Epileptic seizures,arthrogryposis, and migrational brain disorders: a syndrome?

Introduction – Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC) may be associated with multiple developmental defects. In some severely affected newborns with AMC, autopsy studies have suggested a common mechanism of malmigration at the spinal and cerebral levels. To our knowledge, a constellation of arthrogryposis, epileptic seizures, and brain migrational anomalies in adult patients has not previously been described in a clinical material. Material and methods – Six consecutive adult patients with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita and epileptic seizures form the basis of the present study. Five patients had joint contractures and reduced muscle volume restricted to the lower extremities, whereas one patient had predominantly upper extremity affection. They were studied with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), EEG, EMG, a neuropsychological test battery, and chromosome analysis. Results – Four of them had clear evidence of migrational brain disorders, demonstrated by MRI, in three of them roughly corresponding to the focal epileptiform EEG activity. Five of the patients had partial seizures, whereas one only had generalized tonic-clonic seizures. The MRI findings included polymicrogyria, pachygyria, and fused schizencephaly. Four had neurogenic EMG changes, one had myopathic EMG features, and one had an unremarkable EMG pattern in affected muscles. All patients witL demonstrable migrational disorders showed abnormal neuropsychological features. Three patients were mentally retarded. A chromosome abnormality in the form of a ring chromosome 18 was present in one patient. Conclusion – We suggest that AMC, epileptic seizures, and migrational brain disorders may form the integral parts of a hitherto undescribed syndrome in adults. A wide-spread defect in neuronal migration along the entire neural axis may be the underlying mechanism of the cerebral and the peripheral symptoms.     

Molecular Pharmacology of Topiramate: Managing Seizures and Preventing Migraine

Topiramate is a neuromodulatory compound with stabilizing properties that was initially introduced for the management of partial seizures. Topiramate has been demonstrated to modify several receptor-gated and voltage-sensitive ion channels, including voltage-activated Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ channels and non-NMDA receptors. These receptors have been implicated in the pathophysiology of both epilepsy and migraine. The pharmacological mechanisms of action for topiramate that may explain its antiepileptic and migraine preventive activities will be discussed in this review. In addition, the potential relationship between the molecular activities of topiramate and its efficacy in epilepsy and migraine prevention will be emphasized.     

Effects of dextropropoxyphene on the steady-state kinetics of oxcarbazepine and its metabolites

The effects of dextropropoxyphene on the steady-state kinetics of oxcarbazepine and its metabolites were investigated in eight patients with epilepsy or trigeminal neuralgia. One patient dropped out of the study, presumably due to side-effects of dextropropoxyphene. Dextropropoxyphene did not affect the plasma levels of the principal active metabolite, 10,11-dihydro-10-hydroxy-carbamazepine. Since dextropropoxyphene is known to increase the plasma levels of carbamazepine, leading to toxicity, the findings of this study suggest that oxcarbazepine is a useful alternative to carbamazepine when concomitant dextropropoxyphene therapy is required.     

苯妥英钠、苯巴比妥钠诱导建立难治性癫(癎)动物模型

目的探索性应用苯妥英钠（PHT）、苯巴比妥钠（PB）诱导建立难治性癫痫动物模型，并研究其多药耐药机制。方法将60只大鼠随机分为实验组50只和对照组10只；实验组给予亚抽搐剂量戊四氮腹腔注射，其中45只大鼠确定点燃．将其随机分为给药组35只和未给药组10只。给药组应用较大剂量PHT、PB腹腔注射，其间注射小剂量戊四氮．根据Racine行为分级以及脑电图改变，从中筛选出耐PHT和PB的难治性癫痫动物模型。应用免疫组化法观察比较P糖蛋白（Pgp）在各组脑组织中的表达。结果12只大鼠制成难治性癫痫动物模型（耐药组），11只为药物有效组，12只死亡。耐药组大鼠脑组织Pgp表达较对照组、未给药组和药物有效组增强，差异有高度统计学意义（P〈0．01）。结论应用较大剂量PHT和PB诱导点燃大鼠制作难治性癫痫的动物模型．方法可行。该模型可以用于研究难治性癫痫脑内PgP的表达。PgP的高表达与难治性癫痫发生密切相关。     

耐药性癫患者脑组织线粒体mMDHNDUFC_2基因表达异常

目的研究耐药性癫患者脑细胞线粒体mMDH、NDUFC2表达,探讨其在耐药性癫癎形成中的作用。方法分别提取48例耐药性癫癎患者、8例非耐药性癫患者及8例对照组脑组织标本的总RNA后,用基因芯片对其进行扫描,随后用荧光定量PCR技术进行验证。结果发现与线粒体功能有关的基因mMDH、NDUFC2在耐药性癫癎中显著下调,荧光定量RT—PCR验证结果与基因芯片一致。结论脑细胞线粒体基因mMDH、NDUFC2表达异常可能通过能量代谢及神经元坏死参与了耐药性癫癎的形成。     

Video-EEG Analysis of Drop Seizures in Myoclonic Astatic Epilepsy of Early Childhood (Doose Syndrome)

We studied 36 drop seizures in 5 patients with myoclonic astatic epilepsy of early childhood (MAEE) with simultaneous split-screen video recording and polygraph. Sixteen were falling attacks and 20 were either less severe attacks exhibiting only deep head nodding or seizures equivalent to drop attacks in terms of ictal pattern but recorded in the supine position. All seizures except those that occurred in patients in the supine position showed sudden momentary head dropping or collapse of the whole body downward. Recovery to the preictal position was observed in 0.3-1 s. As a result of carefully repeated observations, the 36 seizures were classified as myoclonic flexor type in 9, myoclonic atonic type in 2, and atonic type, with and without transient preceding symptoms in the remaining 25. The MF seizure was characterized by sudden forward flexion of the head and trunk as well as both arms, which caused the patient to fall. In the myoclonic atonic seizure, patients showed brief myoclonic flexor spasms, immediately followed by atonic falling. The AT seizure showed abrupt atonic falling, with and without transient preceding facial expression change and/or twitching of extremities. The ictal EEGs of all 36 seizures exhibited generalized bilaterally synchronous single or multiple spike(s) and wave discharges. Atonic drop attacks appear to be a common cause of ictal epileptic falling in MAEE.     

EF-Tumt和EF-Tsmt在实验性癫痫大鼠脑内的表达

目的：了解线粒体功能与癫痫发病之间的关系。方法：建立大鼠癫痫持续状态模型，应用免疫组织化学法观察在癫痫发作时，大脑皮质、海马和纹状体中线粒体蛋白质翻译延长因子Tu和Ts表达的变化。结果：(1)在大脑皮质和海马中，EF-Tumt表达随癫痫发作时间延长而增加。在癫痫发作后4h时EF-Tumt的表达数量达到最高值，在48h时其表达又下降。在大鼠纹状体中0．5、4和48h表达均升高。(2)大脑皮质和海马中的EF-Tsmt表达随癫痫发作时间的延长而增加，在癫痫发作后4h达到最高值，48h又有所下降。纹状体中的EF-Tsmt表达则一直呈上升趋势。结论：癫痫持续发作可导致大鼠有关脑区线粒体蛋白质的合成功能增强。     

Hypoparathyroidism: A rare treatable cause of epilepsy – report of two cases

Hypoparathyroidism occurs due to insufficient production of parathyroid hormone to maintain extracellular calcium levels within the normal range. The acute clinical symptoms and signs of hypoparathyroidism are those of hypocalcaemia, ranging from tingling and numbness of limb extremities to intractable seizures. Often seizures are mistaken for epilepsy. Though hypoparathyroidism is not uncommon, the diagnosis is often missed due to its unusual clinical manifestation. This is the first documented report with vitamin D, Parathormone levels and urinary biochemical parameters from India. We present two cases of hypoparathyroidism who presented with seizures along with a short review of literature.     

Hemimegalencephaly: clinical implications and surgical treatment

Introduction Hemimegalencephaly (HME) is a quite rare malformation of the cortical development arising from an abnormal proliferation of anomalous neuronal and glial cells that generally leads to the hypertrophy of the whole affected cerebral hemisphere. The pathogenesis of such a complex malformation is still unknown even though several hypotheses are reported in literature.Background HME can occur alone or associated with neurocutaneous disorders, such as neurofibromatosis, epidermal nevus syndrome, Ito’s hypomelanosis, and Klippel–Trenonay–Weber syndrome. The clinical picture is usually dominated by a severe and drug-resistant epilepsy. Other common findings are represented by macrocrania, mean/severe mental retardation, unilateral motor deficit, and hemianopia. The EEG shows different abnormal patterns, mainly characterized by suppression burst and/or hemihypsarrhythmia. Although neuroimaging and histologic investigations often show typical findings (enlarged hemisphere, malformed ventricular system, alteration of the normal gyration), the differential diagnosis with other disorders of the neuronal and glial proliferation may be difficult to obtain. Hemispherectomy/hemispherotomy is the most effective treatment to control seizure, and it also seems to provide good results on the psychomotor development when performed early, as demonstrated by the literature review and by the reported personal series reported here (20 children). The surgical therapy of HME, however, is still burdened by a quite high complication rate and mortality risk.     

Atypical presentation of NREM arousal parasomnia with repetitive episodes

The case report describes a distinct variant of non-REM (Rapid Eye Movement) arousal parasomnia, sleepwalking type, featuring repetitive abrupt arousals, mostly from slow-wave sleep, and various automatisms and semi-purposeful behaviours. The frequency of events and distribution throughout the night presented as a continuous status of parasomnia (' status parasomnicus '). The patient responded well to treatment typically administered for adult NREM parasomnias, and after careful review of the clinical presentation, objective findings and treatment outcome, sleep-related epilepsy was ruled out in favour of parasomnia.