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Query: UMLS:C0036572 (seizures)
 80,221 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Sevoflurane may be an interesting substance for paediatric anaesthesia due to its combination of a very low blood-gas partition coefficient and non-pungency. This review discusses the status of sevoflurane in paediatric anaesthesia on the basis of studies published so far. The blood-gas partition coefficient of sevoflurane in children is 0.66, and hence markedly lower than those of isoflurane (1.25) and halothane (2.26) [15]. Induction of anaesthesia with sevoflurane/N2O is slightly shorter compared to halothane/N2O (Table 1) [4]. During induction of anaesthesia, sevoflurane/O2 is more often associated with excitement (35%) than sevoflurane/N2O (5%) and halothane/N2O (5%) [25]. Seizure-like movements in one case [1] and electrically generalised but clinically silent seizure activity in two cases [12] may raise the question of seizure-inducing effects of sevoflurane. However, up to now there is no clinical evidence of epileptogenic effects of sevoflurane. The MAC50 in neonates and infants 1-6 months of age is 3.3 vol% [14]; in infants 6-12 months and children 1-12 years of age it is 2.5 vol.% [14]. Sixty per cent N2O decreases the MAC50 of sevoflurane and desflurane by only 20%-25% [3, 14]. In contrast, 60% N2O decreases the MAC50 of halothane in children by 60% [16]. Thus, the MAC-reducing effect of N2O in children appears to be attenuated in the presence of less soluble inhalation anaesthetics. Sevoflurane has a similar low incidence of airway irritation as halothane and provides a smooth induction (Fig. 2) [4]. Haemodynamics during sevoflurane anaesthesia may be somewhat more stable compared to halothane. Serum fluoride levels increase rapidly when sevoflurane is administered, but decrease shortly after discontinuation [4]. Mean maximum levels reported are about 20 mumol/l and are of no concern for renal function. A study with mivacurium indicates more pronounced muscle relaxation by sevoflurane compared to halothane [9]. Sevoflurane may induce malignant hyperthermia. Emergence from sevoflurane anaesthesia is significantly more rapid than after halothane anaesthesia (Table 1); however, it is associated with more restlessness and agitation, probably due to the earlier perception of pain [4]. The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting after sevoflurane anaesthesia is comparable to that after halothane (Table 2). Sevoflurane may be a user-friendly alternative to halothane and is more preferred by children than halothane [32]. The status of sevoflurane in paediatric anaesthesia will depend on several factors: its own benefit/risk-ratio, a possible re-evaluation of the known risks of halothane and the financial limitations of the hospitals.
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PMID:[Sevoflurane in pediatric anesthesia]. 877 99

Cyclic vomiting is a rare syndrome that over the years has variously been ascribed to psychogenic causes, sensory seizures, abdominal migraine, and more recently, to mechanical or electrical disturbances in gastric physiology. We describe the case of a 65-year-old white diabetic female with a 10-yr history of recurrent episodes of nausea and vomiting, occurring every 10-12 days and lasting approximately 1-3 days at a time. These episodes were accompanied by edema, mild temperature elevations, and remarkable elevations in blood pressure. In between these episodes, the patient remained asymptomatic. Initial screening tests were also negative except for moderate gastroparesis. However, antral motility was found to be normal, as was an electrogastrogram. Detailed neurological and psychiatric evaluations were negative. Trials of erythromycin, metoclopramide, naloxone, ondansetron, and amitryptiline were unsuccessful. Serial endocrinological testing revealed that an episode of vomiting was always preceded by an abnormal elevation in at least one of the following: serum adrenocorticotropic hormone, serum cortisol, or urinary cortisol. In the midst of an episode, all three values were exceedingly high (e.g., > 10-fold increases in 24-hr urinary cortisol levels). Fluctuations of a milder degree, though still abnormally high, were also noted in between cycles at times when the patient was completely asymptomatic. High-dose dexamethasone suppressed these hormonal surges completely but not the clinical symptoms, which continued undisturbed. The patient was finally given a trial of intramuscular ketorolac during one of her episodes, which produced prompt and sustained relief. During the next few weeks, she was given this drug each time her symptoms commenced, and each time it appeared that her cycle had been aborted. She has since been able to terminate her episodes promptly and completely by self-administration of ketorolac. We speculate that her syndrome is caused by a poorly characterized disorder of endogenous prostaglandin release, resulting not only in derangements in the hypothalamic pituitary system but also in nausea and vomiting.
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PMID:Cyclic vomiting: association with multiple homeostatic abnormalities and response to ketorolac. 885 55

Currently, there is no one drug that is the agent of choice for induction in rapid sequence intubation in the emergency department (ED). All agents currently used as induction agents in the ED offer distinct advantages for various clinical conditions, but each has a significant side effect profile and specific contraindications that limit its use in many common clinical settings. A review of the data available from the anesthesia literature suggests that etomidate possesses many properties that may make it the agent of choice for rapid sequence intubations in the ED. These advantages include excellent pharmacodynamics, protection from myocardial and cerebral ischemia, minimal histamine release, and a hemodynamic profile that is uniquely stable. Disadvantages include a lack of blunting of sympathetic response to intubation, a high incidence of myoclonus, prominent nausea and vomiting, potential activation of seizures in patients with epileptogenic foci, and impaired glucocorticoid response to stress. Further studies are needed to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the use of etomidate for rapid sequence intubation in the ED.
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PMID:A review of etomidate for rapid sequence intubation in the emergency department. 961 Sep 85

The purpose of this article is to review the safety and tolerance of two carbapenems (imipenem/cilastatin and meropenem) in order to establish their possible use in different clinical settings. The tolerance and safety profile of both carbapemens in intravenous and intramuscular formulation is good. With imipenem/cilastatin, nausea and vomiting can constitute a practical problem requiring prolonged times of perfusion and high dilutions. The possibility of administering meropenem in intravenous infusion or bolus injection with lower volumes of fluid, without increasing the incidence of these adverse reactions, may have practical advantages in special situations. The possible neurotoxicity of the imipenem/cilastatin presents limitations of the use in high risk circumstances such as meningitis, previous alterations of CNS, renal insufficiency and concomitant administration of other drugs with neurotoxic profiles and when high doses of administration are needed. The meropenem, by the contrary, can be used in patients with infections of the CNS and other risk factors, at high doses, without increased risk of seizures.
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PMID:[Tolerance and safety of carbapenems: the use of meropenem]. 941 74

We conducted a prospective cohort study to detect any relationships between specific clinical features and laboratory indices at initiation of hemodialysis and long-term survival. One hundred and thirty-nine consecutive patients with chronic renal failure hospitalized to start maintenance hemodialysis between January 1990 and December 1994 were enrolled, and follow-up was completed through December 1995. At baseline, subjects were assigned to one of five groups based on their major indication for initiation of hemodialysis. The indications were: (a) nausea and vomiting; (b) severe weakness; (c) no major symptom (dialysis started because of 'high' serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen concentrations); (d) volume overload, and (e) miscellaneous (angina, pericarditis, seizure, pruritus, and hyperkalemia). Blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine and serum albumin concentrations were measured once before the first dialysis. The main outcome measure was death. The 139 study subjects included 77 women and 62 men comprising 116 Blacks (83%), 15 Hispanics (11%), and 8 Whites (6%) of mean age 54 +/- 15 years. Mean length of follow-up was 39 months. At baseline, mean blood urea nitrogen concentration was 121 +/- 38 mg/dl, mean serum creatinine concentration was 12.6 +/- 5.2 mg/dl, and mean serum albumin concentration was 3.5 +/- 0.62 g/dl. Forty-two subjects (30%) died during follow-up. Cox regression analysis showed that there was no significant association between mortality and any of the indicators evaluated (indication for initiation of dialysis (p = 0.2), serum creatinine concentration (< 10 vs. > or = 10 mg/dl) (p = 0.8), blood ure nitrogen concentration (< 100 vs. > or = 100 mg/dl) (p = 0.68) and serum albumin concentration (< 4 vs. > or = 4 g/dl) (p = 0.62). All analyses included adjustment for age and diabetes. We conclude that in patients with chronic renal failure, the clinical features and laboratory indices used as guidelines for initiation of renal replacement therapy do not correlate with survival. Objective parameters that will permit initiation of dialysis at a time that will maximize survival in patients with chronic renal failure are needed.
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PMID:Timing of initiation of uremia therapy and survival in patients with progressive renal disease. 962 34

Imipenem and meropenem, members of the carbapenem class of beta-lactam antibiotics, are among the most broadly active antibiotics available for systemic use in humans. They are active against streptococci, methicillin-sensitive staphylococci, Neisseria, Haemophilus, anaerobes, and the common aerobic gram-negative nosocomial pathogens including Pseudomonas. Resistance to imipenem and meropenem may emerge during treatment of P. aeruginosa infections, as has occurred with other beta-lactam agents; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is typically resistant to both imipenem and meropenem. Like the penicillins, the carbapenems have inhibitory activity against enterococci. In general, the in vitro activity of imipenem against aerobic gram-positive cocci is somewhat greater than that of meropenem, whereas the in vitro activity of meropenem against aerobic gram-negative bacilli is somewhat greater than that of imipenem. Daily dosages may range from 0.5 to 1 g every 6 to 8 hours in patients with normal renal function; the daily dose of meropenem, however, can be safely increased to 6 g. Infusion-related nausea and vomiting, as well as seizures, which have been the main toxic effects of imipenem, occur no more frequently during treatment with meropenem than during treatment with other beta-lactam antibiotics. The carbapenems should be considered for treatment of mixed bacterial infections and aerobic gram-negative bacteria that are not susceptible to other beta-lactam agents. Indiscriminate use of these drugs will promote resistance to them. Aztreonam, the first marketed monobactam, has activity against most aerobic gram-negative bacilli including P. aeruginosa. The drug is not nephrotoxic, is weakly immunogenic, and has not been associated with disorders of coagulation. Aztreonam may be administered intramuscularly or intravenously; the primary route of elimination is urinary excretion. In patients with normal renal function, the recommended dosing interval is every 8 hours. Patients with renal impairment require dosage adjustment. Aztreonam is used primarily as an alternative to aminoglycosides and for the treatment of aerobic gram-negative infections. It is often used in combination therapy for mixed aerobic and anaerobic infections. Approved indications for its use include infections of the urinary tract or lower respiratory tract, intra-abdominal and gynecologic infections, septicemia, and cutaneous infections caused by susceptible organisms. Concurrent initial therapy with other antimicrobial agents is recommended before the causative organism has been determined in patients who are seriously ill or at risk for gram-positive or anaerobic infection.
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PMID:Carbapenems and monobactams: imipenem, meropenem, and aztreonam. 1022 72

Chemotherapy for malignant brain tumors has a limited efficacy largely due to restricted blood-brain barrier permeability for chemotherapeutic drugs. Intraarterial chemotherapy (IAC) has the advantage of increased uptake during the first passage of the drugs through tumor capillaries. Initial IAC trials had less than satisfactory results due to unacceptable toxicities. Between 1987 and 1996, 173 patients with primary and metastatic brain tumors were treated with intraarterial (intracarotid and/or intravertebral) cisplatin and etoposide (VP-16). Out of these, 168 patients, who received a total of 438 cycles, were evaluated for the incidence of toxicities. Patients received either cisplatin at 40 mg/m2 and VP-16 at 20 mg/m2 or cisplatin at 60 mg/m2 and VP-16 at 40 mg/m2. Nausea and vomiting were the most common toxicities (42 patients, 14% of cycles). Arterial puncture was associated with a 1.6% incidence of groin hematomas (6 patients), and a 0.7% incidence of failure to canulate the carotid or vertebral arteries (3 patients). Neurologic toxicities included headache (1.4% of cycles, 5 patients), focal seizures (1.4% of cycles, 5 patients), transient confusion and urinary retention/incontinence (1.9% of cycles, 8 patients), and blurred vision (0.9% of cycles, 4 patients). We have not seen visual loss, strokes, major vessel dissection or thrombosis, or myelosuppression. Toxicity incidence was higher in patients with metastatic brain tumors than in those with primary brain tumors (34% versus 17%, p < 0.001). It was also higher in patients who had brain radiation therapy (RT) prior to IAC than in those who had RT concomitant with IAC (31% versus 19%, p = 0.05). No significant difference in toxicity incidence was noticed between patients who received RT concomitant with IAC and those who received RT after IAC (19% and 23% respectively, p = 0.08). Intracarotid chemotherapy given prior to RT resulted in 23 months of median survival for patients with glioblastoma multiforme. Intraarterial chemotherapy with cisplatin and VP-16 is a relatively safe treatment modality, especially in patients with primary brain tumors who have not received brain radiotherapy.
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PMID:Toxicities related to intraarterial infusion of cisplatin and etoposide in patients with brain tumors. 1036 Apr 81

The most common adverse effects of the fluoroquinolones involve the gastrointestinal tract, skin and CNS, and are mainly mild and reversible. Of the gastrointestinal events, nausea and vomiting are the most common. Mild hepatic reactions are a class effect, usually presenting as mild transaminase level increases without clinical symptoms. However, postmarketing surveillance has revealed significant hepatotoxicity with trovafloxacin. It is not currently known whether the severe reactions to trovafloxacin are specific to that agent or simply represent an extreme of an emerging class effect. The enormous worldwide usage of, and extensive published adverse effect data on the other fluoroquinolones and naphthyridones suggests the former. In perspective, rare but serious hepatotoxicity has been reported with other fluoroquinolones and the overall incidence of trovafloxacin hepatotoxicity is not dissimilar to that reported with flucloxacillin and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. CNS reactions vary in severity and include dizziness, convulsions (notably with lomefloxacin) and psychoses. Fluoroquinolones differ in their pro-convulsive activity, relating to their differing potential as gamma-aminobutyric acid antagonists and binding to the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor. The basis for the increased seizure potential following the coadministration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with certain fluoroquinolones is not fully understood. Fluoroquinolone phototoxicity, caused by the generation of toxic free oxygen species under exposure to UVA radiation, is significantly more common with 8-halogenated compounds. Certain patient groups, e.g. patients with cystic fibrosis, are predisposed to this adverse effect. Murine photocarcinogenicity has been demonstrated with lomefloxacin, but no such effects have been reported in humans. Prolongation of the QTc interval is also a class effect, although cardiac arrhythmias have only been linked with sparfloxacin. Among the newer fluoroquinolones, clinically significant cardiac events are rare or absent but possible interactions in patients receiving other drugs capable of causi ng QT prolongation should be anticipated. Tendinitis and rupture, usually of the Achilles tendon, are rare, class-effects of fluoroquinolones, most frequently reported with pefloxacin. Predisposing factors include aging, corticosteroid use, renal disease, haemodialysis and transplantation. Use of fluoroquinolones in paediatric patients remains contentious. However, accruing human data suggest that restrictions on paediatric use imposed because of fluoroquinolone-induced cartilage damage in juvenile animals, may soon be relaxed. Data from over 1700 children in the UK failed to disclose arthropathy and extensive paediatric use of norfloxacin in Japan and ciprofloxacin in developing countries has been free of articular effects.
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PMID:Comparative tolerability of the newer fluoroquinolone antibacterials. 1055 54

Cerebral palsy is the result of an injury to the developing brain during the antenatal, perinatal or postnatal period. Clinical manifestations relate to the area affected. Some of the conditions associated with cerebral palsy require surgical intervention. Problems during the peri-operative period may include hypothermia, nausea and vomiting and muscle spasm. Peri-operative seizure control, respiratory function and gastro-oesophageal reflux also require consideration. Intellectual disability is common and, in those affected, may range from mild to severe. These children should be handled with sensitivity as communication disorders and sensory deficits may mask mild or normal intellect. They should be accompanied by their carers at induction and in the recovery room as they usually know how best to communicate with them. Postoperative pain management and the prevention of muscle spasm is important and some of the drugs used in the management of spasm such as baclofen and botulinum toxin are discussed. Epidural analgesia is particularly valuable when major orthopaedic procedures are performed.
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PMID:Anaesthesia and pain management in cerebral palsy. 1079 81

Posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome is a newly recognised brain disorder that predominantly affects the cerebral white matter. Oedematous lesions particularly involve the posterior parietal and occipital lobes, and may spread to basal ganglia, brain stem, and cerebellum. This rapidly evolving neurological condition is clinically characterised by headache, nausea and vomiting, seizures, visual disturbances, altered sensorium, and occasionally focal neurological deficit. Posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome is often associated with an abrupt increase in blood pressure and is usually seen in patients with eclampsia, renal disease, and hypertensive encephalopathy. It is also seen in the patients treated with cytotoxic and immunosuppressive drugs such as cyclosporin, tacrolimus, and interferon alfa. The lesions of posterior leukoencephalopathy are best visualised with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. T2 weighted MR images, at the height of symptoms, characteristically show diffuse hyperintensity selectively involving the parieto-occipital white matter. Occasionally the lesions also involve the grey matter. Computed tomography can also be used satisfactorily to detect hypodense lesions of posterior leukoencephalopathy. Early recognition of this condition is of paramount importance because prompt control of blood pressure or withdrawal of immunosuppressive agents will cause reversal of the syndrome. Delay in the diagnosis and treatment can result in permanent damage to affected brain tissues.
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PMID:Posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome. 1150 3


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