Common Neurological Disorder Research Articles

Research progress on pathogenesis and treatment of febrile seizures.

Febrile seizures (FSs) are the most common pediatric neurological disorder, affecting approximately 5% of children aged 6months to 5years. While most FSs are self-limiting and benign, about 20-30% present as complex FSs (CFSs), which pose a risk of acute brain injury and the development of temporal lobe epilepsy. Various factors, including age, geographical distribution, and type of infection influence the occurrence of FS. Infection is the primary external trigger for FS, while the underlying intrinsic factors are linked to the immature and incomplete myelination of the brain during specific developmental stages. Although the precise pathogenesis of FS is not yet fully understood, it is likely caused by the interaction of immature brain development, fever, neuroinflammation, and genetic susceptibility. This review discussed the pathogenesis of febrile seizures, focusing on factors such as age, fever, neuroinflammation, genetics, and intestinal microbiota, and summarized existing therapeutic approaches. Our review may facilitate the identification of new targets for mechanistic studies and clinical treatment of febrile seizures.

Elevated Serum Levels of Acid Sphingomyelinase in Female Patients with Episodic and Chronic Migraine

Migraine is one of the most common neurological disorders and the second most disabling human condition. The molecular mechanisms of migraine have been linked to neuropeptide release, endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress and inflammatory processes. Acid sphingomyelinase (aSMase) is a secreted enzyme that leads to sphingomyelin degradation to produce ceramide. Its activity has been associated with several molecular processes involved in migraine. Therefore, this cross-sectional study aims to study the potential role of aSMase in patients with episodic and chronic migraine. In this cross-sectional pilot study, serum samples from female healthy controls (n = 23), episodic migraine (EM) patients (n = 31), and chronic migraine (CM) patients (n = 28) were studied. The total serum levels of aSMase were determined by ELISA. In addition, the serum levels of sphingomyelin (SM), dihydro-sphingomyelin (dhSM), ceramide (Cer), and dihydro-ceramide (dhCer) were determined by mass spectrometry as biomarkers involved in the main molecular pathways associated with aSMase. aSMase serum levels were found significantly elevated in both EM (3.62 ± 1.25 ng/mL) and CM (3.07 ± 0.95 ng/mL) compared with controls (1.58 ± 0.72 ng/mL) (p < 0.0001). ROC analysis showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.94 (95% CI: 0.89–0.99, p < 0.0001) and 0.90 (95% CI: 0.81–0.99, p < 0.0001) for EM and CM compared to controls, respectively. Regarding other biomarkers associated with aSMase’s pathways, total SM serum levels were significantly decreased in both EM (173,534 ± 39,096 pmol/mL, p < 0.01) and CM (158,459 ± 40,010 pmol/mL, p < 0.0001) compared to the control subjects (219,721 ± 36,950 pmol/mL). Elevated serum levels of aSMase were found in EM and CM patients compared to the control subjects. The decreased SM levels found in both EM and CM indicate that aSMase activity plays a role in migraine. Therefore, aSMase may constitute a new therapeutic target in migraine that should be further investigated.

Telecoaching and Migraine: Digital Approach to Physical Activity in Migraine Management. A Scoping Review

Migraine is a common neurological disorder, affecting approximately 15% of the European population and is among the main causes of years lived with disability. In the context of increasing digitalisation, telecoaching (TC) is a new training modality that involves the use of digital tools to access and manage training services remotely. Given the well-documented benefits of physical activity in migraine management and the rapid expansion of digital health services following the COVID-19 pandemic, this scoping review aims to evaluate the use and feasibility of TC-based training programs in individuals with migraine. A systematic search was conducted on multiple databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus) identifying 1507 studies, of which only 3 met the inclusion criteria. These studies collectively involved 181 participants with migraine and assessed various training programs, including aerobic training, resistance training, and physical therapy. Most training programs showed statistically significant improvements in several variables, including severity, duration, asand frequency of migraine attacks. However, based on our study, there is limited evidence to suggest that TC training is beneficial for migraine patients. These findings underscore the need for further investigation, with more rigorous methodologies, higher-quality trials, and larger sample sizes to better establish the efficacy of TC training as a preventive and therapeutic approach for migraine.

Patterns of febrile seizures: analysing seasonal, diurnal and socioeconomic correlations in Bangladesh

Background: Febrile seizures (FS) are a common neurological disorder in children, often triggered by fever without evidence of central nervous system infections. This study explores the demographic, seasonal, diurnal and socioeconomic patterns of febrile seizures among children in Bangladesh. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 298 children aged 5 months to 5 years admitted with febrile seizures at a tertiary care hospital. Data were collected on demographic characteristics, comorbidities, seizure patterns and socioeconomic status and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: The majority of febrile seizures occurred in children aged 13–18 months (35.57%) with a male predominance (72.48%). Seizures were brief, with 50.34% lasting≤1 minute and most occurred within 6 hours of fever onset (51.01%). Diurnal variation showed the highest incidence between noon and evening (51.68%). A bimodal seasonal distribution was observed, with peaks in January (12.08%) and July (11.07%). Bronchiolitis (37.92%) and diarrhea (27.18%) were the most common comorbidities. Firstborn children (86.58%) and those with normal nutritional status (93.29%) were predominantly affected. Conclusions: Febrile seizures in the study population showed distinct demographic, temporal and socioeconomic patterns, aligning with global trends. The findings underscore the importance of early fever management, targeted interventions during seasonal peaks and caregiver education to reduce seizure-related morbidity.

Restless Legs Syndrome: A Comprehensive Review of Current Treatment Methods and the Disease's Impact on Quality of Life

Introduction and Purpose of Research: Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) or Willis-Ekbom disease, is a common neurological disorder significantly impacting one’s sleep and quality of life. It often coexists with various health issues, including diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Aim of study: The primary purpose of this research is to explore diverse therapeutic options for RLS which are tailored to individual patient needs. In order to understand the complex pathophysiology of the discussed disease, recent advancements are taken into account. Material and Methods of Research: The review is grounded in findings from 36 recent studies sourced through a systematic search of open-access databases, including PubMed and Google Scholar, focusing on literature published between 2004 and 2024. Results: Adequate and effective management of RLS include non-pharmacological interventions, such as physical activity, acupuncture, yoga and near-infrared light therapy, which can complement pharmacotherapy or prevail as the primary treatment form. Iron therapy emerges as vital for many patients. The correlation between iron metabolism and RLS symptoms requires further analysis and research. Pharmacological strategies involve dopaminergic medications, low-potency opioids, and benzodiazepines, with a target on minimizing side effects and dependency. Conclusion: RLS affects approximately 5-10% of the population, severely disrupting sleep and daily functioning. The condition constrains individualized management, integrating non-pharmacological forms of treatment with pharmacological therapies to improve patient outcomes and reduce dependence on medication.

Determination of sex hormones levels in patients with migraine

Relevance. Primary headaches are currently one of the most common neurological diseases, and the role of sex hormones in their occurrence has been proven.The purpose of the study is to analyze the levels of sex hormones (estradiol and testosterone) in the blood of patients with various clinical forms of migraine during an attack and outside of an attack.Materials and methods. The study included 60 patients aged 18–45 years with migraine, who formed the main group. Each patient in the main group was diagnosed according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, Third Revision (ICHD3). The control group consisted of 15 practically healthy individuals, comparable in age with the main group, who did not suffer from migraine. The study was conducted inpatient and outpatient in a multidisciplinary clinic of the Center for Advanced Professional Development of Medical Workers, the clinical base of the Department of Neurology and Medical Psychology of the Tashkent Medical Academy.Results. The study examined the concentration of sex hormones – testosterone and estradiol – in the blood serum of female and male patients with migraine with and without aura during an attack and outside of an attack, and compared the obtained values with the results of studies in the control group. The level of estradiol is higher in women and men with migraine with aura, which affects the duration and intensity of attacks. In women with migraine without aura, the level of estradiol in the blood decreases in the 1st phase of the menstrual cycle, and its normal value in the 2nd phase is associated with the duration of the headache attack. No statistically significant change in testosterone levels was noted.Conclusions. Our data can be used for considering the possibility of hormonal therapy as a preventive measure against headache attacks in patients with various clinical forms of migraine.

Impact of disease duration and surgical intervention on arousal networks in temporal lobe epilepsy.

Epilepsy is a common neurological disease affecting nearly 1% of the global population, and temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most common type. Patients experience recurrent seizures and chronic cognitive deficits that can impact their quality of life, ability to work, and independence. These cognitive deficits often extend beyond the temporal lobe and are not well understood. It has been proposed in the extended network inhibition hypothesis that repeated spread of seizure activity to the ascending reticular activating system (ARAS) may contribute to these deficits. Disease duration has been associated with other network changes in patients with TLE, but few studies have investigated the relationship between disease duration, ARAS connectivity, and cognitive deficits in TLE. Furthermore, epilepsy surgery can result in seizure freedom and cognitive improvement in some patients, but it is unclear how the surgery affects ARAS connectivity. Resting-state functional MRI data were collected for patients with TLE (preoperatively in 40 and postoperatively in 25), and for 40 age-matched healthy controls. Functional connectivity was computed between all regions. Functional connectivity and segregation, a graph-theory measure of network isolation, were compared across the age spectrum in patients and controls. These same measures were evaluated as a function of epilepsy duration by controlling for age using a linear model built on healthy control data. The authors found that increases in epilepsy duration were associated with greater segregation of the ARAS and decreased functional connectivity between the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus and the frontoparietal association cortex. Furthermore, patients with impaired neurocognitive function were noted to have longer epilepsy duration and higher ARAS segregation compared to patients with spared neurocognition. After surgery, completely seizure-free patients demonstrated ARAS connectivity patterns that resembled those found in controls, whereas patients with residual seizures had persistent abnormal connectivity. These findings suggest that recurrent seizures may contribute to isolation of critical subcortical activating structures, possibly impacting cognitive function. Furthermore, some ARAS functional connectivity abnormalities can be reversed if seizure freedom is achieved after epilepsy surgery. These results provide support for the extended network inhibition hypothesis, may lend insight into the progressive effect of recurrent seizures on arousal networks, and may lead to improved interventions to halt or reverse network impairments in patients with TLE.

Identification and verification of autophagy-related gene signatures and their association with immune infiltration and drug responsiveness in epilepsy

BackgroundEpilepsy, a common neurological disorder, is characterized by susceptibility to recurrent seizures. Increasing evidence suggests that autophagy plays a crucial role in the initiation and progression of epilepsy. However, the precise mechanisms by which autophagy deficiencies involved in epileptogenesis are still not fully understood.MethodsTwo datasets of epilepsy (GSE143272 and GSE256068) were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differential expression genes (DEGs) analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) were employed to screen for autophagy related differential expression genes (ARDEGs) in GSE143272 database. Subsequently, protein–protein interaction, transcription factors and miRNAs networks were constructed. Additionally, the functional enrichment analysis of Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were applied. The hub ARDEGs were identified through CytoHubba, followed by the LASSO analysis. The Immune Cell Abundance Identifier (ImmuCellAI) was used to estimate peripheral immune cells abundance of epilepsy. Furthermore, the expression level of hub ARDEGs were detected in patients treated with different epilepsy monotherapies to explore the role of autophagy in the responsiveness of antiepileptic drug therapy. Finally, the expression level of hub ARDEGs were further validated in hippocampus of GSE256068 to enhance the reliability of the results.ResultsTwenty ARDEGs in epilepsy were screened out by integrating DEGs and WGCNA analysis. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the ARDEGs in epilepsy were not only involved in the autophagy, but also apoptosis, the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway, the neurotrophin signaling pathway, etc. Four hub ARDEGs (PIK3R1, TRIM21, TRIM22, and ITPR3) were screened through integrating CytoHubba plug and LASSO analysis. The immune infiltration analysis showed that there was a significantly increased abundance of macrophages and a decreased abundance of CD4 and CD8 T cells, including Tr1, nTreg, Tfh, CD8 naïve, cytotoxic T cells and effector memory T cells in the epilepsy group. Furthermore, the hub ARDEGs were significantly correlated with the abundance of differential immune cells. In expression level validation and anti-epileptic drug responsiveness analysis, PIK3R1 and ITPR3 had significant differences in the hippocampus of patients with epilepsy. PIK3R1 expression level was found to be related with carbamazepine resistance.ConclusionThis study elucidated the autophagy-related gene signatures in epilepsy and clarified their association with immune infiltration and anti-epileptic drug responsiveness, providing a novel target for future therapeutic interventions and disease markers in epilepsy.

Evaluation of the effects of carbamazepine-loaded chitosan-coated PLGA-Zein nanoparticles on pilocarpine-induced seizure model in zebrafish larvae: Developmental toxicity and behavioral assays.

Epilepsy, the most common neurological disorder worldwide, is characterized by sudden paroxysmal brain activity, which can be generalized or focal. Extensive research has explored various treatment strategies for this condition. Our study employed a pilocarpine (PL)-induced seizure model in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos and larvae to assess the effects of carbamazepine (CBZ)-loaded chitosan-coated PLGA-Zein nanoparticles (NPs) over 96 hours. We evaluated the developmental toxicity (mortality, malformation, and larval hatching), behavioral changes (sensorimotor reflexes), and histopathological and immunohistochemical alterations in brain tissue, focusing on 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 4 (5HT4), and brain and muscle ARNT-Like 1 (BMAL1) expressions. Our findings revealed high mortality and malformation rates in groups treated with pure CBZ (PL+CBZ 50 and PL+CBZ 100). These groups also exhibited delayed hatching and impaired sensorimotor reflexes. In contrast, the CBZ-NP-treated groups (PL+CBZ NP 50 and PL+CBZ NP 100) showed hatching rates comparable to the control group, with significantly lower mortality and malformation rates compared to pure CBZ-treated groups. Moreover, intense cytoplasmic expression of 5HT4 and BMAL1 was observed in neuropils of the PL+CBZ 100 group. This study highlights the potential of CBZ-loaded NPs in reducing developmental toxicity and adverse neurological effects associated with pure CBZ treatment in seizure models.

Prevalence and Pattern of Neurological Disorders amongst Children Attending the Neurology Clinic of a Private Paediatric Hospital in Southern Nigeria

Aim: Neurologic disorders are a common cause of morbidity and disability in children worldwide. There is a dearth of knowledge of neurologic disorders in private health facilities thus this study was done to determine the prevalence and pattern of these disorders. Study Design: It was a retrospective study. Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out in a private paediatric hospital in Southern Nigeria over 1-year between 1st January, 2023 and 31th December, 2023. Methodology: Data was extracted from the hospital’s health management system and analysed. Results: Of the 22,965 outpatient clinic visits during the study period, 203 had neurological disorders giving a prevalence rate of 0.9% with slight female predominance 107(52.7). Most common age group was 1 - < 5 years (43.4%). Single neurologic disorders predominated 123 (63.4%). Commonest neurological disorders were seizure disorder (54.6%), autism spectrum disorder (24.3%) and attention deficit hyperactive disorder (11.3%) with the commonest risk factors for neurologic disorders being severe perinatal asphyxia (42.1%) and severe neonatal jaundice (42.1%). There were significantly more males than females with seizure disorder (P value .013) whereas cerebral palsy was significantly more in females (P value .002). Seizure disorder and learning disorder were significantly more in children ³ 5years (P value of .001 & .030 respectively) whereas cerebral palsy and speech impairment were significantly more in children < 5years (P value of < .001 & .030 respectively). Conclusion: The prevalence of neurologic disorders was low, being 0.9% with children under 5 years being mostly affected. Commonest neurologic disorders were seizure disorder, autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactive disorder while perinatal asphyxia and neonatal jaundice were the commonest risk factors. Public enlightenment campaigns about neurologic disorders and the availability of care would improve the outcome of affected children.

Framing and Management of Migraines in Women: An Expert Opinion on Challenges, Current Approaches, and Future Multidisciplinary Perspectives.

Background/Objectives: Migraines are a common neurological disorder that significantly impact women, especially during their reproductive years. Hormonal, neurological, and lifestyle factors shape migraine patterns, with fluctuations during menstruation, pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause influencing migraine prevalence and severity. This expert opinion explores current challenges, therapeutic strategies, and future directions for personalized care, addressing the limited inclusion of women in clinical research across different life stages. Methods: In order to focus on hormonal influences, pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies, including CGRP monoclonal antibodies, neuromodulation, and lifestyle interventions, a comprehensive analysis of literature, in particular on clinical trials, real-world studies, and guidelines on migraine management was performed. Emerging digital tools and AI-based approaches were also evaluated to improve personalized care for women with migraine. Results: Hormonal therapies, including contraceptives and HRTs, present both risks and benefits, particularly for women with migraines with aura, highlighting the need for individualized approaches. Advances in CGRP-targeted therapies have shown effectiveness in preventing refractory migraines. Non-pharmacological treatments, such as neuromodulation, acupuncture, and lifestyle adjustments, further expand the treatment landscape. However, research gaps remain, particularly regarding hormonal influences on migraines during pregnancy and menopause. Conclusions: Future research should prioritize female-specific clinical trials to better understand the impact of hormonal changes on migraines. Tailored therapies combining pharmacological, non-pharmacological, and digital solutions are essential for improving care. A multidisciplinary approach integrating personalized medicine, technological advancements, and patient education is crucial to optimizing outcomes and enhancing quality of life for women with migraine.

Migraine Genetic Susceptibility Does Not Strongly Influence Migraine Characteristics and Outcomes in a Treated, Real-World, Community Cohort.

Background/Objectives: Migraine is a common neurological disorder with highly variable characteristics. While genome-wide association studies have identified genetic risk factors that implicate underlying pathways, the influence of genetic susceptibility on disease characteristics or treatment response is incompletely understood. We examined the relationships between a previously developed standardized integrative migraine polygenic genetic risk score (PRS) and migraine characteristics in a real-world, treated patient cohort. Methods: This retrospective cohort study used covariate-adjusted regression to comprehensively evaluate associations between the PRS and clinical characteristics in 1653 treated migraine cases with European ancestry at baseline and, in 800 cases, after one year. Cases were deeply phenotyped by neurologists during extensive interviews, using structured clinical documentation tools to record ~200 discrete data elements. Results: In treated patients, higher standardized PRS showed associations with two common migraine symptoms: photophobia (odds ratio [confidence interval]: 1.33 [1.13-1.56], p = 0.001) and stabbing pain (1.21 [1.08-1.36], p = 0.001]; both retained significance at Q = 0.05. Associations with phonophobia, nausea, emesis, and unilateral headache had similar effect sizes but did not survive correction for multiple tests. In this population, the PRS was not associated with other symptoms of migraine attacks, objective measures of migraine disability, frequency, severity, average duration, time-to-peak intensity of migraine attacks, chronification, emergency department visits, triptan responsiveness, or changes at follow-up. Conclusions: In treated patients, genetic risk was associated with common migraine symptoms but not with the severity of migraine characteristics or treatment outcomes. This suggests that in treated patients, other genetic and non-genetic factors influence migraine symptom severity and disease course more strongly than genetic susceptibility.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Seizure Control in Pediatric Epilepsy: Risk Factors and Clinical Outcomes.

Background: Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder in children, associated with significant morbidity and socioeconomic burden. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic disrupted healthcare delivery, potentially exacerbating seizure control among pediatric epilepsy patients. This study aimed to evaluate the pandemic's impact on seizure characteristics and identify risk factors contributing to seizure exacerbation in children with epilepsy. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using medical records of 84 pediatric epilepsy patients at The Catholic University of Korea Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital from July 2019 to July 2022. Data were collected on demographics, epilepsy characteristics, and healthcare accessibility. Changes in seizure outcomes were analyzed alongside potential risk factors, including infections and socioeconomic variables. Statistical analyses assessed correlations between these factors and seizure exacerbations. Results: Among the 84 pediatric epilepsy patients, 25% experienced significant seizure exacerbations during the COVID-19 pandemic. These included increased seizure frequency (18%), prolonged duration (13%), emergence of new seizure types (4%), and status epilepticus requiring hospitalization (5%). Multivariate analysis identified recent epilepsy diagnosis (<1 year) and low socioeconomic status as independent predictors of seizure worsening (p < 0.05). Infections with non-COVID-19 respiratory viruses, such as RSV and influenza, were strongly associated with exacerbated seizure activity (p < 0.001). Dissatisfaction with access to epilepsy care further increased the risk of poor seizure control, reflecting the challenges posed by disrupted healthcare systems. Notably, no significant relationship was observed between SARS-CoV-2 infection and seizure outcomes, suggesting that indirect factors, rather than direct viral effects, were primary contributors to seizure exacerbation. Conclusions: This study highlights the compounded impact of disrupted healthcare access, socioeconomic challenges, and respiratory viral infections on seizure control during the COVID-19 pandemic. Strategies such as telehealth expansion, regular monitoring, and vaccination against respiratory pathogens are essential to optimize seizure management in future health crises.

The effect of interferon beta on quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis study

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common progressive neurological disorders affecting young adults. This study aimed to perform a meta-analysis on the effect of interferon beta (IFN-β) on the quality of life (QOL) of patients with MS. Methods: Using valid keywords and searching through databases like Medlib, ScienceDirect, PubMed, etc., 10 articles published between 1999 and 2020 were collected. The inclusion criteria were developed based on clinical guidelines, focusing on studies involving adults with MS treated with IFN-β, with outcomes measuring QOL. The exclusion criteria included studies not in English, those involving pediatric populations, or those lacking a control group. In the reviewed studies, 14 scales of QOL were measured at the beginning and the end of treatment with IFN-β. Stata software. Publication bias was not significant. Heterogeneity was evaluated using the Q test and the I2 index. In heterogeneous studies, subgroup analysis and meta-regression were used for meta-analysis. The random-effect model was used for analyses with I2 of more than 50%. Results: A total number of 1320 people with an average age of 32.40 ± 8.77 years were included in this study. On average, there was a slight decline in energy and satisfaction with sexual function scales (SSF), while a slight improvement was seen in the other 12 scales, following the treatment with IFN-β. However, no significant changes were observed in any of the QOL scales following treatment, except for health distress (HD) (P &lt; 0.001), role limitation due to physical problems (RLPP) (P &lt; 0.001), and role limitation due to emotional problems (RLEP) (P = 0.037), all of which showed a slight but natable improvement. The physical and mental components, showed significant increases of 0.189 [95% Confidence interval (CI): 0.083, 0.295, I2 = 0%] and 0.221 (95% CI 0.119, 0.324, I2 = 0%) in the scores after using IFN-β, respectively. Conclusion: This study's results showed that treatment with IFN-β does not negatively affect the QOL of patients with MS. Moreover, this treatment can slightly improve most QOL scales associated with the disability observed in MS.

Nedl1 knockout ameliorates cognitive impairment and improves epilepsy threshold in pilocarpine-induced epileptic mice

BackgroundEpilepsy is a common neurological disorder. The homologous to E6-AP carboxy terminus (HECT) E3 ligase is associated with epilepsy. NEDD4-like ubiquitin protein ligase-1 (NEDL1) is a HECT E3 ligase that is highly expressed in the brain. This study aimed to investigate the involvement of NEDL1 in epilepsy and the potential effect of NEDL1 on the cognitive ability.MethodsThe pilocarpine-induced epileptic mouse model was used to assess cognitive functions in Barnes maze, the pathological changes, and the activation of astrocytes and microglia in wild-type (Nedl1+/+) and Nedl1 knockout (Nedl1−/−) mice. The RNA-seq method was used to analyze differentially expressed genes and explore the brain pathophysiology after epilepsy development.ResultsNedl1 knockout resulted in a protective effect against epilepsy. The Nedl1−/− mice showed improved spatial learning and memory, alleviation of pathological damage in the hippocampus induced by epilepsy, and reduced microglial activation in the hippocampus. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis of differentially expressed genes also revealed several prominently enriched T-cell-related pathways.ConclusionsNedl1 knockout reduces seizures and alleviates neuroinflammation. The potential functional link between NEDL1 and epilepsy provides a new approach to the treatment and intervention of epilepsy.

Plasma metabolome reveals altered oxidative stress, inflammation, and amino acid metabolism in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy.

Idiopathic epilepsy (IE) is the most common chronic neurological disease in dogs and an established natural animal model for human epilepsy types with genetic and unknown etiology. However, the metabolic pathways underlying IE remain largely unknown. Plasma samples of healthy dogs (n = 39) and dogs with IE (n = 49) were metabolically profiled (n = 121 known target metabolites) and fingerprinted (n = 1825 untargeted features) using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Dogs with IE were classified as mild phenotype (MP; n = 22) or drug-resistant (DR; n = 27). All dogs received the same standard adult maintenance diet for a minimum of 20 days (35 ± 11 days) before sampling. Data were analyzed using a combination of univariate (one-way analysis of variance or Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test), multivariate (limma, orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis), and pathway enrichment statistical analysis. In dogs with both DR and MP IE, a distinct plasma metabolic profile and fingerprint compared to healthy dogs was observed. Metabolic pathways involved in these alterations included oxidative stress, inflammation, and amino acid metabolism. Moreover, significantly lower plasma concentrations of vitamin B6 were found in MP (p = .001) and DR (p = .005) compared to healthy dogs. Our data provide new insights into the metabolic pathways underlying IE in dogs, further substantiating its potential as a natural animal model for humans with epilepsy, reflected by related metabolic changes in oxidative stress metabolites and vitamin B6. Even more, several metabolites within the uncovered pathways offer promising therapeutic targets for the management of IE, primarily for dogs, and ultimately for humans.

Klasifikasi Penyakit Migrain dengan Metode Naïve Bayes pada Dataset Kaggle

Migraine is one of the most common neurological diseases in society and has a significant disability impact. According to the Global Burden of Disease Study, migraine is one of the most common neurological disorders in the world, with a greater disability burden than other neurological disorders. In data science, data classification plays an important role in determining the category or class of an object based on a number of available classes. One frequently used classification method is Naïve Bayes, which utilizes mathematical probabilities with the assumption that the decision made is accurate based on the given data. This research develops a classification model using the Naïve Bayes algorithm to predict and classify migraine patient data. This model produces classification values with an accuracy of 88.51% when training from 280 train data given and 89.02% when testing from 120 test data given. The classification results can support the medical world in diagnosing migraine types more accurately, optimizing treatment, saving health costs, and becoming the basis for further research and development in the field of neurology.

Serial systemic immune inflammation indices: markers of acute migraine events or indicators of persistent inflammatory status?

BackgroundMigraine is the most common complex neurological disorder, affecting over a billion people worldwide. Neurogenic inflammation has long been recognized as a key factor in the pathophysiology of migraine though little research has been directed to investigating whether inflammation is greatest in migraine with aura or without, and whether inflammation is a permanent state in migraine or whether is an event related transitory state. Thus, the primary aim of this single-centre, retrospective study was to explore the potential clinical utility of the Serial Systemic Immune-Inflammatory Indices (SSIIi) as a comparative measure of duration and severity of inflammation derived from routine blood cell counts in migraine patients with aura and no-aura both within an acute inpatient setting and as outpatients. Specifically, we assessed the role of two serial white blood cell counts to calculate the SSIIi using the formula: neutrophil count x platelet count/lymphocyte count) between aura and no-aura migraine patients at time of admission to a tertiary care centre in Melbourne, Australia, and following 24 h post admission versus comparable serial measures in 20 out patients with migraine and ongoing symptoms.Main bodyA retrospective analysis was conducted of medical records using baseline demographics and brain imaging findings from 186 migraine hospitalized in-patients who had at least two sets of white blood cell counts drawn within 24 h following their admission to the emergency department of Western Health a tertiary care center in Melbourne, Australia, over an 18-month period. Patients were categorized as having migraine with aura (MA) (N = 67) or without aura (MO) (N = 119) according to ICHD-3 criteria and compared to 2 serial measures in stable in-community acute migraineur controls (N = 20). A mixed-design ANOVA showed a significant main effect of SSIIi between patients with migraine with aura (MA) and migraine without aura (MO) during acute inpatient presentation, in comparison to a convenience sample of outpatients with migraine (MA and MO).ConclusionSSIIi levels were significantly lower in patients with migraine with aura (MA), compared to MO. MA showed a greater, though non-significant, decrease between the two measurements compared to those with migraine without aura (MO) and outpatient controls, whose SSIIi levels remained consistently higher. The control group displayed similar findings to MO inpatients, suggesting persistent systemic inflammation in a subset of migraine patients regardless of in patient or outpatient of presentation and highlighting the need for future studies to more rigorously evaluate the role of systemic inflammation in migraine pathophysiology, chronicity, and progression though the multiple phases of migraine including the interictal phase.

Circulating microRNAs as Biomarkers of Various Forms of Epilepsy.

Background: Epilepsy is a group of disorders characterized by a cluster of clinical and EEG signs leading to the formation of abnormal synchronous excitation of neurons in the brain. It is one of the most common neurological disorders worldwide; and is characterized by aberrant expression patterns; both at the level of matrix transcripts and at the level of regulatory RNA sequences. Aberrant expression of a number of microRNAs can mark a particular epileptic syndrome; which will improve the quality of differential diagnosis. Materials and Methods: In this work; the expression profile of six microRNAs was analyzed: hsa-miR-106b-5p; hsa-miR-134-5p; hsa-miR-122-5p; hsa-miR-132-3p; hsa-miR-155-5p; and hsa-miR-206-5p in the blood plasma of patients suffering from temporal lobe epilepsy (n = 52) and juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (n = 42); n-amount of participants; in comparison with healthy volunteers. The expression analysis was carried out using RT-PCR. Mathematical processing of the data was carried out according to the Livak method. Results: A statistically significant change in the expression of hsa-miR-106b-5p; hsa-miR-134-5p; hsa-miR-122-5p; and hsa-miR-132-3p was found. An increase in the expression of hsa-miR-134-5p and hsa-miR-122-5p was registered in the group of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy compared to the control; as well as an increase in the expression of hsa-miR-132-3p and hsa-miR-106b-5p in the juvenile myoclonic epilepsy group compared to the control. hsa-miR-122-5p; 106b-5p; 132-3p are also able to discriminate groups with different syndromes. Additionally; a number of microRNAs are able to discriminate patients with drug-resistant and drug-sensitive forms of epilepsy from the control; as well as patients with hippocampal sclerosis and patients without hippocampal sclerosis from the control. Conclusion. Our data allow us to propose these microRNAs as plasma biomarkers of various epileptic syndromes.

Diffusion tensor imaging for detecting biomarkers of idiopathic epilepsy in dogs.

Idiopathic epilepsy (IE) is the most common neurological disease in dogs. Approximately 1/3 of dogs with IE are resistant to anti-seizure medications (ASMs). Because the diagnosis of IE is largely based on the exclusion of other diseases, it would be beneficial to indicate an IE biomarker to better understand, diagnose, and treat this disease. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequence, is used in human medicine to detect microstructural biomarkers of epilepsy. Based on the translational model between people and dogs, the use of DTI should be investigated in a veterinary context to determine if it is a viable resource for detecting microstructural white matter abnormalities in the brains of dogs with IE. As well, to determine if there are differences in white matter microstructure between dogs who are responsive to ASMs and dogs who are resistant to ASMs. Using DTI to better understand neurostructural abnormalities associated with IE and ASM resistance might help refine diagnostic approaches and treatment processes in veterinary medicine.