Unblinded, randomized multicenter trial comparing lamotrigine and valproate combination with controlled-release carbamazepine monotherapy as initial drug regimen in untreated epilepsy.

Purpose: To compare controlled-release carbamazepine monotherapy (CBZ-CR) with lamotrigine and valproate combination therapy (LTG + VPA) in equivalent total drug load, as initial drug regimen in untreated patients with partial and/or generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS).

Methods: This unblinded, randomized, 60-week superiority trial recruited patients having two or more unprovoked seizures with at least one seizure during previous three months. After randomization into CBZ-CR or LTG + VPA, patients entered into eight-week titration phase (TP), followed by 52-week maintenance phase (MP).

Pregabalin add-on therapy using a flexible, optimized dose schedule in refractory partial epilepsies: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of pregabalin (PGB) as adjunctive therapy, using a flexible-dosing schedule in Korean patients with refractory partial-onset seizures.

Methods: This randomized, double-blind (DB), placebo-controlled trial consists of a 6-week baseline, a 12-week DB treatment, and a 1-week taper phase. Patients having recurrent partial seizures (>or=4 seizures during baseline phase) under adequate pharmacotherapy were recruited to be randomized to PGB or placebo (PLC) in a 2 to 1 ratio.

Autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy and mild memory impairment associated with CHRNB2 mutation I312M in the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.

Certain paroxysmal nocturnal behaviors have been established as features of nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (NFLE). Despite insight into its genetics, the majority of patients with NFLE are not linked to a known mutation and clinical diagnosis remains a challenge. We describe a family presenting with stereotyped nocturnal arousals from non-rapid eye movement sleep, bilateral hand posturing, and pelvic thrusting in the mother, but subtle motor activity in the daughter, and minimal or no epileptiform EEG discharges.

Inhibitory effects of glucosamine on lipopolysaccharide-induced activation in microglial cells.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of glucosamine on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cellular activation in microglia and to evaluate the inhibitory mechanisms involved. Lipopolysaccharide (100 ng/mL) was used for the activation of primary cultured rat microglial or BV2 microglial cells. Changes in intracellular Ca2+ levels and outward K+ currents were measured using fura-2/AM and whole-cell patch-clamp methods, respectively.

Lateralization of epileptic foci by neuropsychological testing in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.

This study investigated the lateralizing value of neuropsychological testing in presurgical evaluation of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). This study differed from previous ones in that the cutoff values were determined to yield high positive predictive values (PPVs), multiple neuropsychological predictors were considered in combination, and patients with atypical language dominance or low intelligence were not excluded from the sample. The participants were 92 patients with MTLE (left, n = 47; right, n = 45) who showed good postoperative seizure control.

A Korean kindred with autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy and mental retardation.

Background: A Korean family had distinctive clinical and neuroimaging features and carried the same genetic mutation that was found in a previously described Japanese kindred with autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy.

Objective: To describe the first Korean family with autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy.

Methods: Members of a large family, including 9 affected individuals from 3 generations, underwent a comprehensive genetic, clinical, electroencephalographic, neuropsychological, and neuroimaging evaluation.

Differential effects of left versus right mesial temporal lobe epilepsy on Wechsler intelligence factors.

This study investigates the effects of left versus right mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) on Wechsler intelligence factors. In the left MTLE group, the Verbal Comprehension (VC) factor score was significantly lower than the Perceptual Organization (PO) factor score, whereas in the right MTLE group, the PO factor score was significantly lower than the VC factor score. The VC factor score was significantly lower for the left than the right MTLE group, whereas the PO factor score was significantly lower for the right than the left MTLE group.

Material-specific memory in temporal lobe epilepsy: effects of seizure laterality and language dominance.

This study investigated the effects of seizure laterality and language dominance on material-specific memory in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Left TLE (LTLE) patients with left-hemisphere language dominance (LHLD) showed significantly higher nonverbal than verbal memory capacity, whereas right TLE patients with LHLD showed significantly better verbal than nonverbal memory capacity. LTLE patients with non-left-hemisphere language dominance (NLHLD) showed significantly better verbal memory capacity compared with LTLE patients with LHLD.

Sudden deafness and anterior inferior cerebellar artery infarction.

Background And Purpose: Acute ischemic stroke in the distribution of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) is known to be associated with vertigo, nystagmus, facial weakness, and gait ataxia. Few reports have carefully examined the deafness associated with the AICA infarction. Furthermore, previous neurological reports have not emphasized the inner ear as a localization of sudden deafness.