Different relationships between epilepsy syndromes and autoimmune diseases.

Objective: Our objective was to study the relationship between epilepsy and autoimmune diseases in two different types of epilepsy: idiopathic generalized epilepsies (IGEs) and mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis (MTLE-HS). The contribution of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system to this relationship was analyzed.

Methods: Adult patients with IGEs and MTLE-HS at a tertiary epilepsy center were consecutively enrolled between January 2016 and December 2020.

Effects of antiepileptic drugs on sleep architecture parameters in adults.

Objectives: Physiological and restorative sleep is fundamental for physical and mental well-being. Polysomnography parameters are objective methods to access sleep structure. Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are a group of drugs whose interference in the sleep structure is still not well known, especially in what concern the new ones.

Idling for Decades: A European Study on Risk Factors Associated with the Delay Before a Narcolepsy Diagnosis.

Purpose: Narcolepsy type-1 (NT1) is a rare chronic neurological sleep disorder with excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) as usual first and cataplexy as pathognomonic symptom. Shortening the NT1 diagnostic delay is the key to reduce disease burden and related low quality of life. Here we investigated the changes of diagnostic delay over the diagnostic years (1990-2018) and the factors associated with the delay in Europe.

Female preponderance in genetic generalized epilepsies.

Introduction: Epilepsy is more prevalent in men but Genetic Generalized Epilepsies (GGE) seem to be more common in women. A predominant maternal inheritance has been previously described in GGE. Our objective was to determine sex and inheritance patterns in a GGE population compared to mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis (MTLEHS).

Classification of the interictal state with hypsarrhythmia from Zika Virus Congenital Syndrome and of the ictal state from epilepsy in childhood without hypsarrhythmia in EEGs using entropy measures.

This paper intends to classify the interictal state with hypsarrhythmia in patients with Zika Virus Congenital Syndrome (ZVCS) and of the ictal state in patients with epilepsy in childhood without the presence of hypsarrhythmia. Hypsarrhythmia is a specific interictal chaotic morphology, and the correct distinction between these two EEG states is crucial to improving the cognitive development of these epileptic patients. The proposed approach was assessed using the proprietary database of Casa Ninar, which contains data regarding children from northeastern Brazil born with microcephaly caused by the Zika virus.

Immunogenetic protective factors in Genetic Generalized Epilepsy.

Background: Genetic Generalized Epilepsies (GGEs) are a heterogeneous group of syndromes characterized by generalized seizure activity that affects both hemispheres, with mainly genetic causes. Neuroinflammation has been established as an important mechanism in epileptogenesis. The ability to develop an appropriated immune response is strongly determined by immunogenetic factors.

Apolipoprotein E isoforms and susceptibility to genetic generalized epilepsies.

Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is the main lipoprotein secreted in brain. It has a critical immunomodulatory function, influences neurotransmission and it is involved in repairing damaged neurons. ApoE e4 is an isoform of ApoE with altered function, and was previously associated with early onset epilepsy and refractoriness, both in animal models and in patients with focal epilepsies.

Supercell calculations of the geometry and lattice energy of α-glycine crystal.

Evidence about the presence of glycine in the interstellar medium (ISM) has been motivating studies aiming the understanding of the chemical behavior of this amino acid in such environment. Since glycine is expected to be predominantly found in the ISM in solid phase, this work focuses on the search for a theoretical methodology for obtaining a molecular cluster for α-glycine that provides a good description of the geometry of the unit cell and lattice energy. Calculations have been performed using the B3LYP-D3, PBE0-D3, and WB97X-D3 functionals, with def2-SVP, def2-TZVP, def2-TZVPP, and def2-QZVPP basis sets for two models: (a) the unit cell, containing 4 glycine units, and (b) the 2 × 1 × 2 expanded cell, with 16 glycine units.

Superior Effects of High-Intensity Interval vs. Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training on Endothelial Function and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

This study aimed to compare the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) with moderate-intensity continuous training (MCT) on endothelial function, oxidative stress and clinical fitness in patients with type 1 diabetes. Thirty-six type 1 diabetic patients (mean age 23.5 ± 6 years) were randomized into 3 groups: HIIT, MCT, and a non-exercising group (CON).

Exploring the clinical features of narcolepsy type 1 versus narcolepsy type 2 from European Narcolepsy Network database with machine learning.

Narcolepsy is a rare life-long disease that exists in two forms, narcolepsy type-1 (NT1) or type-2 (NT2), but only NT1 is accepted as clearly defined entity. Both types of narcolepsies belong to the group of central hypersomnias (CH), a spectrum of poorly defined diseases with excessive daytime sleepiness as a core feature. Due to the considerable overlap of symptoms and the rarity of the diseases, it is difficult to identify distinct phenotypes of CH.

Brain expression of inflammatory mediators in Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy patients.

Neuroinflammation may be central in epileptogenesis. In this study we analysed inflammatory reaction markers in brain tissue of Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy with Hippocampal Sclerosis (MTLE-HS) patients. TLR4, IL-1β and IL-10 gene expression as well as the presence of activated HLA-DR+ microglia was evaluated in 23 patients and 10 cadaveric controls.

Immunogenetic predisposing factors for mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis.

Purpose: Neuroinflammation appears as an important epileptogenic mechanism. Experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated an upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β and TNF-α, in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis (MTLE-HS). Expression of these cytokines can be modulated by polymorphisms such as rs16944 and rs1800629, respectively, both of which have been associated with febrile seizures (FS) and MTLE-HS development.

The Pilates Method increases respiratory muscle strength and performance as well as abdominal muscle thickness.

The aim of this study was to verify the effects of the Pilates Method (PM) training program on the thickness of the abdominal wall muscles, respiratory muscle strength and performance, and lung function. This uncontrolled clinical trial involved 16 sedentary women who were assessed before and after eight weeks of PM training. The thickness of the transversus abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO) and external oblique (EO) muscles was assessed.

Empirical force field for cisplatin based on quantum dynamics data: case study of new parameterization scheme for coordination compounds.

Parameterization of molecular complexes containing a metallic compound, such as cisplatin, is challenging due to the unconventional coordination nature of the bonds which involve platinum atoms. In this work, we develop a new methodology of parameterization for such compounds based on quantum dynamics (QD) calculations. We show that the coordination bonds and angles are more flexible than in normal covalent compounds.

Endothelial dysfunction as a predictor of cardiovascular disease in type 1 diabetes.

Macro and microvascular disease are the main cause of morbi-mortality in type 1 diabetes (T1DM). Although there is a clear association between endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes, a cause-effect relationship is less clear in T1DM. Although endothelial dysfunction (ED) precedes atherosclerosis, it is not clear weather, in recent onset T1DM, it may progress to clinical macrovascular disease.

Inspiratory muscle training in patients with diabetic autonomic neuropathy: a randomized clinical trial.

Aims And Methods: We evaluated the effects of an 8-week inspiratory muscle training (IMT, n = 5) or placebo IMT (P-IMT, n = 5) on maximal respiratory pressures, pulmonary function, functional capacity, and cardiac autonomic control in patients with type 2 diabetes and diabetic autonomic neuropathy (DAN).

Results And Conclusions: The IMT group had a greater increase in maximum inspiratory pressure as compared to P-IMT (p < 0.05).

Effect of Center-Pivot Irrigation in the Rust and Brown Eye Spot of Coffee.

Incidence of rust (caused by Hemileia vastatrix) and brown eye spot (caused by Cercospora coffeicola) of coffee was evaluated for 2 years in southern Minas Gerais, Brazil, in a center-pivot-irrigated coffee crop with different water application levels. Treatments consisted of six water levels of 0 (nonirrigated), 60, 80, 100, 120, and 140% applied according to class A evaporation pan (CAE). Progress of disease was influenced significantly by different water levels; the highest incidence of rust occurred with lower water levels-0 (nonirrigated), 60, and 80% CAE-whereas the lowest incidence was detected with larger water levels: 120 and 140% CAE.

Psychosocial factors as predictors of quality of life in chronic Portuguese patients.

Background: Chronic illnesses are diseases of long duration and generally of slow progression. They cause significant quality of life impairment. The aim of this study was to analyse psychosocial predictors of quality of life and of subjective well-being in chronic Portuguese patients.

Pulmonary hypertension in Portugal: first data from a nationwide registry.

Introduction: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare disease that must be managed in specialized centers; therefore, the availability of epidemiological national data is critical.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, observational, and multicenter registry with a joint collaboration from five centers from Portugal and included adult incident patients with PAH or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).

Results: Of the 79 patients enrolled in this study, 46 (58.

Epilepsy, hippocampal sclerosis and febrile seizures linked by common genetic variation around SCN1A.

Epilepsy comprises several syndromes, amongst the most common being mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis. Seizures in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis are typically drug-resistant, and mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis is frequently associated with important co-morbidities, mandating the search for better understanding and treatment. The cause of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis is unknown, but there is an association with childhood febrile seizures.

Long-term effect of bosentan in pulmonary hypertension associated with complex congenital heart disease.

Background: Bosentan is recommended for symptomatic patients with Eisenmenger syndrome due to simple congenital lesions such as atrial and ventricular septal defects (VSD). However, its long-term efficacy and safety in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) associated with complex congenital heart disease (CHD) is unknown.

Objectives: We examined the short- and long-term effects and safety profile of bosentan in patients with PAH and complex CHD.

Effects of 5 % weight loss through diet or diet plus exercise on cardiovascular parameters of obese: a randomized clinical trial.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of 5 % weight loss, through diet only or diet plus exercise, on lipid profile, inflammation and endothelial function in obese individuals.

Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 48 obese individuals were randomized to either a diet only group (DI) or a diet and exercise group (DI + EXE). Treatment was maintained until 5 % of the initial body weight was lost.