Seizure News and Research

Latest Seizure News and Research

Does Medicare 'doughnut hole' spur increase in foreign drug imports?

Medill Reports: "Unless federal legislation closes the Medicare coverage gap colloquially known as the 'doughnut hole,' seniors may opt for online drug imports to alleviate steep prescription costs. ... 'As seniors start falling into the doughnut hole, they are going online to find deals on prescription drugs, whether they're based in the U.S. or in other countries,' said Gabriel Levitt, vice president of PharmacyChecker.com LLC, a leader in the evaluation of online and mail-order pharmacies in both the U.S. and abroad.

12 Mar 2010

New changes made to the Dose Conversion Guidelines on Fentanyl Transdermal Systems

The manufacturers of Fentanyl Transdermal Systems, in collaboration with Health Canada, would like to inform Canadians of important new changes made to the Dose Conversion Guidelines in the Product Monograph. These guidelines are used to help determine what dosage of Fentanyl Transdermal Systems is appropriate for each individual patient.

11 Mar 2010

Sleep disorders may increase risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases

Many Americans will lose an hour of sleep on March 14, the first day of daylight-saving time, when clocks are set ahead one hour at 2 a.m. local standard time—making it harder to wake up, causing difficulty in staying alert and increasing the chance of sleepy-driving car crashes.

11 Mar 2010

Winners of NMSIS scholarship award

Two winners have been selected for the Promising New Investigators Travel Scholarship Awards given annually by the Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome Information Service (NMSIS).

10 Mar 2010

Clinical and scientific advances made in the field of neuro-oncology

Many important clinical and basic scientific advances have been made in the past five years in the field of neuro-oncology, according to an editorial and several articles in the March issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

9 Mar 2010

'Fake pot' can cause hallucinations and seizures

In the last month, Anthony Scalzo, M.D., professor of toxicology at Saint Louis University, has seen nearly 30 cases involving teenagers who were experiencing hallucinations, severe agitation, elevated heart rate and blood pressure, vomiting and, in some cases, tremors and seizures.

4 Mar 2010

Childhood absence epilepsy: Comparative clinical trial of widely used anti-seizure drugs

The first comprehensive comparative effectiveness clinical trial of three widely used anti-seizure drugs for childhood absence epilepsy - the most common form of epilepsy in kids - has established an evidence-based approach for initial drug therapy.

4 Mar 2010

NAEC elects Mayo Clinic as top epilepsy treatment center

Mayo Clinic has been designated a comprehensive epilepsy treatment center by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC). Only the top epilepsy programs - those that can provide the most complex and advanced care - are selected for this designation, according to the association.

3 Mar 2010

Toxins in K2: Saint Louis University professor warns parents to lookout for warning signs

3 Mar 2010

Focal dystonia precipitated by odor exposure: First case reported

Alan Hirsch, MD, founder and neurologic director of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, presented his research on Odor-Induced Pseudodystonia at the 3rd International Congress on Gait and Mental Function in Washington, D.C. on February 27.

2 Mar 2010

NPS Pharmaceuticals supports second annual U.S. Rare Disease Day observance

NPS Pharmaceuticals, a specialty pharmaceutical company developing innovative therapeutics for rare gastrointestinal and endocrine disorders, announced today its support for the second annual U.S. Rare Disease Day observance on February 28.

1 Mar 2010

Mutations in MeCP2 cause autism spectrum disorder Rett Syndrome

A paper published online today in Molecular Cell proposes that Methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) impacts the entire genome in neurons, rather than acting as a regulator of specific genes. Mutations in MeCP2 cause the autism spectrum disorder Rett Syndrome as well as some cases of neuropsychiatric problems including autism, schizophrenia and learning disabilities.

26 Feb 2010

Study confirms efficacy and tolerability of lacosamide for uncontrolled POS

A recent multi-center study has confirmed earlier study results that 400 mg/day of lacosamide provides a good balance of efficacy and tolerability for patients with uncontrolled partial-onset seizures (POS), and doses of 600mg/day may provide additional benefit for some patients.

26 Feb 2010

Gladstone MD receives Potamkin Prize for identifying new avenues in Alzheimer's research

Lennart Mucke, MD, Director of the Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease (GIND), has been named a recipient of the American Academy of Neurology's prestigious Potamkin Prize.

19 Feb 2010

Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners to present overview of CPP-115 compound at epilepsy conference

Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc. announced today that it was selected by both the Scientific and Business Advisory Boards of the Epilepsy Therapy Project to present at the 2010 Epilepsy Pipeline Update Conference, an in-depth, two day forum to be held February 25-26, 2010, at the Hyatt Embarcadero Hotel in San Francisco.

18 Feb 2010

Anti-seizure medication prevents seizures in patients following bleeding stroke: Study

A study by researchers at the University of Cincinnati Neuroscience Institute at University Hospital supports the use of an alternative medication to prevent seizures in patients who have suffered a life-threatening traumatic brain injury or bleeding stroke.

18 Feb 2010

High-fat ketogenic diet safe and effective for controlling childhood seizures

Current and former patients treated with the high-fat ketogenic diet to control multiple, daily and severe seizures can be reassured by the news that not only is the diet effective, but it also appears to have no long-lasting side effects, say scientists at Johns Hopkins Children's Center.

17 Feb 2010

SimMan 3G robotic patient helps pharmacy students practice diagnostic skills

A robot that can be programmed to have a range of medical conditions, from heart disease to constipation, is being used by Pharmacy students at the University of Bath to help practise diagnostic skills and treating patients.

16 Feb 2010

TV medical dramas show inaccurate seizure management

Watching TV medical shows might not be the best way to learn what to do when someone has a seizure. Researchers screened the most popular medical dramas and found that doctors and nurses on the shows responded inappropriately to seizures almost half the time, according to a study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 62nd Annual Meeting in Toronto April 10 to April 17, 2010.

15 Feb 2010

First FDA-approved umbilical cord blood stem cells infusion trial in children with cerebral palsy

Medical College of Georgia researchers are conducting the first FDA-approved clinical trial to determine whether an infusion of stem cells from umbilical cord blood can improve the quality of life for children with cerebral palsy.

12 Feb 2010