ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of medical counseling games on ketogenic diet therapy for drug-resistant epilepsy children. MethodsA total of 98 children with drug-resistant epilepsy admitted to the neurology ward of Shenzhen Children's Hospital from January 2023 to June 2024 who were treated with ketogenic diet for the first time were selected as the study objects by random number table method, and were divided into observation group (n=49) and control group (n=49). The control group received the traditional multidisciplinary team health education mode, while the observation group received the ketogenic diet treatment based on the multidisciplinary team health education mode and participated in the customized medical counseling games intervention. The time of children reaching ketosis, the knowledge level of ketogenic diet caregivers and the retention rate of children on ketogenic diet were compared between the two groups. ResultsThe time of ketosis in observation group was earlier than that in control group (P<0.05). The knowledge level of the main caregivers of ketogenic diet and the retention rate of children with ketogenic diet at 3 months and 6 months in observation group were higher than those in control group (P<0.05). ConclusionThe use of medical counseling games in the ketogenic diet for medically refractory epilepsy is an effective therapeutic strategy that facilitates the early attainment of ketosis in children with medically refractory epilepsy, improves the knowledge of caregivers on the ketogenic diet, improves retention of children on the ketogenic diet, and serves to optimize the effectiveness of clinical outcomes, which may contribute to the quality of life of children with medically refractory epilepsy.
ObjectiveTo understand the relationship between the anatomy and the function of the insula lobe cortex based on the stereo-electro encephalography (SEEG) by direct electric stimulation of the insula cortex performed in the patients who suffered from the refractory epilepsy. MethodsRetrospective review was performed on 12 individuals with refractory epilepsy who were diagnosed in the Department of Functional neurosurgery of RenJi Hospital from December 2013 to September 2015. We studied all the SEEG electrodes implanted in the brain with contacts in the insula cortex. Direct electric stimulation was given to gain the brain mapping of the insula. Results12 consecutive patients with refractory epilepsy were implanted SEEG electrodes into the insula cortex. In all, 176 contacts were in the insula cortex, and 154 were included. The main clinical manifestations obtained by the stimulation were somatosensory abnormalities, laryngeal constriction, dyspnea, nausea, flustered. While somatosensory symptoms were located in the posterior insula, visceral sensory symptoms distribute relatively in the anterior insula, and other symptoms were mainly in the central and anterior part. ConclusionsThe symptoms of the insula present mainly according to the anatomy, but some of them are mixed. In addition, the manifestations of the insula are usually complex and individually.
Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is an emerging therapeutic ultrasound modality that integrates the precise localization capabilities of magnetic resonance imaging with the non-invasive therapeutic properties of focused ultrasound (FUS). This technology enables accurate targeting of deep brain structures and facilitates the treatment of various central nervous system disorders, including essential tremor, Parkinson's disease, and chronic neuropathic pain, through mechanisms such as ablation of diseased tissue, modulation of neural activity, and disruption of the blood-brain barrier. However, its efficacy and safety in the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) remain subjects of ongoing research. Consequently, MRgFUS is under investigation to ascertain its effectiveness and safety profile for treating DRE. This review aims to summarize the current progress in the application of MRgFUS for DRE therapy.
ObjectiveTo explore the prognostic factors for seizure control in focal cortical dysplasia(FCD)by analyzing the clinical features of FCD patients. MethodsWe conducted a follow-up study of patients, who were confirmed FCD by pathology after resective surgery,in Epileptic Center, Guangdong Sanjiu Brain Hospital, From January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014. All patients were followed at least 6 months,they were divided into seizure control group(Engel class I) and seizure group(Engel classⅡ-class Ⅳ) according to surgical outcomes. Clinical features,auxiliary examinations and pathological classification were compared between two groups. Results102 patients were included, male 65 cases (63.7%), female 37 cases (36.3%), onset age 0.01~45 years old, average (10.3±8.26) years old, surgery age (3~47) years old, average (21.21±8.9) years old, all had seizure onset. 83 (81.4%) patients in seizure control group, 19 (18.6%) patients in seizure group. There are 14.5% of the patients' onset ages are younger than 3 years old, 59.8% preoperative electroencephalogram recording a diffusion epileptiform discharge, 32.5% orientation of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) is inconsistent, 49.4% postoperative electroencephalogram (EEG) reveal an epileptiform discharge, 45.2% of the patients had intellectual disability, 36.1% had an absence of a lesion on MRI, in seizure control group. However,in seizure group they respectively 36.8%, 72.2%, 89.5%, 68.4%,94.1%, 89.5%. Patients in seizure control group got an average scores of (89.4±18.53) in performance intelligence quotient (PIQ)test, while, seizure group 65.80±15.71.There has a statistical significance between two groups. ConclusionPostoperative seizure outcome was favorable in patients with FCD, onset ages younger 3 years old, intellectual disability,getting a lower scores in PIQ test, preoperative electroencephalogram recording a diffusion epileptic discharge, inconsistent orientation of MRI and EEG, and postoperative EEG reveal an epileptiform discharge may be predictive for the postoperative outcome.
Drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) not only have disruption of the patients by seizure, but also influence the quality of life, cognitive function and social association, as well as development delay even retrogression for children. Epilepsy surgery is the only curative treatment currently available for focal lesional pharmacoresistant epilepsy, five years complete seizure freedom rates was around 60% after surgery. The criterion of surgical intervention at present is achievement for the diagnosis of DRE, thereafter consideration of early epilepsy surgery, but these maybe a long-term duration. Recent advance in examine methods and surgical techniques have improved the surgical treatment of epilepsy, to such patient with focal lesional structure abnormality, before the DRE emergence, under the discussion of the multidisciplinary team. Children under 3 years old, the brain have greater neural plasticity, early surgical treatment is expected at allow the healthy brain to recover and develop the language function and quality of life. Numerous cause may pose abstracts to the delay of surgical intervention: (1) diagnosis delay; (2) patient himself and their familiar recognize that there have same risk of surgical treatment; (3) the primary doctor firmly believe that epilepsy surgery is the ultimate methods; (4) special problems of the patient, such including: age, comorbidity, and the location of symptom, EEG as well as imaging non-conformation.
Objective To investigate the task group’s effectiveness in language evaluation based on the task group's functional Magnetic resonance (fMRI) results’ agreement with the fixation side of the Wada language area. MethodsWe collected 90 patients with intractable epilepsy of 90 patients from December 13, 2018 to January 3, 2020 from the Epilepsy Center of Guangdong 999 Brain Hospital. We used two simple fMRI tasks. Among them, 25 patients completed the Wada experimental examination, and 8 patients completed the electrode implantation and subsequent preoperative language area mapping. Adopt block experimental design, ABBA style presentation, and use AFNI software to process fMRI data, lateralization index calculation, and multiple regression analysis. ResultsfMRI results from 90 patients showed that the results from both the sentence-completion task and the image-naming task were more stable than those from either task. The results were then compared with the results of the “gold standard” Wada test in 25 patients with fMRI-located language dominance in the hemisphere. The results showed that the accuracy of the single task was between 70% and 80%, but the accuracy of the combined results of the two tasks was 93.3%. Conclusions Compared with the results of a single task, the results of multiple fMRI tasks are more stable in the judgment of activation range and language dominance hemisphere. fMRI and Wada language area siding accuracy 93.3%, fMRI task siding valid and replicable.
ObjectiveTo improve the knowledge of a rare disease named pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy.MethodsHigh-throughput sequencing and Sanger sequencing were used to validate the genes of epilepsy. Mutation gene validation was performed on two probands and their parents. Analyze clinical manifestations, electroencephalogram (EEG), imaging and prognostic features of the two probands.ResultsProbands 1, seizure onset at 4 months, progress as drug-refractory epilepsy, manifested as seizures types origin of multi-focal lesions. Head MRI and fluorodeoxyglucose-positron-based tomography (FDG-PET) were both normal. Gene detection showed that Aldehydedehydrogenase (ALDH7A1) gene has a complex heterozygous mutation contain c.1442G> and c.1046C> T.Proband 2, seizure onset at 5 months, manifested as a tonic-clonic seizure. Intermittent EEG and head MRI were both normal. Genotyping revealed ALDH7A1 gene contain a complex heterozygous mutation c.1547A> G and c.965C> T. Two cases were both seizure free by vitamin B6 therapy and gradually reduce the antiepileptic drugs.ConclusionsPyridoxine-dependent epilepsy may be late onset, some patient can be atypical and early experimental treatment can help to identify and the diagnosis should be confirmed by gene test.
ObjectiveTo analyze the effect of magnetic resonance-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (Magnetic resonance-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy , MRgLITT) for drug resistant epilepsy (DRE). MethodsThe present study analyzed the clinical information of DRE patients treated by MRgLITT in Beijing Tiantan Hospital from August 2020 to February 2021, including the type of disease, postoperative complications, and prognosis (Engel classification) in the one year after surgery. ResultsA total of 55 patients were enrolled. There were 27 males and 28 females, with an average of (21.7±14.1) years, all of whom successfully completed the operation and were followed up for the 1 year after surgery. The diagnosis included intracranial tumors, hypothalamic hamartoma (HH), focal cortical dysplasia (FCD), cavernous malformations (CM), mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE), and idiopathic generalized epilepsy (underwent corpus callosotomy). The patients with seizure freedom accounted for 59.6% (31/52), and the average remission rate of palliative surgery was 68.6%. The short-term postoperative complications included bleeding in neurological deficit in 6 cases (10.9%), 4 cases (7.3%), and noninfectious fever in 2 cases (3.6%). No serious, long-term complications occurred. The average postoperative hospital stay was (4.7±1.6) days. ConclusionsMRgLITT is gradually mature and has a wide range of indications. This technology provides a safe and effective therapy for DRE patients.