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Discusses the 37th Congress of the Japan Epilepsy Society held at Sendai International Center in Sendai, Japan on October 30, 2003. Clarification of mysterious mechanisms of neuronal excitation and inhibition through advances in basic neuroscience and molecular biology; Main theme of the meeting; List of lecturer; Number of papers presented.

Presents abstracts of papers on epilepsy presented during the 34th Annual Meeting of the Japan Epilepsy Society, held in Tokyo, Japan, in September 2000. Neuroscience; Clinical course and prognosis; Psychiatric aspect; Immunology; Pathogenesis; Electroencephalography and magnetoencephalography; Neuroscience; Surgery; Kindling and neurophysiology; Case reports; Social aspect.

Familial adult myoclonus epilepsy/benign adult familial myoclonic epilepsy (FAME/BAFME) has emerged as a specific and recognizable epilepsy syndrome with autosomal dominant inheritance found around the world. Here, we trace the history of this syndrome. Initially, it was likely conflated with other familial myoclonus epilepsies, especially the progressive myoclonus epilepsies. As the progressive myoclonus epilepsies became better understood clinically and genetically, this group began to stand out and was first recognized as such in Japan. Subsequently, families were recognized around the world and there was debate as to whether they represented one or multiple disorders. Clarification came with the identification of pentanucleotide repeats in Japanese families, and FAME/BAFME was quickly shown to be due to pentanucleotide expansions in at least six genes. These have geographic predilections and appear to have been caused by historically ancient initial mutations. Within and between families, there is some variation in the phenotype, explained in large part by expansion size, but whether there are features specific to individual genes remains uncertain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic on epilepsy care across Japan was investigated by conducting a multicenter retrospective cohort study. Methods: This study included monthly data on the frequency of (1) visits by outpatients with epilepsy, (2) outpatient electroencephalography (EEG) studies, (3) telemedicine for epilepsy, (4) admissions for epilepsy, (5) EEG monitoring, and (6) epilepsy surgery in epilepsy centers and clinics across Japan between January 2019 and December 2020. We defined the primary outcome as epilepsy center‐specific monthly data divided by the 12‐month average in 2019 for each facility. We determined whether the COVID‐19 pandemic‐related factors (such as year [2019 or 2020], COVID‐19 cases in each prefecture in the previous month, and a state of emergency) were independently associated with these outcomes. Results: In 2020, the frequency of outpatient EEG studies (−10.7%, P <.001) and cases with telemedicine (+2608%, P =.031) were affected. The number of COVID‐19 cases was an independent associated factor for epilepsy admission (−3.75 × 10−3% per case, P <.001) and EEG monitoring (−3.81 × 10−3% per case, P =.004). Furthermore, a state of emergency was an independent factor associated with outpatient with epilepsy (−11.9%, P <.001), outpatient EEG (−32.3%, P <.001), telemedicine for epilepsy (+12,915%, P <.001), epilepsy admissions (−35.3%; P <.001), EEG monitoring (−24.7%: P <.001), and epilepsy surgery (−50.3%, P <.001). Significance: We demonstrated the significant impact that the COVID‐19 pandemic had on epilepsy care. These results support those of previous studies and clarify the effect size of each pandemic‐related factor on epilepsy care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The relationship between care complexity and quality of life among patients with epilepsy has not been assessed, especially in Japan. The aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that care complexity is associated with health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) and mood disturbance. Method: This was an observational cross‐sectional study. The study included a consecutive series of 49 patients who newly visited an epilepsy center. Study participants were administered standardized quantitative measures of HRQOL, case complexity, and depression. Results: Patient complexity predicted lower HRQL scores. Data on the social and psychological complexity domains predicted patient HRQOL findings more accurately than data from the biological domain of the case complexity scale. Seizure frequency was unrelated to HRQOL findings in this study. Additionally, depression scores were also associated with lower HRQOL. Significance: A patient complexity assessment, including psychological and social domains, may be one of the key tools in epilepsy treatment settings. Further studies using larger random selection from patients with epilepsy are necessary to generalize the findings to patients in other epilepsy programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on the 4th Asian Oceania Epilepsy Organization (AOEO). AOEO was founded at the 25th Annual Congress of the Japan Epilepsy Society (JES) with Dr.M. Seino as the President. The 4th AOEC was held in collaboration with the 36th Annual Congress of the JES from September 11 to 14, 2002 in Karuizawa, Japan. It was an important milestone in the history of development of epileptology and epilepsy care in Asia in terms of the richness of its scientific program and the large number of participants. The scientific program consisted of one special lecture, four symposia, two workshops, eight didactic lectures, the ILAE/IBE/WHO Global Campaign Meeting and 332 free papers.

Objective: Our study assessed perampanel monotherapy in patients (aged ≥12 years) with focal‐onset seizures (FOS) with or without focal to bilateral tonic‐clonic seizures (FBTCS) in Japan and South Korea. Methods: Study 342 (NCT03201900; FREEDOM) is a single‐arm, open‐label, Phase III study. Patients initially received perampanel in a 32‐week 4‐mg/d Treatment Phase (6‐week Titration; 26‐week Maintenance Periods). If they experienced a seizure during the 4‐mg/d Maintenance Period, they could be up‐titrated to 8 mg/d across an additional 30‐week Treatment Phase (4‐week Titration; 26‐week Maintenance Periods). Primary endpoint was the seizure‐freedom rate during the Maintenance Period (4 mg/d and last evaluated dose [4 or 8 mg/d]). Secondary endpoints included time to first seizure onset and to withdrawal during Maintenance. Treatment‐emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were monitored. Results: At data cutoff (February 28, 2019), 89 patients with FOS (84 [94.4%] with newly diagnosed epilepsy and 5 [5.6%] with recurrence of epilepsy after a period of remission) had received ≥1 perampanel dose; 16 patients discontinued during the 4‐mg/d Titration Period, meaning 73 patients entered the 4‐mg/d Maintenance Period and were included in the primary analysis set for efficacy. Seizure‐freedom rate in the 26‐week Maintenance Period was 46/73 (63.0%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 50.9‐74.0) at 4 mg/d and 54/73 (74.0%; 95% CI: 62.4‐83.5) at 4 or 8 mg/d. Cumulative probability of seizure‐onset and withdrawal rates during Maintenance was 30.8% (95% CI: 21.5‐43.0) and 23.7% (95% CI: 15.4‐35.3) at 4 mg/d, and 18.2% (95% CI: 11.0‐29.3) and 23.3% (95% CI: 15.2‐34.8) at 4 or 8 mg/d. Perampanel was generally well tolerated, and the most common TEAE was dizziness. Significance: Perampanel monotherapy (4 to 8 mg/d) was efficacious and consistent with the known safety profile up to 26 weeks in patients (≥12 years) with primarily newly diagnosed FOS with or without FBTCS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the various upcoming events which includes 12th Joint Annual Conference of the Indian Epilepsy Association and the Indian Epilepsy Society during February 25-27, 2010, Ludhiana, India, 3rd London-Innsbruck Colloquium on Acute Seizures and Status Epilepticus during April 7-9, 2010, at Oxford, England and 14th Annual Meeting of the Infantile Seizure Society International Symposium on Neonatal Seizures and Related Disorders during Aril 9-10, 2010, in Tokyo, Japan.

Background: Both epilepsy and paragonimiasis had been known to be endemic in Southwest Cameroon. A total of 188 people (168 and 20 with and without symptoms confirmed by clinicians, respectively, 84.6% under 20 years old) were selected on a voluntary basis. Among 14 people (8.3%) with history of epilepsy, only one suffered from paragonimiasis. Therefore, we challenged to check antibody responses to highly specific diagnostic recombinant antigens for two other helminthic diseases, cysticercosis and toxocariasis, expected to be involved in neurological diseases. Soil-transmitted helminthic infections were also examined. Methodology/Principal Findings: Fecal samples were collected exclusively from the 168 people. Eggs of Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworms were found from 56 (33.3%), 72 (42.8%), and 19 (11.3%) persons, respectively. Serology revealed that 61 (36.3%), 25 (14.9%) and 2 (1.2%) of 168 persons showed specific antibody responses to toxocariasis, paragonimiasis and cysticercosis, respectively. By contrast, 20 people without any symptoms as well as additional 20 people from Japan showed no antibody responses. Among the 14 persons with epilepsy, 5 persons were seropositive to the antigen specific to Toxocara, and one of them was simultaneously positive to the antigens of Paragonimus. The fact that 2 children with no history of epilepsy were serologically confirmed to have cysticercosis strongly suggests that serological survey for cysticercosis in children is expected to be useful for early detection of asymptomatic cysticercosis in endemic areas. Conclusions/Significance: Among persons surveyed, toxocariasis was more common than paragonimiasis, but cysticercosis was very rare. However, the fact that 2 children were serologically confirmed to have cysticercosis was very important, since it strongly suggests that serology for cysticercosis is useful and feasible for detection of asymptomatic cysticercotic children in endemic areas for the early treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Purpose: The driving regulations in Japan were amended in 2002, which lifted the absolute ban on driving by persons with epilepsy (PWE) and granted licenses to PWE after a 2-year seizure-free period. Methods: To survey the effect of the new driving regulations, we sent questionnaires both to the driving authorities (DAs) and to doctors of the Japan Epilepsy Society (JES). Results: Around 1,400 PWE legally obtained a driving license within 1 year after the amendment, licenses were rejected in 157, and 61 had the license withheld for <6 months. In most cases, the attending doctor assessed fitness for driving; 171 doctors responded to the questionnaire. One third of them commented on a positive change in attitude of PWE with respect to driving. Their main remarks included the need to shorten the seizure- free period to qualify for fitness to drive and the need for special guidelines for conditions such as rare seizure occurrence, recently diagnosed epilepsy, or reflex epilepsy. Problems of assessment identified included difficulty in deciding the time for reassessment, distress of PWE over cancellation of license, cost of the assessment, responsibility of the assessing doctors in case of seizure recurrence, and protection of privacy. They requested the DAs to promote publicity about the information and asked the JES to establish a guideline for assessing fitness to drive. Conclusions: The results highlighted the need for cooperation between the DAs and the JES for further amendment of the regulations as well as the importance of education for the public, patients, and professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article announces the staging of various congresses and conventions and educational courses on epilepsy and epilepsy research in 2008. The different events cited include the 2nd Latin American Summer School on epilepsy in Brazil, the International Symposium on Dietary Therapies for Epilepsy and other Neurological Disorders in the U.S. and the International Symposium on Febrile Seizures and Related Conditions in Japan.

The foundation of the Asian and Oceanian Epilepsy Organization dates back to the 25th Annual Meeting of the Japan Epilepsy Society held in Shizuoka, Japan, in 1991, to which roughly a dozen epilepsy specialists were invited from neighboring countries. The objectives of this volunteers' group were to strengthen kinship among medical professionals involved in epilepsy in the region. Since then, visitors to the National Epilepsy Center in Shizuoka, some for weeks and some for months or years, joined us to establish in-service training. In the 1990s, epilepsy societies or research groups were founded in individual countries. On the occasion of meetings, mutual exchange of faculty members has become more and more frequent. This is a grass-roots movement to nuture colleagues interested in epileptology. In 1995, the International League Against Epilepsy officially launched the Commission on Asian and Oceanian Affairs to stimulate epileptology and enhance chapter formation. The Asian and Oceanian Congress was inaugulated in Seoul, Korea, in 1996, followed by the 2nd congress in Taipei, Taiwan, in 1998; the 3rd, in New Delhi, India, in 2000; and the 4th in Nagano, Japan, in 2002. The Commission also organized Epilepsy Teaching Courses in Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar, Mongolia, and Nepal to reinforce infrastructures of epilepsy management. The Asian and Oceanian Epilepsy Academy, now being organized, will bring about more active programs in exchange and support for medical professionals in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]