The effect of imipramine on symptomatic peripheral diabetic neuropathy in 9 patients was examined in a double-blind cross-over study against placebo. The dose of imipramine was adjusted to yield optimal plasma levels of imipramine plus desipramine of 300-750 nM. Imipramine had a clear beneificial effect on the symptoms of the neuropathy, whereas no changes in a range of neurophysiological measurement was detected. Despite some adverse effects, especially of an anticholinergic nature, the patients generally preferred imipramine to placebo.

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In 1953 Funkhouser, Nagler & Walke published an analysis of 334 electroencephalograms recorded from 189 alcoholics. Their main result was that electroencephalographic abnormalities were to be found in 21 $% of those cases in which there was no history of convulsions. Psychotic symptoms (delirium tremens or alcoholic hallucinations) did not increase the frequency of abnormality. Where there had, on the other hand, been convulsions, the number of abnormal electroencephalograms rose to the double.Delay, Verdaux & Chanoit ( 1957) found a considerably greater proportion with abnormalities. Out of 953 alcoholics they found changes in 687, i. e. in 72 $76. These changes were, however, very small (changes in the frequency of the alpha activity, the occurrence of theta activity etc.). These authors were of the impression that the long continued abuse of alcohol causes permanent organic brain damage, and that this can be detected by electroencephalo-

The prevalence of facial clefts in sibs and children of 2,072 epileptics ascertained in a defined region was determined by record linkage with a national cleft register, which also provided expected figures. Observed/expected ratios were increased only for cleft lip with or without cleft palate if the mother had manifested epilepsy: it was 4.7 when anticonvulsants were given before and during pregnancy, 2.7 in cases with no treatment, and zero in children born prior to maternal epilepsy. Children of epileptic men and sibs of epileptics showed no increase. The prevalence of isolated cleft palate was not above expectation in any group.

No abstract