bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Optimizing antiepileptic drug treatment in tumoral epilepsy
Authors: Perucca Emilio 
Published: December 2013

SummaryBetween 30% and 50% of patients with brain tumors first present with a seizure, and up to 30% more will develop seizures later. Therefore, optimal management of these patients requires a rational approach to the use of antiseizure medications. Based on current evidence, prophylactic prescription of long‐term antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in patients with brain tumors in patients who did not present with seizures is not justified. Because of the high risk of recurrence, however, AED treatment should be strongly considered after a single seizure considered to be due to a tumor. Because of the lack of well‐controlled randomized trials, the decision on which AED provides the best risk–benefit ratio in the individual patient is based mostly on physician's judgment rather than sound scientific evidence. In patients who may require chemotherapy, a non–enzyme‐inducing AED is preferred for initial treatment to minimize the risk of drug interactions that impact adversely on the outcome of anticancer chemotherapy. Several retrospective studies in seizure patients with glioblastoma treated with chemotherapy have provided evidence for a moderately improved survival with the use of valproic acid, possibly due to inhibition of histone deacetylase. However, valproic acid may also increase the hematologic toxicity of antineoplastic drugs, presumably by inhibiting their metabolism, and may independently impair hemostasis, which is of some concern for patients who require surgical intervention. Among newer generation AEDs, levetiracetam has a number of advantageous features, including availability of a parenteral formulation, but other agents such as gabapentin, lamotrigine, oxcarbazepine, topiramate, and zonisamide may also be considered. Potentially more effective treatments targeting specific mechanisms of epileptogenesis and ictogenesis are being investigated. Resection of the tumor, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy can bring refractory seizures under control or prolong the duration of seizure freedom, an effect that does not appear to be necessarily related to removal or shrinkage of the tumor mass. In patients with a successfully treated tumor and an overall good prognosis for long‐term survival, gradual discontinuation of AEDs may be considered.
Hypothalamic hamartomas: Optimal approach to clinical evaluation and diagnosis
Authors: Wilfong Angus A. , Curry Daniel J. 
Published: December 2013

SummaryHypothalamic hamartomas (HHs) present a difficult medical problem, manifested by gelastic seizures, which are often medically intractable. Although existing techniques offer modest surgical outcomes with the potential for significant morbidity, the relatively novel technique of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)–guided stereotactic laser ablation (SLA) offers a potentially safer, minimally invasive method with high efficacy for theHHtreatment. We report here on 14 patients with medically refractory gelastic epilepsy who underwent stereotactic frame–based placement of anMR‐compatible laser catheter (1.6 mm diameter) through a 3.2‐mm twist drill hole. A U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–cleared laser surgery system (Visualase, Inc.) was utilized to ablate theHH, using real‐timeMRIthermometry. Seizure freedom was obtained in 12 (86%) of 14 cases, with mean follow‐up of 9 months. There were no permanent surgical complications, neurologic deficits, or neuroendocrine disturbances. One patient had a minor subarachnoid hemorrhage that was asymptomatic. Most patients were discharged home within 1 day.SLAwas demonstrated to be a safe and effective minimally invasive tool in the ablation of epileptogenicHH. Because use ofSLAforHHis being adopted by other medical centers, further data will be acquired to help treat this difficult disorder.
Epilepsy surgery of focal cortical dysplasia–associated tumors
Authors: Cossu Massimo , Fuschillo Dalila , Bramerio Manuela , Galli Carlo , Gozzo Francesca , Pelliccia Veronica , Casaceli Giuseppe , Tassi Laura , Lo Russo Giorgio 
Published: December 2013

SummaryThe goal of the present study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics and postoperative seizure outcome of epileptogenic tumors associated with focal cortical dysplasias (FCDs) compared to both solitaryFCDtype I and solitary tumors. Particular attention is given toFCDtypeIIIb (tumors associated withFCDtype I), which have been recently classified as a separate entity. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical charts of 1,109 patients who were operated on for drug‐resistant focal epilepsy, including 492 patients with a histologic diagnosis of solitaryFCDI andII(83 and 157 cases, respectively), solitary tumors (179 cases), andFCD‐associated tumors (73 cases, 58 of which met the criteria ofFCD IIIb of the new International League Against Epilepsy [ILAE] classification). The different subgroups were evaluated for clinical characteristics and postoperative surgical outcome. Clinical variables and postoperative seizure outcome of patients with coexisting tumor andFCDs (FCD IIIb and tumor associatedFCD II) were similar to those of patients with a solitary tumor and differed significantly from patients with solitaryFCDs. Nevertheless, tumors associated withFCDs are characterized by a striking male predominance and a higher seizure frequency as compared to solitary tumors. Patients with drug‐resistant focal epilepsy secondary to a solitary tumor or with a tumor‐associatedFCDhave similar basic clinical presentation and postoperative seizure outcome. Nevertheless, the epileptogenic contribution of the associatedFCDs can be crucial, and it needs to be adequately assessed. The impact ofFCDon tumor‐related epilepsy deserves future research in order to optimize the surgical strategies aimed at seizure relief.
Analysis of the antiepileptic, ethosuximide impacts on neurogenesis of rat forebrain stem cells
Authors: Sondossi Kiana , Majdzadeh Maryam , Ghaeli Padideh , Ghahremani Mohammad Hossein , Shafaroodi Hamed , Paknejad Babak , Ostad Seyed Nasser 
Published: December 2013

AbstractSpecific GABAergic interneurons in the hilus are lost in animal models with temporal‐lobe epilepsy (TLE). Some preclinical evidence has indicated that GABAergic cells may provide relief from seizures in these models. This study was aimed to examine the ability of ethosuximide, an anticonvulsant drug, to promote neurogenesis in 3‐day‐old rat forebrain cortex stem cells. Most of the cells were found to be nestin‐positive undifferentiated neural stem cells prior to their exposure to ethosuximide. It was noted that the number and percentage of tubulin β‐III immunopositive neurons were increased after 6 days treatment with ethosuximide. Upon bFGF withdrawal, exposure to ethosuximide differentiated the stem cells to MAP2 positive neural cells (7.18 ± 0.43, 21.766 ± 0.55 and 41.57 ± 0.5 for control, 0.1 and 1 μm, respectively). GABA immunofluorescence images illustrated that ethosuximide increased GABAergic neurons (7.19 ± 0.32, 23.23 ± 0.55, and 46.30 ± 0.44 for control, 0.1 and 1 μm, respectively). Additionally, BrdU immunofluorescence assay showed that ethosuximide‐enhanced nucleus proliferation in the neuronal stem cells. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that ethosuximide may compensate damage caused by seizure attacks and possibly other neuronal loss disorders.
Interactions between CO2 enhancement and N addition on net primary productivity and water‐use efficiency in a mesocosm with multiple subtropical tree species
Authors: Yan Junhua , Zhang Deqiang , Liu Juxiu , Zhou Guoyi 
Published: December 2013

AbstractCarbon dioxide (CO2) enhancement (eCO2) and N addition (aN) have been shown to increase net primary production (NPP) and to affect water‐use efficiency (WUE) for many temperate ecosystems, but few studies have been made on subtropical tree species. This study compared the responses of NPP and WUE from a mesocosm composing five subtropical tree species to eCO2 (700 ppm), aN (10 g N m−2 yr−1) and eCO2 × aN using open‐top chambers. Our results showed that mean annual ecosystem NPP did not changed significantly under eCO2, increased by 56% under aN and 64% under eCO2 × aN. Ecosystem WUE increased by 14%, 55%, and 61% under eCO2, aN and eCO2 × aN, respectively. We found that the observed responses of ecosystem WUE were largely driven by the responses of ecosystem NPP. Statistical analysis showed that there was no significant interactions between eCO2 and aN on ecosystem NPP (P = 0.731) or WUE (P = 0.442). Our results showed that increasing N deposition was likely to have much stronger effects on ecosystem NPP and WUE than increasing CO2 concentration for the subtropical forests. However, different tree species responded quite differently. aN significantly increased annual NPP of the fast‐growing species (Schima superba). Nitrogen‐fixing species (Ormosia pinnata) grew significantly faster only under eCO2 × aN. eCO2 had no effects on annual NPP of those two species but significantly increased annual NPP of other two species (Castanopsis hystrix and Acmena acuminatissima). Differential responses of the NPP among different tree species to eCO2 and aN will likely have significant implications on the species composition of subtropical forests under future global change.
Pollination of two oil‐producing plant species: Camelina (Camelina sativaL. Crantz) and pennycress (Thlaspi arvenseL.) double‐cropping in Germany
Authors: Groeneveld Janna H. , Klein Alexandra‐Maria 
Published: December 2013

AbstractCamelina and pennycress are two annual oil‐producing plant species that have recently gained attention as biofuel feedstock crops. Prior to commercial production, information on their breeding and pollination system is essential to ensure sustainable management. We conducted pollination experiments and observed flower visitors in an experimental double‐cropping system in southern Germany. We found that common camelina varieties were mainly self‐pollinated and yield of one variety seemed to benefit from insect visitation, whereas pennycress was predominantly wind pollinated. Camelina showed higher overall visitation rates by insects than pennycress. Flies and wild bees visited both crop species, but honey bees visited camelina only. We conclude that both oil crop species produce yield without pollinators but offer foraging resources for different insect taxa at times when few other crops and native plants are flowering.
Explaining the reductions in Brazilian sugarcane ethanol production costs: importance of technological change
Authors: Chen Xiaoguang , Nuñez Hector M. , Xu Bing 
Published: December 2013

AbstractOver the period 1975–2010, unit production costs of sugarcane ethanol in Brazil declined by 67%, while the per‐unit processing costs decreased by more than 70%. This article examines the role of various factors that lead to these cost reductions, including learning‐by‐doing (LBD), economies of scale, rising input prices, market competitiveness, and exogenous technological changes. Using the aggregate industry‐level data, we show that the traditional experience curve approach will lead to biased estimate of the learning effect when economies of scale, rising input prices, market competitiveness, and exogenous technological changes are excluded as explanatory variables in explaining these cost reductions. With the inclusion of these variables and LBD, we find that the reductions in production/processing costs of Brazilian sugarcane ethanol were primarily driven by autonomous technological changes and unrelated to LBD. Economies of scale, market competitiveness, and rising input prices had insignificant impacts on the reductions in production/processing costs of sugarcane ethanol over the sample period.
Spatial mapping of building energy demand in Great Britain
Authors: Taylor Simon C. , Firth Steven K. , Wang Chao , Allinson David , Quddus Mohammed , Smith Pete 
Published: December 2013

AbstractMaps of energy demand from buildings in Great Britain have been created at 1 km square resolution. They reveal the spatial variation of demand for heat and electricity, of importance for energy distribution studies and particularly for bioenergy research given the significant distance‐based restrictions on the viability of bioenergy crops. Maps representing the spatial variation of energy demand for the year 2009 were created using publicly available sub‐national gas and electricity consumption data. A new statistical model based on census data was used to increase the spatial resolution. The energy demand was split into thermal energy (the heat energy required for space heating and hot water) and electricity used for purposes other than heating (nonheating electricity or NHE) and was determined separately for the domestic and nondomestic sectors. ‘Scenario factors,’ representing the fractional change at national level in the demand for heat and NHE, were derived from scenarios constructed by UKERC. These scenarios represent a range of pathways from the present day to 2050. The present work focused on the two cases of greatest relevance, the ‘low carbon’ and ‘additional policies’ scenarios, and factors for both were derived, for the demand types described, for every 5 years between 2000 and 2050. Approximately, future spatial energy demands can be obtained by applying the scenario factors to the base mapping data for 2009.
Casino Revenue Sensitivity to Competing Casinos: A Spatial Analysis of Missouri
Authors: Walker Douglas M. , Nesbit Todd M. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractPrevious studies have examined the relationships among different gambling industries (e.g., casinos, lotteries, and racetracks), with mixed results. Yet, the literature lacks evidence on the extent to which casinos in a particular market compete with each other. No study considers the proximity of competing casinos in its empirical analysis. This analysis uses quarterly casino property‐level revenue data from Missouri, 1997.1–2010.2, and a model with a distance‐adjusted competition scalar to analyze how competing casinos affect the revenues of a particular casino. The results indicate that machine games, table games, and square footage all have a positive effect on own‐casino revenues. Machine games and square footage have a negative impact on competing casinos; however, table games have a positive impact on competing casinos. These results are consistent with how the Missouri casino industry is developing, with more emphasis on machine games and less on table games. The results suggest that casinos are competitive in nature (i.e., are substitutes), as there is no evidence to suggest that there is any positive agglomeration effect from casinos being clustered. This analysis should be of interest to industry and policy makers, and provides a foundation for further research on the U.S. casino industry.
In vitro anti‐hydroxyl radical activity of the fructooligosaccharides 1‐kestose and nystose using spectroscopic and computational approaches
Authors: Pejin Boris , Savic Aleksandar G. , Petkovic Milena , Radotic Ksenija , Mojovic Milos 
Published: December 2013

SummaryFructooligosaccharides (FOS) are bioactive oligosaccharide fructans with beneficial health effects. Anti‐hydroxyl radical activity is an important factor in the description of antioxidant capacity of any natural product. The aim of this study was to estimate in vitro anti‐hydroxyl radical activity of the FOS 1‐kestose and nystose by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR) and fluorescence spectroscopy (FS) followed by a theoretical approach based on quantum chemistry calculations. A significant anti‐hydroxyl radical potential of both compounds was observed (72% and 78% by EPR and 69% and 74% by FS, respectively), indicating the nystose to be a more active natural product. In addition, the computational results have confirmed that nystose follows the same pattern previously shown for 1‐kestose, that is, that carbohydrates can react with hydroxyl radical. It is well known that FOS belong to cardioprotective nutraceuticals, so the study may be of some interest to research in heart disease.
Evaluation of the effects of sodium chloride, potassium sorbate, nisin and lysozyme on the probability of growth of Clostridium sporogenes
Authors: Khanipour Elham , Flint Steve H. , McCarthy Owen J. , Golding Matt , Palmer Jon , Tamplin Mark 
Published: December 2013

SummaryThe aim of this study was to evaluate the combined effect of salt (sodium chloride, 0–8% w/v), sorbate (potassium sorbate, 0–4.5% w/v), nisin (0–500 ppm) and lysozyme (0–500 ppm) on the survival of Clostridium sporogenes as a non‐toxigenic surrogate of Clostridium botulinum in terms of the probability of growth by using a central composite rotatable design. The results indicated that salt and sorbate were the most effective factors in preventing the growth of Cl. sporogenes in high‐moisture (>95%) and low‐acid conditions. The probability of growth of Cl. sporogenes in broth was reduced by combinations of salt and sorbate. Nisin and lysozyme had insignificant effects on the probability of growth of Cl. sporogenes (P > 0.05). Lysozyme individually and in combination with nisin had no inhibitory effect on Cl. sporogenes. Overall, the addition of sorbate and lysozyme may allow the salt concentration to be reduced while preventing growth.
Chemical composition, sensory and cooking quality evaluation of durum wheat spaghetti enriched with pea flour
Authors: Padalino Lucia , Mastromatteo Marcella , Lecce Lucia , Spinelli Sara , Contò Francesco , Del Nobile Matteo Alessandro 
Published: December 2013

SummaryThe goal of the study was to obtain spaghetti enriched with pea flour with sensory properties close to conventional pasta. To this aim, the study has been organised in two subsequent trials. In the first, the pea flour amount added to the spaghetti was continuously increased until the overall sensory quality reached its threshold value (pea flour concentration = 15%). In fact, the spaghetti samples supplemented with 15% pea flour (15%S‐P) showed less elasticity, unpleasant colour and higher firmness compared to the control sample (CTRL). The second step was aimed to improve the overall sensory quality of the 15%S‐P spaghetti by means of guar gum (GUAR). The sample with GUAR (15%S‐P/GUAR) showed a pleasant colour, odour and taste. Furthermore, the 15%S‐P/GUAR sample recorded a low starch digestibility value (i.e. 54) and a higher soluble fibre content with respect to the 15%S‐P sample.
Constructing the major biosynthesis pathways for amino acids in the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens Stål (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), based on the transcriptome data
Authors: Wan P‐J. , Yang L. , Wang W‐X. , Fan J‐M. , Fu Q. , Li G‐Q. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractNilaparvata lugens is a serious phloem‐feeding pest of rice throughout Asia. Rice phloem sap can meet its nutrition requirement for sugars but not for some essential amino acids such as isoleucine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, lysine, arginine and histidine. N. lugens harbours yeast‐like symbionts in mycetocytes formed by abdominal fat body cells. Removal of the symbionts results in negative physiological effects, suggesting that the symbionts play a pivotal role in the nitrogen metabolism. In the present paper, 521 mRNA expressed sequence tags (ESTs) encoding 126 enzymes that were involved in amino acid biosynthesis were identified based on a transcriptome data, reverse transcription (RT)‐PCR and rapid amplification of cDNA ends. Similarity analysis, codon usage bias, along with tissue‐biased expression and phylogenetic analysis of a subset of ESTs, suggest that 437 ESTs out of the 521 originate from symbionts, and the remaining 84 mRNA fragments come from N. lugens. Accordingly, the biosynthesis pathways for 20 amino acids were manually constructed. It is postulated that both N. lugens and its symbiont can independently assimilate ammonia and biosynthesize seven non‐essential amino acids: glutamate; glutamine; aspartate; asparagine; alanine; serine; and glycine. N. lugens and symbiont enzymes may work collaboratively to catalyse the biosynthesis of proline, methionine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine and tyrosine. We infer from this that symbionts function in the biosynthesis of lysine, arginine, tryptophan, threonine, histidine and cysteine. Our data support the previously proposed hypothesis, i.e. the yeast‐like symbionts compensate for, at least partially, the amino acid needs of N. lugens.
Of CARs and TRUCKs: chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells engineered with an inducible cytokine to modulate the tumor stroma
Authors: Chmielewski Markus , Hombach Andreas A. , Abken Hinrich 
Published: December 2013

SummaryAdoptive T‐cell therapy recently achieved impressive efficacy in early phase trials, in particular in hematologic malignancies, strongly supporting the notion that the immune system can control cancer. A current strategy of favor is based on ex vivo‐engineered patient T cells, which are redirected by a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and recognize a predefined target by an antibody‐derived binding domain. Such CAR T cells can substantially reduce the tumor burden as long as the targeted antigen is present on the cancer cells. However, given the tremendous phenotypic diversity in solid tumor lesions, a reasonable number of cancer cells are not recognized by a given CAR, considerably reducing the therapeutic success. This article reviews a recently described strategy for overcoming this shortcoming of the CAR T‐cell therapy by modulating the tumor stroma by a CAR T‐cell‐secreted transgenic cytokine like interleukin‐12 (IL‐12). The basic process is that CAR T cells, when activated by their CAR, deposit IL‐12 in the targeted tumor lesion, which in turn attracts an innate immune cell response toward those cancer cells that are invisible to CAR T cells. Such TRUCKs, T cells redirected for universal cytokine‐mediated killing, exhibited remarkable efficacy against solid tumors with diverse cancer cell phenotypes, suggesting their evaluation in clinical trials.
Rapamycin‐resistant effector T‐cell therapy
Authors: Fowler Daniel H. 
Published: December 2013

SummaryPharmacologic inhibition of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) represents a stress test for tumor cells and T cells. Mechanisms exist that allow cells to survive this stress, including suboptimal target block, alternative signaling pathways, and autophagy. Rapamycin‐resistant effector T (T‐Rapa) cells have an altered phenotype that associates with increased function. Ex vivo rapamycin, when used in combination with polarizing cytokines and antigen‐presenting‐cell free costimulation, is a flexible therapeutic approach as polarization to T‐helper 1 (Th1)‐ or Th2‐type effectors is possible. Murine T‐Rapa cells skewed toward a Th2‐type prevented graft rejection and graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) more potently than control Th2 cells and effectively balanced GVHD and graft‐versus‐tumor (GVT) effects. A phase II clinical trial using low‐intensity allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation demonstrated that interleukin‐4 polarized human T‐Rapa cells had a mixed Th2/Th1 phenotype; T‐Rapa cell recipients had a balanced Th2/Th1 cytokine profile, conversion of mixed chimerism toward full donor chimerism, and a potentially favorable balance between GVHD and GVT effects. In addition, a phase I clinical trial evaluating autologous T‐Rapa cells skewed toward a Th1‐ and Tc1‐type is underway. Use of ex vivo rapamycin to modulate effector T‐cell function represents a promising new approach to transplantation therapy.