De Novo Pathogenic Variants in CACNA1E Cause Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathy with Contractures, Macrocephaly, and Dyskinesias.

Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs) are severe neurodevelopmental disorders often beginning in infancy or early childhood that are characterized by intractable seizures, abundant epileptiform activity on EEG, and developmental impairment or regression. CACNA1E is highly expressed in the central nervous system and encodes the α-subunit of the voltage-gated Ca2.3 channel, which conducts high voltage-activated R-type calcium currents that initiate synaptic transmission.

Congenital Titinopathy: Comprehensive characterization and pathogenic insights.

Objective: Comprehensive clinical characterization of congenital titinopathy to facilitate diagnosis and management of this important emerging disorder.

Methods: Using massively parallel sequencing we identified 30 patients from 27 families with 2 pathogenic nonsense, frameshift and/or splice site TTN mutations in trans. We then undertook a detailed analysis of the clinical, histopathological and imaging features of these patients.

Evaluation of first unprovoked seizures in children by general paediatricians in New Zealand.

Aim: To determine current practice of general paediatricians in New Zealand in the investigation and management of a first unprovoked seizure in childhood.

Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was emailed to 109 general paediatricians in New Zealand. The questionnaire presented the participant with three hypothetical case scenarios representing a generalised tonic clonic seizure, a complex partial seizure and an episode of non-specific collapse.

Recurrent intractable seizures in children with cortical dysplasia adjacent to dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor.

The purpose of this study was to identify the pathologic features that predict postoperative outcome in children with cortical dysplasia adjacent to dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors. We reviewed the records of children with dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor who underwent epilepsy surgery and who had at least 1 year of surgical follow-up. We divided the dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors into three pathology classes (simple, complex, and nonspecific), categorized adjunctive cortical dysplasia into four types, and compared histopathology with seizure outcomes.

Startle-induced seizures associated with infantile hemiplegia: implication of the supplementary motor area.

This case illustrates an uncommon form of symptomatic startle-induced epilepsy associated with infantile hemiplegia. Seizure semiology, neuroimaging and neurophysiological findings support involvement of the supplementary motor area in the generation of this seizure type. We present the case of an 11-year-old girl with an uncommon form of startle-induced seizures, illustrated on video-EEG, against the background of left infantile hemiplegia associated with extensive right hemispheric porencephaly but preserved cognitive functioning.

Intelligence in childhood epilepsy syndromes.

Unlabelled: Intellectual deficits play a significant role in the psychosocial comorbidity of children with epilepsy. Early educational intervention is critical.

Objective: This study aims to determine the intellectual ability of children with common childhood epilepsy syndromes-generalised idiopathic epilepsy (GIE), generalised symptomatic epilepsy (GSE), temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE), central epilepsy (CE) and non-localised partial epilepsy (PE).