Valproate pregnancy prevention scheme: what are the barriers to enrolling patients and how do we meet them?

Background: The UK Medicines Health products Regulation Agency instructs that valproate prescriptions should be restricted in women of childbearing age to those consenting to the Pregnancy Prevention Programme (PPP). We assessed the compliance and barriers to the valproate PPP.

Methods: We retrospectively audited NHS Grampian's compliance with PPP guidelines among women of childbearing potential prescribed valproate between October 2017 and March 2018.

Evaluation of telemedicine for new outpatient neurological consultations.

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has broadened the use of teleneurology, how this compares with face-to-face (F2F) clinics is unclear. This study compared virtual with F2F new neurological consultations.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated new outpatient consultations in neurology clinics in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

Epidemiology of Epilepsy in Nigeria: A Community-Based Study From 3 Sites.

Background: We determined the prevalence, incidence, and risk factors for epilepsy in Nigeria.

Methods: We conducted a door-to-door survey to identify cases of epilepsy in 3 regions. We estimated age-standardized prevalence adjusted for nonresponse and sensitivity and the 1-year retrospective incidence for active epilepsy.

Role of Renal Dysfunction as a Prognostic Factor in Acute Stroke Patients at a Tertiary Hospital in Northeastern Nigeria.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and stroke share many common risk factors, and the presence of CKD confers added risk factors for stroke. With increasing interest and understanding of the close relationship between the kidney and the brain, this study aims to assess the prevalence and impact of renal dysfunction on outcomes acute stroke patients. This is a prospective hospital-based study carried out in the neurology unit of University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri, northeastern Nigeria.

Translation and validation of an epilepsy-screening questionnaire in three Nigerian languages.

Objective: We describe the development, translation and validation of epilepsy-screening questionnaires in the three most popular Nigerian languages: Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba.

Methods: A 9-item epilepsy-screening questionnaire was developed by modifying previously validated English language questionnaires. Separate multilingual experts forward- and back-translated them to the three target languages.

Epilepsy surgery in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review.

Background: Epilepsy surgery is an important treatment option for people with drug-resistant epilepsy. Surgical procedures for epilepsy are underutilized worldwide, but it is far worse in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), and it is less clear as to what extent people with drug-resistant epilepsy receive such treatment at all. Here, we review the existing evidence for the availability and outcome of epilepsy surgery in LMIC and discuss some challenges and priority.

Overall and cause-specific premature mortality in epilepsy: A systematic review.

Background: We conducted a systematic review to ascertain the overall mortality and causes of premature mortality in epilepsy.

Methodology: We searched PubMed and Embase to identify relevant articles reporting mortality in epilepsy. An assessment of the methodological quality and overall quality of evidence of the identified studies was done using appropriate checklists.

Health service provision for people with epilepsy in sub-Saharan Africa: A situational review.

Background: Epilepsy is a public health issue in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where many people with the condition receive no treatment. Health-care services for epilepsy in this region have not been comprehensively assessed. We examined key features of epilepsy health services provided in SSA.

Prestroke treatment of stroke risk factors: A cross-sectional survey in central Nigeria.

Background: Stroke can be prevented with treatments targeted at hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia and atrial fibrillation, but this is often hampered by under-diagnosis and under-treatment of those risk factors. The magnitude of this problem is not well-studied in sub-Saharan Africa.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of stroke patients at a tertiary hospital during January 2010 to July 2013 to determine patient awareness of a pre-existing stroke risk factor and prior use of anti-hypertensive, anti-diabetic, antiplatelet and lipid-lowering agents.

Neuromyelitis optica and myasthenia gravis in a young Nigerian girl.

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and myasthenia gravis (MG) are rare autoimmune disorders. The coexistence of the two disorders, although rare, has been documented. This is a case report of a 16-year-old student who presented with recurrent episodes of transverse myelitis and optic neuritis, 8 years after diagnosis of MG.

Factors predicting post-stroke aphasia recovery.

Background: Aphasia is an important stroke sequel that impacts negatively on the HQoL of stroke patients. Although a number of stroke patients with aphasia will have good functional recovery, many are left with language deficits.

Method: Papers were identified through PubMed and MEDLINE search, with keywords such as: 'stroke', 'aphasia', 'post-stroke aphasia', 'factors that predict aphasia recovery', 'aphasia outcomes' and 'aphasia prognosis'.

Seizure occurrence, pregnancy outcome among women with active convulsive epilepsy: one year prospective study.

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of active convulsive epilepsy, seizure frequency and the outcome of pregnancy amongst a cohort of pregnant women attending antenatal clinic (ANC) at two tertiary hospitals.

Methods: An observational cohort study conducted at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and State Specialist Hospital, Northeast Nigeria. Pregnant women attending antenatal care were screened for previous history of active convulsive epilepsy, and recruited consecutively according to a specified protocol.