Epilepsy & behavior : E&B
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Epilepsy & behavior : E&B · Oct 2020
Case ReportsNeonatal SCN2A encephalopathy: A peculiar recognizable electroclinical sequence.
Sodium voltage-gated channel alpha subunit 2 (SCN2A) gene encodes the Nav1.2 subunit of voltage-gated sodium channel in pyramidal neurons. SCN2A gain-of-function mutations are identified more and more often with gene panels and whole exome sequencing. Phenotype ranges from benign neonatal or infantile seizures to severe epileptic encephalopathy. Although large series of patients targeting genetic background point out two main phenotypes with SCN2A encephalopathy, Ohtahara syndrome and malignant migrating partial seizures in infancy (EMPSI), we noticed that in fact, a peculiar clinical and electroencephalogram (EEG) sequence distinct from these syndromes should suggest the diagnosis early. ⋯ Neonatal SCN2A encephalopathy has a recognizable phenotype starting soon after birth with alternating partial motor seizures evolving to infantile spasms and a discontinuous EEG pattern. Seizures improve spontaneously in the first year of life. This electroclinical sequence should indicate the search of SCN2A mutation and suggest the administration of sodium channel blockers.
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Epilepsy & behavior : E&B · Oct 2020
Awareness of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy among parents of children with epilepsy in a tertiary center.
Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is the second leading neurological cause of potential years of lifelost after stroke. Despite growing numbers of studies on social aspects of epilepsy, there is a paucity of research on the awareness of SUDEP among the parents of children with epilepsy (CWE), especially in Turkey. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the knowledge of parents of the CWE regarding SUDEP in the tertiary setting. ⋯ Our data suggest that knowledge about SUDEP among parents with CWE found inadequate in Turkey. There should be much effort to inform parents and caregivers in epilepsy clinics on SUDEP, which may help to reduce the associated risk factors.
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Epilepsy & behavior : E&B · Oct 2020
Emergency implementation of telemedicine for epilepsy in Spain: Results of a survey during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
Teleneurology in Spain had not been implemented so far in clinical practice, except in urgent patients with stroke. Telemedicine was hardly used in epilepsy, and patients and neurologists usually preferred onsite visits. Our goal was to study impressions of adult and pediatric epileptologists about the use of telemedicine after emergent implementation during the new coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
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Epilepsy & behavior : E&B · Oct 2020
Use of a simulation-based mastery learning curriculum for neurology residents to improve the identification and management of status epilepticus.
Appropriate and timely treatment of status epilepticus (SE) decreases morbidity and mortality. Therefore, skill-based training in the identification and management of SE is crucial for clinicians. ⋯ Our SBML curriculum significantly improved residents' SE identification and management skills that were largely retained during an unannounced simulated encounter in the hospital setting.
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Epilepsy & behavior : E&B · Oct 2020
Epilepsy self-management during a pandemic: Experiences of people with epilepsy.
The purpose of this descriptive study was to, from the perspective of adult people with epilepsy (PWE) and caregivers of PWE, explore the effects of the current pandemic and resulting societal changes on epilepsy self-management. Ninety-four respondents completed a mixed-methods quantitative and qualitative survey focused on their epilepsy self-management experiences during the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic. ⋯ Lack of ability to obtain medications or see epilepsy providers, as well as increased stress, social isolation, and changes in routine were all reported as troublesome, and more than one-third of the sample reported an increase in seizure frequency since the onset of the pandemic. Suggestions are given regarding how to support PWE during future COVID-19 outbreaks and to better prepare PWE and their caregivers for any life-altering events, such as a pandemic, with robust self-management skills that will allow them to maintain the highest level of function possible.