Epilepsy research
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To determine the changes of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during the periictal phase in status epilepticus (SE). ⋯ In this study, DWIs and FLAIR images were proved useful in determining the extent and severity of early neuronal damage caused by epileptic discharges in SE patients. Seizure-induced long-term injuries were also observed in the follow-up MRI.
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Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most resistant type of epilepsy. Currently available drugs for epilepsy are not antiepileptogenic. A novel treatment for epilepsy would be to block or reverse the process of epileptogenesis. ⋯ However, IF regimen could not protect the hippocampal neurons against the excitotoxic injury caused by a prolonged SE. We conclude that IF regimen can significantly influence various behavioral characteristics of pilocarpine model of TLE. Further studies can elaborate the exact mechanisms as well as its possible role in the treatment of human TLE.
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Panayiotopoulos syndrome (PS) represents the second commonest benign partial epilepsy of childhood. This study evaluated the effects of levetiracetam (LEV) in three children with this syndrome. All three children (aged 8, 12 and 10 years) had episodic autonomic symptoms for 4, 6 and 2 years, respectively. ⋯ One child, after 2 years seizure free, stopped LEV treatment. Now, he is asymptomatic for 2 years. LEV has shown efficacy on autonomic seizure control in three patients with PS where VPA was ineffective.
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Valproic acid (VPA) has been associated with hyperammonemia with and without encephalopathy. We report the frequent but transient nature of hyperammonemia following intravenous (IV) administration of loading doses of VPA. ⋯ Hyperammonemia is a frequent but transient finding following intravenous administration of loading doses of VPA. Hyperammonemia was not associated with alteration in consciousness or hepatic transaminases.
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Cranial MRI has been shown to be a safe procedure in patients with a vagus nerve stimulator (VNS), but body MRI may cause overheating of the stimulator lead. Here we report a case of a patient with an implanted vagus nerve stimulator who required a cervical spinal MRI due to a rapidly progressive paraparesis. The spinal MRI was performed in a 1.5T scanner without complications showing a nearly complete compression of the spinal cord.