bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Influence of Sulthiame on EEG in Children with Benign Childhood Epilepsy with Centrotemporal Spikes (BECTS)
Authors: Bast Thomas , Völp Andreas , Wolf Christian , For The Sulthiame Study Group Dietz Rating 
Published: March 2003

Summary:  Purpose: To evaluate the effects of sulthiame (Ospolot; STM) monotherapy compared with placebo on the EEG in children with benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS).Methods: Sixty‐six patients (aged 3–11 years) entered a 6‐month double‐blind trial and were randomized to either STM (n = 31) or placebo (n = 35). Clinical data and general results have been reported elsewhere (1). One‐hundred seventy‐nine sleep EEGs were recorded at screening and after 4 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months. EEGs were analyzed by a blind reviewer using a standard protocol for each EEG. This standard protocol collected data on general changes, specific epileptiform, and nonspecific focal and generalized changes. A classification system was defined depending on rating of pathologic EEG changes. Because of the higher number of treatment‐failure events (i.e., seizures) in the placebo group, there was an increasing imbalance between the two groups regarding the number of recorded sleep EEGs over time (STM, 104; placebo, 74). A Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney U test was used to describe differences in the grade of pathology during individual follow‐up between the two groups.Results: The sleep‐EEG was found to be normalized in 21 patients treated with STM (12/21 transient) and in five patients treated with placebo (4/5 transient). In the STM group, the EEG showed a marked improvement during intraindividual course when comparing the classification of follow‐up EEGs at each time point with the screening EEG. Comparable improvements were not observed in the placebo group (exact two‐tailed p value at 4 weeks, p < 0.0001; at 3 months, p = 0.0010; and at 6 months, p < 0.0001).Conclusions: STM had marked effects on the EEG in BECTS, which led to normalization in the majority of the patients. Most of those whose EEGs were not normalized showed improvement in the grade of EEG pathology. Normalization persisted in >50% of patients during the investigation. Spontaneous normalization in the placebo group reflects the wide spectrum of individual courses, which must be considered when analyzing drug effects on EEG in BECTS.
Changes in Flip/Flop Splicing of Astroglial AMPA Receptors in Human Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
Authors: Seifert Gerald , Schröder Wolfgang , Hinterkeuser Stefan , Schumacher Thekla , Schramm Johannes , Steinhäuser Christian 
Published: March 2003

Summary:  Purpose: Recent data suggested a role for glial cells in epilepsy. This study sought to identify and functionally characterize AMPA receptors expressed by astrocytes in human hippocampal tissue resected from patients with intractable temporal lobe epilepsy.Methods: Patch‐clamp and fast application methods were combined to investigate astrocytes in situ and after fresh isolation from the stratum radiatum of the hippocampal CA1 subfield. Relying on presurgical and histopathologic analysis, we divided human specimens into two groups, Ammon's horn sclerosis (AHS) and lesion‐associated epilepsy.Results: Fast application of glutamate and kainate evoked receptor currents in all cells studied. Reversal‐potential analysis revealed an intermediate Ca2+ permeability of the receptor channels that did not vary between the two groups of patients. However, preapplication of the AMPA receptor–specific modulator, cyclothiazide, disclosed differences in flip‐flop splicing. This treatment considerably enhanced the receptor conductance, with potentiation being significantly stronger in cells from AHS specimens compared with lesion‐associated cells, suggesting upregulation of AMPA receptor flip splice variants in astrocytes of the sclerotic tissue.Conclusions: Compelling evidence has been accumulated showing direct and rapid signaling between neurons and glial cells. Our data suggest that in AHS patients, neuronally released glutamate will lead to an enhanced and prolonged depolarization of astrocytes, which might be involved in seizure generation and spread in this particular condition of human temporal lobe epilepsy.
How Mutations in the nAChRs Can Cause ADNFLE Epilepsy
Authors: Bertrand D. , Picard F. , Le Hellard S. , Weiland S. , Favre I. , Phillips H. , Bertrand S. , Berkovic S. F. , Malafosse A. , Mulley J. 
Published: March 2003

Summary:  Purpose: The linkage between autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (ADNFLE) and neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor has been strongly reinforced by the report of five distinct mutations in the two genes coding for the major brain α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptors. As a first step toward understanding the basic mechanisms underlying this genetically transmissible neurologic disorder, we examined the similarities and differences of the functional properties displayed by naturally occurring mutant forms of this ligand‐gated channel.Methods: Functional studies of neuronal nicotinic ACh receptors reconstituted in Xenopus oocytes were designed to analyze the common traits displayed by the different mutations associated with ADNFLE.Results: Coexpression of the control and mutated alleles harboring the α4S248F mutation obtained from patient DNAs yielded ACh‐evoked currents of amplitude comparable to the control responses but with a higher sensitivity and desensitization to the natural agonist. Alternatively, the other mutants (α4L776ins3, α4S252L, and β2V287M) displayed an increased ACh sensitivity without pronounced desensitization. In addition, whereas a reduction of calcium permeability was observed for the mutants (α4S248F and α4L776ins3), no significant modification of ionic selectivity could be detected in the α4S252L mutation. Hence increase in ACh sensitivity is the only common characteristic so far observed between the four naturally occurring mutant receptors investigated.Conclusions: Analyses of functional properties of four nAChR mutants associated with ADNFLE indicate that a gain of function of these mutant receptors may be at the origin of the neuronal network dysfunction that causes the epileptic seizures. These data are discussed in the context of our latest knowledge of the pyramidal cell function.
Rate of Interictal Events and Spontaneous Seizures in Epileptic Rats After Electrical Stimulation of Hippocampus and Its Afferents
Authors: Bragin Anatol , Wilson Charles L. , Engel Jerome 
Published: March 2003

Summary:  Purpose: Deep brain stimulation has been used by several investigators to prevent the occurrence of spontaneous seizures in patients with intractable epilepsy. With the kainic acid rat model of spontaneous recurrent seizures, we examined the consequences of subthreshold electrical stimulation of commissural pathways and perforant path on the synaptic plasticity, rate of interictal epileptiform events (IIEs), and spontaneous seizures in kainic acid (KA)‐treated rats epileptic rats.Methods: Recording microelectrodes were implanted bilaterally in the dentate gyrus and entorhinal cortex. Stimulating electrodes were implanted into the rostral part of the right hippocampus and right perforant path. Stimulation was performed daily with 200 Hz/0.5‐s duration trains, 10‐min duration 1‐Hz train, or 2‐h, 1‐Hz train and 2‐h duration, 50‐Hz trains. Integrated amplitude of evoked potentials, rate of IIE, and spontaneous seizures was analyzed before and after stimulation.Results: High‐frequency tetani evoked long‐term potentiation in 50% of epileptic rats compared with 100% of control rats. No long‐term depression was observed after 1‐Hz train. Decrease rate of IIE was found during 1‐Hz and 50‐Hz stimulation and returned to the basal level within 30–60 min. No significant change of the spontaneous seizure rate was found.Conclusions: Epileptic brain is less prone to plastic changes compared with the normal brain. Daily 2‐h electrical stimulation with either low or high frequency does not have a long‐term effect on the rate of interictal events and spontaneous seizures.
Loss and Sprouting of Nitric Oxide Synthase Neurons in the Human Epileptic Hippocampus
Authors: Leite J. P. , Chimelli L. , Terra‐Bustamante V. C. , Costa E. T. , Assirati J. A. , De Nucci G. , Martins A. R. 
Published: March 2003

Summary:  Purpose: Nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated in a variety of functions, including the control of synaptic plasticity and sensory signaling. Current evidence suggests that this unconventional neurotransmitter mediates N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor–linked excitotoxicity. This study describes the expression of neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) immunoreactivity (IR) in hippocampi from patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE).Methods: Hippocampi from patients with clinical symptoms, neuroimaging, and EEG typical of hippocampal sclerosis (HS; n = 22) were compared with those from patients with neocortical temporal lesions (NONHS; n = 4) and autopsy (AUT; n = 18) patients for total cells, and nNOS‐IR neuron and puncta densities.Results: Compared with AUT, HS hippocampi had significantly less nNOS‐IR neuron densities in the fascia dentata (FD); hilus, and CA4, CA3, CA2, and CA1 subfields. HS hippocampi had significantly greater nNOS‐IR puncta densities in the FD, as compared with AUT and NONHS.Conclusions: Our results show that hippocampi from TLE patients exhibit a loss of nNOS‐IR neurons and an abnormal FD innervation. The release of NO can influence the dynamics of ionic channels and neurotransmitter release, thus affecting neuronal membrane potential. Because the NOergic transmission does not obey the topographic constraints imposed on conventional transmitters, target cells can be stimulated even in regions with severe deafferentation. The plastic changes described here may contribute to abnormal hippocampal excitability.
Helicobacter pylori und gastroösophageale Refluxkrankheit
Authors: Schütze K. 
Published: March 2003

Zusammenfassung:Die derzeit verfügbaren Daten weisen darauf hin, daß die Helicobacter pylori (H. p.)‐Infektion, vor allem mit cagA‐positiven Stämmen, vor gastrooesophagealer Refluxkrankheit und ihren Komplikationen schützen kann. Zahlreiche epidemiologische, pathophysiologische und klinische Studien zeigen diesen protektiven Effekt, der vom Ausmaß der infektiösen Korpusgastritis und der dadurch verminderten Säuresekretion abhängt.  Bei der Behandlungsstrategie der Refluxösophagitis mit PPI (Protonenpumpen‐Inhibitoren) nützt dieser biologische antisekretorische Effekt von H. p. jedoch, sowohl bei Akut‐ als auch bei Langzeittherapie, nur einer Minorität der Patienten. Nach wie vor umstritten ist die Entstehung einer atrophischen Gastritis bei Refluxpatienten unter PPI‐Langzeittherapie.  Nach dem derzeitigen Stand des Wissens ist es anzuraten, die H. p.‐Eradikation auf die gut etablierten Indikationen zu beschränken.
Therapie der endokrinen Orbitopathie mit Somatostatin‐Analoga bei Patienten mit positivem Octreo‐Scan
Authors: Pichler R. , Maschek W. , Holzinger C. 
Published: March 2003

Zusammenfassung: Wir untersuchten prospektiv 28 Personen mit aktiver endokriner Orbitopathie und positivem Sonographiebefund (A‐mode) der extraokulären Augenmuskel. Zur Beurteilung des Somatostatin‐Rezeptor‐Status wurden SPECT‐Aufnahmen der Orbitae mit einer Doppelkopf‐Gammakamera nach der Applikation von 110 MBq 111‐In‐Pentreotide durch­geführt. 9 Patienten (beziehungsweise 12/56 Bulbi) zeigten einen deutlich erhöhten Uptake (Faktor > 2 in zirkulären ROIs bei semiquantitativer Auswertung) und wurden für eine Therapie mit Lanreotide (30 mg i. m. alle 14 Tage) selektiert. Aufgrund klinischer Progression wurde bei 5 Personen eine Kontrollszintigraphie durchgeführt, die bei zwei von ihnen ein positives Ergebnis zeigte. Mit Ausnahme eines Patienten wurden milde Nebenerscheinungen der Lanreotidetherapie (Diarrhoe) toleriert. Nach Erreichen der fibrotischen Phase an den bulbären Muskeln in 3 – 10 Monaten wurde die Medikation abgesetzt. Diese Untergruppe (außer zwei Frauen, denen in Folge zusätzlich Kortikosteroide verabreicht wurden) präsentierte einen stabilen Krankheitsverlauf. Eine der beiden musste jedoch wegen drohender Atrophie des N. opticus akut einer operativen Sanierung zugeführt werden. Klinische augenfachärztliche Kontrollen zeigten bei den Patienten, die frühzeitig Somatostatin‐Analoga erhielten – so ein positiver Octreo‐Scan‐Befund vorlag – viel versprechende Ergebnisse.
Tariff strategies and small open economies
Authors: Raimondos‐Møller Pascalis , Woodland Alan D. 
Published: March 2003

In this paper we examine the issue of optimal tariffs for a small economy that trades with a large economy. We define ‘small’ and ‘large’ in the sense that the world prices are determined solely by the large country, and, therefore, the small country faces exogenously given world prices. Within this framework it is shown that there exist situations in which the small country has an incentive to behave as a Stackelberg leader by committing itself to a non‐zero optimal tariff. Although the small country is unable to directly affect world prices, by pre‐committing to a non‐zero trade tax it may induce a reduction of the large country's optimal trade tax, thereby indirectly improving its terms of trade and welfare. JEL Classification: F13, F35 Stratégies de droits de douane et petites économies ouvertes. Ce mémoire examine le problème des droits de douane optimaux pour une petite économie qui commerce avec une grande. On définit ‘petit’ et ‘grand’ en un sens économique: les prix mondiaux sont déterminés seulement par le grand pays et le petit pays fait face à des prix mondiaux exogènes. A l'intérieur de ce cadre d'analyse, les auteurs montrent qu'il existe des situations dans lesquelles le petit pays est incitéà se conduire en leader à la Stackelberg en s'engageant fermement dans une politique de droit de douane optimal différent de zéro. Même si le petit pays ne peut pas influencer directement les prix mondiaux, en adoptant une politique ferme de droits de douane positifs, il peut amener le grand pays à réduire son niveau de droit de douane optimal, et, ce faisant, améliorer ses propres termes d'échange et son propre niveau de bien‐être.
Optimality of workfare with heterogeneous preferences
Authors: Cuff Katherine 
Published: March 2003

With the standard non‐linear income taxation framework with heterogeneity of preferences, in this paper the optimality of workfare as a screening tool is examined. It is assumed that workfare does not serve as a human capital investment, participation is mandatory, and administrative costs are negligible. Imposing alternative cardinalizations on individuals utilities allows for the possibility that the government optimally redistributes income to or from high disutility of labour individuals. Under either case, it is never optimal to impose workfare on these individuals. It is also shown that non‐productive workfare can be an eﬃcient policy tool, in contrast to the results found in Besley and Coate (1995), Brett (1998), and Beaudry and Blackorby (1997). JEL Classification: H21, H23 Optimalité du workfare en présence de préférences hétérogènes. L'auteur examine l'timalité du workfare en tant qu'instrument de tamisage à l'aide du cadre conceptuel traditionnel d'imposition non‐linéaire des revenus en présence de préférences hétérogènes. On postule que le workfare n'est pas un processus d'investissement en capital humain, que la participatioun est obligatoire, et que les coûts d'administration sont négligeables. Quand on postule aussi des utilités cardinales différentes pour les individus, il devient possible pour le gouvernement de redistribuer optimalement les revenus en faveur ou au détriment des individus pour qui le travail a une très grande désutilité. Dans l'un et l'autre cas, on montre que le workfare n'est jamais une politique optimale. On montre aussi que le workfare dans des activités non‐productives peut être un instrument de politique publique eﬃcient, contrairement a ce qu'aﬃrment Besley et Coate (1995), Brett (1998) et Beaudry et Blackorby (1997).
Setting standards for credible compliance and law enforcement
Authors: Boyer Marcel , Lewis Tracy R. , Liu Wei Lin 
Published: March 2003

In this paper we examine the setting of optimal legal standards to simultaneously induce parties to invest in care and to motivate law enforcers to detect violators of the law. The strategic interaction between care providers and law enforcers determines the degree of efficiency achieved by the standards. Our principal finding is that some divergence between the marginal benefits and marginal costs of providing care is required to control enforcement costs. Further, the setting of standards may effectively substitute for the setting of fines when penalties for violation are fixed. In particular, maximal fines may be welfare reducing when standards are set optimally.Nous considérons dans cet article la détermination, en information incomplète, de normes légales optimales pour à la fois inciter les citoyens à faire preuve de diligence (prévention) et motiver les agents de la paix à veiller au respect des lois. L'interaction stratégique entre citoyens et agents de la paix détermine l'efficacité des normes choisies. Notre résultat principal est à l'effet qu'un écart entre bénéfices marginaux et coûts marginaux de la diligence est nécessaire afin de réduire les coûts d'application des lois. De plus, les normes peuvent être un substitut aux amendes lorsque les pénalités pour infraction sont fixes. Des amendes maximales peuvent en particulier être contre‐indiquées lorsque les normes sont optimalement déterminées.
Buyback programs in commercial fisheries: effciency versus transfers
Authors: Weninger Quinn , McConnell K. E. 
Published: March 2003

A Cournot model of investment is used to characterize the pre‐ and post‐buyback investment equilibrium for vessels operating in a total‐allowable‐catch‐regulated fishery. Welfare effects – the net welfare gains or losses and the distributional eﬀects – that may be expected from vessel buyback programs are identifed. Net welfare effects depend on the ability of remaining vessels to replace buyback capital, the speed of capital replacement, and capital investment irreversibility. Net welfare effects are likely to be positive only under exceptional technological and capital‐market conditions. A brief review of the British Columbia Pacific Salmon Revitalization Plan is presented to anchor the theoretical model. JEL Classification: Q28, D24Les auteurs utilisent un modèle d;qgainvestissement à la Cournot pour analyser la situation d;qga´equilibre d'investissement avant et après le rachat de vaisseaux opérant dans des pêches où le total des prises permises est réglementé. Les effets de bien‐être – les effets nets de gains ou de pertes et les effets de redistribution – qu;qgaon peut anticiper de programmes de rachats de vaisseaux sont identifiés Les effets nets de bien‐être dépendent de la capacité des vaisseaux qui restent en service à remplacer le capital racheté, de la vitesse avec laquelle le capital est remplacé, et de l'irréversibilité de la capitalisation. Les effets nets de bien‐être sont susceptibles d'être positifs seulement dans des conditions exceptionnelles sur le plan technologique et pour ce qui est du marché du capital. Les auteurs examinent le plan de revitalisation du saumon du Pacifique de la Colombie Britannique pour donner un point d;qgaancrage au modèle théorique.
The deductibility of provincial business taxes in a federation with vertical fiscal externalities
Authors: Dahlby Bev , Mintz Jack , Wilson Sam 
Published: March 2003

Should provincial business taxes be deductible under a federal profit tax? We show that the ‘optimal deductible,’ which neutralizes the vertical fiscal externality between the federal and provincial government, is the change in the federal tax base per dollar of tax revenue collected by the provincial government. The optimal payroll tax deductibility rate depends on the extent to which it is shifted to workers and on the difference between the federal tax rates on profits and on labour income. Two apparently contradictory positions – full deductibility of a payroll tax and non‐deductibility – are special cases of our model. La déductibilité des taxes provinciales imposées aux entreprises dans une fédération où il y a des externalités fiscales verticales. Est‐ce que les taxes provinciales imposées aux entreprises devraient être déductibles de l'impôt fédéral sur les profits? Les auteurs montrent que l'optimum de déductibilité qui neutralise les externalités fiscales verticales entre le fédéral et les provinces est le changement dans la base d'imposition fédérale par dollar de revenu fiscal collecté par le gouvernement provincial. Le taux de déductibilité optimal d'un impôt sur les salaires dépend de la portion du fardeau fiscal qui est déportée vers les travailleurs et de la différence entre les taux d'imposition du fédéral sur les profits et sur le revenu du travail. Deux positions apparemment contradictoires – pleine déductibilité d'un impôt sur les salaires et déductibilité nulle – sont des cas spéciaux du modèle général.
The determinants of municipal tax rates in British Columbia
Authors: Brett Craig , Pinkse Joris 
Published: March 2003

In this paper we study the regional pattern of municipal business property tax rates in the province of British Columbia. Reduced‐form tax‐setting equations produce some evidence that municipal governments respond to tax changes in neighbouring jurisdictions. A joint investigation of the determinants of tax base and municipal taxation decisions, however, reveals that it is difficult to interpret this response as arising primarily out of competition over tax base. There is also some evidence that municipal tax rates are sensitive to taxes set on the same base by super‐municipal bodies. JEL Classification: C33, H71 Les déterminants des taux d'imposition municipale en Colombie Britannique. Dans ce mémoire, les auteurs étudient le pattern régional des taux d'imposition municipale sur la propriété foncière commerciale dans la province de la Colombie Britannique. On montre à l'aide d'un modèle en forme réduite d'équations de définition des taux d'imposition que les gouvernements municipaux réagissent aux changements dans les taux d'imposition dans leur voisinage. Cependant, un examen conjoint des déterminants de la base d'imposition et des décisions municipales montre qu'il est difficile d'interpréter cette réaction comme émanant d'une concurrence fiscale. On montre aussi que les taux d'imposition municipale sont sensibles aux niveaux de fiscalité imposés sur la même base par les autorités supra‐municipales.