L Mira – författare

This volume is devoted to a particular facet of infantile epilepsy, Occipital Seizures and Epilepsies. That an epileptogenic process common to all ages manifests itself differently according to the stages of cerebral evolution suggests that a deeper investigation of these age-dependent epilepsies and their related conditions is necessary. Findings of basic sciences in epileptogenicity are compared with clinical data and developed towards practical applications of general interest, such as the fundamental differential diagnosis between occipital seizures and migrainous attacks. Since the normal maturation of the brain in the post-natal period largely depends on early sensory-motor experience, particularly visual functions, it is essential to consider research maturation of visual systems, as it may offer stimulating insights into the peculiarities of these 'epileptic syndromes' which represent a model for the study of the child's epilepsy. Though dealing with a particular problem in paediatric neurology, they point to a general process in human biology.

This book collects the results of clinical experience and research, as well as the opionions of the specialists who have studied in depth several rare and complex syndromes associated with "Continuous Spikes and Waves During Slow Sleep", the Landau-Kleffner syndrome, and related conditions. It also presents a wide-ranging collection of cases presented by the participants in the meeting, and analysed in its various clinical, electrophysiological and psycho-intellectual aspects. The purpose of the book is to provide a thorough updated on specialised knowledge about the syndromes characterised by the presence of CSWS on the EEG, to bring out the many, still unanswered -- questions, and to stimulate further interdisciplinary research to verify the validity of present hypotheses, in order to clarify which preventive and therapeutic methods can best attain the control of such syndromes.

At the Mariani Foundation meeting held in Milan, October 1995, highly qualified specialists were invited to assist in understanding of the basic principles of cerebral development and brain function, with specific attention to those structures and mechanisms involved in the phenomenon of falls. Epiliptologists illustrate the different semiologic modalities and clinical conditions in which the fall is an essential symptom. A main part of the book is dedicated to the medical and surgical treatment of syndromes where falls appear in the foreground. This volume has the mission of improving life conditions of children who suffer from drop seizures, by limiting the risks to which they are subjected, and to try and compensate for the psychological and social limitations affecting them.