Prediction of response to treatment in children with epilepsy

Objective: Predicting the response to treatment in patients treated  with anti-epilepsy drugs are always a major challenge. This study was conducted to predict the response to treatment in patients with epilepsy.Material and Methods: This analytical questionnaire-based study was conducted in 2014 among patients with epilepsy admitted to Mofid Children's Hospital. The inclusion criteria were children 2 months to 12 years of age with epilepsy and patients who experienced fever and seizure attacks at least once were excluded from the study. After the initial recording of patient information, patients were followed up for 6 months and the response to their treatment was recorded. The response to good treatment was defined as the absence of maximum seizure with two drugs during follow up.Result: This study was conducted among 128 children with seizure. 72 patients (56.3%) were boys. The age of the first seizure was under 2 years old in 90 patients (70.3%). History of febrile convulsion, family history of seizure and history of asphyxia was found in 16 patients (12.5%), 41 patients (32%), 27 (21.1%), respectively.  IQ was decreased in 79 patients (61.7%). Seizure etiology was idiopathic in 90 patients (70.3%), and the number of seizures was 1 - 2 in 36 patients (28.1%). 57 patients (44.5%) had cerebral lesion according to CT scan or MRI, and EEG was normal in 21 patients (16.4%) and abnormal in 101 patients (78.9%). In 6-month follow-up, 40 patients (31.3%) responded well to the treatment and 88 patients (68.8%) responded poorly to the treatment. The results of multivariate analysis demonstrated that history of asphyxia (OR = 6.82), neonatal jaundice (OR = 2.81) and abnormal EEG (OR = 0.19) were effective factors in response to treatment.Conclusion: Results of univariate and multivariate analysis indicated that abnormal EEG is an effective factor in treatment response in the children studied

The Effect of Inhibition of Dopamine D2 Receptors on Some of the Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of the Rat under Food restriction

Background & Objective: In previous studies, the effects of food restriction on the changes in immune responses and brain dopamine content have been determined. On the other hand, it has been shown that immune cells, in addition to dopamine production, also have dopamine receptors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of inhibition of D2 dopamine receptors on several functions of monocytes of peripheral blood in rat under food restriction Materials & methods: In this experimental study, 36 male Wistar rats (weighing 200-250 gr) were allocated into six groups (n=6), including control groups, food restriction (25%), food restriction (50%), food restriction (75%), food restriction 75% and Sulpiride and rats treated with Sulpiride. Sulpiride was injected Intracerebroventricular at a concentration of 50 μg / rat on day 21 after the study initiation. At the end, the Rats were bled and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated by ficoll gradient method. Results: Food restriction caused a significant decrease in the activity of monocyte cells of gradient of peripheral blood mononuclear cells like neutral red uptake test and respiratory burst (NBT reduction test) simultaneously with decreasing lymphocytes proliferation after stimulation with phytohemagglutinin. Administration of Sulpiride with a 75% Food restriction resulted in the improvement of these functions of monocyte cells of gradient of peripheral blood mononuclear cells as well as lymphocyte proliferation. Conclusion: Intracerebroventricular administration of dopamine D2 receptor antagonists (sulpiride) effectively inhibited the effects of a severe dietary restriction on the suppression of immunity system

Pathogenic Assays of Acanthamoeba Belonging to the T4 Genotype

  Background: Acanthamoeba genus is introduced as opportunistic and cosmopoli-tan parasite. Monkey and wistar rat are appropriate models for experimental study on Acanthamoeba infection. In this study Acanthamoeba spp. were isolated from hot spring (HS), windows dust (WD) and a corneal sample of keratitis patient (KP) and their pathogenicity surveyed by in vitro and in vivo tests. Methods: Isolates of Acanthamoeba were cultivated axenically for 12 months in PYG medium. Overall, 30 wistar rats, in 6 equal groups were used for developing experimental Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) and Granulomatous Amoebic Encephalitis (GAE). The Keratitis and Granulomatous Encephalitis experiments were per-formed by intrastromal and intranasal inoculation of Acanthamoeba cysts, respec-tively. Pathogenicity of the three isolates was also evaluated by in vitro test using osmotolerance and temperature tolerance assays. Identification of genotypes were performed by PCR technique and sequencing. Result: None of the isolates could perform AK and GAE in wistar rats, although all isolates were described as T4 genotype. Isolates obtained from KP and WD could grow only in 30 °C, but not in 37 °C and 40 °C. On the other hand, HS iso-late grew in 30 °C and 37 °C but not in 40 °C. Moreover, all of isolate grew in 0.5 M mannitol but not in 1 M and 1.5 M. Conclusion: T4 isolates with a long-term axenic culture and different factors re-lated to host and parasite may play role in pathogenicity of these free-living amoebae

A caffeine pre-treatment and sole effect of bone-marrow mesenchymal stem cells-derived conditioned media on hyperglycemia-suppressed fertilization

As a common metabolic disorder, hyperglycemia (HG) affects and disrupts the physiology of various systems in the body. Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been used to control the complications of disease. Most of the therapeutic properties of MSCs are attributed to their secretome. This study aimed to investigate the effects of conditioned media extracted from sole or caffeine pre-treated bone-marrow-derived MSCs on hyperglycemia-induced detrimental impact on some aspects of reproduction. The HG was induced by intraperitoneally injection of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg) and nicotinamide (110 mg/kg). Twenty-four male Wistar rats (190 ± 20 g) were divided into control, HG, and the hyperglycemic groups receiving conditioned media of proliferated MSCs solely (CM) or MSCs pre-treated with caffeine (CCM). During the 49-day treatment, body weight and blood glucose were measured weekly. Finally, HbA1c, spermatogenesis development, sperm count, morphology, viability, motility, chromatin condensation, and DNA integrity were examined. Also, testicular total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde, sperm fertilization potential, and pre-implantation embryo development were evaluated. A one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc tests were used to analyze the quantitative data. The p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The CM and with a higher efficiency, the CCM remarkably (p < 0.05) improved body weight and HG-suppressed spermatogenesis, enhanced sperm parameters, chromatin condensation, DNA integrity, and TAC, reduced HbA1c, sperm abnormalities, and malondialdehyde, and significantly improved pre-implantation embryo development versus HG group. The conditioned media of MSCs solely (CM) and more effectively after pre-treatment of MSCs with caffeine (CCM) could improve spermatogenesis development, sperm quality, pre-implantation embryo development, and testicular global antioxidant potential during hyperglycemia

Clinical Assessment of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing in Memory Distress: Protocol for a Double-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial

BackgroundExposures to “traumatic” events are widespread and can cause posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Cognitive behavioral therapy and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) are frequently used and validated behavioral PTSD treatments. Despite demonstrated effectiveness, highly upsetting memory reactions can be evoked, resulting in extensive distress and, sometimes, treatment dropout. In recent years, multiple treatment approaches have aimed at reducing such upsetting memory reactions to traumatic memories while therapeutic progress proceeds. One of these methods, the flash technique (FT), a modification of standard EMDR (S-EMDR), appears effective in distressing memory reduction. This study will examine FT-EMDR and S-EMDR efficacies when both methods are delivered via web-based video. ObjectiveThis study aims to assess the relative efficacy of (web-based) FT-EMDR versus S-EMDR in reducing the PTSD symptoms, anxieties, and depression associated with traumatic memories at postintervention and 1-month follow-up. MethodsThis double-blinded, web-based, 2-arm randomized controlled trial will employ self-report outcomes. A total of 90 participants will be identified from the web-based CloudResearch platform and randomly allocated to the experimental or comparison group. Inclusion criteria are as follows: (1) approved for engagement by the CloudResearch platform; (2) 25-60 years of age; (3) residing in Canada or the United States; (4) a recalled disturbing memory of an event >2 years ago that has not repeated and was moderately or more upsetting during occurrence; (5) memory moderately or more upsetting at baseline and not linked to an earlier memory that is equally or more than equally disturbing. Exclusion criteria are bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, substance abuse or addiction in the past 3 months, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempt in the past 6 months. Interventions include guided video instruction of full FT or guided video of EMDR. Outcome measures are as follows: Primary outcome is PTSD symptoms that are measured by the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5) at 1-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes are State Anxiety subscale of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory at baseline, postintervention, and 1-month follow-up; Trait Anxiety subscale of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9); and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule measured at 1-month follow-up. ResultsIf, at 1-month follow-up, the web-based FT-EMDR intervention is more effective in reducing PTSD symptoms (as measured by the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5) than EMDR, it may help reduce traumatic memory distress in multiple contexts. ConclusionsThis randomized controlled trial will advance current understandings of PTSD symptoms and interventions that target traumatic memory–related distress. Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT05262127; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT0526212

IRCT registry, English Language: Clinical Trial Protocol Registry (English).

IRCT registry, English Language: Clinical Trial Protocol Registry (English).</p

Study Protocol, English Language: Study Protocol (English).

Study Protocol, English Language: Study Protocol (English).</p