Beyond Seizures: Psychiatric comorbidities in children with epilepsy.

Purpose: Children with epilepsy are at an increased risk of developing psychiatric comorbidities, which exacerbate the overall disease burden. However, these disorders are often underreported in developing countries. This study, conducted in a developing country, aims to evaluate the frequency of psychiatric disorders and associated factors in a large cohort of children with epilepsy.

Predictors of drug-resistant epilepsy in childhood epilepsy syndromes: A subgroup analysis from a prospective cohort study.

Objective: Previous studies assessing factors associated with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) were constrained by their amalgamation of all epilepsy syndromes in their analyses and the absence of uniform criteria for defining DRE. Our objective was to identify predictors of DRE among the four primary childhood epilepsy syndrome groups within a cohort of children with new onset seizures, using the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) definition of DRE and the recent classification of epilepsies.

Methods: This is a prospective study of 676 children with new onset seizures initiated on antiseizure medication.

Disease-modifying therapies, outcomes, risk factors and severity of COVID-19 in multiple sclerosis: A MENACTRIMS registry based study.

Background: There is a lack information regarding risk factors associated with worse COVID-19 outcomes in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the MENA region.

Methods: This is a multicenter, retrospective cohort study that included all MS patients with a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection using the MENACTRIMS registry. The association of demographics, disease characteristics, and use of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) with outcomes and severity of COVID-19 were evaluated by multivariate logistic model.

Epidemiology of alcohol use disorder in the general population of Togo and Benin: the ALCOTRANS study.

Introduction: Access to data concerning mental health, particularly alcohol use disorders (AUD), in sub-Saharan Africa is very limited. This study aimed to estimate AUD prevalence and identify the associated factors in Togo and Benin.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between April and May 2022, targeting individuals aged 18 years and above in the Yoto commune of Togo and the Lalo commune of Benin.

Effects of an intervention program to improve mental health and epilepsy care in Madagascar.

Background: Despite the high prevalence of mental disorders and epilepsy in low- and middle-income countries, nearly 80% of patients are not treated. In Madagascar, initiatives to improve access to epilepsy and mental health care, including public awareness and training of general practitioners (GPs), were carried out between 2013 and 2018. Our study's main objective was to assess the effectiveness of these initiatives, two to five years post-intervention.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of general practitioners on peripheral neuropathies in Benin in 2021.

Purpose: First healthcare actors in neurological diseases management, General Practitioners (GPs) still limited in the assessment of Peripheral Neuropathies (PN). This study assesses the knowledge, attitudes, practices (KAP) of GPs on PN in Benin in 2021 and identifying associated factors to low KAP.

Materials And Methods: It was a cross-sectional study conducted from 20 November 2020 to 30 June 2021 which included GPs registered in the National Order of Physicians in Benin and interns in last year of medical studies (MS).

Mapping, Associated Factors, and Pathophysiology of Nodding Syndrome in Africa: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Nodding syndrome (NS) remains a poorly understood disorder. For a long time, it has been thought to be restricted to East Africa; however, cases in Central Africa have been increasing over time. The objective of this systematic review (SR) was to provide a summary of the state of knowledge on NS to date.

Nutritional status and associated factors among the elderly in Guinea: a first national cross-sectional study.

Aging of the Guinean population is a public health concern for the coming years, and the nutritional status of older people is virtually unknown. We also know that this population is growing and that undernutrition and obesity can affect the health of older adults. This study aimed to assess the nutritional status of older people in the general population of Guinea and its associated factors.

Barriers to accessing multiple sclerosis disease-modifying therapies in the Middle East and North Africa region: A regional survey-based study.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) management varies markedly between different countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region based on the availability and accessibility of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs).

Objective: To evaluate the accessibility to DMTs in each MENA country, identify barriers to treatment and make recommendations for improved access to DMTs across the region.

Methods: This is a descriptive, survey-based study whereby we extracted data collected, between October 2019 and April 2020, for countries in the MENA region by the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF) through their Atlas of MS survey.

Empowering health workers and leveraging digital technology to improve access to mental health and epilepsy care: A longitudinal quasi-experimental study in Hlaing Thar Yar Township.

Background: Despite an estimated 8% prevalence of mental disorders in Myanmar, the treatment gap is high, up to 90%. This project aimed to assess the effects of a series of activities implemented by the Myanmar Medical Association over a 2-year period in Hlaing Thar Yar Township involving community health workers (CHWs) and general practitioners (GPs) on the identification, diagnosis and management of people with psychotic disorders, depression and epilepsy.

Methods: Seventy-six CHWs were trained to raise awareness, identify people with mental disorders and refer them to GPs.

Early predictors of remission in children and adolescents with new-onset epilepsy: A prospective study.

Purpose: This study aims to identify predictive factors of a two-year remission (2YR) in a cohort of children and adolescents with new-onset seizures based on baseline clinical characteristics, initial EEG and brain MRI findings.

Methods: A prospective cohort of 688 patients with new onset seizures, initiated on treatment with antiseizure medication was evaluated. 2YR was defined as achieving at least two years of seizure freedom during the follow-up period.

Prevalence and associated factors with peripheral neuropathies in the general population in the rural area of Adjohoun in Benin.

Background: Peripheral neuropathies (PN) are a group of neurological conditions related to damage to the peripheral nervous system. Due to their wide diversity, few studies in sub-Saharan Africa have explored their epidemiology in general population. Our objective was to study the prevalence and associated factors with PN in general population in Adjohoun in Benin.

Knowledge of epilepsy, quality of life, and psychiatric comorbidities in Lebanese adults with epilepsy.

Introduction: People with epilepsy (PWE) face a variety of psychosocial challenges. A lack of knowledge of epilepsy, a high level of depression and anxiety and a low quality of life (QoL) are among the major problems that affect most PWE. The objective of this study was to examine the association of sociodemographic characteristics, clinical factors and knowledge of epilepsy with the level of QoL, and the presence of psychiatric comorbidities.

Non-traumatic coma in young children in Benin: are viral and bacterial infections gaining ground on cerebral malaria?

Background: While malaria morbidity and mortality have declined since 2000, viral central nervous system infections appear to be an important, underestimated cause of coma in malaria-endemic Eastern Africa. We aimed to describe the etiology of non-traumatic comas in young children in Benin, as well as their management and early outcomes, and to identify factors associated with death.

Methods: From March to November 2018, we enrolled all HIV-negative children aged between 2 and 6 years, with a Blantyre Coma Score ≤ 2, in this prospective observational study.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mortality rates in Latin America and the Caribbean: a meta-analysis.

: Recent studies have described a low occurrence of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in Latin America. Significant differences in ALS risk have been reported among ethnic populations in the region. We conducted a meta-analysis using population-based data to describe ALS mortality rates in Latin America.

Instruments for investigation of epilepsy in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review.

Objective: Systematic reviews were conducted on the existence of screening tools for epilepsy, quality of life or comorbidities tools, but not specifically in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the different tools developed and validated in low- and middle-income countries for the investigation of epilepsy. This to facilitate research in these regions and to identify needs in areas where few instruments are available.

Management of epilepsy in Lebanon: Medication reviews and drug-related problems.

Purpose: The goal of epilepsy treatment is to control seizures without drug related problems (DRPs). The evaluation of anti-seizure drugs (ASD) strategies and identification of DRPs are rarely studied. This study aimed primarily to evaluate the choice of ASD according to international guidelines and secondarily to identify and describe anti-seizure drug-related problems.

Epidemiology of Primary Brain Tumors in the Province of Catania during the 2003-2016 Period.

Introduction: Primary brain tumors (PBTs) account for approximately 2% of all cancers and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. However, only few epidemiological studies focus on PBTs in Italy. The aim of this study was to evaluate incidence, temporal trend, and survival rate of all PBTs in the province of Catania during the study period.

Can a brief training intervention on schizophrenia and depression improve knowledge, attitudes and practices of primary healthcare workers? The experience in Armenia.

Background: Although the World Health Organization has called for mental health services to be integrated into primary care, mental health remains in most countries, and especially in low- and middle-income countries, one of the most neglected topics in the training curriculum of frontline health workers. As a result, primary healthcare professionals leave medical and nursing schools with insufficient knowledge, and often with negative attitudes towards mental disorders.

Aim: We investigated the effect of a brief training intervention on schizophrenia and depression conducted among general practitioners and nurses in Armenia.

Effects of an educational comic book on epilepsy-related knowledge, attitudes and practices among schoolchildren in Madagascar.

Introduction: Epilepsy is a chronic disease of the brain that affects approximately 50 million people globally, with over 80 % of them living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In Madagascar, as in most LMICs, one of the main obstacles to treatment is the stigma and discrimination experienced by patients. Beliefs and prejudices regarding this disease are common, especially among children.

Mental health capacity building in Mali by training rural general practitioners and raising community awareness.

Introduction: despite the high prevalence and significant burden of mental disorders, they remain grossly under-diagnosed and undertreated. In low-income countries, such as Mali, integrating mental health services into primary care is the most viable way of closing the treatment gap. This program aimed to provide a mental health training intervention to rural general practitioners (GPs), to organize community awareness activities, and to evaluate the impact on mental health knowledge and through the number of new patients diagnosed with mental disorders and managed by these general practitioners.

Community-based management of epilepsy in Southeast Asia: Two intervention strategies in Lao PDR and Cambodia.

Background: Epilepsy affects more than 50 million people worldwide, 80% of whom live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In Southeast Asia, the prevalence is moderate (6‰), and the main public health challenge is reducing the treatment gap, which reaches more than 90% in rural areas.

Methods: This 12-month comparative study (intervention vs.