Publications by authors named "Morano A"

Unlabelled: Bacteria have evolved diverse strategies to ensure survival under nutrient-limited conditions, where rapid energy generation is not achievable. Here, we performed a transposon insertion site sequencing loss-of-function screen to identify genes that promote pathogen fitness in stationary phase. We discovered that the aintenance of ipid symmetry (Mla) pathway, which is crucial for transferring phospholipids from the outer to the inner membrane, is critical for stationary phase fitness.

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Dynamins, or dynamin-related proteins (DRPs), are large mechano-sensitive GTPases that mediate membrane dynamics or organellar fission/fusion events. encodes three dynamin-like proteins whose functions are poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that one of these dynamin-related proteins, PfDyn2, is required to divide both the apicoplast and the mitochondrion, a striking divergence from the biology of related parasites.

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Bacteria have evolved diverse strategies to ensure survival under nutrient-limited conditions, where rapid energy generation is not achievable. Here, we performed a transposon insertion site sequencing loss-of-function screen to identify genes that promote the pathogen's fitness in stationary phase. We discovered that the Mla (maintenance of lipid asymmetry) pathway, which is crucial for transferring phospholipids from the outer to the inner membrane, is critical for stationary phase fitness.

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Objective: Diagnosing autoimmune limbic encephalitis (ALE) in adults with new-onset seizures can be challenging, especially when seizures represent the predominant manifestation and MRI findings are not straightforward. By comparison with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis (MTLE-HS), this study aimed to identify ictal electro-clinical features that might help clinicians recognize ALE-related seizures.

Methods: This retrospective, multi-centre study analysed the ictal semiology and EEG correlate of 116 video-EEG-captured seizures in 40 ALE patients and 45 ones recorded in 21 MTLE-HS subjects.

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The precise mode of action of ganaplacide (KAF156), a phase III antimalarial candidate, remains elusive. Here we employ omics-based methods with the closely related chemical analog, GNF179, to search for potential targets. Ranking potential targets derived from chemical genetics and proteomic affinity chromatography methodologies identifies , or Synthetic Enhancement of YOP1, which is predicted to encode an essential dynamin-like GTPase implicated in homotypic fusion of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membranes.

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Article Synopsis
  • Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is a severe epilepsy affecting adults and this study explores long-term cognitive and adaptive behavior outcomes in adults with LGS, an area not extensively studied before.
  • *The study involved 38 adults with LGS, finding that all participants had low adaptive behavior scores, especially in daily living skills and socialization, with younger diagnosis age linked to worse outcomes.
  • *Results showed specific associations between clinical factors (like seizure frequency and EEG abnormalities) with lower adaptive behavior scores, and treatment with cannabidiol was linked to better outcomes compared to benzodiazepines.
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Introduction: Post-stroke epilepsy (PSE) is one of the most common causes of acquired epilepsy. Nevertheless, there is limited evidence regarding the clinical profile of antiseizure medications (ASMs) in PSE. This study aims to evaluate the 12-month effectiveness and tolerability of perampanel (PER) used as only add-on treatment in patients with PSE in a real-world setting.

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Asexual replication of Plasmodium falciparum occurs via schizogony, wherein 16-36 daughter cells are produced within the parasite during one semi-synchronized cytokinetic event. Schizogony requires a divergent contractile ring structure known as the basal complex. Our lab has previously identified PfMyoJ (PF3D7_1229800) and PfSLACR (PF3D7_0214700) as basal complex proteins recruited midway through segmentation.

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  • The study aimed to identify factors that predict seizure recurrence in women of childbearing age with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) who switched from valproate (VPA) to alternative antiseizure medications (ASMs) like levetiracetam (LEV) and lamotrigine (LTG).
  • Researchers evaluated data from 426 women across 16 epilepsy centers, finding that common reasons for switching medications included concerns about teratogenicity and that around a quarter of the women experienced worsening or recurrence of seizures within 12 and 24 months.
  • The analysis revealed that LEV was associated with a lower risk of seizure recurrence or worsening compared to LTG, providing potential guidance for treatment options after VPA discontinuation.
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Unlabelled: Dynamins, or dynamin-related proteins (DRPs), are large mechano-sensitive GTPases mediating membrane dynamics or organellar fission/fusion events. encodes three dynamin-like proteins whose functions are poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that PfDyn2 mediates both apicoplast and mitochondrial fission.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study developed a frailty index (FI) for patients with epilepsy (PwE) to better understand their health status and identify risk factors, finding it significantly related to demographics and clinical features.
  • Data from 153 patients revealed that factors such as age, gender, body mass index, and use of specific antiseizure medications correlate with frailty levels, which may reflect increased vulnerability to adverse outcomes.
  • The findings indicate that frailty in PwE is closely associated with psychological distress and quality of life, pointing to the need for integrated care that addresses both medical and psychosocial aspects of epilepsy management.
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Among the most prevalent neurological disorders, epilepsy affects about 1% of the population worldwide. We previously found, using human epileptic tissues, that GABAergic neurotransmission impairment is a key mechanism that drives the pathological phenomena that ultimately lead to generation and recurrence of seizures. Using both a "microtransplantation technique" and synaptosomes preparations from drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsies (TLEs), we used the technique of two-electrode voltage clamp to record GABA-evoked currents, focusing selectively on the synaptic "fast inhibition" mediated by low-affinity GABA receptors.

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Objective: To analyze the longitudinal relationship between overweight and hypertension in school children.

Methods: This cohort study enrolled children 6-8 years of age who were then prospectively followed up over a 24 months period with repeat assessments performed at an interval of 11-13 months. Information on participation in physical education classes in school, sports practice outside of school, and economic status were obtained through questionnaires answered by parents/guardians.

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Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy is an idiopathic generalized epilepsy syndrome associated with photosensitivity in approximately 30-40% of cases. Microstates consist of a brief period of time during which the topography of the whole resting-state electroencephalography signal is characterized by a specific configuration. Previous neurophysiological and neuroimaging studies have suggested that Microstate B may represent activity within the visual network.

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Objective: This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of brivaracetam (BRV) according to baseline seizure frequency and past treatment history in subjects with focal epilepsy who were included in the Brivaracetam Add-On First Italian Network Study (BRIVAFIRST).

Methods: BRIVAFIRST was a 12-month retrospective, multicenter study including adults prescribed adjunctive BRV. Study outcomes included sustained seizure response (SSR), sustained seizure freedom (SSF), and the rates of treatment discontinuation and adverse events (AEs).

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Introduction: Drug management of epilepsy in the elderly presents unique but data on this population are scarce. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and tolerability of perampanel (PER) used as only add-on to a background anti-seizure medication (ASM) in the elderly in a real-world setting.

Methods: We performed a subgroup analysis of patients aged ≥65 years included in a previous 12-month multicenter study on adults.

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Objective: Epilepsy with generalized tonic-clonic seizures alone (GTCA) is a common but poorly characterized idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) syndrome. Hence, we investigated electroclinical features, seizure outcome, and antiseizure medication (ASM) withdrawal in a large cohort of GTCA patients.

Methods: In this multicenter retrospective study, GTCA patients defined according to the diagnostic criteria of the International League Against Epilepsy (2022) were included.

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Importance: After the recent limitations to prescribing valproate, many studies have highlighted the challenging management of female patients of reproductive age with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE). However, no study, to the authors' knowledge, has addressed the comparative effectiveness of alternative antiseizure medications (ASMs) in these patients.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness and safety of levetiracetam and lamotrigine as initial monotherapy in female patients of childbearing age with IGE.

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Objectives: Different pathophysiologic mechanisms, especially involving astrocytes, could contribute to tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). We assessed neurodegeneration and astrocytopathy plasma biomarkers in adult patients with TSC to define TSC biomarker profile and investigate clinical-radiologic correlations.

Methods: Patients with TSC aged 15 years or older followed at Policlinico "Umberto I" of Rome were consecutively enrolled (July 2021-June 2022).

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Musicogenic epilepsy (ME), a peculiar form of reflex epilepsy, represents a neurological rarity and yet another demonstration of the extraordinary power of music on the human brain. Despite the heterogeneity of the reported musical triggers, the patients' emotional response to music is thought to play a crucial role in provoking seizures. Accordingly, the mesial temporal structures (especially of the non-dominant hemisphere) appear most involved in seizure generation, although a more complex fronto-temporal epileptogenic network was documented in some cases.

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During its asexual blood stage, P. falciparum replicates via schizogony, wherein dozens of daughter cells are formed within a single parent. The basal complex, a contractile ring that separates daughter cells, is critical for schizogony.

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Here we describe the second ever-reported case of familial anti-leucine-rich glioma-inactivated protein 1 (LGI1) limbic encephalitis (LE). Two elderly Caucasian sisters presented with psychiatric symptoms and cognitive impairment, followed by faciobrachial dystonic seizures. Anti-LGI1 antibodies were detected in their serum.

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Although a striking female preponderance has been consistently reported in epilepsy with eyelid myoclonia (EEM), no study has specifically explored the variability of clinical presentation according to sex in this syndrome. Here, we aimed to investigate sex-specific electroclinical differences and prognostic determinants in EEM. Data from 267 EEM patients were retrospectively analyzed by the EEM Study Group, and a dedicated multivariable logistic regression analysis was developed separately for each sex.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study explores the long-term effects of COVID-19 on young adults, focusing on heart rate variability (HRV) as a way to assess the autonomic nervous system's (ANS) recovery after mild to moderate infection.
  • - Participants who had recovered from COVID-19 showed a decrease in sympathetic nervous system activity and an increase in parasympathetic nervous system activity during the follow-up assessment six weeks post-immunization, regardless of physical activity levels.
  • - Overall, the findings suggest that there is a recovery of ANS function in young adults after a COVID-19 infection, but this recovery is independent of changes in physical activity between the initial assessment and follow-up.
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Variants of SEMA6B have been identified in an increasing number of patients, often presenting with progressive myoclonus epilepsy (PME), and to lesser extent developmental encephalopathy, with or without epilepsy. The exon 17 is mainly involved, with truncating mutations causing the production of aberrant proteins with toxic gain of function. Herein, we describe three adjunctive patients carrying de novo truncating SEMA6B variants in this exon (c.

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