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Epilepsy & Behavior : E&B Aug 2023Reading-induced seizures are presumed to be rare phenomena attributed to an epilepsy syndrome not clearly belonging to either focal or generalized epilepsies. The aim of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND AND AIM
Reading-induced seizures are presumed to be rare phenomena attributed to an epilepsy syndrome not clearly belonging to either focal or generalized epilepsies. The aim of the article was to summarize knowledge and recent developments in the field of reading-induced seizures by reviewing all cases for which data were reported within the last three decades.
METHODS
A scoping systematic review of demographic, clinical, electroencephalography (EEG) and imaging data of cases with reading-induced seizures reported in PubMed and Web of Science between 1991-01-01 and 2022-08-21 and a meta-analysis of the findings.
RESULTS
The review included 101 case reports of epilepsy with reading-induced seizures (EwRIS) from 42 articles. The phenomenon was more prevalent among males (67, 66.3% vs. 34, 33.7%) with an average age of onset of 18.3 ± 7.9 years. When reported, 30.8% of patients had a family history of epilepsy. Orofacial reflex myocloni (ORM) were the most frequent manifestation (68, 67.3% cases), other presentations, mostly in addition to ORM, included visual, sensory or cognitive symptoms, non-orofacial myoclonic seizures, and absence seizures. Within the sample, 75 (74.3%) patients were identified as having primary reading epilepsy (PRE), 13 (12.9%) idiopathic generalised epilepsy (IGE) and 13 (12.9%) focal epilepsies. Advanced EEG and functional imaging data suggest that the basic mechanism of reading-induced seizures is probably similar despite different symptoms and consists of upregulation of the complex cerebral subsystem involved in reading. Ictogenesis and resulting symptomatology may then depend on predominant sensory or proprioceptive stimuli during reading.
CONCLUSION
In most cases, reading-induced seizures were confirmed to belong to a particular epilepsy syndrome of PRE. However, there were substantial subgroups with IGE and focal epilepsies. Most likely, reading-induced seizures occur as an abnormal response to extero- or proprioceptive input into an upregulated cortical network subserving reading. Most recent researchers consider EwRIS a system epilepsy.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Child; Humans; Male; Young Adult; Electroencephalography; Epilepsies, Partial; Epilepsy, Absence; Epilepsy, Generalized; Epilepsy, Reflex; Immunoglobulin E; Myoclonus; Seizures
PubMed: 37437391
DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2023.109346 -
World Neurosurgery Mar 2024Spasticity is a form of muscle hypertonia secondary to various diseases, including traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, and multiple sclerosis.... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Spasticity is a form of muscle hypertonia secondary to various diseases, including traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, and multiple sclerosis. Medical treatments are available; however, these often result in insufficient clinical response. This review evaluates the role of epidural spinal cord stimulation (SCS) in the treatment of spasticity and associated functional outcomes.
METHODS
A systematic review of the literature was performed using the Embase, CENTRAL, and MEDLINE databases. We included studies that used epidural SCS to treat spasticity. Studies investigating functional electric stimulation, transcutaneous SCS, and animal models of spasticity were excluded. We also excluded studies that used SCS to treat other symptoms such as pain.
RESULTS
Thirty-four studies were included in the final analysis. The pooled rate of subjective improvement in spasticity was 78% (95% confidence interval, 64%-91%; I = 77%), 40% (95% confidence interval, 7%-73%; I = 88%) for increased H-reflex threshold or decreased Hoffman reflex/muscle response wave ratio, and 73% (65%-80%; I = 50%) for improved ambulation. Patients with spinal causes had better outcomes compared with patients with cerebral causes. Up to 10% of patients experienced complications including infections and hardware malfunction.
CONCLUSIONS
Our review of the literature suggests that SCS may be a safe and useful tool for the management of spasticity; however, there is significant heterogeneity among studies. The quality of studies is also low. Further studies are needed to fully evaluate the usefulness of this technology, including various stimulation paradigms across different causes of spasticity.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Spinal Cord Stimulation; Spinal Cord Injuries; Pain; Muscle Spasticity; Walking; Reflex, Abnormal; Spinal Cord
PubMed: 38181878
DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2023.12.158 -
The Canadian Journal of Neurological... Sep 2023Long latency reflexes (LLRs) are impaired in a wide array of clinical conditions. We aimed to illustrate the clinical applications and recent advances of LLR in various...
BACKGROUND
Long latency reflexes (LLRs) are impaired in a wide array of clinical conditions. We aimed to illustrate the clinical applications and recent advances of LLR in various neurological disorders from a systematic review of published literature.
METHODS
We reviewed the literature using appropriately chosen MeSH terms on the database platforms of MEDLINE, Web of Sciences, and Google Scholar for all the articles from 1st January 1975 to 2nd February 2021 using the search terms "long loop reflex", "long latency reflex" and "C-reflex". The included articles were analyzed and reported using synthesis without meta-analysis (SWiM) guidelines.
RESULTS
Based on our selection criteria, 40 articles were selected for the systematic review. The various diseases included parkinsonian syndromes (11 studies, 217 patients), Huntington's disease (10 studies, 209 patients), myoclonus of varied etiologies (13 studies, 127 patients) including progressive myoclonic epilepsy (5 studies, 63 patients) and multiple sclerosis (6 studies, 200 patients). Patients with parkinsonian syndromes showed large amplitude LLR II response. Enlarged LLR II was also found in myoclonus of various etiologies. LLR II response was delayed or absent in Huntington's disease. Delayed LLR II response was present in multiple sclerosis. Among the other diseases, LLR response varied according to the location of cerebellar lesions while the results were equivocal in patients with essential tremor.
CONCLUSIONS
Abnormal LLR is observed in many neurological disorders. However, larger systematic studies are required in many neurological disorders in order to establish its role in diagnosis and management.
Topics: Humans; Myoclonus; Huntington Disease; Reflex; Multiple Sclerosis; Neurology; Reaction Time; Electromyography
PubMed: 35801267
DOI: 10.1017/cjn.2022.270 -
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Nov 2023Total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) for medically refractory ulcerative colitis or dysplasia may be associated with structural and...
BACKGROUND
Total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) for medically refractory ulcerative colitis or dysplasia may be associated with structural and inflammatory complications. However, even in their absence, defecatory symptoms secondary to dyssynergic defecation or fecal incontinence may occur. Although anorectal manometry is well established as the diagnostic test of choice for defecatory symptoms, its utility in the assessment of patients with IPAA is less established. In this systematic review, we critically evaluate the existing evidence for anopouch manometry (APM).
METHODS
A total of 393 studies were identified, of which 6 studies met all inclusion criteria. Studies were not pooled given different modalities of testing with varying outcome measures.
RESULTS
Overall, less than 10% of symptomatic patients post-IPAA were referred to APM. The prevalence of dyssynergic defecation as defined by the Rome IV criteria in symptomatic patients with IPAA ranged from 47.0% to 100%. Fecal incontinence in patients with IPAA was characterized by decreased mean and maximal resting anal pressure on APM, as well as pouch hyposensitivity. The recto-anal inhibitory reflex was absent in most patients with and without incontinence.
CONCLUSION
Manometry alone is an imperfect assessment of pouch function in patients with defecatory symptoms, and confirmatory testing may need to be performed with dynamic imaging.
Topics: Humans; Fecal Incontinence; Proctocolectomy, Restorative; Anastomosis, Surgical; Rectum; Colitis, Ulcerative; Anal Canal; Colonic Pouches
PubMed: 36351035
DOI: 10.1093/ibd/izac234 -
Aging and Disease Feb 2024Neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease (NIID) is a highly clinically heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorder primarily attributed to abnormal GGC repeat expansions in...
Neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease (NIID) is a highly clinically heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorder primarily attributed to abnormal GGC repeat expansions in the NOTCH2NLC gene. This study aims to comprehensively explore its phenotypic characteristics and genotype-phenotype correlation. A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from September 1, 2019, to December 31, 2022, encompassing reported NIID cases confirmed by pathogenic NOTCH2NLC mutations. Linear regressions and trend analyses were performed. Analyzing 635 cases from 85 included studies revealed that familial cases exhibited significantly larger GGC repeat expansions than sporadic cases (p < 0.001), and this frequency significantly increased with expanding GGC repeats (p trend < 0.001). Age at onset (AAO) showed a negative correlation with GGC repeat expansions (p < 0.001). The predominant initial symptoms included tremor (31.70%), cognitive impairment (14.12%), and muscle weakness (10.66%). The decreased or absent tendon reflex (DTR/ATR) emerged as a notable clinical indicator of NIID due to its high prevalence. U-fiber was observed in 79.11% of patients, particularly prominent in paroxysmal disease-dominant (87.50%) and dementia-dominant cases (81.08%). Peripheral neuropathy-dominant cases exhibited larger GGC repeat expansions (median = 123.00) and an earlier AAO (median = 33.00) than other phenotypes. Moreover, a significant genetic anticipation of 3.5 years was observed (p = 0.039). This study provides a comprehensive and up-to-date compilation of genotypic and phenotypic information on NIID since the identification of the causative gene NOTCH2NLC. We contribute a novel diagnostic framework for NIID to support clinical practice.
PubMed: 38377026
DOI: 10.14336/AD.2024.0131-1