[Retrobulbar optic neuropathy in multiple sclerosis in remission only with parenteral treatment]. / Neuropatie optica retrobulbara în cadrul sclerozei multiple remisa numai sub tratament parenteral.

The authors are presenting a case diagnosed with retrobulbar neuritis in the left eye secondary to multiple sclerosis. The symptoms submitted only under infusions with corticosteroids. Despite the lack of methylprednisolone, hydrocortisone was used successfully. This case supports the efficiency of intravenous treatment of optic neuritis as modern therapy in neuro-ophthalmology.

[The genetic substrate in cases with epileptogenic potential]. / Consideratii cu substrat genetic la o cazuistica cu potential epileptogen.

Among the manifestations with convulsive aspect, those apparently induced by fever in children are very important, especially if considered in perspective. This investigation was carried out in family backgrounds and it revealed that, in many such cases, the manifestations thought to be induced by fever had a family character, thus suggesting a possible genetic susceptibility. Most often, the maternal line was affected. A positive family history can be considered as a high risk factor and should not be ignored in all these children.

Prepatent periods of a tropical strain of Plasmodium vivax after inoculations of tenfold dilutions of sporozoites.

Eleven patients requiring malaria therapy were inoculated intradermally with graded doses of sporozoites of the Chesson strain of Plasmodium vivax. Estimated doses of 10 sporozoites were given to four patients, of 100 to three patients, of 1,000 to two patients, and of 10,000 to two patients. Parasitaemia was detected in all patients 12 to 17 days after inoculation; fever began on the 14th to 19th days. The results of the trials are compared with earlier work on a temperate strain of P. vivax in which patients given small doses of sporozoites exhibited long prepatent periods of 257 days or more. It is concluded that the differences in the two strains can be explained by the assumption that, in varying proportions, all strains of P. vivax produce two types of sporozoites, one eliciting short prepatent periods (Type I), and the other lying dormant or developing slowly to give rise to long prepatent periods (Type II). The latter type greatly predominates in temperate strains, but not in tropical strains; at high dilutions, therefore, pure suspensions of Type II sporozoites of temperate strains can be prepared. It is thought that relapses of P. vivax are in reality a dalyed parasitaemia arising from Type II sporozoites.