Seizure : the journal of the British Epilepsy Association
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Comparative Study
The information needs of carers of adults diagnosed with epilepsy.
The aim of the study was to explore the information needs of informal carers, and how information from health professionals can become more effective for families caring for people with epilepsy. ⋯ Four main themes have been drawn from the study. Carers' of people with epilepsy have a need for improved and more appropriate levels of information giving by health professionals in both primary and secondary care. Carers' perceived self-efficacy expectations in seeking information are positive but they do not always feel listened to. Carers' prefer to receive information in a one-to-one setting but also need information from formats other than leaflets. Carers' perceive barriers to having their information needs met, such as their needs being unrecognised in relation to the person with epilepsy.
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Comparative Study
Role of immediate postictal diffusion-weighted MRI in localizing epileptogenic foci of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy and non-lesional neocortical epilepsy.
To determine whether meaningful changes in signal intensity or in the apparent diffusion coefficient of water (ADC) in the ictal onset zone can be detected through immediate postictal and interictal diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWMRI) in patients with localization-related epilepsy. ⋯ Our results demonstrate that water diffusion can change even after a single seizure in non-lesional neocortical epilepsy.
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Oral ketamine in paediatric non-convulsive status epilepticus.
In children, non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) is rare and difficult to treat. Response to steroids and GABAergic medication is variable and often decreases with increasing duration of NCSE. ⋯ Resolution of NCSE was documented in all cases clinically and electroencephalographically within 24-48 hours of starting ketamine. No significant side effects were noted.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
An open-label study of levetiracetam at individualised doses between 1000 and 3000 mg day(-1) in adult patients with refractory epilepsy.
The novel antiepileptic drug (AED) levetiracetam (LEV, Keppra) is indicated as adjunctive therapy for partial epilepsy. The primary aim of this study was to measure the safety and tolerability of LEV individualised dosing in a heterogeneous refractory epilepsy population. ⋯ LEV was well tolerated, as evidenced by limited adverse event reporting and the high retention rate, and appeared effective in both generalised and partial epilepsy.