Analysis of the CHRNA7 gene mutation and polymorphism in Southern Han Chinese patients with nocturnal frontal epilepsy

Objective: To detect the CHRNA7 gene mutation and polymorphism in Southern Han Chinese patients with nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (NFLE). Methods: Blood samples were collected from 215 Southern Han Chinese patients with NFLE and 200 healthy Southern Han Chinese control subjects. Genomic DNA was extracted, and CHRNA7 whole genome exons were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction and subjected to Sanger sequencing. Results:No CHRNA7 gene mutation was detected in all of the NFLE patients. However, five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in sporadic cases were found, located in exons 5, 6, and 7 of the CHRNA7 gene. Among them, c.690G>A and c.698A>G are known SNPs, while c.370G>A, c.654C>T, and c.497-498delTG were newly discovered SNPs. These SNPs were also found in some of the healthy controls. Conclusions: No CHRNA7 gene mutation was identified in Southern Han Chinese patients with NFLE. The CHRNA7 gene is probably not responsible for NFLE in this population.

Therapeutic effect of levetiracetam add-on treatment for frontal lobe epilepsy in 105 children / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the changes in 24-hour video electroencephalogram (EEG) and epileptic attacks after levetiracetam add-on therapy in children with frontal lobe epilepsy and epileptiform discharges.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A prospective study was carried out in 105 children with the frontal lobe epilepsy who received long-term treatment with 1 or 2 types of antiepileptic drug but still with epileptiform discharges in ECG. Levetiracetam add-on therapy was administered at the initial daily dose of 20 mg/kg (given in 2 doses) for 2 weeks followed by an increase of the dose to 30 mg/kg with a maintenance dose of 30-40 mg/kg. The changes in seizure attacks and 24-hour video-EEG monitoring after a 6-month therapy were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Levetiracetam add-on therapy reduced epileptiform discharges in 55 children (52.3%) and resulted in significant changes in EEG (P<0.05). Of the 77 children with clinical seizures, complete seizure control was achieved in 12 cases after the therapy, and the seizure attacks were reduced in 28 cases, showing a total response rate of 51.9%; the reduction in seizure attacks was positively correlated with EEG improvement (P<0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Levetiracetam add-on therapy can decrease epileptiform discharges in EEG and reduce clinical seizure attacks in children with frontal lobe epilepsy with only mild adverse reactions.</p>

Clinical analysis of post-stroke epilepsy in children / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To analyze the clinical features,treatment and prognosis of children with post-stroke epilepsy.Methods Sixty-nine children with epilepsy after cerebral stroke who were admitted to Guangdong General Hospital from Jan.2009 to Mar.2013 were retrospectively reviewed,including etiology,clinical features,laboratory examinations,treatment and prognosis.Results Among 260 stroke patients,69 of them (26.5 ％) developed epilepsy,but there was no significant difference between boys and girls(x2 =0.725,P =0.394).The incidence of post-stroke epilepsy differed significantly among different types (x2 =12.000,P =0.02),highest in the children with subarachnoid hemorrhage(47.8％,11/23 cases),followed by those with cerebral hemorrhage (34.6％,27/78 cases),and lastly,those with cerebral ischemia (19.5％,31/159 cases).Among them,53 patients developed seizures in the early stage (76.8％,53/69 cases),others in the late stage(23.2％,16/69 cases),early-onset epilepsy was more common in hemorrhagic stroke and late-onset epilepsy was more common in ischemic stroke,which differed significantly(x2 ＝ 4.778,P =0.029).The electroencephalogram background generally showed slow-wave in the early-onset epilepsy.The composition of seizure types differed significantly among different types of stroke (x2 =8.461,P =0.015).Forty-five of 58 patients (77.6％) suffered from cortical lesions and 13 of 58 patients (22.4％) suffered from subcortical lesions.Those children with post-stroke epilepsy who regularly use of antiepileptic drugs were followed up for 6 months to 4 years,81.2％ (56/69 cases)of clinical seizures were controlled.Conclusions The incidence of epilepsy after stroke is higher in children than in adults,cerebral stroke seizure occurs more commonly in cases with hemorrhagic stroke,especially with subarachnoid hemorrhage.Conventional antiepileptic treatment is effective.