ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of Xiao’er kang xian capsule added to anti-seizure medications (ASMs) in the treatment of children with refractory epilepsy and its influence on serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and cludter of differentiation 19+ (CD19+) levels. Methods A total of 60 children with refractory epilepsy were selected from the pediatric outpatient department and ward of Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital from February 2021 to June 2023. The study subjects were divided into two groups by numerical random method,with 30 cases in each group. The children with Xiao’er kang xian capsule added to the original treatment were the treatment group and the children without Xiao’er kang xian capsule added to the original treatment were the control group. The frequency, duration, EEG characteristics, adverse reactions and changes in serum NSE and CD19+ levels of the two groups were compared after treatment. Results Self-control before and after treatment in the treatment group: the frequency and duration of seizures were significantly reduced, with statistical difference (P<0.05). EEG discharge index in awake period and sleep period were significantly decreased, with statistical difference (P<0.05). After 6 months of treatment, comparison between the two groups of children: the seizure frequency of children in the treatment group was significantly decreased compared with the control group (P=0.03). There was a statistical difference (P<0.05), and the seizure duration in the treatment group was less than that in the control group (P=0.863), the clinical effective rate of treatment group 83.33% was higher than that of control group 63.33% (P=0.08), the effective rate of EEG in treatment group 80% was higher than that of control group 60% (P=0.091), serum NSE and CD19+ in treatment group were lower than that of control group, with no statistical difference (P>0.05). After 12 months of treatment, the frequency and duration of seizures in the treatment group were significantly decreased (P<0.05). The clinical efficacy and effectiveness of treatment group were significantly higher than that of control group (P=0.038). The incidence of adverse reactions in both groups was 16.67% (P>0.05). The effective rate of EEG in treatment group was significantly higher than that in control group (P=0.053). Serum NSE and CD19+ in treatment group were significantly lower than those in control group (P<0.05). ConclusionFor children with refractory epilepsy, the addition of Xiao’er kang xian capsule on the basis of the original treatment has obvious effect low adverse reaction and high safety. NSE and CD19+ can be used as monitoring indicators for the influence of the disease and prognosis evaluation during the treatment of children with epilepsy.
Febrile seizures (FS) are one of the most common neurological disorders in pediatrics, commonly seen in children from three months to five years of age. Most children with FS have a good prognosis, but some febrile convulsions progress to refractory epilepsy (RE). Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder , and refractory epilepsy accounts for approximately one-third of epilepsies. The etiology of refractory epilepsy is currently complex and diverse, and its mechanisms are not fully understood. There are many pathophysiological changes that occur after febrile convulsions, such as inflammatory responses, changes in the blood-brain barrier, and oxidative stress, which can subsequently potentially lead to refractory epilepsy, and inflammation is always in tandem with all physiological changes as the main response. This article focuses on the pathogenesis of refractory epilepsy resulting from post-febrile convulsions.
Background To summarize the genetic characteristics of GATOR1 complex gene mutations and the surgical prognosis of patients with refractory epilepsy. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 16 patients with GATOR1 complex gene mutations who presented with mainly refractory epilepsy and underwent surgical treatment at the Epilepsy Center of Tsinghua University Yuquan Hospital from May 2019 to August 2024. The follow-up period ranged from 0.5 to 4.0 years. The genetic characteristics, clinical data, treatment, and prognosis of the patients were analyzed. Results Among the 16 patients, 9 were male and 7 were female, with an onset age ranging from 0.6 to 9.4 years, and seizure frequency ranging from once a day to dozens of times a day. Twelve patients (75.0%) had no seizures after surgery, and three of them had completely stopped taking medication. EEG were focal or multifocal, and all clinical seizures were monitored. Two patients had negative MRI. Among the 16 patients, there were 8 with DEPDC5 gene mutations, 5 with NPRL3 gene mutations, and 3 with NPRL2 gene mutations. Conclusions Patients with refractory epilepsy related to GATOR1 complex gene mutations are good surgical candidates, with a high rate of no seizures after surgery. For confirmed patients, surgical treatment should be considered.
Objcetive To assess the efficacy and safety of lenalidomide plus dexamethasone (LD) compared with placebo plus dexamethasone (PD) for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Methods Data were searched in The Cochrane Library (Issue 3, 2010), MEDLINE (with PubMed, 1966 to Nov. 2010), EMbase (1984 to Nov. 2010), CBMdisc (1978 to Nov. 2010), and CNKI (1979 to Nov. 2010), and also searched in clinical trials register for ongoing studies and completed studies with unpublished data. The references of the included studies and relevant supplement or conference abstracts were handsearched. Randomized controlled trials were included. The data were extracted, and then the quality of the included studies was assessed by two reviewers independently. RevMan 5.0 software was used for meta-analyses for studies with low heterogeneity. Results Two studies involving 704 participants were included. One was high quality study, while the other was unclear about randomization and allocation concealment. The adverse outcomes of LD, such as mortality (RR=0.78, 95%CI 0.62 to 0.97, P=0.03) and incidence of disease progression (RR=0.16, 95%CI 0.08 to 0.34, Plt;0.000 01), were better than those of PD, which had significant differences. The overall response rate was higher in the LD group than in the PD group (RR=2.75, 95%CI 2.22 to 3.41, Plt;0.000 01). The incidence of thrombotic event (RR=3.20, 95%CI 1.78 to 5.73, Plt;0.000 1), the Grade Three and Grade Four neutropenia (RR=10.20, 95%CI 5.76 to 18.08, Plt;0.000 01), the Grade Three and Grade Four thrombocytopenia (RR=2.08, 95%CI 1.28 to 3.38, P=0.003), and the incidence of drug withdrawal or dosage reduction due to adverse reactions (RR=1.34, 95%CI 1.21 to 1.49, Plt;0.000 01) were all higher in the LD group than in the PD group. Conclusion The efficacy of LD is superior to that of PD for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, but the incidence of drug adverse events, such as thrombosis, Grade Three or Grader Four neutropenia or thrombocytopenia, is also higher than that of PD, which has to be prevented positively.
ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in patients with refractory magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-negative epilepsy and to evaluate potential clinical predictors. MethodsA retrospective collection of efficacy data was conducted on 24 patients with intractable MRI-negative epilepsy treated with VNS, who were followed up for more than six months, at Beijing Tiantan Hospital and Beijing Fengtai Hospital from January 2016 to September 2023. Patients were divided into two subgroups based on their response to VNS: responders (≥50% reduction in seizure frequency) and non-responders (<50% reduction in seizure frequency). The relationship between preoperative clinical data and VNS efficacy was further analyzed to identify potential predictors of VNS efficacy. ResultsA total of 24 patients were included, with an average age of (14.26±8.39) years old. Seizure frequency was reduced by more than 50% in 37.5% of patients, and 8.3% of patients achieved seizure-free after VNS treatment. Preoperative seizure frequency and interictal epileptiform discharge type were significantly associated with VNS efficacy (P<0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed that a monthly seizure frequency of less than 100 and focal interictal epileptiform discharges were independent predictors of VNS efficacy (P<0.05). ConclusionVNS is an effective treatment for patients with refractory MRI-negative epilepsy. Lower monthly seizure frequency and focal interictal epileptiform discharges are potential predictors of VNS efficacy. These findings provide important references for clinicians in selecting and evaluating patients for VNS treatment.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of levetiracetam (LEV) added on to usual care, in treating children refractory partial seizure epilepsy.MethodsWe searched the Cochrane library, EMBASE and PubMed between January 1998-January 2017, We systematically searched CNKI database and Wanfang data, Chinese biology medline and the manual retrieval related magazines.RevMan 5.3 statistical software for Meta analysis.ResultsAccording to the enrollment criteria, fourtrials were included involving 498 participants according to the intent-to-treat, 268 for LEV, and 230 for placebo groups.We assessed the following outcomes: 50% or greater seizure reduction, seizure freedom, adverse effects, proportion of dropouts and quality of life. There was no evidence of statistical heterogeneity between trials.We assessed outcomes by using a meta-analysis to calculate odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). For the 50% or greater reduction in focal seizure frequency outcome, the OR was significantly in favour of LEV [OR=2.94, 95% CI(1.99, 4.34)].Participants were significantly more likely in LEV groups than placebo groups to get seizure free[OR=5.31, 95% CI(2.49, 11.32)]. There was no significance between LEV groups and placebo groupsin the rate of Treatment withdrawal[OR=0.76, 95% CI(1.32, 1.82)]. Somnolence[OR=2.57, 95% CI(1.36, 4.86)]and changes in behaviour [OR=2.54, 95% CI(1.56, 4.14)] were significantly associated with LEV. Other adverse effects were not significantly associated with LEV in children.ConclusionThe existing evidence suggests that LEV add in treatment of children refractory epilepsy have definite curative effect, LEV long-term treatment effect is stable, good security, retention rate is higher, can be used in clinical further promotion.