Epilepsia. Official Journal of the International League Against Epilepsy

Abstract

Objective

γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA)_A-receptor subunit variants have recently been associated with neurodevelopmental disorders and/or epilepsy. The phenotype linked with each gene is becoming better known. Because of the common molecular structure and physiological role of these phenotypes, it seemed interesting to describe a putative phenotype associated with GABA_A-receptor–related disorders as a whole and seek possible genotype–phenotype correlations.

Methods

We collected clinical, electrophysiological, therapeutic, and molecular data from patients with GABA_A-receptor subunit variants (GABRA1, GABRB2, GABRB3, and GABRG2) through a national French collaboration using ...

Abstract

Objective

The switch between nonseizure and seizure states involves profound alterations in network excitability and synchrony. In this study, we aimed to identify and compare features of neural excitability and dynamics across multiple zebrafish seizure and epilepsy models.

Methods

Inspired by video-electroencephalographic recordings in patients, we developed a framework to study spontaneous and photically evoked neural and locomotor activity in zebrafish larvae, by combining high-throughput behavioral tracking and whole-brain in vivo two-photon calcium imaging.

Results

Our setup allowed us to dissect behavioral and physiological features ...

Abstract

Voltage-gated sodium and potassium channels regulate the initiation and termination of neuronal action potentials. Gain-of-function mutations of sodium channel Scn8a and loss-of-function mutations of potassium channels Kcna1 and Kcnq2 increase neuronal activity and lead to seizure disorders. We tested the hypothesis that reducing the expression of Scn8a would compensate for loss-of-function mutations of Kcna1 or Kcnq2. Scn8a expression was reduced by the administration of an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO). This treatment lengthened the survival of the Kcn1a and Kcnq2 mutants, and ...

Abstract

Objective

To develop consensus-based recommendations for the management of adult and pediatric patients with NORSE/FIRES based on best available evidence and expert opinion.

Methods

The Delphi methodology was followed. A facilitator group of 9 experts was established, who defined the scope, users and suggestions for recommendations. Following a review of the current literature, recommendation statements concerning diagnosis, treatment and research directions were generated which were then voted on a scale of 1 (strongly disagree) to 9 (strongly agree) by a panel of 48 ...

Abstract

The Sixteenth Eilat Conference on New Antiepileptic Drugs and Devices (EILAT XVI) was held in Madrid, Spain on May 22–25, 2022 and was attended by 157 delegates from 26 countries representing basic and clinical science, regulatory agencies, and pharmaceutical industries. One day of the conference was dedicated to sessions presenting and discussing investigational compounds under development for the treatment of seizures and epilepsy. The current progress report summarizes recent findings and current knowledge for seven of these compounds in more ...

Abstract

Objective

Dravet syndrome (DS) and Lennox–Gastaut syndrome (LGS) are rare treatment-resistant childhood epilepsies classed as developmental and epileptic encephalopathies. ELEKTRA investigated the efficacy and safety of soticlestat (TAK-935) as adjunctive therapy in children with DS or LGS (NCT03650452).

Methods

ELEKTRA was a phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of soticlestat (≤300 mg twice daily, weight-adjusted) in children (aged 2–17 years) with DS, demonstrating three or more convulsive seizures/month, or with LGS, demonstrating four or more drop seizures/month at baseline. The 20-week treatment period comprised an ...

Abstract

Objective

Reorganization of the language network from typically left-lateralized frontotemporal regions to bilaterally distributed or right-lateralized networks occurs in anywhere from 25-30% of patients with focal epilepsy. In patients recently diagnosed with epilepsy, an important question remains as to whether it is the presence of seizures or the underlying epilepsy etiology that lead to atypical language representations. This question becomes even more interesting in pediatric samples, where the typical developmental processes of the language network may confer more variability and plasticity ...

Abstract

Objectives

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and depression are common comorbid disorders whose underlying shared neural network has yet to be determined. While animal studies demonstrate a role for the dorsal bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (dBNST) in both seizures and depression, and humans clinical studies demonstrate a therapeutic effect of stimulating this region on treatment-resistant depression, the role for the dBNST in depressed and non-depressed TLE patients is still unclear. Here, we tested the hypothesis that this structure is morphologically ...

Abstract

Responsive neurostimulation (RNS) is an effective treatment modality for refractory temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). However, the optimal placement of RNS leads is not known. We use an orthogonal approach to lead placement instead of the more common longitudinal approach to target the entorhinal cortex (EC), given its potential for modulating activity entering and leaving the hippocampus. An orthogonal approach allows for coverage of the EC as well as the anterior lateral temporal cortex, which may be particularly beneficial for patients ...

Abstract

Objective

Epileptic spasms (ES) are common in tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). However, the underlying network alterations and relationship with epileptogenic tubers are poorly understood. We examined interictal functional connectivity (FC) using stereo-electroencephalography (SEEG) in patients with TSC to investigate the relationship between tubers, epileptogenicity, and ES.

Methods

We analyzed 18 patients with TSC who underwent SEEG (mean age = 11.5 years). The dominant tuber (DT) was defined as the most epileptogenic tuber using the epileptogenicity index. Epileptogenic zone (EZ) organization was quantitatively separated into focal (isolated ...