Pathophysiologic mechanisms of hydrocephalus.

Hydrocephalus is caused by a disequilibrium of forces at the ventricular-cerebral interface and may be progressive either due to a continued disequilibrium of forces or due to continued progressive periventricular ischemic injury. Treatment is indicated in all patients with progressive neurological deficit associated with progressive ventricular enlargement. Whenever possible, treatment should be directed toward the cause of the hydrocephalus (e.

The effect of pharmacologic acetylcholine receptor on fibrillation and myotonia in rat skeletal muscle.

Myotonic discharges in rats given 20, 25-diazacholesterol hydrochloride and fibrillation discharges in denervated rat muscle both were silenced by procaine hydrochloride, tetrodotoxin or ischemia, or potassium chloride (after initial activation). They both were activated by succinylcholine, but only the fibrillations were silenced by alpha-bungarotoxin or atropine sulfate. It is hypothesized that fibrillations and diazacholesterol-induced myotonia are mediated through mechanisms involving ionic channels, that both can be produced by activation of the junctional/nonjunctional acetylcholine receptors (or some mechanism coupled to the receptors), but that an unfettered alpha-bungarotoxin-binding portion of the acetylcholine-receptor molecule and an unblocked atropine-binding site are obligatory only for production of fibrillations.

Mania in childhood. II. Therapeutic trial of lithium carbonate and further description of manic-depressive illness in children.

Six children with childhood mania were identified using established diagnostic criteria. Poor response to tranquilizers led to a therapeutic trial of lithium carbonate. Outpatient administration of lithium carbonate in dosages of 30 to 40 mg/kg/day produced therapeutic blood lithium levels, and improved manic symptoms in all six children.

Relationship of hyperactivity and depression in children.

From questionnaires completed by parents and teachers and clinical assessment by a physician 223 school age children were evaluated for childhood depression. Data showed hyperactivity and depression occurred independently but were frequently associated, especially when hyperactivity was episodic.

Childhood depression: an explanation of a behavior disorder of children.

Depression is an important cause of behavioral disturbances in children. Childhood depression is an episodic disorder characterized by 10 criteria, symptoms of dysphoric mood, self-deprecatory ideation, agitation, loss of energy, reduced socialization, altered school performance, altered school attitude, sleep disturbance, appetite disturbance, and somatic compliants persisting for at least one month. Diagnosis and appropriate treatment can successfully alleviate the symptomatology in depressed children.

Characteristics of the Inside-of-the Body Test drawings performed by normal school children.

The Inside-of-the-Body test was administered to an unselected group of 150 elementary school children in Grades 1 to 6. The most frequently identified body part was the heart. Musculoskeletal and visible body parts were identified in younger children.

Mania in childhood: case studies and literature review.

Criteria for mania in children have been established on the basis of criteria for mania in adults. Mania in children is an episodic disorder characterized by marked irritability and agitation, a considerable increase in activity level, push of speech, sleep disturbances, distractability, and noticeable mood instability that persists for longer than one month. Euphoria is frequently present in children with mania and is manifested as an adamant denial of any illness or problem.