Pharmacologic treatment and SUDEP risk: A nationwide, population-based, case-control study.

Objective: We conducted a nationwide case-control study in Sweden to test the hypothesis that antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) mono- or polytherapy, adherence, antidepressants, neuroleptics, β-blockers, and statins are associated with sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) risk.

Methods: Included were 255 SUDEP cases and 1,148 matched controls. Information on clinical factors and medications came from medical records and the National Patient and Prescription Registers.

Swedish emergency hospital surgical surge capacity to mass casualty incidents.

Background: In Sweden the surgical surge capacity for mass casualty incidents (MCI) is managed by county councils within their dedicated budget. It is unclear whether healthcare budget constraints have affected the regional MCI preparedness. This study was designed to investigate the current surgical MCI preparedness at Swedish emergency hospitals.

Clinical risk factors in SUDEP: A nationwide population-based case-control study.

Objective: We conducted a nationwide case-control study in Sweden to test the hypothesis that specific clinical characteristics are associated with increased risk of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP).

Methods: The study included 255 SUDEP cases (definite and probable) and 1,148 matched controls. Clinical information was obtained from medical records and the National Patient Register.

Association between sociodemographic status and antiepileptic drug prescriptions in children with epilepsy.

Purpose: We investigated whether in Sweden sociodemographic differences are associated with access to expert health care and antiepileptic drug (AED) prescriptions in children with epilepsy.

Methods: Data on epilepsy, prescription of AEDs, and sociodemographic variables were obtained from several national administrative registers. We linked individual data to examine whether access by pediatric epilepsy patients to neuropediatricians and the prescription of individual AEDs differed according to gender, age, parental education, place of residence, parental region of birth, and household income.

Physical fitness, but not muscle strength, is a risk factor for death in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis at an early age.

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder mainly characterised by motor symptoms. Extensive physical activity has been implicated in the aetiology of ALS. Differences in anthropometrics, physical fitness and isometric strength measured at 18-19 years were assessed to determine if they are associated with subsequent death in ALS.

Attitudes towards epilepsy surgery: A nationwide survey among Swedish neurologists.

Purpose: Epilepsy surgery is safe and effective for epilepsy that is refractory to medical treatment. However, only a minority of candidates for epilepsy surgery are referred for surgical evaluation. We investigated Swedish neurologists' views on and criteria for referral for epilepsy surgery.

Metabolite concentrations in supraventricular white matter from teenage to early old age: A short echo time 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) study.

Background: Age- and sex-related changes of metabolites in healthy adult brains have been examined with different (1)H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) methods in varying populations, and with differing results. A long repetition time and short echo time technique reduces quantification errors due to T(1) and T(2) relaxation effects and makes it possible to measure metabolites with short T(2) relaxation times.

Purpose: To examine the effect of age on the metabolite concentrations measured by (1)H MRS in normal supraventricular white matter using a long repetition time (TR) and a short echo time (TE).

Incomplete hippocampal inversion-is there a relation to epilepsy?

Incomplete hippocampal inversion (IHI) has been described in patients with epilepsy or severe midline malformations but also in nonepileptic subjects without obvious developmental anomalies. We studied the frequency of IHI in different epilepsy syndromes to evaluate their relationship. Three hundred patients were drawn from the regional epilepsy register.

Incomplete inversion of the hippocampus--a common developmental anomaly.

Incomplete inversion of the hippocampus, an imperfect fetal development, has been described in patients with epilepsy or severe midline malformations. We studied this condition in a nonepileptic population without obvious developmental anomalies. We analyzed the coronal MR images of 50 women and 50 men who did not have epilepsy.

A prospective study of anxiety with respect to seizure outcome after epilepsy surgery.

Purpose: To evaluate if degree of anxiety proneness is affected by seizure outcome after epilepsy surgery.

Methods: Five scales related to anxiety, which are part of the Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP), were administered pre-operatively and 2-8 years post-operatively to 31 female and 26 male patients. High scores indicate a high degree of anxiety.

[A national curriculum in neurology for medical education].

The knowledge within medicine is growing rapidly. It has become more and more difficult to decide what knowledge that has to be taught to medical students during their University Medical Degree (MD) education and what has to be omitted from their study plans. As help for teachers and students, a core curriculum of the education defines what is of importance for all students.

Hormonal factors in migraine: a population-based study of women aged 40 to 74 years.

Objective: This study investigated some of the relationships between migraine and hormonal factors.

Methods: A neurologist clinically assessed 728 women aged 40 to 74 years attending a population-based mammography screening program. Headache criteria proposed by the International Headache Society were used.

Serum levels of androgens and migraine in postmenopausal women.

Female hormones are thought to be of importance in the aetiology of migraine, which is more common in women than in men. Little attention has been paid to androgens. This study investigates the associations between migraine and serum levels of androgens in postmenopausal women not taking oestrogens.

Prostaglandin F(2alpha) metabolite and F(2)-isoprostane excretion rates in migraine.

The pathophysiology theory of migraine postulates a local, neurogenic inflammation and the possible involvement of oxidative stress. We analysed the levels of 15-oxo-dihydro-prostaglandin F(2alpha) (a metabolite of prostaglandin F(2alpha)) and 8-iso-prostaglandin F(2alpha) (a major isoprostane), which are biomarkers for inflammation and oxidative stress respectively, in urine from 21 patients with migraine, with and without aura. Urine samples from migraine patients were collected during a migraine attack, and control samples were collected from the same subjects on a migraine-free morning.