Predictors for and use of rescue medication in adults with epilepsy: A multicentre cross-sectional study from Germany.

Background: Seizure clusters, prolonged seizures, and status epilepticus are life-threatening neurological emergencies leading to irreversible neuronal damage. Benzodiazepines are current evidence-based rescue therapy options; however, recent investigations indicated the prescription of mainly unsuitable benzodiazepines and inappropriate use of rescue medication.

Objective: To examine current use, satisfaction, and adverse events concerning rescue medication in patients with epilepsy in Germany.

Association of spermidine blood levels with microstructure of sleep-implications from a population-based study.

Deteriorations in slow wave sleep (SWS) have been linked to brain aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD), possibly due to its key role in clearance of amyloid-beta and tau (Aß/tau), two pathogenic hallmarks of AD. Spermidine administration has been shown to improve sleep quality in animal models. So far, the association between spermidine levels in humans and parameters of SWS physiology are unknown but may be valuable for therapeutic strategies.

Determinants of quality of life in adults with epilepsy: a multicenter, cross-sectional study from Germany.

Background: Assessment of quality of life (QoL) has become an important indicator for chronic neurological diseases. While these conditions often limit personal independence and autonomy, they are also associated with treatment-related problems and reduced life expectancy. Epilepsy has a tremendous impact on the QoL of patients and their families, which is often underestimated by practitioners.

Dissecting Rubella Placental Infection in an In Vitro Trophoblast Model.

Vertical transmission of rubella virus (RuV) occurs at a high rate during the first trimester of pregnancy. The modes of vertical transmission including the response of trophoblasts to RuV are not well understood. Here, RuV-trophoblast interaction was studied in the BeWo trophoblast cell line.

Real-world data on cannabidiol treatment of various epilepsy subtypes: A retrospective, multicenter study.

Objective: Cannabidiol (CBD) is approved for treatment of Dravet syndrome (DS), Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), and tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). Several studies suggest antiseizure effects also beyond these three epilepsy syndromes.

Methods: In a retrospective multicenter study, we analyzed the efficacy and tolerability of CBD in patients with epilepsy at 16 epilepsy centers.

Prospective, longitudinal, multicenter study on the provision of information regarding sudden unexpected death in epilepsy to adults with epilepsy.

Objective: Despite increased awareness of the serious epilepsy complication sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), a substantial population of people with epilepsy (PWE) remain poorly informed. Physicians indicate concern that SUDEP information may adversely affect patients' health and quality of life. We examined SUDEP awareness and the immediate and long-term effects of providing SUDEP information to PWE.

Individualised prediction of drug resistance and seizure recurrence after medication withdrawal in people with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy: A systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis.

Background: A third of people with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) are drug-resistant. Three-quarters have a seizure relapse when attempting to withdraw anti-seizure medication (ASM) after achieving seizure-freedom. It is currently impossible to predict who is likely to become drug-resistant and safely withdraw treatment.

Reliability of probing depth assessments at healthy implant sites and natural teeth.

Aim: To evaluate the intra- and inter-examiner reliability in the assessment of probing depth (PD) measurements at healthy dental implant sites and periodontally healthy natural teeth.

Materials And Methods: Five patients exhibiting 21 dental implants were enrolled in the study. Eight experienced examiners performed duplicate PD measurements at six sites of all implants and of preselected natural teeth.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on physical and mental health status and care of adults with epilepsy in Germany.

Background: To mitigate the potential consequences of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on public life, the German Federal Government and Ministry of Health enacted a strict lockdown protocol on March 16, 2020. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical and mental health status and the supply of medical care and medications for people with epilepsy (PWE) in Germany.

Methods: The Epi2020 study was a large, multicenter study focused on different healthcare aspects of adults with epilepsy.

Use of Health-Related Apps and Telehealth in Adults with Epilepsy in Germany: A Multicenter Cohort Study.

Telehealth can improve the treatment of chronic disorders, such as epilepsy. Telehealth prevalence and use increased during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, familiarity with and use of telehealth and health-related mobile applications (apps) by persons with epilepsy remain unknown.

Case Report: Arterial Wall Inflammation in Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease is Reduced by Olamkicept (sgp130Fc).

Inflammation is a strong driver of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). There is a large unmet need for therapies that prevent or reduce excessive inflammation while avoiding systemic immunosuppression. We showed previously that selective inhibition of pro-inflammatory interleukin-6 (IL-6) trans-signalling by the fusion protein olamkicept (sgp130Fc) prevented and reduced experimental murine atherosclerosis in low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient ( ) mice on a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet independently of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol metabolism.

Interferon Signaling-Dependent Contribution of Glycolysis to Rubella Virus Infection.

Interferons (IFNs) are an essential part of innate immunity and contribute to adaptive immune responses. Here, we employed a loss-of-function analysis with human A549 respiratory epithelial cells with a knockout (KO) of the type I IFN receptor (IFNAR KO), either solely or together with the receptor of type III IFN (IFNAR/IFNLR1 KO). The course of rubella virus (RuV) infection on the IFNAR KO A549 cells was comparable to the control A549.

Trends in resource utilization and cost of illness in patients with active epilepsy in Germany from 2003 to 2020.

Objective: This study was undertaken to calculate epilepsy-related direct, indirect, and total costs in adult patients with active epilepsy (ongoing unprovoked seizures) in Germany and to analyze cost components and dynamics compared to previous studies from 2003, 2008, and 2013. This analysis was part of the Epi2020 study.

Methods: Direct and indirect costs related to epilepsy were calculated with a multicenter survey using an established and validated questionnaire with a bottom-up design and human capital approach over a 3-month period in late 2020.

Gender differences in concerns about planning to have children and child-rearing among patients with epilepsy: A prospective, multicenter study with 477 patients from Germany.

Objective: To analyze the concerns and worries about planning to have children and being a parent as a person with epilepsy and investigate gender differences in these perceptions.

Methods: The Epi2020 study was a large multicenter study focusing on different healthcare aspects of adult patients with epilepsy in Germany. In addition to basic clinical and demographic characteristics, patients were asked to answer a questionnaire regarding their plan to have children, if they had children, and concerns about their children's health.

Multicenter, cross-sectional study of the costs of illness and cost-driving factors in adult patients with epilepsy.

Objective: This study was undertaken to quantify epilepsy-related costs of illness (COI) in Germany and identify cost-driving factors.

Methods: COI were calculated among adults with epilepsy of different etiologies and severities. Multiple regression analysis was applied to determine any epilepsy-related and sociodemographic factors that serve as cost-driving factors.

Ascorbic Acid/Retinol and/or Inflammatory Stimuli's Effect on Proliferation/Differentiation Properties and Transcriptomics of Gingival Stem/Progenitor Cells.

The present study explored the effects of ascorbic-acid (AA)/retinol and timed inflammation on the stemness, the regenerative potential, and the transcriptomics profile of gingival mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells' (G-MSCs). STRO-1 (mesenchymal stem cell marker) immuno-magnetically sorted G-MSCs were cultured in basic medium (control group), in basic medium with IL-1β (1 ng/mL), TNF-α (10 ng/mL) and IFN-γ (100 ng/mL, inflammatory-medium), in basic medium with AA (250 µmol/L) and retinol (20 µmol/L) (AA/retinol group) or in inflammatory medium with AA/retinol (inflammatory/AA/retinol group; = 5/group). The intracellular levels of phosphorylated and total β-Catenin at 1 h, the expression of stemness genes over 7 days, the number of colony-forming units (CFUs) as well as the cellular proliferation aptitude over 14 days, and the G-MSCs' multilineage differentiation potential were assessed.

Patients' knowledge about epilepsy-related risks, morbidity, and mortality: A multicenter cohort study from Germany.

Introduction: Patient education is a central component of quality care. Enhancing patient knowledge can improve patients' quality of life and facilitate successful self-management. We sought to identify patients' knowledge levels and knowledge gaps regarding epilepsy-related risks, morbidity, and mortality.

Long-term efficacy, tolerability, and retention of brivaracetam in epilepsy treatment: A longitudinal multicenter study with up to 5 years of follow-up.

Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate the long-term efficacy, retention, and tolerability of add-on brivaracetam (BRV) in clinical practice.

Methods: A multicenter, retrospective cohort study recruited all patients who initiated BRV between February and November 2016, with observation until February 2021.

Results: Long-term data for 262 patients (mean age = 40 years, range = 5-81 years, 129 men) were analyzed, including 227 (87%) diagnosed with focal epilepsy, 19 (7%) with genetic generalized epilepsy, and 16 (6%) with other or unclassified epilepsy syndromes.

Microbiological Characteristics and Surgical Management of Animal-Bite-Related Oral & Maxillofacial Injuries: A Single Center's Experience.

The objective of the current study is to retrospectively evaluate animal-bite injuries and to gain insight into the epidemiology, accident consequences and treatment concept of these accidents in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Data of patients, who were admitted January 2015 and April 2021, were retrospectively evaluated regarding the patients' characteristics (age, gender), facial distribution of substance defects/partial amputations, duration of hospitalization, operation treatments and antibiotic treatments. Data of 75 patients were included.

Patient Reported Outcomes in Chronic Inflammatory Diseases: Current State, Limitations and Perspectives.

Chronic inflammatory diseases (CID) are emerging disorders which do not only affect specific organs with respective clinical symptoms but can also affect various aspects of life, such as emotional distress, anxiety, fatigue and quality of life. These facets of chronic disease are often not recognized in the therapy of CID patients. Furthermore, the symptoms and patient-reported outcomes often do not correlate well with the actual inflammatory burden.

Bone tissue engineering in the greater omentum with computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing scaffolds is enhanced by a periosteum transplant.

This study aimed to evaluate two different vascularized bone flap scaffolds and the impact of two barrier membranes for the reconstruction of critical-size bone defects. 3D-printed scaffolds of biodegradable calcium phosphate and bioinert titanium were loaded with rhBMP-2 bone marrow aspirate, wrapped by a collagen membrane or a periosteum transplant and implanted into the greater omentum of miniature pigs. Histological evaluation demonstrated significant bone formation within the first 8 weeks in both scaffolds.

Autoantibody-negative insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus after SARS-CoV-2 infection: a case report.

Here we report a case where the manifestations of insulin-dependent diabetes occurred following SARS-CoV-2 infection in a young individual in the absence of autoantibodies typical for type 1 diabetes mellitus. Specifically, a 19-year-old white male presented at our emergency department with diabetic ketoacidosis, C-peptide level of 0.62 µg l, blood glucose concentration of 30.