Rapid versus slow withdrawal of antiepileptic drugs.

Background: The ideal objective of treating a person with epilepsy is to induce remission (free of seizures for some time) using antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and withdraw the AEDs without causing seizure recurrence. Prolonged usage of AEDs may have long-term adverse effects. Hence, when a person with epilepsy is in remission, it is logical to attempt to discontinue the medication.

Passive cycling in neurorehabilitation after spinal cord injury: A review.

Context/objective: Passive cycling (PC) may represent a potential alternative neurorehabilitation program for patients who are too weak or medically unstable to repeatedly practice active movements. We review here the most important animal and human studies addressing PC after spinal cord injury (SCI).

Methods: A MEDLINE search was performed using following terms: "passive", "cycling", "pedaling", "pedalling","spinal cord injury".

Effects of passive pedaling exercise on the intracortical inhibition in subjects with spinal cord injury.

Cortical reorganization can be induced by exercise below the level of the lesion after spinal cord injury (SCI). The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of passive and active pedaling exercise on leg motor cortical area excitability of subjects with traumatic SCI. Ten subjects with chronic cervical or thoracic SCI were enrolled in the study.

Noninvasive Spinal Cord Stimulation: Technical Aspects and Therapeutic Applications.

Background: Electrical and magnetic trans-spinal stimulation can be used to increase the motor output of multiple spinal segments and modulate cortico-spinal excitability. The application of direct current through the scalp as well as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation are known to influence brain excitability, and hence can also modulate other central nervous system structures, including spinal cord.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects and the therapeutic usefulness of these noninvasive neuromodulatory techniques in healthy subjects and in the neurorehabilitation of patients with spinal cord disorders, as well as to discuss the possible mechanisms of action.

A common reference-based indirect comparison meta-analysis of intravenous valproate versus intravenous phenobarbitone for convulsive status epilepticus.

Objective: To compare intravenous valproate (IV-VPA) with intravenous phenobarbitone (IV-PB) in the treatment of established generalised convulsive status epilepticus (GCSE). Efficacy and safety were estimated using a common-reference based indirect comparison meta-analysis (CRBMA) methodology.

Methods: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the use of IV-VPA or IV-PB versus intravenous phenytoin (IV-PHT) for GCSE were identified by a systematic search of the literature.