Blood biomarkers predictive of epilepsy after an acute stroke event.

Objective: Blood biomarkers have not been widely investigated in poststroke epilepsy. In this study, we aimed to describe clinical factors and biomarkers present during acute stroke and analyze their association with the development of epilepsy at long term.

Methods: A panel of 14 blood biomarkers was evaluated in patients with ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke.

Correlation of blood biomarkers with early-onset seizures after an acute stroke event.

Introduction: Blood biomarkers have not been widely studied in stroke-related seizures. In this study, we aimed to describe clinical factors and biomarkers present during acute stroke and to analyze their association with early-onset seizures.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated a panel of 14 blood biomarkers in 1115 patients with ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke.

Vascular risk factors as independent predictors of neurocognitive impairments in patients with late-onset epilepsy who have small-vessel disease.

Rationale: Late-onset epilepsy is often accompanied by underlying cerebrovascular disease and has been associated with neurocognitive deficits even dementia, but the interrelation between them remains unknown. In this study, we aimed to explore the contribution of vascular-related and epilepsy-related factors on neurocognitive outcomes in a sample of late-onset epilepsy with history of cerebral small vessel disease.

Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, a comprehensive neurocognitive assessment was performed in 25 patients aged >60 years with one or more unprovoked seizures and history of small-vessel disease.

Effect of brivaracetam on the anger levels of epilepsy patients. A prospective open-labelled controlled study.

Purpose: The rate of brivaracetam-related behavioural adverse events is a current focus of discussion. This study aims to assess the effect of brivaracetam on anger levels in patients with epilepsy, adjusted by mood symptoms, history of psychiatric disorders and seizure response.

Method: Prospective analysis of 37 patients assessed for anger levels (STAXI-2), depression-anxiety (HADS) and quality of life (QOLIE-10) before adjunctive brivaracetam treatment and reassessed 3-6 months later.

Study of the prevalence of familial autoimmune myasthenia gravis in a Spanish cohort.

Background: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease caused by a failure of neuromuscular transmission. Familial clustering has been reported despiteMG usually manifesting as a sporadic condition presumed not to be inherited. Our study investigated the prevalence of FAMG in a Spanish cohort, characterizing their phenotype,antibody titres and thymus findings.

PFN1 mutations are also rare in the Catalan population with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Evidence of genetic heterogeneity in ALS has been found, with at least 31 genes being identified to date as causing ALS, and other genes being suggested as risk factors for susceptibility to the disease and for phenotype modifications. In recent years, new molecular genetic methodologies, especially GWAS and exome sequencing, have contributed to the identification of new ALS genes. Some of these genes (SOD1, TARDBP, FUS, and C9orf72) have homogenous frequencies in different populations.