Resolution of severe oncogenic hypophosphatemic osteomalacia after resection of a deeply located soft-tissue tumour.

Oncogenic osteomalacia is a rare metabolic bone disease characterized by phosphate leakage from the kidney and subsequent hypophosphatemia. It is caused by a phosphaturic factor produced by certain tumours. Removal of such tumours can completely cure the condition. Here, we report the case of a patient who was crippled with oncogenic osteomalacia. Extensive study revealed a tumour deeply located in the pelvis; removal of the tumour resulted in complete recovery. The tumour was identified as a mesenchymal tumour (mixed connective-tissue variant). The diagnostic evaluation, differential diagnosis, and treatment are discussed.

Effect of lamotrigine on a novel model of epilepsy.

The effect of lamotrigine (LTG) on evoked and spontaneous seizure-like activity induced by veratridine, was investigated. Rat brain slices were examined using conventional electrophysiological intracellular techniques. Alteration of sodium channel function by veratridine (0.3 microM) induced spontaneous seizure-like activity in the hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons. Therapeutic concentrations of LTG (5-10 microM) inhibited both evoked and spontaneous bursting induced by veratridine. This inhibition was voltage-dependent indicating possible interaction between the drug and the inactivated state of sodium channels. There was an increase in the firing threshold of the bursting but no change in the resting membrane potential (RMP) and membrane input resistance. Results from this work suggest that the veratridine model of epilepsy is very sensitive to drugs which act on sodium channels. These data make the veratridine model a suitable tool for screening potential sodium channel-dependent antiepileptic drugs.