Levetiracetam (LEV) is an antiepileptic drug (AED) that has been shown to mainly enhance synaptic depression and modulate certain voltage and ligand-gated channels, after it gains entry into neurons through endocytosis. Since synaptic terminals and distal axons are the first compartments exposed to LEV, we utilized a crayfish motor axon preparation to investigate whether LEV modulates axonal excitability. Two electrode current clamp from the inhibitor axon of the crayfish opener showed that LEV reduced action potential amplitude (APamp) and enhanced synaptic depression, although these events did not occur at the same time, the latter occurred later than the reduction in APamp. Further examinations of these effects and comparison of antidromic and orthodromic conducting action potentials in LEV suggests that this drug preferentially reduces excitability of the proximal axon despite the expectation that it enters the axon at terminals and reaches distal branches first. Results presented here demonstrate that LEV modulates axonal excitability, which may also contribute to its antiepileptic effects.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by core impairments in social reciprocity and communication, together with a repetitive/restricted pattern of behavioral interests. Up to a third of individuals with autism also suffer from epilepsy, and human cross-sectional studies have demonstrated that the co-existence of epileptic seizures tends to result in more severe autistic phenotypes. It remains unknown as to whether this phenomenon is a result of anticonvulsant medications, the underlying autism promoting insult or the effect of recurrent seizures themselves. In an attempt to establish a connection between recurrent seizures and their impact on social behavior, we designed a simple and reliable mouse model of recurrent seizures by employing daily intraperitoneal injections of the chemoconvulsant PTZ (pentylenetetrazole, a GABA antagonist). Social motivation was assayed on the three-chamber social interaction test. We observed that 24 hours following 10 daily injections of a subconvulsant dose of PTZ (30mg/kg), both male and female mice display a reduction in social interaction. Mice exposed to seizures also vocalized significantly less than control mice. These social impairments were not related to a gross impairment in locomotion, olfaction, or exploration and were found to persist up to 30 days following their last seizure. These results suggest that recurrent seizures themselves may be facilitating some of the heightened social deficits frequently seen with autism and epilepsy. These results also lend naturally to i) studies examining molecular and structural neuroplastic changes occurring in brain circuits that are important for social behavior, and ii) data that may highlight the contributions of specific genes that may accelerate or protect against the development of seizure-induced impairments in social behavior.

No description available.

In this thesis, we consider a stochastic SIRS model of EEG data. The model is built over three different network structures: a random network, a scale-free network, and a small-world network. These models are then fit to an EEG signal from a control individual and an EEG signal from an individual experiencing an epileptic seizure. We are interested in determining whether these models can distinguish between the two data sets, and whether any of the network structures offer a significantly better fit to the data than others; there is also a broader interest in the effects of different network structures on the time series characteristics of an SIRS system. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

No / Objectives: To examine how people from Bradford's Pakistani Muslim community experience living with epilepsy. Specifically, the paper addresses social interactions and negotiations with care providers and considers how different understandings of epilepsy are integrated. Methods: Interviews were conducted with a sample of Bradford's Pakistani Muslim community ( n=20). Interviews were analysed to identify themes and significant areas of shared concern. Results: This paper identifies popular, professional and folk sectors contributing to an individual's `health system'. Where sectors overlap, zones of hybridity are created: that is, a person might simultaneously seek help from a doctor and from a religious healer, or might offer explanations for seizures that include neurological and spiritual components. Discussion: While there are many similarities between the experiences of these minority ethnic community members and published work on the lived experience of epilepsy in other communities, there are also important differences that service providers need to recognize and respond to. Differences include forms of cultural expression and specific language needs. Improving communication between professionals and persons with epilepsy needs to be prioritized.

No / This chapter considers responses to epilepsy in members of the Pakistani community living in Bradford, a city in the north of England. A complex picture is presented of allegiance to the epistemology of Western medicine and adherence to its medication, while at the same time there is widespread use of folk and religious remedies. People live with a plurality of health beliefs and undertake practices that are apparently contradictory. Belief in therapeutic efficacy is only one element in the intricate mix of factors which influenced a person's use of a particular therapy. Other influences include family and community pressures, opportunity and cost. Over-riding all these are the uncertainty and sense of desperation experienced when conventional biomedicine fails to effect either a cure or adequate control of seizures. Considering beliefs about epilepsy and examining choices about care allows us to explore how the interaction of structural factors and individual preferences in making choices is influenced by the existence of differing health systems and beliefs. The resulting hybrid experience, we argue, is likely to be a characteristic of migrant communities worldwide.

腦癎症患者在心理和認知能力方面都承受著沉重的壓力。近年，腦癎症與心理狀態的互動關係得到廣泛重視。研究指出，心理治療能夠提升腦癎症患者的心理狀態及生活質素；部份結果更顯示能減少腦癎的發病次數。 / 本研究目的在於了解香港腦癇症患者當中，藥物難治性患者及藥物有效性患者的心理狀態與認知能力。另外，研究以隨機單盲對照的方式，探討靜觀治療小組及社交支援小組對藥物難治性患者在心理健康、生活質素、認知能力及腦癇病發模式的影響。最後，研究為腦外科手術對腦癎症患者心理狀態與認知能力的影響作探索性的研究。 / 研究共邀請186 名腦癇症患者參與。結果發現，在藥物難治性患者當中 (84 例)，39.3%和 29.8%有中度至嚴重的抑鬱症狀和焦慮症狀；相對地，在藥物有效性患者當中 (102 例)，只有15.7%和6.9%有相同程度的抑鬱和焦慮症狀。此外，認知功能損失在患者中十分普遍，尤以語言記憶、視覺專注力、聽覺專注力及工作記憶最為顯著。在藥物難治性患者當中，靜觀治療小組和社交支援小組均有效提升生活質素及減少發病次數(60 例)。比較而言，靜觀治療小組(30 例)比社交支援小組(30 例)更有效減低抑鬱及焦慮症狀，減少發病次數和提升延遲記憶功能。在14 個接受腦外科手術的組群中，於非語言優勢半球進行手術的患者和術後痊癒的患者於整體生活質素方面均有顯著提升。 / 整體結果顯示，在腦癎症患者當中，藥物難治性患者在心理健康、生活質素及認知能力方面，都明顯比藥物有效性患者承受著更大的壓力。另外，短期的心理小組治療有效提升藥物難治性患者的心理健康、生活質素、認知功能以及減低發作次數及減輕發作嚴重性。最後，腦外科手術的探索性研究結果，對術前進行輔導及對術後的預測有輔助的作用。 / 隨著對腦癎症治療的不斷發展，醫療配套方案中需要更具科學實證的心理治療作為輔助療法，以令患者達至身心健康。我們建議加強這範疇的研究工作。另外，研究亦應進一步探討心理治療為患者帶來進步的可持續性，使心理治療能更有效地在臨床上應用。 / Patients with epilepsy (PWEs) experience extensive psychological and cognitive disturbances. Increasing emphasis has been placed on the bidirectional interaction between seizure and psychological states, couples with accumulating evidences suggesting the potential effects of psycho-behavioural therapy on improving well-being and seizure control in PWEs. / This study has three levels of objectives. First, it aims to establish the neurocognitive and psychological profiles of PWEs with different drug-responsiveness in Hong Kong Chinese adults. Second, the effect of a mindfulness-based therapy (MBT) in people with drug-resistant epilepsy is examined against an attention-placebo control, social support (SS) groupusing a prospective assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial. Third, the neuropsychological effects of neurosurgery are explored. / A total of 186 PWEs were recruited. In the 84 patients with drug-resistant epilepsy, 39.3% and 29.8% reported moderate to severe level of anxiety and depression, respectively; versus 15.7% and 6.9% in patients with drug-responsive epilepsy (n = 102). Neurocognitive deficits were prevalent, particularlyin verbal recall memory, visual attention, auditory attention and working memory. The effects of the psycho-behavioural therapy were demonstrated. Specifically, patients received MBT (n = 30) showedsignificantly more improvement at post-intervention compared to the SS group (n=30) in terms of psychological well-being, seizure control and delayed memory function. For patients who underwent neurosurgery (n=14), those who received operation on their non-language dominant hemisphere and those who enjoyed post-operative seizure freedom reported significantly higher quality of life compared to their counterparts whose received operation on their language-dominant hemisphere and those whose seizure persisted. / Our findings established the neuropsychological and cognitive profiles of PWEs and revealed particular vulnerabilities in patients who were resistant to pharmacological treatment. We demonstrated the effects of short-term psycho-behavioural intervention in terms of improving psychological well-being, seizure control and neurocognitive function. Finally, our exploratory study on patients who underwent neurosurgery enhanced our understanding towards post-operative psycho-behavioural conditions on different types of patients, which was clinically important for pre-operative decision making. / Further research in local population focusing on neuro-psycho-behavioural aspects of epilepsy is crucial. The sustainability of the positive effects associated with the psycho-behavioural intervention should be carefully addressed in later study. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Tang, Yu Hing. / Thesis (Ph.D.) Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2014. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 131-158). / Abstracts also in Chinese; appendixes includes Chinese. / Tang, Yu Hing.

The main aim of the current study was to examine risk and protective factors associated with the development ofpsychological problems in children with epilepsy. The study aimed to answer the broader question of "Why do some children with epilepsy develop psychological problems while others do not?" A number of risk and protective factors were investigated in children with epilepsy between the ages of 8 - 13 years of age. Three main sets of variables were investigated to determine their association with risk ofpsychological problems in children with epilepsy: 1) family variables ie. family adaptability, family cohesion and family coping 2) illness variables ie. type of seizures, seizure frequency, type of medication, length oftime of diagnosis and 3) demographic variables (including child variables) ie. socio-economic status, number of siblings, age and gender ofthe child with epilepsy. 45 mothers were interviewed and required to complete questionnaires that provided information related to their child's illness, family functioning and demographic factors. In addition, mothers were requested to provide further information related to behavioural and emotional problems that were experiencing with their epileptic child. Broadly the study concluded that a number of risk factors were found to be associated with the development of psychological problems in children with epilepsy. Specifically grandmaI seizures were associated with an increased risk of disorder when compared to petit mal seizures. Higher levels of family adaptability and cohesion were associated with a decreased risk of disorder, and children from families classified as functioning at balanced levels were additionally associated with a lower risk of disorder. Family coping in contrast did not appear to be associated with risk of disorder. The use of poly-medication by children with epilepsy also increased the risk of disorder when compared to those children who used only one type of medication. Children from families falling within the classification of low socioeconomic status were also at an increased risk of disorder as well as those children with epilepsy who came from families where they had a larger number of siblings. The study additionally developed a model of risk and protective factors using logistic regression. It was found that there was a "good fit" of the combined illness variables (type of epilepsy, type of medication), family variables (family type) and demographic variables (SES) with the predicted dependent variable 'risk of disorder'. These results suggest that disease, demographic, family and contextual factors all interacted and overlapped to some extent in predicting the psychological adjustment of epileptic children in the current study. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1999.

Thesis (D.Phil (Social Work and Criminology))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Includes abstract in English and Afrikaans. Bibliography.

1 ABSTRACT The presented dissertation deals with prognostic factors influencing a favorable postoperative outcome in patients undergoing surgical treatment of epilepsy and the possibilities of improving the methods used in the localization of epileptogenic lesions. This work is based on the results of four published studies. The first study evaluated the factors influencing the long-term outcomes of epilepsy surgery in MRI-negative (nonlesional) extratemporal lobe epilepsy (nETLE). The aim of the study was to evaluate the benefit of non-invasive diagnostic tests and their relationship with a favorable surgical outcome in a group nETLE patients. Univariate analysis showed that localized interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) on the scalp EEG were associated with a favorable surgical outcome. Diagnostic difficulty in this group of patients is highlighted by the fact that, although 9 of 24 patients undergoing surgery had a favorable outcome, and only nine of 85 patients with nETLE achieved such a favorable outcome. The second work evaluated the benefit of SPECT (Single Photon Emission Tomography) statistical processing over traditional subtraction methods in patients with MRI-negative temporal lobe epilepsy (nTLE) and MRI-negative extratemporal epilepsy (nETLE). 49 consecutive patients who underwent...