Brain & development
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Brain & development · Jan 1994
ReviewRole of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) in pediatric anti-convulsant drug dosing.
The role of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) in patient care has grown rapidly since its introduction three decades ago. The role of a TDM service in establishing proper pediatric anti-epileptic drug (AED) use is described. ⋯ Finally, the potential role of TDM in the use of new AEDs is mentioned. These studies are given as examples of how professionals knowledgeable in clinical epilepsy management, clinical pharmacology and pharmacokinetics, can use TDM to design individualized dosage regimens, as well as assess compliance, toxicity and drug interactions.
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Brain & development · Mar 1992
Case ReportsTransient, unilateral, isolated hypoglossal nerve palsy.
We report a boy with isolated hypoglossal nerve palsy that recovered within twelve weeks. Investigations of the cervix, base of the skull, medulla and hypoglossal nerve by CT-scan and MRI did not show any abnormal findings. There are a few reports concerning isolated unilateral hypoglossal nerve palsy with benign course. Although we could not establish the cause of our patient's disease, an awareness of this condition should save such patients from unnecessary invasive studies.
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Brain & development · Jan 1991
Case ReportsHypocalcemic focal seizures in a one-month-old infant of a mother with a low circulating level of vitamin D.
We present a case of a one-month-old infant with hypocalcemia and rickets, with symptoms of focal seizures. The ictal EEG showed left occipital spikes spreading over all of the left hemisphere. ⋯ Hypocalcemia may be an important factor in the cause of focal seizures which start even after the age of one month. Further, investigation of maternal vitamin D levels should be done in infantile hypocalcemia.
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The Rett syndrome (RS) is associated with a neurological form of scoliosis. From 1985 we have instituted a postal survey of families with Rett girls. The prevalence of scoliosis in the survey population is 64%. ⋯ The scoliosis in RS is typically a long thoracolumbar curvature that progresses rapidly in girls over the age of 10 years. Operative treatment is successful in reducing the curvature, preventing curve progression and improving spinal balance for sitting and walking. The 5 girls who walked pre-operatively are still able to do so.
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Brain & development · Jan 1988
Comparative StudyThe treatment of acute polyradiculoneuritis with respiratory paralysis.
This paper reports 504 cases admitted with acute polyradiculoneuritis (AP) to Beijing Children's Hospital from 1975 through 1984. 343 of the 504 cases (68.1%) with AP had respiratory paralysis and in 198/504 (39.3%), tracheotomy was performed. In this study, none of the patients received steroids. ⋯ As a result, of 504 cases with AP 9 died, the mortality rate being 1.79%. The study suggests tracheotomy should be performed early and it is one of the most important procedures in the treatment of AP with respiratory paralysis.