Epilepsia
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To compare mortality and subsequent unprovoked seizure risk in a population-based study of acute symptomatic seizure and first unprovoked seizure due to static brain lesions. ⋯ The prognosis of first acute symptomatic seizures differs from that of first unprovoked seizure when the etiology is stroke, TBI, and CNS infection. Acute symptomatic seizures have a higher early mortality and a lower risk for subsequent unprovoked seizure. These differences argue against the inclusion of acute symptomatic seizures as epilepsy.
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To increase understanding of the subjective symptomatology of seizure experiences and improve differential diagnosis by studying the seizure metaphors used by patients with (psychogenic) nonepileptic seizures (NES) and epilepsy. ⋯ Patients with epilepsy and PNES have different preferences in the metaphoric conceptualization of their seizures. Epileptic seizures are described as a more external, self-directed entity than PNES, which are depicted as a state or place patients go through. The differentiating value of metaphoric conceptualizations suggests that metaphor preference could form the basis of future diagnostic questionnaires or other diagnostic tools.
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To determine whether muscimol delivered epidurally or into the subarachnoid space can prevent and/or terminate acetylcholine (Ach)-induced focal neocortical seizures at concentrations not affecting behavior and background electroencephalography (EEG) activity. ⋯ The results of this study suggest that muscimol is a viable candidate for the transmeningeal pharmacotherapy of intractable focal epilepsy.
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To analyze cellular mechanisms of limbic-seizure suppression, the response to pilocarpine-induced seizures was investigated in cortex and thalamus, comparing epilepsy-resistant rats Proechimys guyannensis with Wistar rats. ⋯ At variance with laboratory rats, pilocarpine-induced protracted seizures elicit in Proechimys limited neuronal death, and marked and long-lasting Fos induction in excitatory and inhibitory cortical and thalamic cell subsets. The findings implicate intrathalamic and intracortical regulation, and circuits linking thalamus and cortex in limbic seizure suppression leading to epilepsy resistance.
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In the present study we decided to investigate whether physical exercise protects against the electrographic, oxidative, and neurochemical alterations induced by subthreshold to severe convulsive doses of pentyltetrazole (PTZ). ⋯ These data suggest that effective protection of selected targets for free radical damage, such as Na(+), K(+)-ATPase, elicited by physical training protects against the increase of neuronal excitability and oxidative damage induced by PTZ.