Before the development of CT scanning, simple skull X-rays or air-encephalograms (in which the structure of the brain was outlined by injected air) were the only techniques available. These have been superseded entirely. Another technique, angiography, is still used in some patients with epilepsy due to a structural cause. In this technique, an iodine-containing solution which is opaque to X-rays is injected directly into one or other carotid artery (in the neck), or through a catheter introduced into the brachial (elbow) or femoral (groin) arteries and passed into the region of the carotid. Immediately after the injection, a series of X-ray pictures are taken which outlines the arteries and veins containing the iodine solution. This technique identifies precisely any abnormal blood vessels and may be extremely valuable if surgery is being considered on an angioma or tumour. Advances in MRI mean that the circulation can usually be imaged by special pulse techniques and image processing software, so angiography is likely to be superseded in the near future.

Other imaging techniques are available at research centres. These include positron emission tomography (PET), or single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT). In these procedures, variations in function in different parts of the brain can be imaged.

The technique involves injecting a glucose solution, or breathing oxygen, either of which is labelled with a specially marked atom. The oxygen or glucose is taken up and metabolized by different parts of the brain at different rates. The marker atoms attached to the oxygen or glucose allows images to be obtained which may show an area or areas of the brain which take up a lot of oxygen and glucose during a seizure, and which could be an epileptic focus. Between seizures, the same areas are relatively silent. Such studies may help neurologists and neurosurgeons decide on the suitability of a child or adult for epilepsy surgery.

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Although the granule-like lesions of sarcoidosis are most frequently found in the lungs, they may also develop in the heart, liver, spleen, muscles, and bones. The ailment seems to have some strong autoimmune components. The only case treated with CMO responded very well, relieving pain and inflammation and restoring normal function to the affected areas.

Asthma-Asthma is a different matter. Although it is a chronic inflammatory disease of-the airway, patients respond in unpredictable ways to CMO. Some respond well but others actually worsen.

Asthma is often divided into two basic categories: intrinsic and extrinsic. The intrinsic type is a straightforward reaction to things like irritating substances, infection, cold air, exercise, emotional upset, etc. The extrinsic type involves an immune reaction to pollen or other substances to which the asthmatic is allergic or sensitive.

Unfortunately there's no telling how either type will respond to CMO, so we recommend that its use always be managed by a physician. We also suggest that initial doses be very small, perhaps only one capsule daily for a couple of days with increases by an additional capsule per day every other day. No one is likely to run into serious trouble that way. Any indication of sensitivity should be immediately discussed with your physician. CMO should be taken in divided doses, half in the morning and half in the evening. Once a dosage totalling six capsules daily is reached it should be maintained at that level.

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Symptoms: discolored urine, puffy eyes, headache and high blood pressure.

Home care:

Most cases of nephritis are mild and pass unnoticed. If the symptoms are marked enough to be recognizable, the child requires medical attention.

Precautions

-    If the child's eyes are puffy, or the urine is scanty and dark, the child may have nephritis.

-    If symptoms of nephritis are pronounced enough to be noticed, take the child to the doctor.

-    Nephritis usually follows a strep infection. Watch for the condition to follow a strep throat or impetigo, even if the infection is being treated with antibiotics.

There are many forms of nephritis, or inflammation of the kidneys, but the form that is most common in children usually follows a streptococcal infection such as strep throat, scarlet fever, or streptococcal impetigo. The first symptoms of nephritis develop one to three weeks after the onset of a strep infection, and these symptoms are usually mild. In fact, most cases of nephritis probably go unnoticed (or undiagnosed) and pass without treatment. Occasionally, however, nephritis starts abruptly and the illness is severe. Most children recover completely from nephritis, but a few develop chronic kidney disease.

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