Historical documents on epilepsy: From antiquity through the 20th century.

Historical documents dating back almost 4500years have alluded to the condition of epilepsy, describing signs and symptoms that are well-known today. Epilepsy was thought to be a mystical disorder by almost all Ancient cultures, including the Babylonians, Egyptians, Greeks, Indians, Iranians and Chinese. Hippocrates was the first to de-mystify the condition of epilepsy, providing a more scientific approach to the condition.

Cerebral Palsy: A Lifelong Challenge Asks for Early Intervention.

One of the oldest and probably well-known examples of cerebral palsy is the mummy of the Pharaoh Siptah about 1196-1190 B.C., and a letter from Hippocrates (460-390 B.

Highights in the history of epilepsy: the last 200 years.

The purpose of this study was to present the evolution of views on epilepsy as a disease and symptom during the 19th and the 20th century. A thorough study of texts, medical books, and reports along with a review of the available literature in PubMed was undertaken. The 19th century is marked by the works of the French medical school and of John Hughlings Jackson who set the research on epilepsy on a solid scientific basis.

Prognostic factors for subsequent epilepsy in children with febrile seizures.

Objective: Epilepsy following febrile seizures (FS) has been estimated between 2% and 7%. It concerns a prospective study in a large sample of children with a long-term follow-up. The aim of this study is to identify the prognostic factors that can lead children with FS to epilepsy.

Febrile seizures: recent developments and unanswered questions.

Background: Febrile seizures (FS) are typically observed in infants and children affecting 2-5 % of the pediatric population and are the commonest seizures in childhood.

Objectives: The present review summarizes epidemiology, etiology, clinical picture, and diagnostic procedures as well as the therapeutic options and the different courses this disorder may take.

Method: An extensive review of literature is performed, while views and aspects towards the pathogenesis of FS are stated.

Helicobacter pylori infection has no impact on manometric and pH-metric findings in adolescents and young adults with gastroesophageal reflux and antral gastritis: eradication results to no significant clinical improvement.

The relationship between Helicobacter pylori (Hp) gastritis and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) remains controversial. The aim was to investigate the association between Hp infection and gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and the impact of Hp eradication on esophageal acid exposure and motility in adolescents and young adults with Hp gastritis and GERD. Sixty-four patients with symptoms suggestive for GERD, of which 40 Hp-positive (group A) and 24 Hp-negative (group B), underwent endoscopy-biopsy, esophageal manometry and 24-hour pH-metry.

Hallmarks in the history of enteral and parenteral nutrition: from antiquity to the 20th century.

Parenteral nutrition (PN) and enteral nutrition (EN) have a very long history, emerging in the ancient world and developing throughout the common epoch. This history dates back as far as 3500 bc to the ancient Egyptians, Indians, and Chinese. Their medical practices were the first reports of enteral feeding therapy, provided via rectum with enemas of wine, milk, whey, wheat, and barley.

Hallmarks in the history of cerebral palsy: from antiquity to mid-20th century.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a term that has been applied over the years to a group of children with motor disability and related service requirements. The first conceptions of cerebral palsy and our knowledge about aetiology and pathogeny allow us to assume that cerebral palsy existed in the Ancient World. Although there is lack of detailed medical descriptions from before the 19th century, mentions to cerebral palsy can be found in representational art, literary sources and paleopathology; however, because of the poor medical documentation, the diagnosis of cerebral palsy must remain a more or less well-justified supposition.

Neurocutaneous melanosis: report of three cases and up-to-date review.

Neurocutaneous melanosis is a rare noninherited embryonic neuroectodermal dysplasia, which is observed sporadically and never affects the entire integument. The hallmark of neurocutaneous melanosis in the neonatal period is the presence of a large bilateral hairy dark nevus with satellite nevi over the trunk and neck. The diagnosis should be considered in neonates with large pigmented nevi and in those with more than 3 hairy dark nevi regardless of their size.

Amphotericin B formulations variably enhance antifungal activity of human neutrophils and monocytes against Fusarium solani: comparison with Aspergillus fumigatus.

Objectives: Lipid formulations of amphotericin B (AMBF) are widely used in the treatment of life-threatening infections caused by Aspergillus fumigatus and Fusarium solani. We aimed to compare the immunomodulatory effects of four AMBF, deoxycholate (DAMB), liposomal (LAMB), lipid complex (ABLC) and colloidal dispersion (ABCD), on the oxidative antifungal activities of human neutrophils (PMNs) and monocytes (MNCs) against hyphae of A. fumigatus and F.

Which factors determine febrile seizure recurrence? A prospective study.

Purpose: Many factors have been studied as potential predictors of recurrent febrile seizures (FS), however the available data in literature are inconsistent. The aim of the present paper is to determine which factors are responsible for the first and for multiple recurrences of FS, in a large sample of children with a long-term follow up.

Methods: Two hundred and sixty children were followed after their first FS.

Increased prevalence of silent celiac disease among Greek epileptic children.

Celiac disease is an immune-mediated enteropathy triggered by the ingestion of gluten in genetically susceptible individuals. Many reports mention the association between epilepsy and celiac disease and the occasional presence of occipital corticosubcortical calcifications. We investigated 255 children with idiopathic epilepsy.

Effectiveness of intermittent diazepam prophylaxis in febrile seizures: long-term prospective controlled study.

The efficacy of intermittent rectal diazepam prophylaxis is assessed in the prevention of febrile seizures. In a prospective randomized cohort trial, 139 children (77 girls, 62 boys) who experienced a first febrile seizure were allocated to two groups: group A, which received intermittent diazepam (n = 68), and group B, which received no prophylaxis (n = 71). All children had a 3-year follow-up.

Successful treatment of epilepsy and celiac disease with a gluten-free diet.

Celiac disease is a gluten-sensitive enteropathy, which recently has been described in association with epilepsy or other neurologic disturbances. This study describes a case of a 7-year-old female with intractable-to-treatment epilepsy and late-onset celiac disease, who was treated successfully with a gluten-free diet plus antiepileptic therapy. It is important for children with intractable cases of epilepsy and weight loss to undergo screening for celiac disease.

Oxcarbazepine monotherapy in benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes: a clinical and cognitive evaluation.

We report on 70 patients (aged 5.2-11.6 years) newly diagnosed with benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS) who were assigned to oxcarbazepine (OXC) monotherapy.

Gastric emptying in children with cerebral palsy and gastroesophageal reflux.

Gastric emptying time is considered a factor in the increased frequency of gastroesophageal reflux in children with cerebral palsy. It is unknown if emptying time influences the severity of reflux. In this study, 76 cerebral palsy patients with reflux indicative symptoms were investigated by 24-hour pH monitoring.

Lissencephaly and mongolian spots in Hurler syndrome.

Hurler disease or syndrome is a disorder of mucopolysaccharide metabolism, inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. We describe a case of a 15-month-old female exhibiting with clinical and laboratory characteristics of the syndrome, central nervous system lesions (lissencephaly, excessive ventricular enlargement and Dandy Walker malformation with vermis atrophy, cerebellar cyst) and mongolian spots in the trunk and extremities. The combination of mongolian spots and severe central nervous system lesions in Hurler syndrome is considered a rare clinical occurrence, while the association with lissencephaly has never been reported.

Cerebral aspergillosis in an infant with corticosteroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome.

Cerebral aspergillosis is a devastating disease in patients with a compromised immune system. A unique case of a male infant with corticosteroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome complicated by pulmonary and cerebral aspergillosis is described. The patient rapidly developed coma and neurological symptoms and died soon thereafter.

An antiregurgitation milk formula in the management of infants with mild to moderate gastroesophageal reflux.

Background: Thickened milk formulas are used to treat infants with gastroesophageal reflux (GER), but these substances often increase the duration of reflux episodes and worsen symptoms, and they have been associated with diarrhea, constipation, and cough.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to determine the efficacy of an antiregurgitation milk formula in the clinical and laboratory setting in infants with proved GER, to investigate any possible adverse events (cough and change in the number of bowel movements or the consistency of stools), and to identify its effects on height and body weight.

Methods: Infants with recurrent vomiting and GER who were not responsive to standard treatment were eligible for the study.

Epilepsy in children with congenital hemiplegia: correlation between clinical, EEG and neuroimaging findings.

Objectives: the aim of this retrospective, multicentre study was to investigate the relationship between epilepsy, clinical, electroencephalographic (EEG) and neuroimaging findings in children with congenital hemiplegia (CH).

Patients And Methods: two hundred and three children with CH were assessed by history, neurological and developmental examination. Electroencephalogram (EEG) and CT/MRI brain imaging were performed in 150 of them (81/150 had an MRI and 69/150 had a CT scan).