No abstract

This study describes the temporal distribution of slow-wave sleep (SWS) (defined as the visually scored stages 3 + 4) across the night for 16 infants aged between 20 weeks and 1 year, 17 children between 1 and 6 years, and 17 adults between 20 and 36 years. In all three groups the amounts of SWS peaked during the first nonrapid eye movement (NREM) episode. SWS decreased across the night for adults and children, but not for infants. In infants the amounts of SWS remained at a fairly constant level from the second cycle onward, although many cycles were observed with zero SWS. The latter was evident from the very low tendency for SWS to appear in consecutive NREM/REM cycles. Rather, SWS was observed in alternate cycles. In children this phenomenon was less prominent but still well visible, and the tendency for SWS to appear in consecutive cycles had increased. In adults SWS occurred predominantly in consecutive cycles. The results suggest that whereas REM recurrence time increases twofold from infancy to adulthood, SWS recurrence time remains of similar length in infants, children, and adults.

No abstract

Benign familial neonatal convulsions (BFNC) is an idiopathic form of epilepsy beginning within the first six months of life. Its genetic origin and autosomal dominant mode of inheritance have been suspected since its first description. Recently, the BFNC gene has been localised within chromosome 20q in one large pedigree. For the first time, we confirm here (with D20S19 and D20S20) the close linkage of BFNC to chromosome 20q in six French pedigrees. In addition, the existence in these families of several cases of febrile convulsions (FC), another epileptic syndrome with an autosomal dominant genetic component, led us to study the possibility of a genetic background identical to BFNC. Our results suggest the existence of different susceptibility genes for BFNC and FC.

The central nervous system appeared to be the main target of the HSES lesions. The most common outcome was brain death or severe brain damage. Further studies with a larger sample are necessary to determine whether the prognostic indicators we identified are reliable.