The Tripartite Lichen : Involvement of Cyanobacteria and Bacteria in Its Morphogenesis.

is an epiphytic lichen-forming fungus mainly distributed in Western Europe and Macaronesia in well-structured forests with ecological continuity that lack eutrophication. It is considered to be threatened or extinct in many territories in Europe (IUCN). Despite its biological and ecological relevance, studies on this taxon are scarce.

Feeding the Brain: Effect of Nutrients on Cognition, Synaptic Function, and AMPA Receptors.

In recent decades, traditional eating habits have been replaced by a more globalized diet, rich in saturated fatty acids and simple sugars. Extensive evidence shows that these dietary factors contribute to cognitive health impairment as well as increase the incidence of metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes. However, how these nutrients modulate synaptic function and neuroplasticity is poorly understood.

Trebouxia lynnae sp. nov. (Former Trebouxia sp. TR9): Biology and Biogeography of an Epitome Lichen Symbiotic Microalga.

Two microalgal species, Trebouxia jamesii and Trebouxia sp. TR9, were detected as the main photobionts coexisting in the thalli of the lichen Ramalina farinacea. Trebouxia sp.

Biodiversity Patterns and Ecological Preferences of the Photobionts Associated With the Lichen-Forming Genus .

The worldwide, ecologically relevant lichen-forming genus currently includes 41 accepted species, of which the group (PSULgp) and the group (PSAXgp) have received considerable attention over recent decades; however, phycobiont diversity is poorly known in s. lat. Here, we studied the diversity of microalgae associated with 159 thalli collected from 30 locations, including nine spp.

Thallus Growth Stage and Geographic Origin Shape Microalgal Diversity in Ramalina farinacea Lichen Holobionts.

Lichen symbioses are microecosystems hosting many other living organisms besides the two major lichen symbionts (i.e., lichenized fungi [the mycobiont] and green microalgae or cyanobacteria [the photobiont]).

Deciduous and evergreen oaks show contrasting adaptive responses in leaf mass per area across environments.

Increases in leaf mass per area (LMA) are commonly observed in response to environmental stresses and are achieved through increases in leaf thickness and/or leaf density. Here, we investigated how the two underlying components of LMA differ in relation to species native climates and phylogeny, across deciduous and evergreen species. Using a phylogenetic approach, we quantified anatomical, compositional and climatic variables from 40 deciduous and 45 evergreen Quercus species from across the Northern Hemisphere growing in a common garden.

Efficacy and tolerability of perampanel as a first add-on therapy with different anti-seizure drugs.

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy and tolerability of perampanel (PER) when administered as a first add-on therapy to patients with focal epilepsy or idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) taking one other antiseizure drug (ASD).

Methods: This multicentre, retrospective, one-year observational study collected data from patients (≥12 years) who initiated treatment with PER as first add-on therapy. Patients had to be experiencing inadequate seizure control on ASD monotherapy and tried ≤3 ASD monotherapies before initiating PER.

Symbiotic microalgal diversity within lichenicolous lichens and crustose hosts on Iberian Peninsula gypsum biocrusts.

This study analyses the interactions among crustose and lichenicolous lichens growing on gypsum biocrusts. The selected community was composed of Acarospora nodulosa, Acarospora placodiiformis, Diploschistes diacapsis, Rhizocarpon malenconianum and Diplotomma rivas-martinezii. These species represent an optimal system for investigating the strategies used to share phycobionts because Acarospora spp.

Effectiveness and safety of perampanel monotherapy for focal and generalized tonic-clonic seizures: Experience from a national multicenter registry.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness and tolerability of perampanel (PER) monotherapy in routine clinical practice for the treatment of focal onset and generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS).

Methods: This multicenter, retrospective, observational study was conducted in patients aged ≥12 years treated with PER as primary monotherapy or converted to PER monotherapy by progressive reduction of background antiepileptic drugs. Outcomes included retention, responder, and seizure-free rate after 3, 6, and 12 months and tolerability throughout the follow-up.

Exploring molecular evolution of Rubisco in C and CAM Orchidaceae and Bromeliaceae.

Background: The CO-concentrating mechanism associated to Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) alters the catalytic context for Rubisco by increasing CO availability and provides an advantage in particular ecological conditions. We hypothesized about the existence of molecular changes linked to these particular adaptations in CAM Rubisco. We investigated molecular evolution of the Rubisco large (L-) subunit in 78 orchids and 144 bromeliads with C and CAM photosynthetic pathways.

The chloroplast genome of the lichen-symbiont microalga Trebouxia sp. Tr9 (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyta) shows short inverted repeats with a single gene and loss of the rps4 gene, which is encoded by the nucleus.

The Trebouxiophyceae is the class of Chlorophyta algae from which the highest number of chloroplast genome (cpDNA) sequences has been obtained. Several species in this class participate in symbioses with fungi to form lichens. However, no cpDNA has been obtained from any Trebouxia lichen-symbiont microalgae, which are present in approximately half of all lichens.

Clinical outcomes of eslicarbazepine acetate monotherapy for focal-onset seizures: A multicenter audit.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness and tolerability of eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL) monotherapy in routine clinical practice for the treatment of focal-onset seizures.

Methods: Multicenter, retrospective, observational study conducted in patients older than 16 years treated with ESL as first-line monotherapy or converted to ESL monotherapy from polytherapy or other monotherapy. Outcomes included 1-year retention rate, seizure-free rates after 6 and 12 months of monotherapy treatment, and safety/tolerability issues.

Implementation of a functional endpoint to the zebrafish embryotoxicity test to evaluate craniofacial abnormalities.

The inclusion of a read-out to detect functional consequences of craniofacial alterations in the zebrafish embryotoxicity test will allow to evaluate these alterations which are difficult to assess morphologically, and to detect alterations in cranial nerves functions leading to impairment of jaw movements. In this study we have established an ingestion test in zebrafish larvae younger than 120 hpf. To overcome the challenge of evaluating larvae which still do not present independent feeding behaviour, we have tested the ability of 72, 96 or 102 hpf larvae to ingest food mixed with fluorescent microspheres under several conditions (dark/light, with/without shaking) to find the best experimental set-up for the test.

Dynamic evolution of mitochondrial genomes in Trebouxiophyceae, including the first completely assembled mtDNA from a lichen-symbiont microalga (Trebouxia sp. TR9).

Trebouxiophyceae (Chlorophyta) is a species-rich class of green algae with a remarkable morphological and ecological diversity. Currently, there are a few completely sequenced mitochondrial genomes (mtDNA) from diverse Trebouxiophyceae but none from lichen symbionts. Here, we report the mitochondrial genome sequence of Trebouxia sp.

Perampanel in routine clinical use in idiopathic generalized epilepsy: The 12-month GENERAL study.

Objective: To analyze the effectiveness and tolerability of perampanel across different seizure types in routine clinical care of patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE).

Methods: This multicenter, retrospective, 1-year observational study collected data from patient records at 21 specialist epilepsy units in Spain. All patients who were aged ≥12 years, prescribed perampanel before December 2016, and had a confirmed diagnosis of IGE were included.

Molecular and morphological diversity of Trebouxia microalgae in sphaerothallioid Circinaria spp. lichens.

Three vagrant (Circinaria hispida, Circinaria gyrosa, and Circinaria sp. 'paramerae') and one crustose (semi-vagrant, Circinaria sp. 'oromediterranea') lichens growing in very continental areas in the Iberian Peninsula were selected to study the phycobiont diversity.

Leaf anatomy does not explain apparent short-term responses of mesophyll conductance to light and CO in tobacco.

Mesophyll conductance to CO (g ), a key photosynthetic trait, is strongly constrained by leaf anatomy. Leaf anatomical parameters such as cell wall thickness and chloroplast area exposed to the mesophyll intercellular airspace have been demonstrated to determine g in species with diverging phylogeny, leaf structure and ontogeny. However, the potential implication of leaf anatomy, especially chloroplast movement, on the short-term response of g to rapid changes (i.

Retrospective study of perampanel efficacy and tolerability in myoclonic seizures.

Objectives: Perampanel is an antiepileptic drug (AED) approved for add-on treatment of focal seizures (with or without generalization) and primary generalized tonic-clonic (GTC) seizures. Our objective was to explore the effectiveness and tolerability of adjunctive perampanel in patients with drug-resistant myoclonic seizures, after failure of other AEDs.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective, multicenter, observational study.

Effect of lacosamide on depression and anxiety symptoms in patients with focal refractory epilepsy: A prospective multicenter study.

Introduction: Depression is the main psychiatric comorbidity in epilepsy with an estimated prevalence between 20% and 55% and one of the main determinants of quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of lacosamide (LCM) on mood and anxiety symptoms in patients with focal onset seizures (FOS). The secondary objective was to evaluate if the potential modifications in variables were related to seizure control or to the intrinsic effect of LCM.

Correction: Positively selected amino acid replacements within the RuBisCO enzyme of oak trees are associated with ecological adaptations.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

The prevalence of narcolepsy in Catalunya (Spain).

Previous studies have estimated an overall prevalence for narcolepsy between 15 and 70 cases per 100 000 inhabitants. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of narcolepsy in Catalunya (Catalonia), a north-east region of Spain (7 424 754 inhabitants), on 31 December 2014 by identifying all living subjects diagnosed with narcolepsy. First, we identified patients diagnosed by one of the 13 sleep, paediatric or neurological departments that perform tests regularly to diagnose narcolepsy.

Positively selected amino acid replacements within the RuBisCO enzyme of oak trees are associated with ecological adaptations.

Phylogenetic analysis by maximum likelihood (PAML) has become the standard approach to study positive selection at the molecular level, but other methods may provide complementary ways to identify amino acid replacements associated with particular conditions. Here, we compare results of the decision tree (DT) model method with ones of PAML using the key photosynthetic enzyme RuBisCO as a model system to study molecular adaptation to particular ecological conditions in oaks (Quercus). We sequenced the chloroplast rbcL gene encoding RuBisCO large subunit in 158 Quercus species, covering about a third of the global genus diversity.

Outcome of cancer-related seizures in patients treated with lacosamide.

Objectives: Lacosamide is an antiepileptic drug (AED), which has proven to be effective to control seizures, including acute conditions such as status epilepticus. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical experience with lacosamide in neuro-oncological patients.

Materials And Methods: Multicenter retrospective study in patients with cancer-related seizures, who received lacosamide as an add-on therapy.

Coordination between leaf CO diffusion and Rubisco properties allows maximizing photosynthetic efficiency in Limonium species.

High photosynthetic efficiency intrinsically demands tight coordination between traits related to CO diffusion capacity and leaf biochemistry. Although this coordination constitutes the basis of existing mathematical models of leaf photosynthesis, it has been barely explored among closely related species, which could reveal rapid adaptation clues in the recent past. With this aim, we characterized the photosynthetic capacity of 12 species of Limonium, possessing contrasting Rubisco catalytic properties, grown under optimal (WW) and extreme drought conditions (WD).

Efficacy and safety of eslicarbazepine-acetate in elderly patients with focal epilepsy: Case series.

Purpose: Eslicarbazepine-acetate (ESL) is a third generation antiepileptic drug licensed as adjunctive therapy in adults with focal seizures. Efficacy and safety of ESL have been established in real-life setting. However, data about outcomes in elderly patients are scarce.