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World Neurosurg 2020 May 7. Epub 2020 May 7.

Division of Neuroradiology, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto.

Background: Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis is a rare cause of acute stroke. It may lead to hemorrhagic venous infarctions, brain swelling or raised intracranial pressure and it can be associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Low molecular weight heparin is the mainstay of treatment. Read More

Braz J Med Biol Res 2020 6;53(4):e9175. Epub 2020 Apr 6.

Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.

α-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors are the predominant mediators of glutamate-induced excitatory neurotransmission. It is widely accepted that AMPA receptors are critical for the generation and spread of epileptic seizure activity. Dysfunction of AMPA receptors as a causal factor in patients with intractable epilepsy results in neurotransmission failure. Read More

Arch Acad Emerg Med 2020 27;8(1):e13. Epub 2020 Feb 27.

Raparin Pediatric Hospital, Hawler Medical University, College of Medicine, Erbil, Iraq.

Introduction: Much attention has been paid to the association between valproic acid treatment and bone health. The objective of this study is to compare the serum vitamin D3 level in the epileptic children under valproic acid treatment with the healthy control group.

Methods: A case-control study has been carried out to compare vitamin D3 levels in 50 epileptic children who were treated with valproic acid with 50 healthy children selected from children visiting the hospital for routine checkup as control group. Read More

Neurosurg Focus 2020 04;48(4):E3

Epilepsy Behav 2020 Apr 6;105:106962. Epub 2020 Mar 6.

BIAL - Portela & Cª. S.A., S. Mamede do Coronado, Portugal; Department of Biomedicine, Pharmacology and Therapeutics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University Porto, Porto, Portugal; MedInUP - Center for Drug Discovery and Innovative Medicines, University Porto, Porto, Portugal. Electronic address:

Purpose: This was a phase-III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study aimed to evaluate efficacy and tolerability of eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL) as adjunctive therapy in pediatric patients with refractory focal-onset seizures (FOS).

Methods: Children (2-18 years old) with FOS, receiving 1-2 antiepileptic drugs, were randomized to ESL or placebo. Treatment was started at 10 mg/kg/day, up-titrated up to 20-30 mg/kg/day, and maintained for 12 weeks, followed by one-year open-label follow-up. Read More

Am J Nurs 2020 03;120(3):24-25

Diane S. Aschenbrenner is an assistant professor at Notre Dame of Maryland University in Baltimore. She also coordinates Drug Watch:

Nat Commun 2020 02 17;11(1):923. Epub 2020 Feb 17.

Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of the Ministry of Health of China, Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.

The precise circuit of the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) involved in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is still unclear. Here we found that optogenetic or chemogenetic activation of SNr parvalbumin (PV) GABAergic neurons amplifies seizure activities in kindling- and kainic acid-induced TLE models, whereas selective inhibition of these neurons alleviates seizure activities. The severity of seizures is bidirectionally regulated by optogenetic manipulation of SNr PV fibers projecting to the parafascicular nucleus (PF). Read More

Zh Vopr Neirokhir Im N N Burdenko 2019 ;83(6):44-57

Burdenko Neurosurgical Center, Moscow, Russia.

Purpose: In recent years, neurosurgery has been characterized by a clear tendency towards the development of minimally invasive and less traumatic surgical approaches. To minimize the degree of injury to the brain tissue, we have proposed burr hole-based microsurgical approaches.

Material And Methods: In the period between February 2016 and February 2019, more than 500 microsurgical interventions were performed through a 14 mm burr hole using a technique that we called burr-hole microneurosurgery; to date, 200 of these have been analyzed. Read More

Neural Netw 2020 Apr 25;124:202-212. Epub 2020 Jan 25.

Department of Neurosurgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.

Recognition of epileptic seizure type is essential for the neurosurgeon to understand the cortical connectivity of the brain. Though automated early recognition of seizures from normal electroencephalogram (EEG) was existing, no attempts have been made towards the classification of variants of seizures. Therefore, this study attempts to classify seven variants of seizures with non-seizure EEG through the application of convolutional neural networks (CNN) and transfer learning by making use of the Temple University Hospital EEG corpus. Read More

Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc 2019 07;2019:3866-3869

Seizures in patients with medically refractory epilepsy (MRE) cannot be controlled with drugs. For focal MRE, seizures originate in the epileptogenic zone (EZ), which is the minimum amount of cortex that must be treated to be seizure free. Localizing the EZ is often a laborious process wherein clinicians first inspect scalp EEG recordings during several seizure events, and then formulate an implantation plan for subsequent invasive monitoring. Read More

Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc 2019 07;2019:3849-3853

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is a medically refractory focal epilepsy associated with structural deficits. Considerable evidence has revealed that patients with TLE also exhibit deficits in functional connectivity. According to previous research, patients with TLE exhibited decreased performance in speech sound perception and auditory-motor integration for voice control, which might be related to the compromised brain network connectivity. Read More

Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc 2019 07;2019:2547-2550

Epileptic seizures are caused by a disturbance in the electrical activity of the brain and classified as many different types of epileptic seizures based on the characteristics of EEG and other parameters. Till now research has been conducted to classify EEG as seizure and non-seizures, but the classification of seizure types has not been explored. Thus, in this paper, we have proposed the 8-class classification problem in order to classify different seizure types using convolutional neural networks (CNN). Read More

Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc 2019 07;2019:2386-2391

Interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) are a hallmark of focal epilepsies. Most previous studies have focused on whether IED events increase seizure likelihood or, on the contrary, act as a protective mechanism. Here, we study instead whether IED events themselves can be predicted based on measured ongoing neural activity. Read More

Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc 2019 07;2019:628-631

Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) has described the functional architecture of the human brain in the absence of any task or stimulus. Since the functional connectivity (FC), has non-stationary nature, it is evidenced to be varying over time. Using dynamic functional connectivity, six graph theoretical characteristics were measured and compared between left and right temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Read More

Ther Drug Monit 2020 Jun;42(3):445-451

IRCCS-Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna.

Background: Brivaracetam is an antiepileptic drug used as an add-on therapy for partial-onset seizures in subjects aged 4 years and older. Owing to potential drug interactions and intersubject variability in plasma concentrations, therapeutic monitoring for brivaracetam may be useful. The aim of this study was to develop a simplified method for measuring brivaracetam plasma concentrations applicable to therapeutic drug monitoring in epilepsy. Read More

Neurology 2020 01 13;94(4):e430-e433. Epub 2020 Jan 13.

From the Epilepsy Center (H.M.K., N.T., S.O., K.K.-S., H.K.), Osaka University Hospital; Departments of Neurosurgery (H.M.K., Y.F., N.T., S.O., H.K.) and Pediatrics (K.K.-S.), Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine; and Division of Developmental Neuroscience (K.K.-S.), United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Suita, Japan.

Nat Neurosci 2020 02 6;23(2):229-238. Epub 2020 Jan 6.

Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Temporal lobe epilepsy causes severe cognitive deficits, but the circuit mechanisms remain unknown. Interneuron death and reorganization during epileptogenesis may disrupt the synchrony of hippocampal inhibition. To test this, we simultaneously recorded from the CA1 and dentate gyrus in pilocarpine-treated epileptic mice with silicon probes during head-fixed virtual navigation. Read More

Neurology 2020 01;94(1):42-43

From the Departments of Neurology (C.U., G.O.-G., C.P., P.L., U.U.) and Radiology (J.L.), University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City.

PLoS One 2019 30;14(12):e0226575. Epub 2019 Dec 30.

Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.

Background And Aims: Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy is characterized by progressive changes of both neurons and glia, also referred to as epileptogenesis. No curative treatment options, apart from surgery, are available. DNA methylation (DNAm) is a potential upstream mechanism in epileptogenesis and may serve as a novel therapeutic target. Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2020 Feb 18;103(Pt A):106847. Epub 2019 Dec 18.

Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University, Tokat, Turkey. Electronic address:

Aim: Psychiatric disorders, especially depression and anxiety, are among the most disabling comorbidities in patients with epilepsy, and they are difficult to treat because many antidepressants cause proconvulsive effects. Thus, it is important to identify the seizure risks associated with antidepressants. Trazodone is one of the most frequently prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant drugs for the treatment of depression and anxiety. Read More

Epileptic Disord 2019 Dec;21(6):549-554

Epilepsy Section, Instituto de Neurología, Hospital de Clínicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Uruguay.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical applicability of the 2017 ILAE classification of seizures and epilepsies through the analysis of a sample of 100 outpatients with a diagnosis of epilepsy. All clinical charts were reviewed applying both the 1981/1989 and 2017 classifications of seizures and epilepsies, respectively. For most focal seizures, descriptors were required to include all the relevant clinical information. Read More

Epileptic Disord 2019 Dec;21(6):567-578

Department of Neurological Sciences, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, USA.

Benign Rolandic epilepsy (benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes; recently renamed self-limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes) is associated with widespread deficits in cognition and behavior, suggesting abnormalities in networks that extend beyond the centrotemporal region. To assess functional connectivity in children with benign Rolandic epilepsy, we assessed EEG spectral power and coherence during awake and sleep records in 27 children with centrotemporal spikes. Coherence represents the consistency of the phase difference between two EEG signals when compared over time and serves as a measure of synchronization between two EEG signals based mainly on phase consistency. Read More

Epileptic Disord 2019 Dec;21(6):598-602

Centre de recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal,, Division of Neurology, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal.

Ictal asystole is a rare epileptic phenomenon, though usually self-limiting, which has been associated with an increased risk of sudden death in epileptic patients. Although early recognition is desirable, the diagnosis can be delayed until prolonged video-EEG monitoring is completed. We report a case of ictal asystole in a 74-year-old patient with co-morbid cardiac conditions leading to a delay in diagnosis of approximately 10 years. Read More

Zh Vopr Neirokhir Im N N Burdenko 2019 ;83(5):14-20

Burdenko Neurosurgical Center, Moscow, Russia.

Objective: Assessment of frequency and severity of visual field disorders after neurosurgical operations at patients with pharmacoresistant form of epilepsy in hippocampus sclerosis.

Material And Methods: The study included 48 patients having surgical operations for a pharmacoresistant form of temporal lobe epilepsy due to hippocampus sclerosis. Anterior lobectomy with amygdalohippocampectomy (LE + AHE) was performed in 25 patients; Selective amygdalohippocampectomy (SAHE) was performed in 23 patients. Read More

Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2019 12 11;12:CD009324. Epub 2019 Dec 11.

The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Department of Neurology, No. 22, Shuang Yong Road, Nanning, China, 530021.

Background: Epilepsy is a common neurologic disorder, affecting approximately 50 million people worldwide; nearly a third of these people have epilepsy that is not well controlled by a single antiepileptic drug (AED) and they usually require treatment with a combination of two or more AEDs. In recent years, many newer AEDs have been investigated as add-on therapy for focal epilepsy; losigamone is one of these drugs and is the focus of this systematic review. This is an update of a Cochrane Review first published in 2012 and updated in 2018. Read More

J Neurosci Nurs 2020 Feb;52(1):27-29

Yu-Shiue Chen, BS, RN, is Nurse Practitioner, Department of Neurology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan. Tsang-Shan Chen, MD, is Chair, Department of Neurology, Tainan Sin-Lau Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan.

Introduction: Nonketotic hyperglycemia-related seizures are not uncommonly encountered in clinical practice. Their presentation varies, and they may cause serious consequences if they remain unnoticed.

Case: We report a case of nonketotic hyperglycemia-related seizures of unique left parieto-occipital origin and semiology, presenting as focal aware (simple partial) and impaired awareness (complex partial) seizures, including contralateral limb convulsion and apraxialike behavior. Read More

Zhonghua Er Ke Za Zhi 2019 Dec;57(12):943-949

Department of Pediatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China.

To investigate the electroclinical findings in epilepsy children with epileptic negative myoclonus (ENM) restricted to the lower limb as the first seizure type. Each retrieved electroencephalogram record performed between March 2011 and March 2018 at the Department of Pediatrics of Peking University First Hospital was searched with "midline" . There were 302 records of 175 patients with "benign" or "functional" midline spikes. Read More

Neurol Neurochir Pol 2019 3;53(6):466-475. Epub 2019 Dec 3.

Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland, Banacha 1a, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland.

Objective: Temporal lobe tumours, especially low-grade gliomas and glioneuronal tumours, are common causes of seizures in patients referred for epilepsy surgery. We here present our experience of surgical treatment of patients with intractable chronic epilepsy associated with temporal lobe tumours, focusing on the long-term surgical outcomes and the features associated with better seizure control.

Methods: In this study, we retrospectively analysed 44 consecutive patients from a total of 182 with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy presenting with long-term intractable epilepsy due to a temporal lobe tumour who were surgically treated at our institution between 2005 and 2015 with post-surgical follow-up of at least two years. Read More

BMC Neurol 2019 Nov 28;19(1):302. Epub 2019 Nov 28.

Department of Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 45 Changchun Street, Xuanwu District, Beijing, 100053, China.

Background: Visual field defects caused by injury to Meyer's loop (ML) are common in patients undergoing anterior temporal lobectomy during epilepsy surgery. Evaluation of the anatomical shapes of the curving, fanning and sharp angles of ML to guide surgeries is important but still challenging for diffusion tensor imaging. We present an advanced diffusion data-based ML atlas and labeling protocol to reproduce anatomical features in individuals within a short time. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2019 Nov 13;20(22). Epub 2019 Nov 13.

Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.

The amygdala is a cerebral region whose function is compromised in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Patients with TLE present cognitive and emotional dysfunctions, of which impairments in recognizing facial expressions have been clearly attributed to amygdala damage. However, damage to the amygdala has been scarcely addressed, with the majority of studies focusing on the hippocampus. Read More

Epilepsia 2019 12 21;60(12):2477-2485. Epub 2019 Nov 21.

Epilepsy Center, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.

Objective: To evaluate the localization value and prognostic significance of subclinical seizures (SCSs) on scalp video-electroencephalography monitoring (VEEG) in comparison to clinical seizures (CSs) in patients who had epilepsy surgery.

Methods: We included 123 consecutive patients who had SCSs and CSs during scalp-VEEG evaluation. All patients had subsequent epilepsy surgery and at least 1-year follow-up. Read More

PLoS One 2019 20;14(11):e0224571. Epub 2019 Nov 20.

Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.

Background: MRI-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (MRgLITT) is a new minimally invasive treatment for temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), with limited effectiveness data. It is unknown if the cost savings associated with shorter hospitalization could offset the high equipment cost of MRgLITT. We examined the cost-utility of MRgLITT versus surgery for TLE from healthcare payer perspective, and the value of additional research to inform policy decision on MRgLITT. Read More

Elife 2019 11 20;8. Epub 2019 Nov 20.

Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine INM-10, Research Centre Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany.

Synapses are fundamental building blocks controlling and modulating the 'behavior' of brain networks. How their structural composition, most notably their quantitative morphology underlie their computational properties remains rather unclear, particularly in humans. Here, excitatory synaptic boutons (SBs) in layer 4 (L4) of the temporal lobe neocortex (TLN) were quantitatively investigated. Read More

Acta Neurol Scand 2020 Feb 4;141(2):132-140. Epub 2019 Dec 4.

Department of Neurology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of perampanel added to monotherapy in patients with focal-onset seizures, with or without secondarily generalized tonic-clonic seizures.

Materials & Methods: In this multicentre, open-label trial, enrolled patients were treated with perampanel monotherapy. During a 12-week titration period, perampanel was incrementally increased by 2 mg/d over ≥2-week intervals. Read More

Seizure 2019 Dec 5;73:46-50. Epub 2019 Nov 5.

Saskatchewan Epilepsy Program, Department of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Canada. Electronic address:

Purpose: Using an adult cohort of patients with focal epilepsy, we aimed to identify risk factors for development of drug-resistant epilepsy, which if identifiable would allow patients to receive appropriate counsel and earlier surgical treatment.

Methods: This is a case-control study nested within a cohort, 146 adult patients with focal epilepsy were included. Definitions were used in accordance with ILAE criteria. Read More

Lancet Neurol 2020 Jan 14;19(1):38-48. Epub 2019 Nov 14.

Medical Affairs, SK Life Science, Paramus, NJ, USA.

Background: More than a third of patients with epilepsy are treatment resistant, and thus new, more effective therapies to achieve seizure freedom are needed. Cenobamate (YKP3089), an investigational antiepileptic drug, has shown broad-spectrum anticonvulsant activity in preclinical studies and seizure models. We aimed to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and tolerability of adjunctive cenobamate in patients with uncontrolled focal (partial)-onset epilepsy. Read More

BMC Neurol 2019 Nov 15;19(1):290. Epub 2019 Nov 15.

Neurology Division, Department of pediatrics and Child Health Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, P. O. Box 102, Khartoum, Sudan.

Background: In this paper, seizure types, and epilepsy syndromes are elucidated as per ILAE (2010) classification. A brief outline of the antiepileptic drug regimens used and the outcome of seizure control in a two -year period is presented. The applicability of the ILAE classification in resource limited countries has been revisited. Read More

Stereotact Funct Neurosurg 2019 13;97(4):232-240. Epub 2019 Nov 13.

Unidad Radiofarmacia-Ciclotrón, División de Investigación, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico,

Background: Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging in epilepsy is an in vivo technique that allows the localization of a possible seizure onset zone (SOZ) during the interictal period. Stereo-electro-encephalography (SEEG) is the gold standard to define the SOZ. The objective of this research was to evaluate the accuracy of PET imaging in localizing the site of SOZ compared with SEEG. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 11 11;9(1):16431. Epub 2019 Nov 11.

Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, USA.

Pentameric GABA receptors mediate a large share of CNS inhibition. The γ2 subunit is a typical constituent. At least 11 mutations in the γ2 subunit cause human epilepsies, making the role of γ2-containing receptors in brain function of keen basic and translational interest. Read More

Epileptic Disord 2019 Oct;21(5):453-457

Neurophisiology Unit, Neurology Service, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Porto.

When performing pre-surgical evaluation of patients with refractory epilepsy, the analysis of seizure semiology is one of the key elements used to generate a hypothesis about the location of the epileptogenic zone. Ictal kissing is a very rarely observed ictal automatism described in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. We present a 62-year-old man who was referred to our epilepsy centre for comprehensive evaluation. Read More

Epileptic Disord 2019 Oct;21(5):391-409

Departments of Neurology, Neurobiology, and Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, and the Brain Research Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA.

At the time of the first meeting of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) in 1909, surgical treatment for epilepsy had been accepted as an alternative therapy for over two decades, but was rarely practiced, considered a last resort for carefully selected patients. Localization was based on ictal semiology and identification of a structural lesion. Very few papers on epilepsy surgery were presented at ILAE meetings or published in Epilepsia during the first half of the 20 century. Read More

Epilepsia 2019 12 6;60(12):2499-2507. Epub 2019 Nov 6.

Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK.

Objective: To find the covert patterns of abnormality in patients with unilateral temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and visually normal brain magnetic resonance images (MRI-negative), comparing them to those with visible abnormalities (MRI-positive).

Methods: We used multimodal brain MRI from patients with unilateral TLE and employed contemporary machine learning methods to predict the known laterality of seizure onset in 104 subjects (82 MRI-positive, 22 MRI-negative). A visualization approach entitled "Importance Maps" was developed to highlight image features predictive of seizure laterality in both the MRI-positive and MRI-negative cases. Read More

World Neurosurg 2020 Feb 2;134:e636-e641. Epub 2019 Nov 2.

Department of Neurosurgery, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address:

Objective: To describe our series of a minimally invasive technique using a small scalp incision and keyhole craniotomy for the removal of mesial temporal lobe structures through a transcortical approach in patients with medically intractable mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). Studies that directly compare the clinical outcomes between minimally invasive and conventional techniques are scarce, and this information is lacking in the literature.

Methods: The study enrolled 73 consecutive patients with refractory MTLE and unilateral hippocampal sclerosis; 30 patients were operated on with standard frontotemporal craniotomy between 2010 and 2013 and 43 patients were operated with a minimally invasive craniotomy (nummular craniotomy) between 2014 and 2016. Read More

Neuroscience 2019 12 1;423:148-161. Epub 2019 Nov 1.

Biomedical Technology Wing, Satelmond Palace Campus, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695012, India. Electronic address:

Several reports of augmented hyperpolarisation-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) currents in seizures have suggested a pro-convulsive identity for HCN channels. The mutations identified in one or more of the four HCN channel subunits are found to be contributing to different epileptic phenotypes. S126L, S632W, V246M and E515K are four different mutations affecting the HCN2 subunit and have been reported in febrile seizures and partial/generalised idiopathic epilepsies. Read More

Neurosci Bull 2019 Dec 2;35(6):1123-1125. Epub 2019 Nov 2.

Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, 310053, China.

Epilepsy Behav 2019 12 31;101(Pt A):106574. Epub 2019 Oct 31.

Eisai GmbH, Lyoner Str. 36, 60528 Frankfurt, Germany.

Eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL) is a third-generation antiepileptic drug (AED) approved as monotherapy for partial-onset seizures in adults and as adjunctive therapy in patients aged above 6 years in the European Union (EU). The prospective observational Zebinix Effects in DEpendency of BAseline Conditions (ZEDEBAC) study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of ESL in clinical practice, with ESL being administered as monotherapy (mono group), as only add-on to a current monotherapy (1+ group), or as add-on to ≥2 baseline AEDs (≥2+ group). In total, 237 patients were included, 35 in the mono group, 114 in the 1+, and 88 in the ≥2+ group. Read More

Zhonghua Er Ke Za Zhi 2019 Nov;57(11):857-862

Department of Pediatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China.

To analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with PCDH19-female limited epilepsy (PCDH19-FE). The clinical data of 60 female epilepsy patients with PCDH19 gene heterozygous variations at the Department of Pediatrics, Peking University First Hospital from October 2007 to December 2018 were collected and analyzed retrospectively, their clinical manifestations, accessory examination and follow-up treatment were summarized. Data of a total of 60 cases of PCDH19-FE were collected. Read More

Brain 2019 11;142(11):3318-3320

University Medical Centre Utrecht, Neurology, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Epilepsia 2019 12 29;60(12):2398-2403. Epub 2019 Oct 29.

Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.

Objective: To evaluate the presence of tau deposition and pathologic features of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in young adult patients treated with focal cortical resections for drug-resistant epilepsy.

Methods: Sixty consecutive patients who had undergone surgical treatment for drug-resistant focal epilepsy between 18 and 45 years of age were identified (2010-2017). Medical records were reviewed to determine clinical factors, including history of head trauma, age at seizure onset, age at surgical resection, seizure type(s) and frequency, imaging findings, and surgical outcome. Read More