EEG Biomarker for Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that accounts for nearly 70% of the more than 50 million dementia cases estimated worldwide. There is no cure for AD. Currently, AD diagnosis is carried out using neuropsychological tests, neuroimaging scans, and laboratory tests. In the early stages of AD, brain computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings may be normal, but in late periods, diffuse cortical atrophy can be detected more prominently in the temporal and frontal regions. Electroencephalogram (EEG) is a test that records the electrical signals of the brain by using electrodes that directly reflects cortical neuronal functioning. In addition, EEG is noninvasive and widely available at low cost, has high resolution, and provides access to neuronal signals, unlike functional MR or PET which indirectly detects metabolic signals. Accurate, specific, and cost-effective biomarkers are needed to track the early diagnosis, progression, and treatment response of AD. The findings of EEG in AD are now identified as biomarkers. In this chapter, we reviewed studies that used EEG or event-related potential (ERP) indices as a biomarker of AD

Clinical Experience with Adjunctive Lacosamide in Adult Patients with Focal Seizures

Objectives: The aim of this study was to report first clinical experience in Turkey using lacosamide (LCM) as adjunctive therapy in patients with focal onset seizure

Epilepsy due to Intracranial Surgery: 15 Years of Experience

Objectives: Epidemiological studies have shown increased incidence of epilepsy in cases of brain trauma, central nervous system infection, cerebrovascular disease (CVD), and brain tumors. Etiology of epilepsy varies according to age. In the etiology of partial and secondarily generalized partial seizures in adult patients, CVD is the most common cause of acute, symptomatic seizures. Frequency of seizures is estimated to be 15%-20% after cranial operations. In this study, characteristics of patients undergoing cranial surgery were investigated retrospectively

Effects of Lacosamide in Cerebral Tuberculoma-Induced Nonconvulsive Status Epilepticus: Case Report

Nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) is characterized by unexplained changes in behavior and mental status accompanied with continuous seizure activity seen on electroencephalography (EEG). Treatment is similar to treatment of status epilepticus. Lacosamide is one of the newer antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) that slow inactivation of voltage-dependent sodium channels. It has high oral bioavailability, is low protein binding and is primarily metabolized by the liver enzyme CYP2C19. Central nervous system (CNS) tuberculosis may present with signs of parenchymal lesions instead of meningitis. Presently described is a patient who was diagnosed as CNS tuberculosis a year ago with nonconvulsive status epilepticus. Status could be not be controlled with levetiracetam; however, use of lacosamide successfully resolved nonconvulsive status epilepticus

Evaluation of Autonomic Function in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Objective: Obstructive Sleep Apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a condition in which ever-repeating obstruction of upper airway during the sleep. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the autonomic nervous system function in patients with moderate to severe OSAS. Materials an

Unverricht-Lundborg Disease in Turkey: Delineating The Phenotype Between Cystatin B Mutation Positive and Negative Cases

Objective: We herein report the first three genetically proven Unverricht-Lundborg disease (ULD) patients in Turkey and their clinical comparisons with eight CSTB mutation negative patients who were suspected to have ULD

Rationale and Design of the Turkish Sleep Apnea Database - TURKAPNE: A National, Multicenter, Observational, Prospective Cohort Study

WOS: 000439590300008PubMed ID: 30083405OBJECTIVES: The primary aim of The Turkish Sleep Apnea Database (TURKAPNE) study is to generate a cross-sectional nationwide database for defining the clinical and polysomnographic characteristics of the patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in Turkey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this ongoing project, all consecutive adults with suspected OSA are recruited from the sleep centers of the university and research hospitals in Turkey. Information on anthropometric data, educational status, driving license, smoking habits, alcohol use, comorbidities, drug use, questionnaires, polysomnographic, and/or cardiorespiratory polygraphic findings are recorded in a systematized Web-based report form. Blood glucose, lipids and other biochemical markers, lung function, and echocardiography measurements are optionally included. Follow-up data regarding treatment modality and compliance is assessed. Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between OSA phenotypes and metabolic, pulmonary, and cardiovascular comorbidities as well as traffic accidents, and the impact of treatment will be further explored. We target a total sample of 10,000 participants. RESULTS: The study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02784977) in May 2016 and the first patient was recruited in October 2017. A total of 1911 participants from 19 centers have been enrolled in the study by May 31, 2018. CONCLUSION: The TURKAPNE study will contribute to a better understanding of the health-related burden of OSA phenotypes and its association with the comorbidities and adverse outcomes, including traffic accidents in Turkey. The results may also contribute to a more personalized approach and better management of varying OSA phenotypes with concomitant disorders.Turkish Thoracic SocietyThe foundation and infrastructure of the database was supported by grants from the Turkish Thoracic Society with no influence on the design of the study, the analysis of the data, the data collection, drafting of the manuscript, or the decision to publish