Automatic analysis of cortical signals recorded with voltage-sensitive dyes using a forward-backward non-linear filtering technique and deconvolution.

A method for automatically analyzing cortical signals recorded with voltage-sensitive dyes and a photodiode array is described. First, a forward-backward non-linear filtering technique is used to eliminate the background noise and preserve the fast transients of the signals. Then the filtered signals are deconvoluted from their maximal values by using a gaussian function. The different components of the signals can be identified and characterized by their respective latencies, amplitudes, plateau durations, and slopes. These parameters can be used for subsequent statistical analysis. This automated method is much faster than a manual analysis because of the large number of responses that are optically recorded. Moreover, it can be easily applied to different experimental protocols and to other signals such as field potentials.

[Benign tumors of the spine in the adolescent. Surgical considerations apropos of 4 cases]. / Tumeurs bénignes du rachis de l'adolescent. Considérations chirurgicales à propos de 4 cas.

About 4 observations of benign tumours of the spine of the adolescent, we have studied the surgical aspect of the treatment of these lesion. The choice of the surgical approach is fundamental in view of the necessity of a complete exeresis, which implies techniques of spinal reconstruction and stabilization. Those problems are illustrated by: 2 cases of aneurysmal cyst, 1 case of eosinophilic granuloma, and 1 case of osteochondroma.

About one case of vertebral chondroblastoma.

The authors report the case of a 9-year-old child which suffered from a chondroblastoma of the cervical spine. He had clinical signs of superior mediastinum compression with inflammation of the respiratory upper air-way. Surgery was performed. Diagnosis was established by the pathologist. The recurrence one year later was treated again by surgery and also by radiotherapy. Another recurrence four years later was fatal. The difficulties of the diagnosis and the appearance of recurrences in some cases of chondroblastoma are reviewed in the literature.

[Scaphocephaly. Treatment and complications apropos of 115 cases]. / Scaphocéphalies. Traitement et complications à propos de 115 cas.

The authors report, concerning 115 cas of scaphocephaly, the clinical (spheno., lepto., bathmo., clino., the kinds without dolichocephaly) radiological characteristics (temporal curve without dolichocephaly), orbito-sphenoidal obliquity regressing after treatment). They discuss the accepted ideas of the merely morphological problems of this type of craniostenosis, about their clinical and X-ray findings of encephalic disorder. The therapeutic methods are stated, so are the complications met during the surgical treatment. They suggest the craniectomy, taking away the sagittal suture associated with the linear coagulation of the dura mater. To the median sagittal craniectomy, one can add retrocoronal, pre lambdoid or metopic craniectomies according to the type of scaphocephaly. This treatment is simple, efficient and not very dangerous during the first year.

[Solitary spinal osteochondroma. Apropos of 4 cases]. / L'ostéochondrome solitaire rachidien. A propos de 4 cas.

The spinal osteochondroma has been studied in 4 personal cases. This benign tumor unfrequently develops on the spine and even less insolitary. In the 4 cases reported, the sites of the tumor were thoracic (2 cases) cervical (1 case), cervicothoracic (2 cases) which are most frequently mentioned in publications. The tumors were located either on the "posterior arc" either on the "antero-lateral" region of the vertebral body on the level of the "costo-transversary" angle. The clinical manifestations were a growth of a tumefaction, spinal pain and sometimes radicular or medullary neurological signs. The X-Ray image is evident. The best diagnostic procedure is C.T. Scan which determines the exact position and size of the tumor. Surgery is the best treatment. The excision must be large and the pedicule totally removed in order to avoid recurrence. This occurred in one of the cases reported. The osteochondroma becomes rarely malignant. If the tumor involves several spinal segments, post-operative X-Ray investigations must be done for a long period in order to watch out for recurrence.

[A case of vertebral chondroblastoma]. / A propos d'une observation de chondroblastome vertébral.

The authors have observed a case of cervical chondroblastoma in a child aged nine years. Clinically there was a mediastinal syndrome, with pulmonary tract infection. Resection was achieved in two stages. One year later a local recurrence was treated by a third resection, followed by radiotherapy. Three years later there was no sign of recurrence. A review of the literature summarises the difficulties of diagnosis.

[Anesthesia and postoperative care in reconstructive surgery of cranio-facial dysmorphias in children (about 100 cases) (author's transl)]. / Anesthésie-réanimation dans la chirurgie réparatrice des dysmorphies cranio-faciales de l'enfant. A propos de 100 cas.

Hundred cases of anesthesia for surgery in craniofacial dysmorphias in children are reported. 40 children were below 2 years of age, 14 were 2-5 years old and 46 were 5 to 15 years old. Surgery was of 3-12 hours duration (mean: 5 h 30). The type of anesthesia given was either a neuroleptanalgesia or a narconeuroleptanalgesia. Per- and post-operative intensive cares are discussed. 7 complications occurred during surgery, 11 complications occurred during the post-operative course: the origin of those complications is discussed as well as their treatment.

[Lumbosacral arachnoepiduritis. Clinical and etiologic aspects]. / Les arachno-épidurites lombo-sacrées. Aspects cliniques et étiologiques.

A series of 120 cases of lumbo-sacral arachno-epiduritis was studied from the clinical and etiological points of view. The recruitment of the cases and their classification were based on purely radiological criteria. The clinical symptoms were various, non-specific and without correlation with the radiological type. The course was chronic with a change in the distribution of the symptoms. The influence of the method of examination was discussed in the 9 cases discussed after a first myelography without surgical operation. All the forms suggesting epidural lesions were post-operative and observed mainly in cases of laminectomy.

[Extracranial metastasis of primary brain tumours]. / Les métastases extra-crâniennes des tumeurs primitives de l'encéphale

This study deals with the visceral metastasis of glioblastomas, ependymomas, oligodendrogliomas and medulloblastomas. Taking a sery fo four cases in the medical literature out of one hundred and fifteen cases published since 1961 and selected according the WEISS criterias, allows to indicate the delay in apparition of these metastasis as well as their elective localisation depending on the anatomopathological type of the original cerebral tumor. It does not give any precise indication to why these visceral metastasis appear. It seems to be very likely that the apparition of these secondary tumors is due to the failure of the shole defence systems of the body, favoured by the relative long survical of these patients and the surgical opening of the brain envelops.

[Endovascular extraction of catheters after accidental migration into the cardiac cavities (author's transl)]. / Extraction par voie endovasculaire des cathéters accidentellement migrés dans les cavités cardiaques. Description technique et résultats

The authors describe a technique which permits the extraction of intra-vascular foreign bodies by the intermediary of femoral catheterization. By this method it was possible to extract a catheter below Holter's valve, after accidental migration into the cardiac cavities, in four cases.