Brain & development
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Brain & development · Sep 2007
Case ReportsIsolated neurosarcoidosis presenting as headache and multiple brain and spinal cord lesions mimicking central nervous system metastases.
Sarcoidosis is uncommon in children. Although isolated neurosarcoidosis has been seen in 15% adults with sarcoidosis, pediatric neurosarcoidosis is rarely reported. ⋯ The useful diagnostic investigations include magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and spinal cord, cerebrospinal fluid studies, brain and meningeal biopsy if feasible, chest radiography to reveal sarcoidosis, angiotensin-converting enzyme level in the serum or cerebrospinal fluid, and Kveim test when available. We herein report a case of isolated brain biopsy-confirmed neurosarcoidosis in a 17-year-old boy presenting with severe unilateral headache and multiple brain and spinal cord MRI lesions mimicking central nervous system metastases.
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Brain & development · Jun 2007
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyLevetiracetam or oxcarbazepine as monotherapy in newly diagnosed benign epilepsy of childhood with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS): an open-label, parallel group trial.
To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of levetiracetam or oxcarbazepine as monotherapy in children with newly diagnosed benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS). Twenty-one children (11 males, 10 females), aged between 5 and 13 years (mean 10.5 years), and 18 (10 M, 8 F), aged between 3.3 and 14 years (mean 8.4 years), were randomised to receive monotherapy with levetiracetam or oxcarbazepine, respectively. LEV was titrated up to 20-30 mg/kg/once or twice a day, and OXC up to 20-35 mg/kg once or twice a day. ⋯ Adverse side effects on LEV were reported in 3 children (14.3%), represented by mild and transient decreased appetite (2) and cephalalgia (1). They were reported on OXC in 2/18 (11.1%), including headache (1), and sedation (1). These preliminary data from an open, parallel group study suggest that levetiracetam and oxcarbazepine may be potentially effective and well tolerated drugs for children with BECTS who require treatment.
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Brain & development · May 2006
Factors of morbidity in hemispherectomies: surgical technique x pathology.
The objective of this paper is to evaluate factors of surgical morbidity from different techniques of hemispherectomy with emphasis on causative pathology. ⋯ Hemispherectomies are procedures where pathology and surgical technique interact narrowly. Therefore, in order to study surgical morbidity or outcome, both pathology and technique have to be analyzed independently.
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Brain & development · Apr 2006
Maternal swimming during pregnancy enhances short-term memory and neurogenesis in the hippocampus of rat pups.
In the present study, the effects of maternal swimming during pregnancy on the short-term memory ability, hippocampal neurogenesis, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA expression of rat pups were investigated. After confirming their pregnancy, the pregnant rats were divided into two groups: the control group and the swimming group. From the 15th day of pregnancy until delivery, pregnant rats were subcutaneously injected with 100mg/kg of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) once a day at 30min before the starting of swimming exercise. ⋯ The rat pups born from the maternal rats that performed swimming during pregnancy showed significantly increased BDNF mRNA expression, enhanced hippocampal neurogenesis, and improved short-term memory capability. The present results have clearly shown that maternal swimming by rats during pregnancy enhances the memory of the rats' offspring by increasing neurogenesis. Our present study provides the evidence that maternal exercise during the gestational period may enhance the brain functions of the mothers' offspring.
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Brain & development · Mar 2006
Comparative StudyNeuro-otological features of benign paroxysmal vertigo and benign paroxysmal positioning vertigo in children: a follow-up study.
Causes of benign episodic vertigo in paediatric age include benign paroxysmal vertigo of childhood (BPV) and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). ⋯ BPV differs from BPPV in terms of family history, clinical symptoms, otoneurological signs, therapy and clinical evolution. BPPV is characterized by specific otoneurological signs, and must be treated with liberatory maneuvers: neither medical therapy nor strict follow-up is needed.