RESEARCH SUMMARY

My research interests are focused primarily on epilepsy. I have a particular interest in the occurrence of epilepsy in mentally retarded individuals. Since 1998, I have been involved with epileptology clinic at the Cloverbottom Developmental Center where we see patients with mental retardation and refractory epilepsy. I have been the director of the Cloverbottom Epileptology clinic since 2000. An ongoing project is studying sodium channel mutations in mentally disabled epileptics.

A separate research project involves studying the effect of gastroesophageal reflux disease on sleep architecture. In addition, I have an ongoing interest in the overlap of sleep disorders and epilepsy.

In another of my research projects, I investigate the use of functional MRI in the evaluation of patients with refractory epilepsy. We are currently evaluating epileptic patients with this new modality to assess any significant temporal clustering of epileptiform discharges and their correlation to brain anatomy as a means to localize interictal epileptic activity.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS/POSTERS

Epilepsy and the impact of an Epileptology clinic for patients with Mental Retardation and associated disabilities in an Institutional setting. Amir Arain, M.D., Bashir Shihabuddin, M.D. Faiz Niaz, M.D., Pradeep Modur, M.D., Henry Taylor, M.D, Toufic Fakhoury, M.D., Bassel Abou-Khalil, M.D. Epilepsia 47(12):2052-2057, 2006.

Partial Epilepsy Presenting as Apneic Seizures without Posturing Edgard O. Andrade M.D., Amir Arain M.D., Beth A. Malow M.D. Pediatric Neurology 2006 Nov;35(5):359-62.

Resting Functional MRI with Temporal Clustering Analysis for Localization of Epileptic Activity without EEG. Victoria L. Morgan Ph.D, Ronald R. Price M.D, Amir Arain M.D, Pradeep Modur M.D, Bassel Abou-Khalil M.D. NeuroImage

Surgical trial investigating nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux and sleep (STINGERS) J.A. Cohen, A. Arain, P.A. Harris, D.W. Byrne, M.D. Holzman, K.W. Sharp, and W.O. Richards. Surgical Endoscopy 2003 Mar;17(3):394-400.

Epilepsy in Institutionalized Multiply Handicapped Patients: Impact of Specialized Epilepsy care. Poster presented at AAN 52nd annual meeting, May 4, 2000.

Epilepsy in Institutionalized Multiply handicapped patients: Impact of an Epilepsy clinic. Poster presented at AES, Orlando Florida, Dec 7, 1999.

Epilepsy Classification and Localization in Patients with Affected First Degree Relatives. Poster presented at 23rd IEC proceedings at Prague Hungary, October 1999.

ON-GOING CLINICAL RESEARCH

Co-investigator and consultant to clinical trial: “Surgical Trial investigating Nocturnal Gastro Esophageal Reflex and Sleep (STINGERS),” funded by a grant from Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons.

“Tissue Plasminogen Activator in acute stroke”, Sub-investigator with Dr. Howard Kirshner, Vanderbilt University.

“Clomethiazole in acute stroke”, Sub-investigator with Dr. Howard Kirshner.

“Clinical Experience and use of vigabatrin in patients with partial seziures.” Marion-Merrell-Dow Inc. (protocol VGPR0098). Sub-investigator, July 1998-present.

“A long-term, open label, multi center study of safety and efficacy of UCB L059 (levetirecetam) 500mg. tablets at individualized oral doses ranging from 100mg/d to 4000mg/d in the treatment of epilepsy.” (ucb Pharma protocol RPCE96A2201) Sub-investigator since July1998-present

“ A 12 to 16 week open label, multicentered study of the safety and efficacy of oral treatment with levetiracetam (ucb L059) at individualized doses up to 3000 mg/day (500mg tablets bid) in pretreated refractory epileptic patients.” ucb Pharma (Protocol RPCE97E2802-N153) Sub-investigator, July 1998-present

“A randomized Placebo controlled double blind study of the efficacy and safety of losigamone in patients with inadequately controlled partial seizures.” Schwabe, (Protocol # LSG1). Sub-investigator, July 1998-present

“A multicenter, long-term extension phase of oxcarbazepine in patients with uncontrolled partial onset seizures.” Novartis (protocol # 47680-02-026) Sub-investigator, July1998-present

“A multicenter, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, parallel add-on trial of oxcarbazepine tablets in children with inadequately controlled partial-onset seizures followed by an open label, long-term extension phase.” Novartis. Sub-investigator July 1998-present

“ Multicenter, open label, long term, extension phase of oxcarbazepine in patients with recent onset partial seizures.” Novartis ( Protocol #47680-02-025) Sub-investigator , July 1998-present

“Pregabalin inpatient monotherapy trial: A double blind, placebo controlled, multicenter study in patients with refractory partial epilepsy.” Parke-Davis ( Protocol 1008-007) Sub-investigator , November 1998-present

“ Pregabalin open label, follow up on safety trial in patients with refractory partial epilepsy.” Parke-Davis ( Protocol 1008-007) Sub- investigator, July 1998-present

“Pregabalin add-on trial: a double blind, placebo controlled, multicenter study in patients with partial seizures.” Parke-Davis ( Protocol1008-1009).Sub-investigator, July 1998–present

“Pregabalin open-label add-on trial: an open-label, multicenter follow-on study to determine long term safety and efficacy in patients with partial seizures.” Parke-Davis ( protocol 1008-010) Sub-investigator, July 1998-present

“An open label, randomized comparison of add-on lamotrogine or valproate/carbamazepine withdrawing to monotherapy in patients with treatment-resistant epilepsy.” Glaxo-Wellcome (Lamictal 133). Subinvestigator, July 1998-present

“ Multicenter, double blind, randomized, parallel group study comparing the safety and efficacy of 3000mg of levetiracetam to 1000 mg of valproate used as monotherapy in epileptic patients with complex partial seizures.” ucb Pharma Inc. (PCE 98B 2501-N158)

“ Multicenter open label long term follow up study of the safety and efficacy of levetiracetam (1-4G /DAY) in epilepsy subjects with partial seizures.” ucb Pharma Inc. ( RPCE 99K 0602-N01006)

     
 
     

Faculty>
Amir Arain, M.D., Assistant Professor of Neurology

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Dr. Arain graduated with distinction in physics and chemistry from the Pakistani Community College in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia in 1987. He attended medical school at the Dow Medical College of the University of Karachi in Karichi, Pakistan and received his M.D. in 1994.

After graduating, he moved to the United States and completed an internship in Internal Medicine at the McLaren Regional Medical Center in Flint, MI, in 1995. He completed a residency in Neurology at Vanderbilt in 1998, after which he completed a fellowship in Neurophysiology with Dr. Abou-Khalil.

In 2000, he joined the Vanderbilt faculty as clinical instructor and then in 2001 he became assistant professor of Neurology. Among the honors that Dr. Arain has accrued while at Vanderbilt are election by medical students to membership in the Alpha Omega Alpha medical education fraternity and election by Neurology faculty to be chief resident in the Neurology Training Program.






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