Cortical and Subcortical Network Dysfunction in a Female Patient With Encephalopathy.

The developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEE) are the most severe group of epilepsies. Recently, mutations have been shown to cause a DEE in females, characterized by myoclonic-atonic epilepsy and recurrent nonconvulsive status. Here we used advanced neuroimaging techniques in a patient with a novel mutation presenting with recurrent absence status with eyelid myoclonia, to reveal brain structural and functional changes that can bring the clinical phenotype to alteration within specific brain networks.

Cortical and thalamic hyper-perfusion in non-convulsive status epilepticus. Relationship between perfusion CT patterns and Salzburg EEG criteria.

Introduction: Status epilepticus (SE) is a neurological emergency and in particular nonconvulsive SE (NCSE) represents a diagnostic challenge. To improve clinical decision-making, cerebral perfusion-computed tomography (PCT) has been shown as a helpful tool to support the diagnosis of focal NCSE.

Materials And Methods: This is a monocentric retrospective study.

Artificial intelligence for classification of temporal lobe epilepsy with ROI-level MRI data: A worldwide ENIGMA-Epilepsy study.

Artificial intelligence has recently gained popularity across different medical fields to aid in the detection of diseases based on pathology samples or medical imaging findings. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a key assessment tool for patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). The role of machine learning and artificial intelligence to increase detection of brain abnormalities in TLE remains inconclusive.

Hypothalamus and amygdala functional connectivity at rest in narcolepsy type 1.

Introduction: functional and structural MRI studies suggest that the orexin (hypocretin) deficiency in the dorso-lateral hypothalamus of narcoleptic patients would influence both brain metabolism and perfusion and would cause reduction in cortical grey matter. Previous fMRI studies have mainly focused on cerebral functioning during emotional processing. The aim of the present study was to explore the hemodynamic behaviour of spontaneous BOLD fluctuation at rest in patients with Narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) close to disease onset.

fMRI-Based Effective Connectivity in Surgical Remediable Epilepsies: A Pilot Study.

Simultaneous EEG-fMRI can contribute to identify the epileptogenic zone (EZ) in focal epilepsies. However, fMRI maps related to Interictal Epileptiform Discharges (IED) commonly show multiple regions of signal change rather than focal ones. Dynamic causal modeling (DCM) can estimate effective connectivity, i.

Status epilepticus with prominent motor symptoms clusters into distinct electroclinical phenotypes.

Background And Purpose: Status epilepticus (SE) is a heterogeneous condition and considerable variability exists in its etiology, semiology, electroencephalographic correlates, and response to treatment. The aim of the present study was to explore whether distinct phenotypes may be identified within SE with prominent motor symptoms.

Methods: Consecutive episodes of SE with prominent motor symptoms in patients aged ≥14 years were included.

New onset status epilepticus in influenza associated encephalopathy: The presenting manifestation of genetic generalized epilepsy.

We hereby present a case of a young woman with no history of seizures or epilepsy who experienced a de novo generalized Non Convulsive Status Epilepticus (NCSE) followed by encephalopathy lasting for several days during influenza B infection. Influenza can have a broad spectrum of presentation ranging from an uncomplicated illness to many serious conditions as is the case of influenza associated encephalitis/encephalopathy (IAE). In this context however, it is possible to observe seizures and/or status epilepticus as the presenting manifestation of a genetic generalized epilepsy.

Olfactory function and viral recovery in COVID-19.

Background: Olfactory and taste disorders were reported in up to 30%-80% of COVID-19 patients. The purpose of our study was to objectively assess smell impairment in COVID-19 patients and to correlate olfactory function with viral recovery.

Methods: Between 15 and 30 April 2020, hospitalized patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection underwent an objective assessment of olfactory function with the Smell Identification subtest of the Sniffin' Sticks Test (SI-SST).

Brivaracetam as add-on treatment in focal epilepsy: A real-world time-based analysis.

The study assessed the clinical response to add-on brivaracetam (BRV) in real-world practice by means of time-to-baseline seizure count methodology. Patients with focal epilepsy who were prescribed add-on BRV were identified. Primary endpoint was the time-to-baseline seizure count defined as the number of days until each patient experienced the number of focal seizures that occurred in the 90 days before BRV initiation.

Facial palsy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: To compare the incidence and clinical features of individuals presenting in emergency rooms (ER) with facial palsy during the Italian COVID-19 outbreak and in the same period of 2019.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records for all accesses to the six ER in the province of Reggio Emilia, Italy, during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic (27 February-3 May 2020) to identify all cases of diagnosed facial palsy. Clinical information was retrieved for each patient and compared with that of facial palsy cases presenting in 2019.

Spatio-temporal dynamics of interictal activity in musicogenic epilepsy: Two case reports and a systematic review of the literature.

Objective: To explore neurophysiological features of musicogenic epilepsy (ME), discussing experimental findings in the framework of a systematic review on ME.

Methods: Two patients with ME underwent high-density-electroencephalography (hd-EEG) while listening to ictogenic songs. In one case, musicogenic seizures were elicited.

Antidepressant effect of vagal nerve stimulation in epilepsy patients: a systematic review.

Background: Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) is an effective palliative therapy in drug-resistant epileptic patients and is also approved as a therapy for treatment-resistant depression. Depression is a frequent comorbidity in epilepsy and it affects the quality of life of patients more than the seizure frequency itself. The aim of this systematic review is to analyze the available literature about the VNS effect on depressive symptoms in epileptic patients.

Clinical outcomes and treatments effectiveness in status epilepticus resolved by antiepileptic drugs: A five-year observational study.

Objective: To evaluate clinical outcomes and treatment effectiveness of status epilepticus finally resolved by nonbenzodiazepine antiepileptic drugs (AEDs).

Methods: All consecutive SE episodes observed from September 1, 2013, to September 1, 2018, and resolved by AEDs were considered. Diagnosis and classification of SE followed the 2015 ILAE proposal.

The ENIGMA-Epilepsy working group: Mapping disease from large data sets.

Epilepsy is a common and serious neurological disorder, with many different constituent conditions characterized by their electro clinical, imaging, and genetic features. MRI has been fundamental in advancing our understanding of brain processes in the epilepsies. Smaller-scale studies have identified many interesting imaging phenomena, with implications both for understanding pathophysiology and improving clinical care.

The EEG diagnosis of NCSE: Concordance between clinical practice and Salzburg Criteria for NCSE.

Purpose: To evaluate the concordance between the EEG diagnosis of non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) made by the treating physician and the application of the Salzburg Consensus Criteria (SCC) on consecutive urgent EEG requested for acute alteration of consciousness not otherwise explained.

Methods: Retrospective evaluation of all urgent EEGs acquired between January 1st and March 31st 2018 in adolescents and adult patients (≥14 years old). The 'reference' was the neurologist who first evaluated the patient and reported the corresponding EEG diagnosis.

Mapping the Effect of Interictal Epileptic Activity Density During Wakefulness on Brain Functioning in Focal Childhood Epilepsies With Centrotemporal Spikes.

Childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (CECTS) is the most common type of "self-limited focal epilepsies." In its typical presentation, CECTS is a condition reflecting non-lesional cortical hyperexcitability of rolandic regions. The benign evolution of this disorder is challenged by the frequent observation of associated neuropsychological deficits and behavioral impairment.

Motor and Limbic System Contribution to Emotional Laughter across the Lifespan.

Laughter is a universal human behavior generated by the cooperation of different systems toward the construction of an expressive vocal pattern. Given the sensitivity of neuroimaging techniques to movements, the neural mechanisms underlying laughter expression remain unclear. Herein, we characterized the neural correlates of emotional laughter using the onsets and the duration of laughter bursts to inform functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Management of status epilepticus in adults. Position paper of the Italian League against Epilepsy.

Since the publication of the Italian League Against Epilepsy guidelines for the treatment of status epilepticus in 2006, advances in the field have ushered in improvements in the therapeutic arsenal. The present position paper provides neurologists, epileptologists, neurointensive care specialists, and emergency physicians with updated recommendations for the treatment of adult patients with status epilepticus. The aim is to standardize treatment recommendations in the care of this patient population.

Tumor-associated status epilepticus in patients with glioma: Clinical characteristics and outcomes.

Between 3 and 12% of all adult status epilepticus (SE) are caused by a brain tumor. Gliomas, and in particular, high-grade gliomas (HGGs), are at high risk of SE development. In this study, we aimed to describe the clinical characteristic and outcomes of tumor-associated SE (TASE) in a population of adult patients with glioma prospectively collected between 2013 and 2019.