Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy in diabetics: motor conductions are important in the differential diagnosis with diabetic polyneuropathy.

OBJECTIVE: It is important to recognize CIDP occurring in diabetics because, unlike diabetic polyneuropathy, it is treatable. The aim of this study was to find out whether there are clues which help to differentiate CIDP in diabetics from diabetic polyneuropathy. METHODS: We compared the electrophysiological and pathological findings of 7 diabetics, who developed a predominantly motor polyneuropathy with the features of CIDP, with a group of diabetics referred for symptomatic polyneuropathy. RESULTS: Of the 7 diabetics we believe developed CIDP, 6 met at least 3 and one patient two of the 4 electrophysiological criteria of demyelination. Of the 100 patients referred for diabetic polyneuropathy, only 4 fulfilled two criteria and none 3. Nerve biopsy findings were not helpful in differential diagnosis, as segmental demyelination and remyelination, onion bulbs and inflammatory infiltrates, which are the histologic features of CIDP, were also present in diabetic polyneuropathy. CONCLUSIONS: CIDP can be diagnosed in a diabetic patient when motor symptoms are predominant, are more severe than expected in diabetic polyneuropathy and 3 of the 4 electrophysiological criteria for demyelination are fulfilled. When only two criteria are met, we believe that a trial with one of the established treatments for CIDP may be helpful in confirming the diagnosis.

Ganglionic cyst of the deep peroneal nerve: description of a case.

The case of a patient with a small intraneural ganglion of the deep peroneal nerve is described, including the clinical and electrophysiological characteristics and the course four years after surgery.

[Effect of Ara-C on chick embryo erythropoiesis: hemoglobin pattern]. / Azione dell'Ara C sull'eritropoiesi embrionale nel pollo: pattern emoglobinico.

The present work studies the ability of cytoarabine (Ara C) to modify temporal regulation of hemoglobin synthesis in chicken embryos. Thus different concentrations of Ara C were injected into fertilized chicken eggs after 94 hours of incubation. Blood samples were taken from both treated and control embryos on the 7th and 8th day of incubation. 1) Ara C 4.1 x 10(-3) M: embryo mortality is total and takes place upon injection. 2) Ara C 4.1 x 10(-5) M: no significant difference was seen between hemoglobin patterns in the treated and control embryos. 3) Ara C 4.1 x 10(-4) M: a delay of at least 24 hours in hemoglobin switch-over is seen in the treated embryos. In fact, at the 7th day adult hemoglobin fractions A and D have not yet appeared while, on the 8th day, embryonic fraction P is still present.

Neurophysiological study of Horner's syndrome.

Sympathetic skin response from the forehead and from the hand obtained by using electric, acoustic stimuli and during deep breathing was recorded in normal subjects and in patients suffering from Horner's syndrome in order to characterize this clinical picture neurophysiologically. The reliability of the method points to its possible usefulness in the pre-postganglionic differential diagnosis also.

[Evoked potentials in idiopathic optic neuritis. Possibilities of early diagnosis of demyelinating disease]. / I potenziali evocati nelle neuriti ottiche idiopatiche. Possibilità di diagnosi precoce di malattia demielinizzante.

The AA. examined 36 uncomplicated ON (Optic neuritis) observed from 1-1-1970 to 31-12-1980. An ophthalmological, neurological, and electrophysiological test (VEP, SEP, BAER) is made on this patients from 1-1-1986 to 31-3-1986. The importance of the electrophysiological examination is evaluated to recognize subclinical Multiple Sclerosis.

Electrophoretic and isoelectrophoretic characteristics of hemoglobins of Italian Ictalurids.

Electrophoretic and isoelectrophoretic behaviour of the hemoglobins of Italian freshwater Ictalurids was analysed. Multiple and polymorphic hemoglobin patterns were found in Ictalurus sp. (I. nebulosus nebulosus?, I. melas?); multiple and monomorphic patterns in I. n. marmoratus and I. punctatus. Hypotheses are advanced for further investigation of the question.