Proteomic Spectrum of Serum Exosomes in Ischemic Stroke Patients Is Associated with Cognitive Impairment in the Post-Stroke Period.

Ischemic stroke (IS) and subsequent neuropsychiatric disorders are among the leading causes of disability worldwide. Several strategies have been previously proposed to utilize exosomes for assessing the risk of IS-related diseases. The aim of this work was to evaluate serum exosomal proteins in IS patients during the chronic post-stroke period and to search for their associations with the development of post-stroke mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Reduced Levels of Lacrimal Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (GDNF) in Patients with Focal Epilepsy and Focal Epilepsy with Comorbid Depression: A Biomarker Candidate.

Our previous studies showed that in patients with brain diseases, neurotrophic factors in lacrimal fluid (LF) may change more prominently than in blood serum (BS). Since glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is involved in the control of neuronal networks in an epileptic brain, we aimed to assess the GDNF levels in LF and BS as well as the BDNF and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical and inflammation indices in BS of patients with focal epilepsy (FE) and epilepsy and comorbid depression (FE + MDD) and to compare them with those of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and healthy controls (HC). GDNF levels in BS were similar in patients and HC and higher in FE taking valproates.

Development of Post-Stroke Cognitive and Depressive Disturbances: Associations with Neurohumoral Indices.

Neuropsychiatric complications, in particular cognitive and depressive disorders, are common consequences of ischemic stroke (IS) and complicate the rehabilitation, quality of life, and social adaptation of patients. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) system, sympathoadrenal medullary system (SAMS), and inflammatory processes are believed to be involved in the pathogenesis of these disorders. This study aimed to explore these systems in IS patients, including those with post-stroke cognitive and depressive disorders, within a year after IS.

Elevated Serum Cortisol Levels in Patients with Focal Epilepsy, Depression, and Comorbid Epilepsy and Depression.

Background: The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, inflammatory processes and neurotrophic factor systems are involved in pathogenesis of both epilepsy and depressive disorders. The study aimed to explore these systems in patients with focal epilepsy (PWE, = 76), epilepsy and comorbid depression (PWCED = 48), and major depressive disorder (PWMDD, = 62) compared with healthy controls (HC, = 78).

Methods: Parameters of the HPA axis, neurotrophic factors, and TNF-α were measured in blood serum along with the hemogram.

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in blood serum and lacrimal fluid of patients with a current depressive episode.

Background: Many studies indicate a significant role of GDNF in the pathogenesis of the mood disorders, including bipolar disorder (BD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). Potentially, neurotrophic factors in lacrimal fluid (LF) could become biomarkers of various specific disorders. The aim of this study was to assess GDNF levels in LF and blood serum (BS) of patients with a current depressive episode (cDE).

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and age-related cataract.

Purpose: To study glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) concentrations in aqueous humor (AH), lacrimal fluid (LF), and blood serum (BS) in patients with age-related cataract and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).

Methods: GDNF was studied in AH, LF, and BS in 47 patients with age-related cataract, and 30 patients with POAG combined with cataract (one eye in each person). AH was sampled during cataract surgery.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor in blood serum and lacrimal fluid of patients with focal epilepsy.

Objective: To evaluate brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) level in blood serum (BS) and lacrimal fluid (LF) of people with epilepsy (PWE).

Methods: It was a case-control study of 72 consecutive patients with focal epilepsy (cases, Epilepsy group) and 60 age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers (controls). Based on comorbid depression, two subgroups of PWE were formed.

A Translational Study on Acute Traumatic Brain Injury: High Incidence of Epileptiform Activity on Human and Rat Electrocorticograms and Histological Correlates in Rats.

Background: In humans, early pathological activity on invasive electrocorticograms (ECoGs) and its putative association with pathomorphology in the early period of traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains obscure.

Methods: We assessed pathological activity on scalp electroencephalograms (EEGs) and ECoGs in patients with acute TBI, early electrophysiological changes after lateral fluid percussion brain injury (FPI), and electrophysiological correlates of hippocampal damage (microgliosis and neuronal loss), a week after TBI in rats.

Results: Epileptiform activity on ECoGs was evident in 86% of patients during the acute period of TBI, ECoGs being more sensitive to epileptiform and periodic discharges.

Transcranial direct current stimulation of 20- and 30-minutes combined with sertraline for the treatment of depression.

Background: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can be an effective treatment for depression, however, the duration of the stimulation session, among other parameters, needs to be optimized.

Methods: 69 mild to moderately depressed patients (age 37.6±10.

Ciliary neurotrophic factor in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and age-related cataract.

Purpose: To study the ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) concentration in the aqueous humor (AH), lacrimal fluid (LF), and blood serum (BS) in patients with age-related cataract and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).

Methods: CNTF concentrations were studied in 61 patients with age-related cataract, 55 patients with POAG combined with cataract, and 29 healthy controls (one eye in each person). Preliminary experiments permitted us to extend the minimum quantifiable value of the CNTF Quantikine enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit to 2.

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Patients with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma and Age-related Cataract.

Purpose: To study brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) content in aqueous humor (AH), lacrimal fluid (LF), and blood serum (BS) in patients with age-related cataract and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).

Methods: BDNF was studied in 57 patients with age-related cataract, 55 patients with POAG combined with cataract, and 29 healthy controls (one eye in each person). AH was sampled during cataract surgery.

Cognitive dysfunction after on-pump operations: neuropsychological characteristics and optimal core battery of tests.

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a mild form of perioperative ischemic brain injury, which emerges as memory decline, decreased attention, and decreased concentration during several months, or even years, after surgery. Here we present results of our three neuropsychological studies, which overall included 145 patients after on-pump operations. We found that the auditory memory span test (digit span) was more effective as a tool for registration of POCD, in comparison with the word-list learning and story-learning tests.

A single pentylenetetrazole-induced clonic-tonic seizure episode is accompanied by a slowly developing cognitive decline in rats.

According to different studies, between 5% and 10% of people suffer a single isolated seizure episode at some time in their life. However, little is known about the effects of a single seizure episode on cognitive function, and clinical investigations of this issue are not easy to perform. In this situation, animal models may be a reasonable choice.

Partial disconnection procedure in a patient with bilateral lesions (case report).

Purpose: The method of temporal lobectomy and parietooccipital disconnection has been applied in the treatment of patients with monolateral widespread cortical lesions and with hand motor function intact. There are no data regarding the use of this method in the treatment of patients with bilateral lesions.

Case Report: A case history of a 15-year-old female patient with medically refractory epilepsy is presented.

Cerebrolysin in vascular dementia: improvement of clinical outcome in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter trial.

No drug to treat vascular dementia (VaD) has yet been approved by the American or European authorities, leaving a large population of patients without effective therapy. Cerebrolysin has a long record of safety and might be efficacious in this condition. We conducted a large, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 242 patients meeting the criteria for VaD.

Polymorphism of apolipoprotein E (APOE) and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) genes and ischaemic stroke in individuals of Yakut ethnicity.

There is evidence that most forms of ischaemic stroke (IS) result from synergistic effects of the modifiable predisposing factors and multiple genes. In the present work, we report results of case-control study of IS association with apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) (promoter and coding polymorphisms) and lipoprotein lipase gene (LPL) (presence/absence of a HindIII cutting site). We studied 107 unrelated patients of Yakut ethnicity (69 men and 38 women, mean age 58.

Factors influencing on quality of life in people with epilepsy.

Objectives: To assess the influence of different factors on health-related QOL in adults with epilepsy in Moscow, Russia.

Method: We evaluated quality of life in 242 patients (98 de novo and 144 previously inadequately treated) by using QOLIE-31. Partial cryptogenic or symptomatic epilepsy was diagnosed in 214 patients, in 28-idiopathic generalized epilepsy.

ILAE Commission of European Affairs Subcommission on European Guidelines 1998-2001: The provision of epilepsy care across Europe.

Purpose: To assess the needs and resources available in the provision of basic epilepsy care across Europe.

Methods: A mailed questionnaire was used, the European Epilepsy Services inventory (EESI). The EESI was distributed to all 36 European chapters of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), and answers were obtained from 32, a response rate of 89%.