Lamotrigine, a mood stabilizer, may have beneficial effects on memory acquisition and retrieval in mice.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a mood stabilizer lamotrigine (LMG) on learning and memory processes using Morris water maze (MWM), modified elevated plus maze (mEPM) and passive avoidance (PA) tests. MAIN METHODS: Balb-c mice were used. LMG were injected (20; 40mg/kg, intraperitoneal, i.p.) into mice before the probe trial of MWM test and before the acquisition session of mEPM and PA tests. KEY FINDINGS: On the probe trial of MWM test, LMG (40mg/kg) significantly prolonged the "time spent in target quadrant" compared to control and LMG (20mg/kg). LMG (40mg/kg) decreased the "distance to platform" compared to control. Both doses of LMG did not change the "swim speed" of animals. In the mEPM test, in comparison of transfer latency on the first day and transfer latency on the second day for each group, transfer latency on the second day was significantly decreased in the control and LMG-treated groups. Second day transfer latencies compared in-between the group transfer latency of on second days significantly decreased by LMG (20mg/kg and 40mg/kg) treatment compared to control. In the PA test, retention latency significantly prolonged by LMG (40mg/kg) treatment compared to control and LMG (20mg/kg). SIGNIFICANCE: Our results may indicate that, LMG may have some ameliorating effects on spatial memory retrieval on the MWM test. LMG positively affected the acquisition of memory in the mEPM and in the PA test in naive mice.

Lamotrigine effects sensorimotor gating in WAG/Rij rats.

INTRODUCTION: Prepulse inhibition (PPI) is a measurable form of sensorimotor gating. Disruption of PPI reflects the impairment in the neural filtering process of mental functions that are related to the transformation of an external stimuli to a response. Impairment of PPI is reported in neuropsychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's diseases, Tourette syndrome, obsessive compulsive disorder, and temporal lobe epilepsy with psychosis. Absence epilepsy is the most common type of primary generalized epilepsy. Lamotrigine is an antiepileptic drug that is preferred in absence epilepsy and acts by stabilizing the voltage-gated sodium channels. AIM: In this study, we have compared WAG-Rij rats (genetically absence epileptic rats) with Wistar rats, in order to clarify if there is a deficient sensorimotor gating in absence epilepsy, and have examined the effects of lamotrigine (15, 30 mg/kg, i.p.) on this phenomenon. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Depletion in PPI percent value is accepted as a disruption in sensory-motor filtration function. The difference between the Wistar and WAG/Rij rats has been evaluated with the student t test and the effects of lamotrigine on the PPI percent have been evaluated by the analysis of variance (ANOVA) post-hoc Dunnett's test. RESULTS: The PPI percent was low in the WAG/Rij rats compared to the controls (P<0.0001, t:9,612). Although the PPI percent value of the control rats was not influenced by lamotrigine, the PPI percent value of the WAG/Rij rats was raised by lamotrigine treatment (P<0.0001, F:861,24). CONCLUSIONS: As a result of our study, PPI was disrupted in the WAG/Rij rats and this disruption could be reversed by an antiepileptic lamotrigine.

Positive impact of levetiracetam on emotional learning and memory in naive mice.

AIMS: The effect of an antiepileptic drug on cognitive function is of primary importance with respect to the patient's quality of life. Levetiracetam (LEV) is a novel antiepileptic drug used to treat epilepsy, but its effects on spatial and emotional learning and memory are not yet well understood. The goal of our study was to establish the effects of LEV (17 and 54 mg/kg, intraperitoneally (IP)) on spatial memory retrieval in the Morris water maze test and on acquisition and memory formation in the passive avoidance (PA) test in naive mice. MAIN METHODS: The subjects were adult male BALB/c mice. Spatial learning and memory was established with the Morris water maze (MWM) test. The 'time spent in escape platforms quadrant' and the 'distance to platform' analyses were measured using a video tracking system to determine spatial memory function. Emotional learning and memory were determined with a one-trial, step-through passive avoidance test. KEY FINDINGS: In the MWM test, LEV (17 and 54 mg/kg) neither affected the time spent in the target quadrant nor altered the distance to platform. Moreover, LEV had no effect on swim speed. In the PA task, LEV (17 and 54 mg/kg) significantly prolonged retention latency. SIGNIFICANCE: Our results indicate that LEV did not alter spatial memory retrieval in the MWM test, but it did show some ameliorating effects on acquisition and memory formation in the PA test in naive mice.

[Temporal characteristics of migraine-type headache]. / Migren türü bas agrilarinin zamansal özellikleri.

OBJECTIVES: Migraine is characterized by headache attacks, and symptoms belong to various organ systems. Temporal characteristics of headache must be known to prescribe the appropriate drug for the treatment of migraine attacks. In this study, we aimed to reveal the temporal characteristics of headache and to search whether or not these characteristics differ in patient subgroups in migraineurs admitted to a tertiary health center. METHODS: Consecutive adult migraineurs who admitted to the Headache Section of Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine Research Hospital involved the study. Their demographical data, medical history and temporal characteristics of headaches were questioned. RESULTS: Thirty (19.6%) patients among the 153 migraineurs involved had chronic daily headache. Headaches were detected to reach the maximum pain intensity within 2 hours in 34 patients (22.2%) and to continue over 24 hours in 87 (56.9%) patients. Patients with headaches lasting over 24 hours had a greater mean age than of those with headaches ending within 24 hours (40.8+/-12.4 and 36.2+/-11.4, respectively; p=0.019). The mean disease age of the patients with headaches lasting over 24 hours was also greater than of the group with headaches ending within 24 hours. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that temporal characteristics of headache may differ in patient subgroups in adult migraineurs. Further studies with large populations are warranted to verify these results and determine which temporal characteristics are common in which patient subgroups.

Route learning impairment associated with encephalomalasia secondary to traumatic brain injury: a case report.

Topographical disorientation is marked by difficulty finding one's way in familiar or new environments. The present case study reports findings from a 30-year-old male with encephalomalasia of the left parahippocampal region secondary to brain trauma with subsequent difficulty in learning of new routes. His navigation in premorbidly known (familiar) surroundings was intact. Magnetic resonance images revealed left parahippocampal and bilateral occipital encephalomalasia. Neuropsychological screening showed impairment in structuring a representation of the spatial relationships among landmarks with relatively preserved ability to learn visual and verbal information of these landmarks. Decreased visual perception and inappropriate visual inputs due to cervical dystonia and right homonymous hemianopsia also appear to play a role in his disability. The current knowledge about the neuronal systems involved in visual cognition and topographical orientation also are addressed in this report.

Fahr's disease presenting with paroxysmal non-kinesigenic dyskinesia: a case report.

Fahr's disease is characterized by presence of abnormal calcifications in certain areas of the brain. We report on 23-year-old man admitted to us with the episodes of paroxysmal non-kinesigenic dyskinesia. He was detected to have symmetrical intracerebral calcifications in basal ganglia, thalamus and cerebellar hemispheres, and diagnosed as sporadic Fahr's disease. Paroxysmal dyskinesia was well responded to oxcarbazepine (600 mg/day) treatment.

Levetiracetam-responding paroxysmal nonkinesigenic dyskinesia.

We report on a patient with 7-year history of short-lasting paroxysmal nonkinesigenic dyskinesia. The episodes occurred 100 to 125 times per day, lasted from 5 seconds to 3 minutes, and were not suppressed with sleeping, underlining the heterogeneity of phenomenology in paroxysmal dyskinesias. Neuroimaging studies showed calcifications in the basal ganglia, thalamus, brain stem, and subcortical and cerebellar regions. He was diagnosed with idiopathic hypoparathyroidism. After failure of valproate, he responded well to levetiracetam (1000 mg/d). This report revealed that intracerebral calcifications secondary to hypoparathyroidism could present as paroxysmal nonkinesigenic dyskinesia, and levetiracetam could be effective in this particular entity.

Isolated abducens nerve palsy associated with retinoic acid therapy: a case report.

Isolated abducens nerve palsy is a rare complication of treatment with various drugs. Here, the authors report the case of a 23-year-old female with isolated left abducens nerve palsy after long-term retinoic acid therapy. The association is based on the temporal relationship and the exclusion of other possible etiologic factors following extensive laboratory and imaging diagnostics. The authors suggest that isolated abducens nerve palsy may be a presenting sign of a toxic neuropathy associated with retinoic acid therapy. After the exclusion of other organic lesions, especially idiopathic intracranial hypertension, and an assessment of the risk-benefit ratio, discontinuation of treatment must be considered in such cases.

[The headache triggered with ingestion of hot and soft fizzy drinks: similarity with ice cream headache]. / Sicak ve gazli içeceklerle tetiklenen bas agrisi: Dondurma bas agrisi ile benzerligi.

Ice cream headache is more frequent in migraineurs. This is probably due to the specific interactions between neural and vascular systems in migraine patients. Two patients suffering from ice cream headache reported us that a similar headache occurred during migraine attacks with various stimuli such as ingesting hot and fizzy drinks. In addition to the pace of ingestion and temperature of the material, central sensitization may also have a role in the occurrence of this pain. We think that various factors play role in this neuro-vascular interaction. Accepting the ice cream headache as a prototype of this neuro-vascular interaction could provide path to new concepts.

[The relationship of stabbing headaches with migraine attacks]. / Saplanma agrisinin migren ataklari ile iliskisi.

Temporal and spatial relationships between idiopathic stabbing headache and migraine headache have so far been reported. We aimed to obtain some clues about the stabbing headache pathophysiology by comparing the two types of headache in regard to temporal and spatial relationships as well as precipitating and relieving factors of stabbing headache during migraine attacks. 43 patients who reported temporal relationship between migraine headache and stabs were studied. Localizations of migraine and stabbing headaches overlapped in 38 (88%) of the patients. 34 (79%) had stabs during migraine attacks, while 9 (21%) had stabs with a very close temporal relationship to migraine attacks. During the attacks, while head movements caused stabs in 10 patients (23%); applying pressure to the temples (n=3) and sleeping (n=2) alleviated or abolished stabs. We thought that stabs probably occur during a period in which central pain control mechanisms are weakened.

Extracephalic stabbing pain temporally related to cephalic ones.

A 23-year-old woman consulted with the complaint of short-lasting, severe stabbing headaches and mild-to-moderate degree near-daily migrainous headaches. Further questioning revealed that she also had stabbing pain on both ipsilateral hand and calf. Stabs on the hand were time-locked to cephalic ones and stabs in the calf were alternating with the ones in the hand. Dizziness and scotomas were accompanying symptoms to cephalic ones and paresthesia was the accompanying symptom in the hand. Patient's cephalic and extracephalic stabbing pains responded to indomethacine and daily headaches responded to prophylactic sodium valproate therapy. The stabs were felt in the head; hand and calf are considered as the parts of a whole. Along with its accompanying symptoms, stabbing pain may be the result of complex interactions in central nervous system.