The effects of web-based animation-supported progressive relaxation exercises applied to individuals with epilepsy on fatigue and sleep quality: A randomized controlled study

PURPOSE

The study was conducted to determine the effects of Progressive Relaxation Exercise, supported by mobile-based animation, on fatigue and sleep quality of individuals with epilepsy.

MATERIAL-METHOD

The study was conducted in a randomized controlled design with a pretest-posttest model on epileptic individuals who applied to Giresun University, Faculty of Medicine, Neurology Outpatient Clinic between February and December 2022. By using power analysis, the sample of the study was determined as 60 epilepsy patients (30 in the Control Group, 30 in the Experimental Group). The data were collected by face-to-face interview technique with the Personal Information Form, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). Frequencies, percentages, arithmetic mean, standard deviations, Pearson Correlation Analysis, Paired t-Test, Student's t-Test, and Chi-Square Test were used in the evaluation of the study data.

RESULTS

When the Control Group's mean scores in the pre-test and post-tests, which were performed with an interval of 6 weeks, were compared, a statistically significant difference was detected between the FSS and PSQI scores (p>0.05). The mean Fatigue Severity Scale score was found to be 5.24 ± 0.69 before the Progressive Relaxation Exercises and 3.82 ± 0.77 after the exercises. The mean scores of the individuals on the Fatigue Severity Scale after the relaxation exercises were found to be lower at a statistically significant level than the mean scores before the relaxation exercises (p<0.001). The differences between subjective sleep quality (p<0.001), sleep latency (p<0.001), daytime dysfunction (p<0.001), and total sleep quality (p<0.001) score averages after the Progressive Relaxation Exercises were statistically significant compared to the pre-exercises status. When the post-test scores of the participants in the Experimental Group was examined, significant, moderate, and positive differences were detected between the FSS and Total PSQI scores (r: 0.373-p: 0.042), Subjective Sleep Quality (r: 0.487-p: 0.006), which is one of the sub-dimensions of PSQI, Sleeping Pill Use (r: 0.531-p: 0.003), and Daytime Dysfunction (r: 0.461-p: 0.01) scores.

CONCLUSION

It was determined that individuals with epilepsy experience fatigue and deterioration in sleep quality and there is a reciprocal relationship between the severity of fatigue and sleep quality in these individuals. Progressive Relaxation Exercises applied with the animation-supported web-based mobile intervention technique reduce the fatigue levels of individuals and increase sleep quality.

Developing an alternative care pathway for emergency ambulance responses for adults with epilepsy: A Discrete Choice Experiment to understand which configuration service users prefer. Part of the COLLABORATE project

INTRODUCTION

To identify service users' preferences for an alternative care pathway for adults with epilepsy presenting to the ambulance service.

METHODS

Extensive formative work (qualitative, survey and knowledge exchange) informed the design of a stated preference discrete choice experiment (DCE). This hypothetical survey was hosted online and consisted of 12 binary choices of alternative care pathways described in terms of: the paramedic's access to medical records/ 'care plan', what happens next (described in terms of conveyance), time, availability of epilepsy specialists today, general practitioner (GP) notification and future contact with epilepsy specialists. DCE scenarios were described as: (i) typical seizure at home. (ii) typical seizure in public, (iii) atypical seizure. Respondents were recruited by a regional English ambulance service and by national public adverts. Participants were randomised to complete 2 of the 3 DCEs.

RESULTS

People with epilepsy (PWE; n = 427) and friends/family (n = 167) who completed the survey were representative of the target population. PWE preferred paramedics to have access to medical records, non-conveyance, to avoid lengthy episodes of care, availability of epilepsy specialists today, GP notification, and contact with epilepsy specialists within 2-3 weeks. Significant others (close family members or friends) preferred PWE experiencing an atypical seizure to be conveyed to an Urgent Treatment Centre and preferred shorter times. Optimal configuration of services from service users' perspective far out ranked current practice (rank 230/288 possible configurations).

DISCUSSION

Preferences differ to current practice but have minimal variation by seizure type or stakeholder. Further work on feasibility of these pathways in England, and potentially beyond, is required.

Neuromodulatory Focused Ultrasound for Epilepsy: Are Animal Models Useful?

Ultrasound neuromodulation is a potential alternative therapy for suppressing epileptic discharges. Recently, several human clinical trials have reported promising results from repeated focused ultrasound (FUS) treatments for temporal lobe epilepsy. In this Viewpoint, we highlight the valuable guidance of preclinical validation methods for choosing the optimal FUS parameters, thus ensuring consistency with the outcomes of clinical trials and leading human trials to the safest and most effective approaches.

Disparities by Race and Ethnicity in Inpatient Hospitalizations Among Autistic Adults

This study examined hospitalizations in a large, all-payer, nationally representative sample of inpatient hospitalizations in the US and identified differences in rates of hospitalization for conditions by race and ethnicity in autistic adults. Conditions examined included mood disorders, epilepsy, schizophrenia, and ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs). Compared to white, non-Hispanic autistic adults, Black, Hispanic, Asian or Pacific Islander (API), and autistic adults of another race had lower prevalence of admission for a principal diagnosis of a mood disorder. Conversely, Black, Hispanic, API, and autistic adults of another race had higher odds of admission for epilepsy than white autistic adults. Black and Hispanic autistic adults were more likely to have schizophrenia as a principal diagnosis compared to white autistic adults, but only Black autistic adults had increased odds for admission for an ACSCs compared to white autistic adults. Differences in diagnosis prevalence among hospitalized autistic adults may suggest differential access to comprehensive outpatient care that could prevent such hospitalizations, while also pointing to concerns of differential validity of diagnostic tools and treatment approaches. Insurance policy and programs should prioritize optimizing outpatient care to ensure access to care and emphasize the need for equitable treatment.

Analysis of mechanism of core points in acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for epilepsy based on data mining

OBJECTIVES

To explore the mechanism of core points in acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for epilepsy by using data mining technique, so as to provide a reference for clinical practice and experimental research.

METHODS

The data comes from relevant documents collected from CNKI, Wanfang, SinoMed, VIP, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, EBSCO, Web of Science databases. The selected acupoints were analyzed in descriptive statistics, high-frequency acupoints group and core acupoint prescription. Further, potential target mining, "core acupoint prescription-target-epilepsy" network construction, protein-protein interactions (PPI) network establishment and core target extraction, gene ontology (GO) and KEGG gene enrichment analysis of the core acupoint prescription were carried out to predict its anti-epileptic potential mechanism.

RESULTS

A total of 122 acupoint prescriptions were included. The core acupoint prescriptions were Baihui (GV20), Hegu (LI4), Neiguan (PC6), Shuigou (GV26) and Taichong (LR3). 277 potential targets were identified, among which 134 were shared with epilepsy. The core targets were extracted by PPI network topology analysis, including signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin (IL)-6, protein kinase B1, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, tumor protein 53, vascular endothelial growth factor A, Caspase-3, epidermal growth factor receptor, etc. The main anti-epileptic pathways of the core acupoints were predicted by KEGG enrichment, including lipid and atherosclerosis, neurodegeneration, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein B kinase signaling pathway, mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, cyclic adenosine monophosphate signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, hypoxia-inducible factor-1 signaling pathway, apoptosis, etc., involving neuronal death, synaptic plasticity, oxidative stress, inflammation and other related biological process.

CONCLUSIONS

The core acupoint prescription of acupuncture and moxibustion intervention for epilepsy can act on multiple targets and multiple pathways to exert anti-epileptic effects, which can provide a theoretical basis for further clinical application and mechanism research.

Multi-scale modelling of the epileptic brain: advantages of computational therapy exploration

Objective: Epilepsy is a complex disease spanning across multiple scales, from ion channels in neurons to neuronal circuits across the entire brain. Over the past decades, computational models have been used to describe the pathophysiological activity of the epileptic brain from different aspects. Traditionally, each computational model can aid in optimizing therapeutic interventions, therefore, providing a particular view to design strategies for treating epilepsy. As a result, most studies are concerned with generating specific models of the epileptic brain that can help us understand the certain machinery of the pathological state. Those specific models vary in complexity and biological accuracy, with system-level models often lacking biological details.Approach: Here, we review various types of computational model of epilepsy and discuss their potential for different therapeutic approaches and scenarios, including drug discovery, surgical strategies, brain stimulation, and seizure prediction. We propose that we need to consider an integrated approach with a unified modelling framework across multiple scales to understand the epileptic brain. Our proposal is based on the recent increase in computational power, which has opened up the possibility of unifying those specific epileptic models into simulations with an unprecedented level of detail.Main results: A multi-scale epilepsy model can bridge the gap between biologically detailed models, used to address molecular and cellular questions, and brain-wide models based on abstract models which can account for complex neurological and behavioural observations.Significance: With these efforts, we move toward the next generation of epileptic brain models capable of connecting cellular features, such as ion channel properties, with standard clinical measures such as seizure severity.

A simulation training of family management for parents of children with epilepsy: a randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that is more likely to be diagnosed in children. The main treatment involves long-term use of anti-epileptic drugs and above all, home care is of great importance. As there has not been a widely accepted home care protocols, simulating a home care environment is necessary for caregivers to develop skills of proper home care. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a simulation training of family management style (STOFMS) for parents of children with epilepsy in China.

METHODS

A randomized controlled trial was conducted on 463 children with epilepsy and their families. They were recruited from March 2020 to November 2022 and randomly assigned to the STOFMS group or the conventional group in a 1:1 ratio. Scores of family management measures, 8-item of Morisky Medication Adherence and epilepsy clinical symptom of both groups were collected at three points of time: within 24 h after admission (T0), 3 months after discharge (T1), and 6 months after discharge (T2). Changes due to intervention were compared across groups by repeated-measures ANOVA. The study report followed the CONSORT 2010 checklist.

RESULTS

There were statistically significant differences between the two groups at T2. A considerable increase over the baseline was observed in the total management level score and subscale scores in the STOFMS group at T1, compared with essentially no change in the control group. In terms of medication adherence, the STOFMS group performance improved greatly at T1 and T2 compared with the control group. The same result was also found in clinical efficacy at T2 (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

STOFMS is an effective intervention to improve family management level, treatment adherence and clinical efficacy for children with epilepsy.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The registration number is ChiCTR2200065128. Registered at 18 October 2022, http://www.medresman.org.cn.

Cell-specific extracellular vesicle-encapsulated exogenous GABA controls seizures in epilepsy

BACKGROUND

Epilepsy affects ∼60 million people worldwide. Most antiseizure medications in the market act on voltage-gated sodium or calcium channels, indirectly modulating neurotransmitter GABA or glutamate levels or multiple targets. Earlier studies made significant efforts to directly deliver GABA into the brain with varied success. Herein, we have hypothesized to directly deliver exogenous GABA to the brain with epilepsy through extracellular vesicles (EVs) from human GABA-producing cells and their progenitors as EVs largely mimic their parent cell composition.

METHODS

Human neural stem cells (NSCs), medial ganglionic eminence (MGE) cells, and GABAergic interneurons (INs) were generated from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and characterized. EVs were isolated from NSCs, MGE cells, and INs and characterized for size and distribution, morphological features, and molecular markers. Exogenous GABA was passively loaded to the isolated EVs as a zwitterion at physiological pH, and the encapsulated dose of GABA was quantified. Epilepsy was developed through status epilepticus induction in Fisher rats by administration of repeated low doses of kainic acid. The extent of the seizures was measured for 10 h/ day for 3-6 months by video recording and its evaluation for stage III, IV and V seizures as per Racine scale. EVs from INs, MGE cells, and NSCs encapsulated with exogenous GABA were sequentially tested in the 4th, 5th, and 6th months by intranasal administration in the rats with epilepsy for detailed seizure, behavioral and synapse analysis. In separate experiments, several controls including exogenic GABA alone and EVs from INs and MGE cells were evaluated for seizure-controlling ability.

RESULTS

Exogenic GABA could enter the brain through EVs. Treatment with EVs from INs and MGE cells encapsulated with GABA significantly reduced total seizures, stage V seizures, and total time spent in seizure activity. EVs from NSCs encapsulated with GABA demonstrated limited seizure control. Exogenic GABA alone and EVs from INs and MGE cells individually failed to control seizures. Further, exogenic GABA with EVs from MGE cells improved depressive behavior while partially improving memory functions. Co-localization studies confirmed exogenous GABA with presynaptic vesicles in the hippocampus, indicating the interaction of exogenous GABA in the brain with epilepsy.

CONCLUSION

For the first time, the study demonstrated that exogenous GABA could be delivered to the brain through brain cell-derived EVs, which could regulate seizures in temporal lobe epilepsy. It is identified that the cellular origin of EVs plays a vital role in seizure control with exogenous GABA.

Whole-cycle management of women with epilepsy of child-bearing age: ontology construction and application

BACKGROUND

The effective management of epilepsy in women of child-bearing age necessitates a concerted effort from multidisciplinary teams. Nevertheless, there exists an inadequacy in the seamless exchange of knowledge among healthcare providers within this context. Consequently, it is imperative to enhance the availability of informatics resources and the development of decision support tools to address this issue comprehensively.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The development of the Women with Epilepsy of Child-Bearing Age Ontology (WWECA) adhered to established ontology construction principles. The ontology's scope and universal terminology were initially established by the development team and subsequently subjected to external evaluation through a rapid Delphi consensus exercise involving domain experts. Additional entities and attribute annotation data were sourced from authoritative guideline documents and specialized terminology databases within the respective field. Furthermore, the ontology has played a pivotal role in steering the creation of an online question-and-answer system, which is actively employed and assessed by a diverse group of multidisciplinary healthcare providers.

RESULTS

WWECA successfully integrated a total of 609 entities encompassing various facets related to the diagnosis and medication for women of child-bearing age afflicted with epilepsy. The ontology exhibited a maximum depth of 8 within its hierarchical structure. Each of these entities featured three fundamental attributes, namely Chinese labels, definitions, and synonyms. The evaluation of WWECA involved 35 experts from 10 different hospitals across China, resulting in a favorable consensus among the experts. Furthermore, the ontology-driven online question and answer system underwent evaluation by a panel of 10 experts, including neurologists, obstetricians, and gynecologists. This evaluation yielded an average rating of 4.2, signifying a positive reception and endorsement of the system's utility and effectiveness.

CONCLUSIONS

Our ontology and the associated online question and answer system hold the potential to serve as a scalable assistant for healthcare providers engaged in the management of women with epilepsy (WWE). In the future, this developmental framework has the potential for broader application in the context of long-term management of more intricate chronic health conditions.

[An increasing prevalence of epilepsy and stagnating or decreasing health care resources makes nationwide implementation challenging]

The Swedish national guidelines for epilepsy stipulate regular health care contacts in the years following diagnosis, referral for epilepsy surgery in cases of pharmacoresistant epilepsy, multidisciplinary teams, and adequate patient information particularly for women of childbearing age. The last years have seen advances in many research areas of relevance for the basic epilepsy care, and Sweden has contributed regarding pharmacotherapy, seizure-related risks, sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), and digital tools. An increasing prevalence of epilepsy and stagnating or decreasing health care resources makes nationwide implementation of this knowledge challenging and increases the risk of unequal access to care. Innovation and focus on prioritized groups, such as newly diagnosed and persons with pharmacoresistant epilepsy or comorbidities, will be needed.

Epilepsy Incidence and Developmental Outcomes After Early Discontinuation of Antiseizure Medication in Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy

BACKGROUND

Neonatal seizures caused by hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) have significant morbidity and mortality. There is variability in clinical practice regarding treatment duration with antiseizure medication (ASM) after resolution of provoked neonatal seizures. We examined epilepsy incidence and developmental outcomes in post-HIE neonates discharged or not on ASM.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective chart review of all HIE-admitted neonates to the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics neonatal intensive care unit between January 2008 and February 2021 who presented with encephalopathy, underwent therapeutic hypothermia, and developed seizures. Neonates were divided into two groups depending on whether ASM was continued or discontinued on discharge. We evaluated the incidence of epilepsy and developmental outcomes on follow-up in these two cohorts up to 12 months.

RESULTS

Sixty-nine neonates met the study criteria. ASM was continued on discharge in 41 neonates (59%) and discontinued before discharge in 28 (41%). At the 12-month follow-up, nine neonates (13%) had a diagnosis of epilepsy, out of which seven neonates had ASM continued on discharge (odds ratio [OR]: 2.84; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.48, 29.9)]. There was no statistical difference between the development of postneonatal epilepsy between the two groups (P value 0.29). There was no significant difference in developmental outcome between the two groups after adjusting for covariates like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain abnormality and number of seizure days (OR: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.21, 2.22; P = 0.52).

CONCLUSION

We found no significant risk of seizure recurrence by age 12 months in infants who had discontinued ASM before discharge compared with those who had continued ASM. There was no difference in developmental outcomes at the 12-month follow-up between groups after adjusting for brain MRI abnormality and the number of seizure days during admission. Our results support early discontinuation of ASM after resolution of acute provoked seizures in neonates with HIE.

Potential merits and flaws of large language models in epilepsy care: A critical review

The current pace of development and applications of large language models (LLMs) is unprecedented and will impact future medical care significantly. In this critical review, we provide the background to better understand these novel artificial intelligence (AI) models and how LLMs can be of future use in the daily care of people with epilepsy. Considering the importance of clinical history taking in diagnosing and monitoring epilepsy-combined with the established use of electronic health records-a great potential exists to integrate LLMs in epilepsy care. We present the current available LLM studies in epilepsy. Furthermore, we highlight and compare the most commonly used LLMs and elaborate on how these models can be applied in epilepsy. We further discuss important drawbacks and risks of LLMs, and we provide recommendations for overcoming these limitations.

Survey of an online system for information to women with epilepsy of childbearing age and management during pregnancy: A 3-year evaluation

OBJECTIVE

We developed an online tool for women with epilepsy consisting of two modules: one with information on pregnancy-related issues (information module) and one for reminders about blood test and communication about dose changes (pregnancy module). Our aim was to assess perceived value, user-friendliness and improvement of patient knowledge in users.

METHODS

The system was launched in 2019 and patients invited by epilepsy nurses were asked to participate in a survey 1 month after the invitation for the information module, and 1 month postnatally for the pregnancy module.

RESULTS

By November 2022, the system had been used by 96 individuals out of 100 invited in the pregnancy module, in a total of 114 pregnancies. One hundred and eleven women had been invited to the information module, and 70 of these accessed it. The survey received 96 answers (44 information, 52 pregnancy). User-friendliness was rated as good or very good by a little over half of the users; 55% in the information module and 52% in the pregnancy module. Among pregnant women, 83% found the TDM part useful and most would prefer a similar system in future pregnancies. Sixty-four percent of users of the information module and 48% of the pregnancy module found that the system had increased their knowledge. Two knowledge questions were answered correctly by a significantly higher proportion of those that had accessed the online information.

SIGNIFICANCE

There was great demand for online communication during pregnancy and our experiences of implementation can hopefully assist digitalization of epilepsy care elsewhere. Online information also seems to increase knowledge about pregnancy-related issues, but our invitation-only method of inclusion was not effective for widespread dissemination. Patient-initiated access with optional epilepsy-team contact if questions arise could be an alternative.

PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY

We have performed a survey of users of a new Internet-based tool for information to women of childbearing age and communication about dose changes during pregnancy. Users were overall satisfied with the tool and answered some knowledge questions more accurately after accessing the information.

Comparative effectiveness of digital mental healthcare models for adults with epilepsy: A study protocol of a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

Mental health complaints are prevalent among people with epilepsy, yet there are major barriers that prevent access to psychological care, including high out-of-pocket costs and a lack of accessible specialized services. The purpose of the current study is to examine the comparative efficacy, acceptability, cost-effectiveness, and long-term outcomes of a digital psychological intervention when delivered under two models of care (i.e., guided vs. unguided) in supporting the mental health and functioning of adults with epilepsy.

METHOD

Approximately 375 participants across Australia will be enrolled. Eligible participants will have a confirmed diagnosis of epilepsy, experience difficulties with their emotional health, be at least 18 years of age, and live in Australia. Participants will be randomized (2:2:1) to receive the Wellbeing Neuro Course, a 10-week internet-delivered program, with (i.e., guided) or without guidance by a mental health clinician (i.e., unguided), or be allocated to a treatment-as-usual waiting-list control group. Participants will complete online questionnaires at pre-, post-treatment, and 3- and 12-month follow-up and consent to have their data linked to their medical records to capture healthcare system resource use and costs.

ANALYSIS

Primary outcome measures will be symptoms of depression and anxiety. A cost-utility analysis will be undertaken using the Australian healthcare system perspective and according to current economic evaluation guidelines. Resource use and costs to the healthcare system during the study period will be captured via data linkage to relevant administrative datasets in Australia.

SIGNIFICANCE

The results of this trial will provide important data concerning the relative outcomes of these different models of care and will inform the integration of digital psychological interventions translation into healthcare services.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The Human Research Ethics Committee of Macquarie University approved the proposed study (Reference No: 520231325151475). The results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication(s).

ANZCTR TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ACTRN12623001327673.

PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY

This study seeks to find out if a 10-week online psychological treatment can improve the mental health and well-being of Australian adults with epilepsy. Around 375 participants will be randomly assigned to different groups: one will receive treatment with guidance from mental health clinician (guided group), one without guidance (unguided group), and one starting later (waiting control group). All participants will fill out the same outcome measures online. The main goal of this research is to compare these groups and assess how well the treatment works in improving mental health outcomes.

Neurofeedback and epilepsy: Renaissance of an old self-regulation method?

Neurofeedback is a brain-computer interface tool enabling the user to self-regulate their neuronal activity, and ultimately, induce long-term brain plasticity, making it an interesting instrument to cure brain disorders. Although this method has been used successfully in the past as an adjunctive therapy in drug-resistant epilepsy, this approach remains under-explored and deserves more rigorous scientific inquiry. In this review, we present early neurofeedback protocols employed in epilepsy and provide a critical overview of the main clinical studies. We also describe the potential neurophysiological mechanisms through which neurofeedback may produce its therapeutic effects. Finally, we discuss how to innovate and standardize future neurofeedback clinical trials in epilepsy based on evidence from recent research studies.

Epilepsy and education: A case-control analysis of the impact of an intensive epilepsy training program on undergraduate medical students

AIMS

To evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practical skills of students submitted to a 6-week intensive training in epilepsy compared to students without any training but mandatory neurology classes.

METHODS

It is a case-control study. After completing a 6-week intensive Academic, Clinical, and Research Program in epilepsy, TUMSs answered a validated Knowledge Attitudes and Practices (KAP) questionnaire. The control group, composed of undergraduate students who shared the same age, academic year, and compulsory hours for learning about epilepsy as TUMSs, was also assessed through the KAP instrument. Answers from both groups were submitted to Fisher exact and the χ2 test to observe differences among groups. Descriptive statistics were also performed.

RESULTS

TUMSs displayed better results in theoretical knowledge such as the definition and causes of epilepsy, and the application of paraclinical studies essential for diagnosing epilepsy. From their perspective, people with epilepsy encounter restricted opportunities for preserving their social life and employment and they are more prone to workplace accidents. They are convinced that facing epilepsy presents a notable risk due to the difficulties linked with diagnosis, considering epilepsy a challenging disease for general practitioners to identify and follow up. Likewise, they exhibited improvement in treatment adjustment and treatment monitoring of patients with epilepsy, mainly in pregnancy cases. Finally, they had greater knowledge about what to do when they witness a person experiencing a seizure.

CONCLUSION

Our study showed that a 6-week intensive education program in epilepsy increased the knowledge and practical skills and changed the attitude toward patients with epilepsy of undergraduate students.

Norwegian population-based study of effectiveness of vagus nerve stimulation in patients with developmental and epileptic encephalopathies

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate the long-term efficacy of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in patients with developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEE) compared with epilepsy patients without intellectual disability (ID).

METHODS

Long-term outcomes from a Norwegian VNS quality registry are reported in 105 patients with DEEs (Lennox-Gastaut syndrome [LGS] n = 62; Dravet n = 16; Rett n = 9; other syndromes n = 18) were compared with 212 epilepsy patients without ID, with median follow-up of 88 and 72 months, respectively. Total seizure reduction was evaluated at 6, 12, 24, 36, and 60 months. Effect on different seizure types was evaluated at baseline and last observation carried forward (LOCF).

RESULTS

Median monthly seizure frequency at LOCF was reduced by 42.2% (p < 0.001) in patients with DEE and by 55.8% (p < 0.001) in patients without ID. In DEE patients, ≥50% seizure reduction at 6 and 24 months were 17.1% and 37.1%, respectively, and 33.5% and 48.6% for patients without ID. Seizure reduction ≥75% at 60 months occurred in 14.3% of DEE patients and 23.1% of patients without ID. Highest median reduction was for atonic seizures, most notably 64.6% for LGS patients. A better effect was seen at 2 years among DEE patients with unchanged medication compared with those with changed medication (54.5% vs. 35.6% responders, p = 0.078). More DEE patients were reported to have greater improvement in ictal or postictal severity (43.8% vs. 28.3%, p = 0.006) and alertness (62.9% vs. 31.6%, p < 0.001) than patients without ID. For both groups, use of the magnet reduced seizure severity. Hoarseness was the most common adverse effect in both groups. In addition, DEE patients were frequently reported to have sleep disturbance, general discomfort, or abdominal problems.

SIGNIFICANCE

Our data indicate that VNS is very effective for atonic seizures. Patients without ID had best overall seizure reduction, however, patients with DEE had higher retention rates probably due to other positive effects.

PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY

DEE refers to a group of patients with severe epilepsy and intellectual disability. Many of these patients have restricted lifestyles with frequent seizures. VNS is a treatment option for patients who do not respond well to medicines, either because of insufficient effect or serious adverse effects. Our study shows that VNS is well tolerated in this patient group and leads to a reduction in all seizure types, most notably for seizures leading to fall. Many patients experience other positive effects like shorter and milder seizures, as well as improvement in alertness.

Human rights and support groups to improve quality of life, self-care and disability in epilepsy: [Rights and support groups for epilepsy]

BACKGROUND

People with epilepsy have multiple barriers to recovering their quality of life. The objective of the present study was to determine the impact of a community group intervention focused on the components of mutual aid and human rights, to improve the quality of life in people with epilepsy.

METHODS

Prospective quasi-experimental study, incorporating pre- and post-intervention evaluations. There were 102 people who underwent an intervention focused on the central components of mutual aid groups (Active agency, Coping strategies, Emotion recognition and management, Problem solving, Supportive interaction, Identity construction, Trust, and Social networks) and in the QualityRights strategy. As evaluation instruments, scales were used to determine quality of life (QOLIE-10), treatment adherence (Morisky Test), self-care behaviors, perception of disability and quality in the provision of health services.

RESULTS

Correlations were shown between the variables proposed for quality of life. The intervention showed an improvement in all variables and a moderate to large effect in the self-care domain. There was a significant effect size in the self-care and quality of life variables with the intervention. Pharmacological adherence showed a moderate effect size in young people, adults and older adults. Regarding the perception of disability, the effect size was found only in adults. The pharmacological adherence variable also had a moderate effect size. This does specify the age groups, but not in the general sample.

CONCLUSION

Seizure-free time constitutes a fundamental element in recovery. However, psychosocial conditions constitute key elements to achieve a better quality of life in people with epilepsy.

EEG changes induced by meditative practices: State and trait effects in healthy subjects and in patients with epilepsy

The effect of meditation on brain activity has been the topic of many studies in healthy subjects and in patients suffering from chronic diseases. These effects are either explored during meditation practice (state effects) or as a longer-term result of meditation training during the resting-state (trait). The topic of this article is to first review these findings by focusing on electroencephalography (EEG) changes in healthy subjects with or without experience in meditation. Modifications in EEG baseline rhythms, functional connectivity and advanced nonlinear parameters are discussed in regard to feasibility in clinical applications. Secondly, we provide a state-of-the-art of studies that proposed meditative practices as a complementary therapy in patients with epilepsy, in whom anxiety and depressive symptoms are prevalent. In these studies, the effects of standardized meditation programs including elements of traditional meditation practices such as mindfulness, loving-kindness and compassion are explored both at the level of psychological functioning and on the occurrence of seizures. Lastly, preliminary results are given regarding our ongoing study, the aim of which is to quantify the effects of a mindfulness self-compassion (MSC) practice on interictal and ictal epileptic activity. Feasibility, difficulties, and prospects of this study are discussed.

Mental health and neurodevelopmental patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for children and young people with epilepsy: A systematic review

Children and young people with epilepsy are at higher risk of mental health disorders and atypical neurodevelopmental outcomes compared to the general population. It is essential to detect such comorbidities early in children with epilepsy and provide appropriate interventions, to improve clinical outcomes. We aimed to identify and evaluate the measurement properties of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) that have been validated specifically to measure mental health and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children and/or young people with epilepsy. We searched Embase, Medline, and PsycINFO in May 2023 for relevant studies. Mental health was defined as psychological symptoms (e.g., anxiety, depression, psychosis) and/or behavioural difficulties (e.g., conduct disorders). Neurodevelopmental outcomes included neurodevelopmental disorder traits such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autistic spectrum disorders. We assessed methodological quality using Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) guidance. Twelve papers were identified that psychometrically evaluated 13 relevant PROMs (two epilepsy-specific, eleven generic). The appraisal of the PROMs was limited by the availability of only one or two published articles for each, and incomplete psychometric evaluations in some cases. The tool demonstrating the strongest evidence was The Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory-Epilepsy for Youth. The ADHD Rating Scale-IV and The Paediatric Symptom Checklist -17 demonstrated good evidence in favour of at least two measurement properties. This review identified only a small number of mental health and neurodevelopmental PROMs evaluated specifically in paediatric epilepsy. There is a need for further validation of mental health and neurodevelopmental PROMs in children with epilepsy.

Translation and validation of the Vietnamese Epilepsy Self-Management Scale (V-ESMS)

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to translate and validate the Vietnamese version of the Epilepsy Self-Management Scale (V-ESMS).

METHODS

The translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the original version of the ESMS into Vietnamese followed the Principles of Good Practice for the Translation and Cultural Adaptation Process for Patient-Reported Outcomes Measures guideline with "forward-backward" translation and culturally adapted. The participants were recruited consecutively at neurology clinics at Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital and University Medical Center, Ho Chi Minh City, from January 2022 to July 2022 and required to complete the V-ESMS. The validity was assessed by exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Cronbach's alpha and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were used to evaluate internal and temporal reliability, respectively.

RESULTS

A total of 200 participants were recruited for analysis. The V-ESMS included 36 items and five domains. The factor loading ranged between 0.313 and 0.927; most items loaded in their hypothesized factors proved in the original scale. Using the CFA, theCMIN/DF, comparative fit index, and root mean square error of approximation were 2.883, 0.80, and 0.097, respectively. The Cronbach's alpha in each domain was 0.79-0.907; the scale was 0.936. The ICC from 0.94 to 0.98 showed excellent test-retest reliability.

CONCLUSION

The 36-item V-ESMS with five domains presented good validity and reliability. This instrument could be used to assess self-management in people with epilepsy in Vietnam.

Long-Term Downregulation of the Sodium Channel Gene Scn8a Is Therapeutic in Mouse Models of SCN8A Epilepsy

OBJECTIVE

De novo mutations of the voltage-gated sodium channel gene SCN8A cause developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE). Most pathogenic variants result in gain-of-function changes in activity of the sodium channel Nav1.6, poorly controlled seizures, and significant comorbidities. In previous work, an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) reduced Scn8a transcripts and increased lifespan after neonatal administration to a mouse model. Here, we tested long-term ASO treatment initiated after seizure onset, as required for clinical application.

METHODS

ASO treatment was initiated after observation of a convulsive seizure and repeated at 4 to 6 week intervals for 1 year. We also tested the long-term efficacy of an AAV10-short hairpin RNA (shRNA) virus administered on P1.

RESULTS

Repeated treatment with the Scn8a ASO initiated after seizure onset provided long-term survival and reduced seizure frequency during a 12 month observation period. A single treatment with viral shRNA was also protective during 12 months of observation.

INTERPRETATION

Downregulation of Scn8a expression that is initiated after the onset of seizures is effective for long-term treatment in a model of SCN8A-DEE. Repeated ASO administration or a single dose of viral shRNA prevented seizures and extended survival through 12 months of observation. ANN NEUROL 2024;95:754-759.

Neurostimulation targeting the epileptic focus: Current understanding and perspectives for treatment

For the one third of people with epilepsy whose seizures are not controlled with medications, targeting the seizure focus with neurostimulation can be an effective therapeutic strategy. In this focused review, we summarize a discussion of targeted neurostimulation modalities during a workshop held in Frankfurt, Germany in September 2023. Topics covered include: available devices for seizure focus stimulation; alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) stimulation to reduce focal cortical excitability; modeling approaches to simulate DC stimulation; reconciling the efficacy of focal stimulation with the network theory of epilepsy; and the emerging concept of 'neurostimulation zones,' which are defined as cortical regions where focal stimulation is most effective for reducing seizures and which may or may not directly involve the seizure onset zone. By combining experimental data, modeling results, and clinical outcome analysis, rational selection of target regions and stimulation parameters is increasingly feasible, paving the way for a broader use of neurostimulation for epilepsy in the future.