Sensory Perception of Food and Insulin-Like Signals Influence Seizure Susceptibility

Food deprivation is known to affect physiology and behavior. Changes that occur could be the result of the organism's monitoring of internal and external nutrient availability. In C. elegans, male mating is dependent on food availability; food-deprived males mate with lower efficiency compared to their well-fed counterparts, suggesting that the mating circuit is repressed in low-food environments. This behavioral response could be mediated by sensory neurons exposed to the environment or by internal metabolic cues. We demonstrated that food-deprivation negatively regulates sex-muscle excitability through the activity of chemosensory neurons and insulin-like signaling. Specifically, we found that the repressive effects of food deprivation on the mating circuit can be partially blocked by placing males on inedible food, E. coli that can be sensed but not eaten. We determined that the olfactory AWC neurons actively suppress sex-muscle excitability in response to food deprivation. In addition, we demonstrated that loss of insulin-like receptor (DAF-2) signaling in the sex muscles blocks the ability of food deprivation to suppress the mating circuit. During low-food conditions, we propose that increased activity by specific olfactory neurons (AWCs) leads to the release of neuroendocrine signals, including insulin-like ligands. Insulin-like receptor signaling in the sex muscles then reduces cell excitability via activation of downstream molecules, including PLC-γ and CaMKII

Unusual focal ictal pattern in children with eyelid myoclonia and absences

Eyelid myoclonia is a type of epileptic seizure characterized by marked jerking of the eyelids, often associated with jerky upward deviation of the eyeballs. It can be triggered by eye closure. The ictal electroencephalographic pattern of eyelid myoclonia consists of generalized polyspike waves at 3 to 6 Hz. Eyelid myoclonia can be a component of the clinical seizures seen with idiopathic, symptomatic, or cryptogenic generalized epilepsy. The objective of this study was to describe the unusual focal ictal electroencephalogram features of two patients with developmental delay and eyelid myoclonia. To the best of our knowledge, this unique electroencephalogram finding was not previously described. (c) 2007 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.37429229

Range extension of four species of snakes (Ophidia: Eirenis, Pseudocyclophis, Platyceps) in eastern Anatolia

We report new locality records of Eirenis (Pediophis) eiselti, E. (P.) punctatolineatus, Pseudocyclophis persicus and Platyceps collaris in eastern Anatolia, Turkey. We recorded Pseudocyclophis persicus and Platyceps collaris in Erzincan province for the first time, representing a considerable range extension for these species. Additionally, we reported E. (P.) eiselti and E. (P.) punctatolineatus in Tunceli Province for the first time and extended their distribution. © Biharean Biologist, Oradea, Romania, 2015

Intrauterine subdural hemorrhage in a preterm neonate possibly associated with maternal low-molecular weight heparin treatment

We report intrauterine subdural hemorrhage in a preterm infant delivered by cesarean section at 32 weeks following vaginal bleeding of a mother treated with low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH) for deep vein thrombosis. The subdural hematomas were partially calcified, proving antenatal occurrence. Maternal trauma during pregnancy, intrauterine infection, cerebral vascular malformation and congenital coagulopathy as known etiologies of subdural hemorrhage could be ruled out. Intrauterine subdural hemorrhage may be an exceptional complication of maternal LMWH treatment