Getting the best outcomes from epilepsy surgery.

Neurosurgery is an underutilized treatment that can potentially cure drug-refractory epilepsy. Careful, multidisciplinary presurgical evaluation is vital for selecting patients and to ensure optimal outcomes. Advances in neuroimaging have improved diagnosis and guided surgical intervention. Invasive electroencephalography allows the evaluation of complex patients who would otherwise not be candidates for neurosurgery. We review the current state of the assessment and selection of patients and consider established and novel surgical procedures and associated outcome data. We aim to dispel myths that may inhibit physicians from referring and patients from considering neurosurgical intervention for drug-refractory focal epilepsies. Ann Neurol 2018;83:676-690

Plants tissue culture as a source of biochemicals

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Aquatic Plants from Minnesota Part 2 - Toxicity, Anti-Neoplastic, and Coagulant Effects

In this study, toxicity, antineoplastic, coagulant and anticoagulant effects of the following 22 Minnesotan aquatic plants were evaluated in terms of pharmacological properties: Anachris canadensis, Calla Polustris, Carex lacustris, Ceratophyllum demersum, Chara vulgaris, Eleocharis smallii, Lemna minor, Myriophyllum exalbescens, Nuphar variegatum, Nymphaea tuberosa, Potamogeton amplifolius, P. natans, P. pectinatus, P. richardsonu, P. sosteriformis, Sagittaria cuneata, S. latifolis, Sparganium eurycarpum, S. fluctuans, Typha angustifolia, Vallisneria americana, and Zizania aquetica. Toxicity of skellysolve F, chloroform, 80% ethanol and water extracts of these aquatic plants were evaluated in a number of animal experiments in Swiss Webster mice. Antineoplastic experiments involved amelanoma tumor cells. In vivo prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time (PTT) were assayed in anti-coagulation experiments. The toxicity of the aquatic plants in general was found to be relatively low. The LD50 for the most toxic one, i.e. N. tuerosa (stem), in mice was 3 gm of dry plant material/kg (ca. 25.4 gm of wet plant material/kg). Only Nuphar variegatum indicated an anticancer possibility, the remaining aquatic plants had no significant inhibition activity at the doses selected. Normal partial thromboplastin time for mice was 51 seconds and only the prolongation of PTT (longer than 61 seconds) was observed in 50% of the aquatic plants tested. Among these plants, the most significant increase of PTT (more than 20 minutes) was observed in Carex lacustris, Myriophyllum exalbescens, Nuphar variegatum adn Nymphaea tuberosa.Water Resources Research CenterStaba, E. John; Su, K. Lee. (1972). Aquatic Plants from Minnesota Part 2 - Toxicity, Anti-Neoplastic, and Coagulant Effects. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/92284

Aquatic Plants from Minnesota Part 1 - Chemical Survey

The aquatic plants in Minnesota have not been surveyed medicinally for useful chemical compounds. A study was conducted with a reasonable anticipation of finding compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, steroids and lipids which might be useful in medicine. Examination of chemical constituents was accomplished on the following plants collected from various lakes in Minnesota: Anacharis canadensis, Call Polustris, Carex lacustris, Ceratophyllum demersum, Chara vulgaris, Eleocharis smallii, Lemna minor, Myriophyllum exalbescens, Nuphar variegatum, Nymphaea tuberosa, Potamogeton amplifolius, P. natans, P. pectinatus, P. richardsonu, P. zosteriformis, Sagittaria cuneata, S. latifolia, Sparganium eurycarpum, S. fluctuans, Typha angustifolia, Vallisneria americana, and Zizania aquetica.Water Resources Research CenterStaba, E. John; Su, K. Lee. (1972). Aquatic Plants from Minnesota Part 1 - Chemical Survey. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/92137

Aquatic Plants from Minnesota Part 5 - Digestibility and Fermentation of Aquatic Plants

The research was conducted to characterize the fermentation of aquatic plants ensiled with and without additives and to determine the digestibility of dried and ensiled aquatic plants by lambs. Aquatic plants ensiled with the addition of organic acids, corn or haylage produced silages of undesirable quality. Additions of haylage to sterilized aquatic plants before ensiling resulted in a silage of more desirable quality. Dry matter and crude protein digestibilities for sheep fed diets that contained either Myriophyllum exalbescens or Potamogeton pectinatus were lower than for lambs fed dehydrated alfalfa. However, energy digestibility was highest for lambs fed Myriophyllum exalbescens. Mydiophyllum exalbescens appeared to be more palatable than Potamogeton pectinatus, but both were inferior to dehydrated alfalfa. Dry matter intakes of lambs fed ensiled aquatic plants, aquatic plants plus corn or aquatic plants plus haylage were lower than lambs fed either haylage or haylage plus corn diets. Additions of corn and haylage significantly increased aquatic plant organic matter digestibility. Energy and nitrogen digestibilities were lower for lambs fed diets that contained aquatic plants than for lambs fed haylage diets. The palatability of aquatic plants is a limiting factor in their use as a forage. Drying or ensiling do not appear to be satisfactory procedures for improving palatability.Water Resources Research CenterGoodrich, R.D.; Linn, J.G.; Staba, E. John. (1974). Aquatic Plants from Minnesota Part 5 - Digestibility and Fermentation of Aquatic Plants. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/92307

Aquatic Plants from Minnesota Part 4 - Nutrient Composition

Samples of 22 freshwater aquatic plants were analyzed to determine their potential feeding value for ruminants. Proximate analyses (mean +/- SD), on a dry matter basis were: crude protein, 12.7+/-4. 4%; either extract, 1.46+/-.98%; crude fiber, 19.2+/-6.4%; ash, 2.05+/-1.24%; and NFE 64.6+/-6.5%. NDF, ADF, and ADL contents averaged 41.6+/-13.4%; 32.0+/-9.6% and 6.35+/-2.76%, respectively. Mineral contents (mean +/-SD) of the 22 aquatic plants were: P,o.25+/-0.19%; Ca, 1.83+/-1.68%; K, 1.54+/-.92%; Na, 0.30+/-.25%; mg, 0.31+/-.16%; Fe 924=?-730 ppm; Zn, 80.6+/-96.6 ppm; Cu, 13.8+/- 34.0 ppm; Mo, 19.7+/-9.7 ppm and Mn, 269+/-152 ppm. Van Soest's estimated apparent digestibility averaged 63.0+/-8.3%.Water Resources Research Cente

Aquatic Plants from Minnesota Part 3 - Antimicrobial Effects

In this study the antimicrobial activity of the following 22 Minnesotan aquatic plants was investigated: Anacharis Canadensis, Calla Polustris, Carex lacstris, Ceratophyllum demersum, Chara vulgaris, Elecharis smallii, Lemna minor, Myriophyllum exalbescens, Nuphar variegatum, Nymphaea turberosa, Potamogeton amplifolius, P. natans, P. pectinatus, P. richardsonu, P. zosteriformis, Sagittaria cuneata, S. latifolia, Sparganium eurycarpum, S. fluctuans, Typha angustifolia, Vallisneria amiercana, and Zizania aquetica, Furthermore, the chemical constituents responsible for the significant antimicrobial effect were isolated and identified. The skellysolve F. chloroform, 80% ethanol and fresh water extracts of plant species were treated for antimicrobial activity employing the qualitative filter paper disc diffusion method and reference antibiotic discs. Ethanol (80%) extracts of Myriophyllum exalbescens (activity ratio of .34 as compared to the 30 mcg chloramphenicol discs) Nymphaea tuberose (leaf: .40, stem: .45) were moderately active against S. aureus. Ethanol (80%) extracts of Carex lacustris (activity ratio of .34 as compared to the 10 mcg streptomycin discs), Nymphaea tuberose (leaf: 1.01, stem: 1.10) and Nuphar variegatum collected in Lake Minnetonka (leaf: .73, stem: .58) were active against M. smegmatis. All extracts were relatively inactive against E. coli except the water extract of Potamogeton natans where a low activity ration of .10 as compare to the 30 mcg chloramphenicol discs was indicated. Skellysolve F stem extracts of Nuphar variegatum collected in the Pine Lake and Sparganium fluctuans showed a rather distinct action against C. albicans, the activity ratio as compared to the 100 units mycostatin discs were 2.06 and 1.08, respectively. Regarding antifungal activity, ethanol (80%) extracts of Carex lacustris (activity ratio of 1.08 as compared to 5% aq. Phenol standard), Nymphaea tuberosa (stem: .72) and skellysolve F extract of Potamogeton zosteriformis (.60) were active against Alternaria sp., 80% ethanol stem extracts of Nymphaea tuberosa and Nuphar variegatum were active against F. roseum with the activity ratios of .41 and .48 respectively, as compared to the 5% aqueous phenol standard. In general, the plant pathogenic fungi are more resistant than animal pathogenic organisms toward the actions of aquatic plant extract.Water Resources Research Cente

Getting the best outcomes from epilepsy surgery.

Neurosurgery is an underutilized treatment that can potentially cure drug-refractory epilepsy. Careful, multidisciplinary presurgical evaluation is vital for selecting patients and to ensure optimal outcomes. Advances in neuroimaging have improved diagnosis and guided surgical intervention. Invasive electroencephalography allows the evaluation of complex patients who would otherwise not be candidates for neurosurgery. We review the current state of the assessment and selection of patients and consider established and novel surgical procedures and associated outcome data. We aim to dispel myths that may inhibit physicians from referring and patients from considering neurosurgical intervention for drug-refractory focal epilepsies. Ann Neurol 2018;83:676-690