Animal models of intellectual disability: towards a translational approach

Intellectual disability is a prevalent form of cognitive impairment, affecting 2–3% of the general population. It is a daunting societal problem characterized by significant limitations both in intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior as expressed in conceptual, social and practical adaptive skills. Intellectual disability is a clinically important disorder for which the etiology and pathogenesis are still poorly understood. Moreover, although tremendous progress has been made, pharmacological intervention is still currently non-existent and therapeutic strategies remain limited. Studies in humans have a very limited capacity to explain basic mechanisms of this condition. In this sense, animal models have been invaluable in intellectual disability investigation. Certainly, a great deal of the knowledge that has improved our understanding of several pathologies has derived from appropriate animal models. Moreover, to improve human health, scientific discoveries must be translated into practical applications. Translational research specifically aims at taking basic scientific discoveries and best practices to benefit the lives of people in our communities. In this context, the challenge that basic science research needs to meet is to make use of a comparative approach to benefit the most from what each animal model can tell us. Intellectual disability results from many different genetic and environmental insults. Taken together, the present review will describe several animal models of potential intellectual disability risk factors

Psychoanalysis and its role in brain plasticity: much more than a simple bla, bla, bla

Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de MedicinaUNIFESP, EPMSciEL

Psicanálise e seu papel na plasticidade cerebral: muito mais que um simples blá, blá, blá

Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de MedicinaUNIFESP, EPMSciEL

IV Latin-American Summer School on Epilepsy: special call to the brazilian epileptologists

INTRODUCTION: The development of new treatments and effective means to prevent the epilepsies, the most prevalent neurological disorder and that affects around 1% of worldwide population, must be the main goal of the health systems of a nation. OBJETIVES: Following these reasoning, the goal of our article is to promote the IV Latin-American Summer School on Epilepsy (LASSE) among Brazilian epileptologists.INTRODUÇÃO: Produzir tratamentos novos e efetivos aliados à prevenção adequada das epilepsias, a doença neurológica crônica grave mais comum e que acomete aproximadamente 1% da população mundial, deve ser o principal objetivo dos sistemas de saúde de uma nação. OBJETIVOS: Nesse sentido, o principal objetivo de nosso artigo é divulgar a IV Escola Latino-Americana de Verão em Epilepsia entre os epileptologistas brasileiros.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de MedicinaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Unidade de Pesquisa e Tratamento das Epilepsias (UNIPETE)UNIFESP, EPM, Unidade de Pesquisa e Tratamento das Epilepsias (UNIPETE)SciEL

Absence-like seizures in adult rats following pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus early in life

Administration of pilocarpine causes epilepsy in rats if status epilepticus (SE) is induced at an early age. To determine in detail the electrophysiological patterns of the epileptogenic activity in these animals, 46 Wistar rats, 7-17 days old, were subjected to SE induced by pilocarpine and electro-oscillograms from the cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus and hypothalamus, as well as head, rostrum and vibrissa, eye, ear and forelimb movements, were recorded 120 days later. Six control animals of the same age range did not show any signs of epilepsy. In all the rats subjected to SE, iterative spike-wave complexes (8.1 ± 0.5 Hz in frequency, 18.9 ± 9.1 s in duration) were recorded from the frontal cortex during absence fits. However, similar spike-wave discharges were always found also in the hippocampus and, less frequently, in the amygdala and in thalamic nuclei. Repetitive or single spikes were also detected in these same central structures. Clonic movements and single jerks were recorded from all the rats, either concomitantly with or independently of the spike-wave complexes and spikes. We conclude that rats made epileptic with pilocarpine develop absence seizures also occurring during paradoxical sleep, showing the characteristic spike-wave bursts in neocortical areas and also in the hippocampus. This is in contrast to the well-accepted statement that one of the main characteristics of absence-like fits in the rat is that spike-wave discharges are never recorded from the hippocampal fields.Universidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Medicina Laboratório de Neurocirurgia FuncionalUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Laboratório de Neurologia ExperimentalUNIFESP, EPM, Laboratório de Neurologia ExperimentalSciEL

Sudden cardiac death in epilepsy disappoints, but epileptologists keep faith

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is the most common cause of death in people with intractable epilepsy. Probably, optimization of seizure control will prevent some of these deaths. Briefly, we integrated in this paper some data about the epidemiology, risk factors, etiology, and preventative measures in the management of SUDEP.FAPESP (Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo)CNPq (Conselho National de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico)Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES), CEPID/FAPESPFAPESP/PRONEXFAPESP/CNPq/MCT (Instituto Nacional de Neurociencia Translational)Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Disciplina Neurociencia, Dept Neurol Neurocirurgia, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilPontificia Univ Catolica Rio Grande do Sul, Hosp Sao Lucas, Porto, BrazilPontificia Univ Catolica Rio Grande do Sul, Inst Cerebro Rio Grande Sul, Serv Neurol, Porto, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Disciplina Neurociencia, Dept Neurol Neurocirurgia, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Head covering and SUDEP: Lessons from sudden infant death syndrome

Universidade Federal de São Paulo EPM UNIFESP, Escola Paulista Med, Disciplina Neurol Expt, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo EPM UNIFESP, Escola Paulista Med, Disciplina Neurol Expt, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Evaluation of physical activity habits of adolescents with epilepsy of Toledo City-PR

INTRODUCTION: Although the beneficial effect of physical activity in general population and those with different types of diseases, people with epilepsy are often discouraged and excluded from physical activity participation. This usually occurs due the fear that physical activity might induce or worse epileptic seizures. Stigma and prejudice are factors which contribute to these attitudes. In spite of several studies in literature have analyzed the relationship between epilepsy and physical activity, there are no evident data evaluating the teenager population profile in relation to their physical activity habits. OBJECTIVE: Therefore, we sought to study the degree of participation in physical activities among teenagers with epilepsy of Toledo City-PR using a questionnaire. METHODS: Teenagers outpatients with epilepsy were checked by Consortium (CISCOPAR) in Toledo City-PR and invited to participate as study subject during a workaday visit at professional physician. RESULTS: All the teenagers reported opportunities of leisure time. Eighty percent of the teenagers participated physical activities, but not all of them regularly. Sixty-nine percent of the individuals (n = 20) in our study presented seizures during physical exercise and fifty-two percent (n = 14) were afraid that exercise might cause seizures. CONCLUSION: In spite of the small number of individuals analyzed in this study, our results show that epilepsy has a negative influence on physical activity habits in adolescents.INTRODUÇÃO: Apesar da prática da atividade física ser enfatizada na sociedade atual pelos benefícios que proporciona sobre a aptidão física e saúde, assim como naqueles com diferentes tipos de doenças, pessoas com epilepsia são frequentemente desencorajados e excluídos da participação de programas de atividade física, pelo medo de que a prática de atividade física possa desencadear ou piorar as crises epilépticas. Estigma e preconceito são fatores que contribuem para estas atitudes. Apesar de vários estudos na literatura mundial analisarem a relação entre a epilepsia e a atividade física, não existem estudos que avaliam o perfil da população adolescente quanto aos seus hábitos de atividade física. OBJETIVO: Neste sentido o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar com um questionário, o grau de participação em atividades físicas de adolescentes com epilepsia do município de Toledo-PR. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Pacientes ambulatoriais adolescentes com epilepsia consultados pelo Consórcio (CISCOPAR) do município de Toledo-PR foram convidados a participar do estudo durante uma visita rotineira ao consultório do profissional médico que o atendia. Um questionário foi criado para avaliar os hábitos de atividades físicas. RESULTADOS: Todos os adolescentes relataram oportunidades de lazer. Oitenta por cento dos adolescentes participaram de atividades físicas, mas nem todos eles regularmente. Sessenta e nove por cento dos indivíduos em nosso estudo apresentaram crises durante o exercício físico e cinqüenta e dois por cento tem medo que o exercício possa causar crises. CONCLUSÃO: Apesar do pequeno número de indivíduos analisados neste estudo, nossos resultados mostram que a epilepsia exerce uma influência negativa nos hábitos de atividade física de adolescentes.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Universidade do ParanáUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Disciplina de Neurologia ExperimentalUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de FisiologiaUNIFESP, Disciplina de Neurologia ExperimentalUNIFESP, Depto. de FisiologiaSciEL

Epilepsy and Hypertension

INTRODUCTION: Epilepsy is the most common neurological disorder. Hypertension, particularly severe and uncontrolled, might increase the risk of epilepsy. OBJECTIES: Based on these facts, in this review the relationship between epilepsy, seizures and hypertension has been emphasized. RESULTS: Experimental and clinical studies showed a direct relationship among this disroders. CONCLUSION: Future studies are needed to gain a better understanding between epilepsy and hypertension.INTRODUÇÃO: A epilepsia é a doença neurológica crônica grave mais comum. A hipertensão, severa e não controlada, pode aumentar o risco de surgimento das epilepsias. OBJETIVOS: Sendo assim, enfatizamos nesta revisão a relação existente entre epilepsia, crises epilépticas e hipertensão. RESULTADOS: Estudos experimentais e clínicos mostram uma direta relação entre esses distúrbios. CONCLUSÃO: Futuros estudos poderão elucidar com precisão a relação entre epilepsia e hipertensão.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Departamento de NeurologiaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Departamento de FisiologiaUniversidade de Mogi das Cruzes Faculdade de MedicinaUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de NeurologiaUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de FisiologiaSciEL