Predictors of pneumonia in acute stroke in patients in an emergency unit.

Objective: To evaluate the risk factors and comorbid conditions associated with the development of pneumonia in patients with acute stroke. To determine the independent predictors of pneumonia.

Method: Retrospective study from July to December 2011.

Comparison of short-term outcome between surgical and clinical treatment in temporal lobe epilepsy: a prospective study.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of medical and surgical treatment for refractory mesial temporal lobe epilepsy associated with hippocampal sclerosis (MTLE).

Methods: A prospective controlled non-randomized study of 26 patients with MTLE who underwent surgical treatment and 75 patients with MTLE who underwent medical treatment between August 2002 and October 2004. All patients failed to achieve seizure control with at least two first line antiepileptic drugs (AED) for partial seizures before entering the study.

Is low antiepileptic drug dose effective in long-term seizure-free patients?

Objective: To investigate the value of leaving seizure-free patients on low-dose medication.

Method: This was an exploratory prospective randomized study conducted at our University Hospital. We evaluated the frequency of seizure recurrence and its risk factors following complete or partial antiepileptic drug (AED) withdrawal in seizure free patients for at least two years with focal, secondarily generalized and undetermined generalized epilepsies.