Curariform peripheral block of muscular tone selectively increases precentral N30 somatosensory evoked potentials component. A pharmacological study carried out on healthy subjects and parkinsonian syndromes.

In the present study we investigated whether the precentral component (N30) of short somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) to median nerve stimulation may be modified by peripheral neuromuscular blocking agent in patients affected by rigidity. We, therefore, recorded SEPs in nine Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and in seven psychotic patients affected by neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), all showing severe rigidity. Each patient group was studied before and after the placebo, and before and after an atracurium besilate bolus of 0.

Cerebrospinal fluid estrone in pseudotumor cerebri: a change in cerebral steroid hormone metabolism?

Estrogen and androgen hormones were studied in the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of five patients affected by pseudotumor cerebri (PTC). Six men and six women without cerebral or endocrine diseases were selected as controls. Androstenedione (A), testosterone (T), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OH-P), E1 and E2 were measured in plasma and CSF in baseline conditions and following 1 month prednisone therapy (2 mg/die, per os) using RIA following chromatographic separation on celite microcolumns.

[Replacement of the mitral and aortic valves with bioprostheses. Long-term results].

The purpose of the study was to analyze the medium-term results (late mortality, thromboembolism, valve failure) in patients who underwent bioprosthetic valve replacement at "A. De Gasperis" Cardiovascular Surgery Division. From October 1975 to December 1982, 195 patients were consecutively operated on and discharged (118 with mitral prosthesis, 54 with aortic prosthesis, 22 with mitral and aortic prosthesis, 1 with mitral and tricuspid prosthesis).

Effects of distraction on the contingent negative variation in presenile dementia and normal subjects.

The authors recorded contingent negative variation (CNV) in a group of subjects affected by presenile dementia, at the onset of the symptoms, with a slight degree of intellectual deterioration. Recordings were carried out in rest basal conditions and upon administration of an insignificant distracting stimulus. Results were compared with data obtained in a group of normal subjects of the same age under the same experimental conditions.

[Ebstein's malformation. Report of 9 cases surgically treated (author's transl)].

Nine patients with Ebstein's malformation have undergone surgical repair since 1971. Their ages ranged from 10 to 49 years. Two patients were in functional class II and six in III.