Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Harefuah 2022 Jun;161(6):349-354

The Multidisciplinary Center for Functional Neurosurgery, Assuta Medical Centers , Tel Aviv, Israel.

Introduction: About one percent (over 81,000 patients) of the Israeli population suffer from epilepsy. The main treatment for this condition is medication, but about a third of the patients suffer from drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). Each year about 5,000 new patients are diagnosed with epilepsy, of whom 3,000 are children. Read More

BMC Neurosci 2022 Jun 13;23(1):36. Epub 2022 Jun 13.

Epilepsy Center Hamburg, Protestant Hospital Alsterdorf, Hamburg, Germany.

Background: To examine the pathological effect of a mesial temporal seizure onset zone (SOZ) on local and inter-regional response to faces in the amygdala and other structures of the temporal lobe.

Methods: Intracranial EEG data was obtained from the amygdala, hippocampus, fusiform gyrus and parahippocampal gyrus of nine patients with drug-refractory epilepsy during visual stimulation with faces and mosaics. We analyzed event-related potentials (ERP), gamma frequency power, phase-amplitude coupling and phase-slope-index and compared the results between patients with versus without a mesial temporal SOZ. Read More

Neurologia (Engl Ed) 2022 Jun 25;37(5):334-345. Epub 2021 May 25.

Programa de Epilepsia, Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Ruber Internacional, Madrid, Spain.

Objective: Stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) is a technique for preoperative evaluation of patients with difficult-to-localise refractory focal epilepsy (DLRFE), enabling the study of deep cortical structures. The procedure, which is increasingly used in international epilepsy centres, has not been fully developed in Spain. We describe our experience with SEEG in the preoperative evaluation of DLRFE. Read More

Prog Brain Res 2022 18;272(1):125-141. Epub 2022 May 18.

Sverdlovsk Regional Clinical Neuropsychiatric Hospital for War Veterans, Yekaterinburg, Russia.

This study recruited 82 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE): 41 men and 41 women, who underwent an open epilepsy surgery to remove the epileptic focus from 1963 to 1970. The patients before surgery were divided into two groups: group I included 49 patients with minor mental disorders and group II included 33 patients with major mental disorders. Features of mental disorders in patients with monotemporal lobe epilepsy were identified. Read More

Epileptic Disord 2022 06;24(4):1-3

Neurosci Lett 2022 06 25;782:136698. Epub 2022 May 25.

Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurology, Chongqing 400016, China. Electronic address:

Autosomal dominant lateral temporal epilepsy (ADLTE) is an inherited syndrome caused by mutations in the leucine-rich glioma inactivated 1 (LGI1) gene. In a family with six ADLTE patients spanning four generations, our linkage and exome sequencing investigations revealed a rare frameshift heterozygous mutation in LGI1 (c.1494del(p. Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2022 Jul 25;132:108739. Epub 2022 May 25.

Regional Health Agency of Tuscany, Firenze, Italy.

The incidence of epilepsy is highest at the extreme age ranges: childhood and elderly age. The most common syndromes in these demographics - self-limited epilepsies of childhood and idiopathic generalized epilepsies in pediatric age, focal epilepsy with structural etiology in older people - are expected to be drug responsive. In this work, we focus on such epilepsy types, overviewing the complex clinical background of unexpected drug-resistance. Read More

Genes (Basel) 2022 Apr 19;13(5). Epub 2022 Apr 19.

Department of Chemistry and Biology, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada.

Autosomal dominant lateral temporal epilepsy (ADLTE) is a genetic focal epilepsy associated with mutations in the , and genes. A previous study linking ADLTE with two mutations that resulted in the substitution of a highly conserved glycine residue for serine (G150S) or a frameshift mutation that swapped the last three C-terminal amino acids for 59 extra residues (A1065fs) concluded that the mutations increased enzymatic activity and promoted cell contraction. The roles of the Molecule Interacting with CasL 1 (MICAL1) protein in tightly regulated semaphorin signaling pathways suggest that activating MICAL1 mutations could result in defects in axonal guidance during neuronal development. Read More

J Neuroinflammation 2022 May 27;19(1):121. Epub 2022 May 27.

Institute of Neuroscience, Chongqing Medical University, 1 Yixueyuan Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China.

Background: The complex pathophysiology of epilepsy hampers the development of effective treatments. Although more than ten kinds of anti-seizures drugs (ASDs) have good effects on seizure control worldwide, about 30% of patients still display pharmacoresistance against ASDs. Neuroinflammation seems to play a crucial role in disease progression. Read More

Hippocampus 2022 Jul 27;32(7):517-528. Epub 2022 May 27.

Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock, Germany.

Temporal lobe epilepsy is characterized by hippocampal neuronal death in CA1 and hilus. Dentate gyrus granule cells survive but show dispersion of the compact granule cell layer. This is associated with decrease of the glycoprotein Reelin, which regulates neuron migration and dendrite outgrow. Read More

J Mol Neurosci 2022 Jun 27;72(6):1243-1258. Epub 2022 May 27.

Department of Anesthesia, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave, CincinnatiCincinnati, OH, ML200145229, USA.

Neuronal hyperactivation of the mTOR signaling pathway may play a role in driving the pathological sequelae that follow status epilepticus. Animal studies using pharmacological tools provide support for this hypothesis, however, systemic inhibition of mTOR-a growth pathway active in every mammalian cell-limits conclusions on cell type specificity. To circumvent the limitations of pharmacological approaches, we developed a viral/genetic strategy to delete Raptor or Rictor, inhibiting mTORC1 or mTORC2, respectively, from excitatory hippocampal neurons after status epilepticus in mice. Read More

Turk J Pediatr 2022 ;64(2):302-311

Department of Pediatric Neurology, İstanbul Medipol University Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical, electrophysiological, etiological features, and treatment response in children with epileptic encephalopathy with electrical status epilepticus during slow sleep (ESES).

Methods: Clinical data, records of electroencephalograms (EEG), and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of 33 patients with ESES who were treated, and followed up for at least one year were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: Of all patients, 57. Read More

Front Mol Neurosci 2022 4;15:860662. Epub 2022 May 4.

Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of the Ministry of Education of China, Department of Neurology, Institute of Neuroscience, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.

Purpose: Previously, mutations in the voltage-gated calcium channel subunit alpha1 A () gene have been reported to be associated with paroxysmal disorders, typically as episodic ataxia type 2. To determine the relationship between and epilepsies and the role of molecular sub-regional on the phenotypic heterogeneity.

Methods: Trio-based whole-exome sequencing was performed in 318 cases with partial epilepsy and 150 cases with generalized epilepsy. Read More

Epilepsia 2022 May 20. Epub 2022 May 20.

Department of Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.

Objective: Family members carrying the same SCN1A variant often exhibit differences in the clinical severity of epilepsy. This variable expressivity suggests that other factors aside from the primary sodium channel variant influence the clinical manifestation. However, identifying such factors has proven challenging in humans. Read More

Sensors (Basel) 2022 Apr 26;22(9). Epub 2022 Apr 26.

Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.

Focal onset epileptic seizures are highly heterogeneous in their clinical manifestations, and a robust seizure detection across patient cohorts has to date not been achieved. Here, we assess and discuss the potential of supervised machine learning models for the detection of focal onset motor seizures by means of a wrist-worn wearable device, both in a personalized context as well as across patients. Wearable data were recorded in-hospital from patients with epilepsy at two epilepsy centers. Read More

Sci Rep 2022 05 17;12(1):6505. Epub 2022 May 17.

Department of Neurodevelopmental Disorder Genetics, Institute of Brain Science, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Science, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 467-8601, Japan.

CUX2 gene encodes a transcription factor that controls neuronal proliferation, dendrite branching and synapse formation, locating at the epilepsy-associated chromosomal region 12q24 that we previously identified by a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in Japanese population. A CUX2 recurrent de novo variant p.E590K has been described in patients with rare epileptic encephalopathies and the gene is a candidate for the locus, however the mutation may not be enough to generate the genome-wide significance in the GWAS and whether CUX2 variants appear in other types of epilepsies and physiopathological mechanisms are remained to be investigated. Read More

Mol Brain 2022 05 16;15(1):45. Epub 2022 May 16.

Neurobiology Research Unit 8057, Neurological Clinic, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, 6-8 Inge Lehmanns Vej, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Synaptic vesicle glycoprotein-2 (SV2) is a family of proteins consisting of SV2A, SV2B, and SV2C. This protein family has attracted attention in recent years after SV2A was shown to be an epileptic drug target and a perhaps a biomarker of synaptic density. So far, the anatomical localization of these proteins in the rodent and human brain have been reported, but co-expression of SV2 genes on a cellular level, their expressions in the human brain, comparison to radioligand binding, any possible regulation in epilepsy are not known. Read More

PLoS One 2022 13;17(5):e0268010. Epub 2022 May 13.

Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Small Animal Clinic, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Hessen, Germany.

Cats are known to be affected by hippocampal sclerosis, potentially causing antiseizure drug(s) resistance. In order to lay the foundation for a standardized, systematic classification and diagnosis of this pathology in cats, this prospective study aimed at evaluating normal reference values of cellular densities and the cytoarchitecture of the feline hippocampus. Three transverse sections (head, body and tail) of each left hippocampus were obtained from 17 non-epileptic cats of different brachycephalic and mesocephalic breeds and age classes (range: 3-17 years). Read More

Acta Neuropathol 2022 Jul 12;144(1):107-127. Epub 2022 May 12.

Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Box 29, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.

Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis and a history of febrile seizures is associated with common variation at rs7587026, located in the promoter region of SCN1A. We sought to explore possible underlying mechanisms. SCN1A expression was analysed in hippocampal biopsy specimens of individuals with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis who underwent surgical treatment, and hippocampal neuronal cell loss was quantitatively assessed using immunohistochemistry. Read More

Seizure 2022 Jul 29;99:16-23. Epub 2022 Apr 29.

Department of Geriatrics, Neurosciences & Orthopedics Unit of Neurophysiopathology and Sleep Medicine, IRCCS Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli Catholic University, Rome.

Objective: The temporal lobe plays a central role in the regulation of the "Central Autonomic Network" and cardiovascular functions. The blockade of glutamatergic pathways in the temporal lobe affects cardio-autonomic control. Perampanel (PER) is a non-competitive agonist of the AMPA receptor. Read More

Neurol India 2022 Mar-Apr;70(2):524-529

Department of Neurosurgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jabalpur, India.

Background: Patients with temporal lobe epilepsy are subjected to standard temporal lobectomy wherever indicated. This is performed using a reverse question mark flap and a standard frontotemporal craniotomy. We describe the technique of minitemporal craniotomy (3 × 3cms) for temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and analyze the clinical outcomes of patients operated using this approach. Read More

Chest 2022 May;161(5):e309-e312

Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany; Interdisciplinary Center for Sleep and Ventilatory Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.

Case Presentation: A 37-year-old male patient was referred to our sleep laboratory with suspected sleep-disordered breathing. His partner reported periods of breathing arrest accompanied by an odd expiratory noise during sleep, occurring on a near to weekly basis. The patient stated that he was able to sleep well, did not have excessive daytime sleepiness, and was not subjectively aware of any disordered breathing at night. Read More

Neurobiol Dis 2022 Aug 5;170:105746. Epub 2022 May 5.

APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is a neurological disorder affecting millions of people worldwide and currently represents the most common form of focal epilepsy. Thus, the search for aetiological and pathophysiological parameters of TLE is ongoing. Preclinical work and post-mortem human studies suggest adult hippocampal neurogenesis as a potentially relevant factor in TLE pathogenesis. Read More

Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Res 2022 09 6;1869(9):119279. Epub 2022 May 6.

Institute of Physiology, Medical School & Szentagothai Research Centre, Molecular Neuroendocrinology Research Group, Centre for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary. Electronic address:

Mossy cells (MCs) are glutamatergic cells of the dentate gyrus with an important role in temporal lobe epilepsy. Under physiological conditions MCs can control both network excitations via direct synapses to granule cells and inhibition via connections to GABAergic interneurons innervating granule cells. In temporal lobe epilepsy mossy cell loss is one of the major hallmarks, but whether the surviving MCs drive or inhibit seizure initiation and generalization is still a debate. Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2022 06 5;131(Pt A):108703. Epub 2022 May 5.

Department of Neuroscience and Behavioral Science, Division of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.

Introduction: Identifying epilepsy in local indigenous populations and describing its epidemiological, etiological, electroencephalographic, and therapeutic aspects can assist public health policies planning toward epilepsy in indigenous communities.

Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study investigated epilepsy among indigenous people residing in Jaguapirú Village, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Participants had their clinical histories reviewed and physical examination performed, as well as one or more electroencephalograms (EEG) registered. Read More

Epilepsy Res 2022 Jul 28;183:106936. Epub 2022 Apr 28.

Sidra Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Doha, Qatar.

Objective: To describe the clinical features of childhood epilepsy in Qatar.

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional chart review analysis was conducted at the only tertiary pediatric hospital in Qatar in 1422 patients with epilepsy followed between November 2016 and October 2019.

Results: 55% (781) were males and 70% were non-Qatari. Read More

Epilepsy Res 2022 Jul 21;183:106926. Epub 2022 Apr 21.

Neurobiology Research Unit, University Hospital Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address:

Synaptic Vesicle Glycoprotein 2A (SV2A) has been proposed as a presynaptic marker in several neurological disorders. Not only is SV2A the target for the antiepileptic drug levetiracetam, but also considered a marker of mature pre-synapses. In this study, we aimed to assess the binding of [H]UCB-J as a selective radioligand for SV2A to visualize and determine changes during different stages of epileptogenesis by in-vitro autoradiography in rat models of temporal lobe epilepsy. Read More

Cell Death Dis 2022 May 5;13(5):437. Epub 2022 May 5.

Department of Neurology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, 1 Youyi Road, Chongqing, 400016, China.

Aberrantly synchronized neuronal discharges in the brain lead to epilepsy, a devastating neurological disease whose pathogenesis and mechanism are unclear. SAPAP3, a cytoskeletal protein expressed at high levels in the postsynaptic density (PSD) of excitatory synapses, has been well studied in the striatum, but the role of SAPAP3 in epilepsy remains elusive. In this study, we sought to investigate the molecular, cellular, electrophysiological and behavioral consequences of SAPAP3 perturbations in the mouse hippocampus. Read More

Epilepsia 2022 06 3;63(6):1398-1442. Epub 2022 May 3.

Robert Debré Hospital, Public Hospital Network of Paris, NeuroDiderot, National Institute of Health and Medical Research, Department Medico-Universitaire Innovation Robert-Debré, Pediatric Neurology, University of Paris, Paris, France.

The 2017 International League Against Epilepsy classification has defined a three-tier system with epilepsy syndrome identification at the third level. Although a syndrome cannot be determined in all children with epilepsy, identification of a specific syndrome provides guidance on management and prognosis. In this paper, we describe the childhood onset epilepsy syndromes, most of which have both mandatory seizure type(s) and interictal electroencephalographic (EEG) features. Read More

JAMA Neurol 2022 Jun;79(6):614-622

Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.

Importance: The hippocampus is a highly epileptogenic brain region, yet over 90% of hippocampal epileptiform activity (HEA) cannot be identified on scalp electroencephalogram (EEG) by human experts. Currently, detection of HEA requires intracranial electrodes, which limits our understanding of the role of HEA in brain diseases.

Objective: To develop and validate a machine learning algorithm that accurately detects HEA from a standard scalp EEG, without the need for intracranial electrodes. Read More