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Operto FF, Orsini A, Sica G, Scuoppo C, Padovano C, Vivenzio V, de Simone V, Rinaldi R, Belfiore G, Mazza R, Aiello S, Vetri L, Donadio S, Labate A, Pastorino GMG. Perampanel and childhood absence epilepsy: A real life experience. Front Neurol 2022; 13:952900. [PMID: 36034267 PMCID: PMC9404324 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.952900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives The aim of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of perampanel (PER) as first add-on and as second line monotherapy in subjects with childhood absence epilepsy. Methods Our sample consisted of 20 patients with childhood absence epilepsy, aged between 8 and 10, already in therapy with a first antiseizure medication with incomplete seizure control. PER was added as first add-on in a dose ranging from 3 to 8 mg/die with 1- 2 mg/week increments. The patients that were seizure-free were shifted to a PER monotherapy. All patients underwent a standardized neuropsychological evaluation in order to assess non-verbal intelligence and executive functions before adding PER and after 6 months of drug therapy. All parents completed two questionnaires, in order to assess the emotional-behavioral problems and parental stress. Results 15/20 patients responded to add-on PER and were seizure-free, in 3/20 patients we observed a reduction of seizure frequency <50%, and in the 2 remaining patients the add-on therapy with PER did not lead to a reduction in seizures frequency from baseline. The patients who were seizure-free were switched to PER monotherapy. 9/15 patients remained seizure-free in monotherapy with PER. In the first month of therapy with PER 2/20 patients (10%) reported mild, transient side effects of irritability, headache and dizziness, which did not lead to discontinuation of therapy. Adjunctive treatment with PER did not negatively affect non-verbal intelligence, executive functions, emotional/behavioral symptoms of children and parental stress levels. Significance Our clinical experience in real life showed that PER appears to be effective in the control of absence seizures in childhood absence epilepsy, with a favorable tolerability profile. PER would seem effective on absence seizures even in monotherapy. Further studies with larger samples, longer follow-up and controlled vs. placebo (or other first choice antiseizure medications) are needed to confirm our data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Felicia Operto
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
- *Correspondence: Francesca Felicia Operto
| | - Alessandro Orsini
- Pediatric Neurology, Pediatric Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Chiara Scuoppo
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Chiara Padovano
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Valentina Vivenzio
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Valeria de Simone
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Rosetta Rinaldi
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Gilda Belfiore
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Roberta Mazza
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Salvatore Aiello
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Luigi Vetri
- OASI Research Institute- IRCCS, Troina, Italy
| | - Serena Donadio
- Department of Psychology, Educational and Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Angelo Labate
- Department of Biomedical, Dental Sciences and Morphological and Functional Images, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Grazia Maria Giovanna Pastorino
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
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Operto FF, Coppola G, Vivenzio V, Scuoppo C, Padovano C, de Simone V, Rinaldi R, Belfiore G, Sica G, Morcaldi L, D’Onofrio F, Olivieri M, Donadio S, Roccella M, Carotenuto M, Viggiano A, Pastorino GMG. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Children and Adolescents with Neuropsychiatric Disorders: Emotional/Behavioral Symptoms and Parental Stress. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:ijerph19073795. [PMID: 35409479 PMCID: PMC8997638 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19073795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The objective of our study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the emotional and behavioral symptoms in minors with neuropsychiatric disorders and on parental stress through a standardized neuropsychological assessment, comparing the data collected before the pandemic with those collected during the lock-down. Another goal of our study was to analyze the relationship between parental stress and behavioral/emotional symptoms in children. Our study was conducted on 383 families of patients who had already been referred at the Child Neuropsychiatry Unit of the University Hospital of Salerno for different neuropsychiatric conditions. All the parents completed two neuropsychological standardized questionnaires for the assessment of parental stress (PSI—Parenting Stress Index-Short Form) and the emotional/behavioral problems of their children (Child Behaviour CheckList). The data collected during the pandemic were compared with those collected from questionnaires administered during the six months preceding the pandemic, as is our usual clinical practice. The comparison between the mean scores of PSI and CBCL before and after the pandemic showed a statistically significant increase in all subscales analyzed in the total sample. The correlation analysis showed significant positive relationship between the subscale Total Stress of PSI and the subscales Total Problems and Internalizing Problems of CBCL. Our study suggested that the COVID-19 pandemic and the corresponding measures adopted led to an increase in internalizing and externalizing symptoms in children and adolescents with neuropsychiatric disorder. Similarly, parental stress increased during COVID-19 and ahigher level of stress in parents can be related to the internalizing symptoms of their children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Felicia Operto
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy; (G.C.); (V.V.); (C.S.); (C.P.); (V.d.S.); (R.R.); (G.B.); luciaa-@hotmail.it (L.M.); (F.D.); (M.O.); (A.V.); (G.M.G.P.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Giangennaro Coppola
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy; (G.C.); (V.V.); (C.S.); (C.P.); (V.d.S.); (R.R.); (G.B.); luciaa-@hotmail.it (L.M.); (F.D.); (M.O.); (A.V.); (G.M.G.P.)
| | - Valentina Vivenzio
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy; (G.C.); (V.V.); (C.S.); (C.P.); (V.d.S.); (R.R.); (G.B.); luciaa-@hotmail.it (L.M.); (F.D.); (M.O.); (A.V.); (G.M.G.P.)
| | - Chiara Scuoppo
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy; (G.C.); (V.V.); (C.S.); (C.P.); (V.d.S.); (R.R.); (G.B.); luciaa-@hotmail.it (L.M.); (F.D.); (M.O.); (A.V.); (G.M.G.P.)
| | - Chiara Padovano
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy; (G.C.); (V.V.); (C.S.); (C.P.); (V.d.S.); (R.R.); (G.B.); luciaa-@hotmail.it (L.M.); (F.D.); (M.O.); (A.V.); (G.M.G.P.)
| | - Valeria de Simone
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy; (G.C.); (V.V.); (C.S.); (C.P.); (V.d.S.); (R.R.); (G.B.); luciaa-@hotmail.it (L.M.); (F.D.); (M.O.); (A.V.); (G.M.G.P.)
| | - Rosetta Rinaldi
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy; (G.C.); (V.V.); (C.S.); (C.P.); (V.d.S.); (R.R.); (G.B.); luciaa-@hotmail.it (L.M.); (F.D.); (M.O.); (A.V.); (G.M.G.P.)
| | - Gilda Belfiore
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy; (G.C.); (V.V.); (C.S.); (C.P.); (V.d.S.); (R.R.); (G.B.); luciaa-@hotmail.it (L.M.); (F.D.); (M.O.); (A.V.); (G.M.G.P.)
| | - Gianpiero Sica
- Azienda Sanitaria Locale Salerno, Via Nizza 146, 84124 Salerno, Italy;
| | - Lucia Morcaldi
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy; (G.C.); (V.V.); (C.S.); (C.P.); (V.d.S.); (R.R.); (G.B.); luciaa-@hotmail.it (L.M.); (F.D.); (M.O.); (A.V.); (G.M.G.P.)
| | - Floriana D’Onofrio
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy; (G.C.); (V.V.); (C.S.); (C.P.); (V.d.S.); (R.R.); (G.B.); luciaa-@hotmail.it (L.M.); (F.D.); (M.O.); (A.V.); (G.M.G.P.)
| | - Miriam Olivieri
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy; (G.C.); (V.V.); (C.S.); (C.P.); (V.d.S.); (R.R.); (G.B.); luciaa-@hotmail.it (L.M.); (F.D.); (M.O.); (A.V.); (G.M.G.P.)
| | - Serena Donadio
- Department of Psychology, Educational and Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (S.D.); (M.R.)
| | - Michele Roccella
- Department of Psychology, Educational and Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (S.D.); (M.R.)
| | - Marco Carotenuto
- Clinic of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Department of Mental Health, Physical and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80100 Naples, Italy;
| | - Andrea Viggiano
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy; (G.C.); (V.V.); (C.S.); (C.P.); (V.d.S.); (R.R.); (G.B.); luciaa-@hotmail.it (L.M.); (F.D.); (M.O.); (A.V.); (G.M.G.P.)
| | - Grazia Maria Giovanna Pastorino
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy; (G.C.); (V.V.); (C.S.); (C.P.); (V.d.S.); (R.R.); (G.B.); luciaa-@hotmail.it (L.M.); (F.D.); (M.O.); (A.V.); (G.M.G.P.)
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Operto FF, Scuoppo C, Padovano C, Vivenzio V, Belfiore G, de Simone V, Pistola I, Rinaldi R, Diaspro G, Mazza R, Pastorino GMG. Migraine and epilepsy: Social cognition skills in pediatric population. Eur J Paediatr Neurol 2022; 37:68-74. [PMID: 35134658 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2022.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The goal of the present study was to comparatively analyze Social Cognition skills in a pediatric population diagnosed with Migraine or Epilepsy, compared to Typically Developing children (TD). The secondary aim was to relate Social Cognition skills with other migraine- or epilepsy-related variables and with executive and cognitive functions. MATERIALS AND METHODS In our cross-sectional observational study 119 children and adolescents (aged 6-16) with Migraine or Focal Epilepsy and 61 TD peers were recruited. Both the clinical groups and TD peers performed a neuropsychological evaluation through standardized test to assess Theory of Mind (TM), Emotion Recognition through facial expression (ER), executive function and non-verbal cognitive abilities. RESULTS Children and adolescents with Migraine or Focal Epilepsy showed comparable scores between each other, however their scores were significantly lower than their TD peers, in both ER and TM. Social Cognition skills were significantly related to executive functions. CONCLUSION Our study suggests that some chronic neurological conditions in childhood, such as Migraine and Epilepsy, may be associated with difficulties in Social Cognition skills, and that these difficulties may be related to a deficit in executive functions. The relationship between these two higher cognitive abilities should be further explored in future studies. Our results also suggest the importance of monitoring cognitive abilities in pediatric patients with Migraine or Epilepsy, in order to detect early impairment and ensure the necessary support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Felicia Operto
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy.
| | - Chiara Scuoppo
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Chiara Padovano
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Valentina Vivenzio
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Gilda Belfiore
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Valeria de Simone
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Ilaria Pistola
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Rosetta Rinaldi
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Diaspro
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Roberta Mazza
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
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Operto FF, Pastorino GMG, Pippa F, Padovano C, Vivenzio V, Scuoppo C, Pistola I, Coppola G. Psychiatric Symptoms and Parental Stress in Children and Adolescents With Epilepsy. Front Neurol 2021; 12:778410. [PMID: 34956058 PMCID: PMC8694379 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.778410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The aim of this study was to identify the presence of emotional and behavioral symptoms in children and adolescents with epilepsy, to measure the stress levels in their parents, and to determine if and how parental stress was linked to emotional and behavioral symptoms of their children. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional observational study including 103 children and adolescents with different form of epilepsy and 93 sex-/age-matched controls. Parental stress and emotional and behavioral symptoms were assessed through two standardized questionnaires: the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), respectively. We also considered the following variables: age, sex, maternal education level, family history of psychiatric disorders, duration of epilepsy, seizure frequency, seizure type, and number of antiseizure medications. Results: The statistical comparison showed that the epilepsy group obtained significantly higher scores than controls in almost all the CBCL and the PSI scales (p < 0.05). The correlation analysis revealed a significant relationship between the PSI Total Stress scale and the following CBCL scales: total problems, internalizing problems, and externalizing problems (p < 0.05). An earlier age of seizure onset was related to a greater presence of externalizing problems, total problems, and total stress (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In the epilepsy group, we found higher levels of parental stress and higher presence of emotional and behavioral symptoms compared to controls, mainly represented by internalizing problems (anxiety and depression symptoms). Therefore, it is important to precociously detect these symptoms and monitor them over time, in order to prevent psychiatric problems. In addition, parents of children with epilepsy should be offered psychological support to cope with parental stress and to improve the relationship with their children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Felicia Operto
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | | | - Federica Pippa
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Chiara Padovano
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Valentina Vivenzio
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Chiara Scuoppo
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Ilaria Pistola
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Giangennaro Coppola
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
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Operto FF, Pastorino GMG, Scuoppo C, Padovano C, Vivenzio V, Pistola I, Belfiore G, Rinaldi R, de Simone V, Coppola G. Adaptive Behavior, Emotional/Behavioral Problems and Parental Stress in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:751465. [PMID: 34899160 PMCID: PMC8660640 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.751465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The aim of our study was to compare adaptive skills, emotional/behavioral problems, and parental stress among children with different severity levels of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) symptoms. Methods: This study included a sample of 88 subjects with ASD (mean age = 6.00 ± 2.70). All subjects underwent standardized neuropsychological tests for the assessment of symptoms of the autism spectrum (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Second Edition), adaptive level (The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Survey Interview, 2nd edition), behavioral and emotional problems (Child Behavior CheckList CBCL), and parental stress (Parental Stress Index Short Form-PSI-SF). Non-parametric statistical methods (Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U-test for post hoc analysis) and linear regression analysis were used in this study. Results: Children who had higher severity levels of ASD symptoms had less adaptive functioning; younger children showed more severe symptoms of ASD; older children had better communication skills. The presence of greater adaptive difficulties was related to a greater presence of internalizing problems. An increase in parental stress levels was related to an higher severity of ASD symptoms, fewer adaptive skills, and a greater presence of internalizing and externalizing problems. Conclusion: This study suggests that the adaptive behavior should be considered in order to planning a habilitation intervention in children with autism. It is also important to monitor emotional/behavioral problems and parental stress levels in order to provide parenting support and improve the family quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Felicia Operto
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Grazia Maria Giovanna Pastorino
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Chiara Scuoppo
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Chiara Padovano
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Valentina Vivenzio
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Ilaria Pistola
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Gilda Belfiore
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Rosetta Rinaldi
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Valeria de Simone
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Giangennaro Coppola
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
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Operto FF, Vivenzio V, Scuoppo C, Padovano C, Roccella M, Quatrosi G, Pastorino GMG. Perampanel and Visuospatial Skills in Children With Epilepsy. Front Neurol 2021; 12:696946. [PMID: 34305800 PMCID: PMC8296464 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.696946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Perampanel (PER) is a non-competitive AMPA glutamate receptor antagonist approved for focal and generalized seizures as add-on therapy. PER does not seem to negatively affect the cognitive profile in children and adolescents, but its influence on visuospatial abilities is still to be assessed. The aim of our study was to assess visuospatial skills through a standardized neuropsychological evaluation in adolescents taking PER for 12 months. Methods: Our sample included 46 adolescents aged 12–18 years with focal and generalized drug-resistant epilepsy already in therapy with one or two antiseizure medications. Changes in visuospatial perception and memory were assessed by the Rey–Osterrieth Complex Figure Test at baseline (before taking PER) and after 12 months of pharmacological treatment. Executive functions and non-verbal intelligence were also assessed at baseline. Results: After 12 months of PER therapy, the mean scores on the Rey–Osterrieth Complex Figure Test remained almost unchanged for both visuospatial perception and visuospatial memory skills. At baseline, visuospatial memory was related to executive function, and visuospatial perception was related to executive function and non-verbal intelligence. Conclusions: Adjunctive treatment with PER did not negatively affect visuospatial skills. No adverse event effects have been reported after 12 months of follow-up, and this suggests a good tolerability in the middle-to-long term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Felicia Operto
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Valentina Vivenzio
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Chiara Scuoppo
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Chiara Padovano
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Michele Roccella
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Quatrosi
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Grazia Maria Giovanna Pastorino
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
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Operto FF, Pastorino GMG, Di Bonaventura C, Scuoppo C, Padovano C, Vivenzio V, Donadio S, Coppola G. Effects of antiseizure monotherapy on visuospatial memory in pediatric age. Eur J Paediatr Neurol 2021; 32:106-114. [PMID: 33895643 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2021.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Visuospatial abilities are fundamental for good school achievements and good daily functioning. Previous studies showed an impairment of visuospatial skills in pediatric patients with epilepsy; pharmacological treatment, although indispensable for the seizure control, could further affect cognitive functions. The aim of our study was to evaluate the visuospatial skills in children and adolescents with different forms of epilepsy well-controlled by antiseizure monotherapy, both at baseline and after one year follow-up, through a standardized neuropsychological assessment. METHODS We recruited 207 children and adolescents (mean age = 10.35 ± 2.39 years) with epilepsy, well controlled by monotherapy with levetiracetam, valproic acid, ethosuximide, oxcarbazepine or carbamazepine and 45 age/sex-matched controls. All the participants performed the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure, a standardized test for visuospatial perception and visuospatial memory assessment, at baseline and after 12 month of drug therapy. Age, sex, executive functions, non-verbal intelligence, age at onset of epilepsy, epilepsy duration, epilepsy type, lobe and side of seizure onset were considered in our analysis. EEG, seizure frequency, and drug dose were also recorded. RESULTS At baseline, the epilepsy group performed significantly worse than controls in the Immediate Recall test but not the Direct Copy test, without differences between epilepsy subgroups. Immediate Recall scores were related to age of seizure onset and epilepsy duration and executive functions. The re-assessment after 1 year showed that the Immediate Recall mean scores were not significantly changed in the levetiracetam and oxcarbazepine group, while they significantly worsened in the valproic acid, ethosuximide and carbamazepine groups. The Immediate Recall scores were correlated to age, age at onset of epilepsy, epilepsy duration, and executive functions. CONCLUSIONS Children with epilepsy may exhibit visuospatial memory impairment compared to their peer, that may be correlated to some features of the epilepsy itself and to the impairment of executive functions. Different antiseizure medications can affect visuospatial memory differently, so it is important monitoring this aspect in pediatric patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Felicia Operto
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy.
| | - Grazia Maria Giovanna Pastorino
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Carlo Di Bonaventura
- Epilepsy Unit, Department of Human Neurosciences, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Scuoppo
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Chiara Padovano
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Valentina Vivenzio
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Serena Donadio
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Giangennaro Coppola
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
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Pastorino GMG, Operto FF, Padovano C, Vivenzio V, Scuoppo C, Pastorino N, Roccella M, Vetri L, Carotenuto M, Coppola G. Social Cognition in Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Epilepsy. Front Neurol 2021; 12:658823. [PMID: 33935956 PMCID: PMC8079621 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.658823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The purpose of our study was to perform a comparative analysis of social cognition in children and adolescents with epilepsy, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), specific learning disorder (SLD) and in typical development (TD) controls. The secondary aim was to relate social cognition to some clinical and demographic characteristics. Methods: Our work is a transversal observational study. The recruits were 179 children and adolescents aged between 6 and 18 years diagnosed with epilepsy, ASD, or SLD and 32 subjects with TD. All the participants underwent neuropsychological assessment of Emotion Recognition (ER) and Theory of Mind (ToM) skills. Results: All three clinical groups performed significantly worse than controls in ER and ToM. The ASD group achieved significantly lower performance than the other groups; however, the scores of SLD and epilepsy groups were comparable. The ER performances are related to non-verbal intelligence only in the group with epilepsy. Conclusion: Children and adolescents with focal epilepsy, SLD, or ASD may present a deficit of varying extent in emotion recognition and ToM, compared with TD peers. These difficulties are more pronounced in individuals with ASD, but impairment worthy of clinical attention also emerges in individuals with SLD and epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grazia Maria Giovanna Pastorino
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Francesca Felicia Operto
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Chiara Padovano
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Valentina Vivenzio
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Chiara Scuoppo
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Nazareno Pastorino
- Department of Cultural Heritage Sciences, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Michele Roccella
- Department of Psychological, Pedagogical and Educational Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Luigi Vetri
- Department of Psychological, Pedagogical and Educational Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Marco Carotenuto
- Department of Mental Health, Physical and Preventive Medicine, Clinic of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Giangennaro Coppola
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
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Marsilio S, Khiabanian H, Fabbri G, Vergani S, Scuoppo C, Montserrat E, Shpall EJ, Hadigol M, Marin P, Rai KR, Rabadan R, Devereux S, Pasqualucci L, Chiorazzi N. Somatic CLL mutations occur at multiple distinct hematopoietic maturation stages: documentation and cautionary note regarding cell fraction purity. Leukemia 2017; 32:1041-1044. [PMID: 29203856 PMCID: PMC5886053 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2017.343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- S Marsilio
- Karches Center for Oncology Research, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, USA
| | - H Khiabanian
- Center for Systems and Computational Biology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - G Fabbri
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - S Vergani
- Karches Center for Oncology Research, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, USA
| | - C Scuoppo
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - E Montserrat
- Institute of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Hematology, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - E J Shpall
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cell Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - M Hadigol
- Center for Systems and Computational Biology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - P Marin
- Institute of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Hematology, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - K R Rai
- Karches Center for Oncology Research, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, USA
| | - R Rabadan
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - S Devereux
- Kings College Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - L Pasqualucci
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - N Chiorazzi
- Karches Center for Oncology Research, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, USA
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Chakraborty AA, Scuoppo C, Dey S, Thomas LR, Lorey SL, Lowe SW, Tansey WP. A common functional consequence of tumor-derived mutations within c-MYC. Oncogene 2014; 34:2406-9. [PMID: 24998853 PMCID: PMC4286529 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2014.186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2014] [Accepted: 05/06/2014] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The relevance of changes to the coding sequence of the c-MYC oncogene to malignancy is controversial. Overexpression of a pristine form of MYC is observed in many cancers and is sufficient to drive tumorigenesis in most contexts. Yet missense changes to MYC are found in ~50% of Burkitt's lymphomas, aggregate within an amino-terminal degron important for proteasomal destruction of MYC, and where examined profoundly enhance the tumorigenic properties of MYC in vitro and in vivo. Much of the controversy surrounding these mutants stems from the limited number of mutations that have been evaluated and their clustering within a single region of the MYC protein; the highly-conserved Myc box I (MbI) element. Here, by analysis of extant genomic data sets, we identify a previously unrecognized hotspot for tumor-associated MYC mutations, located in a conserved central portion of the protein. We show that, despite their distal location in MYC, mutations in this region precisely phenocopy those in MbI in terms of stability, in vitro transformation, growth-promoting properties, in vivo tumorigenesis and ability to escape p53-dependent tumor surveillance mechanisms. The striking parallels between the behavior of tumor-derived mutations in disparate regions of the MYC protein reveals that a common molecular process is disrupted by these mutations, implying an active role for these mutations in tumorigenesis and suggesting that different therapeutic strategies may be needed for treatment of lymphomas expressing wild type versus mutant forms of MYC protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Chakraborty
- 1] Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, NY, USA [2] Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - C Scuoppo
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, NY, USA
| | - S Dey
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - L R Thomas
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - S L Lorey
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - S W Lowe
- 1] Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, NY, USA [2] Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - W P Tansey
- 1] Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, NY, USA [2] Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
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