Epilepsia refleja por agua caliente: a propósito de un caso en un lactante / Hot-water epilepsy: case report in an infant

La epilepsia refleja por agua caliente es un tipo de convulsión poco frecuente cuya fisiopatología se desconoce. Estas crisis reflejas suelen iniciarse pocos segundos tras el contacto con el agua y, comúnmente, a temperaturas de 37-48 ºC. Los automatismos y las crisis parciales complejas, con o sin generalización secundaria, son el modo de manifestación principal.La exploración neurológica y el electroencefalograma intercrítico no suelen presentar alteraciones, lo que puede condicionar un retraso en el diagnóstico, por lo que es fundamental la sospecha clínica.El tratamiento antiepiléptico se inicia cuando se asocia a otro tipo de epilepsia o cuando ciertas medidas sencillas, como el descenso de la temperatura del agua en el baño, no controlan las crisis. Es posible la desaparición espontánea. Cuando es necesaria la terapéutica farmacológica, existe, normalmente, buena respuesta.Se presenta el caso de un lactante con diagnóstico de epilepsia refleja por agua caliente.

Hot-water epilepsy is a rare type of seizure whose pathophysiology is unknown. These reflex seizures usually begin a few seconds after contact with water, commonly at temperatures between 37-48 ºC. Automations and complex partial crises, with or without secondary generalization, are the main manifestation mode of this type of reflex epilepsies.Neurological examination and intercritical electroencephalography are usually normal, which may condition a delay in diagnosis, and the clinical suspicion is fundamental.Antiepileptic treatment is initiated when associated with another type of epilepsy or when certain simple measures, such as lowering the water temperature in the bath, do not control crises. Spontaneous disappearance is possible; when pharmacological therapy is necessary, there is usually a good response.We present the case of an infant diagnosed with hot-water epilepsy.

Expressão gênica em larga escala em modelos genéticos de epilepsia / Large-scale gene expression in genetic models of epilepsy

Wistar audiogenic rat (WAR) é um modelo genético de epilepsia de crises audiogênicas desencadeadas após alta intensidade de estimulação sonora. Outro modelo genético recentemente identificado é o da epilepsia generalizada com crises de ausência (GEAS). O objetivo do presente estudo foi caracterizar o perfil de expressão gênica destas duas cepas através de uma análise em larga escala. Para os estudos de expressão foi utilizada inicialmente a tecnologia de microarranjos seguida da validação dos resultados por técnica quantitativa de PCR em tempo real. Os resultados foram analisados em ambiente R, utilizando os pacotes AFFY e RankProd do bioconductor, utilizando o algoritmo MAS 5 os array foram normalizados e calculou-se a intensidade do sinal e a detecção (presença ou ausência de expressão). Após a detecção, os transcritos que estavam ausentes foram removidos. Para a análise estatística foi utilizado o teste RankProd, que é biologicamente projetado para testar e detectar genes diferencialmente expressos em experimentos de microarranjos. Foi utilizado um valor de p ? 0,01 e pfp ? 0,05, a fim de considerar os transcritos diferencialmente expressos. No geral, nossos resultados mostram uma assinatura molecular similar nos dois modelos de ratos genéticos analisados. Houve uma sobreposição na lista de genes diferencialmente expressos encontrados em ambos os modelos, quando comparado com controles. Além disso, descobrimos que duas importantes vias moleculares para epileptogênese: neurotransmissão GABAérgica e potencialização de longo prazo pós-sináptica NMDA-dependente, foram encontrados em ambos os modelos, quando combinamos os dados dos animais WAR e GEAS. No entanto, algumas diferenças nas vias de sinalização expressas nos dois modelos também foram identificadas. Portando os resultados mostram claramente a natureza heterogênea e complexa dos mecanismos moleculares envolvidos na epileptogênese.

Wistar audiogenic rat (WAR) is a genetic epilepsy model susceptible to audiogenic seizures, after high-intensity sound stimulation. Another genetic model we have recently identified is the generalized epilepsy with absence seizures (GEAS) rat. The aim of the present study was to characterize and compare the genetic profile of these two strains using gene expression analysis. Experiments were performed initially using microarray technology followed by quantitative real-time PCR. Results were analyzed in R environment using the Affy and RankProd packages from Bioconductor, using the algorithm MAS 5 we normalized the arrays and calculated the signal intensity and the detection (presence or absence of expression), after the detection, transcripts which were absent in all samples were removed. For statistical analysis we used the Rank Product test, which is biologically motivated and designed to test and detect differentially expressed genes in replicated microarray experiments. This is a simple non-parametric statistical method based on ranks of fold changes. We used a p-value ? 0.01 and a pfp ? 0.05 in order to consider a given transcript to be differentially expressed Overall, the results show a different molecular signature in the two genetic rat models analyzed, since different enriched gene ontology categories were found. However, there was some overlap in the list of genes differentially expressed found in both models when comparing to controls. In addition, we found that two important molecular pathways for epileptogenesis: GABAergic neurotransmission and: Neurophysiological process NMDA-dependent postsynaptic long-term potentiation in CA1 hippocampal neurons, were found to be present in both models when combining data from WAR and GEAS animals.

Anticonvulsant and antiarrhythmic effects of nifedipine in rats prone to audiogenic seizures

Calcium ion participates in the regulation of neural transmission and the presynaptic release of neurotransmitters. It is also involved in epileptic events, cardiac arrhythmias and abnormal conduction of stimuli. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of nifedipine, a calcium channel blocker, on epileptic seizures and on reperfusion arrhythmias in rats prone to audiogenic epileptic seizures (Wistar audiogenic rats, WAR) and in normal Wistar rats (N = 6/group). The seizure severity index was applied after an intraperitoneal injection of 20 or 40 mg/kg nifedipine (N20 and N40 groups, respectively). The Langendorff technique was used to analyze cardiac function, as well as the incidence and severity of the reperfusion arrhythmias after ligature and release of the left coronary artery in rats treated or not with nifedipine. We found that nifedipine treatment decreased seizure severity (0.94 ± 0.02 for WAR; 0.70 ± 0.10 for WAR + N20; 0.47 ± 0.08 for WAR + N40) and increased the latent period (13 ± 2 s for WAR; 35 ± 10 s for WAR + N20; 48 ± 7 s for WAR + N40) for the development of seizures in WAR. Furthermore, the incidence and severity of the reperfusion arrhythmias were lower in WAR and normal Wistar rats injected with nifedipine. In WAR, these effects were mediated, at least in part, by a decrease in heart rate. Thus, our results indicate that nifedipine may be considered to be a potential adjuvant drug for epilepsy treatment, especially in those cases associated with cardiac rhythm abnormalities.

Epilepsia de água quente numa mulher grávida: relato de caso / Hot water epilepsy in a pregnant woman: case report

A epilepsia de água quente é uma forma singular de epilepsia reflexa desencadeada por se banhar e jorrar água quente na cabeça. Embora seja mais frequente em crianças e predomine no sexo masculino, o presente artigo discute o caso de uma mulher grávida de 28 anos de idade que apresentava convulsões reflexas ao jorrar água na cabeça ao tomar banho. O tratamento homeopático constitucional teve sucesso terapêutico.

Hot water epilepsy is a unique form of reflex epilepsy triggered by bathing and pouring hot water over the head. Although it is mostly seen in infants and children, with predominance in males, the present article discusses the case of a 28-year-old pregnant woman with reflex seizures triggered by pouring hot water over the head while having a bath during pregnancy and successfully treated with constitutional homeopathic medication.

Bloqueo de las crisis audiogénicas y del choque electroconvulsivo por la 2-fenil-4, 4-bis-(hidroximetil)-2-oxazolina / Block of the audiogenic seizures and of the electroconvulsive shock by 2-phenyl-4, 4-bis-(hydroxymethyl)-2-oxazoline

Algunas aril-oxazolinas han sido descritas como sustancias activas sobre el sistema nervioso central, con efectos y aplicaciones diversas como depresoras, anestésicos, anticonvulsivos, etc. El presente trabajo se trazó como objetivo fundamental estudiar el posible efecto de la 2-fenil-4,4-bis (hidroximetil)-2-oxazolina (OX) obtenida por síntesis química bajo microondas, en 2 modelos experimentales de epilepsia: el choque electroconvulsivo por estimulación repetitiva en ratones y el de inducción de crisis convulsiva por estímulo audiogénico en el gerbo mongol. La dosis de 150 mg/kg de OX redujo el número de pulsos eléctricos necesarios para inducir la crisis tónica producida por el choque eléctrico, así como su duración. Esta misma dosis bloqueó las crisis inducidas por el estímulo audiogénico en el gerbo, y disminuyó significativamente su severidad (grados de crisis) y ocurrencia. Estos resultados permiten afirmar que OX presenta un efecto antiepiléptico relacionado posiblemente con una inhibición de la sinapsis glutamatérgica en el hipocampo

Do endogenous opioids and nitric oxide participate in the anticonvulsant action of dipyrone?

It was previously reported that systemic administration of dipyrone inhibited the tonic component of generalized tonic-clonic seizures in both the electroshock and the audiogenic seizure models. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanisms involved in the anticonvulsant action of dipyrone by assessing the role of nitric oxide and opioids in the electroshock (female 60- to 90-day-old Wistar rats, N = 5-11) and audiogenic seizure (female 60- to 90-day-old Wistar audiogenic rats, N = 5-11) models of epilepsy. Naloxone (5 mg/kg, sc) significantly reversed the anticonvulsant effect of dipyrone in rats submitted to the induction of audiogenic seizures (ANOVA/Bonferroni's test), suggesting the involvement of opioid peptides in this action. In the electroshock model no reversal of the anticonvulsant effect of dipyrone by naloxone (5 mg/kg, sc) was demonstrable. The acute (120 mg/kg, ip) and chronic (25 mg/kg, ip, twice a day/4 days) administration of L-NOARG did not reverse the anticonvulsant action of dipyrone in the audiogenic seizure model, suggesting that the nitric oxide pathway does not participate in such effect. Indomethacin (10, 20 and 30 mg/kg, ip) used for comparison had no anticonvulsant effect in the audiogenic seizure model. In conclusion, opioid peptides but not nitric oxide seem to be involved in the anticonvulsant action of dipyrone in audiogenic seizures

A fotoestimulação intermitente e a estimulação pelo padrão de listras verticais pretas e brancas no eletroencefalograma de escolares normais (6 aos 18 anos), em Teófilo Otoni, Brasil, nos anos de 2001 e 2002 / The intermittent photic stimulation and the stimulation by vertical black and white stripes pattern in the electroencephalogram of normal children and adolescents, aged 6 to 18, in Teófilo Otoni, Brazil: 2001-2002

Este estudo refere-se à fotoestimulação intermitente e à estimulação pelo padrão de listras verticais pretas e brancas em escolares normais, dos 6 aos 18 anos. O arrastamento ocorreu em 73,1 por cento e, o aumento de ondas lentas não síncrono com a freqüência da fotoestimulação intermitente em 1,4 por cento. A resposta fotomioclônica não foi registrada. A resposta fotoparoxística ocorreu em 1,4 por cento, não tendo havido diferença significativa quanto à idade, gênero e cor dos avós dos escolares e, teve menor prevalência que a da maioria dos estudos. A atividade epileptiforme provocada pelo padrão não foi registrada.This study deals with photoparoxysmal response and epileptiform activity from pattern stimulation in 510 normal subjects aged 6 to 18 submitted to photic and pattern stimulation. The photoparoxysmal response appeared in 1.4 per cent of the subjects, with age, gender and grandparent's colour making no significant difference. This was smaller than in other studies. Epileptiform activity provoked by pattern stimulation was not registered. Other responses studied: photic driving registered in 73.1 per cent, the photomyoclonic did not register and the increase of slow waves non synchronous with IPS frequencies was rare, 1.4 per cent...