Understanding of and misunderstandings regarding epilepsy: A survey of teachers in schools for special needs education in Japan.

The present study surveyed the understanding of epilepsy and attitudes toward epilepsy among teachers in Japanese schools for special needs education. An adapted version of a self-reported questionnaire, consisting of 27 questions, was sent to 3474 teachers at all schools for special needs education in Saitama Prefecture. The response rate to the questionnaire was 62%, corresponding to 2109 valid responses. The responses to three basic questions were as follows: 99% had heard about "epilepsy", 90% had seen epileptic seizures, and 63% had an acquaintance who had epilepsy. Numerous questionnaire items gave low correct answer rates for knowledge- and attitude-related questions. Correct responses to knowledge questions and a positive attitude toward epilepsy were associated with whether individuals had acquaintance with epilepsy, experience seeing a seizure, and read or heard about epilepsy. There was skepticism and uncertainty about whether people with epilepsy should be allowed to drive, likely due to vague fears of the risks of driving with epilepsy. According to our results, knowledge about epilepsy does not necessarily lead to a positive attitude. However, respondents who had acquaintances with epilepsy were most likely to demonstrate a positive attitude. Thus, familiarity is an essential factor in the likelihood of having a positive attitude toward epilepsy. Therefore, it is essential for teachers to understand how to manage and respond to epilepsy. There were a variety of concerns related to people with epilepsy driving. This finding highlights the importance of disseminating correct information on the risks of driving with epilepsy.

Modulation of Cell Adhesion and Differentiation on Collagen Gels by the Addition of the Ovalbumin Secretory Signal Peptide.

Ovalbumin (OVA) is the most abundant protein in egg whites that is unnecessary in the egg yolk-based food industry. The development of OVA-based functional materials is of great interest. Collagen is a major component of the extracellular matrix. In this study, an OVA fragment, the OVA secretory signal peptide (OVA SP), was loaded in collagen gels, which were used as a cell scaffold for various types of cells. We examined the effect of OVA SP loaded in collagen gels to cell properties. The peptide was initially bound to the collagen fibers and then released from the gel. Our results indicate that the released OVA SP suppressed the integrin-mediated cell adhesion and focal adhesion formation. However, the adhesion of NIH3T3 cells was not suppressed by treatment with a chelating agent and an anti-ß1 antibody. Our results suggest that OVA SP nonspecifically interacts with cell surface proteins. The adhesion of various cell types on collagen gels were changed by the addition of OVA SP, depending on their integrin expression pattern. Additionally, the differentiation of MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells was promoted on the OVA SP-loaded collagen gels. This suggests that OVA SP may modulate both the differentiation and the adhesion of cells cultured on the collagen gels.

The clinical features of patients suffering from psychogenic non-epileptic seizures with or without epileptic seizures.

Objective: We investigated the clinical characteristics of pediatric psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES). Methods: We studied 15 children and adolescents with PNES, who were divided into 3 groups : 1) a group with epilepsy (7 patients), 2) a group without epilepsy and mental retardation (MR) (7 patients), and 3) a group with MR (1 patient), according to the guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of PNES established by the Japan Epilepsy Society. Results: Remission of epilepsy and PNES was achieved in only 2 patients in the group with epilepsy. In the group without epilepsy and MR, antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) could be discontinued entirely in all the patients, however, the treatment for PNES could be completed in only one patient. Treatment of epilepsy and PNES could be completed in the one patient with MR. Conclusions: It is important for pediatric neurologists to explain the good news to the parents of children in the group without epilepsy or MR, that the patient does not have epilepsy and does not require treatment with AEDs. For the group with MR, understanding should be encouraged about the development of the child. Because treatment is difficult in the group with epilepsy and PNES, cooperation among the pediatric neurologists, pediatric psychiatrists and clinical psychologists is more important.

[Intelligence of hemiplegic children: an association with epilepsy and the laterality of the lesion].

We studied thirty-one children with hemiplegia to elucidate the relationship of intelligence, the laterality of a lesion, and epilepsy, in these children. We investigated the influences of the age at the onset of the seizures, the number of anti-convulsants, and the duration of medication, on the DQ/FIQ. The results indicated a significantly higher DQ/FIQ and VIQ for right hemiplegic children than for left hemiplegic children. But the PIQ of the patients with either a left or right hemiplegia was not significantly different. A significantly higher DQ/FIQ, VIQ, and PIQ was also revealed for the children without epilepsy. In addition, there was also a tendency that the DQ/FIQ of children who suffered from epilepsy before the age of one year was lower than that of children who suffered from epilepsy after the age of one year. The present results provide evidence which supports the crowding hypothesis.