β-Aminobutyric acid promotes stress tolerance, physiological adjustments, as well as broad epigenetic changes at DNA and RNA nucleobases in field elms (Ulmus minor).

Background: β-Aminobutyric acid (BABA) has been successfully used to prime stress resistance in numerous plant species; however, its effectiveness in forest trees has been poorly explored thus far. This study aimed to investigate the influence of BABA on morphological, physiological, and epigenetic parameters in field elms under various growth conditions. Epigenetic changes were assessed in both DNA and RNA through the use of reversed-phase ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled with sensitive mass spectrometry.

Attitudes toward persons with epilepsy as friends: Results of a factorial survey.

Objective: Discrimination against persons with epilepsy (PWEs) may persist. The aim of this study was to examine whether epilepsy is an obstacle to desired friendship.

Methods: A factorial survey (vignettes), which is less biased by social desirability, was applied to PWEs, their relatives, and lay persons.

Antiseizure medication and perceived "fair" cost allocation: A factorial survey among neurologists, persons with epilepsy, their relatives, and a control group.

Objective: Because resources are limited in modern health care systems, the decision on the allocation of expensive drugs can be supported by a public consent. This study examines how various factors influence subjectively perceived "fair" pricing of antiseizure medication (ASM) among four groups including physicians, persons with epilepsy (PWEs), their relatives, and a control group.

Methods: We conducted a factorial survey.

Ex vivo radiosensitivity is increased in non-cancer patients taking valproate.

Background: Valproate (VPA) is a commonly prescribed antiepileptic drug for patients experiencing epileptic seizures due to brain tumors. VPA increases radiation sensitivity in various tumor cells in vitro due to complex mechanisms. This could make tumors more vulnerable to ionizing radiation or overcome radioresistance.

Switching the manufacturer of antiepileptic drugs is associated with higher risk of seizures: A nationwide study of prescription data in Germany.

Objective: Despite bioequivalence, the exchangeability of antiepileptic drugs in clinical settings is disputed. Therefore, we investigated the risk for recurrent seizures after switching the manufacturer of the same drug in a large German cohort.

Methods: Anonymous patient data from practice neurologists throughout Germany between 2011 and 2016 were collected using the IMS Disease Analyzer database (QuintilesIMS, Frankfurt, Germany).

Coregistrating magnetic source and magnetic resonance imaging for epilepsy surgery in focal cortical dysplasia.

Background: Epilepsy surgery for focal cortical dysplasia type II (FCD II) offers good chances for seizure freedom, but remains a challenge with respect to lesion detection, defining the epileptogenic zone and the optimal resection strategy. Integrating results from magnetic source imaging from magnetoencephalography (MEG) with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including MRI postprocessing may be useful for optimizing these goals.

Methods: We here present data from 21 adult FCD II patients, investigated during a 10 year period and evaluated including magnetic source imaging.

Long-term outcome after epilepsy surgery in older adults.

Purpose: The incidence of epilepsy in older adults is growing, as does the incidence of comorbidities. Therefore, when it comes to epilepsy surgery in medically intractable epilepsy, age is often seen as a limiting factor. To investigate the outcome after epilepsy surgery in a population of older adults, we compared the benefit for patients aged 50-59 years with those aged 60 years and older in respect of efficacy and safety.

Psychosocial outcome in epilepsy after extratemporal surgery.

Objective: Only limited data exist on psychosocial long-term outcome after epilepsy surgery in patients with extratemporal epilepsy. The aim of this study was to investigate psychosocial outcome after extratemporal epilepsy surgery and to assess factors predicting favorable outcome.

Method: Sixty-five out of 104 eligible patients who had undergone extratemporal epilepsy surgery at our epilepsy center between 1990 and 2015 (mean age: 42.

Nonadherence to antiepileptic drugs in Germany: A retrospective, population-based study.

Objective: To assess the effect of patient and drug characteristics on medication adherence in people with epilepsy (PWE) in a large cohort representative of the German population.

Methods: Information was obtained from the Disease Analyzer database that collects anonymous demographic and medical data from practice computer systems throughout Germany. From 2010 to 2013, adult PWE were retrospectively analyzed regarding demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and treatment with antiepileptic drugs (AED).

3T-MRI in patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsy and a vagus nerve stimulator: a pilot study.

Purpose: For safe 3T-MRI of patients with VNS (vagus nerve stimulator), specific conditions are mandatory. However, application of these conditions can lead to a loss of image quality. In this work, we evaluated the diagnostic value of 3T-MRI in VNS patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsy.

7T MRI features in control human hippocampus and hippocampal sclerosis: an ex vivo study with histologic correlations.

Objective: Hippocampal sclerosis (HS) is the major structural brain lesion in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). However, its internal anatomic structure remains difficult to recognize at 1.5 or 3 Tesla (T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which allows neither identification of specific pathology patterns nor their proposed value to predict postsurgical outcome, cognitive impairment, or underlying etiologies.

Automatic seizure detection in long-term scalp EEG using an adaptive thresholding technique: a validation study for clinical routine.

Objective: In a previous study we proposed a robust method for automatic seizure detection in scalp EEG recordings. The goal of the current study was to validate an improved algorithm in a much larger group of patients in order to show its general applicability in clinical routine.

Methods: For the detection of seizures we developed an algorithm based on Short Time Fourier Transform, calculating the integrated power in the frequency band 2.

Computerized cognitive testing in epilepsy (CCTE): a new method for cognitive screening.

Purpose: Optimized therapy in epilepsy should include individual care for cognitive functions. Here we introduce a computerized screening instrument, called "Computerized Cognitive Testing in Epilepsy" (CCTE), which allows for time-efficient repetitive assessment of the patient's cognitive profile regarding the domains of memory and attention, which are frequently impaired due to side effects of antiepileptic medication.

Methods: The CCTE battery takes 30min and covers tasks of verbal and figural memory, cognitive speed, attention and working memory.

Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (t-VNS) in pharmacoresistant epilepsies: a proof of concept trial.

To elucidate, in a pilot-study, whether noninvasive transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (t-VNS) is a safe and tolerable alternative treatment option in pharmacoresistant epilepsy. t-VNS was applied to 10 patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsies. Stimulation via the auricular branch of the vagus nerve of the left tragus was delivered three times per day for 9 months.

Prevalence, utilization, and costs of antiepileptic drugs for epilepsy in Germany--a nationwide population-based study in children and adults.

Nationwide analyses of drug use can provide a prevalence estimate of the underlying disease and can help in understanding the characteristics of treatment. This study aimed for such analyses regarding the utilization of antiepileptic drugs (AED) for epilepsy in Germany. In 2009, all 4,115,705 AED prescriptions of all German patients with statutory health insurance (70,011,508 persons) were retrospectively analyzed.

18Fluoroethyl-L-tyrosine-PET in long-term epilepsy associated glioneuronal tumors.

Purpose: Long-term epilepsy associated tumors (LEATs) are a frequent cause of drug-resistant partial epilepsy. A reliable tumor diagnosis has an important impact on therapeutic strategies and prognosis in patients with epilepsy, but often is difficult by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) only. Herein we analyzed a large LEAT cohort investigated by 18fluoroethyl-L-tyrosine-positron emission tomography (FET-PET).

Optimal applicator placement in hepatic radiofrequency ablation on the basis of rare data.

In this paper, a numerical procedure to determine an optimal applicator placement for hepatic radiofrequency ablation incorporating uncertain material parameters is presented. The main focus is set on the treatment of subjective and rare data-based information. For this purpose, we employ the theory of fuzzy sets and model uncertain parameters as fuzzy quantities.

Subcutaneous interferon-beta injections in patients with multiple sclerosis initiate inflammatory skin reactions by local chemokine induction.

Subcutaneous Interferon-beta (IFN-beta) injections for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) frequently cause inflammatory injection site reactions. To study the role of chemokines we obtained skin biopsies from 7 MS patients 24 h after injection. At the IFN-beta but not at the contralateral placebo injection sites, we observed strong IP-10/CXCL10 and moderate MCP-1/CCL2 expression associated with extensive perivascular, highly CXCR3-positive T cell and macrophage infiltrates.

Effects of polyclonal immunoglobulins and other immunomodulatory agents on microglial phagocytosis of apoptotic inflammatory T-cells.

T-cell apoptosis in the CNS is an effective mechanism for the noninflammatory resolution of autoimmune T-cell infiltrates. Ingestion of apoptotic leukocytes by microglia results in an efficient clearance of the inflammatory infiltrate, followed by a profound downregulation of proinflammatory phagocyte immune functions. The effects of different immunomodulatory agents on Lewis rat microglial phagocytosis of apoptotic autologous thymocytes or myelin-basic protein (MBP)-specific, encephalitogenic T-cells were investigated using a standardized, light microscopical in vitro phagocytosis assay.