IGF-1 impacts neocortical interneuron connectivity in epileptic spasm generation and resolution.

Little is known about the mechanisms that generate epileptic spasms following perinatal brain injury. Recent studies have implicated reduced levels of Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) in these patients' brains. Other studies have reported low levels of the inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA.

Spatiotemporal Mapping of Auditory Onsets during Speech Production.

The human auditory cortex is organized according to the timing and spectral characteristics of speech sounds during speech perception. During listening, the posterior superior temporal gyrus is organized according to onset responses, which segment acoustic boundaries in speech, and sustained responses, which further process phonological content. When we speak, the auditory system is actively processing the sound of our own voice to detect and correct speech errors in real time.

Associations between epilepsy, respiratory impairment, and minor ECG abnormalities in children.

Objective: We sought to examine the effects of acute seizures and respiratory derangement on the cardiac electrical properties reflected on the electrocardiogram (ECG); and to analyze their potential interactions with a diagnosis of epilepsy in children.

Methods: Emergency center (EC) visits with seizure or epilepsy diagnostic codes from 1/2011-12/2013 were included if they had ECG within 24 h of EC visit. Patients were excluded if they had pre-existing cardiac conditions, ion channelopathy, or were taking specific cardiac medications.

Association of minor electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities with epilepsy duration in children: A manifestation of the epileptic heart?

Purpose: Cardiac abnormalities resulting from chronic epilepsy ("the epileptic heart") constitute a well-recognized comorbidity. However, the association of cardiac alterations with epilepsy duration remains understudied. We sought to evaluate this association using electrocardiogram (ECG).

Top Ten Tips Palliative Clinicians Should Know About Rural Palliative Care in the United States.

Palliative care improves outcomes, yet rural residents often lack adequate and equitable access. This study provides practical tips to address palliative care (PC)-related challenges in rural communities. Strategies include engaging trusted community partners, addressing cultural factors, improving pediatric care, utilizing telehealth, networking with rural teams including caregivers, and expanding roles for nurses and advanced practice providers.

An Initial Experience of Completion Hemispherotomy via Magnetic Resonance-Guided Laser Interstitial Therapy.

Introduction: In carefully selected patients with medically refractory epilepsy, disconnective hemispherotomy can result in significant seizure freedom; however, incomplete disconnection can result in ongoing seizures and poses a significant challenge. Completion hemispherotomy provides an opportunity to finish the disconnection. We describe the use of magnetic resonance-guided laser interstitial thermal ablation (MRgLITT) for completion hemispherotomy.

Changes in Metal-Chelating Metabolites Induced by Drought and a Root Microbiome in Wheat.

The essential metals Cu, Zn, and Fe are involved in many activities required for normal and stress responses in plants and their microbiomes. This paper focuses on how drought and microbial root colonization influence shoot and rhizosphere metabolites with metal-chelation properties. Wheat seedlings, with and without a pseudomonad microbiome, were grown with normal watering or under water-deficit conditions.

Epilepsy Surgery in Young Children With Tuberous Sclerosis Complex: A Novel Hybrid Multimodal Surgical Approach.

Background: Surgery has become integral in treating children with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC)-related drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE).

Objective: To describe outcomes of a multimodal diagnostic and therapeutic approach comprising invasive intracranial monitoring and surgical treatment and compare the complementary techniques of open resection and magnetic resonance-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy.

Methods: Clinical and radiographic data were prospectively collected for pediatric patients undergoing surgical evaluation for TSC-related DRE at our tertiary academic hospital.

Synapse-specific changes in Arc and BDNF in rat hippocampus following chronic temporal lobe epilepsy.

Expression of immediate early genes (IEGs) in the brain is important for synaptic plasticity, and probably also in neurodegenerative conditions. To understand the cellular mechanisms of the underlying neuropathophysiological processes in epilepsy, we need to pinpoint changes in concentration of synaptic plasticity-related proteins at subsynaptic levels. In this study, we examined changes in synaptic expression of Activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated (Arc) and Brai Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in a rat model of kainate-induced temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE).

Root-Associated Bacteria Are Biocontrol Agents for Multiple Plant Pests.

Biological control is an important process for sustainable plant production, and this trait is found in many plant-associated microbes. This study reviews microbes that could be formulated into pesticides active against various microbial plant pathogens as well as damaging insects or nematodes. The focus is on the beneficial microbes that colonize the rhizosphere where, through various mechanisms, they promote healthy plant growth.

A Role for Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 in the Generation of Epileptic Spasms in a murine model.

Objective: Infantile spasms are associated with a wide variety of clinical conditions, including perinatal brain injuries. We have created a model in which prolonged infusion of tetrodotoxin (TTX) into the neocortex, beginning in infancy, produces a localized lesion and reproduces the behavioral spasms, electroencephalogram (EEG) abnormalities, and drug responsiveness seen clinically. Here, we undertook experiments to explore the possibility that the growth factor IGF-1 plays a role in generating epileptic spasms.

Pediatric Hospice and Palliative Care Services and Needs Across the Northwest United States.

Context: Given workforce and funding constraints, pediatric hospice and palliative care clinicians often find challenges providing services for seriously ill children and families, particularly in low resource and rural/remote areas.

Objectives: To describe the services, training, and education needs of pediatric hospice and palliative care programs across the Northwest United States as part of the formation of a new regional coalition.

Methods: Electronic surveys were sent to pediatric hospice and palliative care clinicians through state organizations as part of an email invitation to join the Northwest Pediatric Palliative Care Coalition.

A multidisciplinary approach and consensus statement to establish standards of care for Angelman syndrome.

Background: Angelman syndrome (AS) is a rare neurogenetic disorder present in approximately 1/12,000 individuals and characterized by developmental delay, cognitive impairment, motor dysfunction, seizures, gastrointestinal concerns, and abnormal electroencephalographic background. AS is caused by absent expression of the paternally imprinted gene UBE3A in the central nervous system. Disparities in the management of AS are a major problem in preparing for precision therapies and occur even in patients with access to experts and recognized clinics.

Expression of 4E-BP1 in juvenile mice alleviates mTOR-induced neuronal dysfunction and epilepsy.

Hyperactivation of the mTOR pathway during foetal neurodevelopment alters neuron structure and function, leading to focal malformation of cortical development and intractable epilepsy. Recent evidence suggests a role for dysregulated cap-dependent translation downstream of mTOR signalling in the formation of focal malformation of cortical development and seizures. However, it is unknown whether modifying translation once the developmental pathologies are established can reverse neuronal abnormalities and seizures.

The Plant-Stress Metabolites, Hexanoic Aacid and Melatonin, Are Potential "Vaccines" for Plant Health Promotion.

A plethora of compounds stimulate protective mechanisms in plants against microbial pathogens and abiotic stresses. Some defense activators are synthetic compounds and trigger responses only in certain protective pathways, such as activation of defenses under regulation by the plant regulator, salicylic acid (SA). This review discusses the potential of naturally occurring plant metabolites as primers for defense responses in the plant.

Insulin-like growth factor-2 does not improve behavioral deficits in mouse and rat models of Angelman Syndrome.

Background: Angelman Syndrome (AS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder for which there is currently no cure or effective therapeutic. Since the genetic cause of AS is known to be dysfunctional expression of the maternal allele of ubiquitin protein ligase E3A (UBE3A), several genetic animal models of AS have been developed. Both the Ube3a maternal deletion mouse and rat models of AS reliably demonstrate behavioral phenotypes of relevance to AS and therefore offer suitable in vivo systems in which to test potential therapeutics.

Reducing the MRI outpatient waiting list through a capacity and demand time series improvement programme.

Introduction: A capacity and demand improvement initiative commenced in January 2019 with the goal of reducing the growing outpatient waiting list for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at Counties Manukau District Health Board (CMDHB). Initial work showed that the capacity (MRI machines and staff) actually outstripped demand, which challenged pre-existing assumptions. This became the basis for interventions to improve efficiency in the department.

Epilepsy duration is an independent factor for electrocardiographic changes in pediatric epilepsy.

Objective: Cardiac alterations represent a potential epilepsy-associated comorbidity. Whether cardiac changes occur as a function of epilepsy duration is not well understood. We sought to evaluate whether cardiac alterations represented a time-dependent phenomenon in pediatric epilepsy.

Genetics in Epilepsy.

The presence of unprovoked, recurrent seizures, particularly when drug resistant and associated with cognitive and behavioral deficits, warrants investigation for an underlying genetic cause. This article provides an overview of the major classes of genes associated with epilepsy phenotypes divided into functional categories along with the recommended work-up and therapeutic considerations. Gene discovery in epilepsy supports counseling and anticipatory guidance but also opens the door for precision medicine guiding therapy with a focus on those with disease-modifying effects.