Development and validation of an interpretable machine learning model for predicting post-stroke epilepsy.

BACKGROUND: Epilepsy is a serious complication after an ischemic stroke. Although two studies have developed prediction model for post-stroke epilepsy (PSE), their accuracy remains insufficient, and their applicability to different populations is uncertain. With the rapid advancement of computer technology, machine learning (ML) offers new opportunities for creating more accurate prediction models. However, the potential of ML in predicting PSE is still not well understood. The purpose of this study was to develop prediction models for PSE among ischemic stroke patients. METHODS: Patients with ischemic stroke from two stroke centers were included in this retrospective cohort study. At the baseline level, 33 input variables were considered candidate features. The 2-year PSE prediction models in the derivation cohort were built using six ML algorithms. The predictive performance of these machine learning models required further appraisal and comparison with the reference model using the conventional triage classification information. The Shapley additive explanation (SHAP), based on fair profit allocation among many stakeholders according to their contributions, is used to interpret the predicted outcomes of the naive Bayes (NB) model. RESULTS: A total of 1977 patients were included to build the predictive model for PSE. The Boruta method identified NIHSS score, hospital length of stay, D-dimer level, and cortical involvement as the optimal features, with the receiver operating characteristic curves ranging from 0.709 to 0.849. An additional 870 patients were used to validate the ML and reference models. The NB model achieved the best performance among the PSE prediction models with an area under the receiver operating curve of 0.757. At the 20 % absolute risk threshold, the NB model also provided a sensitivity of 0.739 and a specificity of 0.720. The reference model had poor sensitivities of only 0.15 despite achieving a helpful AUC of 0.732. Furthermore, the SHAP method analysis demonstrated that a higher NIHSS score, longer hospital length of stay, higher D-dimer level, and cortical involvement were positive predictors of epilepsy after ischemic stroke. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirmed the feasibility of applying the ML method to use easy-to-obtain variables for accurate prediction of PSE and provided improved strategies and effective resource allocation for high-risk patients. In addition, the SHAP method could improve model transparency and make it easier for clinicians to grasp the prediction model's reliability.

The Association of Epileptic Seizures after Acute Ischemic Stroke with Cerebral Cortical Involvement and Electroencephalographic Changes.

Background and objectives: while acute ischemic stroke is the leading cause of epilepsy in the elderly population, data about its risk factors have been conflicting. Therefore, the aim of our study is to determine the association of early and late epileptic seizures after acute ischemic stroke with cerebral cortical involvement and electroencephalographic changes. Materials and methods: a prospective cohort study in the Hospital of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kaunas Clinics Department of Neurology was conducted and enrolled 376 acute ischemic stroke patients. Data about the demographical, clinical, radiological, and encephalographic changes was gathered. Patients were followed for 1 year after stroke and assessed for late ES. Results: the incidence of ES was 4.5%, the incidence of early ES was 2.7% and the incidence of late ES was 2.4%. The occurrence of early ES increased the probability of developing late ES. There was no association between acute cerebral cortical damage and the occurrence of ES, including both early and late ES. However, interictal epileptiform discharges were associated with the occurrence of ES, including both early and late ES.

Exploratory study of blood biomarkers in patients with post-stroke epilepsy.

INTRODUCTION: In addition to clinical factors, blood-based biomarkers can provide useful information on the risk of developing post-stroke epilepsy (PSE). Our aim was to identify serum biomarkers at stroke onset that could contribute to predicting patients at higher risk of PSE. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From a previous study in which 895 acute stroke patients were followed-up, 51 patients developed PSE. We selected 15 patients with PSE and 15 controls without epilepsy. In a biomarker discovery setting, 5 Olink panels of 96 proteins each, were used to determine protein levels. Biomarkers that were down-regulated and overexpressed in PSE patients, and those that showed the strongest interactions with other proteins were validated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in samples from 50 PSE patients and 50 controls. A ROC curve analysis was used to evaluate the predictive ability of significant biomarkers to develop PSE. RESULTS: Mean age of the PSE discovery cohort was 68.56 ± 15.1, 40% women and baseline NIHSS 12 [IQR 1-25]. Nine proteins were down-expressed: CASP-8, TNFSF-14, STAMBP, ENRAGE, EDA2R, SIRT2, TGF-alpha, OSM and CLEC1B. VEGFa, CD40 and CCL4 showed greatest interactions with the remaining proteins. In the validation analysis, TNFSF-14 was the single biomarker showing statistically significant downregulated levels in PSE patients (p = 0.006) and it showed a good predictive capability to develop PSE (AUC 0.733, 95% CI 0.601-0.865). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Protein expression in PSE patients differs from that of non-epileptic stroke patients, suggesting the involvement of several different proteins in post-stroke epileptogenesis. TNFSF-14 emerges as a potential biomarker for predicting PSE.

Efficacy and safety of Perampanel in the treatment of post stroke epilepsy: A multicenter, real-world study.

Background: Since 2019, Perampanel (PER) has been endorsed in China as an adjunctive treatment for focal seizures, both with and without impaired awareness, and for the transition from focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures. Limited research exists regarding the efficacy of PER in treating post-stroke epilepsy (PSE) in China. Empirical studies are essential to guide treatment protocols. We conducted a retrospective study to assess the efficacy and tolerability of PER in 58 PSE patients treated between October 2019 and July 2023. Method: This study encompassed 58 patients with PSE, treated with PER either as monotherapy or as part of adjunctive therapy, and underwent follow-up for a minimum duration of 6 months. The study assessed changes in seizure frequency, adverse events (AEs), drug retention rate, maintenance dose, and adverse reactions following PER treatment. Results: The study included 58 PSE patients, with 60.3% males and 39.7% females, ranging in age from 18 to 89, mostly within the 61-70 age group. Ischemic strokes constituted 58.6% of cases, while hemorrhagic strokes accounted for 41.4%. Focal seizures, either with or without impaired awareness, were noted in 62.1% of patients, and a transition from focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures was seen in 32.8%. The retention rates for PER at 3 and 6 months stood at 94.8% and 84.5% respectively, and the most commonly administered maintenance dose was 4 mg/day (41.28%). In the adjunctive therapy group, efficacy rates were 66.7% at 3 months and 78.6% at 6 months, compared to 80.0% at 3 months and 85.7% at 6 months in the monotherapy group. In the efficacy analysis, with a criterion of ≥50% reduction in seizure frequency, the overall efficacy rates at 3 and 6 months were 69.1% and 79.6%, respectively. Adverse reactions occurred in 46.6% of patients, primarily involving irritability and somnolence (both 27.6%), with no marked difference in incidence between the adjunctive and monotherapy groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion: PER exhibits favorable efficacy and tolerability in Chinese PSE patients, possibly at lower doses.

Electroencephalogram findings in 10 patients with post-stroke epilepsy: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Post-stroke epilepsy is a common and easily overlooked complication of acute cerebrovascular disease. Long-term seizures can seriously affect the prognosis and quality of life of patients. Electroencephalogram (EEG) is the simplest way to diagnose epilepsy, and plays an important role in predicting seizures and guiding medication. AIM: To explore the EEG characteristics of patients with post-stroke epilepsy and improve the detection rate of inter-seizure epileptiform discharges. METHODS: From January 2017 to June 2020, 10 patients with post-stroke epilepsy in our hospital were included. The clinical, imaging, and EEG characteristics were collected. The stroke location, seizure type, and ictal and interictal EEG manifestations of the patients with post-stroke epilepsy were then retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: In all 10 patients, epileptiform waves occurred in the side opposite to the stroke lesion during the interictal stage; these manifested as sharp wave, sharp-wave complex, or spike discharges in the anterior head lead of the side opposite to the lesion. CONCLUSION: In EEG, epileptiform waves can occur in the side opposite to the stroke lesion in patients with post-stroke epilepsy.

The role of NPY signaling pathway in diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of stroke.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY), an extensively distributed neurotransmitter within the central nervous system (CNS), was initially detected and isolated from the brain of a pig in 1982. By binding to its G protein-coupled receptors, NPY regulates immune responses and contributes to the pathogenesis of numerous inflammatory diseases. The hippocampus contained the maximum concentration in the CNS, with the cerebral cortex, hypothalamus, thalamus, brainstem, and cerebellum following suit. This arrangement suggests that the substance has a specific function within the CNS. More and more studies have shown that NPY is involved in the physiological and pathological mechanism of stroke, and its serum concentration can be one of the specific biomarkers of stroke and related complications because of its high activity, broad and complex effects. By summarizing relevant literature, this article aims to gain a thorough understanding of the potential clinical applications of NPY in the treatment of stroke, identification of stroke and its related complications, and assessment of prognosis.

Role of the glymphatic system and perivascular spaces as a potential biomarker for post-stroke epilepsy.

Stroke is one of the most common causes of acquired epilepsy, which can also result in disability and increased mortality rates particularly in elderly patients. No preventive treatment for post-stroke epilepsy is currently available. Development of such treatments has been greatly limited by the lack of biomarkers to reliably identify high-risk patients. The glymphatic system, including perivascular spaces (PVS), is the brain's waste clearance system, and enlargement or asymmetry of PVS (ePVS) is hypothesized to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of several neurological conditions. In this article, we discuss potential mechanisms for the role of perivascular spaces in the development of post-stroke epilepsy. Using advanced MR-imaging techniques, it has been shown that there is asymmetry and impairment of glymphatic function in the setting of ischemic stroke. Furthermore, studies have described a dysfunction of PVS in patients with different focal and generalized epilepsy syndromes. It is thought that inflammatory processes involving PVS and the blood-brain barrier, impairment of waste clearance, and sustained hypertension affecting the glymphatic system during a seizure may play a crucial role in epileptogenesis post-stroke. We hypothesize that impairment of the glymphatic system and asymmetry and dynamics of ePVS in the course of a stroke contribute to the development of PSE. Automated ePVS detection in stroke patients might thus assist in the identification of high-risk patients for post-stroke epilepsy trials. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Stroke often leads to epilepsy and is one of the main causes of epilepsy in elderly patients, with no preventative treatment available. The brain's waste removal system, called the glymphatic system which consists of perivascular spaces, may be involved. Enlargement or asymmetry of perivascular spaces could play a role in this and can be visualised with advanced brain imaging after a stroke. Detecting enlarged perivascular spaces in stroke patients could help identify those at risk for post-stroke epilepsy.

Prognostic value of early electrographic biomarkers of epileptogenesis in high-risk ischaemic stroke patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Post-stroke epilepsy (PSE) is frequent. Better prediction of PSE would enable individualized management and improve trial design for epilepsy prevention. The aim was to assess the complementary value of continuous electroencephalography (EEG) data during the acute phase compared with clinical risk factors currently used to predict PSE. METHODS: A prospective cohort of 81 patients with ischaemic stroke who received early continuous EEG monitoring was studied to assess the association of early EEG seizures, other highly epileptogenic rhythmic and periodic patterns, and regional attenuation without delta (RAWOD, an EEG pattern of stroke severity) with PSE. Clinical risk factors were investigated using the SeLECT (stroke severity; large-artery atherosclerosis; early clinical seizures; cortical involvement; territory of middle cerebral artery) scores. RESULTS: Twelve (15%) patients developed PSE. The presence of any of the investigated patterns was associated with a risk of epilepsy of 46%, with a sensitivity and specificity of 83% and 78%. The association remained significant after adjusting for the SeLECT score (odds ratio 18.8, interquartile range 3.8-72.7). CONCLUSIONS: It was found that highly epileptogenic rhythmic and periodic patterns and RAWOD were associated with the development of PSE and complemented clinical risk factors. These findings indicate that continuous EEG provides useful information to determine patients at higher risk of developing PSE and could help individualize care.

The added value of risk assessment and subsequent targeted treatment for epileptic seizures after stroke: An early-HTA analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The development of post-stroke epilepsy (PSE) is related to a worse clinical outcome in stroke patients. Adding a biomarker to the clinical diagnostic process for the prediction of PSE may help to establish targeted and personalized treatment for high-risk patients, which could lead to improved patient outcomes. We assessed the added value of a risk assessment and subsequent targeted treatment by conducting an early Health Technology Assessment. METHODS: Interviews were conducted with four relevant stakeholders in the field of PSE to obtain a realistic view of the current healthcare and their opinions on the potential value of a PSE risk assessment and subsequent targeted treatment. The consequences on quality of life and costs of current care of a hypothetical care pathway with perfect risk assessment were modeled based on information from a literature review and the input from the stakeholders. Subsequently, the maximum added value (the headroom) was calculated. Sensitivity analyses were performed to test the robustness of this result to variation in assumed input parameters, i.e. the accuracy of the risk assessment, the efficacy of anti-seizure medication (ASM), and the probability of patients expected to develop PSE. RESULTS: All stakeholders considered the addition of a predictive biomarker for the risk assessment of PSE to be of value. The headroom amounted to €12,983. The sensitivity analyses demonstrated that the headroom remained beneficial when varying the accuracy of the risk assessment, the ASM efficacy, and the number of patients expected to develop PSE. DISCUSSION: We showed that a risk assessment for PSE development is potentially valuable. This work demonstrates that it is worthwhile to undertake clinical studies to evaluate biomarkers for the prediction of patients at high risk for PSE and to assess the value of targeted prophylactic treatment.

Efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine in post-stroke epilepsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Poststroke epilepsy (PSE) is a common complication of strokes that seriously affects the recovery and quality of life of patients, and effective treatments are needed. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) adjunctive therapy is a viable treatment option, but current evidence is insufficient to support its efficacy and safety. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of CHM adjunctive therapy in the treatment of PSE. Methods: A systematic search of eight databases was conducted to identify PSE-related randomized clinical trials from the inception of each database through October 2023. The methodological quality assessment was conducted by RoB 2.0, meta-analysis was conducted by RevMan 5.3 and Stata 15.1, and evidence quality was evaluated by GRADE. Results: Twenty-three RCTs involving 1,901 PSE patients were identified. We found that orally administered CHM plus conventional Western medicine (CWM) was superior to CWM monotherapy in increasing the 75% responder rate (RR 1.46, 95% CI: 1.31 to 1.62, p < 0.00001), decreasing the seizure duration (MD -1.01, 95% CI: -1.30 to -0.72, p < 0.00001), improving total responder rate (RR 1.29, 95% CI: 1.20 to 1.37, p < 0.00001), reducing epileptiform discharges (EDs) (MD -2.02.46, 95% CI: -2.64 to -1.40, p < 0.00001), and decreasing the number of leads involved in epileptiform discharge (MD -3.92, 95% CI: -5.15 to -2.68, p < 0.00001). Furthermore, intravenously administered CHM plus CWM was superior regarding 75% responder rate (RR 1.39, 95% CI: 1.24 to 1.56, p < 0.00001), total responder rate (RR 1.29, 95% CI: 1.20 to 1.39, p < 0.00001), EDs (MD -3.92, 95% CI: -5.15 to -2.68, p < 0.00001), and the number of leads involved in epileptiform discharge (MD -1.82, 95% CI: -2.62 to -1.02, p < 0.00001). However, regarding the 50%-75% responder rate, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups for either oral (RR 1.00, 95% CI: 0.77 to 1.29, p = 0.98) or injectable CHM (RR 0.95, 95% CI: 0.67 to 1.33, p = 0.75). Both orally administered CHM plus CWM (RR 0.56, 95% CI: 0.35 to 0.90, p = 0.02) and intravenously administered CHM plus CWM (RR 0.64, 95% CI: 0.45 to 0.90, p = 0.010) caused fewer AEs than CWM. Furthermore, the levels of evidence ranged from low to high due to publication bias and heterogeneity. Conclusion: CHM adjuvant therapy may be an effective and safe therapy for PSE. However, due to the poor quality of clinical data, more well-designed RCTs are needed to confirm these findings. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=364356, identifier PROSPERO (CRD42022364356).

Post-stroke seizures, epilepsy, and mortality in a prospective hospital-based study.

Background and objectives: Post-stroke epilepsy (PSE) is a significant concern in the elderly population, with stroke being a leading cause of epilepsy in this demographic. Several factors have shown consistent associations with the risk of developing PSE, including cortical lesions, initial stroke severity, younger age, and the occurrence of early seizures. The primary objectives of this study were two-fold: (1) to determine the incidence of PSE and (2) to identify the risk factors associated with PSE in a prospective cohort of post-stroke patients. Methods: A prospective single-hospital study was conducted, involving patients diagnosed with acute ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. The patients were followed up for 2 years (or until death) from the time of admission. Data about seizure occurrence and recurrent stroke were collected. Kaplan-Meyer curves were used for the assessment of PSE incidence and mortality. Possible predictors of PSE and mortality were selected from between-group analysis and tested in multivariable regressions. Results: Our study enrolled a total of 424 patients diagnosed with acute stroke. Among them, 97 cases (23%) experienced early post-stroke seizures, and 28 patients (6.6%) developed PSE. The cumulative risks of developing PSE were found to be 15.4% after hemorrhagic stroke and 8.7% after ischemic stroke. In multivariable fine and gray regression with competitive risk of death, significant predictors for developing PSE in the ischemic cohort were watershed infarction (HR 6.01, 95% CI 2.29-15.77, p < 0.001) and low Barthel index at discharge (HR 0.98, CI 0.96-0.99, p = 0.04). Furthermore, patients who eventually developed PSE showed slower recovery and presented a worse neurologic status at the time of discharge. The in-hospital dynamics of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) were significantly worse in the PSE group compared to the non-PSE group (p = 0.01). Discussion: A higher proportion of cases experienced early seizures compared to what has been commonly reported in similar studies. Watershed stroke and low Barthel index at discharge were both identified as independent risk factors of PSE in ischemic strokes, which sheds light on the underlying mechanisms that may predispose individuals to post-stroke epilepsy after experiencing an ischemic stroke.

Functional brain connectivity in young adults with post-stroke epilepsy.

Approximately 1 in 10 young stroke patients (18-50 years) will develop post-stroke epilepsy, which is associated with cognitive impairment. While previous studies have shown altered brain connectivity in patients with epilepsy, little is however known about the changes in functional brain connectivity in young stroke patients with post-stroke epilepsy and their relationship with cognitive impairment. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether young ischaemic stroke patients have altered functional networks and whether this alteration is related to cognitive impairment. We included 164 participants with a first-ever cerebral infarction at young age (18-50 years), along with 77 age- and sex-matched controls, from the Follow-Up of Transient Ischemic Attack and Stroke patients and Unelucidated Risk Factor Evaluation study. All participants underwent neuropsychological testing and resting-state functional MRI to generate functional connectivity networks. At follow-up (10.5 years after the index event), 23 participants developed post-stroke epilepsy. Graph theoretical analysis revealed functional network reorganization in participants with post-stroke epilepsy, in whom a weaker (i.e. network strength), less-integrated (i.e. global efficiency) and less-segregated (i.e. clustering coefficient and local efficiency) functional network was observed compared with the participants without post-stroke epilepsy group and the controls (P < 0.05). Regional analysis showed a trend towards decreased clustering coefficient, local efficiency and nodal efficiency in contralesional brain regions, including the caudal anterior cingulate cortex, posterior cingulate cortex, precuneus, superior frontal gyrus and insula in participants with post-stroke epilepsy compared with those without post-stroke epilepsy. Furthermore, participants with post-stroke epilepsy more often had impairment in the processing speed domain than the group without post-stroke epilepsy, in whom the network properties of the precuneus were positively associated with processing speed performance. Our findings suggest that post-stroke epilepsy is associated with functional reorganization of the brain network after stroke that is characterized by a weaker, less-integrated and less-segregated brain network in young ischaemic stroke patients compared with patients without post-stroke epilepsy. The contralesional brain regions, which are mostly considered as hub regions, might be particularly involved in the altered functional network and may contribute to cognitive impairment in post-stroke epilepsy patients. Overall, our findings provide additional evidence for a potential role of disrupted functional network as underlying pathophysiological mechanism for cognitive impairment in patients with post-stroke epilepsy.

A case of temporary occlusion of donor artery after secondary generalized seizure in a patient with superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery bypass.

Background: To prevent stroke recurrence, a superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) bypass for atherosclerotic cerebrovascular occlusive disease is performed. Post stroke epilepsy is known as serious sequelae of stroke. Herein, we present a case of a 60-year-old man who underwent STA-MCA bypass for the prevention of stroke recurrence; however, the donor artery was deemed to be temporally occluded secondary to generalized seizure. Case Description: A 60-year-old man was referred to our hospital with a diagnosis of the left cervical internal carotid artery occlusion presenting with mild aphasia and right hemiparesis. He underwent STA-MCA bypass to prevent the recurrence of stroke 1 month after the onset of symptoms. On postoperative day 7, patency of the donor artery was confirmed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and no complications were noted. However, on postoperative day 14, he presented with a secondary generalized seizure. MRI was immediately performed and the donor artery was not patent with no new lesions. Several hours thereafter, the blood flow of the donor artery was confirmed using pulse Doppler; however, during mouth opening, the flow of the donor artery decreased. Computed tomography-angiography confirmed donor artery patency. An encephalogram was conducted and revealed a focal epilepsy which was compatible with stroke on MRI. Conclusion: Post stroke epilepsy caused an unintended and forced mouth opening which led to a temporary occlusion of the donor artery after STA-MCA bypass. Thus, this complication should be recognized, and seizures should be prevented through the administration of prophylactic anti-seizure medication based on risk stratification assessment of post stroke epilepsy.

Stereo-EEG tailored resection in a child with presumed perinatal post-stroke epilepsy: The complex organization of epileptogenic zone.

Introduction: Only a few studies have focused on tailored resection in post-stroke epilepsy, in which hemispherectomy and hemispherotomy are the most recognized treatments. Case description: We describe the case of a patient with drug-resistant, presumed perinatal, post-stroke epilepsy and moderate right hemiparesis. The seizures were stereotyped, both spontaneous and induced by sudden noises and somatosensory stimuli. Considering the discordant anatomic-electro-clinical data - left perisylvian malacic lesion with electrical onset over the left mesial fronto-central leads - and the patient's functional preservation, SEEG was performed. SEEG revealed sub-continuous abnormalities in the perilesional regions. Several seizures were recorded, with onset over the premotor area, rapidly involving the motor and insular-opercular regions. We decided for a combined surgical approach, SEEG-guided radiofrequency thermocoagulation, on the fronto-mesial structure but also on the central operculum, followed by resective surgery including only the fronto-mesial structures. Discussion and conclusion: The SEEG allowed to localize the epileptogenic zone far away from the anatomical lesion but connected to part of it. A combined surgical approach tailored on SEEG results allowed a good outcome (Engel Ib) without additional deficits.

Preventing development of post-stroke hyperexcitability by optogenetic or pharmacological stimulation of cortical excitatory activity.

Stroke is the most common cause of acquired epilepsy, but treatment for preventing the development of post-stroke epilepsy is still unavailable. Since stroke results in neuronal damage and death as well as initial loss of activity in the affected brain region, homeostatic plasticity may be trigged and contribute to an increase in network hyperexcitability that underlies epileptogenesis. Correspondingly, enhancing brain activity may inhibit hyperexcitability from enhanced homeostatic plasticity and prevent post-stroke epileptogenesis. To test these hypotheses, we first used in vivo two-photon and mesoscopic imaging of activity of cortical pyramidal neurons in Thy1-GCaMP6 transgenic mice to determine longitudinal changes in excitatory activity after a photothrombotic ischemic stroke. At 3-days post-stroke, there was a significant loss of neuronal activity in the peri-injury area as indicated by reductions in the frequency of calcium spikes and percentage of active neurons, which recovered to baseline level at day 7, supporting a homeostatic activity regulation of the surviving neurons in the peri-injury area. We further used optogenetic stimulation to specifically stimulate activity of pyramidal neurons in the peri-injury area of Thy-1 channelrhodopsin transgenic mice from day 5 to day 15 after stroke. Using pentylenetetrazole test to evaluate seizure susceptibility, we showed that stroke mice are more susceptible to Racine stage V seizures (time latency 54.3 ± 12.9 min) compared to sham mice (107.1 ± 13.6 min), but optogenetic stimulation reversed the increase in seizure susceptibility (114.0 ± 9.2 min) in mice with stroke. Similarly, administration of D-cycloserine, a partial N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor agonist that can mildly enhance neuronal activity without causing post-stroke seizure, from day 5 to day 15 after a stroke significantly reversed the increase in seizure susceptibility. The treatment also resulted in an increased survival of glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 (GAD67) positive interneurons and a reduced activation of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) positive reactive astrocytes. Thus, this study supports the involvement of homeostatic activity regulation in the development of post-stroke hyperexcitability and potential application of activity enhancement as a novel strategy to prevent post-stroke late-onset seizure and epilepsy through regulating cortical homeostatic plasticity.

[Acupoint selection rules of acupuncture and moxibustion for post-stroke epilepsy based on data mining technology].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the acupoint selection rules of acupuncture and moxibustion for post-stroke epilepsy by data mining technology. METHODS: The literature regarding acupuncture and moxibustion for post-stroke epilepsy included in CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, SinoMed and PubMed databases from the establishment of the database to August 1st 2022 was retrieved. Microsoft Excel 2019 software was used to establish a database to conduct the descriptive analysis of acupoints; SPSS Modeler 18.0 Apriori algorithm was used to conduct association rule analysis; high-frequency acupoint co-occurrence network diagrams were drawn by Cytoscape3.9.0 software; SPSS Statistics 25.0 software was used to perform hierarchical cluster analysis on high-frequency acupoints and a tree diagram was drawn. RESULTS: Totally 39 articles were included, and 63 prescriptions of acupuncture and moxibustion were extracted, involving 56 acupoints, with a total frequency of 516 times; the top three acupoints with the highest frequency of use were Baihui (GV 20), Fenglong (ST 40) and Neiguan (PC 6); the selected meridians were mainly the governor vessel, the hand and foot yangming meridians; the selection of acupoints were mostly in the head, neck and lower limbs; in terms of acupoint compatibility, Hegu (LI 4)-Shuigou (GV 26) and Neiguan (PC 6) had the highest confidence degree; The top 20 high-frequency acupoints could be divided into 4 effective clusters. CONCLUSION: Modern acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for post-stroke epilepsy attaches great importance to the use of yang meridians and meridians with enrich qi and blood; the core prescription is Shuigou (GV 26)-Neiguan (PC 6)-Hegu (LI 4)-Baihui (GV 20). In addition, the combination of distant and near acupoints is highly valued to improve clinical efficacy.

Treating Post-stroke Epilepsy in a Patient With Multiple Comorbidities.

Stroke is a major cause of seizures and epilepsy in adults. Stroke severity, younger age, hemorrhagic subtype of stroke, and alcohol use have been identified as risk factors for the development of stroke-related epilepsy. Despite being a common complication in stroke survivors, current guidelines do not provide strong recommendations about the optimal treatment of post-stroke seizures. No clear guidance is given about the preferred antiseizure medications (ASMs), primary and secondary prophylaxis, and ASMs withdrawal. The management of older patients is further complicated by the presence of comorbidities, pharmacokinetic alterations, and intake of several medications. We present a case of a 77-year-old man affected by epidermolysis bullosa and diabetes mellitus, who suffered from ischemic stroke and then developed post-stroke seizures. This case shows how complex it is to manage post-stroke seizures in an older patient with multiple comorbidities.

Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio is associated with the epilepsy after primary intracerebral hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Post-stroke epilepsy (PSE) is one of the major sequelae of stroke. Inflammation has been implicated in the development of stroke. The study aimed to explore the relationship between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) levels and epilepsy in patients with primary intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on 1132 patients with first-time ICH. Blood samples were obtained at admission after ICH. Patients included in the study were classified into three groups according to NLR tertiles. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between NLR levels and the occurrence of PSE. RESULTS: The occurrence of PSE was significantly correlated with NLR levels (r = 0.118, P < 0.001). Patients with PSE had higher NLR levels than those without PSE. After adjusting for potential confounders, high NLR was independently associated with an increased risk of PSE (OR = 1.861, 95% CI 1.032-3.355, P = 0.039). Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio levels were independently associated with the occurrence of PSE in the poor functional outcome group, while this association was not significant in the favorable functional outcome group. The model (cortical involvement + hematoma volume + early seizures + NLR) showed good prognostic performance. CONCLUSION: High NLR at admission is associated with an increased risk of PSE, which suggests that NLR may play a role in risk stratification in patients with ICH.

Post-Stroke Status Epilepticus: Time of Occurrence May Be the Difference?

(1) Background: Stroke is one of the most frequent causes of status epilepticus (SE) in adults. Patients with stroke and SE have poorer prognosis than those with stroke alone. We described characteristics and prognosis of early- and late-onset post-stroke SE (PSSE). (2) Methods: We retrospectively analyzed consecutive stroke patients who experienced a first SE between August 2012 and April 2021, comparing clinical characteristics, stroke, and SE features between early- versus late-onset SE in relation to patients' outcome. (3) Results: Forty stroke patients experienced PSSE. Fourteen developed an early-onset SE (35%) and twenty-six a late-onset SE (65%). Early-onset SE patients had a slightly higher NIHSS score at admission (6.9 vs. 6.0; p = 0.05). Early-onset SE was more severe than late-onset, according to STESS (Status Epilepticus Severity Score) (3.5 vs. 2.8; p = 0.05) and EMSE (Epidemiology-based Mortality score in Status Epilepticus) score (97.0 vs. 69.5; p = 0.04); furthermore, it had a significant impact on disability at 3-month and 1-year follow-up (p = 0.03 and p = 0.02). SE recurrence and seizures relapse were observed mainly in cases of late-onset SE. (4) Conclusions: Early-onset SE seems to be associated with higher disability in short- and long-term follow-up as possible expression of severe acute brain damage.