Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Psychosomatics 2019 Mar 22. Epub 2019 Mar 22.

Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.

Epilepsy Res 2019 Mar 15. Epub 2019 Mar 15.

Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Studies of chronic epilepsy show pathological high frequency oscillations (HFOs) are associated with brain areas capable of generating epileptic seizures. Only a few of these studies have focused on HFOs during the development of epilepsy, but results suggest pathological HFOs could be a biomarker of epileptogenesis. The Epilepsy Bioinformatics Study for Antiepileptogenic Therapy" (EpiBioS4Rx) is a multi-center project designed to identify biomarkers of epileptogenesis after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and evaluate treatments that could modify or prevent the development of post-traumatic epilepsy. Read More

Neuron 2019 Apr 2. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92868, USA. Electronic address:

How do we remember emotional events? While emotion often leads to vivid recollection, the precision of emotional memories can be degraded, especially when discriminating among overlapping experiences in memory (i.e., pattern separation). Read More

Epilepsy Behav Case Rep 2019 7;11:115-119. Epub 2019 Mar 7.

Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, United States of America.

We present a unique case of a patient with drug-resistant focal epilepsy undergoing stereoelectroencephalography (sEEG) who developed an acute posttraumatic intracranial hemorrhage during monitoring, first detected by changes on sEEG. Our case demonstrates the evolution of electrographic changes at the time of initial hemorrhage to the development of ictal activity. We conducted spectral analysis of the sEEG data to illustrate the transition from an interictal to ictal state. Read More

Seizure 2019 Mar 21;69:11-16. Epub 2019 Mar 21.

Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK; Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute (NMHRI), School of Medicine, Cardiff University, UK.

Decompressive craniectomy (DC) is used for the treatment of raised intracranial pressure secondary to traumatic brain injury. Cranioplasty is a reconstructive procedure that restores the structural integrity of the skull following (DC). Seizures are a recognised complication of cranioplasty but its incidence and risk factors in TBI patients are unclear. Read More

Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown) 2019 Mar 29. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Background: Post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) is a debilitating sequela of traumatic brain injury (TBI), occurring in up to 20% of severe cases. This entity is generally thought to be more difficult to treat with surgical intervention.

Objective: To detail our experience with the surgical treatment of PTE. Read More

J Mol Histol 2019 Mar 22. Epub 2019 Mar 22.

Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 4, P.O.Box 56, 00790, Helsinki, Finland.

Perineuronal net (PNN) is a highly structured portion of the CNS extracellular matrix (ECM) regulating synaptic plasticity and a range of pathologic conditions including posttraumatic regeneration and epilepsy. Here we studied Wisteria floribunda agglutinin-stained histological sections to quantify the PNN size and enrichment of chondroitin sulfates in mouse brain and spinal cord. Somatosensory cortex sections were examined during the period of PNN establishment at postnatal days 14, 21 and 28. Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2019 Mar 17;94:72-77. Epub 2019 Mar 17.

VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, United States of America.

Rationale: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is compromised in civilians with epileptic seizures (ES) or psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES). U.S. Read More

Psychiatry Res 2019 Mar 13. Epub 2019 Mar 13.

Psychiatric Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56100, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address:

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) are the most common psychiatric consequences among caregivers of pediatric patients affected by severe chronic illnesses. The aims of this study were to describe rates of PTSD and MDD in a sample of parents of epileptic children, and to examine the correlations between symptoms of post-traumatic stress and depression. Parents of children with epilepsy were enrolled and screened by means of the PTSD module of the Semi-Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5) and of the Hamilton Rating Scale for depression (HAM-D). Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2019 Mar 13;20(6). Epub 2019 Mar 13.

A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small vesicles involved in intercellular communication. Data is emerging that EVs and their cargo have potential as diagnostic biomarkers and treatments for brain diseases, including traumatic brain injury and epilepsy. Here, we summarize the current knowledge regarding changes in EV numbers and cargo in status epilepticus (SE) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), which are clinically significant etiologies for acquired epileptogenesis in animals and humans. Read More

Epilepsia 2019 Apr 13;60(4):783-791. Epub 2019 Mar 13.

Departments of Neuroscience and Medicine, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Objective: Prolonged electroencephalographic (EEG) monitoring in chronic epilepsy rodent models has become an important tool in preclinical drug development of new therapies, in particular those for antiepileptogenesis, disease modification, and treating drug-resistant epilepsy. We have developed an easy-to-use, reliable, computational tool for automated detection of electrographic seizures from prolonged EEG recordings in rodent models of epilepsy.

Methods: We applied a novel method based on advanced time-frequency analysis that detects EEG episodes with excessive activity in certain frequency bands. Read More

Epilepsy Curr 2019 Jan 30;19(1):29-30. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Psychiatric Comorbidity and Traumatic Brain Injury Attribution in Patients With Psychogenic Nonepileptic or Epileptic Seizures: A Multicenter Study of US Veterans Salinsky M, Rutecki P, Parko K, Goy E, Storzbach D, O'Neil M, Binder L, Joos S. Epilepsia. 2018. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Feb 19. Epub 2019 Feb 19.

Department of Neurosurgery, The Affliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China. Electronic address:

Background: Chronic post-traumatic cerebral granuloma is a rare, delayed complication of traumatic brain injury. Because of its late onset of symptoms and atypical appearance, the correct diagnosis of this rare lesion is difficult.

Case Report: A 49-year-old man presented with seizures, which occured 21 years after open right forehead trauma. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019 02 18;16(4). Epub 2019 Feb 18.

Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan.

Use the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan to determine whether patients with posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE) have an increased risk of mortality. Patients ≥20 years old ever admitted because of head injury (per International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes 850⁻854 and 959.01) during 2000⁻2012 were enrolled into a traumatic brain injury (TBI) cohort. Read More

Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2019;119(1):110-117

Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) clinical course and outcomes in children have peculiarities as the damage impacts brain, which growth and maturation are continuing. Thus, TBI interferes into normal processes of neuroontogenesis leading to negative consequences on the cognitive functions development, school education, social skills acquisition. Cognitive and behavioral disorders in children and adolescents in the long-term period of TBI become more prominent in co-occurrence with paroxysmal disorders, including posttraumatic headaches, posttraumatic epilepsy and subclinical epileptiform activity on the EEG. Read More

Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2019 Feb 8;92:328-338. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmacologia, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica Toxicológica, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil; Laboratório de Bioquímica do Exercício, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação Física, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. Electronic address:

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a devastating disease frequently followed by behavioral disabilities including post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE). Although reasonable progress in understanding its pathophysiology has been made, treatment of PTE is still limited. Several studies have shown the neuroprotective effect of creatine in different models of brain pathology, but its effects on PTE is not elucidated. Read More

Epilepsy Res 2019 03 9;151:24-30. Epub 2019 Jan 9.

Section of Epilepsy, Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Center and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Department of Neurology, Xiamen Changgung Hospital, China. Electronic address:

Objective: To report the long-term seizure control and safety of open-loop electrical cortical stimulation in patients with refractory focal epilepsy of diverse etiologies.

Methods: Six patients who received a therapeutic trial of cortical stimulation were included retrospectively. The frequency of seizures was recorded before and after implantation. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Feb 1. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

Division of Trauma Plastic Surgery, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Craniofacial Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Department of Plastic Surgery, Xiamen Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Xiamen, China. Electronic address:

Objective: The role of maxillofacial trauma in dementia risk is not well established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between craniofacial trauma, including facial bone fracture and traumatic brain injury (TBI), and dementia.

Methods: Using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, we identified 501,889 adults who had had ≥1 medical record of craniofacial trauma between 2000 and 2010 and did not have a dementia diagnosis at baseline. Read More

Epilepsy Res 2019 03 18;151:7-16. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Finland.

Multi-center preclinical studies can facilitate the discovery of biomarkers of antiepileptogenesis and thus facilitate the diagnosis and treatment development of patients at risk of developing post-traumatic epilepsy. However, these studies are often limited by the difficulty in harmonizing experimental protocols between laboratories. Here, we assess whether the production of traumatic brain injury (TBI) using the lateral fluid-percussion injury (FPI) in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (12 weeks at the time of injury) was harmonized between three laboratories - located in the University of Eastern Finland (UEF), Monash University in Melbourne, Australia (Melbourne) and The University of California, Los Angeles, USA (UCLA). Read More

Mol Biol Rep 2019 Apr 31;46(2):1757-1773. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, 110067, New Delhi, India.

Post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) is a common long-term risk associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI). PTE rat model, proposed by Willmore et al., is a well known model that mimics human PTE. Read More

Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2018;118(10. Vyp. 2):3-8

Moscow Research and Clinical Center for Neuropsychiatry of the Healthcare Department, Moscow, Russia; Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia.

Aim: To evaluate the incidence and risk factors for posttraumatic seizures (PTS).

Material And Methods: The authors conducted a prospective study of 237 patients with TBI of varying severity. The patients were hospitalized and examined in Moscow neurosurgery departments. Read More

J Trauma Stress 2019 Feb 28;32(1):88-96. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Department of Psychology, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany.

The present meta-analysis analyzed whether parents of young people with pediatric chronic physical illnesses experience higher levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and higher rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than other adults and searched for correlates of PTSS in these parents. Based on a systematic search in electronic databases, 184 studies were included in the meta-analysis. On average, 18. Read More

Epilepsy Res 2019 Jan 18. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States.

The Epilepsy Bioinformatics Study for Antiepileptogenic Therapy (EpiBioS4Rx) is a NINDS funded Center-Without-Walls international study aimed at preventing epileptogenesis after traumatic brain injury (TBI). One objective of EpiBioS4Rx relates to preclinical biomarker discovery for post-traumatic epilepsy. In order to perform a statistically appropriately powered biomarker discovery study, EpiBioS4Rx has made a rigorous attempt to harmonize the preclinical procedures performed at the three EpiBioS4Rx centers, located in Finland, Australia, and the USA. Read More

J Neurosci 2019 Mar 21;39(10):1944-1963. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke 24016, Virginia,

Focal traumatic brain injury (TBI) induces astrogliosis, a process essential to protecting uninjured brain areas from secondary damage. However, astrogliosis can cause loss of astrocyte homeostatic functions and possibly contributes to comorbidities such as posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE). Scar-forming astrocytes seal focal injuries off from healthy brain tissue. Read More

Torture 2018 ;28(3):46-62

Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ilorin, Ilorin Nigeria. Correspondence to:

Introduction: Traditional methods of purification and healing carried out by healers and priests are of utmost importance for the mental and spiritual rehabilitation of victims of torture and perpetrators. The efficacy of traditional practices in the rehabilitation of victims of torture in Nigeria is examined.

Methods: Data is derived from 60 interviews with key informants and eight Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) conducted with victims of torture, youth militias, priests, secret cults, community leaders, women leaders, youth leaders, security agencies, and others, in local communities in the Niger Delta states of Bayelsa and Ilaje, Ondo. Read More

Epilepsy Res 2019 02 7;150:46-57. Epub 2019 Jan 7.

A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland.

Preclinical imaging studies of posttraumatic epileptogenesis (PTE) have largely been proof-of-concept studies with limited animal numbers, and thus lack the statistical power for biomarker discovery. Epilepsy Bioinformatics Study for Antiepileptogenic Therapy (EpiBioS4Rx) is a pioneering multicenter trial investigating preclinical imaging biomarkers of PTE. EpiBios4Rx faced the issue of harmonizing the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures and imaging data metrics prior to its execution. Read More

Front Neuroinform 2018 20;12:86. Epub 2018 Dec 20.

Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, USC Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA, United States.

Epilepsy is among the most common serious disabling disorders of the brain, and the global burden of epilepsy exerts a tremendous cost to society. Most people with epilepsy have acquired forms of the disorder, and the development of antiepileptogenic interventions could potentially prevent or cure epilepsy in many of them. However, the discovery of potential antiepileptogenic treatments and clinical validation would require a means to identify populations of patients at very high risk for epilepsy after a potential epileptogenic insult, to know when to treat and to document prevention or cure. Read More

J Neurosurg 2019 Jan 4:1-7. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

The vascular hypothesis held that posttraumatic epilepsy results from reflex vasoconstriction of cortical arteries around a cerebral scar. Penfield's initial support and eventual refutation of the vascular hypothesis is the subject of this paper, which is based on a review of his clinical charts, operative and electrocorticographic reports, and brain maps held in the Montreal Neurological Institute archives. Penfield and his collaborators discovered that posttraumatic cortical scars are composed of astro-glial fibers, collagen fibrils, and a neo-vascular plexus that anastomoses with the surrounding cortical arteries. Read More

Epilepsy Res 2019 02 27;150:17-26. Epub 2018 Dec 27.

A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.

The Epilepsy Bioinformatics Study for Antiepileptogenic Therapy (EpiBioS4Rx) is a National Institutes for Neurological Diseases and Stoke funded Centers-Without-Walls international multidisciplinary study aimed at preventing epileptogenesis. The preclinical biomarker discovery in EpiBios4Rx applies a multicenter study design to allow the number of animals that are required for adequate statistical power for the analysis to be studied in an efficient manner. Further, the use of multiple centers mimics the clinical trial situation, and therefore potentially the chance of successful clinical translation of the outcomes of the study. Read More

Cereb Cortex 2018 Dec 22. Epub 2018 Dec 22.

Department of Neurology, Division of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology, Neuromodulation Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) results in a decrease in glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1) expression, the major mechanism for glutamate removal from synapses. Coupled with an increase in glutamate release from dead and dying neurons, this causes an increase in extracellular glutamate. The ensuing glutamate excitotoxicity disproportionately damages vulnerable GABAergic parvalbumin-positive inhibitory interneurons, resulting in a progressively worsening cortical excitatory:inhibitory imbalance due to a loss of GABAergic inhibitory tone, as evidenced by chronic post-traumatic symptoms such as epilepsy, and supported by neuropathologic findings. Read More

Epilepsy Res 2019 01 26;149:92-101. Epub 2018 Nov 26.

A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.

The Epilepsy Bioinformatics Study for Antiepileptogenic Therapy (EpiBioS4Rx) is an international, multicenter, multidisciplinary study aimed at preventing epileptogenesis (EpiBioS4Rx: https://epibios.loni.usc. Read More

Acta Neuropathol 2018 Dec 7. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia.

This review recounts the definitions and research evidence supporting the multifaceted roles of neuroinflammation in the injured brain following trauma. We summarise the literature fluctuating from the protective and detrimental properties that cytokines, leukocytes and glial cells play in the acute and chronic stages of TBI, including the intrinsic factors that influence cytokine responses and microglial functions relative to genetics, sex, and age. We elaborate on the pros and cons that cytokines, chemokines, and microglia play in brain repair, specifically neurogenesis, and how such conflicting roles may be harnessed therapeutically to sustain the survival of new neurons. Read More

Egypt J Neurol Psychiatr Neurosurg 2018 9;54(1):34. Epub 2018 Nov 9.

2Department of Neurology, Minia University, Minya, Egypt.

Background: A high prevalence of epilepsy in children is frequently found in developing countries.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and clinical pattern of childhood and adolescence epilepsy in Upper Egypt.

Methods: This is a door-to-door study conducted on all inhabitants < 18 years in Al Kharga district and Al Qusier city (36,195 subjects). Read More

Semin Neurol 2018 12 6;38(6):619-626. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.

Posttraumatic headaches are among the most challenging complaints after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). They are a debilitating problem experienced by patients after TBI of all severities. Up to 90% of mild TBI patients experience headache, particularly if female and with a premorbid history of primary headache. Read More

Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2018 8;14:2989-3000. Epub 2018 Nov 8.

FloTBI Inc., Cleveland, OH, USA,

Biomarkers can be broadly defined as qualitative or quantitative measurements that convey information on the physiopathological state of a subject at a certain time point or disease state. Biomarkers can indicate health, pathology, or response to treatment, including unwanted side effects. When used as outcomes in clinical trials, biomarkers act as surrogates or substitutes for clinically meaningful endpoints. Read More

Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2018;118(10):90-92

Stavropol State Medical University, Stavropol, Russia.

The presented article deals with traumatic brain injury, which can cause convulsive seizures with the subsequent development of epilepsy, which is especially characteristic of young people. The problems of classification of posttraumatic epileptic seizures, development of their mechanisms, characteristics of diagnosis, as well as the stages of epileptogenesis leading to the development of traumatic epilepsy are considered. The variants of therapy are given in view of traumatic brain injury. Read More

J Neurosurg 2018 Nov 1:1-7. Epub 2018 Nov 1.

2Neurology; and.

The putative mechanism of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for medically refractory epilepsy is desynchronization of hippocampal and thalamocortical circuitry; however, the nature of the dose-response relationship and temporal dynamics is poorly understood. For greater elucidation, a study in a nonepileptic rat model was previously conducted and showed that rapid-cycle (RC) VNS achieved superior desynchrony compared to standard-cycle (SC) VNS. Here, the authors report on the first in-human analysis of the neuromodulatory dose-response effects of VNS in a patient with posttraumatic, independent, bilateral mesial temporal lobe epilepsy refractory to medications and SC-VNS who was referred as a potential candidate for a responsive neurostimulation device. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Feb 20;122:433-440. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Department of Neurosurgery, Computational Neuroscience Outcomes Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Background: The use of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) to prevent early posttraumatic seizure (PTS) for patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is currently recommended, although published studies present contradictory results concerning the protective effect of AEDs.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to quantify the association between the use of prophylactic AEDs, particularly of the 4 main drugs of interest (phenytoin, levetiracetam, valproate, or carbamazepine) versus placebo or no treatment, and risk of early seizures after TBI.

Methods: A comprehensive search was performed on PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials. Read More

Front Cell Neurosci 2018 16;12:350. Epub 2018 Oct 16.

Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant cause of disability worldwide and can lead to post-traumatic epilepsy. Multiple molecular, cellular, and network pathologies occur following injury which may contribute to epileptogenesis. Efforts to identify mechanisms of disease progression and biomarkers which predict clinical outcomes have focused heavily on metabolic changes. Read More

Disabil Rehabil 2018 Nov 20:1-12. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

a College of Public Health and Health Professions , University of Florida , Gainesville , FL , USA.

Purpose: Twenty-nine states have bypassed federal regulations by legalizing marijuana (MJ) either medicinally, recreationally or both. The FDA states that there is no empirical evidence that MJ is effective to treat these disorders. With over a billion individuals living with a disability across the globe, it is crucial to fully research the efficaciousness and safety of medical MJ to treat this population. Read More

Clin Case Rep 2018 Nov 17;6(11):2271-2275. Epub 2018 Oct 17.

Department of Psychiatry and Neurology Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine Sapporo Japan.

Electrical stimulation (ES) of the pre-supplementary or cingulate motor area can cause reaching/grasping (R/G) movements with the hand contralateral to the side of the brain receiving the ES. We report this phenomenon occurring in a 23-year-old right-handed man during spontaneous epileptic seizure, which developed after traumatic brain injury. Read More

Cureus 2018 Sep 10;10(9):e3278. Epub 2018 Sep 10.

Internal Medicine, Basic Health Unit Larhi, Gambat, Gambat, PAK.

Epilepsy is considered to be one of the most common non-communicable neurological diseases especially in low to middle-income countries. Approximately one-third of patients with epilepsy have seizures that are resistant to antiepileptic medications. Clinical trials for the treatment of medically refractory epilepsy have mostly focused on new drug treatments, and result in a significant portion of subjects whose seizures remain refractory to medication. Read More

Discrete Continuous Dyn Syst Ser B 2018 Jan;23(1):161-172

USC Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute University of Southern California, 2025 Zonal Ave Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.

Epilepsy is among the most common serious disabling disorders of the brain, and the global burden of epilepsy exerts a tremendous cost to society. Most people with epilepsy have acquired forms, and the development of antiepileptogenic interventions could potentially prevent or cure these epilepsies [3, 13]. The discovery of potential antiepileptogenic treatments is currently a high research priority. Read More

Psychiatr Q 2019 03;90(1):129-136

American Mental Health Foundation, 128 2nd Pl, Brooklyn, NY, 11231, USA.

The medical community and the general public are aware of sudden deaths in apparently healthy infants (SIDS) and in cases of cardiac arrest (SCD). However, there is a third, less-well known, form of sudden death that occurs in persons with epilepsy (SUDEP). This paper provides a detailed overview what is known about SUDEP, including the current important, unresolved issues being considered in the field (research, education, informed consent). Read More

Neurobiol Dis 2019 Mar 12;123:75-85. Epub 2018 Oct 12.

A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland.

Posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE) is a major neurodegenerative disease accounting for 20% of symptomatic epilepsy cases. A long latent phase offers a potential window for prophylactic treatment strategies to prevent epilepsy onset, provided that the patients at risk can be identified. Some promising imaging biomarker candidates for posttraumatic epileptogenesis have been identified, but more are required to provide the specificity and sensitivity for accurate prediction. Read More

Front Immunol 2018 21;9:2009. Epub 2018 Sep 21.

Department of Neurosciences and Behavior, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Among the many cannabinoids in the cannabis plant, cannabidiol (CBD) is a compound that does not produce the typical subjective effects of marijuana. The aim of the present review is to describe the main advances in the development of the experimental and clinical use of cannabidiol CBD in neuropsychiatry. A non-systematic search was performed for studies dealing with therapeutic applications of CBD, especially performed by Brazilian researchers. Read More

Epilepsy Res 2018 11 17;147:87-94. Epub 2018 Sep 17.

University at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Neurosurgery, Buffalo, NY, United States. Electronic address:

The rat lateral fluid-percussion injury (FPI) model has been used extensively to study post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE). Epidemiological studies have reported that the risk of PTE is higher after more severe injury. Adult, male Wistar rats subjected to different atmospheric pressures of injury during FPI showed great variability in injury severity when functional behavior was determined based on the Neurological Severity Score (NSS) assessment. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2019 Mar 1;161(3):457-464. Epub 2018 Oct 1.

Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge & Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK.

Background: Patient selection for seizure prophylaxis after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and duration of anti-epileptic drug treatment for patients with early post-traumatic seizures (PTS), remain plagued with uncertainty. In early 2017, a collaborative group of neurosurgeons, neurologists, neurointensive care and rehabilitation medicine physicians was formed in the UK with the aim of assessing variability in current practice and gauging the degree of uncertainty to inform the design of future studies. Here we present the results of a survey of clinicians managing patients with TBI in the UK and Ireland. Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2018 11 18;88:41-48. Epub 2018 Sep 18.

Epilepsy Center Bethel, Krankenhaus Mara, Bielefeld, Germany.

Several studies found high prevalence rates of psychiatric disorders in patients with pure psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES). Traumatic experiences were also reported to be elevated in patients with PNES and were discussed as a crucial risk factor for the development of PNES. Much less is known about psychiatric comorbidities and specifically, about trauma history in patients with PNES and coexisting epilepsy. Read More

J Neurosurg Pediatr 2018 Dec;22(6):684-693

2Department of Neurosurgery, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas.

OBJECTIVEPosttraumatic seizures (PTSs) are the most common complication following a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and may lead to posttraumatic epilepsy. PTS is well described in the adult literature but has not been studied extensively in children. Here, the authors utilized the largest nationwide registry of pediatric hospitalizations to report the national incidence, risk factors, and outcomes associated with PTS in pediatric TBI. Read More