[PLED pattern and its clinical significance in stroke patients]. / Zmiany w eeg typu PLED i ich kliniczne znaczenie u chorych z udarem mózgu.

The pathophysiological connection between periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges (PLED) and epileptic seizures is still not clear. In the study clinical data and EEG findings were analysed in 22 patients aged 43-90 years with a history of stroke in whom EEG disclosed PLED. Eleven patients were studied in the acute phase of stroke and 11 were studied years after stroke when the diagnosis was established of poststroke epilepsy. In 2 patients in acute stroke group single epileptic seizures occurred and 5 had partial status epilepticus. In the group with poststroke epilepsy 4 had single seizures and 4 had epileptic status with partial epilepsy seizures. Thus, in 15 out of 22 patients PLEDs were noted after epileptic seizures. In all cases PLED appearance was connected with consciousness disturbances, lasting 1 to 17 days. In 6 cases PLED pattern was interrupted by seizure activity over one hemisphere, in 3 of them partial epileptic seizures were associated with it. In acute phase of stroke neuroimaging demonstrated the presence of fresh ischaemic foci, but in cases of poststroke epilepsy no such fresh foci were observed. These results suggest that PLED frequently can be associated with epilepsy, and in some patients it can be a bioelectrical manifestation of partial status epileptic.

[Electroencephalographic studies of family members of patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy]. / Badania elektroencefalograficzne u czlonków rodzin pacjentów z mlodziencza padaczka miokloniczna.

Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) is a common idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE); it has a clinical and probably a strong genetic relation to the other IGE forms. Generalized spike/polyspike-wave discharges (SW/PSW) are typical of all IGEs. The aim of our study was to determine the incidence of epilepsy and SW/PSW in EEG of family members of 12 JME patients. 35 first degree relatives aged over 15 years were examined. 40 min EEG with 5 min HV were recorded. IGE was diagnosed in 3 (8.6%) persons: JME in 2 and childhood absence epilepsy (CAE) in 1 person. Six more relatives (17.1%) had typical SW/PSW traits in EEG. Thus the IGE features were found in 9 (25.7%) individuals--members of 7 out of 12 families (58%). EEG of 7 other relatives (20%) revealed non-specific episodic diffuse or focal abnormalities. The above results reveal higher incidence of different kinds of ICEs and typical EEG traits in families of JME patients. This findings confirm familial susceptibility to IGE and may be helpful in genetical counselling.

Effect of cerebellar stimulation of hippocampal epileptic discharges in kindling preparation.

The inhibitory effect of cerebellar cortex (Cb) and dentate nucleus (DN) electrical stimulation were studied on 7 cats. After kindling in right hippocampus or in right somato-sensory motor cortex the both Cb and left DN were stimulated monopolarly or bipolarly in each cat. The stimulation was 1 sec train of impulses of 1 ms duration and 60 Hz. The current intensity was 0.3-1.7 mA, 10-12 stimulations were performed in each animal in each structure and the results of stimulations were averaged. The following indices of the stimulation effect were taken into consideration: 1) Number of epileptic spontaneous discharges during 2 min of EEG records before and after stimulation. 2) sum of the epileptic discharges within the periods, 3) time between spontaneous epileptic discharges, 4) time to first paroxysmal discharge after electrical stimulation of the Cb or DN. Results showed prolonged time to the first spontaneous epileptic discharge after stimulation of both structures, thus, indicating statistically significant inhibitory effect of stimulation. The other indices showed no statistically significant inhibitory effects.

EEG and clinical studies of the development of alumina cream epileptic focus in split-brain cats.

Alumina cream epileptic focus was established in the right sensorimotor cortex in 20 split-brain cats (partial or complete). EEG and behavioral observations were made in a period ranging from 24 to 836 days. Four types of EEG changes after alumina cream injection were differentiated. These types could be related to the direct effects of brain damage and to development of epilepsy. Spikes and sharp waves and paroxysmal discharges (focal and multifocal) were observed in about 60% of the cats. Clinical seizures developed in about the same percentage of the animals. These values are below those reported for cats with intact interhemispheric commissures. Diphenylhydantoin (DPH) was given orally in a daily dose of up to 15 mg/kg body weight in 9 animals with developed epileptic EEG activity. Five of them had epileptic seizures. DPH was introduced not earlier than 1.5 months after intracortical alumina cream injection. The plasma level of DPH varied between 7-20 mug/ml. This dose produced chronic symptoms of intoxication. Neither EEG changes nor clinical seizures were entirely controlled by this drug. Additional doses of Relanium (diazepam), and phenobarbital were necessary to stop generalized seizures or status epilepticus.

[Objective assessment of the effects of 5'5-diphenylhydantoin on cat motor activity]. / Obiektywna ocena wpøywu dziaøania 5,5'--dwufenylohydatoiny na aktywnosc ruchowa kotow(zapis elektroaktograficzny)

The authors report the preliminary results of determinations of motor activity of cats receiving 5'5-diphenylhydantoin. The determinations were carried out by means of a special device recording all movements of the animals to ensure objective evaluation. Healthy cats were used for these experiments. They were giving DPH in doses up to 12 mg/kg daily, the maximal dose was reached gradually over a period of one month. It was found that in the observed time period several activity peaks occurred at night time from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. These peaks were a stable phenomenon in a given cat but they varied from one animal to another. Thus the results could be compared in one cat only. During administration of DPH afall of general activity to 50% occurred, the "great" activity was reduced or even disappeared completely, and the periods of increased activity were changed.

Clinical and electrophysiological effects of chronic epileptic lesion in split-brain cats.

The development of the clinical and EEG manifestations of intracortical alumina cream epileptogenic lesion is described in 14 split-brain cats. In 4 animals contralateral and/or ipsilateral, cortical and subcortical secondary epileptic foci were present. The results indicate that integrity of interhemispheric transfer through the corpus callosum and anterior and posterior commissures is not necessary for the transmission of epileptic activity to contralateral hemisphere. Partial epileptic seizures of Jacksonian type were observed in 6 cats. In 1 cat grand mal epileptic seizure developed. The possible mechanisms of secondary epileptic foci and generalized type of seizure are discussed.