Review
Plant Sciences
Licia T. S. Pina, Adriana G. Guimaraes, Wagner B. da R. Santos, Marlange A. Oliveira, Thallita K. Rabelo, Mairim R. Serafini
Summary: This study reviewed 35 monoterpenes with anticonvulsive activity, which have the potential therapeutic effect on epilepsy by reducing seizure activity through targeting key pharmacological targets and reducing neuronal inflammation and oxidative stress caused by seizures. Monoterpenes may represent a promising alternative treatment option, but further research is needed to determine their mechanism of action and safety assessment.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anni Guo, Huiqi Zhang, Huanhuan Li, Arthur Chiu, Claudia Garcia-Rodriguez, Carlos F. Lagos, Juan C. Saez, Chunyue Geoffrey Lau
Summary: Temporal lobe epilepsy is a common type of epilepsy, but many patients are resistant to current drugs. Dysfunction of astrocytes and microglia is related to neuroinflammation and hyperexcitability. This study introduces a new compound, D4, that targets glial hemichannels, leading to improved symptoms and survival rates in a mouse model of epilepsy.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Lara Gracie, Danial Rostami-Hochaghan, Basel Taweel, Nasir Mirza
Summary: Researchers have compiled information on genes related to seizures/epilepsy, established a database to identify new epilepsy genes, pathways, and prioritize promising treatments. The study found that the number of genes potentially contributing to seizures/epilepsy is higher than previously thought, and the database is significant for revealing the causes and treatments of epilepsy.
Article
Neurosciences
Xiaotong Yin, Yan Liu, Yang Guo, Limei Zhao, Guofei Li, Xiaoping Tan
Summary: The study found significant pharmacokinetic changes in newer antiepileptic drugs in women with epilepsy during pregnancy, highlighting the importance of therapeutic drug monitoring. It is recommended to monitor drug levels at least once per trimester and more frequently for women with poorly controlled seizures before pregnancy. Well-controlled seizures nine months before pregnancy can lower the risk of seizures during pregnancy, emphasizing the importance of pre-pregnancy counseling and seizure management.
CNS NEUROSCIENCE & THERAPEUTICS
(2022)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Adriana Celdran de Castro, Fabio A. Nascimento, Alvaro Beltran-Corbellini, Rafael Toledano, Irene Garcia-Morales, Antonio Gil-Nagel, Angel Aledo-Serrano
Summary: Levetiracetam is an antiseizure medication that modulates neurotransmitter release. It is widely prescribed but evidence suggests that other medications may be better options in certain cases.
SEIZURE-EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF EPILEPSY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Changhee Ha, Hyun-Seung Lee, Eun Yeon Joo, Young-Min Shon, Seung Bong Hong, Dae-Won Seo, Soo-Youn Lee
Summary: The study investigated the therapeutic drug monitoring of Levetiracetam in Korean epilepsy patients, revealing a large inter-individual difference in its pharmacokinetics and its susceptibility to EIAEDs. There was a strong correlation between weight-adjusted Levetiracetam dosage and concentrations.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Revital Gandelman-Marton
Summary: The study aimed to evaluate the potential feasibility of phone consultation as a substitute for in-person first visits in an outpatient epilepsy clinic. Findings showed that a remote first visit may be potentially feasible for most patients, but an in-person visit remains the preferred option for patients with additional neurological symptoms or a vagal nerve stimulator (VNS), as well as older patients and those with longer disease duration or antiseizure medication polytherapy.
EPILEPSY & BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Tobias Walbert, Rebecca A. Harrison, David Schiff, Edward K. Avila, Merry Chen, Padmaja Kandula, Jong Woo Lee, Emilie Le Rhun, Glen H. J. Stevens, Michael A. Vogelbaum, Wolfgang Wick, Michael Weller, Patrick Y. Wen, Elizabeth R. Gerstner
Summary: The updated AAN practice parameter on anticonvulsant prophylaxis in patients with newly diagnosed brain tumors found limited high-level, class I studies and mostly class II and III studies. Recommendations include not prescribing AEDs in brain tumor patients without seizures, insufficient evidence for AED use perioperatively, and the use of levetiracetam over older AEDs to reduce side effects. The guideline does not support using tumor characteristics to decide on prophylactic AED prescription.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Heather Angus-Leppan, Michael R. Sperling, Vicente Villanueva
Summary: Up to 10% of people over the age of 80 experience seizures, and many do not require anti-seizure medication. The diagnosis is often made based on the patient's medical history. Targeted investigations are important for classification and risk prediction. Patients with a low risk of seizure recurrence do not usually need medication, while high-risk patients with multiple seizures and other symptoms are offered medication. Future technologies may offer better seizure monitoring and prediction, but they are not yet reliable or convenient. Therapeutic drug monitoring can be useful in confirming medication toxicity or identifying causes of breakthrough seizures. Current evidence does not support routine monitoring of medication levels. The decision to discontinue medication should be made after a discussion with the patient, considering their individual risks and preferences. Medication is usually discontinued gradually after at least two years of remission, and patients need specialist follow-up during this time.
JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Abdoh Taleb, Ya-Ping Zhou, Ling-Tong Meng, Ming-Yi Zhu, Qiao Zhang, Muhammad Naveed, Lian-Di Li, Peng Wang, Qi-Gang Zhou, Fan Meng, Feng Han
Summary: Proparacaine hydrochloride (PPC-HCl) exhibited acute antiepileptic effect and long-term seizure control without toxicities. Encapsulation in liposomes and incorporation into a hydrogel sustained release system was effective in reducing potential cardiotoxicity and could be a promising transdermal patch treatment for epilepsy.
PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Ahmad Movahedpour, Rasul Taghvaeefar, Ali-Akbar Asadi-Pooya, Yousof Karami, Ronia Tavasolian, Seyyed Hossein Khatami, Elahe Soltani Fard, Sina Taghvimi, Neda Karami, Khojaste Rahimi Jaberi, Mortaza Taheri-Anganeh, Hassan Ghasemi
Summary: Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by erratic neuronal electrical activity. Antiseizure medications (ASMs) are the primary treatment but are limited by their inability to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Recent research has focused on synthetic nanoparticles and exosomes as potential drug delivery systems to enhance the effectiveness of ASMs. This review discusses various synthetic nanoparticles studied for delivering ASMs and highlights the potential of exosomes as a promising drug delivery tool for treating epilepsy.
CNS NEUROSCIENCE & THERAPEUTICS
(2023)
Review
Pediatrics
Debopam Samanta
Summary: Despite the availability of numerous antiseizure medications, a significant number of patients do not respond to these medications. Refractory seizures are common in patients with epileptic encephalopathies, emphasizing the need for more effective and safer medications. Recently, the repurposing of the anti-obesity medication fenfluramine has shown promising results for seizures associated with specific syndromes. However, a comprehensive review of fenfluramine is needed to optimize its clinical use.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Oscar Alcoreza, Sai Jagarlamudi, Andrew Savoia, Susan L. Campbell, Harald Sontheimer
Summary: This study demonstrates the in vivo efficacy of sulfasalazine (SAS) in reducing astrogliosis-mediated seizure burden in a mouse model. It suggests that targeting the astrocytic glutamate antiporter SXC could be a novel approach for treating epilepsy.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Ali A. Asadi-Pooya, Archana A. Patel, Eugen Trinka, Maria Mazurkiewicz-Beldzinska, J. Helen Cross, Timothy E. Welty
Summary: During times of severe ASM shortage, switching between different ASMs can be considered as a mitigation procedure; switching from brand to generic or between generic products has often been shown to be safe; rectal administration of some ASMs may be an emergency alternative route for treating serial seizures and status epilepticus when benzodiazepines or equipment for intravenous administration are not available.
EPILEPTIC DISORDERS
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Ammar Abdulrahman Jairoun, Sabba Saleh Al-himyari, Moyad Shahwan, Nageeb Hassan, Saleh AL-Tamimi, Maimona Jairoun, Saed H. Zyoud, Abdullah S. Alshehri, Mustfa Faisal Alkhanani, Reem Hasaballah Alhasani, Adnan S. Alharbi, Fahad S. Alshehri, Ahmed M. Ashour, Nasser M. Alorfi
Summary: This study assessed the knowledge of UAE community pharmacists regarding women's issues in epilepsy. The findings revealed a good level of knowledge among community pharmacists, but certain clinical and demographic factors significantly influenced this knowledge. Targeted educational interventions can improve the knowledge and competence of community pharmacists in addressing women's issues in epilepsy.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Mahtabalsadat Mirjalili, Farid Zand, Iman Karimzadeh, Mansoor Masjedi, Golnar Sabetian, Ehsan Mirzaei, Afsaneh Vazin
Summary: This study compared the efficacy of extended infusion and intermittent infusion of ampicillin/sulbactam in the treatment of sepsis and septic shock patients in the ICU. The results showed that the extended group had significantly higher clinical cure rates, while there were no significant differences in ICU and hospital length of stay. Additionally, the ICU and hospital mortality rates were significantly lower in the extended infusion group.
JOURNAL OF CRITICAL CARE
(2023)
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Zahra Goudarzi, Mohsen Ghafari Darab, Afsaneh Vazin, Amirreza Hayatbakhsh, Iman Karimzadeh, Mojtaba Jafari, Khosro Keshavarz, Afshin Borhani-Haghighi
Summary: This study reviewed and systematically analyzed the cost-utility studies results of warfarin compared with other NOAC drugs in atrial fibrillation patients. The findings showed that NOAC drugs have acceptable cost-effectiveness in developed and developing countries, with apixaban having the lowest incremental cost-effectiveness ratio and the highest cost-effectiveness.
VALUE IN HEALTH REGIONAL ISSUES
(2023)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Ali A. Asadi-Pooya
Summary: The aim of this study was to develop a prototype app that identifies the significance of discovered genes for further consideration in the treatment plan of patients with epilepsy. A database of 93 genes associated with epilepsy syndromes and specific treatment strategies was developed. A web-based app (GET) was created to provide physicians with information on whether specific treatment is needed for genetic epilepsy.
CLINICAL NEUROPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Letter
Clinical Neurology
Ali A. A. Asadi-Pooya, Alla Guekht
Article
Clinical Neurology
Ali A. Asadi-Pooya, Mohsen Farazdaghi, Hanieh Asadi-Pooya, Khatereh Fazelian
Summary: This study investigated the rates of positive screening for depression, anxiety, stress, and suicide risk in different groups of adults with seizures. The results showed that patients with functional seizures had higher rates of depression and anxiety compared to those with epilepsy, while the rates of stress and suicide risk did not significantly differ between the groups. Therefore, specific validated scales to screen for psychiatric comorbidities and suicide risk should be included as integral components in the evaluation and treatment of patients with seizures.
ACTA NEUROLOGICA BELGICA
(2023)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Adriana Boschi Moreira, Andre Enoch Knochenhauer, Giullia Victoria Froehner, Marcelo Liborio Schwarzbold, Ali Akbar Asadi-Pooya, Izabel Galhardo Demarchi, Francesco Brigo, Katia Lin
Summary: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the prevalence of injuries caused by functional seizures (FS). The analysis of the literature revealed different prevalence rates of injuries due to FS in different time periods and types, challenging the notion that only epileptic seizures can cause injuries.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Ali A. Asadi-Pooya, Francesco Brigo, Eugen Trinka, Simona Lattanzi, Nirmeen Adel Kishk, Ioannis Karakis, Aleksandar J. Ristic, Taoufik Alsaadi, Modhi Alkhaldi, Saule T. Turuspekova, Ghaieb Aljandeel, Abdullah Al-Asmi, Guilca Contreras, Anilu Daza-Restrepo, Mansur A. Kutlubaev, Alla Guekht, Yamile Calle-Lopez, Asel Jusupova, Daniel San-juan, Samson G. Khachatryan, David Gigineishvili, Boulenouar Mesraoua, Andriy Dubenko, Nafiseh Mirzaei Damabi, Int Res Epilepsy IR-Epil Consortium
Summary: This study investigates the opinions of neurologists and psychiatrists worldwide who are caring for patients with seizures. A total of 1003 physicians participated in the study and identified seizures as their preferred term, with "psychogenic" and "functional" being the most preferred modifiers. The study also found that functional seizures were considered more difficult to treat than epilepsy, and psychotherapy was the preferred treatment option.
EPILEPSY & BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Mohsen Farjoud Kouhanjani, Hossein Akbarialiabad, Ali A. Asadi-Pooya
Summary: This systematic review aimed to investigate the potential risks of living under the sea or in space for patients with epilepsy. Currently, there is no evidence to support any recommendations regarding living in extreme environments for individuals with epilepsy. Further research is needed to comprehensively understand the potential risks associated with such conditions.
EPILEPSY & BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Ali A. Asadi-Pooya, Murli Mishra, Mohsen Farazdaghi, Jonah Fox
Summary: This study investigated childhood-onset and late-onset functional seizures and found differences in their characteristics. Late-onset functional seizure patients were more likely to have medical comorbidities and a history of head injury, while childhood-onset functional seizure patients had a longer duration of illness.
EPILEPSY & BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Ali A. Asadi-Pooya, Mohsen Farazdaghi
Summary: This study investigated which seizure type is more difficult to be controlled with antiseizure medication treatment in patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE). The results showed that generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCSs) were more difficult to control, while absence seizures were more likely to be controlled. When selecting an antiseizure medication for a patient with IGE, antiseizure drug efficacy and other variables should be considered.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Ali A. Asadi-Pooya
Summary: Compared to the traditional definition, the new definition of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) has three major changes: onset prior to 18 years, inclusion of tonic seizures, and presence of generalized slow spikewaves (SSW) and/or generalized paroxysmal fast activity (GPFA) on EEG. This exploratory study examined the practical implications and potential limitations of the new LGS definition based on a large cohort of patients.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Letter
Clinical Neurology
Ali A. Asadi-Pooya
Article
Clinical Neurology
Negar Firouzabadi, Ali A. Asadi-Pooya, Nahid Alimoradi, Leila Simani, Marjan Asadollahi
Summary: In this study, the association between the NR3C1 gene rs41423247 polymorphism and functional seizures was investigated. The results showed that the G allele carriers were more frequent in patients with functional seizures and those with major depressive disorder. However, there was no significant difference in allele distributions between functional seizures and major depressive disorder groups.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Ali A. Asadi-Pooya, Davood Fattahi, Nahid Abolpour, Reza Boostani, Mohsen Farazdaghi, Mehrdad Sharifi
Summary: The study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using easily accessible clinical information to differentiate between idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) and focal epilepsy using machine learning methods. The dataset was divided into train and test subsets, and different classifiers were assessed. The stacking classifier showed better results and had high precision, sensitivity, and specificity.
Letter
Clinical Neurology
Ali A. Asadi-Pooya
