A qualitative study exploring physician perspectives on a cardiac-based seizure prediction digital service for epilepsy management.

Objective: The unpredictability of epileptic seizures represents a significant challenge to people with epilepsy. To address this, research on seizure prediction has been evolving rapidly. However, insights from end-users that guide the development of this technology have been limited.

Anxiety and depression among patients with migraine: A single-center cross-sectional study in Malaysia.

Background: Migraine is a chronic neurological problem with a psychological comorbidity. However, anxiety and depression among patients with migraine have not been thoroughly investigated in Southeast Asia. Thus, we aimed to elucidate the prevalence of anxiety and depression in patients with migraine, as well as the associated factors.

Updated classification of epileptic seizures: Position paper of the International League Against Epilepsy.

The International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) has updated the operational classification of epileptic seizures, building upon the framework established in 2017. This revision, informed by the implementation experience, involved a working group appointed by the ILAE Executive Committee. Comprising 37 members from all ILAE regions, the group utilized a modified Delphi process, requiring a consensus threshold of more than two thirds for any proposal.

Determining the computed tomography perfusion changes in patients presenting with acute seizures of different etiologies - A case-control study.

Introduction: It can be challenging at times to clinically differentiate between acute seizure and acute stroke. This study aimed to compare the computed tomography perfusion (CTP) changes in patients presenting with acute seizures of different etiologies to those with acute cortical stroke.

Methods: We conducted a single-center cross-sectional case-control study on the CTP changes of 31 patients presenting with acute seizures of different etiologies, and compared them with 31 patients of acute cortical stroke patients (n = 31) as the control.

HMGB1 blood levels and neurological outcomes after traumatic brain injury: Insights from an exploratory study.

Objective: Posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE) and cognitive impairment are severe complications following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Neuroinflammation likely contributes, but the role of specific inflammatory mediators requires clarification. High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is an inflammatory cytokine released after brain injury that may be involved.

The use of cannabidiol as adjunctive therapy in adult patients with drug-resistant epilepsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Highly purified cannabidiol (CBD), recently approved for various neurological disorders, is explored as a potential therapeutic avenue for drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) among adult people with epilepsy (PWE) in this systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: To conduct an extensive literature review and meta-analysis of CBD use for DRE in adult PWE.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Prioritizing questions and topics for the development of guidelines and consensus-based recommendations supported by ILAE: A scoping review and proposal of prioritization criteria.

Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) and consensus-based recommendations (CBRs) require considerable effort, collaboration, and time-all within the constraints of finite resources. Professional societies, such as the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), must prioritize what topics and questions to address. Implementing evidence-based care remains a crucial challenge in clinical practice.

Prevalence and associated factors of caregiving burden among caregivers of adults with epilepsy in Malaysia - A cross-sectional study.

Background: There are still insufficient data on caregiver burden among caregivers of adult people with epilepsy (PWE), particularly in Malaysia. This study aims to explore the level of perceived caregiver burden among the informal caregivers caring for PWE, its predicting factors associated with caregiver burden, and the impact of this caregiver burden on their psychological health.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, caregivers of adult PWE attending the neurology outpatient clinic at Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM) completed a comprehensive questionnaire comprising demographic data of participants and care recipients (adult PWE).

Mapping epilepsy biomarkers: a bibliometric and content analysis.

Epilepsy, a complex global neurological disorder, has spurred extensive research efforts focused on enhancing diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, with a growing emphasis on the identification of biomarkers. This bibliometric study examines 1,774 publications from 2000 to 2023, revealing a notable increase in research activity, particularly in the past decade. The US, China, and the UK lead contributions, with Asian countries exhibiting growing potential.

Risk Factors for Post-Stroke Seizures in a Tertiary Care Center: A Case-Control Study.

Purpose: Stroke is the second leading cause of global deaths. Post-stroke seizures (PSS) can lead to lasting complications, such as prolonged hospitalizations, increased disability rates, and higher mortality. Our study investigates the associated factors that contribute to post-stroke seizures in patients at a local tertiary hospital.

Electroencephalography as a tool for assessing delirium in hospitalized patients: A single-center tertiary hospital experience.

Background: Delirium is a prevalent yet underdiagnosed disorder characterized by acute cognitive impairment. Various screening tools are available, including the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) and 4 A's test (4AT). However, the results of these assessments may vary among raters.

Electroconvulsive Therapy in Refractory and Super-Refractory Status Epilepticus in Adults: A Scoping Review.

Background: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been suggested as a treatment option for refractory status epilepticus (RSE) and super-refractory status epilepticus (SRSE).

Objective: The objective of this scoping review was to conduct an extensive literature review on the role of ECT as a treatment option for RSE and SRSE.

Methods: We searched Ovid MEDLINE and Scopus for journal articles from database inception until February 2024.

Incidence and predictors of posttraumatic epilepsy and cognitive impairment in patients with traumatic brain injury: A retrospective cohort study in Malaysia.

Objective: Posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE) significantly impacts morbidity and mortality, yet local PTE data remain scarce. In addition, there is a lack of evidence on cognitive comorbidity in individuals with PTE in the literature. We sought to identify potential PTE predictors and evaluate cognitive comorbidity in patients with PTE.

The prevalence and predictors of poor sleep quality and excessive daytime sleepiness in epilepsy: A single tertiary centre experience in Malaysia.

Background And Objective: People with epilepsy frequently encounter sleep disruptions that can stem from a variety of complex factors. Epilepsy-related sleep disturbance can lead to reduced quality of life and excessive daytime hypersomnolence. Identification of sleep disturbances may help in the overall management of epilepsy patients.

Feasibility of cardiac-based seizure detection and prediction: A systematic review of non-invasive wearable sensor-based studies.

A reliable seizure detection or prediction device can potentially reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with epileptic seizures. Previous findings indicating alterations in cardiac activity during seizures suggest the usefulness of cardiac parameters for seizure detection or prediction. This study aims to examine available studies on seizure detection and prediction based on cardiac parameters using non-invasive wearable devices.

Prevalence and predictors of vitamin D deficiency among adults with epilepsy: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency among adult people with epilepsy (PWE) is scarcely studied, despite its essential role in bone health and maintaining homeostasis. Several studies have studied the relationship between factors related to epilepsy and vitamin D metabolism. We aim to investigate this in our multi-ethnic society.

Qualitative electroencephalogram and its predictors in the diagnosis of stroke.

Introduction: Stroke is a typical medical emergency that carries significant disability and morbidity. The diagnosis of stroke relies predominantly on the use of neuroimaging. Accurate diagnosis is pertinent for management decisions of thrombolysis and/or thrombectomy.

Management of status epilepticus in Malaysia: A national survey of current practice and treatment gap.

Introduction: Early and effective treatment is fundamental in status epilepticus (SE) management. At the initiative of the Epilepsy Council of Malaysia, this study aimed to determine the treatment gap in SE across different healthcare settings in Malaysia.

Methods: A web-based survey was sent to clinicians involved in the management of SE, across all states and at all levels of healthcare services.

Anxiety among hospitalized COVID-19 patients: a case-control study from a tertiary teaching hospital in Malaysia.

Introduction: Anxiety has been increasingly recognized as part of the psychosocial health issues in COVID-19 patients. However, the impact of this topic may be underestimated in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of and risk factors of anxiety in COVID-19 patients compared to controls in a local tertiary teaching hospital in Malaysia.

Brain waves spectral analysis of human responses to odorous and non-odorous substances: a preliminary study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the potential electrophysiological biomarkers of human responses by comparing the electroencephalogram brain wave changes towards lavender versus normal saline in a healthy human population.

Method: This study included a total of 44 participants without subjective olfactory disturbances. Lavender and normal saline were used as the olfactory stimulant and control.

Neurological manifestations in SARS-CoV-2 infection: A single-center cross-sectional study in Malaysia.

Background: Neurological involvement associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection has been reported from different regions of the world. However, data from South East Asia are scarce. We described the neurological manifestations and their associated factors among the hospitalized COVID-19 patients from an academic tertiary hospital in Malaysia.

Safety and adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination among people with epilepsy: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: Epilepsy is a non-communicable disease costing a massive burden globally. It is known that there is increased prevalence of morbidity and mortality following COVID-19 infection among people with epilepsy (PWE). However, there is limited information about the adverse events following COVID-19 immunization among PWE.

Seizure remission rates remain low in a resource-limited country, a multicentre comparison study in Malaysia.

Seizure remission rates of 60% with antiseizure medications were reported in developed countries, but might be lower in resource-limited countries. The challenges in epilepsy care in resource-limited regions were highlighted 10 years ago, and still remain an ongoing issue. This study aimed to determine the seizure freedom rates in level-2 epilepsy care centres (centres with general neurologists) compared to level-3/4 centres (centres with epileptologists providing epilepsy surgery evaluation) in Malaysia.