Latest blog entries

Early life exposure to antiepileptic drugs may cause cognitive deficits in newborns

administrator@icnapedia.org (ICNA) — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:14:26 +0000

In a study published in the Annals of Neurology, researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) report that the anti-epilepsy drug phenobarbital given to rat pups about a week old changed the way the animals' brains were wired, causing cognitive abnormalities later in life. The results provide the first evidence that exposure to antiepileptic drugs during a sensitive postnatal period impairs physiological maturation of synapses in neurons that survive the initial drug insult.

Intramuscular midazolam safe and effective for pre-hospital status epilepticus

administrator@icnapedia.org (ICNA) — Sun, 13 May 2012 00:45:00 +0000

The Rapid Anticonvulsant Medication Prior to Arrival Trial (RAMPART) trial results published in the NEJM suggest that IM midazolam is at least as safe and effective as IV lorazepam for prehospital termination of seizures in status epilepticus.

Early life seizures and autism - Rapamycin might be preventive

administrator@icnapedia.org (ICNA) — Sat, 12 May 2012 17:05:54 +0000

Seizures in early life are associated with autism with about 40% of patients with autism also having epilepsy as comorbidity. A study from Boston Children's Hospital finds a reason for the link, and suggests that the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin ,already shown to be safe in children, could help prevent autism from developing in newborns who have seizures.

Playing video games may benefit children with cerebral palsy

administrator@icnapedia.org (ICNA) — Fri, 11 May 2012 22:15:25 +0000

A group of scientists has found that video games such as Nintendo's Wii offer an enjoyable opportunity to promote light to moderate physical activity in children with CP, and may have a role to play in rehabilitation therapy. Their research is published online in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

ICNC2012 SIG meeting - Vigabatrin and Visual Field Defects

raili.riikonen@kolumbus.fi (Raili Riikonen) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 22:22:45 +0000

A special interest group meeting will be held at the ICNC2012
Date: May 31, 2012
Time: 1300-1330 hrs
Venue: Mezzanine M room 7/8, Brisbane Convention Centre
Topic: Does Vigabatrin treatment in infancy bring visual field defects

Please contact Prof Riikonen if you would wish to participate or contribute to this meeting.

McDonald criteria and Paediatric MS

administrator@icnapedia.org (ICNA) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 22:34:27 +0000

Ann Neurol 2012 Mar 4. Study shows that the 2010 McDonald criteria can be applied for early diagnosis of Paediatric MS in children older than 11yrs, with non ADEM-like presentations.

http://bit.ly/Hxcx79

ICNA President-Elect Elections 2012

administrator@icnapedia.org (ICNA) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 20:42:31 +0000

ICNA President-Elect elections are underway. The online voting site will remain open until 12 Noon GMT on Tuesday April 17, 2012. Your vote in this election is very important. Please take a few minutes to visit the online voting site and register your choice. If you haven't received your voting credentials by email, please contact onlinevoting@icnapedia.org asap

Immunotherapy slows childhood glioma

administrator@icnapedia.org (ICNA) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 21:02:00 +0000

Immunotherapy with peptide vaccines may offer a much-needed therapeutic option for gliomas in children, which carry a poor prognosis despite current treatments.

MMR and Febrile Seizures

administrator@icnapedia.org (ICNA) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 20:11:00 +0000

Vaccines for measles were not associated with an increased risk of febrile seizures* among 4-6 year olds during the six weeks after vaccination, according to a study by the Kaiser Permanente Vaccine Study Center that appears in the current issue of Pediatrics.

Chronic TLE and aging

administrator@icnapedia.org (ICNA) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 07:37:00 +0000

New research confirms that childhood onset temporal lobe epilepsy has a significant impact on brain aging. Study findings published in Epilepsia, a peer-reviewed journal of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), show age-accelerated ventricular expansion outside the normal range in this patient population.