Discipline - Pediatric Neurology - "Al. Obregia" Clinical Psychiatric Hospital
- List of academic staff
- Short history of medical discipline and research
- Description of medical activity
- Description and educational and research activities
- Useful information for students
- 5-10 keywords that describe subdomains of interest for research
- 5 most representative research projects carried out
- 10 most significant scientific papers
| Professor | Craiu Dana Cristina, PhD | tenured |
| Associate Professor | Iliescu Mihaela Catrinel, PhD | tenured |
| Lecturer | Minciu Ioana, PhD | tenured |
| Lecturer | Barca Diana Gabriela, PhD | tenured |
| Assistant Professor | Butoianu Niculina, PhD | tenured |
| Assistant Professor | Tarta-Arsene Oana, PhD | tenured |
| Assistant Professor | Motoescu Cristina Haritina, PhD | tenured |
| Assistant Professor | Sandu Carmen, PhD | tenured |
| Assistant Professor | Badea Andreea Ioana, PhD | tenured |
| Assistant Professor | Cazacu Maria Cristina, PhD | fixed term |
| Assistant Professor | Dica Alice Denisa, PhD | fixed term |
| Assistant Professor | Chirila Horea Constantin, PhD | fixed term |
| Assistant Professor | Pomeran Cristina, PhD | fixed term |
| Assistant Professor | Tudorache Raluca Anca, PhD | fixed term |
The Pediatric Neurology Discipline was created 20 years ago, in 1996 lead by Prof. Dr. Sanda Magureanu, starting off with a team of 2 other teaching staff members: Dr. Ioana Minciu and Dr. Dana Craiu. Now, the Discipline has 8 posts (Professor, Lecturer, Head of Works and 5 University Assistants). All the teaching staff are MDs in the Pediatric Neurology specialty, PhD in Medical Sciences.
Evaluated patients – ages 0-18 years old.
The clinic’s doctors have sub specialization in Pediatric Neurology domains (most having performed medical internships in prestigious clinics abroad): epileptology (including preoperative evaluation for epilepsy surgery), neuro-muscular diseases, neurometabolic diseases, inflammatory diseases and demyelination, rare disease, etc.
A recovery and kinetotherapy section exist.
The center was accredited by the Ministry of Health as eeference center for rare diseases Pediatric Neurology specialized in:
- Neuro-muscular diseases (including Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy, Becker’s, Spinal muscular atrophy)
- Neurocutaneous diseases (including Neurofibromatosis, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, etc.)
- Neurometabolic diseases (including neuroendocrine diseases)
- Neuroinflammatory diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system (including Multiple Sclerosis, Guillaine Barre’s syndrome, autoimmune encephalitis, etc.)
- Neurovascular diseases
- Rare epileptic syndromes (including Dravet’s, rare inflammatory based epilepsies or malformation epilepsies that demand preoperative investigations for the surgery of epilepsy)
- Chromosomal genetic diseases
- Cerebrospinal malformations
- Rett’s Syndrome
There were services developed for:
- Electroencephalography and video-electroencephalography, including sleep EEG and long lasting
- Electromyography
- Psychological and neuropsychological evaluation; cognitive behavioral therapy
- Recovery and kinetotherapy evaluation
- Botulinum toxin administration
- Five National Health Programs (NP) take place in the clinic:
- NP for treatment of multiple sclerosis in children
- NP for treatment of tuberous sclerosis in children
- NP for treatment with immunoglobulins of demyelinating diseases in children (acute and chronic polyradiculoneuritis, Rasmussen disease, multiple sclerosis in children under 12)
- NP for precocious diagnostic (incl. genetic) and prevention of Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy
- NP for precocious diagnostic and prevention of epilepsy, cerebral paralysis and mental retardation
Within the Discipline take place:
- Postgraduate studies for Pediatric Neurologists, pediatricians, general practitioners, etc. (see the postgrad course list)
- Elective courses for students in the 6th year of study (see the list and the curriculum for elective courses)
The doctors of the Pediatric Neurology Discipline are members of the leadership of some national and international professional associations and as a result they are involved in educational and research activities maintained in these associations, the majority being held under the guidance of UMF “Carol Davila”:
- Dr. Dana Craiu:
- President of the Romanian Society Against Epilepsy (SRIE: ilae-romania.ro)
- President of the Commission for education and training within the Romanian Society for Pediatric Neurology (SRNP: smp.ro)
- Member of the EPNS board (European Pediatric Neurology Society)
- Chair of CNA (European Commission of national advisors for Pediatric Neurology)
- Chair of TAB (European Commission for training in Pediatric Neurology)
- Member of CEA-ILAE (European Business Commission of the International League Against Epilepsy)
- Head of Works (Lecturer!) Ioana Minciu: Treasurer of SRNP
- University Assistant Diana Barca – member of the Scientific Commission of SRNP
- University Assistant Dr. Cristina Motoescu – Member of the Commission for Education and Training of SRNP
- University Assistant Dr. Catrinel Iliescu:
- President of the SRNP Scientific Commission
- Member of the Administration of the Bucharest Board for Medics
- Assistant Dr. Oana Tarta Arsene – Secretary of SRIE
- Assistant Niculina Butoianu – Secretary of SRNP
As a result from these duties, members of the Pediatric Neurology discipline took part in the organization of:
- Pediatric Neurology USSM (organized by Catrinel Iliescu)
- Romanian Society for Pediatric Neurology Conference (since 2013 – each 2nd year – see www.srnp.ro; conference director – Carmen Burloiu, Dana Craiu; The organization committee also had other medics from the clinic)
- Romanian Society Against Epilepsy Conference (held annually – ilae-romania.ro)
- SRIE Summer School (held annually – Conference Director: Dana Craiu)
- Neuromuscular disease workshop (international participation) – Dr. Laurent Servais of the Paris Miology Institute (organized by Niculina Butoianu) – held annually since 2011.
- Neurometabolic disease and cerebral malformations workshop (international participation)- Prof. Linda de Meirleir and Prof. Anna Janssen (organized by Catrinel Iliescu and Diana Barca).
- European Society for Pediatric Neurology courses – took place between 2009 and 2011 in Romania (6 courses in 3 consecutive years – organized by Dana Craiu).
- European Conference for research in Pediatric Neurology – 2014 – Bucharest (organized by Dana Craiu).
Course III. EEG in epilepsy – Prof. Dr. Dana Craiu
1 week: 9-13th January 2017
Location: Psychiatric Hospital "Prof. Dr. Al. Obregia" Pediatric Neurology Clinic
Registration must be preceded by written consent of the Course Coordinator.
Information by phone: 0724966816
Number of students: minimum 2 - maximum 10
Syllabus: 15 course hours, 15 practical hours
Course IV. Syndromes in epilepsy - Prof. Dr. Dana Craiu
1 week: 6-10th March 2017
Location: Psychiatric Hospital "Prof. Dr. Al. Obregia" Pediatric Neurology Clinic
Registration must be preceded by written consent of the Course Coordinator
Information by phone: 0724966816
Number of students: minimum 2 - maximum 10
Syllabus: 15 course hours, 15 practical hours
Course V. Neurological assessment and the development of infant and child - normal issues and early detection of abnormalities (illustration by clinical cases) - As Univ. Dr. Catrinel Iliescu
1 week: 21-25th November 2017
Location: Psychiatric Hospital "Prof. Dr. Al. Obregia" Pediatric Neurology Clinic
Registration must be preceded by written consent of the Course Coordinator
Information by phone: 0724966816
Number of students: minimum 2 - maximum 10
Syllabus: 15 course hours, 15 practical hours
Course VI. Neurological assessment and the development of infant and child - normal issues and early detection of abnormalities (illustration by clinical cases) - As Univ. Dr. Catrinel Iliescu
1 week: 5-12th May 2017
Location: Psychiatric Hospital "Prof. Dr. Al. Obregia" Pediatric Neurology Clinic
Registration must be preceded by written consent of the Course Coordinator
Information by phone: 0724966816
Number of students: minimum 2 - maximum 10
Syllabus: 15 course hours, 15 practical hours
Course VII. Treatment of epilepsy - Prof. Dr. Dana Craiu
1 week: 5-9th June 2017
Location: Psychiatric Hospital "Prof. Dr. Al. Obregia" Pediatric Neurology Clinic
Registration must be preceded by written consent of the Course Coordinator
Information by phone: 0724966816
Number of students: minimum 2 - maximum 10
Syllabus: 15 course hours, 15 practical hours
Analytical program for Romanian students
Pediatric Neurology (Obligatory module)- 2 weeks (12 hours lectures and 30 hours LP)
Courses: 12 hours
- Epilepsy (1) - course - 1h
- Epilepsy (2) - course - 1h
- Status epilepticus (30 min); Neurocutaneous syndromes (90 min) - course - 2h
- Neuromuscular diseases - course - 2h
- Malformations of CNS - course - 2h
- Non-epileptic paroxistic events + febrile seizures – course – 1h
- Intracranial hypertensive syndrome (30 min); hidrocephaly (30 min); hipoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (60 min) – course – 2h
- Cerebral palsy (30 min); headache (30 min) – course – 1h
Clinical Practice – 30 h
- Clinical Neurological examination – newborn – demonstration on real cases/ films – 1h
- Clinical Neurological examination – toddler – demonstration on real cases/ films – 1h
- Clinical Neurological examination – big child (similar to adult) – demonstration on real cases/ films – 1h
- Milestones achievement – 2h
- Video-session – paroxystic events – 2h
- Quiz – pediatric neurology – 2h
- Practice on patient’s bedside – 21h
Analytical programme
Pediatric Neurology (Obligatory module)
English module – 2 weeks (12 h course + 30 h practical)
Courses: 12 hours
- Epilepsy (1) – course – 1h
- Epilepsy (2) – course – 1h
- Epileptic status (30 min); Neurocutaneuous syndromes (90 min) – course – 2h
- Neuromuscular diseases – course – 2h
- Malformations of CNS – course – 2h
- Nonepileptic paroxistic events + febrile seizures – course – 1h
- Intracranial hypertensive syndrome (30 min); hidrocephaly (30 min); hipoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (60 min) – course – 2h
- Cerebral palsy (30 min); headache (30 min) – course – 1h
Clinical Practice – 30 h
- Clinical Neurological examination – newborn – demonstration on real cases/ films – 1h
- Clinical Neurological examination – toddler – demonstration on real cases/ films – 1h
- Clinical Neurological examination – big child (similar to adult) – demonstration on real cases/ films – 1h
- Milestones achievement – 2h
- Video-session – paroxystic events – 2h
- Quiz – pediatric neurology – 2h
- Practice on patient’s bedside – 21h
Analytical program for Romanian students- Pediatric Neurology (OPTIONAL course)
Basic EEG course for students (theoretical and practical elements)
- For Romanian students (Vth and VIth year students)
- 2-week module (Optional course)
- Courses – 10 h, practical 10 h
- Maximum 40 students, minimum 5 students
Courses: 10 hours (2h/day)
- Historical notes; what is EEG?; machine; electrodes; electrodes placement; montages; Machine parameters – how to adapt; (2h)
- Normal EEG; waves; rhythms; EEG in childhood – maturation; Normal adult EEG; sleep EEG (2h)
- Abnormal EEG: general issues; EEG in epilepsy (2h)
- Abnormal EEG: EEG in different neurological diseases (2h)
- How to read an EEG : protocol; examples (2h)
Clinical Practice – 10 h (2h/day)
- EEG 10-20 montage
- Practical issues – EEG placing (bridge, cups)
- How to manipulate EEG machine
- How to handle a pediatric patient
- Steps in EEG recording
- Quiz – EEG – 1h
Analytical program – OPTIONAL course
Basic EEG course for students (theoretical and practical elements)
- English module (Vth and VIth year students)
- 2-week module (Optional course)
- Courses – 10 h, practical - 10 h
- Maximum 40 students, minimum 5 students
Courses: 10 hours
- Historical notes; what is EEG?; machine; electrodes; electrodes placement; montages; Machine parameters – how to adapt; (2h)
- Normal EEG; waves; rhythms; EEG in childhood – maturation; Normal adult EEG; sleep EEG (2h)
- Abnormal EEG: general issues; EEG in epilepsy (2h)
- Abnormal EEG: EEG in different neurological diseases (2h)
- How to read an EEG: protocol; examples (2h)
Clinical Practice – 10 h
- EEG 10-20 montage
- Practical issues – EEG placing (bridge, cups)
- How to manipulate EEG machine
- How to handle a pediatric patient
- Steps in EEG recording
- Quiz – EEG – 1h
Analytical program – OPTIONAL course
Pediatric Neurology in Emergency Room – practical elements based on clinical cases
- 2-week module (OPTIONAL course)
- Romanian students (Vth and VIth year students)
- Maximum 40 students, minimum 5 students
- Courses – 10 h, practical 10 h
Course 10 h (theoretical and practical) – 2h/day
- The child with headache – how to recognize when there is something serious?
- Child with loss of consciousness and child with head trauma – how to manage?
- Status epilepticus – theory and practice
- Paroxystic events in childhood – discussions based on video recordings
- Acute motor deficit in emergency room – how to recognize emergencies? (Guillain Barre syndrome, botulism, myastenia gravis, acute myelitis, etc.)
- Acute hemiparesis in emergency (Ischemic vascular event, hemorrhagic acute event, multiple sclerosis in childhood, etc.)
- Neurometabolic diseases with acute presentation
- When and how to perform Lumbar Puncture? Theoretical and practical issues (mannequin)
- When and how to examine optic fundus? Theoretical and practical issues – pattern recognition – based on slides of OF
- Role of paraclinical investigations – Based on clinical cases (CT-scan, IRM, EEG, EMG)
- epilepsy
- neuromuscular diseases
- epidemiology
- genetics
- rare diseases
- dystrophy
- Rett, Dravet
- tuberous sclerosis
- multiple sclerosis
- migraine
- 6-EUROC / 06.06.2011 Program PN II - IDEAS; ESF-EUROCORES project type / 2011-2014 - IP-09: phenotypic-genotype Correlations in rare epilepsy syndromes in Romania (individual project partner in the European consortium EuroEPINOMICS-res
- IBISD / GEE006.10 / No.011093-23MAR-00-2012-2014 - Tripartite Project - Romania-France-Belgium - Search of biomarkers for diagnosis, and therapeutic monitoring of disease Duchenne's muscular dystrophy in response;
- Project type FP7 / Comission- European Health Programme 2 / Reference No. 534 055 / 2013-2016 - CEC 2013: Reference Centre for epilepsy surgery in children - Project Collaborator of the European project E-Epilepsy: A European network of reference centers pilot in refractory epilepsy and epilepsy surgery;
- The cost BM1208 / 2013-2017 - European Network for Human Congenital Disorders imprinting
- ESBACE - European Project on the Burden And Care of Epilepsy - a project financed by the European Commission - Consortium Denmark, Sweden, UK, Ireland, Austria, Romania.
1. Beniczky S, Neufeld M, Diehl B, Dobesberger J, Trinka E, Mameniskiene R, Rheims S, Gil-Nagel A,Craiu D, Pressler R, Krysl D, Lebedinsky A, Tassi L, Rubboli G, Ryvlin P. Testing patients during seizures: A European consensus procedure developed by a joint taskforce of the ILAE – Commission on European Affairs and the European Epilepsy Monitoring Unit Association. Epilepsia. 2016 Jul 21. doi: 10.1111/epi.13472. [Epub ahead of print]
2. Kobulashvili T, Höfler J, Dobesberger J, Ernst F, Ryvlin P, Cross JH, Braun K, Dimova P, Francione S, Hecimovic H, Helmstaedter C, Kimiskidis VK, Lossius MI, Malmgren K, Marusic P, Steinhoff BJ, Boon P, Craiu D, Delanty N, Fabo D, Gil-Nagel A, Guekht A, Hirsch E, Kalviainen R, Mameniskiené R, Özkara Ç, Seeck M, Rubboli G, Krsek P, Rheims S, Trinka E. Current practices in long-term video-EEG monitoring services: A survey among partners of the E-PILEPSY pilot network of reference for refractory epilepsy and epilepsy surgery. Seizure. 2016 May;38:38-45. doi: 10.1016/j.seizure.2016.03.009. Epub 2016 Apr 1.
3. Craiu D, Barborica A, Motoescu C, Donos C, Ciurea J, Mindruta I. Presurgical Evaluation and Epilepsy Surgery in MRI Negative Resistant Epilepsy of Childhood with Good Outcome. Turk Neurosurg. 2015;25(6):905-13. doi: 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.12093-14.0.
4. Hardies K, de Kovel CG, Weckhuysen S, Asselbergh B, Geuens T, Deconinck T, Azmi A, May P, Brilstra E, Becker F, Barisic N,Craiu D, Braun KP, Lal D, Thiele H, Schubert J, Weber Y, van ‘t Slot R, Nürnberg P, Balling R, Timmerman V, Lerche H, Maudsley S, Helbig I, Suls A, Koeleman BP, De Jonghe P; autosomal recessive working group of the EuroEPINOMICS RES Consortium. Recessive mutations in SLC13A5 result in a loss of citrate transport and cause neonatal epilepsy, developmental delay and teeth hypoplasia. Brain. 2015 Nov;138(Pt 11):3238-50. doi: 10.1093/brain/awv263. Epub 2015 Sep 17.
5. Wilmshurst JM, Gaillard WD, Vinayan KP, Tsuchida TN, Plouin P, Van Bogaert P, Carrizosa J, Elia M, Craiu D, Jovic NJ, Nordli D, Hirtz D, Wong V, Glauser T, Mizrahi EM, Cross JH. Summary of recommendations for the management of infantile seizures: Task Force Report for the ILAE Commission of Pediatrics. Epilepsia. 2015 Aug;56(8):1185-97. doi: 10.1111/epi.13057. Epub 2015 Jun 30. Review.
6. Nissenkorn A, Levy-Drummer RS, Bondi O, Renieri A, Villard L, Mari F, Mencarelli MA, Lo Rizzo C, Meloni I, Pineda M, Armstrong J, Clarke A, Bahi-Buisson N, Mejaski BV, Djuric M,Craiu D, Djukic A, Pini G, Bisgaard AM, Melegh B, Vignoli A, Russo S, Anghelescu C, Veneselli E, Hayek J, Ben-Zeev B. Epilepsy in Rett syndrome–lessons from the Rett networked database. Epilepsia. 2015 Apr;56(4):569-76. doi: 10.1111/epi.12941. Epub 2015 Mar 19.
7. Syrbe S, Hedrich UB, Riesch E, Djémié T, Müller S, Møller RS, Maher B, Hernandez-Hernandez L, Synofzik M, Caglayan HS, Arslan M, Serratosa JM, Nothnagel M, May P, Krause R, Löffler H, Detert K, Dorn T, Vogt H, Krämer G, Schöls L, Mullis PE, Linnankivi T, Lehesjoki AE, Sterbova K, Craiu DC, Hoffman-Zacharska D, Korff CM, Weber YG, Steinlin M, Gallati S, Bertsche A, Bernhard MK, Merkenschlager A, Kiess W; EuroEPINOMICS RES, Gonzalez M, Züchner S, Palotie A, Suls A, De Jonghe P, Helbig I, Biskup S, Wolff M, Maljevic S, Schüle R, Sisodiya SM, Weckhuysen S, Lerche H, Lemke JR. De novo loss- or gain-of-function mutations in KCNA2 cause epileptic encephalopathy. Nat Genet. 2015 Apr;47(4):393-9. doi: 10.1038/ng.3239. Epub 2015 Mar 9.
8. Craiu D, Dragostin O, Dica A, Hoffman-Zacharska D, Gos M, Bastian AE, Gherghiceanu M, Rolfs A, Nahavandi N, Craiu M, Iliescu C. Rett-like onset in late-infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (CLN7) caused by compound heterozygous mutation in the MFSD8 gene and review of the literature data on clinical onset signs. Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2015 Jan;19(1):78-86. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2014.07.008. Epub 2014 Aug 7.
9. Craiu D, Kaler S, Craiu M. Role of optic microscopy for early diagnosis of Menkes disease. Rom J Morphol Embryol. 2014;55(3):953-6.
10. Bladen CL, Thompson R, Jackson JM, Garland C, Wegel C, Ambrosini A, Pisano P, Walter MC, Schreiber O, Lusakowska A, Jedrzejowska M, Kostera-Pruszczyk A, van der Pol L, Wadman RI, Gredal O, Karaduman A, Topaloglu H, Yilmaz O, Matyushenko V, Rasic VM, Kosac A, Karcagi V, Garami M, Herczegfalvi A, Monges S, Moresco A, Chertkoff L, Chamova T, Guergueltcheva V, Butoianu N,Craiu D, Korngut L, Campbell C, Haberlova J, Strenkova J, Alejandro M, Jimenez A, Ortiz GG, Enriquez GV, Rodrigues M, Roxburgh R, Dawkins H, Youngs L, Lahdetie J, Angelkova N, Saugier-Veber P, Cuisset JM, Bloetzer C, Jeannet PY, Klein A, Nascimento A, Tizzano E, Salgado D, Mercuri E, Sejersen T, Kirschner J, Rafferty K, Straub V, Bushby K, Verschuuren J, Beroud C, Lochmüller H. Mapping the differences in care for 5,000 spinal muscular atrophy patients, a survey of 24 national registries in North America, Australasia and Europe. J Neurol. 2014 Jan;261(1):152-63. doi: 10.1007/s00415-013-7154-1. Epub 2013 Oct 27.
11. Bosemani T, Anghelescu C, Boltshauser E, Hoon AH Jr, Pearl PL,Craiu D, Johnston MV, Huisman TA, Poretti A. Subthalamic nucleus involvement in children: a neuroimaging pattern-recognition approach. Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2014 May;18(3):249-56. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2013.09.010. Epub 2013 Oct 9. Review.
12. Craiu D. What is special about the adolescent (JME) brain? Epilepsy Behav. 2013 Jul;28 Suppl 1:S45-51. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2012.12.008. Review.
13. Curatolo P, Jóźwiak S, Nabbout R; TSC Consensus Meeting for SEGA and Epilepsy Management,Adriaensen M, Berhouma M, Coppola G, Craiu D, Cusmai R, Delalande O, De Saint Martin A, Driever PH,Fohlen M, Grajkowska W, Hertzberg C, Jansen A, Jansen F, Kotulska K, Mandera M, Moavero R, O’Callaghan F, Raffo E, Zonnenberg BA. Management of epilepsy associated with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC): clinical recommendations. Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2012 Nov;16(6):582-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2012.05.004. Epub 2012 Jun 12. Review.
14. Craiu D, Magureanu S, van Emde Boas W. Are absences truly generalized seizures or partial seizures originating from or predominantly involving the pre-motor areas? Some clinical and theoretical observations and their implications for seizure classification. Epilepsy Res. 2006 Aug;70 Suppl 1:S141-55. Epub 2006 Jul 18.
