Epilepsia
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To evaluate antibody-mediated and cytotoxic T cell-mediated pathogenicity that has been implicated as the autoimmune pathophysiological mechanism in Rasmussen's encephalitis. ⋯ Autoantibodies against GluRepsilon2 may be one of the diagnostic markers for Rasmussen's encephalitis with and without EPC. Patients have activated T cells stimulated by GluRepsilon2 in peripheral blood circulation. We speculate that cellular autoimmunity and the subsequent humoral autoimmunity against GluRepsilon2 may contribute to the pathophysiological processes in Rasmussen's encephalitis.
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To study the antiepileptic properties of extracts from rhizomes of Acorus tatarinowii Schott (ATS). ⋯ Both decoction and volatile oil extracted from the rhizome of Acorus tatarinowii Schott have anticonvulsive effects. The volatile oil is shown to be less effective for PTZ-induced convulsions. Both extracts can prevent convulsions as well as convulsion-related GABAergic neuron damage in the brain in the prolonged PTZ kindling model.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Dose-dependent safety and efficacy of zonisamide: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in patients with refractory partial seizures.
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of zonisamide (ZNS) as adjunctive treatment in patients with refractory localization-related epilepsy. ⋯ ZNS provides dose-dependent, effective, and generally well-tolerated adjunctive therapy in patients with partial seizures.
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Review Comparative Study
Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy: a review of incidence and risk factors.
Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is the most important direct epilepsy-related cause of death. However, SUDEP is rare in patients with new onset epilepsy and in patients in remission. Incidence is about 0.35 cases/1,000 person-years in population-based incidence cohort of epilepsy. ⋯ Although recent epidemiological studies have been helpful in identifying patients at risk for SUDEP, providing clues to mechanisms behind SUDEP, no single risk factor is common to all SUDEP, suggesting multiple mechanisms or trigger factors. Seizure control seems of paramount importance to prevent SUDEP. Further large-scale case-control studies are needed to assess the role of AEDs in order to form a basis for treatment strategies aiming at seizure control and prevention of SUDEP.
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Review Comparative Study
Mortality after a first episode of status epilepticus in the United States and Europe.
In the last decade several studies have been published on incidence, etiology, and prognosis of status epilepticus (SE) with population-based data from the United States and Europe. The aim of this review is to summarize the available information on the epidemiology of SE and to outline the sources of the variability in reported mortality after SE. ⋯ Short-term mortality after SE occurs mainly in the acute symptomatic group. Based on published data, it is not clear if differences in early management and medical treatment have any impact on prognosis or whether the differences can be attributed only to differences in distribution of the underlying causes in acute symptomatic SE. Future studies should address this issue.