Prognosis and management of acute symptomatic seizures: a prospective, multicenter, observational study.

Background: Acute symptomatic epileptic seizures are frequently seen in neurocritical care. To prevent subsequent unprovoked seizures, long-term treatments with antiseizure medications are often initiated although supporting evidence is lacking. This study aimed at prospectively assessing the risk of unprovoked seizure relapse with respect to the use of antiseizure medications.

Modeling Binaural Unmasking of Speech Using a Blind Binaural Processing Stage.

The equalization cancellation model is often used to predict the binaural masking level difference. Previously its application to speech in noise has required separate knowledge about the speech and noise signals to maximize the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Here, a novel, equalization cancellation model is introduced that can use the mixed signals.

Dysregulated expression of neuregulin-1 by cortical pyramidal neurons disrupts synaptic plasticity.

Neuregulin-1 (NRG1) gene variants are associated with increased genetic risk for schizophrenia. It is unclear whether risk haplotypes cause elevated or decreased expression of NRG1 in the brains of schizophrenia patients, given that both findings have been reported from autopsy studies. To study NRG1 functions in vivo, we generated mouse mutants with reduced and elevated NRG1 levels and analyzed the impact on cortical functions.

Use of oxcarbazepine for treatment of refractory status epilepticus.

Purpose: Oxcarbazepine (OXC) is an effective anticonvulsant used for treatment of partial and secondarily generalized seizures. However, there is almost no data regarding its effectiveness and tolerability when used for treatment of status epilepticus (SE).

Methods: We retrospectively identified all patients who received OXC for treatment of SE in our hospital between July 2008 and December 2010 in our hospital and analyzed all available data.

Intravenous lacosamide or phenytoin for treatment of refractory status epilepticus.

Objectives: To compare intravenous phenytoin (PHT) and intravenous lacosamide (LCM) for treatment of status epilepticus after failure of the first and second drug.

Methods: We retrospectively identified patients from a large community hospital in northern Germany who had been diagnosed with SE between August 2008 and December 2010. Patients who had failed to respond to the first two drugs were selected for this analysis.