帕金森病患者疲劳的临床特点及其影响因素研究

目的探讨帕金森病(PD)患者疲劳的临床特点、影响因素及其对其生活质量的影响。方法入组PD患者75例,记录患者的年龄、性别、起病年龄,受教育程度,采用疲劳严重程度量表(FSS)评估PD患者疲劳程度,并对所有患者进行统一帕金森病评分表(UPDRS),Hoehn-Yahr(H-Y)分级,汉密尔顿抑郁量表(HMDS),简易精神状态检查量表(MMSE)和匹兹堡睡眠量表(PSQI)等评定。比较疲劳与非疲劳PD患者各量表评价的差异,并对疲劳评分与其他各量表评分进行多因素相关分析。结果 75例PD患者中,有52例(69.3%)患者存在疲劳,患者的疲劳与性别、年龄、起病年龄无相关性;Spearman相关性分析示PD患者UPDRSⅠ~Ⅲ、H-Y评分、HMDS、PSQI和左旋多巴服用剂量与疲劳呈显著相关性;Logistic回归分析显示,UPDRSⅡ评分及PSQI是疲劳的独立危险因素。结论疲劳是PD患者常见的非运动症状,明显影响PD患者的生存质量,并与多个运动及非运动症状相关。     

帕金森病伴发睡眠障碍的临床特点、相关因素及视频多导睡眠图的变化

目的探讨帕金森病(PD)患者伴发睡眠障碍(SD)的临床特点、相关因素、视频多导睡眠图(v-PSG)变化及其对患者生活质量的影响。方法收集2014-06—2016-06就诊于北京天坛医院老年病科的94例PD患者,记录患者的人口学资料。采用匹茨堡睡眠质量指数量表(PSQI)评估患者的睡眠状况,根据评测结果将患者分为PD伴发SD组(PSQI≥5分,PD-SD组)及未伴发SD组(PSQI5分,PD-NSD组)。对PD患者进行统一帕金森病评分量表第三部分(UPDRS-Ⅲ)、蒙特利尔认知评估量表(MoCA)、简易精神状态检查量表(MMSE)、汉密尔顿抑郁量表(HAMD)、汉密尔顿焦虑量表(HAMA)、爱泼沃斯思睡量表(ESS)、疲劳严重度量表(FSS)、UPDRSⅡ量表、日常生活能力量表(ADL)、39项PD生活质量问卷(PDQL-39)及PSQI评分检测,比较两组患者运动症状、非运动症状、生活质量以及睡眠质量等变化。结果 (1)94例PD患者中57例(60.64%)存在SD。(2)PD-SD组和PD-NSD组在性别构成、年龄、起病年龄、受教育水平及病程方面比较均无统计学差异(P0.05)。(3)PSQI量表评分结果显示,PD-SD组睡眠质量、睡眠潜伏期、睡眠时间、睡眠效率、SD、使用睡眠药及日间功能障碍评分均较PD-NSD组高(均P0.01)。(4)PD-SD组患者UPDRSⅠ评分、FSS评分、HAMD评分、HAMA评分和ESS评分、UPDRSⅡ评分、ADL评分、PDQL-39评分明显高于PD-NSD组(P0.05或P0.01)。(5)32例PD患者行v-PSG监测,与PD-NSD组比较,PD-SD组总睡眠时间减少(P0.05),睡眠效率及最低血氧饱和度降低(均P0.05)。结论 PD患者SD的发生率较高;PD-SD患者SD更严重,整体睡眠质量更差;SD明显影响PD患者其他非运动症状。     

早期帕金森病患者健康相关生活质量

目的 研究中国早期帕金森病(PD)患者健康相关生活质量(health related quality of life,HR-QOL)的特点;探讨运动症状和非运动症状对早期PD患者HR-QOL的影响.方法 在全国范围内共筛选出391例早期PD患者入组.采用统一帕金森病评分表(UPDRS)和Hoehn-Yahr评价运动症状,采用流行病学研究中心编制的抑郁量表(CES-D)、匹兹堡睡眠质量指数(PSQI)、疲劳量表(FSS)、阿尔茨海默病评定量表的认知部分(ADAS-Cog)和便秘量表分别对抑郁、睡眠障碍、疲劳、认知功能和便秘等非运动症状进行评价;采用36条目简化医疗结局调查问卷(SF-36)评价HR-QOL.比较PD患者与同龄健康老年人SF-36分值的差异.采用逐步多元线性回归分析深入探讨各种运动及非运动症状变量对HR-QOL的影响.结果 早期PD患者除SF-36躯体疼痛维度外,其余各维度分值较同龄健康老年人均下降.UPDRS第3部分分值(23.8±11.8)、Hoehn-Yahr分期(2.0±0.7)和强直分值(4.4±3.1)仅能解释SF-36总分变化的18.9%(R2=0.189).CES-D、FSS和PSQI分值等非运动症状变量引入回归方程后,SF-36总分可被解释的部分由18.9%增加至61.7%(R2=0.617).并且,引入CES-D分值后,SF-36总分可被解释的部分增加了43.3%(R2=0.433).结论 PD症状严重影响早期患者的HR-QOL.运动症状对HR-QOL存在影响,但影响作用有限.抑郁、疲劳和睡眠障碍这3个非运动症状是导致早期PD患者HR-QOL恶化的主要原因.其中,抑郁症状是HR-QOL恶化的最强预测因素.临床上,应重视非运动症状,运动和非运动症状兼治,才能真正提高疗效显著改善患者的HR-QOL.     

帕金森病患者血清脂联素水平与运动症状及非运动症状的相关性

目的 探讨帕金森病(PD)患者血清脂联素水平与运动症状以及非运动症状的相关性.方法 选取94例PD患者以及90名健康对照者,利用ELISA法检测PD患者及健康对照者血清脂联素水平,并记录PD患者的年龄、多巴丝肼片剂量,并对所有PD患者行帕金森病评价量表第三部分评分(UPDRSⅢ)、Hoehn-Yahr分期、ADL、Webster、疲劳严重度量表(FSS)、匹茨堡睡眠质量指数(PSQI)、自主神经功能量表(SCOPA-AUT)、汉密尔顿抑郁量表(HAMD)评估.结果 PD患者血清脂联素水平为(8.2士2.6)mg/L,明显低于健康对照组的(17.5±7.1)mg/L,且差异有统计学意义(t=-4.12,P＜0.01).脂联素水平与PD患者的UPDRSⅢ评分、H-Y分期、Webster评分、ADL评分及PSQI评分均呈负相关(r分别为-0.71,-0.82,-0.77,-0.64,-0.69;P＜ 0.05).结论 PD患者血清脂联素水平降低,且与PD患者的运动症状及非运动症状均有关.     

帕金森病患者快速眼动睡眠行为障碍的临床特征

目的探讨帕金森病(PD)患者快速眼动睡眠行为障碍(RBD)的临床特征。方法连续收集2013年2月~2016年8月就诊于河北医科大学第一医院神经内科的61例PD患者,记录一般资料。对患者进行多导睡眠监测(PSG)和RBD筛查量表(RBDSQ)评估,根据结果将患者分为临床RBD组、亚临床RBD组和无RBD组。应用统一PD评定量表第三部分(UPDRSⅢ)、Hoehn-Yahr(H-Y)分级、汉密尔顿焦虑抑郁量表(HAMA14、HAMD24)、匹兹堡睡眠指数量表(PSQI)、MMSE、蒙特利尔认知评估量表(Mo CA)评估患者的运动及非运动症状,应用TCD检测患者黑质回声强度,对患者服用抗PD药物进行左旋多巴等效剂量(LDE)换算。结果最终入组56例患者,根据PSG和RBDSQ结果分为临床RBD组25例,亚临床RBD组22例,无RBD组9例。临床RBD组及亚临床RBD组病程明显短于无RBD组,两组患者所需的左旋多巴等效剂量(LDE)均多于无RBD组(均P0.05)。临床RBD组的H-Y分级和PSQI评分均显著高于亚临床RBD组及无RBD组,亚临床RBD组的H-Y分级和PSQI评分显著高于无RBD组(均P0.05)。临床RBD组TCD阳性检出率高于无RBD组(P0.05)。RBDSQ评分与病程呈负相关,与H-Y分级、LDE、PSQI评分呈正相关(均P0.05)。结论 PD患者RBD发生率高,伴RBD的患者病程短,RBD的严重程度与患者H-Y分级、LDE和总体睡眠质量显著相关。伴有临床RBD的PD患者黑质强回声的发生率高。     

早期帕金森病患者非运动性症状与健康相关生活质量的研究:随机对照临床试验

目的 探讨早期帕金森病患者非运动性症状与健康相关生活质量的关系,以及健康相关生活质量的影响因素.方法 391例原发性帕金森病患者,采用美国国立卫生研究院流行病学研究中心抑郁量表(CES-D)、匹兹堡睡眠质量指数(PSQI)、疲劳量表(FSS)、阿尔茨海默病评价量表-认知分量表(ADAS-Cog)和便秘量表(CSS)评价其抑郁、睡眠障碍、疲劳、认知障碍和便秘程度,简化36医疗结局研究量表(SF-36)评价其健康相关生活质量.结果 391例患者中,抑郁、睡眠障碍、疲劳、记忆障碍和便秘者分别占37.34%(146/391)、54.73%(214/391)、40.15%(157/391)、34.78%(136/391)和46.55%(182/391).抑郁症状者与无抑郁症状者(t=18.469,P=0.000)、睡眠障碍者与无睡眠障碍者(t=7.411,P=0.000)、疲劳者与无疲劳者(t=3.992,P=0.000)比较,SF-36总评分差异具有统计学意义;而记忆障碍者与无记忆障碍者(t=1.234,P=0.221)、便秘者与无便秘者(t=2.032,P:0.051)比较,SF-36总评分差异无统计学意义.将CES-D评分、PSQI评分和FSS评分引入同归方程,R2值由0.277增至0.649,提示SF-36总评分可被预测的部分由27.70%增至64.90%;CES-D评分不仅对SF-36总评分有预测价值,而且对8个维度评分均有预测价值(P<0.05).结论 早期帕金森病患者普遍存在非运动性症状,其中抑郁、睡眠障碍、疲劳是导致健康相关生活质量恶化的主要原因.抑郁全面影响患者健康相关生活质量,是早期帕金森病患者健康相关生活质奄恶化的最强预测因素.     

帕金森病伴发疲劳的影响因素分析

目的 分析帕金森病(PD)患者疲劳的影响因素及其临床症状特点,为PD伴发疲劳的治疗提供参考。方法 病例对照研究,选取2019年1月-2020年12月包头医学院第二附属医院神经内科收治的155例PD患者,根据疲劳严重度量表(FSS),PD无疲劳组(FSS>4分)59例,PD伴发疲劳组(FSS≤4分)96例。采用统一帕金森病评定量表第三部分(MDS-UPDRSⅢ)、Hoehn-Yahr(H-Y)分级、汉密尔顿抑郁量表(HAMA)17项、汉密尔顿焦虑量表(HAMD)14项、帕金森病睡眠量表(PDSS)中文版、简易精神状态量表等评估患者的运动症状和非运动症状。采用疲劳量表-14(FS-14)对PD患者的躯体疲劳、脑力疲劳进行评分。PD患者依据MDS-UPDRSⅡ～Ⅲ条目计算震颤类项目总分和姿势异常-步态障碍类项目总分。结果 与非疲劳组比较,疲劳组患者MDS-UPDRSⅢ、H-Y评分、HAMA、HAMD、病程均增高,PDSS降低(P<0.05)。MDS-UPDRSⅢ评分(OR=1.105,P=0.011)、抑郁(OR=1.160,P=0.028)是疲劳的独立危险因素。脑力疲劳与HAM...     

帕金森病两种常见睡眠障碍关联性研究

研究背景阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征(OSAHS)和快速眼动睡眠期行为障碍(RBD)是帕金森病(PD)两种常见睡眠障碍,本研究探讨帕金森病合并两种睡眠障碍的临床特点和睡眠参数变化,以及二者之间相互作用机制。方法采用统一帕金森病评价量表(UPDRS)、简易智能状态检查量表(MMSE)和蒙特利尔认知评价量表(MoCA)中文版、Epworth嗜睡量表(ESS)和匹兹堡睡眠质量指数(PSQI)、非运动症状问卷(NMSQuest)、帕金森病预后量表-自主神经功能部分(SCOPA-AUT)、39项帕金森病调查表(PDQ-39)和Hoehn-Yahr分期评价190例帕金森病患者运动症状、非运动症状(认知功能、睡眠质量、自主神经功能等)和病情严重程度,并行多导睡眠图监测记录睡眠参数。结果共73例合并阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征患者,其中22例同时发生快速眼动睡眠期行为障碍(PD+OSAHS+RBD组),51例不发生快速眼动睡眠期行为障碍(PD+OSAHS-RBD组)。PD+OSAHS+RBD组患者UPDRSⅠ评分(P=0.015)、UPDRSⅡ评分(P=0.023)、ESS评分(P=0.002)、PSQI评分(P=0.048)、NMSQuest评分(P=0.001)和SCOPA-AUT评分(P=0.026),以及平均动脉血氧饱和度(P=0.029)、最低动脉血氧饱和度(P=0.001)、快速眼动睡眠期最低动脉血氧饱和度(P=0.000)、快速眼动睡眠期紧张性(P=0.000)和时相性(P=0.000)下颏肌电活动均高于PD+OSAHS-RBD组,而MoCA评分低于PD+OSAHS-RBD组(P=0.013)。相关分析显示,呼吸暂停低通气指数和氧减指数与NMSQuest(r_s=0.252,P=0.032;r_s=0.229,P=0.010)、SCOPA-AUT(r_s=0.322,P=0.005;r_s=0.247,P=0.037)和PDQ-39(r_s=0.340,P=0.004;r_s=0.269,P=0.023)评分呈正相关关系。结论帕金森病同时合并阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征和快速眼动睡眠期行为障碍的患者认知功能障碍、日间嗜睡程度、自主神经功能障碍等非运动症状更加严重。尽管发生快速眼动睡眠期行为障碍的患者夜间动脉血氧饱和度较高,但并不能显著改善帕金森病合并阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征患者总体缺氧症状。     

帕金森病与疲劳

目的探讨异质性帕金森病(Parkinson’s disease,PD)患者出现疲劳的临床特征及疲劳与运动及非运动症状的关联,明确症状的归属,以期寻找缓解症状的治疗方法。方法连续收集2014-04-2016-06就诊于广州市第一人民医院神经科运动障碍疾病门诊及住院的144例PD患者的病历资料,按帕金森病异质分组原则分组,全部患者采用疲劳严重程度(fatigue severity scale,FSS)和疲劳量表(fatigue scale,FS-14)评价疲劳,同时完成PD运动症状(motor symptoms,MS)、非运动症状(nomotor symptoms,NMS)、日常生活能力及质量相关的量表分析。结果 144例PD患者中,有疲劳症状60例(41.47%),疲劳组中早期PD且无其他NMS症状10例。异质性帕金森病不同组别比较显示强直为主型、女性及中晚期PD患者发生疲劳机会增加。单因素分析示,PD患者年龄、病程、H-Y分级、运动症状评分(UPDRS评分Ⅲ(R)、UPDRS评分Ⅲ总分)及UPDRSⅣ部分得分疲劳组得分均高于非疲劳组;非运动症状评分(NMSS)提示,疲劳组患者的NMS出现程度及频率均较非疲劳组严重,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);疲劳组精神情绪总体状况(UPDRSⅠ)、抑郁(HAMD)、焦虑(HAMA)、白天嗜睡(ESS)均明显高于非疲劳组;MMSE评分证实2组患者智能正常,差异无统计学意义(P0.05),但疲劳组较非疲劳组MMSE得分有下降趋势;疲劳组日常生活动能力(UPDRSⅡ)和生活质量PDQ39评分均显著高于非疲劳组,英格兰日常生活能力量表Schwab显著低于非疲劳组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。多重线性回归分析,NMSS程度、焦虑、抑郁评分与疲劳显著相关。结论 PD患者疲劳的发生率高;异质性帕金森病发生疲劳几率不同;单因素分析疲劳组PD患者病程更长,运动症状及病情更严重,NMS更多、更重,生活质量更差;NMSS的程度、焦虑、抑郁是导致疲劳的主要原因;部分疲劳组患者的疲劳发生与MS及NMS无关,提示疲劳可能是PD病程中的独立的非运动症状之一。     

帕金森病疲劳症状特点及其与其他症状的相关分析

目的探讨帕金森病患者疲劳症状特点及其与其他症状的相关性。方法共100例原发性帕金森病患者,根据疲劳严重程度评分(FSS)分为疲劳组(FSS评分4分,58例)和非疲劳组(FSS评分≤4分,42例),采用统一帕金森病评价量表第三部分(UPDRSⅢ)、修订的Hoehn-Yahr分期和改良Webster症状评分评价运动症状;非运动症状量表(NMSS)、简易智能状态检查量表(MMSE)、汉密尔顿抑郁量表(HAMD)、汉密尔顿焦虑量表(HAMA)、Epworth嗜睡量表(ESS)和匹兹堡睡眠质量指数(PSQI)评价非运动症状;统一帕金森病评价量表第二部分(UPDRSⅡ)评价日常生活活动能力和39项帕金森病调查表(PDQ-39)评价生活质量。结果 100例帕金森病患者中58例存在疲劳症状,发生率58%。帕金森病疲劳组白天打盹(χ~2=16.256,P=0.000)、疲劳(χ~2=84.639,P=0.000)、缺乏兴趣(χ~2=10.705,P=0.001)、主动性下降(χ~2=9.350,P=0.002)、情绪低落(χ~2=9.350,P=0.002)、焦虑和(或)惊恐情绪(χ~2=4.625,P=0.032)、情感平淡(χ~2=22.032,P=0.000)、快感缺失(χ~2=18.247,P=0.000)、记忆力减退(χ~2=4.366,P=0.037)、尿急(χ~2=5.774,P=0.016)、尿频(χ~2=5.774,P=0.016)、性生活困难(χ~2=3.877,P=0.049)、嗅觉或味觉减退(χ~2=5.360,P=0.021)发生率,以及UPDRSⅢ评分(t=6.374,P=0.000)、修订的Hoehn-Yahr分期(Z=-3.345,P=0.001)和改良Webster症状评分(t=6.819,P=0.000),NMSS(t=2.923,P=0.011)、HAMD(Z=-2.451,P=0.014)、HAMA(t=5.417,P=0.000)和ESS(Z=-2.116,P=0.034)评分,UPDRSⅡ(Z=-3.115,P=0.002)和PDQ-39(Z=-2.696,P=0.007)评分均高于非疲劳组且差异有统计学意义。Spearman秩相关分析显示,FSS评分与改良Webster症状评分(rs=0.622,P=0.000)、NMSS评分(rs=0.611,P=0.000)呈高度正相关,与病程(rs=0.582,P=0.000)、UPDRSⅢ评分(rs=0.573,P=0.000)、修订的Hoehn-Yahr分期(rs=0.542,P=0.000)、HAMD评分(rs=0.505,P=0.000)、HAMA评分(rs=0.477,P=0.000)、ESS评分(rs=0.474,P=0.000)、PSQI评分(rs=0.410,P=0.000)、UPDRSⅡ评分(rs=0.559,P=0.000)和PDQ-39评分(rs=0.578,P=0.000)呈中度正相关,而与MMSE评分呈低度负相关(rs=-0.258,P=0.000)。结论帕金森病患者疲劳症状发生率较高,且与其他症状之间存在相关性,严重影响生活质量。     

Epilepsy and anomalies of neuronal migration: MRI and clinical aspects

Neuronal migration disorders are the result of disturbed brain development. In such disorders, neurons are abnormally located. In diagnosing these conditions, magnetic resonance imaging is superior to any other imaging technique. This enables us to improve our knowledge of the clinical correlates of neuronal migration. With reference to migrational disorder, a retrospective study of all 303 patients with epileptic seizures referred for magnetic resonance imaging during a 3-year period was performed, 13 patients (aged 12-41, mean age 27) were identified. They represent 4.3% of the entire study group. Of the patients with known epilepsy, 6.7% and of the mentally retarded, 13.7% had migrational disorders. Four patients had schizencephaly as the dominant finding, one was classified as hemimegalencephaly, 2 had isolated heterotopias, and 6 had localized pachy- and/or poly-microgyria. The clinical pictures are complex. Ectopias of grey matter are recognised foci of epilepsy, but from an epileptological and a clinical viewpoint little attention has been given to these disorders. The present study shows that malmigration is not rare in epilepsy patients, especially not in the mentally retarded.     

Hepatic Considerations in the Use of Antiepileptic Drugs

Summary: Virtually all of the major antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) can cause hepatotoxicity, although fatal hepatic reactions are rare. The mechanisms, incidences, and risk profiles for such reactions differ from drug to drug. With carbamazepine and phenytoin, hepatotoxicity may be due to drug hypersensitivity. Although the profiles of patients at risk have not been well-defined for these two antiepileptic drugs, it would appear from reports in the literature that older adolescents and adults are at higher risk than children of developing serious or fatal hepatotoxicity. Once hepatotoxicity develops, mortality rates are 10–38% with phenytoin and 25% for carbamazepine. The risk profile for valproate fatal hepatotoxicity has been more clearly defined. Those at primary risk of fatal hepatic dysfunction are children under the age of 2 years who are receiving multiple anticonvulsants and also have significant medical problems in addition to severe epilepsy. The risk is considerably lower for patients over the age of 2 years on valproate monotherapy. In contrast to the risk profile with other AEDs, adults receiving valproate as monotherapy have the lowest risk of hepatotoxicity. Fatal hepatic dysfunction coincident with valproate may be the result of aberrant drug metabolism. Concomitant use of AEDs that induce microsomal P450 enzymes (e.g., phenytoin and phenobarbital) may enhance the production of a toxic metabolite, and hence the greater risk of hepatotoxicity with polypharmacy.     

Vascular Malformations and Epilepsy: Clinical Considerations and Basic Mechanisms

Summary: Vascular malformations (VMs) are associated with epilepsy. The natural history of the various VMs, clinical presentation, and tendency to provoke epilepsy determine treatment strategies. Investigations have probed the mechanisms of epileptogenesis associated with these lesions. Electrophysiologic changes are associated with epileptogenic cortex adjacent to VMs. Putative pathophysiologic mechanisms of epileptogenesis include neuronal cell loss, glial proliferation and abnormal glial physiology, altered neurotransmitter levels, free radical formation, and aberrant second messenger physiology.     

Classification of methods in transcranial Electrical Stimulation (tES) and evolving strategy from historical approaches to contemporary innovations

Transcranial Electrical Stimulation (tES) encompasses all methods of non-invasive current application to the brain used in research and clinical practice. We present the first comprehensive and technical review, explaining the evolution of tES in both terminology and dosage over the past 100 years of research to present day. Current transcranial Pulsed Current Stimulation (tPCS) approaches such as Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES) descended from Electrosleep (ES) through Cranial Electro-stimulation Therapy (CET), Transcerebral Electrotherapy (TCET), and NeuroElectric Therapy (NET) while others like Transcutaneous Cranial Electrical Stimulation (TCES) descended from Electroanesthesia (EA) through Limoge, and Interferential Stimulation. Prior to a contemporary resurgence in interest, variations of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation were explored intermittently, including Polarizing current, Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (GVS), and Transcranial Micropolarization. The development of these approaches alongside Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) and pharmacological developments are considered. Both the roots and unique features of contemporary approaches such as transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) and transcranial Random Noise Stimulation (tRNS) are discussed. Trends and incremental developments in electrode montage and waveform spanning decades are presented leading to the present day. Commercial devices, seminal conferences, and regulatory decisions are noted. We conclude with six rules on how increasing medical and technological sophistication may now be leveraged for broader success and adoption of tES.     

Carbamazepine Efficacy and Utilization in Children

Summary: Carbamazepine is effective for preventing partial and generalized tonic-clonic seizures in children. Although absence epilepsies are more common in children than adults, an estimated 80% of children with epilepsy have seizure types or epilepsies that are potentially responsive to carbamazepine. The differential diagnosis of ictal staring is an especially important issue in children because absence and atypical absence seizures are more prevalent in children than adults. Age-related pharmacokinetic differences and drug interactions are major considerations in children. On average, children have higher clearance rates of carbamazepine, shorter half-lives, and higher ratios of carbamazepine-10, 11-epoxide to carbamazepine than adults. In addition, children with severe epilepsy are more likely to require multiple-drug therapy, which can lead to complex drug interactions. When carbamazepine is administered along with valproate, drug protein binding interactions can cause intermittent side effects.     

Neonatal Seizures: Problems in Diagnosis and Classification

Summary: The clinical identification of neonatal seizures is critical for the recognition of brain dysfunction; however, diagnosis is often difficult because of the poorly organized and varied nature of these behaviors. Current classification systems are limited in their ability to communicate motor, autonomic, and electroencephalo-graphic features of seizures precisely and to provide a basis for uniform effective diagnosis, therapy, and determination of prognosis. Recent investigations of neonates, utilizing bedside electroencephalographic/polygraphic/ video monitoring techniques, have provided the basis for improved diagnosis and classification of seizures in the newborn. These studies have demonstrated that not all clinical phenomena currently considered to be seizures require electrocortical epileptiform activity for their initiation or elaboration. In addition, the specific clinical character of the phenomena considered to be seizures, the clinical state of the infant, and the character of the EEG indicate the probable pathophysiological mechanisms involved and suggest probable etiologies, prognosis, and therapy. Similarities between animal models that demonstrate reflex physiology and neonates with motor automatisms and tonic posturing suggest that these clinical behaviors may not be epileptic in origin but, rather, primitive movements of progression and posture mediated by brainstem mechanisms. Although not all clinical behaviors currently considered to be neonatal seizures may have similar pathophysiological mechanisms, they are clinically significant because they all indicate brain dysfunction.     

Valproate Monotherapy in the Management of Generalized and Partial Seizures

Summary: For decades, therapeutic tradition has promoted the concept of polypharmacy in the management of epilepsy. In recent years, however, studies have shown that, for most patients, monotherapy can provide comparable or better seizure control than administration of multiple anticonvulsants, while diminishing the potential for adverse reactions, drug interactions, and poor compliance. Valproate is an important monotherapeutic agent that is highly effective in the control of idiopathic primary and secondarily generalized epilepsies, and partial seizures that do not generalize. Comparative studies have found that valproate is at least as effective as phenytoin and carbamazepine in the treatment of generalized and partial seizures. Given the similar efficacy, other factors such as pharmacokinetics and side effects may therefore determine anticonvulsant selection for monotherapy.     

Un nouveau cadre conceptuel de travail pour la psychiatrie

In an attempt to place psychiatric thinking and the training of future psychiatrists more centrally into the context of modern biology, the author outlines the beginnings of a new intellectual framework for psychiatry that derives from current biological thinking about the relationship of mind to brain. The purpose of this framework is twofold. First, it is designed to emphasize that the professional requirements for future psychiatrists will demand a greater knowledge of the structure and functioning of the brain than is currently available in most training programs. Second, it is designed to illustrate that the unique domain which psychiatry occupies within academic medicine, the analysis of the interaction between social and biological determinants of behavior, can best be studied by also having a full understanding of the biological components of behavior.