Copyright 2009 Medical News Today Latest Epilepsy News From Medical News Today. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/epilepsy/ admin@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Admin) editors@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Editors) en-us Sat, 04 Jul 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156393.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156393.php A similarity in brain disturbance between insects and people suffering from migraines, stroke and epilepsy points the way toward new drug therapies to address these conditions. Queen's University biologists studying the locust have found that these human disorders are linked by a brain disturbance during which nerve cells shut down. This also occurs in locusts when they go into a coma after exposure to extreme conditions such as high temperatures or lack of oxygen. Headache / Migraine Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156200.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156200.php Liver transplantation offers a good chance for survival for patients with drug induced acute liver failure, however, certain pre-transplant factors are associated with worse outcomes. Patients who are on life support, who have elevated serum creatinine, and children whose liver failure was caused by antiepileptic drugs did not fare as well after transplantation. These findings are in the July issue of Liver Transplantation, a journal published by John Wiley & Sons. Liver Disease / Hepatitis Wed, 01 Jul 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155909.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155909.php New pooled clinical data presented at the 28th International Epilepsy Congress (IEC) in Budapest, Hungary showed that VIMPAT® (lacosamide), a new antiepileptic drug (AED) with a novel mode of action,1,2 significantly improved seizure control, increased seizure freedom rates during the maintenance phase and enhanced quality of life and patient function, when used as adjunctive therapy in adult patients with uncontrolled partial-onset seizures. Epilepsy Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155715.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155715.php Data presented yesterday, in Budapest, demonstrated that add-on treatment with the novel, once-daily anti-epileptic Zebinix®* (eslicarbazepine acetate; ESL) resulted in a marked and sustained decrease in seizure frequency over the long-term. Results from the one-year extension of a pivotal Eslicarbazepine Acetate phase III study were presented at the International Congress for Epilepsy in Budapest, Hungary. Epilepsy Mon, 29 Jun 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155649.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155649.php Alcohol's inebriating effects are familiar to everyone. But the molecular details of alcohol's impact on brain activity remain a mystery. A new study by researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies brings us closer to understanding how alcohol alters the way brain cells work. Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs Wed, 24 Jun 2009 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155089.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155089.php Biovista Inc. announced that BVA-601, its small-molecule drug targeting epilepsy, has shown positive results in the Kainic acid murine model of temporal lobe epilepsy. BVA-601, an existing drug that Biovista repositioned in epilepsy, exhibits both anti-epileptic and neuroprotective activity. In this pre-clinical trial, BVA-601 induced a statistically significant decrease of epileptic activity in mice pre-treated with Kainic acid. Epilepsy Thu, 18 Jun 2009 07:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154478.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154478.php Policy makers must increase investment in services to improve the lives of people with epilepsy, according to The Lancet Neurology this month. An article, published in the July issue of the journal, highlights how health services are failing many people with epilepsy, an often overlooked and misunderstood condition. This is despite epilepsy being the most common neurological condition in the UK, with 456,000, or one in 131, people affected. Epilepsy Thu, 18 Jun 2009 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154380.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154380.php Two new studies published by neurologists at Columbia University Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital demonstrate a need for more vigilant monitoring for seizure activity among intensive care patients who may be experiencing subtle seizures that are typically unrecognized. These subtle seizures may be affecting patients' prognoses and causing long-term brain damage, death and severe disability. Neurology / Neuroscience Mon, 15 Jun 2009 05:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153938.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153938.php Biopharma company UCB and PatientsLikeMe, the leading online community for people with life-changing conditions, today announced a strategic partnership to create an online, open epilepsy community that captures real-world experiences of people living with epilepsy in the U.S. Epilepsy Thu, 11 Jun 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153370.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153370.php Rutgers researchers have discovered a potential new way to treat childhood epilepsy using a widely available therapeutic drug. Rutgers neuroscientist Gabriella D'Arcangelo and her colleagues have published their research findings in the journal Disease Models and Mechanisms (in press) and the paper has just appeared online. In their quest for new therapeutic approaches, the researchers are investigating the molecular basis of the disease. Epilepsy Thu, 11 Jun 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153371.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153371.php Clinicians from the Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) have perfected an operation, which was previously considered too dangerous, to control refractory insular epilepsy, using an innovative microsurgery technique. According to a study published as the feature article in the latest issue of the Journal of Neurosurgery, the new surgical technique is both safe and beneficial for patients. Epilepsy Tue, 02 Jun 2009 08:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152305.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152305.php Sepracor Inc. (Nasdaq: SEPR) today announced that it has been notified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that the New Drug Application (NDA) for STEDESA™ (eslicarbazepine acetate) has been accepted for filing and is now under formal review. As previously announced, the NDA for STEDESA was submitted to the FDA on March 31, 2009 for adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial-onset seizures in adults with epilepsy. Epilepsy Tue, 02 Jun 2009 07:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152260.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152260.php A drug with potential to prevent epilepsy caused by a genetic condition may also help prevent more common forms of epilepsy caused by brain injury, according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Scientists found that the FDA-approved drug rapamycin blocks brain changes believed to cause seizures in rats. Epilepsy Tue, 02 Jun 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152122.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152122.php Researchers studying a difficult-to-treat form of childhood epilepsy called infantile spasms have developed a line of mice that experiences seizures with features closely resembling those occurring in patients with infantile seizures. These genetically engineered mice provide a new opportunity for scientists to test treatments that may benefit children. "Approximately one out of every 100 infants has a seizure. Epilepsy Fri, 29 May 2009 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151856.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151856.php A recent report released by Wolters Kluwer Health predicts that by the end of the year, nearly two-thirds of all drug prescriptions will be filled with generic drugs. This march to generics is fueled by several factors, which include the current economy, ever-increasing co-payment requirements for brand name drugs and pharmacies' desire to increase their profits by filling prescriptions with high margin generics versus lower margin brand name medicines. Epilepsy Wed, 27 May 2009 07:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151572.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151572.php UCB has announced that Vimpat® (lacosamide) C-V , a new antiepileptic drug (AED) is available in the U.S. as an add-on therapy for the treatment of partial-onset seizures in people with epilepsy who are 17 years and older. Vimpat® will be available in U.S. pharmacies by the first week of June 2009. "The availability of Vimpat® in the U.S. is an important milestone for people living with epilepsy and for UCB," said Rich Denness, Vice-President and General Manager CNS U. Epilepsy Wed, 27 May 2009 07:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151580.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151580.php UCB today announced that Vimpat® (lacosamide) C-V, a new antiepileptic drug (AED) is available in the U.S. as an add-on therapy for the treatment of partial-onset seizures in people with epilepsy who are 17 years and older. Vimpat® will be available in U.S. pharmacies by the first week of June 2009. "The availability of Vimpat® in the U.S. is an important milestone for people living with epilepsy and for UCB," said Rich Denness, Vice-President and General Manager CNS U. Epilepsy Wed, 27 May 2009 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151459.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151459.php Vimpat(R) (lacosamide) C-V, a new antiepileptic drug (AED), will be available in U.S. pharmacies by the first week of June 2009. Vimpat was approved by the U.S. FDA in the fall of 2008 for the use as an add-on therapy for the treatment of partial-onset seizures in people 17 years and older with epilepsy. Vimpat approval is based on safety and efficacy data from three pivotal trials with approximately 1,300 patients. Epilepsy Fri, 22 May 2009 05:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151139.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151139.php Lyrica is Pfizer's trade name for a drug called pregabalin. Pregabalin is an anticonvulsant (anti-seizure) drug that is often used to treat neuropathic pain as well as partial seizures that are common in temporal lobe epilepsy. In Europe, pregabalin is also approved to treat generalized anxiety disorder. What does Lyrica treat? Lyrica or pregabalin has been approved in the U.S. Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry Wed, 20 May 2009 06:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/150796.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/150796.php University of Minnesota McKnight professor and Director of Center for Neuroengineering Bin He has developed a new technique that has led to preliminary successes in noninvasive imaging of seizure foci. He's technique promises to play an important role in the treatment of epileptic seizures. Click here to view a video explaining the procedure. Epilepsy Wed, 20 May 2009 05:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/150776.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/150776.php Studying the way a person's brain 'sings' could improve our understanding of conditions such as epilepsy and schizophrenia and help develop better treatments, scientists at Cardiff University have discovered. Research by a team working in Cardiff University's Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC) has discovered that a person's brain produces a unique electrical oscillation at a particular frequency when a person looks at a visual pattern. Epilepsy Wed, 20 May 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/150669.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/150669.php A unique electrode developed for non-invasive use by a University of Rhode Island biomedical engineer is showing promising results in helping to interpret brain signals so paralyzed patients may control their environment. It is also being studied as a means of delivering a stimulus to control epileptic seizures. Unlike the conventional disk-shaped electrode, the bulls-eye electrode is made up of concentric circles that make it look like a small target. Neurology / Neuroscience Wed, 20 May 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/150658.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/150658.php The instruction manual for maintaining an efficient brain may soon include a section on synaptotagmin-IV (Syt-IV), a protein known to influence learning and memory, thanks to a study by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers. The study showed that Syt-IV keeps the strength of synapses - connections between nerve cells where communication occurs - within a useful range of neither too strong nor too weak. Neurology / Neuroscience Sun, 10 May 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/149430.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/149430.php An innovative new type of medical journal has been launched by http://www.epilepsy.com, the world's most visited website about epilepsy. This quarterly journal is written and reviewed by people who live with epilepsy, not by medical professionals. Epilepsy Thu, 07 May 2009 08:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/149275.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/149275.php Impax Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ: IPXL) confirmed that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted final approval of the Company's Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for generic version of Depakote® (divalproex ER) 250mg Extended-release Tablets. The Company also received tentative approval on the 500mg tablets and expects to receive final approval on August 3, 2009, upon expiration of the 180-day exclusivity period. Epilepsy