Comparison of Functional Deficit Zone Defined by FDG PET to the Epileptogenic Zones Described in Stereo-Electroencephalograph in Drug-Resistant Epileptic Patients Treated by Surgery

: Epilepsy is a devastating neurological disorder. Current anti-convulsant drugs are only effective in about 70% of patients, while the rest remain drug-resistant. Thus, alternative methods have been explored to control seizures in these drug-resistant patients. One such method may be through the utilization of fruit phytochemicals. These phytochemicals have been reported to have beneficial properties such as anti-convulsant, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. However, some fruits may also elicit harmful effects. This review aims to summarize and elucidate the anti- or pro- convulsant effects of fruits used in relation to seizures, in hopes to provide a good therapeutic reference to epileptic patients and their carers. Three databases; SCOPUS, ScienceDirect and PubMed were utilized for the literature search. Based on the PRISMA guidelines, a total of 40 articles were selected for critical appraisal in this review. Overall, the extracts and phytochemicals of fruits managed to effectively reduce seizure activities in various preclinical seizure models, acting mainly through the activation of the inhibitory neurotransmission and blocking the excitatory neurotransmission. Only star fruit has been identified as a pro-convulsant fruit, which was attributed to the its caramboxin and oxalate compounds. Future studies should focus more on utilizing these fruits as possible treatment strategies for epilepsy.

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Evaluation of dual pathology among drug-resistant epileptic patients with hippocampal sclerosis

Neurological Sciences ◽

10.1007/s10072-018-3677-7 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 40 (3) ◽

pp. 495-502

Author(s):

Jafar Mehvari Habibabadi ◽

Shervin Badihian ◽

Nasim Tabrizi ◽

Navid Manouchehri ◽

Mohammad Zare ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hippocampal Sclerosis ◽

Drug Resistant ◽

Dual Pathology ◽

Epileptic Patients

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Stereoelectroencephalography-Guided Radiofrequency Thermocoagulation (SEEG-Guided RF-TC) in Patients with Drug-Resistant Focal Epilepsy

Translational Neuroscience and Clinics ◽

10.18679/cn11-6030_r.2017.006 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 40-47

Author(s):

Chengwei Xu ◽

Wenjing Zhou

Keyword(s):

Radio Frequency ◽

Surgical Resection ◽

Seizure Frequency ◽

Palliative Treatment ◽

Focal Epilepsy ◽

Epileptogenic Zone ◽

Drug Resistant ◽

Functional Area ◽

Presurgical Evaluation ◽

Epileptic Patients

For some patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy, we usually select conventional surgical resection, which has brought better outcomes. However, others are not eligible for a conventional open surgical resection of the epileptogenic zone because of the proximity of a functional area or the implication of a larger epileptogenic network. Initially, stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) exploration was a method of electroencephalography recording that was used in the presurgical evaluation of epileptic patients with complex epilepsy. Later, intracerebral electrodes used for SEEG were applied to produce radio frequency thermocoagulation (RF-TC) in epileptic patients. SEEG-guided RF-TC has produced some promising results, especially in the last dacade. Now, it has become popular as a palliative treatment to reduce seizure frequency in patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy. This article presents a review of SEEG-guided RF-TC.

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ABCB1 Polymorphisms and Drug-Resistant Epilepsy in a Tunisian Population

Disease Markers ◽

10.1155/2019/1343650 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-16

Author(s):

Malek Chouchi ◽

Hedia Klaa ◽

Ilhem Ben-Youssef Turki ◽

Lamia Hila

Keyword(s):

Treatment Response ◽

Antiepileptic Drugs ◽

Gene Polymorphisms ◽

Tunisian Population ◽

Drug Resistant ◽

Population Genetic Analysis ◽

Interindividual Variations ◽

Treatment Failure Rate ◽

Epileptic Patients ◽

Drug Resistant Epilepsy

Background. Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders with about 30% treatment failure rate. An interindividual variations in efficacy of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) make the treatment of epilepsy challenging, which can be attributed to genetic factors such as ATP-Binding Cassette sub-family B, member1 (ABCB1) gene polymorphisms. Objective. The main objective of the present study is to evaluate the association of ABCB1 C1236T, G2677T, and C3435T polymorphisms with treatment response among Tunisian epileptic patients. Materials and Methods. One hundred epileptic patients, originated from north of Tunisia, were recruited and categorized into 50 drug-resistant and 50 drug-responsive patients treated with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) as per the International League Against Epilepsy. DNA of patients was extracted and ABCB1 gene polymorphisms studied using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Results. The C1236T, G2677T, and C3435T polymorphisms were involved into AED resistance. Significant genotypic (C1236T TT (p≤0.001); G2677T TT (p=0.001); C3435T TT (p≤0.001)) and allelic associations (C1236T T (3.650, p≤0.001); G2677TT (1.801, p=0.044); C3435T T (4.730, p≤0.001)) with drug resistance epilepsy (DRE) were observed. A significant level of linkage disequilibrium (LD) was also noted between ABCB1 polymorphisms. Patients with the haplotypes CT and TT (C1236T-G2677T); GT, TC, and TT (G2677T-C3435T); CT and TT (C1236T-C3435T); CTT, TTC, TGT, and TTT (C1236T-G2677T-C3435T) were also significantly associated to AED resistance. Conclusions. The response to antiepileptics seems to be modulated by TT genotypes, T alleles, and the predicted haplotypes for the tested SNPs in our population. Genetic analysis is a valuable tool for predicting treatment response and thus will contribute to personalized medicine for Tunisian epileptic patients.

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