Sequential analysis of fMRI images: A new approach to study human epileptic networks.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to introduce a new approach for analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data in order to illustrate the temporal development of the blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signal changes induced by epileptic seizures.

Method: In order to sequentially analyze the fMRI images acquired during epileptic seizures, a continuous series of echo planar imaging (EPI) scans covering the complete period of a seizure was acquired. Data were segmented into 10-s blocks.

Presurgical evaluation in refractory epilepsy secondary to meningitis or encephalitis: bilateral memory deficits often preclude surgery.

We investigated the clinical features and surgical outcome of 17 patients with refractory epilepsy secondary to CNS infection who were referred to a tertiary center for presurgical evaluation. Six patients had a history of meningitis and 11 patients had a history of encephalitis. Median age at infection was three years (40 days-40 years).

Neuropsychological tests with lateralizing value in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy: reconsidering material-specific theory.

Purpose: To assess the ability of neuropsychological tests to determine the side of seizure onset for preoperative assessment in patients with drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy.

Methods: Twenty-nine consecutive patients diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), in whom the epileptogenic focus was clearly identified and localized to either the right or left hemisphere. Patients underwent a full neuropsychological assessment as part of their pre-surgical investigation, including the Boston Naming Test (BNT) and a variety of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Third Edition (WAIS-III) and Wechsler Memory Scale-Third Edition (WMS-III) subtests.

Presurgical evaluation and cognitive functional reorganization in Fishman syndrome.

Fishman syndrome, also known as encephalocraniocutaneous lipomatosis (ECCL), is a rare, congenital neurocutaneous syndrome characterized by unilateral skin, eye, and brain abnormalities. Epileptic seizures and developmental delay are usually present. We report the clinical, radiological, and, for the first time, neurophysiological findings in a 24-year-old woman diagnosed with ECCL who was evaluated for epilepsy surgery.

Cerebrovascular disease as a complication of cardiac transplantation.

Background And Objectives: To characterize the frequency, risk factors, clinical presentation and etiological subtypes of cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) following cardiac transplantation (CTX).

Methods: In a retrospective review of our CTX database (period 1984-2002), we assessed demographic data, vascular risk factors, surgery and donor details. We classified ischemic stroke (IS) using the clinical criteria of the Oxfordshire Community Stroke Project and the etiological criteria of the TOAST study.

[Effects of kidney and pancreas transplantation on neurophysiological rates of polyneuropathy and autonomous cardiac function in diabetic patients with end-stage renal disease].

Background: Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) usually exhibit a severe polyneuropathy (PNP) whose progression can be halted after kidney and pancreas transplantation (KPT). We studied the evolution of both PNP and autonomous cardioregulatory function (ACF) in patients with DM1 and ESRD within the first year after KPT. PATIENTS AND MEHTOD: The study was carried out in 26 patients who underwent KPT and whose organs were functioning normally at least during one year after KPT.