time and alpha activity increased at unchanged mean alpha frequency. Paroxysmal focal abnormalities (spikes, spike-waves etc.) or increase in percentage time of delta activity were not found. Behavioural changes were assessed by using the Pictures Frustration Test for Children of Rosenzweig and the Hamburg Personality Inventory for Children. The group II. were found to be significantly superior to group I. in decreasing aggressive symptoms. No serious differences were found for the reaction time and side effects as well.

[The effect of kryptopyrrole on the brain-activity of cats: a quantitative EEG-analysis (author's transl)]. / Die Wirkung von Kryptopyrrol auf das Gehirn der Katze: eine quantitative EEG-Analyse.

Continuing earlier investigation Z. EEG-EMG, 1976, 7, 151-156 the authors have studied the electrical activity of the cortex and subcortical regions elicited by stimulating mesencephalic reticular formation, after injection i.p. of Kryptopyrrole. The changes of activity was tape recorded and subjected to an off-line computer analysis with the method of Fast Fourier. Power spectral densities as well as auto and cross correlograms were calculated. The threshold for desynchronisation following stimulation shows a characteristic form due to the effect of Kryptopyrrole: after temporary decrease there is a marked increase. After stimulation the effect on subcortical structures in strikingly different from that of the cortex.

[Follow-up checks of children born from induced pregnancy (author's transl)]. / Nachuntersuchung von Kindern aus induzierten Schwangerschaften.

The following results were obtained by the authors from follow-up checks of 102 children, aged between 2.5 and eight years, who had been delivered from induced pregnancies. - Developmental abnormalities were recorded from seven cases, in the context of paediatric examinations. Minimal neurological deviations were exhibited by 14 children. Moderate retardation was established in psychological tests from something between 25 and 30 per cent of all cases. Positive responses to electroencephalography, however, without any clinical symptoms were observed in 20 per cent of the probands. Neurological symptoms and moderate retardation were recordable primarily from children who had originated from pathological pregnancies. The above findings are likely to support the recommendation to continue treatment of functional sterility by means of induced ovulation. Yet, treatment of that kind should be restricted to women unlikely to be afflicted with pathological pregnancy, which however, cannot be safely forecast in all cases.

[The effects of kryptopyrrole on the brain of cats in the quantitative EEG-analysis (author's transl)]. / Quantitative EEG-untersuchungen über die Wirkung von Kryptopyrrol auf das Gehirn der Katzen

A frequency analyzer and a biointegrator were used to study the effect of kryptopyrrole (20, 60 or 90 mg/kg) on the cortical and various subcortical structures in cat experiments. It was found that, as regards the subcortical structures, kryptopyrrole primarily causes significant bioelectric changes in the regions of the hippocampus and amygdala; its effects in the cortex are much less marked. In the second hour of the experiment, excitation appears in the behaviour of the cats, simultaneously with an increase in area of the slow frequency regions, where-as after 4-5 hours a considerable behaviour-inhibition can be observed simultaneously with a decrease in area of the slow wave range. The experimental data confirm the behaviour-active effect of kryptopyrrole. The findings indicate that the effect of kryptopyrrole is exerted in two phases. The neurophysiological data obtained give an explanation for these contradictory behaviour changes.