癫痫患者额叶及颞叶脑组织A型GABA受体α_1亚型基因表达定量研究

为研究A型GABA受体α1亚型(GABRA1)在癫痫患者病灶额叶及颞叶脑组织中的表达变化与癫痫发病机制的关系,采用TaqMan探针荧光定量PCR检测GABRA1在癫痫患者病灶额叶和颞叶脑组织及对照组额叶和颞叶脑组织中的表达量的差异.结果表明,对照组及癫痫患者额叶GABRA1平均相对表达强度为3.785±1.444和4.399±2.89,两者间无显著差异(P>0.05).对照组颞叶脑组织中GABRA1平均表达量是癫痫患者的4.5倍,对照组及癫痫患者颞叶GABRA1平均相对表达强度为26.802±8.983和5.986±5.07,结果具有统计学意义(P<0.05).提示,难治性癫痫患者GABRA1表达在不同组织中的改变并非单一性改变,GABRA1表达量的改变导致癫痫的发生存在组织特异性;GABRA1在颞叶脑组织中的表达减少与癫痫的发生,尤其是难治性癫痫的发生有密切的关系,可能是难治性癫痫致病的因素之一.该研究结果为进一步研究癫痫的发病机制及防治提供了科学依据.     

MicroRNA-134/CREB/pCREB通路在癫痫中的表达及意义

目的探讨miR-134、CREB、pCREB在癫痫大鼠海马及难治性癫痫患者颞叶脑组织中的表达及意义。方法难治性癫痫患者及非癫痫对照组颞叶组织、氯化锂-匹罗卡品癫痫大鼠及空白对照组海马组织中,应用实时荧光定量PCR技术检测microRNA-134（miR-134）的表达,用Western blot方法检测CREB及p CREB的表达,用免疫组织化学方法检测人脑颞叶皮质及大鼠海马区CREB、p CREB的表达。结果与对照组相比miR-134表达在难治性癫痫患者中明显降低（P〈0.05）,在癫痫模型组中点燃后3、7、14、60 d明显降低（P〈0.05）,1 d与30 d表达降低较对照组差异无显著性（P〉0.05）;癫痫模型组CREB在3、7、14、60 d时间点明显升高（P〈0.05）、pCREB各时间点表达均高于空白对照组（P〈0.05）。结论难治性癫痫患者颞叶皮质及癫痫动物海马中miR-134表达下降,CREB、pCREB表达升高,提示其可能在癫痫发生发展机制中起重要作用。     

癫痫患者额叶及颞叶脑组织A型GABA受体α1亚型基因表达定量研究

为研究A型GABA受体α₁亚型(GABRA1)在癫痫患者病灶额叶及颞叶脑组织中的表达变化与癫痫发病机制的关系, 采用TaqMan探针荧光定量PCR检测GABRA1在癫痫患者病灶额叶和颞叶脑组织及对照组额叶和颞叶脑组织中的表达量的差异. 结果表明, 对照组及癫痫患者额叶GABRA1平均相对表达强度为3.785±1.444和4.399±2.89, 两者间无显著差异(P>0.05). 对照组颞叶脑组织中GABRA1平均表达量是癫痫患者的4.5倍, 对照组及癫痫患者颞叶GABRA1平均相对表达强度为26.802± 8.983和5.986±5.07, 结果具有统计学意义(P<0.05). 提示, 难治性癫痫患者GABRA1表达在不同组织中的改变并非单一性改变, GABRA1表达量的改变导致癫痫的发生存在组织特异性; GABRA1在颞叶脑组织中的表达减少与癫痫的发生, 尤其是难治性癫痫的发生有密切的关系, 可能是难治性癫痫致病的因素之一. 该研究结果为进一步研究癫痫的发病机制及防治提供了科学依据.     

伴海马硬化的颞叶癫痫患者海马组织内BDNF表达变化

目的：研究伴海马硬化的难治性颞叶癫痫（TLE）患者海马组织内脑源性神经营养因子（brain derivedneurotrophic factor,BDNF）的表达变化,探讨其在难治性颞叶癫痫发病机制中的作用。方法：采集5例伴海马硬化的难治性TLE患者手术中切除的海马组织,用逆转录-聚合酶链反应（RT—PCR）法检测BDNFmRNA表达,并与3例非海马硬化TLE患者对照。结果：与非海马硬化组比较,伴海马硬化的难治性TLE患者海马组织中的BDNFmRNA表达明显增加（P〈0．01）。结论：伴海马硬化的难治性TLE患者海马组织中BDNFmRNA表达表达增高,可能在海马硬化和难治性颞叶癫痫发生、发展中具有重要作用。     

伴海马硬化的颞叶癫痫患者海马组织内BDNF 表达变化

目的:研究伴海马硬化的难治性颞叶癫痫(TLE)患者海马组织内脑源性神经营养因子(brain derived neurotrophic factor,BDNF)的表达变化,探讨其在难治性颞叶癫痫发病机制中的作用。方法:采集5例伴海马硬化的难治性TLE患者手术中切除的海马组织,用逆转录-聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)法检测BDNF mRNA表达,并与3例非海马硬化TLE患者对照。结果:与非海马硬化组比较,伴海马硬化的难治性TLE患者海马组织中的BDNF mRNA表达明显增加(P<0.01)。结论:伴海马硬化的难治性TLE患者海马组织中BDNF mRNA表达表达增高,可能在海马硬化和难治性颞叶癫痫发生、发展中具有重要作用。     

MicroRNA与癫痫的研究进展

癫痫是大脑神经元高度同步化异常放电所导致的短暂的大脑功能障碍的一种慢性疾病。癫痫的发病原因十分复杂,目前主要治疗方式是药物治疗,但仍然有30%左右的难治性癫痫患者依靠药物治疗未能控制癫痫发作,因此从分子角度研究癫痫的发病机制及治疗是近年来癫痫研究的热点。微小RNA(miRNA)在癫痫患者及癫痫动物模型海马组织中存在差异性表达,通过抑制miRNA的差异表达在一定程度上可以缓解癫痫的症状,这为癫痫的治疗开辟了新的途径和方向。因此随着miRNA与癫痫相关性研究深度的不断加深,有望能够为癫痫的诊断及治疗提供一个全新的思路。     

肠道微生态在儿童难治性癫痫发病及治疗中的研究进展CSCD

儿童难治性癫痫是一种常见的儿科神经系统疾病。许多临床前及临床证据表明儿童难治性癫痫患者体内优势菌群与健康人相比存在显著差异;抗癫痫干预后难治性癫痫儿童体内肠道菌群分布发生改变;动物粪菌移植实验进一步证实肠道菌群的改变与癫痫发病及抗癫痫疗效存在因果关系。临床上益生菌的添加可能增强抗癫痫疗效,抗生素的使用往往也影响临床的抗癫痫疗效。肠道微生态可能通过内源性机制(如改变神经递质含量等)及外源性机制(如感染和损伤等)改变儿童难治性癫痫患者的代谢、遗传、免疫和感染等。本综述通过总结近年来国内外肠道微生态与儿童癫痫发病和抗癫痫效果的相关研究,阐述肠道微生态在儿童癫痫发病及治疗中的作用并对其可能的作用机制进行探讨。     

癫痫与海马结构的改变

癫痫作为一种严重危害人类健康的常见病、多发病,其致病机理至今尚未阐明.30-60%的患者药物治疗无效,称"难治性癫痫".随着现代医学的发展,外科手术的开展对于癫痫患者治疗也没有满意的效果.这就对于我们探求癫痫患者病灶的起源有了更深层次的要求.大量动物实验表明,海马作为中枢神经系统的重要结构不仅同学习、记忆、情绪等密切相关,还同癫痫的发生发展有着重要的联系.本文就大脑可塑性与癫痫的关系进行综述.     

长程颅内电极埋藏监测致痫灶治疗难治性癫痫的手术护理模式研究

目的:研究长程颅内电极埋藏监测致痫灶治疗难治性癫痫的手术护理模式 方法:回顾性总结120例颅内电极埋藏监测致痫灶治疗难治性癫痫的手术配合过程.结果:认为手术室护士全面了解手术过程,将患者存在的心理危机迅速识别出来,手术期间实施有效的心理护理和安全防护,熟练掌握手术步骤,熟悉各种精密仪器的作用原理和使用,是手术顺利进行的重要保证.结论:在癫痫患者控制发作及提高生活质量间找到最佳结合点,可使患者得到有效治疗和护理.     

难治性癫痫婴幼儿肠道菌群的变化

目的探讨难治性癫痫婴幼儿的肠道菌群特点。方法研究纳入年龄1~3岁的确诊难治性癫痫婴幼儿14例,同时匹配同年龄段健康婴幼儿30例作为对照。留取受试者的粪便标本,提取总DNA并扩增,对16S rRNA基因进行高通量测序,对测序结果进行生物学分析。结果两组婴幼儿样本门水平的优势菌群主要有厚壁菌、拟杆菌、变形菌和放线菌四类,癫痫组婴幼儿拟杆菌和放线菌所占比例明显低于健康组(28.60%vs 53.19%,2.58%vs 8.50%),而厚壁菌和变形菌的比例则明显高于健康组(43.19%vs 34.00%,24.87%vs 3.09%)。癫痫组婴幼儿Cronobacter属和Erysipelatoclostridium属的比例高于健康组(23.59%vs 0.86%,9.50%vs 0.76%),而拟杆菌和双歧杆菌的比例明显低于健康组(19.44%vs 42.84%,1.04%vs 7.85%)。结论婴幼儿难治性癫痫存在肠道微生态失衡,尚需进一步研究肠道菌群在难治性癫痫发病中的作用。     

Association of refractory complex partial seizures with a polymorphism of ApoE genotype

Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is a constituent of many types of lipoproteins that play a role in metabolism of cholesterol and lipids in the body as well as in the brain. ApoE is synthesised in astrocytes and microglia and enter to neurons through LDL, LRP and VLDL receptors. Recently it was shown that ApoE is also produced in neurons. ApoE has a role in modulating learning and memory, structural plasticity, mobilization of cholesterol in repair, growth and maintenance of myelin and neuronal membranes during development and aging, and cell death after ischemic, convulsive, or other type of brain injury. The aim of this research was to investigate the possible association of ApoE gene polymorphism with the development of resistance to pharmacological therapy in patients with partial complex seizures with or without secondary generalization. In this prospective matched-pair controlled study, 60 patients with cryptogenic epilepsy with complex partial seizures, with or without secondary generalization, who have been suffering for five or more years, were studied. The first group comprised 30 patients refractory to the current therapy, while the second group consisted of patients with well-controlled seizures. The refractory and non-refractory groups of patients differed significantly in their phenotypes. Phenotype E3/4 was six times more frequent in refractory group than among non-refractory group. The lack of response was shown to be significantly associated with the presence of epsilon4 allele. This study provided evidence that the presence of epsilon4 allele is more often associated with a lack of response to current antiepileptic drugs as compared to epsilon2 and epsilon3 alleles.     

Neuronal and Glial Expression of the Multidrug Resistance Gene Product in an Experimental Epilepsy Model

1. Failure of anticonvulsive drugs to prevent seizures is a common complication of epilepsy treatment known as drug-refractory epilepsy but their causes are not well understood. It is hypothesized that the multidrug resistance P-glycoprotein (Pgp-170), the product of the MDR-1 gene that is normally expressed in several excretory tissues including the blood brain barrier, may be participating in the refractory epilepsy. 2. Using two monoclonal antibodies against Pgp-170, we investigated the expression and cellular distribution of this protein in the rat brain during experimentally induced epilepsy. Repeated seizures were induced in male Wistar rats by daily administration of 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MP) 45 mg/kg i.p. for either 4 days (MP-4) or 7 days (MP-7). Control rats received an equivalent volume of vehicle. One day after the last injection, rats were sacrificed and brains were processed for immunohistochemistry for Pgp-170. As it was previously described, Pgp-170 immunostaining was observed in some brain capillary endothelial cells of animals from control group. 3. Increased Pgp-170 immunoreactivity was detected in MP-treated animals. Besides the Pgp-170 expressed in blood vessels, neuronal, and glial immunostaining was detected in hippocampus, striatum, and cerebral cortex of MP-treated rats. Pgp-170 immunolabeled neurons and glial cells were observed in a nonhomogeneous distribution. MP-4 animals presented a very prominent Pgp-170 immunostaining in the capillary endothelium, surrounding astrocytes and some neighboring neurons while MP-7 group showed increased neuronal labeling. 4. Our results demonstrate a selective increase in Pgp-170 immunoreactivity in the brain capillary endothelial cells, astrocytes, and neurons during repetitive MP-induced seizures. 5. The role for this Pgp-170 overexpression in endothelium and astrocytes as a clearance mechanism in the refractory epilepsy, and the consequences of neuronal Pgp-170 expression remain to be disclosed.     

Clinical chemistry of common apolipoprotein E isoforms

Apolipoprotein E plays a central role in clearance of lipoprotein remnants by serving as a ligand for low-density lipoprotein and apolipoprotein E receptors. Three common alleles (apolipoprotein E₂, E₃ and E₄) give rise to six phenotypes. Apolipoprotein E₃ is the ancestral form. Common apolipoprotein E isoforms derive from nucleotide substitutions in codons 112 and 158. Resulting cysteine-arginine substitutions cause differences in: affinities for low-density lipoprotein and apolipoprotein E receptors, low-density lipoprotein receptor activities, distribution of apolipoprotein E among lipoproteins, low-density lipoprotein formation rate, and cholesterol absorption. Accompanying changes in triglycerides, cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein may promote atherosclerosis development. Over 90% of patients with familial dysbetalipoproteinaemia have apolipoprotein E₂/E₂. Apolipoprotein E₄ may promote atherosclerosis by its low-density lipoprotein raising effect. Establishment of apolipoprotein E isoforms may be important for patients with diabetes mellitus and several non-atherosclerotic diseases. Apolipoprotein E phenotyping exploits differences in isoelectric points. Isoelectric focusing uses gels that contain pH4–7 ampholytes and urea. Serum is directly applied, or prepurified by delipidation, lipoprotein precipitation or dialysation. Isoelectric focusing is followed by immunofixation/protein staining. Another approach is electro- or diffusion blotting, followed by protein staining or immunological detection with anti-apolipoprotein E antibodies and an enzyme-conjugated second antibody. Apolipoprotein E genotyping demonstrates underlying point mutations. Analyses of polymerase chain reaction products are done by allele-specific oligonucleotide probes, restriction fragment length polymorphism, single-stranded conformational polymorphism, the primer-guided nucleotide incorporation assay, or denaturating gradient gel electrophoresis. Detection with primers that either or not initiate amplification is performed with the amplification refractory mutation system. Disparities between phenotyping and genotyping may derive from isoelectric focusing methods that do not adequately separate apolipoprotein E posttranslational variants, storage artifacts or faint isoelectric focusing bands.     

New insights on the potential anti-epileptic effect of metformin: Mechanistic pathway

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease characterized by recurrent seizures. Epilepsy is observed as a well-controlled disease by anti-epileptic agents (AEAs) in about 69%. However, 30%–40% of epileptic patients fail to respond to conventional AEAs leading to an increase in the risk of brain structural injury and mortality. Therefore, adding some FDA-approved drugs that have an anti-seizure activity to the anti-epileptic regimen is logical. The anti-diabetic agent metformin has anti-seizure activity. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanism of the anti-seizure activity of metformin was not entirely clarified. Henceforward, the objective of this review was to exemplify the mechanistic role of metformin in epilepsy. Metformin has anti-seizure activity by triggering adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signalling and inhibiting the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathways which are dysregulated in epilepsy. In addition, metformin improves the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) which has a neuroprotective effect. Hence, metformin via induction of BDNF can reduce seizure progression and severity. Consequently, increasing neuronal progranulin by metformin may explain the anti-seizure mechanism of metformin. Also, metformin reduces α-synuclein and increases protein phosphatase 2A (PPA2) with modulation of neuroinflammation. In conclusion, metformin might be an adjuvant with AEAs in the management of refractory epilepsy. Preclinical and clinical studies are warranted in this regard.     

Selenium and Topiramate Attenuates Blood Oxidative Toxicity in Patients with Epilepsy: A Clinical Pilot Study

It is well known that oxidative stress plays an important role in the etiology of epilepsy. We investigated effects of selenium (Se) and topiramate (TPM) combination supplementation on antioxidant and oxidant values in control and patients with epilepsy and refractory epilepsy. For the aim, we used control (n?=?19), epilepsy + TPM (n?=?19), epilepsy + TPM + Se (n?=?15) groups. We also used control (n?=?15), refractory epilepsy (n?=?15), and refractory epilepsy + Se (n?=?8) groups. TPM (0.2 mg/daily) and Se, as sodium selenite (twice daily with 0.1 mg doses), were orally supplemented to the patients for 45 days. Erythrocyte lipid peroxidation levels were higher in refractory epilepsy groups than in control although its level and seizure numbers were decreased in TPM and TPM + Se supplemented groups of the patients. The erythrocyte reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), plasma total antioxidant status (TAS), and vitamin E concentration in refractory epilepsy group were lower than in control. However, the erythrocyte and plasma TAS, erythrocyte GSH and GSH-Px, and plasma vitamins A and C values were increased either by Se or Se + TPM in epilepsy and refractory epilepsy groups. There were no effects of TPM and Se on plasma β-carotene values in the groups. In conclusion, TPM and selenium caused protective effects on the epilepsy and refractory epilepsy-induced oxidative injury by inhibiting free radical production and supporting antioxidant redox system.     

脑深部电刺激的临床应用

脑深部电刺激(deep brain stimulation,DBS)是近20年来神经外科领域发展最迅猛的技术。DBS是通过刺激发生器发出的高频电脉冲信号刺激脑神经核团或神经传导束来调节异常的神经环路。DBS已经成为治疗特发性震颤、帕金森病、肌张力障碍等运动障碍病的常规手术方法。自1997年深部脑刺激通过美国FDA认证用于治疗特发性震颤以来,已有超过数万名运动障碍患者接受该疗法,而国内脑深部电刺激最早在1999年应用于帕金森病临床治疗,迄今也有数千例患者接受了植入手术。近年,脑起搏器的临床适应症不断扩大,从最初的运动障碍病逐渐发展到治疗其他神经和精神疾病,如抽动秽语综合征、强迫症、抑郁症、神经性厌食症、难治性疼痛、癫痫、植物状态和阿尔茨海默病等,虽然DBS的治疗机理还不很清楚,但可以预见未来DBS将成为众多神经和精神疾病的重要治疗方法。     

Calcium oscillations in neocortical astrocytes under epileptiform conditions

Morphological and functional alterations in astrocytic glia are often found in epileptic syndromes, although the exact role of astrocytes in epilepsy is poorly understood. During calcium imaging of epileptiform events in juvenile neocortical slices we previously discovered cells with spontaneous oscillations in their intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i). We have now characterized these oscillations using two in vitro models of epilepsy and find that they are produced by astrocytes. Astrocytic oscillations are widespread throughout the imaged territories, are remarkably regular and have long periods, averaging 100 s, which become shorter during development. Astrocytic oscillations are uncorrelated among themselves and with epileptiform events, are blocked by internal release antagonists and are stimulated by caffeine. Astrocytic calcium oscillations could mediate reactive astrogliosis, contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic epileptic syndromes, and be used as a diagnostic test for epileptic tissue. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol 50: 45–55, 2002     

Increased expression of annexin A7 in temporal lobe tissue of patients with refractory epilepsy

Annexin A7 is a member of the family of annexins, which are thought to function in the regulation of calcium homeostasis and the fusion of vesicles. Refractory epilepsy may be related to the imbalance of calcium homeostasis. Our aims are to investigate the expression of Annexin A7 in epileptic brains in comparison with human controls and to explore Annexin A7's possible role in refractory epilepsy. We examined the expression of Annexin A7 via immunohistochemistry, double-label immunofluorescence and western blot. The expression of Annexin A7 was shown to be significantly increased in patients with refractory epilepsy. Double-label immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy disclosed Annexin A7 immunoreactivity in the neurons, which were recognized by the antibody of neuron specific enolase (NSE). The result showed that Annexin A7 may be involved in the pathophysiology of refractory epilepsy and may play a role in developing and maintaining the epilepsy.     

Apolipoprotein E: from atherosclerosis to Alzheimer's disease and beyond.

Apolipoprotein E is a key regulator of plasma lipid levels. Our appreciation of its role continues to expand as additional aspects of its function are discovered. Apolipoprotein E affects the levels of all lipoproteins, either directly or indirectly by modulating their receptor-mediated clearance or lipolytic processing and the production of hepatic very low density lipoproteins. Furthermore, it plays a critical role in neurobiology. The apolipoprotein E4 allele is the major susceptibility gene related to the occurrence and early age of onset of Alzheimer's disease. It is probable that one of the major functions of apolipoprotein E in the central nervous system is to mediate neuronal repair, remodeling, and protection, with apolipoprotein E4 being less effective than the E3 and E2 alleles. The isoform-specific effects of apolipoprotein E are currently being unraveled through detailed structure and function studies of this protein.