The European Commission (EC) has approved the paediatric licence variation of Zonegran (zonisamide), a novel anti-epileptic drug (AED) with multiple mechanisms of action and a chemical structure unrelated to any other AED.[1] Zonisamide is now indicated as an adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial seizures, with or without secondary generalisation, in adolescents and children aged six years and above in addition to its existing license in adult patients.[1] Epilepsy is a common condition in children and adolescents, affecting around 10.5 million worldwide, with nearly one million living in Europe.[2] However, only two thirds of these youngsters will achieve seizure control and many will require additional AEDs to improve seizure control.[3] Epilepsy in children often presents major challenges such as developmental and behavioural problems resulting in educational underachievement and a lack of self-esteem. These issues, which are frequently manifested in an attention deficit disorder, withdrawal, anxiety or depression, have a negative impact on both the child and their family.[4] "It is pleasingthat Zonegran has now been licensed to be prescribed for children, as new options for young people with epilepsy are needed desperately," said Professor Helen Cross, Great Ormond Street Hospital and Young Epilepsy. "Epilepsyaffects all aspects of children and … Continue reading →

Older adults who have epilepsy may fare better than expected in undergoing surgery to relieve seizures, according to a study by doctors in Grand Rapids and Detroit. The findings could have a significant impact on older adults, who are at risk of developing seizures through head trauma, strokes, tumors and Alzheimers, the doctors say. Traditionally, there has been a tendency to exclude older patients from surgery for fear of increased risk of medical or surgical complications, said Dr. Sanjay Patra, a Spectrum Health Medical Group neurosurgeon and lead author of the study. This study provides evidence that surgery may instead be a viable and effective treatment option. The study compares results and complications of 122 surgical patients of Dr. Kost Elisevich, a neurosurgeon, and Dr. Brien Smith, a neurologist, from 1993 to 2008. They led the epilepsy center at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit for 20 years before moving to Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids in 2011. After surgery, those who became free of disabling seizures were: 58 percent of the under-50 group, 74 percent of those older than 50, and 91 percent of those 60 and older. The older adults might have a high success rate because long-term experience … Continue reading →

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/939jxn/disease_and) has announced the addition of the "Disease and Therapy Review: Epilepsy" report to their offering. The Epilepsy Disease and Therapy Review provides an overview of the disease and related conditions, with incidence and prevalence numbers and percentages for major countries worldwide, information on diagnosis, and an overview of treatment. Dosing and treatment cost information is provided for various treatment types. General information on the epilepsy market, as well as sales of leading drugs and therapies are provided. Disease and Therapy Reviews were developed to provide a basic understanding of the key facts about a disease and market in a quick, easy-to-read format. These reports are prepared by the author's senior market research team. Each Disease and Therapy Review provides a concise analysis of the most important information about a particular disease, its treatment, and the market opportunities. The reports begin with an overview of the condition, and also contain tables that summarize the available worldwide incidence and prevalence data for the condition, a review of current diagnosis strategies and treatment options, general information about the market size, and information about important market trends. Key Topics Covered: I. Overview Ii. Incidence And Prevalence Iii. Diagnosis … Continue reading →

Oct. 2, 2013 A recently published study by researchers from Spectrum Health and Henry Ford Hospital suggests that surgery may be an effective treatment for epilepsy in older patients, a finding that runs counter to conventional treatment methods. "Traditionally, there has been a tendency to exclude older patients from surgery for fear of increased risk of medical or surgical complications," said Spectrum Health Medical Group neurosurgeon Sanjay Patra, MD, lead author of the study. "This study provides evidence that surgery may instead be a viable and effective treatment option." The study, recently published online in the British Journal of Neurosurgery, uses a retrospective institutional archival review of 122 Henry Ford Hospital patients with medically refractory partial epilepsy. Medically refractory seizures are those that do not respond successfully to drug treatment. Partial epilepsy refers to a type of seizure that originates and remains in a limited area of the brain, such as the temporal lobe. Researchers compared surgical outcomes of a group of patients aged 50 years and older with those of a younger group of patients. The median follow-up time for both the younger and older groups was 24 months. Results showed that 74 percent of patients in the older … Continue reading →

At 53 and nearing retirement, Sundar Rajan spends sleepless nights worrying about his sons future. His 23-year-old was diagnosed with autism and needs constant care. Even as hes fasting at Freedom Park he is among a group of parents and caregivers of people living with autism who began a 48-hour satyagraha on Gandhi Jayanti to create awareness about the disorder and demand State support his wife is at home to take care of their son. Mr. Rajan explains that parents like him often have nowhere to turn for help. Day care and support centres are expensive. He pays Rs. 15,000 for day care, an amount most parents cannot afford, he points out. While there are many centres and NGOs focussing on disabilities, some funded by the government, few focus on autism. This can only happen with the government recognising the gravity of the issue. To start with, we have no idea about the magnitude of the problem, no statistics to understand its prevalence. The government must set up a national centre for autism to study the disorder, and form guidelines on treatment and therapy, he says. Antara Roy, another parent whose five-year-old son is autistic, says that the problem starts … Continue reading →

Oct. 1, 2013 Researchers at The University of Texas at Dallas have taken a step toward developing a new treatment to aid the recovery of limb function after strokes. In a study published online in the journal Neurobiology of Disease, researchers report the full recovery of forelimb strength in animals receiving vagus nerve stimulation. "Stroke is a leading cause of disability worldwide," said Dr. Navid Khodaparast, a postdoctoral researcher in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and lead author of the study. "Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke. Our results mark a major step in the development of a possible treatment." Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is an FDA-approved method for treating various illnesses, such as depression and epilepsy. It involves sending a mild electric pulse through the vagus nerve, which relays information about the state of the body to the brain. Khodaparast and his colleagues used vagus nerve stimulation precisely timed to coincide with rehabilitative movements in rats. Each of the animals had previously experienced a stroke that impaired their ability to pull a handle. Stimulation of the vagus nerve causes the release of chemicals in the brain known to enhance learning and memory called … Continue reading →