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The aim of this study is to make serial BAEPs and PNCS in hypothyroid rats in order to provide objective and quantitative methods of detecting dysfunction of the central and peripheral nervous system in hypothyroid status and elucidating the relationship between the recovery potential and the duration of hypothyroid status. Thyroidectomy was performed in eighteen naive 5-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats in order to induce hypothyroid status, which was confirmed by RIA study 1-2 months after the surgery. Initial BAEP and PNCS were performed in two groups of the hypothyroid animals 1 and 3 months after thyroidectomy. Following the initial examination, thyroxin replacement therapy was given to each hypothyroid group, and then followed by BAEPs and PNCS at two month intervals, up to twice normal studies or six months after the initiation of therapy. In the BAEP study, the prolonged I-V inter-peak latency was the most consistent abnormal finding in all hypothyroid rats. Delayed peak latencies as well as prolonged I-III and III-V inter-peak intervals occurred when the hypothyroid status was longer than one month. We noted that the longer the hypothyroid status, the more severe the central conduction dysfunction. Nonetheless, these abnormalities always returned to normal after the replacement therapy if the hypothyroid state was shorter than 3 months in duration. For the PNCS study, all groups of thyroidectomized rats showed the normal results. We think the peripheral nervous system of rats may be more resistant to damage by hypothyroidism than the central nervous system.

We prospectively investigated 100 consecutive inpatients with suspected dementia to evaluate the relative frequency of various types of dementia in a general hospital of Taiwan. Dementia was confirmed in 86 cases (86%) according to the dementia criteria of the third revised edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (greater than or equal to 1). In contrast to the western developed countries, vascular dementia (VD) (35%) was the leading type of dementia, followed by Alzheimer's disease (AD) (27%), mixed VD and AD (MIX) (14%), and other degenerative diseases (10%). Ten cases (11.6%) of potentially treatable dementia were identified and 8 of 10 had good improvement after appropriate treatment. There were significant age differences among patients with MIX, AD and VD (p less than 0.01). Those with MIX were the oldest (72.12 +/- 9.4) followed by AD (69.70 +/- 8.52) and VD (64.81 +/- 9.12). Males were slightly predominant in this series (male:female = 50:36). A comprehensive clinical investigation including laboratory tests, electroencephalography and CT are necessary in the assessment of demented patients in order to make correct etiological diagnoses which lead to appropriate treatment or management of this terrifying syndrome.

We report three cases of neuro-Behçet's disease, including one woman and two men (age range 52-56 years), who displayed symptoms of high fever, headache and confusion. The EEG showed generalized slowing in two cases, and periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges in one. Brain CT scans from two patients revealed cortical atrophy with multiple low density areas in one case, and focal contrast enhancement in the other. The CSF study revealed pleocytosis in all cases, but only one showed lymphophagocytosis. All of the patients responded dramatically to steroid therapy, although administration of the drug was somewhat delayed in two cases, during which initial management was aimed at the CNS infection of bacterial origin. Recurrent attacks of confusion or mental dullness were found in two patients, and high cortical dysfunction persisted on follow-up for some time. The clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, and neuroradiological features of neuro-Behçet's disease in the reported cases are reviewed.

Metrizamide, a non-ionic water soluble contrast medium, is used in myelography for detecting spinal cord lesions. Because it is an injection in the subarachnoid space, the effects on the central nervous system following metrizamide myelography should be studied. Electroencephalography can offer a non-invasive and objective method for evaluating the functions of the central nervous system. From September to December 1986, 30 cases which had received cervical or lumbar metrizamide myelography were collected. After myelography, in addition to a history review and neurologic examination, electro-encephalography was carried out within 24 hours. If the EEG record revealed abnormal, a series of EEG follow-ups were conducted until recordings were normal. The incidence of clinical adverse effects following Metrizamide myelography was 53.3% and 66.6% respectively in cervical and lumbar injections. No significant difference was found between the two groups. Secondly, the abnormal rate of the EEG record was 40.0% and 60.0% following cervical and lumbar myelography. The difference was also not significant. Lastly, the relation between clinical adverse effects and an abnormal EEG records was poor in cervical metrizamide myelography but good in lumbar myelography. The conclusions suggested by this research that the clinical adverse effects and the abnormal EEG record after metrizamide myelography are transient and are reversible changes. The mechanism of complications following cervical and lumbar metrizamide are different. Although complications may occur following cervical and lumbar metrizamide myelography, it remains a practical method in detecting spinal cord lesions.