Transcutaneous Vagal Nerve Stimulation: Influence on miRNA, Inflammation, Cerebral Resting State...
EpilepsyRandomized, double-blind trial to investigate the influence of a single 4 hours episode of transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation on the expression of microRNA, various cytokines, chemokines, neuropeptides, cerebral resting state and gastric motility in healthy volunteers.
EPIDOGS Digital Seizure Diary for Owners of Alerting Dogs
EpilepsyDuring a three-month period, the study subjects will be using an electronic diary app that they can download and install on their smartphones to register the occurrence of seizures and also to register the potential alerting behaviour of their dogs. This information will increase the knowledge of the accuracy of these alerts.
Outcome Study in Refractory Epilepsy (SOPHIE)
EpilepsyOver 1 million people in the European Union (EU) suffer from chronic refractory epilepsy. Their quality of life (QoL) is severely affected by seizures and by the adverse effect of antiepileptic drug (AED) treatment. Several new AEDs have been introduced in recent years, but their impact on the long-term outcome in these patients has been inadequately explored. Preliminary data from the U.S. suggests that using a standardize toll to quantitate adverse AED effects can improve outcome, but the general applicability of these findings is unclear. Objectives: 1) To assess prospectively AED utilization patterns in patients with refractory epilepsy ; 2) to assess how such treatments and other variables correlated with seizure control, adverse effects, and QoL in these patients; 3) to establish the impact of a standardized evaluation of adverse effects on clinical outcome. Methods: The project included a core observational study and a randomized intervention in a subcohort. In the core (observational) study, 1,000 consecutive refractory epilepsy patients were enrolled and followed-up prospectively at 10 centres in Italy. The following parameters were recorded at 0 (entry), 6, 12 and 18 months: (i) drug therapy; (ii) seizure frequency; (iii) adverse events based on medical examination and non-structured interview; (iii) treatment costs and, (iv) for patients above age 16, standardized questionnaires for adverse effects (AEP), depressive symptoms (Becks Depression Scale, BDS), QoL (QOLIE-31) and clinical global impression (CGI). The primary outcome (changes in QOLIE-31 scores) will be related to the other variables measured. In the randomized intervention, the subcohort meeting specific eligibility criteria (age >16 years, no progressive disorder, AEP score>=45 ) was randomized to two groups. In the intervention group, AEP score results were made available to the physician at each visit, while in the other group AEP scores were only made available at the end of follow-up. Primary outcome were changes in AEP score.
A Deep Brain Stimulation System in Epilepsy: Tracking Neural Excitability
EpilepsyNodular HeterotopiaThe main purpose of this research project is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a surgically implanted device called the Medtronic Activa PC+S System in patients with medically refractory epilepsy (people who have seizures that are not completely controlled by medical therapy). The system sends small electrical pulses into a part of the brain called the thalamus to help control seizures. It sends this signal in regularly, regardless of if a seizure is occurring. A different version of this device is already approved for the treatment of epilepsy in Australia. This study aims to use the brain's responses to single pulse electrical stimulation to measure the level of seizure susceptibility. The investigators would like to show that this measure can be used to provide more effective deep brain stimulation therapies, to stop seizures.
The Individual and Family Self Management Theory Based Epilepsy Education Program's Effectiveness...
Self ManagementEpilepsy; Seizure1 moreThe aim of the study; to determine the effect of education program given to adolescents diagnosed with epilepsy and their parents based on Ryan and Sawin's individual and family self-management theory, on adolescents 'attitudes towards disease, self-efficacy, quality of life and parents' nurse-parent support levels.
The Effect of Progressive Relaxation Exercises Applied to Patients With Epilepsy
EpilepsyEpilepsy; It is a disease characterized by sudden, repetitive, epileptic seizures that are not triggered by an identifiable event and occur as a result of abnormal and excessive electrical discharge in cortical neurons from ancient times to the present. It is known that epilepsy has important social and psychological effects. Seizure recurrence and fear of social exclusion are life-threatening factors for epilepsy patients. These difficulties negatively affect the quality of life of patients by causing high levels of anxiety, depression, sleep disorders and low self-esteem. Many positive effects of progressive relaxation exercises on anxiety, depression, sleep and quality of life have been observed. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of progressive relaxation exercises applied to epilepsy patients on depression, sleep and quality of life. This study, which was planned as an experimental study with a pretest-posttest control group, will be carried out by randomly dividing 60 patients diagnosed with epilepsy, who applied to the Neurology Outpatient Clinic and Clinic of Fırat University Hospital, between September 2021 and June 2022, into 2 groups as intervention and control groups. Written consent will be obtained from the patients who agreed to participate in the study at the beginning of the study, and the study will begin. Before any intervention is made in the intervention group and control group, a pre-test will be performed using the Patient Information Form, Beck Depression Scale, Pitssburg Sleep Quality Index, and Quality of Life Scale (QOLIE 31) to evaluate depression, sleep and quality of life of these patients. The intervention group will be given progressive relaxation exercises 3 times a week for 4 weeks and the control group will not make any interventions. With the posttest, both the intervention and control groups will be filled with the Patient Information FormBeck Depression Scale, Pitssburg Sleep Quality and Quality of Life Scale (QOLIE 31) and depression, sleep and quality of life will be evaluated. Finally, it will be checked whether there is a significant difference between the pretest and the posttest.
Acute and Long Term Effects of VNS on Memory in Patients With Refractory Epilepsy
Refractory EpilepsyRefractory epilepsy patients implanted with a vagus nerve stimulator perform a memory test at baseline in three conditions: invasive vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) and sham stimulation. After 6 weeks of VNS treatment, the memory test is repeated in two condition: invasive vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) and sham stimulation. The endpoint of this experiment is assessing the effect of VNS and taVNS on memory performance.
A Study to Investigate the Safety of the Drugs Topiramate and Levetiracetam in Treating Children...
EpilepsyThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety of topiramate monotherapy compared with levetiracetam another standard antiepileptic drug (AED), as monotherapy for new-onset or recent-onset epilepsy (seizure disorder) on pediatric growth and maturation, bone mineralization, and kidney stone formation in children aged 2 to 15 years.
Prediction of Childhood Epilepsy Outcome in Bangladesh
EpilepsyRandomised controlled trial of the use of phenobarbitone and carbamazepine in childhood epilepsy in Bangladesh with particular reference to behavioural side effects.
Monotherapy With Levetiracetam or Carbamazepine in Patients Suffering From Epilepsy.
EpilepsyTonic-clonicA double-blind follow-up trial assessing the long term safety of Levetiracetam as per adverse events reporting, physical and neurological examination and vital signs