Acute fright induces onset of symptoms in vanishing white matter disease-case report.

Vanishing white matter disease is a newly recognised leukoencephalopathy of identified genetic background, characterised by cystic degeneration and progressive vanishing of white matter. The characteristic clinical symptoms are spasticity and ataxia with relatively preserved cognitive functions. A characteristic feature of the disease is the occurrence of the symptoms after a physical stress situation such as mild head trauma or febrile infection. We would like to present a case of a 6-year-old girl whose first symptoms of the disease occurred after being frightened by a horse.

Repair of distal biceps brachii tendon ruptures.

This study consisted of 26 male patients with distal biceps tendon ruptures, 2 of whom had bilateral injuries, making the total number of ruptures 28. The average age at injury was 45 years. The treatment groups were the following: 3 were treated without surgery, 4 were repaired with brachialis tenodesis, and 21 were reattached to the radial tuberosity by the 2-incision Boyd-Anderson approach. Patients underwent follow-up a minimum of 14 months after surgery, with the average being 43 months. Outcome was evaluated based on the physical examination, isokinetic testing of strength and endurance of flexion and supination, and radiographic analysis.

[Gabitril as an additive drug in therapy of intractable epileptic seizures in children]. / Gabitril w terapii dodanej w opornych napadach czesciowych zlozonych i wtórnie uogólnionych u dzieci. Doniesienie wstepne.

Tiagabine (Gabitril, Sanofi Synlhelabo) new antiepileptic drug was used in add-on therapy in 25 children with resistant partial complex and secondary generalized seizures. Treatment was carried out in children aged 4-17 years with low dose escalation from 5 to 45 mg/day, in three doses until good clinical effects were obtained. In 3 patients aged 4 years, in 11 children aged 5-12 years and in 11 children aged above 17 years Gabitril was used. Follow up period was 8-10 months. Frequency of epileptic seizures before implementation of Gabitril treatment, even during polytherapy with 2 or more antiepileptic drugs was several to hundred per day (status epilepticus was observed in 2 children with Rasmussen syndrome). During the observation 5 children became seizure free, in 11 patients reduction in seizures frequency above 50% was observed and in 9 children effects of treatment were not good enough. Gabitril was well tolerated, and any adverse events were observed in add-on therapy. Preliminary observation and good results of add-on therapy with Gabitril are positive. Drug is safe and generally well-tolerated with good effects at add-on therapy in 64% children with resistant partial complex and secondary generalized seizures.

Isolation and characterization of the major equilibrium product of FK-520.

The existence of an isomeric form in equilibrium with the major component of FK-520 in polar solutions has been demonstrated. This minor component has been isolated in high yield and purity by a novel crystallization strategy and preparative HPLC. The equilibrium product was characterized by NMR and MS.

[Analysis of adverse factors affecting the result of therapy for West syndrome in children]. / Analiza czynników niekorzystnie wplywajacych na wyniki leczenia w zespole Westa u dzieci.

West syndrome is a from of epileptic attacks of infants. Diagnosis of West syndrome includes: presence of the sudden violent flexion of the trunk and limbs, psychomotoric development retardation, especially after the onset of attacks, abnormal EEG records, and therapeutical problems. Clinical course and results of therapy were analysed in 66 children with West syndrome (39 boys and 27 girls). Children were divided into four groups, depending on etiology of the disease. Group 1 included 39 children with lesions to CNS during pregnancy; group 2-8 children with developmental CNS disorders, group 3-6 children with a history of encephalitis or meningitis, and group 4-13 children in whom etiology of West syndrome was unclear. Patients were treated with Synacthen-Depot in a daily dose of 0.03 mg/kg combined with other anti-epileptic agents. The most difficult to treat were those children in whom West syndrome occurred below 6 months of life, were psychomotor retarded before the onset of symptoms, hormonal treatment was introduced with delay, there were additional seizures of different etiology, and there were frequently recurrent infections.