ECT represents a valuable skin-directed therapy across a range of malignancies. The most frequently applied treatment modality is intravenous chemotherapy under sedation. Small tumor size predicts durable tumor control, fewer side-effects and better PROs.
A case-control study of 305 children was done to evaluate the relationship between toxocariasis and seizures and risk factors associated with toxocariasis transmission and seizure onset. A significant association existed between seropositivity for anti-Toxocara canis and seizures (p less than 0.05); the correlation was closest in children aged less than 5 years of age. Among risk factors, pica was more common in children with seizures than in controls but was not associated with toxocariasis. The association between dog ownership and toxocariasis was highly significant (p less than .000001). Our findings suggest that toxocariasis may be involved as a cofactor in the pathogenesis of seizures.
studies that included therapies not generally used in 'so-called' conventional treatment (i.e. constraint, taping). Treatment effects were combined using the weighted mean difference method. Fixed and random effect meta-analyses were carried out and results were compared. Heterogeneity was also assessed. Funnel plots were examined and the presence of small-study effects was tested. Intensive therapy tended to have a greater effect than nonintensive therapy (1.32; 95% confidence interval: 0.55-2.10). The effect of intensive treatment tended to be apparently stronger for children 2 years of age. Our meta-analysis shows that, in children with cerebral palsy, intensive conventional therapy may improve the functional motor outcome, but the effect size seems to be modest.
Levetiracetam is an antiepileptic drug that has been shown to be effective in various types of seizures, both partial and generalized. Although it is not yet well established because of the small number of studies, levetiracetam as both add-on therapy and monotherapy can be considered as an alternative to valproic acid in some pediatric patients. We have reviewed the available data on the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of levetiracetam in children with epilepsy. The efficacy of levetiracetam as an adjunctive therapy and as monotherapy for generalized and partial childhood epilepsies and for some types of specific epileptic syndromes of infancy and childhood (such as juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, benign rolandic epilepsy, and Jeavon syndrome) has been demonstrated in some studies. Moreover, levetiracetam may be a valuable option for children with refractory epilepsy. The reported tolerability of levetiracetam and its safety profile are favorable. Among the side effects reported, behavioral changes and even psychotic reactions seem to occur more frequently in younger patients (under 4 years of age). The onset of signs/symptoms usually occurs early, even during the titration phase, and, in many cases, at a low dosage (<20 mg/kg/day). These side effects were always observed to be reversible after discontinuation of levetiracetam. In conclusion, results from clinical trials to date suggest that levetiracetam has a full spectrum of efficacy as well as a favorable safety profile, and this drug can be considered a valuable option in the treatment of epilepsy in pediatric patients.
The authors describe a paradoxical reaction to lamotrigine (LTG) treatment in a patient with idiopathic rolandic epilepsy characterized by seizure deterioration, the appearance of new seizure type, and transient cognitive impairment. This phenomenon was present at a low dose after a slow titration and promptly reverted on LTG discontinuation. This rare event may have similarities with carbamazepine-induced seizure worsening caused by the Na++ channel inhibitory effect of the two antiepileptic drugs.
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