Aim. Panayiotopoulos syndrome (PS) is an age‐related seizure susceptibility syndrome that affects the central autonomic system. Although the majority of the few ictal recordings obtained so far suggest an occipital origin, semiological and interictal EEG data appear to favour more extensive involvement. In this study, the characteristics (including those based on semiology and EEG) of children with Panayiotopoulos syndrome (n=24) and those with lesion‐related, symptomatic occipital lobe epilepsy (SOLE) (n=23) were compared. Methods. Detailed semiological information and EEG parameters including the localisation, distribution, density (n/sec), reactivity, and morphological characteristics of spike‐wave foci and their relationship with different states of vigilance were compared between the two groups. Results. The age at seizure onset was significantly younger in patients with symptomatic occipital lobe epilepsy than in those with PS (mean age at onset: 3.4 versus 5.6 years, respectively; p=0.044). Autonomic seizures (p=0.001) and ictal syncope (p=0.055) were more frequent in PS than in symptomatic occipital lobe epilepsy (87.5% and 37.5% versus 43.5% and 13%, respectively). The interictal spike‐wave activity increased significantly during non‐rapid eye movement (non‐REM) sleep in both groups. The spike waves in non‐REM seen in PS tended to spread mainly to central and centro‐temporal regions. Conclusions. The results indicate that although common features do exist, Panayiotopoulos syndrome differs from symptomatic occipital lobe epilepsy and has a unique low epileptogenic threshold related to particular brain circuits.

No abstract

Oxidative stress is suggested to play an important role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Various hormone replacement therapy (HRT) protocols are used to reduce the CVD risk in postmenopausal women. Recent studies found that HRT lowers lipid levels and improves vascular endothelial function in postmenopausal women. In this study the effects of HRT on plasma and platelet membrane fatty acid composition and the oxidant-antioxidant system in postmenopausal women are investigated. Blood samples were obtained from 50 postmenopausal women. Before starting treatment, all participants underwent clinical, biochemical and hormonal screening procedures including gynecologic and physical breast examination. Then oral HRT (2 mg estrodiol valerate + 1 mg cyproterone acetate) were given to all subjects for 1 year. Levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), total thiol (t-SH) and fatty acid contents, activities of glutathione-Stransferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured before and after treatment. Platelet membrane palmitic, stearic and oleic acid contents decreased (6.5%, 22.5% and 21.9% respectively) and linoleic and arachidonic acid contents increased (21.2% and 25.4% respectively) after HRT. Platelet MDA, GST and SOD levels were lower and t-SH content was higher than pre-treatment levels. These results indicate that hormone replacement therapy may affect platelet membrane fatty acid content and oxidant-antioxidant balance in postmenopausal women.

Our results show that HRT is beneficial in the protection against oxidative damage, and prevents atherosclerotic complications.

ORCID ID: orcid.org/0000-0002-4510-807X Re cei ved/Ge lifl Ta ri hi: 16.09.2017 Ac cep ted/Ka bul Ta ri hi: 04.12.2017