Idiopathic epilepsies - A population based epidemiologic study.

Background: There are only few epidemiological studies regarding epilepsy from this region. The classification of epilepsies has not been adequately stressed in these studies. Objective: To assess the occurrence of idiopathic epilepsies in Punjab (A region situated in the Indo-Gagentic Plains), India. Methods: A door to door, cross - sectional epidemiological survey covering an entire 103693 population residing in 74 contiguous villages situated outside the municipal limits of the District Headquarter town. Survey of all houses was done by general village level workers following which detailed case work up was done by postgraduate physicians. Final case identification was done by neurologists. Results: Active epilepsy (n = 795) and inactive epilepsy (n = 128) comprised 74.78 % and 12.04 % of total number of seizure cases (n = 1063) and 86.13 % and 13.87 % of all epilepsy cases (n = 923) respectively. Non epileptic conditions comprised 11.74 % of total number of seizure cases (n = 1063). Single and febrile seizures were predominant among the non epileptic conditions being 6.2 % and 3.57 % of total number of seizure cases (n = 1063). Active epilepsy cases (n = 795) included electroclinical syndromes and constellations (n = 117, 14.72 %), symptomatic (n = 153, 19.24 %) and probably symptomatic cases (n = 513, 64.53 %) and cases with dual diagnosis (n = 12, 1.51 %). Idiopathic epilepsies (n = 112) consisted of idiopathic generalized epilepsies (n = 111) and benign childhood epilepsy (n = 1). Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (n = 42) predominated idiopathic generalized epilepsy cases (n = 111). Conclusions: Use of different terminology, definitions and criteria for diagnosis of various types of epilepsy precludes comparison between this study and other studies. This study showed significant variation in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy cases regarding sex distribution, diurnal variation and precipitating factors as compared to other studies. These differences need further confirmation.

Prospective study of level of serum zinc in patients of febrile seizures, idiopathic epilepsy and CNS infections.

The present study was carried out to study serum zinc levels for it’s prognostic significance as well as for it’s role in pathophysiology of febrile seizures, idiopathic epilepsy and acute CNS infections. In the present study, 100 cases who were admitted in our hospital during March 2009 to August 2010, aged between 1 month to 18 yrs were selected on the basis of clinical history, physical and CSF examination. They were grouped as groupA (pyogenic meningitis), group B (febrile seizures), group C (idiopathic epilepsy), group D (other acute CNS infections), group E (cerebral malaria) and group F (control). Cases of cerebral palsy, neuroanatomical malformations, neurobehavioural disorders, neurodegenerative disorders and drug induced neurological manifestations were not included in the present study. Mean serum zinc level was significantly lower in groups A, B & E, while no significant difference was observed in group C & D as compared to the control. No significant difference in serum zinc level was detected in relation to outcome and degree of consciousness in any of the study groups.

Study on the correlation between serum homocysteine levels with pediatric idiopathic epilepsy / 中国基层医药

ObjectiveTo study the clinical significance of determination on homocysteine in serum of pediatric idiopathic epilepsy. MethodsThe homocysteine level in serum of 81 patients with pediatric idiopathic epilepsy was determined,and the value of normal children was tested and compared as control. ResultsThe concentration of Hey in research group was from 7.6mol/L to 22.0μmol/L,the mean value was(15.91 ±2.38)μmol/L,The concentration of Hcy in control group was from 3μmol/L to 9μmol/L,and the mean value was(6.87 ± 1.75)μmol/L.which showed a significant difference(P＜0.05).By comparison,the high concentration(＞15 μmol/L)of Hcy in control group was only 6 cases,while it was 73 cases in research group,which also showed a significant difference (P＜0.05). ConclusionHcy level was apparently relevant with occurring rate of pediatric idiopathic epilepsy.In the diagnosed clinical treatment of idiopathic epilepsy,the closely monitor of serum level of homocysteine,and timely promoting Hcy metabolism.should be carried out.

Epilepsia en perros / Canine epilepsy

Idiopathic epilepsy (IE) and other convulsive disorders represent at least 14% of neurological consultations in veterinary medicine. In spite of this, there is a gap in the information usually handled by the small animal clinician, because the pathophysiological aspects of this disease are still not completely understood. Since there is no specific method for diagnosing IE, exclusion criteria are used to reach diagnosis. Although the electroencephalogram (EEG) can provide diagnostic elements, abnormalities in the EEG record are not always found. Pharmacologic treatment options are reduced and not void of ad verse effects. The possibility of encountering IE refractory to antiseizure pharmacological treatment is high and it has been concluded that non pharmacological treatment options should be explored through systematic clinical studies. Up to date, early diagnosis, appropriate pharmacological treatment, owners' education and a combination with non pharmacological options represent the only way to improve prognosis for dogs with IE.

La epilepsia idiopática (EI), así como otras enfermedades convulsivas representan al menos 14% de las consultas neurológicas en la medicina veterinaria. A pesar de esto último, se reconoce que existe un vacío en la información que maneja el clínico especialista en pequeñas especies porque aún no se han elucidado todos los aspectos patofisiológicos de ese padecimiento. Debido a que no existe un método diagnóstico específico, se llega a él por exclusión. Aunque el electroencefalograma (EEG) brinda algunos elementos diagnósticos no siempre se tiene la fortuna de ubicar anormalidades en el registro. Las alternativas terapéuticas farmacológicas son reducidas y no carentes de efectos adversos. Es mucha la posibilidad de encontrar EI refractaria al tratamiento farmacológico y se ha concluido que deben evaluarse las alternativas de tratamiento no farmacológico mediante estudios clínicos sistemáticos. El diagnóstico temprano, la instauración de un tratamiento farmacológico, la educación de los propietarios de animales y la combinación con terapias no farmacológicas representan a la fecha la única forma de mejorar el pronóstico de perros afectados con EI.

Genes e epilepsia I: epilepsia e alterações genéticas / Genes and epilepsy I: epilepsy and genetic alterations

INTRODUÇÃO: Epilepsia é uma desordem neurológica caracterizada por crises espontâneas e recorrentes, que afeta de 2 por cento a 3 por cento da população mundial. As crises epilépticas refletem atividade elétrica anormal e paroxística, preferencialmente em uma ou várias áreas do córtex cerebral, que podem ser causadas por inúmeras patologias estruturais ou neuroquímicas. Dentre os importantes estudos das últimas décadas no campo da epileptologia, destaca-se a identificação de genes associados a certos tipos de epilepsia. OBJETIVO: Nesta revisão, descrevemos as principais alterações genéticas associadas ao processo epileptogênico, discutindo as mais recentes descobertas e suas contribuições para a compreensão das bases genéticas das epilepsias idiopáticas monogênicas (EIM) e das epilepsias geneticamente complexas. RESULTADOS E CONCLUSÃO: Estudos de ligação e associação mostram que alterações em genes que codificam canais iônicos são as principais causas genéticas das epilepsias idiopáticas monogênicas e de predisposição nas epilepsias geneticamente complexas. Além disso, as síndromes nas quais a epilepsia é um aspecto importante do quadro clínico podem ser provocadas por genes envolvidos em diferentes vias celulares, tais como: migração neuronal, metabolismo de glicogênio e cadeia respiratória. Portanto, acredita-se que diferentes categorias de genes possam atuar na determinação do traço epiléptico. A identificação de tais famílias de genes não apenas nos ajudará a entender as vias moleculares associadas à hiperexcitabilidade neuronal e ao processo epileptogênico, mas também poderá conduzir ao desenvolvimento de novas e mais precisas estratégias de tratamento da epilepsia.

INTRODUCTION: Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by spontaneous and recurrent seizures with an estimated prevalence of 2-3 percent in the world population. Epileptic seizures are the result of paroxystic and hypersynchronous electrical activity, preferentially in cortical areas, caused by panoply of structural and neurochemical dysfunctions. Recent advances in the field have focused on the molecular mechanisms involved in the epileptogenic process. OBJECTIVES: In the present review, we describe the main genetic alterations associated to the process of epileptogenesis and discuss the new findings that are shedding light on the molecular substrates of monogenic idiopathic epilepsies (MIE) and on genetically complex epilepsies (GCE). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Linkage and association studies have shown that mutations in ion channel genes are the main causes of MIE and of predisposition for GCE. Moreover, mutations in genes involved in neuronal migration, glycogen metabolism and respiratory chain are associated to other syndromes involving seizures. Therefore, different gene classes contribute to the epileptic trait. The identification of epilepsy-related gene families can help us understand the molecular mechanisms of neuronal hyperexcitability and recognize markers of early diagnosis as well as new treatments for these epilepsies.

Relationship between Serum Levels of Homocysteine and Folate and Seizure Severity in Patients with Idiopathic Epilepsy / 대한간질학회지

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: High serum homocysteine level is recognised as one of risk factors for epileptic seizure. Folate is involved in the homocysteine metabolism and low serum folate level increases the frequency of the seizure activity. The purpose of this study is to examine the changes of the serum levels of homocysteine and folate in epileptic patients and to evaluate the correlation between the severity of seizure and serum levels of homocysteine and folate. METHOD: Subjects were 17 patients who were diagnosed as idiopathic epilepsy and the control group was composed of age and sex matched 17 healthy adults. The serum homocysteine level was measured with the Chemiluminescent Immunoassay (CLIA), and folate level was measured with Radioimmuno assay (RIA). The severity of seizure was measured by using National Hospital Seizure Scale. RESULTS: The serum level of homocysteine was significantly higher in the patients group than in control group. However, the serum level of folate was not different between two group. The relationship between the seizure severity and the serum levels of homocysteine and folate showed positive correlations. CONCLUSIONS: There results reveal that the serum homocysteine may effect on the epileptic seizure severity.

Study of relation between sleep architecture and cognitive behavior in children with epilepsy / 临床神经病学杂志

Objective To observe the relations of sleep structure changes and cognitive behavior abnormalities in children with idiopathic epilepsy.Methods All night polysomnographies, day attention test and Achenbach child behavior checklist were done on 64 children with idiopathic epilepsy and 20 healthy controls the requirement. Spearman correlations were made to evaluate the correlations between the parameters of sleep structure and the results of attention and cognitive behavior abnormalities.Results All children with epilepsy had longer stage Ⅰ sleep percentage and latency of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep compared with controls (all P