Relation of Structural and Functional Changes in Auditory and Visual Pathways after Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Surgery.

Auditory and visual pathways may be affected as a consequence of temporal lobe epilepsy surgery because of their anatomical relationships with this structure. The purpose of this paper is to correlate the results of the auditory and visual evoked responses with the parameters of tractography of the visual pathway, and with the state of connectivity between respective thalamic nuclei and primary cortices in both systems after the surgical resection of the epileptogenic zone in drug-resistant epileptic patients. Tractography of visual pathway and anatomical connectivity of auditory and visual thalamus-cortical radiations were evaluated in a sample of eight patients.

Long-Term Electroclinical and Employment Follow up in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Surgery. A Cuban Comprehensive Epilepsy Surgery Program.

The purpose of this paper is to present a long- term electroclinical and employment follow up in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients in a comprehensive epilepsy surgery program. Forty adult patients with pharmacoresistant TLE underwent detailed presurgical evaluation. Electroencephalogram (EEG) and clinical follow up assessment for each patient were carried out.

Subthalamotomy for Parkinson's disease: clinical outcome and topography of lesions.

Objective: Subthalamotomy is an effective alternative for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, uncertainty about the optimal target location and the possibility of inducing haemichorea-ballism have limited its application. We assessed the correlation between the topography of radiofrequency-based lesions of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) with motor improvement and the emergence of haemichorea-ballism.

Temporal lobe epilepsy surgery modulates the activity of auditory pathway.

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effects of the anterior temporal lobectomy on the functional state of the auditory pathway in a group of drug-resistant epileptic patients, linking the electrophysiological results to the resection magnitude. Twenty-seven patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and a matched control group were studied. Auditory brainstem and middle latency responses (ABR and MLR respectively) were carried out before and after 6, 12 and 24 months surgical treatment.

Inflammatory mediators in epilepsy.

All common contributing factors to epilepsy such as trauma, malignancies and infections are accompanied by different levels of central nervous system inflammation that in turn have been associated with the occurrence of seizure. Emerging data from human brain tissue and experimental models of epilepsy support the proposed involvement of inflammation in epilepsy. Key mediators of this process include, among others: interleukin (IL) -1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, adhesion molecules and component of complement.

Innovative evaluation of visual field defects in epileptic patients after standard anterior temporal lobectomy, using partial field visual evoked potentials.

The purpose of this paper is to obtain an electrophysiological evaluation of visual field defects consecutive to the direct lesion of optic radiations in drug-resistant epileptic patients after a standard electrocorticographically adjusted lobectomy, and to correlate it with conventional perimetric results, and with the volume of resected tissue during surgical treatment. Twenty-four patients with temporal lobe epilepsy defined through long term EEG-video, ictal and interictal SPECT, as well as Magnetic Resonance Imaging were studied. Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) with partial and total visual field stimulation were carried out before and after 6, 12 and 24 months surgical treatment.

Autologous bone marrow stem cell neurotransplantation in stroke patients. An open study.

Purpose: Bone marrow stem cells (BMSC) were transplanted into the perilesional area in five patients bearing sequels of stroke, to evaluate the safety of the procedure and tolerance to the transplanted cells.

Methods: Cells were obtained from bone marrow samples taken from the same patient and stereotactically implanted into the targets, determined using a combination of images, and trans-operative recording of multiunit activity. The cells were implanted in several points along tracts in the perilesional region.

Autoradiography reveals selective changes in serotonin binding in neocortex of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy.

The main goal of the present study was to evaluate binding to serotonin in the neocortex surrounding the epileptic focus of patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). Binding to 5-HT, 5-HT(1A), 5-HT(4), 5-HT(7) receptors and serotonin transporter (5-HTT) in T1-T2 gyri of 15 patients with MTLE and their correlations with clinical data, neuronal count and volume were determined. Autopsy material acquired from subjects without epilepsy (n=6) was used as control.