bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Anticonvulsant Action of Topiramate Against Motor Seizures in Developing Rats
Authors: Haugvicová Renata , Kubová Hana , Škutová Markéta , Mareš Pavel 
Published: November 2007

Summary Purpose: To study the anticonvulsant action of topiramate (TPM) in developing rats. Methods: Motor seizures were elicited by administering pentylenetetrazol (100 mg/kg subcutaneously) in five age groups of Wistar rats (7, 12, 18, 25, and 90 days old). TPM was administered intraperitoneally in doses from 10 to 640 mg/kg 2 hours before pentylenetetrazol. The time course of TPM action was studied in 12‐ and 25‐day‐oId rats up to 24 hours after the 160‐mg/kg dose, and the incidence and pattern of seizures were evaluated. Results: TPM did not influence minimal seizures (clonus of forelimb and head muscles with preserved righting ability). Generalized tonic‐clonic seizures, however, were reliably changed at all developmental stages studied. The tonic phase was suppressed so that the majority of animals exhibited generalized clonic seizures (with a loss of righting reflexes). In addition, the incidence of generalized seizures was decreased after the 20‐, 40‐, and 80‐mg/kg doses in the 7‐day‐old rat pups. The specific suppression of the tonic phase of generalized seizures was observed up to 12 hours in the 12‐day‐old rat pups. The same result was obtained over 6 hours after TPM administration in the 25‐day‐old animals, and with longer intervals the incidence of generalized seizures decreased in this age group. Conclusions: TPM exhibits stable anticonvulsant action against the tonic phase of generalized tonic‐clonic seizures throughout development. In addition, it suppresses all phases of generalized seizures in 7‐day‐old rats. The anticonvulsant action of TPM lasted longer in 25‐day‐old than in 12‐day‐old rats. The two actions of TPM might be ascribed to two different mechanisms of action.
Efficacy and Tolerability of Levetiracetam 3000 mg/d in Patients with Refractory Partial Seizures: A Multicenter, Double‐Blind, Responder‐Selected Study Evaluating Monotherapy
Authors: Ben‐Menachem Elinor , Falter Ursula 
Published: November 2007

Summary Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of levetiracetam (LEV) monotherapy in selected patients with refractory partial seizures. Methods: In this multicenter, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, parallel‐group, responder‐selected study, patients were randomized (2:1 ratio) to receive oral LEV 1500 mg twice daily or placebo during a 12‐week add‐on phase. Treatment responders (patients with a reduction in partial seizure frequency of 50% or more compared with baseline) entered a monotherapy phase that included a maximum 12‐week down‐titration period and 12 weeks of monotherapy at 1500 mg twice daily. In both phases, responder rate, seizure frequency, and adverse events were analyzed. Results: A total of 286 patients (placebo, n = 105; LEV, n = 181) entered the add‐on phase, and 86 patients (placebo, n = 17; LEV, n = 69) were eligible for the monotherapy phase. Thirty‐six of 181 patients (19.9%) who received LEV completed the entire study compared with only 10 of 105 patients (9.5%) in the placebo group (p = 0.029). The odds of completing the study on LEV were 2.36 times (95% confidence interval, 1.08, 5.57) higher than on placebo. The responder rate during the add‐on phase was significantly higher in the LEV group compared with the placebo group (42.1% vs. 16.7%, respectively; p < 0.001). In the LEV monotherapy group, the median percent reduction in partial seizure frequency compared with baseline was 73.8% (p = 0.037), with a responder rate of 59.2%. Nine patients (18.4%) remained seizure‐free on LEV monotherapy. Conclusions: Conversion to LEV monotherapy (1500 mg twice daily) is effective and well tolerated in patients with refractory partial seizures who responded to 3000 mg/d LEV as add‐on therapy.
Does Neuroticism Influence Cognitive Self‐Assessment After Epilepsy Surgery?
Authors: Cañizares S. , Torres X. , Boget T. , Rumià J. , Elices E. , Arroyo S. 
Published: November 2007

SummaryPurpose:To examine how cognitive, personality, and seizure outcome variables influence the subjective cognitive functioning of patients with refractory temporal lobe seizures after epilepsy surgery.Methods:Thirty‐three consecutive patients with drug‐resistant partial epilepsy who underwent surgical treatment at a tertiary referral university epilepsy center were tested before surgery and 1 year after surgery. Objective cognitive and subjective cognitive functioning tests were used, and personality was assessed. Seizure control was operationalized as a dichoto‐mous variable.Results:A significant inverse relationship was found between neuroticism and subjective cognitive functioning. None of the other pre‐ and postoperative cognitive and surgery outcome variables were significant predictors of subjective cognitive functioning, even after controlling for the effect of neuroticism.Conclusions:Subjective and objective memory functioning are independent in patients with epilepsy after surgical treatment. Subjective memory functioning appears to be related not to seizure relief but to neuroticism. These data suggest that psychological factors such as personality traits predisposing to emotional distress should be taken into consideration in the clinical management and counseling of patients undergoing epilepsy surgery.
The “Forgotten” Cross‐Tolerance Between Phenobarbital and Primidone: It Can Prevent Acute Primidone‐Related Toxicity
Authors: Kanner Andres M. , Parra Jaime , Frey Marlis 
Published: November 2007

Summary Purpose: We report on the effect that pretreating patients with phenobarbital has on averting adverse events when primidone is introduced. Methods: Thirty patients with intractable partial epilepsy were pretreated with phenobarbital before starting primidone. Therapy with primidone was started at a dosage of 500 mg/day, and the phenobarbital was stopped. The primidone dose was then increased by 125 to 250 mg every 3 weeks until adverse events or a seizure‐free state was reached. All previous antiep‐ileptic medications were tapered down to yield a primidone monotherapy regimen. Results: Twenty‐six patients (87%) tolerated the introduction of primidone with minimal or no adverse events. Only one patient had to discontinue primidone during the initial 4 weeks because of severe dizziness. This was the only patient in whom primidone monotherapy could not be reached because of adverse events. Three other patients experienced dizziness severe enough to interfere with their activities. This symptom disappeared in two patients after the dose was lowered; in the other patient, primidone was stopped and phenobarbital was restarted for another 4 days. No symptoms recurred when primidone was reintroduced on the fifth day. Conclusions: Pretreatment with phenobarbital can minimize the occurrence of intolerable adverse events associated with the introduction of primidone.
Does the Intracarotid Amobarbital Procedure Predict Global Amnesia After Temporal Lobectomy?
Authors: Kubu C. S. , Girvin J. P‐ , McLachlan R‐ S. , Pavol M. , Harnadek M. C. S. 
Published: November 2007

Summary Purpose: The intracarotid amobarbital procedure (LAP) is widely used to help predict who might be at risk for postoperative amnesia after unilateral temporal lobectomy for intractable seizures. We describe the memory outcome in 10 patients who underwent standard temporal lobectomy, including mesial temporal structures, despite failing the memory portion of the LAP after injections both ipsilateral and contralateral to the resected seizure focus. Methods: Data for seven of the study subjects were obtained through a retrospective review of patients assessed on a surgical epilepsy unit during a 15‐year period who failed the Montreal Neurological Institute LAP memory protocol after both ipsilateral and contralateral injections and subsequently underwent unilateral temporal lobectomy. More recently, we have studied temporal lobectomy patients who failed the Medical College of Georgia memory protocol after both ipsilateral and contralateral injections (n = 3). Preoperative and postoperative memory test scores were compared, and data regarding seizure outcome and self‐perception of postoperative memory were collected. Results: At follow‐up, none of the patients presented with a pattern indicative of a global amnesia, and 80% demonstrated >90% improvement in their seizure disorder or were seizure‐free. Conclusions: These findings indicate that bilateral memory failure on the LAP does not preclude the removal of an epileptogenic temporal lobe or a successful surgical outcome. In addition, the findings raise questions regarding the validity of the LAP and the possibility that memory may be reorganized in patients with a long history of temporal lobe epilepsy.
Nonepileptic Seizure Outcome Varies by Type of Spell and Duration of Illness
Authors: Selwa Linda M. , Geyer James , Nikakhtar Nersi , Brown Morton B. , Schuh Lori A. , Drury Ivo 
Published: November 2007

Summary Purpose: To determine whether differences in clinical manifestations of psychogenic nonepileptic events are associated with differences in outcome and whether the length of illness before diagnosis correlates with outcome. Methods: We reviewed ictal videotapes and EEGs in 85 patients diagnosed with exclusively nonepileptic psychogenic seizures during inpatient CCTV‐EEG monitoring at the University of Michigan between June 1994 and December 1996. They were classified into groups of similar ictal behaviors. Fifty‐seven of these patients were available to respond to a follow‐up telephone survey about their condition 2–4 years after discharge. We examined demographics, baseline EEG abnormalities, and outcome of treatment interventions. We also evaluated whether interventions were more likely to succeed if patients were diagnosed early in the course of the illness. Results: We found that the largest groups consisted of patients with motionless unresponsiveness (“catatonic,” n = 19) and asynchronous motor movements with impaired responsiveness (“thrashing,” n = 19). Infrequent signs included tremor, automatisms, subjective events with amnesia, and intermittent behaviors. There was a higher incidence of baseline EEG abnormalities in the thrashing group (31%) than in the catatonic group (0%). There was a higher incidence of complete remission of spells in the catatonic group (53%) than in the thrashing group (21%). Patients who had a more recent onset of seizures (most often within 1 year) were much more likely to have remission of spells after diagnosis. Conclusions: Classification of nonepileptic seizures is useful in predicting outcome and may be valuable in further investigation of this complex set of disorders.
Psychosocial Impact of Epileptic Seizures in a Dutch Epilepsy Population: A Comparative Washington Psychosocial Seizure Inventory Study
Authors: Swinkels W. A. M. , Shackleton D. P. , Trenité D. G. A. Kasteleijn‐Nolst 
Published: November 2007

Summary Purpose: The psychosocial functioning of epilepsy patients from the Netherlands was investigated and compared with results from other countries. The impact of epilepsy was also studied in two different groups of Dutch epilepsy patients, inpatients and outpatients. Methods: The Washington Psychosocial Seizure Inventory (WPSI) was used to study the psychosocial problems of 134 Dutch outpatients and 181 Dutch inpatients. WPSI profiles were compared with those from the former German Democratic Republic (West Germany), Finland, Canada, the United States, Chile, and Japan. Results: For the Dutch epilepsy patients, most of the psychosocial problems were experienced by inpatients; they had serious problems in emotional, interpersonal, and vocational adjustment, adjustment to seizures, and overall psychosocial functioning. Seizure‐free outpatients, however, experienced significant problems only in the emotional adjustment area. Comparing the outcomes of various countries, Dutch outpatients and patients from West Germany and Finland experienced the least psychosocial difficulties, whereas epilepsy patients from Chile, Japan, and Canada have serious problems in most areas of psychosocial functioning. Conclusions: Patients with epilepsy experience psychosocial problems, although the amount of psychosocial difficulties depends on the seizure frequency and the culture that patients live in.
The Safety of Rapid Valproic Acid Infusion
Authors: Limdi Nita A. , Faught Edward 
Published: November 2007

Summary Purpose: The recommended rate of administration of valproic acid injection is 20 mg/min. Drug delivery at this rate may be inadequate for expeditious control of seizures. The safety of rapid infusion of valproic acid has not been established, and this study was designed to explore the effects of rapid infusion in patients with acute seizures. Methods: Twenty patients with acute repetitive seizures received 20 mg/kg loading doses of valproic acid. Infusion rates ranged from 33.3 to 555 mg/min (median, 200 mg/min). Sixteen patients had received previous or concomitant antiepileptic drugs, with inadequate seizure control. Heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate were measured before infusion and at frequent intervals for 1 hour after infusion. Patients were also observed for changes in level of alertness and signs of local irritation. Results: No patient exhibited a decline in level of conscious ness or respiratory function. Two patients with significant con tributing factors exhibited declines in blood pressure requirinj vasopressors. No significant local irritation was reported. Al though efficacy was not a measured end point, seizures wen abolished in all patients. Conclusions: Infusion of valproic acid at rates between 3! and 555 mg/min is well tolerated. No serious adverse effect attributable to the rapid infusion of valproic acid were encoun tered, although valproic acid, along with other factors, ma; have contributed to the hypotension in two patients. Intrave nous valproic acid is an option for the control of acute seizures.
Persistent effects of aerial applications of disparlure on gypsy moth: trap catch and mating success
Authors: Thorpe Kevin W. , Tcheslavskaia Ksenia S. , Tobin Patrick C. , Blackburn Laura M. , Leonard Donna S. , Roberts E. Anderson 
Published: November 2007

AbstractIn forest plots treated aerially with a plastic laminated flake formulation (Disrupt®II) of the gypsy moth sex pheromone disparlure to disrupt gypsy moth,Lymantria dispar(L.) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), mating was monitored the year of treatment and 1–2 years after treatment to determine the effects of the treatment on suppression of trap catch and mating success. In the year of treatment, there was a greater than 95% reduction in trap catch and a greater than 98% reduction in mating success compared to controls. One year after treatment at a dosage of 37.5 g active ingredient (a.i.) ha−1, trap catch was reduced by 46–56% and mating success was reduced by 60–79%. Both trap catch and mating success were significantly reduced compared to controls in plots treated 1 year previously at 15 g a.i. ha−1. Trap catch, but not mating success, was significantly reduced 2 years after treatment at 37.5 g a.i. ha−1. The efficacy of mating disruption (MD) treatments in the Slow‐the‐Spread of the Gypsy Moth program was significantly reduced 2 years compared to 1 year after treatment. No such reduction was observed in plots treated with aerial applications ofBacillus thuringiensis kurstaki. The higher apparent efficacy of MD treatments 1 year after application may result to some extent from the suppression of moth capture in pheromone traps from the persistent effects of the previous year's treatment.
Predicting the distribution ofEccritotarsus catarinensis, a natural enemy released on water hyacinth in South Africa
Authors: Coetzee Julie A. , Byrne Marcus J. , Hill Martin P. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractWater hyacinth [Eichhornia crassipes(Mart.) Solms (Pontederiaceae)] is the most damaging aquatic weed in South Africa, where five arthropod biological control agents have been released against it. The most recent introduction ofEccritotarsus catarinensis(Carvalho) (Heteroptera: Miridae) has failed to establish permanent populations at a number of sites in South Africa where water hyacinth is a problem. Cold winter temperatures at these sites are assumed to be the reason for these establishment failures. This assumption was tested by investigating the thermal physiology of the mirid, then incorporating these data into various predictive distribution models. Degree‐day models predict 3–14 generations per year at different localities in South Africa, and five generations at a Johannesburg site where the mirid failed to overwinter. The inability to develop sufficiently rapidly during winter months may hinder overwintering of this insect, which was predicted to develop through only one generation during the winter months of April to August in Johannesburg. A CLIMEX model also showed that cold stress limits the mirid's ability to overwinter in the interior of the country, while determination of the lower lethal limit (–3.5 °C) and critical thermal minimum (1.2 ± 1.17 °C) also indicated that extreme temperatures will limit establishment at certain sites. It is concluded thatE. catarinensisis limited in its distribution in South Africa by low winter temperatures.
Identification of phloem sieve elements as the site of resistance to silverleaf whitefly in resistant alfalfa genotypes
Authors: Jiang Y. X. , Walker G. P. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractExperiments were conducted to locate the plant tissue where resistance is expressed against silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Perring (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae), in alfalfa, Medicago sativa L. (Fabaceae), genotypes previously shown to have high levels of resistance against this pest. Previous work demonstrated that resistance in the resistant alfalfa genotypes was expressed primarily as high first‐instar mortality; consequently this study focused on first‐instar nymphs. Examination of stylets in cleared leaf tissue indicated that first‐instar nymphs located vascular bundles with equal success on resistant and susceptible alfalfa genotypes. Furthermore, direct current electrical penetration graphs (DC‐EPG) indicated that sieve elements were penetrated and phloem ingestion behavior was initiated with equal success on resistant and susceptible genotypes. Thus, the mechanism of resistance does not reside in tissues encountered by the stylets prior to penetrating a phloem sieve element. Honeydew production (as a proxy for ingestion) was greatly reduced on two resistant genotypes compared to the two susceptible genotypes. The frequency distribution of honeydew production was bimodal, indicating that most individuals on the resistant genotypes produced little or no honeydew while some produced as much honeydew as whiteflies on the susceptible genotypes. This indicates that expression of resistance is an all‐or‐nothing phenomenon; an individual nymph either encounters resistance and cannot sustain ingestion or it does not encounter resistance and ingests just as well as on a susceptible plant. Intermediates are rare. DC‐EPGs indicate that phloem ingestion behavior is significantly reduced on two of the resistant genotypes compared to the susceptible genotypes. The primary reason for this appears to be more frequent termination of phloem ingestion behavior on at least one of the resistant genotypes. On one of the resistant genotypes, the productivity of EPG‐measured phloem ingestion behavior (honeydew produced per min of phloem ingestion behavior) was reduced compared to a susceptible control.
1,2‐Benzisothiazolin‐3‐one in disposable polyvinyl chloride gloves for medical use
Authors: Aalto‐Korte Kristiina , Ackermann Leena , Henriks‐Eckerman Maj‐Len , Välimaa Jarmo , Reinikka‐Railo Hely , Leppänen Esa , Jolanki Riitta 
Published: November 2007

Background: Benzisothiazolinone is used as a slimicide in the manufacture of disposable powder‐free polyvinyl chloride (PVC) gloves. We recently reported 6 patients from dentistry and health care probably sensitized to benzisothiazolinone in PVC gloves.Objective: The study aimed to investigate how widely disposable PVC gloves for medical use on the Finnish market in 2006 contain benzisothiazolinone and to report new cases from 2 clinics in Helsinki.Methods: 31 brands of disposable PVC gloves were analysed for their benzisothiazolinone content. We looked through the patient material of Helsinki University Central Hospital to find benzisothiazolinone allergic patients. We also described 3 previously unpublished benzisothiazolinone allergic patients from Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.Results: 9 (30%) of the 31 glove brands contained 3–26 p.p.m. benzisothiazolinone. From the 2 clinics, we found 5 new benzisothiazolinone allergic patients who had used PVC gloves containing benzisothiazolinone. In addition, 3 patients had used disposable PVC gloves whose benzisothiazolinone content remained unknown.Conclusions: In Finland, benzisothiazolinone in powder‐free PVC gloves has caused a small epidemic of allergic contact dermatitis in dental personnel and other health care workers. 1/3 of the disposable PVC gloves contained some benzisothiazolinone. A concentration of 20 p.p.m. benzisothiazolinone in a glove seems to be enough for sensitization.
Malignant blue nevus with lymph node metastases
Authors: Zyrek‐Betts Jill , Micale Mark , Lineen Angela , Chaudhuri Prabir K. , Keil Shannon , Xue Jianmin , Thomas Jean E. 
Published: November 2007

Background:  Malignant blue nevi arise within cellular blue nevi and contain atypical mitoses, necrosis, nuclear pleomorphism and prominent nucleoli. Malignant blue nevus has been described as a distinct identity, a rare form of malignant melanoma, and a misdiagnosed melanoma.Methods:  We present a patient with metastatic malignant blue nevus and studies on the histopathologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular features of the neoplasm.Results:  Histology showed a malignant blue nevus arising in a combined intradermal and cellular blue nevus. CD117 (c‐kit) staining showed diffuse cytoplasmic expression within the cellular blue nevus, decreased staining in the malignant component, and variable positivity within the lymph node metastases. Molecular loss of heterozygosity analysis showed different allelic patterns at the hOGG‐1 locus between the melanoma and control skin specimens with a varying heterozygous allelic pattern in both the benign and malignant blue nevus.Conclusions:  Our case of malignant blue nevus with lymph node metastasis involved mutation of the hOGG‐1 DNA repair gene. CD117 showed decreased staining of the primary malignant blue nevus with marked upregulation in the metastatic lesion, unlike most metastatic melanomas. Further study is needed to determine if hOGG‐1 mutation or c‐kit upregulation play a role in the pathogenesis of dendritic melanocytic lesions (either benign or malignant).