KCNA2 IgG autoimmunity in neuropsychiatric diseases.

Background: Autoantibodies against the potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily A member 2 (KCNA2) have been described in a few cases of neuropsychiatric disorders, but their diagnostic and pathophysiological role is currently unknown, imposing challenges to medical practice.

Design / Methods: We retrospectively collected comprehensive clinical and paraclinical data of 35 patients with KCNA2 IgG autoantibodies detected in cell-based and tissue-based assays. Patients' sera and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were used for characterization of the antigen, clinical-serological correlations, and determination of IgG subclasses.

Informed DEcision for cerebrospinal fluid analysis after epiLeptic seizures- the IDEAL-score: A development and validation study.

Background: This observational study was done to develop a score based on clinical predictors that enables a guided decision for the necessity of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis after first unprovoked epileptic seizures and to validate this score in a retrospective patient cohort.

Methods: Clinical predictors were identified by two panels of epilepsy experts and selected according to content validity ratios. Based on these predictors a score was created and applied to a cohort of patients with first epileptic seizures.

Characterization of Hippocampal Adult-borne Granule Cells in a Transient Cerebral Ischemia Model.

Long-term consequences of stroke significantly impair the quality of life in a growing population of stroke survivors. Hippocampal adult neurogenesis has been hypothesized to play a role in the pathophysiology of cognitive and neuropsychiatric long-term sequelae of stroke. Reliable animal models of stroke are paramount to understanding their biomechanisms and to advancing therapeutic strategies.

Sepsis promotes gliogenesis and depletes the pool of radial glia like stem cells in the hippocampus.

Sepsis associated encephalopathy (SAE) is a major complication of patients surviving sepsis with a prevalence up to 70%. Although the initial pathophysiological events of SAE are considered to arise during the acute phase of sepsis, there is increasing evidence that SAE leads to persistent brain dysfunction with severe cognitive decline in later life. Previous studies suggest that the hippocampal formation is particularly involved leading to atrophy in later stages.

Current and Desired Quality of Life in People with Parkinson's Disease: the Calman Gap Increases with Depression.

Hopes and expectations often differ from current experiences. This so-called Calman gap influences quality of life (QoL). We investigated this gap in 77 elderly patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), 25 patients with epilepsy, and 39 age-matched healthy older adults using a novel QoL questionnaire, where current and desired states were marked on a visual analogue scale.

Can commercially available wearable EEG devices be used for diagnostic purposes? An explorative pilot study.

Electroencephalography (EEG) is a core element in the diagnosis of epilepsy syndromes and can help to monitor antiseizure treatment. Mobile EEG (mEEG) devices are increasingly available on the consumer market and may offer easier access to EEG recordings especially in rural or resource-poor areas. The usefulness of consumer-grade devices for clinical purposes is still underinvestigated.

Data on adherence to medication in neurological patients using the German Stendal Adherence to Medication Score (SAMS).

This article presents demographic, socio-economic and detailed adherence to medication data from 429 patients with neurological disorders. Adherence to medication was assessed using the German Stendal Adherence to Medication Score (SAMS). The SAMS questionnaire includes 18 questions forming a cumulative scale (0 - 72) in which 0 indicates complete adherence and 72 complete non-adherence.

Clusters of non-adherence to medication in neurological patients.

Background: Non-adherence to medication is a common and serious problem in health care. To develop more effective interventions to improve adherence, there is a need for a better understanding of the individual types of non-adherence.

Objective: To determine clusters of non-adherence in neurological patients using a complex adherence questionnaire.

Comparison of anonymous versus nonanonymous responses to a medication adherence questionnaire in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Purpose: Adherence to medication can be assessed by various self-report questionnaires. One could hypothesize that survey respondents tend to answer questions in a manner that will be viewed favorably by others. We aimed to answer if anonymous and nonanonymous responses to a questionnaire on medication adherence differ.

Stroke Accelerates and Uncouples Intrinsic and Synaptic Excitability Maturation of Mouse Hippocampal DCX Adult-Born Granule Cells.

Stroke robustly stimulates adult neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. It is currently unknown whether this process induces beneficial or maladaptive effects, but morphological and behavioral studies have reported aberrant neurogenesis and impaired hippocampal-dependent memory following stroke. However, the intrinsic function and network incorporation of adult-born granule cells (ABGCs) after ischemia is unclear.

The first seizure as an indicator of epilepsy.

Purpose Of Review: Optimal treatment of a possible first seizure depends on the determination if the paroxysmal event was an epileptic seizure and was on an accurate assessment of the recurrence risk. This review summarizes evidence from the last 5 years addressing the following questions: Is it an epileptic seizure? Is it a first seizure? When does a first seizure indicate epilepsy?

Recent Findings: The acts of taking and interpreting the history from patients and witnesses continue to be the most important tools in the diagnosis of first seizures. Assessment tools based on factual questions and the observation of patients' conversational behaviour can contribute to the differentiation of patients with epileptic seizures from those who have experienced other types of transient loss of consciousness (TLOC).

Adult hippocampal neurogenesis poststroke: More new granule cells but aberrant morphology and impaired spatial memory.

Stroke significantly stimulates neurogenesis in the adult dentate gyrus, though the functional role of this postlesional response is mostly unclear. Recent findings suggest that newborn neurons generated in the context of stroke may fail to correctly integrate into pre-existing networks. We hypothesized that increased neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus following stroke is associated with aberrant neurogenesis and impairment of hippocampus-dependent memory.

Interactions of Human Autoantibodies with Hippocampal GABAergic Synaptic Transmission - Analyzing Antibody-Induced Effects ex vivo.

Autoantibodies (aAB) to the presynaptic located enzyme glutamate decarboxylase 65 (GAD65) are a characteristic attribute for a variety of autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system including subtypes of limbic encephalitis, stiff person-syndrome, cerebellar ataxia, and Batten's disease. Clinical signs of hyperexcitability and improvement of disease symptoms upon immunotherapy in some of these disorders suggest a possible pathogenic role of associated aAB. Recent experimental studies report inconsistent results regarding a direct pathogenic influence of anti-GAD65 aAB affecting inhibitory synaptic transmission in central GABAergic pathways.

Two distinct populations of doublecortin-positive cells in the perilesional zone of cortical infarcts.

Background: Recovery following stroke depends on cellular plasticity in the perilesional zone (PZ). Doublecortin (DCX), a protein mainly labeling immature neurons in neurogenic niches is also highly expressed in the vicinity of focal cortical infarcts. Notably, the number of DCX+ cells positively correlates with the recovery of functional deficits after stroke though the nature and origin of these cells remains unclear.

Serial FDG PET/CT in autoimmune encephalitis with faciobrachial dystonic seizures.

Autoimmune encephalitis (AE) is increasingly recognized as a nonparaneoplastic disorder with autoantibodies to neuronal proteins. Although MRI is frequently unremarkable, PET imaging might contribute to identification of affected brain regions in distinct AE. We report on serial FDG PET in a 72-year-old man with particular AE subtype, with potassium channel complex antibodies and prodromal stage with dystonic seizures.

Connexin expression by radial glia-like cells is required for neurogenesis in the adult dentate gyrus.

In the adult dentate gyrus, radial glia-like cells represent putative stem cells generating neurons and glial cells. Here, we combined patch-clamp recordings, biocytin filling, immunohistochemistry, single-cell transcript analysis, and mouse transgenics to test for connexin expression and gap junctional coupling of radial glia-like cells and its impact on neurogenesis. Radial glia-like cells were identified in mice expressing EGFP under control of the nestin and gfap promoters.

Satellite NG2 progenitor cells share common glutamatergic inputs with associated interneurons in the mouse dentate gyrus.

Several studies have provided evidence that NG2-expressing (NG2(+)) progenitor cells are anatomically associated to neurons in gray matter areas. By analyzing the spatial distribution of NG2(+) cells in the hilus of the mouse dentate gyrus, we demonstrate that NG2(+) cells are indeed closely associated to interneurons. To define whether this anatomical proximity reflected a specific physiological interaction, we performed patch-clamp recordings on hilar NG2(+) cells and interneurons between 3 and 21 postnatal days.

Rehabilitative therapies differentially alter proliferation and survival of glial cell populations in the perilesional zone of cortical infarcts.

Rehabilitative therapies after stroke are designed to improve remodeling of neuronal circuits and to promote functional recovery. Only very little is known about the underlying cellular mechanisms. In particular, the effects of rehabilitative training on glial cells, which play an important role in the pathophysiology of cerebral ischemia, are only poorly understood.

Effects of skilled forelimb training on hippocampal neurogenesis and spatial learning after focal cortical infarcts in the adult rat brain.

Background And Purpose: Environmental stimulation consistently increases dentate neurogenesis in the adult brain and improves spatial learning. We tested the hypothesis whether specific rehabilitative training of an impaired forelimb influences these processes after focal cortical infarcts.

Methods: Focal cortical infarcts were induced in the forelimb sensorimotor cortex using the photothrombosis model.

Differential synaptic integration of interneurons in the outer and inner molecular layers of the developing dentate gyrus.

The dentate gyrus (DG) undergoes continued reorganization and lamination during early postnatal development. Interneurons with anatomically identified synaptic contacts migrate from the outer to the inner regions of the molecular layer (ML) of the DG. By using the 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNP)-enhanced green fluorescent protein transgenic mouse, we were able to target and physiologically characterize Dlx2(+) developing ML interneurons.

Proliferative response of distinct hippocampal progenitor cell populations after cortical infarcts in the adult brain.

Precursor cells in the adult dentate gyrus are a heterogeneous population. Astrocytic cell types with radial glia-like morphology and low proliferative activity have been distinguished from highly dividing subtypes expressing early neuronal properties. Recent evidence indicates that physiological stimuli predominantly increased proliferation of non-astrocytic cell types whereas radial glia-like precursors remained quiescent.