A neuropathological case-study of myoclonus epilepsy

A 28-year-old male of progressive myoclonus epilepsy was reported, who had showed a gradual progression in myoclonus, mental retardation and cerebellar symptoms, and had been treated with a large dosage of diphenylhydantoin. Neuropathologically, slight degenerative changes of the cerebrl cortex, especially in the IV layer, the external pallidum, and the dentate and olivary nuclei were observed. The most obvious change was diffuse reduction of Purkinje's and granular cells in the cerebellum. A congenital cyst was found with surrounding gliosis in the central tegmental tract of the pons. A significant relationship between myoclonus and the cyst was proposed, and furthermore, influences of diphenylhydantoin intoxication on the clinicopathological development of myoclonus epilepsy were emphasized.

Studies on thyroid therapy and thyroid function in depressive patients

A number of cases of depressed patients have latent hypothyroidism, possibly due to hypothalamo-pituitary dysfunction, and become refractory to antidepressant drugs. The dramatic effect or thyroid medication combined with tricyclic antidepressants is often observed in such persistently depressed patients. This effect seems to pertain to the catecholamine hypothesis of depression, but this requires further elucidation.