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April 2010
Dr. Chandan Gope, IntelliVision/Smart Monitor
Dr. Donald Olson, Stanford University
Smart Watch, a seizure monitoring device for epilepsy patients
New Therapy/Commercialization Grant through the support of the Epilepsy Foundation and Epilepsy Therapy Project.
Dr. Gope has reported that the goals have been met in order to obtain FDA approval for the Smart Watch. The Smart Watch is a seizure detection product that alerts caregivers of seizure activity for people who experience tonic or tonic-clonic seizures. Preliminary results from a clinical trial being conducted at Stanford University provided input into the enhancements made to the Smart Watch. The study continues at Stanford to test sensitivity and specificity of the device in patients in the pediatric and adult epileptic monitoring units. The team completed testing that has enhanced the product such as improving accuracy of seizure detection; reduction of false detections; usage improvements including Bluetooth capability; software improvements to detect seizures within 4-5 seconds after onset and alert caregivers within 7-10 seconds after onset; enhance software to record movement and support analysis of seizures; and overall product reliability and performance. The research team continues to work toward commercializing the Smart Watch including work with consumer design firms and conducting market analysis with hopes of making the Smart Watch available later this year.
Dr. Autumn Klein
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Obstetrical and neurological outcomes in women with epilepsy: A prospective study
Research and Training Fellowship for Clinicians Award
Preliminary Results
This study aims to determine how prenatal care as well as patient and doctor preference influence obstetrical and neurological outcomes in women with epilepsy. The goal of this research is to definitively identify obstetrical and neurological risks to the pregnant woman with epilepsy and to better manage these risks throughout pregnancy in order to safely deliver a healthy child. Enrollment into the study continues past the project date. However, preliminary data suggests that there is still a higher rate of C-section in women with epilepsy (WWE) and that the rate of sizures in the peripartum period is quite low. C-section rate in the WWE is 33% as compared to 16% in the women without epilepsy (WWoE). WWE reported more folic acid use during pregnancy (66% vs. 29%), had higher reported rates of first trimester ultrasounds (100% vs. 87%) and had higher rates of 18 week detailed anatomical ultrasounds (92% vs. 87%). More WWE preferred to have a Cesarean section as compared to WWoE (12.5% vs. 8.3%).
This fellowship was Dr. Klein’s first research award as her career is progressing and it assisted her with receiving additional funding from other agencies to continue her work. The result of Dr. Klein’s work will provide data for a larger NIH study that she is planning to submit in the near future and she has been invited to participate in a multicenter research grant proposal where she will contribute her research.
Dr. Robyn Busch
Cleveland Clinic
The role of cortisol dysregulation in depression and hippocampal dysfunction associated with temporal lobe epilepsy
Targeted Research Grant for Mood Disorders
Research in patients with mood disorders has suggested that elevated levels of steroid hormones, such as cortisol, are associated with memory problems and smaller hippocampi. This is relevant for patients with epilepsy, who often have depression, memory problems, and smaller hippocampi. However, the role of cortisol in these factors in patients with epilepsy had not previously been investigated. This study examined whether or not elevated cortisol levels may explain the relationships between these variables in patients with medically intractable temporal lobe epilepsy. Results suggest that cortisol is not related to depression, memory, or hippocampal size. This suggests that cortisol does not explain the relationship between depression and mesial temporal dysfunction. Dr. Busch’s work helps other researchers’ decisions on whether to rule out future investigations of cortisol as it relates to depression, memory and hippocampal size.
Since conducting this research, Dr. Busch has refocused her work on the role genetic factors have in patients with medically intractable epilepsy and examining the time course of memory recovery following anterior temporal lobectomy. We send best wishes for securing an NIH grant to support her work.
Congratulations to our colleague Tracy A. Glauser, MD, director of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center for leading 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. This study has established an evidence-based approach for initial drug therapy.
Published March 4 in the New England Journal of Medicine, data from the clinical trial fill a large information gap in the treatment of childhood absence epilepsy, also known as “petit mal” epilepsy. The research, which identifies important differences between drugs in seizure control and side effects, is expected to impact how physicians select and monitor initial therapy for children with the disorder and ultimately lead to improved outcomes. For more information, visit: http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/about/news/release
/2010/epilepsy-trial-3-4-2010.htm
Our colleagues at Epilepsy Therapy Project has hosted another successful Pipeline Conference for 2010. Held in San Francisco this past February, the conference provided a thorough overview of research for upcoming, possible new therapies for epilepsy. A member of our Board of Directors, Andrew Neff attended and provided a summary of the conference presentations. Click here to read more about the 2010 Pipeline Conference.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke recently completed an Institute-wide strategic planning process and now welcomes your input on its draft plan. The plan outlines strategies that will enable NINDS to accelerate progress and make the best use of resources for the next 5 to 10 years. The draft plan will be available for public comment through May 7, 2010. To view the plan and supporting materials, and to submit comments, please see: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/about_ninds/plans/
strategic_plan/feedback.htm.
If you or someone you know would like to participate in epilepsy research, read more about the following studies and more on our website at http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/research/trials.cfm.
Epilepsy Birth Control Registry
Despite the importance of birth control to women of reproductive age, there has been little formal investigation of the safety and effectiveness of birth control methods in women with epilepsy. To remedy this, doctors from Harvard and Columbia University Medical Schools have developed a website that offers a survey to help us gain more knowledge and some educational material that will be updated regularly to provide the latest information. The ultimate goal is to develop guidelines for the selection of safe and effective birth control methods and to make sure that the best forms of birth control become available to women with epilepsy in all communities of our society. Go to www.epilepsybirthcontrolregistry.com, take the survey and then catch up on the latest information about birth control for women with epilepsy.
ROSE (Radiosurgery or Open Surgery for Epilepsy)
Epilepsy surgery is an alternative for some people whose seizures cannot be controlled by anticonvulsant medications. Radiosurgery is a minimally-invasive radiation procedure used to treat tumors and other abnormalities of the brain, and is currently being investigated as an alternative to open surgery treatment for a very select group of patients with medically refractory partial epilepsy. The study is designed to compare advantages and disadvantages of open surgery versus radiosurgery. The ROSE Trial (Radiosurgery or Open Surgery for Epilepsy) is being conducted in major epilepsy centers across the US and Canada. Note: Although clinicaltrials.gov currently reads that this study is not enrolling participants, we have been informed that several sites continue to need participants. To find out which centers are currently enrolling participants and for more information about this trial, ask your neurologist or epileptologist or visit the following websites: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/
NCT00860145?term=radiosurgery+and+epilepsy&rank=1
or http://neu rosurgery.ucsf.edu/index.php/clinical_trials_epilepsy.html
WebEase (Epilepsy Awareness, Support and Education)
The Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University is currently recruiting participants for a research study to test WebEase, an on-line program for people with epilepsy. WebEase is an internet self-management program that is designed to encourage people to adopt behaviors that can help them take their medications consistently, reduce stress, and improve sleep. Participants receive an incentive of $20 for completing the program. For more information about this study, please visit http://www.sph.emory.edu/Managing EpilepsyWell/research/webease.php. WebEase is based at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, and is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
*This listing of epilepsy studies is for information purposes only; and the reader assumes full responsibility and risk for the appropriate use of the information provided. The information concerning the study was sent to the Epilepsy Foundation by the investigator or staff conducting the research. The Epilepsy Foundation, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees and agents do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and specifically disclaims any liability therefore.
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