Biomaterial Database

Calcium homeostasis in mentally handicapped epileptic patients. 1985

S Deb, and V A Cowie, and L M Tsanaclis, and A Richens

Three groups of subjects have been studied to evaluate the role of long term hospitalization and chronic anti-epileptic therapy on calcium metabolism. The first group consisted of 32 epileptic patients, randomly selected from a population of inpatients in a hospital for the mentally handicapped, receiving various combinations of anti-epileptic drugs for at least 3 years. The second group was made up of 32 non-epileptic residents of the same hospital, individually matched for age and sex with epileptic patients and who had not received any anti-epileptic drugs in the last 3 years. The third group of 22 normal subjects was randomly selected from the staff of the University Hospital of Wales, matched for age and sex against the epileptic group, who had not received any anti-epileptic medication within the last 3 years. None of the subjects received any drugs (except anti-epileptic drugs) known to have effect on calcium metabolism. Significant differences in the serum levels of the total calcium, ionised calcium, total alkaline phosphatase and its liver iso-enzyme were seen. Serum total alkaline phosphatase and its liver iso-enzyme were significantly elevated in the epileptic group, showing the effect of anti-epileptic drugs. On the other hand serum total calcium was significantly lower in both residential groups compared to the normal population, epileptics being lower than non-epileptics showing the combined effect of hospitalization and anti-epileptic drugs. No significant difference was detected among the groups in the serum concentration of the bone alkaline phosphatase iso-enzyme.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D006996	Hypocalcemia	Reduction of the blood calcium below normal. Manifestations include hyperactive deep tendon reflexes, Chvostek's sign, muscle and abdominal cramps, and carpopedal spasm. (Dorland, 27th ed)	Hypocalcemias
D008297	Male		Males
D008607	Intellectual Disability	Subnormal intellectual functioning which originates during the developmental period. This has multiple potential etiologies, including genetic defects and perinatal insults. Intelligence quotient (IQ) scores are commonly used to determine whether an individual has an intellectual disability. IQ scores between 70 and 79 are in the borderline range. Scores below 67 are in the disabled range. (from Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1992, Ch55, p28)	Disability, Intellectual,Idiocy,Mental Retardation,Retardation, Mental,Deficiency, Mental,Intellectual Development Disorder,Mental Deficiency,Mental Retardation, Psychosocial,Deficiencies, Mental,Development Disorder, Intellectual,Development Disorders, Intellectual,Disabilities, Intellectual,Disorder, Intellectual Development,Disorders, Intellectual Development,Intellectual Development Disorders,Intellectual Disabilities,Mental Deficiencies,Mental Retardations, Psychosocial,Psychosocial Mental Retardation,Psychosocial Mental Retardations,Retardation, Psychosocial Mental,Retardations, Psychosocial Mental
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D002118	Calcium	A basic element found in nearly all tissues. It is a member of the alkaline earth family of metals with the atomic symbol Ca, atomic number 20, and atomic weight 40. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and combines with phosphorus to form calcium phosphate in the bones and teeth. It is essential for the normal functioning of nerves and muscles and plays a role in blood coagulation (as factor IV) and in many enzymatic processes.	Coagulation Factor IV,Factor IV,Blood Coagulation Factor IV,Calcium-40,Calcium 40,Factor IV, Coagulation
D004359	Drug Therapy, Combination	Therapy with two or more separate preparations given for a combined effect.	Combination Chemotherapy,Polychemotherapy,Chemotherapy, Combination,Combination Drug Therapy,Drug Polytherapy,Therapy, Combination Drug,Chemotherapies, Combination,Combination Chemotherapies,Combination Drug Therapies,Drug Polytherapies,Drug Therapies, Combination,Polychemotherapies,Polytherapies, Drug,Polytherapy, Drug,Therapies, Combination Drug
D004827	Epilepsy	A disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of paroxysmal brain dysfunction due to a sudden, disorderly, and excessive neuronal discharge. Epilepsy classification systems are generally based upon: (1) clinical features of the seizure episodes (e.g., motor seizure), (2) etiology (e.g., post-traumatic), (3) anatomic site of seizure origin (e.g., frontal lobe seizure), (4) tendency to spread to other structures in the brain, and (5) temporal patterns (e.g., nocturnal epilepsy). (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p313)	Aura,Awakening Epilepsy,Seizure Disorder,Epilepsy, Cryptogenic,Auras,Cryptogenic Epilepsies,Cryptogenic Epilepsy,Epilepsies,Epilepsies, Cryptogenic,Epilepsy, Awakening,Seizure Disorders
D005260	Female		Females
D006778	Hospitals, Psychiatric	Special hospitals which provide care to the mentally ill patient.	Mental Hospitals,Hospitals, Mental,Mental Institutions,Psychiatric Hospitals,Hospital, Mental,Hospital, Psychiatric,Institution, Mental,Institutions, Mental,Mental Hospital,Mental Institution,Psychiatric Hospital
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man