Ransen' s disease is a disease of peripheral nerves. Some patients deve10p peripheral neuropathy before the diagnosis of the disease, and others develop these complications after starting therapy. Electrophysiological (EP) studies were carried out in Ransen's disease patients. This work studied the neural deficits, electromyo graphy (EMG) and motor nerve conduction (MNC) variables in different types of leprosy and the immunopathology of sural nerve tissue in patients with severe neural deficits. Forty leprosy patients had neurological exarninations and EP study. Histo pathological and immunopathological study of sural nerve biopsy specimens was performed for 10 patients with severe neural deficits. The results of the neurological study showed that there was involvement of cranial nerves, muscular system, motor reflexes and sensory system and trophic and vasomotor changes. EP study showed significant changes in EMG of abductor digiti minimi in patients as compared to controls. MNC variables of common peroneal nerve were abnormal in 80% of alI patients, MNC of median nerve was abnormal in 72.5%, while MNC of ulnar nerve was abnormal in 70% and SNC of ulnar nerve was abnormal in 77.5% of the total. ln conclusion, electrophysiological investigations have an important role in the detec tion of muscle denervation and neuropathic changes in leprosy patients. These investigations are safe, rapid and non-invasive techniques. On the other hand immunopathological study revealed that the degree of immune positivity correlated with the degree of nerve fibrosis.

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Behavior problems and low intelligence were significantly high among anemic children. Their association with the hematological parameters varies according to the type of behavior and the type of anemia. These results cannot exclude the role of other factors in shaping the profile of behavior and IQ.

Endocrine changes are reported in both epilepsy and depression. The interrelationships between mood, epilepsy, and endocrine changes are not well characterized. The authors included 40 epileptic patients (20 depressed, 20 nondepressed) and 20 healthy subjects. All patients had an electroencephalogram, and were given the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. All subjects were tested for serum levels of cortisol, prolactin, testosterone, and thyroid hormones. Patients were medication-free. Patients had elevated prolactin and cortisol and reduced serum testosterone relative to control subjects. Depressed patients had higher cortisol levels than nondepressed. Data suggest that the effects of epilepsy and depression on cortisol, but not other hormones, may be additive.