ABSTRACT
ObjectiveThis clinical study is aimed to investigate whether levetiracetam (LEV) can improve electrocorticogram (EEG) in epileptic children epilepsy patients with better clinical manifestation but abnormal EEG findings.MethodsTotally 39 children from our neurological clinic with partial or complex partial epilepsy seizure were included in present study and assigned equally into three groups receiving different treatment:control group,sodium valproate (VPA) group,and LEV group.Their clinical symptoms had been controlled for over one year by carbamazepine ( CBZ),but EEG results showed clearly abnormal.Epileptiform discharges were observed in routine EEG exams half a month before recruiting.After recruiting,they continued to receive CBZ alone (control group) or co-treated with VPA ( VPA group) or LEV (LEVgroup),respectively.Six months later,EEG was taken again and results were analyzed.ResultsImprovement rate were 9.1％ ( control group),23.1％ ( VPA group),and 66.7％ (LEV group),respectively;Overall statistical difference was reached among three groups ( P＜0.01 ) and between control group and LEV group( P＜0.012 5 ),but no statistical difference between control group and VPA group was reached ( P＞0.0125).ConclusionCo-treatment of LEV in child epilepsy patients receiving CBZ can significantly decrease abnormal EEG discharge frequency during interictal period.
ABSTRACT
Objective To study the change of CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3high regulatory T cells (Treg cells) and the molecules associated with Treg cells in different immune status in infant with sepsis, and to further clarity the pathogenesis of disturbed immune function in infant with sepsis. Method Totally 36 sepsis infants admitted in In-tensive Care Unit of Shenzhen Children' s Hospital from May 2007 to November 2007 and 16 age-matched healthy infants were collected for prospective study, after excluding autoimmune disease, immunodeficiency, inherited metabolic disorders, tumor, and drug-treatment that could affect immune function during lately 6 months. The study was approved by Ethics Committee of Shenzhen Children's Hospital. The 36 infants with sepsis were divided into two groups according to expression levels of HLA-DR in CD14-positive cells: DR-H group was defined as patients with HLA-DR > 30%, while DR-L group was defined as patients with HLA-DR < 30%. Expression levels of HLA-DR in CD14-positive cells and the proportion of Treg cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. Real-time PCR were used to evaluate the mRNA levels of Foxp3, CTLA-4,GITR, and IL-10 in CD4-posidve ceils. Statistical analysis was performed by one-way Anova. There was statistical difference with P < 0.05. Results The proportion of Treg cells in DR-L group was found to be significantly higher than that in healthy control or DR-H group (P <0.05).Compared with healthy control group or DR-H group, transcriptional levels of Foxp3, CTLA-4 and IL-10were significantly increased in DR-L group (P <0.05). The levels of GITR mRNA in DR-L group were detected to be higher than those in DR-H group (P < 0.05). Conclusions Aberrant increased proportion of Treg cells may be associated with suppressed immune status in infant with sepsis.