Routine microbiological testing in sudden and unexpected infant death

We reviewed 187 depth recorded seizures in 33 patients with non-lesional temporal lobe complex partial seizures. All patients had a minimum of 1 year follow-up following temporal lobectomy. We classified seizure onset pattern as rhythmic activity, attenuation, or repetitive spikes or spike wave complexes. The most common pattern of seizure onset was rhythmic activity and the next most common pattern was repetitive spikes. Seventy-five seizures (49%) had only one seizure onset pattern, and 79 seizures (51%) had a combination of seizure onset patterns. The degree of hippocampal gliosis strongly predicted the type of seizure onset pattern (Chi square = 24.07, 2 d.f., P < 0.01). The rhythmic activity pattern was associated with mild gliosis, and the repetitive spike pattern was associated with severe gliosis. We classified seizure onset as focal or regional based on the number of electrode contacts that were involved by the ictal EEG. A focal seizure onset was associated with an excellent outcome following temporal lobectomy.     

Psychological significance of pupillary movements.

Pupillary dilation, the light reflex, and spontaneous fluctuations in pupil size have been used as dependent variables in psychological investigations. A review of these studies provides evidence for the effectiveness of the pupil as an index of autonomic activity in psychophysiological research. Methodological problems in the pupillary literature are discussed, and directions for further research are suggested. (105 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)