The present study is to explore the change process and distribution of phosphorylated DARPP-32 (p-DARPP-32) in rat brain including cortex, hippocampus and striatum and to further deduce whether p-DARPP-32 was possibly involved in epilepsy induced by repetitive low doses of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ). PTZ-induced epilepsy model in rat was established with 30 male SD rats randomly divided into 6 groups, control group and five trial groups [PTZ 1 h,PTZ 6 h,PTZ 24 h,PTZ 48 h and PTZ 72 h respectively, after onset of status epilepticus (SE)]. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence double-labeling were used to detect the temporal time change and distribution of p-DARPP-32 expression and to analyze the coexpression of DARPP-32 and p-DARPP-32 in rat brain after the onset of PTZ-induced generalized SE. The results showed that there was a temporal time change of p-DARPP-32 expression in rat brain after the onset of SE. The number of p-DARPP-32-positive cells increased significantly and reached the peaks at the ends of 1 hour and 6 hours after the onset of SE, but decreased at the end of 24 hours. The moderate to strong p-DARPP-32-immunopositive neurons were observed in cortex, hippocampus and striatum, and located in cell cytoplasm and cell nucleus. Further immunofluorescence double-labeling revealed that denser colocalization of p-DARPP-32 and DARPP-32 in the neurons existed in the area mentioned above. Therefore, PTZ-induced SE may cause phosphorylation of DARPP-32 in rat brain. The temporal time change and distribution of p-DARPP-32 suggest that phosphorylation of DARPP-32 may be involved in PTZ-induced epilepsy in rat brain including cortex, hippocampus and striatum, and p-DARPP-32 may play a central role in the onset of SE.
ObjectiveTo confirm that conduction of the epileptiform discharge activity out of the cranium can by reduce the seizure and consequence neuron injury, and introduce the novel micro invasive neurosurgical approach to epileptic therapy.
MethodsTo build penicillin-induced neocortical epilepsy rat (n=60, 4 groups, 15 per group, including control group, conducting group, pseudo-conduction group and model control group). The specialized self-made conducting electrode was used to building conducting epileptic rat model. The epileptiform discharges were recorded by EEG with deep needle electrode for 2 hours under anesthesia, and seizures were monitored by video for 48 hours in waking. At last, the apoptosis ratio of neocortex was tested with flow cytometer.
ResultsWe built 41 (91.1%) penicillin-induced neocortical epilepsy rats successfully. The mean frequency of total epileptiform discharges and frequency of diffused epileptiform discharges in EEG in conducting group were significantly less than the numbers in model control group and pseudo-conduction group(P < 0.01). However, significant difference was not found in times of focal epileptiform discharges among 3 test groups. During video monitoring, significant difference presented in the frequency of clinical seizure between conducting group and model control group or pseudo-conducting group. Furthermore, apoptosis ratios of neuron in conducting group was significantly less than the other two groups (P < 0.001).
ConclusionsConducting the epileptiform discharge activity out of the cranium can prevent the seizure and reduce epileptiform discharge and apoptosis ratio of neocortex in neocortical epilepsy rats.
ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to identify clinical and electroencephalographic features associated with refractoriness to the initial antiepileptic drug in typical benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS).
MethodsA total of 87 children with typical BECTS were retrospectively reviewed in the analyses.The patients were subdivided into two groups:patients whose seizures were controlled with monotherapy, and those requiring two medications. 63 childrenachieved seizure-freedom with monotherapy, while 24 received two medications for seizure control.
ResultsDiffusing foci at the follow-up EEG and delayed treatment (duration > 1 year) are two main risk factors associated with more refractory cases (P < 0.001). Delayed diagnosis (37.1%) and non-adherence to treatment (57.2%) contributed to delayed treatment.
ConclusionsOur findings suggested that diffusing foci on EEG and delayed treatment are associated with more frequent seizures and refractoriness in BECTS. Diagnostic delays and non-adherence hindered timely care, which may represent opportunities for improved intervention.
Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases, and symptomatic epilepsy patients are the main group of epilepsy patients, and their etiologies mainly include structural, infectious, metabolic and autoimmune, and the seizures caused by each etiology may have different degrees of impact on the quality of life of patients. The purpose of this article is to review the research on the quality of life of patients with symptomatic epilepsy caused by structural and infectious etiologies, including cerebrovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, brain tumors, traumatic brain injuries and neurocysticercosis, in order to help clinicians understand the quality of life of patients with symptomatic epilepsy and benefit patients in clinical practice.
Objective
The purpose of this study was to explore the expressions of EPO-R, JAK2 and STAT-5 in the human brain with refractory epilepsy and the role in neural apotosis.
Methods
Collecting the brain tissue of 24 patients with intractable epilepsy (as experimental group) who were hospitalized and underwent surgery in the Epilepsy Center of the First Hospital Jilin University between March 2010 to July 2011 and 6 cases of accidental or unnatural death immediately following autopsy (as control group) as required by law during the same term. Immunohistochemical was performed to observe the expression of EPO-R, JAK2 and STAT-5 in brain tissue and statistical analysis was performed.
Results
① EPO-R, JAK2 and STAT-5 were expressed in both experimental and control groups. In experimental group, the positive-cell number were 41.05±2.40, 50.21±2.50 and 60.18±2.84 under light microscope (400×). While in control group, the positive-cell number were 23.00±0.49, 27.00±0.88 and 25.93±0.33. There were significant differences between the 2 groups (P<0.001). ② There were the pathologic and ultrastructural changes in the human brain with refractory epilepsy. Under the optical microscope, we can observe that the distribution of neurons was uneven and immature neurons were visible. We can see that the nuclei were vacuolar, less cytoplasm, dark staining, hyalomitome acidophilic body, and the neurons became triangular due to degeneration. The proliferation and hyperemia appeared in small vascular and glial cells. Under the transmission electron microscope we observed degeneration and necrosis of the nerve cells, nuclear karyopyknosis, nucleolis dyssymmetry and karyolemma breakage and even dissolution. The mitochondria and astrocytes were swelling. We also saw that part of the mitochondrial cristae was abnormal.
Conclusion
① We found neuronal apotosis in the human brain with refractory epilepsy. ② The expression of EPO-R, JAK2 and STAT-5 in intractable epilepsy was significantly increased in neurons and glial cells compared with the control group. The high expression of EPO-R, JAK2 and STAT-5 is unrelated with course and frequency of epileptic seizures. ③ The pathway of EPO-R/JAK2/STAT-5 may be involved in the pathophysiological processes of neural protective effect of endogenous EPO against brain injury induced by epileptic seizures.
ObjectiveTo clarify the characteristic of secondary cerebral amyloidoma which is relapsing in one year after seven years gamma knife radiosurgery and review relevant literature.MethodsTo analyze the clinical manifestation, preoperative and postoperative MRI imaging, inter-ictal and ictal electroencephalogram (EEG) and histopathological evaluation.ResultsThe patient suffered from epilepsy (mainly autonomic seizure and global tonic-clonic seizure) at the age of 22 and took a gamma knife radiosurgery for right medial temporal epilepsy as the refractory seizures occurred at the age of 36. In her 43 and 44 years’ old, she suddenly found left hemiplegia and mental retardation, the MRI showed right frontal and parietal space-occupying lesion and relapsed after the partial excision respectively, the inter-ictal and ictal EEG displayed persistent slow wave in the right hemisphere and spike wave located in the right posterior temporal and central-parietal, after the surgery, we found amyloid in the histopathological evaluation.ConclusionOne of the delayed complications of gamma knife radiosurgery is secondary cerebral amyloidoma, and partial excision may induced relapsing easily.
ObjectiveIn order to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of adjunctive perampanel in children with refractory epilepsy. MethodsThis study collected medical records of 34 children with refractory epilepsy, who were admitted to Children’s Hospital of Soochow University from January 2020 to January 2021. By comparing the baseline status with the status at 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, and 48 weeks of follow-up, the efficacy and adverse reactions of perampanel were evaluated. ResultsThe mean age of the patients treated with perampanel was 8.1±4.1 years. The male-to-female ratio was 1: 1. After the addition of perampanel, the average responder rate at the 4th, 8th, 12th, 24th, 36th, 48th weeks were 37.5%, 46.7%, 50.0%, 47.4%, 53.8%, 42.9%. The adverse events were reported by 32.4%, and the retention rate was 88.2%. ConclusionsPerampanel has good efficacy, safety and tolerability in the treatment of refractory epilepsy. Moreover, personalized treatment and better baseline seizure control may increase the effectiveness and retention rate of perampanel.
Objective To assess the effectiveness and safety of flunarizine for refractory epilepsy. Methods Relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were searched from the database of PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, CBM, and VIP, and the related references were traced to obtain the information. The methodological quality of included RCTs was assessed using Jadad scale and meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.0 software. Results A total of eight studies involving 545 patients were included. The results of meta-analyses showed that: based on the conventional therapy, compared with placebo and none-treatment, flunarizine was more effective on adults and children with refractory epilepsy (OR=2.98, 95%CI 1.88 to -4.73; OR=33.75, 95%CI 4.13 to -276.00). Major adverse events of flunarizine were fatigue, dizziness, headache, and weight gain etc. All those symptoms except for the weight gain were observed in the early stage of medication, which might get self-cured or could disappear by constant medication or reducing the dose or symptomatic treatment. Conclusion The present study shows that based on the conventional therapy, flunarizine is effective and safe for refractory epilepsy.
ObjectiveTo investigate the classification of seizures, etiology,EEG examination, treatment and prognosis of senile epilepsy.
MethodsThe clinical data of 92 senile epileptsy patients in the Second Affiliated Hospital Of Chongqing Medical University from January 2012 to September 2015 were retrospectively analyzed.
ResultsFrom the selected sample,15 cases suffered from SPS(16.3%),22 cases suffered from CPS(23.9%),40 cases suffered from GTCS(43.5%),4 cases suffered from partial seizures with secondary generalization(4.3%),11 cases suffered from both partial seizures and generalized seizures(12.0%).The common causes include cerebrovascular disease (57.6%),intracranial tumors (10.9%), degenerative brain diseases (7.6%) and so on.The abnormal ratio of REEG and AEEG was 87.1% and 91.7% respectively.The ratio of typical epileptiform activity in the REEG and AEEG was 22.6% and 70.8% respectively.82 cases(89.1%) were treated with AED,but only 69 cases had been taking orally AED among the patients treated with AED.57 cases(82.6%) were on monotherapy.55 cases (67.1%) were controlled effectively with drug treatment,11 cases (13.4%) were ineffective and 16 patients (19.5%) died. Advanced age was the important cause of death. Age was positively correlated with the fatality rate.9 cases(10.9%) appeared side effect,the frequency of sleepiness was the highest among all the adverse reactions.
ConclusionThe majority of senile epilepsy suffer from symptomatic epilepsy.The main cause is cerebrovascular disease,the generalized tonic-clonic seizures constituted a high proprotion in the sample.The ratio of typical epileptic discharge in the REEG was low from senile patients with epilepsy,we recommend the AEEG examination in the senile patients suspected with epilepsy. AED has excellent therapeutic effects in senile epileptics,and a few patients appeared light adverse reactions.
Objective
The study was performed to compare the efficacy and effect on quality of life of sodium valproate (VPA) sustained-release tablets versus topiramate (TPM) in newly diagnosed adult symptomatic epilepsy.
Methods
This is aprospective, randomized controlled trial on 200 patients newly diagnosed as adult symptomatic epilepsy in Sichuan Province People’s Hospital druing September 2014 to December 2016. The patients were randomly divided into VPA group (n=110) and TPM group (n=90). Then we evaluated the efficacy, retention rate, adverse reactions, and quality of life of the two groups after one year of treatment.
Results
The total effective rate of VPA group was 69.1%, and the rate of no seizures was 38.2%; the total effective rate of TPM was 62.2%, and the rate of no seizures was 42.2%. No statistically significant difference in the effective rate and no seizure rate was found between the two groups. There was no statistical difference in the retention rate between the two groups(69.1% vs. 65.6%, P>0.05) . The incidence of adverse reactions of VPA was significantly lower than that of TPM (9.1%vs. 20%, P<0.05). The quality of life of the two groups was significantly improved from baseline before treatment. VPA group showed significantly better performance than TPM group on mood and cognitive improvement (P<0.05).
Conclusion
① There was no significant difference in efficacy and retention rate between VPA sustained-release tablet and TPM on adult patients with symptomatic epilepsy after one year's treatment; ② The incidence of adverse reactions of TPM group was significantly higher than that of VPA group; ③ VPA sustained-release tablets and TPM can significantly improve the overall quality of life of patients, and VPA sustained-release tablets is significantly better than topiramate on the improvement of emotional and cognitive function.
