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Fast and accurate measurement of core body temperature is crucial for accidental hypothermia treatment. We have developed a novel light and small adapter to the headset jack of a mobile phone based on Android. It has been applied to measure temperature and set up automatic notifications (e.g. Global Positioning System coordinates to emergency services dispatcher, ECMO coordinator). Its validity was confirmed in comparison with Vital Signs Monitor Spacelabs Healthcare Elance 93300 as a reference method, in a series of 260 measurements in the temperature range of 10-42 °C. Measurement repeatability was verified in a battery of 600 measurements (i.e. 100 readings at three points of 10, 25, 42 °C for both esophageal and tympanic catheters). Inter-method difference of ≤0.5 °C was found for 98.5% for esophageal catheter and 100% for tympanic catheter measurements, with concordance correlation coefficient of 0.99 for both. The readings were almost completely repeatable with water bath measurements (difference of ≤0.5 °C in 10 °C: 100% for both catheters; in 25 °C: 99% for esophageal catheter and 100% tympanic catheter; in 42 °C: 100% for both catheters). This lightweight adapter attached to smartphone and standard disposable probes is a promising tool to be applied on-site for temperature measurement in patients at risk of hypothermia.

Bartonella infections including cat scratch disease (CSD) is a group of infectious diseases which are diagnosed sporadically. Because of this fact the number of CSD cases in Poland is underestimated and their incidence is markedly lower in comparison to other European countries. The aim of our report is to present various diagnostic methods and possibilities on the basis of two cases with symptoms of CSD. The efficiency of specific Bartonella antibiotic therapy is also discussed.

Tumors of paranasal sinuses present a small percent of tumors detected in the region of head and neck 3-4% and they present a fraction of a percent of tumors in general /0.16%/., Material: In the years 2004 and 2005, the National Register of Neoplasms recorded 120 and 132 cases of malignant tumors of paranasal sinuses, respectively. Between 2006-2007 we treated 15 patients with tumors of paranasal sinuses underwent treatment at the ENT department of the MiEdzyleski Szpital Specjalistyczny in Warsaw. The following were analyzed: the advancement stage of the tumor, symptoms, the time that has elapsed from the first appearance until the admission for treatment at the department, the methods of treatment, and the histological differentiation of neoplasms., The Results: We detected the following:--benign neoplasms: 2 cases of angiofibroma, 3 cases of inverted papilloma;--malignant tumors: 4 cases of Ca planoepitheliale, 1 instance of adenocarcinoma, 1 instance of Ca anaplasticum, 1--melanoma, 1--esthesioneuroblastoma, 1--lymphoma malignum, 1--metastatic tumor., The Conclusions: at the moment of the admission for treatment at the ENT department, the advancement stage of tumor T3/T4, from the first signs until the proper diagnosis was that marked with the passage of eight months. Ca planoepitheliale is the most common type of malignant tumors of paranasal sinuses. It is only good cooperation between the surgeon and the pathologist which makes it possible to put the proper diagnosis.

Purpose: To explore the time course of treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs) during topiramate (TPM) adjunctive therapy., Methods: Post hoc analyses were performed by using data from a large (264 subjects) multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in which 200 mg/day TPM was added to carbamazepine (CBZ) with or without another antiepileptic drug (AED) in adults with treatment-resistant partial-onset seizures. The daily incidence and mean duration of the most common (> or =5% incidence) AEs were calculated for patients completing the 12-week study., Results: The daily incidence of somnolence, headache, loss of appetite, nervousness, fatigue, dizziness, upper respiratory tract infection, and vertigo peaked during titration and declined to rates similar to that of placebo after the target TPM dose had been reached. In contrast, the daily incidence of paresthesia increased during titration and was maintained for the study duration. Relatively few patients had cognitive symptoms (9% with TPM, 5% with placebo), but these were the most common AEs associated with treatment discontinuation. Patient/investigator reports of weight loss increased gradually over the course of the trial, corresponding with the pattern of change in weight measured at study visits., Conclusions: This study demonstrates that most of the more common AEs with TPM adjunctive therapy are transient. Patients can be counseled that most AEs emerging when TPM is initially added to CBZ can be expected to diminish with continued therapy.

Background: Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) is a new non-pharmacological method of pharmacoresistant epilepsy treatment. The aim of this paper was to present effects of treatment in 23 patients with drug-resistant epilepsy with a different etiology., Material and Methods: Implantation and treatment was performed in two centers in 1998-2002. The effect of treatment was presented as a reduction of seizures during therapy., Results: The lack of group homogeneity and a small number of patients (especially a small number of patients with a long follow-up period) did not allow a more detailed analysis to be made, although there seems to be a clear tendency to obtain better effects of treatment over follow-up time (at 24 month more than 50% seizure reduction or cease of seizures was observed in 80% of patients). The possibility to turn on the device "on demand" is an important advantage of this method. This raises the effectiveness of treatment in more than 80% of patients, and in more than 20% it stops the seizure. There were two groups of undesired side effects: frequent specific effects caused by local irritation of the vagal nerve in the cervical part of the neck and rare transient general effects. Both groups of effects rarely caused any treatment complications., Conclusions: VNS is an effective method of treatment, complementary to other epilepsy treatment methods and should be used in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy as an alternative to neurosurgical treatment. VNS improves the quality of life in treated patients.

Carbatrol (CBR) is a new multiple-unit, sustained-release dosage form of carbamazepine (CBZ) developed by Pharmavene. We present a multicenter, outpatient, randomized, double-blind parallel group study (No PI 101) carried out in two centers in Poland. CBR was evaluated in 47 patients with uncontrolled partial onset seizures. During the 28-day baseline period, patients were required to have at least two seizures and to take CBZ at a therapeutic level, a second antiepileptic drug was allowed but not valproic acid (VPA ). Patients were randomized to VPA or to CBR (dosages 800, 1200, 1600 mg/day). Criteria for escape relative to baseline were: two-fold increase in monthly seizure frequency, two-fold increase in 2-day seizure frequency, two-fold increase in weekly seizure frequency, single generalized tonic-clonic seizure (GTCs) if none occurred during baseline or prolongation of GTCs. The primary efficacy variable was the number of patients escaping in each treatment group. Nineteen patients on VPAand 7 on CBR met escape criteria. CBR adverse experiences were all mild or moderate in severity. CBR therapy was effective in the treatment of partial complex seizures with or without generalization.

Measures of interpersonal relations of non-epileptic patients to epileptic patients were studied in search of answers to two questions: what is the initial attitude of non-epileptic patients to epileptic patients; and, do any changes in attitude occur during time spent together in hospital? In order to study these personal relations, a formal analysis of preferences was carried out. Twenty-two non-epileptic patients admitted to the Neurology and Epileptology Department, Medical Centre for Postgraduate Education, Warsaw were studied. Subjects were asked to rank-order (from 1 to 9 points) suggested ways of distributing the profits of a hypothetical joint (e.g., with a room-mate) money-earning venture. The experimental procedure for each patient was repeated for all three room-mates. Preferences were assessed three times - the day after admission to hospital, after 11 days and after 21 days in hospital. Following this procedure, it was possible to trace the dynamics of the patients' interpersonal relations. The data were correlated (Spearman's r(s)) and submitted to analysis of variance (MANOVA) with repeated measures. Analysis of the attitudes of patients with non-epileptic neurological disorders towards epileptic patients revealed a dynamic tendency - from negative (measures one and partly two) to positive attitudes after three weeks spent together in hospital (measure three)., (Copyright Lippincott Williams & Wilkins)

This paper presents a clinical and electrophysiological analysis of type and duration of seizures recorded by means of long-term video electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring, a method which enables accurate diagnosis of psychogenic pseudoepileptic seizures occurring with or without epileptic seizures. Analysis is based on 1083 patients, hospitalized at our department between 1990 and 1997, with a preliminary diagnosis of epilepsy. Psychogenic pseudoepileptic seizures were diagnosed in 85 patients (7.8%). In 48 patients, pseudoepileptic seizures alone were diagnosed (group 1), whereas 37 patients had a mixed condition in which pseudoepileptic seizures were accompanied by epileptic seizures (group 2). For comparison of duration of pseudo- and epileptic seizures a control group (group 3), consisting of 55 patients randomly selected from the population of patients suffering from epileptic seizures alone, was parceled out. Long-term video EEG monitoring was performed in 70 patients. In 55 (79%) of these patients 230 seizures (221 pseudoepileptic and nine epileptic) were recorded. In 30 patients (32%), the diagnosis was based on clinical observation of the seizures and on the number of EEG recordings, including activating procedures such as sleep deprivation, photostimulation, hyperventilation and anti-epileptic drug withdrawal. We found that the duration of epileptic seizures was significantly shorter than the duration of psychogenic pseudoepileptic seizures. Our study has exposed the difficulties involved in the diagnosis of psychogenic pseudoepileptic seizures and the negligible value of neuroimaging techniques and interictal EEG recordings in the differential diagnosis of epileptic versus nonepileptic seizures. In this study, psychogenic seizures were significantly more frequent in women than in men; patient history analysis did not confirm the hypothesis that sexual abuse may cause psychogenic seizures., (Copyright 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins)

A state department of health reported an increase in cases of human salmonellosis and found an association (odds ratio 20; 95% confidence interval 4 to 131) between Lebanon bologna consumption and 26 confirmed cases of Salmonella typhimurium . Based on this evidence, the manufacturer initiated a voluntary recall of product in commercial channels and added additional safety measures to their manufacturing processes. The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service promptly issued a public notification to consumers stating that the suspected product should be returned to the place of purchase. A team of federal investigators concluded that at the time of the outbreak S. typhimurium may have survived the process used by the manufacturer if present in high numbers in raw beef (greater than 10 4 /g). Additionally, the investigators concluded that other manufacturers of similar product needed to add controls to their processes used to manufacture a semi-dry fermented sausage in order to ensure the safety of the final product.

The foodborne outbreak paradigm has shifted. In the past, an outbreak affected a small local population, had a high attack rate, and involved locally prepared food products with limited distribution. Now outbreaks involve larger populations and may be multistate and even international; in many the pathogenic organism has a low infective dose and sometimes is never isolated from the food product. Delay in identifying the causative agent can allow the outbreak to spread, increasing the number of cases. Emergency intervention should be aimed at controlling the outbreak, stopping exposure, and perhaps more importantly, preventing future outbreaks. Using epidemiologic data and investigative techniques may be the answer. Even with clear statistical associations to a contaminated food, one must ensure that the implicated organism could logically and biologically have been responsible for the outbreak.

A rare case of a embryonal germ cell tumor of the mediastinum is presented in a 22 year old male. A radical excision of the tumor was performed, followed by chemotherapy. A five year survival was observed without evidence of a recurrence.

The problem of the relationship between stimulus intensity and kindling effect was studied in three groups of cats with bipolar stimulating electrodes implanted in the right posterior sigmoid gyrus (sensorimotor cortex). Daily stimulation with a 1-sec train of 60-Hz rectangular pulses was carried out in 17 cats over a period of from 27 to 265 days. Group I, 3 cats, was stimulated with a current intensity of 200 microA, peak-to-peak, which was subthreshold for afterdischarges (ADs); 6 animals from group II were stimulated with near-threshold currents (0.8--1.1 mA); and in the 8 animals of the group III, the ADs were evoked by threshold currents of 1.0--1.6 mA. The EEG was recorded from the sensorimotor and visual cortices, hippocampus, caudate nucleus, dentate nucleus, and cerebellar cortex. It was found that the low-current stimulation (200 microV) was not effective in inducing kindling. Near-threshold stimulation (below 1 mA) resulted in the development of bioelectrical epileptic activity in most cats. Threshold stimulation for AD resulted in the development of bioelectrical spontaneous activity and in an increase in the duration of ADs, as well as in generalized tonic-clonic seizures during cortical stimulations, in the majority of cats. Differences in hippocampal and neocortical kindling in cats are discussed in terms of ADs and seizure development. It was found that (1) a longer time was required for neocortical than for hippocampal kindling (3--10 weeks), and (2) there was greater variability in the effects of neocortical kindling. Secondary generalized seizures developed in the group with threshold stimulation for AD and were preceded by an increase in the number of ADs. The interictal epileptic activity developed in some cats in the absence of ADs.

Inquiry investigations were carried out covering 657 individuals from two counties: Plock and Nowy Targ. The inquiry contained 21 questions concerning the knowledge of epilepsy and the attitudes of those questioned to epileptics. The responses were correlated with the sex, age, educational level and occupation of the questioned. Statistical significance was assessed at the confidence level 0.05. The fear of epilepsy was in the 5th place after neoplasms, tuberculosis, cardiac diseases and mental diseases. As the most shameful diseases were regarded venereal diseases, tuberculosis and epilepsy ex aequo with mental diseases. About 1/3 of the respondents answered that epilepsy is a hereditary disease; nearly half of them considered that epileptics may marry and have children. 60% of those questioned regard that they would let their children play with epileptic children, they were usually respondents with medium and higher educational level and representatives of non-agricultural workers. Most respondents stressed the significance of sudden fright in the aetiology of epilepsy and thought that observation of an epileptic seizure may cause epilepsy; the observing subject, especially a child, may be frightened. About 50% of respondents knew nothing of the causes of epilepsy. Over 1/3 of respondents regarded that epileptic children can attend normal schools. Nearly 60% of respondents regard that epileptics can work in certain occupations. The latter view is expressed by younger people below 40 years with high school and college education and representatives of non-agricultural occupations.

The effects of DPH on internal organs of cats were investigated. The drug (Hydantoinal POLFA) was administered orally in doses 8 to 20 mg/kg daily during from 27 to 560 days. The initial dose was 1.5 mg/kg and it was increased gradually. Consistently occurring changes were found in the liver, kidneys, salivary glands and spleen. In the liver and kidneys the character of changes was mainly degenerative (fatty infiltration of hepatocytes and renal tubular epithelial cells). In the salivary gland the number of mucus-producing cells was increased, in the spleen proliferation of connective tissue and congestion were present.

The importance of various morphotic elements of EEG tracings in the diagnosis of seizures in children is discussed with particular reference to seizures connected with fever. The common neurophysiological mechanism of epileptic discharges in various epileptic seizures in children and adults is stressed calling attention to the fact that EEG investigation in only one of the elements on which the diagnostic process should be based. Attention is called also to the prognostic significance of duration of post-seizure slowing down of the background activity and occurrence of focal spike discharges at the site of greatest slowing of the activity - the greater is this slowing (above one week) the worse is the prognosis. In view of a considerable range of the concept of electroencephalographic normality in children it is stressed that EEG investigations should be repeated after the seizure to study the dynamics of bioelectric changes: the duration and type of EEG abnormalities.

Four related hypotheses were tested: 1) substitution of sucrose for starch at moderate levels will significantly elevate blood pressure; 2) most urinary sucrose is endogenous; 3) a change in endogenous sucrose production will alter sodium excretion and blood pressure, and 4) dietary sucrose inhibits endogenous sucrose production. The systolic blood pressures of 25 male rats, 100 days of age, and 25 female rats, 1 year of age, were measured weekly for 8 months. In four experiments, they consumed diets in which 38% of energy came from fat, 15% from protein, 7% from lactose and the remaining 40% from five different sucrose/starch ratios. In experiment 4, a 10% maltose/30% starch diet was fed to one-half the rats fed sucrose in experiment 3. All rats were fed similar amounts of each diet so that there were no significant body weight differences between groups at the end of the 8 months. At periodic intervals all rats were injected with 1 micro c of [U-14C]glucose and placed in metabolism cages where a 24 hour urine sample was obtained. Urine was analyzed for sodium, sucrose and sucrose-14C content. Endogenous sucrose production was estimated from the percent of [U-14C]glucose recovered as urine sucrose-14C in 24 hours. All four hypotheses were confirmed.

Sensory-specific and modality nonspecific average evoked potentials (AEPs) were recorded from the cortical areas and subcortical structures in two groups of cats: (1) normal cats which after conditioning were subjected to brainstem lesions and reconditioning; (2) cats with brainstem lesions and subsequent conditioning. A new waveshape of the visually evoked potenials developed in the visual cortex in the course of conditioning to light flashes (LF) in both groups of cats. In normal cats, a new component, with a peak latency from 80-100 msec and with reversed polarity, was observed in place of the late, longlasting, component of the preconditioning AEP. The latency of the new component is longer in cats with brainstem lesions. The first signs of waveform modification occurred relatively early in the process of learning, well before the animal learned to react consistently to the conditioned stimulus. Also, there seemed to be no clear relationship between the modified waveshapes of the AEPs and performance level during a particular session of conditioning. The modifications did not depend on habituation to the long-lasting exposure to light flashes presented alone. The new waveshape was preserved to a variable degree after brainstem lesions, that is, reconditioning never started with a potential characteristic for a naive animal. AEPs to licks in the auditory cortex, also changed during conditioning, although this modification was not so evident as in visual responses. In contrast to evident modifications of evoked responses in sensory specific structures during the process of conditiong, there were very small if any, changes in modality nonspecific structures, including brainstem reticular formation. Modality nonspecific responses were obtained from the brainstem reticular formation and motor cortex to light flashes and clicks, from the visual cortex to auditory stimuli and from the auditory cortex to light flashes. Only poorly developed evoked responses could be detected in the motor-sensory cortex during conditioning to light flashes although rhythmic EEG activity related to presentation of the conditioned stimulus (CS) was observed from this arena - thus indicating that they were not the same phenomena.

After short introduction in which mile-stones of brain electrical stimulation are mentioned, author discusses kindling as a model of epilepsy and learning. The plastic nature of these two neuronal processes is discussed from the point of view: 1. similarities of these two processes and 2. relation between epileptic discharges (seizures) and learning (memory). The lack of quantitative analysis of afterdischarge duration and its effect on retention is emphasized. Author presents his own study of relation between performance of formed motor avoidance conditioned reflex (CR) and epileptic spontaneous spike activity in hippocampi and duration of afterdischarges (AD) in hippocampi and amygdala in hippocampal kindling in cats. It was shown that spontaneous hippocampal spikes, dissipated over a time, have no effect on performance or retention of the CR. However, there is clear relation between duration of AD and retention of the CR. When duration of the AD was to 15 seconds, correct CRs were obtained in 75% and in 25% the result was negative CR. However, when duration of the AD was longer, the CS presentation between 16-30 sec. resulted in 75% of negative CR and 25% of positive CRs. When the CS was presented during ADs which were longer than 30 sec. almost in all cases the CR was negative, however, in a few instances still possible. Complex effect of brain stimulation are discussed and value of weak stimulation like in kindling technique is emphasized.

The relation between different EEG after-discharge patterns and memory retrieval of the conditioned avoidance response was studied in 8 hippocampally kindled cats. The after-discharge patterns were classified into 5 basic EEG types. The relation was analyzed in three different situations: A, at the conditioning stimulation onset, B, at the conditioning stimulus termination, and C, when conditioning stimulus onset and termination were studied within the same type of EEG pattern of after-discharge. The moment of presentation of the conditioning stimulus was determined by the type of EEG after-discharge pattern. Significant relation was observed between reflex performance and type II and III EEG AD types. The type II (4.5-12/s spiking activity) was associated with a greater proportion of positive responses if presented on the uniform background of EEG after-discharge patterns. During the type III pattern (EEG dysrhythmia), there were more negative than positive responses in all the three experimental situations, especially if the type III EEG pattern was observed at the time of conditioned stimulus termination. The latency of reflex performance measured in the experimental condition C (the same pattern of EEG during conditioning stimulus onset and termination) was longer during the type II EEG pattern of after-discharges than the latencies found during type III EEG activity and in the control group. During type III pattern associated with greatest proportion of response failures there was, however, no increase of reflex latencies. The results suggest differential effect of different EEG after-discharge patterns on memory retrieval of the well established conditioned avoidance response in cats.

Cortical somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) changes were studied during kindling of the right pericruciate cortex and in the right hippocampus in 7 cats. The test electric stimuli were delivered to left and right anterior paw. The ipsi- and contralateral SSEPs were averaged before kindling and about every 35th day during kindling. Paroxysmal epileptic discharges developed in all cats. The main consistent changes in all the SSEPs involved components N2-P3-N3, i.e., those with latencies of 90--330 msec. Specifically we noted (1) a gradual decrease in the duration and latency of the N3 component (2) an increase in the slope of the P3-N3 component and (3) a decrease in the duration and latency of the p3 component. These changes were present in both hemispheres, ipsi- and contralateral to both right and left paw stimulation, though favoring the contralateral responses. The changes started to develop before the appearance of spontaneous epileptic activity and seem to be independent of the epileptogenic effect of kindling. Thus, during kindling two types of neuronal function modification seem to take place: epileptogenic and nonepileptogenic. The nonepileptogenic nature of kindling is discussed from the point of view that some forms of learning and kindling are based on similar neurophysiological processes, which lead to permanent neuronal bioelectrical changes. These plastic changes underlie the development of such processes as memory and epilepsy. The difference between these two processes may be in the disturbance of spatiotemporal distribution of coherence in neuronal ensembles.

A group of 20 patients (average age 55.5 yrs) with advanced arterioscleorosis obliterans and cerebral thrombosis were treated with pyridinolcarbamate. Anginin was given for 6 months, 1,5--2 g. per day. Observation period before, during and after the treatment lasted 2 yrs. Medical and psychological examinations were performed; laboratory test included: sphigmooscylography, photoplethysmography, EKG, EEG, cholesterol, triglyceridis and other routine biochemical blood tests. All data are statistically evaluated. Results. During Anginin treatment clinical improvement was noted in 8 cases, in 9 there was no change in neurological examination; 3 cases--deteriorated. Control examination 6 to 12 months after discontinuation of the treatment revealed no changes in 13 patients; 1 patient deteriorated and 6--died. There was improvement in blood circulation as shown by plethysmography and sphigmooscylography in patients with less advanced vascular changes and no change in cases with more advanced disease. In 75% of the patients there was statistically significant (p less than 0.001) decrease of cholesterol and in 50% of triglicerids (not statistically significant). In patients with advanced disease there was no clinical and EEG improvement, on the contrary 1/3 of them deteriorated clinically and in EEG. In cases with less advanced disease clinical improvement was recorded. Anginin seems to be a good drug for patients with moderately advanced combined peripheral and central arteriosclerosis.

Changes in EEG and susceptibility to electrically induced seizures were examined in the ferret with lissencephaly produced by exposure to a single injection of methylazoxymethanol acetate (MAM Ac) given to the pregnant jill on gestation day 32. Ten lissencephalic and 11 normal ferrets were chronically implanted with 14 cortical stainless steel electrodes. EEG records were sampled from various stages of the sleep/awake cycle. Six of each group were subjected to electrical stimulation for seizure threshold. Although the number of stimulations and the current intensity required to produce epileptiform afterdischarges (AD) and seizures were not different between the two groups, the lissencephalic ferrets had significantly longer AD and seizures, and a greater number of generalized seizures, indicating an enhanced seizure susceptibility. The EEG of the lissencephalic ferrets was characterized by increased slow wave activity within the low theta band range, extreme spindle activity, focal or multifocal slow and sharp waves, spikes, or spike and slow wave complexes. The differences in the EEG were more pronounced during drowsiness and sleep stages. The brains of all of the treated animals were lissencephalic and hydrocephalic, and weighed significantly less than those of the normals. The cerebral cortex was thin and flattened, with the parieto-occipital region most severely affected. Heterotopic foci were found in the cerebellum as well as in the cerebral cortex. Abnormalities in the configuration of the cerebellar folia were also seen. Comparison between the electrophysiological and neuropathological data suggests that the extent of the extreme spindle activity, and longer AD and seizure duration depended on the degree of cerebellar dysplasia, whereas the EEG focal abnormalities were related to lesions in the cerebral hemispheres.

The effect of Anginin was assessed in 10 patients with cerebrovascular diseases. Anginin was administered in daily doses of 1.5 g. during a mean time of 5.25 months. The duration of follow-up before, during and after treatment was 2 years. A favourable effect of Anginin was observed on such symptoms as dizziness, disturbances of recent memory, mental fatiguability, difficulties in concentration and irritability. EEG investigations demonstrated a rise in the index of alpha waves, increased frequency and amplitude of alpha waves, and normalization of tracings in cases with pathological abnormalities. The basic laboratory investigations failed to reveal any significant changes. Side effects included transient dyspeptic symptoms were in 5 patients.

The relation between EEG limbic afterdischarge patterns and the performance of avoidance response was studied in eight hippocampally kindled cats. Five basic types of EEG afterdischarge patterns were identified in the hippocampal formation: (i) continuous 2-4/s high amplitude spikes or spike and wave complexes; (ii) continuous, 4.5-12/s high amplitude spikes or spike and wave complexes; (iii) dysrhythmic pattern: disorganized irregular spiking, mixed with slow waves at 3-20/s frequency; (iv) continuous, 20-30/s comb-like shaped spiking of moderate amplitude, and (v) trains of high amplitude and frequency irregular spikes, lasting for 0.2-1 s. followed by EEG depression lasting 0.3-1 s. The performance of conditioned response was tested during first 10 s. of afterdischarge development after kindling electrical stimulation of the hippocampus. A statistically significant relation was observed between the EEG afterdischarge patterns seen at the beginning of afterdischarge formation (basically types I, II and III) and the performance of avoidance response, with greatest probability of the response failure with type III of afterdischarge pattern. Latencies of the avoidance responses were prolonged during afterdischarges, in comparison to latencies observed before and after kindling hippocampal stimulation.

Alumina cream epileptic focus was established in the right sensorimotor cortex in 20 split-brain cats (partial or complete). EEG and behavioral observations were made in a period ranging from 24 to 836 days. Four types of EEG changes after alumina cream injection were differentiated. These types could be related to the direct effects of brain damage and to development of epilepsy. Spikes and sharp waves and paroxysmal discharges (focal and multifocal) were observed in about 60% of the cats. Clinical seizures developed in about the same percentage of the animals. These values are below those reported for cats with intact interhemispheric commissures. Diphenylhydantoin (DPH) was given orally in a daily dose of up to 15 mg/kg body weight in 9 animals with developed epileptic EEG activity. Five of them had epileptic seizures. DPH was introduced not earlier than 1.5 months after intracortical alumina cream injection. The plasma level of DPH varied between 7-20 mug/ml. This dose produced chronic symptoms of intoxication. Neither EEG changes nor clinical seizures were entirely controlled by this drug. Additional doses of Relanium (diazepam), and phenobarbital were necessary to stop generalized seizures or status epilepticus.

The inhibitory effect of cerebellar cortex (Cb) and dentate nucleus (DN) electrical stimulation were studied on 7 cats. After kindling in right hippocampus or in right somato-sensory motor cortex the both Cb and left DN were stimulated monopolarly or bipolarly in each cat. The stimulation was 1 sec train of impulses of 1 ms duration and 60 Hz. The current intensity was 0.3-1.7 mA, 10-12 stimulations were performed in each animal in each structure and the results of stimulations were averaged. The following indices of the stimulation effect were taken into consideration: 1) Number of epileptic spontaneous discharges during 2 min of EEG records before and after stimulation. 2) sum of the epileptic discharges within the periods, 3) time between spontaneous epileptic discharges, 4) time to first paroxysmal discharge after electrical stimulation of the Cb or DN. Results showed prolonged time to the first spontaneous epileptic discharge after stimulation of both structures, thus, indicating statistically significant inhibitory effect of stimulation. The other indices showed no statistically significant inhibitory effects.

The formation of avoidance response and differentiation was studied in 13 control and 7 kindled cats with developed hippocampal epileptic focus and complex partial or secondary generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Conditioning sessions lasted from 15 to 20 min in a period following afterdischarges and seizures resulting from electrical stimulation of the hippocampal formation. In two out of seven kindled cats the conditioned reflex was established within time limits (9 and 20 days) comparable to the control cats. These two animals had relatively short-lasting afterdischarges (mean values: 17 and 19 s). In cats with longer-lasting afterdischarges and complex partial seizures (mean duration: 32 to 65 s, in different animals) criterion was not reached during parallel kindling-conditioning stage of 10 to 30 days. The level of correct responses was low and variable (0-70 percent), despite typical reactions to the unconditioned stimuli and clear orienting responses to the conditioning stimuli on more advanced stages of training. Four kindled animals entered the stage of secondary generalization of seizures after hippocampal stimulation. Reflex performance after tonic-clonic seizures was practically abolished. The termination of kindling resulted in acquisition of the conditioned reflex in all the animals. The results indicate, that in animals with long-lasting complex partial seizures the learning of the avoidance response is impaired. In contrast to the effects exerted by afterdischarges and complex partial seizures, intensive interictal hippocampal spiking did not seem to have a direct negative influence on, this particular type of learning.

The purpose of this work was to assess the effects of DPH on a developed epileptogenic focus in cats with split cerebral hemispheres. The investigations were carried out on 12 cats with a chronic epileptogenic focus produced by means of aluminum method in the right motor area. In all cats the epileptogenic focus was found in EEG. All animals received DPH in daily doses of 8-15 mg/kg. In 2 cats they appeared before beginning of treatment. One of these cats died after 3 days from status epilepticus, the other survived status epilepticus and died after 42 days of DPH administration with signs of intoxication. In 3 cats clinical seizures developed during DPH treatment after 30.84 and 210 days. DPH was given during from 171 to 314 days. Clinical seizures appeared in these cats only sporadically and the animals were sacrificed after completion of investigations. In 7 out of 12 cats clinical seizures failed to develop despite presence of bioelectrically active epileptogenic seizures in the right motor area. Administration of DPH in cats with developed epileptogenic focus failed to prevent clinical seizures. In cats with seizures their control was limited by drug toxicity. In all animals toxic effects were observed although the serum DPH level was in the range 8-20 mug/ml.