1,721,060 research outputs found
Hypoglossal nerve dysfunction in patients with acute stroke and sleep disordered breathing: a serotoninergic hypothesis.
No full textBrown et al. studied hypoglossal nerve function in acute stroke patients.[1] They demonstrated a high prevalence of nerve dysfunction and a significant correlation with the severity of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). The authors, due to the recording technique, did not classify this SDB as central or obstructive. As cases affected by previous peripheral neuropathy or OSA were excluded, what might have caused the deficit? Hypoglossal nerve function and upper airways patency are regulated by serotonin (5HT). Several studies have demonstrated that altered central networks, particularly serotoninergic, can contribute to OSA [2] as well as to central sleep apnea. [3] Moreover, Sunderram et al. [4] observed that a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), paroxetine hydrochloride, may activate motor neurons in the hypoglossal nucleus and increase genioglossal electromyographic (EMG) activity. We hypothesize that the hypoglossal nerve dysfunction observed in the study is --at least pa
Giant subcortical high-frequency SEPs in idiopathic generalized epilepsy: A protective mechanism against seizures?
No full textobjective: recently, we found that high-frequency somatosensory evoked potentials (HF-SEPs), which are modulated by arousal-related structures, were abnormally enhanced during N-REM sleep in two seizure-free IGE patients [restuccia d, rubino m, valeriani m, della marca g. increase of brainstem high-frequency SEP subcomponents during light sleep in seizure-free epileptic patients. clin neurophysiol 2005; 116: 1774-1778]. Here, we aimed at verifying whether similar HF-SEP abnormalities were significantly correlated to the clinical outcome in a larger population of untreated IGE patients. methods: patients were classified as juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME; six patients) and childhood or juvenile absence epilepsy (CAE and JAE, six patients). they were untreated because newly diagnosed, or because seizure-free. HF-SEPs from patients were compared with those obtained from 21 healthy volunteers. results: HF-SEPs were abnormally enhanced in all seizure-free CAE-JAE patients, whereas they were normal in all JME patients and in CAE-JAE patients with frequent seizures. not only scalp distribution, but also dipolar source analysis suggested a subcortical origin for these enhanced subcomponents, possibly in the brainstem. conclusions: the enhancement of HF-SEPs might reflect the hyperactivity of arousal-related brainstem structures; such an enhancement was found in all seizure-free CAE-JAE patients, while it was never observed in JME patients. significance: we speculate that the hyperactivity of arousal-related brainstem structures might account for the different clinical outcome among IGE subsyndromes. (c) 2006 international federation of clinical neurophysiology
Electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phones and EEG spiking frequency in patients with focal epilepsy.
No full textObjective: Despite the increase in mobile telephone technology use and possible effects on brain excitability, no studies have investigated the impact of GSM like (Global System for Mobile Communications) signal on the ongoing spiking activity in human epileptic patients.
Methods: Brain electrical (electroencephalogram, EEG) activity of 12 patients with focal epilepsy has been recorded under both Real and Sham exposure following a double-blind, crossover, counterbalanced design: before the exposure (pre-exposure/baseline session), during the Real or Sham 45 minutes exposure (during-exposure session), and after the exposure (post-exposure session). As dependent variables both spiking activity (spikes count) and EEG quantitative indices (spectral power and coherence data) have been considered.
Results: Spiking activity tended to be lower under Real than under Sham exposure. EEG spectral content analysis indicated a significant increase of Gamma band under Real exposure, mainly evident in Parieto-occipital and Temporal areas. Connectivity data indicated increased interhemispheric (left temporal to right frontal Regions of Interest, ROIs) instantaneous coherence, in the Beta frequency band during-exposure with respect to baseline session. No significant modification of lagged coherence was observed.
Conclusions: Acute GSM exposure in epileptic patients slightly influences their EEG properties, without reaching any clinical relevance.
Significance: No signs were found of an increased risk of incoming seizures for these patients as a consequence of using mobile phones
Immancabile è l'insonnia: Nuove prospettive sullo studio delle alterazioni del sonno nella depressione
No full textSnoring and nocturnal oxygen desaturations in an Italian middle-aged male population. Epidemiologic study with an ambulatory device.
No full textHeart rate variability modification after Adult Attachment Interview in dissociative patients
No full textThe aim of this study was to assess heart rate variability (HRV) in individuals with dissociative disorders (DD) before and after the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI). Electrocardiograms were recorded before, during, and after the AAI in 13 individuals with DD and 13 healthy participants matched for age and gender. Significant change in HRV was observed only in the DD group. After the AAI, those with DD showed significant increases in the low frequency/high frequency ratio (pre-AAI = 1.91 ± 1.19; post-AAI = 4.03 ± 2.40; Wilcoxon test = –2.76, p = .005). Our results suggest that the retrieval of childhood attachment experiences in individuals with DD is associated with a change in HRV patterns that could reflect the emotion dysregulation of dissociative psychopathological processe
Tensor veli palatini electromyography for monitoring Eustachian tube rehabilitation in otitis media
No full textBackground: The pathogenesis of otitis media is related to Eustachian tube dysfunction. The tensor veli palatini muscle actively opens the Eustachian tube and promotes middle-ear ventilation. This study describes a technique for paratubal electromyography that uses a surface, non-invasive electrode able to record tensor veli palatini muscle activity during swallowing. Methods: Twenty otitis media patients and 10 healthy patients underwent tensor veli palatini electromyography. Activity of this muscle before and after Eustachian tube rehabilitation was also assessed. Results: In 78.5 per cent of patients, the electromyography duration phase and/or amplitude were reduced in the affected side. The muscle action potential was impaired in all patients who underwent Eustachian tube rehabilitation. Conclusion: This study confirmed that Eustachian tube muscle dysfunction has a role in otitis media pathogenesis and showed that muscle activity increases after Eustachian tube rehabilitation therapy
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