Resting-state fMRI in patients with refractory epilepsy with and without drop attacks: exploring the connectivity of sensorimotor cortex.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with multifocal or generalized epilepsies manifesting with drop attacks have severe refractory seizures and significant cognitive and behavioural abnormalities. It is unclear to what extent these features relate to network abnormalities and how networks in sensorimotor cortex differ from those in patients with refractory focal epilepsies. Thus, in this study we sought to provide preliminary data on connectivity of sensorimotor cortex in patients with epileptic drop attacks, in comparison to patients with focal refractory epilepsies. METHODS: Resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI) data was available for 5 patients with epileptic drop attacks and 15 with refractory focal epilepsies undergoing presurgical evaluation. Functional connectivity was analyzed with a seed-based protocol, with primary seeds placed at the precentral gyrus, the postcentral gyrus and the premotor cortex. For each seed, the subjects' timeseries were extracted and transformed to Z scores. Between-group analysis was then performed using the 3dttest+ + AFNI program. RESULTS: Two clusters of reduced connectivity in the group with drop attacks (DA group) in relation to those with focal epilepsies were found in the between-group analysis: the precentral seed showed reduced connectivity in the surrounding motor area, and the postcentral seed, reduced connectivity with the ipsilateral posterior cingulate gyrus. In the intra-group analyses, sensorimotor and premotor networks were abnormal in the DA group, whereas patients with focal epilepsies had the usual connectivity maps with each seed. CONCLUSION: This pilot study shows differences in the cerebral connectivity in the sensorimotor cortex of patients with generalized epilepsies and drop attacks which should be further explored to better understand the biological bases of the seizure generation and cognitive changes in these people.

Neurological syndromes and potential triggers associated with antibodies to neuronal surface antigens.

BACKGROUND: Autoantibodies against surface neuronal antigens have been associated with specific neurological presentations including autoimmune encephalitis (AE), with variable association with neoplasia and infections. METHODS: We described the phenotype and environmental associations of patients with neurological syndromes associated with antibodies against neuronal surface antigens who were referred to a tertiary center in the South of Brazil. All patients were tested for neuronal autoantibodies using cell-based assays. Clinical, radiological, and laboratory findings were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: We identified 16 patients, 15 had subacute, and one had a progressive disease course. Among patients with subacute onset, 11 (73 %) were N-Methyl-d-Aspartate receptor (NMDAr-IgG)+, 3 (20 %) were Leucine-rich Glioma-Inactivated-1 (LGI1-IgG)+, and 1 (6 %) was positive for Glycine receptor-IgG. The patient with a progressive disease course had antibodies against IgLON5. Most patients had disease onset in spring and summer suggesting environmental factors for the development of AE. Also, we observed a different pattern of brain lesions when NMDAr-IgG encephalitis followed herpes encephalitis and a previously unreported association with Rosai-Dorfman-Destombe disease. All patients with encephalopathy met criteria for possible AE and all proven NMDAr-IgG+ met criteria for NMDAr-IgG encephalitis. However, only one LGI1-IgG+ patient fulfilled clinical criteria for limbic encephalitis. All but one received high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone, 11 also had intravenous human immunoglobulin, and 4 plasma exchange. Furthermore, all patients received second-line immunotherapy. Importantly, most patients improved with immunotherapy, even when initiated later in the disease course. CONCLUSION: We identified seasonal variability associated with neuronal surface antibodies suggesting environmental triggers. Also, we described the coexistence of NMDAr-IgG encephalitis with histiocytosis. In our series, most patients received second-line immunotherapy. We observed neurologic improvement after treatment even in cases of delayed diagnosis. Increasing the recognition and availability of tests and treatments for these conditions is of paramount importance in low- and middle-income countries.

Thermoregulatory Instability in Childhood: Linking the Normal Brain to Hypothalamic Storm.

Central core temperature is tightly controlled by hypothalamic centers, a feature that makes sudden changes in body temperature very unusual. A dysfunction of these hypothalamic pathways leads to Shapiro's syndrome, comprising spontaneous hypothermia, hyperhidrosis, and corpus callosum dysgenesis. Although it may affect any age, usually it presents in childhood. Variants to this syndrome with completely normal brain anatomy have been consistently reported, expanding the clinical spectrum of the syndrome. Herein, we report the case of a 4-year-old girl with Shapiro's syndrome and unaffected corpus callosum.

Cardioembolic sources in stroke patients in South of Brazil.

Background. Stroke is a leading cause of mortality and disability in Brazil and around the world. Cardioembolism is responsible for nearly 30% of the origins of ischemic stroke. Methods. We analyzed data of 256 patients with cardioembolic ischemic stroke (according to TOAST classification) who were admitted into the Hospital São Lucas-PUCRS from October 2011 to January 2014. The cardioembolic subtype was divided into six subgroups: arrhythmias, valvular heart disease, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, septal abnormalities, and intracardiac injuries. The prevalence of the most important cardiovascular risk factors and medications in use for prevention of systemic embolism by the time of hospital admission was analyzed in each patient. Results. Among 256 patients aged 60.2 +/- 6.9 years, 132 males, arrhythmias were the most common cause of cardioembolism corresponding to 50.7%, followed by valvular heart disease (17.5%) and coronary artery disease (16%). Hypertension (61.7%) and dyslipidemia (43.7%) were the most common risk factors. Less than 50% of patients with arrhythmias were using oral anticoagulants. Conclusions. Identifying the prevalence of cardioembolic stroke sources subgroups has become an increasingly important role since the introduction of new oral anticoagulants. In this study, arrhythmias (especially atrial fibrillation) were the main cause of cardioembolism.