Effectiveness of IMPUTE ADT-1 mobile application in children with autism spectrum disorder: An interim analysis of an ongoing randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: IMPUTE Inc., a software firm dedicated to healthcare technology, has developed a mobile medical application known as IMPUTE ADT-1 for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) based on the principle of applied behavior analysis. Materials and Methods: The primary objective of this trial was to compare the efficacy of add-on treatment with IMPUTE ADT-1 in children with ASD aged two to six years as compared to standard care alone for 12 weeks (in terms of change in Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule [ADOS-2] scores). The secondary objective of the study was to assess the compliance with IMPUTE ADT-1 among participants and also to evaluate the feedback of parents regarding IMPUTE ADT-1 at the end of 12 weeks. The application provides personalized programs tailored to each user's needs, and the program evolves based on the user's progress. It also utilizes face tracking, eye tracking, and body tracking to gather behavior-related information for each child and apply it in reinforcement learning employing artificial intelligence-based algorithms. Results: Till the time of interim analysis, 37 and 33 children had completed 12-week follow-up in IMPUTE ADT-1 and control arm. At 12 weeks, as compared to baseline, change in social affect domain, repetitive ritualistic behavior domain, total ADOS-2 score, and ADOS-2 comparison score was better in the intervention group as compared to the control group (P < 0.001 for all). A total of 30 (81%), 28 (75%), and 29 (78%) caregivers in the IMPUTE ADT-1 group believed that the ADT-1 app improved their child's verbal skills, social skills, and reduced repetitive behavior, respectively. Conclusion: IMPUTE ADT-1 mobile application has the efficacy to improve the severity of autism symptoms in children. Parents of these children also feel that the application is beneficial for improving the socialization and verbal communication of their children.

Efficacy of verbal suggestion, verbal suggestion with a tuning fork, and verbal suggestion with a cotton swab for inducing the paroxysmal event during video-EEG recording in children with suspected psychogenic nonepileptic seizures.

INTRODUCTION: Video-electroencephalogram (EEG) with suggestion is widely considered the gold standard for diagnosing psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES). However, ethical concerns and uncertainties persist regarding the most minimally invasive and least deceptive suggestion approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In an open-label randomized controlled trial, we evaluated the effectiveness of three suggestion methods (verbal suggestion, verbal suggestion with a tuning fork, and verbal suggestion with a cotton swab) during short-term video-EEG (STVEEG) recordings to induce PNES in children aged 5-18 years. If the paroxysmal event couldn't be elicited with the assigned method, alternative techniques were employed. RESULTS: Out of 97 initially screened children, 75 were enrolled, with 25 in each group. The efficacy of all three suggestion methods was comparable in reproducing paroxysmal events (success rate of 16/25, 17/25 and 17/25 in verbal suggestion only, verbal suggestion with tuning fork and sterile cotton swab group respectively, p = 0.83) and the time required for induction (median of 2, 3 and 3 min respectively, p = 0.21). After trying alternative methods, 20 %, 12 %, and 12 % more patients in these three groups, respectively, were able to reproduce the paroxysmal event, with the differences not reaching statistical significance (p = 0.74). The assigned induction method or the success/failure of event reproduction did not significantly impact clinical outcomes at 12 weeks, and none of the patients in whom PNES could not be reproduced during STVEEG were later found to have an organic cause. Only the presence of psychiatric comorbidity independently predicted successful event reproduction during STVEEG, with statistical significance even after adjusting for other variables (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: The efficacy of verbal suggestion alone in inducing paroxysmal nonepileptic seizures is on par with using a tuning fork or cotton swab in conjunction with verbal suggestion during STVEEG.

Efficacy and safety of phenytoin and levetiracetam for acute symptomatic seizures in children with acute encephalitis syndrome: an open label, randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Seizures represent a significant comorbidity in children with acute encephalitis syndrome (AES). Despite this, there is a notable absence of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) directly comparing antiseizure medications (ASMs) in children with AES. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This RCT aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of phenytoin and levetiracetam in controlling seizures among children with AES. Both ASMs were administered with a loading followed by maintenance dose. After a 12-week period, children exhibiting a normal electroencephalogram and no seizure recurrence underwent tapering and discontinuation of ASM. Clinical follow-up occurred daily for the first week, and subsequently at 4, 12, and 24 weeks, evaluating seizure recurrence, incidence of status epilepticus, cognition, behavior, functional status, ASM acquisition cost, and adverse effects. RESULTS: A total of 100 children (50 in each group) were enrolled. Within the first week, 5 and 3 children in the phenytoin and levetiracetam groups expired. Up to 1 week or death (whichever occurred earliest), 46 (92 %) and 44 (88 %) children remained seizure-free. Intention-to-treat analysis for both best and worst-case scenarios showed insignificant differences (p=0.52 and 1.0). No children experienced seizure recurrence after 1 week in either group. The number of patients with breakthrough status epilepticus, need for mechanical ventilation, duration of hospital stay, presence of epileptiform abnormalities in repeat electroencephalogram at 12 weeks, functional outcomes at 1, 12, and 24 weeks, as well as cognition and behavioral profiles at 24 weeks, were comparable in both groups (p>0.05 for all). However, the incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) causally related to study medications was significantly higher in the phenytoin group (p=0.04). CONCLUSION: Levetiracetam and phenytoin are comparable in efficacy in terms of achieving clinical seizure control in children with acute encephalitis syndrome, although levetiracetam group demonstrated fewer adverse effects.

Early versus late switch over of antiseizure medications from intravenous to the oral route in children with seizures: Single-blinded, randomized controlled trial (ELAIO trial).

INTRODUCTION: Early switch-over of anti-seizure medications (ASMs) from intravenous to oral route may reduce the duration of hospitalization, drug acquisition costs, and behavioral upset in hospitalized children with seizures. OBJECTIVE: The primary objective was to compare short-term seizure recurrence within 1 week in hospitalized children aged 1 month to 18 years with new-onset/breakthrough seizures after an early versus late switch-over from intravenous to the oral route of ASMs. Secondary objectives were to compare the incidence of status epilepticus, duration of hospital stay, drug acquisition costs, and caregiver-reported satisfaction scores in both groups. METHODS: In this single-blind randomized controlled trial, patients with seizures were categorized based on the number of ASMs required and the history of status epilepticus. Patients in each category were randomized in a 1:1 ratio into either early or late switch-over (ES or LS) groups. In the ES groups, ASMs were tapered one-by-one between 0 and 24 hours of seizure freedom, while in the LS groups, they were tapered one-by-one between 24 and 48 hours of seizure freedom. RESULTS: A total of 112 children were enrolled in the study, with 56 in each arm. Seizure recurrence at 1 week and 12 weeks was comparable in ES and LS groups (3/55 vs. 1/54 at 1 week, p=0.61; 7/49 vs. 6/49 at 12 weeks, p=0.98). Drug acquisition costs were significantly lower in the ES group (393±274 vs. 658±568 INR, p=0.002). Thrombophlebitis and dysphoria were significantly more common in the LS group (p=0.008 and 0.03, respectively). CONCLUSION: The early switch-over of ASMs from intravenous to oral route is safe without any significant increased risk of short-term seizure recurrence and also associated with a reduction in the incidence of thrombophlebitis and ASM acquisition costs. TRIAL REGISTRATION NO: CTRI/2021/03/032145.

An atypical case of bilateral optic neuritis after strabismus surgery under general anesthesia.

INTRODUCTION: Strabismus surgery under general anesthesia is a common procedure with rare complications in the form of hemorrhage, infection, slipped muscle, lost muscle, scleral perforation, and anterior segment ischemia. We report a unique case of bilateral optic neuritis following squint surgery under general anesthesia in a 15-year-old girl. METHODS: A 15-year-old girl presented with accommodative esotropia with V pattern. She underwent uneventful bilateral inferior oblique recession surgery under general anesthesia with Propofol 60 mg, Atracurium 30 mg, and Fentanyl 70 mcg. On the first post-operative day, the patient had an acute onset of temporal headache which was non-radiating. She responded to supportive treatment and was discharged. However, on the 7th postoperative day, she presented with a constant severe headache in the bitemporal region (left > right) for 3 days. She also experienced a painless diminution of vision for 2 days. There was no vomiting, fever, loose stools, diplopia, difficulty in breathing, peripheral sensation loss, generalized weakness, or bowel/bladder incontinence. RESULTS: The best corrected visual acuity was 6/9 in right eye, and 6/9p in left eye with a relative afferent pupillary defect (RAPD) in the left eye. Both optic discs appeared hyperemic with blurred margins. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and orbit showed hyperintensity along the intraorbital and intracanalicular parts of bilateral optic nerves on T2 weighted image suggesting bilateral optic neuritis. She received intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy followed by oral steroids and responded to the medical treatment with improvement in vision but developed steroid-induced glaucoma requiring medical management over several weeks. DISCUSSION: Neuro-ophthalmic complication in the form of non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy has been reported after various ophthalmic surgeries, but bilateral optic neuritis has not been reported to date. This possibility should be kept in mind if any patient presents with similar symptoms. This report also highlights IOP monitoring in pediatric patients receiving systemic steroids to prevent loss of vision due to steroid-induced glaucoma.

Efficacy of daily versus intermittent low glycemic index therapy diet in children with drug-resistant epilepsy: A randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: The predominant reason for the discontinuation of low glycemic index therapy (LGIT) in children with epilepsy is the dietary restrictions imposed therein. This trial intended to compare the efficacy of daily and intermittent LGIT in children with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). METHODS: This study was performed between February 2018 and January 2019 to compare the efficacy of daily and intermittent LGIT in children aged 1-15 years with DRE following 24 weeks of dietary therapy. Compliance, the difficulty faced by caregivers, adverse effects, impact on behaviour, and social quotient in both arms were compared. Children in the intermittent LGIT arm received a liberalized diet for two days every week (Saturday and Sunday), which also allowed medium glycemic index foods. Carbohydrate calories were allowed up to 20% of the total caloric requirement in the liberalized diet, as compared to only 10% in standard LGIT. RESULTS: Out of 132 children randomized (66 in each group), 122 completed 24 weeks follow up. Mean weekly seizure frequency reduction at 24 weeks in the intermittent LGIT group was comparable with that of the daily LGIT group in both intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol analysis (-50.95%± 22.34% vs -47.16%± 23.41%, p=0.36 in ITT and -53.88%±20.54% vs -49.20%±21.87%, p=0.23) in per-protocol analysis for intermittent and daily LGIT group respectively). The proportion with ≥50% reduction in seizure frequency was also comparable between both groups (p=0.73 and 0.56 in ITT and per protocol analysis respectively). The proportion of patients with adverse events and satisfactory compliance rate also had a trend towards favoring intermittent LGIT (p=0.06 and 0.51, respectively), while caregiver difficulty was lower with intermittent LGIT (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Intermittent LGIT is comparable to daily LGIT in terms of seizure frequency reduction after 24 weeks of dietary therapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov (Registration number- NCT03464487, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03464487).