Individual neuropsychological characteristics in patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy

Background. An association between juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) and nonpsychotic psychiatric and cognitive disorders has been described in recent years. Scientists are trying to link JME with certain personality traits marked by emotional instability. Objective. The goal of our research was to assess the state of cognitive functions in young adult patients with JME–excluding the adverse side effects (ASEs) of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs)–and analyze the level of personality and situational anxiety, neuroticism, and depression in young adult patients with JME. Design. We tested 26 patients with JME and 26 healthy adults with the computer program NS-PsychoTest (Neurosoft Company, RF), a program which is aimed at studying and evaluating neuropsychological characteristics. Results. Our study showed that the frequency of depressive symptoms, according to the cognitive-affective subscale (Beck’s Depression Inventory), in patients with JME was statistically significantly higher than among people without epilepsy. Comorbid personality and nonpsychotic psychiatric disorders are common interdisciplinary problems in JME management. Most practitioners pay attention only to the treatment of seizures caused by JME, and their patients, accordingly, do not receive adequate psychotherapeutic help. Conclusion. Cognitive disorders are often associated with epilepsy, and are a result of a combination of factors. According to our study, in the presence of statistically significant differences in short-term memory and mental performance in patients with JME, compared to healthy young adults, the main indicators of cognitive function in patients with JME generally correspond to the norm. Our findings highlight the etiological heterogeneity of cognitive disorders in JME and the importance of early screening for them

Genetic Factors of Nitric Oxide’s System in Psychoneurologic Disorders

According to the recent data, nitric oxide (NO) is a chemical messenger that mediates functions such as vasodilation and neurotransmission, as well as displaying antimicrobial and antitumoral activities. NO has been implicated in the neurotoxicity associated with stroke and neurodegenerative diseases; neural regulation of smooth muscle, including peristalsis; and penile erections. We searched for full-text English publications from the past 15 years in Pubmed and SNPedia databases using keywords and combined word searches (nitric oxide, single nucleotide variants, single nucleotide polymorphisms, genes). In addition, earlier publications of historical interest were included in the review. In our review, we have summarized information regarding all NOS1, NOS2, NOS3, and NOS1AP single nucleotide variants (SNVs) involved in the development of mental disorders and neurological diseases/conditions. The results of the studies we have discussed in this review are contradictory, which might be due to different designs of the studies, small sample sizes in some of them, and different social and geographical characteristics. However, the contribution of genetic and environmental factors has been understudied, which makes this issue increasingly important for researchers as the understanding of these mechanisms can support a search for new approaches to pathogenetic and disease-modifying treatment

Nonpsychotic Psychiatric Disorders in Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy

The association of epilepsy with mental illness has been described in recent years. Scientists are trying to relate certain epilepsies, such as juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME), with certain personality traits marked by emotional instability. The goal of this review is to evaluate the scientific literature about nonpsychotic psychiatric disorders in JME patients, the most common form of idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE). Data in this review were collected through an extensive literature search of available full-text publications in PubMed, Springer, Clinical Keys and eLIBRARY.RU databases. Comorbid personality and nonpsychotic psychiatric disorders are a common and interdisciplinary problem in JME management. The disorders in patients with JME often go undiagnosed and hence untreated. Therefore, this problem requires further and extensive investigation

Influence of anxiety on wrist tapping parameters and individual perception of one minute in healthy adults and in patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy

Aim ― To study the influence of anxiety on parameters of wrist tapping in normal conditions and in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME). Material and Methods ― We evaluated 105 people aged 16 to 55 years old (average: 31.6±10.2 years). The sample was comprised of two groups: first (I) group – healthy volunteers (n=60); second (II) group – patients with JME (n=45). Every group was stratified into two subgroups: subgroup Ia (n=33) – healthy volunteers without symptoms of anxiety; subgroup Ib (n=27) – healthy volunteers with subclinical anxiety; subgroup IIa (n=19) – patients with JME without symptoms of anxiety; subgroup IIb (n=26) – patients with JME with subclinical anxiety. Wrist tapping parameters were studied using method of our authorship named «Method of influencing a person’s individual rhythm through exogenous rhythmic stimulation». We studied reference ranges of basic characteristics of wrist tapping. Results ― Comparison of basic parameters of wrist tapping in subgroups Ia and IIa revealed a trend towards an increase in rhythm stability in patients with JME when compared to healthy volunteers. At the same time, subclinical anxiety led to a pronounced increase in frequency of individual rhythm in subgroup IIb when compared to subgroup Ia. Conclusion ― Influence of anxiety on wrist tapping parameters is more pronounced in patients with JME when compared to healthy volunteers

Nonpsychotic Psychiatric Disorders in Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy

The association of epilepsy with mental illness has been described in recent years. Scientists are trying to relate certain epilepsies, such as juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME), with certain personality traits marked by emotional instability. The goal of this review is to evaluate the scientific literature about nonpsychotic psychiatric disorders in JME patients, the most common form of idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE). Data in this review were collected through an extensive literature search of available full-text publications in PubMed, Springer, Clinical Keys and eLIBRARY.RU databases. Comorbid personality and nonpsychotic psychiatric disorders are a common and interdisciplinary problem in JME management. The disorders in patients with JME often go undiagnosed and hence untreated. Therefore, this problem requires further and extensive investigation

Candidate Genes and Proteomic Biomarkers of Serum and Urine in Medication-Overuse Headache

Chronic headache is a topical problem of neurology, psychiatry and general practice. The medication-overuse headache (MOH) is one of the leading pathologies in the structure of chronic headache. However, early diagnosis of the MOH is challenging. We analyzed potential proteomic biomarkers of serum and urine in patients with MOH. Methods: We searched PubMed, Springer, Scopus, Web of Science, ClinicalKey, and Google Scholar databases for English publications over the past 10 years using keywords and their combinations. Results: We found and analyzed seven studies that met the search criteria for the purpose of the review, including 24 serum proteomic biomarkers and 25 urine proteomic biomarkers of MOH. Moreover, the candidate genes and locus of the studied serum (vitamin D-binding protein, lipocalin-type prostaglandin D2 synthase, apolipoprotein E, etc.) and urine proteomic biomarkers (uromodulin, alpha-1-microglobulin, zinc-alpha-2-glycoprotein, etc.) of MOH are presented in this review. Conclusions: The serum and urine proteomic biomarkers of MOH can potentially help with the identification of patients with MOH development. Due to the relevance of the problem, the authors believe that further investigation of the MOH proteomic biomarkers in different ethnic and racial groups of patients with primary headache is necessary. In addition, it is important to investigate whether medications of different drug classes influence the levels of serum and urine proteomic biomarkers

The Role of Single Nucleotide Variants of NOS1, NOS2, and NOS3 Genes in the Development of the Phenotype of Migraine and Arterial Hypertension

Migraine (M) and arterial hypertension (AH) are very common diseases. Today, there are a number of studies confirming and explaining their comorbidity. We searched PubMed, Springer, Scopus, Web of Science, Clinicalkeys, and Google Scholar databases for full-text English publications over the past 15 years using keywords and their combinations. The present review provides a synthesis of information about single nucleotide variants (SNVs) of NOS1, NOS2, and NOS3 genes involved in the development of M and essential AH. The results of studies we have discussed in this review are contradictory, which might be due to different designs of the studies, small sample sizes in some of them, as well as different social and geographical environments. Despite a high prevalence of the M and AH phenotype, its genetic markers have not yet been sufficiently studied. Specifically, there are separate molecular genetic studies aimed to identify SNVs of NOS1, NOS2, and NOS3 genes responsible for the development of M and those responsible for the development of AH. However, these SNVs have not been studied in patients with the phenotype of M and AH. In this review, we identify the SNVs that would be the most interesting to study in this aspect. Understanding the role of environmental factors and genetic predictors will contribute to a better diagnostics and exploration of new approaches to pathogenetic and disease-modifying treatment of the M and AH phenotype