I131内放射治疗对成人恶性脑胶质瘤癫痫发作的影响

目的：探讨内放射治疗对胶质瘤引起的癫痫的影响。方法：回顾性分析2004年后利用I131内放射治疗的成人幕上恶性脑胶质瘤合并有癫痫发作的患者23例,统计其在治疗前1月及治疗后1月、2月时的癫痫发作频率和类型,并分析肿瘤体积变化与发作频率变化的关系。结果：治疗后1月癫痫发作无明显改变,治疗后2个月癫痫发作明显减少,13例无癫痫发作,另外10例有发作患者频率也明显下降,其中肿瘤缩小超过1／2者78％无癫痫发作。结论：I131内放射治疗的成人幕上恶性脑胶质瘤可以明显减少患者的癫痫发作。     

蝎毒对癫痫敏感性和海马GFAP释放的影响

目的和方法 :本工作用海人酸癫痫模型 ,通过对癫痫大鼠蝎毒治疗后行为变化及脑内胶质原纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)免疫反应活性的检测 ,对蝎毒抗癫痫反复发作的相关脑区及其机制做以初步探讨。结果 :癫痫大鼠蝎毒治疗三周后 ,能明显减少癫痫发作的例数 ,减轻癫痫发作的程度 ,使发作的潜伏期延长 (P <0 .0 5 )。免疫细胞化学的实验显示 ,蝎毒抗癫痫反复发作的相关脑区是海马。 8例蝎毒治疗的大鼠与实验对照组相比 ,有 6例背侧海马GFAP免疫染色明显减轻 ,未见星形胶质细胞增生 ;CA1区无明显神经元缺失 ;而且与空白对照组相比无显著差异。结论 :癫痫大鼠蝎毒治疗三周后 ,能明显减轻癫痫发作的行为 ,抑制海马星形胶质细胞的增生肥大 ,减轻海马神经元受损的程度。蝎毒抑制海马星形胶质细胞增生很可能是蝎毒抗癫痫反复发作的重要机制之一。     

颅内电极在感觉运动区皮质发育不良癫痫手术中的应用

目的:探讨长程颅内电极监测及电刺激方法,在感觉运动区皮质发育不良的难治性癫痫外科手术评估中的意义。方法:筛选MRI提示的皮质发育不良区域与重要功能区-感觉运动区位置关系密切的11例难治性癫痫患者,且头皮长程视频脑电监测及PET检查也初步提示癫痫发作与皮质发育不良所在脑区有关,在可疑脑区放置颅内电极,然后进行颅内电极长程视频脑电监测及电刺激检测,对癫痫起源位置及功能区定位,明确癫痫发作起源区域与感觉运动功能区的解剖学关系,在定位结果指导下进行切除术。结果:11例中3例位于左侧半球,8例位于右侧半球,11例感觉运动功能区皮质分布均存在不同程度变异,7例癫痫发作起源区域与感觉运动功能区一定范围重叠,其中5例与感觉区重叠,该5例切除了起源区域与发作有关的部分感觉区,2例部分致痫灶与运动区重叠,该2例仅切除了除与发作有关的运动区以外的癫痫起源区域,4例癫痫发作起源区域与感觉运动功能区相对独立,该4例完全切除癫痫发作起源区域;手术后6例患者发作消失,2例患者发作频率减少90%以上,1例癫痫发作控制无效,2例患者发生部分感觉缺失,但对生活无明显影响。结论:在皮质发育不良的癫痫患者中,有较高比例的病人伴有功能区皮层分布的变异,长程颅内电极监测及电刺激能够实现癫痫起源区域及功能区精确定位,明确功能区变异情况,对于指导病灶切除,避免损伤功能区皮质,减少术后并发症具有重要意义。     

卡马西平与丙戊酸钠对儿童癫痫部分性发作脑电图的临床对照研究

目的:探究卡马西平与丙戊酸钠对儿童癫痫部分发作患儿发作脑电图影响,并实施组间对照研究。方法:选择2017年1月至2020年1月于我院接受治疗的81例癫痫部分性发作患儿为研究对象,按照其接受治疗的差异将其分为卡马西平组(40例)和丙戊酸钠组(41例),对比两组患儿接受药物治疗后脑电图以及脑电地形图变化情况。结果:(1)卡马西平组患儿接受治疗后脑电图检测显示间歇期痫样活动减少≥50%者占比高达67.50%(27/40),而丙戊酸钠组占比仅为43.90%(18/41),两组比较差异明显(P<0.05);(2)脑电背景活动变化比较显示,治疗后卡马西平组患儿α波无影响者占比65.00%,明显高于丙戊酸钠组36.59%,同时丙戊酸钠组患儿δ波数(20 s内)药物治疗后变化较卡马西平组更为明显;(3)脑电功率比较显示,卡马西平组患儿治疗后仅θ频段相对功率出现明显变化(P<0.05),但丙戊酸钠组患儿α频段相对功率、θ频段相对功率和θ频段绝对功率均出现明显变化(P<0.05)。结论:丙戊酸钠应用于儿童癫痫部分性发作时患儿脑电背景活动会明显变慢,甚至有出现间歇期痫样放电的风险,而卡马西平相对更为稳定,对患儿脑电图的影响更小,安全性更高。     

维生素B补充治疗对高Hcy癫痫患者临床症状的影响分析

目的探讨维生素B补充治疗对高同型半胱氨酸(Hcy)癫痫患者临床症状的影响。方法选择2012年1月~2016年6月在在我院诊断明确的癫痫患者264例,其中伴轻度高Hcy(15.0~30.0μmol/L)150例,伴中重度高Hcy(30.0μmol/L)114例。以接受维生素B补充治疗的166例患者设为观察组,未接受维生素B补充治疗的98例患者设为对照组,并对两组患者随访1年,检测Hcy、叶酸、维生素B6、维生素B12水平,记录患者癫痫发作频率、抑郁症状、认知功能改变情况。结果中重度高Hcy患者的年龄、癫痫发作频率、癫痫持续状态、AEDs≥2种治疗以及高血压、糖尿病、吸烟的比例,Hcy水平均明显高于轻度高Hcy患者,叶酸水平、认知功能评分明显低于轻度高Hcy患者,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。相关性分析显示,Hcy水平与年龄呈正相关,与叶酸水平呈负相关;Hcy水平与维生素B6、维生素B12无明显线性关系。两组患者入组时各项指标比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗1年后,观察组Hcy水平、癫痫发作频率、抑郁症状评分明显降低,叶酸、维生素B6、维生素B12水平和认知功能明显增加,与治疗前比较差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。与同期对照组比较,Hcy水平明显降低,叶酸、维生素B12水平明显升高,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05);抑郁症状评分、认知功能评分比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。合并轻度高Hcy的观察组患者治疗1年后与对照组比较,Hcy水平明显降低,叶酸、维生素B12水平明显升高,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05);癫痫发作频率、抑郁症状评分、认知功能评分比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。合并中重度高Hcy的观察组患者治疗1年后与对照组比较,Hcy水平、癫痫发作频率、抑郁症状评分明显降低,叶酸、维生素B6、维生素B12、认知功能评分明显升高,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论对合并中重度高Hcy癫痫患者给予维生素B补充治疗可有效控制癫痫发作,改善精神和认知功能障碍;对轻度高Hcy癫痫患者不必立即给予维生素B补充治疗,应密切监测Hcy水平。     

甲亢低骨量患者131I治疗后干预治疗效果的评价

目的:研究甲亢低骨量患者131I治疗后干预治疗的效果.方法:对100例甲亢低骨量患者,随机分为两组:A组50例,131I治疗后口服钙尔奇D及罗盖全治疗;B组50例,131I治疗后骨质自然恢复.另设C组50例为正常对照组.于131I治疗前、治疗后3、6及12个月测定A、B两组骨密度(BMD),观察其骨质变化并评价治疗效果.结果:(1)A组随治疗时间延长BMD逐渐升高,具有一定的规律性,腰椎(L2-4)骨密度3个月提高明显(t=-2.111,P=-0.04)且12个月时达到与C组无统计学差异(t=-2.290,P=0.202).(2)B组3个月时腰椎BMD有所降低,12个月时升高明显(股骨颈t=-2.327,P=0.043;腰椎(L2-4)t=-2.798,P=0.000).(3)6个月时两组腰椎骨密度改善幅度出现统计学差异(t=-2.416,P=0.018),12个月时差异显著(t=-3.259,P=-0.002).结论:131I联合钙尔奇D与罗盖全治疗甲亢低骨量患者,其恢复时间及疗效均用131I治疗,能有效防止骨量的进一步下降及减少骨质疏松症的发生.     

颅内电极在感觉运动区皮质发育不良癫痫手术中的应用

目的：探讨长程颅内电极监测及电刺激方法,在感觉运动区皮质发育不良的难治性癫痫外科手术评估中的意义。方法：筛选MRI提示的皮质发育不良区域与重要功能区-感觉运动区位置关系密切的11例难治性癫痫患者,且头皮长程视频脑电监测及PET检查也初步提示癫痫发作与皮质发育不良所在脑区有关,在可疑脑区放置颅内电极,然后进行颅内电极长程视频脑电监测及电刺激检测,对癫痫起源位置及功能区定位,明确癫痫发作起源区域与感觉运动功能区的解剖学关系,在定位结果指导下进行切除术。结果：11例中3例位于左侧半球,8例位于右侧半球,11例感觉运动功能区皮质分布均存在不同程度变异,7例癫痫发作起源区域与感觉运动功能区一定范围重叠,其中5例与感觉区重叠,该5例切除了起源区域与发作有关的部分感觉区,2例部分致痫灶与运动区重叠,该2例仅切除了除与发作有关的运动区以外的癫痫起源区域,4例癫痫发作起源区域与感觉运动功能区相对独立,该4例完全切除癫痫发作起源区域;手术后6例患者发作消失,2例患者发作频率减少90%以上,1例癫痫发作控制无效,2例患者发生部分感觉缺失,但对生活无明显影响。结论：在皮质发育不良的癫痫患者中,有较高比例的病人伴有功能区皮层分布的变异,长程颅内电极监测及电刺激能够实现癫痫起源区域及功能区精确定位,明确功能区变异情况,对于指导病灶切除,避免损伤功能区皮质,减少术后并发症具有重要意义。     

罗盖全联合钙尔奇D治疗甲亢低骨量患者的疗效

为了探讨罗盖全联合钙尔奇D在治疗甲亢低骨量患者中的应用价值,本研究将100例甲亢低骨量患者随机分为两组,A组50例,碘131 (131I)治疗后服用钙尔奇D和罗盖全; B组50例,碘131 (131I)治疗后骨质自然恢复,C组20例为正常对照组。碘131(131I)治疗前及治疗后3个月、6个月和12个月时,测量各组骨密度的变化情况,评估治疗疗效。研究结果表明,A组的骨密度随着治疗时间延长而逐渐增加,腰椎(L2-4)治疗12个月后与C组相比无显著性差异(p0.05);B组腰椎(L2-4)在3个月后有所下降,12个月后明显增加(p=0.001);6个月后两组腰椎骨密度差异有统计学意义(p=0.023),12个月后差异更加明显(p=0.001)。本研究结果初步得出结论:碘131 (131I)联合钙尔奇D和罗盖全治疗的甲亢低骨量患者恢复时间和疗效优于单纯碘131 (131I)治疗,可有效防止骨量进一步减少,减少骨质疏松症的发生。     

脑胶质瘤组织中胞质多聚腺苷酸化成分结合蛋白1、细胞周期蛋白B2的表达及临床意义

目的:检测脑胶质瘤组织中胞质多聚腺苷酸化成分结合蛋白1(CPEB1)、细胞周期蛋白B2(CCNB2)的表达,分析CPEB1、CCNB2表达与脑胶质瘤患者临床病理特征以及预后的关系。方法:选取2016年1月至2018年1月东莞松山湖中心医院神经外科收治的经手术切除的55例脑胶质瘤患者瘤组织标本(脑胶质瘤组)和50例颅脑损伤患者额叶或颞叶组织标本(对照组)。检测CPEB1、CCNB2表达,分析CPEB1、CCNB2表达与脑胶质瘤患者临床病理特征的关系。结合随访资料,采用Kaplan-Meier生存分析CPEB1、CCNB2阳性/阴性表达脑胶质瘤患者的预后差异及采用Cox比例风险回归分析其预后的影响因素。结果:脑胶质瘤组CPEB1、CCNB2阳性表达率均高于对照组(P<0.05)。肿瘤直径>2 cm、WHO分级Ⅲ级及远处转移的患者CCNB2阳性表达率高于肿瘤直径≤2 cm、WHO分级Ⅰ~Ⅱ级及无远处转移的患者(P<0.05);WHO分级Ⅲ级、远处转移患者的CPEB1阳性表达率高于WHO分级Ⅰ~Ⅱ级、无远处转移的患者(P<0.05)。CPEB1、CCNB2阳性表达患者3年生存率低于CPEB1、CCNB2阴性表达患者(P<0.05)。WHO分级Ⅲ级、CPEB1及CCNB2阳性表达是脑胶质瘤患者术后3年死亡的危险因素(P<0.05)。结论:脑胶质瘤组织中CPEB1、CCNB2的阳性表达率均升高,其与脑胶质瘤恶性生物学行为以及不良预后有关。     

难治性癫痫致病灶术前定位EEG联合fMRI检查的临床研究

目的:探讨EEG联合f MRI检查在难治性癫痫致病灶术前定位中的准确性。方法:将我院在2013年9月~2014月9月收治的35例难治性癫痫患者作为研究对象,给予EEG联合f MRI检查对致病灶进行术前定位,分别对比EEG联合f MRI检查出的致病灶与手术中确定的致病灶的位置与范围,同时观察患者的致病灶手术切除效果。结果:有21例患者经EEG联合f MRI检查出的致病灶与手术中确定的致病灶位置与范围完全相同,有14例患者经EEG联合f MRI检查出的致病灶与手术中确定的致病灶位置相同,但检查出致病灶的范围明显大于术中确定致病灶的范围。患者在术后1年的随访中,有24例患者癫痫无复发,有6例患者在术后的1个月内癫痫发作1~4次,给予抗癫痫药物治疗后病情得到控制,有5例患者癫痫仍然再发作,且给予抗癫痫药物治疗后病情无法控制,但癫痫发作频率较术前低。结论:EEG联合f MRI检查在难治性癫痫致病灶术前定位中准确性高,且对患者无创,值得临床的推广及应用。     

A Case Study of a Patient with Gliosarcoma with an Extended Survival and Spinal Cord Metastases

Gliosarcoma is a rare brain tumor consisting of both glial and mesenchymal components. Metastatic gliosarcoma is rare; however, here we report a 31-year-old Chinese woman with cranial gliosarcoma metastatic to the liver, lymph nodes and the spinal cord. Initially, the patient presented with dizziness, headache and vomiting and after surgery and histological examination, was diagnosed with cranial gliosarcoma. The patient was treated with surgical resection followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Three years after completing treatment, the patient again presented with similar symptoms with the addition of a seizure. Test revealed recurrence of the gliosarcoma, and the same treatment was prescribed. Three years after treatment completion, the patient again presented with dizziness and headache. Masses at the right temple and in the right side of the neck were found. Tumors were surgically removed from the brain, skull, scalp and neck, the latter three diagnosed as metastatic gliosarcomas. The patient received both chemotherapy and radiotherapy following resection. One month after treatment, bone scans revealed possible metastasis in the right skull, lumbar and left ileum, soft neck tissue, lungs, collarbone, humeri, vertebrae, liver and abdominal lymph nodes. No further therapy was recommended due to the poor condition of the patient. The patient died 5 months later.     

TRAb在Graves病~(131)I治疗中的临床价值

目的:探讨促甲状腺激素受体抗体(TRAb)在Graves病131I治疗中的临床价值。方法:回顾性分析我院经131I治疗的186例Graves病患者,与70例健康对照组分别于131I治疗前及治疗后3、6、12和18月采用电化学发光免疫分析法(ECLA)动态检测血清TRAb、FT3、FT4、TSH浓度变化,进行统计分析,并计算TRAb的阳性率。结果:70例健康对照组TRAb水平1.09±0.45 IU/L,186例Graves病131I治疗前血清TRAb水平9.95±7.18 IU/L,明显高于健康对照组,两组比较有显著的统计学意义(t=-10.306,P0.001)。131I治疗3月后TRAb水平14.81±10.37 IU/L,明显高于治疗前(t=-5.26,P0.001);131I治疗6月后TRAb水平12.33±8.73 IU/L开始下降,治疗12月后TRAb水平3.14±0.87 IU/L明显降低;治疗18月后TRAb水平1.19±0.45 IU/L与健康对照组比较差异无统计学意义(t=-1.588,P=0.113)。Graves病131I治疗前TRAb阳性率为93.5%,治疗后3、6、12、18个月TRAb阳性率分别为93.5%、79.6%、27.4%和8.6%。结论:Graves病131I治疗中检测TRAb水平具有指导治疗、判断疗效、预测复发等重要的临床价值。     

Radioactive Iodine Therapy Without Recent Antithyroid Drug Pretreatment For Hyperthyroidism Complicated By Severe Hyperbilirubinemia Due To Hepatic Dysfunction: Experience Of A Chinese Medical Center

Objective: The objective of this work is to report our experience with ¹³¹I therapy without recent antithyroid drug (ATD) pretreatment for refractory severe hyperthyroidism complicated by hyperbilirubinemia due to hepatic dysfunction.Methods: Five patients with refractory severe hyperthyroidism were treated with ¹³¹I at 90 to 120 μCi/g-thyroid (total activity, 6.2 to 10.1 mCi). The patients previously had received ATD treatment from 2 months to 12 years and discontinued ATDs from 2 months to 4 years before ¹³¹I treatment due to treatment failure or severe jaundice. Prior to ¹³¹I therapy, the patients were asked to take a low-iodine diet and were treated with bisoprolol fumarate, digoxin, furosemide, S-adenosylmethionine, polyene phosphatidylcholine, and plasma exchange as supportive treatment for related clinical conditions. Four of the patients also received lithium carbonate in conjunction with their ¹³¹I treatment. The patients were followed for 4 to 9 years after ¹³¹I therapy.Results: After ¹³¹I treatment, jaundice disappeared completely within 3 to 4 months in all patients, and liver function tests returned to normal. Concurrent atrial fibrillation and heart failure, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia, or thrombocytopenia and left cardiac enlargement improved remarkably in 3 patients during the follow-up period. Three to 45 months after ¹³¹I treatment, hypothyroidism was noted in the patients and they were treated with L-thyroxine replacement therapy.Conclusion:¹³¹I therapy without recent ATD pretreatment for refractory severe hyperthyroidism complicated by serious jaundice appears to be safe and effective, with good long-term results. It may be the preferred therapy for such patients and should be used as early as possible.Abbreviations:ATD = antithyroid drugFT₄ = free thyroxinePTU = propylthiouracilRAIU = radioactive iodine uptakeTSH = thyroid-stimulating hormone     

Serum levels of the cytokines IL-1beta, IL-6 and ICAM-1 after 131I-treatment of Graves' disease and nodular goiter.

Cytokines might be involved in the immunological flare up, seen in some patients after 131I-treatment. Therefore, we measured serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), interleukin-6 soluble receptor (IL-6sR) and Intercellular-adhesion-molecule-1 (ICAM-1) as well as tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) after 131I-treatment of Graves' disease and nodular goiter. Seven patients with Graves' disease, eight with toxic nodular goiter and seven with non-toxic nodular goiter, were followed after 131I-treatment. The patients were treated in the euthyroid state. Blood samples were drawn at day 0, 4, 7, 21 and after 3 months. Significant increases were seen in free T4 index (FT4I), free T3 index (FT3I) and thyroglobulin (Tg) within the first weeks, and TSH simultaneously decreased. None of the cytokines demonstrated any change during follow-up, neither in the entire group nor in subgroups. FT4I and FT3I correlated significantly to ICAM-1. In conclusion, our data suggest that there does not seem to be prolonged cytokine activation after 131I-treatment for thyroid disorders.     

Ultrasonographic thyroid volume as a reliable prognostic index of radioiodine-131 treatment outcome in Graves' disease hyperthyroidism.

OBJECTIVE: We studied the relationship between thyroid volume, thyroid function and immunological markers of Graves' disease (GD) to determine prognostic factors of treatment response to low-dose radioiodine-131 (131I). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective study of 40 patients with GD hyperthyroidism treated with 131I (141 +/- 85MBq) and 10 GD patients who went spontaneously into remission (controls). Free T4, total T3 and basal TSH levels, TSH-receptor antibodies (TRAb) and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb) were studied. Thyroid volume was determined by ultrasonography. Logistic regression models were used to predict the probability of final thyroid status. Receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curves and Hosmer Lemeshow tests were used to evaluate the final statistical models. RESULTS: Of 40 patients treated with 131I, 16 became euthyroid, 12 hyperthyroid and 12 hypothyroid at 12 months. Median thyroid volume was reduced from 24.8 ml before to 8.5 ml at 12 months (p<0.001). In 10 control patients, the median reduction was from 16.6 ml to 11.3 ml (p=0.029). Thyroid volume reduction was lower in the hyperthyroid than in the euthyroid group, but higher in the hypothyroid group. Thyroid volume at baseline and at 3 months predicted hyperthyroidism outcome with a cut-off of 45 ml and 24.4 ml, respectively (odds ratio 1.074, p=0.003, ROC curve 0.78 and odds ratio 1.182, p=0.012, ROC curve 0.86 respectively). Thyroid volume at 6 months differentiated the hyperthyroid group with a cut-off of 17 ml. Thyroid volume at 3 and 6 months with a cut-off of 8.5 ml and 9.3 ml respectively, predicts permanent hypothyroidism outcome (odds ratio 0.768 and 0.685, p=0.012 and p=0.008, ROC curve 0.89 and 0.88, respectively). Changes in thyroid echogenicity and TRAb and TPOAb levels did not show any predictive value in the follow-up after 131I therapeutic outcome. CONCLUSION: The study shows that the ultrasonographic thyroid volume at 3 and 6 months after low-dose 131I treatment for GD hyperthyroidism could be a reliable prognostic factor of thyroid function outcome in the first year after treatment, and also reveals that the changes in the thyroid echogenicity and in the immunological markers of GD have no prognostic value.     

甲亢低骨量患者131I治疗后干预治疗效果的评价

目的:研究甲亢低骨量患者131I治疗后干预治疗的效果。方法:对100例甲亢低骨量患者,随机分为两组:A组50例,131I治疗后口服钙尔奇D及罗盖全治疗;B组50例,131I治疗后骨质自然恢复。另设C组50例为正常对照组。于131I治疗前、治疗后3、6及12个月测定A、B两组骨密度(BMD),观察其骨质变化并评价治疗效果。结果:(1)A组随治疗时间延长BMD逐渐升高,具有一定的规律性,腰椎(L2-4)骨密度3个月提高明显(t=-2.111,P=0.04)且12个月时达到与C组无统计学差异(t=-2.290,P=0.202)。(2)B组3个月时腰椎BMD有所降低,12个月时升高明显(股骨颈t=-2.327,P=0.043;腰椎(L2-4)t=-2.798,P=0.000)。(3)6个月时两组腰椎骨密度改善幅度出现统计学差异(t=-2.416,P=0.018),12个月时差异显著(t=-3.259,P=0.002)。结论:131I联合钙尔奇D与罗盖全治疗甲亢低骨量患者,其恢复时间及疗效均用131I治疗,能有效防止骨量的进一步下降及减少骨质疏松症的发生。     

131I]metaiodobenzylguanidine therapy after conventional therapy for neuroblastoma.

[131I]Metaiodobenzylguanidine (131I-MIBG) is used for diagnostic scintigraphy and targeted therapy in a range of neural crest tumors, which exhibit an active uptake-1 mechanism at the cell membrane and cytoplasmatic storage in neurosecretory granules. A good and selective concentration and a long retention in the tumor, as is generally the case in neuroblastoma, are the basis for successful 131I-MIBG treatment. At The Netherlands Cancer Institute a phase II study was carried out in 53 patients with progressive recurrent disease after conventional therapy had failed. Despite the unfavorable basis for treatment, 131I-MIBG therapy induced 7 complete remissions, 23 partial remissions and arrest of disease (no change) in 10. Nine patients had progressive disease and one patient was lost to follow-up. The palliative effect of the treatment under these conditions was impressive. The duration of remissions varied from 2 to 38 months. The best results were obtained in patients with voluminous soft tissue disease. In general the treatment was well tolerated by children and the toxicity was mild, provided the bone marrow was not invaded by the disease. It is concluded that 131I-MIBG therapy has a definitive place in the treatment of neuroblastoma after conventional treatment has failed. As the invasiveness and toxicity of this therapy compare favorably with that of chemotherapy, immunotherapy and external beam radiotherapy, 131I-MIBG therapy is the best palliative treatment for patients with advanced recurrent neuroblastoma.     

Human Brain γ-Aminobutyric Acid Levels and Seizure Control Following Initiation of Vigabatrin Therapy

Abstract: Vigabatrin is a novel antiepileptic drug designed to control seizures by raising brain γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentrations. Seizure control is not improved significantly when the daily dose is increased beyond 50 mg/kg. Serial, in vivo measurements of GABA levels in human occipital lobe were made using ¹H NMR spectroscopy before and after the start of vigabatrin treatment. We used a 2.1-T magnetic resonance imagerspectrometer and an 8-cm surface coil to examine serially a 14-cm³ volume in the occipital lobe of 26 patients with complex partial seizures. Brain GABA content increased following the start of vigabatrin treatment up to a daily dose of 60 mg/kg. Additional increases in dose failed to increase brain GABA content further. GABA synthesis may decrease with sustained elevations of human brain GABA levels. Starting vigabatrin treatment reduced seizure frequency by >50%, from six to seven per month to three. Improved seizure control was not associated with further increases of vigabatrin dose. Increased brain GABA concentration was associated with improved seizure control. Starting vigabatrin treatment improved seizure control twofold when GABA levels increased above 1.8 mmol/kg. Further increases in brain GABA content above 2.5 mmol/kg provided less protection. Measuring occipital lobe GABA concentrations may predict improved seizure control when using antiepileptic drugs designed to increase brain GABA levels.     

Malignant cerebral glioma--I: Survival,disability, and morbidity after radiotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: To describe survival, disability, and morbidity after radiotherapy for malignant glioma. DESIGN: Two year prospective study with home interviews with patients and relatives. SETTING: Seven neurosurgical and radiotherapy centres in London. SUBJECTS: 105 patients aged 21 to 75: 59 had biopsy; 46 had partial macroscopic resection; 92 received radiotherapy; and 13 received steroids alone. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Survival, time free from disability, and changes in disability after treatment. RESULTS: Six and 12 month survival for radiotherapy patients was 70% and 39%, respectively. Age, World Health Organisation clinical performance status, extent of surgery, and history of seizures before diagnosis each influenced survival. The Medical Research Council prognostic index was also significantly related to survival. Multivariate analysis showed that initial clinical performance status was the most important component of the index. Most (80%; 49/61) patients with a clinical performance status of 0, 1, or 2 lived at least six months before becoming permanently disabled. Most patients who had initially had a good clinical performance status (0-2) and who were alive six months after radiotherapy (68%; 36/52), however, had experienced either clinical deterioration or severe tiredness after treatment. In 17% (9/52) of these some permanent loss of function remained. These adverse effects were associated with increasing radiotherapy dose. Severely disabled patients (clinical performance status 3 or 4) gained little benefit. CONCLUSION: Severely disabled patients gain little physical benefit from radiotherapy, whereas those not so disabled may experience considerable adverse effects.