bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Early life factors and hippocampal functional connectivity in children with overweight/obesity
Authors: Solis‐Urra Patricio , Esteban‐Cornejo Irene , Mora‐Gonzalez Jose , Stillman Chelsea , Contreras‐Rodriguez Oren , Erickson Kirk I. , Catena Andrés , Ortega Francisco B. 
Published: December 2022

SummaryObjectiveWe investigated the association of anthropometric neonatal data (birth length and birth weight) and breastfeeding practices (exclusive and any breastfeeding) with hippocampal functional connectivity and its academic implication in children with overweight/obesity.MethodsNinety six children with overweight/obesity aged 8–11 years (10.01 ± 1.14), from the ActiveBrains project were included in this cross‐sectional study. Anthropometric neonatal data were collected from birth records, whereas breastfeeding practices were reported by parents. A 3.0 Tesla Siemens Magnetom Tim Trio system was used to acquire T1‐weighted and resting‐state functional magnetic resonance images. Academic performance was assessed by the Woodcock‐Muñoz standardized test. Hippocampal seed‐based methods with post‐hoc regression analyses were performed. Analyses were considered significant when surpassing Family‐Wise Error corrections.ResultsBirth weight showed a positive association with the connectivity between the hippocampus and the pre‐ and postcentral gyri, and the cerebellum. In addition, breastfeeding was negatively associated with the connectivity between the hippocampus and the primary motor cortex and the angular gyrus. Any breastfeeding, in turn, showed a positive association with the connectivity between the hippocampus and the middle temporal gyrus. None of the connectivity outcomes related to early life factors was coupled with better academic abilities (all p > 0.05).ConclusionsOur findings suggest that birth weight at birth and breastfeeding are associated with hippocampal connectivity in children with overweight/obesity. Despite this, how the results relate to academic performance remains a matter of speculation. Our findings suggest that clinicians should recognize the importance early life factors for potentially avoiding consequences on offspring's brain development.
Social policy expansion and segmentation in the first two decades of the 21st century in Latin America
Authors: Ferre Juan Cruz 
Published: December 2022

AbstractLatin American countries saw an important expansion in social policy in the first two decades of the 21st century. Along with this increased inclusion, however, social policy remains segmented. Using recent data from ECLAC, World Bank, and other sources, this paper offers a comprehensive analysis of trends in social policy for the period 2000–2020 for 17 countries in Latin America. Four areas of social policy are assessed in longitudinal and comparative perspectives: transfers, health care, education, and family policies. Conditional cash transfers (CCT) and noncontributory pensions (NCP) are the two main policy innovations that allowed countries in the region to expand social rights to previously excluded populations (outsiders). At the same time, due to their design, these policies have introduced new layers of fragmentation to the welfare mix, without resolving—or even increasing—segmentation in social policy. Segmentation is still the rule for the areas of health care and education, and increasing privatisation went unabated even in the periods of social policy expansion and in the countries governed by left coalitions.
Neuropeptide Y May be an Endogenous Anticonvulsant in Hippocampus
Authors: Dudek F. Edward 
Published: December 2022

Plasticity of Y1 and Y2 Receptors and Neuropeptide Y Fibers in Patients with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Furtinger S, Pirker S, Czech T, Baumgartner C, Ransmayr G, Sperk G J Neurosci 2001;21:5804–5812 Marked expression of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and its Y2 receptors in hippocampal mossy fibers has been reported in animal models of epilepsy. Because NPY can suppress glutamate release by activating presynaptic Y2 receptors, these changes have been proposed as an endogenous protective mechanism. Therefore, we investigated whether similar changes in the NPY system may also take place in human epilepsy. We investigated Y1 and Y2 receptor binding and NPY immunoreactivity in hippocampal specimens that were obtained at surgery from patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and in autopsy controls. Significant increases in Y2 receptor binding (by 43–48%) were observed in the dentate hilus, sectors CA1 to CA3, and subiculum of specimens with, but not in those without, hippocampal sclerosis. On the other hand, Y1 receptor binding was significantly reduced (by 62%) in the dentate molecular layer of sclerotic specimens. In the same patients, the total lengths of NPY immunoreactive (NPY-IR) fibers were markedly increased (by 115–958%) in the dentate molecular layer and hilus, in the stratum lucidum of CA3, and throughout sectors CA1 to CA3 and the subiculum, as compared with autopsies. In nonsclerotic specimens, increases in lengths of NPY-IR fibers were more moderate and statistically not significant. NPY mRNA was increased threefold in hilar interneurons of sclerotic and nonsclerotic specimens. It is suggested that abundant sprouting of NPY fibers, concomitant upregulation of Y2 receptors, and downregulation of Y1 receptors in the hippocampus of patients with Ammon's horn sclerosis may be endogenous anticonvulsant mechanisms.
An in vitro Model of Stroke-Induced Epileptogenesis
Authors: Benardo Larry S. 
Published: December 2022

Glutamate Injury-Induced Epileptogenesis in Hippocampal Neurons: An In Vitro Model of Stroke-Induced “Epilepsy” Sun DA, Sombati S, DeLorenzo RJ Stroke 2001;32:2344–2350 Background and Purpose Stroke is the major cause of acquired epilepsy. The mechanisms of ischemia-induced epileptogenesis are not understood, but glutamate is associated with both ischemia-induced injury and epileptogenesis in several models. The objective of this study was to develop an in vitro model of epileptogenesis induced by glutamate injury in hippocampal neurons as observed during stroke. Methods Primary hippocampal cultures were exposed to 5 micromol/L glutamate for various durations. Whole-cell current clamp electrophysiology was used to monitor the acute effects of glutamate on neurons and chronic alterations in neuronal excitability up to 8 days after glutamate exposure. Results A single, 30-minute, 5-micromol/L glutamate exposure produced a subset of neurons that died and a larger population of injured neurons that survived. Neuronal injury was characterized by prolonged reversible membrane depolarization, loss of synaptic activity, and neuronal swelling. Surviving neurons manifested spontaneous, recurrent, epileptiform discharges in neural networks characterized by paroxysmal depolarizing shifts and high-frequency spike firing that persisted for the life of the culture. Conclusions This study demonstrates that glutamate injury produced a permanent epileptiform phenotype expressed as spontaneous, recurrent epileptiform discharges for the life of the hippocampal neuronal culture. These results suggest a novel in vitro model of glutamate injury-induced epileptogenesis that may help elucidate some of the mechanisms that underlie stroke-induced epilepsy.
The Epileptic Neuron Redux
Authors: Dudek F. Edward , Rogawski Michael A. 
Published: December 2022

Upregulation of a T-Type Ca2+ Channel Causes a Long-Lasting Modification of Neuronal Firing Mode after Status Epilepticus Su H, Sochivko D, Becker A, Chen J, Jiang Y, Yaari Y, Beck H J Neurosci 2002;22:3645–3655 A single episode of status epilepticus (SE) causes numerous structural and functional changes in the brain that can lead to the development of a chronic epileptic condition. Most studies of this plasticity have focused on changes in excitatory and inhibitory synaptic properties. However, the intrinsic firing properties that shape the output of the neuron to a given synaptic input also may be persistently affected by SE. Thus 54% of CA1 pyramidal cells, which normally fire in a regular mode, are persistently converted to a bursting mode after an episode of SE induced by the convulsant pilocarpine. In this model, intrinsic bursts evoked by threshold-straddling depolarizations, and their underlying spike after depolarizations (ADPs), were resistant to antagonists of N-, P/Q-, or L-type Ca2+ channels but were readily suppressed by low (30–100 μ M) concentrations of Ni2+ known to block T- and R-type Ca2+ channels. The density of T-type Ca2+ currents, but not of other pharmacologically isolated Ca2+ current types, was upregulated in CA1 pyramidal neurons after SE. The augmented T-type currents were sensitive to Ni2+ in the same concentration range that blocked the novel intrinsic bursting in these neurons (IC50 = 27 (μ M). These data suggest that SE may persistently convert regular-firing cells to intrinsic bursters by selectively increasing the density of a Ni2+-sensitive T-type Ca2+ current. This nonsynaptic plasticity considerably amplifies the output of CA1 pyramidal neurons to synaptic inputs and most probably contributes to the development and expression of an epileptic condition after SE.
Epilepsy and Activity of the Autonomic Nervous System
Authors: Kanner Andres M. 
Published: December 2022

Decrease of Sympathetic Cardiovascular Modulation after Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Surgery Hilz MJ, Devinsky O, Doyle W, Mauerer A, Dutsch M. Brain 2002;125(Pt 5):985–995 In temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), there is evidence of ictal and interictal autonomic dysregulation, predominantly with sympathetic overactivity. The effects of TLE surgery on autonomic cardiovascular control and on baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) have not been studied. To evaluate such effects, we monitored heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure [BP(sys)], and respiration in 18 TLE patients 3–4 months before and after TLE surgery. We used Blackman-Tukey spectral analysis to assess sympathetic and parasympathetic modulation as powers of HR and BP(sys) oscillations in the low-frequency (LF, 0.04–0.15 Hz) and high-frequency (HF, 0.15–0.5 Hz) bands. BRS was determined as the LF transfer function gain between BP and HR. After surgery, HR, BP(sys), respiration, and HF powers remained unchanged, whereas LF powers of HR [1.57 ± 1.54 beats/min( 2 )] and BP(sys) [2.19 ± 1.34 mm Hg( 2 )] and BRS (0.68 ± 0.31 beats/min/mm Hg) were smaller than presurgical LF powers of HR [3.87 ± 3.26 beats/min( 2 )] and BP(sys) [4.80 ± 3.84 mm Hg( 2 )] and BRS (1.12 ± 0.39 beasts/min/mm Hg; P < 0.05). After TLE surgery, there is a reduction of sympathetic cardiovascular modulation and BRS that might result from decreased influences of interictal epileptogenic discharges on brain areas involved in cardiovascular autonomic control. TLE surgery seems to stabilize the cardiovascular control in epilepsy patients by reducing the risk of sympathetically mediated tachyarrhythmias and excessive brady-cardiac counterregulation, both of which might be relevant for the pathophysiology of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy patients (SUDEP). Thus TLE surgery might contribute to reducing the risk of SUDEP.
Memory Risks for Epilepsy Surgery Differ across Age
Authors: Meador Kimford J. 
Published: December 2022

Interaction of Cognitive Aging and Memory Deficits Related to Epilepsy Surgery Helmstaedter C, Reuber M, Elger CC Ann Neurol 2002;52(1):89–94 Temporal lobe epilepsy surgery can cause significant memory impairment. This study was intended to examine whether surgery also could affect prognosis of memory loss in older age. Age regression of verbal memory was examined in 187 patients (before and 1 year after left temporal lobe surgery) and 264 healthy controls. Eighty patients underwent selective amygdalohippocampectomy, and 107 patients underwent anterior two-thirds temporal lobectomy. Amygdalohippocampectomy patients had mesiotemporal epilepsy; anterior two-thirds temporal lobectomy patients had more extramesial or diffuse seizure-onset zones. Memory was assessed by word-list learning for its more mesial (consolidation/retrieval) and more neocortical (learning) aspects. Patients showed significant preoperative memory impairment. Independent of seizure outcome and surgical approach, surgery had significant negative effects on learning and consolidation/retrieval. In the amygdalohippocampectomy group, preoperative and postoperative age regressions of learning and consolidation/retrieval were not different from those of controls. In the anterior two-thirds temporal lobectomy group, age regression of verbal learning became steeper after surgery, and consolidation/retrieval was negatively correlated with older age and later onset of epilepsy even before surgery. The data confirm that age regression of verbal memory in left temporal lobe epilepsy is similar to that in healthy controls. Both left anterior two-thirds temporal lobectomy and amygdalohippocampectomy worsen verbal learning and memory and bring patients closer to cognitive disability. Particularly in anterior two-thirds temporal lobectomy patients, surgery and reduced capacities for compensation cause acceleration of lifetime memory decline. The results support earlier and tailored epilepsy surgery and suggest that memory prognosis in older age should be considered if more extensive temporal resections would be inevitable.
Pregnancy Effects on Lamotrigine Levels
Authors: Harden Cynthia L. 
Published: December 2022

Lamotrigine Clearance during Pregnancy Tran TA, Leppik IE, Blesi K, Sathanandan ST, Remmel R Neurology 2002;59(2):251–255 Objective To evaluate changes in lamotrigine (LTG) clearance before, during, and after pregnancy. Methods Twelve pregnancies that had complete steady-state data before, during, and after pregnancy were evaluated. Data included weight, LTG dose, and LTG blood levels at preconception, during pregnancy, and postpartum, and concomitant use of other antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and their dosages. Apparent clearance (L/[kg.day]) of LTG was calculated by dose/level/weight for time points at preconception; during the first trimester, second trimester, and third trimester; and postpartum. Apparent clearance was compared between preconception and each of the three trimesters. Statistical analysis was performed by using one-way analysis of variance, the Student-Newman-Keuls test, and the paired Student's t test. Results An increase in apparent clearance (>65%) was observed between preconception and the second and third trimesters (p < 0.05). Eleven pregnancies required higher doses of LTG to maintain therapeutic levels during pregnancy. There was no significant change in apparent clearance between the trimesters. A decrease in apparent clearance was observed between the last two trimesters and postpartum (p < 0.05). In the postpartum period, apparent clearances returned to the preconception baseline, and LTG doses were reduced. Conclusion Pregnancy increases LTG clearance by >50%. This effect occurs early in pregnancy and reverts quickly after delivery. LTG levels should be monitored before, during, and after pregnancy.
Do antiepileptic Drugs Make Seizures Worse? a Meta-Analysis
Authors: French Jaqueline A. 
Published: December 2022

Aggravation of Partial Seizures by Antiepileptic Drugs: Is There Evidence from Clinical Trials? Neurology 2002;59:79–83 Somerville ER Objectives To assess clinical trials for evidence that antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) aggravate partial seizures. To determine if the method used to examine drug efficacy can also be used to examine seizure aggravation. Background It is widely accepted that AEDs aggravate epilepsy in some patients. However, there is little published objective or quantitative evidence. Most reports concern generalized epilepsies. Methods Pharmaceutical companies responsible for the development of five of the new AEDs were asked to provide data concerning seizure increases during randomized placebo-controlled, add-on clinical trials in patients with uncontrolled partial seizures. Seizure frequency in individual patients taking drug or placebo was compared with the baseline pretreatment seizure frequency. The counterpart of the 50% reduction used in efficacy analyses is a 100% increase, because both represent a twofold change. A dose–response relation also was explored. Results More than 40% of subjects in clinical trials of tiagabine (TGB), topiramate (TPM), and levetiracetam (LEV) experienced an increase in seizures while taking a placebo. Seizure increases were no more likely to occur when taking any of the three drugs than when taking placebo. A doubling or more of seizure frequency was less likely to occur with TPM or LEV than with placebo but more likely with TGB. However, for TGB, this did not reach significance. There was some evidence for a dose–response effect with TGB but a negative effect with TPM (aggravation less likely with increasing dose). Data on gabapentin and lamotrigine were not provided. Conclusions Many patients with partial seizures have an increase in seizures when a new AED is added to their therapy. However, it occurs no more frequently when taking drug than placebo. It probably represents the spontaneous fluctuation of seizure frequency. When a patient who has started a new AED deteriorates, this is not necessarily a drug effect.
Implication of Status Epilepticus in Childhood Epilepsy
Authors: Vining Eileen P.G. 
Published: December 2022

Status Epilepticus in a Population-based Cohort with Childhood-onset Epilepsy in Finland Sillanpaa M, Shinnar S Ann Neurol 2002;5:303–310 Little is known about the time course over which status epilepticus occurs in childhood-onset epilepsy and its impact on long-term prognosis. A population-based cohort of 150 children younger than 16 years with new-onset epilepsy between 1961 and 1964 residing in the catchment area of Turku University Hospital was observed prospectively until 1997. The occurrence of status epilepticus and recurrent status epilepticus, risk factors for status epilepticus, and the impact of status epilepticus on prognosis were examined. Of the 150 cases, 41 (27%) patients had an episode of status epilepticus, of whom 22 (56%) patients had two or more episodes. The risk of status epilepticus was highest at the onset of the disorder with 30 (73%) cases occurring before (n = 12) or at (n = 18) onset and 37 (90%) cases within 2 years of onset. On multivariable analysis, risk factors for status epilepticus included remote symptomatic cause, age at onset 6 years or younger, and partial seizures. Specific epilepsy syndromes also were associated with a differential risk of status epilepticus. The occurrence of status epilepticus did not alter the mortality rates and had only a modest impact on the probability of attaining remission. In subjects with no other neurologic handicap, social and educational outcomes were similar in those with status epilepticus and in those with no history of status epilepticus. We conclude that status epilepticus is a common occurrence in childhood-onset epilepsy. When it does occur, it occurs early in the course of the disorder. The occurrence of status epilepticus does not appear to have significant adverse impact on long-term prognosis of childhood-onset epilepsy.
Temporal Lobe Epilepsy in Patients Older than 50 Years
Authors: Marks William J. 
Published: December 2022

Surgery for Temporal Lobe Epilepsy in Older Patients Boling W, Andermann F, Reutens D, Dubeau F, Caporicci L, Olivier A J Neurosurg 2001;95:242–248 Objective The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of surgery for temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) in older (older than 50 years) patients. Methods The authors conducted a review of all patients aged 50 years or older with TLE surgically treated at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital since 1981 by one surgeon (A.O.). Only patients without a mass lesion were included. Outcome parameters were compared with those of younger individuals with TLE, who were stratified by age at operation. Results In patients aged 50 years and older, the onset of complex partial seizures occurred 5 to 53 years (mean, 35 years) before the time of surgery. Postoperatively, over a mean follow-up period of 64 months, 15 (83%) patients obtained a meaningful improvement, becoming either free from seizures or experiencing only a rare seizure. Most surgery outcomes were similar in both older and younger individuals, except for a trend to more freedom from seizures and increased likelihood of returning to work or usual activities in the younger patients. Note that a patient's long-standing seizure disorder did not negatively affect the ability to achieve freedom from seizures after surgery. Conclusions Surgery for TLE appears to be effective for older individuals, comparing favorably with results in younger age groups, and carries a small risk of postoperative complications.
Does BDNF Contribute to Temporal Lobe Epilepsy?
Authors: Helen Scharfman 
Published: December 2022

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Enhances Fast Excitatory Synaptic Transmission in Human Epileptic Dentate Gyrus Zhu WJ, Roper SN Ann Neurol 2001;50:188–194 Purpose Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has trophic effects and modulates synaptic transmission in the hippocampal formation in animal studies. It also is upregulated in acute and chronic epilepsy models and in human temporal lobe epilepsy. This study was undertaken to examine the effects of BDNF on fast synaptic transmission in the human epileptic dentate gyrus. Methods Hippocampal specimens were acquired from patients with temporal lobe epilepsy during surgical removal of the anterior temporal lobe, intended to treat the epileptic condition. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were obtained from dentate granule cells in transverse hippocampal slices in vitro. Results Application of BDNF increased the amplitude and frequency of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents and increased the amplitude of evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents. BDNF had no effect on spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents but produced a decrease in amplitude of evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents. The effects of BDNF were abolished by coapplication of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor K252a; therefore, BDNF enhances fast excitatory transmission in the epileptic human dentate gyrus and may play an important role in epileptogenesis in temporal lobe epilepsy. Conclusions This raises the possibility of designing therapies for this disorder that may be both anticonvulsant and antiepileptogenic.