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Zhong Nan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban 2021 Mar;46(3):240-248

Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.

Objectives: To comprehensively analyze the characteristics of cognitive impairment of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), and to explore the effects of different lateral patients' cognitive impairment and different clinical factors on cognitive impairment of TLE.

Methods: A total of 84 patients, who met the diagnostic criteria for TLE in the Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, were collected as a patient group, with 36 cases of left TLE and 48 cases of right TLE. A total of 79 healthy volunteers with matching gender, age and education level were selected as a control group. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2021 Apr 28;22(9). Epub 2021 Apr 28.

Institute of Neurobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS), 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria.

Clinically, temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most prevalent type of partial epilepsy and often accompanied by various comorbidities. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of chronic treatment with the antiepileptic drug (AED) lacosamide (LCM) on spontaneous motor seizures (SMS), behavioral comorbidities, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and neuronal damage in a model of TLE. Vehicle/LCM treatment (30 mg/kg, p. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2021 Apr 8;22(8). Epub 2021 Apr 8.

Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy.

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is one of the most common types of focal epilepsy, characterized by recurrent spontaneous seizures originating in the temporal lobe(s), with mesial TLE (mTLE) as the worst form of TLE, often associated with hippocampal sclerosis. Abnormal epileptiform discharges are the result, among others, of altered cell-to-cell communication in both chemical and electrical transmissions. Current knowledge about the neurobiology of TLE in human patients emerges from pathological studies of biopsy specimens isolated from the epileptogenic zone or, in a few more recent investigations, from living subjects using positron emission tomography (PET). Read More

Expert Opin Pharmacother 2021 May 12:1-9. Epub 2021 May 12.

Department of Pediatrics, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.

: Brivaracetam (BRV) is an antiseizure medication (ASM), which has been approved as an adjunctive treatment in adults and pediatric patients aged four years and older with focal onset seizures. It is a second-generation levetiracetam (LEV) derivative, sharing the same mechanism of action, binding synaptic vesicles 2A (SV2A). BRV shows higher binding affinity and selectivity and higher brain permeability than LEV. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2021 Apr 13;14(4). Epub 2021 Apr 13.

Division of Neurosurgery, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

A 24-year-old woman was referred to us for an intracranial haemorrhage in the left temporal lobe caused by a ruptured cavernous malformation; the bleeding extended over the left Heschl's gyrus and Wernicke area. On admission, the patient had global aphasia. A few days later, she spontaneously improved but remained with mild residual comprehensive dysphasia. Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2021 05 10;118:107945. Epub 2021 Apr 10.

Department of Neurology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Department of Medicine and Radiology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Department of Neurosciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Neurology, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. Electronic address:

Background: The identification of hyperperfusion on ictal single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scan is a technique for the localization of the epileptogenic zone (EZ) in patients with focal epilepsy undergoing presurgical evaluation. The accuracy of this technique has been improved by subtraction from an interictal image and coregistration with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (subtraction ictal SPECT coregistered to MRI (SISCOM)), and subsequently by the development of Statistical Ictal SPECT Co-registered to MRI (STATISCOM) which is reported to further improve localization accuracy by statistically accounting for random variation between images. However, the use of ictal SPECT is limited by the necessity for rapid injection of the radiotracer. Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2021 05 8;118:107936. Epub 2021 Apr 8.

Graduate Program in Translational Neuroscience, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Center for Applied Neuroscience, University Hospital (HU), Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, Brazil; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, UFSC, Florianópolis, Brazil; Neurology Division, Internal Medicine Department, HU, UFSC, Florianópolis, Brazil; Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, UFSC, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.

Background: Anxiety and depressive symptoms are prevalent in patients with refractory mesial temporal lobe epilepsy related to hippocampal sclerosis (MTLE-HS) before and after anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL).

Aims: (1) To follow the levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms long-term after ATL among patients with refractory MTLE-HS; (2) To identify pre- and postsurgical variables associated with the levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms after surgery.

Methods: We compared the levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms determined by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) before and long after ATL (mean 104 months, range 70-130) in 41 consecutive patients refractory MTLE-HS. Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2021 05 8;118:107933. Epub 2021 Apr 8.

Protestant Hospital Alsterdorf, Epilepsy Center Hamburg, Elisabeth-Flügge-Str. 1, 22337 Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address:

Purpose: To assess clinical and demographic characteristics in two cohorts of elderly patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy, undergoing resective epilepsy surgery (RES). Further, to determine seizure, neuropsychological, and mental health outcomes after RES and evaluate possible influencing factors.

Methods: Consecutive patients aged ≥50 years with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) who underwent curative RES in the Hamburg epilepsy surgery program (2004-2017) were identified. Read More

Handb Exp Pharmacol 2021 Apr 10. Epub 2021 Apr 10.

Department of Pharmacology, Qingdao University School of Pharmacy, Qingdao, China.

Native M-current is a low-threshold, slowly activating potassium current that exerts an inhibitory control over neuronal excitability. The M-channel is primarily co-assembled by heterotetrameric Kv7.2/KCNQ2 and Kv7. Read More

Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging 2021 05 19;311:111281. Epub 2021 Mar 19.

Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Pedro de Toledo Street, 650, 1st floor. Postal number: 04039-002 Vila Clementino, São Paulo, Brazil.

Depression is the most frequent psychiatric comorbidity in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) and hippocampal sclerosis (HS). This study aimed to confirm whether patients with comorbid depression have different volumetric patterns on magnetic resonance imaging, analysing the influence of HS sides. Psychiatrists conducted semi-structured interviews with 75 patients, who were divided into non-depression group (NDG, n = 52) and depression group (DG, n = 23), and compared with 98 controls. Read More

Neuroscience 2021 06 6;465:219-230. Epub 2021 Apr 6.

Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany. Electronic address:

Experimental and clinical data suggest an impact of serotonergic signaling on seizure susceptibility and epilepsy-associated psychiatric comorbidities. Previous µPET studies revealed increased binding of the 5-HT receptor ligand [F]MPPF in two rat models with spontaneous recurrent seizures. These findings raised the question whether these alterations are due to altered 5-HT receptor expression or a modification of extracellular serotonin concentrations. Read More

Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2021 ;121(3):31-38

Sechenov First Moscow State Medical Univesity, Moscow, Russia.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of extended release carbamazepine (finlepsin-retard and tegretol CR) in adult patients with new-onset focal epilepsy (FE) with the assessment of epileptiform activity index (EAI).

Material And Methods: The study included 62 patients (38 (61.3%) men and 24 (38. Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2021 05 5;118:107925. Epub 2021 Apr 5.

Biogen, Cambridge, MA, USA. Electronic address:

Objective: To analyze electronic diary (e-diary) use in a phase 2, randomized, controlled clinical trial (OPUS; NCT03283371) of natalizumab in adult participants with drug-resistant focal epilepsy.

Methods: We developed an e-diary, which incorporated an episodic seizure diary and a daily diary reminder, for use as the primary source to record participants' daily seizure activity in the OPUS phase 2 clinical trial. Participants and/or their designated caregivers made e-diary entries by selecting seizure descriptions generated in the participants' and/or caregivers' own words at the time of screening. Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2021 05 5;118:107921. Epub 2021 Apr 5.

Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Barcelona 08036, Spain; Clinical Institute of Neurosciences, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Barcelona 08036, Spain; Epilepsy Unit, Neurology Department, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Barcelona 08036, Spain; Biomedical Research Institute August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Barcelona, 08036, Spain. Electronic address:

Purpose: Psychiatric morbidity in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is frequent and negatively affects patients' life quality. Surgery is the procedure of choice when treating seizures, although the effects on psychiatric disorders remain unclear. We evaluate the effect of surgery on psychiatric disorders in patients with TLE two years after the intervention, to then shed light on how these are related to anxiety and depression symptoms, and Interictal Dysphoric Disorder (IDD). Read More

J Neurol Sci 2021 May 27;424:117428. Epub 2021 Mar 27.

Departments of Neurosurgery, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, United States; Departments of Radiation Oncology, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, United States; Departments of Head and Neck Surgery, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, United States; Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, United States; Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, United States; Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, United States; David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, United States. Electronic address:

Background: The seizure activity associated with hypothalamic hamartomas (HHs) is refractory to medical management and surgical intervention is often required. Stereotactic Radiofrequency Ablation (SRFA) is a minimally invasive technique offering targeted lesion ablation with a reduced risk of complications.

Objective: Here, we review the current literature on the use of SRFA for HHs. Read More

Eur J Pharmacol 2021 Jun 31;901:174068. Epub 2021 Mar 31.

Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 17-19, 44121, Ferrara, Italy; IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 60, 20132, Milan, Italy.

Innovative therapeutic strategies are highly needed to tackle the major medical needs of epilepsy, like prevention of epilepsy development in at-risk individuals, treatment of severe and drug-resistant forms, control of co-morbidities. The Neural Regeneration Peptide NRP2945 (a peptidomimetic analogue of the human CAPS-2 protein) has been recently found to exert many potentially anti-epileptic effects, for example increased neuronal survival and differentiation. In the present study, we tested the effects of NRP2945 on the development of epilepsy (epileptogenesis) and on chronic, spontaneous seizures, by using the pilocarpine model of temporal lobe epilepsy. Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2021 05 24;118:107919. Epub 2021 Mar 24.

Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Canada; Département de neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Canada; Service de neurologie, Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Canada. Electronic address:

Insular epilepsy is increasingly recognized in epilepsy surgery centers. Recent studies suggest that resection of an epileptogenic zone that involves the insula as a treatment for drug-resistant seizures is associated with good outcomes in terms of seizure control. However, despite the existing evidence of a role of the insula in emotions and affective information processing, the long-term psychological outcome of patients undergoing these surgeries remain poorly documented. Read More

Clin Neurophysiol 2021 May 20;132(5):1057-1063. Epub 2021 Feb 20.

Unit of Clinical and Biomedical Engineering, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy.

Objective: To investigate the mechanisms by which Perampanel (PER) reduces the severity of action myoclonus, we studied on MEG signals the changes occurring in cortico-muscular coherence (CMC) and cortico-cortical connectivity in patients with progressive myoclonus epilepsies.

Methods: The subjects performed an isometric extension of the hand; CMC and cortico-cortical connectivity were assessed using autoregressive models and generalized partial-directed coherence. The contralateral (Co) sensors showing average CMC values >0. Read More

Acta Neurol Scand 2021 Jun 10;143(6):629-636. Epub 2021 Mar 10.

Center for Applied Neurosciences, University Hospital (HU), Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, Brazil.

Objectives: To identify variables independently associated with a meaningful improvement in QOL long after surgical treatment of drug-resistant MTLE-HS patients.

Material & Methods: We prospectively evaluated 72 consecutive MTLE-HS surgically treated patients and analyzed pre and post-surgical variables independently associated with a meaningful improvement in QOL evaluated by the Quality of Life in Epilepsy-31 (QOLIE-31) overall score, and its domain scores determined at follow-up after 36 to 131 months (mean 93 months) after surgery.

Results: The mean overall QOLIE-31 score and its subdomain scores improved significantly after surgery (p < 0. Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2021 04 16;117:107909. Epub 2021 Mar 16.

Pediatrics Department, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA; Neurology Department, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA; Translational Neuroscience Program, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.

Purpose: Focal epilepsy is a risk factor for language impairment in children. We investigated whether the current state-of-the-art deep learning network on diffusion tractography connectome can accurately predict expressive and receptive language scores of children with epilepsy.

Methods: We studied 37 children with a diagnosis of drug-resistant focal epilepsy (age: 11. Read More

Acta Neurol Scand 2021 Jun 18;143(6):637-645. Epub 2021 Mar 18.

Department of Neurology, Haeundae Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of machine learning based on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measures to distinguish patients with focal epilepsy versus healthy controls and antiseizure medication (ASM) responsiveness.

Methods: This was a retrospective study performed at a tertiary hospital. We enrolled 456 patients with focal epilepsy, who underwent DTI and were taking ASMs. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2021 Mar 17;14(3). Epub 2021 Mar 17.

Unidade de Alcoologia e Novas Dependências, Centro Hospitalar Psiquiatrico de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.

Disulfiram has been widely used for over six decades in the treatment of alcohol dependence, as an aversive therapeutic agent. Despite having very few side effects when taken without concurrent alcohol consumption, some of these may underlie serious clinical complications. Epileptic seizure induction is a rare adverse effect of disulfiram and its aetiological mechanism is unknown. Read More

Neurology 2021 04 16;96(17):799-804. Epub 2021 Mar 16.

From the Department of Neurology and Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, CA.

Neurostimulation provides a new dimension in the treatment of neurologic disorders. For patients with drug-resistant epilepsy, the Responsive Neurostimulation (RNS) System (NeuroPace, Inc.) provides treatment of seizures with a closed-loop device that continuously records brain activity and provides stimulation designed to reduce seizure frequency over time. Read More

Neurology 2021 04 15;96(17):805-817. Epub 2021 Mar 15.

From the Research Centre of the Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM) (B.S., M.-A.P., A.V.C., J.C., B.R., M.R.K.); Department of Neurosciences (B.S., M.-A.P., A.V.C., J.C., B.R., M.R.K.), Université de Montréal, Quebec; Schulich Library of Physical Sciences (G.G.), Life Sciences, and Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy (P.R.B.), University Medical Center Freiburg, Germany; Department of Neurology (C.-S.K., N.J.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York; Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Hotchkiss Brain Institute (N.J., C.B.J.), University of Calgary, Alberta; and School of Public Health of the Université de Montréal (M.R.K.), Quebec, Canada.

Objective: To evaluate the incidence and prevalence of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) as well as its predictors and correlates, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

Methods: Our protocol was registered with PROSPERO, and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology reporting standards were followed. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science. Read More

J Neuroimmunol 2021 05 5;354:577534. Epub 2021 Mar 5.

Laboratório de Neurofarmacologia, Departamento de Farmacologia, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil; Programa de Neurociências, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil. Electronic address:

The role of inflammation and immune cells has been demonstrated in neurological diseases, including epilepsy. Leukocytes, as well as inflammatory mediators, contribute to abnormal processes that lead to a reduction in seizure threshold and synaptic reorganization. In this sense, identifying different phenotypes of circulating immune cells is essential to understanding the role of these cells in epilepsy. Read More

J Clin Neurophysiol 2021 Mar;38(2):101-111

Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.A.

Summary: Long-term video-EEG monitoring has been the gold standard for diagnosis of epileptic and nonepileptic events. Medication changes, safety, and a lack of recording EEG in one's habitual environment may interfere with diagnostic representation and subsequently affect management. Some spells defy standard EEG because of ultradian and circadian times of occurrence, manifest nocturnal expression of epileptiform activity, and require classification for clarifying diagnostic input to identify optimal treatment. Read More

Nat Commun 2021 03 3;12(1):1423. Epub 2021 Mar 3.

Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.

In the mammalian hippocampus, adult-born granule cells (abGCs) contribute to the function of the dentate gyrus (DG). Disruption of the DG circuitry causes spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS), which can lead to epilepsy. Although abGCs contribute to local inhibitory feedback circuitry, whether they are involved in epileptogenesis remains elusive. Read More

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 2021 02 18;164. Epub 2021 Feb 18.

Maastricht UMC+, afd. Neurologie, Maastricht.

Background: Frontal lobe epilepsy (FE) is a diagnosis which can be easily missed due to the variety in symptoms. The symptoms depend on the location of the epileptical activity in the frontal lobe.

Case Description: A 48-year-old man of Moroccan descent is diagnosed with frontal epilepsy, but this diagnosis is rejected based on the 24-hours EEG. Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2021 04 25;117:107808. Epub 2021 Feb 25.

Epilepsy Monitoring Unit, Clinical Neurophysiology Department, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain.

Background: We aimed to prospectively analyze memory and executive and social cognitive functioning in patients with drug-resistant frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE) and temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) with focal lesions and isolate the impact of intellectual ability on specific deficits.

Methods: A neuropsychological evaluation was performed in 23 children with FLE, 22 children with TLE, and 36 healthy pediatric controls (HCs). Patients in the epilepsy groups had a range of lesions, including low-grade epilepsy-associated tumors (LEAT), focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) type II, and mesial temporal sclerosis (MS). Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2021 04 25;117:107830. Epub 2021 Feb 25.

Epilepsy, Detroit Medical Center, Wayne State University, United States.

Introduction: The differentiation between focal and generalized epilepsies based on clinical and electroencephalographic features is difficult and sometimes confusing.

Objective: To review the EEG findings in patients with focal epilepsy.

Methods: An extensive literature review was done. Read More