European neurology
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The value of long-term EEG recordings for diagnosis and differential diagnosis of epilepsy is described. It is emphasized that long-term EEF monitoring increases the scope of EEG techniques and improves the diagnostic value of standard EEG recordings providing up to 90% positive diagnostic information. ⋯ Recording and scoring all-night sleep, it enables studying abnormalities of sleep patterns. In addition the value of long-term EEG recordings in therapy and control of epileptic patients is pointed out and discussed.
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Review Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
The clinical profile of sumatriptan: cluster headache.
Cluster headache is a rare form of severe idiopathic headache characterized by unilateral short-lasting episodes of excruciating pain in association with autonomic disturbances. Subcutaneous sumatriptan has been investigated as an acute treatment for cluster headache in two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trials. ⋯ The need for rescue medication (100% oxygen by inhalation) at 15 min was significantly lower after sumatriptan treatment as were the severity of functional disability and incidence of non-headache symptoms. Results of a long-term study indicate that the tolerability and efficacy of sumatriptan 6 mg is maintained in long-term use, and that there is no evidence of tachyphylaxis.
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In 12 adults with typical Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and partial epilepsies with secondary bilateral synchrony unsatisfactorily controlled by current antiepileptic drugs, the following computerized background EEG parameters were studied before and during beneficial antiepileptic effect of lamotrigine addition: absolute and relative spectral power density; alpha/theta index; dominant frequency of occipital alpha, theta and delta bands. The only significant influence of lamotrigine addition was a moderate decrease of the median and mean absolute delta power (p < 0.01). We concluded there was a poor influence of therapeutic doses of lamotrigine on the background diffuse slow dysrhythmias characteristic to severe early encephalopathies which engender both severe secondary epilepsies and different degrees of mental handicap.
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The objective of the study was to evaluate the relation between every-night (habitual) snoring, sleep apnea and cognitive complaints (concentration and memory problems) in an adult population-based sample. In the Dan-MONICA (MONItoring trends in CArdiovascular diseases) 1,504 males and females aged 30, 40, 50 and 60 years were classified according to their snoring habits. Nocturnal respiration was measured in 748 participants. ⋯ The main conclusion drawn from this study is that cognitive complaints show a high correlation to mood, insomnia, and hypersomnia. Habitual snoring and sleep apnea show a correlation to concentration problems, but not to memory complaints. This suggests that part of the association between snoring, sleep apnea and cognitive dysfunction is related to the presence of sleep disturbances and daytime sleepiness.