The presence of polyglucosan bodies in temporal lobe epilepsy: its role and significance.

Rationale: Mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS) is an important pathology in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and often associated with good surgical outcome, however prognostic factors for surgical outcome are conflicting. The authors examine seizure outcome after surgery for TLE due to MTS, with focus on the presence of polyglucosan bodies (PGBs), and its relation to the epileptogenic process.

Methods: Records of 44 consecutive patients with intractable TLE who underwent anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL) at JFK medical center between 1994-2001 were reviewed.

Facial closure: interrelationship with facial discrimination, other closure tests, and subjective contour illusions.

Findings from previous research have argued for the dissociation of two visual-perceptual tasks traditionally thought to be mediated by the nondominant hemisphere (i.e. perceptual closure and facial discrimination).

Spectral modulation of cortical connections measured by EEG coherence in humans.

Objective: Description of coherence patterns of cortical EEG.

Methods: EEG recordings were collected from 9 subdural electrode grids implanted in 6 patients undergoing EEG monitoring for refractory epilepsy.

Results: Coherence decreased with increasing inter-electrode distance and exhibited considerable variability at the same inter-electrode distances.

Epilepsy and consciousness.

Seizure activity has long been associated with alterations in consciousness. Philosophical and neurologic debates concerning the definition of consciousness have led to confusion regarding an adequate third person assessment of a subjective experience. In order to avoid these controversies, neurologic evaluation of consciousness has focused on operational definitions that permit an objective assessment of behavioral responses that are constituent functions of consciousness.

Quantitative electroencephalography: a method to assess cerebral injury after hypothermic circulatory arrest.

Although hypothermic circulatory arrest and low-flow cardiopulmonary bypass are routinely used for surgical correction of congenital cardiac anomalies, use of long durations of arrest, often required for more complex repairs, raises serious concerns about cerebral safety. Searching for an intraoperative assessment that can reliably predict cerebral injury, we have found an excellent correlation between changes in quantitative electroencephalography intraoperatively and immediately postoperatively after prolonged hypothermic arrest, and neurologic and behavioral evidence of cerebral injury. After epidural placement of four recording electroencephalographic electrodes and baseline neurologic/behavioral and electroencephalographic assessment, 32 puppies were randomly assigned to one of four groups: hypothermic controls in which cooling to 18 degrees C was followed immediately by rewarming, 30 minutes of hypothermic circulatory arrest at 18 degrees C, 90 minutes of arrest at 18 degrees C, and 90 minutes of low-flow cardiopulmonary bypass at 25 ml/kg per minute at 18 degrees C.