Three-dimensional human pattern visual evoked potentials. II. Multiple sclerosis patients.

Pattern visual evoked potentials were obtained from 46 patients with definite relapsing/remitting multiple sclerosis, using both a conventional 5-channel occipital array and a 3-D recording technique consisting of three bipolar derivations approximating the three dimensions of space. These three orthogonal wave forms were displayed as a 3-D Lissajous trajectory for each subject. Two of the 15 patients with completely normal conventional pattern VEPs had abnormalities of the orientation of the B-C curvilinear segment of the 3-D pattern VEPs. Delays in the first major occipital positive component (P100) were evident using both techniques; the correlation between P100 latency and the latency of the corresponding trajectory apex was r = 0.99 (P less than 0.01). Post-chiasmal MRI abnormalities were associated with 3-D VEP orientation abnormalities. Three-dimensional pattern VEPs are moderately more sensitive than conventional pattern VEPs at detecting dysfunction posterior to the optic chiasm in demyelinating disease and do not require the use of eccentric fixation to do so.     

Effect of anesthesia on the impulse activity of hypothalamic neurons in rabbits]

Impulse activity of the anterior and posterior hypothalamus neurons was investigated in the unanaesthetised and anaesthetised (urethan and chloralose) rabbits. Anaesthesia is shown to induce a decrease of the mean firing rate, alteration of the impulse activity pattern and a decrease of the quantity of neurons, responding to the skin thermal stimulation. These changes are expressed most of all in the posterior hypothalamic neurons.     

Investigational drugs and research

This chapter will define investigational use for clinicians and outline FDA policies in this area in a simple and pragmatic way. Instances in which investigational use would require application to the FDA for an investigational New Drug Exemption (IND) and instances in which their use would require approval by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) will be described and examples given.     

Effect of selenium on the connective tissue metabolism in rats]

Rats were chronically exposed to poisonous sodium selenite in concentrations 0.5 mg/kg b. m. for 10 weeks. As a result, hydroxyproline contents in blood serum increased, as well as its excretion with urine. It was proved that the procedure enhanced urinary glycosaminoglycane excretion and increased the contents of the protein-related glycosaminoglycanes in the serum. This was accompanied by increased quantities of keratane sulphate and heparin sulphate. The results confirmed that selenium poisonings influenced connective tissues.     

Quantitative assessment of ALZ-50 immunoreactivity in Alzheimer's disease.

A quantitative assay for ALZ-50 immunoreactivity was evaluated in samples of superior temporal gyrus taken at autopsy from 13 Alzheimer patients and 11 controls. The assayable immunoreactivity appears to be stable for at least 24 hours postmortem but was lost with formalin fixation. The mean value of the Alzheimer patients was tenfold higher than that of the controls (P less than .002). The values of four Alzheimer samples overlapped with the low levels seen in controls, but no controls had elevated levels. In this sample population, therefore, the assay had a sensitivity of 69% and specificity of 100%.     

HEAD CIRCUMFERENCE AND INTELLECTUAL PERFORMANCE OF PATIENTS WITH DUCHENNE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY

The head circumferences of 64 patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy were measured and found to be greater than those of a normal population. The patients had relative, and in 12 cases, absolute macrocephaly. 47 of the 64 patients underwent intelligence testing and were found to be significantly intellectually impaired, particularly in verbal and language skills. There was no correlation between head circumference or absolute macrocephaly and intellectual performance. The cause of macrocephaly in these patients is unknown and its relevance to the aetiology of intellectual impairment in Duchenne muscular dystrophy is not yet clear.