Epilepsia
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Comparative Study
Obstructive sleep apnea in a clinical series of adult epilepsy patients: frequency and features of the comorbidity.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate and features of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adult epilepsy patients. ⋯ Systematic investigation reveals that OSA is frequent in epilepsy patients. The major risk factors for OSA in our epilepsy patients were the same as those typically found in the general population. Of the epilepsy-related factors, older age at onset of seizures appears to be significantly related to comorbidity with OSA (p < 0.05). The presence in epilepsy patients of these features should alert the clinician to the possibility of an underlying OSA.
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To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravenous valproate (VPA) loading in children with status epilepticus (SE) or acute repetitive seizures. ⋯ Intravenous VPA loading is safe and effective for treating acute seizure emergencies in children.
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Comparative Study
Anticonvulsant effect of flutamide on seizures induced by pentylenetetrazole: involvement of benzodiazepine receptors.
There is some structural similarity between the androgen receptor antagonist, flutamide (Flut) and benzodiazepines (BZDs). We evaluated the possible anticonvulsant effect and interaction of Flut with BZD receptors in common seizure models. ⋯ Flut both blocks PTZ-induced clonic seizures and elevates the threshold of PTZ or bicuculline-induced clonic seizures, through interaction with BZD receptors.
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Apnea is known to occur during seizures, but systematic studies of ictal respiratory changes in adults are few. Data regarding respiratory pattern defects during interictal periods also are scarce. Here we sought to generate information with regard to the interictal period in animals with pilocarpine-induced epilepsy. ⋯ The data indicate that pilocarpine-treated animals have an altered ability to react to (or compensate for) blood gas changes with changes in ventilation and suggest that it is centrally determined. We speculate on the possible relation of the current findings on treating different epilepsy-associated conditions.
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To answer a need to include and measure accurately the impact and burden of epilepsy as outcomes of interventions with affected children, we developed and validated self-report and parent-proxy respondent health-related quality of life (HRQL) instruments for preadolescent children with epilepsy. ⋯ The data demonstrate sound psychometric properties for both related measures, which are easy to administer for children with epilepsy who are 8 years and older and their parents. The subscales encompass HRQL dimensions judged most important by children with epilepsy for the self-report measure and by parents for the proxy response measure. The parent-proxy measure should be useful as a complement to the child self-report measure in evaluating the validity of parental assessment of the child's health status; in longitudinal outcome research; and in HRQL assessment of children who are unable to respond independently.