Scientific Program

Conference Series Ltd invites all the participants across the globe to attend 2nd International Conference on Epilepsy & Treatment Rome, Italy.

Day 1 :

Keynote Forum

Albisua Sanchez Julio

Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Spain

Keynote: Surgical treatment of epilepsy

Time : 09:00-09:40

Conference Series Epilepsy 2016 International Conference Keynote Speaker Albisua Sanchez Julio photo
Biography:

Albisua Sanchez Julio MD, PhD is Head of the Department of Neurosurgery of Fundación Jimenez Díaz in Madrid. He is Professor at the Medicine School of the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid. His epilepsy surgery program is one of the most active programs in Spain. He has authored several publications and book chapters, mainly about temporal lobe epilepsy. He is actually serving as Secretary of the Spanish Society of Functional Neurosurgery (SENFE), Vice-president of the Madrid Neurosurgical Society (SONCAM) and as President of the Spanish Brain Council (SBC-CEC).

Abstract:

Approximately 1% of people suffer from epilepsy. Medication can render about 80% of them seizure free, but that left 20% of people with epilepsy that cannot get rid of seizures by just taking medication. Most of them are surgical candidates. Patients with epilepsy that are considering surgery have to undergo a broad spectrum of test. Most important tests are VideoElectroEncephaloGraphy monitoring and specific Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Depending on the case, more studies can be needed, including intracranial electrodes implantation. Most of the surgically treated patients present with temporal lobe epilepsy. Mesial Temporal Sclerosis (MTS) is a loss of neurons in a deep part of the temporal lobe, the hippocampus that usually is not controllable on medication alone. 70% of patients with MTS can be seizure free after surgery. Surgeries are also done in other regions of the brain, out of the temporal lobe. And there are some techniques that, although not likely to render the patient seizure free, may significantly decrease the number of seizures and provide a better quality of life. Vagus nerve
stimulation and callosotomy belong to this group of surgical techniques. Morbidity and mortality of epilepsy surgery are in general low, and comparably favourable to these of uncontrolled epilepsy.

Keynote Forum

Alberto E Musto

Eastern Virginia Medical School, USA

Keynote: Therapeutic approaches for neuronal network disruption in limbic epileptogenesis

Time : 09:40-10:20

Conference Series Epilepsy 2016 International Conference Keynote Speaker Alberto E Musto photo
Biography:

Alberto E Musto, MD, PhD is a Physician-Scientist and Medical Educator of the Department of Pathology and Anatomy of the Eastern Virginia Medical School,Virginia, USA. His scientific goal is to identify a potential biomarker and preventive therapies for epilepsy. Currently, his research is focusing in the cellular and molecular mechanisms of immune-inflammatory process that contribute to the development of aberrant neuronal networks after brain injuries. He has been studied the role of pro-inflammatory mediators in experimental models of epilepsy using in vivo recordings of neural activities from chronically implanted microelectrodes in the brain and its correlations with neural damage, microglia cells and dendritic spine modifications using histological and biochemical approaches. He has been involved actively in medical education and neuroscience research in Universidad de Buenos Aires, and Universidad Austral, Argentina and Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, USA supported by CONICET, Argentina and NIH, USA. He received board certifications in both Neurology and Radiology, completed Post-graduate studies in medical education, and management in health systems in Argentina. He completed a doctoral thesis in Neurobiology in Argentina and a Post-doctoral fellowship in neuroprotection in USA.

Abstract:

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), or limbic epilepsy, the most common form of epilepsy in adults, has no cure. The current medical treatments are not effective to control some limbic seizures. Patients with TLE are still at risk for early mortality and comorbidities such as cognitive dysfunctions, depression and anxiety disorders. They also have higher prevalence of systemic disorders that exacerbate adverse effects from anti-epileptic drugs. TLE also carries a social stigma and increases the costs of health care and community. TLE is characterized by spontaneous recurrent complex partial seizures (limbic seizures) that arise in the hippocampus, spread within limbic circuitry and to other brain regions. LE is a product of complex biological events denominated limbic epileptogenesis (LE). LE is associated with brain injuries that alter neuronal network connectivity, which is leading to hyper-excitable network and limbic seizure susceptibility. Brief hippocampal spontaneous epileptiform activity,
or microseizures observed in LE reflect small epileptogenic generators related to strong depolarization from pyramidal layers associated with an increased hyper-excitability, thus reflecting a complex pathological microcircuit activity. Microseizures are related to spontaneous bursts of certain groups of neuronal networks that lead to robust neuronal reorganization in epilepsy (i.e., chronic epilepsy), contributed, in some way, by an impairment of altered GABAergic perisomatic interneurons suggesting a dynamic and complex pathophysiology for the neuronal network involved in LE. Also, pathological high frequency oscillations (pHFOs) might precede microseizures and it could contribute to the propagation of MEA. pHFOs may recruit and synchronize other aberrant neuronal networks, which then trigger spontaneous recurrent seizures. Those aberrant networks are related to modification of dendritic spines (DS), subcellular site of the formation of aberrant neuronal network in LE. DS, morphological signature of postsynaptic sites and excitatory synaptic transmission, play a critical role in neuronal network assemblies during epileptogenesis. Modulation of activated inflammatory pathways, voltage-gated sodium channels, and the mTOR pathway are proposed for anti-aberrant neuro-network plasticity in LE. Continued clinical and experimental research in LE is critical for the discovery of new therapies to prevent TLE and to reduce adverse effects and pharmaco-resistance. Overall, the challenge in epilepsy research is to evaluate promised interventions for epileptogenesis and at the same time to identify biological mechanisms that can prevent aberrant neural network dysfunction.

Keynote Forum

Jera Kruja

University of Medicine Tirana, Albania

Keynote: Depression and Epilepsy

Time : 10:20-11:00

Conference Series Epilepsy 2016 International Conference Keynote Speaker Jera Kruja photo
Biography:

Jera Kruja is a member of Scientific Committee at European Academy of Neurology and Professor of Neurology at Mother Theresa University Hospital Center. Since 2014, she is European Representative at Teaching Course Committee, World Federation of Neurology. During 2013-2014, she was a Rector of University of Medicine, Tirana and Member of Editing Board of OA Publishing London, WebMed Central Brain Editor, Albanian Medical Journal, Bulletin of Medical Sciences, University of Medicine, Tirana. She worked at Health National Contact Point, European Commission, CORDIS Fp7 program (2010-2013). From 2003, she is a reviewer of European Journal of Neurology, Clinical Epidemiology, Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health and Journal of Pediatric Epilepsy. She is a trainer of European Academy of Epilepsy since February 2003. She was the President of Albanian Society of Neurology during 1998-2007.

Abstract:

Background: Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorders often complicated not only by recurrent seizures, but also from mood disorders. Nevertheless, mental health, including depression, is not routinely being assessed in patients diagnosed with epilepsy. Up to date, no former study has assessed the prevalence and severity of depression among epilepsy patients in Albania.

Methods: Twenty-nine (29) consecutive epilepsy outpatients were enrolled at the University Hospital Center “Mother Theresa” together with 47 healthy controls. To assess depression, both patients and controls were interviewed by trained neurologists using the Beck depression inventory II (BDI-II). Differences were tested using the independent samples t-test for total BDI-II scores, and chi-squared test for categorical levels of depression.

Results: Epilepsy patients (55.2% males, mean age 36.9 years old) showed no statistically significant gender or age difference with the healthy controls (55.3% males, mean age 42.1 years old). Nevertheless, epilepsy patients scored higher than controls on the BDI-II (mean score 16.4 versus 8.3, p<0.001). In epilepsy patients, prevalence of minimal, mild, moderate and severe depression were 48.3%, 20.7%, 20.7% and 10.3% respectively, showing a more severe distribution of depression levels (Pearson chi-square 8.914, p=0.03) compared to controls, which showed minimal, mild, moderate and severe depression in 80.8%, 8.5%, 6.4% and 4.3% of the cases respectively.

Conclusions: This study depicts, for the first time, the double burden of depression and epilepsy in Albanian patients, recognizing a higher prevalence and severity of depression in epilepsy. Therefore, in order for the need of mental health care to be met, a more careful and patient-oriented treatment strategy may be warranted. 

Break: Networking and Refreshment Break 11:00-11:20 @ Foyer
  • Epilepsy | Neurobiology and Pathophysiology | Epilepsy Case Reports
Location: Olimpica 3 & 4
Speaker

Chair

Lucio Parmeggiani

Bozen Regional Hospital, Italy

Session Introduction

Lucio Parmeggiani

Bozen Regional Hospital, Italy

Title: Nonconvulsive status epilepticus in non-progressive encephalopathy: Presentation of two cases

Time : 11:20-11:50

Speaker
Biography:

Lucio Parmeggiani graduated in Medicine in Bologna in 1989. He was Resident in Neurology at Bellaria Hospital in Bologna, (1989-1993), and in Child Neurology at Stella Maris Hospital in Pisa (1997-2002). He completed his PhD at Bologna University in 1997. He was Researcher at Loyola University in Chicago (1991-1992), worked as a Neurology Consultant at King’s College Hospital in London (1999-2001), and as Clinical Neurophysiologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London (2001-2003). Since 2006, he has been working as a Child Neurologist at Bozen Regional Hospital in Bolzano, Italy. He has published more than 30 papers in reputed journals.  

Abstract:

Nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) is described in children affected by non-progressive encephalopathy, mainly presenting as long-lasting episodes of alteration of contact, associated with myoclonic jerks or other movement disorder. Most children are affected by genetic syndromes (i.e. Angelman syndrome, Wolf Hirschhorn syndrome), developmental cortical malformation, or fetal/ neonatal anoxic injury. Recognition of NCSE in such disabled children can be very difficult and often tardive. Treatment of NCSE is notoriously difficult, as it is usually resistant to antiepileptic drug. We present 2 children with non-progressive encephalopathy and epilepsy, who developed NCSE. First patient is a 5 year-old girl affected by Rett syndrome, due to MCP2 mutation and symptomatic generalized epilepsy. At age 4 year 6 months, she gradually developed a NCSE characterized by worsening of eye contact and deambulation in a period of several weeks. EEG showed continuous and diffuse slow spike-and-wave discharges. She was treated for her epilepsy with a combination of drug including carbamazepine (CBZ). Rapid CBZ withdrawn and levetiracetam introduction was followed by resolution of NCSE in a week. Second patient is 10 year-old girl affected by Down syndrome, left temporal desmoplastic infantile ganglioglioma, surgically treated, and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. During a lung infection, she gradually developed a tonic status epilepticus characterized by recurrent, subtle axial tonic seizures for several hours, which were recognized with video-EEG recording. NCSE proved resistant to benzodiazepines and phenobarbital, but remitted with phenytoin iv.

Eleonora Palma

University of Rome “Sapienza”, Italy

Title: GABAA Receptor function and its implications in normal and pathologic developing brain

Time : 11:50-12:20

Speaker
Biography:

Eleonora Palma has completed her PhD in Biophysics in 1996 at University of Rome Sapienza, and she was a Post-doc Fellow at University of Geneva. She is Associate Professor of Physiology at University of Rome, Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicine. She is a Physiologist with a special interest in neurological diseases. Recently, she studied the GABAergic dysfunction in human epilepsies using different electrophysiological approaches and focused her interest on the role of neuroinflammation in human and experimental epilepsies. Thanks to different national and international collaborations, she published more than 50 papers in international peer-reviewed journals.

Abstract:

Neurotransmitter receptors have fundamental roles during physiological development, as a complex interplay between glutamatergic and GABAergic systems takes place throughout maturation. In particular, it is now a well-established notion that brain development is promoted by a peculiar action of GABA current that contributes to enhance neuron growth and synapse formation. Furthermore, there is a strong time-dependent expression of all the actors of the GABAergic transmission (namely its subunits, the cation-chloride-cotransporters, its accessory proteins), which is responsible of the modifications of the receptor function observed during maturation. The meaning of GABAA receptor developmental changes has not been fully understood yet, but several studies have pointed out that an immature state of the GABAergic system can be found in different development-impairing pathologies such as focal cortical dysplasia, tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) and Down syndrome. Additionally, subjects affected by the aforementioned conditions suffer from different neurologic complications, and among them epilepsy is one of the most common and frequently very difficult to treat, due to the marked drug-resistance associated with neurological malformations. Therefore, these observations not only support the hypothesis that the phenotypes of neurodevelopmental pathologies could depend on the contribution of altered receptor function, but also could pave the way for novel therapeutic approaches.

Albisua Sanchez Julio

Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Spain

Title: Vagus nerve stimulation in epilepsy

Time : 12:20-12:50

Speaker
Biography:

Albisua Sanchez Julio MD, PhD is Head of the Department of Neurosurgery of Fundación Jimenez Díaz in Madrid. He is Professor at the Medicine School of the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid. His epilepsy surgery program is one of the most active programs in Spain. He has authored several publications and book chapters, mainly about temporal lobe epilepsy. He is actually serving as Secretary of the Spanish Society of Functional Neurosurgery (SENFE), Vice-president of the Madrid Neurosurgical Society (SONCAM) and as President of the Spanish Brain Council (SBC-CEC).

Abstract:

Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) belongs to the palliative treatment group of epilepsy. It is aimed to reduce the seizures frequency and severity, but it is uncommon to get a patient seizure free on VNS therapy.

VNS therapy is delivered from an helicoidal electrode surgically placed around one of the vagus nerve in the neck. Left vagus nerve usually preferred, due to the lesser cardiac innervation it has.

VNS electrode is plugged into an implanted generator that can be telemetrically programmed. Surgery is about 2 hours time and present infrequent complications.

VNS therapy can reduce seizures by a 75% in about 30% of patients and by a 50% in almost 50% of them. Secondary effects are usually mild and consists mainly of hoarseness, cough, shortness of breath and paresthesias. They usually appear during stimulation and tend to diminish over time

VNS is indicated in medically refractory seizures that are not amenable to surgical resection.

Speaker
Biography:

Marija Knezevic Pogancev is a Pediatrician, Neuro-pediatrician, Clinical Neurophysiologist and Epileptologist. She is a full time Professor at University of Novi Sad, School of Medicine and Chief of Department for Developmental Neurology and Epileptology, Child and youth health care Institute of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia. She is graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade and Trained in Social Pediatry, Institute for Mother and Child Health Care, Belgrade, Trained in Mental Hygiene, Institute of Mental Health, Belgrade. She did her Master’s degree in Neuro-pediatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad and Specialization in Pediatry, Institute for Mother and Child Health Care, Belgrade. She was trained in Electroencephalography and Neurophysiology, Institute of Mental Health, Belgrade and completed her Sub-specialization in Neurology of Developmental Period, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, and Scientist Doctor Degree.

Abstract:

Decision to withdraw of antiepileptic drugs must be based on a balanced view of the overall risk of seizure relapse, the factors most likely to affect that risk, and the medical, emotional and social implications of antiepileptic drug treatment. It’s hard to decide to start discontinuation of antiepileptic drug treatment in children with cerebral palsy, even its accepted children with cerebral palsy and epilepsy have essentially the same risk for seizure relapse after antiepileptic drug treatment discontinuation when compared with other epileptic children. Polytherapy necessary for reaching stable epileptic seizure control with (RR 1,39), and polytherapy at the time of starting antiepileptic drugs tapering, (RR 1,62) are factor we could identify that significantly increases the risk of relapse after discontinuation of antiepileptic drug treatment in children with cerebral palsy and epilepsy. Discontinuation of AEDs in children with epilepsy and cerebral palsy who have seizure remission periods of 3 or more, using one antiepileptic drug can, and should be, practiced when possible.

Break: Lunch Break 13:20-14:20 @ Hotel Restaurants
Speaker
Biography:

Mzia G Zhvania has completed her PhD from Institute of Brain, Russian Academy of Medical Science and ScD from Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University. She is Professor of Neurobiology at Ilia State University and Head of Department of Brain Ultrastructure and Nanoarchitecture at Ivane Beritashvili Center of Experimental Biomedicine, Tbilisi, Georgia. She has published more than 50 papers in reputed journals and international editions and has been serving as an Editorial Board Member of several scientific journals.

Abstract:

In the present research, using transmission electron microscope, we elucidate the ultrastructure of neurons, synapses, glial cells and porosome complex in hippocampal CA1 and CA3 areas of adult male Wistar rats with pentylentetrazol- and kainic acid-induced status epilepticus; the mechanism of action of these proepileptic drugs differ. Kainic acid, structural analogue of glutamate, induces temporal lobe epilepsy-like state (the most common form of epilepsy in humans), excitotoxicity and neuronal cell death. The exact mechanism of pentylenenrazol action is not well-known. Several mechanisms should be involved. One of such mechanisms is its action on GABAA receptors, which are actively involved in epileptogenesis. In comparing with kainic acid administration, pentylentetrazol-induced status epilepticus does not provoke cell loss or the cell loss is insignificant. The development of status epilepticus and other epilepsy-like activities were recorded via video system. The brains were analyzed 2 weeks and 1 month after status epilepticus. The following main results were obtained: (i) kainic acid-and pentylentetrazol-induced status epilepticus provoke ultrastructural alterations in both areas of the hippocampus; in both cases alterations were more significant in the CA1 area. Some alterations are irreversible; (ii) there is direct association between the degree of seizure activities and the level of modifications; (iii) kainic acid provokes more large modifications than pentylenentrazzol-associated status epilepticus; (iv) at both experimental time-points the alterations were almost the same; (v) in both models the alterations in mitochondria and dendrites are among the most common, suggesting cell stress and changes to cellular metabolism.

  • Causes and Advanced Epilepsy Diagnosis Tests | Prevention and Management of Epilepsy | Impact of the Epilepsies on daily life
Location: Olimpica 3 & 4
Speaker

Chair

Heinz Krestel

University of Bern, Switzerland

Speaker

Co-Chair

Pablo R Moya

Universidad de Valparaiso, Chile

Session Introduction

Wei Chen

Tongji University School of Medicine, China

Title: Evidence –based and precise radiology in epilepsy diagnosis

Time : 14:50-15:20

Speaker
Biography:

Wei Chen is a Licensed Radiologist. She is both MRI and Infectious Disease Chapter Committee Member of Radiology of Chinese Medical Association. She was awarded MD from Tongji Medical School of Huazhong University of Science and Technology in China. She was awarded Master’s degree in Computer Science from Southeastern University in Washington, DC, USA. She earned the Advanced Training in Multimodal Neuroimaging Program offered by University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University with funding from National Institutes of Health, and completed a 5 years’ Neuroimaging Post-doctoral Training at University of Massachusetts Medical School, USA. She has published more than 10 papers in reputed journals.

Abstract:

Big data and digital medical technology develop rapidly. Analysis turning from “base on the past” to “for the coming future” is an important part of personalized medicine including personalized epilepsy diagnosis and treatment. Evidence–based and precise radiology plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis of pre-surgical patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Electronic databases including Cochrane database, PubMed, national guideline clearinghouse provided the objective data for evidence reasoning. Image data processing (IDP) platform offered an integrated data analysis environment for efficient and collaborative biomedical image storage, analysis and visualization, which can improve workflow and enhance efficiency. A disease-specific and patient-oriented noninvasive MRI such as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography and functional connectivity map helped us to better characterize TLE and ultimately assisted in providing a better diagnosis and more accurate invasive treatments of TLE. MRI enables us an individualized, personalized precision medical imaging, which is an important precondition for clinical 3D printing and precise epilepsy invasive treatments. In future, precision medical diagnosis and treatment would lead the new trend of heath management in patients with epilepsy.

Speaker
Biography:

Pablo R Moya has completed his PhD from Universidad de Chile and Post-doctoral studies from National Institute of Mental Health, USA. He is Associate Professor at Universidad de Valparaíso, Chile leading the Neurogenetics Lab and Deputy Director of Nucleo Milenio Biología de Enfermedades Neuropsiquiátricas nuMIND, a Center of Research Excellence in Chile. He has published more than 20 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an Editorial Board Member of repute.

Abstract:

Epilepsy affects 1-2% of population worldwide. Despite treatment, about 1/4 of probands develop drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). Polymorphisms of multidrug pumps in blood brain barrier have been linked to DRE, particularly on ABCB1 and ABCC2 genes. Our aim was to search for association between ABCB1 and ABCC2 polymorphisms and DRE in Chilean probands. Epilepsy probands (n=140), diagnosed with according to ILAE were classified in two groups; those who qualified within DRE diagnosis (two or more trials of adequately chosen and tolerated drugs without seizure freedom within one year) and drug responsive probands. All probands were interviewed to recollect clinical and epidemiological data. Genomic DNA was extracted by standard lysis buffer procedure from saliva samples. Determination of ABCB1 C3435T and ABCC2 c.-24C>T polymorphisms was performed by PCR-RFLP, as previously reported in literature. We successfully replicated the SNP calling methodology described using commercial human DNA panels. Allelic distribution of ABCB1 and ABCC2 polymorphisms do not significantly vary from those reported in literature and UCSC Genome browser. To date, our data indicate that both ABCB1 C3435T and ABCC2 c.-24C>T have similar allelic distribution in Chilean epilepsy probands to those reported in literature. Patient recruitment is ongoing, and determination of SNP frequency is currently underway. We are currently determining putative differences in allele frequencies in drug-resistant vs. responders epilepsy patients.

Break: Networking and Refreshment Break 15:50-16:10 @ Foyer

Maja Milovanovic

Institute of Mental health, Serbia

Title: Interictal disphoric disorder: Is it specific for patients with epilepsy?

Time : 16:10-16:40

Speaker
Biography:

Maja Milovanovic is working as Neurologist, Electroencephalographer and Epileptologist. She finished her Post-graduate Master’s degree studies and PhD studies of Neurology at the School of Medicine, University of Belgrade. Her current position is Deputy Director of the Institute of Mental Health in Belgrade and Head of Department for Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology. She is member of Presidency of Serbian Society for Clinical Neurophysiology Chapter of the International Society of Clinical Neurophysiology. Special fields of her interest are epilepsy, psychiatric comorbidity and quality of life.

Abstract:

Subgroup of patients with epilepsy may develop interictal dysphoric disorder (IDD)-intermittent and pleomorphic affective-somatoform disorder with 8 key symptoms grouped in 3 major categories: Labile depressive symptoms (depressive mood, anergia, pain and insomnia), labile affective symptoms (fear, anxiety) and supposedly “specific” symptoms: Paroxysmal irritability and euphoric moods). Purpose of study was to assess prevalence IDD in patients with epilepsy and with migraine; and to evaluate influence of IDD on quality of life in patients with epilepsy. Adult patients with definite diagnosis of epilepsy or migraine were assessed with interictal dysphoric disorder inventory (IDDI). Beck’s depression inventory (BDI), Beck’s anxiety inventory (BAI), and QOLIE-31 (Serbian version). In 89 patients with epilepsy (mean age 46.3±14.6; female 58.2%), prevalence of IDDI definite diagnosis was 12%, similar as in 67 patients with migraine (11%) (Mean age 38.7±13.4; female: 78.3%). IDDI affective scores were significantly higher in migraine than in epilepsy patients (p=0,017). In epilepsy group, IDDI total and partial affective score displayed a significant positive correlation with BDI and BAI scores. In migraine, group IDDI total score was highly positively correlated with BDI and BAI scores. QOLIE-31 total score was significantly negatively correlated with: IDDI total score (r=-0.355), IDDI depressive scores (r=-0.276) and IDDI affective scores (r=-0.415). IDD is not specific for patients with epilepsy but has some differences compared to migraine patients. IDDI total score, especially labile depressive symptoms and affective symptoms have significant influence on quality of life in patients with epilepsy.

Speaker
Biography:

Jehan Suleiman is a Consultant Pediatric Neurologist at Tawam Hospital in UAE, and Assistant Professor at the UAE University. She is the Founder of Emirati Pediatric Neurology Network. She completed her training at the Children Hospital at Westmead in Sydney, Australia. She holds the Fellowship of Royal Australasian College of Physicians in Pediatric and Pediatric Neurology. She has completed her PhD in Medicine from the University of Sydney in the area of Autoimmune Epilepsy. She has many leading publications in this field in high impact journals. She is invited as a speaker to many national and international conferences. Her clinical and research areas of interest include neuroimmunology, complex epilepsy and neurogenetics.

Abstract:

Genetic testing including next generation sequencing have been increasingly used in the diagnosis of children with neurological disorders, including severe epilepsies and epileptic encephalopathy, intellectual disability and unexplained motor disorders. Here we report two pediatric cases from different consanguineous Emirati families. They both had early onset global developmental delay, quadriplegia and growth restriction. In addition, they both had epileptic encephalopathy and West syndrome. Case one had microcephaly and optic atrophy but normal MRI, while case two had cortical malformation in the form of polymicrogyria. Case two also had ventilator dependency and respiratory failure. Homozygous mutations involving the WWOX gene were found on whole exome sequencing in both cases (deletion affecting exons 3 to 4 in case one, and splice-site mutation c.606-1G>A in case two). Parents were heterozygous for the involved mutations, which confirm an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance. WWOX is a cytoplasmic protein involved in many cellular processes including growth, differentiation and tumor suppression. WWOX mutations are reported in different human cancers. More recently WWOX mutations were described in a few cases with spino-cerebellar ataxia associated with epilepsy and mental retardation, a case of severe syndrome of growth retardation, microcephaly, epileptic seizures, optic atrophy, retinopathy and early death, a case of spasticity microcephaly seizures optic atrophy and psychomotor retardation, which is very similar to our 2 cases. The findings in our patients expand the phenotype associated with WWOX genetic abnormalities and confirm previous associations with microcephaly spasticity psychomotor retardation seizures and more importantly as a gene associated with epileptic encephalopathy and West Syndrome.

  • Epilepsy Therapeutics | Diseases Associated with Epilepsy | Epilepsy in Women and Inborn
Location: Olimpica 3 & 4
Speaker

Chair

Nanuli Doreulee

Tbilisi State University, Georgia

Session Introduction

Yo-Tsen Liu

Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan

Title: Genetics of paroxysmal dyskinesia and the implications in pathogenesis of epilepsy and paroxysmal neurological diseases

Time : 10:40-11:10

Speaker
Biography:

Yo-Tsen Liu earned her MD at National Taiwan University in 2001. After that, she completed her Neurological Residency Training and became a Neurology Consultant at Taipei Veterans General Hospital (TVGH) in 2005. After winning “Studying Abroad Scholarship” supported by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education, she studied her PhD at Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK in 2010-2014. She is now a Neurology Consultant at Department of Neurology of TVGH and Associate Professor at National Yang-Ming University, Taiwan. Her academic interests are the applications of next-generation sequencing in diverse neurological diseases, including paroxysmal dyskinesia, epilepsy and neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract:

Paroxysmal dyskinesia (PD) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by episodically recurrent involuntary movements and classified into three groups: paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD), paroxysmal non-kinesigenic dyskinesia (PNKD) and paroxysmal exercise-induced dyskinesia (PED). The breakthrough of genetics of PD was the identification of PRRT2 mutations in 2011. Following this, it has been well recognized that there is increasing genetic and clinical overlaps between PD and other paroxysmal neurologic disorders, including epilepsy, hemiplegic migraine, episodic ataxia and migraine. Advancement in genetics of PD has contributed to well-addressed genotypic-phenotypic correlations of the above diseases, which help greatly in improving the efficiency of genetic diagnosis and thus benefit more treatable patients. The rapidly-accumulated genetic knowledge has also shed light on understandings of the normal functions of the related genes and the underlying pathogenesis how these mutated genes to cause diseases. Furthermore, the reversibility of PD may be the key to unravel the mechanisms of other irreversible neurodegenerative diseases and inspire potential targets of treatment in the future.

Break: Networking and Refreshment Break 11:10-11:30 @ Foyer
Speaker
Biography:

Nanuli Doreulee has received her PhD from Beritashvili Institute of Physiology. She has completed her Post-doctoral studies at the Brain Research Institute (Moscow) and H. Haine University of Duesseldorf (Germany). She is the Head of Direction of Human and Animal Physiology at Tbilisi State University. She has published more than 20 articles in high impact factor journals in recent years.

Abstract:

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease affecting roughly 1-2% of the human population worldwide. Progressive spontaneous recurrent seizures lead to hippocampal neuronal death and cognitive/mental disturbances. The seizure activity during epilepsy decreases the antioxidant defense mechanism in the brain and increases the amount of free radicals, which further induces the oxidative stress. Considering the importance of oxidative stress in epilepsy antioxidant and anti-inflammatory treatments may attenuate or prevent epilepsy-related neurodegenerations. Flavonoids are historically part of the basic human diet and have been identified as powerful antioxidants. Flavonoids permeate the blood-brain barrier and are able to localize in the brain, suggesting that they are candidates for direct neuroprotective and neuromodulative actions. Our previous experiments showed that early postnatal feeding with flavonoids from saperavi has beneficial effects on hippocampal related learning/memory mechanism and this was in correlation with changes in the dynamic of postnatal structural formation of the hippocampus. The aim of the present work was to investigate the effects of early life exposure to flavonoids from saperavi (P7-P15, 25 mg/kg per day) on the electrophysiological properties of the pyramidal neurons in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. In vivo electrophysiological recordings were carried in rats. According to our preliminary data, early postnatal feeding of rats with flavonoids from saperavi increases the threshold for the generation of an electrically induced epileptic activity, and reduces frequency and duration of epileptiform discharges.

Speaker
Biography:

Layla E Borham is a Professor of Clinical Pharmacology at Cairo and Umm AlQura universities. She received her MSc and MD degrees from Cairo University Medical School. She has been working in Faculty of Medicine, Umm AlQura University, KSA for 15 years. During this period, she carried out a lot of scientific and social serving activities through her publications, scientific committee memberships, lectures and administrative work. In addition, she works in the Ministry of Health hospitals and primary health care centers giving awareness lectures to health care providers and patients. She has been awarded a Golden Prize from Umm AlQura University for her overall services at the university.

Abstract:

Evidence shows that inflammatory and immune processes within the brain might account for the pathophysiology of epilepsy. Therefore, developing new antiepileptic drugs that can modulate seizures through mechanisms other than traditional drugs is required for the treatment of refractory epilepsy. This study aims to determine the relationship between brain inflammation and epilepsy, to examine the contribution of some biochemical parameters involved in brain inflammation, and to address the effect of pharmacological interventions using some anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory drugs in an experimental epilepsy model. Adult male rats were divided into 7 groups of 20. G1 was the normal, non-treated control. G2 was the epileptic, non-treated group. G3–G7 was treated with celecoxib, methotrexate, azathioprine, dexamethasone and valproate, respectively, for a period of 3 weeks. Induction of status epilepticus (SE) by Li-pilocarpine was performed on groups G2–G7. EEG tracing was conducted, and inflammatory mediators (brain and serum IL-1ß, IL 6, PGE2, HSP70, TGF-β2, and IFNγ) were measured. The induction of SE increased the amplitude and frequency of EEG tracing and inflammatory mediators more than in the normal control group. Treatments of epileptic rats reduced the frequency and amplitude of EEG tracing and significantly decreased the levels of inflammatory mediators in some treated rats compared to G2. These findings demonstrate that some anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory drugs can lower the frequency and amplitude of seizures and reduce some inflammatory mediators in epilepsy treatments, strengthening the possibility that targeting these

Sylvain Haba

Spiritual Care Centre medico tradi talithakoumi, Guinea

Title: The traditional treatment of epilepsy in West Africa specifically in Guinea Conakry

Time : 12:30-13:00

Speaker
Biography:

Sylvain Haba was born on seventh of October 1963 in Kpoulo (Region N’Zerekore).He got his Admission to Bachelor in 1984, later completed his orientation to school nurses. After that he started his Internship in a medical post at Sèbètèrè Gaoual Prefecture where he went on Remote Training on medical semiology. In 1998 he admitted to the public service test, and later Training in traditional medicine in DR Congo foundation for his Back Guinea led in 2006 for the establishment of the Centre Medico-Spiritual Tradi koumi Talitha (Marc5: 41-42) to (Labe) Guinea 2008 and Transferred to the center in Conakry.

Abstract:

Epilepsy is a neurological disease characterized by abnormal functioning of brain activity. It results in the repetition of unexpected crises and often very brief. These attacks can take many forms and vary in intensity. This long regarded disease as compounds devils. - The Water Devil (it kills the patient in the water as soon as the crisis) - The devil fire (it kills the patient in the fire when the crisis) - The devil upper palms and legs (when the victims climb the palm trees or pick oranges or mangoes) Thanks to modern medicine, she was defined. The causes are usually malaria, meningitis, syphilis, HIV and others. It is processed with plant and animal origin.

Maceration composed of three (3) plants: 1) Newbouldia Leavis. f: 10g Bignoniacée 2) Akeben 5g 3) 5g Balanbilin All packaged in a container placed diluted with one liter of water a day for four days during this 60 days with control of monitoring elements. Decoction made: 1) Raphiostilis bénénien icacinacé 10g 2) V.canne 10g 3) Nauclea latifolia rubiaccé 2g 4) Koyalakele (10g root) All boiled with the viscera of a wild animal. After monitoring elements, recommended that the patient drink 3-5 liters of decoction in the range of one hour (1) which causes vomiting and diarrhea causes but effective against seizures. Nasal Goute: 1) Microglossa pyrifolia 1g sheet 2) Citrus medica fruit juice 1ml 3) Oecophylla smaragdina F: Formicidae (yellow ant 20) 6 nasal costs and deposit 3 times daily for 3 days for a period of three weeks especially in the case of petitmal epilepsy.

An ant nest containing ants, larvae, eggs crushed, roasted, mixed with the seed oil Elaeis guineensis (palmacéea) preserved as pasta and kept in a snail shell

Dosage is a pinch of dough on the tongue and two pinched forehead 3 times daily after meals.

The ban of the recipe:

The mystification for research; The pan used to toast the ants, larvae, eggs and nest must not touch the ground and even the wooden spoon; these instruments were placed on a chair to the ceiling of his house to this is added a small freshwater poison called gbongo in Guerzé (language of my ethnicity)

Break: Lunch Break 13:00-14:00 @ Hotel Restaurants

Marija Knezevic Pogancev

University of Novi Sad, Serbia

Title: Fear toward the antiepileptic drug withdrawal

Time : 14:00-14:30

Speaker
Biography:

Marija Knezevic Pogancev is a Pediatrician, Neuro-pediatrician, Clinical Neurophysiologist and Epileptologist. She is a full time Professor at University of Novi Sad, School of Medicine and Chief of Department for Developmental Neurology and Epileptology, Child and youth health care Institute of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia. She is graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade and Trained in Social Pediatry, Institute for Mother and Child Health Care, Belgrade, Trained in Mental Hygiene, Institute of Mental Health, Belgrade. She did her Master’s degree in Neuro-pediatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad and Specialization in Pediatry, Institute for Mother and Child Health Care, Belgrade. She was trained in Electroencephalography and Neurophysiology, Institute of Mental Health, Belgrade and completed her Sub-specialization in Neurology of Developmental Period, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, and Scientist Doctor Degree.

Abstract:

Epilepsy is not a lifelong condition in most patients. However, the decision to withdraw of antiepileptic drugs must be based on a balanced view of the overall risk of seizure relapse, the factors most likely to affect that risk, and the medical, emotional and social implications of antiepileptic drug treatment. It is important to admire patient’s (especially if adolescent) and parent’s fear towards the risk of antiepileptic drug withdrawal. The aim of study was to determine patient and family attitudes towards the fear of antiepileptic drug withdrawal, after 3 years seizure control, and to define the risk of seizure recurrence that adolescents and their parents would accept before discontinuing AED. This research was carried out in the Institute for Child and Youth Health Care of Vojvodina in Novi Sad. During the study, which lasted from 2003 to 2008, a face-to-face interview about fear of AET withdrawal was done during adolescent patient examination. Study population included 150 adolescent patients, without epileptic seizures, using one antiepileptic drug, and 265 of their parents. Accepted risk in general is higher in our adolescent patient’s group than in parent’s group (p<0,05). This risk over 50% seem excessive to all parents.

Ronit Gilad

Edith Wolfson Medical Center, Israel

Title: Lamotrigine in clinical practice: Efficacy of various dosages in epilepsy

Time : 14:30-15:00

Speaker
Biography:

Abstract:

The study was designed to evaluate the optimal dosage use of lamotrigine (LTG), as monotherapy, in the treatment of adults suffering from various types of epilepsy in everyday clinical practice. The method used in this study was to collect the data of all adult patients treated with LTG, as monotherapy, retrospectively. The dosage and efficacy of treatment were evaluated along with side effects and retention rate. The results showed that, out of 188 patients, 68% continued LTG treatment; the mean effective dose was higher in older patients and those with a longer disease duration. To conclude, it may be appropriate to reach a daily LTG dose above 200 mg in adult patients suffering from epilepsy for more than 5 years and are treated with LTG as monotherapy

  • Video Presentation
Location: Olimpica 3 & 4

Session Introduction

Abbas Alnaji

Iran University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Title: Epileptogenic focus have to be treated rather than ablated

Time : 15:30-16:00

Speaker
Biography:

Abbas Alnaji has completed his Degree in Neurosurgery FICMS NS from University of Baghdad 1999. He is interested in research work and have 12 papers published in the field of Surgical Pathology Causations.

Abstract:

I see that the neurons that fires to cause seizures, are sick neurons, so that we have a duty of helping these sick neurons where ever they are, rather than to destroy them, as what happens in epilepsy surgery. I wish from epilepsy surgeons to check for any ineffective microorganism in the identified firing focus in the brain cortex or elsewhere by having this focus for PCR tissue examination for Brucella as I mentioned in my article sent for conference of epilepsy and treatment 2015 USA. It is wise to have a screen for more than Brucella with PCR. Many microorganisms are incremented like Salmonella and many other small intracellular bacteria that we have no help to identify them due to our shortage. After surgeons take this focus as a tiny biopsy (PCR needs very small volume), I say after they take this focus let them do whatever they want, if things go as today. Let us know that we are executing a diseased instead of remedy.