Epilepsy & behavior : E&B
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Epilepsy & behavior : E&B · Feb 2016
Case ReportsLeft-insular damage, autonomic instability, and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy.
We analyzed the only two sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) cases from 320 prospectively recruited patients in the three-year Prevention and Risk Identification of SUDEP Mortality (PRISM) project. Both patients had surgically refractory epilepsy, evidence of left insular damage following previous temporal/temporo-insular resections, and progressive changes in heart rate variability (HRV) in monitored evaluations prior to death. ⋯ This report suggests a possible role for the insula in the pathogenesis of SUDEP. The presence of intrinsic insular lesions or acquired insular damage in patients with refractory epilepsy may be an additional risk factor for SUDEP.
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Epilepsy & behavior : E&B · Feb 2016
Feasibility and acceptability of smartphone applications for seizure self-management in China: Questionnaire study among people with epilepsy.
The aim of this report was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of using smartphone apps for seizure self-management in China. ⋯ This is the first study on the feasibility and acceptability of smartphone apps for seizure self-management in China. The findings of this study indicate that there is a positive attitude toward using epilepsy apps among patients with epilepsy. Based on patients' positive attitudes toward using epilepsy apps and the current development of mobile health in China, the use of smartphone apps could be a promising strategy for seizure self-management.
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Epilepsy & behavior : E&B · Feb 2016
Infodemiology of status epilepticus: A systematic validation of the Google Trends-based search queries.
People increasingly use Google looking for health-related information. We previously demonstrated that in English-speaking countries most people use this search engine to obtain information on status epilepticus (SE) definition, types/subtypes, and treatment. Now, we aimed at providing a quantitative analysis of SE-related web queries. ⋯ Google Trends-based SE-related query volumes were well correlated with information concerning causes and pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments. Google Trends can provide both researchers and clinicians with data on realities and contexts that are generally overlooked and underexplored by classic epidemiology. In this way, GT can foster new epidemiological studies in the field and can complement traditional epidemiological tools.