Epilepsia
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Review Comparative Study
Estimating the cost of epilepsy in Europe: a review with economic modeling.
Based on available epidemiologic, health economic, and international population statistics literature, the cost of epilepsy in Europe was estimated. ⋯ Epilepsy is a relevant socioeconomic burden at individual, family, health services, and societal level in Europe. The greater proportion of such burden is outside the formal health care sector, antiepileptic drugs representing a smaller proportion. Lack of economic data from several European countries and other methodological limitations make this report an initial estimate of the cost of epilepsy in Europe. Prospective incidence cost-of-illness studies from well-defined populations and common methodology are encouraged.
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Comparative Study
Electroencephalographic characterization of spike-wave discharges in cortex and thalamus in WAG/Rij rats.
The waveform of spontaneous spike-wave discharges (SWD) in the electroencephalogram (EEG) was delineated in the WAG/Rij rat model of absence epilepsy according to the definitions of clinical electroencephalography. We defined four elements in SWD based on the schema of Weir (1965): Spike 1 and 2, Positive Transient (PT), and Wave. The EEG patterns of generalized type I and local type II SWD in cortical and thalamic areas were analyzed. ⋯ The EEG structure of SWD in WAG/Rij rats was comparable with that of epileptic patients, suggesting face validity of the WAG/Rij model. Fast transients spikes are an integrative part of SWD I. Time-amplitude linkage between cortical and thalamic counterparts of SWD I suggests a complex spatiotemporal organization of SWD I. The thalamus sustained SWD I, but not SWD II.
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[18F]-Fluoro-d-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) is an expensive, invasive, and not widely available technique used in the presurgical evaluation of temporal lobe epilepsy. We assessed its added value to the decision-making process in relation to other commonly used tests. ⋯ In patients referred for TLE surgery, FDG-PET findings can form the basis for deciding whether a patient is eligible for surgery, and especially when MRI or video-EEG monitoring are nonlocalizing.
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Comparative Study
The impact of cerebral source area and synchrony on recording scalp electroencephalography ictal patterns.
To determine the cerebral electroencephalography (EEG) substrates of scalp EEG seizure patterns, such as source area and synchrony, and in so doing assess the limitations of scalp seizure recording in the localization of seizure onset zones in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. ⋯ Sufficient source area and synchrony are mandatory cerebral EEG requirements for generating scalp-recordable ictal EEG patterns. The dynamic interaction of cortical source area and synchrony at the onset and during a seizure is a primary reason for heterogeneous scalp ictal EEG patterns.