Functional Connectivity Derived From Electroencephalogram in Pharmacoresistant Epileptic Encephalopathy Using Cannabidiol as Adjunctive Antiepileptic Therapy.

To explore brain function using functional connectivity and network topology derived from electroencephalogram (EEG) in patients with pharmacoresistant epileptic encephalopathy with cannabidiol as adjunctive antiepileptic treatment. Sixteen epileptic patients participated in the study, six of whom had epileptic encephalopathy with a stable dose of cannabidiol Epidiolex (CBD) as adjunctive therapy. Functional connectivity derived from EEG was analyzed based on the synchronization likelihood (SL). The analysis also included reconstructing graph-theoretic measures from the synchronization matrix. Comparison of functional connectivity data between each pathological group with the control group was carried out using a nonparametric permutation test applied to SL values between pairs of electrodes for each frequency band. To compare the association patterns between graph-theoretical properties of each pathological group with the control group, Z Crawford was calculated as a measure of distance. There were differences between pairs of electrodes in all frequency bands evaluated in encephalopathy epileptic patients with CBD adjunctive therapy compared with the control (p < 0.05, permutation test). In the epileptic encephalopathy group without CBD therapy, the SL values were higher than in the control group for the beta, theta, and delta EEG frequency bands, and lower for the alpha frequency band. Interestingly, patients who had CBD as adjunctive therapy demonstrated greater synchronization for all frequency bands, showing less spatial distribution for alpha frequency compared with the control. When comparing both epileptic groups, those patients who had adjunctive CBD treatment also showed increased synchronization for all frequency bands. In epileptic encephalopathy with adjunctive CBD therapy, the pattern of differences for graph-theoretical measures according to Z Crawford indicated less segregation and greater integration suggesting a trend towards the random organization of the network principally for alpha and beta EEG bands. This exploratory study revealed a tendency to an overconnectivity with a random network topology mainly for fast EEG bands in epileptic encephalopathy patients using CBD adjunctive therapy. It can therefore be assumed that the CBD treatment could be related to inhibition of the transition of the interictal to ictal state and/or to the improvement of EEG organization and brain function.

Surgical Outcome in Extratemporal Epilepsies Based on Multimodal Pre-Surgical Evaluation and Sequential Intraoperative Electrocorticography.

OBJECTIVE: to present the postsurgical outcome of extratemporal epilepsy (ExTLE) patients submitted to preoperative multimodal evaluation and intraoperative sequential electrocorticography (ECoG). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: thirty-four pharmaco-resistant patients with lesional and non-lesional ExTLE underwent comprehensive pre-surgical evaluation including multimodal neuroimaging such as ictal and interictal perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scans, subtraction of ictal and interictal SPECT co-registered with magnetic resonance imaging (SISCOM) and electroencephalography (EEG) source imaging (ESI) of ictal epileptic activity. Surgical procedures were tailored by sequential intraoperative ECoG, and absolute spike frequency (ASF) was calculated in the pre- and post-resection ECoG. Postoperative clinical outcome assessment for each patient was carried out one year after surgery using Engel scores. RESULTS: frontal and occipital resection were the most common surgical techniques applied. In addition, surgical resection encroaching upon eloquent cortex was accomplished in 41% of the ExTLE patients. Pre-surgical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) did not indicate a distinct lesion in 47% of the cases. In the latter number of subjects, SISCOM and ESI of ictal epileptic activity made it possible to estimate the epileptogenic zone. After one- year follow up, 55.8% of the patients was categorized as Engel class I-II. In this study, there was no difference in the clinical outcome between lesional and non lesional ExTLE patients. About 43.7% of patients without lesion were also seizure- free, p = 0.15 (Fischer exact test). Patients with satisfactory seizure outcome showed lower absolute spike frequency in the pre-resection intraoperative ECoG than those with unsatisfactory seizure outcome, (Mann- Whitney U test, p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: this study has shown that multimodal pre-surgical evaluation based, particularly, on data from SISCOM and ESI alongside sequential intraoperative ECoG, allow seizure control to be achieved in patients with pharmacoresistant ExTLE epilepsy.

Evolución clínica, cognitiva y calidad de vida posquirúrgica en un caso con síndrome de Lennox Gastaut / Clinical and Cognitive Evolution and Postoperative Quality of Life in a Case with Lennox Gastaut Syndrome

Introducción: El síndrome de Lennox Gastaut se considera una encefalopatía epiléptica. Las anomalías epileptiformes en este síndrome contribuyen a la discapacidad intelectual gradual, a las comorbilidades psiquiátricas y alteraciones conductuales. En la práctica clínica aparecen atipicidades del síndrome, con focalización funcional cuyo tratamiento constituye un desafío. Objetivo: Describir la evolución clínica, cognitiva y calidad de vida en un caso con síndrome de Lennox Gastaut antes, y después del tratamiento quirúrgico. Presentación del caso: Paciente masculino de 16 años con síndrome de Lennox Gastaut. Se revisó la historia clínica y se tomaron en consideración, los resultados del video-electroencefalograma, de la resonancia magnética nuclear y de la tomografía computarizada por emisión de fotón único. Se evaluó, además, el proceder quirúrgico, la evaluación clínica y neuropsicológica. Se realizó una descripción cualitativa de la evolución del paciente a los 6 meses y al año de la intervención quirúrgica. Conclusiones: el paciente con síndrome de Lennox Gastaut presentó una evolución favorable después del tratamiento quirúrgico, lo cual se reflejó en una disminución en la frecuencia de las crisis. mejoría cognitiva, conductual y mejor calidad de vida(AU)

Introduction: Lennox Gastaut syndrome is considered an epileptic encephalopathy. Epileptiform abnormalities in this syndrome contribute to gradual intellectual disability, psychiatric comorbidities and behavioral disturbances. In clinical practice, atypicalities of the syndrome appear with functional focalization whose treatment constitutes a challenge. Objective: To describe the clinical and cognitive evolution and quality of life in a case with Lennox Gastaut syndrome before and after surgical treatment. Case presentation: A 16-year-old male patient with Lennox Gastaut syndrome. The clinical history was reviewed and the results of the video-electroencephalogram, nuclear magnetic resonance and single photon emission computed tomography were taken into consideration. The surgical procedure, clinical and neuropsychological evaluation were also evaluated. A qualitative description of the patient's evolution past 6 months and one year after surgery was prepared. Conclusions: the patient with Lennox Gastaut syndrome has a favorable evolution after surgical treatment, which is reflected in a decrease in seizure frequency, cognitive and behavioral improvement and better quality of life(AU)

Relation of Structural and Functional Changes in Auditory and Visual Pathways after Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Surgery.

Auditory and visual pathways may be affected as a consequence of temporal lobe epilepsy surgery because of their anatomical relationships with this structure. The purpose of this paper is to correlate the results of the auditory and visual evoked responses with the parameters of tractography of the visual pathway, and with the state of connectivity between respective thalamic nuclei and primary cortices in both systems after the surgical resection of the epileptogenic zone in drug-resistant epileptic patients. Tractography of visual pathway and anatomical connectivity of auditory and visual thalamus-cortical radiations were evaluated in a sample of eight patients. In general, there was a positive relationship of middle latency response (MLR) latency and length of resection, while a negative correlation was found between MLR latency and the anatomical connection strength and anatomical connection probability of the auditory radiations. In the visual pathway, significant differences between sides were found with respect to the number and length of tracts, which was lower in the operated one. Anatomical connectivity variables and perimetry (visual field defect index) were particularly correlated with the latency of P100 wave which was obtained by quadrant stimulation. These results demonstrate an indirect functional modification of the auditory pathway and a direct traumatic lesion of the visual pathway after anterior temporal lobectomy in patients with drug resistant epilepsy.

Funcionamiento familiar y esfuerzo percibido por el cuidador primario de niños con enfermedades neurológicas / Family functioning and perceived effort by the primary caregiver of children with neurological diseases

RESUMEN Fundamento: Las investigaciones que intentan relacionar el funcionamiento familiar y el esfuerzo percibido por el cuidador primario de niños con enfermedades neurológicas, documentan resultados divergentes e insuficientes. Objetivo: identificar la relación entre el funcionamiento familiar y el esfuerzo percibido por el cuidador primario de niños con enfermedades neurológicas. Métodos: estudio de serie de casos, realizado en el Servicio de Neuropsicología, del Centro Internacional de Restauración Neurológica, en el segundo semestre de 2018. Los participantes fueron 12 cuidadores de niños entre uno y seis años de edad. Se aplicó entrevista estructurada, índice de esfuerzo del cuidador, escala de funcionamiento familiar/FF-SIL, inventario de características familiares de riesgo y análisis documental. Se utilizó estadística descriptiva, comparación de medias y correlación de Spearman. Resultados: el 92 % de los cuidadores no había recibido información de cómo cuidarse, ni de cómo cuidar a su hijo. El índice de esfuerzo del cuidador manifestó iguales proporciones para los niveles elevado y bajo (50 % respectivamente). Se observó relación entre edad de los cuidadores y edad de desarrollo de los niños y el funcionamiento familiar (r=0,71, r=0,67); así como entre el índice de esfuerzo del cuidador y el inventario de riesgos familiares (r=0,72). Conclusión: Los cuidadores primarios estudiados carecen de información de autocuidado y del cuidado de su hijo; una criticidad elevada y un índice de esfuerzo del cuidador heterogéneo, lo cual se relaciona con los riesgos familiares. La edad de los cuidadores y la edad de desarrollo de los niños influyen en el funcionamiento familiar.

ABSTRACT Foundation: Research that attempts to relate family functioning and the effort perceived by the primary caregiver of children with neurological diseases, documents divergent and insufficient results. Objective: to identify the relationship between family functioning and the effort perceived by the primary caregiver of children with neurological diseases. Methods: case series study, conducted at the Neuropsychology Service, of the International Center for Neurological Restoration, in the second half of 2018. The participants were 12 children caregivers between one and six years old. Structured interview, caregiver effort index, family functioning scale / FF-SIL, inventory of family risk characteristics and documentary analysis were applied. Descriptive statistics, comparison of means and Spearman correlation were used. Results: 92% of caregivers had not received information on how to take care of themselves, or how to care for their child. The caregiver effort index showed equal proportions for the high and low levels (50% respectively). The relationship between caregivers´ age, children´s development age and family functioning was observed (r = 0.71, r = 0.67); as well as between the caregiver's effort index and the family risk inventory (r = 0.72). Conclusion: The primary caregivers studied lack self-care information and care of their child; a high criticality and an effort index of the heterogeneous caregiver, which is related to family risks. The age of caregivers and the age of children´s development influence family functioning.

Factores pronósticos de recuperación funcional en pacientes con infarto cerebral crónico de territorio carotídeo / Prognostic factors of functional recovery in patients with chronic cerebral infarction of carotid part

Introducción: Se realizó un estudio observacional prospectivo de los pacientes con diagnóstico de infarto cerebral de territorio vascular carotídeo, de perfil crónico, que ingresaron en la Clínica de Lesiones Estáticas Encefálicas del Centro Internacional de Restauración Neurológica. Objetivo: Determinar el pronóstico de recuperación funcional en pacientes con infarto cerebral, en tratamiento de rehabilitación intensivo, Métodos: Se estudiaron 80 pacientes del Centro Internacional de Restauración Neurológica (año 2007-2010), durante 4 sem. Se crearon 2 grupos, según la presencia de recuperación funcional, utilizando el índice de Barthel. Se realizaron comparaciones según edad, sexo, factores de riesgo vascular y condición neurológica y funcional inicial. Resultados: La edad promedio de los casos recuperados fue de 58,04 años (±12,18), superior a la de los casos no recuperados, de 51,09 años (±11,19) (t pareada p= 0,01), El sexo y los factores de riesgo no mostraron asociación con la recuperación funcional (X² p= 0,05). La recuperación funcional resultó significativa para pacientes moderados según la escala escandinava para ictus (36,73 por ciento X²p= 0,000) y severos según índice de Barthel (51,02 por ciento X²p= 0,000). Conclusión: La condición neurológica y funcional constituye un buen predictor de respuesta al tratamiento

Introduction: An observational and prospective study was done to the patients with diagnostic of chronic cerebral infarction of carotid vascular part, which were studied at the Clinic of Statics Encefalic Injury from the International Center Neurological Restoration. Objective: To determine the functional recovery prognosis in patients presenting with cerebral infarction under intensive rehabilitation treatment. Methods: Eighty patients were studied from the International Center of Neurological Restoration (2007-2010) for 4 weeks. Two groups were created according to presence of a functional recovery using the Barthel index. Comparisons according to age, sex, vascular risk factors and the neurological and functional initial condition were made. Results: The mean age of recovered cases was of 58,04 years (±11,19) (matched t p= 0.01). Sex and risk factors have not association with the functional recovery (X² p= 0,05). The functional recovery was significant for moderate patients according the Scandinavian scale for ictus (36,73 percent X² p= 0,000) y severe according the Arthel index (51,02 percent X² p= 0,000). Conclusion: The neurological and functional condition is a good predictor of the response to treatment