Temporal lobe epilepsy with varying severity: MRI study of 222 patients

MRI was performed in 222 consecutive adult patients with temporal lobe epilepsy of varying severity from January 1991 to May 1993. The diagnosis of hippocampal sclerosis was established visually by three independent observers. The accuracy of visual assessment of hippocampal asymmetry was compared with volumetric measurements. Neuropathological correlations were obtained in 63 patients with refractory seizures. Temporal lobe abnormalities were observed in 180 patients (81 %) as follows: hippocampal sclerosis in 122 (55 %); developmental abnormalities in 16 (7.2 %); tumours in 15 (6.8 %); scars in 11 (5 %); cavernous angiomas in 10 (4.5 %); miscellaneous lesions in 6. MRI was normal or showed unrelated changes in 42 patients (19 %). Visual assessment correctly lateralised hippocampal sclerosis in 79 of the 84 patients measured (94 %). Temporal lobectomy confirmed the MRI data (side and aetiology) in all 63 operated patients. Patients with normal MRI had an older age of seizure onset and were more often drug-responsive than patients with hippocampal sclerosis. MRI showed temporal lobe abnormalities in 81 % of epileptic patients with varying severity with good neuropathological correlation. Patients with normal MRI had a less severe form of the disease. Received: 19 August 1996 Accepted: 13 November 1996     

The value of different methods of treatment of brain abscess in the CT era

Summary 67 cases of brain abscess were analyzed retrospectively. As 2 comatose patients died on admission before any treatment was started, the results are based on 65 treated patients. Different methods of treatment included: total removal in 36 patients, drainage in 14, aspiration in 6 and conservative treatment in 9. Management mortality was 18,5% and was almost not dependent on the method of treatment (except aspiration) being lowest in the drainage group. The mortality was significantly higher in patients with serious impairment of consciousness on admission.Follow-up examination after 1 to 11 years was performed in 47 out of 53 discharged patients and revealed in 25 of them (53%) full recovery. 10 additional cases (21%) are independent. The best early and long term results were obtained in patients by drainage and medical treatment.Chronic epilepsy developed in 34% of patients with supratentorial lesions. The risk of epilepsy was lowest in the group of patients treated by drainage.The authors present the opinion that removal of brain abscess is necessary only in exceptional cases.     

加巴喷丁治疗癫痫的疗效及安全性研究

目的：加巴喷丁抗癫痫作用的有效性与安全性。方法：随机双盲，添加治疗安慰剂对照临床试验。整个试验历时6个月，入选者随机分入试验组或对照组，于试验前、入组后第1、4、8、12、16、20、24周末随访。结果：均衡性：加巴喷丁治疗癫痫在随访中均衡性较好，各指标间无明显差别。疗效评价：加巴喷丁添加治疗组结果显示较安慰剂组发作次数明显减少，两组间有统计学差别；对各类型癫痫总的治疗有效率及MMSE评分等方面无统计学差异，未显示出疗效；但对全身性强直阵挛发作类型具有明显疗效，具有统计学意义。安全性评价：加巴喷丁组和安慰剂组都有不良事件发生，加巴喷丁组居多，但差别无统计学意义。结论：加巴喷丁对全身性强直阵挛发作类型有效，对其它类型疗效不佳，是一种安全性较好的药物。     

动态脑电图与视频脑电图对癫癎诊断的对照研究

目的:观察24小时动态脑电图与视频脑电图对癫发作类型鉴别的价值。方法:242例患者进行24小时视频脑电监测,陪同家属做记录。结果由两名医师判定,一人关闭视频进行分析作为动态脑电组。一人打开视频分析作为视频脑电组。结果:242例患者中63例临床发作伴癫样放电,视频脑电监测后符合例数53例(84%),动态脑电监测后符合例数39例(61·9%),有显著性差异。结论:视频脑电监测与动态脑电图对癫发作类型的鉴别有显著的差异,视频脑电图更准确。     

Mental state,physical strength,intelligent cycle and their relationship with epilepsy

Patientsfeelimpatientbecausetheycouldnotpredicttheonsettimeofepilepsy．Ifonsettimeofepilepsycouldbepreciselypredicted，thendrugadministrationanddisabilityofpreventionwillbecomeavailable．In１８７９，Echevarrzafoundonsettimeofepilepsyisdistributedaccordingtosomerules．Inrecentyears，scientistsperformalotstudiesinvolvingcytologyandmolecularbiologyofepilepsy．Clinicaldataindicatedonsetofepilepsyhascloserelationwithbiologicalrhythmsuchasawakeandsleepcycleandmenstrualcycle．Theobjectiveofthisstudy…     

癫痫的外科治疗

本文报告40例癫痫病人采用手术治疗。30例作了CT检查、脑电图检查,6例作脑电地形图检查,对手术定位有较大帮助。术中用脑皮层电图监测,有效地提高了癲痫源灶的切除率,手术有效者34例(85.0%)。作者还应用了胼胝体切开术,从病灶切除的病理所见,癫痫的外科治疗应引起神经外科的重视。     

Laparoscopic Versus Open Renal Procurement for Pediatric Recipients of Living Donor Renal Transplantation

Despite reports demonstrating the safety of laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (LDN) for pediatric recipients of renal transplants, recent evidence has challenged using LDN for recipients 5 years of age or younger. We retrospectively reviewed the records of all pediatric recipients of living donor renal transplants from September 2000 through August 2004. We compared those who received allografts recovered by LDN (n = 34) with those recovered by open donor nephrectomy (ODN, n = 26). Outcomes of interest included operative complications, postoperative renal function, the incidence of delayed graft function or episodes of acute rejection and long-term graft function. Donor and recipient demographic data were similar for the LDN and ODN groups. Serum creatinine and calculated creatinine clearance were not significantly different between groups both in the early postoperative period and at long-term follow-up (p > 0.142). Rates of delayed graft function and acute rejection did not differ between groups. Among recipients aged 5 years old or younger stratified by donor technique (9 LDN, 5 ODN recipients), no difference was noted in graft outcomes both early and long-term (p > 0.079). At our center, pediatric LDN recipients have graft outcomes comparable to those of ODN recipients. At experienced centers, we recommend continued use of LDN for pediatric recipients of all ages.     

Adult Liver Transplant Candidate Attitudes Toward Graft Sharing Are Not Obstacles to Split Liver Transplantation

Split liver transplantation (SLT) benefits society by increasing the total number of transplants that can be performed, but it is yet unknown if a decreased post-transplant survival (in comparison to whole liver transplantation) would make participation in SLT less appealing to adult liver transplant candidates. A 20-item questionnaire was administered to 50 adult candidates to assess attitudes toward SLT and organ sharing. The overall attitudes of 60% of participants were classified as utilitarian (maximizing benefit to greatest number of candidates), while 26% were classified as self-preserving (maximizing individual benefit) and 14% were undecided. Ninety percent of participants would be willing to share even if expected survival was less than that of whole liver transplantation, and 69% felt that pediatric candidates should have priority over adult candidates. In conclusion, attitudes toward graft sharing and the possibility of compromised survival benefit are not barriers to SLT for most adult liver transplant candidates.     

Randomized Trial of Basiliximab Induction versus Steroid Therapy in Pediatric Liver Allograft Recipients Under Tacrolimus Immunosuppression

Avoidance of corticosteroids could be beneficial after pediatric liver transplantation (LTx). To test this hypothesis, we performed a randomized prospective study to compare immunosuppression with tacrolimus (TAC) and steroids versus TAC and basiliximab (BAS) after pediatric LTx. Seventy-two patients were recruited, 36 receiving TAC and steroids and 36 TAC and BAS. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of the first rejection episode. Secondary endpoints were the cumulative incidence and severity of rejection, patient and graft survival, and incidence of adverse events. Overall 1-year patient and graft survival rates were 91.4% and 85.5% in the steroid group, and 88.6% and 80% in the BAS group (p = NS). Patients free from rejection were 87.7% in the BAS group and 67.7% in the steroid group (p = 0.036). The use of BAS was associated with a 63.6% reduction in incidence of acute rejection episodes. Overall incidence of infection was 72.3% in the steroid group and 50% in the BAS group (p = 0.035). We conclude that the combination of TAC with BAS is an alternative to TAC and steroid immunosuppression in pediatric LTx, which allows for a significant reduction in the incidence of acute rejection and infectious complications.     

Segmental Liver Transplantation from Non-Heart Beating Donors—An Early Experience with Implications for the Future

We report our experience of pediatric liver transplantation with partial grafts from non-heart beating donors (NHBD). Controlled donors less than 40 years of age with a warm ischemia time (WI) of less than 30 min were considered for pediatric recipients. Death was declared 5 min after asystole. A super-rapid recovery technique with aortic and portal perfusion was utilized. Mean donor age was 29 years and WI 14.6 min (range 11–18). Seven children, mean age 4.9 years (0.7–11), median weight 20 kg (8.4–53) received NHBD segmental liver grafts. Diagnoses included seronegative hepatitis, neonatal sclerosing cholangitis, familial intrahepatic cholestasis, hepatoblastoma, primary hyperoxaluria and factor VII deficiency (n = 2).The grafts included four reduced and one split left lateral segments, one left lobe and one right auxiliary graft. Mean cold ischemia was 7.3 h (6.2–8.8). Complications included one pleural effusion and one biliary collection drained percutaneously. At 20 months (10–36) follow-up all children are alive and well with functioning grafts.
Donation after cardiac death is a significant source of liver grafts for adults and children with careful donor selection and short cold ischemic times.