Seizure outcomes after resection of temporal encephalocele in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Temporal encephaloceles (TEs) are seen in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE); yet they are also common incidental findings. Variability in institutional pre-surgical epilepsy practices and interpretation of epileptogenic network localization contributes to bias in existing epilepsy cohorts with TE, and therefore the relevance of TE in DRE remains controversial. We sought to estimate effect sizes and sample sizes necessary to demonstrate clinically relevant improvements in seizure outcome with different surgical approaches.

SMART-PET: a Self-SiMilARiTy-aware generative adversarial framework for reconstructing low-count [18F]-FDG-PET brain imaging.

Introduction: In Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging, the use of tracers increases radioactive exposure for longitudinal evaluations and in radiosensitive populations such as pediatrics. However, reducing injected PET activity potentially leads to an unfavorable compromise between radiation exposure and image quality, causing lower signal-to-noise ratios and degraded images. Deep learning-based denoising approaches can be employed to recover low count PET image signals: nonetheless, most of these methods rely on structural or anatomic guidance from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and fails to effectively preserve global spatial features in denoised PET images, without impacting signal-to-noise ratios.

Fellowship education in epilepsy in Latin America and Africa: Results of a survey.

A large proportion of those affected by epilepsy live in resource-poor areas. The Epilepsy surgery in low-resource settings Task Force from the ILAE undertook a survey in Africa and Latin America to identify fellowships in Epilepsy and EEG as well as in Epilepsy Surgery. The results revealed a significant shortage of training programs in these two regions of the globe.

Effect of vagal nerve stimulation on patients with bilateral temporal lobe epilepsy.

Objective: To investigate the effects of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) on the seizure frequency in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) and bilateral temporal lobe epilepsy (bi-TLE). Additionally, we aimed to determine the safety of VNS and its side effects.

Methods: Our retrospective study included 17 patients with bi-TLE who underwent VNS-device implantation at our center from 1997 to 2019.

Vagus nerve stimulation in lesional and Non-Lesional Drug-Resistant focal onset epilepsies.

Purpose: Drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) affects one-third of patients with focal epilepsy. A large portion of patients are not candidates for epilepsy surgery, thus alternative options, such as vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), are proposed. Our objective is to study the effect of vagus nerve stimulation on lesional versus non-lesional epilepsies.

Low Yield of Routine Cerebrospinal Fluid Analysis to Assess for An Autoimmune Etiology in Patients with Chronic Seizures of Unknown Cause.

In this study, we examined the yield of routine cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis to assess for an autoimmune etiology in patients with chronic seizures of unknown cause. Forty-seven patients were included. Six of 47 (13%) had inflammation on routine CSF analysis, none of whom were diagnosed with seizures related to autoimmune encephalitis (AE).

Peri-ictal psychiatric manifestations in people with epilepsy: An umbrella review.

Objective: We aimed to conduct an umbrella review to summarize the existing evidence regarding the prevalence of peri-ictal psychiatric manifestations (PM) in people with epilepsy (PWE) including pre-ictal, ictal, and postictal stages.

Methods: Databases were searched up to June 2023 for systematic reviews (SR) of observational studies that included patients with epilepsy peri-ictal PM. Data selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment (with the AMSTAR-2 instrument) were performed by two independent reviewers.

Disrupting the epileptogenic network with stereoelectroencephalography-guided radiofrequency thermocoagulation.

Stereoelectroencephalography-guided radiofrequency thermocoagulation (SEEG-guided RF-TC) is a treatment option for focal drug-resistant epilepsy. In previous studies, this technique has shown seizure reduction by ≥50% in 50% of patients at 1 year. However, the relationship between the location of the ablation within the epileptogenic network and clinical outcomes remains poorly understood.

Epilepsy surgery in adults older than 50 years: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Despite the general safety and efficacy of epilepsy surgery, there is evidence that epilepsy surgery remains underutilized. Although there are an increasing number of studies reporting epilepsy surgery in older adults, there is no consensus on whether epilepsy surgery is efficacious or safe for this population. Our objective was to systematically assess the efficacy as well as safety of resective surgery in people aged 50 years or older with drug-resistant epilepsy.

Epilepsy Care in Latin America and the Caribbean: Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Opportunities.

The burden of epilepsy in the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region causes a profound regional impact on the health care system and significantly contributes to the global epilepsy burden. As in many other resource-limited settings worldwide, health care professionals and patients with epilepsy in LAC countries face profound challenges due to a combination of factors, including high disease prevalence, stigmatization of epilepsy, disparities in access to care, limited resources, substantial treatment gaps, insufficient training opportunities for health care providers, and a diverse patient population with varying needs. This article presents an overview of the epidemiology of epilepsy and discusses the principal obstacles to epilepsy care and key contributors to the epilepsy diagnosis and treatment gap in the LAC region.

Incidence of First-Episode Status Epilepticus and Risk Factors in Ontario, Canada.

Background: Status epilepticus (SE) is a neurological emergency characterized by prolonged seizures. However, the incidence of first-episode SE is unclear, as estimates vary greatly among studies. Additionally, SE risk factors have been insufficiently explored.

Which terms should be used to describe medications used in the treatment of seizure disorders? An ILAE position paper.

A variety of terms, such as "antiepileptic," "anticonvulsant," and "antiseizure" have been historically applied to medications for the treatment of seizure disorders. Terminology is important because using terms that do not accurately reflect the action of specific treatments may result in a misunderstanding of their effects and inappropriate use. The present International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) position paper used a Delphi approach to develop recommendations on English-language terminology applicable to pharmacological agents currently approved for treating seizure disorders.

Effects of vagus nerve stimulation on the quality of sleep and sleep apnea in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy: A systematic review.

Objective: The objective was to systematically evaluate the current evidence surrounding the effect of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) on quality of sleep and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) among patients with epilepsy.

Methods: A literature search was conducted using the Embase and MEDLINE databases. Studies were included if they involved patients with drug-resistant epilepsy treated with VNS and used validated tools to report on quality of sleep or sleep apnea.

Nationwide Study of Postlegalization Marijuana Use Among Patients With Epilepsy in Canada.

Background And Objectives: Patients with epilepsy have long sought alternatives to conventional antiseizure medications (ASMs) for the treatment of their epilepsy and to improve the significant side effect burden of ASMs and comorbidities. It was established before the legalization of marijuana in Canada in 2018 that many patients with epilepsy use marijuana to treat their seizures or for recreational purposes. However, there exists no current data on the prevalence and habits of marijuana use in the Canadian epilepsy population since legalization.